Exhibitors Herald (1927)

54 BOX OFFICE RECORD SECTION OF April 30, 1927 draw like one. (Princess. Buchanan, Mich.) A year ago Mary’s publicity department saw fit to use my report on “Annie Rooney” in their trade paper ads, but sorry to state there is nothing favorable to write about in “Sparrows.” Miserable opening, due to bad weather, second night drew well, but not one favorable comment from patrons. Story too sordid and not up to Pickford average by a long shot. Another one like this, Mary, and we’ll have to bench you and send in a pinch hitter. (Strand, Robinson, 111.) Seemed to please generally, but not tbe picture they would have you believe. Very gruesome in places. Mary is getting too old for the kid stuff and this our last of her. (Liggett, Madison. Kan.) This picture drew well for us on a Friday and Saturday and the people were well pleased with it. Some terrifying scenes, but if your patrons will remember it's movie stuff they will sleep well after the show, as you know in the picture things usually turn out all right. I would say here’s a good picture. (Auditorium, Tampa, Kan.) Can’t say much for this one. Not the kind to please our people. Mary always draws her own crowd. (Odeon, Cottonwood Falls, Kan.) This was better than I expected, and proved a very satisfactory picture. It bas been considerably cut. as some of the reels are only about 700 feet long, and I believe tbe objectionable parts must bave been cut out. At no time during the play does the cruel manager of the orphanage strike one of the children, and at no time during the picture does one of the children suffer any pain, so I can’t see where the other exhibitors have objected to this, except that the portions they didn’t like have been cut out. It’s O. K. (Grand, Pierre, S. D.) SPEEDING VENUS. THE, PDC, Priscilla Dean, Robert Frazer, Dale Fuller, Johnny Fox, 6. — This one was a crackerjack. Some speed and dandy. Full of pep and took good. All good, even the old guy, and also the girl that played with the star was fine. (Amuse, Hart. Mich.) A very clever program picture that : if played up, will do some business. Not big, but good all the way through. (Capitol, North Kansas City, Mo.) You cannot beat this one for a Saturday show for the small town. It has everything to please them. (Dixie, Russellville, Ky.) Can truthfully say that this is an excellent picture, full of pep and interesting from beginning to end. Producers surely have the product. (Rex, Montezuma, Ind. ) This is a good program picture. Story good, star always good. Lots of action. Pleased them all. (Silver Family, Greenville, Mich.) Good entertainment. (Illinois, Sullivan, 111.) SPOOK RANCH, THE, U, Hoot Gibson, 6.— Hoot is the best Western star that I can play here, but in this one he drags through without any pep. The director left the comedy for the negro, but the negro didn’t have any support. Not up with his others. (Crescent. Woodville, Tex.) A poor Western for Hoot. (Grand, Breese, 111.) Some exhibitors don’t give this one much; well, it isn’t a knockout, but it’s dern good entertainment for an audience not too critical and who has that kind of animal in a small town. The coon in this picture supplies enough comedy to cause patrons to miss any deficiencies the picture may have. (Selk, Scotia. Neb.) Although we have seen many reports which were not in favor of this picture, we think that it is the best which we have had from Hoot for a long time. Aside from one or two foolish moves on the part of Gibson tbis went off pretty smoothly. Helen Ferguson does very well with her role opposite Hoot. (Rialto, Sharon, Wis.) The first we had of this star in a long time. All his friends were glad of his return, and they told us so, and was glad to be able to tell them that we had purchased all his new ones, and still have two of the old series unplayed. Comedy furnished by the negro just fine. If you want to please the kids give them “Spook Ranch.” (Columbia, Morganza, La.) STELLA DALLAS, UA, Belle Bennett, Ronald Colman, Alice Joyce, Lois Moran, 11. — This received widely varying comment. Had a packed house and it held them to the end but some didn’t like it, while others praised it very highly. The cast is all very good, but Belle Bennett as the mother is unquestionably the best. (Community, Minneota, Minn.) Picture Okay for the more intelligent class, while the others say not so good. Absolutely nil as drawing card in small towns. Exhibitors can well afford to pass this by. A picture costing one-tenth as much will give more satisfaction. (Grand. Carrington, N. D.) Not the kind of picture to please our audience. Very few comments, as there is too much sorrow in this one. About the only thing great about it is the price. If you can’t buy it right, don’t buy it. (Odeon, Cottonwood Falls. Kan.) The kind of picture that makes you glad you are in the business. Belle Bennett’s acting wonderful. While we did not do such a big business on this, it pleased. Had many splendid comments on it. (Globe, Savannah, Mo.) Very good picture, but failed to register for us. We paid a good price to look at it. (Palace, McGehee, Ark.) Really a wonderful drama. It has an exceptionally good cast and is an all around good picture of the sad type. As the story was widely read and liked, the title has a box office value. The ladies liked it immensely. I was amused at the large number who came out with damp handkerchiefs and reddened eyes and remarked, “Oh, it sure is a good picture. I cried all through it.” (National, Graham, Tex.) Very good, although we paid too much. Simply can’t make anything on these high-priced pictures. (Plainview, Plainview, Neb.) This picture had one of the best assembled casts of the year. The acting was a revelation, all getting into the spirit of their parts. This sad and pathetic story of mother love hit hard with my patrons. (Kenwood, Chicago, 111.) Splendid picture where they like mother love and sob stuff. No question about it being a special production, but on this, as on all of the specials I have played lately, I have lost money. (Princess. Buchanan. Mich.) This is a wonderful picture, appealing to all classes. Men and women in tears, due to the fine work of Belle Bennett. Lois Moran was also good. Played this show three nights and one night repeat to full houses. One of the best we played this season. (Hunt’s City Pier, Cape May, N. J.) This seemed to go over well. Had lots of good compliments after the picture was over. Drew good business and pleased. (Twilight. Greensburg, Kan.) No doubt a great picture, but it is not worth what United Artists ask for it. (State, Fort Wayne, Ind.) I got the surprise of my life on this one. I bought it for prestige and made real money on it. Stanley Chambers, manager of several first run houses in Wichita, ran an ad personally recommending this when he ran it, and I copied his ad when I ran it, and believe me it helped. (Pastime, Medicine Lodge, Kan.) A very good picture and can be classed as a special. (Opera House, Fennimore, Wis.) Another so-called special. The only special about it is the price. Acting and story good, but the flappers panned and snickered at the 1900 to 1906 costumes. A cheap feature will show you more profit than any special like “Stella Dallas.” (Grand. Port Washington. Wis.) Ran as a special three days. Stood up good and gave general satisfaction. Acting and directing excellent. Little sad in places. (Lyric, Hartington, Nebr.) Can’t make any money on U. A. pictures, but this is a good one. But why can’t we buy U. A. pictures so that we can realize something out of them? (Gibson. Batesville, Ind.) I purchased this picture at my highest film rental and later saw the picture at Salt Lake City. I was afraid of a big loss after seeing the picture, but, boy, what a surprise. They came for three days and jammed my house. The picture will be placed among the best of the year. It drew well and pleased. (Rich, Montpelier, Idaho.) On account of the price and running into a rainstorm, couldn’t make any money, but it is a wonderful production just the same, and according to the many favorable comments, especially from the women, it must have pleased. (American, Wautoma, Wis.) A very good picture, but the price for what you get is way out of reason. Lost money on this one. (Palace, Grand Ledge. Mich.) Not a big special for small towns. Just a little above a program. Don’t pay too high. (Washington, Atoka, Okla.) Mother love picture. Drew some that never come except on some specials like this. (Columbia, Poynette, Wis.) STRANDED IN PARIS, Par, Bebe Daniels, 6.— We did not have Bebe here for a long time and everybody sure did enjoy her in this one. Business was very good. (Blum. Philadelphia, Pa.) Bebe comes through with another clever little enjoyable entertainment, just the sort of picture the folks seem to want these days. It has pep, laughs, eye appeal in Bebe strutting her stuff in the swell clothes, and nice production effects. It is this type of picture that prove to be the backbone of the industry, according to my way of thinking. Come on, Bebe, give us more good ones in “Kiss in a Taxi” and “Mile. Jockey.” We down in Mississippi are for you. (Regent, Indianola, Miss.) “Tbe Campus Flirt,” which was exhibited here January 19, produced such a good impression that it must take the credit for the much better turn out for “Stranded in Paris” with a corresponding result at the box office of increased receipts amounting to .50 per cent over the “Campus Flirt.” The recent rise of Bebe Daniels to the front rank of comediennes is about as striking as anything in screen stardom. Bebe bas a humor which is peculiarly her own and it’s funny that one phase of it is suggestive of Buster Keaton, with this difference, that the humor of her acting and of the situation shines through her countenance. She knows when to be solemn, when to smile, and when to laugh. It was the usual good Paramount picture with a complete cast. (Illinois, Metropolis, HI.) Bebe’s done it again, and she didn’t have to get drunk to make the comedy. (Grand, Waynesboro, Ga.) Very, very good. Possibly not her best, but a mighty pleasing picture just the same. (Palace, Ashland, O.) Miss Daniels is always there and this is no exception, but if Ford Sterling had been given more rope he would have walked away with the picture. Good picture and print. (Arvada, Arvada, Colo.) A dandy little comedy and it pleased a fair crowd for this time of the year. (Reel Joy, King City, Cal.) We have chalked this one up as the best that Bebe has ever given us. (Banzanita, Carmel, Cal.) This is the best that Bebe has done. It’s a good one. Besides. I will have to boost Bebe because she sent me two photos. My wife didn’t mind the first one, but when the second one arrived ? ? ? well, I am still explaining. They were dandy pictures anyway, and I have them all framed and in the lobby. Thanks. (Moon, Neligh, Neb.) This picture is a delightful piece of entertainment. It is the kind of a picture that everyone will enjoy. It has action, thrills, and plenty of laughs. It should be a big box office attraction. (Apollo, Indianapolis, Ind.) Only fair after playing “The Campus Flirt.” This picture won’t compare with it. Will draw good anywhere. (Tivoli, Knoxville, 111.) Very good picture. Bebe always draws them in and pleases them. Capitol Majestic, Paragould. Ark.) Fair. A fair picture that goes over but not so good as some she has put out. (Grand, Creston, B. C., Can.) STRONG MAN. THE, FN, Harry Langdon, 7.— A dandy good comedy. Played this one for the Legion and almost tickled the boys to death. Hook up with them on this one. Paper won’t get them in. (Iris, American Falls, Idaho.) If there were any more laughs in this one it would take a “strong man” to live through it. We had to shut the picture off three times so that the audience could recover. Had to do it so that they would not break down the seats. My cashier laughed so much that she gave a fellow five dollars back in change for a one dollar bill, and they had to operate on the head user for laughitis. I don’t know what that is, but it’s very bad. (Moon, Neligb, Neb.) Very good. Harry sure kept ’em giggling. Played with Dempsey-Tunney fight picture and used a tieup ad which drew a big crowd. This means another star made good for me. (Star, Madelion, Minn.) Better than “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp,” but Langdon would do better by staying in the short reel subjects. (Star, La Grande, Ore.) Better than “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.” Lots of laugbs and drew a good crowd. People liked tbis one. (Beams’ Auditorium, Red Cloud, Nebr.) All reports favorable. We consider this as good if not better than “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.” Good for any small town. (Rainbow, Meehan icsburg, O.) One cannot help from laughing at this offering. A good comedy with plenty of gags to fill seven reels without padding. It is a farce comedy. A family picture. Langdon has not yet reached the box office figure of Harold Lloyd or Sid Chaplin. (Irving, Chicago, 111.) Above the average picture for entertainment, but a failure at the box office, and that is all that counts. Played at a loss. (Shastona. Mount Shasta, Cal.) Excellent comedy. Little drawn out but as a whole it pleased. ( Lyric, Hartington, Nebr.) Very comical, the comedy being caused by some funny situations as well as by Mr. Langdon’s acting. Paid a special price for this one but screened it at regular admission. I would consider it a good Saturday night bill for any small town. “The Strong Man” has been over-rated. (Community, Red Granite, Wis.) About the poorest picture that we have ever shown. Had I seen it beforehand would never have ruined a Sunday night with it. Drew fairly well but was a 100 per cent flop and disappointment. Hope next one is better. (Paramount. Wyoming, III.) We exploited this strong. Had poor crowd first night and second night dropped off over 50 per cent. We lost money on the engagement. Our patrons do not care for this star. It is fair comedy, not as funny as “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp,” but should get over with those who like Langdon. (Majestic and Airdome, Las Vegas, Nev.) While there are many funny situations in this, I am hei’e to tell you the time has arrived to cut feature length comedies in the class with this. I think that Harry Langdon is good and his pantomime is fully as good as Chaplin, much better than Keaton, and for the good of the industry, which does not require feature comedies, Harry should go back to two reelers. (Cozy, Winchester, Ind.) SUBWAY SADIE, FN, Dorothy Mackaill, Jack Mulhall, Charles Murray, Peggy Shaw, 7. — A nic« pleasing little picture. Very good entertainment, clean, and is a dandy for Sunday. (American,