Exhibitors Herald (1927)

52 EXHIBITORS HERALD November 12, 1927 J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum ( Continued, from preceding page ) information when we say that he is an exceptionally fine fellow (everybody knows that I guess who is acquainted with him) and he took extra pains to show us all the courtesy possible, for which we shall always remain indebted. The Herald Fills a Want None Others Can Do Messrs. Willis and Yudlevity who operate the Princess at Medina are contemplating the building of another theatre in Medina this next season. They have the lot already contracted for and it is their intention to build a theatre to meet all the requirements of the community. Mr. Willis drove me down to Lodi to meet the exhibitor there and otherwise showed me a royal time, which we will not soon forget. E. J. Mott of the Lyric at Wooster, Harold Makinson of the Park at Baberton, H. Rosenthal of the Ohio at Ravena, and John Polfl of the Opera House and Princess at Kent were all in the harness and right on the job when the HERALD man called. These boys don't wait for George to do it, they do it themselves, and the results are reflected in their receipts at the box offices. There are too many exhibitors now days who are inclined to let George do it, and George isn't worthadam, that’s why there is so much talk about “poor business.” If this type of exhibitors would get out and sell their pictures to the public with the same degree of energy and enthusiasm that the Film Boys sell the pictures to them there would be less complaint about business. George couldn't run a peanut stand, let alone a theatre, and when I find an exhibitor who says he doesn’t need a trade paper I always look around to see if I can see George hanging around, and in most cases I do. The Herald Fills a Want None Others Can Do KENT, OHIO, October 30, 1927. At Wadsworth I found John L. Damm (this isn’t a cuss word) with his coat off and a good sweat worked up installing a new organ and otherwise remodeling his Strand theatre. The theatre looked pretty good to me as it was, but Mr. Damm has some pretty high ideals along these lines and he intends to show Wadsworth just what a first class theatre looks like. If “George” was in town he didn’t show up around the Strand while I was there. V. Haiden of the Boulevard at Kenmore, F. C. Bubon of the National at Akron, Mr. Botzum of the Botzum Theatres Co., of Akron, Harry Carl of the Opera House at Ashland and T. J. Fowls of the Idol at Lodi, are all 100 per cent for the HERALD and for 100 per cent entertainment for their patrons, that’s why I didn’t hear any “hard times” talk around their theatres. At Cuyahoga Falls (bet that the guy who named that town named Nashwauk, Minn.) I met E. E. Bair of the Falls theatre and G. H. Hinman of the Alhainbria. Two nicer fellows never went to the mat with a film pedler and both voiced the opinion that THE HERALD FILLS A WANT NONE OTHERS DO. Mr. Bair is among the first theatremen to publish a house organ and heads the house organ exchange list. He has been a longtime contributor to the columns of the HERALD for which the HERALD and its readers are delighted, his only fault is that he doesn’t do more of it. He has promised to do better in the future and his word goes with me. Bet he does. This evening I am going over to the Kent theatre to witness a showing of “Breakfast at Sunrise” with Constance Talmadge, and I am not going to say much about that picture, no matter how good it is, for I am a little sore at “Conny” and it came about in this way. Some years ago I played one of Miss Talmadge’s pictures and was so well pleased with it that I became over enthusiastic about it and got somewhat “mushy” (as “Fishy” Phil Rand accused me) and wrote this bit of verse to give vent to my feelings. Miss Constance is the girl for me She surely is a dream. It really is to joy to see Her face upon the screen. She plays with such a queenly grace Such innocence shines in her face No other girl can take her place That I have ever seen. Now, if I had written this about Miss Prevost she would have sent me an autographed photo and a letter thanking me for it, that’s what Marie would have done, and that’s why I named my car Marie, hut Miss Talmadge never even wrote and told me to go jump in the lake, I wouldn’t have done it if she had, and that’s why I am not going to get “gusliy” over her picture tonight, I don’t care how good it is. It will he good, I am expecting that, and will be disappointed if it isn’t. In about two or three weeks I am going hack to visit those Hoosier boys, and if some of them don’t invite me to a Thanksgiving dinner, with Turkey and cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie n’everything I will always think they have overlooked a very important matter. Invitations can reach me through the HERALD office at 407 South Dearborn St., Chicago and Eagle Eye Joe hasn’t a thing to do but forward my mail, (and that boy needs more work). What more is necessary? J. C. JENKINS. The HERALD Man. cast — Good. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breeze, 111. — General patronage. THE RETURN OF PETER GRIMM: Alec Francis — A highbrow audience picture, splendidly done. Not for the average picture fan. Eight reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. THE LAST TRAIL: Tom Mix — This picture pleased as usual. — W. H. Hardman, Royal theatre, Frankfort, Kan. — Small town patronage. THIRTY BELOW ZERO: Special cast— Let this alone if you are looking for Westerns. Very poor for Buck and impossible stuff. Six reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. THE MIDNIGHT KISS: Special casV-If you want a family picture for just plain folks, get this. It’s sure good. Six reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. THE ROAD TO GLORY : Special cast — October 12. A very nice little picture with a nice little heroine and a likeable hero, while Ford Sterling as papa was okay. Fair blending of pathos and humor. A picture the whole family can see and enjoy. — Peter Bylsma, Victory theatre, Napoleonville, La. — Small town patronage. I HE BLUE EAGLE: Special cast — Very good. Six reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. THE MONKEY TALKS: Special cast — A novelty, but a good picture. Six reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. THREE BAD MEN : Special cast — October 17-18. A good show only Fox hold the price up until the picture is worn out and it is etill too high. If William Fox and a few more of the producers would run a show in a small town for a while, I think their heart of stone would soften a bit. Eight reels. — B. F. Wingeler, Liberty theatre, Tremonton, Utah. — General patronage. THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS: Special cast— It pleased here. Just good. Six reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, III. — General patronage. CANYON OF LIGHT: Tom Mix — Mix draws them in Good or bad go with his followers, and no kicking. Six reels. — Giacoma Brothers, Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. THE COWBOY AND THE COUNTESS: Buck Jones — A good Buck picture. He takes his cowboy circus oversees and wins the countess. When Buck stays in Westerns he is always good, although I did see where one of the boys did state that one of Buck’s pictures was the bunk although the previous and subsequent 800 exhibitors did report that it was a knockout. Such is life. Some of us like ’em blonde and some of us brunette. Six reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. Gotham THE BLOCK SIGNAL: Special cast — Good and out of the ordinary, hence interesting. Six reels. — Giacoma Brothers, Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. SILENT PAL Special cast — Just fair. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer BODY AND SOUL: Special cast— 60%. A strong play with extra good acting in an uncommon story which satisfied. — W. A. Tarrey, Bonzo theatre, Eddyville, la — Small town patronage. BODY AND SOUL: Special cast — Too slow moving. Audiences grew restless and many left before the picture ended. — Harry M. Palmer, Riviera theatre, Anderson, Ind. — General patronage. BODY AND SOUL: Special cast — October 19-20. This one failed to get over with the few that saw it. — Ivy D. Arnold, Cresco theatre, Cresco la. — General patronage. SPRING FEVER: Special cast— 40%. Golf story. Our small town people don’t play this game, but a lot of us poor people can be interested in things we don’t understand. — W. A. Tarrey, Bonzo theatre, Eddyville, la.— Small town patronage. BEN HUR: Special cast— 100%. October 2425-26-27. The fairest jewel in motion picture achievement. Gave splendid satisfaction. All records broken both on attendance and receipts. Twelve reels. — Tom Foster, Star theatre, Stanley, Wis. — Small town patronage. BEN HUR, THE BIG PARADE: Special cast 100%. In four nights (two each) these productions did almost twice the gross business this theatre did during the entire month of October last year. The both more than doubled the receipts on any picture heretofore shown here. In a town of 2,245 inhabitants, 1,225 people paid admission to “The Big Parade” and 1,371 to “Ben Hur.” About one-third of the audiences were strangers to my theatre. Three said it was the first time they had ever attended a “movie” theatre. Many were seeing the pictures the second, third and even the fourth times. I am healthy and middle aged, but I don’t expect to live long enough to see these records broken here. Despite the fact that the pictures were so nationally known, I covered a radius of 20 miles each way from my town almost as thoroughly with advertising as nature distributes the dew. — W. J. Powell, Lonet theatre, Wellington, O. — Small town patronage. BEN HUR: Ramon Navarro — 100%. A big one, and a good one. Beet produced to date. Drew and pleased. Twelve reels. — Mrs. Richard