Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Oct-Dec 1928)

November 17. 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 71 run. Bancroft and Brent are great in this and it pleased those who saw it. Eight reels. — S. B. Kennedy. Central theatre, Selkirk, Manitoba. Canada. — General patronage. ONE WOMAN TO ANOTHER: Florence Vidor— 34%. October 26-27. Neat little program number but no drawing power. It's fair entertainment but deserves little comment except that Miss Vidor is beautiful and talented as ever. Would make a good second on a double feature bill. Five reels. — Wolfe & Williams. Screenland theatre. Nevada. O. — Small town patronage. THE SHOWDOWN: George Bancroft — 54%. September 12. Poor picture. Too long drawn out and not enough story. It is a queer picture. Eight reels. — F. H. Gatcomb. Armstrong's theatre. Vanceboro, Me. — Small town patronage. OLD IRONSIDES: Special cast — October 27. Very entertaining. Your patrons will all speak well of it. —Frank Sabin. Majestic theatre. Eureka. Mont. — Small town patronage. RED HAIR: Clara Bow — 45%. September 29. One of Clara Bow's best since "It." A rainy night but those present well pleased. — R. W. Hempstone, Waverly theatre. Poolesville, Md. — Small town patronage. RED HAIR: Clara Bow — Does Clara bring 'em in? Best of Clara's pictures we have shown. Packed house. Folks, don't be afraid of Clara Bow pictures. There is nothing vulgar about them or suggestive, either. Your young patrons demand her and of course so do the old ones. But have not had one of her pictures that had anything wrong with it. A toss up between Clara and Zane Grey's. They both mean jammed houses. Here is one community that is for Clara. — P. R Egner, Community theatre, Ozawkie, Kan. — Small town patronage. UNDER THE TONTO RIM: Special cast— 53%. October 17IS. A disappointment to those who had read the book, but an excellent picture. Story, acting, scenery all good. Six reels. — Paul B. Hoffman, Legion theatre, Holyrood. Kan. — Small town patronage. TILLIE*S PUNCTURED ROMANCE: Louise Fazenda — October 15-16. We have never seen a good report in the HERALD-WORLD on this picture and were afraid to run it but found it a very good comedy which pleased the kids and adults alike. It lidn't draw, however, and the rental was too high is it is on most of the Paramount pictures. It's no special but is a good program picture. Good print md photography. Six reels. — Robert K. Yancey. 3onny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. SPORTING GOODS: Richard Dix— 48%. September 19. This is a good light comedy draw. Dix is he poorest drawing card of the Paramount stars, ^osts the most money, yet everyone seems to like um. How in (you know) do you figure this out.— •"rank H. Gatcomb, Armstrong's theatre, Vanceboro, 4e. — General patronage. SWIM GIRL SWIM: Bebe Daniels— October 12-13. i very good comedy drama that my crowd enjoyed ery much. — M. A. Manning, Opera House, Baldwin, Vis. — Small town patronage. THE MAGNIFICENT FLIRT: Florence Vidor— 1%. October 18. A good picture. Six reels. — Mrs. 'ulda J. Green. Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah. — eneral patronage. THE MAGNIFICENT FLIRT: Florence Vidor— ctober 24-25. We found it to be just a moving icture. — J. S. Walker. Texas theatre. Grand theatre, rand Prairie. Tex. — Small town patronage. THE OPEN RANGE: Special cast— 44%. October '-20. Can rate this ae only a fair Zane Grey estern. Did not draw nor satisfy nearly so well "Nevada," although it is better than the ordinary Jden variety of horse opera. Betty Bronson is a ry winsome little prairie flower, but Lane Chandler >ks more like a college boy on a vacation than rip-roaring son of the herds. Fred Kohler is the leany." Average picture, average print, average isfaction. Six reels. — Wolfe and Williams. Screenid theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage. KIT CARSON: Fred Thomson— 20%. September 29. Good picture but rotten photography. About ! poorest Thomson picture I have run. As to Jtography Paramount sure made a fizzle in paint: this print as well as "Jessie James." Well. 3d, you better make up a couple good ones or so i you don't want to be forgotten. Take my tip, 1 you? Eight reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre. I nball. S. D. — General patronage. HE LEGION OF THE CONDEMNED: Wray1 >per — 75%. July 14. A fine program picture of I aviation in the world war. Something different, <1 all pleased. ESght reels.— R. W. Hempstone. 1 verly theatre, Poolesville, Md.— Small town pati age. EEL MY PULSE: Bebe Daniels— 55%. October A clean action picture, plenty of comedy, kept Wot a Picture! In reading this department this week you won't miss this comment on "The Terror": "CROWDED INTO THE LOBBY SO THAT THEY BROKE MY DISPLAY FRAMES DOWN." There's a record to aim at. all in a roar. Patrons 100 per cent pleased. A picture with the come back appeal. Six reels. — R. W. Hempstone, Waverly theatre, Poolesville. Md. — Small town patronage. BARBED WIRE: Pola Negri— 52%. October 17. The best Negri picture I have seen yet. It pleased nearly everyone here. Negri no drawing card here, however. Eight reels. — Frank G. Gatcomb, Armstrong's theatre, Vanceboro, Me. — Small town patronage. BARBED WIRE: Pola Negri— The best one by this star we have ever used. Most of her pictures a flop with us but this one very good. — W. L. Crouse. Ideal theatre, Bloomer, Wis General patronage. GET YOUR MAN: Clara Bow— 60%. October 20. Clara's all right here. All like her and I hope they won't put her in any other class of picture for she is "it" when it comes to getting the men. She sure did tell the old fools where to get off at and that pleases the young folks. Play it boys, but won't stand a raise in price. Six reels. — T. T. Mitchell, Central theatre, Madison, Va. — General patronage. PARTNERS IN CRIME: Beery-Hatton— October 26. An improvement. Seven reels. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand Prairie. Tex. — Small town patronage. SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— 100%. October 13. Broke all records. You have heard the expression, "house full and yard full." Well, we had 'em. Small town fellows, if you have not played this one. do so at once. Eight reels. — R. W. Hempstone. Waverly theatre, Poolesville. Md. — Small town patronage. SPEEDY: Harold Lloyd— October 13. Owing to our county fair didn't get them out, but a good picture. Of course anyone just expects to get a good laugh and what I got out liked it fine. Good print. All told me a good picture even if I didn't do anything on it. Eight reels. — T. T. Mitchell. Central theatre. Madison, Va. — General patronage. THE WAY OF ALL FLESH: Emil Jannings— 20%. October 7-8. Good picture to poor business. Well, if they don't care for real pictures like this we will give them Westerns regardless of star. We have them plenty. It's not much use of showing people what the majority of men are. a* they know 'em as they come along anyway. The Chicago trip just spoiled it all. Nine reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage. BEAU GESTE: Special cast— October 26-27. Although old, this is well worth playing in any theatre. If you haven't run it do so. Ten reels. — M A. Manning, Opera House, Baldwin. Wis. — Small town patronage. KNOCKOUT RILEY: Richard Dix— October 20. Right smart prize fight picture. Dix has made better but this one will please the majority. Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre, Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage. THE VANISHING PIONEER: Jack Holt— October 19-20. Every Zane Grey draws for us. Just have to advertise name "Zane Grey" and it is packed house for us. This is a real good Western. — P. R. Egner, Community theatre, Ozawkie. Kan. — Small town patronage. Pathe-P D C KING OF KINGS: Special cast— All the stars and men that have spent their time on this marvelous picture should be congratulated. It is really the best picture we have ever shown. It brought people that never have been inside of our house. Will go over big if gone after properly. Ask all the ministers to cooperate. We didn't have any trouble getting the ministers to announce the showing of the picture. Twelve reels. — B. R. Parson, State theatre, Springfield, Minn. — General patronage. KING OF KINGS: Special cast — A big star cast and a big 12 reel picture. As I have not seen any writeup on this one I can only give you my opinion and the comments of my patrons. I will say it's a mighty big picture. My patrons said it was wonderful. Pathe must love this one as they put a big C. O. D. on it and we had to put up the cash before it went on our screen. And that's not all. Just as we were beginning a nice young gentleman drops in the box office and says, "I am your checker on this picture. Please give me the starting numbers on your tickets." Well, I don't know whether or not Pathe does business with all of their patrons like this or not. but I do know this is the way they handled this picture with us. I am not falling out with any producer for selling his pictures on any terms that he thinks is business-like on his part, because that is his business end of it and you must not fall out with any man for the way he conducts his business. He is bound to look after his interest and the same applies to all exhibitors. For my part, if I were booking my pictures I would never buy one with a percentage split and I think, my son, who is booking all our pictures, is going to try this plan out hereafter. Twelve reels. — Walter Odom & Sons, Dixie theatre. Durant, Miss. — General patronage. POWER: William Boyd— 35%. October 22-23. Another Pathe special that was only a program comedy. A good feature comedy, but not worth what we paid for it. Business poor. Print and photography were good. Seven reels. — G. O. Tunstall, Midway theatre. Martinsville, Va. — Small town patronage. TENTH AVENUE: Special cast— 70%. October 11-12. Pleased. — C. B. Blata, Savoy theatre, Louisville, Ky. — General patronage. THE INTERFERING GENT: Buffalo Bill Jr.— 90%. October 27. Ran this in competition to the road and ballyhoo show, "The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws." Business was very good and it seemed to please. Photography and print poor. Five reels. — G. O. Tunstall. Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. — Small town patronage. THE BRONX STOMPER: Don Coleman— 60%. October 27. A fairly good Western picture. The star however is not 6o good. I am afraid he will never become popular. Eugenia Gilbert as leading lady was all right and Yea Bo Smith as the star's pal was very funny and helped the picture out considerably. The rodeo scenes were not taken good as they jumped around so you could not follow the photography closely. Six reels. — Frank H. Gatcomb, Armstrong's theatre, Vanceboro, Me. — Small town patronage. THE RED MARK: Special cast— Well, I guess this must be a big town picture, as my patrons said to me it was out of their reach of understanding. I hope some of Pathe salesmen will see this notation of mine and book this picture in with the big city folks or in the part of the country where it will be understood better for it may be a great picture in the right theatre. Eight reels. — Walter Odom & Sons. Dixie theatre. Durant, Miss. — General patronage. SKYSCRAPER: Boyd-Hale— October 28-29. Fair program picture dragged into eight reels. Tells of the loves of a coupla rivet rasslers. Didn't cause any excitement around here. Eight reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. STAND AND DELIVER: Rod La Rocque— 25%. October 24. An action picture that might take the place of a Western on a weak day. Print and photography poor. Six reels. — G. O. Tunstall. Midway theatre, Martinsvile, Va. — Small town patronage. THE COP: William Boyd— 48%. October 24. I would consider this a poor crook story. After reading Harrison's Reports on this one I was very disappointed. Boyd needs to take some reducing exercises. He's too fat. Pathe had better put some romance in their Boyd pictures, if they want them to satisfy. This one did not please here one little bit. Eight reels. — Frank H. Gatcomb. Armstrong's theatre, Vanceboro, Me. — Small town patronage. Rayart YOU CAN'T BEAT THE LAW: Lila Lee— 10%. October 16. Good mystery play about the police force of a city. Six reels. — Rudolf Duba. Royal theatre, Kimball. S. D. — General patronage. Tiffany-Stahl THE HAUNTED SHIP: Special cast— 70%. October 31. Don't let your patrons sit on the front seats while seeing this picture, because it is so rough blood will splash in their eyes. Good sea picture, but plenty rough. Print and photography poor. Five reels. — G. O. Tunstall, Midway theatre. Martinsville, Va. — Small town patronage. THE GRAIN OF DUST: Special cast— 65%. October 29. A good program picture that ran to only fair business. Print and photography good. Seven