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

December 15, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 61 SHOW PEOPLE: Marion Davies — A very good picture that seemed to please, even though it was a little too long and draggy in spots. Nine reels. — Dewey L. Kisor, Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb. — Small town patronage. SHOW PEOPLE: Special cast— 25%. November 19-20. Rather disappointed with this one. With two stars as good as these the picture should have been a wow, but it is just an ordinary expose of moving picture making. Don't think it is wise to show the public how everything is done. It spoils the illusion. Nine reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man. — General patronage. SHOW PEOPLE: Special cast— Two good stars in a review show of how to make movies. No story. Patrons didn't care for It. Eight reels. — C. A. Swiercinsky, Majes.ic theatre, Washington, Kan. — General patronage. FOUR WALLS : John Gilbert— 40%. November 25-26. Very good program picture. All in this seem to take their parts well. Story good. Photography good. Seven reels. — O. A. Halstead, Cozy theatre, Duchesne, Utah. — General patronage. FOUR WALLS: John Gilbert— Underworld story. A little rough in spots. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, Selma, Cal. — General patronage. LAUGH. CLOWN, LAUGH: Lon Chaney— November 24-25. Very good production. Fine acting and good story. — Ernest H. Vetter, Majestic theatre. Homer, Mich. — Small town patronage. LAUGH, CLOWN. LAUGH: Lon Chaney— Nothing particularly striking about '.his picture, unless you would be disappointed in seeing Chaney in a role of this kind. Eight reels. — Giacoma Bros.. Crystal theatre, Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. THE CARDBOARD LOVER: Marion Davies— November 17-18. They liked this one. Picture very well made, with lots of good comedy.— Ernest H. Vetter, Majestic theatre. Homer, Mich. — Small town patronage. UPSTAGE: Norma Shearer — Norma always good. —A. C. Betts. Powers theatre. Red Creek, N. Y. — General patronage. BABY MINE: Dane-Arthur— November 17. Witha doubt this is the filthiest piece of junk I ever ran or saw. And the film was just as rotten, just break, break, break. Six reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. BEAU BROADWAY: Cody-Pringle— November 30December L This is a dandy, an absolute riot of laughs. This comedy team, without a doubt the best in the business. Sweet little Sue Carol has a fat part in this, and she's a delight to the eye. Here 'is a coming star. Seven reels. — E. M. Biddle. Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind. — Small town patronage. BEYOND THE SIERRAS: Tim McCoy— November 29. Good Western action mystery, romance. Good print and photography. Six reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. QUALITY STREET: Marion Davies— November 24. Good picture and different. Marion Davies is well liked here and pleases our customers. I thought the men wouldn't like this, but they did. and the woman just ate it up. Eight reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. THE WIND: Lillian Gish— November 23-24. A gripping drama with the locale laid in the primitive West. Held the audience enthralled. Miss Gish scales the emotional heights in this. She is one of our great artists. Eight reels. — E. M. Biddle, Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind.— Small town patronage. TILLIE THE TOILER: Marion Davies— June 16. Very good. — A. C. Betts, Powers theatre, Red Creek, N. Y. — Small town patronage. TELLING THE WORLD: William Haines— November 10-11. Plenty of comedy and action in this one. Didn't do so much at box office, but seemed to please those who saw it. — Ernest H. Ve'.ter, Majestic theatre, Homer, Mich. — Small town patronage. AFTER MIDNIGHT: Norma Shearer— November 24, Just a fair program picture. — A. C. Betts, ,'Powers theatre, Red Creek, N. Y.— General patron'age. LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: Lon Chaney— November 10. Extra good Chaney picture that drew jus the best Saturday night crowd that we had in a long time. Good print and photography. Seven reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. MR. WU: Lon Chaney — A splendid production. — A. C. Betts, Powers theatre. Red Creek, N. Y.— General patronage. LOVE: John Gilbert— 30%. November 18. Good enough picture but not for the small towns like mine. Several walked out and that hadn't happened for a long time, so it looks as though these love J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, Thanksgiving, 1928. DEAR HERALD-WORLD: Another holiday spent among strangers with roast duck fried in axlcgrease while Tucson, Arizona, Neligh, Nebraska, and Kirby, Wyoming, were flirting with that national bird that made the Puritans famous and the Democrats hungry. Oh well, we have always gotten more than we were entitled to anyway, so why squawk. We count the day well spent, not that the menu offered anything to tempt a rhino's appetite, but that we met our old friend Harry Strickland, who is preaching the TiffanyStahl gospel throughout this territory, and when one meets Harry he meets about all there is worth talking about. Harry is what is known as a Hoover Tennessee Democrat — if you can figure out that combination without having heart-failure — and Harry backed his judgment on the recent election rather than his prejudice and his bank account took on a bullish tendency and slid up the elevator to the 1300th floor, and as a consequence, Harry felt hilarious enough to take a drink, but didn't. He didn't seem to care so much about the money but was rejoiced to know that his judgment was vindicated. There is nothing sordid about that boy Harry. If you have never met him you have our sympathy. * * * The Frazena Amusement Company opened its new Lincoln here today with "THE KING. OF KINGS" and enjoyed a remarkable business, with the Lyric across the street playing "THE SINGING FOOL," with Vitaphone, which theatre was turning them away. The Orpheum, a deluxe house, presented as an added attraction the Illinois University band and was doing capacity business both afternoon and evening. Gus Kerasotcs, who operates the Strand and Savoy, seemed well pleased with the business bis theatres were drawing, in spite of the fact that it rained about all day. Gus is a very pleasant fellow to meet, and his pleasing manner in the box office and around the theatre indicates that he stands well with Springfield people and is a valuable asset to the business. There is nothing that ran outpull a smile or a "thank you. lady"' or "thank you, sir" at the box office. It's the cheapest thing in the business and brings the greatest returns. Too many in the business lack this requisite. Carl Pearson of the Princess at Rushville, L. E. Stanley of the Princess at Beardstown, and W. B. Finn of the Furman at Virginia, all report business as on the upgrade since the public took its ear away from the election radio. About three-fourths of the people of the country have become afflicted wilh a disease known as "Radioitis," which is even more contagious than "Jazzitis," and the Lord knows how that has grabbed the folks all over the country, and if it doesn't eventually develop into acute "Meningitis" of "Bughouseitis," or something worse, we may be thankful. * * * DECATUR, November 30. We drove over here expecting to find our old friend Jim Wallace still on the bridge and directing the course of the Lincoln Square, but was disappointed to learn that Jim had resigned from that position some months ago and from last reports was touring the country with some stock company, gone back to his old love, no doubt. Jim is a trouper of the old school, and when once it gets in the blood it's there for keeps. It sticks worse than the seven year itch. We found Mr. Thomas P. Ronan at the helm of the theatre and had a very delightful visit with him. He reported business as improving since election and expected it to be back to normal soon. C. E. Morrow of the Morrow theatre spoke right out loud and said he was glad to see us. We told him there was no reason why he shouldn't be, that we were still running at large with no charges filed against us. G. C. Constan of the Avon, and P. Witte of the Bijou, claimed that the election had caused business to slump but that it was beginning to show an upward tendency, and he thought it would soon be back to normal. Harry Tanner of Pana operates a small chain of houses, including two at Pana, and he impressed us as having about all he cared to handle. S. E. Stokes, Jr., of the Midway at Ramsey, had recently joined the great HERALDWORLD army and was carrying a banner right up in the front ranks of the big parade. He seemed to be happy. There is no reason why he shouldn't be. Altamont has two theatres, one too many. F. Schlotterbeck operates the Princess; and W. W. Sprouse, the Rialto. These boys should pool their interests and close one of them, but since they didn't ask us for any advice, we are not giving any. When we called on Mr. Price of the Home theatre at Oblong, he reached for his hip pocket and then said, "You win, we forgot it and left it at home." He told us that he and his partner, Mr. Dalrimple, would be over to Robinson the next day to visit with us. That's what we call real sociability, and that's what these Suckers down here have. * * * ROBINSON, December 2. Robinson is where Joe Hewitt lives. There are some other folks live around here but they don't count very much when Joe is around. We suppose you have heard of Joe. What, you haven't? Did you ever hear of Christopher Columbus, Lydia E. Pinkham or the {Continued on next page) pictures, like "Love" and one of his recent pictures, "Bardelys the Magnificent," just can't be swallowed out here in the sticks. Give us more pictures that are mystery melodramas. Nine reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D.— General patronage. SKIRTS: Syd Chaplin— 20%. November 16-17. Another laugh producer from Syd, made in England, but not another "Charlie's Aunt" by a mile. Will please the average movie goer. Six reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — General patronage. THE BUGLE CALL: Jackie Coogan— December 1. Jackie's pictures are always good and he draws a good crowd for us. I liked this better than "Buttons." Good print and photography. — Robert K. Yancey, Benny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. THE BUGLE CALL: Jackie Coogan— 15%. November 18. Fine picture that brought out a big number of children and satisfied the grownups also. Jackie okay anytime, but he is outgrowing himself. Seven reels. — Rudolf Duba, Royal theatre, Kimball, S. D. — General patronage.