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

84 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 29, 1928 J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum TERRE HAUTE, IND., December 10, 1928. DEAR HERALD-WORLD: That "Richard Quaile" letter sent out by someone at the Universal Film Corporation has caused quite a ruction here in Terre Haute. These letters were received by the Fountain and Rex theatres, and both of these theatres are operating with non-union men and both theatres are placarded and have been for four years, as being unfair to union labor. When the first letter was received, they gave but little attention to it, but the second one contained a threat that aroused such interest that it was taken to the chief of police under the assumption that it came from union labor sources, and the chief gave the story to the press, which these theatres claim has damaged their business. We note in last week's HERALD-WORLD that Universal disclaims any responsibility for these letters, claiming that they were sent out by one of the office boys without authority, and that the boy hail been fired. That's tough on the boy, but doesn't relieve the situation, these theatres claim. We remember that when we were operating a theatre, the exchange managers always had an office boy upon whom they could lay blame for their own delinquencies. That's what office boys are for. But this is the first instance we ever heard of in which the office boy handled the national publicity for a producing company. Universal has put itself in bad with these two theatres, how many more we don't know, but it is another instance wherein overzealous publicity men run amuck to the discredit of the entire industry. We trust that these letters have not done Universal the harm that they have done here, for we know that Uncle Carl would not knowingly sanction this kind of methods to sell his product. * * * Out at the Rex theatre last night we saw something we never saw before. A boy paraded back and forth in front of the theatre all daring the show with a big card on him in front and behind with this notice, "THIS THEATRE IS UNFAIR TO UNION LABOR.'' We asked Mr. Bennett, the manager, how long he had been doing this and he told us he had kept it up for four years and had never missed a show. It seemed rather queer to us that it had to take four years to advise the public of that fact. What seemed peculiar also was that the Rex was jammed and people were backed out on the walk so that the fellow had to worm his way through the crowd to cover the beat. We were told that the same thing was done in front of the Fountain theatre, operated by Mr. P. K. Peters. Both of these theatres are operated by non-union help. Our opinion is that it will take more than "placarding" to overcome the popularity of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, for they are two of the most lovely people and have the respect of the entire community, and this is also true of Mr. Peters. We spent a very delightful evening with them and trust it will not be the last. We found Lorin Stine of the Swan, and B. Van Bossum of the Savoy, very interesting men to meet, and we doubt if there is much about the business that they are not conversant with. * * * SULLIVAN, December 11. This is the home town of Will Hays. We don't know whether Will made the town or whether the town made Will, and we don't know as it makes much difference, as they both seem to be all right except that there is only one theatre running here in a town of 5,000 people, which consists mostly of Republicans, and that one wasn't doing anything like a turn-away business. We only saw a small part of the picture, but the fact that Henry B. Walthall was in it should have been sufficient to have back 'em out on the street. Mr. Ott McCarrell, the manager, had evidently done all there was to be done to get them out, but that didn't seem to be sufficient. When a mining town isn't mining, it is just too bad for the town, and the theatres get the wallop first. We had a very pleasant experience coining down here today from Terre Haute. We called on Mr. J. H. Drake, who operates the theatre at Farmersburg, and our visit was so delightful with him that we almost forgot to inquire if he ever knew a gazabo by the name of Crocket Brown. He told us he did, but wasn't bragging about it any. Then he told us where Crocket's sister lived, and that was what we wanted to find out, because we had promised Crorket when we were in Nashuauk, Minn., to call on his sister the first time we were in this locality, but had forgotten the town and even her name. We called on Mrs. Chappell and had a delightful visit with her, and she told us that she had raised Crocket's Bullfoundland from a pup, and we told her that that accounted for this dog's exceptional intelligence. We knew Crocket never had a thing to do with it. The dog shows too much intelligence for him to claim any of the credit. * * * INDIANAPOLIS, December 16. We will bet a reasonable amount of stage money that if you will walk once around the "Governor's Circle" and then go one block away, it will take two policemen and a wet nurse to show you the way back to your hotel. We went out to see the town this morning and after fifteen minutes we had to call a taxi to get back to the hotel. This hotel I the English I i built part way around the "Circle." The hotel itself is built in a circle, the rooms are circular-£-in fact, the whole damtown is in a circle, and when you start out to go South we trill bet "ix bucks that you will go Northeast, and we'll win. I.as| night tin Indiana wa pulling on her holiday clothes. In the lobby they had erected a largi evergreen tree which wa lighted with all colors of lights and the tree stood on a revolving table and it wa loaded down with all kinds of toys. It was beautiful and attracted {Continued on next page) Corinno Griffith ha* staged n comeback that looks as though she is right out in front, and it is as it should be, for Corinno does show In thin picture that sha It better than she ever was in every wny. Edmund Lowe is very, very good, and the picture is one of the most interesting and best produced for months and months. This picture should register with the better class of movie patronage. Seven reels. — W. H. Brenne , Cozy theatre, Winchester. Ind. — fJeneral patronage. PRINCE OF HF.ADWAITERS: Lewis Stone— December 14. A very good program picture. Six reels. — Mrs. C. Knox, Star theatre, Villa Grove. III. — Genernl patronage. CODE OF THE SCARLET: Ken Mnynard— The only star, now that Thomson is out, that delivers to us Hmnll towners a Western picture that makes it bo wo don't havo to hide in the cellar when the show Is over. Hats off to you. Ken. — L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. — General patronage. FRENCH DRESSING: Special cast— 25%. December 5-6. Generally pleased. Clive Brook getting to be quite a favorite here. Seven reels. — E. C. Arehart, Auditorium theatre, Laurel, Neb. — General patronage. HAROLD TEEN: Special cast— 35%. December 9. Didn't draw. Many thought it was a kid picture and stayed away. Amusing in spots. Producers could have made a good punch scene with blowing up of dam, but they didn't. Seven reels. — E. C. Arehart. Auditorium theatre, Laurel, Neb. — General patronage. OUT OF THE RUINS: Richard Barthelmess— December 2-3. Another good one from Barthelmess. Every picture of his on this year's contract has been plenty good. This one is not quite as good as "The Noose," but is good enough for anybody's house. — W. H. Silver & Son, Grand theatre, Princeton, Mo. — Small town patronage. OUT OF THE RUINS: Richard Barthelmess— November 29. Why give Barthelmess such a poor story ; do they want to ruin him ? It's just five reels of nonsense and two reels of fun. Many more like this one, Richard, and you will be ruined as well as the pictures. Imagine a man with rifles failing to kill when only a few feet away. A good joke. Seven reels. — C. M. Albrecht, Rialto theatre, Bushnell, 111. — General patronage. THE WAGON SHOW: Ken Maynard— December 8. Very good. Showed it on Saturday, but business not so good, owing to the Christmas slump. Nevertheless it went over, and went over big. Most all of Maynard's are good, and Tarzan, well, he's as good as there is. — C. M. Albrecht, Rialto theatre, Bushnell, 111. — General patronage. THE CRASH : Milton Sills— 20%. December 5-6. This should be a good draw for small towns and railroad centers. It is rather slow in spots, but ends up with a bang. Thelma Todd, the new leading lady, gives a good performance as a traveling show girl, and Sills makes an excellent wrecking boss. Seven reels. — s. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — General patronage. OUT OF THE RUINS: Richard Barthelmess — Not as good as his other previous pictures. Public thought it "The Road to Ruin," and I did a wonderful business and the picture pleased, so what more can you want? — L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. — General patronage. HEART TROUBLE: Harry Langdon— December 12-13. What's it all about, anyway? If this is a comedy, I don't know one when I see it. It started out dumb and finished the same way. In fact, there wasn't any finish to it. When they came to the end of the allotted six reels they cut it off and said, "The End." Six reels. — W. H. Silver & Son, Grand theatre, Princeton, Mo. — Small town patronage. THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— October 26. A real picture which gave Barthelmess his first chance to show what he could do in a long, long time. Our people liked it. Nine reels.— P. E. Doe. Electric theatre, Arcadia, Neb. — Small town patronage. THE PATENT LEATHER KID: Richard Barthelmess— Not a big box office bet. due to too many other war pictures being released before this. But let me tell you it's a real show. Business fairly good, but nothing like it should be for this splendid picture. — L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. — General patronage. LADIES NIGHT IN A TURKISH BATH: Mulhall-Mackaill— The title drew them. The picture is not so hot. Business good, so there's nothing more to say.— L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. — General patronage. LILAC TIME: Colleen Moore The best box office bet this year and the best picture on the screen right now. Maybe "Wings" is better, but you've got to show me. I am playing it soon. — L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville. Ia.— General patronage. THE NIGHT WATCH: Billie Dove— Not so good, not so bad. Very light show and light story. Billie Dove saves it from being mediocre. — L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre. Postville, la.— General patronage. Fox FOl'R SONS: Special cast — Very, very fine heart interest picture. The kind you like to see on your screen, and you can boost it heavy. It will please 100 per cent. Nine reels. — P. G. Vaughan. Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — Neighborhood patronage. MANHATTAN COCKTAIL: Special cast-Just fair. Not bad. Not good. Can't understand why producers make such pictures unless they want to throw away their money. Give us more consistently good pictures. — L. E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, la. — General putronage. THE AIR CIRCUS: Special cast— November 2627. An extra good program feature, sold as a spe