Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

Feb.uary 16, 1929 EXHIBITORS H ERALD -WORLD 59 J. CL Jenkins — His Colyum {Continued from preceding page) in the same channel. There are limes, however, when Tommy's judgment gets a little out of plumb and takes off through the underbrush over towards Mike's, but we are not going to cite any specific case except to refer to his review of "THE WEDDING MARCH," wherein he stated that it was one of "the best pictures ever made." Thomas, you know, lives in Chicago where the best people patronize the art galleries (and some cellars), and we circulate around among folks who live in the tall grass and patronize entertainment. Tommy calls "THE WEDDING MARCH" entertainment. We just haven't the heart to ask Thomas if his cellar is still in good working order — no, sir, we just haven't. It would be too personal a question. * * * We note by last week's issue of the world's greatest magazine (and you don't need to be told what that is) that Tragsdorf of Neillsville has been down to New York. That's the buggest surprise of 1929. How a Wisconsin exhibitor could get down to New York is beyond our understanding. He didn't ride the rods, for his wife was with him. He didn't walk, for he has corns and flat feet, so we would like to know how he got there. Trag tells about consorting with the Emperor of Brazil and other dignitaries with the same indifference he would in talking about the beauties of the harvest moon with the hired girl on the back porch. He says they wanted to soak him 13 bucks for two bench seats to see Will Rogers. The fact is they saw him coming and somebody told the ticket seller to "Soak That Badger."' They can always tell a guy from Wisconsin by the way he lifts his feet — he pulls them up like he was stepping over logs, they are so used to it up there. The last time we were in New York we saw a Badger from Oshkosh stop a street car right in the middle of the block to ask the conductor if he knew a fellow down there by the name of Ezra Jones. And yet some people will say that all fish live in the water! Trag says he went down to New7 York to try to find out whatinel's the matter with the business. We could have told him that it would be a waste of time and money, that New York didn't know any more about it than Hollywood knows about a golden wedding. We want to thank Trag for the compliment he paid us when he said that there were times in our life when we were suspected of having told the truth. That's a compliment that is seldom paid us. * * * We were very sorry to read in the last issue of the HERALDWORLD of the destruction by fire of the Cozy theatre at Villisca, la. The Cozy and its genial manager, Dr. F. M. Childs, are so well known throughout the theatre world that the destruction of the Cozy will seem like a personal loss to all of us. We visited with Doc at this theatre a few days before this loss occurred, and this makes the news all the more shocking. Doc, old scout, you have our sympathy, if that will help anv. but remember what Commodore Lawrence said, "DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP!" * * * We know of no constitutional provision making it a penal offense for a subject of our Uncle Samuel to express his opinion provided that opinion does not work harm to any other subject, notwithstanding the fact that Congress and state legislatures are continually trying to abridge that right. Therefore, since we were born under the Stars and Stripes in the Wolverine state back at a time when they kept it on the sideboard and nobody paid any attention to it, we will be clearly within our constitutional prerogative should we again assert that the producers misconception as to what constitutes entertainment is the prime factor for the letting down of public interest in motion pictures. Had we the ability to make it any clearer than that we'd be glad to do it. Did you see what that guy did down in Hoboken? He didn't do much, just took an old run-down theatre and brushed the cobwebs out of the foyer, put some new globes in the footlights, put in a melodramatic stock company and played such "lemons" as "THE OLD HOMESTEAD" and "JOSH WHITCOMB" and plays of that type, and he had the elite of the city standing on one another's shoulders to see the show. Does this prove anything? Probably not a doggone thing. We know 35 million people personally (and Trag says we are truthful) that would give their last shirt to see that old "sawmill scene" again. Personally, we'd sooner see Uncle Josh sitting by a log fire smoking his pipe and reading the world's greatest magazine (see title on front cover) and Aunt Sarah knitting a "muffler" for her little grandson, Willie, than to see all the all-day-sucker scenes in "OUT OF THE RUINS" and "THE KISS AT MIDNIGHT" that those two cheese factory films contained — and they contained aplenty. Do you catch the drift of what we mean? New York won't, but you go back and take a look at Gary Cooper and Florence Vidor in "DOOMSDAY," and maybe our remarks will soak in. You won't get anything in this life that you don't fight for, and it is hardly fair for 20,000 of you theatre babies to leave all the fighting to one little, skinny, pusillanimous wart who isn't able to get nearer the enemy than the third-line trenches. We are shot all full of holes already. Pictures should be made in two classes, one class for New York and Chicago, and the other class for the rest of the world. Ho-hum, wonder if Eagle Eve Joe is still in good standing with his "cherrv pie" girl? J. C. JENKINS, The HERALD-WORLD Man. P. S.— The HERALD-WORLD covers the FIELD like an APRIL shower. leery was a good old wagon, but is about broke lown. The public doesn't want such stuff as this. Classed as a special, but a very poor program. Seven eels. — William A. Clark, Garden theatre, Canton, 11. — General patronage. BEGGARS OF LIFE : Wallace Beery— January 8-19. Very good story, with a thrill at the finish. — irs. J. B. Travelle, Elite theatre, Placerville, Cal. — General patronage. WIFE SAVERS: Beery-Hatton— January 24. Anither good Beery and Hatton. Plenty of laughs in his one and patrons were well pleased. Six reels. — J. A. Dilla, Sun theatre, Farwell, Neb. — General latronage. WINGS: Special cast — January 24-26. Splendid ricrore. Play it at any time if you can buy it right. Jut it is too expensive right now. The company got dl the money and I the grief — ice, sleet and bad ■oads helped to finish a poor start. Fifteen reels. — ■ irs. H. S. Record. Palace theatre, Cambridge, 111. —General patronage. WINGS : Special cast— 100%. December 13-14. This picture shows what a company can do if it takes a little time and money and puts them in pictures. I received more real comments on "Wings" than any other picture I have ever shown. Rigged up sound apparatus for this and did very nice with it. — William R. Boughn, The Sun theatre, Walthill, Neb. — General patronage. THE PATRIOT: Emil Jannings — December 4-5-6. \ great picture from a production standpoint, but a lud at the box office. — J. C. Kennedy, Empress theitre, Akron, la. — General patronage. LADIES OF THE MOB: Clara Bow^Tanuary 13. K little rough for Clara, but patrons were well leased. I agreed with patrons that this one was jood. In fact, Clara is a good bet here. Seven •eels. — G. A. Dilla. Sun theatre, Farwell, Neb. — General patronage. MANHATTAN COCKTAIL: Special cast— January 13-14. The picture was goon enough, but it wasn't yhat we were promised. This was not the picture [ had expected. — J. C. Kennedy, Empress theatre, \kron, la. — General patronage. JUST MARRIED: Special cast— 22%. January 18. ?ery good light comedy. No kicks on this one. Six -eelB. — Weber & Haas, LaCrosse theatre. LaCrosse, San. — General patronage. GET YOUR MAN: Clara Bow— January 14-15. Best Clara Bow yet. It drew a good crowd. We iost money on "Red Hair," so raised the admission price on this one and made some money. Good print and photography. Six reels. — Robert K. Yancey. Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. FOOLS FOR LUCK: Special cast— January 22. 3ood comedy, but it isn't worth more than program price. Paramount has several stars that they raise the price on, but they only draw program crowds and give only program satisfaction. Good print and photography. Six reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny :heatre, Mansfield, 7vIo. — General patronage. VARSITY: Buddy Rogers — Very ordinary. Paramount will have to do better than this to make a rtart out of this boy. — J. L. Seiter, Selma theatre, 3elma, Cal. — General patronage. VARSITY: Buddy Rogers— January 18. Ordinary. —J. S. Walker. Texas theatre. Grand Prairie, Tex. — ■ Small town patronage. LEGION OF CONDEMNED: CooperWray— Now, showmen, here is a real picture. This lady 6tar, Fay Wray, from now on will be my bet for all time to come. Why, she knows how to take caresses, kisses and embraces better than any star screen player I ever looked at. Then turn and gaze on her audience without a blush, without excitement whataver. She is a natural picture star. Goodness knows, I would love to meet her myself. Lots of the young men ask me, "Is she married ?" Let me know. Bight reels. — Walter Odom and Sons, Dixie theatre, Durant, Miss. — Small town patronage. KIT CARSON: Fred Thomson— January 2-3. Nothing to get excited about. — J. S. Walker, Texas theatre. Grand Prairie, Tex. — Small town patronage. THE LAST COMMAND: Emil Jannings — January 27-28. A very dramatic offering. The ending, although logical, is sad and leaves a bad taste in their mouths. Otherwise, very good. Nine reels. — William E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small lown patronage. HALF A BRIDE: Esther Ralston— Good picture that pleased all who saw it. Esther is always good, and I am sorry Paramount will not make her full quote this year.— S. H. Rich, Rich theatre, Montpelier. Idaho. — Small town patronage. MORAN OF THE MARINES: Richard Dix— I do not consider the picture as good as last year's productions. Ruth Elder does fair work. — S. H. Rich, Rich theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. — Small town patronage. FORGOTTEN FACES: Clive Brook— 50%. Very ?ood comments on this one, but too much flu. I wish more of my patrons could have seen it, as it was one of three what you could call pictures in January. The rest were duds. — William R. Boughn, The Sun theatre, Walthill, Neb. — General patronage. FORGOTTEN FACES: Clive Brook— December 30-31. Seemed to please. Some fine acting and a good story. — J. C. Kennedy, Empress theatre, Akron, la. — General patronage. FORGOTTEN FACES: Clive Brook— Very good picture. Pleased everybody. — S. H. Rich, Rich theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. — Small town patronage. SHE'S A SHEIK: Bebe Daniels— January 29-30. One of Bebe's good ones. A lotta laughs in it. Mostly hokum. Seven reels.— William E. Tragsdorf. Trags theatre. Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. WIFE SAVERS: Hatton-Beery— Fair picture. This is the last of the team, and I am not sorry. They never drew extra business for me. — S. H. Rich, Rich theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. — Small town patronage. THE WATER HOLE: Jack Holt-^Ianuary 23.