Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

54 EXHIBITORS HERALD -WORLD February 23, 1929 (Continued from preceding page) Organs for Sale FOR SALE — Reproduco pipe organ. Operates mechanically or hand. Worth $1,600. Sacrifice at $1,100. Address Gem Theatre, Sheboygan, Wis. FOR SALE— Seeburg Automatic electric player piano at a bargain. Silver gray finish, like new throughout. Address Star Music Co., 4837 Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, 111. FOR SALE: Bartola Pipe Organ. Used Wurhtzer Pipe Organ, model U, very reasonable. Cremona Pipe Organ, used or new. Reproduco Pipe Organs. Address S. B. McFadden, Havana, I1L Gift [Sight Souvenirs GIFT NIGHT MERCHANDISE: Over 300 fine novelties in our large free catalog at genuine whole LETTE RS From Readers A forum at which the exhibitor is invited to express his opinion on matters of current interest. Brevity adds forcefulness to any statement. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Good Film Moves Soul INDIANAPOLIS, IND.— To the Editor: Entertainment for the soul is what talking pictures are. A good one stirs every emotion to the utmost, literally speaking, moves one's very soul to respond, so Vision Tone, a combination of sight and sound, is good for the soul in the form of entertainment— Jay Gephart, Indianapolis, Ind. "Big Pictures" DOTHAN, ALA.— To the Editor : I'd like to say a few words on the question, "What's the matter with the movies." According to my way of thinking, and from the study I have given the situation for the past three years, and the money I have lost on the socalled big pictures, the first thing I will say is, the "movie business" will have to come down to earth. It thinks it is away up ; I can't find words to say just how high up. The producer thinks he is pleasing the public by charging so much for rotten pictures, trying to make the public think they are getting something and when you see it, it's altogether something you wouldn't spend a cent to see. When I see a picture advertised thus : "Coming, a Million Dollar Production by So & So," right then and there I put that date down, so I won't see that picture, because it won't be anything like it is advertised to be. The public will be disappointed and the exhibitor will be sick, from the box office standpoint. Prices for all pictures are on the extreme. Stars expect too much money for what they do, producers want all you have or ever expect to have for any picture they make. They've got it all figured out. They know what an exhibitor will take in and he takes good pains to see that the contract calls for the amount the exhibitor expects to take in on a picture and a split of 50-50 of a dime if the exhibitor should be lucky enough to take a dime in more than he has charged for the picture. The situation is alarming. I say there should be something done and done quick to force the producers to make pictures the public wants to see, and make them good, clean and attractive, and not so long, and sell them to the exhibitors at a live and let live price. There is no picture — I don't care who made it, or who the star is — worth more than 35 cents to see. I'd never look at another picture before I'd pay 50 cents to see one. There are none worth 50 cents, and after all's said and done pictures are all alike nowadays. When sale prices. Write today. No obligation. Address Fair Trading Co., Inc., 140 W. 21st. St., New York. Projector Repairing FOLLOW THE CROWDS— They Know Best. For Superior Craftsmanship — Dependable Service and Moderate Prices, send your Repair Work to our Peerless Shop. Every Job Guaranteed. Relief Equipment Loaned FREE. Established Over 20 years. Monarch Theatre Supply Co., 395 South Second Street, Memphis, Tenn. BEST SHOP for repairing projection machines. Prompt service, reasonable prices. Address Movie Supply Co., 844 Wabash, Chicago. SKILLED MECHANICS, specialized tools, and a shop equipped for but one purpose can offer yon nothing but the best in repair work. That is what I have, and I can offer you the best in the overhauling of your motion picture machinery equipment. One you've seen, say, fifty pictures you will have seen most everything that can be done on the screen, so why should the public be forced to pay 50 cents for an entertainment such as pictures offer today. I don't blame the public for not falling for the "movies." I don't fall for them, and I can't blame my people for not falling. If I wasn't in the show business you couldn't pay me to sit through such a picture as "The Case of Lena Simth," "The Patriot," "Our Dancing Daughters," "King of Kings," etc. Not that these pictures are not all right, but just because they do not appeal to my taste. * * * When I go to the movies I want to see something that will make me glad I am living, make me forget for the time being any troubles or worries I might have, and I'd like to be able to take three or four of my friends in and not feel that I had spent a week's salary for the show. The working class of people are the people who keep the picture shows open, and the salaries they make won't allow them to spend much on amusements such as the movies. Therefore, it seems to me that since this is the class that the movies appeal to, the producers should be appreciative enough to try and make pictures they like to see, and sell them so they could see the most of them at 25 cents. * * * A man with three or four children can take the whole family to the movies if he can get in for 10 cents and 25 cents, and all will be happy, whereas if he has to pay 25 cents and 50 cents for the family he can't go, that's all there is to it. They'll just have to stay at home and maybe the old man will go for 50 cents, whereas if he could buy the show for 10 cents and 25 cents the whole family would go. Now let's see, four children at 10 cents each is 40 cents and two for the mother and father at 25 cents is 50 cents. This totals 90 cents. They have all had a good time for 90 cents and they feel good over it. On the other hand, the old man went to the show for 50 cents, the exhibitor lost 40 cents and the balance of the family is mad, because Pa wouldn't take them. But how could he? Please tell me. Well, there you are. If the exhibitors would all get together and refuse to buy the pictures at high rentals the producer would soon learn his lesson and come down to earth again. The small exhibitors are the ones to get together and force the film rents down. That's where they get their money from. It's not the big fellows that pay the profits, but the poor little fellows. They pay the profits, you bet they do, because they have the exact amount figured out that the small exhibitor will take in, and he sees to it that this is drawn up in the contract. Therefore, the small exhibitors are all running their houses for the benefit of the producers and the producers don't care a snap what becomes of the small exhibitors just so he gets his profits. I don't blame the public for turning their backs on the movies. I have a theatre and I haven't seen a picture in four weeks. I'm sick and tired of them. They of the oldest repair men in the territory, and serving some of the largest houses. Relief equipment furnished free. For results bring your work to Joseph Spratler, 12-14 E. Ninth St.. Chicago, 111. Equipment Wanted WANTED — 2 Peerless or Powers Projectors, alss Strong reflector arc lamps. State price, condition and number of machines. Will pay cash, or onethird down and balance C.O.D. Address Box 337, Exhibitors HeraldWorld, 407 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. HIGHEST PRICES paid for used opera chairs, projection machines, etc. Address Movie Supply C»., 844 Wabash, Chicago. WANT SEVERAL MERCURY RECTIFIERS, good, bad or incomplete, cheap. Address Preddey, 188 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, Cal. all look alike to me, and to think that we have to pay such high prices for such entertainment. I'd like to hear from some other exhibitors who love the movie business as I do. The small exhibitor is the fellow who pays and pays. — Hattie Mizelle, Alcazar theatre, Dothan, Ala. On Non-Theatricals MONTEZUMA, IND.— To the Editor: Had a nice visit with our friend J. C. J. a few weeks ago and surely confirm his statement with regard to there is to be 5,000 less theatres in operation by 1931 and it looks as though "It won't be long now!" There are already two closed in our vicinity now and it looks as if I will be No. 3 in a short time. J. C. J. surenell knows what he is talking about. With basketball, school plays, church plays and what not, how are we going to hold on much longer? We pay taxes and contribute to the support of churches (which we are glad to do), but do not get consideration and support from them. We even offer our theatre to them free of charge on nights when we are closed, but it seems there is a jinx on the movie business. What can be done? Of course, better pictures would help a lot, but how are we going to get them in time to keep us open even for one more year? Mr. Hays sure sewed up the exhibitor. I was pooh-poohed when I bought M G M product as buying telephone numbers, but they are proving to be the best on the market as a whole and not at an insanity price. Give us, oh give us, big boy, some relief and make it snappy. — R. D. Young, Rex theatre, Montezuma, Ind. From Scotland ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND— To the Editor : — To save further worry on the part of the great American motion picture industry over the right word to use instead of that awful word "Talkie," I am writing you to settle the point once and for all. Going to your Latin roots, boy, the solution is mighty easy. Dialogue picture (s) — DICTON (s)— Talking film actor (s)— DICTOR (s) ; Talking film drama— Dictodrama; Talking comedy — Dictocomedy; Talking film actress (es) — Dictress (es). Your word "audien" is tri-syllabic. Aline has only two syllables. Your word is capable of regional and international mispronunciation. In fact, even an educated person might be pardoned for wondering if you mean "awdee-en," or "ow-dee-en," or "oh-dee-en," and an uneducated party might call it "oh-dyin'." So I've settled the thing for you. And don't let me hear you cal! it "dicture" either. — Wm. Findlay Pirie, Electric theatre, Aberdeen, Scotland. Study Chicago Theatres Chicago theatres and hotels are to be used as models for a community hotel and theatre to be erected in Elyria, Ohio. James A. Hewitt of Elyria is in Chicago to inspect local structures.