Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

64 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD February 23, 1929 VOTES FOR MEIGHAN! The absence of Tom Meighan in the "My Favorite Players" contest has aroused the indignation of Brother E. JHouse of the Oasis theatre in Marion, N C-—ana well it might! Sending in his ballot, he has this to say: "Have just been reading your F ebruary 9 issue and in the 'My Favorite Players contest I am very much surprised to notice that no one has vote for Thomas Meighan. This is all wrong, I think, as I consider him the best all-around male star on the screen, and my family is for him 100 per cent strong. "As to the feminine stars, it surely would be a hard job to pick a favorite with such pretty and competent actresses to choose from as Colleen Moore, Bilhe Dove, Norma Shearer, Shirley Mason, Bebe Daniels, Sue Carol, Viola Dana and Clara Bow. Clara is my best money getter, but this little girl Alice White is soon going to be running her a race. As to personal favorite however, I have to pick Bebe Daniels. I like her fine, and she has been a success for me ever since she first appeared with Harold Lloyd in one-reel comedies. "While I am writing, would like to say that I agree with all that Mr. Jenkins has to say about pictures in his letter in your issue of Feb. 9. It certainly is astonishing the way the producers make the piclures for the big towns, with no regard for the family patronage of the numberless small town theatres the country over. These jazz, crime, underworld and Montmartre pictures are all right for big city showing, where a movie fan has a number of show houses to choose between; but they are all wet when it comes to showing them in the little country town with one or two theatres. I don't know how it may be in the big cities, but I know that in the little country towns the country over, parents are still interested in raising their children and raising them right, and they don't want them going to the picture shows night after night to see the glories of sin and crime so artistically and alluringly portrayed. Neither do they ivant their children to see such pictures as "West of Zanzibar." And personally, I think it is a crime to put such a talented actor as Lon Chaney in such filthy, sordid stories. "If one of the big production companies would pay some heed to Grandpa Jenkins' advice, I bet they would find it profitable, for I am sure there must be some theatres in the big cities with patrons who would like to see clean, wholesome pictures; and certainly the smaller toums everywhere want that kind." Short Features EDUCATIONAL AT EASE: Lloyd Hamilton — Best comedy we have ever used. — Hunstad & Becker, Princess theatre, Guttenberg. la. — General patronage. BUMPING ALONG: Cameo — Very good comedy. One reel. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage. DUMB BELLES: Billy Dooley — Could not see much to this one. Two reels — H. S. Boyd, Community theatre, Woodbury, Conn. — General patronage. FISTICUFFS: Lupino Lane— Very funny. Two reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage. IN THE MORNING: Cameo— Fair. One reel — P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, Neb. — General patronage. MISPLACED HUSBANDS: Dorothy Devore— Funny comedy. Two reels. — P. G. Vaughan, Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage. FOX FOLLOW THE LEADER: Very interesting. Pleased, and all enjoyed this and thought it a good comedy. Two reels. — R. D. Carter, Fairfax theatre, Kilmarnock, Va. — General patronage. JACK AND JILTED: A good comedy, silly enough to make them laugh, and that is what we want — comedies that make the audience laugh. Two reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General patronage. LONE NECKER: Very good.— P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, Neb. — General patronage. M GM BLOW BY BLOW: Max Davidson— Very good, made them laugh and that is what we show a comedy for. Two reels. — R. D. Carter, Fairfax theatre. Kilmarnock, Va. — General patronage. THE BOY FRIEND: Max Davidson— Good. We had the lobby cards on this and not a star or scene that was on the cards was in the picture. All that matches up was the title. It is a Max Davidson comedy and good as usual. We have no kicKS on any M G M comedies. Two reels. — Dinsmore & Son, Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark. — Small town patronage. THE BOY FRIEND: Max Davidson— Very good comedy, lots of laughs. Two reels. — Orris F. Collins. Palace theatre. Rector, Ark. — Small town patronage. CHASING HUSBANDS: Charlie Chase— This Mr. Chase is making good comedies now. The water, sponges and bathing suit will make them laugh. Two reels. — W. T. Biggs, Adair theatre, Adair, Ia.; — General patronage. HABEAS CORPUS: Laurel-Hardy— O, wow, I'm laughing yet! What these boys don't do to your funny bone! Had the house in an uproar all the way through. They start laughing just as soon as they see "Laurel and Hardy" on the screen. Print and photography fair. Two reels. — O. B. Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage. PATHE BROKE IN CHINA: Ben Turpin— Help! If this is a comedy, then I am Charlie Chase. Dear brother, pass this one up. I only wish I had. Two reels. — R. D. Carter, Fairfax theatre, Kilmarnock, Va. — General patronage. FIDDLE STIX: Harry Langdon— Lots of fun in this comedy. Langdon popular. Two reels. — Frank Sabin, Majestic theatre, Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage. JIM JAM JANITOR: Handy Andy— Poor. Very poor indeed. Two reels. — Frank Sabin. Majestic theatre, Eureka, Mont. — Small town patronage. PATHE COMEDIES — We are running Pathe comedies on Friday and Saturday and they are always funny. "Our Gang" series probably the most popular series here. — G. H. Wright, Jr., Star theatre. Wendell, N. C. — Small town patronage. RKO (FBO) FISHING AND HOW: Not much to this one. One reel. — Samuel Jackson, Jackson theatre, Flomaton, Ala. — General patronage. HORSE FEATHERS: Barney Google— Went over big, first one I have used. My patrons seemed to enjoy a change of comedians often. Two reels. — M. D. Frazier, Empress theatre, Armka, Kan. — General patronage. MICKEY'S GREAT IDEA: Mickey McGuire— Clever kid comedy. Two reels. — Orris F. Collins. Palace theatre, Rector, Ark. — Small town patronage. PARAMOUNT CALL AGAIN: Edward Everett Horton— Usual hock set around a man trapped in a select girl's boarding school — M. D. Frazier, Empress theatre, Arma, Kan. — General patronage. DIZZY SIGHTS: Billy Dooley— The sappy sailor in a comedy that is 6omewhat better than usual from him. Drew a lot of laughs, at any rate. Good photography. Worn out print. Two reels. — O. B. Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage. HOT PAPA: Jack Duffy— Starts out slow but has plenty of laughs at the end. Two reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man. — General patronage. UNIVERSAL BUSTER COME ON: Good comedy. Two reels. — H. S. Boyd, Community theatre, Woodbury, Conn. — General patronage. DAZZLING CO-EDS: One of the best "Collegians" made. Plenty good comedy in it. Two reels. — R. D. Young, Rex theatre, Montezuma. Ind. — General patronage. NEW PICTURES WHEN THE LAW RIDES: RKO Western, from a story by Oliver Drake, with Tom Tyler, Frankie Darro, Jane Reid, Harry O'Connor, Harry Woods, Charles Thurston, Bill Nestel and Barner Fury. Directed by Robert De Lacy. Released June 24. Length 4,898. TYPE AND THEME: Tom O'Malley. a young mounted policeman, is on his way to Rawhide to capture a band of outlaws. He finds Raven, a bandit and killer, in a desert near death. Tom helps Raven and offers to bring him to Rawhidt, but when Tom turns his back. Raven covers him with a gun and rides away with his horse and papers. Following his tracks on foot, Tom finds Raven alongside a poison spring and recovers hit papers and a letter written to Raven from Arnold and Blaine, political bosses in Rawhide, requesting he report to them. Exhausted from the heat, Tom is given help to Rawhide in a covered wagon atoned by Parson Ross and his son and daughter. In Rawhide Tom introduces himself to Blaine and Arnold as Raven and arouses their anger when he allows Parson Ross to have services in their saloon, while Tom holds back the outlaws with his gun. Blaine and Arnold double-cross Tom, but with the help of Frankie, the bandits are captured. Tom reveals himself to the Parson, and he ties the knot for Tom and his daughter. • • • ALL AT SEA: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy, with Karl Dane, George K. Arthur, Josephine Dunn, Herbert Prior and Eddie Baker. Directed by Alf Goulding. Released Length _ TYPE AND THEME: "Rollo the Great," a magician, finds himself in a tough spot among a bunch of hard boiled sailors, who keep razzing him. "Stupid," a gob, offers to let Rollo hypnotize him. Rollo succeeds, and Stupid makes a fool of himself. When he comes to his senses, Stupid chases Rollo to get revenge. In the chase, Rollo runs into the navy station and is inducted into the service. Rollo and Stupid are in love with Shirley, an operator, which adds to their ill feelings. A naval ball is held in town, and Rollo pretends he it sick and cannot attend. Then he goes disguised at a vamp, and Stupid falls for him. Rollo hypnotizes Stupid and makes him think he is a fireman. Rouo is discharged from the Navy. That night a fire breaks out in the ship, and many marines are tit danger. Rollo proves himself a hero and saves many lives, but gets trapped by the flames. Stupid, despite his hatred, saves Rollo. Shirley goes to Rollo, who is in the hospital, and declares her lovt for him. Stupid, seeing he is not the lucky one, goes away downhearted. * « • GIRL ON THE BARGE, THE: Universal drama, from a story by Rupert Hughes, with Jean Hersholt, Sally O'Neil, Malcolm MacGregor, Morris Mcintosh, Nancy Kelly, George Offerman, Henry West, Francis Robertson and Rex. Directed by Edward Sloman. Released February 24. Length 6,908. TYPE AND THEME: MacCadden, skipper of a barge which is hauled between New York and Buffalo, is a heavy-drinking disciplinarian over hit four children. His oldest daughter, Erie, is in lovt with Fogarity, pUot of a tug, that rescues the barge. Fogarity teaches Erie to read and writs by smuggling her off the tug after dark. He is fired after a conflict with MacCadden, but in spite takes Erie to a fair. She is beaten by MacCadden when slie returns. Disgusted with her life Erie consents to marry Fogarity and go away with him. MacCadden spoils the plans by knocking Fogarity unconscious. Months pass and Fogarity is lonesome without Erie. A storm comes up, and the MacCadden barge is given up. Fogarity, who is on the same river, rescues the barge and saves the family. MacCadden swears off drinking, and Erie and Fogarity renew their romance. » • • SUNSET PASS: Paramount Western, from a story by Zane Grey, with Jack Holt, Nora Lane, John Loder, Christian J. Frank, Pee Wee Holmes, Chester Conklin, Pat Harmon, Alfred Allen and Guy Oliver. Directed by Otto Brower. Released _ Length 5,862. TYPE AND THEME: Jack Holt in a Zane Grey Western. Jack Rock, a United States marshal, voluntarily serves a term in a penitentiary to secure tips on a cattle rustling gang. He it warned to watch out for Ashleigh, an English rancher. Rock helps Ashleigh out of a tight spot in a saloon, and Ashleigh gives Jack a job at cowpuncher on his ranch, where he meets Nora, Ashleigh' s sister. Jack becomes a very good friend or Nora when he helps her brother out in another bout. Ashleigh learns that a great number of cattle are to be driven through a valley, and tit order to get them in his hide-owway, he orders the valley to be burned. Nora is trapped by tht flames, and Jack rescues her. They declare their love for each other. When Jack gets a tip that Ashleigh is the leader of a gang, he warns him that he is a U. S. marshal and to go straight. Later Ashleigh is killed in a fight between cattlemen and rustlers, and Jack tells Nora he died helpint fight the rustlers. Jack and Nora get married and settle down on the ranch.