Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

November 16, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 75 WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME Verdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor Copyright, 1929 AT— All Talking; T — Talking Sequences; M — Music (synchronous) ; E— Sound Effects. (Example: TME, means the picture has talking, a synchronized musical score and sound effects. In the same way all other symbols may be combined. When no symbols appear following the title, picture was run silent. A TTTT O TYd^k WfTp *s tne name selected by J. C. Jenkins for his new car, successor 23. JT J\,J-J-J kDJ-J. \ J fw M-JMA, to Nancy, recently retired. "April Shower" was suggested by Eva Thatcher, Educational comedienne. For further details, see Jaysee's Colyum in this issue. Chesterfield CAMPUS KNIGHTS: Special cast— Very pleasing. Box office value was Marie Quillan, of the famous Quillan family of vaudeville. Her work was excellent for the part she had. Business very good. — K. Vaveris, Grand theatre. Mount Pleasant, Pa. — General patronage. Chadwick SAY IT WITH DIAMONDS: Betty Compson— For those silent houses I want to recommend this fine entertainment. You cannot go wrong on this one. It will please your patrons all the way through. It is done by four of the cleverest artists on the screen, and for me it did a wonderful business to satisfied patrons. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. — General patronage. Columbia BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: Virginia Valli— We found this a fair picture. Six reels. — Giacoma Brothers, Crystal theatre, Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. COLLEGE COQUETTE : Special cast— October 4-5. Not much to this one, the first one from Columbia that didn't give satisfaction of the 1928-29-30 pictures. Seven reels. — P. G. Held, Strand theatre, Griswold, la. — General patronage. First National SMILING IRISH EYES: Colleen Moore— There could not be anything as poor as this one if you looked and looked, and as we have had two to report ban1 from Colleen, what can we expect and get away with it? — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind.— General patronage. SMILING IRISH EYES (AT): Colleen Moore— Oetober 21-22. Did not draw very well. Looks like Colleen isn't as popular as she used to be. This picture pleased our patrons. Is made up of a lot of good comedy that gets over big. The recording is gajd, and Colleen has a good voice. — Walker and Donnell, Leroy theatre, Lampasas, Tex. — General patronage. SMILING IRISH EYES: Colleen Moore— I am sorry to report poor on this picture, for I have held out strong for Colleen Moore pictures and it's a sure thing that Colleen is not yet a dead one, but if she makes any more like this one, soon she will be a dead one, because some poor exhibitor will murder the poor girl. I failed to draw average business after first day with my town billed like a circus at average admission. Oh boy, did it hurt! — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. SMILING IRISH EYES (AT): Colleen MooreOctober 1-2. Colleen has always been my favorite and the favorite of the people here, but she will have to watch out or she will lose her popularity. The theme of this picture was fairly good, the first time it was used, and so I suppose it would be considered good to a person who hadn't seen it in half a dozen other pictures. As for the recording — well, the producers seem to be having considerable trouble recording ordinary talk, and the exhibitors have their hands full reproducing it, so why in the worW did somebody proceed to make matters worse by attempting to record a conglomeration of Irish dialect? That's all the picture is. The sooner the producers realize that they are attempting to record too much for present day equipment, the better off we all will be. My patrons very frequently ask me why I do not stop playing loud music while the movie actors are talking. Gosh, I wish I could. Effects, noises, music and general uproar are all right in their place, but that place is certainly not while the people who have paid to see and hear are straining every nerve to catch what Billie Bow is simpering into the ear of Larry Lake. — M. W. Larmour, National theatre, Graham, Tex. — General patronage. FAST LIFE (AT): Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.— Recording very good on disc. A very interesting story of modern jazz age. Ending is sort of depressing, but holds interest throughout. Eight reels. — H. G. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — General patronage. DRAG: Richard Barthelmess — A very well handled picture that pleased. One of Barthelmess' best. — George E. Fuller, The Playhouse theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — Small town patronage. DRAG: Richard Barthelmess— October 17-18-19. This is rather slow. More of a talkie than a silent picture. It is getting harder and harder to get a good silent picture. The producers have forgotten the small town and are making Broadway smashes. Six reels.— S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — General patronage. WEARY RIVER (AT): Richard Barthelmess— October 4-5. Mighty fine picture, good story, good recording. One they'll talk about for a long time. Nine reels. — W. J. Carter, Maxine theatre, Croswell, Mich. — Small town patronage. THE HAWK'S NEST: Milton Sills— September 30. What did I tell you ? Another record smashed. Two nights in succession "Tarzan" smashed our house records, with the aid of First National pictures. Of course, "Hawk's Nest" is a wonderful picture, but how much it contributed to the record smashing we will never know. That's the trouble with short subjects. You never can tell how much credit they are due for the attendance, when shown with features. Seven reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. — Small town patronage. THE STOLEN BRIDE: Billie Dove— October 2. A well told story with considerable suspense that holds interest throughout. Two-reel Educational comedy shown with feature as serial ended last week. Attendance dropped from 98 per cent to 67 per cent. so the serial evidently was the big drawing card. But 67 per cent is not bad, though. Seven reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C— Small town patronage. HARD TO GET (AT) : Dorothy Mackaill— Recording on disc very fine. One of the most entertaining shows of the year. Good story and clever comedy by Jack Oakie. Seven reels. — H. G. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — General patronage. THE NIGHT WATCH: Billie Dove— October 17-18. A very good picture, well acted and seemed to please. Billie Dove a very good star. Eight reels. — Page & Goetz, Gem theatre, Canton, Mo. — Small town patronage. THE NIGHT WATCH: Special cast— Pretty good. Nine reels. — B. K. Johnson, Orpheum theatre, Kerrobert, Sask., Canada. — General patronage. HIS CAPTIVE WOMAN (TM) : Milton SillsOctober 5. A dandy picture. Although only part talking, one of the best pictures I have seen. Music and recording fine. Saw this picture five times and wouldn't mind seeing it again. — Mrs. Faye Corpe, Colonial theatre, Colfax, IIL — General patronage. WATERFRONT: Mackaill-Mulhall— September 23. Whoops, my dear ! A headon collision between "Waterfront" and "Tarzan The Mighty," episode 12, and our house record standing since March 14, 1927, and our house record was smashed in the collision. Yes, sir ! And the end is not yet ! Three more episodes to go, and at the wild pace our Monday night show is going, other records will be smashed. "Waterfront" is a jim dandy production and contributed its share to the record breaking. Six reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C. — Small town patronage. LADY BE GOOD: Mulhall-Mackaill— October 7. For the third consecutive week "Tarzan The Mighty" and a First National picture have broken our house record. "Lady Be Good" is a good comedy-drama that will please. Only one more episode of the serial, then we'll see whether the serial or First National pictures was the drawing power. Six reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C— Small town patronage. HAPPINESS AHEAD: Colleen Moore— October 14. A sweet, clean little picture sure to please. Last episode of "Tarzan the Mighty" also shown, but we did not break another record. Almost did, though — hit 98 per cent. Seven reels. — H. B. Grice, Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S. C— Small town patronage. TWO WEEKS OFF: Mackaill-Mulhall— October 8-9. Better than most of Mackaill-Mulhalls. These stars will not do anything in my town. Seven reels. — C. R. Grimes, Plaza theatre, Ackley, la. — Small town patronage. GIRL IN THE GLASS CAGE: Loretta YoungOctober 13-14. Just fair. Court scenes not true. Seven reels.— C. R. Grimes, Plaza theatre, Ackley, la. — Small town patronage. Don't forget — If picture has sound — Fill out blanks accordingly