Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

62 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 30, 1929 5-6. Had splendid drawing power and seemed to please universally. Many compliments from patrons. Held up well the 6eeond night. Good recording. Nine reels.— W. J. Powell, Lonet theatre, Wellington. O. — General patronage. MADAME X (AT) : Ruth Chatterton— October 28-29. Truly a wonderful picture. Pleased almost 100 per cent. Drew fairly good. Good print and recording excellent. Ten reels. — Walker and Donnell, Leroy theatre, Lampasas. Tex. — Small town patron age. Paramount DANCE OF LIFE: Nancy Carroll— October 2324. This may be a good ottering with sound, but it is not as good as the average program picture silent. It will not stand any raise. Pleased about ten per cent. Eight reels. — O. A. Halstead, Cozy theatre, Duchesne, Utah. — General patronage. RIVER OF ROMANCE (AT) : Special cast— Very good. Buddy Rogers and Wallace Beery sure click in this one. Recording fine. — R. B. Gotham, Auditorium, Hiawatha, Kan. — General patronage. RIVER OF ROMANCE: Buddy Rogers— Colonial scenes and story lays this one low for me. — C. E. Robinson, Town Hall, Carmel, Me. — Small town patronage. THUNDERBOLT (AT): George BancroftPretty darned good picture, and Bancroft talks plenty good. All in the cast talk good except the warden, and he is understandable. Don't be afraid of this one as to talking for if we can make 'em talk, you needn't worry. Disc equipment.— C. A. Spainhour, Twilight theatre, Grecnsburg, Kan. — General patronage. THUNDERBOLT: George Bancroft— November 8. One of the best Bancrofts I have ever seen. Saw the picture four times talking and enjoyed it just as much in its 6ilent form. — R. W. Van Hook, Rialto theatre, Morrillton, Ark. — General patronage. WOLF OF WALL STREET (AT) : George Bancroft— A good picture, and talking good on disc equipment. — C. A. Spainhour, Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan. — General patronage. BETRAYAL: Emil Jannings — Paramount soaked me twice as much for this as usual, and it was simply rotten. I expected something big and got disappointed, so did my patrons. Look out for it. — C. E. Robinson, Town Hall, Carmel, Me. — Small town patronage. BETRAYAL: Emil Jannings— October 26. Lest money on this, as they just won't come out to see this star. However, I thought it a good picture, and where this 6tar is liked it will go over big. — Paul B. Hoffmann, Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patronage. FAST COMPANY: Evelyn Brent— November 3. Good comedy-drama made from Ring Lardner's story, "Elmer the Great." Seven reels. — P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D. — Small town patronage. FAST COMPANY (AT) : Special cast— Went over big. Satisfied 95 per cent. Recording on disc fair. — E. C. Arehart, Gem theatre, Woonsocket, S. Dak. — General patronage. THE WHEEL OF LIFE: Richard Dix— Dix as an army officer is good, but there is not the usual action, as in previous pictures. Slow moving, might have been made in half the footage. — C. E. Robinson, Town Hall, Carmel, Me. — Small town patronage. THE WHEEL OF LIFE (AT): Special cast— Couldn't tell whether this was a good picture or not. Recording was terrible. Pulled it off the second night. — R. B. Gorham, Auditorium, Hiawatha, Kan. — General patronage. TAKE ME HOME: Bebe Daniels— November 1. A good little program picture which seemed to please very well. Bebe Daniels draws just fair for me. We play all silents, as sound is beyond the possibilities of this place as yet. Six reels. — W. M. Lodge, Fulton theatre, McConnellsburg, Pa. — Small town patronage. THE CARNATION KID: Douglas MacLean— A fairly good comedy, but didn't please as well as I expected. — C. E. Robinson, Town Hall, Carmel. Me. ■ — Small town patronage. No Losses in the Box Office ICKET REGISTERS Automatic Ticket Register Corp. 723 Seventh Ave.New York THE CANARY MURDER CASE (AT): Special cast — A good picture. Talking good on disc equipment.— C. A. Spainhour, Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan. — General patronage. THE CANARY MURDER CASE: William Powell — Not as good silent as talking, but nevertheless a good murder picture. Drew a good crowd with roads practically impassable. Seven reels. — Harold Smith, Dreamland theatre, Carson, la. — General patronage. CHINATOWN NIGHTS: Wallace Beery— November 4-5. Not much to it. Seven reels. — G. H. Wright, Jr., Star theatre, Wendell, N. Car. — Small town patronage. SINS OF THE FATHERS: Emil Jannings— November 1-2. We thought it a great picture, but had more walkouts than on any picture we ever ran. — G. A. Hart. Roxy theatre, Stratford. Tex.— Small town patronage. NEVADA: Gary Cooper — October 25-26. Everyone pleased. — G. A. Hart. Roxy theatre, Stratford, Tex. — Small town patronage. WOMAN TRAP (AT): Special cast— Interesting crook play. Disc recording not so good. Seven reels. — E. C. Arehart, Gem theatre, Woonsocket, S. Dak. — General patronage. THE STUDIO MURDER MYSTERY (AT) : Special cast — This isn't much of a picture and just won't talk at all on disc. If you have it bought, play it silent, or better still, trade it for anything else. Big disappointment. Disc equipment. — C. A. Spainhour, Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan. — General patronage. DIVORCE MADE EASY (AT): Douglas MacLean — This is, I believe, the best talking picture we have had up to date. All voices clear and distinct, sounding natural. However, got bad set of records, wouldn't stay in sync. First one from anyone that have ever given us any trouble. The picture, as far as it is concerned, is very light comedy-drama. Rather short, and while it seemed to please very well, would call it below the average. But, boy, it talked, and that is what wc liked about it. Using Independent disc equipment.— C. A. Spainhour, Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan. — General patronage. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (AT): Special cast — Pretty good picture. Talking just fair. Independent disc equipment. — C. A. Spainhour. Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan. — General patronage. THE RAINBOW MAN (AT) : Special eastBoys and girls, here is a real honest to God piece of entertainment. It is 100 per cent talking, with some singing. Extra-good recording, and how Edd:e Dowling sings "Rainbow Man" and "Sleepy Valley" is nobody's business. A sweet little story well acted and with pleasing ending. If you haven't played this one, get it and promise them plenty. Talked and pleased on our disc equipment. We made money on this one. — C. A. Spainhour, Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan. — General patronage. Pathe THE SPIELER: Special cast— October 23-24. Good picture of carnival life. Seven reels. — H. D. Beebe, Rialto theatre. Nelson, Neb. — General patronage. GERALDINE: Eddie Quillan— November 6. Excellent. One of the best program pictures I have used this year. I bought this right and made a little money on it. It's all right, fellows. Six reels. — G. H. Wright, Jr., Star theatre. Wendell, N. Car. — Small town patronage. THE GODLESS GIRL: Lina Basquette— October 20. A very good picture with a serious angle. Tale of young people who try to bs atheists. Some good reformatory institution stuff. Eight reels.— P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D. — Small town patronage. SHOW FOLKS: Special cast— November 3. A pleasing picture that went over nicely on a Sunday night. I believe it would be better in sound than as a silent production. — Paul B. Hoffmann, Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patronage. BURNING BRIDGES: Harry Carey— November 2. Very good Western. Drew well for Saturday. Six reels.— G. H. Wright, Jr.. Star theatre, Wendell. N. Car. — Small town patronage. RKO STREET GIRL (AT): Special east— Very clever picture. Betty Compson and Jack Oakie are great. Didn't draw quite as well as expected. Recording fine. — R. B. Gorham, Auditorium, Hiawatha, Kan. — General patronage. SIDE STREET (AT): Special cast— October 31. Expected something great in this. The recording is awful. Hope RKO gives us better stuff than this, or it's just too bad for all concerned. Good plot and good acting and believe these boys could give us some real stuff, but the recording spoiled the whole show. — Carl Veseth, Palace theatre, Malta, Mont. — General patronage. SIDE STREET (AT) : Special cast— A mighty good little picture. Pleased all who saw it. Recording not so good. — R. B. Gorham, Auditorium Hiawatha, Kan. — General patronage. SIDE STREET: Tom, Owen, Matt Moore — November 1-2. A very good city story, with one brother a doctor, one a policeman and one a racketeer. Stuff that we read about every day on front page of our dailies. Had something, however. Gripped one. Many praised the picture. Seven reels. — P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D. — Small town patronage. THE VERY IDEA (AT) : This is positively the worst thing I ever witnessed. Story is absurd and dirty. Patrons walked out. and several talked about having me prosecuted for running it. Recording good. — R. B. Gorham, Auditorium, Hiawatha, Kan. — General patronage. Tiffany NEW ORLEANS (TME) : Special cast— November 8-9. About two reels of talking, and that is all that made the picture any entertainment. The story, what there was of it, was bad and not entertaining. A number of patrons walked out on it. The picture did not give satisfaction here. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage. United Artists BULLDOG DRUMMOND (AT) : Ronald Colman— Pretty good picture. Nothing to rave over. Would call it above the average as far as picture is concerned, but the disc recording on our outfit was terrible. Couldn't understand over 70 per cent, and what you could understand was so unreal and unnatural it made it a pain in the neck. We had it booked four days, played it two and pulled it. Paid $100, grossed $52.40 first night, $12.20 second night. Use your own judgment. Independent disc equipment.— C. A. Spainhour, Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan. — General patronage. BULLDOG DRUMMOND (AT) : Ronald Colman— November 10-11-12. A talking picture and a good one. The story good, and acting of the star and the whole cast fine. We found the recording poor and hard to understand. We played the picture with disc recording. The picture gave good satisfaction. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage. BULLDOG DRUMMOND (AT) : Recording so poor on disc that we could not run the picture and had to pull it and get another picture. Now try and get your money back. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — General patronage. SHE GOES TO WAR (TME) : Eleanor Boardman— October 27. Just a picture. Lost plenty on it. — M. W. Mattecheck, Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore. — General patronage. THIS IS HEAVEN: Vilma Banky— October 23-24. A splendid comedy-drama. No occasion for Miss Banky to talk if 6he can always act as well. Nine reels. — P. G. Estee, S. T. theatre, Parker, S. D.— Small town patronage. STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.: Buster Keaton— November 1-2. Did fair business with this considering present conditions here. No particular story, just a lot of fun, and Lord, how they did laugh ! Keaton is unique in his field. Good photography. Print in fair shape after a couple of hours repairing! Seven reels. — O. B. Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — General patronage. SORRELL AND SON: Special cast— November 3-4. Brethren, here is one that set a new record — poorest print ever delivered to our house. Can scarcely comment on the picture on that account. We knew it was a good one from numerous reports, and we expected it to draw, which it did. But our exhibition was ruined, and so were the dispositions of patrons and staff by the criminally rotten condition of the film. Worn to a frazzle and then mangled in addition. We are softies or we would have immediately put this print "on the board," but did not want to dissapoint our Sunday patronage if we could possibly help. Well, we disappointed them, anyway, and are out our film rental. Poor judgment, but believe me, it won't happen again ! Fir6t two prints from United Artists were all right, but ever since they have been getting worse, until now they won't even hang together through the rewinder. We were fools to buy their product, I guess. Our exhibitor friends all told us so at the start, but we had to find it out ourselves. Most of these old, well know pictures draw pretty good for us, but they have so much of the original cut out and are in 6Uch poor condition that it will soon be the same thing to advertise "United Artists picture" as to hang out the "No Show Tonight" sign. We get service from the Cleveland exchange. — O. B. Wolfe, Screenland theatre. Nevada, O. — General patronage. [Reports continued on page following Jaysee]