Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

54 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD April 5, 1930 WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME V erdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor Copyright. 1930 Columbia THE FAKER: Special cast — This -was shipped to us instead of the “Lone Wolf’s Daughter," and what a disappointment it turned out to be. Six reels. — Parkside theatre, Clinton, la. — General patronage. SUBMARINE: Special cast — Good. Ten reels. — Parkside theatre, Clinton, la. — General patronage. WALL STREET (AT) : Special cast — A very good picture. In fact I have had good pictures as well as good recording from Columbia. And was “Flight” a picture. Book it. Seven reels. — W. Burr, Orpheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — General patronage. First National LOOSE ANKLES (AT) : Special cast — Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Loretta Young, Otis Harlan, Louise Fazenda, Ethel Wales and a maid that is a real comedian. With that cast could you expect anything but a great comedy. For two reels the crowd just roared and pulled in their seats. The rest was full of good humor. Louise and Ethel get a little too much to drink and there’s a scream in the scenes at the big circus cafe shots. Have failed to see any reports on this, so hope this does some one else some good. Opened up with it last night and should pack them in tonight, with the talk it’s getting today. Just figure you are paying a big price for it and step on it like you would a Harold Lloyd. If your patrons fail to laugh at this one they’re dead both ways. Wish I had it to play over again, I’d put on my best nights. — -Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. LOOSE ANKLES (AT) : Special cast — Here is a clever little picture and two stars that are liked by my public. You will like this one and there is lots of comedy. Seven reels. — W. Burr, Orpheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — General patronage. NO, NO, NANETTE (AT) : Special cast — This is the best talking picture yet made. My patrons, who have seen all of the big ones, tell me that this one is the best that they ever saw. I agree with them. If you have this one 6tep on it. It will stand raise in admission and please. Disc recording perfect. Nine reels. — A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russelville, Ky. — General patronage. PLAYING AROUND (AT): Alice White— Plenty good. Alice a good singer and Chester Morris great in the heavy role. Just a dandy program picture. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. PARIS (AT) : Irene Bordoni — Here’s a special. Drew excellent here because it was my first nice Sunday with talkies. Held up better Monday and Tuesday than any I have run. Irene Bordoni very good. I could listen to Jack Buchanan sing “Miss Wonderful” a hundred times. After screening it I got out special bills and worked twice as hard. One you can step on, and you will, no doubt, have to on account of the stars being unknown, and the title resembling so many other current releases. — ■ Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. PAINTED ANGEL (AT) : Billie Dove — Many favorable comments on this. Plenty of song, dance and pretty girls. Enough of everything to make it a pleasing picture. Good for Sunday. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. PAINTED ANGEL (AT): Billie Dove— March 19-20. Talking picture. This is a splendid production. The star and cast fine. The best picture of the kind we have played to date. Fine singing and dancing numbers. Good story and everything to make a good evening’s entertainment. We played it as a program picture, but it is better than most of the specials we have played. Had we known its quality we would have played it as a special, and it would have satisfied. Sound-on-disc good. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville. ‘Mich. — General patronage. IN THE NEXT ROOM (AT): Jack Mulhall — Another murder story that is a fair picture. For my end of it, I have had enough of this type for a while, and I think the public has also. Seven reels. — W. Burr, Orpheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — Small town patronage. HARD TO GET (AT) : Dorothy Mackaill — Just fair. Photography very bad, in fact as bad as I have ever run. — Robert K. Yancey, New Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. FORWARD PASS (AT) : Special cast — Opened with this feature on my Bestone equipment. It was Key to Sound Symbols AT — A IITalking TME— Talking, Musical Score, Effects MC Musical Comedy O Operetta ME Musical Score, Effects (only) DEFINITIONS: AT, a picture in which all speaking to be observed in the essential action is recorded, the designation including any musical score which the picture may have.— TME, a part-talking picture, the designation including the musical score necessary in such types and any sound effects.— MC, a picture corresponding to the type of stage production called “musical comedies,'” being extravaganzas or revues featuring musical acts and dancing and with all sound essential to the action, including dialog, recorded. O, a picture corresponding to the light operas of the stH’ge called “operettas.” — ME, a picture which has a musical score, may have sound effects, but which has no dialog. NOTE: When no symbols appear directly after the title, the picture was run in silent form. very good. Peppy songs, music and everything. And they pay him to make love to Loretta. I’d do it for my board and room. Didn’t draw so well as I expected, because this is not a football town. Every one who saw it was pleased. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. THE LOVE RACKET (AT) : Dorothy Mackaill— Good picture, but Dorothy is better in a comedy role. Liked here because it was first trial picture. Recording on all-Vitaphone pictures fine. Wish every company was as good. Real service out of K. C. — Austin Childs, Rex theatre, Hanover, Kan. — Small town patronage. Fox CAMEO KIRBY (AT): Special cast— Not a big box office attraction. This Mr. Murray and hie wonderful singing, saved the show. Recording on film okay. — R. A. Preuss, Golden Gem theatre. Golden, Col. — Small town patronage. SKY HAWK (AT): Special cast— Enacted by a new cast. Good Zeppelin picture, with some real thrill6. Did not draw so good. But still when you see all new faces and not such a good title, no wonder. Film recording fair, but real good in spots. — R. A. Preuss, Golden Gem theatre. Golden, Col. — Small town patronage. WHY LEAVE HOME (AT) : Sue Carol— March 7-8. A program picture, as good or better than most specials. Swell dialog. Everything seems just right in this one. Based on the stage success “Cradle Snatchers,” and concerns the duck hunting husbands turning their efforts to the "chicken” variety of fowl. Has comedy, dancing and sings. Seven reels.— O. A. J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum The page of Javsee Jenkins’ comments on and of exhibitors he has met, together with his sundry and several, but always interesting, observations on other topics, is found on page 42 of this issue. Jaysee — Page 42 Fosse, Community theatre, Ridgeway, la. — Generali patronage. CHRISTINA: Janet Gaynor — March 9-10. Nothing big, startling or remarkable. Just a nice picture. Only did fair business with it. We don’t seem to be able to sell this 6tar to our patrons. Excellent print and photography. But I don’t see why people should have to sit through fifty feet or more of information about music score, etc. Ten reels. — O. B. Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage. THEY HAD TO SEE PARIS (AT): Will Rogers — A swell picture, and 6old at a price that you can make a little money. This comedy has put out some very good product so far, and will sell it at live and let live prices. You can’t go wrong on this picture. Ten reels. — W. Burr, Orpheum theatre, Lancaster, Wis. — Small town patronage. THEY HAD TO SEE PARIS (AT) : Will Rogers— A very good picture that will draw some who seldom attend a show. Fifi Dorsay very easy on the eyes. Recording on disc satisfactory. Nine reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — Small town patronage. WHY LEAVE HOME (AT): Sue Carol— March 18-19. Say, I get tired of having to say the same thing about Fox pictures. Used to have a little trouble with them, but we wouldn’t trade our present sound on disc contract with them for anybody’s. Just another darned good bit of entertainment that you can hear and enjoy. What more is there to this show business of ours than that? Seven reels. — Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard, Tex. — Small town patronage. SOUTH SEA ROSE (AT) : Lenore Ulric— Can’t say much for this. Recording on disc not good with a weak story. Makes entertainment value very low. Miss Ulric had better stick to the stage as “Frozen Justice” wasn't anything to brag about. Nine reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — Small town patronage. SEVEN FACES (AT) : Special cast— Will not please. A weak one from Fox. — A. Mitchell, Dixie theatre, Russellville, Ky. — General patronage. SUNNYSIDE UP (AT): Gaynor-Farrell— The best picture since "Gold Diggers of Broadway.” Everyone thought it great. El Brendel is rapidly getting to be quite a box office name. Snappy dances, hit song6, and who wouldn’t love Janet Gaynor? Thirteen reels. — Warren L. Weber, Ellinwood theatre, Ellinwood, Kan. — Small town patronage. WORDS AND MUSIC (AT): Special cast— March 11-12. A dandy that pleased. What more can we say. And that is what Fox has been doing pretty consistently here. Eight reels.— Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard, Tex. — Small town patronage. WORDS AND MUSIC (AT): Special cast— A very good musical revue. Recording on disc about average. Most all of the talking was intelligible. If they were all as plain as this one the fellow with the disc equipment could not complain. Business was a little better than average on this picture. Believe that the people out here, in the country, like the musical revues for a change. No complaints, and many stopped to say that it was a good picture. Seven reels. — Marion F. Bodwell, Paramount theatre, Wyoming, 111. — Small town patronage. RILEY THE COP: Special cast — Just fair. Six reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. THE GREAT WHITE NORTH: Special cast— The best educational picture for some time. It did not please, but it’s wonderful. Six reels. — Julius W. Schmidt, Grand theatre, Breese, 111. — General patronage. LOVE, LIVE, AND LAUGH (AT): George Jessel — March 19-20. Will not get you anything. Recording poor. Foreign language accent hard to understand. Nine reels. — L. P. Charles, Grand Opera House, Chetek, Wis. — General patronage. THE BLACK WATCH: Victor McLaglen— March 15. Can’t hand this any laurels. Deficient in the hokum for which the general populace has a craving. Drew better with the kids than with adults. Total business was slightly off. Print okay. Seven reels. — O. B. Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage. BEHIND THAT CURTAIN (AT): Warner Baxter — This picture, being a Scotland Yard detective story, was entirely different from anything we have shown for some time. Really a wonderful picture. Splendid