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

April 26, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WOR1D 53 W WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME V erdicts on Films in Language of Exhibitor Copyright, 1930 Columbia THAT CERTAIN THING: Special cast— April 1. very good picture. Have yet to play a Columbia that didn’t please. Seven reels. — Charles Cassinelli, Star theatre, Bulan, Ky. — Small town patronage. VENGEANCE (AT): Jack Holt— April 3-4-5. Nothing to it. Pleased about 20 per cent. Recording Ion disc no good. Seven reels. — M. Spector, Elite theatre, Kamsack, Sask., Canada. — General patronage. MEXICALI ROSE (AT) : Sam Hardy— March 7-8. Nothing big, but will please if your patrons like this class of picture. Voice of Sam Hardy recorded extra well. Good recording on disc. Seven reels. — W. J. Carter, Maxine theatre, Croswell, Mich. — Small town patronage. GUILTY (AT): Special cast— If you have this bought you don’t need to worry, because it is “The Greatest Picture Ever Made.” This is a picture that will elevate the screen and will at the same time entertain the patrons in an intelligent way. Recording good, everything good. Seven reels. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. — General patronage. PERSONALITY (AT) : Special cast— You theatre men who use disc have not heard anything until you have run a Columbia disc-recorded picture. This picture is perfectly timed and there is not one single word said that you do not get, and how. Seven reels. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. — General patronage. BROADWAY HOOFER (AT) : Special cast^As nice a little picture as I've ever 6een. Not big, but the type that pleases everybody. Wish there were more as good as this. Disc recording fine. — Harold Smith, Dreamland theatre, Carson, la. — General patronage. FATHER AND SON: Jack Holt— March 31-April 1-2. Very good. Seven reels. — Benjamin Shnitka, Royal theatre, Innisfail, Alta., Canada. — Small town patronage. THE DONOVAN AFFAIR: Special cast — An exceptionally good picture for the first four reels, then it falls down and sizzles. It didn’t bring one comment from our patrons. Eight reels. — Parkside theatre, Clinton, la. — General patronage. THE FLYING MARINE (AT) : Special casUMarch 14. A very good picture for Saturday that will bring you the dough and please everybody. Seven reels. — E. Berenson, State theatre, Bogalusa, La. — General patronage. THE FLYING MARINE: Special cast— Just another picture. Six reels. — Parkside theatre, Clinton, la. — General patronage. FLIGHT (AT): Jack Holt — Not a good Sunday opening picture as it appeals more to men than women. It should not do this but it does. It should appeal to any one that likes first class entertainment because this picture is that. It is interesting and instructive as well as entertaining. Recording on disc okay and a wonderful offering. Business great for three days. Eight reels. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. — General patronage. FLIGHT (AT): Jack Holt— March 24-25. One of the best pictures I ever had the pleasure of exhibiting. Poor business, but not the fault of the picture. Disc recording perfect. All Columbia recording good. — J. M. Broadus, Family theatre, Georgiana, Ala. — Small town patronage. MURDER ON THE ROOF (AT): Special cast— A night club murder mystery(?) that brought us the poorest Saturday night in months. Columbia may make good pictures but we haven’t had anything out of the ordinary so far. Can’t say much for this one. — A. F. Botsford, Royal theatre, Ainsworth, Neb. — Small town patronage. MURDER ON THE ROOF (AT): Special cast— March 26-27-28. Columbia recording is in a class by itself and this picture is no exception. With the exception Of a few big sets, this picture compares favorably with “Broadway.” Boasting the best of the "Broadway” cast, some fine photography and recording, it should do well anywhere. Six reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada. — General patronage. HURRICANE (AT) : Hobart Bosworth — March 29. A fair program offering. Rather rough in spots but will please the action fans. Recording not as good as on the new Columbia productions. Disc. Seven reels. — E. F. Ingram, Ingram’s theatre, Ashland, Ala. — Small town patronage. THE MELODY MAN (AT) : Special cast — A fair program picture that will soon be forgotten. Will Key to Sound Symbols AT — All-Talking 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 stage 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. some wide awake producer begin to make some pictures that are not based on the life of stage people or song writers? Our patrons are asking for pictures with a good story and plot. We are getting fed up on wiggling, half dressed women and nutty men trying to put the picture over with stale jokes and dirty wisecracks. — A. F. Botsford, Royal theatre, Ainsworth, Neb. — Small town patronage. First National THE GREAT DIVIDE: Special cast— March 21-22. This is a good program picture. I played it silent but it would be better in sound, as Keith sings a good song in this one, and those who have heard him say he has a wonderful voice. Six reels. — R. N. Robison, Rex theatre, Waskom, Tex. — Small town patronage. ROYAL RIDER: Ken Maynard — A fine picture, Action a-plenty, well done. Maynard and First National make good pictures always. Seven reels. — William Bosse, Jr., La Sirena theatre, Providence, R. I. — General patronage. FOOTLIGHTS AND FOOLS (AT): Colleen Moore — Believe this is the best Colleen has made. Some didn’t like the ending, but it drew more favorable comments than any Moore I can remember. As usual, a storm came up at show time and scared most of them. Business was light. Eight reels. — Harold Smith. Dreamland theatre, Carson, la. — General patronage. WEDDING RINGS (AT): Special cast— My people commented unfavorably upon this picture. Said J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum The page of Jaysee 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 33 of this issue. Jaysee — Page 33 H. B. Warner should not be cast as a lover and I believe they are right. He needs pictures of the type of “Sorrell & Son.” Recording fair. — H. R. Cromwell, Bedford theatre, Bedford, Pa. — Small town patronage. WEARY RIVER: Special cast — Fine drama of prison and underworld life. Took very well at raised prices on our best nights. Book it. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage. LILAC TIME: ..Colleen Moore — Perhaps the last exhibitor in the good old U. S. A. to run this. Nevertheless, I am not going to be the least as to praise, for this is a peach of a fine special in every sense of the word. It’s a real heart appeal war 6tory that holds one’s attention at every second, with a corking climax that brings people out from the enchanting night’s entertainment, drying their eyes, amid smiles and words of praise for the happy exhibitor. Colleen never did better acting, never was so^ appealing, and she never (save possibly in “Sally,” or in “Irene”) made so many friends. "Am I blue?” No sir-ree. Rather, “I am painting the clouds with sunshine.” Good luck, Colleen I My car is still named after you. I’m not as fiickle as our old friend, J. C. Jenkins, who changes the feminine name of his car every time he has it filled with gas, which is plenty often. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage. A MOST IMMORAL LADY: Leatrice Joy — Fair picture and had plenty of drama and was not too mushy with love scenes a si the usual picture you see. Had good plot to the story and pleased 100 per cent. Six reels. — H. C. Williams, Quanah theatre, Fletcher, Okla. — Small town patronage. A MOST IMMORAL LADY : Leatrice Joy — March 28-29. The picture would have been much better in talking, as it had some very dramatic intercourse. Seven reels. — R. N. Robison, Rex theatre, Waskom, Tex — Small town patronage. Fox MARRIED IN HOLLYWOOD (AT) : Special cast — Personally thought it very good, but too long. The box office told a different tale. — E. N. Collins, Star theatre, Humble, Tex. — General patronage. THE VALIANT (AT) : Paul Muni — What a surprise. We traded Fox one of their new part-talkers for this old all-talker and it was the best thing we have had on the 6creen since we went talker. Recording perfect and acting and story also perfect. — E. N. Collins, Star theatre. Humble, Tex.— General patronage. FOUR DEVILS: Special cast — March 30-31. Mighty fine picture for Sunday. Some said the best they had ever seen. Very good cast, and work of all players excellent. Nice print and photography. Made a little dough with this one. Thirteen reels. — O. B. Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage. FOUR DEVILS: Janet Gaynor — April 10. A nice clean pleasing picture but entirely too long. Cut to eight reels, it would be better. Thirteen reels. — C. E. Hopkins, The Hopkins theatre, Cotter, Ark. — Small town patronage. HARMONY AT HOME (AT) : Special cast— April 2-3-4. Just an ordinary little story of everyday home life, but had many fine comments. Collier is 6ure good, and the rest of the cast did fine work, also. Seven reels. — S. B. Kennedy, Central theatre, Selkirk, Man., Canada.. — General patronage. SUNNY SIDE UP (AT) : Janet Gaynor — Broke all records at box office. Pleased better than any picture ever run in this theatre. — Cranfill H. Cox, Crystal theatre, Gilmer, Tex. — General patronage. LOVE, LIVE AND LAUGH (AT) : George Jessel — Very good. Went over in good shape and had many comments. Disc recording good. — George Khattar. Casino theatre, Sydney, N. S., Canada. — General patronage. SOUTH SEA ROSE (AT) : Lenore Ulric — An awful thing to ask your patrons good money to see. Don’t believe Miss Ulric will ever become popular on the screen, especially if they let her sing. — A. F. Botsford, Royal theatre, Ainsworth, Neb. — Small town patronage. WORDS AND MUSIC (AT): Special cast— We played this in place of a part-talker from Fox. It_ gave satisfaction. — A. F. Botsford. Royal theatre, Ainsworth, Neb. — Small town patronage. CITY GIRL (AT) : Special cast — This is one that Mr. Fox advertises as all talking their parts. The