Exhibitors Herald World (Jul-Sep 1930)

56 EXHIBITORS HERALD -WORLD August 9, 1930 Y^ THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY LETTERS FROM READERS W orked-Over Talkers AS THE WIFE OF AN EX-EXHIBITOR I would like to make a few remarks upon present film productions. When, oh when, will we ever have some first-class silent pictures made expressly so, and not just a worked-over talkie? Hundreds of people have had the movies spoiled for them by the poor talkies that are now operating in the majority of small towns. Scores of others have this entertainment ended for them because of deafness, then the dramatic work is not so good either. The other night I went to see "In Old Madrid" with Ramon Novarro starring. The picture was very mediocre, but the worst thing was that not more than one-fifth of the talking could be understood. It was an average theatre in an average town, so I paid only 30 cents. But that I consider is a small price to pay for being cured of an expensive habit. I was so disgusted I resolved to never go again to an entertainment that required so much hard work to get anyching out of, for it was only after hours of reflection that I finally learned what the show was about and I've been a veteran movie attendant. Never again do I want to go to a movie until we can have a genuine silent drama with real dramatic work. Since there are thousands hke me, we may be a constituency worth taking into accountMrs. M. J. Black, formerly of Waverly, 111. Pledged to Good Sound WE HAVE JUST HAD PRESENTED TO us, by the city attorney of our little city, the beautiful Herald-World Plaque awarded us by the committee for the high quality of our sound reproduction, through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce of Holton. Permit us to express our sincere thanks for the beautiful emblem, which you may be sure we are indeed proud to receive, and also to pledge ourselves to an earnest effort to live up to its wording and intent. Also want to thank the Herald-World for making it possible for an exhibitor to receive a splendid prize such as the plaque is. With all good wishes, I am— F. J. Ledoux, Perkins theatre, Holton, Kansas. Box Office Says Differently SOME OF YOU FELLOWS THAT HAVE been complaining about Tiffany pictures just wait until you run this if you have not already had It. Some complained about J. E. Brown's dialect, you could at least tell what he was saying and to my town no complaint about Joe. You fellows that are still silent get "Journey s End." It will be as good silent as talking as you can no more tell what they are saying than if they talked French or Spanish. (The recording is extra good.) Never mind about all the critics' "wonderful,"' great, good," and "4 stars." _ Had more walkouts, more people complaining, telling me they dont think they will want to see a picture for six months. A bunch of kids ^ stood in front and hollered "rotten picture." About two people claimed they could understand the language and thought the picture great. Cost okay if they could talk, but they could not. This kind of picture will kill the talking theatre quicker than anything I know of. Give us "Tanned Legs," "The Golden Calf," and it will survive regardless of some few knocks, as the majority will like them much better than "Journey's End," even if J. C. does knock them. I think he is getting childish anyway. He was boosting "Montana Moon" but some exhibitors had substituted a different cast than the "Montana Moon" I had. So someone must have stuck in something in "The Golden Calf." Just like some exhibitors always changing pictures. "Journey's End" is the highest price picture I have bought and I would not give $7.50 for another, score included. I have nothing against Tiffany and wish them success, but they won't get it on such as these in small towns. — R. S. Wenger, Miami theatre. Union City, Ind. Edlund's Idea of 'Em I AM SENDING IN A FEW REPORTS on some recent pictures. They Learned About Women is a real good picture concernbaseball and vaudeville. Van and Schenck are good and the baseball scenes are excellent. This is a good picture for any exhibitor to play. Business was way off but that was no fault of the picture. The Mounted Stranger was just the average Western hokum but okay for those who care for them. Hoot Gibson possesses a good talking voice. Drew fairly well the first night but flopped badly the last two. Guess everybody who likes Westerns came the first night. The Big Party, a Sue Carol picture, had Dixie Lee and Dixie is a real gal and we can stand more of her. This is not a big picture but sure is a crowd pleaser. Fox sure has a gang of real young stars and is giving us some good little pictures. Free and Easy was one of the best pictures it has been our pleasure to play This picture has everything, good stars, good music and lots of laughs. Must confess that I never cared for Keaton silent but he's all there in the talkies. Don't fail to play this one. — J L. Edlund. Jr.. Highwood theatre, High River, Alta., Canada. Here's Powell's Reaction OTHER EXHIBITORS MIGHT LIKE TO know the results I had with the following pictures. Hold Everything, excellent production. Had splendid drawing power. Audience laughed most of the time Second night held up well, considering how poor conditions are around here. Technicolor good. If more of the Warner Brothers specials had been up to the standard of this one, we might have been saved from some of the terrible losses we have sustained on their product. The Man Hunter, terrible. Rinty did the best he could but he had little supnort and few opportunities. The direction of this picture is positively the worst I have ever seen. A thing like this might have been excused a year ago but today it is a crime to send out such junk. If you have this hooked, lay it up — W. J. Powell, Lonet theatre, Wellington, O. Too Much Brogue: Flanagan EXHIBITORS WHO HAVEN'T PLAYED them yet might like to know how I did with these. The Long Long Trail, very noisy in spots. Audience seemed pleased, no kicks. How we packed them in for Broadway Scandals! Columbia shows have all been good and the Denver manager is certainly trying to be on the square with the exhibitors. The Mississippi Gambler was liked by our crowd. I cannot understand how exhibitors pan some shows and say people walk out on them when the same pictures cause our people to tell me how well they Hked them. Of course, I know good sound is the main reason. Side Street seemed to be a good show made wrong. Too much brogue. As for shorts, I found Sole Mate okay. Merry Dwarfs was also very good. Marking Time had plenty of dancing and seemed to satisfy. Race Riot was very good for the kids. We are geting tired of cartoons. Oil's Well was just another Oswald. One a month would be plenty. A Vitaphone Act, Blue Ridgers, was very good. Pleased everyone. Ccush and Marry okay also. — Fred Flanagan, Flanagan and Heard, Vona theatre, Vona, Colo. A Word from Brenner I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT ON A FEW pictures just recently played. He Knew Women, quite the best thing of it's kind that has ever been done for the screen but I cannot say anything about it as to audience reaction for the very good reason that I have just closed the poorest three days while showing this picture in the twelve years I have operated this house. Quite a number of walkouts, which shows while this is good it only appeals to a certain class. Jealousy, quite the poorest thing that has been released by anyone. This is one of Paramount's earlier talking pictures and should be shelved, and if they won't shelve it for you pay for it and leave it. Border Romance — You managers looking for extraordinary first-run material suitable for hot weather, should get this. It is the best entertainment that has been released by any one this past few months. If you remember what I said recently about a previous Tiffany, I said "Give us pictures," and here I say is a picture. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind. Kennedy Tells Them HERE ARE A FEW REPORTS ON Pictures. The Golden Calf, light but entertaining. Brendel and Marjorie White keep the crowd in good humor. If you have any doubt that it pays to advertise, see this. While One Romantic Night is well directed and ably acted, it is hardly a small town picture. It is the old story of the princess and the pauper in a new settine but the splendid voices of the cast save it. Miss Gish is far better audible than silent and the rest of the cast have already established their voices as beyond criticism. He Knew Women is made to order for the woman but rather sophisticated for small towns. There is absolutely no action and the suspense is trifling. Lowell Sherman gives a polished performance as a poor but clever man-about