Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 8, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 63 w THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY LETTERS FROM READERS Likes His Special Apparatus WE STARTED IN WITH TALKIES ON September 8, and opened with Smiling Irish Eyes (FN), a very nice picture, well acted but with the Irish brogue a little hard to follow. Courage (WB), is very good. No, No, Nanette (FN), is very well acted and pleased the patrons. On the Border (WB), is farfetched but it sure took the people's fancy. Talking greatly improved Rin-Tin-Tin pictures. Son of the Gods (FN), has wonderful acting and a good story but it only pleased 50 per cent. Some said very good, others said a big piece of cheese. Gold Diggers of Broadway (WB), a swell production, excellent in every respect. The Dude Wrangler (Sono-Art), is a dandy comedy for the small town, yes, sir. It will sure tickle the farmer patrons. My outfit was made especially for me by the Radio Industries of Canada and Winnipeg, and I cannot speak too highly of the workmanship and service of this company. Mine is a portable outfit and I have to travel over all kinds of roads, and when an outfit can stand the hard usage I have to give it — well, she must be good. Another thing I like this company for — is that their word or promise means something. They have kept their promise every time. — A. C. Digney, Digney's theatre Circuit, Carberry, Man., Canada. Says P. J. Held: HEREWITH A FEW REPORTS ON Pictures. Call of the West (Col), with Dorothy Revier and Matt Moore, is a very good program picture. Mammy (WB) with Al Jolson: good Jolson picture and drew fairly well at the box office. Rough Romance (Fox) with George O'Brien: good action picture for Saturday. Common Clay (Fox) with Constance Bennett: wonderful picture. Constance Bennett very good in this. All our sons and daughters should see this picture. It teaches a wonderful lesson. Murder on the Roof (Col) with Dorothy Revier: only fair. Phantom of the Opera (U) with Lon Chaney: fair. The Girl Said So (M G M) with William Haines: pretty good picture but no good at the box office. In the Headlines (WB) with Grant Withers: fair. Let's Go Places (Fox) with Grant Withers: pretty good comedy—P. G. Held, New Strand theatre, Griswold, la. Good Success with Film IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME SINCE I sent in any reports, but have gone sound and have been for the last eight months. I installed film only and have had very good success with it. Conditions are not so good in this vicinity at this time, business is below normal, but all businesses are about the same. I am staying by the ship, still using three changes a week, and hope that conditions will change. Running Metro, First National, and Paramount service, trying to give my patrons the best shows possible. I feel that the new paved roads have hurt the small exhibitor, that many now drive to the cities for their entertainment, and know that they can get back without fighting mud. Here are some reports on pictures that pleased for me : Love in the Rough (M G M) : extra good. Good News (MGM): extra good. Dough Boys (MGM): good. Our Blushing Brides (MGM): good. Way Out West (MGM): good. The Unholy Three (M G M) : good. Let Us Be Gay (MGM): good. Sins of His Children (MGM): poor sound. Top Speed (F N) : extra good. Way of all Men (FN): good. College Lovers (FN): good. One Night at Susie's (FN): good. Dawn Patrol (FN): extra good. Road to Paradise (GN): fair. Numbered Men (FN): good. With Byrd at the South Pole (Par) : good. Young Eagles (Par) : good. The Return of Doctor Fu Manchu (Par) : good. The Love Parade (Par) : good. Devil's Holiday (Par) : good. Laurel and Hardy take the cake on shorts, with Mickey Mouse first in line for cartoons. — W. T. Biggs, The Adair theatre, Adair, la. Praise for Maynard HERE ARE A FEW PICTURES I WOULD like to report on. Song of the Saddle (U), with Ken Maynard, who is a bang-up good Western star when they give him the stuff. I have heard of "horse operas," but have never run one till this one. Universal must have known they were not giving him any more and this picture was made. All talking and about one reel of action do not make a Western, and an audience craves action in a Western. It is not the worst picture in the world, but when Universal has a good star I don't see what is the yen they have for not putting them where they belong. This concern made a program of errors all through last year, with the single exception of their Westerns, and now they are slipping on these. So it looks like a break for Maynard that they did not re-contract him. Too bad, he is a wonderful bet in good Westerns, but not the kind that "Son of the Caballero" is. — Columbia theatre, Columbia Citv, Ind. Presented Before Large Crowd WE WISH TO THANK YOU FOR THE Award of Merit, the beautiful bronze plaque. Our theatre is equipped with RCA Photophone and we think it the best on the market and we are praised for our excellent sound. This plaque was presented to the theatre before a large crowd and they were delighted that this small town should be honored by receiving this award. Again thanking you — Dodge and Baker, Hiland theatre, Myrtle Point, Ore. Too Much Snow! MAY I GIVE YOU MY OPINION ON some pictures just played? Show Boat (U) probably was a good thing in its day but did not do much here. Just got by. Let Us Be Gay (MGM) was a clever sophisticated comedy which was very well liked. Should be advertised as starring Marie Dressier. Was rained out, so did not do much on it. Montana Moon (M G M) — most of the crowd liked it, some didn't. Looked for big business on this feature and exploited heavily, but was sadly disappointed, as a dirty blizzard spoiled business. Did not gross expenses. Hollywood Revue (M G M) is another high-priced picture which failed to gross expenses. Well liked by those who came to see it, but the roads are blocked with snow, so apparently we are up against it for the winter. — B. R. Johnson, Orpheum theatre, Kerrobert, Sask., Canada. Lauds Schaffner Players FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS OUR house has been playing Neil and Caroline Schaffner Players in the fall and a week in the spring. During the entire week of each and every performance, we have packed our house. So much so, that this stock company has become an institution in our locality. Any word of praise or commendation that you would care to make in your publication would be appreciated, as we feel that these players are entitled to same. In fact, we have become so impressed with this company that the Allied Theatre Owners of Iowa have arranged to book this organization for the coming year. — Lester F. Martin, The New Circle theatre, Circle Amusement Company, Nevada, la. Sends Thanks in Rhyme WE RECEIVED THE BRONZE PLAQUE about two weeks ago, and of course it is only proper and fitting that we try to thank you for same. But when we try to find words to describe our appreciation we find that they all fall short. So we are quoting the following jingle which will serve as good as any to express our sentiment: "There's nothing to these words, "But the meaning is grand, "We're all thanking you, "To beat the band." We would not be without the Exhibitors Herald-World for several times the subscription price. — Lee Guthrie, Rogue theatre, Wheeler, Tex. Mounted on Compo Shield BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! BUT frankly, I waited until I finished my advertising campaign before acknowledging the receipt of the beautiful "Mark of Honor" plaque, which arrived last week in good shape, and all I can say is that it is a "thing of beauty and a joy forever" and to say we are proud of it is putting it mildly. I had the cut and reader inserted in three newspapers and have the plaque mounted with suitable lettering on a large compo shield, I also had Filmack make me one of their excellent trailers and this is shown at every performance for a week or ten days. It is little thoughtful things like this and the car plate that keep the Herald-World the showman's bible. Again thanking you for this honor I am, with sincere good wishes, very sincerely — H. E. Rehfield, Manager, Iowa theatre, Bloomfield, la. On Display in Lobby RECEIVED THE AWARD OF MERIT plaque and wish to thank you. It is now on display in our lobby. Yours very truly — Beatrice Ober, Bailey theatre, Oakdale, La.