Associated First National Franchise (1921)

4 F i r s t N a t i o n a I F r a n c h i s e Semi-Monthly z"" hiiiiip ii iiiuiiiniiiiM iiiiniNiiiiM i limn Results and Opinions of Our Attractions 'NOT GUILTY." Good business. Audiences well pleased. Showed three days. Jefferson. Auburn, N. Y. — John J. Breslin. 'GO AND GET IT." Played the Majestic for three days and was such a hit it was held over and played the Opera House for additional performances. Great picture. Opera House, Mansfield, 0. — W. A. Partello. "NINETEEN AND PH YLLIS." Presented against stiff opposition, but business was highly satisfactory. Wonderland, Lorain, 0. — August llg. 'PASSION'S PLAYGROUND." Third run. Satisfactory. Arbor, Albany, N, Y. — Sam Suckno. "THE PERFECT WOMAN." Audiences liked it immensely. Fourth or fifth run here. Delaware, Albany, N. Y. — Sam Suckno. "NOT GUILTY ." Played a week. Audiences liked it. Strand, Milwaukee, Wis.—E. J. Weisfeldt. "THE WOMAN IN HIS HOUSE." Broke records. Audiences highly pleased with the attraction throughout the week. New Strand. Milwaukee, Wis.—E. J. Weisfeldt. "DINTY.'' Best liked picture in history of theatre. Orpheum, Green Bay, Wis. — Harry K. Timm. "POLLY OF THE STORM COUNTRY." Fairly pleasing. Nothing unusual. Isis, Grand Rapids, Mich. — /. W. Goodspeed. "THE KID." Went over with a bang. Played a week. Majestic Gardens, Grand Rapids, Mich. — Grover C. Ranck. "TWIN BEDS." Fair. Chaplin's "Sunnyside" on the same bill. Isis, Grand Rapids, Mich. — J. W. Goodspeed. "THE OLD SWIMMIN' HOLE." Orchestra used, though ordinarily only piano on week-days. Everyone well pleased. Business would have been better but for financial depression. At that, it was above present average. Pastime, Akron, 0. — Arthur Fish. "THE YELLOW TYPHOON." Mighty fine picture, was the consensus of opinion. Showing an event in this town. Lion, Bellenue, 0. — G. R. Moore. "SCRAMBLED WIVES." Everyone thought it was good. Star's first appearance since her marriage made good newspaper copy. Rialto. Omaha. Neb. — Julius K. Johnson. ■■MAN-WOMAN-MARRIAGE."' A very good picture. 90 percent of the men didn't like it. 100 percent of the women did. Strand, Omaha, Neb. — Harry Watts. "DANGEROUS BUSINESS." Broke attendance records, excellent business. Talmadge is most popular star here ; people enthusiastic about any of Connie's productions. Central, Fairbury, III. — Elmer Ramsey. "MY LADY'S LATCHKEY." Fair business. Story Interesting, star becoming more popular with each new release. Central, Fairbury, III. — Elmer Ramsey. "MAMMA'S AFFAIR." Received good notices. Something entirely different from Connie's usual vehicles. Strand, Louisville, Ky*. — George Maurer. "PASSION FLOWER." Highly pleasing. A good box office picture that will make money without forcing the exhibitor to incur a heavy expense in putting it over. Liberty, Pittsburgh, Pa. — Harry Thomas. "PASSION FLOWER." Good picture from the showman's standpoint and worthy of good presentation and campaign. .Grand, Pittsburgh, Pa. — W. F. Mason. "PASSION ." Second run. Large demand for seats. May rebook. Centre Square Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pa. — Mr. Dickson. PASSION'S PLAYGROUND." Very large attendance. Katherine MacDonald very popular in Laredo. Strand, Laredo, Tex. — Wm. Eppstein. "FORTY-FIVE MINUTES FROM BROADWAY." Broke attendance records first two evenings. Very well liked. Rialto. Glens Falls, N. Y. — Bird, Mausert & Coleman. "DANGEROUS BUSINESS." Fine picture. Strand. Canton. O.—J. D. Kessler. THE BRANDED WOMAN." Good business. Norma is very popular here. Strand. Laredo, Tex. — Wm. Eppstein. "NOT GUILTY." Very fine. Advertised the picture as a First National and results were highly satisfactory. Wonderland, Lorain, 0. — August llg. ■NINETEEN AND PHYLLIS." Tie-up with "style show" week here. Picture went well. Strand, Louisville, Ky. — Geo. J. Maurer. 'PASSION." Splendid. Show kept growing all during the week. Strand. Omaha. Neb. — Harry Watts. PEACEFULLY VALLEY." Ray pictures always popular. This one was particularly good. Will probably be returned for another date. Majestic, Streator, III. — Bradford Brayton. 'SOWING THE WIND." Fair business. Opinion divided. Picture creates talk. Strand. Milwaukee, Wis. — £. /. Weisfeldt. THE OLD SWIMMIN' HOLE." Tied up with benefit performance of local store employees. Picture went weli ; cordially received. Strand, Albany, N. Y.—Uly S. Hill. 'UNSEEN FORCES." Audiences liked the picture, though business was only fair. Critics divided. Alhambra, Los Angeles, Cal. — Douglas Jarmuth. 'CURTAIN." A successful showing. Katherine MacDonald a favorite. Jefferson, Auburn, N. Y.—John J. Breslin. PASSION." Most enthusiastic comments heard about any picture for months. Four shows a day for four days. Business unusually good. Majestic, Port Huron, Mich. — Earl D. Sipe. 'IN THE HEART OF A FOOL." Highly satisfactory. Grand, Tiffin, 0. — R. W. Lawrence. 'YES OR NO?" Norma is very popular here and the mention of her name always insures a highly satisfactory and satisfied patronage. Lion, Bellevue, 0. — G. R. Moore. 'YES OR NO?" Good business. Picture was liked. Gilger, Norwalk, 0. — Frederick Clary. "FORTY-FIVE MINUTES FROM BROADWAY." Made an excellent impression. Everyone who saw the play here went to see the picture. Marion Theatre, Marion, 0. — G. H. Foster. "CURTAIN." Very good business. Everybody delighted with both picture and star. Rialto, Laredo, Tex. — H. A. Daniels. "IN SEARCH OF A SINNER." Third run here. Good. .Arbor, Albany, N. Y. — Sam Suckno. ■■MAN-WOMAN-MARRIAGE.'" Broke attendance and box office records during week's engagement. Special ballet dance as prologue. Strand, Milwaukee, Wis. — E. J. Weisfeldt. "NOT GUILTY ." Many complimented management on the effectiveness of the picture. Long teaser campaign preceded arrival of film. Palace, Wichita, Kan. — Stanley Chambers. "TRUTH ABOUT HUSBANDS." Did average business. Caused some disappointment; thought too sensational by some, not enough so by others. Majestic, Portland, Ore. — Frank Lacey. ""THE DEVIL'S GARDEN." Pleased followers of Lionel Barrymore ; others apathetic. Columbia. Portland, Ore. — A. C. Raleigh. "DINTY." The town went crazy over "Dinty." Exceedingly good business. Liberty. Portland, Ore. — Paul Emerson, Noble. "NINETEEN AND PHYLLIS." Good business. Portland likes Ray, but has liked other Ray pictures better. Liberty, Portland, Ore. — Paul Emerson Noble. "MY LADY'S LATCHKEY." Better than average MacDonald picture. Good business. People's. Portland, Ore. — F. W. Teufel. "THE KID." Held over for ten days for first time in house's history. Broke all records for first week. Liberty, Portland, Ore. — Paul Emerson Noble. "MAMMA'S AFFAIR." Average business. Not up to Connie's standard. Majestic, Portland, Ore. — Frank Lacey. "THE KID." Broke records. Most delightful picture Chaplin has ever made. Garden, Council Bluffs, la. — Hyman Levy. "TWIN BEDS." Much amusement and laughter during the shows Regent, Springfield, O.—E. C. Paul. "NINETEEN AND PHYLLIS." Very good. Riviera, Knoxville, Tenn.— W. E. Drumbar. "MAN-WOMAN-MARRIAGE." Ran six days, with special music score. Very pleasing to patrons. Liberty, Pittsburgh, Pa. — Harry Thomas. "MAN-WOMAN-MARRIAGE." Pleased capacity audiences. No special presentation. Grand. Pittsburgh, Pa. — W. E. Mason. "THE KID." Three days. Unusually satisfactory. Played to capacity. Plaza, Pittsburgh. Pa. "CURTAIN." Attendance unusually large in view of closed factories here. Colonial, Albany. N. Y. — Walter M. Powers. "TWIN BEDS.'' Audience delighted. Ames, la., is a college town and the play appealed to the students especially. Ames Theatre, Ames, la. — Joe Gar brack. "THE FIGHTING SHEPHERDESS." Second nin satisfactory. .Hudson. Albany. N. Y.—J. E. Roberts. "PEACEFUL VALLEY." A mighty good drawing card. Ray always an attraction. Colonial. Albany, N. Y. — Walter M. Powers. "THE TURNING POINT." Excellent attendance, both during afternoon and evening. Haven, 0 lean, N. Y. — Alba W. Root. "HABIT." Made decided appeal. Star is popular. Central, Fairbury, III. — Elmer Ramsey. "PEACEFUL VALLEY." Special music with augmented orchestra. Rural communities usually critical about rural pictures, but this one was considered absolutely perfect. Best box office record since "The Kid." Central, Fairbury, III. — Elmer Ramsey. "THE KID." Broke records for four days. Audiences said, "It's the best ever." Boy ticket chopper was made up as Jackie Coogan. Majestic, Streator. III. — Bradford Brayton. "CURTAIN." Excellent attraction. MacDonald considered good drawing card. Central, Fairbury, III. — Elmer Ramsey. "DON'T EVER MARRY." Audience caught the spirit of the picture from the get-away. Had strong appeal. Orpheum, Scottsbluff, Neb. — W. H. Ostenberg, Jr. Tries to Buy Franchise It is reported from Milwaukee that George Huebner, proonetor and manager of the Crystal Theatre, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, has been offered $500 for his franchise, which originally cost him $200. Mr. Huebner has recently had a taste of real opposition and has come to the conclusion that his First National franchise is one of his biggest assets. First National Week {Continued from page j) Lesser, Los Angeles; A. H. Blank, Des Moines; Col. Fred Levy, Louisville; M. F. Finkelstein, Minneapolis; Herbert Allen, Montreal; Tom Boland, Oklahoma City; John Gleischman, Detroit. Among others present at West Baden during the meeting were the following: Watterson R. Rothacker, Earl W. Hammons, Charles Christie John S. Woody, Felix Feist, Lew Cody, William S. Bastar and Earl Gulick. FRANCHISE is published by and for Associated First National exhibitors. It is independent and without politics. It is not a mouth organ for ANY one individual, but has the interests of each member and subfranchise holder at heart. Its policy is truth and service, to help oil the wheels of progress for progressive exhibitors. We offer $10 reward for every deliberate lie or exaggeration found in these columns. We'll pay by return mail for each one. Vol. i May 15, 1021 No. 9 Publication office, Associated First National Pictures, Inc., 6 and 8 West Forty-eighth Street, New York. LEE S. FERGUSON Editor Wants More Clark Pictures W. C. Sears has written Associated First National from his Lyric Theatre in Boonville, Missouri, requesting that he be given all the Marguerite Clark pictures possible, as she is a big drawing card for him. Mr. Sears said further : "Concerning 'Scrambled Wives' will say that the picture went over nicely and everyone said it was a fine feature. Had a storm that night and my lights went out for the first show and were out for nearly thirty minutes and then they went out again for the second show and had to give many people their money back. However, I did $81.26 worth of business and that was very good considering the night." Plans First National Month S. E. Bleyer, of the Crescent Theatre, Southampton, Long Island, has set aside the month of June as a First National Month. For this occasion he has booked no less than twenty First National attractions.