The Motion Picture Almanac 1929 (1929)

1929 The MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC 205 those who came on a nasty day just before Christmas. But^iness not very poo<l, (Crystal theatre. Wayne. Neb. — General patronaKe.) October 22-23. Another Pathe special that was only a progrram comedy. A good feature comedy, but not worth what we paid for it. Business poor. (Midway theatre, Martinsville. Va. —Small town patronage.) PREP AND PEP. F, David Rollins, Nancy Drexel, John Darrow, E. H, Calvert, Frank Albertson, 6. — Showed to a fair crowd on Thanksgiving: night. True to title, it is a school story with lots of pep. Scenes laid in the military academy at Culver City, Ind. (Royal theatre. Hopkins, Mo. — General patronage.) December 28-29. A good program picture. Nothing big, but pleasing to all classes. (Rialto theatre, Hamilton, O. — General patronage.) RACKET. The, Thomas Meighan. Marie Prevost, Louis Wolhcim, George Stone, John Darrow, Skeets Gallagher. Lee Moran, Lucien Prival, Tony Mario, Heni-y Sedley, Sam DeGrasse. James Marcus, G. Pat Collins, 8. — November 1. A good picture with Tom drawing the people again. (Gem theatre, Greenriver. Utah. — General patronage.) December 11. Pretty good underworld picture, but people don't like this kind. They want comedies and Westerns here. Didn't make expenses as usual. Can't make anything on Tuesday nights. (Bonny theatre, Mansfield, O. — General patronage.) October 4-5. Just -a fair drawing card. Meighan not a good bet here. (New Piedmont theatre, Oakland. Cal. — General patronage.) November 14, Although Meighan was. starred, seemed to us the honors should go to Louis Wolheim. A picture like this holds them from start to finish. No mushy, overdone love scenes. (Electric theatre, Arcadia, Neb. — Small town patronage.) October 3-4. The usual underworld blah. People are fed up on this type of picture. So producers, kindly "cease and desist." (Strand theatre, Poali, Ind. — Small town patronage.) RAMONA. UA. Dolores Del Rio, Warner Baxter, Roland Drew, Vera Lewis, 9. — October 1516. A natural that packed the house at every performance and sent them away satisfied. (Crescent theatre. Red Deer, Alberta. Can. — Small town patronage.) December 20-21. On account of the wide publicity that this one has had, it drew them in, but many told me that they were disappointed in it. I think that they were expecting too much. This one was played late, but am glad that it ie over with. Maybe UA will let us alone for a while. (Liberty theatre. Roanoke, Ala. — ^General patronage.) Billed it big and it broke all records for attendance and certainly pleased everyone who came. Don't pass this up. (Opera House, Baldwin, Wis. — General patronage.) Very, very good. (Plainview theatre, Plainview, Neb. — General patronage.) December 28-29. In spite of snow and flu, "Ramona" pulled them in. If the book aroused any more sympathy for the Indians than the picture, it will go some. The Indians in the picture were in a nice country where grass was plenty and grain would grow. Take a trip into Arizona, New Mexico or parts of the Dakota^ and see the God forsaken country the Indians try to live in. Nothing could grow, and a billy goat would need spurs to climb the rock hills. One of the best we have shown, with natural drawing power. You can raise admission and they will like it. (Sun theatre, Sargent. Neb. — Small town patronage.) Everyone well pleased with the 10-cent raise in price for this, and incidentally broke house record of two years* standing with this picture. (Gem theatre. Lyndon, Kan. — Geneial patronage.) December 22-23-24-25.) Maybe we should have played this one while it was "hot," but anyway it went over with a bang, and that's what counts in this game. United Artists promised us a lot on this one and charged us a lot for it. but everyone was well pleased and we were tickled to death. Just a wee bit slow in spots. Might be cut to seven reels. Some beautiful scenes, and some touching ones that will put the tears in your eyes unle.«s you're awfully hard-boiled. It's wonderful! (Orpheus theatre. Klamath Falls. Ore. — General patronage.) September 2fi-27-28. "Sorrel and Son" broke the house records, but "Ramona" topped it by $4. A perfect picture with one exception. There's no comedy to relieve the wonderful acting. Del Rio and Baxter in their respective roles, are supreme. Book it and boost it. (Midway theatre, Martinsville. Va. — Small town patronage.) Well, this picture draws them in and that is a part of which wo showmen want. So you can look for the crowd on this one. It's gone over good everywhere it's been shown from the reports I have seen and heard but for my part I have seen better pictures. (Dixie theatre, Durant, Miss. — General patronage.) RED DANCE. The, F, Dolores Del Rio, Charles Farrell, Ivan Linow, Boris Charsky, Dorothy Revier, Andre Segurola, Dimitri Alexis, 10. — December 16-17-18. Good picture, Dolores Del Rio is very good, as is Charles Farrell. Why did the Fox officials use a Ford Whirlwind monoplane in picturing the Russian revolution? (Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont.— General patronage.) Another good one from Fox, but the flu is keeping us from making any money. (Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont, — General patronage.) RED HAIR, Par, Clara Bow. Lane Chandler, Lawrence Grant, Claude King, William Austin, Jacqueline Gadson, 7. — September 17-18, Good picture, well acted. We played it just after our Fair and everyone was broke. I suppose. Anyway we didn't make expenses. (Bonny theatre. Mansfield. Mo. — General patronage.) January 1-2. Well liked by those who came out to see Clara, although not another "It." We have some Bow admirers, and of course, they were delighted with this picture. One nice thing, there was no squawk. (Rex theatre, Maysville, Mo. — Small town patronage.) January 13-14. One of her good ones. (Trags theatre, Neillsville. Wis.— Small town patronage.) November 4-5, A very satisfactory picture. Story good. Star and cast fine. Gave 100 per cent satisfaction. (Silver Family theatre, Greenville. Mich. — General patronage.) Had packed house. Everyone pleased. (Strand theatre, Rogers. Tex. —General patronage.) October 12-13. The first rain and cold weather of the fall hit us on these twp dates and as a result showed to less than normal. However, it drew better than we expected. Another good picture by Clara. She just doesn't make any other kind. (Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan.^Small town patronage.) RED MARK. The, P. Nena Quartaro. Gaston Glass, Gustav Von Seyffertitz, Rose Eione. Luke Cosgrave, Eugene Fallette, Jack Roper, Charles Dervis. S.^Well, I guess this must be a big town picture, as my patrons said to me it was out of their reach of understanding. I hope some of Pathe salesmen will see this notation of mine and book this picture in with the big city folks or in the part of the country where it will be understood better for it may be a great picture in the right theatre. (Dixie theatre, Durant, Miss. — General patronage.) Read a good comment in Pete Harrison's reports on this. I'm not taking Harri.son's now. This is a very mediocre picture, completely lacking in screen entertainment. (Postville theatre. Postville, la.— General patronage.) RENO DIVORCE, WB. May McAvoy, 6.— November 13. A picture that did not give satisfaction. The star worked hai'd to make something out of nothing of a story. (Silver Family theatre. Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.) November 21-22. Awful. Written, directed and supposed to be acted by Ralph Graves. Little wonder Eastman is getting rich with all the film companies wasting celluloid. I can write a better story than this one. (Auditorium theatre. Laurel, Neb.— General patronage.) RESTLESS YOUTH. Col, Marceline Day, Ralph Forbes, Norman Trevor, Robert Ellis, Mary Mabery, Gordon Elliott, C^y Watson. 7. — January 8-9. Excellent. The best program picture I have played for a long while. Marceline Day's acting very good. Best of luck and success to you. Miss Day. I hope the producer will keep all your pictures clean and entertaining as this one. Columbia pictures are okay. You exhibitors who have not contracted for Columbia pictures are missing a good bet. (Strand theatre. Griswold, la. — General patronage.) December 23, Drew good house on Christmas night and pleased, according to comments received, about 90 per cent. We used the 192728 Columbia product and were well pleased, and bought the 1928-29 product and it also looks like a real buy. We have had six in a row from Columbia, and they have all been as good as any company's product, and you can't beat Midwest in Kansas City for service. (Grand theatre, Princeton. Mo. — -Small town patronage.) REVENGE. UA, Dolores Del Rio. James Mar cus, Sophia Ortiga, Leroy Mason, Rita Carewe, Jose Crespo, Sam Appel, Marta Golden. Jesse Cavin, 6. — -Fair picture. No business. Lacks comedy and dressed-up scenes. Pleases men who like outdoor pictures. (Richelieu theatre. Bellefonte and Clearfield, Pa. — General patronage.) RIDERS OF THE DARK. M G M. Tim McCoy, Dorothy Dwan, Rex Lease, Roy D'Arcy, Frank Currier, Bert Roach, Dick Sutherland, g. — October 6. A very fine action picture. Satisfied. Tim licked them all and they never touched him. (Silver Family theatre. Greenville. Mich. — General patronage.) December 21-22. A roughneck Western. Tim McCoy knocks out about 50 without even getting a scratch. Too much hokum and not enough entertainment. (Strand theatre. Griswold, la. — General i>atronage.) December 1. Just a Western with lots of gun play. (Star theatre. Villa Grove, 111.— (^neral patronage.) Average business on serial night. (Pastime theatre. Mason. Mich.— General patronage.) McCoy up to his usual standard. (Town Hall theatre, Carmel, Me,— Small town patronage.) RIDING FOR FAME. U, Hoot Gibson, Ethlyne Clair, Charles K. French, George Summerville. Allan Forrest, Ruth Cherrington, 6. — October 26-27. The best Gibson in some time. Hoot leaves the comedy to Slim Summerville and Slim is there with that stuff. Everyone pleased and business good. (Central theatre, Selkirk. Man., Can.— General patronage.) Pleased our Saturday night. Had quite a numl>er of good comments. Hoot is liked here. (Strand theatre, Valparaiso. Neb. — General patronage.) Good Western, but Hoot as a seat filler is not as strong as he was once. We still have a few more weeks of Complete Service and then "never again" for this kind of a contract for us. Tried four of 'em, so we ought to know. (Isis theatre, Ashland. Neb. — General patronage.) January 5, The best Gibson I have run for some time. When Slim Summerville plays with Hoot, it is sure a good picture. Everyone that saw the picture liked it. There was a very bad storm and few turned out. (Palace theatre, Grand Marais, Mich. — General jiatronage.) RIVER PIRATE, The. F, Victor McLaglen, Lois Moran, Nick Stuart, Earle Foxe, Donald Crisp, Robert Perry, 7. — October 26. My people liked this. While Vic is not handsome, he has always drawn for me and all I have run have been good. (Palace theatre, Golden City. Mo. — Small town patronage.) November 5-7. Audience well pleased. Good entertainment. (Ideal theatre, Stanwood. Wash. — Small town patronage.) Another of those underworld stories that pleased fairly well. Blizzard kept crowd away. (Paramount theatre. Wyoming, HI. — ^General patronage. ) December 19, We paid too much for this. It's not a special, but is good entertainment. (Charkarohen Hall, Lincoln. N. H. — Small town patronage.) ROAD TO RUIN. The, SR, Helen Foster, 6.— August 23. Packed to the doors to see this unusual attraction. Give us more such State Rights pictures. (Egyptian theatre, Ogden, Utah.— General patronage.) October 2-3. There is nothing particularly hot or \'ulgar in this. but it does show the modern trend of things. You wouldn't, of course, expect to run it for a church benefit or an old maid's quilting bee. (Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis.— Small town patronage.) October 4-5. Run it, by all means. It broke the house record. S. R. O. first show before we started the show. I highly recommend this production to be shown anywhere. any day of the week. Boys, you'll miss some show and some dough if you pass it up. (Rex theatre, Montezuma. Ind. — ^Mixed patronage.) November 25-26-27, They fought to get in. Two fell into the orchestra pit trying to find a seat that wasn't there. When we stand 'em up it's some stand up. We gave this picture a big and proper exploitation and it went over big. Pleased 85 per cent. Has good moral and attractive actors. (Auditorium theatre. Laurel. Neb. — General patronage.) ROMANCE OF THE UNDERWORLD, F, Mary Astor. Robert Elliott, John Boles, 6.— Very good picture, much better than the title would suggest. Pleased all and went over good. (Gay theatre, Wayne, Neb. — Small town patronage. ) A very good pict ure. Plenty of action. Had many compliments on this one. Enjoyed by all who saw it. (Nusho theatre. Duke, Okla.— General patronage.) December 2122. Very good underworld story, holds interest