Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1932)

44 MOTION PICTURE HERALD November 19, 1932 JENKINS* CCLyUAi DEAR HERALD: Medicine Lodge, Kansas There now, the Herald has gone and done it. They are going to reinstate the department, "What The Picture Did for Me," and now you boys listen here. There have been more than a thousand of you exhibitors who have complained because this department was discontinued. You have told us that it was the most interesting and important feature of the magazine, but it was discontinued because of the lack of interest of you exhibitors in not reporting to it, and its continuance will depend upon the number of you who send in reports. Hundreds of you have acknowledged your delinquency in the matter. Bill Jones up in Wisconsin said he always enjoyed reading what Ike Smith down in Texas had to say about a picture, but Bill never has said anything himself. Tom Horley out in Idaho says he never missed a report by Harry Thompson back in Ohio, but Tom had all the characteristics of an oyster. "Let George Do It" is a slogan that a lot of you have kept posted on your desks, and now it is going to be up to You whether this service is to continue or not. If you respond as we feel sure you will do, this service will be a fixed department and they are likely to have to enlarge the book, which we think they would be glad to do. There is a right way and a wrong way to report a picture. The wrong way is to govern your reports entirely by your individual opinion. We have reported the wrong way a lot of times. The right way is to report the audience reaction. If the picture builds business on its second and third showing you may be sure it is a good picture. If it slumps on second and third showing you may be sure it is not so good provided the slump is below normal business. Poor business does not always indicate a poor picture. We saw "Emma" take a nose dive in one theatre because everybody and his pup had gone to another town to a night fair, and it would have been unfair to say that "Emma" was a poor picture. We have seen where "Freaks" did a big first night business and fizzled the balance of the run. Well, that's that, and now what are you going to do about it, are you going to report? V George Wooldredge, who has been managing both theatres in McPherson, has resigned from that position on account of the ill health of Mrs. Wooldredge and they have moved to Kansas City. Mr. C. W. Helstrom, the owner of the theatres, has taken active management, and between these duties and the duties of councilman and supervisor of highway construction he is about the busiest Jayhawker we have met. He eats up work like a boy eats huckleberry pie. V O. K. Mason of Hoisington, who owns theatres at Hoisington, Great Bend, Kinsley, Norton and Goodland, might be classed (if he'd agree to it) as a former citizen of our home town. His grandfather and an uncle used to live there, and when he was a boy he spent part of his time there and he and his cousin, who is now Dr. McPherson, used to fight every day with Dave and Fritz Sellery, with the outcome generally undecided. Mr. Mason and Mr. Warner, branch manager in Kansas City for Warner Bros., were going out duck hunting the next morning and wanted us to go along. Gosh-all-fish-hooks, there it goes again, they just tantalize us wherever we go. O. K. says he is coming up to Neligh some time to visit his cousin, and if he does we are going to duck him in the Elkhorn river just to get even with him. Outside of that he's a swell fellow. J. W. Morris, who manages the theatres in Great Bend for Mr. Mason, installed a loudspeaking arrangement in the Plaza theatre to give his audience the election returns on election night right hot off the wire. That's what we call service. And did he have a crowd ? V C. D. Jarrett manages the Paramount theatre at La Crosse for Mr. Larned, who is a film salesman for Paramount. Mr. Jarrett is a hardworking lad and he impressed us as having more than ordinary knowledge of the business. If a theatre can be put over in La Crosse, Mr. Jarrett is the boy who can do it, and we could see no reason why La Crosse should not be a good show town. We are for him 100 per cent. V Mr. J. A. Schnack, who operates the Electric at Larned, believes that now that the election is over people will return to sanity and business will pick up. We believe he is right. We have all been crazy too durn long. Mr. Wooten, who operates the opposition house, was out of town when we called. Sorry we didn't get to see him. V We've got it in for Roy Culley of the Pastime theatre here in Medicine Lodge. That guy took us up to his house to supper and the spread that Mrs. Culley had laid out for us would make Old Man Glutton swear he'd never want another mouthful in his whole life. Beafsteak, boy, you ought to eat one of her steaks. Peach preserves, wow, wow. Candied sweet potatoes, oh mama. Browned gravy with mashed potatoes, hush, chile. Custard pie, ice cream. Oh well, what's the use. We ran two miles up a hill and back before we dared to go to bed, and that Culley put up that job on us just on purpose, and he's always claimed to be a friend of ours. Anyhow he's got a nice theatre and good sound that helped a whole lot. Thanks, Mrs. Culley, that was Some feed vou gave us. V We never knew until this morning that there was more than one Will Rogers in the United States. We picked up an Oklahoma paper and read that Will Rogers was running for justice of the peace or road overseer or something, and we wondered if our Will of "Jes Call Me Jim" fame had renounced the screen and was going to boss a road gang or issue dog licenses from a justice of the peace office in Clairmore. We were glad to learn that it wasn't our Will, but then one never can tell what a Democrat will do. Next week we will be with the Sooners. J. C. JENKINS, The HERALD Man Four Songs in Warner Film "Forty-second Street," Warner feature, contains four original songs with lyrics by Al Dubin and music by Harry Warren. "BUILDING THEATRE PATRONAGE" Get this big money-making book for showmen written by John F. Barry and Epes W. Sargent. An essential in every theatre. (Only$y .20 mailed to you r door) QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP 1790 Broadway New York City TRAVELERS... Arthur Loew, Metro vice-president in charge of foreign activities, arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, on an air trip around the world. John C. Flinn arrived in New York from Hollywood to take charge of "Sign of the Cross" roadshows for Paramount. W. Ray Johnston, Monogram president, returned to New York from Hollywood. II arry M. Warner, president of Warners, returned to New York from Hollywood. Joe Brandt, World Wide president, returned to New York from Canada and departed immediately for southern tour. Marie Dressler, MGM player, arrived in New York from Culver City for vacation. Harry Rapf, MGM production executive, returned to Culver City from New York. E. B. Hatrick left New York for Hollywood. Gloria Stuart, Universal player, returned to Hollywood from New York. John Hertz, Paramount executive, arrived in Hollywood from New York. Minna Gombel, Fox player, returned to Movietone City from New York. J. W. McFarland, Powers sales head, left New York on coast-to-coast tour. Charles E. McCarthy, Fox advertising-publicity director, left New York for Hollywood. Samuel Machnovich, EducationalWorld Wide treasurer, returned to New York from Hollywood. Sylvia Thalberg and her husband, Lawrence Weingarten, MGM producer, returned to Culver City from New York. Kay Francis, player, arrived in New York from Hollywood. Leo McCarey, director, arrived in New York from Hollywood. Russell Muth, Fox Movietonenews foreign representative, returned to Berlin from New York. Harry Paynter, Warner Canadian district manaaer. arrived in New York from Toronto. Alexander Kirkwood, Fox player, is in New York for a short visit. M. A. Lightman, MPTOA president, returns to Memphis from New York the latter part of this week. E. V. Richards, Saenger executive, is in New York from New Orleans. J. Thorne Smith, writer, is due in Hollywood from New York. He will write for MGM. Sidney Blackmer, player, is due in Hollywood from New York. Irene Dunne, player, arrived in New York to be at the bedside of her husband, Dr. Francis Griffin, who is in St. Vincents hospital recovering from an operation. Frank Eastman, juvenile player, has returned to Hollywood from New York. J. H. Skirball, Educational sales manager, leaves New York on a tour of Middlewest exchanges. Peggy O'Neil, player, sails for Europe. Sidney R. Kent, Fox president, will leave New York for the Coast the latter part of this month, returning about January 1. Morris Safier, now identified with Norma Talmadge and George Jessel, arrived in New York from Hollywood. Mrs. Edna Goodman, of Motion Picture Accessory Corporation, leaves New York for the Coast. Freuler Film Associates Has Nine Features in Work Freuler Film Associates, of which John R. Freuler is president, has already released the first two of its scheduled 24 Monarch productions for the season, and has nine others in work currently. New York conferences were attended this week by representatives of the various exchanges distributing the product of the company.