Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

November 3, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 125, Tips on Some Recent Releases went over big. A. Mitchell, Dixie Theatre, Russellville, Kentucky. PEG ’O MY HEART. (7,900 feet). Star, Laurette Taylor. Good picture. Pleased. Draw family class in city of 17,000. Admission 17-28. J. M. Blanchard, Strand Theatre (800 seats), Sunbury, Pennsylvania. SHERLOCK BROWN. (4,800 feet). Star, Bert Lytell. Bert Lytell is popular with quite a few people here but this show no one liked. Impossible, foolish, silly, such were the comments. That’s enough isn’t it? Had poor attendance. Draw mixed class in city of 110,000. Admission 10-20. A1 C. Werner, Royal Theatre (500 seats), Reading, Pennsylvania. TOLL OF THE SEA. (4,600 feet). Star, Anna May Wong. The exhibitor who books this will coin money; an excellent production. One of the most beautiful pictures exhibited here for a long time. Should please all. Gasps of delight. Has very good moral tone and is suitable for Sunday. Had good attendance. Draw mixed class in town of 3,000. Admission 15-25. Joseph L. Katz, Lyric Theatre, (350 seats), Woodbine, New Jersey. WHERE THE PAVEMENT ENDS. (7,706 feet). Star cast. A picture that didn’t mean anything much at this box office and the general verdict, the worst picture Rex Ingram has directed. Can’t see much money in this for exhibitors. Used heralds, etc. Had fair attendance. Draw health seekers, and tourists. Dave Seymour, Pontiac Theatre Beautiful, Saranac Lake, New York. Paramount ADAM AND EVA. (7,153 feet). Star, Marion Davies. Now here you went and gave us eight of the longest reels we ever heard of in this little flimsy old story that could have been done in four reels. What did we tell you about this long drawn out stuff? Don’t you know that people are tired of it? Take a tumble to yourself. Had worst attendance. Draw society class in town of 7,000. Admission 10-20. Ned Pedigo, Pollard Theatre (800 seats), Guthrie, Oklahoma. ADAM’S RIB. (9,526 feet). Star cast. Absolutely too long. Personally I walked out on this one and had “oodles” of company. T. H. Whittemore, Newcastle, California. BACK HOME AND BROKE. (7,814 feet). Star, Thomas Meighan. One of Meighan’s best. Played this three days in middle of the week; business picked up each night. We need more like it. Used newspaper, twenty-fours, threes, ones, lobby and heralds. General patronage in town of 3,000. We get the best pictures and have no summer slump. W. B. Renfroe, Dream Theature, Sedro-Wooley, Washington. BACK HOME AND BROKE. (7,817 feet). Star, Thomas Meighan. We opened the house after being closed eight weeks with this and we got the “haha” for the title just fitted. Good picture, as you’ve heard before. Moral tone O. K. Suitable for S unday. Fair attendance. Draw student and family class in town of 4,000. Admission 10-22. R. J. Relf, Star Theatre (600 seats), Decorah, Iowa. BLUEBEARD’S EIGHTH WIFE. (5,960 feet). Star, Gloria Swanson. The best thing this star has turned out to date, opened good but fell off on the end of the week due to heat. Local censors passed without cuts. Has spicey moral tone and is suitable for Sunday. Had fair attendance. Draw high class m city of 75,000. Admission 28-40-55. W. H. Lusher, Strand Theatre (900 seats), Pasaclena, California. BURNING SANDS. (6,909 feet). Star, Mil. ton Sills. A good picture of its kind, but j too many like this shown before. Suitable for Sunday. Had fair attendance, drawing family and student classes in town of 4,000. THREE WISE FOOLS (Goldwyn). Here is one of the Real Big Pictures. I played it against the stiffest opposition possible and cleaned up. King Vidor has given the motion picture world a gem. Al. Hamilton, Rialto Theatre, South Norwalk, Connecticut. MERRY GO ROUND (Universal). Here is a real good picture and one that is a real special; one of the most beautiful stories ever told upon the screen and the picture pleased everyone. I started to work on this one three weeks before I showed it. Giles Master, Strand Theatre, Gallup, New Mexico. WHY WORRY? (Pathe). Pleased my patrons equally as well as Lloyd’s previous successes. In my estimation as good as any of the Lloyds and it is certainly different. The giant will send everyone away wondering. Not worth an increase in film rental over “Safety Last” but I paid a third more. C. W. Cupp, Royal Theatre, Arkadelphia, Ar lt3.H 5 PIS MERRY GO ROUND (Universal). This is one of the best pictures that ever adorned the screen. Really great. Something decidedly different. It is lavish. It is big. William Noble, Criterion Theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. HER DANGEROUS PATH (PatheSerial). A different type of serial. Attracts a different type of patrons, especially the ladies. I admitted all ladies free on opening night. M. J. Bradley, Airdome Theatre, Thornton, Arkansas. FRENCH DOLL (Metro). While a very good picture, not up to Mae Murray’s standard. Do not raise admission prices. It will please seventy-five per cent, but may disappoint Murray fans. Fair moral tone, not suitable for Sunday in small town. J. A. Harvey, Strand Theatre, Vacaville, California. CIRCUS DAYS (First National). Did not draw the adults as expected but more than pleased those who came. Made money at that; second night better than first. It’s a very good picture and better than “Oliver Twist.” J. A. Harvey, Strand Theatre, Vacaville, California. Admission 10-22. R. J. Relf, Star Theatre (600 seats), Decorah, Iowa. BURNING SANDS. (6,909 feet). Star cast. This feature did more business for me than many specials. Played to full houses at regular admission, and pleased one hundred percent. Many liked it better than the “Sheik.” Would advise all exhibitors to use this one. Used heralds, slide, boards, photos, window cards. Had capacity audiences. Draw farmers, summer visitors, townspeople in town of 800. Admission varies, usually 10-25. Guy C. Sawyer, Town Hall (250 seats), Chester, Vermont. DARK SECRETS. (4,337 feet). Star, Dorothy Dalton. A fair program picture. Should please, heard no kicks. William Noble, Rialto Theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. DAUGHTER OF LUXURY. (4,538 feet). Star, Agnes Ayres. A fair program picture. Moral tone O. K. and is suitable for Sunday. Had fair attendance. Draw general class in town of 800. Admission 10-30. Leal Theatre (246 seats), Irvington, California. DICTATOR. (5,221 feet). Star, Wallace Reid. This is a very good picture with plenty of action and comedy. Draw small town class in town of 2,000. Admission 1025. W. E. Tragsdorf, Trags Theatre (425 seats), Neillsville, Wisconsin. DRUMS OF FATE. (5 reels). Star, Mary Miles Minter. Slow, long drawn out picture, with good cast of actors. Has its good points. Love drama, suitable for Sunday. Fair attendance, drawing middle and lower class, residential district of big city. Admission 15 matinee, 25 cents evenings. J. F. Enos, New Lyceum Theatre (1,260 seats), San Francisco, California. DRUMS OF FATE. (5 reels). Star, Mary Miles Minter. A truthful drama of woman’s frailty and youth’s glorious courage that will warm every heart. The story tells of a woman who loved once and married twice and then risked her honor and life to win back her first love. No mistake will be made in booking this one. William Noble, Capitol Theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. DRUMS OF FATE. (5 reels). Star, Mary Miles Minter. Liked by about fifty percent of our audience. A very, very ordinary program picture. Our first of the super thirtynine from Paramount. Hope the rest are better. Had average attendance. Draw better class in town of 4,500. Admission 10-15. C. A. Anglemire “Y” Theatre (400 seats), Nazareth, Pennsylvania. DRUMS OF FATE. (5 reels). Star cast. Little entertainment value here and patrons voted it tedious. As to box office value would term it a lemon. Al C. Werner, Royal Theatre, Reading, Pennsylvania. EBB TIDE. Star cast. Pleased an average Wednesday crowd. Two reels too long. Film punk. Has good moral tone and is too rough for Sunday. Had good attendance. Draw small town class in town of 1,200. Admission 10-25, 15-35. S. G. Harsh, Princess Theatre (250 seats), Mapleton, Iowa. EXCITERS. (5,039 feet). Star cast. A very satisfactory and pleasing picture all the way. It seems to be the type the movie audiences of today like best. Miss Daniels is good and Antonio Moreno is particularly good, putting over a crook-detective role in a manner that pleased. Our people seemed to like it very much for three nights. Not exactly suitable for Sunday. Had excellent attendance. Draw general working class in city of 18,000. Admission 10-20-30. Ben L. Morris, Temple and Olympic theatres, Bellaire, Ohio. FOR THE DEFENCE. Star, Ethel Clayton. Another old one. Just got by here. Star has quite a following due to her splendid personal reputation. This is just a good program picture. Not ideal for Sunday. Had good attendance. Draw all classes in city of 14,000. Admission 10-25. E. W. Collins, Grand Theatre (750 seats), Jonesboro, Arkansas. GO-GETTER. (7,771 feet). Star, Roy Barnes. In six reels this would have been a hundred per cent plus picture. Film fine. Has absolutely clean moral tone and is suitable for Sunday. Had below average attendance. Draw small town class in town of 1,200. Admission 10-25, 15-35. S. G. Harsh, Princess Theatre (250 seats), Mapleton, Iowa. GREAT IMPERSONATION. (6,658 feet). Star cast. Fair program picture. Some liked it and some did not care for it. Will get by if you don’t promise much. Used ones, slide. Had good attendance. Draw better class in town of 800. Admission 10-30. T. Leal, Leal Theatre (246 seats), Irvington, California. GRUMPY. (5,621 feet). Star Theodore Roberts. One of the most intelligently handled pictures I’ve seen. Roberts is great, balance of cast capable and the clever handling of the simple story will delight the better element. It pleased extra' well for