Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

Record Details:

Title:
Moving Picture World
Date:
Jan-Feb 1927
Publisher:
New York, Chalmers Publishing Company
Volume:
Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)
Leaf #:
000180
Language:
English
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System and Early Cinema
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
The Museum of Modern Art Library, New York
Sponsor:
Media History Digital Library
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
Moving Picture World, founded in 1907 by J.P. Chalmers, was one of the motion picture industry's first trade papers. Published on a weekly basis in New York City, Moving Picture World informed exhibitors about films available for rental and editorialized on behalf of the growing industry (improving the quality of movies through higher filmmaking standards, not government censorship, was a frequent topic). The paper reached its height in the mid-to-late-1910s--a fact reflected in the circulation figures and the huge amount of advertising that filled every issue during the period. In the 1920s, Moving Picture World lost ground to other competing weekly trade papers -- including Variety, Exhibitor's Herald, and Motion Picture News. In 1927, Moving Picture World ceased publication when it was acquired by Martin Quigley's Exhibitor's Herald. Across the 20 year run of Moving Picture World, readers can watch the transition from short film programs to feature films and witness the transition from the dominance of Edison's Trust to the rise of the "Independent" film companies that ultimately became the Hollywood studios. Silent film historians have utilized and cited Moving Picture World more frequently than any other trade paper, and the publication still has many insights left to offer. -- Eric Hoyt, 2012/2013
Date Added:
September 21, 2023
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148 Small town draw. A. Mitchell, Dixie Theatre, Russellville, Kentucky. WHISPERING SMITH. (6,125 feet). Good drawing card. Better than average business. Picture pleased. Dwight Hill, Superba Theatre, San Diego, California. WILD OATS LANE. (6.900 feet). All very good. Liked by all. Very pleasing picture nice story, good direction. W. Gorman, Pincess Theatre, Mount Dora, Florida. YOUNG APRIL. (6,S5S feet). Hundred per cent, picture. Opened my new theatre with it. Patrons greatly pleased. Louis C. Stoll, Penn Theatre, Monaoa, Pennsylvania. United Artists THE BAT. Well liked and well patronized: that’s all that need be said. It held the interest and was entertainment. Patronage good. Dave Seymour, Pontiac Theatre, Saranac Lake, New York. SON OF THE SHEIK. (6,685 feet). Star, Valentino. Splendid box office attraction, wonderful acting, good story. This picture should be played in every house in the United States for reasons already stated. Tone, good. Appeal excellent. Sunday, special yes. Mrs. J. B. Travelle, Elite Theatre, Placerville, California. SPARROWS. Star, Mary Pickford. This is not the best Mary Pickford has done. Just a little too much quicksand and slime. We paid too much for the picture to make a profit, but it is a better than program picture. Draw small town, farming classes. Admission 15-35. James MacDonald, Wiley Theatre, Wiley, Colorado. SPARROWS. Star, Mary Pickford. This is fine entertainment, something different. Not as funny as Little Annie Rooney though; but pleas.ed our patrons 90 per cent. Tone O.K. Sunday, special yes. Draw all classes, town less than 1,000. G. H'. Perry, People’s Theatre (240 seats), Clovsrdale, California. SPARROWS. Star, Mary Pickford. Had no appeal here; too sombre and full of mud. Attendance good the first day. Second day" — where were they? A nice, fat rental is requested also for this effort. Dave Seymour, Pontiac Theatre, Saranac Lake, New York. STELLA DALLAS. Star, Belle Bennett, Didn’t go over here. Well produced and acted; but too weepy for this community. That should be taken into consideration if I were contracting for this picture. Attendance good first day, second day fell to nothing. Dave Seymour, Pontiac Theatre. Saranac Lake, New York. STELLA DALLAS. 'Star, Belle Bennett. Really wonderful drama. It has an exceptionally good cast and is just an all-round good picture of the sad type. As the story was widely read and was liked, the title has a box office value. The ladies liked It immensely. I was amused at the large number who came out with damp handkerchief s and reddened eyes, and remarked, “O-o-o! it sure is a good picture. I cried all through it.” Business good considering the strong opposition. Tone O.K. Good appeal. Sunday, special O.K. Draw general class, town 3,000. Admission 10-30. M. W. Larmour, National Theatre (430 seats), Graham, Texas. Universal CALGARY STMPEDE. (5,924 feet). Star, Hoot Gibson. This is one of the best roundup pictures we have shown. Beats Pendleton Roundup. Hardest bucking horses we have ever seen, and we have seen many. This picture is a good one. Tone O. K. Suited for special in some towns. Draw all classes, town less than 1,000. G. H. Perry, People’s Itieatre (240 seats), Cloverdale, California. CALIFORNIA STRAIGHT AHEAD. Star, Reginald Denny. Dandy comedy drama that pleased every one. If this one don’t please — you can’t please them! It is very good. Print was in good shape (be sure and tell MOVING PICTURE WORLD A tip in the mail is worth two in the drawer. Send in your blanks every week, whether you report one picture or six. There are exhibitors who find your reports in agreement with their experience in pictures you’ve both played. They are following you. Keep the tips coming! about the print, boys'.) Tone good. Draw oil town class, town 300. Admission 10-25. W. H. Clower, Liberty Theatre, Wirt, Oklahoma. COMBAT. Star, House Peters. Just fair. Neither Peters nor Wanda Hawley suited to their parts. Tone fair, appeal poor. Sunday yes, special no. Draw miner, railroad class, town 3,000. Admission 10-35. Giles Master, Strand Theatre (700 seats), Gallup, New Mexico. GOOSE WOMAN. (7,500 feet). Stars, Louise Dresser, Jack Pickford. This picture pleased our patrons ninety per cent, and we have some hard ones to please. Wonderful acting in it. Several fine stars. Tone A.l. Good any day, almost special. Draw all classes, town less than 1,000. G. H'. Perry, People’s Theatre (240 seats), Cloverdale, dale, California. MARRAIAGE CLAUSE. Stars, BushmanDove. This was an exceptionally fine drama. It was a little heavy, but it has a fine plot and people enjoyed it a lot. It really kept the interest of grownups right up to the last minute and was a logical story, well acted. Billie Dove did the best work I have ever seen her perform. Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, South Dakota. MY OLD DUTCH. Star, Pat D’Malley, May McAvoy. Story too morbid, gruesome to be popular, but it has a good ending to save it. Tone good, appeal fair, Sunday yes, special no. Draw farm, merchant class, town 1,650, widely scattered. Mrs. J. B. Travelle, Elite Theatre, Placerville, California. PEACOCK FEATHERS. (6,747 feet). Just a dandy, boys, and one that should draw for you. I just had a three sheet to advertise with, but had a good crowd on a Saturday night (ordered paper but it came in a week late). Tone good. Sunday yes. Draw oil field class town 300. Admission 10-25. W. H. Clower, Liberty Theatre, Wirt, Oklahoma. PHANTOM BULLET. Star, Hoot Gibson. A fair Hoot subject; good story and direction. Not bad. Cast a little above the average. Hoot does love to play .the boob and gets by with it pretty well. Tone O.K., appeal 75 per cent. Sunday yes, special no. Draw general class, town 3,600. Admission 10-20. Wm. A. Clark, Sr., Castle Theatre (400 seats), Havana, Illinois. PROWLERS OF THE NIGHT. Star, Fred Humes. Just a small western that should go on a double bill. R. A. Preuss, Arvada Theatre, Arvada, Colorado. RED HOT LEATHER. Star, Jack H'oxie, This is one of the poorest westerns ever turned out by Universal, for me, and I have run most of them. It is way below the average. It has value in South Dakota as part of it was made out in Deadwood. They couldn’t take the time to put in some of the beautiful Black Hills scenery, however, and had to use Southern California and the paint brush some more. Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, South Dakota. SKINNER’S DRESS SUIT. (6,887 feet). Star, Reginald Denny. A pretty good picture, but only a fair Denny picture. We expect better pictures from Denny than this. I really believe the old Bryant Washburn, V-L-S-E. Skinner picture was better than this new version. Tone O.K. Appeal fair. Sunday O.K. Special no. Draw general class, town 3,000. Admission 10-30. M. W. Larmour, National Theatre (430 seats), Graham, Texas. SPOOK RANCH. Star, Hoot Gibson. This is the only real bad one I ever got from Hoot. They never should have released it. Hoot’s big following were very much disappointed. Draw town, rural class, town . January 8, 1927' 2,500. Admission 10-25. S. H. Rich, Rich Theatre (450 seats), Montpelier, Idaho. STELLA MARIS. Star, Mary Philbin. Drew a fair crowd and seemed to please them. Nothing big; but not so bad, either. Mitchell Conery, Columbia Theatre, Rensselaer, New York. Warner Bros . ACROSS THE PACIFIC. (6,945 feet). Star, Monte Blue. Very good, and this is a picture that should please everybody. Tone, appeal good. Sunday, special yes. Draw miner, railroad class, town 3.000. Admission 10-35. Giles Master, Strand Theatre (700 seats), Gallup, New Mexico. BRIDE OF THE STORM. (6,500 feet). If your patrons like melodrama, plentifully seasoned with comedy, play this, although it is not Dolores Costello’s best. Dave Adams, Auditorium Theatre, Concord, New Hampshire. BROKEN HEARTS OF HOLLYWOOD. Good program picture. Mrs. J. B. Travelle, Elite Theatre, Placerville, California. CLASH OF THE WOLVES. (5,519 feet). Star, Rin-Tin-Tin. Good outdoor story with pathos and heart appeal. As usual RinTin-Tin carries the honors. Tone, appeal good. Sunday, special yes. Mrs. J. B. Travelle, Elite Theatre, Placerville. California. COMPROMISE. Star, Irene Rich. Splendid story, heart appeal, pathos and a good setting. Fine acting. Tone, appeal good. Sunday yes, special no. Mrs. J. B. Travelle, Elite Theatre, Placerville, California. Short Subjects BILL GRIMM’S PROGRESS. (F.B.O. Series). We have played four of these tworeel comedies and they are very good. Mrs. S. J. Brown & Son. Phoenix Theatre (200 seats), Neola, Iowa. A BRINY BOOB. (Educational-Billy Dooley). Two reels. Very poor. Too silly. Not a real laugh in it for any fairly intelligent person. There is a difference between the words ‘‘funny’’ and “silly” that should be learned by all comedy producers. M. W. Larmour, National Theatre (43© "seats), Graham, Texas. BROKEN CHINA. (Educational-Bobby Vernon). A fine two reel Vernon comedy with plenty of laughs in it. C. A. Anglemire, “Y” Theatre, Nazareth, Pennsylvania. EAGLE’S TALON. (Universal-serial). On the ninth episode; getting better all the time. Good prints. Running this and Battling Brewster side by side. Brewster was ahead but now I am making three times as much on Eagle’s Talon. (Brewster prints in bad shape). W. H. Clower, Liberty Theatre, Wirt, Oklahoma. FAMILY PICNIC. Helen and Warren comedy that was really fine. Dave Butler as the practical joker was a scream and Arthur Houseman was the butt for David’s jokes, was also splendid. Heard a number of roars of laughter. Tone, appeal O. K. H. H. Hedberg, Amus'e-U Theatre, Melville, Louisiana. FELIX KEEPS ON WALKING. (Educational-cartoon. A very fine one reel filler-in for us. C. A. Anglemire, “Y” Theatre, Nazareth, Pennsylvania. FELIX SPOTS THE SPOOKS. (Educational cartoon). Not a bad one in this series so far. This one was good for some good laughs, as all the rest were. C. A. Anglemire, “Y” Theatre, Nazareth, Pennsylvania. GREEN ARCHER. (Pathe-serial). Stars. Allene Ray, Walter Miller. I think this was the best serial I have ever run or seen. My business grew with each episode. H'. L. Beudon, Grand Theatre, Port Allegany, Pennsylvania. GREEN ARCHER. (Pathe-serial). Stars, Allene Ray, Walter Miller. Absolutely the best serial we have run in a long time. Buy it, book it, boost and cash in on it. Mitchell Conery, Columbia Theatre. Rennsalaer, New York.