The Moving picture world (January 1923-February 1923)

February 10, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 571 Mr, Thompson Talks Sense I have filled out the blank and am sending it on. I try to write my reports as conscientiously as I can, because I want to do by other exhibitors as I would have them do by me. "In my estimation the 'Straight From the Shoulder Reports' Department is a great benefit to exhibitors, who are making constant use of it. It enables them to book the good pictures and leave the 'lemons' alone. I have found it extremely favorable in selecting pictures of the type we wish to show, as indicated above in our letter head. Kenneth Thompson, M. W. A. Theatre, Hancock, Wisconsin." You all kn»w Mr. Thompson; he has been one of our regulars for a long time. The type of pictures indicated in the letter head, "We aim to show good, clean, helpful photoplays," ought to be the sort every exhibitor aims to show. Mr. Thompson is doing his bit to help you get that kind. GIVE AS GOOD AS YOU GET. MORE REPORTS MEAN BETTER BOOKINGS. Hodkinson KEEPING UP WITH LIZZIE. Star: Enid Bennett. This is a dandy little picture and will please all classes and ages. They won't "grip their seats," but they'll go out with a satisfied smile and come back on the next program. Town of 800, pulling exfarmers and business men. Admission : 1025. Al. C. Stewart, Empire Theatre, Waitsburg, Washington. Metro CONQUERING POWER. Worst print we ever saw. Small crowd first night. Closed second night — afraid to try it again. Metro man was in our booth but could get us no adjustment. Big loss for us. Advertised heavy. Town of about 3,000, drawing regular small town crowd. Admission : 10-25. F. P. Werner, Queen Theatre, Trinity, Texas. FORGET ME NOT. Star: Bessie Love. A picture that will please anyone. Advertise this big. It's much better than some so-called Specials. If Metro keeps up the good work they will soon be on top. Did poor business on account of strike; no fault of picture. J. Jones, Cozy Theatre, Shawnee, Oklahoma. FOUR HORSEMEN. Special cast. Fairly good business for a picture that has been shown in Oklahoma City twice before. Will take well for a first time shown picture, as the picture has really a meritorious production with excellent theme and good moral brought out. No kicks registered, and those seeing the picture for the first time were well pleased. William Noble, Rialto Theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. FOURTEENTH LOVER. Star: Viola Dana. Good comedy drama. Advertising: two ones, 11 x 14. City of 14,000, draw from working class. Admission : 10-25. J. M. Bertling, Favorite Theatre, Piqua, Ohio. IDLE RICH. Star : Bert Lytell. The first picture I have had from Metro with Lytell as the star, which I could even class as a program picture. They must have come on account of the title as it is a cinch that Lytell never pulled them in. They will not see what they expect, but it is a fair program picture. Attendance was good. W. E. Tragsdorf, Trag's Theatre, Neillsville, Wisconsin. INFAMOUS MISS REVELL. Star: Alice Lake. Miss Lake means nothing in the young lives of my patrons, and the few who saw this were not overenthused. Boys, this trying to build up a new star is the bunk, especially when you get something like this to do it with. Town of a couplea-thousand, county seat and surroundings, to pull from. Admission : 10-25. Attendance: poor. W. E. Tragsdorf, Trag's Theatre, Neillsville, Wisconsin. INTRIGUE. Star: Pola Negri. Gloomy house, but interest is sustained. First showing or this star on our screen and her work was favorably received by our patrons. Advertising: extra anniversary, exploited extra vaudeville and Pola Negri. City of about 12,000, drawing all classes. Admission: 1725-40. Thos. K. Lancaster, Apollo Theatre, Gloucester, New Jersey. JUNE MADNESS. Star: Viola Dana. Splendid program picture. Pleased good attendance, two days' run. Have run all Miss Dana's pictures and they always draw good in my town. Receipts on "June Madness" about the same as on "Grandma's Boy," which cost me more than twice as much. Advertising: newspaper, window cards, lobby. Town of 1,500, draw residential type. Attendance: very good. J. A. McGill, Liberty Theatre, Port Orchard, Washington. Paramount ACROSS THE CONTINENT. Star: Wallace Reid. One of his best, in my estima tion, and my patrons thought the very same. A good Xmas attraction for me. Advertising : program, newspaper and posters. City of 16,000, drawing from mixed class. Attendance : very good. Louis Pilosi, Pilosi's Theatre, Old Forge, Pennsylvania. ACROSS THE CONTINENT. One of the best, if not the best, automobile picture Reid has ever made. One continuous thrill. Every one pleased with it. Advertising: usual lobby display. Patronage : high class. Attendance : good. C. R. McCown, Strand Theatre, Nashville, Tennessee. AFTER THE SHOW. A good production, and one our patrons enjoyed. Advertising: twenty-fours, threes, ones,' slide, newspaper, lobby display. Patronage : general. Attendance: good. John W. Creamer, Strand Theatre, Chillicothe, Missouri. AFTER THE SHOW. Stars : Jack Holt, Lila Lee. Lots and lots of favorable comments on this one. Just exactly the kind the better class like to see. Extremely interesting, and should go over well. Advertising: ones, threes, sixes, photos, slide. Town of 4,200, draw neighborhood patronage. Admission: 10-22. W. E. Elkin, Temple Theatre, Aberdeen, Mississippi. BACHELOR DADDY. Very good feature. Patronage : mixed. Attendance : good. Mrs. J. B. Travelle, Elite Theatre, Placerville, California. BEAUTY SHOP. This may be all right as musical comedy, but as picture it fails to get the laughs. Whether it was too deep for our people we don't know, but it did not please a majority. Advertising: heralds, photos, threes and ones. Patronage : neighborhood. Attendance : fair. Ryan & Kundert, Empress Theatre, Beresford, South Dakota. BEHOLD MY WIFE. Pleased a hundred per cent. It was extra good in every point. Story was very interesting. Exhibitors, book this one: your patrons will enjoy it. Advertising: usual. Patronage: mixed. Attendance: good. Frank Fera, Victory Theatre, Rossiter, Pennsylvania. BEHOLD MY WIFE. Had some of the best comments on this picture from patrons I ever had on any picture. Film good. Advertising: ones, news, photos. Attendance: good. Fred Jones, Rialto Theatre, Nelson, Nebraska. BEYOND THE ROCKS. Splendid. Pleased my patrons a hundred per cent. Rodolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson are two good lovers. Indeed, we want more of these. Advertising: usual. Patronage: mixed. Attendance: very good. Frank Fera, Victory Theatre, Rossiter, Pennsylvania. BEYOND THE ROCKS. Here is a picture you need not be afraid to boost and I'd say will stand a raise. It was favorably received by alL By playing it, you will add prestige to your theatre. Thos. L. Haynes, Town Hall, Old Lyme, Connecticut. BEYOND THE ROCKS. Just an ordinary feature. Not as good as some of the cheaper pictures I run. Don't pay any extra. Advertising: six ones, five three, photos, paper, slide. Patronage: family. Attendance : good. E. T. Dunlap, Dunlap Theatre, Hawarden, Iowa. BLOOD AND SAND. As good a picture as you would wish, which was splendidly played and pleased big business, and good for a return date. William Noble, Capitol Theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. BLOOD AND SAND. They compare this with the "Four Horsemen" and you pay "important" coin for it. I opened big but fell down fiercely the second day. Opinion, just a good picture, and the attendance proved it. Patronage: health seekers and tourists. Advertising: unusual. Dave Seymour, Pontiac Theatre Beautiful, Saranac Lake, New York. BLOOD AND SAND. Star : Rodolph Valentino. Very good; Valentino does his best work in this. Cost too high to make very much profit. Buy it right and you will come out. Bull fight scenes excellent. Good direction, good cast. Advertising: all kinds, special heralds written in Spanish. Town of 2,500, drawing all classes. Admission: 1020-15-30-25-50. Attendance: good. Adolph Schutz, Liberty Theatre, Silver City, New Mexico. BOBBED HAIR. Star: Wanda Hawley. Not so good; in fact, turribulll Attendance: fair, and glad of it. W. E. Tragsdorf, Trag's Theatre, Neillsville, Wisconsin. BONDED WOMAN. Star: Betty Compson. A pretty good picture and worth running anywhere; stars do their parts right and the story holds interest all the way through. Downtown patronage. Admission : 10 to 40. Attendance: good. Ben L. Morris, Temple Theatre, Bellaire, Ohio. BONDED WOMAN. Star: Betty Compson. Star sort of out of her sphere. Not much appeal. Bowers very fine. Advertising angles: play up the title. Town cf 5,000, drawing all nationalities. Admission: 10-25. Attendance : fair. L. A. Hoover, Gem Theatre, Durango, Colorado. BOOMERANG BILL. Star: Lionel Barrymore. A fair program picture ; nothing to brag on. The insane scene of the star was so put on that it could not be appreciated. A. W. Sage, Masonic Theatre, What Cheer, Iowa. ENCHANTMENT. Cosmopolitan-Davies. Marion Davies actually moves fast, gets real mad and has lots of pep in the first part of this story and looks as though she might be a real Hesh and blood person. Story is nicely done and the characters well taken all the way. It is as good as anything she