The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

STRAIGHTfrom llTe SHOULDER REPQRB A Department for. The Information of exhibitors EDITED BY A. VAN BUREN POWELL Associated Exhibitors IS DIVORCE A FAILURE. (5,448 feet). Star, Leah Baird. A well done story all the way with some wonderful volcano and storm scenes. Miss Baird does not seem to fit the part she tries to play in this picture. Would have been a knockout with a light peppy young star. Not the best moral tone and is not suitable for Sunday. Draw general class In city of 15,000. Admission thirty cents. Ben L. Morris, Temple Theatre, Bellaire, Ohio. F B. O. CANYON OP POOLS. (5,180 feet). Star, Harry Carey. A good picture of Harry Carey type. Moral tone O. K. and is suitable for Sunday. Had fair attendance. Draw all classes in town of 2,500. Admission 10-2025. W. B. Aspley, Aspley Theatre (350 seats), Glasgow, Kentucky. DESERT DRIVEN. (5,840 feet). Star cast. A good program all the way through. Suitable for Sunday. Had good attendance. Draw mixed class in town of 800. Admission 15-25. Jerry Wertin, Winter Theatre (250 seats), Albany, Minnesota. GIRL PROM GOD'S COUNTRY. (7,000 feet). Star cast. A truly wonderful picture. Best wild animal stuff I ever saw in any film. Great story and acting. Marvelous photography throughout. Boys grab it and boost it. Will please any audience. Moral tone fine and is suitable for Sunday. Draw general class in town of 1,200. Had big attendance. E. N. Prescott, Prescott Circuit Theatres, Union, Maine. IF I WERE QUEEN. (5,955 feet). Star, Ethel Clayton. People are surfeited with this mythical kingdom stuff and had it not been for Ethel Clayton, would have fallen down badly. Al. C. Werner, Royal Theatre, Reading, Pennsylvania. MIRACLE BABY. (6 reels). Star,' Harry Carey. A good picture. Somewhat drawn out, but at that you'll find it a good one. Business very good first day, off the second more than half. Not enough Carey followers. William Thatcher, Royal Theatre, Salina, Kansas. THELMA. (6,000 feet). Star, Jane Novak. Pair picture that brougrht fair comments from patrons and fair results at the box office. Al. C. Werner, Royal Theatre, Reading, Pennsylvania. First National ANNA CHRISTIE. (7,031 feet). Star, Blanche Sweet. A picture which is acclaimed the greatest American drama of years, full of pathos and human interest. William Noble, Empress Theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. BELLA DONNA. (7,100 feet). Star, Pola Negri. Excellent acting by this emotional actress and first class settings. Held patrons interest throughout. Pleased eighty-five to twenty per cent, being the children. T. R. Praser Blscoe, Gaiety Theatre, Courtenay, Vancouver Island, Canada. BLIND HEARTS. (5,488 feet). Star cast. A very good, interesting story from start to finish. Suitable for Sunday. Had good attendance. Draw mixed class in town of 800. Admission 15-25. Jerry Wertin, Winter Theatre (250 seats), Albany, Minnesota. BRIGHT SHAWL. (7,500 feet). Star, Richard Barthelmess. A good picture. Barthelmess and Dorothy Gish are a good combination, both doing splendid work. William Powell did well, too. Had good attendance. Draw general class in town of 3,720. Admission varies. C. F. Krieghbaum, Paramount Theatre (294 seats), Rochester, Indiana. EAST IS WEST. (7,737 feet). Star, Con "It is my utmost desire to be of some use to my fellow man," is the spirit that makes Straight From the Shoulder the dependable tip department on good and bad pictures. To get best value from tips, find the exhibitors whose tips agree with your experience on pictures you've run, then follow their advice in future. Send tips yourself. Thousands of exhibitors derive benefit from them and this is your department, dedicated to you — controlled by you — maintained by you. An Index to Reports appears in the last issue of each month, and each succeeding Index is cumulative. stance Talmadge. Pleased one hundred per cent. A picture which kept my patrons in continued merriment. Good attendance of all classes. Draw rural community in town of 800. T. R. Fraser Biscoe, Gaiety Theatre (300 seats), Courtenay, Vancouver Island, Canada. PURY. (8,709 feet). Star, Richard Barthelmess. One of the best. Will satisfy everybody. A wonderful sea drama. Moral tone fine and is pretty rough for Sunday. Had fine attendance. Draw mixed class in town of 4,000. Admission 10-20-25. T. L. Barnett, Finn Theatre (600 seats), Jewett City, Connecticut. FURY. (8,709 feet). Star, Richard Barthelmess. A good sea story only we think a little too long and drawn out. If it was condensed think that it would be much better. Had fair attendance. Draw mixed class in town of 1,800. Admission twenty-five cents. Fred S. Widenor, Opera House (492 seats), Belvidere, New Jersey. HER REPUTATION. (7,000 feet). Star, May McAvoy. Didn't think this hardly up to the Ince standard; seemed to lack the usual Ince punch. Should be bought and played as an average program picture. Draw general class in town of 3,500. Henry Tucker, Tucker Theatre (950 seats). Liberal, Kansas. HUNTRESS. (6,236 feet). Star, Colleen Moore. A type of outdoor picture with good line of comedy that should please any type audience. Our patrons liked it and Snitz Edwards got many a laugh. Has excellent scenic backgrounds. Had good attendance. Draw general class in town of 3,500. Henry Tucker, Tucker Theatre (950 seats), Liberal, Kansas. SLANDER THE WOMAN. (6,400 feet). Star, Dorothy Philips. Picture good. Pleased those who saw it, but it did not draw here. I believe it has the wrong title. Had bad attendance. M. W. Larmour, National Theatre, Graham, Texas. WANTERS. (6,871 feet). Star, Marie Prevost. Good program that will please, however not big enough for a special. Moral tone good. Suitable for Sunday. Had fair attendance. Draw small town class in town of 6,000. Admission 10-30. L O. Davis, Virginia Theatre (600 seats), Hazard, Kentucky. WHAT A WIFE LEARNED. (6,228 feet). Star, John Bowers. This feature is a very strong feature and pleased the majority. The moral in it is very good and should be taken seriously by any of our young persons before getting married. Had good attendance. Draw mixed class in town of 1,800. Admission twenty-five cents. Fred Si Widener, Opera House (492 seats), Belvidere. New Jersey. Fox ALIAS THE NIGHT WIND. (4,145 feet). Star, William Russell. "Big Bill" came back after six months waiting, and everyone was delighted. They want more of this type of picture. Moral tone fine and is suitable for Sunday. Had S. R. O. Draw working class in town of 3,500. Admission 10-25. H. W. Nauman, Majestic Theatre (300 seats), Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. CAMEO KIRBY, (6,931 feet). Star cast. Not so good with this one. My patrons didn't like it, so poor business. Draw laboring class in town of 403. Admission 10-25. Robert Marsden, Jr., Noble Theatre (600 seats), Marshfield, Oregon. DOES IT PAY? (6,652 feet). Star cast. It did pay Sunday night but Monday it was a terrible flop. Side-step this one if possible. Had very poor attendance. Draw laboring class in town of 403. Admission 10-25. Robert Marsden, Jr., Noble Theatre (600 seats), Marshfield, Oregon. HELL'S HOLE. (6 reels). Star, Buck Jones. Everybody enjoyed this. Played it on Sunday to a record breaking business. Had very good attendance. Draw laboring class in town of 403. Admission 10-25. Robert Mairpden, Jr., Noble Theatre (600 seats), Marshfield, Oregon. LONE STAR RANGER. (5,250 feet). Star, Tom Mix. Mix pictures are popular and this is no exception. Draw all class. Arthur B. Smith, Fenwick Theatre, Salem, New Jersey. RAGGED HEIRESS. (4,888 feet). Star, Shirley Mason. Fair program. O. K. where Mason is popular. Mason one of our best bets. Fox treats us like we were human. Draw oil and farming class in town of 650. Admission 10-25. J. A. Herring, Play House (249 seats), Strong, Arkansas. SILENT COMMAND. Star cast. Splendid in every respect. Business above average. Suitable any day. Had good attendance. Draw laboring class in town of 403. Admission 1025. Robert Marsden, Jr., Noble Theatre (600 seats), Marshfield, Oregon. Goldwyn BLIND BARGAIN. (4,473 feet). Star, Lon Chaney. Our audience reared up on its hind legs, so to speak, and kicked at this one. Gruesome in the extreme, with superb acting by Lon Chaney at his best. Theme entirely too morbid to please. Not suitable for Sunday in small town. Had poor attendance. Draw working class in town of 3,500. Admission 10-25. H. W. Nauman, Majestic Theatre (300 seats), Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. GRIM COMEDIAN. (4 reels). Star, Jack Holt. Well liked production, but couldn't connect the title to the story. Cheap in price but let's have more of these for real box office attractions instead of the many socalled specials. Moral tone good for young people. Not suitable for Sunday. Had good attendance. Draw college class in town of 6,000. Admission 10-25-35. Jean Dagle, Barth Theatre (835 seats), Carbondale, Illinois. LOST AND POUND. Star cast. An extra good picture. Plenty of action. Moral tone $ut gtetmiier