Reel Life (1916-1917)

News and Gossip from Mutual Men “ Damaged Goods” .set attendance record in Billings, Mont., showing to Jp,500 at the Regent Theatre. Police reserves called to handle crowds seeking admission. E O’KEEFE, manager of the Regent Theatre company, of Billings, Mont., • sends a letter on Damaged Goods, ex¬ tracts from which are printed below : “With regard tq our success on this pro¬ duction I must say that it far exceeded our expectations ; we had no idea that it would draw as it did. Our house seats 500, but it was not anywhere near large enough to accommodate the jam. The people were very much pleased with it, indeed. We showed Damaged Goods to about 4,500 peo¬ ple, which is the record for Billings for any¬ thing in the show line, either pictures or otherwise. “We had such a jam the first night that we had to call on the police and firemen to hold the crowds back and let the people out, and then we couldn’t do it. We had to send them out of the rear doors on the alley.” “I must say that The Diamond From the Sky is a good picture and is getting better all the time,” writes John R. Runnels, manager of the Yale Theatre, of Groesebeeck, Tex. Mr. Runnels finds that each chapter of this Mutual special feature is a house filler. Exhibitors Watch for These Stolen Films Exhibitors everywhere are cautioned against renting, except from an authorized agent of the Mutual Film Corporation, the following reels, stolen December 30 last, from the Mutual’s Chi¬ cago Exchange : — “The Scoop at Belleville” — Thanhouser Comedy-drama “The Queen of the Band” — Reliance Drama “Putting Papa to Sleep” — Novelty comedy Mutual Weekly No. 46 — Gaumont These films were taken from the Chicago Mutual Exchange by the supposed representative of a Chicago Theatre. Exhibitors, to whom these films may be offered, are re¬ quested to communicate at once with the nearest Mutual Ex¬ change. D. J. Sullivan, secretary of the North American Film Corporation, says that 10,000 sequels to The Diamond From the Sky have already been submitted from patrons of theatres who write that they followed the entire 30 chapters with a great deal of in¬ terest and feel that they have thought out a fitting ending to the story. Writes Galvin Robertson, of Callaway, Neb.: “Our last Saturday night show was splendid. The Unsuspected Isles is hard to beat. It took well with our crowd and I certainly think it is a hard crowd to please.” Mr. H. Christensen, theatre manager of Sioux Rapids, la., is enthusiastic about The Quest, the Mutual Masterpicture, which he showed recently in his house. “It was fine. As long as your Masterpictures continue in that class I will use them,” writes the Iowa manager. Peter Trocchiano, manager of the Pastime Theatre, of St. Francisville, La., broke all his house records with a popularity contest, which he held on Friday evening, January 14th. Mr. Trocchiano advertised his con¬ test for some time before the evening in good time and he found his house packed to more than capacity business on the final night. Georgia Rettig and Maggie Gore re¬ ceived the first and second prizes for beauty, Lucille Magearlwas awarded the popularity vote and Emma Brosseaux was elected the best dressed girl of the town. Mr. Troc¬ chiano gave other prizes to every girl re¬ ceiving 100 votes. As the feature picture of the evening, the Mutual Masterpicture, The Flying Twins, a Thanhouser production, featuring the beautiful Thanhouser (Mu¬ tual) twins, was shown. The following is taken from the Ohio Times of Saturday, January 15, 1916: Replete with action and sensational climaxes that real lovers of the movies thrive on the first installment of The Girl and the Game, at the Columbia, Thursday evening, was enjoyed by au¬ diences that taxed the capacity of this popular and comfortable theatre. Evi¬ dence is already at hand to warrant the statement that The Girl and the Game, a story of mountain railroad life, is going to prove the most popu¬ lar and interesting movie serial yet shown in Portsmouth. There is coher¬ ency to the story, the photography is splendid, scenic effects magnificent, and the story is sure to meet with popu¬ lar approval. It will be well to remember that on every Thursday night two reels of this really worth while screen feature will be shown at the Columbia. It is conceded to be the best railroad picture ever made. A. B. Arnett, manager of the Colonial Theatre, of Winchester, Ky., expresses his confidence in the Mutual in the following letter : “I have recently taken over the Colonial. While it is the prettiest house in town, it was allowed to run down to the point where it was losing $100 a day. “My first move, after having the painter give the front a liberal coat of white, was to cut the program to three days af fea¬ tures and three days of regular releases, using Mutual to fill the regular releases.” GET MORE BUSINESS ^ — talks — program chatter — advs. — letters to patrons, etc. — Costs small — results BIG.— E. W. Sargent, Ameri¬ ca’s leading authority on adv. for exhibitors says of my work: "Lynch writes snappy stuff — stuff that people like to read — the sort of talk that make* business — he makes his talks readable, etc. I can make steady patrons of your people — get them oomlng every night — make them so loyal to you that your competitors cannot lure them away — I can Increase your average receipts 25 to 60 per cent, with my snappy talks — personally written for you. — Write right now for free particulars. C. H. LYNCH, The Ad Specialist, Spring Valley, III. Cushman Lighting Plants GET THE CROWD Cushman throttling governed engines give steady voltage. It’s cheaper to make your “juice” than to buy it. You get a good light at arc, which makes clear, bright pictures. Extremely light in weight. 4 H. P. complete plant weighs only 575 lbs. Not the cheapest, but cheapest in the long run. Get informa¬ tion describing exclusive features. It’s free. CUSHMAN MOTOR WORKS, 940 N.. 21st St., Lincoln, Nebr. REEL LIFE — Page Fifteen