Reel Life (1916-1917)

WHAT THE EXHIBITORS SAY Opinion from the men who have given Mutuals the test of the box office A CRITICISM by Harold B. Franklin, manager of Shea’s Hippodrome, Buffalo, is al¬ ways worth attention. Shea’s Hip¬ podrome seats about 2,500, has an orchestra of twenty-six pieces, and is considered one of the finest motion picture houses in the United States, not excluding New York and Chi¬ cago. Mr. Franklin writes: — ‘‘The writer is pleased to have the opportunity to tell you how pleased our audiences were with Charlie Chaplin in ‘The Cure.’ “This comedy in many respects is one of the best Chaplins we have had the pleasure of featuring in the Hippodrome. It is needless to say that business was ‘Record Break¬ ing.’ ” * * * * HO. MUGRIDGE, manager of the Moveum Theatre, At* kin, Minnesota, planned an exceedingly attractive and appropri¬ ate lobby display to introduce the Mutual serial, “A Lass of the Lumberlands.” A load of evergreen trees was util¬ ized for the lobby decorations. Six of these trees of different heights were put across the entrance of the theatre and between them were placed two large pictures of Helen Holmes and a board covered with stills from the play. On either side of the entrance were placed six-sheet posters. The ticket window was banked and decorated with branches of the pine trees and from the chan¬ deliers hung long branches. As patrons entered the lobby they were given the impression of going into a big forest and the spicy odor of the pines helped the illusion. On the night this display was used and the first chapter of “A Lass of the Lumberlands” was run Mr. Mugridge played to more than half of the entire population of the town of 1600 inhabitants, and he advises that the success of the succeeding chapters has been phenomenal. * * * LT. COYLE, manager of the King George Theatre, St. * Catherines, Ontario, writes to Mutual as follows : “On Friday and Saturday, April 20th and 21st, we showed ‘Pardners’ and on Friday and Saturday, April 27th and 28th, we showed ‘The This is a snap shot of Jackie Saunders, the Sunkist star, in her roadster, outside the Balboa studio. Jackie is looking partictilarly bewitch¬ ing in a new sport hat and coat. Standing beside the car is Mollie Mc¬ Connell, in the character role of com¬ panion to Ethel Ritchie, leading woman in the current Balboa produc¬ tion under direction of William Bertram. Mrs. McConnell, who is the widow of Will McConnell, a noted theatrical wit and manager, has re¬ cently placed her adopted daughter. Nan Christyy in New York produc¬ tions. Painted Lie,’ and I want to say that, although we hold the reputation of showing the best pictures in this city we have never had better pic¬ tures in our house. We had a record house on both occasions and I want to congratulate you on your busi¬ ness-like system and the class of pictures you are turning out. Our Mutual Days are taking first place in the King George. Continued suc¬ cess.” * * * EN. NEY, manager of the Rex Theatre, Bemidji, Minnesota, * writes : “I have just shown two of the Mutual Star Productions, namely, ‘Miss Jackie of the Navy’ and ‘And the Law Says,’ in my Rex Theatre here and I take pleasure in saying that I have never run two better fea¬ tures in this theatre.” HOSE WIFE?” Gail Kane’s first production for Mutual, had its first Chicago showing at the Orpheum Theatre, one of the Jones, Linick and Schaefer houses, in the heart of the shopping district. G. H. Moore, manager of the Or¬ pheum, reports, “The play was good, the star was good and the audience was pleased with the play. Business was very good on ‘Whose Wife?’ In fact I had the best day of the week, not counting Saturday and Sunday.” * * * fcfcT WANT to congratulate you I for producing such excellent pictures as ‘A Pearl of Para¬ dise’ and ‘Miss Jackie of the Navy,’ ” writes C. C. Hubert, manager of the Newark Opera House, Newark, Del¬ aware, to the Mutual Film Corpora¬ tion. “I think the two above mentioned features are among the best features ever shown in our theatre. I hope you will produce another Margarita Fischer series.” * * * A. DUFFNER, manager! Moving Picture Theatre, * Timber Lake, S. D., writes: “With regard to Mutual program , permit me to say that I am much j pleased with both subjects and con-j dition of film. They have made aj decided hit with my patrons, and it is indeed a pleasure to run this class of film.” * * * GEORGE LAENHARDT, man¬ ager of the Varsity Theatre,: Champaign, Illinois, writes : “ ‘The Railroad Raiders’ is going] big, and is a knockout on the first1 chapter. I had them packed at mati¬ nee and had my house crammed full at starting time in the evening, and holding them out.” * * * HENRY KING, one of the best known directors in the motion picture world, has been en¬ gaged by the American Film Com¬ pany to direct Gail Kane produc¬ tions. Mr. King will start work im¬ mediately producing “The Woman in Black,” a thrilling drama of love and war, which will be released through Mutual. Mr. King is best known for his direction of “Little Mary Sunshine.” REEL LIFE— Page Nine