Tullar's Weekly (May 1924)

] Tullar’s Weekly Vol. 1 No. 15. May 5, 1924 Price 25 cents Editorial and Business Offices at 6411 Hollywotxl Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Editor and Owner, Harry Tullar Subscription $10.00 per year anywhere in the World Subscript ions paid in advance THE THREE SECRETS OF SUCCESS ON THE SCREEN 1. Fair ability. 2. Hard work. 3. Publicity. “DUBBS”—THE BOYS PLAY MARBLES I’ll bet the little boys who write the postage stamp reviews on short subjects, and still use the illuminat- ing terms of “fillers,” have trouble keeping their marbles in the shallow pockets of short pants. One of them refers to “Busy Buddies” by saying, “there is some fairly fast-moving comedy.” This remark leads me to think these reviewers do not know a good pic- ture when they see one, because this particular com- edy is in the knockout class. A CUTTING REMARK The best fottage in pictures is often cut out by the wise men in the east after experts in the west turn out the product in the most finished form pos- sible. FLAT FEATURE FAILURES What is the greatest argument for good, selected short subjects? It is not the super length feature situation, nor the balanced program idea, strong as they are. It is the positive fact that fully one-half of all feature length pictures are flat failures as entertainment. That’s why audiences today relish good short subjects. With my editorials and reviews, which A1 Christie states are “constructive,” I, alone, am carrying on the fight, so far as trade papers go. Exhibitors and exchanges are seeing the truth. That is why Hollywood Theatres, Inc., affiliated with the great West Coast chain, have written me, “We read Tullar’s Weekly religiously. Your editorial page is of particular interest to us. We are glad we have an authority we can rely on.” That’s why Pathe Ex- change of Charlotte, N. C., writes, “We are boosting Tullar’s Weekly to the skies among Carolina exhibit- ors.” And there are plenty more. FIRE THE POOR ONES BACK TO THE EXCHANGES—DON’T RUN JUNK “ROUGHEST AFRICA” AND JIMMY FINLAYSON This is labeled a Stan Laurel comedy, but Jimmy Finlayson runs away with it. It has been credited as one of the best six comedies of the last six months. After some years of experience on Broadway and the screen, Finlayson is coming into just recognition. HOORAY, FOR SID GRAUMAN! This showman is giving the short subject comedy a chance at last. Heretofore, he has put on some great shows in his different theatres, except that he has run some murderous features, but the music alone at a Grauman show is worth the price of admis- sion. Three Grauman houses on Los Angeles Broad- way have run two-reel comedies lately. The Clunes, Loew’s State and Mission are already sold on short subjects. I am delighted to see six Broadway houses in the fold. Sid, on behalf of the short subject pro- ducers and their employees, let me congratulate you. If you will just slip a real fun film in ahead of “The Ten Commandments,” you will be 100 per cent. And remember to pick your short subjects. Some of them are not so good. If you are too busy to find out the names of the best ones, you can read all about it in here. LET’S SEE ABOUT THIS “GALLOPING FISH” Ince’s new one for First National. A frost fea- ture. Slapstick. Poor slapstick at that. Excellent to make them sleep and walk out. I saw them do it. Syd Chaplin, in sissy role, fails to get over most of the time. Ford Sterling tries hard but doesn’t hit much. Fazenda has little chance. No clever titles. Conklin fairly good. The seal is not bad—balances the ball in good shape, which will please children. This whole thing has “appendicitus,” which is the w * 1 2 3 * * * 7 ay they spell it in the subtitle. Direction appears to be ordinary. This reminds me of the poorest short subject comedies I see, only it isn’t so good. Title has no drawing power. The picture is another non- entertaining feature—exceedingly so. I know direc- tors and players in any short subject studio around Los Angeles who would be ashamed to turn out any- thing as poor as- this. GREATEST BANANA BUSINESS “Yes, We Have No Bananas” has trebled the sale of bananas. This song has put bananas in the mind of the public again. The public, of course, have always known about bananas, but this song has been a great reminder. Such is the effect of pub- licity. BACKBONE Have you noticed that Tuller’s Weekly is the only trade paper with backbone enough to print a list reg- ularly of the sick, feature-length pictures. Hey, you other papers, what’s the matter? Why not tell the exhibitors what you know ? Mr. Exhibitor, when you buy pictures, if you must buy them in a series, do so only with the right to refuse the poor ones. Stipulate that into the pur- chase of the series, otherwise it will be serious. You can buy pictures that way, if you hold out long enuf. I have the low-down on this, and you are a dubb, if you buy any other way, aren’t you ? HOW EXHIBITORS CAN FILL THEIR HOUSES ALL THE TIME Mr. Exhibitor, if you are not getting enuf pat- rons, if you have too many empty seats, write me about it. I think I can make a suggestion or two that will cop the business for you.