Box Office Record - 2

Dawn

• December 4-5. Memories of the conflict, which is a two-reel prologue to Dawn, is being sold with the feature picture, but I don't believe it helps the feature and only adds length to the program. Dawn is a very good picture, which is a life history of the famous nurse Cavell, portraying her work during the great way, also the trial and execution by the Germans, for having helped allied prisoners to escape. As I said, this is a very good picture, but a positive frost at the box office. If you buy it, be sure you can get advertising from Columbia. We couldn't. (Princess theatre, Parkersburg, Ia.-General patronage.)

• November 29-December 1. Very good. Miss Thorndike is splendid. The only thing against it is that it's just a bit too heavy and lacks the comedy touch. Our business on Dawn was next to that of Ben Hur and Seventh Heaven, in spite of an 11-in snowfall on the first night of the play dates. (Opera House, Louisville, Neb.-Small town patronage.)

• November 23. It is a treat to watch the work of Sybil Thorndike in this picture after gazing on some of the baby dolls of Hollywood. There is a real actress. The story of heroic nurse Cavell makes an outstanding attraction. It cannot help but draw after the world wide publicity given by the press. Should not offend Germans. (Central theatre, Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada.-General patronage.)

• January 1-3. Boys, lay off of this one. It was sold to me as a special, but it is as far from being a special as the producers are of having a chance to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Slow and uninteresting. (Lyda theatre, Grand Island, Neb.-General patronage.)

Detectives

• November 1. This picture satisfied about 50 per cent. Some said good, some said rotten, and there you are. (Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.-General patronage.)

• Played this on my 10 cent bargain night. Business only fair on this one. Just a darn poor program picture. (Paramount theatre, Wyoming, Ill.-General patronage.)

• October 5-6. Better than Circus Rookies and it got the laughs, so the wife informed me. I was way down South when this was played. I think I was having a big time, from all reports. (Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan.-Small town patronage.)

• There has been a lot of criticism on this one. I wonder why. It pleased here and some came the second night to see it, so we are able to report favorably. (Princess theatre, Parkersburg, Ia.-General patronage.)

• November 30-December 1. A fair Saturday night picture. A few gags that were not exactly spotless. Too much smut. (Orpheum theatre, Rock Valley, Ia.-Small town patronage.)

• January 5. Didn't get to see this one, but what few saw it didn't speak very favorably. Too much like their other comedies, (Stockton theatre, Stockton, Mo.-Small town patronage.)

• Program comedy-drama. This team doesn't get us an extra dime. (Selma theatre, Selma, Cal.-General patronage.)

Docks of New York

• December 5-6. Your screen will need washing after you show this. If you are in a town that is inclined to be critical, you would be better off without it. We like underworld stories, such as Dragnet, Showdown, The Racket, etc., but when they go even deeper and drag out the dregs of the redlight districts and parade them, that's a little too strong for us. (Texas theatre, Grand Prairie, Texas.-Small town patronage.)

• December 29. Well, Bancroft is good, but I can't make the people in this town believe it. I showed it on Saturday to my regular Saturday crowd but it did not do extra business as I expected it to, but that's not the fault of the picture. This one is wild and woolly, has plenty of action and should go over any place. (Rialto theatre, Bushnell, Ill.-General patronage.)

• January 7-8. Another good one from the Bancroft-von Sternberg combination, Betty Compson and Baclanova both support Bancroft excellently. (Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va.-General patronage.)

• Good Bancroft picture but a little too deep for some to understand. Not a Sunday picture, nor one for children. But adults will get some kick out of it. (Zorn theatre, Binkelman, Neb.-General patronage.)

• November 21-22. A high class picture of the underworld sort. Believe most people will like it. (Cozy theatre, Duchesne, Utah.-General patronage.)

• High class picture that pleased the better class. (Aristo theatre, Lemmon, S.D.-General patronage.)

Dog Law

• Drew the children and pleased well for a dog picture. (Strand theatre, Valparaiso, Neb.-General patronage.)

• December 6. Oh- My Gosh! We just did break even on this one. Pretty good picture, too. Looks like Racing Blood shown in connection with these feature pictures from RKO are not pulling. Alberta Vaughan and Al Cooke used to pull them in, but not now, it seems. (Aiken Mills theatre, Bath, S.C.-Small town patronage.)

• and Dog Justice, two very good and very well produced dog pictures, especially Dog Law. (Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo.-Neighborhood patronage.)

• January 12. Due to bad weather and too many basketball games this week, we could not get them out to see this picture, which was one of the best we have shown from Ranger. An interesting story of the North Woods, which was well acted. (S. of N. theatre, Ambrose, N.D.-General patronage.)

Don't Marry

• A good little comedy enjoyed by all who saw it. Only a small crowd as it was not advertised properly on account of the exchange sending out as a substitute picture. (Royal theatre, Hopkins, Mo.-General patronage.)

Do Your Duty

• Now then, when we get ready to show burlesque to the family trade, then we will be ready for such pictures as this. Until then, this sort of rot is out. Anyone with any intelligence will kick themselves for sitting through this gosh darn thing. (Cozy theatre, Winchester, Ind.-General patronage.)

• This picture has a lot of comedy. But in one of two spots it's too bad. If those suggestive parts were out it would be the best comedy Charles has been in for a long time. (Majestic Theatre, Washington, Kan.-General patronage.)

• November 30. This is just a fair Murray, nothing like the Flats, but it is not bad. Adair theatre, Adair, Ia.-General patronage.)

• November 7-8. Average Murray picture. (Pastime theatre, Medicine Lodge, Kan.-Small town patronage.)

Dream of Love

• Just a good program picture. Some of the large settings very good. (Opera House, Paw Paw, Ill.-General patronage.)

• December 23. Just a fair picture, but will please the ladies immensely. (Lark theatre, McMinnville, Ore.-General patronage.)

Drums of Love

• October 24. Another rotten sex picture that I lost plenty on. Some said they had seen it three years ago. (Opera House, Smithland, Ia.-Small town patronage.)

• January 10. This is another of the big pictures that did not give satisfaction here. Very suggestive- scenes that disgusted people here. Bought for two nights. Played it one. These strong pictures are going to drive us all out of the business. (Silver Family theatre, Greenille, Mich.-General patronage.)

• January 2-3. Good for the type- well acted, but this type of picture does not go over for me. Foreign costume. (Strand theatre, Pella, Ia.-General patronage.)

Dry Martini

• Billed as a sophisticated comedy, Dry Martini was exceedingly dry. Fox has taken the name of the sophisticated in vain. Clever touches in it, to be sure, but the rest of the picture was excessively silly and pointless. Most of the people- our dear public showed good sense and stayed at home listening to a chain program, we hope. (Kenwood theatre, Chicago, Ill.-General patronage.)

• Picture just fair. Too hot for most small towns. Business poor. (Gay theatre, Wayne, Neb.-Small town patronage.)

• They will walk out on this one, it's rotten. Have not had one good show from Fox this season. (Dixie theatre. Russellville, Ky.-General patronage.)

Excess Baggage

• October 5. This is one of Haines' best. If he puts them all out as good as this one I will book them all. (Institute theatre, Oak Ridge, N.C.-Small town patronage.)

• December 21. Excellent story of backstage life, with Haines proving he doesn't always have to play the smart alec. (Egyptian theatre, Bala-Cynwyd, Pa.-General patronage.)

• October 31-November 1. Now that Haines has demonstrated that he can emote and that this picture will pass muster, why not return him to his sphere. He made his reputation as a smart alee and his followers want him to stick to his knitting. There are 1,000 extras in Hollywood that could have made this picture, but only one Haines to make Telling the World, West Point, etc. A director who would do this thing would use the Statue of Liberty for a traffic tower, or hunt rabbits with a deer gun. (Texas theatre, Grand Prairie, Tex.-Small town patronage.)

• This was a good program feature and well liked by all. Support was also good. (Palace theatte, Golden City, Mo.-Small town patronage.)

• December 25. Not up to Haines' standard, although a good picture. Bill shows that he can really act. Josephine Dunn good as Haines' wife. (LaCrosse theatre, LaCrosse, Kan.-General patronage.)

• October 16. This one will sure please, good acting and good story. (Adair theatre, Adair, Ia.-General patronage.)

• January 7. A very fine picture. Due to snow it failed to arrive until the day following its show date. On that account we lost but it is not the fault of the picture. You can bet that it will please. (Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan.-Small town patronage.)

• October 14-15. Well, boys, if anyone can find any fault with this we'd like to know on what grounds. Direction and acting are A-number-one all the way through; the picture is interesting; and Haines is a mighty good drawing card, for us at least. What is better yet, we drew a dandy print, just on the fifth booking, and the photography was such that we were able to show up this picture much better than usual. Those of you who have been complaining of Haines' egotism will be pleasantly surprised by this picture. as it is a distinct departure from his usual type. Much less of the exuberant big-headed comedy element in this and more of the serious stuff. Haines is positively humble in some scenes. Good entertainment. Ricardo Cortez and Josephine Dunn fill the other major parts to perfection. (Screenland theatre, Nevada, O.-Small town patronage.)

• Count this as another picture you'll be glad to play. It's not detracting a bit from Haines' fine work to say that Josephine Dunn made a hit with our patrons. (Majestic theatre, Dallas, Ore.-General patronage.)

• November 7-8. Here's one to step on. A dandy story of the stage. This Haines is a comer. Fair business. (Mazda Theatre Company, Aurora, Neb.-Small town patronage.)

• September 23. A very good picture and will please any audience. We were well pleased. William Haines a good bet here on a Sunday night. (Ideal theatre, Stanwood, Wash.-Small town patronage.)

• December 22. Good Haines picture, but there was an awful lot of it cut out, according to the cuesheet, which makes it hard to follow correctly with the Movietone. (Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo.-General patronage.)

• September 30-October 1. Everyone seemed to enjoy this picture but expected more of the old Haines or rather familiar Haines. (Strand theatre, Tooele, Utah.-General patronage.)

• Good entertainment. Should please 95 per cent of the people. (Roxy theatre, Munday, Tex.-General patronage.) December 2.

• A good picture but not the type of a picture the public will expect to see Haines appearing in. Played to the poorest Sunday crowd we have had for months and months. The Madison theatre in Peoria, Ill., opened with Al Jolson in The Singing Fool with the Vitaphone (only 35 miles away), the same day and turned hundreds away and that is what became of the biggest share of our crowd. Personally consider this the biggest and best picture I have ever seen. The work of Al Jolson is wonderful and probably will never be duplicated, but speaking as a small town exhibitor, let us hope that the rest of the Vitaphone pictures will not have the drawing power that The Singing Fool has, or we will never survive until the sound pictures are available for us. (Paramount theatre, Wyoming, Ill.-General patronage.)

• A splendid picture and ranks as high as any Haines we have run, although the kids like him better as a smart alec- and so do most of the grownups! When an actor makes a decided hit in a certain role- one that is not already overdone- why can't they let them keep to that line of work ? Patrons expect it and are ready to applaud what they expect, but when some entirely new line is worked in on them, they are at a loss as to whether they like it or not- and most of the time they DON'T. As a smart alec, with a naturally good, lovable heart underneath the smarty veneer, Haines is a world beater, but there are plenty of other actors to take parts like this one in Excess Baggage, and we sincerely hope they 'will keep him in the kind of pictures that brought him fame. We ran him first in Slide, Kelly, Slide, and our kids know him only as Kelly and hail him accordingly when his picture shows up on the screen. They cheered his appearance in this and stayed happy for one reel and then lost interest in a Kelly they could not recognize. (Majestic theatre, Weiner, Ark.-Small town patronage.)

• December 27-28. Haines in a different kind of role from usual, and he puts it over very good. My people liked it, although not as much as West Point. Josephine Dunn gives an excellent performance, and nearly steals the sho from Bill. My only objection was this: The picture had been synchronized with music and sound effects, and so wherever there had been a break, a blank photograph had been inserted, so you can imagine the effect that it gave on the screen. Green, black and white flashes. (Liberty theatre, Roanoke, Ala.-General patronage.)

The Farmer's Daughter

• November 12. A holiday crowd was well pleased with this light comedy. Marjorie Beebe to my mind is a comer in her line. (Gem theatre, Winthrop, Maine-General patronage.)

• Not much plot to this one, but it pulled a fairsized crowd in out of a stormy night and made a little profit, which is quite acceptable in view of a long list of box office fizzles on Fox product the last year. Chuckles aplenty seemed to pour out from the audience, so guess it pleased. (Isis theatre, Ashland, Neb.-General patronage.)

• It sure is a laughing and a very, very entertaining picture. We played this one Saturday night with a two-reel comedy (Caught in the Kitchen), and we sure did please them all. And this is what brings them back. Pictures like this make the young folks go home feeling good all the way through. (Dixie theatre, Durant, Miss.-General patronage.)

Fazil

• November 12-14. Just a good picture, nothing to cause comment or bring out a good attendance. (Ideal theatre, Stanwood, Wash.-Small town patronage.)

• December 23-24. Some didn't like it. Most of them did. Only fair box office attraction. We paid too much. (Liberty theatre, Kalispell, Mont.-General patronage.)

• A real picture that didn't draw extra well. (Pastime theatre, Medicine Lodge, Kan.-Small town patronage.)

The First Kiss

• October 3-4. A dandy picture ruined with a bum title. I just got a trifle over expense but if it had been called The Dream Ship which would have been a natural title, I am sure I would have done fine on it. When you run this production you will see why it should have been called The Dream Ship. The picture is there if you can get them in. (Cozy theatre, Duchesne, Utah-General patronage.)

• Not much to it. Impossible story. (Sterling theatre, Fairmont, Neb.-Small town patronage.)

• Good picture. Gary Cooper certainly is coming to the front. (Roxy theatre, Munday, Tex.-General patronage.)

• Good picture. Pleased our patrons. (Selma theatre, Selma, Cal.-General patronage.)

• October 21. Many favorable comments. Attendance poor because of weather conditions but those who did come out were well pleased. (Legion theatre, Holyrood, Kan.-Small town patronage.)

Five and Ten Cent Annie

• November 6. Much ado about nothing. Of course, it was election day and every one was more interested in politics than in pictures. I can't seem to get results with W.B. pictures. Rin Tin Tin, though, draws for me. To get back, Fazenda and Cook are good, but they haven't got much to work on. (Town Hall, Carmel, Me.-Small town patronage.)

• October 27. Dandy comedy, Little raw in spots but went okay here. (Rose-Liberty theatres, Sumas-Lynden, Wash.-Small town patronage.)

The Fleet's In

• This is a big time eight reel picture and Clara Bow sure does her broadcasting of thrills in every nook and corner of your house. In this one she pleases them all and gives them a lesson in all kinds of up-to-date loving and the new and latest dances. Everybody moves swiftly in this picture, just what they all want, and I think she is too swift for James Hall who plays with her in this one. I hope some day to see her play with Clive Brook and let him have one good look at her when she is naughty. (Dixie theatre, Durant, Miss.-General patronage.)

• December 4-5. What could be better than to have Clara's pictures. She sure knocks them dead here. The Fleet's In went over big. Give us more like this one. The age we're living in now wants ones like it. Why not give it to them ? (Rialto theatre, Bushnell, Ill.-General patronage.)

• Very good. Patrons enjoyed it. (Selma theatre, Selma, Cal.-General patronage.)

The Flyin' Cowboy

• A fair Western, but the print out of Albany office was in rotten condition. (Miers theatre, Schoharie, N. Y.-General patronage.)

• December 29. Drew very well, but this was sent in the place of The Wild West Show, so the latter drew the crowd. A good picture though. (Gem theatre, Greenriver, Utah.-General patronage.)

• December 1. Good show. Better than some of his other pictures and Saturday turned out fair on a warm, good night. (Royal theatre, Kimball, S.D.-General patronage.)

• December 11-12. About the average Hoot Gibson. Not good and not poor. Just fair. (Strand theatre, Griswold, Ia.-Neighborhood patronage.)

• December 15. The old farm horse doesn't buck very hard, but there its enough comedy to make up for other things. (Texas theatre, Grand Prairie, Tex.-Small town patronage.)

Foreign Legion

• September 28. Pleased practically 100 per cent. Many of our patrons said better than Beau Geste. Great for any theatre. (New Virginia theatre, Harrisonburg, Va.-General patronage.)

• Just a program picture sold as a special. Paid twice too much for it. (Sun theatre, Plainwell, Mich.-General patronage.)

• Had biggest crowd I have had on this. Turned over a hundred people away the first night. (Strand theatre, Rogers, Tex.-General patronage.)

• December 16-17. This is a splendid entertainment. Fine story. Star and cast extra good. Gave good satisfaction. (Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.-General patronage.)

• October 27. Nothing startling, but it kept the audience interested. In the afternoon ran Buzz Barton in Rough Riding Red. This feature was good. (Charkarohen theatre, Lincoln, N.H.-Small town patronage.)

• December 4-5. Wotta flop! Comparing this with While the City Sleeps, which we ran just ahead of it: twice the film rental, three times the advertising, and less than half the receipts. We took in just 5 cents over the film rental. Aside from natural prejudice under these conditions, this is distinctly not a special. It's a fair program picture and that's all, regardless of high-pressure ballyhoo to the contrary. The picture has a couple of big moments, but it also has some very false notes. It is not at all spectacular, and some of it is, not even interesting. Some of our patrons praised it highly and a few walked out without seeing all of it. If this had not been sold to us at such an exorbitant rental we could have put it over in a fair way at the usual admission, but felt we had to raise admission on it and believe this helped to keep our poverty-stricken people away. Lost slightly over $30 on it. (Screenland theatre, Nevada, O.-Small town patronage.)

• December 7-8. All comments on this picture were good, and I would have thought it was good too if it had cost me about half as much. I paid more than three times the program price for this picture, which was about double what I should have paid. (Cozy theatre, Duchesne, Utah.-General patronage.)

• Good picture to fair business. (Pastime theatre, Medicine Lodge, Kan.-Small town patronage.)

Forgotten Faces

• October 22-23. It's there! You don't need to sit around wondering what people will say when they come out. Get busy and get them in and they will be satisfied. I made the tremendous mistake of booking "Mysta, the Moon Girl," a vaude number, with the picture. The patrons forgave me for the act because of the picture. (Opera House, Ashland, O.-General patronage.)

• This picture was sold to us for a special, and while it is a real good show, I was disappointed somewhat in this favorite star of mine. He did not seem to command the power and respect in this picture that he usually does in all other plays I have seen him in, although his expression and commanding love scenes cannot help but please his audience. And I tell you we surely need good pictures nowadays to draw them out to see our shows. They have got so much amusements at home, first in the radios, which most every family has. And now they are almost perfect, so simple in operation that they can get any kind of a program they want, and I notice the daily newspapers are saying that the radios are keeping more people from shows nowadays than anything else. So we must call on our picture producers to help us. We exhibitors have got to get the proper amusements at our theatres to interest our audiences and make our placer attractive. We cannot go down; we have too much invested to even think of such a thing. (Dixie theatre, Durant, Miss.-General patronage.)

Four Sons

• September 30. A positive knockout. Certainly a delight to play such an attraction. Fox surely has the pick of the pictures. (Egyptian theatre, Ogden, Utah.-General patronage.)

• October 14-15. A picture that ranks high in entertainment and universal satisfaction. You can give this some extra advertising and not be afraid to stick around the lobby when the show is over. (H. & S. theatre, Chandler, Okla.-Small town patronage.)

• October 11-12. Good drawing card and a fine picture in every sense. (New Piedmont theatre, Oakland, Cal.-General patronage.)

• December 26. Not only one of the greatest of 1928 but can be included among the greatest ever produced. Direction and acting well nigh Perfect and the story was good. No complaints were heard-nothing but praise. Margaret Mann's portrayal of the mother and her change, through misfortune, from a happy old lady to an old woman whose shoulders were heavily laden with sorrow was excellent. She deserves a niche in the screen Hall of Fame. (Amuse-U theatre, Melville, La.-General patronage.)

Four Walls

• September 29. Little disappointed in this one. Balance of Gilbert did well for me. Metro-Goldwyn have some good pictures but this one drew less than any I have played. A good picture of its kind but that kind didn't suit my patronage excepting a few of the Gilbert fans. Boys, don't pay too much. I bought it right. Didn't do much though. (Central theatre, Madison, Va.-General patronage.)

• I didn't think this so good but my customers did, and what more do you want? Good business and the picture bought at a fair price. Metro and First National sure are square shooters especially in the Des Moines branch. (Postville theatre, Postville, Ia.-General patronage.)

• October 7-8. Fair program picture but outside of the stars not much to it- might have been anyone's make. Personally do not think so much of Gilbert in the role of a tough gunman. However, the picture seemed to be well liked and the combination of Gilbert-Crawford drew in a fair crowd so guess we have nothing to complain of. Carmel Myers' acting was the best in the picture. (Screenland theatre, Nevada, O.-Small town patronage.)

• December 12-13. A might good picture. Gave good satisfaction. (Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.-General patronage.)

• October 23-24. This one starts off rather draggy but picks up and becomes a rather interesting picture but underworld pictures have been ridden to death and do not draw now. Metro should keep Gilbert in stories of the "cossack" type. Miss Crawford miscast as a moll. (Central theatre, Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada.-General patronage.)

• September 12. Gilbert takes well here, and the rental is right. I think it one of his best. (Strand theatre, Pella, Ia.-General patronage.)

• I missed this, but reports on it were good. (Pastime theatre, Mason, Mich.-General patronage.)

• December 11-12. A good program picture of the underworld with these two characters doing very good work. Several good comments on this picture. (Princess theatre, Parkersburg, Ia.-General patronage.)

• October 26. Plenty good comments. Everybody well pleased. A very good mystery picture. (Institute theatre, Oak Ridge, N.C.-General patronage.)

• November 25-26. Very good program picture. All in this seem to take their parts well. Story good. (Cozy theatre, Duchesne, Utah.-General patronage.)

• January 1. An excellent picture. Better acted and more gripping than Our Dancing Daughters. Acting was extremely good and I rate the picture as a 100 per cent production. (Green Lantern, Claymont, Del.-General patronage.)

• November 7-8. Pretty good picture. (Texas theatre, Grand Prairie, Texas.-Small town patronage.)

• Very good and interesting throughout. (Bijou theatre, Conway, N.H.-General patronage.)

• Underworld story. A little rough in spots. (Selma theatre, Selma, Cal.-General patronage.)

Freedom of the Press

• Uncle Carl is asking for what the public thinks about certain questions. Here's what we think about his pictures. Freedom of the Press can boast only the well liked Lewis Stone and Marceline Day. Trite plot and usual direction. They made this one quick. (Kenwood theatre, Chicago, Ill.-General Patronage.)

• Good show. Didn't have many first night, but those must have liked it because I had a fine house the second night, and there was a circus in town, too. (Strand theatre, Rogers, Tex.-General patronage.)

• January 9. This is a good program picture. Satisfied them all. (Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich.-General patronage.)

• January 12. This picture has a realistic plot and contains some fine acting. (Lake theatre, Upper Lake, Cal.-General patronage.)

• Very good newspaper story, better than some co-called specials, with Stone as a crooked Politician. (Empress theatre, Arma, Kan.-General patronage.)

French Dressing

• December 13. A right good picture and hot in spots. Will please some of your patrons and won't merit many knocks. (Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan.-Small town patronage.)

• December 5-6. Generally pleased. Clive Brook getting to be quite a favorite here. (Auditorium theatre, Laurel, Neb.-General patronage.)

"Box Office Record," The Motion Picture Almanac, (Chicago: Quigley Publishing Company), 1929, pages 196-209.

© 1997, David Pierce, on editing and revisions (if any)

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