Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

44 .1/ otion P i c t u r e X e w s October 11, 19 3 C "Office Wife" A Knockout in N.Y. on $41,000 Catchy title of Warners' "Office Wife" drew sensational business to the New York Winter Garden, where the film attracted $41,000 to the chain's b.o. window, by far the biggest, proportionately, intake of the week. The seven-day theatre period on this town's main stem was marked — and marred — by an unusually even number of "red" and "black" performances. "Hell's Angels" speedily gains box-office momentum as it winds its way along the dual run at the Criterion and Gaiety. The initial days of the British experiment at the Cohan have proved a success, with the current film, "Atlantic," set for a holdover. Estimated takings: "BIG HOUSE" (M-G-M) ASTOR— (1,120). 50c-75c-$l-$1.50-$2, 7 days. 15th week. Other attractions: Comedy, "College Hounds. Gross: $17,653, strong for length of run. "LOVE IN THE ROUGH" (M-G-M) CAPITOL— (4,700), 35c-50c-75c-$1.50, 7 days. Other attractions: Overture. Hearst Metrotone news, Capitol presentation. "Al Jolson in Person." Gross: $70,994. Jolson did not help much by personal appearance. •ABRAHAM LINCOLN" (U.A.) CENTRAL— (1,490). $l-$2, 7 days, 6th week. Other attractions: Comedy. "Dollar Dizzy"; Overture, "Zampa." Gross: SIS. 127. "YOUNG WOODLEY" (Brit. Inc.) GEO. M. COHAN— (1.500), 35c-50c-75c. 7 days. Other attractions: Comedy, "Love Your Neighbor"; newsreel. Gross: $7,990. "HELLS ANGELS" (Caddo-U.A.) (Playing simultaneously at the Criterion and Gaiety) CRITERION— (850). $l-$2-$2.50, 7 days, 7th week. Other attractions: None. Gross: $1S,127, running to "S.R.O." EMBASSY— ALL NEWSREEL EMBASSY— (598). 25c. 7 days. Straight newsreel show, running continuouslv. Gross: $9,429. "HELL'S ANGELS" (Caddo-U.A.) (Plaving simultaneously at the Criterion and Gaiety) GAIETY— (808), $I-$i.50-$2-$2.50, 7 days. 7th week. Other attractions: None. Gross: $15,359, $1,000 better than previous week. "AFRICA SPEAKS" (Col.) GLOBE— (1.050), 35c-50c-75c. 7 days, 2nd week. Other attractions: Shorts, comedy "Broken Wedding Bells"; cartoon. "Frolicking Fishes"; Creatore and his band in "Fire-Worshippers." Gross: $21,-00, a knockout "OUTWARD BOUND" (Warners) HOLLYWOOD— (1.600). 60c-75c-$l-$1.50. 2nd week Other attractions: Shorts. "Looney Tunes," "Helen Broderick," "Martinelli." Gross: $21,457, holding up strong. "HER WEDDING NIGHT" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3.700), 40c-50c-65c-85c-$l, 7 days. Other attractions: Comedy, "Dizzy Dishes." Gross: $71,100, not so hot for Clara. "ANIMAL CRACKERS" (Para.) RIALTO— (1.904). 65c-85c. last eight days. Other attractions: Shorts. "Many Moons." Gross: $23,000, a deep drop for the wind-up. "MONTE CARLO" (Para.) RIVOLI— (2.103). 35c-65c-S5c. last six days. Other attractions: Shorts: "Stein Song," "Sure Cure." Gross: S17.400 for six days; followed by "Whoopee," one-day gross: $10,200. "ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT" (U.) ROXY— (6.200). 50c-75c-$l. 7 days. 2nd week. Other attractions: Stage show, news. Gross: $75,923, bad, dropping nearly $45,000 under first week. "BAD MAN" (F.N.) STRAND— (3,0001. 35c-50c-65c-8Sc. 7 days. Gross: $34,701. only fair. "OLD ENGLISH" (F.N.) WARNERS— (1.490). $1-$1.50. 7 days, 6th week. Other attractions: Shorts. "The Legacy." "Believe It or Not." Gross: $16,299. starting downward slide. "OFFICE WIFE" (Warners) WINTER GARDEN— (1,493), 35c-50c-65c-$l. 1st week. Other attractions: Shorts. "Eddie Foy," "Mark Hellinger," "Walter Winchell." newsreel. Gross: $41,406. a wow. Weshner Promoted For the second time within a few months, David (Skip) Weshner has been transferred from his post as general manager of Warner theatres in northern New Jersey to director chief of advertising and publicity for Warner houses outside New York City. Harry A. Kalmine succeeds him in New Jersey. Previously Louis Marks of the Marks Bros., Chicago, had taken over the Weshner post, with Weshner reassigned to it after a few weeks. Weshner now is on a tour of key cities. David Weshner Hodkinson with Universal San Francisco — Kenneth Hodkinson now is manager of the Universal exchange here, succeeding W. P. Moran. Hodkinson formerly was with United Artists and the former W. W. Hodkinson Corp. Pantages Stage Show Cops Big Dough on Coast Los Angeles — Despite its 150% rating, local film row was disappointed in the "BigTrail" opening which turned in $24,000, one of the lowest premiere-week intakes at the Chinese in many months. Even the $5 initial performance failed to bolster up the take to expected gross. Highest rating of the week went to the Pantages, which, chiefly because of the "Beverly Hills Billies," local radio songsters, copped 166% on a $25,000 intake. Estimated takings : "HOLIDAY" (Pathe) FOX CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,650). 9th week, twice daily, 75c to $1.50. Other attractions: Abe Lyman and band, comedy. Movietone news. Gross: $6,500. Rating: 62%. "MADAM SATAN" (M-G-M) FOX CRITERION— (1.652 1. 7 day,. 2nd week, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Cumedv. Movietone news. Gross: $15,000. Rating: 150%. "LAST OF THE DUANES" (Fox) LOEWS STATE— (2,418), 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Movietone. Metrotone news, Fanchon and Marco's "TDoll Follies" Idea, Laurel and Hardy comedy. Gross: $27,000. Rating: "SANTA FE TRAIL" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,596), 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Paramount "Revue Moderne" stage show, comedy, news. Gross: $25,000. Rating: 100%. "OFFICE WIFE" (Warners) WARNER DOWNTOWN-(2,400). 3rd week. 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Yitaphone Varieties, news. Gross: $16,000. Rating: 106%. "HEADS UP" (Para.) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,100), 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Comedy, organ concert, news. Gross: Se,1**). Rating: 61%. "LEATHERNECKING" (RKO) RKO— (2.700), 7 days. 35c to 65c. Other attractions: RKO vaudeville, comedy. Gross: $14,500. Rating: 90%. "HALF SHOT AT SUNRISE" (RKO) ORPHLUM— (2.750). 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Comedy, news. Gross: $15,000. Rating: 96%. "LAS CAMPAMAS DE CAPISTRANO" (Latin Pictures) CALIFORNIA INTERN ATIONAL— (2,000), 25c to 50c. Other attractions: Spanish comedy, short subjects, news. Gross: $5,900. Rating: 98%. "THE BIG TRAIL" (Fox) GRAUMAN'S CHINESE— (2.030), 1st week. 7 days, 75c to $1.50. twice daily. Other attractions: Orchestra, Movietone news. $5.00 premiere. Gross: $24,000. Rating: 150%. "MAN TROUBLE" (Fox) GRAUMAN'S EGYPTIAN— (1,800), 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Comedy, news. Gross: $4,100. Rating: "BIG BOY" (Wamers) WARNER DuWNTOWN— (3.000), 7 days. 35c to Other attractions: Yitaphone Varieties, news. Gross: ;14.000. Rating: 100%. "SEA GOD" (Para.) PANTAGES HOLLYWOOD— (3,000). 7 days, 40c to 65c. Other attractions: Fanchon and Marco's "On let" lie:,. Movietone news, comedy. Gross: S2S.< 000. Rating: 166%. "Scarlet Pages" Plenty Black on $16,000 Intake Philadelphia — Continued cool weather and the appearance of several popular pictures, one "Scarlet Pages" being heavily exploited, maintained grosses at a good level. The musicians, on strike, are in the midst of another feverish battle involving the whole group, having received orders from Joseph Weber, president of the federation, to walk out on all night clubs, broadcasting stations and dance halls, to enforce the complete unionization of the territory. •Animal Crackers" reaped $19,000 for its first full week at Keith's, being retained for a second week, with the possibility of a third, though Paramount is behind in bookings here and may want to swing in "Manslaughter" as soon as possible. In spite of some adverse lobby comment on the part of the customers who didn't like Gloria Swanson in farce, "What a Widow," crashed through to $45,000 at the Mastbaum. "Scarlet Pages" took in $16,000 for its first week at the Stanton, indicating a five or six-week run. The Boyd slumped to $14,000 for the second week of "Girl of the Golden West," and the Fox scraped under average with "Anybody's War," taking $26,000. Estimated takings : "WHAT A WIDOW" (U.A.) MASTBAUM— (4.800), 35c, 50c, 75c, 6 days. Other attractions: Technicolor novelty, "Girls We Remember," Vitaphone short, "The Rounders," fashion show in lobby. Gross: $45,000. Rating: 116%. "ANYBODY'S WAR" (Para.) FOX— (3.000). 40c. 50c, 75c, 6 days. Other attractions: Tiffany "Chimp" comedy. Movietone news, musical short. Gross: $26,000. Rating: 97%. "ANIMAL CRACKERS" (Para.) KEITH'S— (l.SOO), 35c. 50c, 75c. 6 days. Other attractions: Scenic novelty. "Drifting Along"; Paramount cartoon, "Dizzy Dishes"; Paramount news. Gross: $19,000. Rating: 125%. "GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST" (F.N.) BOY'D— (2,400), 35c 50c, 75c, 6 days, 2nd week. Other attractions: Newsreel, Fitzpatrick travelogue, Vitaphone Variety. Gross: $14,000. Rating: 75%. "A LADY SURRENDERS" (Univ.) STANLEY— (3.7001. 35c. 50c, 75c. 6 days. Other attractions: Newsreel, Vitaphone Variety. Gross: $20,000. Rating: 110%. "SQUEALER" (Columbia) EARLE— (2.000), 25c-65c, 6 days. Other attractions: Universal news. "Musical Gems," novelty short. Gross: $19,000. Rating: 105%. "SCARLET PAGES" (F.N.) STANTON— (1.700). 25c-65c. 6 days. Other attractions: Newsreel. Vitaphone Variety. Gross: $16,000. Rating: 160%. "QUEEN HIGH" (Para.) ARCADIA— (600). 50c. 6 days. Other attractions: Educational comedv, Aesop's Fables. Gross: $5,000. Rating: 100%. "SHE'S MY WEAKNESS" (Sonoart) KARLTON— (1,000), 40c-50c, 6 days. Other attractions: News. Yitaphone short, Charlie Chase comedy. Gross: $5,000. Rating: 100% Studio at RCA Office A sound studio has been installed by RCA Photophone on the eleventh floor of the corporation's home office in New York. Now in operation under the supervision of i irover C. Shafer of the department of recording operations, the studio is given over to the making of tests, synchronization and other recording activities. New 2,100-Seater for Ohio Bellefontaine, O. — A new two-story, 2.100-seat theatre, to be known as the Holland, will be erected here, the contract already having been awarded. Estimated cost is placed at $175,000.