Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

62 Motion Picture News October 25 , 1 930 Broadway Gold Flows to "Half Shot at Sunrise" Broadway last week was backing up for a fresh start, it would indicate with the rush of business which has characterized the current week, the Roxy grabbing off heavy dough with "Scotland Yard" in its first three days, indicating another big Fox winner. The Paramount is looking up this week, after diving last week. The public didn't seem to go for Realife in its bow at the Capitol, but maybe the picture had more to do with it than the wide screen process, "Billy, the Kid" not being accepted as anything bis; in the way of entertainment. There is speculation as to whether it has taken the edge off "The Big Trail" opening Friday with Grandeur. Wednesday night marked closing of "The Big House" after four months, being replaced Thursday with "War Nurse." Closing of "Outward Bound" is scheduled next week and there is report that one of the "Hell's Angels" showings may be pulled. "Lincoln" is doing just so-so at the Central and soon will fold. The Radio Pictures' hit, "Half Shot at Sunrise," which came in quietly, grabbed off $28,000, smash business for the Globe. Estimated takings : "THE BIG HOUSE" (M-G-M) ASTOR— (1.120) SOc-75c-$l-$l.S0-$2, 7 days. 17th week. Other attractions: '■College Hounds (dog comedy), news. Gross: $14,252. Tapered off and coming out. _ „ "THOSE THREE FRENCH GIRLS" (M-G-M) CAPITOL -14. 700) 35c-5()c-7Sc-$1.50, 7 days. Other attractions: "Below Zero." news, Capitol presentation. Gross: $6S.364, not so good. "ABRAHAM LINCOLN" (U.A.) CENTRAL— (1,490) $l-$2, 7 days.. Sth week. Other attractions: "Dollar Dizzy," The Zampa." Gross: $16,318. Just fair; due to fold. "ATLANTIC" (B.I.P.) GEO. M. COHAN— (1,500) 35c-50e-75c. 7 days. 2nd week. Other attractions: "Gay Paree." Gross: Around $5,000. Fair take. "HELL'S ANGELS" (Caddo-U.A.) (Playing simultaneously at the Criterion and Gaietyl CRITERION (850) $l-$2-$2.50. 7 days, 9th week. Other attractions: None. Gross: $18,162. Good business for this day and date attraction. EMBASSY— ALL NEWSREEL EMBASSY— (598) 25c, 7 days. Straight newsreel. Gross: $9,348. House holding to steady average. "HELL'S ANGELS" (Caddo-U.A.) (Playing simultaneously at the Criterion anil Gaiet) GAIETY— (808) $l-$1.50-$2-$2.50, 7 days, 9th week. Other attractions: None. Gross: $14,993. Off considerably; looks like run near end. "HALF SHOT AT SUNRISE" (RKO) GLOBE 11.050 3Sc-50c-75c, 7 days. Other attractions: Shorts. "The Hidden Ball," "Monkey Mel dies," "Voice of Hollywood." news. Gross: $28,000. A box office smash at this RKO stand. "OUTWARD BOUND" (Warners) HOLLYWOOD— (1.600) 60c-75c-$l-$1.50, 4th week. Other attractions: "Looney Tunes." "Helen Broderick," "Martinelli." Gross: $19,361. Good gross I this attraction, winch iiitics found hard to peg. "HEADS UP" (Para.) PARAMOUNT (3,700) 40c-50c-65c-8Sc-$l, 7 days. Other attractions: Shorts, "Pining Pioneers," "Birds of a Feather." news. Gross: $58,200. When this house goes under 60 grand, it's B-A-D. "WHAT A WIDOW" (U.A.) RIALTO— (1.904) 65c-85c, 7 days. 2nd week. Other attractions: "You re in the Army Now." "Grand Uproar." Gross: $36,600. This picture's days are num "WHOOPEE" (U.A.) RIVOLI — (2.103) 35c-65c-85c. 7 days. 2nd week. Other attractions: "Red, Green and Yellow." cartoon. a You Sinners." Gross: (37,800. Just fair. "UP THE RIVER" (Fox) ROXY— (6,200) 50c-75c-$l. 7 days. Other attractions: Stage show and news. Gross: $93,538. Not so good, but not bad in view of generat business. "SINNERS' HOLIDAY" (F.N.) STRAND— (3,000) 35c-50c-65c-85c. 7 days. Other attractions: "Seeing-Off Si Satan's Fury." "French Fried." Gross: $31,649. Fairly profitable week, though not hot. "OLD ENGLISH" (Warners) WARNERS— (1.490) S1-S1.50, 7 days, 8th week. Something New From out of the West, Harry Rathner, veteran producer and exchangeman, has brought something brand new in the way of entertainment. The Radio Robots, the new subjects are called, and the first one demonstrates clearly that Harry has something new and revolutionary in the way of entertainment. In the intial release, the robots do some singing and dancing stuff which is sensational. A broad vista of possibilities is opened up by the new series, for the plastic figures speak with a lip movement precision that is almost uncanny. This series offers opportunities which are sensational. H AG E . Prosperity Week Proves Anything But in Seattle Seattle — "Prosperity Week" was rather a misnomer in this city. Paramount Publix's sponsorship of this nation-wide movement didn't click very strongly in this city, nor did the "Prosperity Week" attractions at the local theatres. As a feature of the celebration, Publix set "Follow Through" in its Paramount theatre, but the film didn't seem to have much pull here, where the stage show wasn't known, and a gross of about $13,500 was all that the house could pull, for a rating of about 97%. At the Fox Fifth Avenue, "Three French Girls" wasn't much of a draw, taking about $12,500 for a rating of 95rr. And DeJIille's "Madam Satan" at the Fox had tough sledding to get about $12,000, for 110% rating. John Hamrick's Music Box had a very successful week with "Whoopee" (second week |. but the Blue Mouse flopped with "Last of the Lone Wolf" and the picture was pulled after four days of the run had earned only about $4,000. Estimated takings : "THE SEA WOLF" (Fox) Extended Run COLISEUM— 11.6501 25c-35c-50c 7 days Other attractions: Educational comedy, news. Gross: $3,000 Rating: 98%. "LAST OF THE LONE WOLF" (Col.) BLUE MOUSE — (950) 2Sc-35c-S0c-75c. 4 days Other attractions: Vitaphone Varieties, Sportlight. news. Gross: $4,000. Rating: "MADAM SATAN" (M-G-M) FOX— (2,450) 25c-35c-50c-60c-75c, 7 days. Other attractions: Vagabond Director, news, Owen Sweeten and band. Gross: $12,000. Rating: 110%. "THREE FRENCH GIRLS" (M-G-M) FOX FIFTH AVENUE— (2,750) 35c-35c-50c-60c-75c. 7 days. Other attractions: Mickey Mouse cartoon, news, Fanchon & Marco stage revue. Gross: $12,500. Rating: 95%. "WHOOPEE" (U.A.) MUSIC BOX— (9501 2Sc-35c-50c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week Other attractions: Vitaphone varieties, "Believe It or Not." news. Gross: $8,500. Rating: 125%. "FOLLOW THRU" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3.150). 25c-35c-50c-60c. 7 days. Other attractions: Paramount short, news. Publix stage revue with Milt Franklvn and hand. Gross: $13,500. Rating: 98%. Fox Films Cop On Coast; Three Hit Big Dough Los Angeles — It was Fox Week at Los Angeles and Hollywood first runs, with "The Big Trail," "Just Imagine" and "Up the River" all getting big dough. While "Just Imagine" pulled a higher rating, "The Big Trail's" take was the more surprising in view of the fact that it grabbed $22,000 in its third week, indicating that the Grandeur film is due for a stay of several more weeks at Grauman's Chinese. . With fair weather, business took an upward trend, the run houses holding up well and downtown houses chalking up fine grosses. Enlarged publicity campaigns boomed the Criterion. Chinese and Circle, while "Whoopee" continued well in its second week. "The Spoilers" proved a big draw at the Pantages, Hollywood. Estimated takings: Los Angeles "JUST IMAGINE" (Fox) FOX CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,650) 75c-$1.50. 7 days, 2nd week, twice daily. Other attractions: Abe Lyman and band, news. Gross: $20,000. Rating: 160%. "UP THE RIVER" (Fox) FOX CRITERION— (1,652) 35c-65c, 7 days. Other attractions: "Mickey Mouse" cartoon, news. Gross: $14,500. Rating: 135%. "SO THIS IS LONDON" (Fox) LOEW'S STATE— (2,418) 35c-65c, 7 days. Other attractions: F. & M. "Enchanted Garden" Idea, news. Gross: (30,000. Rating: 110%. "PLAYBOY OF PARIS" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,596) 3Sc to 65c, 7 days. Other attractions: "Anchors Aweigh," stage revue, news. Gross: $36,000. Rating: 144%. "SINNER'S HOLIDAY" (Warner) WARNER DOWNTOWN— (2,400) 35c-65c, 7 days. Other attractions: Vitaphone varieties, news. Gross: $12,000. Rating: 80%. "WHOOPEE" (U.A.) UNITED ARTISTS-^(2.100) 35c-65c, 7 days, second week. Other attractions: News, organ concert. Gross: $18,000. Rating: 134%. "AFRICA SPEAKS" (Col.) RKO— (2,700) 35c-65c, 7 days. Other attractions: Vaudeville, news. Gross: $13,500. Rating: 84%. "THE LADY SURRENDERS" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,750) 35c-65c, 7 days. Other attractions: News, comedy. Gross: $10,500. Rating: 65%. "EL DIO DEL MARE" (Para.) CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL — (2,000) 25c to 50c, 7 days. Other attractions: Spanish comedy news. Gross: $7,100. Rating: 108%. Hollywood "THE BIG TRAIL" (Fox Grandeur) GRAUMAN'S CHINESE— (2.030) 75c to $1.50, third week, 7 days, twice daily. Other attractions: Symphony orchestra, news. Gross: $23,000. Rating: 150%. "DOUGH BOYS" (M-G-M) GRAUMON'S EGYPTIAN— (1,800) 35c-65c, 7 days. Cther attractions: "Dogway Melody" (M-G-M), news. Gross: $5,000. Rating: on'",. "MAYBE IT'S LOVE" (Warners) WARNER HOLLYWOOD— (3,000) 35c to 65c, 7 days. Other attractions: Vitaphone varieties, news. Gross: $23,500, Rating: 1691. "THE SPOILERS" (Para.) PANTAGES HOLLYWOOD— (3.000) 40c to 65c, 7 days. Other attractions: F. & M. "Doll Follies" Idea, news. Gross: $18,000. Rating: 120%. "The Legacy," "Believe It or 14. Slipping steadily and due to Other attractions: Not." Gross: $13.7 told soon. "OFFICE WIFE " (F.N.) WINTER GARDEN (1,493) !5c-50c-65c-$l, 3rd week. 7 days. Other attractions: "Eddie I-ov." "Mark Bellinger." "Walter Winchell," news. Gross: $32,390. isiness (or third stanza at this stand. "Hells Angels" Going To Film Houses Nov. 15 Because of the reported threat of "The I (awn Patrol" to the success of "Hell's Angels," the latter will be released generally to picture houses Nov. 15. Soon after the picture opened in New York, when roadshow runs were being discussed, Motion 1'n turk Xews stated exclusively that the picture soon would go out to trim houses, due to fear that the First National air picture would take the edge off Howard Hughes' costly drama.