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64
Motion P i c t it r e N < w s
October 25 , 19 30
"Half Shot" and All Film Policy Shoot Up Gross
Chicago — Sensation of the week here was the performance of the State-Lake which. with vaudeville out for the first time since the house was opened, more than doubled its normal weekly gross under the old vaudefilm policy and equalled the take for the week of the Chicago, Publix rival house across the street, with 1 ,(100 more seats than the RKO house. "Half Shot at Sunrise" (Radio) inaugurated the new policy at the State-Lake, and, getting $45,360 (107%), was good for a second week. Other RKO houses were big money-getters during the same week. Palace, inaugurating a twelveweeks' schedule of big name acts, with Ruth Etting leading oft", went to a new house record for its vaude-film policy with $25,200 (105%). Etting was booked for a return engagement as a result. "The Pay-Off" i Radio) was the feature. The Woods, with a second and final week of "A Lady Surrenders" iU.), hit $14,950 (130$ i. "East Is West" (U.) replaced, and will remain until the 27th, when RKO relinquishes this house.
McVickers went to $34,700 i 124', ) with ".Madam Satan" (M-G-M), first week. "Whoopee" (U. A.), after starting a slide at the opening of its second week, began to build again, and finished the week with $23,800 ( 108r7 ). only two grand under the first week. Indifferent reviews were responsible for slowing this one up, but word-ofmouth advertising rescued it. The Oriental, after four weeks of scarlet tallies, came to life again with $41,100 i <>8r; ), with four Cubs' ball and bat men as a stage draw. "Top Speed" ( F. X. ) was the picture. The Punch & Judy got a new high mark with "Abraham' Lincoln" (U. A.) after a second price cut and a switch to continuous policy.
Estimated takings:
"EXTRAVAGANCE" (Tiffany) CASTLE— (300) 60c. first 3 days. Other attractions: News. Picture playing to adults only; went in at mid-week with adverse reviews and good business. Short running time of this one is giving house 12 shows daily. Gross: $3,101). Rating (3-day basis) 201%.
"GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST" (F. N.) CHICAGO— (3,940) 35e-8Sc, 7 days. Other attractions: Stage show, orchestra, news, comedy, novelty short. Gross: $45,600. Rating: 95%.
"MADAM SATAN" (M-G-M) McVICKERS— (2,384) 35c-85c. first week Other attractions: News, comedv, novelty short. Picture playing to adults only. Gross: $34,700. Rating: 124%. "ANYBODY'S WOMAN" (Paramount) (Second time in Loop) MONROE— (962) 25c-40c, 7 days. Other attractions: Thirty minutes news, comedv. Gross: $4,500. Rating: 75%.
"TOP SPEED" (F. N.) ORIENTAL— (3.900) 35c-85c, 7 days. Other attractions: Stage show headed by four Cubs' ba'l players, news, cartoon, musical short. Gross: $41,100. gating: 98%.
"THE PAY-OFF" (Radio) PALACE— (2,509) 35c-75c, 7 days. Other attractions: Four acts RKO vaudeville headed by Ruth Etting. news, comedy, musical short, orchestra. New high for this house with vaude-film policy. Etting gets a return engagement later in the season. Big name acts booked for 12 successive weeks. Gross: $25,200. Rating: 105%.
"ABRAHAM LINCOLN" (U. A.) PUNCH & iTJDY— (390) 75c-$2, fourth week. Other attractions: Chimp comedy (Tiffany). House switched from three-a-day to grind policy from 1 to 11 — getting five shows daily. Second price cut makes general admission six bits and one buck. Reserved . seats in smoking loge only at $2. New high money mark for house. Gross: $9,840. Rating (new basis): 120%.
"THE SEA WOLF" (Fox) ROOSEVELT— (1.591) 35c-85c. final 7 of 11-day engagement. Other attractions: News, musical short.
Teamed by "U" Again
Hollywood — Two of the leads of "A Lady Surrenders" will be teamed again in "Half Gods" at Universal City. Conrad Nagel and Genevieve Tobin have been assigned the roles, with Monroe Owsley in the third featured role.
..
Susie" Shoves K. C. Pan in Front; $12,500
Kansas City — The Pantages and the Newman exchanged places as t" ratings last week. The Newman for several weeks has been enjoying ace business while the Pan has been feeling a slump. "Three Faces East" at the Newman nosed down to S.v, , „r an intake of $10,600 while the Pan climbed up to a rating of 125%, or $12,500. Recently these ratings have been reversed. "One Night at Susie's" was the feature attraction at the Pantages.
"Monte Carlo" gave the Royal $5,000. which means a rating of 110%. The Mainstreet also rated 110% with "Her Man" ringing up $16,500 at the box-office. "Those Three French Girls" was a poor magnet for the Midland, which took in only $11,600, or a rating of 80%. Average for this house is $14,500. "The Storm" brought $5,100 to the LTptown. This means a rating of 85%.
With the exception of the Pantages, Kansas City first runs showed a decided slump in business.
Estimated takings:
"THOSE THREE FRENCH GIRLS" (M-G-M)
LOEW'S MIDLAND— (4.0UO) 25c-40c, 7 davs. Other attractions: "The Baby Follies" (M-G-M), Kr.iri Kat cartoon, news. Gross: $11,600. Rating: S0%. "HER MAN" (Pathe)
MAINSTREET— (3.067) 35c-60c, 7 days. Other attractions: Knute Rockne football short iPathe), news, five acts vaude. Gross: $16,510. Rating: 110%. "ONE NIGHT AT SUSIE'S" (F.N.)
PANTAGES— (3.190). 25c50c. 7 days. Other attractions: "Old Black Joe" (Tiffany screen song). Vagabond series (Pathe), F. and M. "Green Devil" Idea, news. Gross: $12,500. Rating: 125%.
"THREE FACES EAST" (Warners)
NEWMAN— (2,000), 35c-60c. 7 days. Other attractions: "Grandma's Girl," "Sky Scraping" (Paramount news). Gross: $10,000. Rating: 85%. "MONTE CARLO" (Para.)
ROYAL— (900!. 25c-60c. 7 days. Other attractions: "Sure Cure" (Paramount comedv). "Voice of Hollywood" (Tiffany), news. Gross: £5.000. Rating: II"', "THE STORM" (Univ.)
UPTOWN— (2,200). 25c-50c. 7 days. Other attractions: "The Big Review" (Midwest), Mickey Mouse, news. Gross: $5,100. Rating: 85%.
comedy. Picture couldn't get going. Replaced alter 11 davs bv "Liliom" (Fox). Gross: $16,800. Rating: 82%.
"HALF SHOT AT SUNRISE" (Radio)
STATE-LAKE— (2,776) 35c-75c, first week. Other attractions: Cartoon (Radio), news. First week as run house, straight picture policy, more than doubled usual gross for aude-film here formerly. Picture good for one more week then "Check and Double Check" (Radio) replaces. House averages eight shows daily, and can do 50 grand a week. Gross': £45,360. Rating: 107%.
"WHOOPEE" (U. A.)
UNITED ARTISTS (1,700) 35c-S5c, second week. Other attractions: News, travelogue. After starting to slip, word-of-mouth advertising picked this one up. Good for a third week. "DuBarrv. Woman of Passion" (U. A.) set to replace. Gross: £23,800. Rating: 108%.
"A LADY SURRENDERS" (Universal)
WOODS— (1,166) 35c-75c. second and final week. Other attractions: News. Terrytoon (Radiol, musical short. "East Is West" replaced, and will run till the 27th. when RKO gives up this sprit. Gross: £14,950 Rating: 130%.
"Wedding Night's" $18,050 Big for 'Cincy' Theatre
Cincinnati — Coincidentally, there were three plus and three minus signs in this week's box-office checkup. However, the total gross for all houses showed a slight gain over last week. Business at the RKO Capitol, with "A Lady Surrenders," was somewhat better from a standpoint of gross, but was off 16$ when reckoned in percentages. This was the only house that did not bit the 100rr mark or better.
"Hell's Angels," originally set in for a four-weeks' roadshow run at the Shubert, had a big first week, but thereafter business began to hit the toboggan, and the picture folded after the third week. The fact that "Journey's End" at the same house this season was likewise pulled after three weeks of a four-weeks' booking would seem to indicate that local fans are fed up on pictures of this nature, especially at fancy prices.
RKO Strand showed "Matrimonial Kiss," which in reality is Warners' "Matrimonial Bed," but the Ohio censors didn't quite like the title and changed it. They did not otherwise tamper with the original, but the fact they had a finger in the pie undoubtedly had an unfavorable reaction on business at this house, which did not duplicate some of its past performances.
Estimated takings :
"THREE FACES EAST" (Warners)
RKO ALBEE— 13.300) 35c-50c-65c-75c. 7 days. Other
attractions: Vaudeville, "Society Goes Spaghetti"
(RKO). "Frederick Chopin" (FitzPatrick), news.
Gross: $25,300. Rating: 115%.
"MADAM SATAN" (M-G-M) RKO LYRIC— (1,400) 30c50c, 7 days. Other attractions: News. Gross: £11,900. Rating: 100%. "HED WEDDING NIGHT" (Para.) RKO PALACE— (2.700) 30c-50c, 7 days. Other attractions: "Jewels of Asia" (Columbia). "Believe It or Not" No. 2. (Vitaphone), news. Gross: $18,050. Rating: 129%.
"A LADY SURRENDERS" (Univ.) RKO CAPITOL— (2.000) 30c-50c. 7 days. Other attractions: "Strike Up the Band" (Para, screen song), news. Gross: $10,970. Rating: 84%.
"HELL'S ANGELS" (United Artists) SHUBERT— (2,190) 25c-50c-75c-$l-$I.50-$2. 7 days. Other attractions: None Gross: $10,400. Final week (br this picture.
"MATRIMONIAL KISS" (Warners) RKO STRAND— (1.350) 25c-40c. 7 days. Other attractions: "The Hidden Goal" (Knute Rockne — Pathe), news. Gross: $3,960. Rating: 113%. "OKLAHOMA CYCLONE" (Tiffany) RKO FAMILY (1.140) 20e-25c-35c. 4 days. Other attractions: "Kid Roberts" (Leather Pushers) (Univ.), news. Gross: $3,087. Rating: 160%.
"STRICTLY UNCONVENTIONAL" (M-G-M) RKO FAMILY— (1.140) 20o-25c-35c, 3 days. Other attractions: "Foul Ball" (Oswald cartoon). "Out for Game." (Vitaphone). news. Gross: SI. 663. Rating: 166%.
Grombacher Deal Off;
Fox Slated to Build
Spokane. Wash— Difference of $50,000 kept Fox West Coast from gaining virtual control of the local situation, it is reported. The circuit was that far apart in its projected deal with Ray Grombacher for his houses, Grombacher holding out for $550,000. with $500,000 offered.
Now Fox West Coast is planning to build a house which will cost $650,000 and Grombacher's competition still exists. In addition, RKO is reported seeking a site, so a three-cornered situation is threatened.