Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

October 25 , 1930 He Means a Miracle Two of the trade-paper gentry were in the midst of a hot discussion over what type of material represented news value in the picture business, when the younger of the duo, a "greenhorn," asked the old reporter for his definition of that much-abused word, news. "Waal, I'll tell you," replied the oldtimer, "if Fox Film buys Big 4 Productions, that ain't nothin'. But if Big 4 buys Fox, brother, that's news" Ottawa Goes for Romance"$3,400 Worth at Centre u Ottawa — Famous Players' Prosperity Week campaign was an effective community feature for the week of Oct. 11, but warm weather kept many people away from the theatres. Moreover, "Romance" at the Centre, an independent house, was the pick of the attractions, grabbing off a gross of $3,400 for 110%. "Follow Through" was the Prosperitv Week feature at the Regent and rated 100% with $5,500. "Dawn Patrol" shot over par at the Avalon for three days with a rating of 110^. The rest of the pictures were just so-so — in fact, "Danger Lights" at Keith's was a near-wreck at 80%. Estimated takings : "ROMANCE" (M-C-M) CENTRE— (1,200) 15c-50c, 6 days. Other attractions: "Voice of Hollywood" (Tiffany), "The Blimp Mystery" (Tiffany comedy). Gross: $3,400. Rating: 110%. "FOLLOW THROUGH" (Paramount) REGENT— (1,225) 25c-75c, 6 days. Other attractions: Paramount news, "Dollar Dizzy" (M-G-M comedy), orchestra. Gross: $5,500. Rating: 100%. "DANGER LIGHTS" (RKO) B. F. KEITH'S— (2,596) J5c-50c. 3 days. Other attractions: Pathe news, "The Cock Shop" (M-G-M novelty). "Traffic Tangle" (Paramount jcomedy). Gross: £2,900. Rating: 80%. "DAWN PATROL" (First National) AVALON— (990) 25c-35c, 3 days. Other attractions: Fox Movietone news. "Tony Sarg's Marionettes" (MG-M novelty). Gross: Sl,4iX>. Rating: 110%. "THREE FACES EAST" (Warners) B. F. KEITH'S— (2,596) 15c-50c. 3 days. Other attractions: Universal news, "The Artists' Reverie" (Paramount), "Neat and Tidy" (Pathe comedy). Gross: $3,600. Rating: 90%. "THE BIG FIGHT" (Sono Art) IMPERIAL— (1,200) 15c-50c, 6 days. Other attractions: News. "Love Your Neighbor" (Educational comedy), "The Glow Worm" (Paramount screen song); "New Rhvthm." Havana Casino orchestra. Gross: 82,100. Ratine: 80%. "THE MELODY MAN" (Columbia) AVALON— (990) 25c-35c. 3 days. Other attractions: News. "Below Zero" (M-G-M). Gross: $1,100. Rating: 90%. Sunday Shows Balked By Order of Mayor Martinsburg, W. V. — H. A. Doman, manager of the Apollo, gave up his plans to inaugurate shows on Sunday at his playhouse and those in the crowd that gathered outside were disappointed, whether they came to see the theatre proprietor arrested or the performance inside the playhouse, for neither took place. Mayor C. H. Dailey considers exhibition a violation of the city ordinance forbidding work in gainful occupations on the Sabbath, except where necessary. A sign on the playhouse announced the mayor had ordered the house closed. He was backed up by the Ministerial Association of the city, and commended for his action. Motion Picture N ezm "Love in Rough," Flesh to $18,500 Montreal's Leader 65 Montreal — Famous Players Canadian Corp. decorated the main stem of Montreal with flags, bunting and signs for its Prosperity Week drive and the campaign aroused plenty of interest. But the weather was so warm during the first half of the week that the people sought the outdoors rather than the theatres. Patronage was largely made up starting Wednesday, when cold, clouds and rain blew in. The first week of stage shows at the Capitol proved a wow with a draw of $18,500, or 120%, the screen attraction being "Love in the Rough." At the Princess, "Whoopee" continued a wonder for its fourth week, again registering $12.000, or 100%. Several nights the crowds were standing 15 deep when the nine o'clock show started. The Palace lost ground with "Let Us Be Gav" when word got around that the Norma Shearer vehicle had been trimmed by the censors. Two British features, "The Hate Ship" at the Imoerial and "Greek Street" at the Roxy, were only steady. Estimated takings : "LOVE IN THE ROUGH" (M-G-M) CAPITOL— (2.670) 25c-8Sc, 7 days. Other attractions: News; Jack Arthur stage show, "Hello. Montreal"; "Flip the Frog" (cartoon). Gross: $18,500. Ratine: 120%. "WHOOPEE" (United Artists) PRINCESS— (2,272) 25c-75c, 7 days, fourth week. Other attractions: Metrotone news, L'niversal Topics, Mickey Mouse cartoon. Gross: $12,000. Rating: 100%. "LET US BE GAY" (M-G-M) PALACE— (2,6)0) 2Sc-99c, 7 davs. Other attractions: News. W. C. Fields in "The Golf Specialists." Vitaphone Varieties, band. Cross: $14,000. Rating: 90%. "FORWARD MARCH" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,982) 25c-99c. 7 days. Other attractions: News, five vaudeville acts, Edmond Sanborn's orchestra. Gross: $14,500. Rating: 95%. "COMMON CLAY" (Fox) IMPERIAL— (1,914) 15c-40c, 3 days. Other attractions: News, Charles Ruggles in "The Hot Air Merchant." Gross: $3,700. Rating: 90%. "THE HATE SHIP" (British) IMPERIAL— (1,914) 15c-40c, 4 days. Other attractions: Screen Snapshots, news, "Royal Flush." Gross: S3, 300. Rating: 85%. "THE WAY OF ALL MEN" (First National) STRAND— (750) 15c-50c. 7 days. Other attractions: News, add feature, "Personality" (Columbia). Gross: $3,800. Rating: 85%. "GREEK STREET" (British) ROXY— (550) 25c-75c. 7 days. Other attractions: French news weekly; "01' Black Joe" (Paramount song); "Roman Punch" (Educational Terry-Toon); "Voice of Hollywood" (Tiffany). Cross: $2,900. Rating: 85%. Raoul Walsh Slated To Direct in Europe Hollywood — Raoul Walsh, Fox director, will go to Europe this spring and will perhaps direct a picture over there. Final plans for the trip to France have not been set nor has any announcement been made regarding what picture he will direct. A story recently assigned to Alexander Korda — and refused — is thought to be the one. Durkee Opens Another Baltimore — The Edgewood, residential playhouse designed along Colonial lines by Architect John J. Zink. with a seating capacity of 1.250. has been opened by the Lynnhurst Corp. This house is another link in the F. H. Durkee Enterprises controlling about nineteen houses in Baltimore. D-d-do T-t-tell? They tell this one about Joe Frisco, who has a couple of Vitaphone shorts to his credit: In a Chicago hotel the comic called for a messenger boy. "Did you c-c-c call for me, Sir?" asked the messenger. "Y-y-yes, I d-d-did, but y-y-you g-ggo right b-b-back to the office and t-t-ell them I w-w-want a straight man," replied Frisco. "Raffles" Minus Flesh to $20,500 Leading Toronto Toronto — Lillian Roth in person at the Imperial was the real center of attraction during the week, and with "Rain or Shine" on the screen and a stage show, the house drew $20,000 for a rating of 115%. This was topped by "Raffles'' at Loew's, with an all-screen bill, with returns of $20,500 for 125->. It was quite a week all around and Famous Players' Prosperity Week campaign looked good. The Tivoli, under the new management of James Lvnch, continues to hold up, earning $12,000, or 90%, with "The Office Wife." With vaudeville out of Loew's, many are turning to Shea's Hippodrome for vaudeville and pictures, but the battle of the town is between Loew's and the Imperial. The week started out like summer, but turned cold. Estimated takings : "RAIN OR SHINE" (Columbia) IMPERIAL— (3.600). 25c-75c, 6 days. Other attractions: News, Lillian Roth in person, Jack Arthur stage show, concert orchestra. Gross: $20,000. Rating: 115%. "RAFFLES" (United Artists) LOEW'S— (2,200) 25c-75c. 6 days. Other attractions: "Dollar Dizzy" (M-G-M comedy), "The Chain Gang" (Columbia Mickev Mouse cartoon), news. Gross: $20,500. Rating: 12S9 . "THE OFFICE WIFE" (Warners) TIVOLI— (1.600) 35c-75c, 6 days. Other attractions: "Parlez Vous" (Universal), "The Last Yard" (Pathe football series), "Story Book Parade" (Tiffany), "The Grand Uproar" (Paramount Talkertoon). Gross: $12,000. Rating: 90%. "MAN TROUBLE" (Fox) SHEA'S HIPPODROME— (2,600) 30c-75c, 6 days. Other attractions: Five vaudeville acts. news. Andy Clyde comedy. Gross: $14,500. Rating: 90%. "ANIMAL CRACKERS" (Paramount) UPTOWN— (3,000). 15c-50c, 3 days. Other attractions: Screen Snapshots (Columbia), Krazy Kat cartoon (Columbia), news. Gross: $5,400. Rating: 90%. "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" (First National) UPTOWN— 13.000) 15c-50c. 3 days. Other attractions: Grantland Rice Sportlight, "Campus Favorites" (Pathe). "Flower Garden" (M-G-M Colortone Revue). "Neighborly Neighbors" (Paramount comedy). Gross: $5,200. Rating: f '='. Pee Wee Course Planned In Wilmington House Wilmington — The Parkway will be transformed into a miniature golf course, which is now the craze in this city and which is also causing the attendance of local theatres to lag. The permit for the "teeny" course calls for the alteration of the building at a cost of $3,000. With the rapid construction of courses patrons spend their time playing this game and theatre men here fear that there will be no let-up until cold weather comes and prevents the golf bugs from playing.