Variety (Dec 1928)

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Wednesday, December 5, 1928 VARIETY 9 It PICTDi' IS I pheum :has licld all but one syn- chroniized filin for more th'un one week, "whereas.ln its sileni: duys pio- turefe of j)rogram quality were in most cases good for only seven days. ■■ ■ Survey by Variety's Corre spondents Discloses Talk for Downtown Hbuse! Matter of Sound for B. O* Now as Silenls Were Warfield Oke, $28,000; "Abie," $14,000,2il Wk. San Francisco.. With a single exception, wiring for sound, lias spelled, lower rev- enues • for aiarlcet street de luxe, houses, based on actual draw of synchronized or dialog pictures. . Exception is W. B. Wagnon's Em- - Hav*. Failed in Main bassy, which with a straight policy ers Have railecl »n I ^ Warnef Bros, sound features to Increase Bulk Grosses | ^^^^^ vitaphone shorts exclusively has clicked -tor a- year or -more- to 1 substantial profits. This house be- fore going undei* the Wagnon ban- ner in November, 1927i was a sec ond and third; run grind, so com parisons are out. • On the other hand, two Publix (West Coast operated) "run houses. California and St. Francis, have had grosses generally lower than when silent, with an-Tjcca- sional exception. In the case of two weekly change de luxe, Warfield and Granada, sound pictures have . meant noth ing. • • Since the introduction of wired hborhopd KEY GITY REPORTS Answering a request, Variety's correspondents in the key cities Usted refiort that the sound picture has failed to increase the buH< grosses, in the majority, of down- town picture theatresi The gist of the reports is I 1^0^533 downtown, ,neig. the talking picture at present has K^yggg ^ave suffered, but it is a reverted to the former status of the ciuestion if .. the sound Pictures revertea.ip ^ _ picture" was were to blame, other, than curiosity silent film, when The Picture, ^f^l^j^.^j^ drew customers" to the Em- the draw,, a condition that- ^aam r^^^^^^^^^^^^ time again. A gen- ^vvx^^ r.^a, v^.»>-... ... prevails. Ural depression has been over the Fifth weelc healthy at $15,000; three This "survey relates of course toJtown'for six months, w^^^ — This ^"7^^ ^ ^ ^ fans "shopping."- Embassy, the present picture house Situatiorx. |^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^ pictures. As further theatres are wired '"j .-The Jazz Singer," some months ago. and "The Singing. Fool," cur- rently, has firmly established itself Ordinary sound • fatures did not click so well. San Francisco, Dec 4; • . (Drawing Population, 756,000) Weather: Fair West .Coast's final week of operr ation of the three P.ubiix houses here didn't mean much for them. Granada, California iand the St. Francis continued in the doldrums. Starting currently, Publix Is oper- ating their, trio. Warfield had another profitable week but the California "didn't, hold strong on the second week of "Abie's Irish Rose." Inta.ke, however, suf- ficient to show neat Proflt.^ St- Francis, with extended run of .' Lilac Time," recently at, the. California, likewise failed to pan out and film will be yanked midweek for "White Shadows" (M-G). - V Embassy continued to click ana fifth week, of "Singing. Fool" up to expectations. Jolson opus has three weeks to go, then makes way for "Home Towners." Estimates for Last Week Warfield (Locw-WC) "Roniance of Underworld" (Fox) (2,672; BO- SS-SO). Excellent- week end and holiday business-great; near $28,000. Granada (Publix-WC) "Manhat- tan Cocktail" (Par) (2,785; 50-65- $1). Picture didn't mean a thing; $17,000, bad. ■ ... Embassy (Waghon) ' " Singing Fool" (WB) Vita (1.367.; 50-65-90) Eosys M ii-TalkiEg Sort Bill . BidBiglolidayWe^^ towns unused to talkers, the novelty aspect may present itself fo.r a while, as. with the present limited crop of wired houses. to goi California (Publix-WC) "Abie's Irish Ro3e" (Par): (2,200; 65-90) Customers not too plentiful on sec- ond week; Out after this week; $14,- 000. fair. St Francis (Publlx-WG) "Lilac Time" (FN) (1,375; 35-65-90). Barely hit $6,500, but low nut prob- ably allowed slight profit; going out Mid-week hoVldivy, TlmnKsbiyini? inishod tilings ;\lon;.i and, wuh tho two big foutball Raines in town dur- ing the last half, it accolorated gro.ssos to a .sall.'^fai'lory finish. Vnusual exitenmeiit of thi; wecU was tho Uoxv and its rtuo of feat- ured talking shorts. "The JJath 1-.0- twoon" (two reels) and "Napoloons Barber" iVirce rtcis). . House .splurged with its advoiaislng and the opening week end. was heavy, but the shorts proved their staying power when the filial total went to $116,800. Wouldn't have been a.s high without the holiday, but that the novel program would have gone to six .figures anywa-y demonstrates that the idea is. okay for. occasional use. ■ > ." Gilbert took a new hold on his femnie folldwing with "MasUsi of .the Devil," Capitol going to $81,400, but Loew clidn't hold M-G's heavy lover a second week. Something of a criticar spot for Gilbert, as a lot. or the girls were beginning to lose in- terest. But picture showed, strength and If the star can dodge a relapse U. A. apparently made a good deal. First National's Gorlnne Griffith also gathered some neat coin at the Strand in doing $39,400. Paramount clinibed a little, although far short of what it-should have done on tho holiday- week, with "Manhattan Cocldail" doing $69,600. "Wings" finished at the Kialto to $22,700, and "Woman Disputed" bettered its sec- ond week somewhat at the Uivoli for $21,200. . The midget Cameo's war film, "The Sommc," caught $8,500 and is holding over, while ''Gang War" finished two good weeks at. the Colony to $13,100. Big Timers Twice daily attractions, mostly .■^ound V 1-1,020;, 35-^1 New York. Sound along Broadway haa meant Boston. It is stated Trnre that houses flay- ing sound and talking pictures have aoiy auowea sngni prom., ijuiiiB r Twice aauy a,tLia,<.;i,iuiio, for "White Shadows," also second talkers, picked up on Turkey Day run. I although most had been substantial on the normal weeks. "Singing Fool" Is still doubling tlie gross of nd talking pictures u<ivc uoui « ^^^.^ — Ztin^ "tlmmv Val mor7 for $2'' than. at the regularr;;;t7rially increased their grosses Uu^mess at the Minnesota or State its nearest comp^^^^^^ ^ind prices. Exception is the | over the .comparative period of s.-| tha^ Btrand which has uiiqUestlonably boosted its weekly gross average a third since eliminating its stage stuff for all-gcreen and sound pro- grams. Neither sound or dialog has meant much on the Other sites, the Topekia, meant much on tne omer aitea, . rpj^^ big sound pictures get busi- 1 gooa siient one. xne snort eouuua 1 jjavlng openea on v»ci...^o^-j — Paramount and Roxy being? the Ugss and the ordinary synchronized Ljoh't seem to mean much to hast week,. "The^Vl.king P^^^ Paramount ana .t^o ^ I" fnil down. Last week the hr>* office. It's the features that Embassy $7,800 by the end of tne ^ ..fso "on the Astor's screen. "Inter- sound offering. Whereas an excep- U^^gj^^jg.. stayed at capacl'.. tiona.lly good silent picture formerly U bit better. In doing $17,800, and might gross around $20,000 at thcl-on Trial" claimed $19,900 reported State, the sound offering will do leaving Warners for-'My M^^^^^ from $25,000 to $28,000 now. A P^r- U)ec. 21. ^'L^^c T,me dm^around ticularly pleasing sound picture can ^comlli? to the Central to- be counted upon to gross as much as (Wednesday). "Four Devils" $5,600 more thart a correspondingly j^^j,eaged. for $10,400 at the Gaiety good silent onft. The short sounds Having opened on "Wednesday Df lent films. I sound offering. Whereas an excep-| j-^g^^g.. gt^yed at capacity, maybe Whether the bulk grosse^for the tiona.lly good silent picture formerly " picture houses have increased du^- ^ ^ -oa haa »t Irig this time is doubtful.. There is no evidence of the talkers having made new -trade; programs fall down. Last week the office. It's the features that Embassy $7,800 by the end ot rne Grand, Topeka's only wired house, count." Estimates for Last Week did less business with "The Lights . . _ Astor—"Jimmy Valentine'' (M-G) of New York" than the Jayhawk ^. Baltimore, [dialog (1,120; $l-$2) (4th week), did with a silent screen. This week ' - — — . uiu wn-L. c ^ , With, sound novelty off, grosses jjouday helped a;ll along i*treet; this while the crowds were being turned j^ave been slipping back to pre- ' ^^^nr.r. nr>H honw at S-0.- oniy theatres to have dialog in fea- tures; and that as brief as inter- mittent. All have practically had synchronlzea score Pictures for •which the week's figures left no S^f 1? r "^^^ f;^'^"a^;^ ^he xayi«.wk I —, •^13: ^^Si£:^f W mSg hasn'tf rS^ly thing «jat can be nuUed moro bSEaess downtown said as true regarding the talkers "■"Smn wa"'formerly noticeable, pos-. here is that they seem to have S because the big theatres all ruined the town for vaudeville, have good sized orchestras and the recording still suffers ori a direct Washington, comparison. Here, the Strand is -wired or not wired the situation comparison. x^cic, ^..^ — vviruu ui again the exception through hold- g^j^^ds locally as heretofore: it its Ing its pit mu-oic to a minimuni.- It ^ ^^^^ picture it gets money. ^ is the. one house that has firmly check discloses, that tlxpugh the entrenched itself on sound pro- bulk gro-sses of the five downtown grams, the Roxy making its first houses may be slightly higher since real stab, and, successfully, the past L.j^g wiring in general the previous week in featuring two talking j^^j did not have the pictures -.shorts-witliout,a.full length film, on.' ■• ■ - —-''i- the program. . Boxoffice money, for talkers, has mainly gone to the theatres play- ing twice' daily performances. War- ners being the first example, then the Winter Garden and now the Criterion' and Astor are also 'to the : front. nor the "names" to conjure with. . Providence. ProvfdenQe is cashing on sound, grosses having been lifted any- where.from $1,000 to $3,000 weekly. ■ Minneapolis. 1 with the novelty now worn off, Chicago the public is buying talking apd utiicago. pictures with the Average weekly total fr<>.«s^^^n S^Jfe to Loop picture^ houses has increased non-sotand product, around $25,000 since installation of J . ^ .1^ Toronto. Three months' trial has shown that business In wired houses has been at least third greater than av- erage under silent policy without cutting in on b. o. average at FP silent houses. Tivoli, Toronto, on price Increase of 50.per cent has more than doubled attendance, with b. o. grosses almost 75 per cent higher than under non sound policy. one no exception and heavy at $20 '"^Cameo—"The Somme" (New Era) (5'19; 50-75) (2d week). War film started off to excellent $8,500; hold- inc" over Capitol—"Masks of Devil" (M-O) luna V (.-iiK-^'; oo-.>v-T!)-$l-$i.50).. Okav \Vith $Sl.-tOO and' local trade ;' .bolloC ' is that Gilbert, needed it;. . holiday, swelled gro-ss; probably rca- •. st>h for no soeond week.'. Central—'^Lilac Time" (FN). soHhd' (922; $l-$'-).- I-ilght-day 17th and final week for around $13,000; out with "The Barker" (FN) arriving tonight (Wednesday); Colleen Moore liim had nice run, staying longer than oxpeeted. Colony—"Gang War" (FBO) dia- log (1,980; 50-60-75-$!). Here, fort- night to get $20,300; $13,100 of that on second week; good for this house. "Show Volks," rathe dialog hhn, opens S.invday.- . Criterion —" Interference " (Par) dialog (81)1; $l-$i) (3d week). Lit- tle oVer capacity at $17,800;. at present p.ace can eastty make, eight weeks. . ■ ■ . Embassy—"The . Viking" (M-G) (rtOU;- $r-$L') ■(2d week). Opened / mid-week and saw $7,800 roll in; feature now silent but sound version duo shortly; natural color picture. Gaiety—"Four Devils" (B'ox) sound (808; $l-$2) (10th vveek). Jumped up with rest for $1(),400; no suc- cessor named as yet but believed to be "The River" Or Fox's talking western, "Arizona." . Paramount—"Manhattan Cocktail' (Par) dialog (3,006; 40-65-7r)-85.-$l). Bettered previous week by around $4,000 but not what house should bo doing; $09,000, . with holiday, rather light. • • - ■ Rialto—"Wings" (Par) sound (1,- 960; 35-50^75-8]j-$l). Finished fifth week to $22,700; not quite as strong as anticipated but tremendous across street at $2; "Sins of the Father". (Par) current. _ Rivoli—"Woman Disputed" (UA) sound (2,200; 35-50-75-85-$!) (4th week). $21,200 oh semi-final to slightly beat pirecedlng week; Tall- madge film out this Week for "Re- venge" (UA). ■ „ Roxy—"Napoleon's Barber" and "The Bath Between" (Fox) dialog (6,20c; G0-75-$l-$1.50). Two Fox Movietone shorts with stage pro- gram principally .arranged as pro- log to featured three reeler "Na- poleon's Barber"; novel idea prob- ably will be used about once every three months If shorts warrant It; went heavy on daily ads at start, opening week end big and with holi- day. $116,800. Strand—"Outcast" (FN) sound (2,900; 35-50-65-75).. Corlnne Grif- fith film enjoyed solid intake at $39,- 400, Warners—"On Trial" (WB) dialog (1,300; $l-$2) (3d week). Holding .■jmartly and claimed $19,900; , "My Man" (WB) here Dec. 21, Winter Garden—"Singing Fool" (WP.) dl.alng <1,493; $l-$2-$3) (12th week). Hasn't dropped ort and week end demand still tremendous; another $44,000; Phila's Stanley, $37,000 to Fox's $33,000 Holiday Wk, Philadelphia, Dec. .4 Combination . : of now pictures many of thorn strong draws, and the Portland, Ore. Thanksgiving infiux, beginning Although, .Portland, grosses have S^^Ji^lfltyf, ^^^^^^ risen considerably since the Ijtro- PhHadelphia^ duction , of talking pictures, there Stanley got the best call with are contributing factors other than' „jM,jj^^'pg(,p^g'.. somethlhe like sound pictures which may have had J37 Q00, ' weight. • • • Fox was runner up, with "Ro During the past year Portland mance of the Underworld.". Grossed grosses have risen from ^roun^l P-''^""^ |.^i.'f^^; . ^-.t Week $60,000 to about $85;000 for down- I Estimates for .Last Week wiring. One year ago the average total gross for the Chicago, McVlckers, Monroe, Oriental; Orphetim, Roose- velt and $tate-Lake was $148,000. Now it is $173,000, with all, but the Salt-Lake, wired. United Artists, also wired, not opened this year. Individual study of comparative grosses now and a year ago indi- . _l_cate3__tluat^ JiQUSfis:. .prMiPi>siX_J^ silent programs and.no stage enter tainment are benefited mostly by wiring. Sound'pictures have caused little or no increase of grosses in houses with stage policies, although in some cases sound may have helped the house retain its old gross in competition with the straight wired houses. As ■ oxnmplo of the ' Vf^r.f-f.ts of iivuragc sound pictures, the Or- This is according to Edmorid R. Ruben Ot F. & R. (Publix).."When the sound pictures first came on the market they proved a tremend- ous stimulus to business regardless of their merits," said Mr. Ruben, ."Our houses like the State and • ^ It Strand in Minnea-polis, which had included, as It | ^^^^ averaging in the neighborhood of $12,000 and $4,000, respectively, jumped to $16,000 and $7,000." "The situation today, however, is dlffPrcntt^=A-sound-plcture.-novt.Jiati. to be good In order to draw trade. An ordinary talking or synchronized offering doesn't m(;an anything mor^ to the box-offlGe than a non-.".oun(l picture,-and the bad- sound attrac- tions fall as badly as the soundlr-.-^s .stuff whi'-h la-ks morit, "However, an : outstanding syn town houses each week. ..While this Is contemporary with the Introduc tlon iof sound pictures. It Is likely that the latter have played Only a part in the general Improvement Stanley (4,0007 35-00-75)—"Show People" (M-G-M) led town. Stago show little over $37,000 claimed. Stanton (1,700; 35-50-70)—"While Shadow.s" (M-G-M, 2d week). Dis- appointment here, although held up The opening oT'thrle "new' modern I bylhojlday last w^^^ film houses withjntenslve explo ta- ^,^^°''„;,^'.?00;,^»,^)> p^gre^weU liked tion have been the most dominating show bill not noteworthy. $33,- contrlbuting factor. OOO highest in some time. .. Fox-Locu6t (1.800; $1)—"Red Montreal. Dance" (Fox, 3d week). Has b^gun Palace only wired house. Silent to show strength. Last week got pictures' up. to last July. "Top $17 00,0.^ so v^iw-Varsltv- gross would be $20,000.. Since wiring I Aldme a.nOO, 50-75)— Var.slty "Submarine'* Gives Indie Big $22,000 in Buffalo Buffalo, D(^<V. 14. (Drawing Pop., 500,000) Weather: Rainy Business spurted last week after the calm of the week preceding. Heavy features with holiday sure- , fire. Estimates for Last Week Buffalo (Publix) (3,000; 30-40- 75)-r-"Mai)ks'' of Devil" (M-O-M), stage show. Corking all around bin. . $30,000. ■ Hipp (PubliJt) (2,400; 60)—"Show People" (M-G-M) and vaudc. Up again after fortnight's slump. $21,- 000. ■ Great Lakes (Fox). (3,400;; 30-40- 7r,,_<..-vif,ther Knows Beat" (l''ox), "Two Tars" (M-O-M). Splendid .show to good busiiness. Estimated $17,000. Lafayette (Indep) (3,000; 40-OQ;-- "Submarlne" (Columbia) and vaude. Picture natural here ana sent gross soaring. Great business at $22,000. gross has run as high as $30,000 Due to overflow from Palace, all do,wnto.wj^jiiJ[£iii_- ■■theatres^ .hAv c^ iiertQfilod. Espfoially has this been the case wlif-n thf> I'alace has held, a sound -pifture over for a second week. It snein.H that the Introduction of wired films has created a new cll- enl- l'- for jjkjtures or h.'xs tappf:d only occasionally (Par, 2d week). Not as big as ex- pected. Karlton (1,000; 50-76) — "Honu' on nicely. Notices amounted to raves. Almost $9,000, high. Little (210; 50-70) —"SocrctH of Soul." Not type for holiday busi- ness, but drr'W usual-strong cIlentfT-- and gro.ysf-d about $-4,000. Arcadia (Vm; 00)—"Moran of Ma- rines" (J'ar. 1st week). Booklmr ot this HIehard I>Jx pleture here earn <iH di.'^MDft fJiirpri,--*'. I;i(l w(-ll wlDi $5,500 claimed.- liel'l over. . Ca.st of "Fnl.se Colors'': Ooorgo O'Brien, Lois Moran, I'hillips Smailey, Lumsden Hare, Hedwiga Rolchor, Duke Martin, James Tln- llng dlrcrts. Fox. , Best Xmas Present . Always Welcome for $10 . Year's Subscription to Variety