Variety (Dec 1929)

8 VARIETY PICTURE GROSSES Wednesday, December 4, 192^ 1 $37,500 L i Par s Top H. 0.-'Daiiger; Rogers' Film $12,300 on 2d $1.50 Run Zios Angeles, Dec* 3. (Drawing Population, 1,500,000) Weather; Fair Thanks to Thanksgiving Jocal pic- ture parlora pulled out fairly well last week. As an example of what Turkey Day meant, "Welcome Dan- ger," at the Paramount, got $9,000 of its $37,500 in that one session. "It's a Great Life" had breeze and pep at the Criterion, where a get- away tally of $15,000 is quite kitten- ish. "Jazz Heaven" obliged the RKO with a fair , $17,000. "So This Is College" had more financial verve than recent pictures playing the State and with the holiday the total leaped to the best in a couple of months at $29,000. Estimates for Last Week Boulevard (Pox)—"Love, Live and Laugh" (Fox) (2,164; 25-50). Holi- day included but $7,200 Indicates Carthay Circle (Fox)—"Bio Rita" (RKO) (i,500; 50-$1.50) (2d week). Not what wjs expected, although doing nicely; $17,000. First week's gross as reported at $18,000 was based on but five days. Chinese/ (Fox)—"Sunnyslde Up" (Fox) (2,028; 60-$1.50) (4th week). Scrammed without having rippled the local pond; most indifferent showing of any picture. gince this house has been wired; at scale Und capacity $19,000 light. Criterion (Fox)—"It's a Great Life" (M-G) (1,600; 26-75). (1st week). Newspapers extended them- selves; brisk here with $16,000 rep- resented; Duncan Sister/s' first Egyptian (UA-Fox)—"13th Chair" fM-G) (1,800; 25-75). Mystery ob- tained $13,000, exceptiona.lly good. Palace (Fox)—"They Had to See Paris" (Fox) (1,150; 50-$l,65) (1st week).. After seven weeks, at the Carthay Circle, morved downtown and again demonstrated popularity by getting $12,300 on second run $1.50 engagement. State (Loew-Fox)-^"So This Is College" (M-G) (2,042; . 25-$l). Football fever and U.S.C. back- ground to story coniblned to run count to $29,000; best hiere in some time. ■ " Paramount (Publix) — "Welcome Danger" (Par) (3,595; 25-76) (2d week). Biggest second week, $37,- 500, this house has ever bad inclu- sive of all policies; held for, third BKO — "Jazz Heaven" (Radio) (2,950; 30-65). Fair at $17,000. United Artists (Pub-UA)—"The Trespasser" (UA) (2,100; 25-$l) (4th week). B.ow_out gross, $18,r 200, only $2,500 behind previous weeks take; very good. Warners Downtpwn (WB) — "Footlights and Fools" (FN) (1,800; 50-75) (2d, final Week), Exit week, $16,400, good; "Evidence" (WB) current for one week only. Warners Hollywood (WB)—"Dis- raeli (WB) (2,756; 25-^76) (4th, final week). Stirred up much comment rlliring month's stay; probably gave the studio bunoh isome ideas; fin- ished brightly to $19,000. "Great J^ivide ' (FN) In for one week. TACOMA NOT HOT Light Pictures to Under Usual Grosses Tacoma, Dec. 3. (Drawing Pop., 125,000) Weather—Cloudy and Rain Last week was badly off. Attrac- tions were not so hot. Estimates for Last Week RKO — Pantages (RKO) (1,600; 25-60) "Night Parade" (Radio). Good vaude helped; fair. $7,900. Blue Mouse—(Hamrick) (650;25- 50) "Evidence" (WB).' Just ordi- nary. $4,400. Rialto — (Pox) (1,250; 25-50) "Great Qabbo" (W-W). Average week. $5,200. Colonial -- (Fox) (850; 26-36-60) "Gow" (Ind). Lots, of plugging back of this at schools, etc.; helped for a good $2,600. Riviera — (Constantino) (450; 26- 50) "College Love" (U). Slumped badly from previous week. $1,500. RKO at Tacoma week before last listed "Night Parade" as doing $6, 900 and fair. No report of holding over. Lastweek as above same film at RKO. May be an error. MASTBAUM WITH HIGH $56,000 FOR UNTAMED' Philadelphia, Deo, 3, Trade In the do^vntown picture houses spotty last week, not up to expectations for the Thanksgiving holiday. Some Important" exceptions and the most notable the Mastbaum, which had "Untamed" to $56,000, one of the biggest weeks the house has had. Another was the Earle, with "The Forward Pass" and lively stage show at $25,500, about $6,000 over the average. "Welcome Danger" in the 3d and ftnal week at the Stanley Went com- pletely to pieces, taken oft Thursday afternoon to about $5,000 on three days. "Paris" doming in, was strong and making claim almost $16,000 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Boyd disappointed with only $21,- 000 for.the 2d week of "The Vir- ginian." It started at a $31,000 clip and gave promise of. month's run. Instead taken off Sunday. Critics rayed about "Seven Paces" at the Fox. but fans did not fancy it; That Muni appeared in person half the week,'that.lt wa$ a holiday week and that stage show was. excellent and included Mickey Cochrane, A's catcher, who helped save day, but $30,000 looked rather low for a Thanksgiving week's business. Estimates for Last Week Mastbaum (4,800; 35-60-76)—"Un- tamed" (M-G-M), Joan Crawford's large local following and extra holi- day, business shot gross to $56,000, very big. Aldine (1,600; 60-75-$l-$1.60)— "Disraeli" (WB), 5th week, Arliss pictTU'e still remarkable money-get- ter. Went back to $20,000 with aid of Thanksgiving. Announced to close Saturday, but may linger an- other week. . Fox (3,000; 90) — "Seven Paces" (Fox), picture not especially piopu- lar. Paul Muni's personal appecur- ance, holiday influx and stage bill held business to $30,000, not so hot for Thanksgiving, week. Boyd (2,400; 35-50-76)—"The Vir- ginian" (Par, 2d week) expected to run month. Slid sharply and taken ofl^ Saturday after fortnight. Dropped from $31,000 to $21,000^ de- spit^ favorable conditions. Fox-Locust (1,800; $1.50)—"Sunny Side Up"\(Fox), 5th week held up well, although considerably off from original pace. Around $18,500 claimed, with Thursday helping. • .-Erianger- (1,900; 35-50-76)—"Rio Rita" (RKO). 5th week and an- <uher picture that rebounded to big Thursday, Friday and Saturday business, although way off first of week, reached almost $24,000. This announced, as last week. Stanley (3,700; 35-50t75)— "Wel- come Danger" (Par, ad week). Taken off after Wednesday; "Paris" in. jStanton (1,700; 36-60-75)—"Four Feathers" (Par, 1st week). 2d downtown showing for this silent fair at $16,000. Earld (2,000; 60-76) — "Forward Pass' (FN). Big week at reported $26,600, 'way above average. Next to Mastbaum, best showing of week. Karlton (1,000; 60)—"Evangeline" (UA). Started well, due to Del Rio's name, but faded. Helped by holiday to $5,000. DENVER GOOD COHAN'S HUNT FILM "^Sunfi ng"'rt ger^in^^^ the next picture at the Cohan, New York. It comes in Dec; 9, for $2. Talking Pictures, Inc., and Frank Wilson iare behind it with an en- dorsement from the New Tork Museum of -Natural History. This is the same three-way combination which ran "Simba" up to ah $18,000 advance sale at the Carroll. High Rah Oven $27,000 Last Week- "Rita's" 2-week Stay Denver, Colo., Dec. 3. (Drawing Population, 400,000) Weather: Clear and cold "RIq Rita" broke the house record at; the Tabor and held oven First two weeks' run here since ♦'Show Boat," last May; Estimates for Last Week Aladdin (Indie) (1,500; 35-50-76) —"Romance of Rio Grande" (Fox). Low for this house; $6,000. America (Indie) (1,500; 20-35-50) —"Salute" (Fox). Drew very well and finished above average; $5,000. Denham (indie stock) (1,800; 25 35-50-76-$l)—"The Music Master." Better than previous week; $4,200 Denver (Puljllx) (2,300; 25-40-65) —"Taming of the Shrew" (UA); $27,400. Rialto (Publix) (1,040; 26-40-50)— "V/elcome Danger" (Par). Didn't .ivoid .yp. _on,_lhjrd^jan $3,600 in 6 daye. Tabor (Indie) (2,200; 25-40-60)— "Rio Rita" (Radio). House record broken; P. & M. unit on stage helped; $18,300, James Bryson, U's exec in Lon- don, who arrived in New York early last week, left Saturday for the west coast to confer with Carl Laommle and others at the studio. SOCIAL VOGUE Every large function of social and civic importance occurring in the City of Philadelphia for more than twenty years has been held at the internationally known BELLEVUE- STRATPORD HOTEL, where MEYER DAVIS' ORCHESTRAS have been heard every day for more than twelve years without inter- ruption. ^phomore' and Waring's $19,500, Kehh's, Syracuse Syracuse, N. T., . Dec. 3. (Drawing Population, 220,000) Weather: Cold "The Sophomore" (Pathe), backed by Waring's Pennsylvanians, high- est priced turn ever to, play Keith's here, nosed out "Untamed" (M-G) at the State for the week's high. Former played to $19,600, while the latter, gbt just .$200 less. "Gold: Diggers" (WB) In its sixth and last week, at the Strand, took a plunge to about $7,000, giving way mid week to "Disraeli" (WB). "Sun- nyslde Up" (Fox) sent the Eckel well over the top at $10,000, and stays for a second week. . "Song of Love" (Col) not so hot. About $2,600 at the Empire at 30-cent scale. $25,000 FOR "UNTAMED" Providence Gives In—"Rio Grande" $11^500—" Rita" for 4th Week Providence, Dec. 3. (Drawing Population, 315,000) Weather: Fair and Cold Nothing sensational last week. Closest thing to it was "Untamed", at the State. Feature packed a wallop and gave the house a nice ^oss; "Rio Rita," in Its third week at the Victory, kept up a brisk pace, and being held a fourth week. First time here that a feature has stayed so long at pop prices. Estimates for Last Week Loew's State (3,500; 15-60)—"Un- tamed" (M-G). Joan Crawford re- ceived nothing but praise. Feature got plenty of support and holiday pulled it over $26,000. Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 16-50)^ "Great Gabbo" (Wide World). Didn't quite come up to expecta- tions, but about $11,200, above aver, age. Victory (R-K-O) (1,600; 16-60)— "Rio Rita" (Radio). Third week and stays a fourth; being heavily plugged; around $10,000, a slight drop. Strand (Ind) (2,200; 16-50)—"Bat- tle of Paris" (Par) and "Acquit- ted) "Col." Double feature stuff al- ways goes h6re; maybe $10,500 and fair. Afbee (RKO) (2,600; 15-50)— "Jazz Heaven" (Radio). Ballyhoo for Blackstone, magician, pulled show through; big at $14,000. . Fay's (Fay) (1,600; 16-60)—"Ro- mance of Rio Grande" (Pox). Brisk all week; excellent at $11,600. BUFFALO EASES DOWN $32,200 for "Mighty" — "Forward Pass," $18,700—"Danger" Drops Buffalo, Dec. 3. (Drawing Population, 600,000) Weather: Cold Business at local theatres seems to be simmering down to the annual preholiday level. Estimates for Last Week Buffalo (Publix) (3,600; 30-40-65) —"The Mighty" (Par). Show stood out with picture only about 50% of bill; $32,200. Hipp (Publix). (2,400; 40-60)— "Forward Pass" (FN) and vaude. -Bill^Robln3OTT,"^hMdlinIrig, "shir^ff honors with picture; good at $18,700. Century (Publix) (3,400; 40-60)— "Welcome Danger" (Par). After an excellent first week flopped sharp- ly to $12,700. Great Lakes (Fox) (3,400; 25-36- 50)—"Speedway"' (M-G). All quiet on this front; around $12,000. Lafayette (Ind) (3,400; 40-00)— "Night Parade" (Radio) and vaude. Just fair; over $13,000, $34,000 for Vande-^bfew; Midland: K. C m for Vaude Batde-3 Hous£ TWO BIG HOIMVER TALKERS IN PORHAND Portland, Ore., D^^c. 3. All records for RKO: her© were broken by "Rio Rita," which held' for second week difter taking $22,600 on Its first week. Opposish was two- day stand of road show "Rio Rita," booked by .Calvin HelUg at tho Au- ditorlumi and which flopped out- right. "Taming of Shrew," holding over, suffered from too much "Rio," but fair. , May 'Robson, guest, star with Duflty Players, good draw for one week. Estimates for Last Week Broadway (Pox) (2,000; 26-50)— "Dynamite" (M-G). Over okay; $14,000, United Artists (I»arker-Pox)" (1,- 200; 26-60); Second week of "Tam- ing of Shrew" (UA) and pulled; good but not great; $3,000. Alder (ParkerrPox) (1,200; M-BO) —"Mysterious Island." All color and registered: $7^000. Portland (PubUx) (3,600; 25-60)—^ "The Mighty" (Par). Biz up from doldrums: $10,000. Rialto (Publix) (2,000; 25-60)— "Woman Trap" (Par). Did fairly; $6,000. Music Box (Hamrick) (2,000; 26- 50)—"Evidence," Went over but not big; $7,000. Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (800 ; 25- 50)—"Skin Deep" (WB). Just fair. Orpheum (RKO) (2,000; 60-60)— Second week of "Rio Rita" (Radio), and great with sir shows daily; could have' stayed, buf pulled for other bookings; $19,000, only $3,000 under first record week. Oriental (Tebbetts) (2,700; 25-35) —"The Hottentot" (WB), Good comedy film draw; $5,500. Dufwin (DUffy) (1,400; 26-$1.26). Duffy Players with May Robson in "Her Night Out," did well; $6,000, good. Auditorium (Civic) (3,600; 60- $2.60). Two-day stand of road show "Rio Rita"; flopped even with film publicity; under $2,000. $44,000 FOX COMEBACK; 'SHREW,'FRISCO,|25,700 San Francisco, Dec. 3. Two outstanding Incidents marked the past week among down- town picture houses."Cbck Eyed World," the Warfleld,. ran up a grand total, of better than $132,000 on Its four weeks with still another w ek to go, and the Fox theatre, featuring Laurel and Hardy In per- son, with "The vSirl from Havana," pulled Itself well ^ut of the red. "Taming of the Shrew," looked to hang up a new record at the Cali- fornia, disappointed. Business was big, but not extraordlnalry. Granada also disappointed In "Three Live Ghosts." The Casino, In its second week as a first run house, and with "Mississippi Gambler," slipped about two grand, but management is still optimistic. Estimates for Last Week Fox (5,000; 50-66-76-$l)—"Girl from Havana" (Pox). Personal ap- pearance ' of Laurel and Hardy' spelled good business; comedians had good act, and picture didn't disappoint; best b. o. break In weeks; $44,000. Warfield (Fox) (2.672; 60-65-90) —"Cock Eyed World" (Pox). Slipped some in fourth week, but still enough to make management uncertain as to whether'to take It off; running on regular; schedule and patronage consistent; $20,000. Granada (Publix) (2,698; 36-50- 65-$l)-T-"Three Live Ghosts". (Par). Opened light, but built latter part of Week; $20,000 fair. ~ California (Publix) (2,200; 35-60- 65- 90)—"Taiming of the Shrew" (UA). Heralded with great bally- hoo, but never reached high expec- tations: $26,700. St. Francis (Publix) (1,375; 85- 50-65-90) — 'fWelcomc Danger" (Par), First Lloyd talker moved over from the Granada for six days and did satisfactory business; $7,- 000. Orpheum (RKO) (2,270; 60-65)— "Rio Rita" (Radio). Continued steady pace In fifth week; $15,600. Embassy (Wagnon) (1,365; 50-66- 90)^"Gold Diggers of Broadway" :XWB.).^-Iri^ts..«eventh-:week-con-- tinued to surprise, but takings show run is about throufah; $8,250. Davies (Wagnon) (1,160; 35-50- 66- 90)—"Woman to Woman" (Tiff). Holdover held up better than ex- pected;. $6,000. Casino (Ackerman & Harris) (2,- 400; 40-60)—"Mississippi Gambler" (U). Second week for this house as first run; encouraging with gross al-ut two gr.and below opening week; stage show helped; $10,000. . Kansas City, Dec. 3. Midland's new policy of five acts and a picture went over big open! Ing week. If^thls Is any criterion' It's what the shoppers want. "Tam Ing of the Shrew'' was the feature,' Newman offered "The Mighty'? and fell below the preceding weev of "The Virginian." Crowds re- malnlnr over from the live stock show gave all houses heavy SatUrt day and Sunday openings. Thanks, giving was another sweet break. Looks like the change to vaudA will start some skirmishing between the Midland and J^Iainstreet, as botff will go after the vaudeville fa^!; Pantages will be forced to join ^1 Estimates for Last Week Loew's Midland—"Taming of tha Shrew" (UA) (4,000; 25^35-50-60)! Papers gave new vaudfilm polio» , complimentary notices; great ad<*^ vance publicity gave the house ca* paclty opening, and holdouts com< mon throughout the week; 534,000— ■ only . $1,000 below house record. Newman—''Mighty" (Par) (1,890: 25-35-50-60). Opened well but failed to hold up ais strong as anticipated: $16,000. ■ Mainstreet —"Rio Rita" (Radio) ' (3,200; 25-35-50-60). Second week < for picture and holdover justified at ; $22,000. * Paintaoes—"Hurricane" (Col) (2,- 200; 26-35-50); Good/or the actlon- lovlng regulars; vaude best for weeks and helped (error in trans- , mission). Royal"The Virginian" (Par) (840; 26-36-50-60). Second^week In ' town for picture but the first . this house; $8,200. "SONG OF LOVE" BIG IN BALTOAT $10,00a Baltimore, Dec. 3. (Drawing Population, 850,000) Weather: Cold Two weeks apparently plenty for^- the combo policy at the reopened Palace, and house is saving the elec- tric bills once more. Little The- atre, Baltimore's cavier cinema, had "Village of Sin" booked for current week, but the censors ruled other- wise. No definite news on rumored Radio entry into local exhibition , field. M. Mechanic,, proprietor of the New, has gone to N^w Tork to talk things over with Radio. Thanksgiving holiday boosted trade last week. -C6ntury. hit its best stride since eairly fall and topped the- list with "Sweetie." Rivoll, with "Song of Love," came through nicely. Stanley and "Tam- ing of the Shrew" finished satlsfac* torily after a lame start. Uptown Parkway was near capac- ity throughout with "Welcome Banger." Same picture, running, day and date, was only fair at the Valencia. Metropolitan Is holdln^r "Gold Diggers" for a seventh weefc. Estimates for Last Week Auditorium (Schanbergers)—"Rio Rita" (Radio) (1,572; 25-$l). Has built show possibilities of this house with the right fare; good through-, out and about. $15,000, or betterr holding over. Century (Loew)—"Sweetie" (Par) (3,200; 25-60). A natural with holi- days as aid'to matinee intake; best week since early September: close to $26,000. Stanley (Loew, Stanley-Crandall) —"Taming of Shrew" (UA) (3,600; 26-60). Report got around that th^ was highbrow, and it hurt the open-, ing days; when the news seeped through that it packed laughs, pic- ture picked up; last half very good for finish of aboTit $20,000. Rivoli (Wilson Amusement Co.)-^ "Song of Love" (Col) (2,100; 25-60). Belle Baker local favorite since vaude days, and fans turned out; very good .week at close to $10,000. Valencia (Loew-UA) — "Welcome Danger" (Par) (1,200; 25-60).' Not a smash at the Stanley, and failed to deliver anything Special at this elevator house despite holiday; just pretty good at about $3,500. Parkway (Loew-UA) — "Welcome Danger" (Par) (1,000; 15-35), A) near panic at this uptown standi^ appealed to juveniles with holiday on their hands; Thanksgiving ft Jam at about^ $1,600;^ scale lower thali^^ Valencia, but business was BTgsefr $4,700. ■ New (M. Mechanic)—"Romance of Rio Grande" .(^ox) (1,600; 25-50). Started slowly and never hit b. o« high spots; maybe $8,000. ^ Keith's (Schanbergers)—"Painted Faces" and vaude (2,600; 35-60). Eddie Leonard, topping stage >^I"> and Raynor iiChr, m. c.ihg. stage revue, were .pulling poworn: best week in a Ions while; over $13,000.