Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

J line 10 , ID 27 228J a (Iccidc'dlv plcasinfr box ofti<^e report each <iay. "The Better 'Ole. " and Vitaphone in its fourth week at John Hamrick's Blue Mouse Theatre fell off during matinees, but continued to line patrons out in front of the theatre at every evening performance. It would he foMsidcrt'd a very j^ood fourtii week. The lil'tli week will end the run. At the Fifth Avenue, "Lovers?" and Fanchon and Marco's "Vanities" stage revue did very slight business. Hotli the picture ;uid tiie stapfe show wore below par, according: to audience comment. This condition has existed for the last three conseciitixc weeks. "Fighting Love," at Pantages, "Moulders of Men." at the Winter Garden, and "Madame Wants No Children," at the Embassy, were average attractions. "The Red Kimona," at the Strand Tlieatre, played to good business at 'i'jc and 50c. Neiu'libmliood l)usiness showed a slight decline in s-eneral. Milwaukee MILWAUKEE'S downtown theatres enjoyed a very satisfactory week. The usual summer-time slump in theatre activity which has been threatening for some time, has been delayed still another week by extremely cold weather. One of the main attractions in the downtown houses this week was "Monte Cristo" at the Alhambra, where newsreel pictures of Lindbergh's start for Paris also proved a popular feature. "The Tender Hour" at the Wisconsin was very well attended. The revival of the "Miracle Man" met with surprising success at the Garden. "Special Delivery" at the Strand, and "The Understanding Heart" at the Merrill, were apparently well liked by IMilwaukee audiences for they played to good houses during the entire week. Neighborhood theatres also profited by the cold weather, which drove folks indoors and to the theatres. "IT" playing at the Milwaukee, Savoy, Colonial, and Mirth found appreciative audiences. The Tower and ;\[od.ieska played "Mr. Wu" to gratifying returns. Portland, Ore. <■ » r> OOKIES," at the Broadway, rocked *»^ the house with laughter, and attracted good business throughout the week. "The Better 'Ole" is stiU doing satisfactory business in its third week at the Blue Mouse. "The Prince of Tempters" got business for the Columbia, l)ut was not liked. The local censors sheared it generously, and all of the "kick" was eliminated. "Ritzy," at the Rivoli. did better than usual and pleased. "See You in Jail" drew average crowds and was rated as a good program nttrnction. "Flesh and the Devil" second run at the Peoples drew well, though not quite as much as was expected. "Men of Purpose" played at the Music Box for nine days following the close of the Will Kinsx Musical Stock at that theatre, and got by nicely. They had the cooperation of the local War Veterans, and benefited by this assistance. Cleveland ''plIE average of all theatre reports for 1 the past week was fair. A few local houses did average business, some did poor business, but most of tlieni had a fair week. The weather was rainy and cold. "The Better 'Ole," in the second week at the Stillman, did satisfactory business, but i-; not lieiii'/ lield any loii'^'er. "Tillie the Toiler" pulled better than the present average at the Allen, together with preliminary pictures of Capt. Lindbergh's flight and an effective stage and musical presentation of the flight. "The Monkey Talks" was accorded favorable criticism and conse(inently (lid well at the I'.'ilace for this timr of the year. It was supported by a consistently good vaudeville program. "Frisco Sally Levy" coupled with Charles Chaplin's "Shoulder Arms" did well enough at the Cameo to warrant being held over another week. "Women Love Diamonds" was just fair from the State theatre t)ox ofTice angle. "Matinee Ladies," the attraction at the Park, was another "fair" business getter. "Upstream" catalogued as "unusually good entertainment" succeeded in drawing pretty well at IJeade's Tlipjiodrome the first half of the week, but closed its week's engagement at Keith's East lOSth St. with just a fair average. "Tarzan and the Golden Lion, ' ' the attraction at the Hippodrome the last half of the week, was about a June average. "Husband Hunters," good light entertainment, coupled with Vitaphone. s[>ocialty numl)ers, jiulled through the week with fair honors. Neighborhood houses report business below the standard for this time last year. Depressed business conditions generally, unemplojinent and a feeling of business unrest are given as causes for this state. Netv Orleans '■ I ■' WO big pictures were given their Xew ^ Orleans premiere during the past week and both lived up to expectations as box oflficc successes. At the $2,.500,000 Sacnger theatre, "Mr. Wu, " starring Lon Chaney and Renee Adoree, coupled with an elaborate New York Publix Stage Show, "Chinese Jade," did a remarkable business. At Loew's State "The Demi-Bride" also did a splendid business. On the stage were five acts of vaudeville, but this picture, according to ^Manager Rodney D. Toups, was enough to pack them in. As a matter of fact, the New Orleans theatres are enjoying one of the best weeks in months. The flood scare has disappeared and NeAv Orleans' population is not sticking close to home any longer. "Easy Pickings," with Anna Q. Xilsson. Kenneth Harlan and Billy Bevan, played to good houses all week at the Strand. "Women Love Diamonds," did not come up to expectations with playgoers. Although a ]>ictiire featuring gorgeous gowns, it did not even make a hit with the women folk and as a result the Liberty's business was not up to standard. The Globe did a fine business with "Ladies at Play," with Doris Kenyon and Lloyd Ilughe-^. "The Magic Garden," with Margaret Morris, was the Trianon attraction and the management reported satisfactory business. Although featured in conjunction with a musical comedy show featuring two score pretty girls, Rin-Tin-Tin in "The Hills of Kentucky" did a fine business at Saenger's Crescent tlieatre. At the Orpheum Marie Prcvost in "The Night Bride," did a splendid week's run. The stagr bill was not up to the slumlurd • ind the picture sent imtrons home bit,'bly pleasefl. The Lyceum featured 'The Kid Brother," with Harold Lloyd. Although the pictures had its premiere sometime ago at the Saengcr theatre, crowds flocked to see the bespectacled comedian in tlii< rib lickbr. The Tudor played "London," with Dorothy Gish, to full houses. The neighborhood theatre managers report that their business has increa.sed greatly during the past week. These included the managers of the Granada, Capitol, I'rytania, Lafayette, Tivoli, Mecca, N'alenlino, (laiety. Casino, Fine Arts, Famous, Carrollton, Dreamland, Fern and Uivoli. Kansas City A WEEK of average attendance was experienced by practically all first-run bouses of Kansas City this week, despite good weather and a fairly strong lineup of pictures. At the Royal, "Resurrection," which was held over from last week, did a fair business, but not (|uite up to expectations. At the Newman, Gloria Swanson in "The Love of Sunya" did perhaps the best business of any picture for the week, but attendance was below other pictures of the same type. "Heaven on Earth" at the Libery remained within the bounds of an "average" week, which also can be said of "The Little Adventuress" at the (Wobe. "The Bachelor's Baby" at the Pantages was slightly better than normal in attendance, the afternoon business coming to the rescue, due to feminine appeal. Albany and Troy ALMOST constant rainfall coupled with chilly weather brought unusually heavy business to the motion picture theatres of Albany and Troy during the past week. After one or two days of rainfall, people apparently began to seek amusement outside of their own homes, and made their way to the theatres. At the Leland, "The Scarlet Letter," midwinter business was reported with matinees also running big. At the Clinton Square theatre, where "Laddies" was holding forth, there was some slump due to the fact that the street on which the theatre is located, is in a torn up condition and will be for some time to come. The theatres in Albany all featured news reels showing Lindbergh's take-off and were wise enough to heavilj' advertise the feature in the newspapers. Applause invariably greeted the picture on every occasion. At the Mark Ritz, "The Notorious Lady" proved good entertainment and ran to satisfactory business throughout the w(>ek. The Mark Strand used "The Telephone Girl" together with Vitaphone presentations and while the seven o'clock show was not exceptionally big, the attendance results for the week were satisfactory. In Troy, "Evening Clothes" ran well for the first four days at the Troy theatre and with the last three days given over the "The Demi-Bride." A heavy rainstorm on Sunday night seriously crippled the best day of the week for the theatre. At the Lincoln, in Troy, the "Flaming Forest" did fairly well for the first tour (lays with "Tracked by the Police" doing about the same for the last three days.