Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1927)

September 30 , 19 27 Minneapolis BUSINESS quieted down a bit in MinneaI>olis after State Fair Week, and some rather unseasonable weather which broke a 19 year heat record for September helped to keep the crowds from the theatres. The beaches, of which Minneapolis has a ^eat abundance, seemed to oft'er greater solace to the perspiring city than did the theatres, although the houses that were artificially cooled did not suffer a great deal. Clara Bow, for example, did a healthy business at the State in "Hula." A stage attraction titled "Hawaiian Nights" boasted 14 entertainers, and helped out this film considerably. "Resurrection," which held over for a second week at the Strand, showed to fair crowds, and Douglas McLean in "Soft Cushions" at the Lyric did the same. The Hennepin-Orpheum gave Rod La Rocque's "Fighting Eagle" the benefit of some good advertising, and this picture undoubtedly helped business at that house. The neighborhood houses were somewhat affected by the hot weather. Some of the pictures shown at the Loring, Lagoon, Rialto and Lyndale included "Man Power," "Twelve Miles Out, ' ' "Painting the Town" and "Rolled Stockings." The Metropolitan, Minneapolis' only legitimate house which features road shows, opened this week with Mitzi in "The Madcap," and provided the movies with some competition. The Minneapolis baseball team, winding up its last home stand in the American association, also proved something of a counter attraction. Milwaukee Rummer staged a comeback this week, *^ sending the thenmometer up near the hundred mark and theatre managers' hopes for a big week to zero. The weather was entirely to blame for the stage was all set with strong attractions at the theatres and business should have been booming. This was Anniversary Week at the Alhambra theatre, and Reginald Denny in "Out All Night" headed a fine bill. Business was just fair. The Garden is closing its second week of "When a Man Loves" and Vitaphone, and Ls exploiting a third week. Business at the Garden was good. The Wisconsin offered Lon Chaney in "Mockery," and here too, business was just fair. "We're AU Gamblers" was the attraction at the Strand. "What Price Glory" put up a good fight against the torrid wave and succeeded in attracting a fair share of patronage. Neighborhood theatres also reported business below what was expected and managers here too attribute the falling off of patronage to the intense heat. The Oriental featured "Prince of Headwaiters" and drew fairly good houses. The Uptown showed ' ' Barbed Wire ' ' to very good crowds. ' ' The Stolen Bride" playing at both the Modjeska and Tower brought in moderately good business. The Milwaukee found John Gilbert drew the usual good patronage to see "Twelve Miles Out." Atlanta ' /^ REATER movie season opened last ^^ week with a splendid array of showings in Atlanta theatres, bringing box-ofSce results worthy of furnishing encouragement to producers and bespeaking a keen appreciation of theatre-goers for good pictures. Topping the list, "What Price Glory" wrote a new chapter in the box-ofiice receipts at the Erlanger, breaking a brilliant record previously established by "The Big Parade" in its first week, both playing to road show prices. Laura LaPlante in "The Cat and the Canary" brought an outstanding crowd to the Capitol all week. Gene Austin, appearing in person at Keith's Georgia smashed all box-office records of that theatre. Thomas Meighan played on the screen in "We're AU Gamblers. ' ' The Howard drew average attendance with Bebe Daniels in "Swim, Girl, Swim," opening the new season with a one minute after twelve performance Monday morning. "Annie Laurie," featuring Lillian Gish at Loew's Grand won approval of local critics as ranking topmiost in the career of this star. Miss Gish gained stronger admirers in her work as Annie Laurie, drawing a good week's business. "Camille" and Norma Talmadge played at the Metropolitan to full matinees and average evening performances. The Rialto enjoyed an increased week over the previous first split-week bill showing Richard Dix in "Quicksands" the first pai-t and "The Covered Wagon," the latter. "Battling Dangers," "Flying Mail," and "Long Loop on the Pecos" divided honors about equally for a good week at the Tudor. The New Alamo showed two first run pictui-es "The Whispering Sage" and "Rich Men's Sons" with two second run features. Baltimore \ LL first run moving picture theatres in ■^* Baltimore started off well Monday, September 12, as it was a legal holiday. Defenders' Day in Maryland. "The Cat and the Canary" proved one of the biggest drawing cards that the New Theatre has had for some time and business there throughout the week was very big. Patronage gi-ew as the week waned. There was a stage act on the same bill. For its third week at Loew's Valencia "The Big Parade" still continued to pull them in strong and business done for the entire six days was heavy. While the patronage at Loew's Century was tremendous for Buster Keaton's latest starring vehicle "College," Harry Langdon, the other prominent comedian, in "Three's a Crowd" at the RivoU with the Biltmore Boys on the same program, did not go over so well and business at the latter theatre throughout the week declined. "The Desired Woman," starring Irene Rich with Vitaphone presentations also offered, proved an excellent drawing card at Warnei's' Metropolitan with a steady business of a high average during the week. "Rich Men's Sons," with Shirley Mason and Ralph Graves, on a bill with five acts of vaudeville, went over fine with the audience at Keith's Hippodrome and each day brought very good attendance. At Whitehurst's Garden Theatre, "Back to God's Country," and five acts of vaudeville, only proved a fair drawing card. 995 lllllllllllllllllllllllll SAMUEL ZIERLER presents Marguerite DE LA MOTTE and DONALD KEITH Tale of a Broadway madcap who thought a small town would be hell and found it heaven PICTURES COFy>OR^TION SAMUEL ZlERl£f<f^fsit&7i/ NEW • V O fV^ K.