Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1928)

March 3 4 , 1 D 28 959 Cleveland CLEVIU.AND sufTcrctl from too much cake ill its film fare last week. There were so many ^ood pictures on the screen, and so many phices to go to see them, that while all of the theatres report business was consistently f^^ood, none of lliem had any broken n'cords in Imld up for inspection. "The Gauche" kept up a standard of capacity all week at the Stillman. .Xdopted by the pul)lic as one nf l''aii hanks' best pictures, and supported as such, il is bciiit; held over, of course. "The Last Command," a picture to go into the Film Hall of Fame, piled up an enviable record for itself at the Allen theatre. While it opened to averaKe business, it built up every day of I he engagement by its own moimntum. "The Show Down" not only filled Keith's Palace all last week, but had 'em standing up two and three rows deep for every performance. This picture was received willi ..pen arms l)y critics and public alike. "The Smart Set," the attraction at the State, was handed a medal for wisecracking in the form of continuous and hearty laughs fr. .m .start to finish. Keith's East 105th St. had a betterthan-average week with "The Main Event," a love tale surrounded by a prize fight setting, which. tlK.ugh light in pl.u, was well received. "Gun Gospel" brought all lovers of westerns to Reade's Hippodrome. And most everybody likes westerns. Which is another way of saying that the box office reports were eminently satisfactory, and Ken Maynard was treated to round after round of applause for his lariat throwing and riding exhibitions. The Cameo reported just average business with a second ■downtown run of "Sadie Thompson" as the feature attraction. The Park played a firstrun neighborhood engagement of "The Big City" with marked box ofBce success. ■"Fools of Passion," f.^reign made sex hygiene picture, continued to draw crowds at the Oriental, where it was in its third week. Neighborhood houses are feeling the effects of Lent, and state that business was quiet. Legitimate theatre competition was keen. Boston WITH the Automobile Show in full blast, Boston theatres have been cashing in as well as the automobile dealers, for the show has brought an unusually large number of out-of-town people to Boston for the week, resulting in heavy mid-Lenten business. Weather conditions for motor travel have been ideal with spring nearly a month ahead of former years, so that the suburbs have kept in much closer touch with Boston than in former years. The ■combination has been ideal for theatre business. The sensation of the season for Boston films has been "The Jazz Singer," which has been shown simultaneously for four weeks, and will continue two more weeks, at the Modern and Beacon theatres, a total of six weeks at two first run theatres simultaneously. The previous long run at either of these theatres has been three weeks at one and two at the other. Boston is without a road show for the first time in months, "Wings" having completed its run at the Tremont, where it has been succeeded by a season of musical comedy. "Red Hair," at the Metropolitan, grossed -well throughout the week. This theatre had a heavy patronage from the out-of-town element and every night during the week found a long line in front of the theatre waiting a chance to obtain seats. Gene Rodemich and his stage band, with a IMurray Anderson production, occupied the stage. Another theatre cashing in on the Auto Show crowds was Loew's State, which has been playing to heavy regular business all season. "The Latest from Paris" was the feature and with \'an and .Siluiuk ;is the stage attraction, provided a happy week from the bf)x ollice standpoint. "The Divine Woman," at Loew's Orpheum, was shown to capacity audiences several limes dining the week with a better than average full week credited to it. The Washington .Sirei't Olynipi.rs showing of "Flying Romeos" has resulted in one of the best weeks of the entire season. At the I'xeter, "The Patent Leather Kid" holds the screen and is a big drawing card in spite of its appearance at several other theatres in Boston recently. "The Gaucho," .a the Bowdoin Square, and "The Garden of Allah," at the Lancaster, have been doing splendid business all week. "On to Reno," at the Keiih-Albee Boston theatre, has played to one of the season's biggest weeks at this house. Other films reporting a good week's return are "The Noose" at the .Scollay Square Olympia, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," at the Fenway, and "The Patent Leather Kid" at the University. In the suburban theatres, "The Student Prince," playing simultaneously at three theatres, "The Last Command" and "Learn and Love" ,it l.uir theatres, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Sorrell and Son," "The Gaucho," and "Sporting Goods" at three theatres report good business. Tampa THE Tampa got back into first place last week with "Red Hair." The opening Sunday was "big," with the remaining three days of the run going over very good. There is no doubt about it, Clara Bow is the big draw with Tampa fans, and while the business on "Red Hair" did not come up to some of her former records, the business was very satisfactory. "Stand and Deliver" was featured the last half and it drew nicely. The house registered an excellent week. The Victory had a big Sunday with "The Desired Woman" and other Vitaphone presentations. The gross for the week was a little under that of last week, but the decrease was so slight it did not indicate any wane of the popularity of the Vitaphone entertainment. The Strand also opened the week with big business. "Sharp-Shooters" was the attraction and this picture proved a real draw for the two days it was used. "The Latest from Paris" did nicely for three days. "The Princess from Hoboken" was used the last two days in place of "Their Hour," which had been advertised, and it drew average. The Franklin, after a two weeks' splurge with big pictures a full week at 50c prices, went back to the regulation programs at their 30c price. "Straight Shooting," "The Four-Flusher" and "The Branded Sombrero" were the pictures featured and all drew just about the average business. Kansas City ATTENDANCE figures, much to the relief of virtually all managers of first run houses in Kansas City, took a jump upward last week. Weather conditions were springlike, which may or may not have had something to do with it. Exploitation and newspaper advertising remained at about the same par which it has for the last two months, but the line-up of pictures was strong. "The Enemy," at Loew's Midland, played to greatly increased crowds all week, which also can be said of "The Noose" at the Mainstreet. "Woman Wise" brought an attendance to the Pantages theatre which was better than it had been for several weeks. "Lady Raffles," at the Liberty, played to a good week's attendance, as did "Something Always Happens," at the Newman theatre. I'liiladlrjtliia Dl'KI.N'fi the p.isi week box office receipts in the riowiitown theatres were excellent, with mild spring like weather .ind some exceptionally goofl attractions as the chief attendance factors. The Stanley, with (jilda Gray in per-on in an elaborate stage presentation and also on the screen in her new picture, "The Devil Dancer," played to fine business all w < k The box, with "A Girl in Every Port" on the screen and George Jessel in person as the principal drawing card on the stage, had little cause for complaint. Adler, Weil and ilcrinan, the California Humming Birds, and the box Stuflio Choral Ensemble of 25 voices, with Lillian Buckman, soprano, helped rounrl out the bill. The Carman, with the feature play, "Woman Wise," and Neville Flceson and F'.obbie Folsom in a musical offering, 'The .Song Painter," reports normal business. "The Circus," with Charlie Chaplin at his best, in its third week, has been providing laughter at the Karlton and box office receipts prove that this is what the public wants. "Wings," at the Aldine, has passed its 175th performance and is still attracting the crowds. "Wild Geese," an exceptional picture and one that is much talked about, has proved a success at the Victoria. "Four Sons," in its second week at the Fox-Locust, is holding up well. The Arcadia, with "Doomsday," had a fair week, and the Stanton, with "Ben Hur," reports satisfactory business. The Palace, with Gloria Swanson in "Sadie Thompson," and the Capitol, with "Sorrell and Son," drew good patronage. The remarkable popularity of Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer," with Vitaphone accompaniment, was strikingly demonstrated by the fact that he was seen in that production at ten different neighborhood houses in various sections of the city. 'For this showing it was necessary to install special \'itaphone equipment at each theatre, involving considerable expense, but in nearly every instance the outlay was justified by the large audiences attracted. Salt Lake City THE Salt Lake downtown theatre business proved to be highly gratifying as a general rule this past week. Several of the houses report business to have been extraordinarily good. The Capitol theatre played to crowded houses throughout the week's run of Bebe Daniels in the comedy, "Feel My Pulse," and also the stage presentation, "Lace Idea," .a.'Fanchon and Marco production. Some specially arranged community singing arranged by Alexander Schreiner. organist here, also proved to be very popular. The Paramount Empress theatre did unusually well writh their showing of "The Legion of the Condemned," with Gary Cooper and Fay Wray. A split week was arranged at the \'ictory theatre with "Ladies Must Dress" and "The High School Hero" being presented with satisfactory results. The American theatre management reports fairly crowded houses during the week's run of Syd Chaplin and Helene Costello in "The Fortune Hunter." Alice Day in "Night Life" at the Gem brought in moderately good returns. The picture ottering at the Pantages theatre was "Baby Mine," which is said to have gone over exceptionally well, in conjunction with the six vaudeville acts of the bill. The second showing here of Marv Pickford in "My Best Girl" filled the' Rialto theatre throughout a several days' engagement. Wm. Boyd in "Dress Parade" drew many to the neighborhood Mission theatre.