Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

April 2 1, 19 28 1271 "13 Washington Square," with Alice Joyce, was the Orpheum feature film, but the N. V. A. Week vaudeville bill pulled business to the University Place Theatre. J. ihu Gilbert, in "St. Elmo," was the Crescent feature, and the week's business was above average. A musical tabloid show was presented in conjunction with the picture. Local film fans flock wherever Gilbert is show n. The Liberty showed "Love Me and the World Is Mina," and the box-office cash register clicked more times than it had done at any time in several weeks. William Russell continues to prove a popular actor in New Orleans, judging by the way customers flocked to the Palace Theatre, to see "Woman Wise." A musical comedy show is presented in addition to the him, but, due to the fact that the past week's show was one which had been presented a few weeks previous, credit for the week's business is credited to the Russell vehicle. Pittsburgh THE Penn, with William Haines on the screen in "The Smart Set," and cm the stage "Sun Shades,' a Frank Cambria unit, did a very healthy business, with the Haines picture keeping the audience in very good spirits throughout the entire performance. The feature picture at the Aldine was "Baby Mine," with Karl Dane and George K. Arthur, which was just fair. Jas. J. Corbett and Bobby Barry headlined the vaudeville show, and drew a very nice attendance. The Nixon opened this week with "Wings," a picture that has been very much exploited, and they had no trouble selling this at tract i< in. Stanley Theatre, with Clara Bow in "Red Hair," did about the same average as the Penn. Incidentally this is the first week for stage units at the Stanley. There is room for lots of improvement in this unit. "Sky Blue" is the name of it. The second week for Harold Lloyd in "Speedy" at the Grand did not play up to expectations. Pittsburgh is not so hot for held-over attractions, excepting very big productions such as "The Big Parade," etc. For some reason or other, with the exception of the Penn and Stanley, things were not what they should have been, considering the fact that this was the first week after Lent. Buffalo ALL previous box-office records were shattered decisively last week at Shea's Buffalo by "Speedy," Harold Lloyd's newest money-maker. With the picture ably exploited, crowds jammed the theatre from the moment the first show started on the opening day of the week, until the new bill was ushered in seven days later. With two more days of the weak yet to go, "Speedy" already had topped the previous high box-office mark, established by "The Big Parade." Other previous box-office records, set at various times by Paul Whiteman and his orchestra, Sousa and his band, and Gertrude Ederle, melted into virtual insignificance alongside "Speedy." The movie-going public passed through the doors of the Buffalo with a consistent regularity that delights the heart of showmen. "Araby." the stage presentation, also "clicked," and the bill was universally pronounced one of the best ever brought to the Buffalo. Not to be outdone, Shea's Hippodrome also established a new box-office record, due largely to the presence of the Harry Carroll revue. "Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath" was the picture. Carroll's revue set the tow n by the ears, and the advertising given him by word-of-mouth from Sunday's patrons kept the crowds coming in all week long. Excellent receipts came the way of the Great Lakes, where the picture was "A Girl in Every Port," and the stage bill, headlined by Dorothy Ray in a syncopated revue. "The Heart of a Follies Girl," and a vaudeville program headed by " The Four Bradnas," who perform real stunts with straw hats, drew good crowds to the Lafayette. Marion Davies in "The Patsy," and a stage bill headed by Norton Brower in "Bughouse Fables," were the attractions at Loew's State, and the customers flocked to the house in pleasing numbers throughout most of the week. Coming after the Lent season, the week was one of the most profitable for Buffalo houses in recent months, despite some unfavorable weather and the presence of George Arliss and "Hit the Deck" at the legitimate theatres. Tarn pa EASTER SUNDAY started the week off in great shape. The weather was ideal, and, after the Holy Week vacation, all the fans came back and gave the theatres record attendance. "Speedy" was the feature of the first half at the Tampa, and Lloyd showed his speed by crowding the record established by Clara Bow. Business was big tor the full four days of the run. "The Showdown" was featured the last half, and it did very well. "Tenderloin" and four special Vitaphone presentations, held over for a second week at the Victory, continued to draw very good business. Sunday was big and the rest of the week was very good. The Strand had an immense business on Sunday with "South Sea Love," and Monday went over very good. "Finders Keepers," used the following three days, did not seem to click. News Reel Resume The flight of the Bremen, from Ireland to an island not far from the coast of Labrador, is an achievement which receives due recognition from the editors and cameramen of our several newsreels. There are other items to attract more than passing notice — the opening of the baseball season; the unveiling of Lee Stone Mountain memorial and stirring shots of the American and British Meets on the high seas — but these stories are a bit overshadowed by the one relating to the latest conquerors of the At lantic. Paramount News No. 7.) first presented shots of the Bremen in Dublin and then went on to show the activities of the Germans with their gliders. Continuing the reel were views of Sub. S-4, in which 40 lives were lost; the Stone mountain unveiling; firemen review in Tokio; an annual novelty; coast guard cutter off on an iceberg hunt ; a daredevil and his risking of life. Xo. 7(i: Airplane carrier Lexington in drydock; sister of the builder of the Bremen, fire-ladders tested in Germany; Statue of President Andrew Jackson unveiled; reindeer training in Finland; American purchaser of "Alice in Wonderland"; a pelican pet; military parade before King Albert of Belgium; taking passengers off stranded vessel; Al Smith vacationing in Southland; President Coolidge considers summer white house otters; North Sea lighthouse 33 miles from land. Kinograms No. 5387 began with various views of baseball activities; the crowds awaiting the Bremen at Mitehel Field; Tokio crowds honoring hero dead. Novelty was had in an intimate scene of a 74-year old llagpole climber and .lack Dcmpscy. The British grand fleet in the North Sea; Charlie Paddock sprinting and Lindbergh's mother in Toronto were additional highlights. In n3S8 were scenes of German ^wordsmen training for the Olympics; destroyers going into Brooklyn Navy Yard; ><a going liner grounded in canal; Helen Wills; Swedish explorer on expedition into the Gobi Desert; a Coney Island in the heart of Paris; sister of the designer of the Bremen hopping off for Montreal; the relief pilot who flew to the crew of the Bremen. M-G-M News Vol. 1, No. 7(J: The Bremen and its crew in Dublin; unsuccessful tryout of vertical flying plane, the ceremonies at Stone Mountain; a circus hippopotamus; Soviet army in parade; newest styles from Paris; destroyers battle rough ocean gale. No. 71 showed China's starving liordes; California youngsters learning the game of golf; scenes attendant to the unveiling of the Jackson statue in Washington; -teamer driven ashore in Cape Cod Canal; Bill Tilden and fellow tennis stars; the Lexington undergoing a spring cleaning; Al Smith; monkey antics; the trans-Atlantic fliers. No. 33 of Paths News dealt with a review of U. S. troops at Manila; American and Mexicans engaged in tennis fray; Queen Marie of Rouinania leaving for Mediterranean vacation; Japanese fishermen haul their boat through Honolulu streets; the Lee memorial at Stone mountain; the S-4 in which tragic naval disaster occurred; the Prince of Wales thrown in race; Heeny, who will mix with Tunney; the British licet in maneuvers. No. 34 reviewed the rescue of passengers from grounded vessel; Helen Wills; President Jackson's statue; carnival in Philippines; the largest cruiser which Fncle Sam is building; trick billiard shots; the Bremen crew and views of Greenley Island. International News Vol. 10, No. 30: 'Frisco boy scouts in parade; submarine S-4 repaired; New Haven inaugurates automatic control of traffic; the Bremen and crew in test flight; Chinese juveniles in a minstrel show entertainment; a bunny farm; England's fleet in battle practice. No. 31 : The Bremen, its crew, relief pilot, and sister of the builder, who flew from Curtiss Field to meet them; a pageant in old Seville; a pet. pelican; Governor Smith visiting Asheville; Chinese praying to Confucius for crops; passengers removed from stranded steamer; the President attending the Jackson eereinonies; the Portuguese method of bull fighting. No. 08, Vol. !> of Fox N. 'ws presented news of the big league baseball teams; the Coolidge dam nearing completion in Arizona; sea gulls Hocking from the Irish Sea; German war flags massed in old castle; Death Valley pilgrimage honorim; desert's victims; moslem festival at Jerusalem; General Lee memorial unveiled; the U. S. fleet on the Pacific and the British fleet leaving Portland. In No. 59 were additional shots of the relief plane flying to meet the Bremen crew; camera interview with F. D. Stair, publisher of the Detroit Free Press; sound liner ashore; Chinese dogs in exhibit; Al Smith in Asheville; the Lexington in 'Frisco dry dock; trick cycle rider in Germany; ice jam in the Niagara Gorge; F. S. defeating Mexico in tennis matches; boat race from Albany to New York; M. P. T. O. ball in Buffalo; citizens go aloft in the Los Angeles, passenger air line opened on the Pacific Coast.