Motion Picture Daily (Jun-Aug 1931)

Tuesday, June 30, 1931 MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Long Legs" Is Lead-Off In Montreal Montreal — There was a wide variety of pictures — American, British and French — and the film interests, at least, took considerable interest in the outcome. Tom Cleary of the Princess opened his "British Season" with "Tell England" and the result was a gross of $8,500, which was fair, considering the weather and the fact that all Montreal celebrated le Fete de St. Jean Baptiste with gorgeous parades, picnics and fireworks. The French attraction was "Le Million," which was road-showed at His Majesty's with a resulting $9,000 at $1.50 top, also not so bad. But the lead-oiif of the week was "Daddy Long Legs," which scored $12,500 at the Palace, fairly close to par. Loew's enjoyed steady patronage with $11,000 on "The Lightning Flyer" and five vaudeville acts. On top of everything, Howard Conover sprang a revival of "Dangerous Hours," starring Clara Bow, at the Imperial to cash in on the publicity of Clara's retirement. Along with "Air Police," the Bow picture was responsible for $4,200, which was better than recent weeks. Estimated takings for the week ending June 26: "UP POPS THE DEVIL" (Para.) and "SKIPPY" (Para.) CAPITOI^(2,547), 25c-35c-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $10,500. .(Average, $12,500.) "LE MILLION" (French) HIS MAJESTY'S— (1,700), 50c-7S-$l-$l-50, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average for film road shows, $13,000.) "DANGEROUS HOURS" (Para.) and "AIR POLICE" (Sono-Art) IMPERIAL— (1,914), 15c-2Sc-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $'S,100.) "THE LIGHTNING FLYER" (Col.) LOEW'S— (3,115), 15c-40c-S0c-65c-7Sc, 7 days. Five vaudeville acts. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $13,000.) "DADDY LONG LEGS" (Fox) PALACE— (2,600), 25c-4Oc-60c-75c-99c, 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $14,000.) "TELL ELNGLAND" (British) PRINCESS — (2,272), 25c-35c-4Oc-50c-60c65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $13,000.) "EAST LYNNE" (Fox) and "CAN LOVE DECIDE?" STRAMD— (750), 15c-25c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $4,000.) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW Mike Simmons Will Need First Aid Soon Mike Simmons, author of "First Aid," a glorification of the ambulance surgeon — at home, not in the wars — has received word that his brain child has been handled with kid gloves all over the Sono Art-World Wide lot, and is, in fact, in the cutting room. Soon, the first print will be en route to the home office, where Mike will have the double job of perhaps taking bows for the authorship of this fifth Thrill-0-Drama on the company's schedule, and blowing bugles for it as the official minnesinger of .Sono Art's releases. Mike can haye no out if the picture doesn't go over, unless the author complains to the press agent that the producers have mutilated his original story ; or the press agent wheezes to the author that the latter left out all opportunities for decent publicizing. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Garyn Sails London — Pat Garyn of National Screen Service sailed for New York yesterday. 'Smart Money' In Smart Coin In Milwaukee Milwaukee— Several thousand delegates attending the convention of the National Association of Master Plumbers here this week helped to bolster up the box-office a bit for what would otherwise have been a pretty weak week. With the Alhambra dark for installation of its refrigerating plant, and the Davidson, local legit house which has been featuring pictures during the past month, closed until September, the remainder of the first runs had things pretty much their own way. "Smart Money" did a nice business at the Warner for $12,000, while "Women of All Nations" was good for $8,000 at Fox's Strand. "The Jazz Cinderella" was pulled at the end of four days at the Garden to make wav for "Three Girls Lost." Estimated takings for the week ending June 26 ; "THE JAZZ CINDERELLA" (Chesterfield) (;AKDEN-(I.150). 25c-35c-50c-60c. 4 days. Gross: $2,800. (Average for seven davs, $10,000.) "THREE WHO LOVED" (Radio) P.\LACE— (2,587). 2Sc-35c-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $9,800.) "LOVER COME BACK" (Col.) RIVERSIDE— (2.180), 25c-35c-50c-60c. 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $13,000.) "WOMEN OF ALL NATIONS" (Fox) STRAND — (1.406), 25c-35c-50c-6Oc. 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,500.) "SMART MONEY" (Warners) WARNER— (2.500). 25c 3.5c -.SOc60c. 7 days. Ooss: $12,000. "ALWAYS GOODBYE" (Fox) WISCONSIN — (3,275), 2.5c-35c-50c-65c. 7 days. Fanchon & Marco Idea. Gross: $12.,500. (Average, $13,000.) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Norma Boosts Gross $2,000 In Des Moines Des Moines — "A Free Soul" took top honors in this city last week, the Shearer vehicle grossing $9,000, which is two grand above par. Business generally was only fair, a hot wave keeping down the grosses. Estimated takings for the week 8nding June 27 : "A FREE SOUL" (M-G-M) DES MOINES— (1,600), 7 days, 2.5c-3.5c60c. Gross: $9,000. (Average. |17,000.1 "MISBEHAVING LADIES" (F. N. ) PARAMOUNT— (1,700), 3 days, 25c-35c60c. Vaude. Gross: $5,000. (Average for week, $12,000.) "I TAKE THIS WOMAN" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (1,700), 4 days, 25c-35c60c. Vaude. Gross: $6,000. (Average for week, $12,000.) "DRUMS OF JEOPARDY" (Tiff.) STRAND— (1,100), 4 days. 20c-.TOc. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $1,700.) "GOOD BAD GIRL" (Col.) STRAND— (1,100). 3 days, 20c-30c. Gross: $700. CAverage, $700.) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Theatre Aids Poor Oklahoma City — Appro.ximately $4,000 was added to the Oklahoma City milk and ice fund at a special preview held at the Criterion after the regular show Saturday night. A feature of the program was the showing of "Confessions" of a Co-ed," furnished by Pat McGee, head of Oklahoma City Ptrblix houses. H E THEATRE Construction — Equipment — Decoration — Operation — Management Film Machine Inspects; Cuts Risk Is Claim Claiming its machine reduces fire hazards caused by poor and shabby films, cleans dirt and oil in keeping prints in better physical condition and it can handle twice as many reels per day over the old method. Film Inspection Machine Co., is marketing a new equipment which, it is said, will reduce overhead and risks. Imperfections in films heretofore unnoticed by the method of running prints through the fingers are unlikely with the advanced method of inspection, it is claimed. Tears and_ poorly made splices in films are easily discovered, the manufacturer says. The machine will clean oil and dirt off the surface simultaneously with inspecting it and this gives better wear, the company states. With this apparatus one girl can do from 90 to 110 reels per day of thoroughly reconditioned film, it is stated. The usual speed these machines work is five minutes to a 1,000 foot reel. The combination of inspecting and cleaning reduces the overhead one half. By keeping films in excellent condition and thus reducing the chance of breaking in the projector and catching fire, the company states that hazards are greatly reduced. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Contracts Awarded on Boston Paramount Boston — Contract for the new Paramount Theatre has been let to the George B. Macomber Co. of Boston. Total cost is expected to exceed $2,000,00. The new theatre will occupy the site of the old Adams House, between Washington and Mason streets, alongside the RKO Keith Memorial Theatre. The Adams House won prominence as the home of Calvin Coolidge while he served in the Massachusetts legislature and later during his term as governor of Massachusetts before he entered the White House. Contract was awarded by the A. H. Realty Co., of which Ralph C. Carpenter is treasurer. The realty company has executed a 25-year lease to Publix. The theatre will seat 1,900 "BUY RIGHT—BUT BUY NOW" "Party Rooms'* in New Elwha Theatre Portland — The Elwha, built at Port Angeles, Wash., by Julius Kirshberg and leased to the Elwha Theatre Corp., composed of Arnold Levy, manager of the house ; Henrv Davidson, Frank Christman and B. Fey, opened with "Cracked Nuts" as the feature. Among the innovations in this modern house are two "party rooms" for the convenience of those who wish to entertain guests. New RCA Equipment New amplifier for special equipment developed for theatres up to SOO seats capacity Sound head for RCA Photophone "Special Size" reproducer RCA Suspends Service Fee on Dark Theatres J. H. Tingle, treasurer of RCA Photophone, has sent letters to all exhibitors using the company's reproducer that, provided theatres are closed 30 days or more, there will be no service charge during the period of darkness. The company has also standardized service charges, which provide considerable reductions, it is said. Tingle explains : "We are endeavoring to lighten the financial burdens of exhibitors who find it necessary to close their theatres. Many theatres close during the summer months and we have modified our previous policy by suspending service charges during the period when they are dark. Upon receipt of two weeks' written notice of intention to close, we shall send engineers to the theatre to service the equipment for the closed period and upon like notice prior to re-opening will place the burdens under which many exhibitors are struggling at this time and take this method of bringing them as much relief as is possible." "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Distributes Visivox St. Louls — The Sprague Visivox. home talker apparatus, is now being distributed here by the Electric Lamp and Supply Co., 1113 Pine street. The Visivox projects 16 millimeter films and is also adapted to amateur films. It plays standard phonograph records.