Motion Picture Daily (Jun-Aug 1931)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, August 5, 1931 "Politics" Is DesMoinesAce With $11,000 Total $26^00 for 3 Theatres Des Moines — Everyone is seeking a good laugh, and when they heard that there was one at the Des Moines they flocked there. From one to another the word was passed and the B. O. mounted steadily during the week. "Politics," with Dressier and Moran rang the bell with a record breaking business of §11,000 for the week. This was in the midst of very hot weather. "Broadminded," at the Paramount for the first three days, was just above average with $6,000, while the last half, with "Transgression," grossed Sl.OOO above the usual amount. The Paramount County Fair on the stage and Rin Tin Tin in person helped to swell the coflfers during the "Transgression" booking. "Son of India," with $2,400, was 25 per cent above average. "Ex-Bad Boy," with $900 for the last three days at the Strand was checked as "good." Estimated takings for the week ending August 1 and year-round averages: "POLITICS" (M-G-M) DES MOINES— (1,600), 25c-35c-60c , 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $7,000.) "BROADMINDED" (F. N.) PARAMOUNT— (1,700), 3 days. 25c-35c60c. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500.) "TRANSGRESSION" (Radio) PARAMOUNT— (1,700), 4 days, 2Sc-35c60c. Gross: 556,500. (Average. $5,500.) "SON OF INDIA" (M-G-M) STRAND— (1,100). 4 days, 20c-35c. Gross: $2,400. (Average. $1,700.) "EX-BAD BOY" (Univ.) STRAND— (1.100). 3 days, 20c-35c. Gross: $900. (Average, $700.) "BUY RICHT^BUT BUY NOW" 'Gertie' Rakes In Gold Dust In Ind. City Total $45^00 for 5 Theatres Indianapolis — TJie Lyric, showing "Gold Dust Gertie," and local vaudeville favorites with radio reputations, took in the exceptional figure of $12,OQO, which is five grand above average. That is real business for the summer. "The Girl Habit" went $3,500 above par at the Circle and "Women Love Once" also was up at the Indiana. Estimated takings for the week ending July 31 and year-round averages: "NIGHT NURSE" (Warners) APOLLO— (1,100), 25c to 50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,700. (Average. $4,00rj.) "THE GIRL HABIT" (Para.) CIRCLE— (2,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $«,500. (Average, $5,0(X).) "WOMEN LOVE ONCE" (Para.) INDIANA— (3,300), 25c-65c, 7 days. Publix unit. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $13.fX)0.) "GOLD DUST GERTIE" (Warners) LYRIC— (2,000), 25c-50c. 7 days. RKO vaudeville. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $7,000.) "THE GREAT LOVER" (M-G-M) PALACE— (2,800), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $8,500.) Haw ! Ottaw.4 — "Influence" of the American picture on Canadians has furnished fodder tor many a political speech and natives of the Dominion have shuddered at this menace. Denunciations of this nature reached a climax when the government declared that a "movie combine" existed above the border, and American distributors were assailed in the probe report. Last week "The Speckled Band," a British production starring Denton Massey, a Canadian, played the Imperial. It took in $2,300. The house average is $3,000. There is a suspicion here that the politicians in the Capital who have been squawking for British pictures failed to attend the Imperial. 'Transatlantic' "Polities'' and And 'Polities' Big on B'way Total $293,924 for 11 Theatres It looks something like old times these days around the Roxy and the Capitol, where "Transatlantic" and "Politics" are the attractions. The former is giving the Roxy a sensational comeback after its brodie of last week on revival of "Sunny Side Up," which dipped to $39,800. It was jerked on its sixth day to make way for "Transatlantic." Early morning lines at the Capitol are attesting to the popularity of Polly Moran and Loui.se Dresser in "Politics." Warners switched bookings at the \yinter Garden to cash in on the publicity of New York's gangster outrages, spotting in "The Star Witness" Monday ^ night, and holding ofif "Bought" to reopen the Hollywood August 14. After a big newspaper campaign, the picture opened with a bang. Estimated takings for the week ending July 30 and year round weekly averages : "A FREE SOUL" (M-G-M) ASTOR-(1.120), 50c-$2, 8th week, 7 days. Gross: $12,100. "SON OF INDIA" (M-G-M) CAPITO 1^(4.700), 3.';c-$'1.50, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $67,754. EMBASSY (All Newsreel) KMBASSY-(598), 2Sc, 7 days. Gross: $7,717. "THE COMMON LAW" (RKO Pathe) MAVFAIR— (2..^00), 40c-$l. 2nd week 7 davs. Gross: $27,311. "THE MAGNIFICENT LIE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3.700). 40c-$l. 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $63,700. "MANSLAUGHTER" (Para.) and "THE MIGHTY" (Para.) RI ALTO(1,904). 7 davs. Gross: $15,400 "SMILING LIEUTENANT" (Para.) RIVOLI— (2,iaV). 40c-$l, 2nd week. 7 days. Gross: .^?4.100. "SUNNY SIDE UP" (Fox) (Return Engagement) ROXY -(6.200). .S0c-$1.50, 6 days. Stage show. Gross: $39,800. "NIGHT NURSE" (Warners) STRAND-(3.000). 35c-$l, 2nd week, 7 'lavs. Gross: $21,432. "THE FATAL HOUR" (First Division) WARNERS— (1.490), .35c-7,5c. 3rd week. 7 days. Gross: $3,450. "SMART MONEY" (Warners) WINTER GARDEN-(1.493), 6th week 9 days. Gross: $21,160, "BUY RIGHT BUT BUY NOW" Haines City Advertises Haines City, Fla.— The Chamber of Commerce and Florida Military Institute are backing a motion picture which is being made here, which will show scenes and activities of this section, and which it is proposed to send out for exhibition in central states. ^Cfomnion Law' Friseo Highs Total $164,100 for 9 Theatres San Francisco — Heat and depression mean nothing to the public when it wants to see a picture. Here is the story : "Politics," the Marie Dressier and Polly Moran vehicle, took in $50,000 at the Fox, beating average by $16,000. "The Common Law" boosted the Orpheum's normal take of $12,000 to $19,000, or an overage of $7,000. "Women of All Nations," "Arizona" and "The Girl Habit" also climbed up into the black figures. Estimated takings for the week ending July 29 and year-round grosses : "WOMEN OF ALL NATIONS" (Fox) EL CAPITAN— (3,100), 2Sc-40c-60c. 7 days. Jay Brewer band, stage revue. Gross: $13,500. (Average. $1J,000.) "POLITICS" (M-G-M) FOX— (4,600), 35c-60c, 7 days. F. & M. stage show, Walt Roesner concert. Gross: $50,000. (Average. $34,000.) "ARIZONA" (Col.) GOLDEN GATE^(2,800), 35c-40c-50c-65c. 7 days. RKO vaudeville. Gross: $15,350, (Average. $15,000.) "COMMON LAW" (RKO-Pathe) ORPHEUM— (3.000). 25c-35c-50c. 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average. $12,000.) "THE DEVIL TO PAY" (U. A.) UNITED ARTLSTS— (1,200). 25c-40c-60c, 7 days, second week. Gross: $10,000, (Averace, $11,000.) "THE GIRL HABIT" (Para.) WARFIELD-(2.700), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Rube Wolf band, stage varieties. Gross: $22,000. (Average. $21,000.) Week ending July 30: "NIGHT ANGEL" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2.740), 25c-35c-50c. 7 days. Captain Dobbsie. Hapovtime Crew. Jess Stafford's band, (iross: $18,000. (Average, $19,000,) "NIGHT NURSE" (Warners) WARNER BROS— (1„^85). second week. 7 days. Gross: $8,250. (Average. $10,500.) Week endinp Auo. 1: "PRIVATE SECRETARY" (German film) COLUMBIA— (1.700). 35c-50c-75c. Gross: W.OOO. "BUY RIGHT BUT BUY NOW" Ban Walkathons Toronto — After banning carnivals this year, the City of Toronto has (jflicially put its foot down on walkathons when promoters broached the subject to civic officials. The walking festivals have proved popular in only one city of Canada, this being Vancouver, B. C, where marriages and other stunts were mixed in with the travelogue. The walkathon at Montreal was a flop ; the one at Hamilton was called ofif after a few days ; promoters got the cold shoulder at Ottawa and Winnipeg did not take to it. "Seeret Call" High Grosser In Baltimore Total $60,400 for 7 Theatres Baltimore — Refrigerated Loew's Century was the only first run house doing very good during this week. There "The Secret Call" and the stage unit "Revue Moderne," proved a good draw with receipts $1,000 above average, even though the first four days of the week were the worst ever experienced here for continued heat and humidity. "Honeymoon Lane" pulled Keith's up to $6,400, about $900 above normal, but Ruth Chatterton died gradually as the week waned in "The Magnificent Lie" at Loew's Stanley, the receipts barely reaching the average of $17,500. Estimated takings for the week ending July 30 and year-around averages : "HONEYMOON LANE" (Para.) KEITH'S— (2,500), 25c-50c, 6 days, plus a Sunday midnight performance. Gross: $6,400. (Average, $5,500.) Week ending Aug. 1: "THE SECRET CALL" (Para.) LOEW'S CENTURY— (3,076), 25c-60c, 6 days. Loew-Capitol stage unit, "Revue Moderne," orchestra. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $19,000.) "CONFESSIONS OF A CO-ED" (Para.) (Sltown uptown after one week at Loew's Centura down town) LOEW'S PARKWAY— (987), 15c-35c, 6 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,500.) "THE MAGNIFICENT LIE" (Para.) LOEW'S STANLEY— (3,522), 25c-60c, 6 days. Gross: $17,500. Average, $17,500.) "CONFESSIONS OF A CO-ED" (Para.) (Shoivn downtown after one week at the Loew's Century, directly under tliis theatre. dn7vntoivn) LOEW'S VALENCTA-(1.487), 25c-35c, 6 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average. $2,800.) "TOO MANY COOKS" (Radio) NEW— (1,600). 25c-50c. 6 days, WalkerSharkey fight films. Gross: $6,500. (Average. $8 000.) "UP FOR MURDER" (Univ.) WARNER'S METROPOLITAN— (1,300), 6 days. Gross: $3,300. (Average. $4,500.) "BUY RIGHT^BUT BUY NOW" "Magnifieent Lie" Is $2,500 Over in K. C Total $53,300 for 5 Theatres Kansas City — It took "The Magnificent Lie" to lick the heat here, the Paramount production grossing $15,000 at the Newman against the house average of $12,500. Not so bad. "Party Husband" beat par_ by $100, and "The Common Law" just made the average figure. Estimated takings for the week ending August 1 and year-round averages : "COMMON LAW" (RKO-Pathe) MAINSTREET-(3,067), 35c-60c, 7 days. Vaude. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $'15,000.) "SON OF INDIA" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (4,000), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average. $14,500.) "THE MAGNIFICENT LIE" (Para.) NEWMAN— (2,000), 3Sc-50c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $12,500.) "HONEYMOON LANE" (Para.) LIBERTY (1.200). 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average not determined.) "PARTY HUSBAND" (F. N.) UPTOWN— (2,200), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gro-o^: $6,100. (Average, $6,000.)