Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 19, 192 Holdovers Get Big Money in San Francisco San Francisco, Jan. 18. — Showgoers went for holdovers in a big way last week. Four led the town with high grosses. At the Warfield "Dancing Lady," in its second week, grabbed a very good $20,000. Not far behind was the Fox, which featured "Emperor Jones," roadshown previously at the Columbia. The take was $14,000, biggest week for this house in many months. At the Golden Gate the second week of "Flying Down to Rio" got $14,500, while "Roman Scandals" at the United Artists, in its third week, garnered $13,000. The rest of the town couldn't stand the pace. Total first run business was $80,500. Average is $69,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 9 "FLYING DOWN TO RIO'' (Radio) GOLDEN GATE— (2,800), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage, band. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $13,000.) Week Ending Jan. 10: "CROSS COUNTRY CRUISE" (Univ.) "ACE OF ACES" (Radio) OEiPHEUM — (3,000), 15c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $9,000.) "DANCING LADY" (M-G-M) WARFIELD— (2,700), 25c-3Sc-5Sc-65c-90c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage, band. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $16,000.) "MISS FANE'S BABY IS STOLEN" (Para.) "AS HUSBANDS GO" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (2,670), 15c-25c-30c-40c55c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $12,000.) "EMPEROR JONES" (U. A.) "RIDERS OF DESTINY" (Monogram) FOX— (4,600), 10c-15c-25c-35c, 7 days. Stage, 10 vaude acts. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $9,000.) Week Ending Jan. 12: "RED HEAD" (Independent) FILMARTE— (1,400), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,000.) Week Ending Jan. 14: "ROMAN SCANDALS" (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $41,533. age, $7,000.) Warners Want Jannings Hollywood, Jan. 18. — Warners have cabled an offer to Emil Jannings, now in Austria, to play the role of King Louis in "Du Barry." "Dames" Berkeley's First Hollywood, Jan. 18. — Busby Berkeley's first directorial effort at Warners will be "Dames," slated to costar Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell. Zanuck Signs Del Ruth Hollywood, Jan. 18. — Roy Del Ruth has been signed by 20th Century. His first will be "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Again." NOW PLAYING 3rd WEEK AT GRAND CENTRAL, ST. LOUIS 1'Fordotteii AVen For Dates and State Rights JEWEL PROD. Inc., 723 7th Ave.. N. Y. City Looking Over Shorts "Italy" (Vitaphone) E. M. Newman has made an extremely interesting travelogue out of this number. It is one of the "Musical World Journey" series. Venetian scenes showing motorboats, buses and other modern phases of Venice shed a new light on the city of canals for one who hasn't been there. Other scenes show an odd community in southern Italy, Alberobello, where all the houses are made of stone. Running time, 11 rains. "What Does 1934 Hold?" (Educational) Another of the Al Christie Treasure Chest series featuring Wynn, the astrologer. His predictions for 1934 are introduced at a banquet with various dinner guests asking questions. Among other things he predicts the worst year yet in the stock market and tells what will happen to groups born in certain periods. A bit dull for those not interested in astrology. Running time, 10JA mins. "Isn't That Awful" (Vitaphone) Goodman and Jane Ace, the Easy Aces of the radio, are introduced. He finally becomes disgusted with her radio enthusiasms and tries all the things all the announcers urge him to try. It's only mildly entertaining. Running time, 10 mins. "Vaudeville on Parade" (Universal) For houses where vaudeville is popular and the expense is high this ought to get by. A series of vaudeville acts is presented with Harry Hershfield and Harold Stern alternating as masters of ceremonies. The acts include Harold Stern and his orchestra; Charles Collins, dancer; Jack McMellen, comedian; Eddie Peabody and his banjo; De Dio's animal circus, and the Albertina Rasch girls. Only mildly entertaining. Running time, 20 mins. "The China Shop" (Disney — U. A.) One of the "Silly Symphony" series in color and a swell short. An old man closes his china shop. The clock winks and starts ticking faster. Two dolls in old fashioned clothes dance and a green china devil starts raising ned. In the fight that follows most of the glassware and crockery is either broken or cracked. The old man changes his sign to antique shop next day. Running time, 10 mins. "The Mississippi" (Vitaphone) Scenes along the Mississippi at low water and when it is in flood, and the Mardi Gras at New Orleans are used to illustrate Ferde Grofe's "Mississinpi Suite." The music is great. It is one of the "Tone Journeys." Running time, 10 mins. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Six of a Kind" (Paramount) Hollywood, Jan. 18. — Laughter in varied degrees rocked the audience at a preview of "Six of a Kind." As a combination of hokum, slapstick and smart lines conveyed by well known comics, it should keep the customers in gay and happy spirits. The story tells of a couple, Mary Boland and Charlie Ruggles, embarking on a second honeymoon after 20 years of storm and strife. The wife advertises for a couple to accompany them on an auto tour to Hollywood to save expenses, not stating whose, and in pop Burns and Allen with a great dane. These four, stopping at Silver Gulch, bump into W. C. Fields and Alison Skipworth, who run a hotel. Melodrama rears up, with Ruggles first charged with but finally cleared of embezzlement, permitting him and Miss Boland to consummate their second honeymoon without interruption. While the plot runs thin, laughs come thick and fast. Leo McCarey's direction is fine. Fields' pool-table performance while explaining to Tammany Young why they call him "Honest" John is not only the outstanding laugh sequence, but is creative comedy of the finest and funniest kind. A sequence with Burns and Allen snapshooting Miss Boland and Ruggles atop and over the Grand Canyon mixes thrills with laughs. "Six of a Kind" handsomely meets the present public demand for laughter and with the name draws it should have a merry time in any type of house. "Eskimo," this morning's opener at the Capitol, was reviewed on Nov. IS. "Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen," this morning's opener at the Paramount, was reviewed by wire from Hollywood on Dec. 16. "Cross Country Cruise," last night's preview at the Roxy, was reviewed on Jan. 11. B'way Quiet; "I Were Free' Gets $68,800 Broadway had nothing outstandiri last week, with eight holdovers. Toi money honors went to "If I Wer Free" at the Music Hall with a tak of $68,800, not high enough to roll U] a big profit. Radio City's other house, the Center took $12,000 with "Flying Down t^ Rio." "Dinner At Eight" had a good sec ond week at the Capitol with a tak of $41,533, and "Design for Living held up to $39,600 in its second weel at the Paramount. "Roman Scandals finished its third week at the Rivol with $24,832, but grosses elsewher were nothing to get excited about. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 10: "IF I WERE FREE" (Radio) RKO MUSIC HALL — (5,945), 35c-$1.65, days. Stage show. Gross: $68,800. "FLYING DOWN TO RIO" (Radio) RKO CENTER— (3,700), 25c-55c, 7 dayif Gross: $12,000. Week Ending Jan. 11: "DINNER AT EIGHT" (M-G-M) CAPITOL— (4,700), 35c-$1.65, 2nd week, days. Stage show. Gross: $41,533. "HOUSE ON SSTH STREET" (Warners HOLLYWOOD— (1,545), 25c-85c, 6th wee! | 7 days. Gross: $5,816. "BOMBAY MAIL" (Univ.) PALACE— (2,500), 25c-75c, 7 days. Stag show. Gross: $11,500. "DESIGN FOR LIVING" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (3,700), 35c-99c, 2nd weel 7 days. Stage: Joe Penner and cast < 50. Gross: $39,600. "BY CANDLELIGHT" (Univ.) ROXY— (6,200), 25c-55c, 7 days. Stag show. Gross: $28,200. "LADY KILLER" (Warners) STRAND— (2,000). 25c-$1.10, 2nd week, days. Gross: $14,505. Week Ending Jan. 12: "MAN'S CASTLE" (Col.) RIALTO— (2,200). 35c-99c, 2nd week, days. Gross: $11,000. "ROMAN SCANDALS" (U. A.) RIVOLI— (2,200), 35c-99c, 3rd week, days. Gross: $24,832. Week Ending Jan. 14: "QUEEN CHRISTINA" (M-G-M) ASTOR— (1,012), 55c-$2.20, 3rd week, days. Gross: $18,700. Week Ending Jan. 15: "BEFORE MIDNIGHT" (Col.) MAYFAIR — (2,300), 35c-85c, 7 dav Gross: $7,000. MOTIOh PICTURE ALMANAC 1934-35 NO W /A/ PA£/>A/iA T/OA/ WHERE THE WORLD LOOKS FOR MOTION PICTURE wucs IC22 £ct5