Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAI LY Variety Club Chatter Cincinnati Wednesday, February 7, 1934 Invisible Man/ Show Garner $15,000, K.C. Kansas City, Feb. 6.— "Invisible tan," plus "Fifty Million French■n" as the stage attraction, pulled 5.000 at the RKO Mainstreet for the eek's best business. Among straight film runs, "Eskiy" led the field with a strong $10,0 at the Midland. The Newman rned in a fair $6,000 with "Miss ine's Baby Is Stolen," while the reign-made "I Was a Spy" slumped SI ,900. Total for the week was $33,500. verage is $32,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 31: "I WAS A SPY" (Fox) "PTOWN— (2.000). 25c-40c. 7 days. Gross: 900. (Average. $3,000) Week Ending Feb. 1: 'MISS FANE'S BABY IS STOLEN" (Para.) NEWMAN— (1,800). 25c-40c. 8 days, plus turday midnight show. Gross: $6,000. .verage for 8 days, $6,500.) 'THE INVISIBLE MAN" (Univ.) MAINSTREET — (3,049), 25c-40c-60c, 7 Is, plus Saturday late show. Stage: An3le Friedland's "Fifty Million Frenchtn" revue, featuring Venita Gould, Richd Lane, Al Norman, Susan Jayne, Ester oyd. Gross: $15,000. (Average for comnation shows, $13,000.) Week Ending Feb. 2: "ESKIMO" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (4,000). 25c. 7 days, plus Satday midnight show. Gross: $10,700 (Avage. $10,000). Scandals" Opens To $6,000, Omaha Omaha, Feb. 6. — Booked for two eeks at the World, "Roman Scanils" opened big to give the house the ;st break it has had in months. The ke was around $6,000. The Morton Downey stage unit at e Brandeis, along with "The Meant Gal in Town" on the screen, hooped the gross to $8,500 in face of ie Cantor competition. A dual bill at the Orpheum of "Futive Lovers' and "Girl Without a oom" was good for average money, he dud of the week was "All of Me" : the Paramount. Total first run business was $28,X). Average is $26,250. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. SI: "ALL OF ME" (Para.) PARAMOUNT —(2,900), 25c-35c-40c. 7 lys. Gross: $6,250. (Average, $7,500) Week Ending Feb. 1: "ROMAN v JANDALS" (U. A.) WORLD— (2,200). 25c-35c-40c. 7 days, ross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500.) "THE MEANEST GAL IN TOWN" (Radio) BRANDEIS — (1,200), 25c-35c-45c-60c. 7 ays. Stage: Morton Downey unit. Gross: 5.500. (Average. $6,000) Week Ending Feb. 2: "FUGITIVE LOVERS" (M-G-M) "GIRL WITHOUT A ROOM" (Para.) ORPHEUM— (3.000). 25c-35c, 7 days, -ross: $7,250. (Average, $7,250) Lynch Improving S. A. Lynch, head of the theatre rerganization committee at Paramount, 5 improving and is getting along "as ■rell as might be expected," his office eported yesterday. Lynch is in Florda battling a serious illness which lade necessary removal of his teeth. Cincinnati, Feb. 6. — Allen Morttz, chairman of the house committee, says club rooms should be provided with an upper deck, especially on Sunday nights when the ladies attend. These weekly affairs are growing in popularity and crowding the quarters to capacity, even with the adjoining room, recently annexed. Arthur (RRO) Frudenfeld is dividing his time between home and office while battling with a severe cold, which has seriously handicapped his vocal mechanism. P. J. ("Pete") Wood, of the Columbus chapter, dropped in for a social hour while in town. Olsen and Johnson, recently elected to associate membership, spent most of their spare time at the local headquarters while playing the Palace. Weekly luncheons now are being held in the club rooms instead of the Netherland Plaza Frontier Room as Columbus, Feb. 6. — George ("Red") Trautman, president of the Columbus Red Birds, winners of the American Association and Little World Series pennants in 1933, is planning on a Variety Club section on the special train which leaves about March 10 for Avon Park, Fla., for spring training. Jimmy Peppe of Valley Dale is in charge of arrangements. The Club will hold a special Valentine party for the ladies Feb. 14. Leo Haexleix of Olentangy Park, Bernie Gardner of Paramount and Max Stearx of the Southern Theatre are in charge of the program. They promise plenty of heart throbs with no twofor-one admissions or giveaways. The widow of George Chennell, grand old man of show business and head of the Columbus Bill Posting Co. who died recently, has presented to the St. Louis, Feb. 6. — Ole Olsen was guest of honor at the first of the "Fish Fries." Ole gave his visible approbation to the club's cuisine by consuming twice as much fish as any other three guests. Olsen and Chic Johnson were formally honored at a stag party Monday evening. Leto Hill of St. Louis Amusement claims the "Hearts" championship. Cullen Espy was the first "King For A Night." This innovation provides for a different member to take charge of the club party each Saturday night and provide the entertainment. Cullen presented Jack Haley as his headline attraction for the evening, supplemented by Dorothy Bushey and an orchestra. President "Chick" Evens had his Remodel Cleveland House Cleveland, Feb. 6. — The Temple, closed for several years, is being remodelled in anticipation of reopening shortly by George Israel. It is a colored house. heretofore. The boys like it better. Jack Wiener announces he is open for all invitations while Friend Wife is in Toledo visiting mother. President Bill Gehring issued official summons to all members to attend this week's luncheon when Sheriff Asa Butterfield was the guest of honor, as was also Rev. Cletus Miller. Willard Gerves, male heir of Bill Gerves, was elected to membership at the current business session. This is the first case of father and son being barkers in the local club. Willis Vance and Elmer Shard were among the committeemen present at the exhibitors' meeting in Columbus when admission tax and other headaches were discussed. Abe Lipp, guardian of the exchequer, appeared before the judge in Columbus a few days ago. But it's not as bad as it sounds. He was trying a case. club a wonderful collection of oldtime photos and programs. Old pictures covering European trips of Barnum & Bailey and the 101 Ranch are included. Bill Ortman is arranging an exhibit in clubrooms in memory of his many years' association with Chennell. Clyde Beatty, animal trainer ajnd associate member of the club, expected soon for annual winter visit. Duke Clark, Max Stearn, T. L. Irwin and J. B. Gardner were delegates to national convention in Pittsburgh. They report wonderful hospitality and an enthusiastic meeting. Harry Schreiber, manager of the RKO-Palace and a former member of the Cincinnati club, and Clinton Wander, assistant manager of Loew's Ohio and a former member of the St. Louis Club, were inducted into membership in the Columbus club the other day. first workout in the gymnasium last week. "Chick" is still walking as though he had lived on the back of a horse for a week. Alvin Wolff is still in New York. Jimmy Tappella has been missing from clubrooms lately. Jimmy is furnishing a newly built home for his mother and dad and all members are invited to the housewarming in the near future. Barkers at the Londos-Sonnenberg championship wrestling match : Matt Schulter, Pete Plessner, Ben Cammack, Cullen Espy, Al Roth, Clarence Turley. Clarence Turley was in Indianajpolis, Friday, returned Saturday, left that night for Chicago, and arrived back in St. Louis this morning. Ethel Bergman Resigns Cleveland, Feb. 6. — Ethel Epstein Bergman, for 17 years connected with local Fox exchange, most of that as office manager, has resigned. 13 Trade Show Tickets Scatter in Chicago Chicago, Feb. 6. — Reason for the unprecedented popularity of recent midnight trade previews has just come to light. Invitations generously broadcast to exhibitors and others in the trade have found their way into the hands of the butcher, baker and the apartment building janitor. With packed houses, legitimate trade representation has been in the minority. So now one company — United Artists— is putting individual names on its invitations and reserving the right to refuse admission if presented by any one except the person for whom it is designated. Ben j. Warner Better; Charnases Delay Trip Condition of Benjamin Warner, father of Harry, Albert and Jack, has so improved the Harry Charnases, who were slated to leave for Hollywood late last week have delayed their trip until Feb. 16. Charnas operates the Broadway theatres for Warners. His wife is a sister of the Warner brothers. The elder Warner is about 75 and is suffering from a heart attack. Defends Talent Imports Hollywood, Feb. 6. — Edward H. Griffith today leapt to the defense of producers who import talent from abroad and particularly the New York stage. He is just back from the East where he hunted for players to appear in "Alien Corn," in which Radio will star Ann Harding. He says he interviewed about 200 unknowns here and found them "obsessed with the notion that all the screen demands is either beauty or handsomeness." Therefore, he went to New York to get what he needed. He found it. Chicago Plans Dance Chicago, Feb. 6. — A "Days of '49" dance, sponsored by various branches of the local industry, will be held at the Aragon ballroom Feb. 14 for the benefit of Chicago patients at the Los Angeles free tuberculosis sanitarium. James Coston is chairman of arrangements and the affair has the support of the Chicago Exhibitors' Ass'n, Allied, Chicago Theatrical Protective Union, the operators' local and the Chicago Federation of Musicians. Schine Gets Two More Mount Vernon, O., Feb. 6. — Schine Enterprises have taken over the Vine and Memorial, both Harry Smoot houses. The Vine will be closed for two weeks for alterations. During that period the Memorial will be operated. When alterations of the Vine are completed, the Memorial will close indefinitely. Hit Mississippi Benefits West Point, Miss., Feb. 6— Pastors of the various denominations are opposing Sunday film benefits, at which no admission is charged, but contributions asked. The ministers explained they favor assisting the unfortunate, but object to opening of theatres on Sundays. St. Louis Columbus