Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAI LY i Purely Personal ► 8 Rothschild" Holds Top in Philadelphia Philadelphia, May IS. — Though it dropped from its first sensational week, the Philly standout was still "The House of Rothschild," with $16,000 at the Aldine. The Fox also did well with "Now I'll Tell," grossing $15,500. The sudden heat wave at the beginning of the week cramped all business. After a good week-end, receipts took a drop on Monday and didn't come back until Wednesday. "Viva Villa" suffered at the Boyd, getting only eight days despite rave notices. "Tarzan and His Mate" also disappointed at the Stanley. Total first run business was $78,200; average, $73,900. Estimated grosses week ending May 10: "HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD" (U. A.) ALDINE — (1,300), 40c-55c-65c, 6 days. 2nd week. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $7,000.) "THE SHOW OFF" (M-G-M) (2nd run) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-50c. 6 days. Gross: $1,700. (Average, $2,400.) "VIVA VILLA" (M-G-M) BOYD— (2.400), 40c-55c-65c, 8 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, 6 days, $12,000.) "UPPER WORLD" (Warners) EARLE— (2,000), 40c-55c-65c, 6 days. Stage: Frances Arms; Garner, Wolf and Hakins; 3 Stewart Sisters; Oscar Lorraine: Mazzone and Keene Revue. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $12,000.) "NOW I'LL TELL" (IFox) FOX— (3.000). 30c-40c-60c. 6 days. Stage: Sally O'Neill, "Town Topics" Revue with Mills, Gold and Raye. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $12,000.) "LET'S BE JUTZY" (Univ.) KARLTON — (1,000), 30c-40c-50c, 6 days. Gross: $2,800. (Average. $3,500.) "TARZAN AND HIS MATE" (M-G-M) STANLEY— (3,700), 40c-55c-65c, 6 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average., $12,000.) "I'LL TELL THE WORLD" (Univ.) STANTON— (1.700). 30c-40c-55c. 6 days. Gross: $5,700. (Average, $7,000.) "Bengal" Clicks Cincinnati, May 15. — "Beyond Bengal," which had its "world premiere" at Neth's Hartman, Columbus, a fortnight ago to a $9,000 week, moved into the Shubert, local "legit" house, where it did an estimated $14,000 last week. It is being held over, with a $9,500 week predicted for the second stanza. The picture is being shown on a grind basis. Prices are 35 arid 44 cents all day, including 10 per cent state tax. A barrage of 24 sheets, 1,000 three-sheets. 500 onesheets and 1,000 window cards were spotted here. To Lecture on Sound A lecture-demonstration on the advances in the field of theatre and stage sound reproduction will be given tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at the Palace by C. C. Aiken of the RCA Victor Co.'s service department. It will be repeated Friday at midnight in the same place. Hoffman Changes Title Hollywood. May 15. — M. H. Hoffman of Liberty Pictures has changed the title of "The Mad Honeymoon" to "Once to Every Bachelor." Closing on Saturdays The home office of First Division will close on Saturdays through the summer, starting this week. CHARLIE CURRAN, Arthur Jeffries, Irving Windisch and Phil Laufer, Warner's Metropolitan Theatres exploitation department, have moved their offices to the Strand Building. Mrs. Nate Blumberg and the offspring— Louis and "Dodo" — plan a California trip via the Canal some time next month. The head of the family may follow for a few days. Hilda Lesser, secretary to E. M. Saunders of M-G-M, will become Mrs. S. Lee Rickles shortly after Labor Day. Ralph Spence's story, "People Will Talk," has been purchased by Paramount as a co-starring vehicle for Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland. A. E. W. Mason's and Ian Hay's current stage success, "A Present from Margate," has been bought by Warners. Harry Asher is visiting from Boston. Yesterday he conferred with Herman Gluckman and E. H. Goldstein of Majestic. Lawrence Weingarten has returned to the M-G-M studios. He spent a week here looking at new plays. Lucille Ball, whose next appearance will be in Eddie Cantor's "The Treasure Hunt," is here from the coast on a short vacation. Harry Schenck, producer of "Beyond Bengal," came in from Cincinnati yesterday to attend the opening of the feature at the Gaiety today. Bob Sisk returns from the coast by plane Saturday. "Rothschild" Gets Indianapolis Lead Indianapolis, May 15. — "House of Rothschild" piled up $6,000 at the Palace, over normal by $1,500. "A Very Honorable Guy" took second honors, helped by a stage show at the Lyric, where the $7,500 gross was up bv $1,500. Total first run business was $21,500. Average is $16,500. Estimated takings week ending May 13: "STAND UP AND CHEER" (Fox) APOLLOM 1,100). 2Oc-40c. 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average. $2,500.) "WE'RE NOT DRESSING" (Para.) CTRCLE— (2.800). 20c-40c, 5 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average. $3,500.) "MASSACRE" (F. N.) "CRIME DOCTOR" (Radio) INDIANA^(3,100). 20c-4Oc, 7 days. Gross: .*2.50O. "VERY HONORABLE GUY" LYRIC— (2.000). 20c-40c. 7 days. Stage show. Gross: V 500 lAveracre, S6.000.) "HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD" (U. A.) PALACE— (3.100). 2<c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average. $4,500.) Green Back to Fox Hollywood. May 15. — Paul Green, nlaywright who speculated much on the ways of Hollywood in an article which anneared in the dramatic section of the Neiv York Times several months aero, has returned to the Fox scenario department. His first assignment will be the adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' story, "A Work of Art." Casino Switches Friday Starting Fridav the Casino drons vaudeville for a double feature second I run policy. HELEN WERNER sails for London shortly to join the English end of_ Kay Kamen, distributors of Mickey Mouse accessories. Pauline Lord leaves for Hollywood today to start work for Paramount in "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch." Erle Stanley Gardner's "The Case of the Curious Bride" has been bought by Warners. Earle Swigart, Philadelphia branch manager for Paramount, was in town the other day. Pat Garyn is back in town from a long sales swing around the country. He was gone about six weeks. Mary, the important half of the Mike Simmons menage, is heading east from Hollywood on a visit. Percy Phillipson of General Register stayed indoors yesterday nursing a cold. Martin Beck took a wetting in order to chat with friends on Broadway in the rain yesterday. Dan Michalove arrived yesterday from Los Angeles after a windup of some Fox West Coast business. Joe Plunkett was a symphony in brown about the Bond Building yesterday. Bernard McCarthy, Radio branch manager in Des Moines, is in town with the wife on a vacation. Louis De Marco is managing the Roxy baseball team composed of ushers. Archie Mayers is in Philadelphia on DuWorld business. St. Louis Curious About Film Confab St. Louis, May 15. — There is considerable speculation here as to the nossible effects of the conference called by Mayor Bernard F. Dickmartn between clergymen and theatre men in an effort to head off a, concerted campaign against films and their advertising. Discussion was warm at times, but the conferees parted in a friendly manner. Fred W ehrenberg made a good imnression bv declaring that the M. P. T. O. A. is campaigning against smut in films. As a result of the fact that one minister pointed out that "Catherine the Great" is being advertised as "Woman of many loves — 17 lovers, to be exact" it is expected theatre ads will be toned down. Second Aid for Laemmle Hollywood. May 15. — A second assistant, additional to Joe Weil, has been engaged by Carl Laemmle. He is Julius Klein, veteran newspaperman and author, who will handle and develop story ideas. Another addition at Universal is Jerrv Sackheim. formerly with Radio, who will serve as storv editor, thereby restoring a post abolished some time ago, and relieving Leonard Spigelgass, scenario editor, of much detail. Radio Now in Denmark Radio has closed with Gloria Films, of Copenhagen, for the distribution of its 1933-34 product in Denmark. Wednesday, May 16, 1934 "Rothschild" Is Cleveland Hit, $15,000 Cleveland, May 15. — "House of Rothschild" was a sensation in its first popular priced showing here at the RKO Palace. The $15,000 take was over normal by $5,000. "Stand Up and Cheer" was also a big draw, going to $9,000, up by $4,000, at Warner's Hippodrome. Total first run business was $38,800. Average is $34,500. Estimated takings for the week ending May 1 1 : "COUNTESS OF MONTE CRISTO'' (Univ.) ALLEN— (3,300), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $3,000.) "STAND UP AND CHEER" (Fox) WARNERS' HIPPODROME — (3,800), 30c-35c-44c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $5,000.) "MURDER IN TRINIDAD" (Fox) "STOLEN SWEETS" (Chesterfield) WARNER'S LAKE— (800), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $2,500.) "TWENTIETH CENTURY" (Col.) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-35c-44c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $10,000.) "HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD" (U. A.) LOEWS STATE— (3,400), 30c-35c-44c, 7 day. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $10,000.) "MELODY IN SPRING" (Para.) "THE FIGHTING RANGER" (Col.) LOEWS STILLMAN— (1,900), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $4,000.) Boston M. P. Group Gets More Officers Boston, May 15. — Mrs. James B. Ayer, chairman of the Boston chapter of the M. P. Research Council, has announced appointment of an executive committee as follows : Mrs. J. Tucker Burr, Mrs. Barrett Wendell, vice-chairmen ; Henry R. Atkinson, Mrs. Arthur H. Brooks, Robert Cutler, Herbert V. Ehrmann, Roger Ernst, Rev. C. Leslie Glenn, Bartholomew F. Griffin, Mrs. Herbert Lyman, Mrs. Maurice M. Osborne, Mrs. Charles A. Rheault, Mrs. Eva Whiting White. District supervisors or directors so far named include Mrs. Harriette Brazzelle of East Boston, Mrs. Pope Parker of Hingham, Mrs. Frederick L. Emery of Lexington, Mrs. F. B. Twitchell of Natick, Mrs. V. H. Richards of Norwood, Mrs. Robert R. Ames of Wayland, Mrs. John C. Lee of Wellesley and Mrs. J. T. Baldwin of Wollaston. Earl Carroll Visits K.C. Kansas City, May 15. — Earl Carroll, accompanied by Bill Pine, Cecil Carle and Tom Rooney, hopped off for St. Louis today after a brief stop here to screen "Murder at the Vanities" for members of the press. Ray Lewis Candidate Toronto, May 15. — Ray Lewis, editor of the Canadian M. P. Digest, is running for the provincial Parliament on the Liberal ticket in Bellwoods Riding. The election will take place June 21. Delay Brooklyn Closing The Paramount, Brooklyn, has deferred closing until May 25. The house was scheduled to close Friday, but business during the current week has picked up.