Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1935)

Friday, January II, 1935 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 9 "Sweet Adeline " Sweet in Washington; $21 ,200 Swell "My Heart" Is Hit on Coast; Gets $26,000 Los Angeles, Jan. 10. — Grosses held up well in spite of the post-holiday slump and rain early in the week. "Here Is My Heart" was in the smash hit class with $26,000, over the line by $8,000, at the paramount. "What Every Woman Knows" took a strong $4,500 at the 900-seat 4-Star, and "The Captain Hates the Sea" was a money-maker at the Pantages on a $4,100 gross. "Power," at the Filmarte, was good for $2,800. Total first run business was $85,400. Average is $88,450. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 9 : "KID MILLIONS" (U. A.) CHINESE — (2,500), 50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $12,500) "POWER" (Gaumont British) FILM ARTE— (800) , 40c-55c, 6 days. Gross: $2,800. "WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS" (M-G-M) 4 STARr-(9O0), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $3,250) "KID MILLIONS" (U. A.) LOEW'S STATE— (2,413), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $14,000) "HERE IS MY HEART" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,595), 30c-5Sc, 7 days. Stage: Pinkie Tomlin, Louise Beavers, Rube Wolf and his orchestra, F. and M. review. Gross: $26,000. (Average, $18,000) "THE LITTLE MINISTER" (Radio) RKO— (2,700), 25c-65c, 7 days. BaerLevinsky fight. Gross: $6,900. (Average, $8,000) "THE FIRST WORLD WAR" (Fox) "GAY BRIDE" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,100), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average, $3,500) "THE LITTLE MINISTER" (Radio) WARNER BROS. (Hollywood)— (3,000), 25c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $10,200. (Average, $14,000) "MURDER IN THE CLOUDS" (Warners) WARNER BROS. (Downtown)— (3,400), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Six acts vaudeville, Oscar Baum and his orchestra. Gross: $8,700. (Average, $12,000) "THE CAPTAIN HATES THE SEA" (Col.) PANTAGES— (5,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,100. (Average, $3,200) "Flirtation" Gets $3,200 in Lincoln Lincoln, Jan. 10. — "Flirtation Walk" at the Lincoln and "Forsaking All Others" at the Stuart swapped blows with the opposition's first boxoffice magnet, "Broadway Bill" at the Varsity. Both the first two pictures were in eight days, trying to set back to the Thursday opening, which was dodged to start on the Christmas New Year's holidays. "Flirtation Walk" took $3,200 in eight days and "Forsaking All Others" headed into $3,500, both films above average. "Broadway Bill," set in four 10 days, tilled $3,000, also • over the divide for a good margin. The Orpheum had a full week of stage shows, Georgia Minstrels and "Father Brown, Detective" leading off with four days and "Penthouse Follies" and "Elinor Norton" closing with three and running the take up near $4,500. The estimated eight-10 days' take was $14,200. Average for seven days is $9,100. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 6: "FATHER BROWN", DETECTIVE" (Para.) "ELINOR NORTON" (Fox) ORPHEUM— (1,200), 10c-15c-25c, 7 days. (Continued on page 19) Washington, Jan. 10.— "Sweet Adeline" took the Earle to town last week to the tune of $21,200, over par by $3,600. A big stage show helped. Runner-up was "The Little Minister," at RKO-Keith's, where it took $11,500 on the second week. Loew's Fox slipped with "The President Vanishes" to a take of $19,600. The picture received rave reviews. "Forsaking All Others," playing a second week at Loew's Palace, took an excellent $14,300. At a return engagement— which added four days to an original three — "It's a Gift" grossed $4,900. "Home on the Range" at the Metropolitan did a satisfying $5,400. Total gross for the reported period was $76,900. Average for the usual Friday-Thursday week is $71,200. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax : Week Ending Jan. 3: "SWEET ADELINE" (Warners) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: "New Year's Frolic," with Paul Ash, m. c, Sylvia & Clemence, Bert Granoff, Trado Twins, Minette, Bobbie Gilbert, Dave & Hilda Murray. Gross: $21,200. (Average, $17,600) "THE PRESIDENT VANISHES" (Para.) LOEW'S FOX— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: Nick Lucas, Jans & Whalen; Nayan, Pearce & Carthay, Willie & Joe Wardel. Gross: $19,600. (Average, $20,500) Week Ending Jan. 6: "HOME ON THE' RANGE" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,400. (Average, $4,100) Week Ending Jan. 7: "IT'S A GIFT" (Para.) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,264), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $4,900. (Average, first run, $3,100) "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 35c-77c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,300. (Average, first week, $14,500) "THE LITTLE MINISTER" (Radio) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average, first week, $11,400) "U" Suit Up in Scr anion Sckanton, Jan. 10. — An equity action brought by Universal Picture Corp. and Worldwide Picture Corp. against Edward Nanawicz, exhibitor at Eynon, Pa., will be heard on Jan. 17 before U. S. Judge A. L. Watson. The case has been before the court for nearly two years. The plaintiffs allege the defendant exhibited five films early in 1932 without proper license. They seek to recover damages under the copyright laws. Battles Lincoln Papers Lincoln], Jan. 10. — Milton Overman, who bosses the Varsity and Kiva here, is having a fight with newspapers and has taken the lion's share of his ads out of the sheets, transferring to radio and shopping guides. His radio idea is novel in that he has a line into his office and goes on twice a day with a little ether "visit" with the listeners chatting about pictures to come and pictures playing. He also has a mike spotted back stage so he can switch into the picture and give a short snatch of the current attraction. W anger Signs McCrea Hollywood, Jan. 10. — Walter Wanger has signed Joel McCrea to play opposite Claudette Colbert in "Private Worlds." Others in the cast include Charles Boyer and Joan Bennett. Build Up for Jane Hollywood, Jan. 10. — Fox is planning a buildup for Jane Withers who made her first hit with Shirley Temple in "Bright Eyes." The child is now appearing in "Dante's Inferno" and then is scheduled for a role in "Redheads on Parade." In the meantime, a role is being written for her in "Dice Woman" and William Conselman is preparing an original especially for her. "Bright Eyes" Denver Smash With $10,000 Denver, Jan. 10. — "Bright Eyes" ran away with the lion's share of the first run business here last week. The $10,000 gross was nothing short of a sensation, as it was $4,000 over average. Business was generally good with "Chu Chin Chow," "Here Is My Heart," "Forsaking All Others" and "Babes in Toyland" all showing a substantial profit. Total first run business was $28,500. Average is $20,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 3 : "CHU CHIN CHOW" (Gaumont British) ALADDIN— (1,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,500.) "HERE IS MY HEART" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000.) "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS" (M-G-M) DENVER— (2,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,000.) "BRIGHT EYES" (Fox) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $6,000.) "BABES IN TOYLAND" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,000.) Canada Government Makes War Feature Toronto, Jan. 10. — The Canadian Government has become a feature film producer and it's a real war picture. Government officials have delved into the archives and have brought out a million feet of official battle films taken during the war on the various fronts. A full length feature has been made up, sound effects added and the subject is to be released to theatres soon. Rental proceeds are to be turned over to the Canadian Legion. Intimation has come that nothing has been left to the imagination in the way of war action. Hold Gertrude Michaels Hollywood, Jan. 10. — Gertrude Michaels has been handed a new contract by Paramount, having completed 11 pictures for the studio since signing a year ago. The actress is now working in "The Milky Way." "Forsaking" $20,000 Hit, Kansas City Kansas City, Jan. 10. — "Forsaking All Others" just about exhausted the Midland cashiers, with New Year's shows added. The $20,000 take was $1,000 over average, and the film was held for an extra four days. "Bright Eyes," which more than doubled average at the Uptown with a take of $7,100, was held over for a second week. "Babbitt, helped by a stage show, was in the big money at the Mainstreet, the gross going to $13,000. "Sweet Adeline" was taken out of the Apollo at the end of four and one-half days. Total first run business was $54,200. Average is $34,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 3: "MILLS OF THE GODS" (Col.) TOWER— (2,200), 25c, 7 days. Stage: "Hello, 1935," with Sidney Page & Co., Marcy Bros. & Beatrice, Orville Rennie, Frank Evers, others. Gross: $8,600. (Average, $7,000) "BRIGHT EYES" (Fox) UPTOWN — (2,000)^ 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,100. (Average, $3,500) Week Ending Jan. 4: "THE UNFINISHED SYMPHONY" (Gaumont British) APOLLO— (1,100), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,500) "SWEET ADELINE" (Warners) NEWMAN— (1,800), 25c-40c, V/z days, plus New Year's Eve midnight show. Gross: $4,500. (Average, A]/2 days, $4,500) Week Ending Jan. 6: "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (4,000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days, plus New Year's Eve midnight show. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $9,000) Week Ending Jan. 7: "BABBITT" (F. N.) MAINSTREET— (3,100), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days, plus New Year's Eve midnight show at 75 cents all seats. Stage: "Spices of 1935," featuring Count Verni Vici, Ted Healy's Stooges, Bob Carney & Co., Mile Caroline, Human Fountain of Versailles, Decounti & Romaine, Mary & Bobby. Gross: $13,000. (Average, combination shows, $9,000) "Minister" Big iii Portland Holdover Portland, Jan. 10. — "Little Minister" continued as a sensational boxoffice attraction in its second downtown week here. After getting a strong $7,000 at the Orpheum it was moved to the Music Box where it doubled the normal take by piling up $4,000. Business was good all along the line with only one house under par. "The White Parade" ran $3,000 over the profit side of the line with an $8,000 gross at the Paramount. A stage show helped. "Babes in Toyland" and "The Silver Streak" were each $1,000 over average at the Broadway and Orpheum, respectively. Total first run business was $33,800. Average is $27,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 5 : "BABES IN TOYLAND" (M-G-M) BROADWAY— (1 912), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "BRIGHT EYES" (Fox) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,000) "LITTLE MINISTER" (Radio) MUSIC BOX— (1,000), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days, extended run from Orpheum. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $2,000) "THE GAY DIVORCEE" (Radio) (Continued on page 19)