Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1936)

12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 7, 1936 "Strike Me " 100% Over Par Despite Louisville Freeze "Pink" Pulls Only $11,000 In Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Feb. 6. — Sub-zero weather continued to hit grosses all over town. At the Perm, "Strike Me Pink" got only $11,000, the poorest gross ever chalked up locally by an Eddie Cantor picture. "Professional Soldier," although it bettered average by $100 at $4,100, was likewise a disappointment. It was the Stanley that took the worst licking, "Riffraff" and a stage show headed by Lucky Millinder's band slipping to $14,250, while the Warner, with "Three Live Ghosts" and "Coronado," couldn't better $3,375. "The Magnificent Obsession" wound up a 19-day stay at the Alvin with $3,800 for the last five days in the third week, which was fair. Total first-run grosses were $36,525. Average is $45,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 30: "MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION" (Univ.) ALVIN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 5 days, 3rd week. Gross: $3,800. (Average, for 7 days, $5,500) "PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER" (20th-Fox) FULTON — (1,700), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $12,000) "STRIKE ME PINK" (U.A.) PENN— (3,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $12,000) "RIFFRAFF" (M-G-M) STANLEY — (3,600), 25c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Lucky Millinder's band, Pops and Louie, Edith Wilson, Three Rhythm Queens. Gross: $14,250. (Average, $18,500) "THREE LIVE GHOSTS" (M-G-M) "CORONADO" (Para.) WARNER — (2,000). 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,375. (Average, $5,000) "Pink" Is $12,000 Smash in Montreal Montreal, Feb. 6. — Although all theatres were closed on the day of King George's funeral until 6 P.M., the box-office outcome for the week was generally satisfactory. The Princess shot to the top with $12,000 on "Strike Me Pink," $5,000 over par. The film was held for a second week. "Captain Blood" was good for $11,500 at the Palace, while Loew's registered $11,000 on a combination card topped by "Charlie Chan's Secret." "Rose of the Rancho," heading the dual at the Capitol, was supported to the extent of $9,000. The legitimate stage was dark all week and social functions were cancelled because of the court mourning. Total first run business was $46,500. Average is $41,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 1 : "ROSE OF THE RANCHO" (Para.) • "HER MASTER'S VOICE" (Para.) CAPITOL— (2,547), 25c-35c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $9,500) "ROSE" (French) "MIMI" (Republic) IMPERIAL— (1,914), 20c-29c-34c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,500) "CHARLIE CHAN'S SECRET" (ZOth-Fox) "NAVY WIFE" (W.B.) LOEW'S — (3,115), 30c-34c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Stage: "Happy Days Revue." Gross: $11,000. (Average, $10,500) "CAPTAIN BLOOD" (F.N.) PALACE— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c-50c-65c, 7 davs. Gross: $11,500. (Average. $11,000) "STRIKE ME PINK" (U.A.) "ATLANTIC ADVENTURE" (Col.) PRINCESS — (2,272) , 25c-30c-35c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $7,000). Held over. Cantor Is $16,500 Hit in Cincinnati Cincinnati, Feb. 6. — Although minus-zero weather still prevailed last week, business was not as seriously affected as might have been expected. "Strike Me Pink" was tops at the RKO Albee, striking $16,500, compared with $12,000 average. It moved to the RKO Capitol. "Ceiling Zero" gave Keith's one of the best weeks in many moons at $7,500, up $1,000. This rated a holdover. "Hitch-Hike Lady" hiked the gross at the independent Strand to $1,900, plussing average by $400, while "The Informer" was $200 on the profit side on a $2,950 gross at the RKO Grand. "Riffraff" got an even break at the RKO Palace. Figures sagged at the other first runs. Total first run business was $61,750. Average is $60,200. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 28: "HITCH HIKE LADY" (Republic) STRAND— (1,500), 15c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,900. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending Jan. 30: "STRIKE ME PINK" (U. A.) RKO ALBEE— (3,300), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Average, $12,000) Moved to RKO Capitol. "RIFFRAFF" (M-G-M) RKO PALACE— (2,700), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $10,000) "TWO IN THE DARK" (Radio) RKO SHUBERT— (2,150), 35c-55c. 7 days. Stage: Benny Meroff Band and vaude. acts. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $12,000) "MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION" (Univ.) RKO CAPITOL— (2,000), 35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week with week intervening. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $6,500) Moved to RKO Grand. "KING OF BURLESQUE" (ZOth-Fox) RKO LYRIC— (1,400), 35c-42c, 7 days, 2d downtown week. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $6,500) "THE INFORMER" (Radio) RKO GRAND— (1,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,950. (Average, $2,750) "BAR 20 RIDES AGAIN" (Para.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 3 days. Gross: $1,100. (Average, $1,250) "GUARD THAT GIRL" (Col.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 4 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average. $1,250) "CEILING ZERO" (F. N.) KEITH'S— (1,500), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $6,500). Held over. Universal Directors To Wait for Scripts Hollywood, Feb. 6. — Under a new policy just inaugurated at Universal, directors will hereafter be assigned to pictures after the first draft of the script has been accepted by the front office, and not after acceptance of the story idea, as heretofore. By this policy, the studio will effect a saving of several weeks' director's salary on all productions, as directors worked with authors on first drafts in the past. Roach Builds Bungalow Hollywood, Feb. 6. — Construction will start immediately on a six-room double bungalow to house the Laurel and Hardy and the Edward Sedgwick units at the Hal Roach Studio. The bungalow will be at the east end of the administration building and will be ready for occupancy on Feb. 15. The former quarters of the Laurel and Hardy unit will be used by writers. Louisville, Feb. 6. — "Strike Me Pink" hit town at the same time that sub-zero temperatures were being recorded, which probably prevented the State from shattering a record. At that, the gross of $8,500, was over 100 per cent above par. "Anything Goes" held up well at the Rialto, grossing $5,000, over the line by $1,500, while a double feature, "Professional Soldier" and "Charlie Chan's Secret," at the Strand went $800 over average, for a gross of $3,300. "Seven Keys to Baldpate" and "Sylvia Scarlett," dual feature at the Brown could not overcome the effects of the cold wave, the take being $1,600, or $400 under average. "A Midsummer Night's Dream," playing an eight-day engagement at the Mary Anderson, and preceded by a tremendous exploitation campaign, wound up with a gross of $6,000, which would have been greater had the weather been more favorable. Total first run business was $28,100. Average is $18,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 30: "STRIKE ME PINK" (U. A.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $4,500) "ANYTHING GOES" (Para.) RIALTO— (3,000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $3,500) "PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER" (ZOthFox) "CHARLIE CHAN'S SECRET" (20th-Fox) STRAND— (1,500), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $2,500). "A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM" (W. B.) MARY ANDERSON— (1,000), 55c to $1.65, two performances daily, 8 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $2,500) "CONDEMNED TO LIVE"( Chesterfield) "HITCH HIKE TO HEAVEN" (F. D.) "HONG KONG NIGHTS" (F. D.) NATIONAL— (2,400), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days, split week. Stage: Ed Lowry's Brevities, Elaine Arden, Helen Compton Band, Rita Royce & Reece Bros. & Lillian Dawson. Gross: $2,800. (Average, $3,000) Week Ending Feb. 1: "SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE" (Radio) "SYLVIA SCARLETT* (Radio) BROWN— (1,400), 15c-25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $1,600. (Average, $2,000) "IN PERSON" (Radio) "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" (Radio) "THE SINGING VAGABOND" (Republic) "PURSUIT' (M-G-M) ALAMO— (900), 15c-25c, 7 days, split week. Gross: $900. (Average, $1,400) New Central States Formally Organized Chicago, Feb. 6. — Organization of the new Central States Theatres Circuit, Inc., has been completed and the directors selected. The Capitol in Canton, 111., will be the main office of the corporation. Officers elected are : President, A. L. Hainline, Macomb ; vice-president, Walter Fluegal, Pekin, and secretarytreasurer, Charles Kuehan, Sr., Canton. In addition to the officers, other directors are Charles House, Monmouth, and N. Frye, Danville. Nine theatres are now connected with the organization. They represent an investment of more than $500,000, with a seating capacity of more than 5,500. These theatres are the Pekin and Empire, Pekin ; Capitol, Canton; Rivoli and Bijou, Monmouth \ Illinois and Royal, Macomb ; Princess, Colchester and Cozy, Augusta. Other houses are to be added. Cantor Pulls $16,500 Lead In St. Louis Sfr. Louis, Feb. 6. — "Strike Me Pink" at Loew's with a gross of $16,500 was by far the best draw of the week; $7,500 above house average. "Seven Keys to Baldpate" and "Widow from Monte Carlo," a deal at the Orpheum, also got into the profit class with $8,800 for six and a half days compared with average of $8,500 for seven days. "Ceiling Zero" and "Her Master's Voice" at the Schubert-Rialto also went over the top with $7,950. House average is $6,500. The showing made by these pictures is rather remarkable, since the week was the fourth coldest on record in St. Louis. The average minimum temperature was 3.9 below zero and the general average was only 5.1 above zero. The lowest mark for the week was 10 below zero. Total first run business was $48,000. Average is $46,000. Estimated takings for the week endin? Jan. 30 : "INVISIBLE RAY" (Univ.) "HITCH HIKE LADY" (Republic) AMBASSADOR— (3,018), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $10,000) "KING OF BURLESQUE" (ZOth-Fox) "LONE WOLF RETURNS" (Col.) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,350. (Average, $12,000) "STRIKE ME PINK" (U.A.) LOEW'S — (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Average, $9,000) "SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE" (Radio) "WIDOW FROM MONTE CARLO" ORPHEUM— (1,950), 25c-35c-55c, 6XA days. Gross: $8,800. (Average, $8,500) "CEILING ZERO" (F.N.) "HER MASTER'S VOICE" (Para.) SHUBERT-RIALTO — (1,723), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $7,950. (Average, $6,5C0) "Pink" Strong as Portland Holdover Portland, Feb. 6. — "Strike Me Pink" was held for a second successful week at United Artists, securing another $7,000, over par by $2,000. Jackie Cooper on the stage with heavy exploitation on "Tough Guy" at the Broadway secured $8,000 over the usual average by $3,000. An extra long double bill at Orpheum with "King of Burlesque" and "Widow from Monte Carlo" registered $6,000, over par by $1,000. The weather continued clear and cold. Total first run business was $33,000. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 1 : "TOUGH GUY" (M-G-M) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $5,000) "NAUGHTY MARIETTA" (M-G-M) "ANNAPOLIS FAREWELL" (Para.) (2nd Run) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $1,700) "STARS OVER BROADWAY" (W.B.) "TWO FISTED" (Para.) MA YFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,000) "KING OF BURLESQUE" (20th-Fox) "WIDOW FROM MONTE CARLO" (W.B.) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "ROSE OF THE RANCHO" (Para.) "ANOTHER FACE" (Radio) PARAMOUNT — (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "STRIKE ME PINK" (U.A.) (2nd Week) UNITED ARTIST— (945), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000)