Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1936)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, May 8, 1936 •'Deeds" a $7,000 Hit in Louisville Louisville, May 7. — An influx of visitors for the Derby Festival events, concentrated most of the attention on "Mr, Deeds Goes to Town" at Loew's State, sending; the gross to $7,000, over the line by $1,500. "Song and Dance Man" and "CharHe Chan at the Circus" at the Strand broke into the profit class, grossing $3,600, above average by $100. "The Moon's Our Home" at the Rialto had *o be content with light takings. The gross was $4,200. under the line by $300. "Brides Are Like That" at the Mary Anderson felt the opposition and could do no better than $2,500, under the line by $1,000, while "The Witness Chair" at the Brown likewise was out of the running. It grossed only $2,300, under par by $500. "The Leavenworth Case" and a vaudeville bill at the National failed to get in the profit column, taking $2,800, under average $200. Total first run business was $23,500. Average is $24,200. Estimated takings : Week Ending April 30: "MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN" (Col.) "PANIC ON THE AIR" (COL.) LOEW'S STATE— (3.000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average. $5,500) "THE MOON'S OUR HOME" (Para.) RIALTO — (3,000), 15c-25c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average. $4,500) "THE WITNESS CHAIR" (Radio) BROWN— (1,400), 15c-25c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $2,300. (Average, $2,800) "SONG AND DANCE MAN" (20th-Fox) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE CIRCUS" (20thFox) STRAND — (1,500), 15c-2Sc-40c. 7 days. Gross: $3,600. (Average, $3,500) "BRIDES ARE LIKE THAT" (F.N.) MARY ANDERSON— (1,000). 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average. $3,500) "THE LEAVENWORTH CASE" (Chesterfield) "BRIDGE OF SIGHS" (Chesterfield) "MIDNIGHT PHANTOM" (Republic) NATIONAL— (2,400), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Jack Eddy & Co., Herb Larimer, Joe & Pete Michon, Whitey Roberts, Floyd Cristy and Hal Gould, four days. Straight pictures three days. Gross: $2,800. (Average. $3,000) Week Ending May 2: "LOVE ON A BET" (Radio) "MUSIC GOES 'ROUND" (Col.) "TOO MUCH HARMONY" (Para.) "CHATTERBOX" (Radio) ALAMO— (900), 15c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,100. (Average. $1,400) "Deeds" a $9,500 Indianapolis Wow Indianapolis, May 7. — "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" was the hit of the week, drawing $3,500 above average for a gate of $9,500 at Loew's. "Captain January" held up well in its second week at the Apollo and "The Witness Chair" was $120 over norm; 1 at the Circle. Tol d first run business was $24,1?0. \verage, with the Indiana dark, is $21 000. Est nated takings for the week ending May 1 : "CAPTAIN JANUARY" (20th-Fox) APOLLO— (1,100), 2Sc-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,000) "THE WITNESS CHAIR" (Radio) "MURDER ON A BRIDLE PATH" (Radio) CIRCLE— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,120. (Average, $4,000) "MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN" (Col.) "DANGEROUS INTRIGUE" (Col.) LOEW'S — (2,800) , 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $6,000) "TIMES SQUARE PLAYBOY" (W.B.) LYRIC— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Vaudeville. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "Chan" and a Show Set Cincy Record Cincinnati, May 7. — Grosses last week went into really high territory, led by the RKO Shubert, which established a house record at $18,000 with "Folies Comiques de Paris," plus "Charlie Chan at the Circus" on the screen. Average is $12,000. Scale for the engagement was upped to 42 and 65 cents. "These Three" plussed the RKO Albee normal by $4,500 with a $16,500 take, and probably will return to one of the other spots soon. "Small Town Girl" garnered a nifty $13,500 at the RKO Palace, where average is $10,000, and was transferred to the RKO Capitol. "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" did $6,700 on its second downtown week at the RKO Lyric, which was $200 to the good. It was moved to the RKO Grand. The Strand, independent, took in $1,600, or 100 on the profit side, with "King of the Damned." The RKO Grand balanced its figure of $2,700 with the third downtown week of "Captain January." Total first run business was $69,400. Average is $60,200. Estimated takings : Week Ending April 29: "KING OF THE DAMNED" (G.B.) STRAND — (1.500), 15c-25c. 7 days: Gross: $1,600. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending April 30: "THESE THREE" (U.A.) RKO ALBEE— (3,300), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Average. $12,000) "SMALL TOWN GIRL" (M-G-M) RKO PALACE— (2,700), 35c-42c. 7 days. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $10,000) Moved to RKO Capitol. "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE CIRCUS" (20th -Fox) RKO SHUBERT— (2.150). 42c-55c, 7 days. Stage: "Folies Comiques de Paris." Gross: $18,000. (Average, $12,000) "TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE" (Para.) RKO CAPITOL— (2.000). 35c-42c, 7 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: $4,000. (Average. $6,500) "MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN" (Col.) RKO LYRIC— (1,400), 35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $6,700. (Average, $6,500) Moved to RKO Grand. "CAPTAIN JANUARY" (20th-Fox) RKO GRAND— (1.200), 25c-40c, 7 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: $2,700. (Average. $2,700) "I CONQUER THE SEA" (First Division) RKO FAMILY— (1.000). 15c-25c, 3 days. Gross: $1,100. (Average. $1,250) "ROAMING LADY" (Col.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 4 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,200) "BRIDES ARE LIKE THAT" (F.N.) KEITH'S— (1,500), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $6,500) South Wants "Pastures" Hollywood, May 7. — Pressure is being brought on Warners by southern exhibitors and Chambers of Commerce to have them stage the premiere of "Green Pastures" somewhere in the south. Warners, who have heretofore had some concern over the reception the picture was likely to receive south of the Mason & Dixon line, now feel considerably relieved. They have not decided as yet where they will open their picture. Protest Pensacola Tax Pensacola, Fla., May 7. — More than 2,000 members of organized labor here have protested the action of the City Council in passing an amusement tax which affects the Saenger Theatres Corp. The Council has been requested to repeal the new ordinance. Holdup Protection Boston, May 7.— The RKO Boston is installing a steel office in the treasurer's office, outfitted with special bulletproof glass, following the recent holdup during which the gunmen escaped with $13,000. An added incentive is the holdup last week of Loew's Orpheum and the death of Fred Sumner of the Paramount in Lynn, who was shot down in a robbery. "Bohemian," Show New Haven Draws * New Haven, May 7. — The College raised its admission prices and almost trebled its normal $2,800 with "The Bohemian Girl," and a locally-directed stage presentation, "Town Topics of 1936. " "Big Brown Eyes" and Benny Meroff and orchestra on the Paramount stage totalled $6,800, over par by $2,000. The Poli dual, "Captain January" and "Country Beyond," topped the $7,000 average by $1,000. "I Married a Doctor" and "Man Hunt" at the Roger Sherman stayed at the $4,700 average. The all-week circus at the Arena, "Tobacco Road" at the Shubert, and the sudden warm weather cut into attendance. Total first run business was $27,800. Average is $19,300. Estimated takings for the week ending May 1 : "THE BOHEMIAN GIRL" (M-G-M) COLLEGE— (1,499), 35c-50c, 7 days. Stage: "Town Topics of 1936." Gross: $8,300. (Average, $2,800) "BIG BROWN EYES" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,400), 35c-50c. 7 days. Stage: Benny Meroff and orchestra. Gross: $6,800. (Average. $4,800) "CAPTAIN JANUARY" (20th-Fox) "THE COUNTRY BEYOND" (20th-Fox) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c. 7 davs. Gross: $8,000. (Average. $7,000) "I MARRIED A DOCTOR" (W.B.) "MAN HUNT" (W.B.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,700. (Average, $4,700) "These Three" Is Portland's Leader Portland, May 7. — "These Three" in its initial week at United Artists was tops for the week with a draw of $7,000, over par by $2,000. The dual, "The Moon's Our Home" and "Silly Billie," at the Orpheum secured $6,000, over the usual take bv $1,000. "Petticoat Fever" secured $6,000 at the Broadway, over normal by $1,000. Heavy rains cut into box-offices. Total first run business was $29,700. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week ending May 2 : "PETTICOAT FEVER" (M-G-M) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "LITTLEST REBEL" (20th-Fox) "THANKS A MILLION" (20th-Fox) (2nd Run) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,700. (Average, $1,700) "A CONNECTICUT YANKEE" (20th-Fox) "FRISCO WATERFRONT" (Republic) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,000) "THE WITNESS CHAIR" (Radio) "BIG BROWN EYES" (Radio) PARAMOUNT— (3,008), 30c-35c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000) "THESE THREE" (U. A.) UNIT(ED ARTISTS — (945) , 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average. $5,000) 7 "Witness" Is Kansas City's Top, $13,500 Kansas City, May 7. — "The Witness Chair" and a stage show left the Mainstreet sitting pretty with the best comparative showing in a poor week for first runs. The house grossed $13,500, $4,500 over par. Other first runs felt the rain Sunday and shifting temperatures during the week. However, "Sutter's Gold" at the Fox Uptown managed to go over average by $600 with $4,600 take. "The Farmer in the Dell" at the Tower went $800 under $7,000 average ; "Big Brown Eyes" at the Newman took a $5,900, compared with $7,000 par, and "The Unguarded Hour" at the Midland fell under $11,500 average by $4,100. Total first run business was $37,600. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending April 30: "THE WITNESS CHAIR" (Radio) MAINSTREET— (3,100>, 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage: Al Pearce and His Gang; June Knight, and Pinky Tomlin. Gross: $13,500. (Average, combination bills, $9,000) "THE UNGUARDED HOUR" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,400. (Average, $11,500) "BIG BROWN EYES" (Para.) NEWMAN— (1,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,900. (Average, $7,000) "THE FARMER IN THE DELL" (Radio) TOWER— (2,200), 25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Royal Swedish Bell Ringers, Shay & Peters. Marie Hollis, and Jerry Hale. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $7,000) Week Ending May 1: "SUTTER'S GOLD" (Univ.) UPTOWN-(2,000). 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,600. (Average, $4,000) "Dark Hour," NTG, Big in Providence Providence, May 7. — N. T. G.'s revue, supplementing "The Dark Hour," was tops for the week, garnering $13,000 at the RKO Albee. This was $6,000 over the usual take. "Desire," at the Strand, was next in line, catching $8,500. The usual take for the house is $6,500. _ Other houses in the downtown section were under par. Loew's State was $2,000 down with "A Message to Garcia," which did $10,000 and the Majestic was $2,000 under the normal $7,000 figure with "A Connecticut Yankee" and "Brides Are Like That." Total first run business was $42,500. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week ending April 30: "CAPTAIN JANUARY" (20th-Fox) FAY'S— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Stork Club Revue." Gross: $6,000. (Average. $7,000) "THE DARK HOUR" (Chesterfield) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 davs. Stage: N.T.G.'s Revue. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $7,000) "DESIRE" (Para.) STRAND— (2,300). 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $6,500) "A MESSAGE TO GARCIA" (M-G-M) "PANIC ON THE AIR" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,800), 15c-40c. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $12,000) "A CONNECTICUT YANKEE" (20th -Fox) "BRIDES ARE LIKE THAT" (W.B.) MAJESTIC— (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $7,000)