Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1936)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, May 18, 1936 "Deeds" Has Big Holdover In Cleveland Cleveland, May 17. — "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," playing its second week downtown, continued to hold first place. It grossed $8,250 at the Allen, following a tremendous first week at Warners' Hippodrome. This was more than double the average house business. It was held a third week. "Under Two Flags" was the big success of the week's new attractions. It grossed $17,000 at Loew's State, where $12,000 is tops. It was moved over to the Stillman for a continued run. Bill Robinson, as the stage headliner, was the real reason the RKO Palace, showing "The Song and Dance Man" on the screen, chalked up a $21,000 gross against a $15,000 average. "I Married a Doctor" came through with an average of $8,000 at Warners' Hippodrome and "Too May Parents" at Loew's Stillman, dropped down to $2,000 or 50 per cent off the usual take. "The Great Ziegfeld" had a good second week at the Hanna with a reported gross of $13,000. It, also, was held a third week. Total first run business, exclusive of the road showing of "Ziegfeld" was $56,250. Average is $42,000. Estimated takings for the week ending May 8: "MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN" (Col.) ALLEN— (3,300), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,250. (Average, $3,000) "UNDER TWO FLAGS" (20th-Fox) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $12,000) "TOO MANY PARENTS" (Para.) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,900), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $4,000) "THE SONG AND DANCE MAN" (ZOth-Fox) RKO PALACE— (3.100), 30c-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Bill Robinson, Fats Waller and a Colored Revue. Gross: $21,000. Average, $15,000) "I MARRIED A DOCTOR" (W. B.) WARNER'S HIPPODROME— (3,800), 30c35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $8,000) "THE GREAT ZIEGFELD" (MGM) HANNA — (1.500), 50c-75c-$1.00-$1.50), 7 days. Gross: $13,000 "Two Flags" Omaha Winner at $6,900 Omaha, May 17. — "Under Two Flags," on a dual with "Too Many Parents," was the first run leader with a gross of $6,900 at the Omaha. This was $1,900 over normal. "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" was still strong in its second week at the Brandeis, going over the line $700 for a take of $4,200. Total first run business was $18,600. Average is $16,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending May 6: "UNDER TWO FLAGS" (20th-Fox) "TWO MANY PARENTS" (Para.) OMAHA— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,900. (Average, $5,000) "MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN" (Col.) BRANDIES— (1,200). 25c-35c-40c, 7 davs, 2nd week. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $3,500) Week Ending May 7: "PETTICOAT FEVER" (M-G-M) "GARDEN MURDER CASE" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM — (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $7,500) ' Flags" a $14,000 Top in Louisville Lou i sville, May 17. — "Under Two Flags" was a smash hit at the Rialto, sending the gross to $14,000, over the line by $9,500. It was held over. A heavy exploitation campaign, and expensive lobby display helped. Other first runs felt the opposition. Loew's State couldn't climb over $4,500, with "Robin Hood of El Dorado" and "Don't Gamble With Love," while the Strand nosedived with " 'Till We Meet Again" and "The Sky Parade," getting only $2,400. "Special Investigator" at the Brown could not get better than $1,800, and "Times Square Playboy" at the Mary Anderson was a disappointment, taking only $1,900. Weather has been much too warm for theatre attendance. The race meeting at Churchill Downs claimed the attention of the public almost exclusively. Total first run business was $28,300. Average is $24,200. Estimated takings for the week ending May 7: "ROBIN HOOD OF EL DORADO" (M-G-M) "DON'T GAMBLE WITH LOVE" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $5,500) "UNDER TWO FLAGS" (Para.) RIALTO — (3,000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $4,500) "SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR" (Radio) BROWN — (1,400), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $2,800) "TILL WE MEET AGAIN" (Para.) "THE SKY PARADE" (Para.) STRAND — (1,500), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $3,500) "TIMES SQUARE PLAYBOY" (W.B.) MARY ANDERSON— (1,000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $1,900. (Average, $3,500) "BROADWAY BILL" (Col.) "DESERT GOLD" (Para.) NATIONAL— (2,400), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Carlos Molina Orchestra, Charles & Helen Stone, Ricardo, Myrna Louise, Carol Lansing, Beth Dean, Hope Hall, Reilly, Thrower & La Dayne, four days; straight pictures, three davs. Gross: $2,500. (Average $3,000) "COMIN' ROUND THE MOUNTAIN" (Republic) "REMEMBER LAST NIGHT" (Univ.) "THREE ON THE TRAIL" (Para.) "DANGEROUS INTRIGUE" (Col.) ALAMO — (900), 15c-25c, 7 days, split week. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,400) "Deeds" Sensation In Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, May 17. — "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" proved a sensation at the Midwest. It ran the take up to $6,500, passing normal by $2,500. "Under Two Flags" was in the big money, too, getting $6,000 at the Criterion. This was $1,000 over the line. "The^Liberty took $2,800 in four days with "The Walking Dead" and a stage show. Total first run business was $16,600. Average is $14,000. Estimated takings for the week ending May 9 : "UNDER TWO FLAGS" (20th-Fox) CRITERION— (1,700). 10c-26c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN" (Col.) MIDWEST— (1,500), 10c-26c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $4,000) "BIG BROWN EYES" (Para.) CAPITOL— (1,200). 10c-20c-26c-40c, 4 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $2,000) "WALKING DEAD" (W. B.) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-20c-26c,35c, 4 days. Stage: "Monkey Shines." Gross: $2,800.. (Average, week, $3,000) "ITS A GREAT LIFE" (Para.) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-20c-26c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $500. (Average week, $3,000) "Ziegfeld" $8,000 Denver Hit; Held Denver, May 17. — "The Great Ziegfeld" was a sellout in its first week as a roadshow at the Broadway. The $8,000 gross was $6,500 over a normal take at regular prices at this house and the film was held. In the face of this competition "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" held up to $4,500 at the Aladdin, following a week each at the Denver and Paramount, and it probably will be transferred to the Broadway for another week when "Ziegfeld" winds up there. "Under Two Flags" went to the Aladdin for a third week after getting $6,000 at the Paramount, following a week at the Denver. "The Case Against Mrs. Ames" went over in a big way, with a stage show, at the Denham. The $10,OOJ take was more than 100 per cent over normal. Total first run business was $46,000. Average is $26,000. Estimated takings for the week ending May 14: "MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN" (CoL) ALADDIN— (1,500), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days, following week at each the Denver and Paramount. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $3,000) "THE GREAT ZIEGFELD" (M-G-M) BROADWAY— (1,500), 50c-75c-$l-$1.36, 7 days, twice daily. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $1,500) 'THE CASE AGAINST MRS. AMES" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $4,500) "I MARRIED A DOCTOR" (W. B.) DENVER — (2,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $7,500) "MOONLIGHT MURDER" (M-G-M) "ABSOLUTE QUIET" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $6,000) "UNDER TWO FLAGS" (ZOth-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days, following week at the Denver. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $3,500) Providence Houses Fall into a Slump Providence, May 17.— Theatres felt the forerunner of the summer slump last week, none managing to reach par, although the attractions were favorably received. "Champagne Charlie" and a revue came the nearest at Fay's where the take was $500 down at $6,500. "The Unguarded Hour" and "Moonlight Murder" caught only $9,000 at Loew's, $3,000 under, and "Big Brown Eyes" and "Doughnuts and Society" was $1,000 below average at the Strand where the bill caught $5,500. At the Majestic "The Golden Arrow" and "The First Baby" did §5,600. Total first run business was $31,900. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week ending May 14: "SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR" (Radio) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Bring on the Dames" revue. Gross: $5,300. (Average. $7,000) "THE GOLDEN ARROW" (W. B.) "THE FIRST BABY" (W. B.) MAJESTIC— (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 davs. Gross: $5,600. (Average, $7,000) "BIG BROWN EYES" (Para.) "DOUGHNUTS AND SOCIETY" (Republic) STRAND — (2,300). 15c-40c, 7 davs. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $6,500) "CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE" (ZOth-Fox) FAY'S— (1.600), 15c-40c. 7 days. Stage: "Silver Slipper" revue. Gross: $6,500. (Average. $7,000) "THE UNGUARDED HOUR" (M-G-M) "MOONLIGHT MURDER" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,800), 15c-40c, 7 days Gross: $9,000. (Average, $12,000) "Hour;' with Vallee, Smash In the Capital Washington, May 17. — "The Unguarded Hour" and Rudy Vallee and His Connecticut Yankees crashed through at Loew's Fox to a gross 01 $29,000. Opening strong and building throughout the week, the take topped par by $8,100. "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," at the. Metropolitan again topped the firs' run par, taking $8,000 on the seconc week of a continued run (the thirc downtown week), or $3,700 over average. A third week was ordered. "Ecstasy," at the Belasco for a second week, took $5,800 to top the firs' week average by $2,800, and was continued a third week. At Loew's Co lumbia, "The Country Doctor" tool $4,200, over par by $600. "The Golden Arrow" and Majoi Bowes' Amateurs on the stage slippec $400 to a gross of $18,000 at the Earle and "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine' at Loew's Palace dropped to $13,500 $2,400 under the average. RKO-Keith's pulled "The Witness Chair" after six days. "The Ex-Mrs Bradford" replaced. Total first run business was $83,000 Average is $76,700. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax Six Days Ending May 5: "THE WITNESS CHAIR" (Radio) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, 6 days Gross: $4,500. (Average, seven days, $10,600; Week Ending May 7: "THE GOLDEN ARROW" (F.N.) EARLE— (2,218). 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage ! Major Bowes' "All Star Amateurs," wit! Loring Smith, m. c, Deehan & Kramer Boole Powell, Ann Mahoney, Parker Berly Stanley Brothers, Gloria Rich, Tony Russo Dorothy Bows, Billy Clower, Eagles Har monica Quintette, Raymond Trotter. Gross $18,000. (Average, $18,400) "THE COUNTRY DOCTOR" (20th-Fox LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,264). 25c-40c. days (return engagement). Gross: $4,200 (Average, first run, $3,600) "THE UNGUARDED HOUR" (M-G-M) LOEW'S FOX— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days Stage: Rudy Vallee & His Connecticu Yankees, with Cyril Smith & Hilde^ardi Haliday; Ford, Booey, & Daley; the Threi Graces, The Gentlemen Songsters. Gross $29,000. (Average. S20.900) "TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE' (Para.) LOEW'S PALACE — (2,370), 35c-55c, days. Gross: $13,500. (Average. $15,909 "MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN" (Col. METROPOLITAN— (1,591), 25c-40c, days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. Average first run. $4,300) Week Ending May 8: "ECSTASY" (Eureka) BELASCO— (1.140), 25c-65c, 7 davs, 2n. week. Gross: $5,800. (Average, first week $3,000) Drops Stage Policy Cincinnati, May 17.— The RKC Shubert here has discontinued the recently installed policy of a permaneir chorus and five acts in addition tc films, after returns indicated the venture to be unprofitable. The house ha.' resumed a straight film policy unti its expected closing for the summei in a few weeks. "U" Assigns Producer Hollywood, May 17. — "Three Little Sisters" will be the first picture tc be produced in this country by Josepl Pasternack, producer, and Henrj Koster, director, for Universal. The story is by Adele Comandini. The pair were brought to America by the company following the closing of the Budapest studios.