Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1936)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, August 21, 1936 16 "Rhythm" Hits K.C. Heat to Score $15,400 Kansas City, Aug. 20. — "Rhythm On the Range" played a sweet tune at the Mainstreet box-office, bringing in $15,400 for the high comparative gross in an extremely hot week during which there was some stout night baseball competition. This figure was profitable by $7,400, and the picture was moved to the Newman for a second week. "His Brother's Wife" opened strong and continued packing them in at the matinees to cross the $11,500 line by $6,900. "We Went to College" was over average by $700, with $7,200 at the Tower. The other first run box-offices were quiet. The Newman's double bill, "Secret Agent" and "Girl of the Ozarks" did a poor $5,500 in eight days, well below the $8,000 average, and the reissue of "State Fair" proved so disappointing it was pulled after taking $2,600 in five days, $600 shy of an average showing. Total first run business was $49,100. Average is $37,200. Estimated takings : Week Ending Aug. 12: "STATE FAIR" (20th-Fox) UPTOWN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 5 days. Gross: $2,600. (Average, $3,200) Week Ending Aug. 13: "HIS BROTHER'S WIFE" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $18,400. (Average, $11,500) "WE WENT TO COLLEGE" (M-G-M) TOWER— (2,200), 25c, 7 days. Stage: Sid Gordon, The Carltons, Murray and Fane, and Natalie Kahn. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $6,500) Week Ending Aug. 14: "RHYTHM ON THE RANGE" (Para.) MAINSTREET— (3,100) , 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $15,400. (Average, $8,000) "SECRET AGENT" (GB) "GIRL OF THE OZARKS" (Para.) NEWMAN — (1,900), 25c-40c, 8 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $8,000) "Rhythm" Doubles Average in Omaha Omaha, Aug. 20. — "Rhythm on the Range," on a dual bill with "Educating Father," at the Omaha, was sensational, drawing $10,000 to exactly double the house average. The result was an indefinite holdover. "Blackmailer" and "Two Against the World" at the Brandeis, dropped $800 under the $3,500 par, and was pulled after six days to make way for "Mary of Scotland." The weather held excessively warm, the thermometer just glancing at the 100 mark in passing. Total first run business was $19,900. Average is $16,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Aug. 11: "TWO AGAINST THE WORLD" (F. N.) "BLACKMAILER" (Col.) BRANDEIS— (1,200), 25c-35c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $3,500) Week Ending Aug. 12: "RHYTHM ON THE RANGE" (Para.) "EDUCATING FATHER" (20th-Fox) OMAHA— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $5,000) Week Ending Aug. 13: "THE BIG NOISE" (W. B.) "DEVIL DOLL" (M-G-M) ORFHEUM — (3,000), 25c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,500) "Rhythm" Buffalo Best at $13,200 Buffalo, Aug. 20. — "Rhythm on Range" took top money here as grosses held up well in the face of blistering heat and a winning baseball team at home. It drew $13,200 to the Buffalo, breaking par by $1,700. "The Green Pastures" failed to weather a second week at the Great Lakes. It was replaced on Wednesday by "Sing, Baby Sing." "Suzy" was steady in its second week at the Hippodrome, drawing $7,500, over average by $500. Total first run business was $39,700. Average is $36,900. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 15 : "RHYTHM ON THE RANGE" (Para.) BUFFALO— (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $13,200. (Average, $11,500) "SUZY" (M-G-M) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $7,000) Four Days Ending Aug. 11: "THE GREEN PASTURES" (W.B.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800 for four days. (Average, full week, $7,000) "SPENDTHRIFT" (Para.) "FORGOTTEN FACES" (Para.) CENTURY— (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,600) "COUNTERFEIT" (Col.) "ABDUL THE DAMNED" (Col.) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,800) Lincoln Swelters, First Runs Mourn Lincoln, Aug. 20. — Sweltering heat did a comeback this week and humidity was terrific, although no rain fell. Temperatures ranged between 104 and 111 all through the week, which was a crippler at the box-office. Houses gave impression of being pretty well filled, but it was mostly stayovers to take shelter from the heat. "Green Pastures" at the Stuart started very well, but took it on the downbeat after the opening. Final cash count revealed $3,400, about $300 above normal. "Earthworm Tractors" was better at the Lincoln with a $2,700 take, representing a $500 profit. All the other houses were beating the back trail. Total first run business for this week, $9,150. Average is $8,650. Estimated takings : Week Ending Aug. 12: "HEART OF THE WEST" (Para.) "JAILBREAK" (F. N.) LIBERTY— (1,200), 10c-15c, 7 days on split, first film for three days. Gross: $750. (Average, $850) Week Ending Aug. 13: "EARTHWORM TRACTORS" (W. B.) LINCOLN— CI. 600), 10c-20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $2,200) "M'LISS" (RKO) "36 HOURS TO KILL" (20th-Fox) ORPHEUM— (1.350). 10c-15c-20c, 7 days on dual basis. Gross: $1,400. (Average, $1,400) "McKENNA OF THE MOUNTED" (Col.) "BLACKMAILER" (Col.) VARSITY— (1,100), 10c-15c, 7 days, first film for three. Gross: $900. (Average, $1,100) Week Ending Aug. 14: "GREEN PASTURES" (W. B.) STUART— (2,000), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,400. (Average, $3,100) Form Carolina Firm Ayden. N. C, Aug. 20. — Carolina Playhouses, Inc., capitalized at $25,000, has been chartered. The principals include Wilbur C. Ormond of Ayden, H. C. Ormond and Mrs. Ada Hardee Ormond of Hookerton. "Wife" Providence Smash at $15,500 Providence, Aug. 20. — Ideal weather helped grosses here for the week although exhibitors iear the opening ot Narragansett racetrack will cut into matinee business for the remainder of August. "His Brother's Wife" at Loew's State was sensational, picking up $15,5UO. The usual house take is $12,000. Both the Majestic and Fays had par weeks, each with $7,000. I he former had "Public Enemy's Wife" and "Velvet Claws" while Fays ran a dual bill of vaudeville and "3b Hours to Kill." The. Strand, with "Hearts in Bondage" and "Ticket to Paradise" was $J0U down at $6,000. The Albee stage oflered competition, grossing about $7,000. Total first run business was $35,500. Average is $32,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 13 : 'PUBLIC ENEMY'S WIFE" (W. B.) ' VELVET CLAWS" (F. N.) MAJESTIC— (2,400;, 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. ( Average, $7,000) "HEARTS IN BONDAGE" (Republic) "TICKET TO PARADISE" (Republic) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,500) "HIS BROTHER'S WIFE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $12,000) "36 HOURS TO KILL" (20th-Fox) FAYS— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. On stage: Five acts of vaudeville. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "Wife" at $10,000 Indianapolis High Indianapolis, Aug. 20. — "His Brother's Wife" was a smash hit at Loew's, pulling $10,000 into the box office, $4,000 over normal. Matinee business was particularly heavy. "To Mary— With Love" was $1,500 over the line at the Apollo, excellent summer business, and it was held over for a second week. "Girls' Dormitory" at the Lyric was $1,200 over, to $8,200, plus a vaudeville bill. "Rhythm on the Range" and "Bunker Bean" in their second week at the Circle took $3,500, $500 below normal. Moderate weather is believed to have aided takes. Total first run business was $27,200. Average is $21,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 14: "TO MARY— WITH LOVE" (20th-Fox) APOLLO— (1,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $4,000) "RHYTHM ON THE RANGE" (Para.) "BUNKER BEAN" (Radio) CIRCLE— (2,800). 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,000) "HIS BROTHER'S WIFE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,800) , 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $6,000) "GIRLS' DORMITORY" LYRIC— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Vaudeville. Gross: $8,200. (Average, $7,000) Jobs, Savings Show Gains in New Haven New Haven, Aug. 20. — Employment figures issued by the local Chamber of Commerce reveal that employment for June, 1936, was the highest since Jan., 1931. These do not include WPA and other Government projects. Bank deposits also reached the highest point since 1929 in Tune of this year. Interpreting these figures, the Chamber contrasts them with the usual seasonal slump in June, and expresses great optimism for New Haven's future. "Wife" Leads Detroit Race With $26,200 Detroit, Aug. 20. — "His Brother's Wife" was the big grosser of the week here, clearing a splendid $26,200, against the house average at the Michigan of $20,000. An NBC radio revue on the stage helped the gross. The Fox, with "It's Love Again," went over par by $2,300 to gross $22,300. "The Green Pastures" bettered the average at the United Artists with a gross of $12,200 against a par of $10,000. The weather was fair and cool. Total first run business was $69,100. Average is $60,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 13 : "THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW" (U.) "PAROLE" (U.) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,100. (Average, $5,000) "ITS LOVE AGAIN" (G.B.) FOX— (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage, vaude. Gross: $22,300. (Average, $20,000) "HIS BROTHER'S WIFE" (M-G-M) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage, NBC Radio revue. Gross: $26,200. (Average, $20,000) "EARTHWORM TRACTOR" (W.B.) "EASY MONEY" (Chesterfield) STATE— (3,000), 10c-4Oc, 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $5,000; "THE GREEN PASTURES" (W.B.) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days, second week. Gross: $12,200. (Average, $10,000) Building Continues Active in Toronto Toronto, Aug. 20. — Almost every week is marked by announcements regarding new theatres in Toronto, two more projects having been revealed during the past few days. B. and F. Theatres, Ltd., Toronto, a subsidiary of Famous Players Canadian Corp., has started construction of a $60,000 suburban house, to seat 750. The house will be air-conditioned. Village Theatres, Ltd., Toronto, is erecting a theatre in the Forest Hill Village section, also to cost $60,000. The comparatively new Circle in North Toronto is to be enlarged before the fall season opens. The new house nearing completion at Bathurst St. and St. Clair Ave. here, is to be named Radio City. Goring in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Aug. 20. — John Goring, who leased and operated the old Criterion in New York for 17 years and later operated a string of his own houses, has just been named manager of the Fulton here by the Shea-Hyde circuit. He succeeds Dan Fenton, who has returned to New York to await a new assignment. The Fulton, which has been closed since the flood last March, has just reopened. M-G-M Shifts Brauman Pittsburgh, Aug. 20. — For the last two years chief booker for M-G-M here, Milton Brauman has been transferred to St. Louis where he will become office manager of the company's branch there. John J. Maloney. exchange manager, has promoted Eddie Moriarity, assistant to Brauman, to the latter's post while John Zominir moves up to Moriarity's vacated spot.