Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, December 23, 1936 Slump Settles Over Grosses In Washington Washington, Dec. 22. — The Christmas slump settled on grosses and they dropped under par all along the line, save in two spots where return engagements were under way. "Tarzan Escapes," playing at Loew's Columbia, took $4,300, to top the first run average by $700, and "Three Men on a Horse" at the Metropolitan grossed $4,800 as against a first run par of $4,300. In the first runs, "Go West, Young Man," playing the Earle with a stage show, just missed a par $18,400 by $100. "Rembrandt," playing RKO-Keith's, took $10,000, missing a par by $600, but the picture was held for a second week. Total first run business was $67,500. Average is $76,700. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax : Week Ending Dec. 8: "REMBRANDT" (U. A.) RKO-KEITH'S — (1,836), 25c-S5c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $10,600) Week Ending Dec. 9: "GYPSIES" (Amkino) BELASCO— (1,140), 25c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $3,000) "LOVE ON THE RUN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE — (2,370) , 35c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,900. (Average, first week, $15,900) Week Ending Dec. 10: "GO WEST, YOUNG MAN" (Para.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Clyde Lucas & His Orchestra, Olive & George, The Andersons. Gross: $18,300. (Average, $18,400) "OUR RELATIONS" (M-G-M) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: Lucky Millinder & His Mills Blue Rhythm Orchestra, Ethel Waters, Four Step Brothers, Conway & Parks, Chuck Richards. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $20,900) "TARZAN ESCAPES" (M-G-M) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $4,300. (Average, first run, $3,600) "THREE MEN ON A HORSE" (F. N.) METROPOLITAN— (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $4,800. (Average, first run, $4,300) Two Dags Ending Dec. 11: "CRIME ET CHATIMENT" (Lenauer) BELASCO— (1,140), 2Sc-75c, 2 days. Gross: $500. (Average, 7 days, $3,000) "Dance" New Haven Strong with $9,800 New Haven, Dec. 22. — "Born to Dance" lifted the Poli gross to $9,800, over par by $2,800. The picture was held at the College. "Winterset" and "Smartest Girl in Town" at the Roger Sherman did an excellent $7,200, over average by $2,500. Other spots were weak. Shopping hurt matinee business. Total first run business was $23,600. Average is $19,300. Estimated takings for the week ending Dec. 19 : • "A WOMAN REBELS'* (Radio) "MUMMY'S BOYS" (Radio) COLLEGE — (1,499), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $2,300. (Average, $2,800) "THE JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) "THE MAN I MARRY" (Univ.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $4,800) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,800. (Average, $7,000) "SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" (Radio) "WINTERSET" (Radio) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200), 35c50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $4,700) Theodora" Good Minneapolis Draw Minneapolis, Dec. 22. — "Theodora Goes Wild" nearly doubled an average gross of $6,000 at the Minneapolis Orpheum to go far in the lead during a slender week in the Twin Cities. The show took in $11,000 and was held for a second week. • In the only other box-office success of a week marked with sloppy weather, snow and much Christmas shopping, "Born to Dance" did $1,000 ;better than the usual $5,500 at the Paramount. Total first run business in Minneapolis was $25,000. Average is $25,500. Total first run business in St. Paul was $13,500. Average is $14,500. Estimated takings : Minneapolis: Week Ending Dec. 16: "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Para.) STATE— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 davs. Gross: $2,5<H>. (Average, $5',500) "15 MAIDEN LANE" (ZOth-Fox) LYRIC— (1,239), 20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending Dec. 17: r "LOVE ON THE RUN" (M-G-M) MINNESOTA— (4,000), 25c-55c, 8 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $10,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (2,900) , 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $6,000) "ECSTASY" (Eureka) WORLD— (400), 2Sc-35c, 7 days, 5th week. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $2,500) St. Paul: Week Ending Dec. 16: "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,500) "A WOMAN REBELS" (Radio) ORPHEUM— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $4,000) "OLD HUTCH" (M-G-M) RIVIERA— (1,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,500) Week Ending Dec. 18: "WILD BRIAN KENT" (20th-Fox) "15 MAIDEN LANE" (20th-Fox) TOWER— (1,000), 25c-35c, 7 davs. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,500) "Banjo" on a Dual Big at Milwaukee Milwaukee, Dec. 22. — Top in a just average week was "Banjo on My Knee" and "All American Chump" with a $9,800 take for nine days at Fox's Wisconsin. This was $1,800 to the good. "Pennies from Heaven" and "Along Came Love" took $5,000 at the circuit's Palace, just par business while all other houses dropped below average. The weather was mostly fair and mild with stores reporting heavy holiday business. Total first run business was $25,200. Average is $24,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Dec. 15: "WINTERSET" (Radio) "THE SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" (Radio) WARNER— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 6 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $5,000) Week Ending Dec. 17: "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "ALONG CAME LOVE" (Para.) PALACE— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000 (Average, $5,000) "KILLER AT LARGE" (Col.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 20c-25c-30c, 7 days. Stage: Major Bowes Anniversary Review. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $5,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) "EASY TO TAKE" (Para.) STRAND— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $1,100. (Average, $1,500) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (ZOth-Fox) "ALL AMERICAN CHUMP" (M-G-M) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 25c-35c-50c, 9 days. Gross: $9,800. (Average, $8,000) Three Films, Show Omaha's Best Bet Lincoln, Dec. 22. — Christmas buying monopolized the local scene last week but a trio of pictures with the Orpheum's stage show got a $550 profit, at $2,300. The pictures were "Wedding Present," "A Woman Rebels" and "Wanted: Jane Turner." Stuart barely eked $100 over the line at $3,200 with "Three Men on a Horse." The Lincoln with dual splits and running eight days got $2,700, $500 over the seven-day average. Four pictures included "My American Wife," "The General Died at Dawn," "Luckiest Girl" and "The Magnificent Brute." Total first run business wes $9,800. Average is $9,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Dec. 16: "OH, SUSANNAH" (Republic) ' FATAL LADY" (Para.) "MANDARIN MYSTERY" (Republic) "EASY MONEY" (Invincible) LIBERTY — (1,200), 10c-15c, 7 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $850) Week Ending Dec. 17: "GENERAL DIED AT DAWN" (Para.) "Mi' AMERICAN WIFE' (Para.) "MAGNIFICENT BRUTE" (Univ.) "LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD" (Univ.) LINCOLN— (1,600), 10c-20c-25c, 8 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $2,200) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) VARSITY— (1,100), 10c -20c -25c -35c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $800. (Average, $1,100) 'WEDDING PRESENT" (Para.) "WOMAN REBELS" (Radio) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (Radio) ORPHEUM — (1,350), 10c-15c-20c,25c, 7 days. Stage: 3 days of "Girly Go Round" unit, featuring Karyl Norman. Gross: $2,300. (Average, $1,750) Week Ending Dec. 18: "THREE MEN ON A HORSE" (F.N.) STUART— (2,000^ 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $3,100) "Relations" Dual Spokane's Winner Spokane, Dec. 22. — "Our Relations," on a dual with "Daniel Boone," took top honors in a week that was surprisingly good in spite of Christmas shopping. The take at the Orpheum was $4,500, over normal by $1,000. "Born To Dance" was $400 up on a take of $5,200 in its second week at the State, with Universal's reel on the life of King Edward VIII helping. "Come and Get It" and "Under Your Spell" were $500 to the good at $8,500 in the Fox. Front page publicity on the logging scenes made last year at Lewiston, Idaho, was a big help. Total first run business was $19,500. Average is $17,800. Estimated takings : Week Ending Dec. 16: "COME AND GET IT" (U.A.) "UNDER YOUR SPELL" (ZOth-Fox) FOX— (2,300), 25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $8,000) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) STATE— (1,000), 30c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $4,800) "DANIEL BOONE" (Radio) "OUR RELATIONS" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (1,200), 20c-30c, 5 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $3,500) "SHE SHALL HAVE MUSIC" (Imperial) GRANADA— (600). 15c-25c, 3 days. Gross: $500. (Average, $500) Week Ending Dec. 17: "THE MAN WHO LIVED AGAIN" (G.B.) "NORTH OF NOME" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (1,200), 20c-30c, 2 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $1,000) 13 "Make Way," Bernie Smash In St. Louis St. Louis, Dec. 22. — "Make Way for a Lady" and Ben Bernie's stage show were the big grossers of the week at $20,500 in the Ambassador. This topped the house average by $10,500. At Loew's "Born to Dance," aided only by shorts, was just a step behind with a take of $20,000, double the house average. It was held over. "Love in Exile," with a big radio publicity campaign that tied it in with the love troubles of King Edward, brought about $11,000 to the Missouri. No other attraction of the week was able to play to par business. The principal outside attractions were some big hockey games at the Arena, a Boy Scouts carnival at the same structure, and the customary free commercial shows at the Municipal Auditorium. Total first run business was $78,900. Average is $58,500. Estimated takings for the week ended Dec. 17 : "MAKE WAY FOR A LADY" (Radio), AMBASSADOR— (3,018), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Ben Bernie and band. Gross: $20,500. (Average, $9,000) "POLO JOE" (W. B.) "LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD" (Univ.) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $14,000) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $10,000) "LOVE IN EXILE" (G. B.) "EASY TO TAKE" (Para.) MISSOURI— (3,214), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $9,000) "THREE MEN ON A HORSE" (W,B.) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) ORPHEUM— (1,950), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,000) "EASY MONEY" (Republic) "ONE NIGHT OF LOVE" (Col.) SHUBERT-RIALTO— (1,725), 20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,600. (Average, $3,500) "MURDER WITH PICTURES" (Para.) "CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE" (W. B.) ST. LOUIS— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $7,000) Polish Industry in New Theatres Drive By R. SELLEI _ Warsaw, Dec. 10. — Producers and distributors in Poland have launched a movement to increase the number of film houses in the country. With a population of 34,000,000 there are only 750 theatres. The basis of the drive is the introduction of portable film shows, similar to those in use in other countries, as a means of popularizing the screen in the outlying districts. A second factor in the movement is a petition to the Government for a reduction in taxes. They consider the present basis, on seating capacity, unfair because often a small house will do proportionately better business than a large theatre. * * * Two railway lines in the country, those between Warsaw and Zakopane and between Krakow and Gdyynia, have introduced film showings. Special cars seating 60 have been attached to all trains on these lines for the screenings. Travel and tourist propaganda films only are being used at present.