Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1937)

14 MOTION' PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 15, 1937 "Smart Girls" Minneapolis' Lead, $8,300 Minneapolis, Jan. 14. — "Three Smart Girls" started the new first run policy at the Century by forging ahead for a gross of $8,300. Estimated average is $3,500. The show was held for another week. At the Orpheum, "That Girl From Paris" grossed $10,000. Average is $6,000 on a bill with a stage show, "Riviera Follies." "A Midsummer Night's Dream" closed a two-week run at the World with $2,500, over normal by $500. "College Holiday" upped the normal of $5,500 at the Paramount by $500 and "That Girl From Paris" did $1,300 more than the usual $4,000. Grosses still kept above normal even after the holiday period. Total first run business in Minneapolis was $38,800. Average is $27,000. Total first run business in St. Paul was $15,900. Average is $14,500. Estimated takings : Minneapolis : Week Ending Jan. 6: "STOWAWAY" (2ttth-Fox) STATE— (2,400), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500) "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" (W. B.) WORLD— (400), 25c-35c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $2,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) ORPHEUM— (2,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Riviera Follies." Gross: $10,000. (Average, $6,000) Week Ending Jan. 5: "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) MINNESOTA— (4,000), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $10,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) CENTURY— (1,600), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $3,500) St. Paul: Week Ending Jan. 6: "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,300), 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500) "WITHOUT ORDERS" (Radio) "HOT MONEY" (W. B.) TOWER— (1,000), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,600. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending Jan. 5: "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) RIVIERA— (1,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,500) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) ORPHEUM — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $4,000) Yellow Dogs to Move Denver, Jan. 14. — The local Yellow Dogs chapter has arranged for new club rooms which will be open soon. Three rooms on the second floor of the Brown Palace Hotel will be set aside. It is planned to have another show in the near future to raise additional funds. It has been decided that the membership in the future will be confined to those connected with the amusement industry. Ohio's Revenue Gains Columbus, Jan. 14. — Despite the fact that the 1936 Ohio sales tax law did not become effective until Jan. 27, and that receipts were materially reduced by the repeal of tax on foods later in the year, the total revenue to the state for 1936 amounted to $55,798,781. This was more than $9,427,940 in excess of the 1935 figures. "Thin Man" Leads Big N. H. Business New Haven, Jan. 14.— Midnight New Year's Eve shows at advanced prices at all but the College, an excellent New Year's Day, with evening admissions in effect throughout, and a fine week-end, sent grosses skyrocketing. The Poli broke the house record at present prices and beat the takes for the circuit with "After the Thin Man" and "Come Closer, Folks," more than doubling the usual $7,000 with a $15,000 gross. The bill was moved to the College for another week. The Paramount used its s.r.o. sign for the vaudeville on New Year's Eve at $1.10, and, continuing to do business through the week with "The Plainsman," made a brilliant showing at $11,600, over par by $6,700. The picture was held. "Gold Diggers of 1937" and "King of Hockey" at the Roger Sherman took $8,000, well over the average $4,700. Total first run business was $38,900. Average is $19,400. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 8: "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) COLLEGE — (1,499), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $2,800) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348), 35c-50c, 7 days. (Midnite show, $1,10, vaudeville and "Let's Make a Million".) Gross: $11,600. (Average, $4,900) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "COME CLOSER, FOLKS" (Col.) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 days. (Midnite show, 50c-75c.) Gross: $15,000. (Average, $7,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) "KING OF HOCKEY" (W.B.) ROGER SHERMAN — (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. (Midnite show, 50c-75c.) Gross: $8,000. (Average, $4,700) "Born Dance" Gets Lead in Montreal Montreal, Jan. 14. — "Born to Dance" was the leader in a neckand-neck box-office race. It grossed $13,000 at the Palace, over par by $2,000. "College Holiday," one of the duo at the Capitol, was responsible for $11,500, while "Smartest Girl in Town," backed by vaudeville, brought $12,500 to Loew's. "Pennies from Heaven," one of two features at the Princess, took $8,500 while the second week of "Rembrandt" at His Majesty's was worth $6,500 and was held for a third week. The weather included rain and sleet, pavements being in wretched condition. Total first run business was $52,000. Average is $43,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 9 : "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "ACCUSING FINGER" (Para.) CAPITOL — (2,547) , 25c-35c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $9,50C) "REMBRANDT" (British) "MAN IN THE MIRROR" (British) HIS MAJESTY'S— (1,700), 25c-35c-40c-50c. 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,000). Held over for third week. "SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" (Radio) LOEW'S— (3,115), 25c-34c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Red Skelton's "Manhattan Scandals." Gross: $12,500. (Average, $10,500) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) PALACE — (2,600). 25c-35c-4Oc-50fc-65c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $11,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) PRINCESS — (2,272), 25c-30c-35c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $7,000) "Thin Man" $8,300 Grosser in Seattle Seattle, Jan. 14. — Top money for the week went to "After the Thin Man" at the Fifth Avenue with a take of $8,300, over par by $1,300. "One in a Million" and "Smart Blonde" at the Orpheum were in the money on a gross of $7,150. New Year's business was excellent, but a heavy snowstorm and severe cold followed, with all kinds of business hard hit. Total first run business was $41,oUU. Average is $41,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 4: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) FIFTH AVENUE— (2,500), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $7,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) BLUE MOUSE— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Fifth Avenue. Gross: $2,850. (Average, $4,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "NORTH OF NOME" (Col.) LIBERTY— (1,800), 15c-25c-30c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $5,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) MUSIC BOX— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Paramount. Gross: $3,100. (Average, $4,000) "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Univ.) "ARIZONA MAHONEY" (Para.) MUSIC HALL— (2,275), 25c-35c, 7 days. Vaudeville headed by Earl Earle & Co. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,500) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "SMART BLONDE" (F.N.) ORPHEUM — (2,450), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,150. (Average, $6,000) "COUNTRY GENTLEMEN" (Republic) PALOMAR— (1,500), 15c-25c-35c, 7 days. Vaudeville headed by Sammy White. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $4,500) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD" (Univ.) PARAMOUNT— (3,050), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $6,000) "Theodora" Second Week Portland Top Portland, Jan. 14. — "Theodora Goes Wild" in its second week at the Paramount again led the way and grossed $8,500, over average by $3,500, with the assistance of "Can This Be Dixie?" "After the Thin Man" was held for a third successful week at the Broadway, bringing in $7,000, over the regular take by $2,000. In its second week at United Artists, "Camille" drew $7,900, up by $2,900. Total first run business was $36,900. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 9 : "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "DOWN THE STRETCH" (F. N.) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 4th downtown week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $1 ,700) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) "NORTH OF NOME" (Col.) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "SMART BLONDE" (W. B.) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) "CAN THIS BE DIXIE" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $5,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (945), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,900. (Average, $5,000) 44 Thin Man" up With $40,000 In Washington Washington, Jan. 14. — Loew's Capitol hit $40,000 in eight days for "After the Thin Man" and the "Folies Parisienne" Revue. The gross was $19,100 over average and represented the greatest gross since inauguration, 1933, when $39,000 was taken on seven days. The New Year's spurt continued throughout the week to a total take of $100,400— the largest in more than three years. A return engagement of "Born to Dance" at Loew's Columbia took $6,100, over the first run average by $2,500. "Smart Blonde" at the Metropolitan was good for $6,800, to top average by $2,500. "That Girl from Paris" at RKOKeith's took $15,500, or $4,900 over average, and went into a second week. Casualty of the week, however, was the Belasco, which folded Jan. 4. Total first run business was $100,400. (Average is $76,700.) Estimated takings, exclusive of tax : Four Days Ending Jan. 4: "WEEKEND MILLIONAIRE" (G. B.) BELASCO — (1,140), 25c-65c, 4 days. Gross: $300. (Average, seven days, $3,000.) House closed. Week Ending Jan. 7: "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (F. N.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Little Jack Little and Orchestra, Herbert Mundin, Three Robins. Gross: $21,000. (Average, $18,400.) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $6,100. (Average, first run, $3,600.) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE^(2,370), 25c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,700. (Average, first week, $15,900.) "SMART BLONDE" (F. N.) METROPOLITAN — (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $4,300.) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $10,600.) Eight Days Ending Jan. 7: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c, 8 days. Stage: "Folies Parisienne" Revue, with Four Craddocks, Red Dust, League of Nations Trio, George Campo & Elsie Roy, Rosalean & Seville, Georges Bruaya, Andre Randall, Meta Carlyle, Eight Argentinas, chorus of "60 French models." Gross: $40,000. (Average, seven days, $20,900.) First Run in 3 Houses Seattle, Jan. 14. — Some sort of record is being established here by "College Holiday," the first picture to play a first run engagement in three different theatres. It opened at the Fifth Avenue, was moved to the Blue Mouse for an extended run, then went to the Music Box for a third-week continuation of the extended run. Bronson Is Promoted Pittsburgh, Jan. 14. ■ — George Bronson has been promoted by Warners from the Sheridan Square to manage the Enright in East Liberty, replacing John McCurdy, resigned. Lyle Harding has been moved from the Regent to the Sheridan Square, Sam Gould from the Cameraphone and Sam Kleeban, assistant at the Regal in Wilkinsburg, to manage the Cameraphone.