Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Out Hollywood Way 6 "Andy Hardy" Washington's 2nd Week Hit Washington, Sept. 1. — ■ "Love Finds Andy Hardy*' took a snappy $7,700 in its second week at Loew's Columbia. This was §3,500 over normal and was the best comparative showing downtown. "Give Me a Sailor," with Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard, turned in $18,200, over par by $2,200, at the Earle. "Farewell to Arms" demonstrated strength at the Metropolitan on a take of $5,800. Total first run business was $62,300. Average is $62,000. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax, for the week ending Aug. 25 : "WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN ( ) LOEW'S CAPITOL — (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 davs. Stage: Local talent revue, "Going Native." Gross: $17,000. (Average, $16,500) "THE CROWD ROARS" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 25c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $11,500) "GIVE ME A SAILOR" (Para.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage. Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard. Gross: $18,200. (Average, $16,000) "LETTER OF INTRODUCTION" (Univ.) RKO-Keith's— (1.836), 25c-40c, 5 days, 3rd week. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $10,000) "LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY" (M-G-M) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,700. (Average, $4,200) "FAREWELL TO ARMS" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,S0O. (Average, $2,850) "Ragtime" $16,800 Milwaukee Leader Milwaukee, Sept. 1.— Top-notcher during Wisconsin State Fair week was "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and "Army Girl" at Fox's Wisconsin with a $16,800 take, just $8,800 to the good. The combination was held for a second week. The circuit's Palace, directly across the street, picked up considerable of the overflow from the Wisconsin crowds and grossed $9,800 with "Love Finds Andy Hardy" and "Rich Man, Poor Girl." This was $4,800 above average and the bill was held. The only other house to break par was the Warner, where "Boy Meets Girl" and "Penrod's Double Trouble" collected $5,500, just $500 to the good. Total first run business was $40,600. Average is $26,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 25 : "LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY" (M-G-M) "RICH MAN, POOR GIRL" (M-G-M) PALACE— (2,400), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $•9,800. (Average, $5,000) "THE MAIN EVENT" (Col.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 25c-30c, 7 days. Stage: "Knick Knacks of 1938." Gross: $4,400. (Average, $5,000) 'THE CROWD ROARS" (M-G-M) "LORD JEFF" (M-G-M) STRAND— (1,400), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,100. (Average, $4,500) "BOY MEETS GIRL" (W.B.) "PENROD'S DOUBLE TROUBLE" (F.N.) WARNER— (2,400), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: S5.500. (Average, $5,000) "ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND" (20th -Fox) "ARMY GIRL" (Republic) WISCONSIN — (3,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gro»»: $16,800. (Average, $8,000) Hollywood, Sept. 1. — William Gargan has been signed by Warners to play the lead opposite Kay Francis in "Women in the Wind," from the novel by Francis Walton. Col. Jack Major, Irvin S. Cobb's "protege," is one of the busiest persons in town. He's headlining the current show at the Orpheum, being master of ceremonies at the Trocadero Sunday nights, arranging a series of pictures featuring himself, and selling some of his songs and material to various studios . . . George Bancroft has been signed by Monogram to play the role of Jackie Cooper's father in "Gangster's Boy." . . . Norman Krasna, M-G-M producer, has left for a three months' vacation . . . Madeleine Carroll, Fred MacMurray and Shirley Ross will head the cast of Paramount's "Cafe Society," which Edward H. Griffith will direct . . . Freddie Bartholomew will leave shortly for a six-week personal appearance tour throughout the East . . . Ann Sothern draws a featured role in Wanger's "Trade Winds." + Casting — Alan Baxter in Wanger's "Trade Winds" . . . Douglas Dumbrille in "Unfit to Print," and Harvey Stevens and Henry Travers in "Crime Is a Racket," Warners . . . Albert Morin and Luis Alberni in "Vacation from Love," M-G-M . . . "Ragtime" $23,000 Smash at Buffalo Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 1. — "Alexander's Ragtime Band" literally had the good folks hereabouts dancing in the streets. They paid out $23,000 at the Buffalo wicket to see it in its first week, $11,000 over average and the summer's biggest take. "Little Tough Guy" did another admirable job at the Lafayette where it grossed $12,100. Average is $6,300. Both films were held. About 30,000 A. F. of L. conventioneers, who spent three days in town, probably contributed their share to these figures. It was also County Fair Week, a suburban event that annually attracts thousands out into the country. Total first run business was $48,800. Average is $38,600. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 27: "ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND" (20th-Fox) BUFFALO— (3,000), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $23,000. (Average, $12,000) "GIVE ME A SAILOR" (Para.) GREAT LAKES — (3,000) , 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $7,500) "GATEWAY" (20th-Fox) "MR. CHUMP" (W. B.) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average, $6,800) "RACKET BUSTERS" (W. B.) "SPEED TO BURN" (20th-Fox) CENTURY— (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $5,100. (Average, $6,000) "LITTLE TOUGH GUY" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $12,100. (Average, $6,300) "U" Gets Anatole Litvak Hollywood, Sept. 1. — Universal has signed Anatole Litvak to direct "Rio," Danielle Darrieux starring vehicle, which Joe Pasternak will produce. Donald O'Connor, Billy Cook and Billy Lee in "Tom Sawyer, Detective," Paramount . . . Grant Withers and Maxine Jennings will play leading roles in the Boris Karloff vehicle, "Mr. Wong, Detective," at Monogram . . . Janet Dempsey, sixyear-old singer-dancer, has been signed for RKO's "Miracle Racket" . . . Lana Turner and Ann Rutherford in "Dramatic School," M-G-M. Nana Bryant, Grant Mitchell, Edgar Kennedy, William Demarest, Benita Hume, Spanky MacFarland and Wade Boteler in Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus," LesserRKO . . . John Litel in "Password to Larkspur Lane," first of the Nancy Drew pictures at Warners. + Directors — James Flood will direct Warners' "Unfit to Print," starring Pat O'Brien, Joan Blondell and Bobby Jordan . . . Ben Holmes will guide "Little Orphan Annie," to be produced by John Speaks for Paramount release . . . William McGann will direct the second of the Secret Service series at Warners. + Contracts — John Twist, writer, has been given a new term deal at RKO . . . M-G-M has taken up its option on Gilbert Russell, English singer, and has placed him in the lead of the short, "The Passing Parade." "Ragtime Band" Is $15,000 N. H. Top New Haven, Sept. 1. — "Alexander's Ragtime Band," with "Making the Headlines" at the Loew-Poli, marched away with the business of a torrid week, and went directly into the College for a second week or more. The gross was $15,000, almost double the usual $8,000. "Mother Carey's Chickens" and "Danger Patrol" at the College took $2,000, under by $800. Total first run business was $23,400. Average is $19,900. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 26: "MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS" (RKO) "DANGER PATROL" (RKO) COLLEGE— (1,499), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,800) "ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND" (20th-Fox) "MAKING THE HEADLINES" (Col.) LOEW-POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $8,000) "THE TEXANS" (Para.) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND IN AFRICA" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348), 35c-50c, 9 days. Gross: $3,900. (Average, $4,400) "SKY GIANT" (RKO) "MR. CHUMP" (W. B.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: 2,500. (Average, $4,700) Plan Three in Indiana Indianapolis, Sept. 1. — Three new houses are planned for construction soon in Indiana cities. Bayliss & Shekels of Hammond plan a 500-seat house in Knox ; Theodore Charles, operator of the Moon in Vincennes, plans a 1, 500-seat spot in that city, and Ross Garver, operator of the Orpheum, Virginia and Swan in Terre Haute, will build a 600-seat house there. Friday, September 2, 193 "Ragtime" Is Sensation in Twin Cities Minneapolis, Sept. 1. — "Alexar der's Ragtime Band" was a sensatij at the State here and the Paramouf St. Paul. The take at the former \d $15,500, over par by $11,100, and : the latter the $8,500 gross was $4,K into the profit column. "Love Finds Andy Hardy" at tl Century took $6,000, up by $2,000, ar was moved to the State. "The Ama; ing Dr. Clitterhouse" was strong ; the Orpheum with $6,500. Par $4,800. Total first run business in Minn apolis was $29,500. Average is $14 800. Total first run business in £ Paul was $19,300. Average is $13,20 Estimated takings for the week en< ing Aug. 26: Minneapolis: "LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY" (M-G-f CENTURY— (1,600), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2 week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $4,000) "AMAZING DR. CLITHERHOUSE" (F.N.) ORPHEUM — (2,900), 25c-40c, 7 da^ Gross: $6,500. (Average, $4,800) "ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND" (ZOth-Fox) STATE— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gro: $15,500. (Average, $4,400) "LETTER OF INTRODUCTION" (Unr WORLD— (400), 25c-5Sc, 7 days, 2nd wei Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,600) St. Paul: Week Ending Aug. 26: "LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY" (M-G-l ORPHEUM — (2,000), 25c-40c, 8 da Gross: $5,500. (Average, $3,200) "ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,500), 25c-40c, S daGross: $8,500. (Average, $4,400) "COWBOY FROM BROOKLKYN" (W.I RIVIERA— (1,000), 25c, 7 days. Gros $2,700. (Average, $2,400) "GANGS OF NEW YORK" (RepubL "GOLD MINE IN THE SKY" (Republ TOWER— (1,000), 25c, 7 days. Gro! $2,000. (Average, $1,600) "THE RAGE OF PARIS" (Univ.) WORLD— (400), 25c-35c, 7 days, 2nd wee Gross: $600. (Average, $1,600) Lust Widens Activitiei Washington, Sept. 1. — Sidney Lust is going in for neighborhood a tivities in a big way. As a contribute to the safety campaign he has throv open a large lot adjacent to the Bo Theatre as a playground. He also h organized a football league in are where there are Lust houses and h signed Bill Jobs, local sports luminal as director. Cinecolor Signs Kruse Hollywood, Sept. 1. — J. Hen Kruse has been signed by Cinecoli Inc., as sales manager in charge the studio division. Howard C. Brow vice-president, has taken over t firm's expanding industrial film c partment. Mr. Kruse for four yea, was with Technicolor. He is a veter cinematographer, and heads his o\ camera rental business. Second Aluminum Filn A second commercial film on t processing of aluminum has been r| leased by the Aluminum Company America. It is called "Aluminu Fabricating Processes." It was ma by the Jam Handy organization.