Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

6 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 3, 1940 Holiday Nets Best Grosses In Ten Years (Continued from page 1) tractions. The estimated Sunday gross of $25,000 broke the one-day record set more than 10 years ago, while the estimated weekend take of $53,000 upset the weekend record set by "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Both the Astor and the Capitol played to capacity throughout the second week of "Gone With the Wind" at both houses. At the Capitol, the holiday week gross was an estimated $80,000 and at the Astor an estimated $22,000. Extra shows could not be added Sunday because of the length of the film. "The Light That Failed" at the Rivoli continued at a fast pace witn an estimated $22,000 rung up over the second weekend. Also in its second week, "Gulliver's Travels" with Glen Gray's orchestra, drew an estimated $25,000 at the Paramount over the weekend and $60,000 for the week. Because of its strong appeal for children, the film drew more than 13,000 admissions on each of five days during the holiday week. At the Strand, "Four Wives," in its second week with Abe Lyman's orchestra on the stage, took an estimated $36,000 for the weekend. The Globe, with "Big Guy" drew an estimated $6,500 while the Central, with "Marshal of Mesa City" and "North Sea Patrol," attracted an estimated $3,500. Neighborhood theatres generally reported equally increased business over the holiday. Along 42nd St., managers said Sunday night business was "tremendous." Fox Pushes Film Work in England (Continued from page 1) studio from Gainsborough to Shepherds Bush. "A great majority of theatres have reopened," he added, "but the running hours are still staggered so that too many people won't be on the street at once. The greatest hazard to business are the blackouts. On moonlit nights business is excellent." Kane said that the studio has completed its quota pictures up to March 31, including "King by Night" with Will Fyffe and "Shipyard Sally" with Gracie Fields. Kane is here to confer with Joseph Schenck, Darryl F. Zanuck and William Goetz. Kane will remain until Feb. 15. Graham, Hicks Confer Robert L. Graham has arrived from Ancon, Canal Zone, where he has been Paramount manager, to confer with John W. HiGks, Jr., vicepresident in charge of foreign distribution. He will go from here to Mexico City as assistant to Arthur L. Pratchett, Paramount general manager for Central America. Telewesco Formed Albany, Jan. 2. — Telewesco, Inc., Port Chester, N. Y., has been chartered, with H. I. Petti john, Hector Vieni and Anna Iahari as directors. Hollywood Review "High School (20//; Century-Fox) Hollywood, Jan. 2. — A lively story which gives Jane Withers every opportunity to enact one of her natural and unaffected roles should do much to put "High School" among her best pictures to date. Based on an idea by Robert Ellis and Helen Logan, the original screenplay by Jack Jungmeyer, Jr., Edith Skouras and Harold Tarshis is unfolded against the background of Thomas Jefferson High School, in San Antonio, Texas, a widely publicized institution by virtue of its corps of ROTC boys, girls' lariat groups and the like. Entering the school as an accomplished and cocky miss from a ranch, Jane discovers that the ability to get along with her fellow students is more than a matter of accomplishments or of being the Principal's niece. A final plot twist involves a chase in old cars, reminiscent of Keystone days, and just as pleasing to the audience, judging by previewnight reactions. Joe Brown, Jr., who is featured opposite Miss Withers, bids fair to establish himself solidly among audiences receptive to a completely disarming portrayal of youth. Paul Harvey, Lloyd Corrigan, Lynn Roberts and Cliff Edwards are seen to advantage, also, in the story directed by George Nicholls, Jr. Sol Wurtzel was executive producer, with John Stone as associate. First of a projected series, the picture should create a demand for a continuing supply of more of the same. Running time, 75 minutes. "G."* Walter Selden 'G" denotes general classification. Northwest Gross Up, Says Hamrick Theatre business in the Pacific Northwest has been on the upgrade in the last four months, according to John Hamrick, general manager of the Hamrick circuit in Seattle, Portland and Tacoma. Hamrick said that for a long time labor controversies in Seattle held grosses down, but the increase in employment at airplane plants and other industries has helped business materially of late. Hamrick is conferring with Spyros Skouras, head of National Theatres. In Seattle and Portland his theatres are part of National Theatres' Evergreen division. He will be here two weeks and then vacation in Florida and Palm Springs. Mrs. Hamrick is accompanying him. Midwest Buys Theatre Cincinnati, Jan. 2. — RKO Midwest Corp., which 20 years ago leased the 1,400-seatLyric, and the building containing storerooms and offices, with privilege of purchase at $680,000, and amortized the purchase price through annual rentals on which four and three-quarter per cent interest was paid, has made the final payment of §100,000, and acquired outright title to the property. Seek Fair Film Exhibit San Francisco, Jan. 2. — A drive has been started for a film picture industry exhibit at the 1940 Golden Gate International Exposition, to reopen on Treasure Island May 25 for a four-month run. M-G-M Buys 'Escape' Hollywood, Jan. 2.— M-G-M has purchased Ethel Vance's recent novel, "Escape," published first as a serial in the Saturday Evening Post. 'Hardy' at $9,500 In Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, Jan. 2. — "Judge Hardy and Son" drew $9,500 to lead the town at the Midwest, while "Gulliver's Travels" took $8,300 at the Criterion. Estimated takings for the week ending Dec. 30 : "Gulliver's Travels" (Para.) CRITERION — (1,500) (25c-35c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $4,500) "Allegheny Uprising" (RKO) LIBERTY — (1,200) (15c-20c-25c) 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average. $2,400) "Judge Hardy and Son" (M-G-M) MIDWEST— (1.500) (25c-35c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $4,000) "Ninotchka" (M-G-M) PLAZA— (750) (2Sc-35c-40c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $1,300. (Average, $1,100) "Amazing Mr. Williams" (Col.) STATE — (1,100) (20c-25c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,000) "Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President" (M-G-M) TOWER — (1,000) (25c -35c -40c) 6 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,750) 'Gulliver9 Detroit's Leader at $12,000 Detroit, Jan. 2.— A special Christmas showing of "Gulliver's Travels" for children helped the Michigan to reach $12,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Dec. 29: "Tower of London" (Univ.) "The Amazing Mr. Williams" (Col.) ADAMS— (1,700) (15c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $5,000) "Babes in Arms" (MGM) "Rulers of the Sea" (Para.) FISHER— (2,700) (15c-5;C) 7 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $5,000) "Everything Happens At Night" (ZOth-Fox) "Charlie McCarthy, Detective" (Univ.) FOX-(5,000) (20c-55c) 7 davs. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $12,000) "Gulliver's Travels" (Para.) "The Secret of Dr. Kildare" (M-G-M) MICHIGAN — (4,000) (15c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $10,000) ''Dead End Kids on Dress Parade" (W. B.) The Cat and the Canary" (Para.) PALMS— (3,000) (15c50c) 7 days. Gross: Si 900. (Average, $5,000) "Ju-te" Hardy and Son" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,000) (15c -40c) 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $10,000) Studio Work Slows Down, 30 Shooting Hollywood, Jan. 2. — Production dropped to 30 pictures before the cameras last week, as 15 finished and six started. Seventeen were being pegpared and 74 were being edited. f \ The tally by studios : ' ' COLUMBIA — Finished: "Five Little Peppers at Home," "Texas Express." In Work: "Blondie on a Budget," "Too Many Husbands." Started: "Passport to Alcatraz." GOLDWYN— In Work: "The Westerner." M-G-M — Finished: "Broadway Melody of 1940," "Young Tom Edison," "Arouse and Beware." In Work: "Strange Cargo," "Florian," "New Moon," "I Take This Woman." Started: "40 Little Mothers." MONOGRAM — Finished: "Chasing Trouble," "Pioneer Days." PARAMOUNT— Finished: "Safari," "Golden Gloves," "Hold Your Horses." In Work: "Down Went McGinty." PRODUCERS PICTURES — Finished: "Swift Justice," "Sagebrush Family Rides On." RKO— In Work: "The Primrose Path," "Irene," "Little Orvie," "Millionaire Playboy," Bill of Divorcement," "My Favorite Wife." REPUBLIC — Finished: "Village Barn Dance." In Work: "The Dark Command." EDWARD SMALL — In Work: "My Son, My Son." 20TH CENTURY-FOX— In Work: "Dance with the Devil," "Hotel for Women No. 2," "I Was An Adventuress." Started: "Cisco Kid No. 2." UNIVERSAL — Finished: "The Devil Is Yellow," "Rigadoon." In Work: "My Little Chickadee." Started: "It Happened in Kaloha," "Black Friday." WARNERS— In Work: "Virginia City," "We Shall Meet Again," "It All Came True," "Married, Pretty and Poor." Started: "Three Cheers for the Irish." $4,500 to 'Geronimo' As St. Louis Slumps St. Louis, Jan. 2. — Grosses were off here, but "Geronimo" and "High School" drew $4,500 at the Missouri. Estimated takings for the week ending Dec. 28 : "Raffles" (U. A.) "Dancing Co-Ed" (M-G-M) LOEWS STATE— (3,162) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $11,700. (Average. $13,000) "Everything Happens At Night" (20th-Fox) "The Honeymoon's Over" (20th-Fox) FOX— (5,038) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $11,000) "Charlie McCarthy, Detective" (Univ.) "Flying Deuces" (RKO) AMBASSADOR — (3,018) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $11,500) "Geronimo" (Para.) "High School" (20th-Fox) MISSOURI— (3,514) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000) 'Gulliver' at $6,500 Best in New Haven New Haven, Jan. 2. — "Gulliver's Travels" and "Television Spy" at the Paramount was the only bill to gross over average, with $6,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Dec. 28: "The Amazing Mr. Williams" (Col.) "Pack Up Your Troubles" (20th-Fox) COLLEGE — (1,499) (2Sc-35c) 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,700) "Judge Hardy and Son" (M-G-M) "City in Darkness" (20th-Fox) LOEW-POLI— (3,040) (35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $8,000) "Gulliver's Travels" (Para.) "Television Spy" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348) (35c-50c) 7 days Gross: $6,500. (Average, $4,000) "The Dark Angel" (U. A.) "Waterfront" (W. B.) ROGER SHERMAN-(2,348) (35c-50c) 4 days. Gross: $1,300. (Average, $5,000)