Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

Of I o I' e r 1 9 3 9 1265 Weekly Box Office Check-Up And Showmen's Ad. Tips In Figuring Percentage Rating On Pictures, The Normal Or Average Business Of The Theatre Is Taken As 100% Abie's Irish Rose (Par.) OKLAHOMA CITY. OKLA.— Rialto Theatre, 4 days, 10c-25c, Vitaphone vaudeville acts. Weather, cool and pleasant. Opposition : "Two Men and a Maid," "Her Private Life." "Big News," "College Love." "The Greene Murder Case," "Say It With Songs." Rating, 100%. AD TIPS— Over 18,000,000 people recognize its human appeal. Five years on Broadway. Now it's on the screen. The greatest comedy hit of all times. With a cast of leading screen artists, some from original production. Excellent money maker for box office. Audience appeal : all ages and classes. — Rialto Theatre, Oklahoma City, Okla. Argyle Case, The (W.B.) TACOMA, WASH.— Blue Mouse Theatre (601), 7 days. 25c-75c, two Vitaphone acts, talking comedy and Movietone News. Weather, fine. Opposition: "Half Marriage," "Single Standard," "Madame X." Rating, 95%. AD TIPS — Extra space in newspapers. Exploited Meighan's first talkie. Meighan signs on front and in lobby. Appeal : general. This being week after big fair, business was off a bit. — Blue Mouse Theatre, Ned Edris, Mgr., Tacoma, Wash. Big News (Pathe) OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.— Liberty Theatre (1,800). 10c-50c, 7 days, Movietone News "Black Narcissus" (Pathe), negro talking comedy. Weather, cool and pleasant. Opposition : "Two Men and a Maid," "Her Private Life," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "College Love," "Abie's Irish Rose." "The Greene Murder Case," "Say It With Songs." Audience appeal : ail classes. Rating, 100%. Broadway (U.) MILWAUKEE, WIS.— Alhambra Theatre (2.000), 7 days, 25c-60c, Universal News. Weather, cool and fair. Opposition: "Mvsteriious Dr. Fu Manchu," "Gold Diggers of Broadway," "Skin Deep," "Cock-Eyed World," "Greene Murder Case." Rating, 215%. Broadway Melody, The (M-G-M) LOS ANGELES, CAL.— Criterion Theatre (1.652), 35c-50c-65c; Movietone News. Opposition: "Cock-Eyed World," "They Had to See Paris." " Love Doctor." "Smiling Irish Eyes," "Bulldog Drummond," "Skin Deep." Rating, 56% (3rd week). Bulldog Drummond (U.A.) LOS ANGELES, CAL.— United Artists Theatre (2.10(1), 35c-50c-65c ; Reisenf eld's "1812" overture. Opposition: "Cock-Eyed World," "They Had to See Paris," "Broadway Melody." "Love Doctor," "Smiling Irish Eyes," "Skin Deep." Rating, 87% (7th week). Lowry Sets Record In St. Louis As M. C. ST. LOUIS, Mo. Oct. 3.— Two years ago last Spring when Brooke Johns was in the height of his popularity at Skouras Brothers Missouri Theatre and Herbert Rawlinson had proven a flop as a master of ceremonies at the Ambassador Theatre the Brothers Skouras took a long shot by bringing a London entertainer to St. Louis to take over the Ambassador job. The big guess proved none other than Ed Lowry who last week put on his .1,000th consecutive performance, the world championship endurance mark for masters of ceremonies. Paul Ash in Chicago did better, but not at one house. No other master has even come close to Lowry 's mark. Although new to the band show type of show Ed clicked from the outset and seems to be going bigger than ever. Cock-Eyed World Careless Age, The (F.IS.) OTTAWA, ONT.— Centre Theatre (1,200), 6 days, 15c-50c; "Collegians" (U.), Fox News. Weather, fine and warm. Opposition : "Madame X," "The Desert Song," "Sonny Boy," "Showboat," "Fox Movietone Follies." Rating, 80%. Cock-Eyed World, The (Fox) MILWAUKEE, WIS.— Strand Theatre (1.297), 7 days, 25c-60c. Fox Movietone News. Weather, cold and fair. Opposition: "Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu," "Greene Murder Case," "Broadway," "Gold Diggers of Broadway," "Skin Deep." Rating, 125%. PROVIDENCE. R. I.— Victory Theatre (1,600). 7 days, 15c-50c, News reels. Weather, fair, cool. Opposition: "Unholy Night," "Fast Company," "Hurricane." ( Holding for third week.) Rating, 110%. DALLAS. TEX.— Majestic Theatre (2,895), 7 days, 25c-35c-60c. Weather, fair. Opposition: "Illusion." "The Hottentot." "Fast Lite," "Half Marriage." Rating, 150%. LOS ANGELES. CAL.— Grauman's Theatre (2,023), 75c-l.00-l.50. "Curiosities," Movietone News, Symphony Orchestra. Opposition : "They Had to See Paris." "Broadway Melody." "Love Doctor," "Smiling Irish Eves." "Bulldog Drummond," "Skin Deep." Rating, 207% (2nd week ) . AD TIPS — Exploited humorous side. Also army life voluptuousness of Lily Damita. Audience appeal : all classes. — Strand Theatre, Irving Stein, Mgr., Milwaukee, Wis. Second smashing week with this world-beater. Publicity tie-ups and street ballyhoo helped but film itself is a "natural" and will click in all Publicity tie-ups — street ballyhoo helped, but "What Price Glory" boys appeal to everybody. — Victory Theatre. Matt Rcilly, Mgr., Providence, R. I Human bill board employed on one of busiest down town corners, 13 boys in Military uniforms appearing on cat-walk at regular intervals. Buglers stationed directly under bill board sounded off every, few minutes and were answered by buglers stationed on marquee of theatre two blocks away. 35 piece military band stationed beneath bill board furnished music. Conformed bodies of R. O. T. C. boys marched through down town section carrying "Cock Eyed World" banners. Eight complete shows given each day including mid-night show each night. Trailer used two weeks in advance. Copy used: The Sensation of the Amusement World. Thrill . . . Throb . . . Cheer . . . Laugh . . . Back Again — The Roving Raging Ronieos Flagg and Quirt — those red-hot, hlistcry-tongued marines. Hear 'em Talk. New Fights — New Loves — New Tricks. Loving their way around world from frozen Siberia to torrid Tropics. Direct From 4 Weeks at the Roxy. Never Before, Anywhere, Any Place, Any Time. Such an Attraction. Same stars, authors and director who gave you "What Price Glory." Audience appeal :' all classes. — Majestic Theatre, John H. Thoma, Dallas, Texas. College Love (U.) OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.— Folly Theatre (1.200), 10c-25c, 4 days, Movietone News, Oklahoma Newsreel. Weather, cool and pleasant. Opposition: "Two Men and a Maid," "Her Private Life," "Big News," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "The Greene Murder Case," "Sav It With Songs," "Abie's Irish Rose." Rating, 125%. AD TIPS— Corking entertaining 100% dialog picture of campus, plenty of action and romance and excellent good picture to book. Audience appeal : all classes and ages. — Folly Theatre, Oklahoma City, Okla. Dance Of Life (Par.) BALTIMORE, MD.— Loew's Valencia Theatre ( Shown jointly at Loew's Valencia and Parkway), (1,500), 6 days, 25c-35c ; M-G-M News, Fox Movietone News, Biltmore Trio ( M-G-M act). Opposition: "Lady Lies," "Illusion," "Her Private Affair," "Street Girl," "Twin Beds," "Ned McCobb's Daughter," "Say it with Songs," "Sophomore." Rating. 46% (after one week at Loew's Stanley). BALTIMORE, MD.— Loew's Parkway Theatre (1,092). 6 days, 15c-35c ; Fox Movietone and MGM News. Biltmore Trio (MGM act). Opposition : "Lady Lies." "Illusion," "Her Private Affair," "Street Girl," "Twin Beds," "Ned McCobb's Daughter," "Say it with Songs," "Sophomore." Rating, 95%. Desert Song, The (W.B.) OTTAWA, ONT. — Imperial Theatre (1.200), 6 days, 15c-60c ; "My Wife," Paramount Sound News. Weatner fine anc^ warm. Opposition: "Madame X," "Sonny Boy," "The Careless Age," "Fox Movietone Follies." Rating, 95%. :