Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

20 Motion Picture News December 7, 1929 Gloria's $199,000 In Four Weeks; Pickf ord-Fairbanks Opening Big The Thanksgiving holiday naturally helped the box office along Broadway. The one exception was the Roxy with "Nix on Dames" which took a distinct flop, getting $90,247 on the week or the first time in a month that the receipts dropped under the $100,000 mark. The thrill is the remarkable sustained box-office strength that Gloria Swanson showing in "The Trespasser" at the is showing in Rialto where, in her fourth week, the fij_ ures were $41,100 or a total of $199,500 on the run. It is certain that the picture will better the $250,000 mark on its six weeks' run. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks in their joint starring vehicle, "The Taming of the Shrew," opened strong at the Rivoli, following "Welcome Danger," which got $32,800 in its sixth and final week. Mary and Doug managed to draw $24,101 in two and a half days over the week-end. Holdover§ Only Fair The two holdovers, "The Kiss" at the ■Capitol and "The Saturday Night Kid" at the Paramount, both held up fairly well. Garbo drew $76,936, giving a total on two weeks of $159,868, while Bow, in her final week, played to $70,900 for an even $155,000 on the two weeks. Considering that she had Rudy Vallee with her this latter figure does not show great strength. Universal held over "The Shanghai Ladv" for a third week at the Colony, pulling $11,905 for a gross of $43,033 on three weeks. "The Sacred Flame," which played the Strand for six days, the run being shortened to permit the house to switch its opening dates policy from Friday to Thursday, drew $34,117.95, which is very good. "The Dancer of Barcelona," at the Cameo with Lily Damita's name played up, did $6,324 on the week. "Show Of Shows" $33,886 "The Show of Shows" on its first full week at the Winter Garden, turned in $33,886.75, which proves it a solid hit. Of the others, "Disraeli" held up nicely for eight days at Warner's, getting $28,386.50, before moving to the Central to make way for the new Barrymore opus, "General Crack," which opened Tuesdaj' night. The others sluffed off, with "The Hollywood Revue" down to $13,930 on its fifteenth week at the Astor, making a total -in- tor the run to date of $296,074. "Paris" in its third and final at the Centr.il, did $10,930, with "Rio Rita" at the Carroll, ended nicely with $16,937 to its credit. "The Love Parade" at the Criterion is another solid hit. On the first full week $20,100 was chalked up while Rudy Vallee in "Vagabond Lover" in five days at the Globe showed $20,436 which is the first big money at the house in some time. "Condemned" continued nicely at the Srlwvn with $15,200, while at the Gaiety ■"Sunny Side Up" is lingering on witli $12,S09 to its credit last week, the best that it lias attracted in some time. Holiday Boosts Los Angeles B. O. Los Angeles. — Among the newcomers this week "It's A Great Life" at the Criterion topped the per center's list, getting $15,200 or a rating of 152. Harold Lloyd's "Welcome Danger," after shattering a house record the previous week, held strongly, turning in $37,000 to the Paramount, or 148 per cent. Another strong showing was made by "They Had To See Paris." After running nine weeks at the Carthay Circle it was removed to the Palace where it grossed $12,400 for a rating of 138 per cent. Practically all houses showed to satisfactory attendance, Thanksgiving trade helping to swell the cash registers. Other reports for the week include Grauman's Chinese with "Sunnyside Up" at $18,900, or 118 per cent; the second week of "Rio Rita" at the Carthay Circle with $17,000, or 137 per cent; the State with "So This Is College" at $31,500, or 117 per cent; the 4th week of "The Trespasser" at the U. A. with $1S,500, or 137 per cent; the RKO with "Jazz Heaven" at $20,400, or 128 per cent ; Warners Downtown with "Footlights and Fools" at $16,500, or 110 per cent, and Warners Hollywood with the fourth week of "Disraeli" at $11,800, or a rating of 81 per cent. Fourth For Nolan's String Ottawa. — P. J. Nolan's chain of three neighborhoods — Avalon, Rexy and Columbia — will be expanded t<» include ;i fourth. "Photoplay" Award To "Four Sons" "Four Sons" — a silent feature — is awarded the "Photoplay Medal Award" for the best picture made in 1928. Fox won last year's award, with "7th Heaven." The award is made by "Photoplay Magazine" annually and is based on popular vote of fans. Penn Exhibitor A Suicide Millersburg, Pa. — Suffering from a nervous breakdown which friends attributed to financial worries following losses in the recent stock slump, Lester Holtzman, owner and operator of the Columbia, killed himself with a shot from a shotgun. New Shuhert Boston Manager Boston. — A. G. Munro is new manager of the six Shuhert theatres here. Munro has been manager of the Parsons at Hartford. Ask For Ear Phones Fox-Poli Theatre is t" install earphones as a result of requests from deaf patrons, who have been unable to enjoy pictures at the house sine.' sound replaced titles. 6,000 Signatures In the lobby of the Newsreel Theatre, formerly the Embassy in New York, there is a desk where patrons interested in being advised by mail of future newsreel events may secure the information by signing their names. The register in the one week since the idea was innovated listed 6,000 names. Trade In Pacific N. W. Holding Up Seattle. — Although the recent stock market upheavals may have affected the sale of high-priced commodities, it has bad no effect on the sale of theatre tickets in the Pacific Northwest, according to a second Motion Picture News check-up. Operators of the larger houses throughout the territory are unanimous in their opinions that business during the last month has been decidedly better than average. " 'Rio Rita' at the Orpheum, as well as in Taeoma, Portland and Spokane houses, has been stacking up a tremendous gross," reports William A. Hartung, manager of the Seattle house, who adds "business during recent weeks has maintained a steady high mark that has been of record-setting proportions." Robert Blair, manager of the Seattle and Metropolitan for Publix, reports that business during the last few weeks has been consistently strong — a better average, week in and week out than almost any time previously in the history of those houses. Fox theatres, including the Fox and Fox Fifth Avenue in Seattle, as well as others in the Northwest, have been enjoying big weeks, and the last month has seen big business at most of their houses, Fox officials report. Sterling Chain Theatres, Inc., including a majority of downtown second run houses in Seattle, have held up with steady patronage during and since the stock crashes, according to John D.-mz. No Sunday Shows In Kansas, "Blue" Aim Kansas City, Kans. — Continuation of the drive on Sunday openings in Kansas is urged by a group of ministers and church people, who have asked Gov. Clyde R*ed and W. A. Smith, attorney general, for aid. About $40,000 was appropriated by the legislature for such purpose. Smith announced that he will try to close Sunday theatres by injunction in localities where it appears that public sentiment will not permit closing by prosecution. Levine Back From Europe; Sells Serials To Ideal Nat Levine, of Mascot Pictures, is baoi in New York from a hurried trip to London, where he sold a number of serials to Ideal Films, Ltd., for English distribution. 'Sky Hawk" In N. Y. Dec. 11 "The Skv Hawk" will Gaiety, New fork, Dee. 11. ipen at the