Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 1, 1930 Motion Picture News 41 $17,000 Gives Montreal Lead To "Spoilers" Montreal — Picture business suffered a lapse of enthusiasm following Famous Players' Prosperity campaign. Canada's metropolis was not hit by the blizzard which caused havoc in upper New York state, but yet there was not much flocking to picture houses, although the Capitol made it 100 per cent with "The Spoilers" with a stage show, receipts being $17,000. This was down $1,500 from the previous week. "Old English" was worth $15,000, or 95 per cent to the Palace. After four weeks of "Whoopee" at the Princess, "Inside the Lines" looked strange there and receipts dropped to $9,000, registering 85 per cent. "Whoopee" was going" so strong it should have been held over for a fifth week. Estimated takings: "THE SPOILERS" (Paramount) CAPITOL— (2,670), 2Sc-85c, 7 days. Other attractions: News, Jack Arthur stage show. Paramount cartoon. Gross: $17,000. Rating: 100%. "THE SANTA FE TRAIL" (Paramount) LOEWS— (2,982), 25c-99c. 7 days. Other attractions: Five vaudeville acts, Our Gang in "Helping Grandma" (M-G-M comedy), news, orchestra. Gross: $14,000. Rating: 90%. "OLD ENGLISH" (Warners) PALACE— (2,600). 25c-99c, 7 days. Other attractions: Organ solo by N. H. Payne, news, Paramount cartoon, Vitaphone Variety. Gross: $15.ud0. Rating: 95%. "INSIDE THE UNES" (RKO) PRINCESS— 2,272), 25c-7Sc, 7 days. Other attractions: "Honolulu Wiles" CColumbia cartoon), "Blimp Mystery" (Tiffany comedy), news. Universal Topics. Gross: $9,000. Rating: 85%. "MANSLAUGHTER" (Paramount) IMPERIAL— (1,914), 15c-40c, 3 days. Other attractions: Eddie Cantor in "Insurance" Paramount comedy). "The Introduction of Mrs. Gibbs" (Paramount comedy), news. Gross: $3,450. Rating: 90%. "SOUP TO NUTS" (Fox) IMPERIAL— (1,914), 15c-40c, 4 days. Other attractions: W. C. Fields in "Golf Specialist" (RKO comedy), news. Gross: $3,100. Rating: 85%. "LAWFUL LARCENY" (RKO) STRAND— (750), 15c-50c, 7 days. Other attractions: Added leature, "Sons of the Saddle" (Universal), news. Gross: $3,600. Rating: 80%. "ANNE AGAINST THE WORLD" (Silent) ROXY— (550), 25c-75c, 7 days. Other attractions French news weekly. Educational Terry-Toon "Voice of Hollywood" (Tiffany). Gross: $2,000. tag: 80%. eel, Rat Tampa License Fight May Be Statewide Tampa — B. E. Gore, owner of the Garden theatre, is putting up a hot fight against the city theatre license here. Gore says the annual tax of $200 for theatres, irrespective of size or location, is discriminating and unconstitutional. The Garden is a small neighborhood house. The city won the first round, but Gore is taking the case to the Supreme Court. If Gore wins at this final court he will probably go after the state and county license which nicks the theatres' bank roll to the tune of 300 smackers annually in cities of this size. Resumes Summer Schedule Cleveland — Because business in his neighborhood has dropped off within the past two months, Harry Horwitz is running his New Broadway and Olympia theatres on summer schedule of three shows a week. The Breaks Hollywood — William Keighley has been a stage actor for more than 17 years and never once appeared in a feature picture until this week. He has written stories for the screen and stage and played in many Broadway successes but not until he came West a few months ago to work on a film story did he find pictures attractive. Universal hired Keighley to help direct some of the dialogue sequences in "Resurrection," which Edwin Carewe is making with Lupe Velez and John Boles starred. In explaining the delivery of lines to some of the principals Carewe decided to test Keighley for a role and as a result he was signed for the acting end, too. The Broadway player is now planning to make more talkers as he has "succumbed" to the lure of "Chattering Tintypes." "Journey's End" Only One Hitting Par in Ottawa Ottawa — Most of the theatres here had an off week, the principal exception being "Journey's End" at the Centre theatre, which started off with a big midnight show and wound up with $3,200 for 100 per cent at 50c top. Old English" at the Regent was close tc par through the support of Arliss fans, while "The Sea God" at the Imperial got the word-of-mouth boost and rang up $2,900 for 95 per cent. "Rain or Shine" was fair at Keith's, registering 90 per cent, but the week's worst was "Heads Up," which flopped to 80 per cent with $2,700 for three days at Keith's (last half). Estimated takings : "JOURNEY'S END" (Tiffany) CENTRE— (1,200), 15c-50c. 6 days. Other attractions: Mickey Mouse cartoon. Gross: $3,200. Rating: 100%. "OLD ENGLISH" (Warners) REGENT— (1,225), 2Sc-75c, 6 days. Other attractions: News, "Barnacle Bill, the Sailor" (Paramount cartoon), "The Golf Specialist" (RKO comedy), orchestra. Gross: $5,100. Rating: 98%. "THE SEA GOD" (Paramount) IMPERIAL— (1.200). 15c-50c, 6 days. Other attractions: News, Lloyd Hamilton in "Won by a Neck" (Educational), Silly Symphony (Columbia). Gross: $2,900. Rating: 95%. "RAIN OR SHINE" (Columbia) B. F. KEITH'S— (2,596), 15c-50c, 3 days. Other attractions: News, "Grandma's Girl" (Educational comedy). Gross: $3,800. Rating: 90%. "HEADS UP" (Paramount) B. F. KEITH'S-(2,S96), 15c-50c, 3 days. Other attractions: News, "Hot Air Merchant" (Paramount comedy), Krazy Kat "Midnight in a Toy Shop" (Columbia). Gross: $2,700. Rating: 80%. "THE BAD ONE" (United Artists) AVALON— (990). 25c-35c, 3 days. Other attractions: News, "Hello, Television" (Educational comedy), "Irish Fantasy" (Tiffany musical). Gross: $1,100. Rating: 95%. "TOP SPEED" (First National) AVALON— (990), 25c-35c, 3 days. Other attractions: News, Our Gang in "Bear Hunting," "Kiddies Revue" (M-G-M musical). Gross: $1,250. Rating: 95%. "What a Widow" 17 Grand Is Top Dough at Toronto Toronto — Business at Toronto during the week caused few raves, although "What a Widow" was outstanding at Loew's under the new all-screen policy, where it gathered in $17,000, equalling 100 per cent. This was the only feature to hit the perfect mark for the week. The Imperial was off $2,500 with "Scarlet Pages" at $17,500, as compared with the previous week, when Lillian Roth was on the stage doing five shows daily. "Moby Dick" brought steady trade to the Tivoli and the ticket vendors registered $12,000 for 90 per cent. Shea's Hippodrome had a fair week with "The Big Fight" and the only vaudeville in town, taking in $14,000, this being 90 per cent. Toronto got the first real taste of wintry weather and this did not help matters. Estimated takings: "WHAT A WIDOW" (United Artists) LOEW'S— (2,200), 25c-75c, 6 o'ays. Other attractions: "The Clock Shop" (M-G-M Technicolor), news. Gross: $17,000. Rating :100%. "SCARLET PAGES" (First National) IMPERIAL— (3,600), 25c-7Sc, 6 days. Other attractions: News. Jack Arthur stage show. Gross: $17,500. Rating: 95%. "MOBY DICK" (Warners) TIVOLI— (1.600), 35c-75c, 6 days. Other attractions: "Average Husbands" (Educational comedy), "I'm a Wild Woman" (Paramount), "Hamberger _ and His Horse Radish" (Columbia), news, Tivoli Talking Reporter. Gross: $12,000. Rating: 90%. "THE BIG FIGHT" (Sono Art) SHEA'S HIPPODROME— (2.6Q0), 30c-75c, 6 days. Other attractions: Five vaudeville acts, news, Andy Clyde comedy (Educational). Gross: $14,000. Rating: 90%. "DAWN PATROL" (First National) UPTOWN— (3,000), 15c-50c, 3 days. Other attractions: Andy Clyde in "Vacation Loves" (Educational), news, Krazy Kat cartoon (Columbia). Gross: $5,100. Rating: 88%. Ash in Cleveland Cleveland — Paul Ash. it is announced, will come to Loew's State theatre in November for an extended engagement. Cameo Goes First Run Cleveland — Loew's Cameo is again trying out a first-run policy. "U" Exchange Moves Cleveland — Universal has moved into its new exchange building at Payne Ave. and East 24th St. Bernard Rose is branch manager. Says Fox Franchise with RKO in South Runs to '31 Fox product will play over the Hoblitzelle chain, now controlled by the RKO Southern Corporation, until Aug. 31, 1931. According to James R. Grainger, the current franchise did not expire this year, as reported last week in Motion Picture News. The 1930 expiration date appeared in connection with Fox plans to build in the Southwest as a result of the reported breaking down of negotiations with RKO for the 1930-1931 product. Building New Theatre Postiville, la. — This town is to have a new theatre with the erection of the new Isis, which will be opened in December. The theatre is being built for S. E. Palmer, director of the Postiville, which will be closed when the new house opens. The Isis will be a 500-seat house. Palmer has purchased about $4,500 worth of new equipment. Para. Gets Sayre House Waverly, N. Y. — Paramount Publix has taken over the Sayre at Sayre from the Comerford circuit. This gives the firm control of the larger theatres of Waverly, Towanda and Sayre. Edward Cangly will be retained as manager of the Sayre house.