Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 22, 1930 Motion Picture News 39 These Hard Times There is at least one organization in the business that makes it compulsory for each salesman to report weekly, outlining in complete detail what his sales are, where he didn't close, why, etc. The other day a salesman covering North Carolina reported this: "Called on So-and-So on Monday. No sale. His office reported he was out for the day. Fox hunting." East Is West," "Extravagance" 13 Grand at D.M. ^v Des Moines — The Teachers' Convention stimulated theatre business for the last half of the week, but the first half was also good, aided by the Armistice holiday. Des Moines is maintaining a very good rating, retaining the increase registered in the last month. Harold Lloyd's picture at the Des Moines pulled in business with an audience of every age. But it didn't get it all, for "East is West" did business above average. This play is popular here because Fay Bainter, who played here in stock, made it so. This picture played at the Orpheum for the last four days with "Extravagance" on for the first half and going well. "The Indians Are Coming" is proving a popular draw at the Strand where this serial showed four days with Ruth Roland in "Reno." It rated with "Fast and Loose" for the last half also running high. The popular prices at the Strand seem suited to many family purses. The picture at the Paramount, "A Devil with Women," was not so strong but the stage shows are popular. "Madam Satan," on for the last half and for the Armistice midnight show, was rated as something new in entertainment with Reginald Denny getting a big hand personally. Estimated takings : "A DEVIL WITH WOMEN" (Fox) PARAMOUNT— (1,700), 25c-35c-60c, 3 days. Other attractions: News, stage band, vaude.. comedv. Gross: S7.200. "MADAM SATAN" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT— (1.700), 2Sc-35c-60c, 4 days. Other attractions: News, stage band. Gross: $9,100. "FEET FIRST" (Para.) DES MOINES— (1.600), 25c-35c-60c, 7 days. Other attractions: News, "Sure Fire" (Para.), "Skyscraping" (Talkartoon). Gross: $12,000. "EXTRAVAGANCE" (Tiff.) ORPHEUM— (2,000). 25c-S0c, 3 days. Other attractions: News, vaude. Gross: $6,500. "EAST IS WEST' (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,000), 25c-50c, 4 days. Other attractions: News, vaude., "Aunts in Pants" (RKO). Gross: $6,500. "RENO" (Sono Art) STRAND— (1,100), 20c.30c. 4 days. Other attractions: News, "The Indians Are Coming" (Univ.), "Coid Turkey" (Univ. cartoon). Gross: $1,700. "FAST AND LOOSE" (Para.) STRAND— (1,100). 20c-30c, 3 days. Other attractions: News, "Came the Dawn" (Co!.). Gross: $988. Day, Date Runs Click Ottawa — "Check V Double Check" doubled at the Regent and Imperial Theatres during the week of Nov. 15, this arrangement having been followed with success by Manager Ray Tubman in recent weeks with "All Quiet," "Rose O' My Heart," "The Love Parade" and "Animal Crackers." "Virtuous Sin" Is Good for $44,000 To Top at Boston Boston — With no roadshows in town for the first time in several months, Boston's theatres enjoyed an increased business over the previous week and continued to maintain the high average set so far this year. The Metropolitan, with "The Virtuous Sin" and a special holiday midnight show, topped the week with a gross of $44,000. "The Cat Creeps" at the Keith Memorial, also with a midnight extra, was good for $23,500, which was a drop from the gross of "Check and Double Check" for the previous two weeks but averaged well up in the theatre's regular business. "Remote Control" at Loew's State was good for $22,500 while "The Last of the Lone Wolf" did $22,000 at the Keith Albee. The Olympia's all-comedv program, headed by "Feet First," went over for $17,000. Estimated takings : "THE VIRTUOUS SIN" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (4,350), 25c-60c, 7 days. Other attractions: Publix revue, comedy, news. Midnight preview on holiday of "Sea Legs" (Para.). Gross: $44 000 "THE CAT CREEPS" (Univ.) KEITH MEMORIAL— (2,800), 30c-65c, 7 days. Other attractions: Comedv, Sportlight, news. Midnight show on holiday. Gross: $23,500. "LAST OF THE LONE WOLF" (Col.) KEITH-ALBEE— (2,500). 25c-60c, 7 days. Other attractions: Vaudeville, comedy, Sportiight, news. Gross: $22,000. "REMOTE CONTROL" (M-G-M) LOEWS STATE— (3,700), 30c-50c, 7 days. Other attractions: Our Gang comedy, news. Gross: $22,500. "BILLY, THE KID" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (3,100), 25c-50c, 7 days. Other attractions: Vaudeville, comedy, news. Gross: $22,000. "LAUGHTER" (Para.) SCOLLAY SQUARE— (1,800), 25c-50c, 7 days. Other attractions: Vaudeville, comedy, news. Gross: $14,000. "FEET FIRST" (Para.) OLYMPIA— (2.500), 25c-50c. 7 days. Other attractions: Comedy, cartoon, news. Gross: $17,000. 12 New Members for Cincy Allied Association Cincinnati — Twelve new members pledged their allegiance to the Allied cause at the second meeting of the newly-organized Allied Theatre Owners of Southern Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, recently held in the association's offices in Film Row. Exhibitors were present from various parts of Ohio and the contiguous states which the unit will serve, but owing to lack of time nothing but general routine business was transacted. Another meeting will be called in about two weeks at which it is expected permanent officers will be elected. Temporary officers now serving are R. Earl Myers, Chillicothe, O., president ; Elmer Shard. Cincinnati, secretary and treasurer, and Fred M. Strief. business manager. $3,200 for Unemployed In Benefit at Capital Washington — Thirty-two hundred dollars was raised for the benefit of the unemployed at a midnight benefit show at the Fox. Expenses were $25. The event was sponsored by the Washington Times with the Chamber of Commerce, Sidney Lust. Hardy Meakin, Michael Cullen, John Payette, Jimmie Lake. Steve Cochran, operators, stagehands and musicians co-operating. Two thousand patrons were turned away. Coupons Out Tampa — The Seminole, Publix neighborhood house, was listed on the advertising of a coupon proposition as accepting their coupons. The management of the Seminole, through advertisements in the local papers, come out with the statement that it is not accepting any coupons except the kind bought for cash at the box-office. "Widow" $22,000, "War Nurse" 23 Grand at Philly Philadelphia — The Earle rose to its best week in the last three months with a cool $22,000 with "The Widow from Chicago." Business on the whole was spotty, though the Boyd grabbed a neat $23,000 for "War Nurse" and the Stanton collected $14,000 for "Way for a Sailor," proving that John Gilbert is still a good draw in this town. The Mastbaum slid off its usual average with $38,000 for "College Lovers," though "The Life of the Party" took a good second week $17,000 at the Stanley. The Karlton took its lowest gross in six months with $3,000 for "For the Love o' Lil." "Africa Speaks" scraped a rather poor $10,000 for its second week. It is now in its last week, with "Hell's Angels" scheduled to follow Friday night. Keith's held up to percentage with "Her Wedding Night," but at the present time is doing excellent business with Harold Lloyd's "Feet First," putting in special midnight showings every night except Sunday. "The Big Trail" also got off to a fair start this week, indicating at least two weeks at the Fox. Estimated takings : "COLLEGE LOVERS" (F. N.) MASTBAUM— (4,800), 35c-50c-65c, 6 days. Other attractions: Warner-Publix stage revue, featured orchestra, news. Gross: $38,000. "LAUGHTER" (Para.) FOX— (3,000), 35c-50c, 75c, 6 days. Other attractions: Fanchon and Marco show, "Broadway Venuses," news. Gross: $27,000. "HER WEDDING NIGHT" (Para.) KEITH'S— (1.800), 3Sc-50c-75c, 6 days. Other attractions: "Office Blues" (Para.), "Comedy Skit" (Para.), news. Gross: $15,000. "WAR NURSE" (M-G-M) BOYD— (2,400), 35c-50c-75c. 6 days. Other attractions: Cartoon comedy, news. Gross: $23,000. "AFRICA SPEAKS" (Col.) ALDINE— (1,500), 50c-$1.50, 6 days. Other attractions: Cartoon, news. Gross: $10,000. "WIDOW FROM CHICAGO" (F. N.) EARLE— (2,000), 25c-65c, 6 days. Other attractions: Warner-Publix stage show, "Vanity Box," news. Gross: $22,000. "LIFE OF THE PARTY" (Warners) STANLEY— (3.700), 35c-50c-75c, 6 days. Other attractions: Vitapnone varietv, news. Gross: $17,000. "WAY FOR A SAILOR" (M-G-M) STANTON— (1,700), 25c-65c. 6 days. Other attractions: Columbia cartoon, Rockne football film, news. Gross: $14,000. "FOR THE LOVE O1 LIL" (Col.) KARLTON— (1.000), 40c-50c, 6 days. Other attractions: Vitaphone varietv, news. Gross: $3,000. "MANSLAUGHTER" (Para.) ARCADIA— (600), 50c, 6 days. Other attractions: "Insurance" (Para.), news. Gross: $5,000. Van Dyke Out of Business Des Moines — A. E. Van Dyke, who has had the theatre at West Bend for years, has sold the theatre to Gasper Sutton and will take up farming. W. R. Smock of Grundy Center has bought the theatre there from P. A. Igo.