Universal Weekly (1932-1936)

26 "UNIVERSAL WEEKLY=' = April II, 1936 Magnificent Obsession' Actually Works AGNIFICENT OBSESSION," • ▼1 after breaking records almost everywhere it has played, recently completed a ten weeks run in Minneapolis, establishing itself as the box-office marvel of that city. Variety, which runs weekly an impartial box-office resume of the results of theatre showings throughout the country, had this to say of "Magnificent Obsession's" run in Minneapolis: “ ‘Ohsesh’ W inds Up Big W inner After 10 W'eeks in Minneapolis " 'Magnificent Obsession' finally ended a 10 weeks' loop run, establishing itself as one of the season's box office marvels. After a very big $14,000 seven days at the Orpheum, which was unable to hold it over because of a booking jam, it moved over to the 350-seat World where it remained for an additional nine weeks at an advanced 55c. top. It copped approximately $23,500 at the World, netting the house a beautiful profit. Total loop gross of nearly $38,000 puts the FIm in the front money row here. Its biggest World week was its sixth, $3,200, and it never fell under $2,000. During much of the run there were 10 to 30 below zero temperatures and three or more blizzards." Last week "Magnificent Obsession" also closed its unprecedented run in New Orleans. Robert Blair of the Saenger Theatre Corporation, who handled the run in New Orleans, sends in to the Universal Weekly the following remarkable experience as detailed in the New Orleans TimesPicayune: ‘‘Magnificent Obsession’* "A woman confided to a group of friends at a bridge table recently that she was in desperate circumstances. She had a note for $300 due at the bank and she had not one cent with which to pay it. She seemed terribly upset over it. When she called the next day at the bank to inform the officials that she was unable to pay the note, the banker said, 'Why, Mrs. , your note has been paid'. To prove it to her he showed her the cancelled note on which had been written a line, 'I have seen the 'Magnificent Obsession.' Her benefactor, like the doctor in the book and the movie, 'The Magnificent Obsession,' Smashed Records REGENT THEATRE NE\N CASTLE, PA. February 27, 1936 Universal Pictures Corp., 1709 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pa. Gentlemen ; Your picture “Magnificent Obsession” smashed my box-office records to smithereens. Nothing but standing room only — for six days, and people are glad to gain admission for standing room. To satisfy my patrons I must hold “Magnificent Obsession” tliree (3) additional days, to accommodate my patrons. Guide yourselves accordingly. Congratulations to you and your Great Box Office Attraction. Very truly yours, SPEER MAROUSIS never revealed his or her identity. "Mrs. Hugh Dooley heard of this occurrence through a friend of the woman and came home and told it to her family. The next day she came in to find a new chair in her living room. Some member of her family or a friend had heard her express a need for such a chair and, true to the 'Magnificent Obsession' idea, had sent it to her without ever revealing his or her identity." And so this magnificent idea which was embodied in a magnificent novel by Lloyd C. Douglas actually works just as it did on the characters in the book. Universal Purchases “Sfey Fever” and “.4 Gal Called Chip” NIVERSAL yesterday purchased two stories for next season's Universal line-up. The first was "Sky Fever" by George Sayre. It is the story of a romantic pilot and the difficulties that he has In running a small flying field against big company competition. The other story is "A Gal Called Chip" by Roy and Marjorie Chanslor. It is the story of a co-ed who left college when her father died. Her inheritance was a newspaper and her principal job was to convince the young managing editor that she was qualified to write on her own newspaper. Sutter Descendants See ‘‘Sutter’s Gold” at Music Hall Among the most interested spectators of the premiere of ‘'Sutter’s Gold” at the Music Hall were a number of the descendants of General Sutter, Like him, the ISew York family of Sutters are builders. The gentleman on the left of the picture is John A, Sutter IV, and next to him is his brother, Alphonse and the wife of the latter. On the other side of the picture is Victor Alphonse Sutter of the fifth generation with his wife and the wife of John A. Sutter V.