Variety (June 1933)

VARIETY PIC¥«RE CRIISSES Tnesdaj.'Jiiiie 6, 1933 ^ LA in Brisk Pace: 1%gers' Starts 6^: Crawford $15,000: Uly Turner 206 in I Houses; Temple/ WM Tuos Angeles, Chinese Js top spot the current week. Opened Friday (2) witli a |6 top premiere on 'Gold Diggers ,cf 1933' ahdi a typical Sid Grauman prolog that should bring It into at . least tile eight-week ti|n cl^ss. For premiere the |6 ducatis went fast and with a. rather heavy pr^ss load • ifor the house to carry It got around ^6,600 net on the .performance. Over. "week. end At grabbed another |6,500» -which is a bright sign for this return of the two-a-day pictuiie, Std.te With , the Joan Crawfoi>d ./opusi 'Today We Live,' indicates arbuiid a $16,000 week, okay^ Par- amouhtt ha-s a, - strong.. grosser In 'Temple Drake,* with those under 18 verboten; ahd looks to gather $17,- OQO, big. Warner houses'have liilly Turner* (Chattertpn-Breht), which In the comibined houses may hit around |2P;000. Mis? Chatterton Id none too strong a draw locally^ and.-it Is the vaude tossed in at both houses Which will keep up the Intake show- RKO offers 'Silver Cord/ which Isn't getting Anywhere at all, $3,700. ' Estimates for. This V/eek CKihese' (Graliman) ■X2i02Sj -.GO- IlifiO)—'Gold Diggers of,1933' (WB) and latAge show (1st week). Aug- mented by a, bigv Grauman prolog*^ little doubt that this foUow-up on *42d Street' will nin for at least a two7montlt period. Got $11,400 for - the first three days, which Is plenty ^oke. Downtown (WB) (1,800; 2B-70)— Turner* (WB) and vaudeville. /Started off. mildly and, helped by' vaudeville, may clip little over $d,- 000. loBi week 'liltUe Glanf (WB) helped by holiday. trafSo hit a big $12,600. —-Hollywood (WB) :(2r75d:-26^66)-^ fLlly Turner* (WB) and vaudeville. Not hot at all, which at Its best will give the hbuse around $11,000. Liast week 'Little Giant* (WB) with ad- dltibnal. holiday leverage, brought In ■ a big $13,800. Los Angeles (Wm. Fox) (2,800; a6-26)--'Forgotten' (Ches) and 'Night of Terror* (Col). Being one of few double blllera helps, as $6,000 would indicate. liast week 'Black . Seauty* (Mono) and 'Scarlet Week End* (Maxim) did very good In bag- gihg around $6,400. Paramount (Partmar) (3,695; 25- 40)—'Teihple 15rake* (far) and stage show. Picture here helped plenty by preview and buildihg to Dig $17,000. Last week ^Interna- .ilonal. House* (Par), with stage show being about 60% responsible for draw, the holiday taking help- ing tq. a big $16,600, nice profit Double Bills Seem to bffiset Wilting Buff Buffalo, June 5. Warm weather Is taking toll of the boxofflce on this front, yet there is slight improvement over prevlou/g . Be'dt seems to be double-billers, Hipp and Lafayette,; both doing well. Estimates for This Week Buffalo (Shea) (3,600: 3()-40-56). Ihterhatlonal House* (Par) and stage show.' Indications point to about $13,000 this week. Last week 'Christopher Strong* (RKO) $11,300, not so good. Century (Shea) (3,400; 25-40), 'Airmail' (U) and 'Hello,. Sister' (Fox). Far from, good at $6,500. Last week , 'Made on Broadway' (MG) and 'Bondage' (Fox) pretty fair $6,600. ipp (Shea) (2,400; 25), 'Looking Forward' (MG) and 'E;x-Lady* (WB). Might grab oft $6,800 or bet--^ ter, nice. Last week 'Temple Drakes (Par) ahd 'Devil's Brother* (MG) $6,600. Lafayette (Ind) (3,400; 25). 'Shall We Teii Our Children* (Col) and 'Big chance' (Eagle). This house crowing about world premiere of 'Children.* Should, do. nicely and gross $fr^500r-- LastJweekJWPman _I Stole* (C61) and 'Alimony Madness* (Mayfair) average at $6,()00. " UTVAY'PLUS'WHOOPEE' TAB, NICE 22G, WASH. Washington, June B.. Things are better this week than last And the answer is simply that the pictures are here. Pay day falling on Wednesday helped last week and started Friday openings to good beginning, despite fact that circus canrled-away -a-gopd—blt/ot the dough.. Cilrcus this year fell on iBrst and second of month, which usually sends theatre men to the showiers to reoover. Only effect this time seems to be that usual big pay day spiirt at the b. o: failed to material- ize. Instead week just played nor.r mal wind-up. One house manager puts it that many who usually spend pay day jack at tent:, show couldn't stand the outlay and Went to shows to make up for it Result was that houses broke about even. Keith's Is trying a week without Gene Dennis to see . just what she means to b. o. WIU bring her back next Friday. She played two weeks at the local RKO spot, closing last Thursday. First was biz coupled with 'Silver Cord.' Second started ofC badly with mind reader co-billed Stops Checking , Practice of : New Tork the- atre operators' checkings each' other's business In Broadway first runs has been dropped by Publix, It's a voluntary ihove by. Publlx actuated by the feel- ing that the Paramount, New .Tork, . ean do without com- parison of its grasses with business of competitors. Bkndel with 'Gianf Peps Up Mpk. Okay $8,000; Ch<(tterton $3,001 _ , „ . . . , , with 'Ann Carvefs Profession.* Just -JRKO (2^9504--25-40)—'fellver CQrd*.|jto_jiee_Jf:JtJ!?aa Mis^ or the pic. Hardie.MeaEln.put on spiS"- (RKO). Relng at a disadvantage in a house which holds advertising and exploitation way down^ this one is a bust, $3,700. _Last week 'King Kong* -(■RKO)'showed ■ a-profit -for—house, take around $7,600. State (Loew-Pox) (2,024; 25-40)— •Today We Live* (MG). Crawford always- good draw here and, with much better than average takeoff, this one should get around the $15,' 000 mark. Last week . Iiooklng For ward' (MG) had a rather glum ses sion and only aided by holiday was able to cotral $11,700, nothing to brag of for so heavily advertised and exploited a picture. HOB^ TEMP TOO NHEALTW HZ FAR Vi^t \xiA% 'Long Louisville, Rlalto continues with vaudeville revue policy and National copied It on 10-i6c. rate by introducing 'Glorified Revue' this vreek. Business fairly good as weather continues, mild, but no theatre is making enough to retire on. Estimates for This Week Loew's (3,400| but only 2,100 used; 25-40) 'Made on Broadiway' (MG). Mild $3,500. Last week 'Barbarian^ (MG), $4,000. Rialto (Fourth Ave.)- (3,000;- 25 30-40-60) 'Hold Me Tight' (Fox) and VJ^udeville revue. Fair $4,200 Jtjajtweek 'Song of Eagle' (Par) and fevueriRr800r"''=^'--^^ Strand (Fourth Ave.) (1,786; 25- 40) 'Working Man' (WB). Fairish, $3,700. Last week 'Song of Eagle' (Par), $3,90(y. Brown (1,500; 15-25-40) 'Tomor row at Seven' (RKO). Off biz, $1,300. Last week :'Out All Night'. (U), $1,900. Alamo (950; 15-20-25) "Woman 1 Stole'(Cpl). Fair $1,400. Last week •Employees' Entrance' (FN), $1,200 National (1,700; 10-15) 'Discarded Lovers' and rovue. Oke, $1,200. Last "Week 'Cheating Blondes' and Vaude 3»iUe, $1,300. cial morning matinee for her. Place was packed and last day beat open- ing of second week. Situation seems. -to -:be thati whlle^iiWashingv ton is leery of mind-readers, they are dlscoVeriner that she is some- thing new in the line. Fox is doing the business this week. 'Made on Broadwa,y' and 'Whoopee' on stage has. edge, on other vaude house in line-up and Is headed for best week this month. Montgo.mery and Filers are • wOrthy straight pic ispbt here; coupled with vaUde they are a sure bet- 'International House' started off o. k., although won't .equal last week at Palace, which played 'Adorable.* Met Is suffering with another anl-. mal title. 'Murders in the Zoo* may be all right, but general attitude Is that it Is just another wild animal thriller, and to^n is fed up on them; Murders, in any place else, would have done $1,000 more. Rialto folded up Friday for sum- mer. 'Seventh Commandment' stopped after six days. Opening was nice, following sex exploitation, as It was first of kind here In long time, but things slipped badly to ward end. Estimates for This Week Fox (Ixiew) (3,434; 15-25-35-60 60)—'Mia.de on Broadway' (MG) and vaude.; -Montgomery and . Eilers, coupled with 'Whoopee' on stage, will give house nicest week in month. Best in town with o. k. $22,- OOOr ^imst-=--week-"-Devil'si^B (MG) and Herb Williams on stage did so-so $16,600. Collegiate Humor week gag helped with Carter Bar ron contracting every local campus for tie-ups. Earle (WB) (2*424; 25-35-50-60 -70)-.-'Llfe of Jimmy Dolan' (WB) and vaude, Lillian Shade on stage, but house is still doing pretty light business, maybe $14,000. Last week 'Eagle and Hawk' (Par) and Wei come Lewis did light $14,000. Just another airplane show to show shoppers. Keith's (RKO) (1,830; 16-25-36 Boston, June 6. Weather the too perfect kind, too fair; biz much less so. . Closing of schools helps the exodus outdoors. Piihlic talking vaoash plans," first time since depresh settled over. However, there's gold In them thar holiday plans for mass psychOloery is decidedly better, and that augurs well for the Ides, say, September. Intake continues mostly outgo for most spots, with what velvet there is of the verlthlh kind. First of the June crop of films-nothing to braig about "Lilly Turner* began fine, about all the charm being In the Chatterton monicker, which Is propetiy ballyhooed. ^eva's3ro.th- er*. has lots 6f~"fun,ni)Ut~ls'ft<y"iave:' InteimatlODal House' doing very- welL Orpheum has best, 'Reunion In Vienna,' coming downtown from State and. combined with vaude.. Is dolnier quite nicely on the pull. Clos- ing of RKO Boston Is helping the lioew flesh house currently. New angle on the opposlsh coines to light this week-end. Hinterland houses, here and there, have been getting the new films ahead of this city, and invite motorists, added liirci of less money. Instead of spending coin In town, one fan piled family into filvver, went down to Lawrence to s ee the we ek's fi l m qu ota, and his budget Is lHlerestIngr~Sam~e~bUl had 'Zoo In Budapest* and 'Little Giant,* neither yet shown In Boston. Cost him 26c for self''and wife, and 10c each for his five kiddies. He figures savings more than covered gas and oil for eve*s amusement Showmen are stumped to meet that kind of opposlsh t Estimates for This Week Keith's (RKO) (4,000; 35-56), •cocktail Hour? (Col) and: vaude. Away ofC with $9,000 as . the sad story in prospect. Last week 'Ann Carver's Profession* (Col) and vaude. better, $12,200. - Orpheum (Loew) (3,000; 30-40- 60), •Reunion In Vienna* (MG) and vaude. Looks to get $11,000, which has profit XASt week 'Hell Below' (MG) and vaude, just fair at $9,600. * State (I^ew) (3,000; 30-40-50), •Devil's Brother* (MG) and one stage act, Sunday vaiide bill and bandr—May- reach $10,000, due_to- Laurel and Hardy lure. Last, week 'Peg o' My Heart' (MG) fair at $9,000. Met _(PublIx) (4,330; 8J-50-66), InteTniatlbnar-House' ored stage show. Latter Is kind that draws strong here. Racing for good $24,000. Last week 'Adorable' (Fox) and stage show, fine bill with Gaynor magnetism helping much, built to $21,300, fine, Scollay (Publix) (2,800; 25-36-46- 56), 'Eagle and Hawk* (Par) and 8 acts vaude. Might come through to $10,500, nice. Last week 'Elmer the Great* (FN) and vaude, pretty good at $9,600. « Pargrttount (Publix) (1,800; 26- 36-50), TLiIlly Turnex^ (FN) and 'Trick for Trick' (Fox). Chatterton in another suffering role; biz stimu- lated to exjject $7,000,. which Is quite thick with gravy. Last week 'War- rior's Husband* (Fox) ahd ^Woman in 419' (Fox), had cream at $7,800. 'Gold I>iggers'Wow 15G Battling 'Reuidon' in N.H. New Havein, Jiin^ 6. T'he battle Is on between eastern prezalere of 'Gold Diggers' at Roger Sherman and ^Reunion In Vienna* at Palace, with former getting' the edge... ■ Final booking at Shubert (Walter Hampden) nicked film houses a bit this week. Last week a rainy holi- day was a Ilfesaver to picture spOts and a sad blow to outdoor amu8e« ment parks. Estimates for This Week Paramount (Publix) (2,348; 85-60) -^l Love That Man' and 'Mysterious Rider,* looks like only $3,800, slow. Last week 'Girl In .419' (Par) and 'Destination Unknowii,* $4,600, okay. P^alaco CArthur) (3,040; a6-^60)— 'Reunion In Vinna* (MGl) .and 'Dip- lomaniacs' (RKO). Should reach a nice $7,200. despite competition. Lfast week 'Hell Below' (MG). and 'Ann Carver's Profession' (RKO) built to a swell $8,500. Roger Sherman (WB) (2,2P0; 36- 60)—•GSold Diggers* (WB). Got ott to a grand start with a Wed. pre- view. Aided by an extra sat. mld- nite show, first week of Indef. run should better $15,000, which is wow money. Last week 'Lilly Turner* (FN) and 'World Gone Mad' ivas a surprise at a good $6,800 for six College (Arthur) (1,666: 26-40)— Dark - af ter-nlnesday xun._ olJWarr rior's Husband*. (Fox) and 'Zoo In Budapest* (FOX), which got $2,800,: nice for this house. 60-60)—'Cocktail Hour* (Col.). Bebe Daniels for first time lately and bet-? ter show than last few will get fair summer price for house. Probably o. k. $6,600. Last week 'Ann Car- ver's Profession' (RKO) and sec- ond week of Gene Ciennis built to acceptable $6,000. Fiay Wray can't play here three times in month and get away; with .It. Palace (LoeW) (2,363; 15-26-36- 60-60)—'International House' (Par). Ought to get o. k. $il,000. Last week iAdotableL=(F6;Xj ^did.. $l^>6()0jjfhlch was pretty good by comparison with others. Nice comment on . music pages. Met (WB) (1,583; 16-25-35.-50-60- 70)—'Murders In the Zoo* (Par). Animal title hurts pretty much, maybe light $4,000; Last week 'Tesmple Drake* " (Par) slipped through with, about same. Columbia, (Loew). (1,232; 15-25- 35-40)—'Mind Reader' (WB). War ren Williams will up average grosses to get satisfactory $2,200. Last week 'Ti'ick for Trick' fair $2,000. Dick PoweD Assists 'Ex-Lady'; Gene Demiis Aid$'Eker';BaItoUp Baltimore, Junie 5^ After last week's brutal treatinent, ther-weather^.-man-eased-up-o-ver. the week-end and has brought the thermometer down again, and with the downward movement It pushed the box office figures contrariwise. All of which means that business is better currently, especially in the ace houses. . AttrkctiOhs themselves seem stronger. Though panned around the country, 'Ex-Lady' has been do- ing business around this tfrritory, especially In the provinces where the picture has been, showing ahead of-its present date at the Century. On the stage there's a line-up of sock attractions, headed by Dick Powell, It's Powell's first visit to Baltimore but his ride In the Warner films has . already' fixed him as a bright light for box office coin;' . Hippodrome for the third consecu- tive week has been forced to look outside Its film contract list for Its current picture, and now has 'Elmer -the- Great,' rwhlch-^flick-was a slough- from the Loew group. lioew's will never - forget what damage Joe Brown did to the Stanley when he J[ald- a-t.e.ri:iflc egg . in 'You Said a outhf uT:*~"But^or-tlie Hipp BfOW looks.okay; the house gets that sort of patronage. And besides, the house has a psychic turn on Its boards,. Gene Dennis, who Is doing something to help the good work along. On the combo will deliver the first Inkling of profit this Indie vaudflim stand has seen In some weeks.*' On Its name - strength 'Ihterha- tlonal House' Is getting along, air though Its radio roster: makes its a better bet for the nabes than the downtown. Elsewhere thlqgs are not quite happy, neither New with 'Ann Carver' or Keith's with 'I Love That Man' making any headway. Estimates for This Week Century (Loew-ITA) (3,000; 25- 36r40-56-65) 'Ex-Lady* (WB) and vaude. Dick Powell: in. person is the big stage item, though there's a great vaude lineup of stage talent, including such winners as Aileen Stanley, the Arhaut Bros., and Huber, magician.. All in all, there's entertainment value plus on both stage and screen. With picture's hot theme it looks like a cinch from opening indications to clip off a win- ning session of more than one or two grand "at $15,000, one of the neatest box-office reports seen in town for some. time. Last week bad reports on both 'picture and stage sTi6%Tielxi do wn" f li€"6^fcellent pi^ tlalities of 'Peg o' My Heart' (MG) and 'Whoopee' on the stage, though finishing nicely enough to $14,400. Hippodrome (Rappaport). (2,600; ;25-36-40-55-65). 'Elmer .the Great' (WB) and vatide. Gene Dennis, who prefers :to be: known as. a 'psychic,' headlining and doing business, There^S bpx-olfice. harniony In the combination' of the pictUrei and headliner, and all accounts will show the Hippodrome a happie/ time than it's seen since May 1, with the Indications being for a Minneapolis, June 6.. With Joan Blondell In person, a pit orchestra apd a iainger, this Stats! ace Publlx house*, comes into^lte own again this vreek as the loop's gross leader.. Exploited Ih.e'llCcctive fashion, she Is proving a good card and helping to give the thertre around $8,000, With 'lilttle Giant', the show sizes iip as a very satis^ factory money's worth. • This week the .RKO Orpheum la without any stage entertainment following. Cab Calloway's fairly, jsatlsfactory seven-day engagements but the Independent Lyceum con-^ tlnues In the running, featuring Ih>u Breese's 24-piece orchestra and a pair of singers, and. thus denying the State the privilege of mohopo. llzlng the fiesh-and-blood field. Its 'Study In Scarlet' is not strong b. o* anuhunition. The Orpheum .has 'Diplomaniacs.* Bott^ the Orph and: State had Saturday, Instead of thok usual Friday, openings this week. Warni weather is an attendance deterrent, but seencks to have no ad^ verse efEect on that, wonder attract tioh, 'Be Mine Tonight/ ih its eighth week at Steffes' World,' which, seating only 300. runs niuQ Shows daily and has a night admis- sion scale of 75o for- reserved loges and 6dc for the balance. Grosses, averaged $2,000 a week in a house with a nut of perhaps $700. -The soaring commodity and stock prices have failed as yet to stimiiW late local theatre trade. Estimates fbr This Week _$tat9_ (Publlx) (2,200 ; 65)—'Littlei. Giant* (FN), Joan BldndeUrlti-perii son, Jaclr-Malerlch-Julie Madison-, orchestra (local organization), and; Johnny Green, guest conductor. Big and effective exploitation and ad*!; vertlsing campaign and curiosity to see Miss Blondell, as well as pleas-c Ing all-around show, dragging 'em In. House' set for at least $8^000 On; week. Last week 'Warrior's Hush band* (Fox). $3,900, brutal. Orpfheum (RKO) (2,890; 46)-h 'Diplomaniacs* (RKO). Wheeler 86, Woolsey are cards for this house^ but only $3,000, poor, aPPears to be In sight Last week "World >Goniai Ma.d';,_(Ma^)_ (35-66) and Cab Callo-t way " and brcBeslra^ 'In -person,- fal^ - $10,600, with Calloway mainly ren sponsible for draw. Century (Publix) (1,600 ; 40)'- •LiUy Turner* (FN). Chattertoi^ will get about $3,000, fair. Last week 'Barbarian' (MG) $2,700 Lyceum (Clifford (2,500; 40)—• 'Study in Scarlet' (WW) and Lo\< Breese orchestra, and Gertrude! Lutzi and Stewart Johnson, singers^ Good enough picture, but no card at house that looks to carriage tradtf for Its heaviest pickings. Probably $3,200, light. Last week 'Water-* front' (UA). $4,500, fair. Uptown (Publlx) (1,200; 40)-« •White Sister* (MG). Fair $3,000 Itt prospect Last week 'Cavalcade** (Fox) $3,600, good. Lyric (Publix) (1,300; 36)—'Mad< on Broadway* (MG). Picture well suited to house, but only $2,800 Inl view. Last week 'HeU to Heaven^* (Par)r^$MO0r-llght. Grand (Publix) (1,100; 35)—'Cav-ji~ alcade' (Fox). SecOnd loop riin and remaining full week. Around $2,0001 Indicated^ .pretty good. Last weekv •Bedtime-Sfofy'=^(Pffli07iBecondJooR run, and 'Terror Aboard' (Par), first run, $900, light. Aster (Publlx) (900; 26)—^'424 Street* (WB), fourth loop run and spotted for five days, and 'Sailor's Luck* (Fox), second loop run^ Should reach $1,000, pretty good4 Last week 'Kid from Spain* (UA),. second loop run; .aLnd 'Tonto Itiid' (Par), first run, $700,^llght nifty $12,000. Last week was-ofC badly to $9,400 with 'Constant Wom^ an* (Pox). Keith's (Schanberger) (2,500; 26-; 30-40-60) 'I Love That Man' (Par). Panned all around, and with Its meagre hame strength doesn't ap-, pear able to combat competition. Win slide the house down to weak-: ish $3;500. Previous session just fair on $4,100 for 'Eagle and the Hawk* (Par). . NeW (Mechahic) (1,800; 25-30-40-c. 60) 'Ann Carver's Profession' (Col)« Not getting anywhere, arid the house itself didn't try to outdo itself on the ads, merely advising the public that it was an entertaining picture and thought that everybody'd like it... Seems that this played-down, advertising doesn't help, howdver, because the figures for the week win hardly touch $3,000, bad. 'Hold Me-Tight'^(Fox)=-was=^3ustlas_i5aLd= last week, garnering oiily $2,800 for the session, a new low for the, Eilers-Dunn team. Stanley (Loew-UA) (3,400; 25-35- 40-55-65) 'International House' (Par). Plenty of names its only salvation, and. doing only fair trade. Will probably pick up- business, in the nelghborhpods, however, which has been the general Tcaction to flicks with radio attractions. Oil this downtown run may bio $13,000, passably good. Last week 'Work- ing Man* (WB) off; only $10,800-