Variety (Mar 1934)

VARIETV I CTUBE CBOSSES Tuesday, March 6, 1934 LA. Gives 'Nana' ExceDent $12,00(1: 'Mandalay $1430 Day-and-Date; Lombardo «n Stage Repeat, 17G Los Angelies, Mai'ch 5. State tax; income ta^, Lent an^ rent Avere the elements that sort of threw a kink into the general box office take, this^ wesfk. That goes for the li.eighborhoods as .well, as the flipst run group of, houses. Paramount is the leader of the de likely . Exceed $10,000. Palftce showing 'Six of a Kind' and 'Search for Beauty.' which should icoliect $8,500. Loew'a has been holding tip lately and has 'FoAir Frightened People* and iisual yaude with bal- let backgroiinid. Looks like. $9,600. •Let's Fall. In Love' and 'East of FijCth Avenue* at Princess should be good, for $7,000. Imperial comes luxe contingent with 'No More to pix with 'Madame Sans Women* oh the sci-eeh arid Guy Lbmbardo. outfit on the stage- Bus- Gene' for'ab*but $1,500, and Cinema de Paris repeats for. the seventh iness did not stai t off at same pace Kygg^ <Fanny' still holding up at aS; the pi'evious. Lombardo eng^age-I |j^200. , ment and will hit around the $17,000 mark. 'The Cat and the Fiddle,' at tlie Stale, not a warm faictbr at all. ■Nana,' with heavy campaigning. gOt around $3,000 on first two days at the United Artists, and. though not Estimates for This: Week Palace (FP) (2,700; BO)—'Six of a Kind' (Par), and 'Search for Beau- ty* (Par). Good, average pix for this town and with better weather what expected. Vviil laist two weeksI should gross'around $8,500. Last at the house week, 'Carolina* (Fox), and 'Jimmy Both Warner houses doing oke and Sally' (JS^)j grossed fair $^ ith ^Mandaiay,' with Hollywood Capitol (FP) X2,7P; 60)—'Cat and, running about $200 ahead on the Siadle' MG). Has had plenty pub- week over Downtown. Chinese: at Hcity ^ith stars locally .popular and new policy holding up in neat shape should, top ^^'^^^^^-^^^^^K J^^l and looks as though 'Queen Chris- week, 'Chnstlna* (MG) repeat got a tina,' now in fourth week, wiU last nice $8,000.- . »^ •Ti'rt.xi^t couple more, to be followed hy Loew?. 3'200; 65)--^ FrlgM 'Rothschild.' 'Devil Tiger,' In sec- ened People* (Par) and va.ude This end week at Four Star, holding uP f^o^'^^hold erosses up aroun^^^ in better style than expected. 'It Uoo. Last week 'X iUn Suzan^^ Happened One Night,' at RKO, (Fox) ajid vaude di^^^^ starred off^t good pace to week .f L^.-e„ (^^^ ^ E Th!. W.«lc hP*"h Avenue* (Col). Princess stanOr Estimates tor this weeK ard pix which ought to gross up to Chinese (Graumaii) (2,028; 65- ^7,000. Repeat of ^ana' (UA) laj3t tl.lO-^'Queeri Christina* (MG) and week grossed a nice $7,000. stage show (4th "week). Matinee I Imperiat (France-Pilin) (l.WO; trade unusually heavy arid looks I 60)—'Madame Sans Gene/- Back to like an easy $ll,0()iO. Last week Firench pix with chance for $1,500. third stanza just iCell hundred short I Last week no pictuties; of $14,000. I Cinema de PaHs (France-Film) Downtown (WB) (1,800; »6-3B-40-1 (600; 60)—'Fanny* (7th week). This TACOMA HOTCHA All 3 HeusM Oeiho WsM; 'Nellie* and 'Number* ^,000 at Rony Tacoma,, March 5, Chic Sale In person, with com- pany, in for four days at Ham- rick'a Music Box pepping up the b. o., while fair attractions help the situation at the Blue Mouse. Moderate weather also proving aid to hi? this week. Estimates for this Week . Music Box (Hamrick) (1,400; 26- 35)_'I>.vO Got Tour Nuinber" (WB) four day^, with Chic Sale on stage; ■Hi Noilie' (WB) for three days. Combo ought to. iget big $5,000. Last week, 'Roman Scandals' (tJA) flho $4,900. Roxy (JrVH) (1.300; 25-35) 'It Happened One Nlghf (Col). Head^ ed for $5,000. okay. Last week, 'Let's Fall in Love' (Col) held only three days, $1,400 slow; then 'You Can't Buy Everything'. (MG) good five days, $2,900, for 8 day total of $4,400, okay, Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (656; 15- 25)—'Big Shakedown' (FN) and 'Madame Spy* (XJ) split, expects $2,000, okiay. Laist week, 'Massacre' (FN) and 'Invisible Man' (U) split, $2,000, good. ■ Stage Shows Oke Iif IVov.; 13G; State Same Providence, March |S. tage shows have the edge oiace more here. Four different spots sporting flesh entertaimnont, and with plenty of emphasis. Opposish from the straight picture houses Devi r^eriaOOO: IpslHOOO; 'Nana' $14,000 at Aldine, Phifly at fair clip and will come home with I with grosses stable around $1,000 $7,000. Last week •Fashion Follies | $1,200. of 1934' (WB) kind off the clip they figured with a $6,600 take. Spent plenty to sell It. Four Star (FOx) (900; 60-75)— 'DevU Tiger* (Fox) (2d week). Hold- ing up In very good fashion and will wind up With around $2,900 which is profit. Last week first Stanze breezed in with plenty at $4,300. Hollywood (WB) (2.766; 126-36-40- 55)—'Mandalay* (FN). First day was not hot but picked iip on second and looks like around $7,200. Last week 'Fashion Follies 1934' (WT5) .;riot as torrid as calculated but showed house, profit at $7,600 Los Angeles (Wm. FOit) (2,800; 16-35)—'The Big Chance* (Eagle) (Trulse* (U) tea 15(rs; Over-Mled Malo So-So niohths; Folks evidently Just had to seo 'Sons of the Desert,' regard- less of the blizzard. Estimates for This Week Aladdin (Huffman (1,500; 25-46) —'Beloved*. (U). Fair with $4,000, Last week, 'I Am Suzanne* (Fox), did only an average $3,500. Pic- ture plugged; strongly as a story of puppeteers, and Denver, not caring for that sort of entertain- meiit, stayed away, although the house apparently drew its regular clientele through the week, regard- less of the storm. Denham (Hillhorn) (1,600; 26-30- 40)—'Bolero" (Par). Around $7,000. Last week, 'Gtood Dame* (Par). With a smooth-running . stage . show, Henry Santry and his 'Soldiers of Fortuhe,* started oft for the next to the best. busltiess ever done by this house, but the snowstonni Sat- urday and Sunday, stopped It, al- though the house was cortifortably filled most of those days. House had holdouts every day but those, two. and finished with $9,000, 60% above normal. Denver (Huffman) (2.500; . 25-36- 50)—'Nana' (UA). Very nice $8,500. Last week, 'Moulin Rouge* (UA). finished with ah avorage week. Film pulled fairly steady all week, and barring thiB snowstorni^ should have done a third ,more. TOok in $7,600. Orpheum (Huffman) (2,600; 25^ 40160)—'It Happened One Night* (Coi) and stage show, with AI Lyons. Around $14,000. Last week; 'This Side of Heaven' (MG) con tinued the dip that has been under way at the Orphieum the past two weeks, but stIU finished with $11,000. Paramount (Huffman) (2;006; 26- 40)—«Sons of the Desert* (MG) and rMassacre' (FN), split. 'Sons* held over from three days on previous week and 'Massacre' will be held three days on next week. Only house in town running from Sun day to Suhdia,y; $3.60 0. Last week, •Easy to Love* (WB) and 'Sons of the Desert' (MG), split, did average So far BKO Albee appears to have. the advantage over all comi- petitors TKrith Midway Nights on Stage and 'The Poor Rich' on the ^ screen. House Is cashing; In on swell I because the latter picture pulled the ballyhoo caused by row oyer adyer- | house out of the dumps to finish Buffalo, March 6. tising the bin. Ads plenty sexy, papers registering no kick until squawks started to flow in from clubwomen; then the leading daily here threw out the ads and replaced with less objectionable copy. Mayor gave theatre more public- ity when he called the dailies and gave them a story to the effect he had instructed police censor to clean up the show. Mayor has no author- ity to pass upon theatre progjrains, but used his ofBcial position to bring weight. - ^i.^ Laugh was on 'hizzoner and/the " The show with $2,600. 'Sons* gave the house the only holdout It has had in many a moon, and that in the middle of the snowstorm. Laurel and Hardy popular with tnost picture fans iii Deliver. Better business seems to have [ old^egs who «>t^^^^ and 'Cross Country ——w~ ,. . ^ ^ * , w«ik, e*,^.. r-: - split. Kind off of here and will I subsided , with a lull at the box of-j po^^e censor who claimed « come home with around $3,200, not ] flees evidenced in most quarters. | the tamest productions he had^ever good. I^st_week 'The Morning | .j,^^^^^^ to marking time-| pasSed^upon; Judging by the open with little to excite, businesig either currently or in the ofling. Double feature policy at the Hipp, with vaudeville yanked after many years. Looks as if the double fea (Gaumoht) and (Mpnogrsim) fair •Mystery trade at After' Liner' $3 800. Panta9ea-.(Pan) (2,700; 15-26-40) —'You Can't Buy Everything (MG) and 'Sleepers East* (Fox) split Ihg pace gross shovld be well over ^^Loew's jStaite is ahead of Aibee on gross, but business not compara- tively as good. Loew*s vaudevUle Is about the best house has had In AT FOX m $27,MII,lir. Detroit. March 6. and 'Sleepers East' (Fox) fiP"^M ?iTrA'^M>iTeV is beta^^ Three outstanding attractions aU Playing to lot of ^people but noj U^h toi^J'ii^ntS^fn^^^^^ making a bid for business this week I?S $3*10*0 lSs? week TS'gitS? on double policy and distribu- fJ^iA^S2^o**'diffl^^^^ in tUting Lith warmer weather helping, LXers* (MG) ai3%h?Pow Rich* business about even among I ^ least $ia.600. ^ ^^'^ the best bet wltb waa tourf? sleddine^ t^^^ .... ^ Fay's has Tve Got TourNutial^r .The New Yorkers* on Stage and iFohn sledding to mi leather has modulated here- L,n the screen and Jane and Kather- rD^vid Harum* on screen. United Parkmonn* rPorfmarl f3 695- 25-I ^bouts wWch may glvo box ofBcos Lee heading the now stage show. Urtists with 'Queen Christhia* is anS ^Mn MnJ wom^' SpS) and ol»anco at recovery after the coldest Gross will be around average at K^^ j ^ run after a series of s?l;;?ho^'S*sT^"^mlKba:S Febru^ n,.. that is helping bouse plenty to hit I Estimates for This Week $17,000 which is oke for house but I BufFale (Shea) (8,600; 80-40-66)— not helpful to band, on split of gross. I .BQleroi (Par) and stage show. I^st week 'Bolero* (Par) picture on I About average buisiness to start and. its own was responsible for a simash I looks headed for something under take of $19,000. , I $16,000. Last week 'Queen Ghris- RKO (2,950; 25-40)—It Happened tin^. (jjG) arid stage show. Held Will tune out,at One, Night*. (Col) around $6,500, Patrbr (RTKO) week for this one hopped up bit at end to windup with $6,600. State (Loew-Fox) (2,024; 26-40)— •The Cat and the Fiddle' (MG) . , , ,_ ..up to expectations and somewhat I'ast ^weeit^ •Lo^t better Garbo, leatute highly spoken second and nnai i ^j^^^gg^^j^gj. „jpp^ ^he. opening days of run. Got $16,000, Hipp (Shea) (2,400; 25r36)— 'Meanest (3al in Town* (RKO) and 'Eight Ghrls in Boat'^ (Par). An- $6,600. „ . „i„ I disappointing one-week stands. The Maiestlc and the Paramount will Michigan is enjoyhig itself with 'Cat have mild week, judging from the i^^^ pj^^^, ^^^^ 'Blackbirds' on the present pace. Bills just ordinary, gtage. and not enough drawing power. Estimates for This Week Fay's (2,200; 16-26-40)—'I've Oot Tour Number* (WB) and vaude- ville. Bill iust so-so, and unless there's a sudden switch this spot (donlfcucid on *aie 27) Pretty.tough going for this^on^^that r^^j^^^^^^^^^^ program, but will come home with around $10,000. Last week 'DaVid Harum* (Fox) ip; for nine days* sojourn came through with $16,000 which is plenty good trade. United Artists ((Srauman) (2,100; prospects . look like figures under last .week*s business, May go to $6,000. Last week 'Dark' Hazard* (FN) and 'Sons of the Desert' (MG). Fell Off despite what looked like two $6,300. Denver Brags About Mild Winter; TJoW $7,000; %na,'$8,500, Very Nice 2B-35-40.55)-'Nana' (UA). I^oks | ^ood^fjatu^ as though it will hit . aroun* $12,000 mark, excellent; Last week I Am Suzanne* (Fox) and 'Search state goes Into, a cheaper policy without stagie shows and dual bills Estimates for This Week Fox (Inde-RKO) (6,100; 16-25-36- 40-66). 'David Harum' (Fox) and 'New Yorkers.' tab. Will do swell $30,000. Last week 'It Happened One Night* (Col), $30,000. Michigan (Far) (4,045; 16-26-S6- 40-65), 'Cat and Fiddle' (M-G) and 'Blackbirds* unit. Good $27,000 Last week '(Sood Dairie' (Par) miild $17,000. United Artists (Par) (2,018; 16 26-55-40-65), 'Christina' (M-G). Up for pleasant $16,000. Last week ♦Nana* (UA) mild $^,600. Fisher (Par) (2,750; 15-26-86-40) 'This Side of Heaven' (M-G). Fair enough at $6,000. Last week 'Six of final five days of isecorid week came Home with $5;600 which is oke. 'CAT HDDLE' TOPS MONTREAL, $10,000 Montreal, March 5. .=JJoAhingjm.tsJ;andln&._ Third we^^^^ of Lent seems to offer ho surprises in grosses currently, with Caipitol showing 'Cat arid Fiddle* as the pick of the bunch. Weather has improved and outlook Is for mild tempera- tures for^eek-ehd. Theatres packed ""for cEeap showings and not so good for top prices. . . ♦Cat and Fiddle* has had couple of weeks' publicity due to repeat of •Oarbo pic. and should get a little «xtra on that, but best guess not month and perhaps slightly better Lucky to get $6,000; Last week 'After Tonight' (RKO) and 'Six of a Kind' (Par). Very much floppo at $5,500. Century (Shea) (3,400; 25)—'Hold That Girl' (Fox) and 'Women in His Life' (MG). Started slow and will probably fall under last week's figures. Neither feature calculated to excite much at the box Office. -May-get=$6;G00r==iLast-week-Iive--Got- Tour Number' (WB) and 'Cradle Song* (Par). Well balanced pro- gram bettered estimates at $6,000. Lafayette (Ind.) (3,400; 25)—'It Happened One Night' (Col) and Before Midnight' (Col). May go $7,500. Last week 'Chance at Heaven' (RKO) and 'Fog* (Col). Picked up neatly and. with well rouoded show swas able to iret near- ly $7,000. Philadelphia, Mai'ch 5. Of the new batch of pictures, the much-heralded 'Nana' with . Anna Sten at the Aldine, looks to be' the miost likely for big trade. This one opened strong'ly in the face of mean weather arid with rapidly. rising tempera.ture,; should click for. a nice run, especially since the house, ever since tr.A. toOk it over in the early fall, has been gathering a stronger and stronger clientele as the weeks went by. Looks as if $14,000 wiU be reached and perhaps more. Fox has the Loughran-Camera; fight pictures arid Tomriiy's popu- larity here iri his hottie town makes this a r-eally big drawing.card, This film wasn't on prograrti wheri r^gr ular Friday change was made, but went iri Monday, 'ij^vil Tiger' won good notices, but atagei show headlined by Lita Grey Chaplin in a tab version of the First Little Show, didri't click so strongly. Estimates for This Week Aldine (1,300; 40-56-65)—'Nana' (UA). Fine start, despite weather with critics praislrif star, biit not show. Three weeks expected.; Fine, I ;i4,000 figured fbr.-lirst week. Last wieek 'Moulin Rouge' (UA), $6,000 in third' and last week. . Arcadia (600; 25-40^6(>)—'Dinner at iaght' (MG). iThird local show-, ing. Ought to get a strong $2,500 and 'held, for more than six days, although Garbo's 'Queen Christina* listed for Thursday. Last week 'Go- ing Hollywood* (MG) $2,500, good. Boyd (2,406; 40-55-66)^*Journal of a Crime' (FN). Not so hot from first pace, about $9,600. estimated. Last week, *Cat and the Fiddle* (MG), $10,500—just ordinary. Earle (2,000; 40-55^66)—'Hips, Hips, Hooray* (RKO) and vaude. No names on stage. $14,000 estimated at outside. Last week, 'Search for Beauty' (Par) arid vaude. Belle Baker headlined, $16.00Q, pretty good. ■■ Fox (3,000; 30-40-60) — 'Devil Tiger' (Fox) and stage show. Lita Grey Chaplin in 'Firist Little Show*^ tab.. Also Loughran-Camera fight pictures, around $20,000 not un- likely. Last week, 'Coming Out Party* (Fox), and stage show. Will Mahoney featured, $16,500, about a grand under expectations. Karlton (1,000; 30-40-60)—'You Can't Buy :Everythlrtg' (MG). No riiore than $3,000 forecast. Last week, 'His Double Life* (Par), de- spite raves, only $2,800. Poor. Keith's (2,000; 26-36-40) — 'Hold That Girl' (Fox) and vaude. First run filni for a change. Not very promising^, $6,500. Last week .'Garo- lina* (Fox) and vaiide got $8,000 in severi days. Stanley (3,700; 40-55-66) — It Haippened One Night* (Col). Holds for at least part of second week. If completed should get $9,000. First week, had $14^600. . Stanton (1,600; ,80-40-55) —'This Side of Heaven'. (MG). Raves, but not much biz. U:sual $7,600.' Last week 'I've Got Tour Nuriiber' (WB> $7,000—so-so. Walnut (1,600: 26-60)—'Sin of Nora Moran' (MaJ) and stage pres- entaltion. Fair $5,000 or thereabout* indicated. Last week 'Broken Dreams' (Mono) and 'Parisian Fan- tasies' as stage presentation. $5,000. in seven dayis. Denver, March 5. Weather for the past winter un heard of for Denver. Delightful a Kind' (Par) $6,000 feiost of time and only cold few downtown (RKO^Inde) (2.665; 16 ^ days Four brief sriowstorms best 25-35-40), 'It Happened One Ulght reasons"for grosses holding up most (Col). ^Moved ^over, from Fox and of winter. Usually there's at least about $6,000. ^ Last week Meanest three -months^ cold weather, with Gal In ToW (Fox) and 'Sleepers plenty of enow arid several weeks East* (Fox) mild $3,600. below zero, at least at night, but State (Par) (8.000; 16.26-35-40). fhSmometer has kept aboAre zero l^o More Wome^^^ all winter. Orpheum did better Sat- Kind* (Par). ^ Dual bill with Six urdav than other recent big week having played Fisher last week; when Jallv was heref That will be near $4,000. ^ Last w^ek 'I when Sally Rand was week she' got plenty of the credit for=^-the.Jiuge=gXQsaJ?JitJthli^ee^^ Its the picture that's dragging them in. . . , . Last Aveek the worst blizzard of the winter hit on Saturday, hurig on through Sunday, arid igave Den- ver the lowest temperature of the season, and hurt every theatre In town. The Orpheum felt It less than any other house, although on Sunday, at 2:80, the Paramount had its first holdooi tn- months and Like It That Way' (U) and stage show mild $4<600. . SUKDAY SHOWS LOSE Jackson, March 6. Sunday shows in towns of . 2,600 population or more in Mlssiss'ippi lost Out last week when the «tate Senate voted down a biU 22 to 12. Bill would have made ehowtf optional Im tQwma by election. 'NANA* MAKING PLAND TORN DOT FOR $6,500 Portland^ Ore., Marcb 6; Nice weather continues to give the theatres a breaks although Lent still accounting for. a slight decrease in grosses. United Artists has the much heralded . Anna Sten and 'Nana! while the Columbia, dark for several months, hsis 'Narcotic.' Ned Lyrich and his players are' giving 'Across the Divide' and free beer at the . old American. Estimates for This Week Broadway (Parker) (2,000; 26-40), 'This Side bf Heaven (M-G) and 'Bombay. Mail' (U). Double biU given good publicity and should re- turn good $4,500c Last week Chio Sale and 'Madame Spy' (U) did ex- cellent $8,600. United Artists (Parker) (1,000; 26-40), 'Nana* (UA). Anna Sten given lots of advance notice and O'U the way to a big $6,600. Last week 'Christina' (M-G), second week, an okay $4,400. Paramount (FWC) (3,000; 25-40), 'Devil Tiger' (Fox) and 'Search for Beauty! ,_(Par)., Thls_ dual a_fair $Tob6. Last Weelt~'Six~~df"TCind'^ (Par) and 'Sleepers East' (Fox) $3,900. Music Box (Hamrick) (1,400; 26- 36), "Got Tour Number* (WB). Fair $2,900. Last week 'Hips, Hips' (Radio) a neat $3,800. Oriental (Hamrick) (2,600; 26- 86), •Rio* (Radio). Nice at $2,000. Last week 'Roman Scandals* (UA) I $2,300.