Variety (May 1934)

10 VARIETY PICT a a E G RnO S S E S TueBday, 'May 29, 1954 Weather Saves Ptrovidence Too Many Musicals, 'Sweethearts* Tepid at $5,()00_<Sadie McKee' Best, $16,000 rovidehce,' Mt^y 28. Continued <jool we£i,th^r only thing that Is keeping ^h^atriss from cpih- plete flops. Grosses haye been very bad of late, and judging from pres- ent outlook the new stianza will be no. exception. Only, one or two atandsi " In town haye been " getting anything that looks like fair .money. In one or. two cases grosses have been worst experienced In a year. liegit opposlsh for the week will be Katharine Cornell in three-day engagement at Carlton last half of the week and stock show, 'Smllin' Thru' at the Modern for entire week. Estimates for ThiiB Week' Fay's (2,000; 15-55-40)--.*Now i'll Teir (Fox) and vaudevillie with Roscoe. Ails. No doubt that the main reason, for the peppy state of affairs iit this house id largely due to the stage show, Fans seem to. like Tracy in plx, but it's stage entertainment that, 'will be responsi- ble for a nice $7;200 fOr the .week. Last \yeek 'A Modern Hero' (WB) with the. iaid of all-colored re.vu6 managed to ease through: a fair 16,700. ; Loaw's State (3,200; 15-26-40)— 'Sadie McKee* (MG) aiid yaude. Joan. Crawford big drawing power In this city; opening very brisk, and regardless Of what may turn up there's no'dOubt that house yflU be. able to garner at leiast $16,000 In the till. Last week 'House of Roths- child' (UA) was another bullseye for this favorite stand, gross touch- ing $16,200 for a nifty wi^ek. iVIaJestic (Pay) (2,200; 16-26-40) —*20 Million Sweethearts' (WB). This one may be a great musieal film, but It's the third one In sL row to show at this stand, and tha.t's too many. Start tepid, and nothing to Indicate that gross is going to go over $5,0000 mark, if that. Last week 'Stand Up and. Cheer' (Fox) didn't prove very hot fodder, touch- ing a poor $4,800. Paramount (Indie) (2,200; 16-25- 40)—'Thirty-Day Princess' (Par) and 'In Love With Life' (Mono). Bill, so-so, .and opening just about. Shoved in quite cold last Wednes'- day, no more thaii $3,500 indicated. Last week 'JVitchlng Hour' (Par), •Manhattan Love Song' (Mono) was yanked after six-day run, at $2,400 worst house has had in a year. . RKO Albee (2,000; 16-25-40)— 'Strictly Dynamite* (Radio) and •Affairs of a Gentleman' (U). All the ballyhoo house is. concentrating on can't possibly bring them in, with the mediocre . fllmL being screened. Just now it appears house wlH be very fortunate vif it touches $4,000 Last week 'StingJiree' (Radio) and •The Party's Over' (Col) was in the doldrums, in spite of campaigns and tieups. at $4,200.: RKO Victory (1,600; iO-15-26)— •One Is Guilty' (Col) and 'Secret Sinners' (Mayfalr); this spot Is do- ing better than the othe'j* more classy stands; gross aottks like nice $1,400 for *")Hf week. Last week 'Wild .<iargo' (Radio) and 'GlanjmH^"' (U), both second run, -^rere sO-so at $1,100 on split week too. week before. Did a record week at the Warfleld before that too. United: Artists (1,200; 26-35-40)— 'Modern Hero"! (WB). Likely $4,000 on the five days before the house closes for the summer. Last week, 'No Greater Glory' (Col), very bad at less than $4,000 for the Aveek^ Warfieid (FWC) (2,700; 36-45-66) —'Manhattan Melodrama' (MG) and stage show. Gable, Loy and Powell money pullers and $20,000 heat piece of change. 'Stand Up, Cheer' (Fox) last week ^idh't st^nd up to. its predecessors of the past twO. months and got but $17,500, which still is good.. Labor Strife Hurts Cincy; ^Cal' SAN FRANCISCO Cincinnati, May 28. Downtown exhibs keeping smell- ing salts handy while tabbing b.o. Several large factories idle pending wage 'disputes and° operators of other plants taking it slow and easy pending outcome. A difficult pull for general trade during past fort- night. Last week the Hagenbeck- Wallace circus, did heavy biz on 3- day stand, strawing 'em the last two nights; take exce^eded that by show here last year. Saturday (26) markied. opening of 37-day racing meeting at Latonia. Ky., opposite Cincy, and season start for Coney Island, which spent lotsa dough In improving rides and fun houses and has Benny MefolX's band for the terps spot, a-nd the Zoo, featuring new barless. enclosures for bears and big cats. Current screen coin topper is 'Murder at the Vanitlei^' lieiving $12,600, more than double any Oi'-.or single gross. 'Chiange of H«art'. tra;nsferred from Palace to Caipltol for extended iirst run and getting $5,000, a grand less than 'Such' Women Are Dangerous.' The Grand, only RKO house lo- cally with flesh, is to go shut for suihmei: so soon as weather coin- pels. Theatre is unchlUed and added pop vode to pix a couple of months ago. Strand, indie pop vaudfllm, continues to brave the tide.' Estimates for this Week Albee (RKO) (3,300; 85-44) 'Mur- der at the Vanities' (Par). Press puffs for Earl CarrpU's expert craftsmanship in overcoming lack of originality for plot of his first flicker. Combo of murder mystery, mslcal revue and looker gals a gen- eral trade puller for $12,500, a lovely figure. Last week 'Thirty-Day Prin cess' (Par). $7,000, all right. Palace (RKO) (2,600;' 35-44)— 'Such Women Are Dangerous' (Fox). Warner Baxter blgged. Cricks no like story. A slow $6,000 in sight. Last week 'Change of Heart' (Fox), $10,000, good. Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 36-44)— ^Change of Heart' (Fox) switched from Palace for continued first run, $6,000, okay. Last week 'Sadie Mc- Kee* (MG), In second week, $5,000, nice, following heavy $12,000 on iarst 7 days. Lyric (RKO) (1,394; 35-44)— 'Half a Sinner' (U), $4,000, fair. Last week 'You're Telling Me"^ (Par), strengthened in last half for $4,600, nice. Keith's (Libson) (1,500; 30-40)— 'A Very Hbliorable Guy* (FN). Laudied by press boys fof clean comedy, Damoh Runyon material plus Joe Brown, with a bit Of aid from Alice White, spelling $4,200, comfy. Last week; '20 Million Sweet- hearts' (WB) finished 16-day run with a neat $4,000, totaling $14,000 for the engagement. Qrand (RKO) (1,025; 25-36)— 'Man of Two Worlds* (Jtadlb) and Bolce and Marge the vode topper, $3,600, so-so. Last week 'EJight Girls In a Boat* (Par) and (?aud-r smith Bros, headlining, $3,400. Family (RKO) (1,000; 16-26)— •Black Cat' (U) and 'Behind Jury Doors' (Indie), split First pix a better than average draw, helping for $1,800, fine. Last Week 'Hell Bent for Love* (Col) and .^Honof of the Ranged (U), divided, $1,600. Strand (Ihd) (1,200; 15-20-25-30) —'In Lovei With Life" (Indie) ajid Keaton'.and Paige aceing the 5-act bill, $1,800, tough sledding. Last week 'Sin of Nora Moran' and Capps Four fronting vaude, $1,700. Acad Tech. Prblilems Hollywood, May 28. Following the recent resumption of activities of the Academy of Mo- tion Picture Arts and Sciences Re- sea.rch council, the technicians' branch is beginning a new series of semi-monthly meetings for discus- sion of studio technical problems. Clommlttee. coniprlging S. J. Twining, L. E. Clark, Martin Cohn, Harris Ensign, George Folsey, J. C. Okey, William F. Rydolph and Gor- don Mitchell, meets today (Tues- day) to lay out a program for the cpmlng year. Comparative Grjosses for May Total grosses during May for towns and houses listed as previ reported weekly. Dates given «ra the closing days of the week, NEW YORK (Continued from page 8) In.:; and plea.sing its share of cus tomers. Estimates-for This Week Fox (Leo) (6,000; 25-36)r—'Sisters Under Skin' (Col), and 'Money Means Nothing' (Col), split; House pulling around $8,000, better than many previous sliows with vaude Last week, . first minus fiesh. saw $6,800 on 'When Strangers Meet' (Col), and .. 'Twin Husbands' (Is Div). split. Golden Gate (RKO) (2.844; 25-35 40)—'Finishing School' (Radio) and vaude. Doing surprisingly well and may hit big $14,000. Last week it was $13,600 on 'Singaree' - (Radio), best Richard Dix gross in some ' time, with Irene Dunne, Tom Brown and Mitzi (jti-een in person, to start it oft. OrpheUm (F&M) (2,400; 25-35-66) —'Eriib^^rrassing Moments' (U) and tab version of 'Take a Chance' with Olsen and Johnson. New low prices brjgihg more people in. O. and- J. did a week at $2.76 at the Columbia fortniglit ago, and n.s.g. Running big $11,000 here. Ben Bernie got started slowly last week with 'Un- certain Lady (U) the film; the heat holding him down oVyer the week- end. But after his Tuesday night broadcast he blossomed, out, and the maeistro came in with a .shade over =T-$l:3v6 00-^^t o^^gi A'e-^h im-=the=?=seGond- highest grcss of the F&M policy, next to Lombardo, Paramount (PWC) (2,400; 25-^35- 40)&^'30 Day Pl'lncess' (Par) and 'Upperworld' (WB), split. Combined cast draw of both a help and looks best on' double features in six weeks, $12,500. Last week, 'Tarzan' (MG), $11,000. St. Francis (FWC) (1,500; 26-36- 40)-^'Villa' (MG) (3d week). Still going strong and $4.b00 is okay, after |5,500 week previous and $7,000 Oust 'Lancer' Again Hollywood, May 28. Although abandoned as a probable picture after $600,0.00 had been ex pended. on it* 'Lives of a Bengal Lancer* Is .again off the shelf at Pairamount. Yarn, f oi; wWch Ernest B. Schoed sack went to India to photograph background' stuff, is expected to go into production In July. Intention Is to put 6ary Cooper in the top spot, after he returns from doing one for Sam Goldwyn on a previous commitment. LOS ANGELES Concoct Laurel-Hardy Hollywood, May 28. After absence from the lot of four months. Laurel and Hardy back. Hal Roach preparing fourth of their series of six twp-reelers for'the current season's program. Comics are working with Charles Rogers and Frank Terry, writers, in concocting a yam. Bad Weather Helps Baltimore Abe Lyman Credited for $20,( 'Dynamite' $13,00( ^'Strictly Baltimore, May 28. Sudden and inordinatie chill, ac- companied by murky skies, thjat saddled town over week-end kept the pleasure seekers inside city limits, stymied the beaches and bodisted the box-offices. Fairly strong layout currently, with the Century going into its eighth' consecutive session as town topper. '30-Day 'Princess' on the screen is playing second fiddle to Abe Lyman band on rostrum, first time in moons the flesh fare has .been the prime biz provoker at the. Loew standard-bearer. Estimates for This Week Century* (Loew-UA) (3,000; 25- 35-40-55-66) 'SO-Day Princess' JPal;) and Al3e""Eym"an^"Hevue ~on~"staSS" Nifty $20,000 in sight credited to stage draw. Last week 'Sadie Mc- Kee' (MG), and iflVe strong actsi smash $22,000. Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,500; 26-35-40-56-66) 'Strictly Dynamite' (Radio) and Isham Jones ork head- ing acts. Maybe $13,000, fair. Last week 'Stingaree' (Radio) and King's Scandals* unit, indifferent $11,000. Keith's (Schanberger) (2,500; 25- 30-35-40-66) 'Murder at Vanities' (Piar). Earl Carroll name has a marquee meaning hereabouts, and though critics shrugged it, hefty exploitation and title values means $6,600. Last week/Come on Marines' (Pa,r) didn't, ending out in the alley at $3,000. New (Mechanic) (1,800; 25-3()-35- 40-60). 'Change of Heart' (Fox) (2d week). Still plenty perky, after a shining $6,000 on the first stanza, Appears cantering in for a good $3,800 on second and last lap. The Gaynor-Farrell reunion is doing it. Stanley (WB) (3,460; 15-25-40) •Witching Hour' (l»ar). Mild nlys- tery mel]|er started sluggishly and looks to end at same snail's pace, No more .than $7,500, dire. ^Last -week -:'Upp(Br-=World?~(WB)r-with Ben Hecht's monicker, as author, billed over all else, off, $8,000. Valencia (Loew-UA) (1,000; 26- 36) 'Show-Off* <Ma). The show is old spuds to this town and if mob didn't already know about it crlx tipped the mitt soon enough. Tracy's name means a fraction on the mar- quee, but not enough to budge mild $3,500. Last week 'Sadie McKcc' (MG); 2-a-day. pop-prices, sank deep into mire. $2,000. (Continued on page 19)