Variety (Apr 1935)

S, 19S5 riC T EC HOSSES rMUETK as . (Be»t Exploitation;: Roosevelt) Business sags for the bulk of the loop trade currently with only one or two outstanding: attriactions punching their way up Into the really, big figures. And the biggest . of the> figures Is. again the Falacei where 'Roberta' Is set eiEuiily for a four-week run. Played to capacity : last week and wlir repeat currently. :!^ It's the one flicker which needs no - alibi for bad business; ho squawks about Lent or the weather. Partlbularly crimped, on the other hand; is the mammoth Chicago, flag' ship of Balaban & Katz. Has tried and Is trying desperately to buck the opitosltion'. of the Palace by . apottiiig in their strongest product. But the tragedy of it Is that there Is really, little guaranteed product , available right now for' the B.£K. spots in the loop. The muchly touted 'Gold Diggers' floundered .woefully _JaHt_we.ek and-thls_we^k -It wlU- be nly—fllightly- ^bet4erH-wttlr-"^«8t- -tendaiicer^lth^lg-$23Te00-In-vlewr Last wefek "Great Hotel • Murder' (Fox) $12,000,. weak. Strand (2,000; 25-85-B0)^*Let's Live; Tonight' (WBj and 'Rocky Mountain Mystery' (Par). Will do only $4,000, mild. Xast week 'While the Patient Slept' (FN) and 'Straight From the Heart* (VA), $6,000, okay.. Point of the Air?. This ihllitary flicker is not a Chicago picture In the first place and lis -flisured to have : been a milch better bet' for the : Rbdaevelt,. The Chicago la prlmar ; lly a femme theatre and not to cater to the; woman in this house is dan gerous to the box-ofllce.. State-Lake banlciiig Its load ciir- riently on the personal appearance of.. Louise Beavers, colored per- former who drew plenty of com- —ments around-this town-on thia ^Im' itatlon of Life' pic. . Roosevelt's; best .chaLnce for biz currently is based on a wallopihg exploitation campaign b7 Ed Levin and Ed Solomon, who cracked the wire services by screening the pic ture on the ace '400' rattle/ flyer . and who tied up excellently with Chievrolet and other angles for gen- uine-plugging. f Estimates, for This Week ^ ApoHo (B&K) . (1,200; 25-35-55)-^ '•G61d Diggers' (WB). In Here on an • atteniipt^to mop up a few extra loop crumbs after;not getting: anywhere •at the' Chicago. Will do maybe $4,B00, fair enough. Last , week 'RuM^ics' (Par) nianaged excellent $6,100 for its fourth loop sesiston, Chicago (£l&K) (4,000; 35-S6-76) ; —'West Point of Air' (MG) and jitage-showi-Another-^-weakle-r-flicker hot'designed for the trade this house usually gets, but it's the lack" of product which hecie^ltates this booking. Looks only $24,000, very bad. Last week was red Ink by the bucketful with -Gold Diggers' (WB) at a miserable $26,800 Garpick (B&K) (900: 26-35-55)— •Let's Live Tonight' (Col). Getting jsome play on follow-up. of - "LoveiMe Tonight' campaign and may get away with good enough'$5,000: Last week 'Little Colbhel' (Fox) finished third week In loop to good $3,600. Oriental (B&K) (3,200; 25-85-40) —'Winning Ticket' (MG) and 'French Revue* unit. No dice this week, only $15,000, Last week 'Fire bird* (WB). $13,300, blah. Palace (RKO) (2,500; 25-36-56)— 'Roberta* (Radio) (2nd week) and yaude. Will make it four smashing weeks: Hold-outs still the order of - the day, "This week will not slip rhuch at bang-up $26,000. Last week viras a walloper at $29,700. . . Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 35-46- 65)—'Whole, Town's Talking* (Col). Picture pretty mUch cut up by the censors and general indications are not so hot. May stick to $10,000, oh the margin for the initial session. Last week was only a one-weeker for .'Sequoia' (MQ), the animal .flicker not drawing the trade at wobbly $6,800. : State-Lake (Jones) (2,700; 20r25r 85-40)—'Death Flies East' (Col) arid vaude. Much being stacked on Lou- ise Beavers, oh the stage. House does okay currently at $12,000. Last : week 'School for Girls' (Judell) wias a smackci box-bfflce wallop at $13,200. : UniteiTArtista (B&K-UA) (l,700r 35-45-65)—'Fblies Bergere' (UA). May stretch to two.:w^eks a.t most. Opening not so iorte at Indicated $11.000i Last wieek 'Scarlet Plmper- .nel'_(UA> -finished final- sesslon-to soggy $7,700. 'Vanessa* (MG) to re- place shortly .with the Anna Steh picture due Easter Sunday. 'ROBERTA' DRAINS B'KLYN Mollta Picon, Major Bowes eh Staga Brooklyn> Best , . Brooklyn, April 2. (Bsst Exploitation: Metropolitan) Best business of the week at Al- bee and Pox. Paramount .has a malady in "Women in Red.' Metropolitan with 'Folies Bergera' had 20,000 sexy Ibokirig letters de- livered by messenger boyt to work- ers in offle* buildings. Gag went big. Song sheet tleup with five and ten shops and Jumbo stills In all local o?partraent tttores, but bla alow. For with /Living oh Velvet' and Molly Picon on stage used radio to plug the Yiddish star. Estimates for Thia Week Parambun't (4,000; 25-35-50-65)— nVoman In Rbd' (FN). Just a turkey at $7,000, ouch I Last week 'Gold Diggers of 1935' (WB): $12,500, bad. Fox (4,000; 25-35-50-65)-T'Living Oh Velvet* (FN) and stage show with Molly Plcoh. Plcturb got me- diocre notices. Picoh damsel Is bringing folks In, Judging by com- ment outside theatre. Arouhd $17, 000,- oke. Last week 'Whole Town's Talking* (Col) (2nd week) $16,600, good.' ■ :■■ ■■ Matropolitan (2,400; 26- 85-60-eE>) —'Polles Bergere' (UA) and vaude with George Qlseh and Ethel Shutta. Off biz ; at $14,000.:: Last week 'Naughty Marietta' (MG) $16,000, oke. - ■:■: •' ■•■ Albes ,(3j500; 25-Bj()-66)—'Roberta' (Radio) arid, vaudp with Major BOwesl;iwtwbrk amateur8c.G^ Clnclhhatl, April 2. (Best Exploitation: Shubort) •Mississippi' is the main draw this week. Its $15,000 at the Palace be- ing two grand ahead, of the Shu- bert, which has a sock' vaude lay- out In conJUhctlbn with 'I'll Always Love Toh.' and double the take on Its closest screen rival, 'Laddie.' a.t the Albee. • The independently operated Taft. which started a flesh and film policy a month ago, is reliably rbported to be In the throes of managerial hub- bub with symptoms, of early un lacing, developing from the w. k. shbestrlngitls. House has Ted Low- is and his troupe as the current b 0.: hopeful. A few weeks since the Lewis combo Jajnmed 'em oh a two-night stay at a suburban cafe. But this present, date is something else and a mild start points to $8,000. That's thin ice forjhe hbuse with things as Is, even" though if had a winner ^liaist week, when Lum and Abner; pop radio dialogers. proved their power with a $13,000 pull. ■■ . Lyric has a hew release. 'Car 99,' which is a case of lotsa peoole_no come. Other houses have repeats with norhial tugs, . Shubert did best ballyhoo Job* with arted ~ news breaks and plug broadcasts by the Boswells. '^Estimates for This- Week Palace (RKO).:i2.6^l).0;. 35-42) rrrr 'Mississippi' (Par). Crosby and Fields piloting to $15,000, fast cur rent. Last week 'Life Begins' at 40' (Fox), $12,500. Shubert (RKO) (i2,200: 35-42-55) —'I'll Love You Always' (Col) and sock vaUde. Only three variety acts, but each one a name and more Im pprtant b. o. than preisented during preceding month of . units and re- vues. Eipswell Sisters topping, then Benny McrofE with his troupe of musikera and speciiallsts, and Ros-^ coe Ates, Ticketed for $13,000, which is about tops here, what with full biz at night' and the natives taking it slow and easy In daylight Last week 'Lovo Ih Bloom' (Par) and 'Casino de Paree' revue headed by Marty May. $12,500. ^Ui«t-4Ind^Ht2T«0Oi-^-4O-6O)-rTed- Lewis and his 'Happiness Fbilies' and a pic. . 'Princess Charming* (GB), first day's film feature, wals replaced : with .'Marrying Widows.' Slow getaway limits take to $8,000. Last week'^LUmr and- Abher, "iibw radio pops in these parts, supported by Andre Lasky's 'Frehch Revue' and /Mutiny Ahead' (FD), $13,000, a winner, Albe* (RKO) (3,300: 35-42) — 'Laddlie' (Radio). Stratton-Porter authorship plugged atop John Deal and Gloria Stuart, with title Ih big- ger type. Maybe $7,500, poor. Last week, 'West Point of the Air* (MG), dipped: to $8,500 following good start.'-:■ Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 35-42) — 'Life Begins at 40' (Fox). Switched from Palace for second week. $5,00b. all right. Last, week, 'Roberta' (Radio), third week bn main line, $4,600, okay, Plo got $7,000 hero in pravlbus week arid $24,000" In first" hino ' days at the Albee. Kaith^a (Llbson) (i:500; 86-42)— 'Gold T)lggera?' (WB) <24 wk). En-' coring, will ba followed Wednesdar (3). by Traveling Saleslady.' Cbalk> in« UR :a^-£alr 43.00ft for last flva days. Ctot $11,000 oh flrat nlna days. Lyrfo (RKO) (1,400; 86-42)—'Car 99' (Par). Slow going for $3,000. Laat week, /Folies Bergere* (UA), a repeat, $3,000 In six days. Grand (RKO) (1,200; 26-40) — •Roberta' .(Radio). Transferred here for fourth week of first-run, $2,600, nice. Last week, 'Little Colonel' (Fox) j fourth downtown week, $2,600. 'Cbloner fetchied $27,000 on first three weeks. . Family (RKO) (tOOO; 15-26) — •When a Man's a Mwi' (Fox) and •Wlnnlhg Ticket' (MG). : Split, $2,- 200, good. Ditto last week on 'Notorious Gentleman' (U) and 'Un- der Pressure- (Fox), separate. Strand (Ind) (1,200; 15-20-30) — •Edwin Drood' (U). Fair at $1,000 for this stand. Last week, 'Broad- way Bill' (Col), revival, $1,400, fine. i26,500 M Detroit^'April 1. (Best Exploitation: Fox) No particular ravb on business here, this week, with exceptibh : of the PV>x on Roger's "Life Begins at 40,' Reviews on Crosby's 'Missis- sippi,* at the United Artists, will help much. Oiitslde of this the town,is more or less back to regu- lar swlnjgpf busIhieaB.,r- Winniiiga at the Michigan may be helped with two screen stars in person. Roland ,Youhg and the fiery dancer, Margo. prdinarily names would mean plenty, but critics here give as little space as posiglble to the stage end. Manager Idzal at the Fox has the town coming in to see the Friday night amateur frolics, sponsored by R.- G. Dun cigar company ~ and etherized over WJRi . Folks are driving ih for miles around to see the simon-pures. : Estimataa fopThia Wask Michigah (UnitedrDetrolt) .(4,l6o; 25-36-56)—'Vanessa' (M-Q) and stiage show, : headlining Rolahd Young And Margo.' Film couple will account for as much business this r'week-as the picture. However, film offers Agnes Ahderson, local con test winner, in 4 good part, which will go some to help the grosa. Takings are headed for a fairly nice $19,000. Last week '<3oId Diggers' (WB) and Hugh Herbert, in person, registered $22,00o. good. Fox (Inde) (6^100; 26-36-66)— 'Life at 40' (Fox) and stage show. ThlaJs_a.:WilI.Rogers-tawn,-.meah- ipg that the picture la tb* thing, which will be responsible for a beautiful gross. Also stage show; is bhe : bf the best all-round variety programs seen here In months. Combination is. due to do an excep- tional $26,500. Last week~ 'Good Fairy* (U) and ■ 'Folies Bergeres' on stage disappointed. Gbt only a so- so $18,500. United Artiste (United-Detroit) (2.070; 25 - 36 - 66) — ' Mississippi' (Par), Each week for past five -weeks-grosses": have~been'"galrtlrtg: Indications are that figure shbuld reach a yilce $12,500. Last week 'West Point bf the Air* (MG) came through with a stilted flight of $11,000. ,. Fisher (United-Detroit) (2,976; 25-35)—'Devil Dogs' (WB) and 'isb- clety Doctor' (M-G). Sanie story again this week, uptown trade con- tinues to support to tho tune—of $5,000. par. Last week 'After Of- flce Hours' (MG) and /"Winning Ticket' (M-Q) chalked up: same figure. Adams (Balaban) (1,770; ,25-40)— •I'll Love You Always' (Col) and 'Rendezvous at Midnight' (U). Duals:: point the way to ' about $3,800, weak. Last week 'Roberta' (Radio) brought nvpr frhm "Pn-r, yyaA B way Biz Dips frth IvAM campaigh Included free transporta tibn and guest tickets to all couples married 60 years;, a .flock of wed- ding ring throwawalys attached to tags plugging ; fllm; Jewelry store tleups; contact . with Chinese res taurant which handed out envelopes filled with rice 'to be used on the Wedding Night/ Estimates for This Wesk Paramount (Publix) (2,348; 35-60) —^'Mississippi' (Par) and 'School for Girls' (Liberty). Good opening and holding steady. Probably oke $7,600. Last week, 'McFadden's Flats' (Par) and liover Divine' (GB). Took a licking at $4,800. Poll's (Loew) (3.040; 36-60)— 'Wedding Night' (UA) and 'Carni- val' (Col). A surprise build and looks like nice $8,200. Last week 'West Point of Air' (MG) and 'Mur der on Honeymoon* (Radio). The town*s highlight at $8,000. Roger Sherman (WB) (2,200; 35- 50)—'Laddie* (Radio) and Tioren- a nice session at about $6,000. State (United-Detroit) (3,000; 25- 40)—McFadden Flats (Par) and 'Edwin Drood* (U)i Pictures doesn't seem to be the best policy here, even though—iocation is one of town's best.' Score this week will be below average at $4,000. Last week 'Love In Bloom' (Par) and 'Women Must Dress' (Mon) summed up to $4,500.' ■ - 'MISSISSIPPI' $7,500 New Havsn Cool to 'Laddie,' Mild at HOOQ : New Haven, April 2. . (Bast Exploitation: Poll's) Paramotint's 'MisBlaslppi' and Poll's 'Wedding Night' holding up well for Lfenten season. Opening of 'Laddie' at Roger Sherman .a dis- appointment and having a tough time against moderate opposfsh;- • Poll's using every conceivable tieup along .tb*: wedding :Uh< and tihe Dagger' (WB). Falling down, despite preliminary newspajMr cam- paign, will have a battle to reach $4,000, mild. Last week, ^Gbld Dig- gers' (WB), Not too strong as a single but still not bad at $6,200, although below expectations. . : . Bijou (Loew) (1,600; 26-86)— 'Casino Murder'. (MG) and '$10 Raise- (Fox). Last minute booking shift left little time for exploita- tion. Just a fair $3,000. Last week 'Night is Young' (MO) and 'When a Man's a Man' (Fox). SllgbUy better, at $3,200. ^ Providence, April 2. (Best Exploitation: Losw/a) Picture is pretty dismal this week. •Roberta,' in second week at Albee, is about the only stand getting the breaks. Hold-over not as forte as first week, yet outlook Is much rosier than what- the ^ther standr on the main stem can brag about, even with fresh programs. Loew's won laurels for exploita tion on 'Casino Murder Case,' with- out having to try hard, since pppbslr tibh is virtually at a sta.nds^.Ul re- garding ballyhoo for new programs. Estimates for Thia Week : Fay's (2,200; 15-26-40)—'Shot In Dark' (Ches) and" unit ~sh"bw' with Jack Pepper. Indications, are that house Is In for a better than aver- age week, laurels going to the unit; oke at $8,100. Last week 'Great Hotel Murder' (Fox) and unit split the honors fflr an average $7,200. Loew's State (3,200; 15-25-40)— 'Casino Murder Case' (MG) and 'Let's Live Tonight' (Col). Unless there's a sudden switch things are going to look pretty dark here this week. Opening indicates that gross probably.-wlll not xeach $7,000; poor^ Last week 'West Point of Air' (MG) and 'I'll Love You Always'.: (Col) disappointing, too, closing with a tepid $8,000. Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 15-25r40)— Living on Velvet' (WB) and 'Night at Rltz' (WB). This. one has the best chance of bettering, what looks to be a bad bargain. With a little more pep, this one should have no difficulty" reaching, $7,300 for , an average week. Last week 'Good Fairy* (U) and 'Life Begins' got the overflow from the houses doing big biz, arid came thrWgh with $7,000; average. : Modern Fine Arte (1,600; 10-26- 35)—'Happened One Night' (Col) and 'Night of Love' (Col). Also ■Three Little Pigs' (UA). Enterin g second week. Got a chunk of nice coin last week, nearly passing $3,500 with three shows dally. Second week started not so forte, biit hbuse figuring on at least $1,600, which is oHe>_--CQnslde.rlng_ ^_p.i^ture8 played every :rieighb6rhood house in these parts. Strand (Indie) (2,200; 16-25-40) — Car ,99* (Par) and 'IX)V6 In Bloom* (Par). Both lightweights, but hbuHO moving along, Just fast enough to make it satisfying; no more than $7,000 in prospect, but oke at that. I^ast week 'Ruggles' (Par) and 'Mystery Man' (Mono) swell at $8,800. Albee. (RKO) (2,500; 16-2.5-40)— 'Roberta' (Radio) and vaude. - (2d wk.). Looks like $7,000 at the most. Terrific first week brought in $13,000; toppling records, and spell- ing grief for the opposish. Victory (RKO (1,600; 10-15-25) —'Westerner' (Col) and .'Murder, on a Honeymoon' (Radio). Looks like $1,300 oh split week. Last week 'Riding Speed' and 'Gigolettca' oke, too, at $1,100 on split week. (Bea^ Exploltatleni Capitol) Current attractions are falling t» arouse more than mild Interest this week, ' Including holdover^ S* business oh New 'York's Broadwar' is at its poorest In weeks. Onlr houses really doing anything ar* : : the Palace and Rialto. both playlnic pictures. on second runs—'Roberta* and 'Ruggles' respectively. Of the newcomers 'P r 1 v a t • Worlds' takes the lead at a trot close to $30,000 for the Paramount. Picture ended Its first week last night (Tues.) and stays around for all or a portion of a second week. It may be replaced Friday (6) by 'Stolen Harmony' or 'Four Hours to Kill/with 'Mississippi'held back for April 17 so that it will run into. Easter (21). ■: 'Traveling Saleslady* lacks lustre at-- the—Strandr-$16,000r-or-under. rwlrtte-a'irtSJve. You AlwaysMs tak- ing the Roxy to Its lowest figure In months, $18,000 or below. Palace will ride around $15,000 on 'Roberta,', fresh from two weeks at, the Music Hall, and will holdover again. This downtown second run has been packing 'em even though helghborhood RKO houses are giv- ing same picture a full week cur- rently. State, Par's vaude opposl* tion. with Bd Sullivan unit on stage and •Whole Town's Tialking' Is holding. Its own fairly well, maybe $19,000. „ Second week, for •Little Colonel* and 'Naughty Marietta' are disap- pointing. ■ Former will be lucky to get over $62,000 at the Music Hall while 'Marietta' looks onI.v around. $25,000. Third, final, week of 'Wed- ding Night' at Riv, could- be worse. $16,600 or thereabouts. 'Brewster's Millions' opens ' here Saturday, morning (6). No one went but to sell pictures very diligently this week. Par expendlhg the. most efCort on 'Private Worlds'. among the new attractions. For exploitation pres* sure the Loew-Metro holdover week campaign on 'Marietta' Is the most- comprehensive. In addition to con- tinuing Its strong ad campaign and tie-ups, town wiEts heavily bbmbarded; with stencil signs tossed on build- ings. - Estimataa for Thia Week . Aator (1,012; 26-40-66)—'It Hap- pened One Night' (Col) (2d week). Reissue doing okay, IPdlcating $8,000 on second week. Will stay a third. First week $10,000. Capitol (4,620; 36-76-86r$l,10)-^ 'Marietta' (MG) (2d week) .and stage show. Didn't respond to big '■■ ad- exploitation campaign. First week .being. $.38.00.0_ and jecond-(current)— looking $25,000. Results a big sur- prise because of rave reviews. Criterion (876; 25-40-66)—'Bunt •Em Up Barnes' (Mascot) and 'Ghost ' Walks' (inv), double. Under aver- age, $5,000. Prior doubleton, 'Mys- tery Man' (Mono) and 'World Ac- cuses' (Mono) on eight days, $6,000. Mayfair (2,200; 35-56-65)-T'Man Who Knew Too Much' (GB-Fox) (2(1 week). Holding up okay, $8,000 or thereabouts. First week $11,000, very good. Palace (1,700; • 35-60-6&)—'Ro- berta' (Radio) and vaude. Doing Swell here on second run, $15,000,. and holds. Last week only $7,000 for 'Living on Velvet' (WB). Paramount (3,664; 35-5«-75-86)— 'Private Worlds' (Par) and Regi- nald Port, organist, with pit band; ■ Claudette Colbert starrer doing fair-., ly, Just under $30,000. Holds all or part of second week. Last week^ third of 'Rriggles' (Par), Jup*: Under $26,000. Radio City Music Hall (6,989; 40- 60-85-99-$l,10) —e •Little.- Colonel* (Fox) (2d week) and stage show. Got $86,000 Initial seven days, but falling off on holdover and doubt- ful if over $62,000. Rialto (2,000; 40-65)—'Ruggles* (Par) (2d run). Nice $16,500 first wwk t i iiding last iilBitt (Tues.) and stays a second. 'Princess O'Hara* (U) next on schedule. Rivoli (2,092; 40-65-75-85-99)— 'Wedding Nlghf (UA) (3d week). Gets out . satisfactorily on three wcck8,-^rial sevjm^days "beirnrrnmr $16,500. decohd week pretty good, $28,000; 'Brewster's Millions' (UA) debuts Saturday a.m. (6). Rpxy (6,886; 25-35-56)—Til Love You Always* (Col) arid, stage show. At , $18,000, or under, poorest for house In 41 weeks. Last week •Woman In Red' (WB) pretty good $26,000. Strand (2,768; 35-55-65-85)— 'Traveling Saleslady' (WB). If light $16,000, lucky. Last week, second of 'Diggers' (WB), $18,700. House opens 'Curious Brld<*' (WB) on .Thursday (4), 'Black Fury' be- ing delayed by censor trouble! Stats (3,460; 35^65-75)—'Whole Town's Talking' (Col) and Ed SuU llvan unit. Stage and-screen-com-. , blnatlon holding business at good figure, probably $19,000.. La.st week 'After Office Hours' (MG) c^ose to $20,000. .