Variety (Jun 1935)

Wednesdayt June 12, 19^5 PICT E OROSSES VARIETY lamps 28G, Best in Chi Doldrums; Fast Debnt by 'Have It/ Chicago, June 11, ( est Exploitation: Chicago) Xioop Is sufCering from a serious pi'oduct shortage. B. & K. yanked 'Callente' oft the booking sheet for the Hoosevelt, suddenly deciding the picture should get the break of higher admission price at the Chi- cago. Result was 'Doubting Thomas' shoved Into the Koosevelt curreiitly following ItS' flably ses- sion at the Chicago the week previ- ous. Other walling wall business this w^ek Is at the Palace, and the Oriental. With no strength on stage 01'^' screen both houses are hanging ori''by their teeth. For the warmer gide of the pSh'orama there is 'Have' It' at' the United Artists and 'Lamps of China' at the Chlca^'o. B. & K. are stlU 'wondering what to do about 'Sb'oundrel,' fearing it's too arty. ' Estimates for This Week Apalio (B&K) (1,200; 25-35-50) —'Miserablcs' (UA). Figured oke at' ?3,000. House going into a repeat policy lately, both for reasons of product scarcity and campaign to build up confidence in public chased by weak firstTrnnners. Last week 'G Men' (WB). Managed good ?2,900 on fourth loop session. Chicago (B&K) (3,940; 35-55-75) '—.'Lamps' (WB) and stage sliow. Tipping the take on powerful night play and .building on the best of reports. If mats build to same pace Blipuld finish week at $28,000, better than recent grosses here. Huge Hearst campaign figured to aid be- sides B. & K. ad and exploitation splurges. Last week 'Doubting' (Fox). No better than meager ?23,100. Garrick (B&K) (900; 25-35-55)— 'Town' (Par). Hold-over fair at $2,BOO currently. Last week 'Little Girl' (Fox). Couldn't stand .that gaff at $2,100, macaroni. Opiental <B&K) (3,200; 25-35-40) • —'Yale' (Par) and vaude. Another woeful session In the offing, with in- dications for not better than anemic $12,000. Last week '$10 Baise' (Fox), $11,500. Palace (RKO) (2,500; 25-35-56)— 'Hooray' (Radio) and vaude. Maybe $16,000, very sickly. House start- ing to sink again due to lack of punch.. Last week 'People Will Talk' (Par). About same level of heartbreak at $lfi,700. Roosevelt (B&K) (l,50ii; 25-35- 65)—'Doubting' (Fox). Forced In here, won't help the loop situation despite Rogers popularity in the nabes. "Will be lucky to get $5,000. Last week 'Town' (Par).- Finished good 3-week gallop to $7,800, oke. State-Lake (Jones) (2,700; 20-25- 35)—'Party Wire (Col) and vaude. Kot going anywhere at $10,500. Last week 'Town's Talking' (Col). Leveled at $11,200. United Artists (B&K-UA> (1,700; 25-35-55-65)—'Have It' (UA). A silver lining to clouds over the loop. Started off at raplc. pace and should get $14,000, which is solid these days. Last week 'Mlserables' (UA). Finished three weeks to pleasant 59,900. SEATTLE SOMNOLENT; INFORMER' $5,500, OK Seattle, June 11. Long delayed rainfall Sunday hrtl)ed biz, thoush lowered bud.tjets, due to tlie lumber strike, continue to hold down exploitation. No now standout attr.actions was another factor for the b.o. d.esuctudo. Estimates for This Week Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (950; 27- 37-42)—'Callonte' (WM) indicated $5,000 good. Last week, 'Miscra))lcs' (UA) (3rd). With wcekoiuis big, holding up for .'3:i,200. good. Coliseum (J5vor.!,'reiMi) (1,SOO; 21- 32)—'Wedding Niffht' (VIA) and 'Times Square' (JIG). l)u;U .split with 'Car 99' (Par) and 'Kocklcss' (MG). Plenty o£ film and changing; often being tried to stir things up. week's pot\)ourri expected to draw around $4,000, okay. Second halt big.gest. Last week, •Colonel' (Kox) and 'McJ-addcn' (Par) dual, $.3,000, moderate. 5th Avenae (Evergreen) (2,.100; 27-37-42)—'Pampas' (Fo.x). Opened more or loss cold, with jerking of 'Flame' (MG) after five d.Hy run, expectations $0,000, faiiish. I>!ist week, 'Flame' (MG). No fire and no'draw, very weak at $!,-i)0 for five days, wlicn pvillod. .Liberty (J-vH) (1,'.)U0: lO-lG-27) —'Unwelcome' (Col) aiul 'Alon of Hour' (Col) dual. l';.\-i)OOl.atii)iis for $:!.i)00. fair. Las', -.voe::, '.Mills' ((.'"l.i. and 'Air Iiawk.s' rCnl) dual. Held eight days, holiday a holp for J),r)00, biK. Music Box (Hamriek) (000; 27- j ~-\'iy. — 'Lamps' (\Vi;) oxpected ^.').00o!■ i.s good, nieiiiiin.:,' holdover. , Last week, 'Hearts' (K;\ilio). A\'itli ] Jl''pbuni no diee tlii.s time, $!,400, i fair, but not wari"intie,'j; Ij.o. Orpheum (Hamrick) (2^7 27- ' 37-42) — 'Informer' (Radio) and 'Dinky' (WB). With all publicity and ads for the former and ignor- ing 'Dinky,' Indications, are $5,500, good. Last week, 'Have It' (UA). $7,800, big, getting the town's bank- roll. Paramount (Evergreen) (3,106; 27-37-42)—'Hotel Murder' (MG) and 'Will Talk' (Par) "expected $4,000, fair. Last week, 'Vampire' (MG) and 'Harmony' (Par). Dual, $3,909, moderate. 'HER0;i2G,G00D IN DULUSH K.C. Kansas City, June 11. (Best Exploitation: idland) Several good pictures with names this week, but public not buying, Loew's Midland has 'Public Hero," getting a strong play, and will head the list without exertion.. Paul Muni's 'Black Fury,' which was originally set for the Main- street, and given some advance pub- licity, is current at the Ne\\rman, bu'. has not appealed to house's reg- ulars. Muni Is well, liked here, but the picture does not please. Races across the riVer are, sniping Into the matinees, as the ponies are getting a strong play from the ladles. The managers are fighting back, however, and last Week eleven of the Fox houses, which ai-6 giving trading stamps with tickets offered double stamps—^giving two trading stamps with each 5 cents paid. Oth- er houses are using store tie-ups and billboards. One day last week live paper was on the billboards for three pictures, either playing or coming to Lioew's Midland. Taking advantage of the Weyerhaeuser kidnapping as a 'Public Hero' linker, Midland posted the list of ransom bills paid and offered a $500 reward to the first person bringing one of the bills to the theatre. Stunt caused lots of comment, got newspaper mention, and the bulletin board was a mag- net for crowds comparing numbers of their money with those on the board. In addition to this the the- atre had a tlerup with a grocery store chain for the distribution of 50,000 special heralds. Radio an- nouncements and extra space In the papers. Estimates for This Week Mainstreet (RKO) (3,200; 15-25- 40)—'Caliente' (WB). Opened fair over the week-end, then slipped. In for ten days and expected to return close to $9,000, not so hot. Last week 'Hearts' (Radio). Six days, $5,000, just fair. Loew's Midland (Locw) (4,000; 15-25-40) — 'Hero' (MGM). The thriller had a heavy play over the week-end. While the edge has been taken off by showing of 'G Men,' a couple of weeks ago, it is slated to hang up close to $12,000, pretty good. Last week 'New York Night' (MGM). Held up for a nice $9,400. Newman (Par) (1,800; 25-40)— 'Fury' (FN). Customers seem to be afraid of this one, and It never got away to paying returns. Opening was light and it failed to rally. Looks a rather poor $3,500. Last week 'Will Talk' (Par). Got a steady play for $4,800. Fair. Uptown (Fox) (2,040; 25-40— 'Pampas' (Fox). 0)>cned strong .and hoidin(> up well. Looks like $5,500, good. Last week 'Little Girl' (Fox), second week. Poor $2,900, a low record for a Temple picture. SALLY AND BUBBLES SMOTHER L'YILLE PIX Louisville, June 11. (Best Exploitation: Rialto) The coldest, dampest June in years has had local box olllces hold- ing up surprl.Mlnifly well, llialto do- ini; business of town and best ex- ploitation, gettin.^t tremendous play on Sally Hand unit. Hubble dancer made jiersonal appearances at local ncw.spaper ofTioe, accci)tln.g classi- fied .ads, modeled fashions at dcijart- nient store, and delivered a lecture l)erorc business men's luncheon club on her be.ijinning in show business, ;ind how she Originated the fan dance. Hepburn, at the Brown, is a dis- .appointment, with only $2,300 In- dlcnlod on week. Ldew'.s .Sl;!l(! is spr'i.idlng tre- mendous exploitation campaign for ne.xt week on 'Public Hero,' offeriMg (•;ish prizes fur anyone turning in Weyerhauser kidnap bill. Estimates for This Week Stgte (Loew) (3,100; 15-2.')-10) —'Flame' (MG) and 'Light Bells' (Col). $4,500, fair. I.,ast. week 'Mlserables' (UA). Topped the town. Rialto (4th Ave.) (3,000; 15-25-40) —'Small AVorld' (Fox) and Sally Rand unit. Sally and tremendous exploit.ation through her personal .appearances of all sorts, lectures to business men, etc., beaded for big $11,000. Last week 'Little Girl' (Fox), Ran to form with very big $7,000. Stirand (4th Ave.) (1,450; 15-25- 40)—'Pampas,' (Fox). Good $3,100. Last week (2nd) 'Town' (Par). Puny $2,500. Brown (Ind) (1,500; 25-40)— 'Hearts' (Radio). Disappointment here, "and not highly rated. Poor ?2,300. Last week 'Informer' (Ra- dio). Just about on par, with $2,300, poor for house. Mary Anderson (Switow) (1,200; 25-40)—'10th Ave.' (FN) fair $2,500. Last week 'Caliente' (FN). A bit over $3,500. Alamo (Ind) (900; 15-25)—'Hur- ricane' (Radio) and 'Headline' (Mascot) in for first four days. 'Mid- night' (Radio) and 'Swellhead' (Col), split, Thursday through Saturday. Weak $1,400. Last week, four days split 'Laddie' (Radio) and 'Happened in N. Y.' (U), 'Love You Always' (Col) and 'New York Night' (MG), Turn-in fair $1,400. 'HAVE it; IS OKAY IN TACOMA Tacoma, June 11. (Best Exploitation: Roxy) In contrast to Seattle, Tacoma showmen are not easing up any on exploitation and advertising. This weelc the town has two ace attrac- tions. 'Let 'Em Have It' at Ham- rlck's Music Box, tying up to the Weyerhaeuser kidnapping and G- Men in town to run down the gang. Catch line used, 'The boy has been returned to the loving arms of his parents; now Let 'Em Have It.' At the Roxy 'Little Girl' gets spe- cial ex'Uoitatlon, headed by a kiddie style show, on stage and at local store, a kiddie style parade the cen- tral feature. Teaser sidewalk • and lobby special displays also used, combo rating town's best exploita- tion of the week. Estimates for This Week Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (700; 27- 37) — 'Rocky Mountain Mystery' (Par) and 'Chasing' (Radio) dual split with 'Dynamite^ (U), for ex- pected $2,500, fair. Last'week 'Fury' (WB). $3,200, big. Music Box (Hamrick) (1,400; . 27- 37)—'Have It' (UA). Big campaign, mostly billboards and newspapers, with local excitement against kid- nappers helping make this a nat- ural for Indicated $6,000, great. Last week. 'Dance' (WB) $4,100, good. Roxy (J-vH) .(1,300; 27-37)—'Lit- tle Girl' (Fox). With nice exploi- tation, anticipated $5,000, good. Last week, 'Reckless' (MG) for five days, with Memorial day a big help, and 'Society Doctor' (MG) and 'Swell Head' (Col) dual, three days, for big $5,400 for eight days. MAE WEST, 20G, B'KLY'n Good Pix Getting Good B.O.-^No Coney Opposish This Week Brooklyn, June 11. (Best Exploitation: Par) Plenty good flickers, downtown sector especially attractive this week what with 'Goin' to Town' .'it the Paramount, 'iTiserables' (2d week) at the Loew's Aletroiiolitan and 'lOscapc Me Never' on view at the Ali)ee. The downpour of rain over week- end killed whatever biz Coney an- ticipated and produced rosult.i in- .stead at the film houses. Met also .announced new summer jjrices with two-bit low for weekdays, and fifty- live cent top nightly. Paramount had plenty to play with in ^V'est picture. Hundreds of three sheets, 24-.shects, several hun- dred thousand licralds, number of radio tieups and porti-.alt contest. Joe Lee concentrated on residential aroa.s for this one. using weeklies in Coney Isl.and, Williamsburg. Gieon- point and Bushwick sections to good results. Estimates for This Weel;t Paramount (4,000; 25-35-:'")0) — 'Town' fl'ar). Doing line at $20,000. AVill likelv hold over .inollier week I>ast week 'G-.Men' (W'V.) (3rd week), (irosscd $12,000. • Fox (-l.ODO; 2r)-:ir.-.-,0j—'IJictat'ir', ((;)',) lind stage .•-•hovv. N'o ;^ii-at shakes .at $l:;,o:)0. Last week 'Dyna- mite' (X) $12,000. Albcc <^,rm\ 2.-,-3r,-50)~'Kscape Me' ([.'.-V) and 'Wildeiries.s.' In re- r,'ion of $12,000. ■|iii!(lisli. Laxt week 'Fraiiken.stein' (D. $10,000. flabby. Loew's Metropolitan fJ.luO; 20- 35-50)—'Miserablos' (UA) (2nd $40,000 for 'Hero' and 'China's a Pleasure; Both H. 0.; 'Have It' $26,000.2d N. Y. Week week) and vaude with WHN talent getting billing. Looks like $14,000 for this semester, fair. Strand (2,000; 25-35-40)—'Will Talk' (Par) and 'Lover Divine.' Will get $3,000, mild. Last week 'Air Hawks' (Col) and 'High School Girl' (Fox) $3,500. VAUDE HELPS 'KEY' FOR 8€'S Minneapolis,, June 11, (Best Exploitation: State) Pretty tame loop line-up current- ly and business still pretty much blah. Even cool and rainy weather doesn't help. Three of the .four loop stage shows have fallen by the way- side during the past fortnight. The one remaining flesh-and-blood exr hibit, at the St.ate, is singing Its swan song this week. One vaudefilm house, the Alvin, has closed for the summer; another, the Palace, is back to dime grind subsequent run pictures. 'Caliente' inaugurates the straight picture policy at the Orpheum and initial box-offlce results have been rather tame. ' Its stage show, alone, in the lo.op, plus 'Glass Key.' on the screen, seems to be giving the State a con- siderable box-office edge ovier all opposish. But even here results aren't sufficiently Inspiring to bring forth any whoops of Joy. State has the exploitation edge through newspaper and radio tieups pn Billy Costello (Popeye the Sall- orman), vaudeville headllner. Estimates for Thia Week Century (Publix) (1,600; 25-35- 40)—'Devil Is Woman' (Par)v Die- trich no world-beater magnet here, but picture Itself the real weak link In this instance. Will be lucky to touch poor. $3,500. Last week- 'Mis- erables' (UA), second week. Did good $5,500, piling up very satisfac- tory 12,500 for fortnight. Orpheum (Singer) (2,890; 25-35- 40)—'Caliente' (FN). Five vaude- ville acts chopped off, but scale un- changed. Will take stronger pic- tures than this to bring 'em in at the 40c top. Miss Aida, psycho- analyst, giving free 'readings' on mezzanine, a hold-over and ap- parently bringing In customers. Headed for modest $4,000,, Last week, 'Hearts' (Radio),' fight pic- tures and vaude, $10,000. Pretty good. State (Publlx) <^,400: 25-35-40)— 'Glass Key' (Par) and five vaude acts. Picture Just so-so, but. In combination with vaudeville, strong- est loop attraction. Stage show would have been out If management had succeeded in putting over eleventh hour canceJkitlon. Ma.v reach fair $8,000. Last week/ 'Flame' (MG) and vaude, $6,000. Light. World (Steftes) (350; 25-35-40-55) —'Thunder East' (UA) and 'March of Time.' Second week and still getting by. Indications point to fair $1,800 after pretty good. $2,000 first week. Time (Wathnell) (250; 15-20-25) — 'Mr Wong' (Mono). This house having plenty tough sledding and has qiilt daily newspaper advertis- ing. Mavbe $700, ni)t so forte. La.st week, 'Whoopee' (UA), $C00. Bad. Lyric (Publlx) (1,300; 20-25) — 'Dinky' (WB). Good picture for this house, but lack of cast names detriment. Fail- $1,800 in prospect. Last week. 'Small World' (Fox). Preltv good, $1,900. Uptown (Publix) (1,200: 25-35)— 'Private Worlds' fPar) and 'O Men' (FN), split. Should cop pretty good $2,500. Last week. 'Reckless' (M0> and 'Private Worlds' (Par), split, $2,000. Light. Grand (Publlx) (1,100; 15-25) — 'Gold Diggers' (FN) and 'Life at -iO' (Fox), second loop runs, split. I^ooks like fair $1,200. T,ast week, 'Ber- gere' (UA) .and 'West Point' (MO), $1,000. Fair. Aster (Publlx) (900; 15-2.-)) — 'After Ofllee' (MG), second loop run; 'Mlssls.sippi' (I'ar). thii'd loop run, and "Foui- lloui's to Kill' (Par), fh-st run. $1,000. Okeli. Last week, 'Ruggles' (Par), third loop run; 'Love in I{loom' (Par), second run, and 'l''loi-enline Dagger' (\VH), first run, $800. Light. Robinson Tops *Barbary,* Only One More Warner Hollywood, Juno 11. I'Muard G. liobinson draws the k'ad In Samuel fioldwyn's 'i'.arli.ary Coast' as u.n ofl'-the-lot ijrivllege undrM- his Warn-rs contract. Itohinsoii has only one moi-i; to make at Warners. (Best Expl3itation: Capitol) Broadway grosses offer a rather spotty picture this week. Only two attractions are up in satisfying brackets, 'Public Hero' at the Capitol and 'Lamps of China' Strand incumbent. Both well sold on local engagements. However, but for favorable theatre weather busi- ness probably would have not been what it is. Difference between red and black is the result for some first runs. 'Public Hero' will do $40,000 or over. 'China' is gushing its way to- a fine $32,000, aided by strong matinee business.- Both pictures' hold over. Business at the Cap Is more than gratifying since two pictures on Fed cops, •'G Men' and 'Let 'Em Have It,' "had the jump. The Roxy credits the rainy week- end weather with buoying up 'The Clairvoyant' to $25,000 or a bit oveir. The Music Hall Isn't enjoying the weather breaks so much, 'Oiir Little Girl' (Ternple) finding no more than a $63,000 prospect. Holdovers Include Mac West on fifth (final) week at the Paramount and 'Let 'Em Have It,' In second week- at the Riv. Par . originally set 'Goln' to Town' for five weeks when summer product lookied scarce, then was going to pull It after four weeks but reconsidered and went through on original plans. With the nut reduced for last three weeks to a bare $13,000, picture should about break even on its last seven days. Thursday night (13) preview of 'Glass Key' here with film being figured for two weeks. Rlv is also comparatively better •on second week of 'Let 'Em'Have It,' .gross looking around $26,000. First week, when weather hurt, was $31,100. While house has scheduled 'Nell Gwyn' for June 19, possibility 'Have It' will remain a fourth. Both the Rlv and Cap are be- lieved to have prgflted'trom current Interest in the Weyerhaueser kid- napping, tieups by -both houses helping; Metro people did a nice Job selling 'Public Hero.' More than the normal amount of money was spent in advertising the picture and numerous tIe-Ups were ar- ranged. Among other things. Cap offered a reward of $500 for the first Weyerhaueser ransom bill turned- In, serial numbers- being aviallable. Hearst papers also offered smaller reward along the same lines. In addition to $25,000 ad'campaign of Music Hall on 'Becky Sharp,' shared In by Radio, Technicolor this started an ad spread of Us own on color and 'Becky,' staggering 1,200 and 1,500-line ads, one a day, In' all New York dailies. Estimates for This Week Capitol (4,620; 35-75-85-$1.10)— 'Public Hero' (MG) and stage show. Doing well with weather favorable,, plus ."Sophie Tucker on stage. Nice- $40,000 or better. Holds over. Last week "Flame Within' ( MG), with George Olsen and Ethel Shutta on stage, under $25,000. Mayfair (2,200; 35-55-65)—Went to Loew's for doul.le bill policy at 35c top Mond.ay morning (10). Wal- ter Reade gave up house night be- fore. Last week 'Chinatown Squad' (IT) close to $7,000. Palace (1,700; 35-50-05)—'Escape -Mo Never' (UA) and vaude. Doing pretty good here, maybe $11,500. Last week .'Break of Hearts' (Itadio) under $7,000. Paramount (3,6C4; 35-55-75-85)— 'Goin' to 'i'own' (Prir) (5th v/cek). I'"inal week wiil be S13,000 or a bit over, breakln.g even against low nut. I'ourth week .vas $13,500. 'Glass Key' (Par) opens on preview tomorrow- night (Thurs.), Radio City usie Hall (5,989; 40- C0-S5-!)9-$1.10) —'Our LitUc Girl' (Fox) and stage show. Not doing so well. Doubtful if over $C3 000. Last week $r,'i,500 for '(..'nder I'ampas Moon' (Ii'ox). 'P.ecky Sharp' (Padio) v.'itli S25.000 ad ca paign, cxclusivo of Technicolor splurge, in tomor- row (Thurs.). Rivoli (2,092; 40-05-75-85-99) — 'Let 'Km Have It' (UA) (2d week). IfiiliUiig u|) stron.i; and should strike 520,000 thi.s week. First week $31,100. 'Xell Gwyn' (l.'A) dated for .lunc 19 but may be set back n week. Roxy (5.SS0: 25-35-55)~'Clairvoy- anf .((;i;-l''i).v; and stage riiiov.-. Fair at $25,000. I,a.st week 1 proved to lift 'Loves <>? .'I Dict.-ilOr' (OI-t-Fox) to another $25,000. S-'crand (2.757; 35-55-05-, 5) — ■'Lamps of China' {\V'j{;. ,Matiin.-e» slrtWnr. 1 -.'lb re^•!ll•. fir.'^t v.'e<.-!v will 1 f>. grjdd ?."!';.000. or .'I'lf-e to it. I'io- tiire lidlds ovf-r. l''i(th weelc of 'G- .^r"n' (wi',) siT.ino. state (3,-t50-, ;i5-."5-75)-'Les Mls- erahli's' (UA) anil v,-uid'>. (Jver .•].ver.".i'e wi-'-k indic-.iicfl here, niavhe .'/.i-LOOO. L;i.st v.i-.-l; '.Mui-dcr in Fleet (MG) only abnut $]0,.';00.