Variety (Sep 1935)

WednesdaT, September 4, 1935 PICTURE CROSSES VARIETY Diamond Jim' Zinging to $26,000 in Smashing Loop Week; 'Irish' OK 31G; 'Steamboat' Holdover to Big Chicago, Sept. 3. (Best Exploitation: Palace) l)Oop generally got away slowly Friday f30). This Is a natural oc- currence on a Friday preceding a Monday holiday. Perk-up came as expected Saturday afternoon, and continued at a strong pace through the entire Labor Day week-end. Single exception to the general flab- blness of the getaway was the Pal- ace; where 'Diamond Ilm' zoomed oft to a brilliant start, wl'.h indica- tions for the biggest session this house has seen in many a month. Houses generally nad dllllculty on the Friday evening trade, which fell oft surprisingly. Again the Palace stood out by delivering sidewalk holdouts throughout the evening. Particularly suffering an evening letdown is 'Irish in Us,' at the Chi- cago. ■ On opening afternoon pace picture looked a cinch for a power- ful gross, but came night and the take skid'ded. Now has hopes for just a fair total gross on the session. Going into holdover .sessions are the United Artists and Roosevelt 'with 'China Seas* and 'Steamboat. 'Round the Bend.' From present In- dications the Rogers picture • will outlast the Gable-Beery.-Harlow flick easily, the former holding strength remarkably, while 'Seas' has been slipping, despite a rernark- able start. Duke Hlckey of Universal and Johnny Joseph of RKO combined for a slashing exploitation - job cn 'Dia- mond Jim,' getting full-page fea- tures In the Dally News and specials In the Tribune and other papers. Estimates for This Week Apollo (B&K) (1,200; 26-35-55)— 'Murder Man* (MG). Has little chance here on cold opening. Start- ed Saturday (31) to fair trade that looks headed for a total of $2,500 or so, very so-so. Last week 'Accent on Youth' (Par)' held over In loop for second session managed neat $3,300. Chicago (B&K) (4,000; 35-55-75)— Irish in Us' (WB) and stage show. Strictly up to the picture currently and indications point to maybe j31,- 000, fair, and aided plenty by the Labor Day week-end. Last week •Every Night at Eight* (Par) and Major Bowes' amateurs on stage took away a good enough J3 2,000. Garrick (B&K) (900; 25-35-53)— 'Here Comes Cookie' (Par). Burns and Allen fans pushing the gross to a good $3,000 here for the comedy. Last week 'Curly Top' (Fox) $4,300, excellent. Oriental (B&K) (3,200; 25-35-40) —'Vagabond Lady' (MG) and vaude. Good-gross again currently, with the Labor Day trade pushing the regis- ter hard. Will hit maybe $18,000, highly profitable. Last week 'Smart Girl' (Par) managed okay $16,100. Palace (RKO) (2,600; 25-35-55-65) .—'Diamond Jim' (U) and vaude. The honey of the loop at present, being far ahead of the parade on general pace. Looks like a two weeks' ride. Upping the figures to $26,000. Last week 'Alice Adams' (Radio) held to good $20,100 on sec- ond session. Roosevelt (B&K) (L.^OO; 25-35-55) —'Steamboat'(Fox) (2d week). Best Will Rogers gross In loop history. Smashed out walloping $18,800 on Initial ride, and is going into second stanza with hardiy any letdown. Maybe $14,000, excellent for deuce •week. State-Lake (Jones) (2,700; 20-25- '35-40)—'Going Highbrow' (WB) and vaude. Fred Allen's 'Town Hall Amateur' unit headlining. Business up again currently, and should hit close to $13,000, big. Last week 'Manh.Tttan Moon" (U) did good ,111,500. United Artists (B&K-UA) (1,700: 35-5.''>-65)—'China Seas' (MG) (2d week). Got away fast at opening, but fell away, to flnl.sh first week at $19,800. Currently should hold to $14,000. LABOR DAY SAVES B'KLYN at Fox, $14,500—Albee, Strand Duals Strong Brooklyn. Sept. 3. , Desertt'd downtown .spctor ovoi Saturday and Sunday with major- ity of Inhabitants either out of town or Coney Islanding but most of 'cm back on Labor D;iy, hW. porkinsr. Tlii.s sent Fox. Met nnt\ Strand Ui ;good take.";, and week on wholo for this side nf East River will be .pretty good. More uphrav.-xla in picture presen- tation policies among doluxcrs In busines.'i vicinity downtnun. l,"i^t \vcpl<. Mot dropped vo"'l'» f'n-.'^t ic ' I mnny ypTs r;;id t'li'-' w"^': having blackballed vaude some months ago, went In for double fea- ture fare. Estimates for This Week Paramount (4,000; 26-35-50)—'An- napolis Farewell" (Par). Not as good as was anticipated by Fabian management. In region of $9,000, n. s. g. Iiast week 'Accent on Youth' (Par) $11,000. Fox ($4,000; 25-35-50)—'Keeper of the Bees' (Mono) and stage show. Advertising it is only house in Brooklyn offering stage show. Mon- day amateur night with Don Kerr getting big play. Approximately $14,500, fine. Last week 'Bonnie Scotland'" (PG) $14,000, good. Albee ($3,500; 15-25-35-50) — 'Orchids to You' (Fox) and Dante's Inferno' (Fox). Inaugurating new policy of double feature. Kids now admitted for 15c. Two bits until 2 p.m. for adults, top of 55c. Grind means doubtful biz. Mebbe $8,000, okay. Last week 'Farmer Takes Wife' (Fox), $5,000. Loew's Met (2.400; 25-35-50)— •China Seas' (MG) (2nd week). Will do $14,000, good. Last week $16,000, good. Second week house has been without vaude. Strand (2,00,0; 25-35-50)—'Bright Lights' (WB) and 'Atlantic Adven- ture' (Col). At $8,000 away over average. Last week 'Going High- brow' (WB) and 'Hard Rock Harri- gan' (Fox) $4,600. 'STEAMBOAT' 23G W $10,000, FRISCO BIG San Francisco, Sept. 3. (Best Exploitation: United Artists) Cool spell over the holiday week end gave the theatres a hop in the boxofnce, plus good features and names on the marquees to help the draw. Warfleld goes tops with Will Rogers' newest film. House did best business on any Rogers picture, but no house records. Place money is being fought out by Golden Gate and Paramount, and show money goes to United Artists with 'Call of Wild.' Fox quit stage shows after four- week try when Duncan. Sisters couldn't hit 10 grand mark. Duals from now on. Outlying theatres find midweek matinees falling oft with return to school of 100,000 kids last week. United Artists takes exploitation credit with parade of downtown slreets by big St Bernard that has nnlmal role in picture. Also in front of house are two of huskies used by Gable on dog team In film. (Estimates for This Week) Clay (Roesner) (400; 25-35)— 'Krinnorna Krlng Larsson' (Sven- ska). Will do better than $1,200. Swedish films popular here!. Last week 'Dame Aux Camellas' (French) passed the $1,000 mark, nice for this one. Fox (Leo) (5,000; 25-40)—'Smilln' Through' (MG) reissue and 'Dressed to Thrill' (Par). So so $6,000. Last week Duncan Sisters on stage and 'Pursuit' (MG) failed to drag In more than $8,700. This put end to four-week stage try of Fanchon & Marco girls and bookings. Duals now on. Golden Gate (RKO) (2,850; 30- 35-40)—'Hot Tip' (Radio), stage band and vaude. Will bring in about $13,600, normal for this house. Last week stage and 'Jalna' (Radio), about $13,000. Orpheum (F&M) (2,440; 30-35-40) —'Diamond Jim' (U) (2nd week). Ought to take nice $7,500; last week good for $10,000.' Paramount (F-WC) (2.740; 30- 33-40)—'Accent on Youth (Par) and Tferc Comes Cookie' (P.ir). With names- and holiday, ought to better $!3,0nn. L.asf week $11,500 for 'Bon- i\ie Scotland' (MG) and '39 Steps' (OB). St. Francis (F-WC) (1.470: 30- 35-40)—'Page Mi.ss Glory' (WR). Moveover from Warflolr] .sliould round $0,000. Last weclc about «;in-:c for third \v('Cl< nt '(Jnrly 'I'l)])' (Fox), r.ooljs as K Temple might have l:i.--teil anotlier wcci<. United Artists (I'A) O.2i)0: .ri-40) —'Call of thn V/ild' (i;Oth VA). Re- opened to nice $10,000. Warfield (K-WC) (2,6S0; 33-40- 55)—'StCJunlioat Round thf Hend' (Fox) and .stage .show. HoUei- thnu an^ nt'icr RogcL'.s nic to plav thl« hniit^^'-. no-'l fnr X"" Odii. I^nsiwor-U S2] ,'O0 for 'faire .\(lv.'- fUr.ry' (Wfn .'/lift StflTC S'VO.V •Sanders»-1rish* $5,000, 'Seas' $0,200, Tacoma Tacoma, Sept. 3. (Best Exploitation: Roxy) Tacoma which likes to be rated one of the gateways to the China seas. Is going to 'China Seas' this week at the Roxy. Best exploitation Is added budget for big newspaper campaign at Roxy for 'Seas' and special atmos- pheric Chinese th&atre front. Estimate^ for This Week Music Box (Hamrick) (1,400; 16- 27-37)—'Sanders* (UA) and 'Irish In Us' (FN) dual, expected $5,000, big; last week, 'Shanghai' (Par) and 'We're in Money' (WB) dual, $4,000, good. Roxy (J-vH) (1,300; 16-27-37) — 'China Seas' (MG) looks headed for heavy $6,200; last week, 'Curly Top" (Fox) big $5,S00. Holiday Rain Helps Set B'way Records; 'Hat,' M. H., $130,000 and 'Araia,'Gap. $?0.000;'Glory $42,0i Rogers Vs. Bowes Amateurs in Del, 28G, 26G Respec Detroit, Sept. 3. (Best Exploitation: Fox) It's Will Rogers versus Major Bowes amateurs this week in De- troit's two combo houses. And, while it isn't a walk-away, 'Steam- boat 'Round the Bend' should win quite .handily. Fox gave the Rogers opus a nice B&ndoK, with extra ad copy and a nifty editorial explaining reason for showing flicker. Opening business was tremendous and should coast in for a swell $28,000. Benny Meroff's ork on the stage isn't hurting the b.o. either. 'Top Hat' reopened the Downtown Sunday (1) and off very big, $15,000 first week and probably holds. With 'Annapolis, Farewell' on the screen, the Michigan devoted most of its attention 'on the radio ama- teurs and is getting a fine dividend, probably $26,000. Pic itself would not hold up. Elsewhere In the loop, theatres are not clicking as in the previous week, due chie-fly to poorer picture product, the opening of tv/o new first run houses, the Lafayette and the Downtown, and the ichigan State fair. All of which are cutting Into the grosses everywhere except at the combos. 'Things look rosy, however, with the advent of cool weather. Estimates for This Week Fox (Fox) (5,000; 25-35-55)— 'Steamboat 'Round Bend' (Fox) and stage show, featuring Benny Meroff ork. Looks like a great $28,000. Pulled in a nice $20,000 last week with 'Farmer Takes a Wife' (Fox), with help of Small Time Cavalcade on the stage. Michigan (United Detroit) (4,000; 25-35-55) — 'Annapolis, Farewell' (Par) plus Major Bowes radio ama- teurs on stage. Vaudeville keeps house In the good time class with a nifty $26,000, Gross will slump slightly from last week's wow $27,- 000 cn 'Page Miss Glory' (WB), which was second best b.o. this year. United Artists (United Detroit) (2,000; 26-35-56)—'Accent on Youth' (Par). Will bring in at least $6,000, okay. 'China Seas' (MG) did a fine $8,000 la.st week In its second session after a big $12,000 for the first week. Downtow (RKO) (2,600; 25-35- 55)—'Top Hat' (Radio). Opened Sunday (1) after 17 months of dark- ness' on a first run pix policy and tremendous. Hereafter shows will be changed on Fridays. Antaire flicker likely to gross a smash $15,000 and probably holds over, Lafayette (Maxmar) (1,600; 20-25- 40)—'My Heart Is Calling' (GB). Off slowly, looks $3,000, fair. Sc-iond pic for new house, probably start- ing Thursday (5), Is 'Man Who Knew Too Much' ( ). Adams (Balaban) (1,700; 25-40)— 'Manhattan Moon' (U) and 'Wel- come Home* (Fox). Will do a nice $3,500, following two excellent weeks with 'Curly Top' (Fox), which clanged $4,500 each session. State (United Detroit) (3.0C0; 35- 40)—'Womin Wante<l' (MG) and 'Bonnie Scotland' (MG). Above- av- ••rage $4,000 b.o. due for th(',-\tre which has I^een staying high for several week.s. Oro.ss was $5.5()0. fine, last week on '.Smart Girl' (I'.'ii ) and 'Jekyll and Hyde' (Par), rr-i.^sue. (Best Exploitation: Strand) Labor Day week currently will establish some new Broadway rec- ords, notably a new high for the Music Hall at a terrific leap to $130,- 000. or better, on first week of 'Top Hat.' This is $20,000 more than garnered any previous week at the Hall, high up to now having been $110,100, established by 'Little Min- ister.' Combination of strong pictures and ideal holiday ticket window weather (rain) over Labor Day (2) Is turning the trick this week. Of all the big first runs, every house is holding over except the Rlvoll, which is on Its final (third) week of 'Call of the Wild.' If Rlv hadn't laid its plans to bring in 'Dark Angel' to- morrow night (Thursday), this house also would have held another week. A thumbnail picture of the Broad- way situation- in gross this week is nine pictures for a total of around $380,000, probably a record. This lines up as 'Top Hat* (Music Hall), $130,000; 'Anna, Karenlna' (Capitol), $70,000; 'Diamond Jim' (Roxy, 2d week), $45,000; 'Page Mies Glory' (Strand), $12,000; 'Call of Wild* (Rlv, 3d week), $25,000; 'Two for Tonight' (Par), $28,000; 'Crusades' (Astor, 2d week), $9,500 for six days. Added to this is the good buslnese on 'Every Night at 8' at State $20,- 000, and 'Accent on Youth,' $10,000, at Palace, both pictures being on second run, with vaude as company. Music Hall, on 'Top Hat' engage- 'STEAMBT' AND STAGE BLONDES' TOP INDPLS. L. A. 'CRUSADES' UNCERTAIN Hollywooil, f;'f.'pt. Hc-liig unable tn g(';t the Cailhay Circle, Los Angeles, for a deluxe engagement of 'Crusados,' Para- mount will either have to play It ■'it the Four Star for ;in e\len'i<-il '.v,'i'jc;-i;uii;.' run, or let It go to th'- I'aramoiint ori tlip regular grind Dollcy; wl ere, it would sliiy two vooV. Indianapolis, Sept. 3. Will Rogers is still magic at the box office here judging from the smashing business his 'Steamboat Round the Bend' opened to At the Apollo. All his pictures have played this house and all have run from three to five weeks at the spot. Tnis one has hit a starting pace even better than his previous films a:id will gross $9,700, which is terrific at this small l,100-3eater. There's plenty of competition in the other downtown theatres with 'Anna Karenlna' heading for a strong $8,000 at Loew's and 'Alice Adams' doing an okay $6,000 at the Circle. 'Bright Lights,' plus Jack Fine's 'Platinum Blonde' stage unit, is also in the money comfortably at $8,700 at the Lyric. Business seems to have pickeJ up considerably with plenty of cool v/eather and an Influx of Hoo.-ilers from surrounding towns to attend the State Fair being held this week. Very little done by various houses in way of exploitation - excejH that the Lyric promoted a full-page tleup on its 'Platinum Blpndes' stage re- vue. Lack of ballyhoo is surprising in view of simultaneous booking of strong attractions at all downtown spots. Estimates for This Week Apollo (Fourth Ave.) (1,100; 25- 40)—'Steamboat' (Fox). Rogers h;is always been this theatre's ace draw and now he's toppini: his own marks with $9,700, great Last week 'Dante's Inferno' (Fox) mild at $2,700. Circle (Katz-Feld) (2,000; 25-40) —'Alice Adams' (RKO). Played up Hepburn with Fi*ed MacMurray strongly billed above title disregard- ing local authorship of Booth Tark- Ington because of previous disap- pointing expTlonces with reception of his works here. Gross okay but .somewhat lower than expected at a iModorately good $6,000. Last week 'Accent on Youth' (Par) finished Willi a plea.sing $C,500. Loew's (Locw'.s) (2,.?00; ;J5-40) — 'Anna Karenina' (.MCJ). Better than recent (Jarbo nim.s here, possibly due to Ktrong ad space given Fredric .March ,and l''redd;e Bartholomew. c;ross very good at $8,000. Last week 'Chin.'i Se;j.s' (MG) barely fair In il.-i second week with $3,800. Lyric (OiKon; (2,000; ;;5-3a-40) — 'I5riKht Lights' (WB) and 'I'latlnum Hlonde.s' unit on stage. Joe K. Hrf)wn always strong in this house .Tnd wllh fall- help from Ht,T;e bill iK ■Hire to do a good .$!;.70n.' L-jst we'*l: 'Coir.g Highbrov,'' (WIJ) and. lJul:e ClliM'Tion b"n'l on .ilrge set ii new luiure record ;it pret-nt pric.* ncril" with Sl.'',.r,00 on five stage shows every day. ment, has been opening at 9:30 a. m. instead of 11:30 on a long dally grind, and Labor Day scale went from 40c to 06c opening to 1 p. m. House grossed $22,900 Labor Day, a record for any holiday. On both Saturday and Sunday gross also reached new highs for those, days on greater turnover. Jam of crowds on Labor Day necessitated a corps of 25 cops and an emergency ambu- lance. On attendance the Roxy also had the biggest Sunday in its history, 29,577 people. This is not a high for any day, however, but come.s close to record held by 'Cockeyedi World' (Fox). Another all time record became endangered when the Cap played to its best Labor Day since 1924. Street presented an unusual pic- ture Labor Day, with lobby hold- outs everywhere. As one manager put it: 'People Just fell into the theatres.' Music Hall, Cap and Rbxy couln't hold 'em, with result overflow spread to all other hotises, the cheap dual feature spots'down- town getting a big break. While the Music Hall upped its morning price Labor Day, the State did an odd thing by reducing Its loge seats Sunday night from 83 to 40e. N(> explanation given for this. Among the holdovers are plcturca that will go a third week or more. 'Top Hat' is presently gauged by Radio City for three weeks, there being ho discussion of a fourth week this far in advance. 'Jim' enters its third week at the Roxy Friday (6) and will stick a fourtb if holding up. 'Page Miss Glory' looks set for three weeks, same be- ing true of 'Karenlna.' 'Two foi Tonight,' against stIK competition, will stay- Just two weeks, 'Crusades* isn't what Par looked for on a two-a-day run at the Astor but it will stay six or eight weks anyway. First week's take was $10,000, while six d3.v8 on second week (current) is $9,500. House went to capacity- Labor Day (2). first time enjoying a sellout since the premiere. Strand's exploitation campaign was the most comprehensive on. 'Page Miss Clorr,' with house and WB at work on picture's engage- ment several wee!:s In advance. In addition to many tieupa, the air waves ■Were use-d to' exploit. Estimates for' This Week Astor (1,012; 55-8C-$l.X0-»1.6B- $2.20)—'Crusades' (Par) (2d -week). Got $10,000 first week but with ar- rival of fall weather Is expecting pickup. Six days on second week, $9,500. May not stay over six weeks unless addin.g weight. Capitol (4,620; 25-35-76-S5-?1.10> —'Karenlna' (MG), Away strong, bringing best Labor Day for house since 1924, and looks c^ose to big $70,000 and probably threa weeks. Last week, third for 'China Seas* (MG), $22,000. Palace (1,700; 35-50-35;)—'Accent on Youth' (Par) and vaude. Going above average, $10,000. Last week 'Farmer Takes Wife' (Fox), only $0,000. Paramount (3,664; 25-35-56-75- 85)—'Two for Tonight' (Par). In- dications point to about $28,000, and holds another week. Last week 'An- napolis Farewell' (Par) fell off bad- ly, $19,500, and wasn't held as house planned. Radio City Music Hall (5,989; 40- (;0-S5-!)9-$1.10-$1.05) — 'Top Haf (Radio) and stage show. Opening doors two hours earlier than usual becau.se house is going greiit guns for $130,000 week, or better. Rec- ord. Figuring three weeks now but may even do a fourth. Last week 'Alice Adams' (second week) held up for $80,000, good, Rivoli (2,092; 40-66-75-85-99)— 'Call of Wild' (UA) (3d week). Perked so well on tl-;rc (final) week (current )that house Is sorry It can't hold picture a fourth; final w^el<. $25,000. Last week (second), 524,000. 'Dark Angel' (UA) opens tomorrow night (Thurs.). Roxv (5,836: 25-55-55)—'Diamond Jim' (O) (2d week). Jilt an at- tendance record for any Sunday (1), second week's bu.slness nolntlng to tremendous $45,000. First v/eek 547'.000. Stays third week and pos- Slhlv fonrth. • Strand (2:707; 35-55-65-85)-^ 'Pa'-c Miss Clo-y' rWP,). Oft stout- ly for fir.'d week of $42,000, very big. Ijoolt.s three wclt.^-, T,M«t week 'We're In the Money' (WH) a dls- Tpnolnter, $ I'l..100. State (3.<<r.n; 3.T-r,r.-7r,)—'Rvory \'i!;ht -Tl fi' fTiir) nnd v.iude. With iot.s of fritiH in riri-nl.-itlon over hol'- (inv. chiiriiies good to reach $20,000. T,ast we"U lioiL^e lilt $37,000 with ^oll 1Tr,!i-/..-t>-.||r. TV-r-'-Tiinck and s'l.-.-,. siu.w JiTl 'Iri h in Us* ^\\":^ yriHivw lif"-; ;i Mr)pf» ■co'-d Vol.. w/jt'ld h'tt-f, t•,^M over ii"iii'.;ii)'< iiiU si'i(:'> l)';i back Sept. 20.