Variety (Feb 1936)

10 yARlETY P I C T E CRa$SES Wednesdays February 5, 1936 lloe Cook lips liumatf^ Ifty-Cortez 20G, 'Ghosf ISG, Hub Boston, Feb, 4, (Best Exploitati Keith's) JCeith-Boston shapes up as the town's leader this week, |21,Q0O not on fllhi strength, however, but on yaude draw (Joe Cook). 'Ghost •dees West* at the Memorial 1» &P- it)g places, around $18,000, Trd- fesslpnal Soldier* . .'Exclusive tpry' dualled the State; and rpheum are siirpi'IsJng with very satisfactory ti'ade, indicating a total of $30,000. ' Paramount and PenwAy brought ijack 'Informer' this week'on a dual 111 with 'Master's Voice,' and re- <;eption to >the award-winning film (especially at the I^enwlEiy) is,pleas-" . Ing. Should. captu.re. airound |10,-.. 000 from day-an.d-date combo. •Mljky Way' at |[he Met^ with Rl- .' -ca^'do Cortez. on stage, promlsei^ no;. . .1^01*6; tlian $20,000. Tremendous' weekend for snow.: traiins,^ . deflectirtg^^ thousands of. i-qspective' customers ^roni ^^os.toh rlaltb: •Modern. Times' win .roadshbyr at .the Majestic, stiarting Ii'et;>r 14, ait •..76.C top, cohtinuoua iiin.. Kleltli exploit office barged thi'oush! nobly on selling o£ .Joe Cook.; a,t: the Boston and. 'Ghost' at 'the Membfieil.'. Smart .advahce gag. \iraa (Seoirge Holland's full column Review, pt the show, he caught tn Prpvxiijlcince .where CbpH opened his tiew unit., Thre^ interviews In Ipoal .. ■ .papers^ tf 'street bally tying in with > ; .'HpH XpuV ilprfies' idea; threes ^column, radla ...cdtop ad; appear- ance ^:at thi0 Pi'esldent'is Ball; ad- vance, story in the Transcript; .'Elks dinner in his hoiior ■ (entire membership ' here contacted', by mall) soine of .the highiights. On . , 'GJipst,' the" lobby bally 6f an in^ *' lanlniate 'ghOst* ^ns^vering questions via "ft .:p.a..- set .drew plenty, of at-" twitlo.nj .a truck, tie-up,' and. a, play for Scotch population, Mn addition „, to' ari .impressive layout pf news- vpaper publicity iall i^lpefi,.-. rEstimate, for .this 'Week , Keithrdoaibii (BK:o> (2,300; 35^*- 60-6&)—'We're Only Human' (RK,Q) ,, ^^nd Jpe ;Cobic unit on sti^e;; Looks not' here,-: pn. vaude strengtbr prih- Plpially, $21,000. Last week, Fats Waller and Harlem, unit satisfied . at $20j000, \vlth.;'Melpdy Lingers Qn' (UAy. Pn screen. ' .'Sold> on vaude ljullj Charles'Koernert RKO division chief, is standfrig by his giins, with : such," fiamea as Gene Raymond, Ituth, Jjttlng, .Wayne King,' Frank Fay and :Fol}es Parislenne' on the .r-..*books. " " .... , Met .(M&P): (4,200; 35--.5,0-65)-^ ^ilky Way' (Par) and Rlcardo C.ortez on stage. Moderate at $20,- ^ poa , gait. Last week,. 'Anything .Goes' (Par), and stage show weak- ■ ened in the home stretch to $21,000. House is also feeling oats in. vaude .department, including In future line- ups Tom Howard, Fred Waring, Paul Lultas and Ray Noble, who will probably make his first vaude stand Itere when nltery contract expires, \Keith Memorial (RKO) (2.900; 25-35-50)—,'GhPst.Goe^ West' (UA>. Not scarlrtg away bIz; at this stand . a.nd Indication'of $18,000 Is excel-; r lent; $J4,i20O = last" week for ;*King L of .Burle)5que' (20111), fair..; ■k . Orpheum (Loe\^) .'(3,000; 26-35- ^ 40T50)^*Professional Soldier' (20th) ■fvaii.d ■ExcluBlve Story' (MG), dual. 1^ Surprising punch,' and will march into about $16;000, With ■ two pix • cllvldlhe: .draw ■ credit. 'Strike Me - Pink' (UA)V Single, last week,,-good $17,009.- - \ ■ ■ State (Lbew>' (25.35-40-B0)-;-'SoN dter" (20th) and .'Exclusive' (MG>. double. A. comfortable combo, around $14,000. • Last week, *Plhk' (ITA), j^truck ttp; tune of adequate. $15,000, day-^date With Orph. Paramount (M&P) (1,800; 25-35.-' BO)—'Informer' (RKO), 5th run, and 'Master's "Voice! (Par), first run. dual. Hitting under par, around $0,000. 'infornier' played llemorlal ilrst run last season,- all Hub sub- se.queht runs, then the suburban gamut. previous to current Par- .Jrenway fevlval. Official crix label of 'bisst film' has finally put this one into the running, and booking iPoKs smart. Last week, pallid $6,000 on 'Paddy O'Day' (20th) and 'Harrlgan' (WB), double. Fenway (W:&P) (1,600; 25-30-40- 60)-^'Informer' (RKO), fifth run. and-'Master's "Voice* (Par), first run, double. Drawing better here in proportion than downtown stand, meaning around $1,000, good. Last week, $3VO00 was all that 'Paddy O'Day', (2Qth) and 'Harrlgan' (WB) 001 lid attract. Scollay (M&P) (2,700; 25-35-40- 50)'Paddy O'Day' (20th) and 'Rose of Ranches (Par),: both second run, .dual, fllvlnsr to $4,000. Slightly bet- ter.' R'l.TO last frame'for'^collegiate' <Vpv) and 'Dangerous' (WB), sec- nd run, dual. LINCOLN LULLS 'Cabt. Blood' Tops «t $3^0Q-iCol- ored, V audfjlm , l|2>400 Lincoln, Feb. . (Beat- Exploitation; . Stuart) 'Blood' will come oft the best in the gxo^ list this yveek at the Stuart, accordinff to .present indica- tions. Orpheum- wi.th art all-colored stage, show and the Lincoln playing 'Freckles,' and hUHng every short subject, strong, pulling a little above average. Temperature.-the biggest obstacle and it's- frequently 10 be- low early In the evening; Mtter cold, here, Estimates for This Week Colonial (LTC) (650; . 10-16)-- 'Fast Bullets' (Rel) and 'Dr. Harrlr gan' (FN), split. Oke; expects $900. Last week 'New Frontier' (Rep) and •Timber War' (Amb), split, $850. Lincoln (LTC) (1,600; 10-20r26)-r' 'Freckles' (RKO). House Is cur- rently selling the show in four units in. hopes, of getting out of the dol- drums of " the paiit few weeks; ;prob- aWe $2,300 in sight, . as i^eather shows islgns of breaki ng a little. Last week-'Dangerous' (WB) barely, got "by around $1,85&, wOrst . in niohths. Orpheum (LfC) (1,360; 10-16-20- 26-36-40)—'Freshnjan Love' , (WB) and stage show headlining Andy Kirk's band^ and all-colored layout, three days,. 'Stars Over^ Broadlvay' (WB), four days. Likely to go around $2,400, not Ibad.' Last week 'Kind Lady' (MG): and the 'Pacing Parade' unit (3 days) ; 'Hitch Hike Lady' <Rep) afid Major Sowes Ams (2 days) : and 'Great linpersonatioh' :(U) (2 days), near $3,200, goOd. Stuart (LTC) (1,900; 10-25-40)'- ?Gapt, Blood' (WB). With preview and word-of-mouth, about $3,600. happiness money after the last few Weeks; Last week 'Bride Comes Home' (Par) lucky to get $8,100. Varaity (Westland) (1,100; 10-20- 25)^'Born to Glory' (GB) and 'Dan- gerous Intrigue'- (Col), dual.. Marks, the house's, return to bargaining: for the iflrst time in more, than two months, should draw about $1,100, average. Last week 'Lady of Secrets-.(Col) new low with about $800. , _ GcHid Fix VS. Weather In Omaha and Fix Omaha, Feb. 4. (Best Exploitation: Brandeis). Situation along .thea,tre row at Its .most unusual stage this. winter. With temperatux'es at ■■ their lowest ebb In. years and'snow'at Its maxi- mum coverage* theatres are battling right back with best array of shows the town has seen in any recent week. . Holdovers at the , Omaha a.nd- Brandeis grab the limellghV but only momentarily before it .switches to the Orpheum whiph lights its -stage to present aii amateur troUpe. Omaha, theatre holdover gets most attention ais it is scheduled to hOld a full second'week foi: a total of 14 days and a half runjllng';' second* week .'Coronado' moves In. to replace 'Here's to Romance;', as the. running mate-, -to 'Magnificent Qbsession;' Brahdelis holdover is likewise note-', worthy as it plays but 11-days as a single feature. , ^Celllnir iSero' completes its run at tiie'iBi'ahdels to make . Way for 'Mid-, summer! Nights Dpeaittl! bn .a .xpad- :sho\v' .hyo-a-day, basis Mbhd'ay, ITuesday; Wednesday. This manner, of showing , a film hasn't been tried here in a decade, but with a 10-day :advance, sale •Di*eam' bidia for sUcr cess. . ' . Messing up of dates and .programs at'the Brandeis and Omaha- gives the Orpheum imdlsputed' lead for the Week with a gross whiCh. will' likely top $11,000 and which would be two greater in even ordinary winter weather. Brandeis with a $1.66 top on its roadshow may real- 1:56 $6,:600, a top on any film for a three-day run. Pictures combined with vaude here has previbusly drawn $1 a head, but nothing in years has sold at $1.65. Last week was written In bold- fiaco figures at all box office."?, with the Omaha the leader on a 'Holly- wood opening of 'Obsession' .and a week of business nearly as strong at the finish as at the start. Both other houses way above normal, all despite severe cold. . Ori>heum added, materially to its show by bringing In the local win-, ners of a radio amateur contest for a nice bit of e.vploitatlon. Estimates for This Week Orpheum (2,076; 25-35-55) (Blank - Trl - States). — 'Splendor' (UA) and Dowes amateur troupe (Xo. 5) on stage. Slight break in the arctic weather and its possible continuance should help to » round $11,000, and xnayho mor^. Upped top make* this, figure possible; Last week 'Burleaq ue* (20th) coupled with 'Socrates' (WB) satisfactory at $8,260. Brandeis (Sfnger-RKO) (1,260; 25-35-40)—'Zero' (FN). On a single feature bill holds over thrpugh Suiir day,, making it 11 day^ for the run of this Cosmo n'umber. Holdouts In zero weather brought this iip to $6,-' 000 m .the first seven days, and-con=^ tmued good his will see $2,200.:^the rest of the run for a grand total of $8,200 for the one film. Omaha (Blank-Trt-States) (2,100; 25-40) — -'Obsession' (U). Bullish opening and roistering biz. all week in the face of the country's worst cold jspell and holds over for an- other full seven days. For the cur- rent week it gets 'Coronado' (Par) as a dual partner, replacing 'Here's to Romance* (20th-Fox). First week figures of fl0»500 the very best in. this house, and the second week of rurinlng^ hlds to hit $7,500, still above most average runs In this theatre. Total of 118,000 remarkable In this weather. 8 Baltimore. .--4. (Best Exploitation: Hipp) Wretched weather continues to dent biz. About tops In, town cur- rently Ifli 'Anything Goes' at Keith's, snatching a. sparkling $6^500: on an eight-day _ whirl. , The" muslCal in legit form didn't piaV Balto, much to disappointment of inany. which tended to ^het interest in pic. Hipp Is well Up with a stageshow packed with. lesser lurers who, In aggregate mold quite some b.o. potency: Pour Mills Bros., FIfl D'Orsay, Eddie White, Sammy Cohen; And It is the vaude, not the pic, 'Lady of Secrets/ which Is pull^- Ing in the very good $16,000. H. T. Roiitson of the Hipp pre- vailed upon Miss D'Orsay to trundle Into town.'4ay prior to opening so she could attend ail the six Presi- dent's Birtliday balls held around city. Her doing so wOn pro^nent position In press along with 'art of her dancing with w.k. local gents. Also; In getting publicly Intro'd at the affairs, she deftly plugged the- atre and show. Estimates for This Weeh; Century (Loew-UA), (3,000; 15- 25-35-40-65-66)—'Ghost' (UA) and stageshow headed by Toby Wing. Mildish $16,000. Last week 'Pink' (UA) and vaii.do. crumbled closing days and sank to $16,000. Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,300; 15-26-35-40-55-66)—'Laidy of Secrets' <CoI) and vaude. Stage side the stirrer, building to, very good $16,- 000. Last .week 'LOne Wolf (Col) and Marcus Show. Lightweight, $12*500. Keith's (Schanberger) (2,500; 25-3O-35r40)—'Goeis' (Par). Pranc- ing eight days to princely $6,500. Last week, third of 'Obsession' (U), excellent $:4,500. Three-week total, $19,600,-socko, and best thing house has had all season. New. (Mechanic) (1,800; 15-25-30- 35-40-6B)—'Paddy O'Day' (Fox). Coming out okay with $3,200. Last week 'Pro Soldier' (20th), 10 days for dandy $7,000. ' Stanley ;<WB) (3,450; 16-25-35- 40-55)—'Dangerous' (^B). Smart set giving. Impetus tO'jvard'-. oke $6,500. ° .Bette Day Is seems ,ta^. be amafiaing tOllow}hg '.'ja,mbh(7. clasd.' customers here. Last.week 'Ranchp' •(Par) spurted last-couple days and touched $6,800. W BREAKS WEEKEND MARK; $23,000 IN CINCY Cindnnati, Feb. 4. (Best Exploitation: Albee) .Natives on the thaw after 10-day. sub-zero, stretch and upping takes ;bf downtown houses to, smiles de- gree for exhibg. , Riding high" scad. handsome currently is 'Rose Marie,' which.set new record Week-end take for Albee at present scale and Is a cinch for a whopper $23,000, Vaudfllm Shubert Is in for one ot its best weeks of the sea.son with $14,000 on Tf Tou Could Only Cook' linked with 'Cocktails' unit, exploit- ing Ada. Leonard's stream-lined charms. 'Professional Soldier' at Palace Is bringing In $11,000, Lyric is luke- warm with $4,000 on 'Charlie Chan's Secret.; Capitol is second-weieking .'Pink' for S5.000 and Keith's ift hold- ing over 'Ceiling Zero* to $3,500. Press laurels of the week to Al- bee for 'Rose Marie. Estimates for This Week Albee (RKQ) (3,300; 35-42)— 'Rose Marie' (MG). MacDonald- Eddy combo and fame of the Hu- dolfi Frlml operetta a natural for $28;000. Last weieU 'Pink' (UA), 116,000, Shubert (RKO). (2,160; 86-65)— 'Cook' (Col) and 'Cocktails of 1930' unit. Pic above average for this stand, where, vaude is the main pulL Hefty advance bally on Miss Leon-f ard as 'the. most perfect American beauty' a b.o. tug. Fast start points to $14,000; best figure here for some -t im e ; —Last—week—-Two—In^-JOarkL (RKO) and Benny MerofC orchestra, $7,500, new sub champ. Palace (RKO) (2,600; 36-42)— 'Pro Soldier' (20th). A good $11,000. Last week 'Riff Raft' (MG), $10,000, Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 35-42)'— ^Plnk' (UA), Moved over froni Al- bee for second week, $4,000, so-so. Last week 'Obsession' (U). Brbught haCk to first line after week's lapse, $6,000, all right, pic fetched $19,000 In Initial week at Albbe. Lyric (RKO). (1,400; 36r42)— 'Chan's Secret' (Fox). Maybe $4,000, n.s.g. LaEit week 'Burlesque' (Fox)„ $4,600, no complaint for second week, following $16,000. on first seven days at Albee. : Keith's (Libson) (1,600; 30-40)— 'Zero' (WB) (2d week), an okay $3,'500 after reaching exceptionally high $8,000 last week. Grand (RKO) (1,200; 25-40)-^,'Ob- sesslon' (U). Third.. downtown week, $3,100, above average. Last week 'Informer' (RKO), revival, $2,800. Family (RKO) (1,000; 15-25)r- 'Punishment' (Col) arid Intrigue' (Col), separate.. A standby $2,200. Last week '.Bar-20' (Par) and.'Guard That Girl' (Col), divided, $2,100. * Strand (Irid) (1,300; 16-26)—'Spy 77- (Ind) arid Pep Gblden's local re- vue on stage in first half, $2,100, good. Last week 'Hitch Hike Lady- (Rep), $1,700, okay, BUFFALO'S BLIZ BIFFS ALL B.O.'S,/RANCHd'6|G Buftalbi Feb.. 4. (Best Exploitation: B'uffaio) Continuation pf the sub-zero spell left and is leaving plenty of wyeckf age at BuI^Calo .box offices. <; In addl*- .ition to extraordinary Cold, weather, a couple of stray blizzards, tied up traflflc arid left the turnstiles gapirig^ for customeri^. .The Lafayette seems to be moving along in splendid style and Is get- ting the best cofnpa.rative: grossies in town in addition to high figures for the ordinary run of l>ustness at the house. Things elsewhere are down currently. Special campaign built around the Inauguration, of the new Buffalo Wide Range sound installation, was put on, with tlie newspapers taking the lead in the exploitation. It drew several columns of reading matter In the various dallies, the Times go-, .ing for a two-column splash with pictures. Film was plugged with Ann Harding, fashion arid beauty tie-iips, . the leading , department stores going for window displays and the usual strips, cards and give- aways being utilized. Estimates for This Week Buffalo (Shea) (3,600; 30-40-50)r— 'Lady Cbnaerits' (RKO). Picture came In for some joshing by the reviewers, and if $7,600, weak, lucky. Last wieek 'Goes' (Par), held up well considering weather obstacles and got $8,800. ' Hipp (Shea) (2,400; '25-40)— 'Rancho' (Par). Opening pace looks no better than $6,500. Last week 'Prof. Soldier' (20th) up to expec- tations and, all things considered, did plenty,well, $7,100. . Great Lakes (Shea) (3,400; 25-40) ;-T^'Zero' (WB) (2d week). Held over after nice first "stanza and should .go ■^oyer $7,500. Last, week neat $9,000. ; Century (Shea) (3;4O0; 25)-^'Dr. 'Harrlgan' (WB)' and 'Million in Aii:' (Pa,r). .Looks like an even running .bill, for .avei'age $0,000. Last week 'Chan's Secret' (20 th) and 'Ship Cafe' (Par), felt the weather and got down to $5,800. Lafayette (Ind) (3,400; 25)—'Dev- irs." Island'-'(Cbl) and- 'Feather in Hat' (Cbl). Back to double fea- .turek and bowling along for a better than average $8,000. Last week ''Hobo' (GB) hit strong pace from the outset and held up for splendid $9,000. ^GHosT' mm mooD' $10,000, MONTREAL RECOVERING FROM GEO. V. HIATUS .Kansas City, Feb. 4. (Best Exploitation: Mainstreet) The wintry blasts bleyir in; the grosses went dowri below» below, and that's the story of the past two -weeks s,nd: will hbld igood for the current .stanza; , AJl are hit hard by the continued zero weather. After several weelcs with stage units, added to the screen show, the Mainstreet is back to straight pic- tures with 'Captain Blood' and go- ing nicely. The Mldlarid, after an- nouncing 'Rose Marie^for the cur- rent week, switched to 'Ghodt Goes West,' which was received favor- ably by the reviewers and it got away to a good start, with prois-^ pects for a nice buildup. Manage- ment had a paneled three-sheet of Robert Donat in front of the theatre, wired Up and featured as the talk'- ing ghost. Questions . given were answered over the hidden wire, and It-caused a lot of fun and interest. Estimates for. Thia Week Mainstreet (RKO) (3,200; 25-40) —'Captain Blood* (FN). Consider- able iriterest created hy advance publicity, critics strong for it and indications- aire 'for close to -$10,000, good. Last . week .'Another Face' (RKO) and Duke Elllrigtori, $10,600, Just fair. . Midland (L<iew)^ (4,000; 26-40)— 'Ghost Qoes West' (UA). DOnat acquiring quite a following here, and while given short billing, looks' close to. $14,000, gopd. Last week 'Strike Me Pink' (UA) proved a dis- appointment to the cantor fans who expected more music; closed $12,500 after swell opening which Indicated several . thousand more. Weather hurt a lot. Newman '(Par> (1,900; 25^40)-^ P'aclflc Fleet' (WB). Set in ahead of "Follow the Fleet,* coming at an Pipposltipn. house, .likely to confuse some customers. iJxpected to do close to, $6,000, nbt iso bad. Last week 'Anything Goes' (Par) (eight days), $10,600, nice. Tower (Rewot) (2,200; 25-35)— 'Lone Wolf (COD arid stage "^show. Jack. Carson,-m. c; returning to start his third engagement, arid 32d week. Business- holding up well, headed for $7,O0O, pretty good. Last week 'Crime and Punishment' (COl), $6,000, fair; Uptown (Fox) (2,040; 25)—'First" Girl' (GB). Expected this one to make good showing on account of the star, Jessie Matthews; indica- tions for near $4:000, gbod. Last Week 'Paddy O'Day' (20th), first Sveek of straight 25c. policy and $2,900, fair. ^lontreal, Feb. 4, (Best Exploitation: Capitol) No stand-out pix on the main stems currently, with one holdover and weather liable to. continue around zero. Closing until 6 p.m. Tuesday (2S) brought in heavy at- tendances that nite at top prices. Palace's Crosby pic, 'Anything Goes,' should garner $9,000, Capitol figures on better hlz on'Rendezvous' and 'Kind Lady,' and may also reach $9,000. Loew's has above average revue in 'Miami -NiyhLs' and Its pix. 'Paddy O'Day' and 'Pursuit' should bring gross up to $12,000. Princess repeats 'Strike Me Pink' and 'At- lantic Adventure' for a probable $8,000. Cinema Imperial has the pick -of French houses with 'Mater- nelle' which on word-of-mouth may reach $5,000, good for, this theatre. Cinema db Paris showing 'Le Chemineau' arid 'Dora Nelson,^ ex- pects $1,100. St Denis liable to gross $7,000 with 'L'Equipage' and 'Sacre Leonce.' Nabes doing fair biz. Harold Bishop basing his ex- ploitation on Powell pic, 'Rendez- vous,' has tied up with shoe stores and men's wear stores all over town for. the Capitol Currently. Publicity stresses 'Thin Man' in ri.ds Which did very well here. Estimates fqr This Week Palace (FP) (2,700; 50)—'Any- tiling Goes' (Par). .Crosby gets femmes here and snappy ballyhoo will get gross around $9,000. Last Week 'Capt. Blood' (WB) a little shot by death of king, grossed $9,000, Capitol (FP) (2,700; 50)—'Ren- dezvous' (MG.) and 'Kind Lady' (MG): Powell' very popular here arid should gross $9,000. Last week 'Rose of Rancho' (Par) and 'Mas- ter's Voice' (Par) $7,600. s . Loew's (M.T.Co.) (3,200; 50)— 'Paddy O'Day' (20th) and 'Pursuit' (MG) with 'Miami Nights RCvue.' Should turn in at least $12,000. Last week 'Navy Wife' (WB) and 'Chan's Secret' (20th), $11,000. Princess (CT) (2.300; 50)—'Strike Me Pink' (UA) and 'Atlantic Adven- ture' (Col) (2d week). Lifted this house to $9,000 and holdover cur- rently should add another ."^T.OOO. Cinema Imperial (ind) (1,600; 34) —'La Maternelle.' ' tiindout French pic of week; though much .scls.sovcd by censors,..should gross $5,000. Last week 'Mimi' (Rep> and Ro.se' grossed $2,600, Cinema cJe Paris (France-Film) (600; 50)—'Le Chemineau' and 'Dor.. Nelson.' Fair $1,100. Last week 'Marius' and 'Fanny,' $1,200. St. Dennis (France-Fi]ml.^-^('2,.';00: 31) — 'L'Equipagp' aiKi '.Sn.cie Leonoo.' Will gvoiw $7,000. Last week '.Matei'nite' and 'Jim La Houl- ette,' §8,000.