Variety (Mar 1936)

Wednesday, March 11, 1936 PICT E C S S E S VARIETY Drops Vaude for 'Fleet' Some Squawks and '■Beery $30,000, Tine Chicago, March 10. (Best Exploitatj : Oriental, Palace) ' For some reason, business was •wayoff Friday (6), opening day for the bulk of the town's pictures. Weather couldn't be better, shows looked unbeatable, but the people just weren't there. Particularly dis- appointing was the Chicago with •Milky. Way* on the- screen and Wal- lace Beery on the stage. Business ' was far under expectations, especi- ally on the matinees. : On Saturday, however, the town began to pump with its oldtlme power and the sidewalks again lined up with people. Particularly at the Oriental, where Jane /Withers in Serson attracted what appeared to e every kid within a'radius of 100 miles. Palace has gone straight pictures for 'Follow the Fleet' arid got away to a fair start.. There has been re- action against : the house, for pulling the vaude, with many customers putting up a yelp. Building in great , style is 'Trail of . the Lonesome Pine,' which opened Wednesday" (4). Getting this swellest set of word-.of-mouth comment town has heard in long time. Will hit above $16,000 on the first week arid likely hold close that pace for the second. . Exploitation was strong through- put the town. Jimmy Luntzel banged the drurii In great Style for Jane Withers; Johnny Joseph had the town 'Fleet' conscious weeks before ' the flicker opened. Also in the ruri- nlng for smart . exploitation were Jack Thoma arid Jim Savage for their handling for. 'Music Goes Round' at the Apollo. Estimates for This .Week Apollo (B&K) (1,200; 26-35-65)— (Round) (Col). . Started Saturday (7) and got away nicely on the weekend surge. Riley and Farley Instead of Red Hodgson in the pic- ture hurt in town because of Hodg- son's identification with the tune in this territory. Will hit around $7,- 000. Last week 'Happen' (20.th), $4,700. Chicago (B&K) (4,000; 36-55-75) —'Milky. Way' (Par) and stage show. Wallace Beery headlining. Got away sadly but started on the up-grade over the weekend. Indica- tions are for around $30,000, dis- appointing. Last week 'Desire* (Par) and 'Vanities' unit clicked for $38,600. Garrick (B&K) (960; 25-35-65)— *Desire' (Par). Holding over here after fine: session at the Chicago. Will touch close to $7,000. Last week. 'Lady of Secrets' (Col) man- aged average $5,300. . Oriental (B&K) (3,200; 25-35-40) —'Navy Wife' (20th) and vaude. Jane Withers on the rostrum ac- counting for bulk of the box office jingle." Clink of coins adding up to good $16,000. Last week 'Millions in Air* (Par) slumped towards end of week to finish at $13,300. • Palace (RKO) (2,600; 25-35-55-65) —'Fleet' (RKO). Straight pictures and grinding 'em in on an . eight- show schedule daily. Left the bar- rier slowly but beginning to break into a gallop, with indications for $30^000, powerful, in the offing. Last week 'Love on Bet' (RKO) tearful at $16,200. Roosevelt (B&K) (1.500; 35-45-65) —'Lonesome Pine' (Par). All-color flicker getting talk of the town and settling down to money gallop which is going to spell profits for weeks. Will make it a beautiful opening session at tuneful $16,000,- -and will probably hold near to that pace for at least a fortnight. Last week 'Two Cities' (MG) finished three weeks to happy $7,900 for final ses- sion. State-Lake (Jones) (2,700; 20-25- 35-40)—'Freshman Love' (WB) and N.T.G. unit. It's the N.T-G. parade" which is corralling the shekels cur- rently for $15,000, zowie. Last week 'Dangerous Waters' (RKO) held to fine $12,900. United Artists (B&K-UA) (1*700; 35-55-75)—'Modern Times' (UA) (3d week). Chaplin picture sticking to good pace and will make it four weeks here without difficulty. Re- markably little slump-Off. Above $17,000 currently, great, after big $20,700 second weel<. 'Forest' Nice $14,000 As B'klyn Picks Up Erooklyn, March 10. Considerable improvement in product and weather. Downtown b.o.'s report better biz than has boon their lot in past few weeks. Albee scoring rather well with 'Shark Is- land" and 'It Had to Happen' in second week. Paramount with 'Petrified Forest' holding up very well against stiftl competition. Estimates for This Week Paramount (4,000; 25-33-50)— 'Petrified Forest' (WB). Excellent press notices. Basketball games on Friday night, drawing record crowds arid calling for much comment. This week about $14,000, good. Last week 'Anything Goes' (Par) $14,000. . Fox (4,000, 25-35-50)— 'Yellow Dust' (RKO) and 'Music Goes Round' (Col). Drawing nice crowds and figured to bring in $16,000, good. Last week 'Bohemian Girl' (MG) and 'You May Be Next' (Col) received. $13,000, over average. -Management highly satisfied with radio tieups on Monday and Wednesday nights. Loew'i Met (3,400; 25-35-50)— •Ghost Goes West' (UA) and 'Bugle Ann' (MG). Getting favorable re- sponse and will bring in $14,500, good.. Last week 'Rose-Marie' (MG) (2d week) $12(000, mild. Albee (3.400; 25-35-50)—'Shark Island' (20th) and 'Had to Happen' (20th) (2d week). . Pretty good $10,000 anticipated. Last week duo received fino $18,000. Strand (2,000;. 25-35-50)—'Woman Trap' (Par) and 'Drift Fence' (Par). Looks no more than $4,000, mild. Last week 'Murder at Glen Athol* and 'Tirhothy's Quest' (Par) $4,500, unexciting. LENT IN ST. L A REAL DENTER, QUINS 16G St. Louis, March 10. (Best Exploitation: Fox) Not an alibi, but an on-the-level fact are the .managerial statements that the poor business here despite the excellent attractions of the past two weeks is caused by Lent. Lent in St. Louis is more than just a season of the year what with 60% or better Catholic registration. Chaplin's opus after a mediocre opening at Loew's failed to gain any ground and ended up a dismal week with less than $14,000. 'Wife vs.. Secretary' will do well but not the business that the combo Gable- Harlow-Loy justifies. Again debit Lent. At the big F&M Fox one of the truly great exploitation campaigns of the year got the Dlonne Quins in 'The Country Doctor' off to a splen- did start but not in keeping with what this attraction deserves or was expected, to get. It will be a good week alright but riot the record- breaker the house anticipated. Ed Lpwry, after a recent success- ful week stand at F&M's downtown deluxer, the Ambassador, is back again with a new show and is bol- stering with amateur elimination contest. Lowry is a great fave here. Shubert-Rialto, . after playing 'Klondike' by itself for two weeks, is back with a dualer 'Love On a Bet' and 'Man Hunt,' but these pics don't figure to disturb the bigger ones. 'Fleet,' which set a house record at Orpheum, downtown WB the- atre, first week, is be-ing held for. a third but business doesn't seem to justify it. Grand Opera house, still only vaudeville theatre in town, is man- aging to get a little more than the nut each we-ek and the management is satisfied the house can be built into a substantial moneymaker. Harry Greenman, mgr. at Fox, Lucille Byrnes, et al. at the house, did everything but Import the Quins in acquainting St. Louislans with the fact that 'Country Doctor* was on the screen. Estimates for This Week Fox (F&M) (5,038; 25-35-55)— 'Country Doctor' (20th) and 'Tango' (MajK Shouldn't miss $16,000 and may beat this mark if weather stays good. Crlx also helped by calling feature a five-star effort. Last woek, 'Had to Happen' CCol) arid 'Too Tough to Kill' (20th) didn't do as well as expected and finished with $8,200. fair. Ambassador (F&M) (3,108; 25-35- 40)—'Devil's Island* (Col) and 'Dan- gerous Intrigue' (Col) and Ed Lowrv and unit on stage. Headed for $13,000 which will he satisfac- tory and profitable. Last week 'Here Conies Trouble' (20th) and Jackie Coosan, Hetty Grable and California Collegians on stage, $14,- S00. but expected to do better. Shubert- ialto (WU) (1.725: 25- 35-55]—'Love On Bet' (RKO) and 'Mao Hunt' ( WB).. Doesn't figure to top $7,500, only fair. Last week •Klondike Annie"; (far), 2nd week, factc-d fa.^t. oniy 3$.G00. Orpheum (WB) (1.930: 25-35-;>5) —'Follow the Fleet' (RICO) (3rd week). At $fi,000 will be lots of money for 3rd week; last week nice $9,100, Loew'e (3,162: 25-35-55)— 'Wife vs. Secretary' (MG). Looks $15,000, all right. Last Week 'Modern Times' (UA) biggest surprise in town when only $13,200 was counted to end of run. Missouri (F&M) (3,514; 25-40)— •Strike Me Pink' (UA) and 'Danger- ous Waters' (U). Too much bp- posish from Fox to enable this house to take over $5,200. Last week •Burlesque' (20th) and -'Invisible Ray' (U), only $4,800, poor.' Grand Opera House (Ind) (2,200; 15-25-35)—'Java—Head' (FD)" arid vaude. At $3,300 for this bill will clear nut and' allow some profit. Last week 'Hitch Hike to Heaven" (Jud) and vaude, $3,100, fair. 'Sec' $7,000, Good; 'Annie' $3,000,2d Week, Portland Portland, Ore, March 10. (Best Exploitation: United Artists) Burst of good biz for several spots this -week,- Good weather -arid 1 'strong pix ran up the b,o, score. Topping the list in exploitation is 'Wife vs. Secretary' at Parker's UA. Parker figured that pie was good for three weeks and turned On the bally with long run in view. Pic responded With a so'cko first week. At the big Paramount 'Klondike Annie' held for a second stanza. Evergreen's Orpheum also clicking .with another winner. Orpheum just closed successful two weeks with 'Petrified Forest,' and now has 'Fol- low the Fleet' also getting a great play. With few musicals shown in the burg during the last few weeks. 'Fleet' connected for extra biz on that angle. Parker's roadway decided that Its exploitation.of 'Metro Unit Show' last week was a b.o. booster! Unit idea was plugging two short sub- jects in color plus news equally with the pic, 'Riff Raff.' Ted Gamble figured that selling the whole pro- gram in this way when product warranted, was better than the old double feature policy. By way of contrast the Broad way went for twin nix this week, 'Exclusive Story' and "Bohemian Girl.' Getting around par. Paramount goes grand onera next week with screen dark. San Carlo Comnany goes in at $1.65 top for six davs. Estimates for This Week Broadway (Parker) (2,000: 25-40) —'Exclusive' (MG) and 'Bohemian' (MG). Fair combo hitting an aver- age pace for this house around *4.- 000. Last week 'Riff Raff' (MG) with color shorts. 'Days at Lido' (MGV and 'Old Plantation' (MG) billed as 'unit show,' a new Wrinkle in local exploitation Which worked, closed for nice: $4,700. United Artists (Parker) (1.000; 25-40)—'Wife vs. Sec' (MG). Get- ting big results with the exploita- tion heat turned on high, first week going $7,000, and holding. Last, week 'Ghost* (UA), fair $3,300. Paramount (Evergreen) (3.000; 25-40)—'Annie* (Par) and 'Mar- riage* (Fox). Holding for five extra days of second week and getting a good play on the West pic. Last five days okay $3,000. First. week good $6,600. Orpheum (Hamrlck-Evergreen) (2,000; 25-40)—'Fleet* (RKO). En- joying extra biz due to few musi- cals here in recent weeks. Getting big play first week at $6,000. and may hold. Last Week 'Forest* (WB) and 'Master's Voice* (Par) held for' extra five days at okay $2,800. ayfair (Parker-Evergreen) (1,- 400; 25-40)—'Harrigan' (FN) and 'Freshman Love* (WB). Fair com- bo getting $2,000. Last week (ad- mish 35-55) 'Yellow Dust* (RKO) with legit tab, 'Life Begins at 60' connected for only fair $4,200. al- though the stage unit was well ex- ploited for Townsend pension sym- pathizers. FLU HITS B'HAM Strike, Few New Pix Dent B'way; Jack Benny Ups State to $37,000, fleeted Wk.SOa Colleen 25G But Not Too Much—'Sec' Leads Town with $7;700 Birmingham, March 10. A wave of flu which has swept through the entire South) especially Alabama arid Mississippi, has hurt show business a little, but grosses here this week are moderately good. Last week 'Klondike Annie' slipped out of town without the least bit of trouble. Picture was generally ac- cepted without a word. So busi- ness was jiist fair. 'Pasteur* has moved over to Galax for second week. Estimates for This Week Alabama (Wilby-Klricey) (2,800; 30-35-40)—'Wife vs. Sec' (MG). Should get $7,700. Last week 'An, nie' (Par) around. $6,800. moderate. Ritz (Wilby-KIncey) (1,600: 25- 30)—'Dank at Monte Carlo' C'Oth). A* $3,000 just fair. Last week 'Next Time* (D. $2,500. Strand (Wilb>;- 'incey) (SOft: 23» —Exclusive Story' (MG). Might, manage $1,900, moderate. Last week 'Drift Fence' and 'Hot Til)' (Radio), split. $1,700. light. Empire (Acme) (1,100; 5)—'Love on Bet' (Radio). .Too much com- petish for this orio; $2,000. Last, week 'Pastour' (FX) around $-'.S0o and held over at Galax for second week. (Best xploitation: Strand) Total tikv; of the Broadway pic- ture houses is much smaller than normal this week, due in part to only five new pictures on the street, others being holdovers, two of latter ■on third weeks. Lower leyei of busl-. ness is also charged, to the con- tinued strike of elevator operators and other service employees. The strike is hurting night attendance noticeably. In spite of all this, plus Lent, no house is really in a bad position. Two are profitable leaders, the Mu- sic Hall on its third w eek of 'F ollow The FleeT" at"$"60,000 and the State with the Jack Benny unit on the stage credited with attracting most of a fancy $37,000 or more. 'Any- thing Goes' (2nd run) is on the State's .L ireen. Another good hold- over is 'Lonesome Pine* at ■ the Par- arnount. Its third week, aided last night (Tues.) by two preview show- ings of *K16ndike Annie/ brings nice profit at $26,000. The Mae West pic- ture starts its regular run this morning, (Wed.) with doors opening at 8:30 a, m., earliest any New York de luxer has started letting" 'em in. The' five new arrivals of the week are 'Love on a Bet.' 'Three Godr fathers,' 'Pbwdersmoke Range,' 'Col- leen' and .Farmer in the Dell' on ,dual bill at Palace. Of .these,. the Powell-Keeler musical is by far the best. It will get the Strand around $25,000. and holds, 'Godfathers'' is a bit above recent averages for the Rialto, around'$9,000, while JPowder- smoke Range' is doing'"okay "at the Astor, $6,000. "Love on a Bet' washed up its week at the Center,last night (Tues.) a sad disappointment, $9,- 000. Second week of 'Wife versus Sec- retary' at the' Capitol is holding lip better than 'Rhodes' on Its second week at the Roxy. 'Wife' appears a good gamble for $25,000 on the hold- over, while 'Rhodes' is slowing up to around $23,000. 'Rhodes' goes out of the Roxy tomorrow night (12) and into the Astor the following day (13) on a second-run booking, with the Roxy waiving protection. Chaplin's 'Modern Times' ends its fifth week today (Wed.) and has. another to go for a run of six, after which, following the usual protec- tion, it goes into the Loew houses. 'Times,' which has been playing a midnight show every night, is:per- haps suffering more than others by the strike. This ;week (5th) will be $25,000 or close to it. Warner Bros, and the Strand pick up the marbles this week for the best exploitations In the handlfng of 'Coleen/ While never extending itself iriuch on exploitation and ad-> vertlsing other than daily news- paper copy, the 'Follow, the Fleet' picture has received soriie nice plugging throughout Its rah. Songtf from the Astaire-Rogers nrisical were well plugged in advance of the opening, with a special RCA Sun- day matinee revue of the songs first put on. Irving Berlin himself went on twice ; Including a big Sunday (1) night on 25 Tears of Words and Music NBC's tribute program to the i;ongsrriith. Estimates for This Week Astor (1,012; 25-35-50)— 'Powder- smoke Range' (RKO). Looks like about $6,000, okay. Last week 'Dori't Gamble on Love' (Col), $4,000, dis- appointing. 'Rhodes* (OB) on second run, comes in Friday (13)_ for as long as holding up. Capitol (4,620; 25-35-55-85-$1.25) —'Wife vs Secretary' (MG) (2nd— final week). Holding up well, $25,- 000. First week a bit over $40,000, fine. Center (3,525; 25-35-55-86-$1.10) —'Love-on a Bet* (RKO). No soap, only $0,000 on the week ending last night (Tues.). Previous feature, 'Bugle Ann' (MG) wasn't even this good, $7,000.: Palace (1,700; 25-35-55)—'Shark Island' (20th) (2nd run) arid. 'Farmer in Dell' (RKO). (l»t run),, dual. Combo doing fairly well, maybe $9,500. Last week's team, 'Pasteur' (WB) arid 'Lady Con- sents' (RKO) built to a nice $11,000, Paramount (3,664; 25-36-55)— 'Lonesome Pine' (Par) and Eddy Duchin orchestra in pit (3rd week). Final (3rd) week $25,000, good. Second week was $29,000. 'Klon- dike Annie' (Par), in last night (Tues) on two preview showings, starts regular run this morning (Wed). Radio City Music Hall (5,989; 40- G 0 -85 - 9 9 - $ 1.10 - $ 1.6 5'Flee t' (RKO) and stage show (3rd week). Astaire- Rogers musical clicking strong here, third (final) week looking $6.0.000. Second was $78,000. 'Country Doc- tor' (20 th) comes in tomorrow (Thursday). Rialto (7",0; 25-40-65)— '3 God- fathers' (MG). Better than recent pictures here, around $9,000. Last week 'Garden Murder Case' (MG), $7,900. Rivoli (2.092; 40-75-99)--'Modi>rn Times' (Chaplin-L'A) (5th week). On fifth week ending tonight-(Wed) $25,000 or close, good, Last week house got $31,000. Another week to go, with 'These ThreeV (UA) coin- ing in Wednesday morning '(18). Roxy (5,836; 25-35-55)—'Rhodes* (GB) (2nd week).,and stage show. Ground but a fancy $39,600 first week but. not' as strong. as expected on the second (current) at $23,000. 'Love Before Breakfast' (U) comes in Friday (13) with Pinkie. Toriillri, on personal, holding over a third lap. Strand (2,767; 35-55-65-85)—'Col- leen' (WB). Keeler-Powell musical o.k. but behind-previous tuners and probably not more than $25,000, pretty good. Stays a second week. 'Walking Dead' (WB), in aheftd, stumbled, $16,000. State (3,450; 35-55-76)—'Anything Goes' (Par) and^ Jack Benny unit • on stage. Draught of Benriy aiding mightily for a- week of $37,000 or better, big. Last Week 'Rose-Marie' (MG) and on the.stage, Jimmy Savd and Frances .Arm's, over $25,000. ..." STRONG PIX IN Washington; March 10. (Best Exploitation: Earle) Plenty of good celluloid In town this week and combination of Lent and- first real spring weather of sea- son can't lick It. Flock of attrac- tions keeping down chances of rec- ord grosses at any' particular b.o., but aggregate win'be something to shout about. Tops is Fox with combo stage and screen show that could have gotten by - 'with either half alone. •Anything Goes,' originally slated for Loew's ace' straight-Aim spot, is being nicely received and draw of Fats Waller behind footlights is even more than theatre dreamed. Roger Pryor is extra added attrac- tion. Wife Vs. Secretary,' tossed In Saturday. (7) on three days', notice when 'Klondike Annie' was yanked, is cleaning up. Press, had caught it- in preview early part of week and has passed word that it was the Hollywood eternal—triangle at Its ulta-ultra. Interesting angle is way Belasco, local, arty spot, is mopping up with 'Soak the Rich.' Film was turned down cold by mainsteiri. houses, but critics found it plenty of fun and It held up through second week be-, ginning Friday (6), Earle rates best bally honors for campaign .on 'Pasteur.'"Concen- trated jon class trade, previewing it for every availa'ble government health p clal and college medico and securing flock of testimonials that couldn't be discounted. Estimates for This Week Keith's (RKO) (1.830; 25-35-60)— 'Follow Fleet' (RKO). Rogers-As- TalreTep" plus rave notices sending opening week into sock $17,000. Last week, second of 'Ghost' (GB), big $8.0Q0. Earle (WB) (2.424; 25-35-40-60- 70)—'Pasteur' (WB) and vaude. Class ballyhoo and critics' adjec- tives accounting for surprisingly nice $17,000 at present rate. Last week 'Round' (Col) with Riley arid Farley p. a., took average $17,000. Palace (Loew) (2.363: 25-35-60)— Wife vs. Secretary' (MG). Put in Saturday (7) on. three days' notice arid headed for big $22,000, Last week 'Annie' (Par) took okc $18,000 for eight days. Fox (Loew) (3,434; 25-35-60)— 'Anything Goes' (Par) and vaude; Crosby, title and olee notices added to Fats Waller and. Roger Pryor on stapre sending gross* toward nice 825,000. Last week 'Shark Island' (Fox), thanks largely to sock cam- paign, took big $23,000. Met (WB) (1.853; 25-40)—'Pre- view Murder' (Par), Getting usual figure* for mystery, probably oke $5,000. Last week 'Forest' (WB) followed big week at Karle with nice $5,000. Columbi (TVwi (1.853; 25.40)— 'Rose Marie' ('M(I). Third week after (w« swell stanzas at Palace looking HI nice $G,()(H». Last week 'Last of Pagans' (MG) passable $3,000. Belasco (Radio) r.1.100; 2C-35-50- G0-)—'Soak the Rich' (Par) (2d week). May ho'd up to siillsfac- tory $1,800. Last \vp-ek same flicker, turned down by. main-stem spots, surprised with nice- $3,500.