Variety (Mar 1936)

Wednesday, March 25, 1936 P ICTHRE GROSSES VARIETY 11 Bennys Hart Unit Biz; $18,500, Red, in Balto Baltimore, March .24. (Beat Exploitation: Hipp) 'Lonesome Pine' at Keith's got off at a gallop and is soaring up to socko $10,000, ^rhich will be one of the finest weeks the house has had this season. H.o. is assured. Quite a surprise is the unsteadi- ness of the vaudfllm Century. 'Bugle Ann' on screen isn't drawing, hut house counted on the Jack Benny unit for business. Benny took a cut this week for Batto, getting $8,600 Instead of the usual $12,500. With indications of an $18,600 gross, that means red for the house. Start was slow, with first buildup Sunday matinee. That evening biz was brutal, since Benny aired two broadcasts from the legit Auditor- ium. There was so much local in- terest in the broadcasts many people seemed to think he was not playing Century all the evening shows; the phone switchboard buzz- ed all day with public Inquiries as to who, was replacing him at Cen- tury during his broadcasts. That query was understandable since most radio names skip to New York for their airings when playing here, thus-missing a few performances. Biz spurted a trifle yesterday (Mon- day) but the poor start keeps the chances down. Against Benny Is the N;T.G. unit at Hippi with 'Love on a Bet." Looks good for $16,600, excellent. New is experiencing one of its worst weeks with 'Everybody's Old Man.' Tried to sell Iry Cobb as a Will Rogers, but no dice. Lucky to get $1,000. ' H. Ted Routson of . the Hipp built plenty advance interest In the N.T.G. show and climaxed by haVr Ing some of the girls and Granhind appear at the Flower show in Armory for plenty notice from pub- lic and press. Show laid off before current date and Granny came in early to personally make the rounds and stir up interest. Estimates for This Week Century (Loew.-UA) (3,000; 15- 25-35-40-56-66)—'Bugle Ann' (MG) and Jack Benny unit. No pull in pic, and Benny off stride for. red $18,600. Last week same for Fats Waller band and 'Fauntleroy' (UA), With nut much lighter. Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,300; 15-26-35-40-55-66)—'Bet' (RKO) and N.T.G. unit. Stage show considered getting glowing comment. Grand '$16,600. Last week 'This Night (Par) and' Ray Perkins' purees, $10,500, off. Keith's (Schanberger) (2,500; 15- 25-30-36-40)—'Pine' (Par). Socko $10,000, and will h.o. Last - week •Breakfast' (U), good, $5,400. New (Mechanic) (1,800; 16-25-30 35-40-56)—'Old- Man' (Fox). Poor $1,000. Last week, second of 'Doc- tor' (20th), oke-$2,900. Stanley (WB) (3.200; 16-25-35- 40-65)—'Colleen' (WB). 0.1c. $8,000, but under expectations. Opening day was fine in face of downpour, but collapse thereafter. Last week, Becond of 'Pasteur' (FN), $5,600, fine. SEATTLE CHANGES MGRS. BUT GROSSES ARE OKAY Seattle, March 24. (Best Exploitation: 5th Ave.) Four of the six downtown Ham- rich-Evergreejh houses are sporting new managers this week, with MusJo Box and Blue Mouse "telone unchanged. Bill Hamrick advances to manager of Paramount; Andrew Saso is manager .at Fifth Avenue; Don Geddes at Orpheum and George Appleby at Coliseum. Best exploitation is at Fifth Avenue for 'Pasteur,' tops being special preview for committee of 25 leading medics from Kings County association, and first time in history that the association endorsed any- thing commercial. Estimates for This Week n _ lue Mouse (Hamrick) (900: 27- o<-42)—'Wife vs. Secretary' (MG). From Fifth Avenue for extended I'un, going great guns here at $4,300 pace. Last Week 'Follow the Fleet' I? KO) in six days of third week got 53.100... good. Coliseum (Evergreen) (1,800; 21'- 32)-irafc.R aff . (MG) and . Kl of Burlesque" (20th-Fox), dual. Draw- ing okay. $3,600. Last 'week 'Bride X?^ s , ,? ome ' (ParT "and 'Paddy <2°th-Fox) dual, $3,200, fair. 97 17 V ?P ue Evergreen) (2,400; £7-37-42)—.'Louls Pasteur' (WB). vZIaL il eavy campaign; drawing good $9,000 Last week 'Wife vs. Secretary' (MG), $11,800, big. —-n.r t ty ^ (J - vH ) <1.9°0; 11-16^27) -an??B.l- G f mble with Love ' ( Col > and SUhsetotPower' (U). Though eSL *?? anDeal s to Liberty's cil- ia noft taklnes slow ed up and only IK 0 expected. Last week 'Heil •Si! ftW? (Co1) and-'Two Sin- ■M•,«•■??' Ianded -M.400. very good, t7-4"r 0 .n B0X i (i?ftmrlc ^> ( 90 °: 27 ' •i Country Doctor' 20th-Fox). Third and final week; still okay at $3,5Q0. Last week 'Doc' got $6,300, big. Orpheum (Evergreen) (2,700; 27- 37-42)—'Next Time We Love' (U) and 'Ghost Goes West' (UA), dual. Getting moderate $7,000. Last, week 'Klondike. Annie' (Par),, second week, $6,100, good. Paramount (Evergreen) (3,106; 21-27-32)—'Silly Billies' (RKO) and •Another Face* (RKO), dual. Rating $4,200, fair. Last week 'Boulder Dam' (WB) and 'Bohemian Girl' (MG), dual, $4,900, good. Rex (Sterling) (1,400; 16-21-32)— Tteturn of Jimmy Valentine' (Rep) and ' vaude. Getting okay $3,600. Last week 'Laughing Irish Eyes' (Rep) and vaude, $3,400, good. flood Too Much 'Colleen $7, Cincinnati, March 24. (Best Exploitati : Palace) Ohio river rampage is clinching attention of .natives. JVIostof. those hot directly "affected are either , view- ing flooded, sections or hugging family radios for news reports of the deluge. Whole thing is a back- wash on general trade, with down- town b. p. at low ebb. Screen subject giving best biz ac- count of itself currently is 'Petti-, coat Fever,' fetching $13,500 for the Albee. Next best is 'Modern Times,' tagging $11,000 at the Palace. Keith's is the dope upsetter, regis- tering $7,000 on 'Colleen/ warrant- ing a. holdover. Lyric is scraping close to its all- time basement figure with $2,000 on 'Woman Trap.' Two holdovers: 'Fauntleroy' for $4,000, big dough for the Grand, and 'Annie' feeble for $2,700 at the Capitol. Press puffs, in the main went to 'Modern Times.' . Estimate* for This Week Albea (RKO) (3,300; 35-42)— 'Petticoat' (MG). Aiming for $13,- 600, fair. Last week 'Annie' (Par), $12,000, Blow going for Mae West. Palace (RKO) (2,600; 35-42)— •Times' (UA). Splendid reviews. May hit $11,000. Last Week 'Faunt- leroy' (UA), $11,500, dandy. Shubert (RKO) (2,150; 35-55)— 'Gamble' (Col) and 'Redheads vs. Blondes' unit. Limp b. o. at $9,000. Last week 'Bugle' (MG) and 'Let's Swing It' unit approached season's low at $8,000. Keith's (Libson) (1,600; 30-40)— 'Colleen* (WB). Triumphing for $7,000 and a holdover. Last week 'Happen' (20th). $4,600, normal. . Grand (RKO) - (1,200; 26.-40)— .'Fauntleroy' (UA). (2d run). Trans- ferred, from Palace; $4,000, big. Liast week 'Fleet' (RKO), held on for fourth downtown week at $2,600, good. Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 36-42)— 'Annie' (Par). (2d run). Switched from Albee; $2,700, poor. Last week •Doctor' (Fox), moved over from Palace, $4,600, swell.- Lyric (RKO) (35-42)—'Woman Trap 1 (Par). Maybe $2,000, flirting with theatre's low. Last week 'Breakfast' (U); $6,000,. heavy. Family (RKO) (1,000; 16-26)— 'Muss 'Era' (RKO) and 'Great Life' (Par), split. Okay at $2,100. Last week 'Drift Fence' (Par) and 'Dan- gerous Waters' (U), separate, $2,000. Strand (Ind) (1,300; 16-25)— 'Tango' (FD) and 'Dark Hour' (FD), dualed, $1,400, slow. ' Last week 'Irish Eyes' (Rep), with 'Federal Agent' (Rep), tossed in as last-halt extra measure, $1,300. and 'Lone. Wolf Returns' (Col) got $1,700, big. Music-Box (Hamrick) (1,400; 16- 27-37) — 'Follow the Fleet' (RKO). Astaire-Rogers musical delivering $6,000, very good. Last week 'Petri- fied Forest* (WB) and 'Three Live Ghosts' (MG), dual- disappointed with $3,100, Roxy (Hamrick) (1,300; 16-27- 37)—'Country Doctor' (20th-Fox). Heading for $3,000 in second week, but may not hold full seven days. •Wife vs. Secretary' (MG) will re- place. Last week 'Country Doctor* (20th-Fox) got $6,200, exceptional. Newark Par Jerks Ads From Eagle as 'Annie' Aftermath; 9G on H.O. Newark, March 24. ' (Beit Exploitation: Loew's State) Loew's will cross the tape this week ahead -of them all. It won't be hard as all the rest have hold- overs, but 'Wife vs. Secretary' : on eight days will take $19,000, which is plenty. Some commotion was caused by Paramount-Newark taking its ads out of the Star-Eagle 'for good.' This is a Paul Block paper and house naturally took out 'Klondike Annie's' ads. Then the paper pub- lished an extra slam and this was too much for Adams, who took but all ads. Shubert is announcing, a series of plays, mostly old, at low prices. This was the old policy at the Broad and Shubert. For 'Wife vs. Secretary' and 'Hit and Run Driver' Loew's arranged for McCrory's to distribute P.OOO photos of Clark Gable. The police have... put ..a. display-in -the - lobby, with a police lieutenant assigned. One sheets were arranged to be put on Newark Safety Council signs, 50 in prominent spots.' Editorial in Newark Star-Eagle and break in news pages on lobby display. Estimates for This Week Branford (WB) (2,966; 25-75)— •Forest' (WB) and 'Breakfast' (U) (2d week). Better than expected and if it holds at all should take $8,600. Last week nice $17,300. Capitol (WB) (1.200; 16-30-40)— 'Pine' (Par) and 'Bohemian' (MG). Near $3,600. Last week 'Man Hunt' (WB) and 'Pink' (UA) didn't make it, doing only 13,200. Little (Franklin) (299; 30-40)— 'Rozkoszna Dzlewcyna' (Muzok). Even in Lent. Polish pictures go well here and this one will take about $1,000. Last week, final for a German film,' 'Melo* (Gen) in six days got $676, - Loew's State (2,780; 25-30-56-65- 75)—'Wife vs. Sec* (MG). Put in a day early and taking. Will probably run to $19,000. Last, week house pulled 'Bugle Anp' (MG) and 'Wolf (Col) after six days at $7,400. Proctor's (RKO) (2,300; 20-65) and Lyceum (roof) (770, same, scale)—'Fleet* (RKO) (2d week). Will stay only five days of the sec- ond, but okay with $10,000. Last week nearly $19,000. Paramount-Newark. (Adams-Par) (2,248; 25-76)—'Annie' (Par) (2d week). Also stays over five days only, at $9,000. Last week good, although not the old Mae West gross, at $14,000. Terminus (Skouras) (1,600; 15- 20-26-36-40) 'Tarzan* (Burroughs) and 'Waterfront' (Rep). Looks good for $6,200. Manager Ungerfeld got a prize of $60 for his work on 'Spy 77.' Last week 'Leathernecks' (Rep) and "Valentine' (Rep) nice at $6,800. TINE': AND 'PINK' BOTH AROUND 9G IN OMAHA inner Wks. in Mpk; 'Colleen -Heidt $15,000 tor's first session In this house. Double billed with 'Timothy' (Par), which won't hurt. Will likely top $9,000, at lot of money. Last week, 'Doctor' (20th), pulled in excep- tional matinee biz and held up sat- isfactorily nights for top money, with 'Ghosts' (MG) ajs second half of bill, for $10,500. Omaha (Blank-Trl-States) (2,100; 25- 40)—'Pine' (Par). Good bally- hoo campaign getting this one $8,600. House still on Saturday openings, brought about by recent holdovers. 'Saturday Night' (20th), as dual partner, rounds out nice bill. Last week, 'Shark ■ Island' (20th), coupled wl tn 'Song and Dance' (20th), average at $6,100. Brandei* (Singer-RKO) (1,250; 26- 35-40)—'Silly Billies' (RKO) and 'Road Gang' (FN), with 'March of Time.' A light /week at $3,500. Last Week, 'Pasteur' (FN), topped expectations- to. come out around $6,000. 'Hitch Hike' (Rep), was dual partner. Boys Are Sellm 'Em m Brooklyn H0TSY TAC0MA 'Fleet' Heading for Big $6,000; 'Doc' Holding Over Tacoma, March 24. (Best Exploitation: Music Box) All spots look to go to town with attractions and weather on the up and up. Blue Mouse la only house not singling this week, with the two ace Hamrick houses going it solitaire With 'Country Doctor,' holding over at Roxy, and 'Fleet* at Musi p. Box. Music Box rates top exploitation With special front getup and radio plugs on "Fleet.* Estimates for This Week lue. Mouse (Hamrick) (760; 16- 27)—'Silly Billies' (RKO) and 'Crime and Punishment* (Col). Two extremes in film entertainment drawing fair $1,300. Last Week 'Widow Xrom Monte Carlo' (WB) Omaha, March 24. (Best Exploitation: Omaha) Contest for the lead this week is between the two Blank-owned houses, Orpheum and Omaha. First with 'Strike Me Pink' and other with 'Lonesome Pine' have the go- ing to themselves, while Brandeis with a double bill of programmers looks oh. Edge will possibly go to the-Orpheum, with the margin de- clared on the score of capacity available. Weather continues to lavishly fa- vor theatre biz making the recent— only three weeks past—cold spells stand out paradoxically. Balmy is the word, and it's phenomenal how long It has continued. Forecasts are for extension of same at- mospheric conditions for while at least. Theatres have some outside com- petition of the sharper sort in the annual Aksarben-Tangler Shrine indoor circus at the Coliseum for the week. Sawdust outfit. Is made a real draw by robust campaign and influence of two of the city's stronger organizations, and drawing upwards of 30,000 to 40,000.- -Good- weather makes this factor leas no- ticeable. -.. Exploitation from the Emerson-' Renne team at the Omaha on the color picture , haa the edge. . Estimate* for This Week Orpheum (Blank-Tri-S t a t e s ) (2,976; 25-40)—'Pink' (UA). Can-. Brooklyn, March 24. (Beet Exploitation: Fox) Spring's- here, feather balmy and clicking turnstiles at downtown de- luxers. Plethora of good product on screens" with ballyhoo evidenced throughout town* Paramount with 'Colleen,' Albee> with 'Follow the Fleet' (2nd week) and Loew's Met with Baxter and Ann Loring, local contest winner in 'Robin Hood of El- dorado' and Fox with 'Rhodes' and <Ddn't Gamble With Love,' all look to healthy grosses. This borough of churches where anything can happen, and generally does,, lived up to Its rep last week as far as big downtown theatres are concerned. Surprise was . the mild patronage for 'Follow Fleet' at Albee, which was ready for a big week's biz. with the Astaire film, but grabbed $18,000 for first week's take. Met and Par, both figuring they had a tough .one to fight,- went to town with extra coin in gazettes, and also went after exploitation in big way. Both houses agreeably surprised at b.o. returns and about neck and neck as far as grosses Were concerned. The Albee; got $18 ( 000 on 'Fleet/ While Met With Gable and Harlow drew $15,700, and the Par with 'Lonesome Pine' drew to the extent of $16,000. This week at Albee/ 'Follow Fleet' continues very industriously.. Will get good $16,000. 'Colleen' at Par. with good list of name star cutting in heavy into opposition houses. 'Colleen'- opened at pre- view Thursday to' turnaway biz. and playing close'to 6,000 patron's dur- ing evening of heavy rain. Figured to do good $14,000'-for' week. Although nothing sensational on screen at Met, 'Robin Hood of El- dorado' and 'Tough Guy' will draw pleasant. $16,000, dut to plenty of publicity In the Eagle and other local sheets oh Ann Loring, local lassie, ■ who won MGM screen test many months ago* This is her debut here. Eagle- running personality contest Is plugging girl consider- ably. Larry Cowan at Fox with the 'Rhodes' flicker, tleup with Ameri- can South Line and received men- tion of the*picture in their ad ma- terial. Display in lobby one week before playdate of Zulu spears, shields, native tom-toms, elephant feet and electric display of African continent. Letters sent to school heads inviting teachers to observe educational angles. Radio tleups with WMCA and two local outlets. Several thousand electric signs in Better Merchants windows. Adver- tising sound truck on picture. An- nouncement of picture sent to mem- bers of British Great War Veterans In metropolitan area, etc. Estimates for This Week Paramount (4,000; 25-35-50)— 'Colleen' (WB). . Off to excellent start. Basketball on Friday and Vincent Richards in badminton match expected to show $14,000 for week. Last week 'Lonesome Pine' (Par) $15,000, good. Fox (4,000; 25-35-50)—'Rhodes' (GB) and 'Duh'l Gamble Love' (Col). Good notices for Huston picture plus aggressive exploitation campaign and aided by the Monday night amateur hour, will produce fine $14,- 000. Last week 'Jimmy Valentine* (Rep) and-'Dort't Get Personal' (U), $13,000. okay. Loow'e Met (3.400; 25-35-50)— 'Robin Hood' (MG) and'Tough Guy.' Local gal, Ann Loring, in 'Robin Minneapolis, March 24. (Best Exploitation; Orpheum) Combination of Horace Heidt. and 'Colleen' on the stage and screen is shoving <he Minnesota back into the local box office lead again after a stretch of playing .second fiddle to Mort. Hi Singer's - Orpheum. But while, the ace Publlx deluxer has a considerable edge on all opposi- tion, it isn't setting the town afire. Mild, pleasant weather hasn't been any particular .box office tonic so far, with business, in the aggre- gate, Reaving much room for im- provement, General Motors' big free show at the municipal audi- torium is probably keeping some folks away. While not scaling the box office heights, 'Music Goes Round' prom- ises to turn In a profitable seven days for the Orpheum. Able ploitatlon helped this one. 'Trail of Lonesome Pine' finished strongly enough at the. Minnesota to warrant a second successive week so it was moved over to the. State for another seven, days at advanced prices.. It is moving along at a good pace,, but not showing any excessive vigor. 'Magnificent Obsession' finally ended a 10 Weeks' loop run, estab- lishing itself as one of the sea- son's box office marvels. After a very big $14,000 seven days at the Orpheum, Which was unable to hoi it over because of a booking jam; it moved over to the 350-seat World where it remained for an additional nine weeks at an advanced 65c top. It copped approximately $23,500 at the World, netting the house » beautiful profit. Total loop gross of : nearly $38,000 puts the film in the front money row here. Its biggest World Week was its sixth,. $3,200, and it never fell under $2,000. Dur* Ing njUch of the ruwtbere Were 10 to 30 below zero temperatures and three or more blizzards. Exploitation tops go to the Orphe- um where Jack Thoma, Columbia, exploiteer, and Manager Bill. Sears did a. neat selling job for 'Round'. They put. out 10,000 'luck charms' in offices and a similar number of heralds, got a two-column break front the Journal and had a special radio, broadcast. Estimates -for This Weak Minnesota (Publlx( (4,200; 35-40- 60)—'Colleen' (WB) and Horace Heidt Band on stage. Stage show overshadows picture. Cast names in film, however, drawing some trade. Pretty good $16,000 in prospect, Last week, 'Trail' (Par), $13,000; good, Orpheum (Singer) (2,890; 26-35- 40)—'Round' (Col). Well sold, and heading for pretty good $7,000. Last week 'Breakfast' (U) and Eddie Peabody's 'Cocoanut Grove Bevels' on stage, good, $14,500, with Pea* body mostly responsible. State (Publlx) (2,300; 25-36-56)^ 'Pine' (Par). (2d run). Moved over- bore from Minnesota at advanced prices. Most of cream taken off at •Minnesota, but may reach good $8^000 here; - Last • week. 'Forest' (WB), $6;000, good. • ''' - World (Steffes) (360; 26-35-40-55) —'First a Girl' (GB). J.jsie Mat- thews building a following here,, .but this one not. so hot and eh route to fair $2,000. Last week 'Ob- session' (U)" ended 10 weeks' run to fine $2,100. Time (Berger) (290; 15-25)—'Dan Matthews' (Col). First run for this house and reaching toward satis- factory $1,000. Last week •Devil's Island' (RKO), hold-over, aiid 'Arlzonlan' (RKO), revival, spilt, $700, light. Lyric (Publlx) (1,300; 20-25)— 'Preview Murder' (Par). Built to order for this theatre. Even without cast names should garner good $1,- 800. Last week 'Tough Guy' (MG); $1,700, okeh. Uptown (Publlx) (1,200; 26-35W- 'Marie* (MG) and 'Pink* (UA), split. •Good for fine $2,700.' Last Week 'Goes' (Par).and 'Marie' (MG), split, $2,500, good. Century (Publlx) (1,600; 15-25)— 'Collegiate* (Par) and 'Zero* (FN), second runs, split. Fair $1,700. Last week 'Burlesque' (20th) and 'Blood' (RKO), $l,500i fair. Aster (Publlx) (900: 15-25)— 'Timothy' (Par) and 'Dudley' (£0th), first runs, split. About $700. Light. Last week 'Riff Raff* (MG). 'Mutiny' (MG) "and 'Master's Voice' ' (Par), $1,000, okeh. Hood,' with extra special billing, plus considerable free space in the dallies will give house fine $.16,000. Last week. 'Wife vs. Sec' (MG) snared good $16,000, Albee (3,400; 25-35-50)—'Follow* Fleet' (RKO) (2d Week). Figured to do very good $16,000. Last week house received fine $18,000. Strand (2.000; 25-36-60)—'Walk- ing Dead' (WB) and 'Song of the Saddle' (Rep). Okay $5,000. Last week 'Road Gang' (WB) and 'Hitch Hike to Heaven' (Rep), $6,600, good.