Variety (May 1936)

la pIC ¥■B E € BUS S E S Wednesdfiy, May 6, 1936 'Flags $M in 2 Soston Houses; VeetAgain'-HuttonM $20,000 Solo Boston, May B. (Best Exploitation: Loew'i) Summer heat hit town last weekend aiid shriveled up b.o. takes, as. pleasiire-seekers forsook Indoor sports for open. air. All stands took a slump, but 'Zlegfeld' at; the. Co- lonial, now In its fourth roadshow frame. Is - otitstandlnie flicker for stamina. Third week a tasty $12,600. 'Till We Meet Again,' with Ina Ray Hutton. on stage, !g disap- pointing at the Met at $20,000. 'Under Two Fla.gs.' running single at Lbew's State and Orpheum, is good, but not big at $28,000.bet^yeen two houses. 'Special investigator* with stage show starring Irene Bordonl, Hal lielloy and Joe Morrison is' only moderate at . the' Keith Boston. Keith Memorial very quiet with surprise h.o-f of -'Mrs. Bradford;' Second frame will take something like $8,000, weak. ' Par aiid Fenway in the alley with dual of 'Walking Dead* and 'Every* body's Old Man.' 'Extase' riOt. only earned a hold- over- at the Fine Arts, biit has ap- parently settled down for .a stay. Suihmei' . budgets have curtailed ambltlbu^ eitploltati'on here; already, bu.t th6 Loew show boosters liinr; corked a commendable array / of gags in connection with.'Under. Two Flags/ Landed .a three-day feature in local newspaper, tied in with a newspaper fllm strlpl With a big national campaign as 'k wedge, landed a flock :of extra liictorial In. Hub press. Numeirous window-tle- uips Included eight Liggett stores 9nd Postal Telegraph. Used dis-. pi^ys In public and lending libraries. Planted, two. co-op tlds. and ar- ranged two. ■ department Store cos- metic tleups on Colbert, \3obh- marks and a radio guessing; contest. Estrmates This .Week Met (M&P) (4,200; 35rr60p65)— .•Meet-^Agaln' (Par) and stage shoW with tna ttay Hutton. Rather mild at .$20,000, LaiStr Week 'Brown Eyes' (Par) and Jack Benny stage show pleased Avith t34,000. Colonial (Ldew) (1,600; < 55-83- il.10-151.65)—'Ziegfeld' (MG) (4ith week)', 'fhird week sustaihed^ good pace' and polled .about $12,500. Very gbbd evening trade. In for at least one nlore. ,' Ketth-BbSten (RKO) (3.000; 35- 50-65)—'Investigator' (RKO) and Bordoni - LeRby Morrison s t a g e show.. Aiming at pretty gpod $18,«q6. 'Valentine' (RKO) and •Vajiiities* unit above' par last week with $20,000. Orpiieum (Loew) (3,000; 25-35-r46- 50)-7-'Two Flags' (20th), single. Running good average gait of $14,- 000. Last week $15,000 on 'Petti- coat' (MG) and 'Morgan' (Cbl), dual^ State (Lbew) (3,200; 26-35-40-50) —^'Twb Plagi^' '(20th)» Okay here at $1^,000 canter. Last weelc $14,0,00 for 'Petticoat' (MG)^ and 'Morgan' (Cbl), double. Keith Memorial (RKO) (2.90Q; 25-35-50)—: Bradford' (RKO) (2d week). Pallid $8,0QO promised after unexciting opening frame of $13,000. . Paramount (M&P) (1,800; 25^35- 60)—'Walking Dead' (WB) and 'Old Man' (20th). dual. Dull $5,000. Last week drab $4^,300 with 'Boiilder Dani' (WB> and 'Parents' (Par), double; Fenway (M&P) (1.600; 25-35-40- 60)~'Dead' (WB) and 'Old Man' (20thy, dbuble. Doldrum duo at $3,000; Last week Way off.at $2,500 with 'Boulder Dam' (WB) and 'Par- ents' (Par). . ... , Scollay (M&P) (2.700; 25-33-40-. 6fr)—'Singing. Kid' (WB) and 'These three,' (UA); :dyW. Taking a wide swerve with heat wave and daylight savlhcr to abOMt 14.500. Laist .week good. $7,100. for. '13 Hour8{^(Par),, dbuble; nixyi ;Road |(5ang' (WB)., ^ iie Shows \j&A Denver the Aladdin In Its. three weeks, it did .consistently ' Steady business, and rated a move downtown. This is the ftrst time a. film got four weeks in flX'St run since the first of the year, Broadway (HufiTman) (1«500; 25- 40)-^'These Three (UA) (2d run). FblloWlng three weeks at the Alad- din, still okay at $2,000 here.. Last week 'Sinising Kid' (FN) took , in $1,000,, only fair, following. a r week at the '.Denver. Center (Allah)' (1.500; 15-20-25- 35)—'Frisco Waterfront' (Riap) and 'Oregon Trail' (Rep) and stage show. Triple cOni1}o plenty .of show but Just fair at $2;000. Last week 'Forced Landing' (Rep) and 'Round Mountain' (Rep), double, and sti.ge show, put up a fair flght for first run business but'did only $2,000 for the week. ' ; . ijenham (CJooper) (1,500; .:25.*3d- 50)—'Meet Again'- (Par), and Oleen and Johnson upit. Fine at $8,600. Last ^'week 'Sky Parade' (Par), thrown In for the kid business over the weekend, was yanked after three days of packed matinee and bad nights, and 'Big Brown Eyes' (Par), finished' the week. Together they took In around $3,000, fair, Denver (Huffman) (2,600; 25-35- 50)—'Two Flags' (20th), and stage band. Great $12,000 in prospect. Last Week'Deeds' (CoL) took, in top money for Denver, closing with $11,000. Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 26-35-50) —'Investigator* (RKO), and Amos 'n' Andy oh stage for five days. Fine $9,000 for the stretch. Last week 'Witness Chair' (RKO) and 'Farmer' (RKO), double, closed with $6,500, fair. .Paramount (HufCman) (2.000; 25- 40>—'Deeds' - (Col> (2d .run). Fol- lowing week at the Denver, big $5;000■ here.- Last • week 'Country Beypnd^ 20th) and 'Julia'.. (20th>, double, turned, in neat .$4^000.. TETTICOAr PORTLAND'S LEADER WITH |6;50d National First Runs Denver, May 5. (Best Explbttatiori: Denham) Orpheum^ Denver and Dehham all doing biz this week/ with the Broadway also standing up on fourth Week of 'These Three.' 'Un- der^ Two Flags' started off knocking over records at the Denver and looks good, for three Weeks down- town. It- shifts to the Paramount next week. Stage show with Olsen and John- son is drawing at the Denham. while the Orpheum is likcwl.se depehdlJIg nn its rostrum, Amos 'n' Andy doing the biz there. Denham's exnloltation campaign was hierhllghted by a $1,600 give- away, biggest bank nito figure on record here. Estimates for This Week Aladdin (Hyffman) (1,500; 25-40- Bfl.)—'Old Man' (20tb) and 'Roam- ing Lady' (Col.), dual, Twin hill fair At $2,500. Last week 'The.se Three' (UA) (3d week) up to Aver- age and figured strong enough for another week at. "the "Broadway. While this film broke no records at ' Portland, Ore., May 5. (Best Exploitati : Broadway) Product without exclamation points but with good- b.o. appeal is this' Aveek's fare, for tiie burg. Parket's Broadway shot oft the^ top ba,iiy barrage for 'Petticoat Fever,' which warranted the splurge and ran that house up into the higher brstckets. 'Fever'.looifs strong enough to hold* Other good" product this' week is 'These ' Three;^* running up a nice score at Parker's UA-, and 'Witness Chair' getting results for the Ever- green Parampunt. 'Witness, Chair' Is siameaed -with - • Ig Brown Eyes' at the Par. • Estimates for Thi.qi Week Broadway (Parker) (2,000; 25-40) —'Petticoat' (MG) answering to big exploitation canipaign and looks good enough to Jiold at this house with big $6,500. Last week 'Har- vester' (Rep),, World premiere; with two-day personal appearance of Ann Rbtherford, average at $4,800. United Artists (Parker) (l.oOO; 25-40)—'These Three' (UA). Not heavy but okay at $5,000. Last week .'-Fauntleroy' (UA). registered for $5,200. sParamount.. (Evergreen) (3,000; 25-40)^'Brown Eyes' (Par) and 'Witness, Chair" (RKO). Combo connecting for good $6t<>00. Last week 'January' (Fox), and.'Chan .at Circus! (Fox) ^ (2d- ^veek) closed nicely $4,10(U .. DVpheiim (Hamrlck - Evergreen) . (2,090; 25r40)—'Mioon's Homie' (Par). Jjnd 'Billies' (RKO). Getting, a nice .play,'.chiefly.;On first-named pic; for gbod enough. $5,000.' " Last week 'Garcia' (Fox) and .'Old Man* (Fox) only fair at $4,300. . Mayfair (Parker- vergreen) (1,- 400; 25-40)—TWaterfront' (Rep) and reissue of 'Yankee' (20th). Doliig good biz, probably on the Rogers plc, and should get $3,000. Last week 'Live Ghost.<5' (MG) and Bowe.i unit on stage, with admish b'o'bsted to 55c top. closed fOr strong $5,200. QUEEN'S TTJEN NOW lioliywood, Mky 5. 'Qiieen of the Jungle* wlH be x>vor duced by Paramount as sequel to 'King of , the .Tungle,' made thiv.e years ago. Max Marcin is authcjr- Ing and win co-direct with William Thlele. Film is. scheduled for June start with Lloyd Sheldon functioning as producer. PARAMOUNT fprlheeiia Comes Aere«s,V Orph, St. L., May 29; Denham. Denv., 30. «Sky Parade/ Par, S. P.* May 7: Par, New Haven, S; Newman, K. C, 16; Par, Seat- tle, 15; Lyric, Mpls., 22; Orien- tal. Chi;, June 26, 'Fatal Lady/ Denham, Denv., May 23; Rlalto, St. Jj., June 12. 'Palm Springs/ Rialto, St X,;. Junes, 'Moon's Our Home/. Albee, Cihcy, May . 8; Natl,. Rich- mond,. 8; Gran'by, Norfolk, 8; Par, N. T., 13; Par.'S. F., 14; Orph, Seattle, 29. UNITED ARTISTS 'One -Rainy Afternoon/ N. Y., May 13; UA, Chi., UA^ Det, 14, n'hings to.. Come/ Amb., St. L.,. May 6; Apollo, Ail. City. 8; K:eith*s;Bbst., 8; Roger Sher- man; New- ftav;,- 14; Waxners, Worcester, 14; Pantlieon, To- ' iedo, 21; 'Warners, .'tfemph., 22;. 'Warners, MIlw., 22. '^Theae Three/ State, Mpls., May 8; Warners, "Ygf^town, 8; Loew'8, Canton, 8; ..Riviera, St, Paul, 9;. Aztec, San 9; -Penn, .Pttsbgh, 16. METRO 'Absolute Quiel/ Iymipia« Miami, May . 6; Bway, Musko- gee, Okia., 6; Warner, Erie, 20; Pal, Henderson, Tex., June 9. •'Suicide Club/ Fox, 'Wash., ■May 15; Century, Baltp.,. 16; "Wariier, Erie, 16; Sta;te, New Orl.,. 22; Colony, lifiaml Beach, 23; Oiympia, Miami. 29; Grand, Columbus. Ga.,' June 2, ^Sani Francisco/ State, New Orli May 29; Vehdome, Nash- vllie, 29; Lbew's, Wlmgton, 2ft*, State, St L., 29; Midland. K, C.. . 29; 'Valentine, Toledo, 20; State, Houston, 29; Grand, At- lanta, 29; Oiympia, Miami, June 6. WARNER BROS. 'Sons O' Guns/ par. May 14; 'Golden Arrow/ ,, St L., May 8;' Maj., ., ; Strand, Akron, 8;. 'Wamen Milw., 15; Warner, Memph. 16; Bway, Charlotte, 18; Par; S. F., 21. Stokawski (Continued from page 1} MILSTEDi AS SALES MGR. FOR REPUBLIC Jake Mllstein, ^ho recently. Joined the Republic sales force, is the can-, didate for the 'post of general sales manager. He ariflved in New York yesterday (TueS.) by plane to con- fer with W. Ray Johnston. Republic'has been operating with district nianagers since the resignar tion of Eddie Golden., general sales manager, some months ago. Mll- stein would step into this spot, mak- ing headquarters at the home office. For many years in charge of Metro's Los Angeles exchange.. Mll- stein resigned five weekb ago to join Republic as western sales manager. U CONV. JUNE 1 IN N. Y. Annual ijctle.s convention of Uni- versal will not open in New York city until Jiuie 1. > Three-day confab originally had been scheduled to get under way .May 2-, TINK' $7,200, B'HAM 'Breakfast' $2,800 — '0*Maliey'-'F- Man' $1,6Q0^'Cahdjes' $2,000 Birminghaim. May 5, (Best Exploitati Alabama) •Strike ite pink* takes the lead this week with. other houses, lacking the Opportunity of - affording niu.ch competition..: 'House of i.OOO Candles' is -doing nicely at Empire, and at 25c admission will play to more persons than several of other houses. . Lucky Teter with his troupe of automobile and motorcycle riding stunts at Legion Field Sunday (3) cut into grosses. Birmingham is one of Teter's best towns for some reason, and populace lias been talking, about him. Teter has show- manship stunts and cops the busi- ness when he comes in here. Estimates for This Week Alabama (Wilby-Kihccy) (2,800: 30-35-40)—'Pink' (UA). Set for good week at $7,200. Last week 'Petticoat' (MG), $6,S0O, moderately good. Ritz (Wilby-Kincey) (1.600; 25- 30)—'Breakfast' (tJ), Fair at $2,800. Last week 'Modern Times' (UA), $3,200, good. Strand (Wilby-Kincey) (800; 25) —'CMalley' (20th) and 'F-Man* (Par), split .Not much over $1,600. Last we'ek 'Garden Case' (MG), light at $1,500, Empire (Acme) d,l00; 2.5)^— •Candles' (Rep). . Collecting $2,000, pretty good. Last week 'Ghost Goes West' (UA), $1,700, fair. phonic selections .and Stoki'e .was -it happy guy, Stokie looked as out of place as a mackeral .in Death Valley, biit he Wasn't. He confessed .to the inter- viewlnig piugg that this Kraft air- ing, was one of the best breaks he had had in miany a day. •How come?' •People who never heard of serious music, who never cared to listen to it heard It tonight. They suffered my orchestra and myself because they wanted to hear mOre of Crosby, Dorsey and Prima anil naturally \ye niade friends. They have discovered that serious niusic isn't as ■ bad as it "sounds. Next time they find us on the air they'll listen. Of -^the thousands of people who listen to Crosby weekly, -we have made some converts and tha-fs why we played tonight On , this tour that_ We; are making we have, discovered that America Is beginning to be sym- phonicaily cohscibu,;.' he'conVfersatibn was ihteiTupted by a inan seeking Stokowski's auto- grapli. istokowski hates autograph hunters. He .excuses his refusals to squiggle his celebrated name by saying he. must save his hands for conducting. He does hot use a baton, iiowever, his -real feeHngs. Were tipped .off by his dishiissal of the fellow with, 'Why don't you grow up.' Before,he couid reSunie his talk a young elrl stepped up to hlnri, Queried, 'What's your definition of American music7' Improves With Time ♦American music,' he replied, .'is. entirely devoid of European in- fluence. Mr. Dorsey has just played some American music _fbr ypu, per- haps not the kind you want to hear, but American nevertheless, music that will with time improve greatly.' \ ♦'Where was I? Oh yes/ he con- tinued, 'the consciousness of the American public for good music can be traced directly to radio. Broad- casting can take credit for the ad- vancement of public Interest and!.,it has advanced. Look; here, . we did $35,000 in "two performances here in Hollywood. No matter who or* what did it $35,000 is news. That's noit. possible e'Verywhere due to lack of buildings with large capacities. Our final concert in New York will be played in Madison Square. Garden. "We'll jam the place. Liarge 'a-udi- toriums. meain .that we can sell the concerts for small admission .fees, rd like to scale prices from 25c!" up, ■Your "building, liere can seat 15,000. That's ideal. With rtiodern knowl- edge of acou.sticq and sound dis- tribution, agaiirt developed by x-adio, mO.St any building will do. •For instan<ier-ln..-Toronto,<3Iassey .Hall has always been the coriceri auditoriuni. We wanted a larger place so used, an arena devoted , to hockey and prize fights. We had a shell built and did some slight acoustical adjustments and the building was perfect. Same thing here where your building is little more than a bam. 'Our - trip so far has been very successful, our audiences enthusi- astic. Strange thing. :'too, is -that We have allowed our listeners to chpolse their concerts. Surprised me virhen most popular composers were Bach and Wagnfer'. "They're tops, ;tt)'o;, yo.u .can't gb any higher. Debyssy is hard to.-sell, too modern. Thp, ol.d.. classics seem. to^be the. fayojcites.'-. Saxer Rhapsodizes < Another interruption. A sax pljayer from" the Dorsey band stepped - up. Sheepishly he handed the ^grey suited, green shirted Stokowskl^ sev- eral sheets of dog. eared ' music manuscript. 'Would you be interested in this?' the, lad stammered. The maestro took the manuscript; went over , it piage by page. 'You have only: an idea here, but ideas are what I look for.' This, after he had gone over the first two pages bar by bar. 'Why don't you orchestrate it?' The lad wasn't quite sure why he hadn't made an orbhestration. 'i-ook here, yoii complete this and send it to me at Philadelphia. Don't be afraid, be natural, do what you want to with it. I'm sure you have a good Idea there. Send It to me at once and I'll work over it before September.' Still stammering, the lad took his manuscript, stuck it in his sax case and went off to join the rest of the band on their way to play a dance engagement. 'That lad has a very good Idea,' observed Stokie. 'I like, those young fellow.s. They're not like us. Dance mu6ician.<j have-no inhlbltion,s. Thf'y play as they feel. "We ai'C different. The American musical scene will be Changed by those lads^ "Thia.i Dorsey band amazed me. They di4 things tonight that I have thought of but didn't' have the nerve to try. They don't care, they go ahead, and take chances With rhythm, combinations," harmony and all the ojther things that present a barrier" to u.s. Every time I get close, to a good daiice combination;! learn something. Tor night I learned a lot. Some day one of these lads will make arrange- ments for me. They'll taKe the chances of which we symphony fel- lows are afraid. ibhUho-atopic, Bai Stokowski admitted he had a yen for pictures. There has. been some talk ,of his appearing In Metro's 'Life of J bhann Strauss.' Now Para- mount would like to have a Pliilr adelphia Symphony sequence 'The Big Broadcast, of 1037.' He has the^IookSi a-dynamic per- sonality and though he .retuses to admit it, a strong dash of showman- ship. . Conducting without a batoii. is an example. While he -talks lo you, his; strong, sensitl-ye hands are con- tlhually cbnductihg his convei-sa- tibn, ybiir answers... His light grey suit, shoes to match, green shirt and deeper green tie are other indica-. tions of showmanship. His oft re- peated announcenient that he Is through with Philadelphia and fits orchestra, and a thoroughly disarm- ing personality minus any sugges- tion of highbrow cinch the show- manship angle, In" Hollywood he Was^ the lion of motion picture society and Holly- wood bowed low. .,'ip.uring hife few days stay here, ilii?^ .heVer forgot t.iie lesser lights,picture peor pie to fill coriccrt "hiiUs throughout the country. And'he's after a two- bit audience. Two-bits never im- pressed Hollywood. Bing Crosby came to bid his guest goodbye. They gagged with each other. Stokowski told the crooner how much he had enjoyed being on his program. Crbsby returned the compliment reniax'ked that he had enjoyed to the limit both of iSto- kowski's cbncerts. 'What composition; did you like best?' asked the maestro. •I go for that. Debussy uy,' answered Crosby. 'He's, my meat.' SYDNEY EXPECTS BIG BOOM WITH NEW FIX Sydney. April. 7. Biz. is rather on the low side, hut should go up, 'Modern Times' (UA) opens', together with several other aces pix. 'Mutiny on the Bounty* (M-G) inoved out rather "i3uddenly.,^tev splendid run. replacement being 'I Live My Life' (M-G). 'Mag- nificent Obsession' (U) opened yei-y well and should click. 'I Dream Too Much' (RKO) moVes out af- ter . getting nice femme biz and • •Captain Blood'• (W) will come in. 'Rose of the Rancho' (Par) 'should get three weeks, 'Melody Lingers On' (UA)'goes but after, two weeks. 'Queen of Hearts' (ATP) opened very strongly, and sho.uld be a hit \yith Fields' fans.-. ' ' Af- faires'; .(Gf.-^B) - bows. a good., run, :'Ball at ' (RKO) ;is- the Ma,yfair". Singer's Sei^enAde' (AJb).Hlid ; so weli. ''Nejft Time We Lpve' ( opens at.the Liberty^' Weekly change biz .Ijas been -fair. With 'Caliing ^f - Dan Ma;tthev\s' (Coi)i 'Moonlight' oh Prairie* (AVB), 'Red the Rose' (Par) and 'MilHoriS In Air.' Melbourne, April 7. Biz is up to stahdiird here, with 'Sander.? of RiVer' (UA), in tliird week,. 'Wedding Night' (UA), 'Milky Way' (Par) 'Virginia Judge' (Par), 'Mutiny on Bounty' (M-G), 'Navy Wife' (Fox), 'Stars 0\yr Broadway' (WB), and 'Invisible Ray' (U). 'Come Out of P.intry' (BD) is concluding a splendid vim of seven weeks. 'Suzy' Waits Hollywood, IMay •'>. Production on 'Suzy' has he halted at Metro," with studio hold- in.g cast a:nd crew pending rewrite uf script for next Jean Harlow pic- ture. Picture had been in work ini'*' weeks with George Fitzmaurir<> di- recting. Resumption Of work ex- pected some time this week. —