Variety (Apr 1937)

Wednesday, April 28, 1937 PICTURE GROSSES VARIETY Chi Lookiiig for AKbis, Bjz NSG AO Over; 'Doctors Diary KG Chicago, April 27. Seems downtowh hpuses hfere after having found the pros- perity corner ait iphg last, have gone and lost it again. After having paini fully climbed upwards "to the top of the box-office itiountai they've passed the crest and are tobogganing down once more. And they don't know what to do about it. One of the best-used alibis ~ by the local ^?ihagers is that " spring, - ' DOtiful spring. Or maybe, it's' the eompetitioh of the ball games or the Adler Planetarium. Of course, they don't play ball at night in Chicago and the Planetarium plays to jUst a handful of people.. But even so; the , managers around town will, continue -to use these two as alibis until they . cah find something else to play the sad biz on, ' ' Chicago getting anywhere .TVith 'Internes' and the house is now "waiting for something to happen "when it will once more see what a; better-than-$30,000 mark looks like. 'Holdovers cbritirtue as "the best b.o. chance with 'Maytime.' 'Wake Up,' •Waikiki' ■ and-. . 'Seventh Heaven' 'showing the best strength. Estimates f orliiis Week ■ Apollo (B&k) < 1,200; 35-45-55-75) .—'Seventh Heaven' (20th) (2hd week). Around $5,500 cuirrently fol- lowing okay $8j700 last week. Get- ting igopd femme play during the afternoons. • . Cbioa«o (B&K) (4,000; 35-55-75)— •Internes'= (Par) and stage show. Hospital flavor of the entire picture ! seems to be hindering the take| at $24,00D; h.s.g. Last. week 'History Is Made' (UA) finished with fair en6ugh $29,000. Garrick (B&K) JXSOO; 35-55-65- 75)_.«Waikiki' (Par). In its fifth ■loop session and still indicates b.d.. •/magnetism with $5.50O in the offing, fine. Last week $8,200 was nifty. Oriental (B&K) (3,200; 35-45-55)r- '50 Roads' (20th) and vaude. Good .stage show counting for. whatever, biz there" is currently,, headed for so-so $16,000. Last week 'Midnight Taxr (WB) fair with $15,500. ' Palace (RKO) (2.500; 35-55-65-75) •—'When Love Is Young' (XT) and vaiiide; Last week they had four aqts Of vaude. this week seven. This week $13,000, blah. Last week 'Woman ! Love' (RKQ) hit the skids for $16,000. Roosevelt (B&K) (1.500; 35-55-65- -75)—'Wake Up' (20th) (2nd week). -Holding up nicely in h.Oi Looks like »$15,P00, good, following bang-up $21,«0 last week: . 5tate.Lake (Jones) (2,700; 25^35- '40)—^Doctor's iary? (WB); and yaude. Getting along nicely but ndthing sensational, -around $12,000. profitable. Last week- 'Criminal Lawyer' (Par) okay at $13,500. . ^United Artist^ (B&K-MG) (1.700; .35-55-75)-'Maytime' (MG) (5th week). Long run winner of the loop, $10,000 this week, excellent for ■the_' run. Last week smacking $12,500. Due to scram this Saturday (1) for 'Star Is Born' (UA). ITERNES'-HEIDT ORC OK $19,500 IN WASH. ■ ' • " •' • Washington, April 27. Cap up and: down.^this week, with n6'tecords arid no compiete floppbs. Coldsiiap, which shattered beautiful weather of past' days, set in Friday and week-end . aiboye .what might have, been brutal over- ..all take. .Earle is out in front with Internes Can't Take Money* and ■Wprace Heidt un-t.: Latter is - .counting for the dough. Estimates for This Week ^t°ew). (3,424; 25^35-60)— ■Hit, Parade' (Rep) arid vaude. ^enore Ulfic in scene from 'Lulii •f^fj ■ — ■ fioing over in big house •and week won't beat light $18,000: nrL ^'^^^ 'I^ove From /Stranger' iwUS?^ Gray's brk totaled good $21,000. . •iv/'''lV»>»>>'a (Loew) (1,583; 25-40)— .^aytime' (MG) •(2d run). Fourth main stem sailing toward swell $6,500. Last week 'Seventh fleayen' (20th) (2d run) followed -week at Capitol with satisfac- tory $4,000. Earle (WB) (2.244; 25-35-40-66-70) r-internes. Can't Talse Money' (Par) ?na, vaude. Horace Heidtls ore and <rlY^ .Sopd for $19,500. Last- week ^•a}!. It a Day' (WB) drew fine notices, but lack of. sPck names let to weak 514,500. •txr ■ ^^"'^ .(RKO) (1,830; 25-35-60)— I Love' (RKO). Looks like beautift,! $12,000. Last week 'Top TiJW <U) weak $8,000. Mel (WB) (1,853; 25-40)—-Marked Woman' (WB) (2d run). Follbwing good week at Earle With nice $5,500. Last week 'Swing High' (Par) (2d run) nice $6,000. : National (liegit). (2,000; . 55-83- ;$1.10-$1.65)—'Good Earth' (MG): (3d week). Roadshow film last week took acceptable $5,500. Palace (Loew) (2,363; 25-35-60)-- 'Waikiki Wedding' (Par) (2d week). Probable good $10,000 on h.o. Last week, big $18,000. ialto (Indie) (1,100; 25-30-40-55) 7-'Star of Midhighf (RKO) and 'Lost Patrol' (MG) (revivals). Ought to get oke $3,000. Last week '39 Steps' (GB) . and ' irst a Girl' (GB) (revivals) slightly better, $3;100. Belisco (Indie) (1,100; 25-35-55)-r- 'Ecstasy' (Cummings) (2d run). Sec- ond week of second engagement may get fair $1,500.; Last .week built to oke. $3,000. HITPARADE'BIG $2^,aEVE, WITHLEWIS Cleveiandi April 27. irst week of real spring weather bririgirig ..out the downtown ishop- pers, spurting the matinee and gen- eral trade over last month's record:. Ted Lewis stage booking .is..first vaude attraction , at State in nearly a. year, boomirig hPUSe and 'Hit Pa- rade' for week's topper of $23,500. Palace, ordinarily a . leader in flesh combos, being given a slap by Lewis competish, but will wind. up with $20,500 on "Call It a Day' and .'SlUms of Paris' unit. Others also steaming :along, third money taken by Hipp's 'Woman I Love.' Estimates for This Week Alhambra (Martin )Printz) (1,200; 20-30-35)—'Hats Off' and 'Women of Glamor' (Col). Worthwhile dualer, $2,900, nice. Allen (RKO) (3,000; 25r40)— 'Marked Woman' (WB).. MOve-over frorh Hipp first one in two riionths,. hot at $7,500. Last week 'Soldier and Lady' (RKO) caught the actiori- melo fans, first-run collecting $6,000, good. . Circle (Marmorste.iri) (1,900; 15-35) —'Wings of Morning' and 'Time Out for Romance' (Cbl). Pani>ing by cricks of English pix hurt, holding it to $3,400. Last week two revivals, 'Winterset! (RKO) and 'Ex-Mrs. Bradford' (RKO) nabbed neat $2,000 in four days. Previous three days 'She Shall Have Music' (Imp) and 'Nation Aflame' (Sel) $1,000, poor. Hipp (Warners) (3,700; 30-40)—; 'Woman I Love' (Wfi). A corker that got hfeavy boosts frorii aill sides, $19,500, one of spot's fanciest grosses this season. . Last week 'Marked Woman' (WB) another to get a good play, even from femmes, $17,500. Palace (RKO) (3,200; 30-75)—'Call It .Day' (WB) with ?Slums of Paris' on vaude billi No selling, points in revue, lacking marquee power, but pic going over for about $20,500; fine. Last week 'Mountain Justice' (RKO) with 'New Ideas' vaude rather brutal, $16,560. State (Loew's) (3i450; 30-60-75)-- 'Hit Parade' (Rep) with Ted Lewis' revue. MUt Harris' went to town on Lewis' -ballyhoo and raising of ad- mish scale didri't affect tremendous pull; $23,500 expected and perhaps more. Mixed .notices.: 'Personal Property* (MG) last week yanlfed in Robert Taylor iaris. $18,500. okay, Stillman (Loew's) (1.972; 25-35)— 'Men Are Not Gods' (UA). Penciling in this one a mistakej desbite .$5,000: iust nabe stuff. Last week 'Waikiki Weddiricj' (Par) (2d week) a whop- ping $7,500.. B'KLYN BIZ BULLISH -'Qiiality St.' Dual Stronf;; at $16,000 Brooklyn. April 27. Biz g6od with attractive dualers at fivery .house. Paramount with -Swing High. Swing Low' and 'Racketeers in Exile' will ^o. second stanza. Albee with 'Top of Town' and 'Quality Street' will bririg profitable results, a.s will the Loew's Met showing. 'His- tory Made at Night* and ' reezing Home.' Dancing contests . staged weekly at Fabian's Strand clicking. Estimates for This Week A|bee (2.500; 25-35-55)—'Top of Town', (U) and 'Quality Street* (RKO). Destined for healthy $16.-. 000, Last week, 'Seventh Heaven' (20th) and 'China Passage' (RKO )i $16,000, good. Fox (4,000; 25-3'5-55)—'Silent fear^ riers' (GB) and 'Crime Nobody Saw' (20th). Will take in nifty $15,500. Last week, 'Midnight Taxi' (20th) and 'That Man's Here Agai ' (WB), $13,000, fair. IMlet (2.400; 25-35-55)—'History Made at Night' (UA) and 'Breezing Home' (U). Okay $14,000. Last week. 'Maytime': (MG) (2d weiek) $15,000, good; Paramount; (4,000; 25-35-55)— 'Swing High' (Par) and 'Racketeers in Exile' (Col). Brace proving strong enough to hold Oven This week $21,000, peacheririp. Last week, •Waikiki Wedding' (Par) and 'Man of Affairs' (GB) (2d week), $16,000, nice.' Strand (2,000; 25-35-50)^'House of Secrets' (Prin> arid 'Girl Loves Bpy' (GN) plus Wednesday night dance contests, which are catching on heav- ily. Nifty $7,500. Last week. 'Ti'ans- Atlantic Merry-go-rbund' (UA) and 'Bold Caballerb' (Rep), $5,000, weak. Despite too Hice Weather Prov. OJC.; Bette Davis $9,000 April 27. weather, the toughest oppb- sish is stanza. icture fare strong, and biz seems pretty well distributed. stimates for This Week. Carlton (Fay) (1,600; 55-$1.50)— 'Good Earth' . (MG) (1st wk): Fairly good roadshow engaigement. Fay's (2,200; 15-25-40) —' What Price. Vengeance' (U) .'and; Uncle Ezra Stebbin's 'Bam Dance Frolic' on stage. ' Latter bringing them around this week, and unless there's slip-up later on, the takings are go- ing to be Close to $7,500, good. Loew's State (3,200;. 15-25-40 )— 'Old Soak' (MG) and 'Nohody's Baby' (MG). Good $12,000 antici- pated. Last week 'Love from Stran- ger' (UA) and'Song of City' (MG), just fair at $9,000; Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 15-25-40)^ 'Marked Woman' (WB) arid 'Melody for Two' (WB). Although opposish is stroriger than tiisual house looks $9,000, o.k. Liast week 'Top of Town' (U) and 'Fuiry and Woman,' best bet in town at $10,000. RKO Albee (2,300; 15r25-40)— 'Woman I Love' (RKO) arid 'Man Who Could Work Miracles' (GN). Headed for nice week, $7,400. Last week 'When Love Is Young' (U) arid 'Park Ave. Logger' (RKO), so-so at $6,400. Strand (Indie) (2,200; 15-25-4a)— 'Internes' (Par) arid 'Circus Girl' (Rep). Shotild hit around $8,500 without difficulty. Last week 'Girl frbrii Scotland Yard' (Par) and 'Bor- derland' (Par) piled up $4,000 on a four-day ruii. WE'DAY-AND-DATE IN K.C., NICE $16,000 Karisas City, April 27. Fox giving 'Wake Up and Live' a splash by day-and-datirig Tower with Uptown. Pic can. be bought for same at ither house, but Tower .customers get vaiide added. Pic got a sneak preview last week, .at Fox Apollo, nabe. First run day- and-date 'Live' will be held for |econd week at Uptown. Currently headed towards nice eoin. 'Lost Horizon,' roadshowirig, awiay to glum, start at Orpheum. Estimates for i'his Week . Mainslreet (RKC)^) (3,200; 35-55)— 'Internes' (Par), with Isen and Johnson revue on stage. Flesh head- li plenty famili under expectations at fair $14,000. Last week 'Quality Street' (RKO) arid •Husband Lies' (Par) fairit $5,200. IVItdland (LoeW) (4,000; 25-40).- 'Old Soak' (MG) and 'Song of City' (MG). Off-key b.o. $7,500, weak. Last week 'Maytime' (MG).. held up in second stanza to nice $9,000. Newman (Par) (1,900; 25^40)— 'Man of Her Own' (Par reissue) and 'Crime Nobody Saw' (Par). Pic crix pointed to reissue as object lesson anent dualers. Fbiir-year-old. how- ever, drawing nice $6,000. Last week 'Soldier and tady' (RKO) and 'Jane Turner' (RKO) tame $4,700. Qrpheum (2.200: 55-83-i;lO-1.5Q)— 'Lost Horizon' (Col ). Roadshow limp- ings Weather and fact house has been dark pnly a week since 'Good Earth' roadshowed. held partially ac- countable for weak showing of 'Horizon.' Tower (Fox) (2.200; 25-40)—'Wake Up and Live* (20th) and vaude, Opened easy but built nicel.v; $12.- 000, o.k. Last week 'Love Is Young* and vaude, goPd $11,500. Uptown (Fox) (2.020: 25-40)— 'Wake Ub and Live'. (20th)'. DoihR averacte S4.000.. Last week 'Waikiki Wedding' (Par) (3d run), $3,100, not I so forte. Terrif to Blah; 'Star Is Born' and 'WakeOp 62C Socko, But Beery s 12G Brutal; LG. Robmson 17G ;'A star Is Born,' w ich carries the colors of the Music , 'Wake Up and Live,' of the Roxy^ are haying a stretch duel between therii- selves, with the 'rest of . a mixed field well outdistanced. also-rans range from a promising showing for the second-run State to an unspeak- ably, bad performance by 'Good Old Soak' at thei Capitol; The race will he worth a bountiful $102,000 for 'Star Is Born' and $62,- 000 or over for 'Wake Up.' With this turn of, speed, both pictures go a second week. On the weekend 'Wake Up' is claimed to have sur- passed the attendance, not mbriey, record of 'Cock-Eyed World.' Roxy, doing an extra show each day, put the picture on eight times Saturday, the stage unit six times, and didn't close up Until after 3 a. m. Sunday rifiorning (25). i Limping along badly in this week's contest,, the Wallace Beery starrer, 'Old Soak,' will be lucky to get $12,- 000, which doesn't pay. the bats bill. 'Thunder in the City,' British-rhade at the Criterion, is looking over its shoulder at 'Soak,' with a lead ahead of it that will bring the smaller- seater a nice $17,000. E. G. Robin- son picture holds over here. . Only other new picture, 'Outcast of Poker Flat,' hasn't much wind, but- niay NO DKOMNIA IN WPLS, lAKE Indianapolis, April 27.^ 'Wake Up and Live' is the big at- traction of the week at the Apollo, and it's setting a red-hot pace that suggests a holdover. 'Stars arid Stripes' stage revue pips 'Mountain Justice' at the vaudfllm Lyric is also in the money class, while 'Romeo and Juliet' in its pop-priced run at Loew's is. off.' Roller-skatirig derby at the Coliseurii on fair grounds here is getting a hear capacity ploy every night and'causing theatres plenty of worry. Estimates for This Week Apollo (Fourth Ave.) (1,100; 25-40) —'Wake Up and Live' (20th). Very big business for this house with gross on way to $8,000, best «lnce 1936 when a Will Rogers picture topped it a bit. Last week, 'Top of the Town' (U) blah at $3,200. House staff even roped off balcony to, force cus- tomers into occupying downstairs, seats for the sake of appearances.. Circle (Monarch) (2,800; 25-40)— 'Internes Can't Take Money' (Par) and 'You're in the Army Now,' (GB), dual. Mild biz at $3,900. Last week dual of'Quality Street' (RKO) and 'When's Your Birthday?' (RKO) n. g.. $4,250, ri.ew low for Hepburn picture, although her recent flickers have been weakening at the turn- stiles each time. Indiana (Nat. Federatiori of Music Clubs) (3,100; $5 for week's series of concerts)—BienriialConvention Music Festival. House not showing pix this week, but is rented instead to clubs for long-haired music series. Gross may touch $8,000. La.st week Colum- bia lea.sed the house for roadshbwing of 'Lost Horizon' at .scale of $1.50 top Biz was okay in 55c. sections, but bad elsewhere in houses Gross $4.- !)00, meanis breaking even and that's all. Loew's'(Loew's) (2,600; 25-40)— 'Romeo and Juliet* (MG). Gathering shekels from that part of carriage trade which didn't go for the recent rpaidshow run. Otherwise gross dis- appointing iat $6,000. Last week, 'Personal Property' (MG) dualled with 'Radketeers in Exile' (Col) in the black but under usual Harlo.w- Taylor figures at $8,100, Lyric (Olsori) (2,000;: 25-30-40)-^ 'Mouritairi Justice' .(WB> .and 'Stars arid Stripes' stage revue. School for undressing in Stage portion of bill featured in ads above everythitr else. Gross very good at !<! 10.000 Last week. 'Call It a Day' (WB; and Dave Aoollbn stage rcvuc was okay at $9,000. Arlen^ Wray Top 'Dame' Hollywood,. April'27.;; jchard Arlon and Fay Wray will top cast' of 'Park Avenue Dame' at,Columbia, Arlch's initial fll' iiri- der contract hp signed recently at thestudi Yarn is by Robert Shannon. Michael Simmons writing the screen play and D; Ross Ledcrman directs. force its way to $7,000 or bit over, getting by. By far the best of the holdies la 'Swing High' arid the Louis Arm- strong . band at the Paramount. On its secorid lap the gross is $34,000, good after a first seven days' smash payoff of $56,500. Tarries a third week, with 'Internes Can't Take Money' arid a combination of the Xavier Cugat and Dixieland Jazz bands opening Wednesday (5). Third week . for 'Marked Woman,' good money-maker for the Strand, will be around $18,000 arid 'stays a fourth; 'Mountain Justice' Operis here Saturday morning (8). Final four da.ys on second week of 'Love from! Stranger' at the Rlvbli brutal, not $6,000. ^Cafe Metropole' bows here this morning (Wed.).. The State, with Cab Calloway on the stage and 'Maytime' on screen, will be doing well at $29,000 or bet- ter. Second-run twinner, the Pal- ace, may be about $9,000, with 'King arid Chorus Girl' and 'Quality Street.' ' , ' 'Good Earth,' $2 stayer at the As- tor, now in its 13th. week. goes, out May 10, or a day or two ahead, with 'Captains Courageous,' on ai two-a- day, opening Tuesday evening (11). -'Eai*th' has miaintained its Strength well on a .healthy run, last week (12th) having been $11,060. 'Lost Horizon', list week (8th) got the Globe arourid $10,500, okay, and sticks ,oh. Columbia has renewed another option on house for fpuv weeks at repprted $5.000. weekly. Estimates for Thin Week Astor (1,012; 55-$1.10-$1.05-$2,20V-^ •Good Earth' (MG) (13th week). Cominig down oh gross but still show- ing some profit. Last week (12th), $11,000. Out May 10 or bit earlier, 'Captains Courageous' (MG) openiri at $2 top May 11. ■ .Capitol (4,620: 25-35-55-85-$1.25)— 'Good Old Soak' (MG). A bad bet, probably not as much as $12,000, bru- tal. Last week wasri't much better, this side of $20,000 for 'Personal Property' (MG) despite Harlow-Tay- lor names. 'Night Must Fall' (MG) opens tomorrow (Thurs.). Criterion (1,662; 25-40-55)—'Thun- der In City' (Col). Doing away above average for this house, around $17,000, and holds. Liast week, 'You're in Army Now' (GB), under $4,000, horrors. Glob<y (1,274; 55-$1.10-$1.65-$2.20)-r: 'Lost Horizon' (Col) (9th week). Sliding off somewhat but at $10.5()0 last week (8th) still okay; Option on house for another four weeks taken by Col. Palace (1.700; 25-35-55 )-r-'King arid Chorus Girl' (WB) and 'Quality Street' (RKO), both 2d run. dueled. Brace of features might get about $9,000. Last week's couoletoni 'Sevf enth Heaven' (20th) (2d run) and 'China Passage' (RKO) (1st run), $7,500, weak. Paramount (3,064;. 25-35-55-85-00) —'Swing High' (Par) and Louis Arriistrbng orchestra iri pit (2d week). Hit $56,600 first week and on second at $34,000 ending last night (Tues.) a very strong buslnoss- getter. Goes, third wCiik. Radio City MubIo Hall (5,080' m- 60-85-09-$1.66)—'Star Is Born' (UA) and stage show. Packirig 'em in for ia hearty $102,000 arid holds. T.-^st week. 'Woman I Love' (RKO). !^75.- 000, fair. 'Shall We Dance?' (RKO) is scheduled for Thursday (6). Rlalto (750: 25-40-55)—'Outcasts of Poker Flat' (RKO). Will be.lucky to get $7,000 or little over, moderate. Last week, 'A Famllv Affair' (MG) finished at a ooor $6,060. Rivoll (2,092: 25-55-75-05-90)-^ 'Love from a Stranger' (UA). A complete bust, under $ll>.00O first .seven days and short of $6,000 on. final four, days of holdover. 'Cafe Metropole' (20th) opens today ..(Wed.). Roxy • (5,836: 25-45.-55-75)—'Wake Up and Liye' (20th) aiid stage show. Gririding longer each day thari usual, but with extra shows put on. may riiount a very smashfUl $62,000 on first week, holding a second. House is doing an extra show each day arid on Saturday (24), immensely big day for theatre, there were eight screeri- infi.s of picture and six performances by stage show. 20th-Fox lent house much support in putting oictu'-e ricros.s. Last week, 'When Love Is Yonnc' (U) managed .!f!32.000, olcav. Strand (2.707: 25-55^75)—'Marked Woman' (WR) . (3d week).. Th's one has received very cratifyirif' o'av here after streak of bad lurk: tHi.*; week (3d) ornbablv $18,000 after .second Week's $25,000 and flrs* «52ven days' $41,000. Holri.s a fourth. 'Moun- tain .Tustlce' (WB^ opens' Satur- dav (8). State : 35-55-75)—'Mfiv.time* (MG) run) and Gab CaUowav orchestra. Milked r>r'»tty dn'. at Capitol on four weeks' run. 'Mny- time. With C^b Callnwav. ^^nnd.. would orobablv bo more than $2f) 000. but this fifture i-.! rrratitvinfr. Lai(t week, 'Romeo' (MCJ) iM run) and Horace Heidt band, $28,000.