Variety (Oct 1937)

Wednesday, Octolier 6, 1937 PICTURE GROSSES VARIETY Chi Much Better as Infantile Scare Wanes but'Souls'Of, 28G; Berle Hipslusic;2^ Chicago, Oct. 5. . lif it isn't , a championship flght, It's a radio talk: But there's always something. Last Friday night's "take was hurt considerably throughout the town by- Justice Hugo Black's defense' speepK over the air. iVith some 50,000,000 estimated to have lent an ear "to Black's appeal,-Chi- cago certainly contributed its quota of listeners. . ' ' . ' •However, despite that two-hour let-down the theatres here 'have rio complaints currently excepting the Chicago-wliere 'Souls' is away under hopes.- Most , of 'em have a marquee loaded with high-poweired boxofflce com'a-on, and" have»little to fear about'the- final register-mark for the week. Such .houses-as the Palace witti Milton iBe'rle, aind the Oriental with, /Wife,' -Doctor and Nurse' are pounding "but .cash returns'in good fashion.. ' •. • ■ .With- the infantile paralysis ban finally completely off this.town, all theatres are zpo^iing away on a r«al fall season^ with the Balaban & Katz .houses, particularly splurging in ad. space to exhort: 'Come ^^n, kids. 'See: all th^sg swell pictU^-es you've missed,' This is having a healthful effect on the neighborhood houses particularly., where business has been especially bad during the kirt ban. - - Loop is still loaded with hold- ovots, and Balaban & Kati is/still I)r(»t!eedi.n^\ oil a' policy ''of two- weeke'rs even. in the Chicago and Oriental for top bracket pictures; 'Estimate.s for This Week .. Apollo (B&K) (1;200; 35-55-65-75) —'Lost Horizon'- (Col). Third house for this picture and still "evidences bu^insss"^ strength from certain ele- TTientsr. Around $6,000 in the offing, okav for'the run. Last-week 'Stella Dallas' <UA) finished fine loop stay tp ^6;200. .. ■ ChiWfro (B&K) (4,000; 35-55-75)— ^Souls at Sea' (Par) and stage-show. Alec Templetori headlining show. In f or. two weeks, picture indicates strength-that will add up- to only $28,000-for its , initial session and shouldn't-hold at this figure.. Last week 'Horizon' (Col) concluded fort- night's gallop to $29,000;. - . .. Garrick . (B&K). (900: 35-55-65-75) —JCertain Woman' (Wp). Moved here from- Oriental and wiU hold to satisfactory $4,500 for the week. Last week 'Topper' (MG) just fiUfer at $3,800.'- • Oriental (B&K) (3,200; 35-55-75) —'Wife;' Doctor, Nurse' (20th) and •vaude. . Another, femme . picture, making it^the third straight, for the bouse; This figures as okay booking, since the; houise had lost much femme patronage under former policy. -.Again -.a -b'.o. winner at $28,000. ; Lsst. week 'Certain Woman' (WB) -tuckecl away a neat $30,000 with plenty-iof aid on stage, from Clvde McCoy and Earl Hines bands. Palace (RKO) (2,500; 35-55-65-75) T-'iS^usic for Madaine' (RKO) ai^d vaude-. Picture rneans nothings strength' almost .• entirely on stage headed :by Milton Berle.v Wicket whirls into-hieh coin • currently for a satisfactory $27,000. Last week '100 Men' (U) finished two-weeker to fine $20,000. - Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 35-55-65- 75)—'Thin Ice' (20th) (2d wk). Still okay with prospects of $13,000. Last week \t exceeded, highly^ pleasant $19:000. . . St^te^Lake (Jones) (2,700: 25-35- 40-55); — 'Marry Girl' (WB) and vaude. Consistent winner' and the fluctuations at the register are less than any other house in loop. At batter than $13,000 has a profit cur- rently. Last week- 'Sing and Be Haopy' (20th) in b.o. tune at $13,300. ^ United' Artists (B&K-UA) (1.700; 35-55-65-75)-'BigCity' (MG). Sched- uled to quit some tinie this week to make room for 'Broadway Melody' iMG). Hasn't done rtiuch to get excited about; doing an okay $15,000 last week arid scheduled lor a good ?nough $9,500 for its final seven days; - ^ BROOKLYN BIZ FAIR ■Dead End' Lively with $16,000, 'Double' Dual Nice $13,500 \ Brooklyn, Oct. 5. ..Only one.house in the downtown area holding over this week, Fabian's Par with 'Double or Nothing' to good results. Weather in City of Churches nas gotten cold with resultant spurt at all of principal b.o.'s including Loews Met where 'Dead End' is click at . all shows. Estimates for This Week Albee (2,500; 25^35-55)—'Make a Wish (RKO) and 'Forty Naughty t^-irls (RKO). Dualers will snare P'f^asant $14,000. Last week 'Thin ;,7„/20th) and .'Flight from Glory" tn.. ^^^^ figured for satisfac- $13,000. -Last;week 'I3th Man' wiil 'Wine, Women and Horses' ' li¥L\ received nice $14,000. Mfct (2,400; 25:35-55 )-l'Dead End' (UA) and .'My Dear Miss Aldrich' (MG). Destmed for good $16,000. Last week 'Broadway Melody' (MG) and 'Man Who Cried Wolf. (U) got good'$15,500.. . . Paramount , (4,000; 25-35-55)— ;'Double, or Nothing' (Par) and 'On Such a Night' (Par) (2nd week)'will get attractive $13,S00. Last week dualers pulled in. $17,500, peachy.- ..Strand • (2,000; 25-35-55)—'On Again-Ofl Again' (RKO) and. ♦For- lorn River* (Par) .look to passable $5,000. Last , week 'Borneo^ (20th) and 'Game that Kills' (Col) got fine $8,000; V $11,000 M' Far 9G Denver, Oct. 5. • 'Double or Nothing' broke house record for. Sundays at Denham with holdouts from noon to 10 p.. m, Crowds pushed tlieir. way. in Satur- day also. Film will be. Crosby's big- gest Denver gross and holds for sec- ond. . 'Stella Dallas' turned, in a so-so week , at the . Denver, but ; will be taken to' the Aladdin for si second week, where it should pack the house. > Estimates for This Week Aladdin (Fox) a,500; '25-40)— 'Varsity -Show* (WB), following . a week at the Denver, good $3,000. Last weelc 'King Solomon's Mines' (GB) .was good at $3,50O, registering a holdout Sunday night. Broadway (Fox) (1,5Q0; 25-40)—: 'Prisoner of Zenda' (UA), 2d week here, following a .Week, at each the Denver . and Aladdin;. good $2,500. Last week 'Prisoner of Zenda' (UA) did a nice $4,000. Denham (Cockrill) (1,500; 25-35- 40)—'Double or Nothing' (Par). Do-- ing great $11,000. Last week 'High, Wide and Handsome' (Par) was tops at $7,500, and was held ah extra two days. Denver (Fox) (2,500; 25-35-50)— Stella Dallas' (UA). Weeping an. okay $9,000 into the till; Last week ♦Varsity Show' (WB) was weak at $5,000 on five days and was pulled and taken to the Aladdin. Oirpheum . (2;600; 25-35-40) — Madame X' (MG) .and''Music Ion Madame' (RKO). . Struck a fairish note at $6,000. Last We6k 'Life of the Party' (RKO) arid -'London by Night' (MG) hit along, to a nice $7,250; Paramount (2,000; 25-40)—'San Quentin'' (FN) arid 'Talent Scout' (FN), dualing to a good $3,000. Last week 'Confession'"(FN) arid-'Think Fast. Mr. Moto' (20th) did a good $3,000. mUES'$12,000 MONTI liADER;'100 MEN' lOG Montreal, Oct. 5. The big hit here is Deanna Durbin at Loew's, where '100 Men arid a Girl' grossed close to $14,000 last week, and on repeat currently looks like nearly topping the town again, with a further $10,000. Probable top- notoher will be 'Vogues of 1938,' a little higher than Loew's. ' Estimates for This Week Palace (CT) (2,700; 50) — 'Vogues of 1938' (UA). Big week-end biz points to excellent $12,000, gross. Last week's h.o., 'Lost Horizon' (Col) made a nice $7,000. Capitol (CT) (2,700; 50) — 'Big City' (MG) and 'Blonde Trouble' (WB). Good going Sat. and Sun. looks like a good $9,000. Last week, •Broadway Melody of 1938' (MG) very good $10,000. Loew's (M. T. Co.) ,(3,200; 50) — '100 Men and a Girl' (U) and 'Re- ported Missing' (U) (2nd week). Still packing 'em in and good for excellent $10,000 after near-record $14,000 last week. Princess (CT) (2,300; 50) — 'Mr. Dodd Takes the Air' (WB) and 'Devil Is Driving' (Col) should make average $6,500, good. Last Week, 'Make a Wish' (RKO) and 'The Big Shot' (WB). $6,000, good. " Clnema .de Paris (France-Film) (600; 50) — 'La Porte du Large.' This is doin? nicely and should gross ?;2.300. Last week's third h.o. of 'Jeanno' did a fair $1,500. _ ■ St. Denis (France-Film) (-2.300; 34) —'A Nous Dsux, Madame La Vie' and 'Un Mauvais Garcon.' Another good week gross. $5.000.,Last week, good $5,000 on 'Cinderella' and- An- tonia, Roman Hongrois.' ' Maschwitz's M-G Deal London, Sept. 26. Eric Maschwitz's contract as- a writer with Metro is for. three years, to woric six months per year. It calls for,$1,250 per week for the first year, $1,500 for the second and $1,750 for the third. ... ; Other six months of each year the exrBritish Broadcasting,Corp. vaude- ville chief,'Can either loaf or write plays and musicals. ICE'-HALL TOP ■ ■ Detroit, Oct. 6. Big grid frays, plus several hold- overs, holding biz down .currently, but not too bad. Tdwft's sUrieflre attrafction is 'Thin I6e,' pliis Wendell Hall on stage, '.at the Fox. 'Double, or Nothing,' bal- lyed on statewide ether hookup, giet- ting good play at" Michigan, while '100 Men and a Girl' moves to Adams for beaucoup second session. Estimates for This Week '. Adam& (Balaban) (1.700; 25-40)— '100 Men and Girl' (U) (2d week) plus 'Lady Fights Back' <U), dual. ;Durbin opus moved hfcre after n'ce session -at Fox; figures to grab nifty $8,000 this stan2a. Last weak 'Hap- pened in ' Hollywood' (Col) and 'League of Frightened Men' (Col) •around normal, $5.3'00. F,ox (Indie) (5,000; 30-40-65)— 'Thin. Ice' (20th) with Wendell Hall .topping vaude. Easy winner at wal- loping $32,000.' Fine $26,500 last stanza on '100 l^en' (U) with Jack LaRue, Vince Barnett on stage: Madison (UD) (2,000; 30-40-65)— 'Stella - Dallas' (UA) (3d week). Ifolding on' for good $6,500 on third stanza, following big - sessions of $13,000 and $8,500. Figures to pull out Thursday (7) at nifty profit following longest run house has had in, moons. - Mfchlgan (UD) (4,000; 30-40-65)— 'Double or Nothing' (Par) with stage show. Crosby,-Raye fiicker ballyed extensively on city and statewide ether setup, and should get abound $28,000, nice but hot up to expecta- tions. Last stanza $191500, on •/Vogues' (UA) -plus Tommy- Farr topping stEige show, disappointing. ". Palms-State (UD) (3.000; 25-40)— •Bad Guy' (MG) and 'Such a Night' <Par), dual. Things settle down a ;bit here, to good $9,000; following an .amazing session of $13,400 last week on 'Souls at Sea' (Par) (3d week), plus 'Slim' (WB), 'Souls' being •moved here after two, hefty sessions atUA. . -, . -United Artists. (UD) (2.000; 30-40- 65)—'Dead End'. (UA) ; (2d week). .Figures to ^Mah around $9,000, good, .following big $14,Q00 last session, but stiff cdmpetish probably forbids third w-^ek.' ■ • ' ' 9Cf $7,500 TOR GROSS IN PORTLAND Portland, Oct. 5. Double feature pix may be headed on their way out in the West Coast. Public suspicion exists that duals are ■if.G., whereas . single shooting is stirong -stuff. This week Parker's Broadway single shot 'Stella Dallas' and it's answering to exploitation in a big way. Double featuring hasn't helped the Ot-pheum, which has changed bills so fast in the last two weelrs no one can .keep track of what's on. Half a. dozen floppo pix visited the Orph, which is making -a come-back with 'Wife, Doctor and Nurse.' Estimates for This Week Bro4flway.> (Parker) (2,000: 30-55) —'Stella Dallas' (UA) answering to heav.v exDloitation camoaign for big $7,500. Last week 'San Quontin' (WB) - and 'Michael O'Halloran' barely kept up td average standard of $5,000. Mayfair (Parker-EVergreen) (1,- 400; 30-55) — 'Elephant Boy" fUA) and 'Four Naughty Girls' (RKO), fair '$2,000. Last week 'Thin Ice' (20th) and 'On Such a Night' (Par), (third week) closed -for successful $3,000, following two big weeks at the' Paramount, Orpheum (Hamrick - Evergreen) (2,000; 30-55)—'Wife. Doctpr and Nurse' (20th) and 'It's All Yours' (Col), a good break after a run of flops, okay $6,000. Last week 'Life of the Party' (RKO) and 'Chan on .Broadway' (20th),^ floppo, four days only, $5,300. -Paramount (Hamrick - Evergreen) (3.000; 30-55)-^'Lost Horizon' (Col) (2d week) and 'Counsel for Crime' (Col), good .^5,000. Last week 'Lost Horizon' (Col) and.'The Coronation' (20th) connected for a winning week in titis house, good $7,700. United- Artists (Parker) (1.000: 30- 55)—'Madame X' (MG) and 'Love Is in the Air' (FN), $3,500. poor.. Last week 'Prisoner of Zenda' (UA) closed a good second week at $4,800. First week big $8,300. . Haldovers Lead B'way; IW Men 3d Week $4()M Vorizon'2d, 70G, Volume of business for downtown New York takes a marlced drop this week, due partly to. the fact that no new pictures, of any moment came in to compete with the. holdovers. Lat- ter are getting the lion's share of .attendance. • The - week-end brought a'strong S^iturday's play for leading attractions, but on Sunday the gross suffered severely by comparison, due no dpubt to the fact that on Sunday (3) the air, with many film names broadcasting, -furnished dangerous competition. ,Of the holdovers, '100 Men and a .Girl' and ^Higfi, Wide and Hand- some' are the strongest, followed by 'Lost Horizon,' somewhat disappoint- ing at the' Music Hall and' 'Good Earth' which is holding up satisfac- torily, but not .sensationally at the Capitol. '100 Men' is churning to a frothy $40,000 on this, its final-third, week at the Roxy^ bringing total for 21-day run to around $106,000. 'High, Wide' kt the Par, aided, by th^ .Yechl Club Boys and the Hud^on-deLange orchestra, is po^werful enough at $30,000 on its, sqcond .week ending last night (Tues.) tp.go a third. 'Horizon' lo'okjB thlis. side of $70,000 on- its second, (final) week at the Music Hall, okay, but under.hopes, while 'Earth' is figured good enough at $30,000 this week (2d) to go a third,. Another-holdie is 'Something to Sing . About,' which yesterday (Tues.) went into Its third stanza at the Globe. It held firmly on its Zenda' Dives To ; ■ iSeattle, Oj:t '5. ' Normalcy returning • since close of Puyallup fair, wliich drew over. 250,- iOOO through turnstiles. Fall biz hit- i'ting nice level.. Fall weather, with jsome rains/a'help, too. ■; : . Fifth AvenUe- has big campaign fot opening week ot- '100 Mien and Girl'; Paramount roars' into second oke w^ek With 'iehda,' Liberty is getting along with •'Horizon' into (fourth week, on top of two big weeks at"'its" roadshowing at Metropolitan, 'and Music Box is nappy with fourth week of "Thin Ice.' Estimates for This Week i Blue Mouse^ (Hamrjck-Evergreen) i(900; 27)—'Windjammer' (RKO). and i'Pance, Chafrlie, Dance' (FN) dual, $2,500. Last week 'King Solomon's Mines' (GB) and 'Public Wedding' (WB) :dual, fair $2,300. Coliseum (Hamrick - Evergreen) (1,900; 21-32)—'Saratoga' (MGM) and- 'Wild Money' (Par) dual, $3,300, good. Last week 'Captains Coura- geous' (MGM) and 'Married Before Breakfast' (MGM) dual, 'five days, $2,900, good; split with 'Woman Chases Man' (UA) and 'Born Reck- less' (20th) dual, fo^ oke $4,100 week. Colonial. (iSterling) (850; 10-21)— 'Three Legionnaires' (Gen) and 'Shadow Strikes Again' (GN) dual, steady pace.at $2,500. Last weak 'Sea Racketeers' (Rep), and 'Blazing Sixes' (WB) dugl. $21400, okay. Fifth- Avenue (Hamrick-Ever- green) (2.700: 32-37-42)—'100 Men and a Girl' (U) and 'My Dear Mr. Aldrich' (MGM) dual. $9,500. Last week 'Varsity Show' (WB) and 'Bad Guy' (MGM) dual, .$5,100, no dice. Liberty (J-vH) (1.900; 21-32-42)— 'Lost Horizon' (Col) singleton, fourth week, ."S5.000. Last week, same film, bic( $7,800. Music Box (Hamrick-Evergreen) (900; 32-37-42)—'Thin Ice' (20th) and 'One Mile from Heaven' (20th) dual, 4th -week, $3,000. Last week, same films, $4,300, big. Orpheum (Hamrick - Evergreen) (2,700; 32-37-42)-^'Love Under Fire' (20th) and 'Mr;' Dodd Takes Air' (FN) dual. $6,500. Last week 'Super Sleuth* (RKO) and 'Confession' (FN) dual, $4,800, bad. Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; 16-27- 37)—'Sheik Steps Out' (Rep) and vaude. $3,500. Last week 'Small Town Boy' (Reo) with BPwes vaude unit, great $6,000. ■ Paramount (H?mrick-Everf?reen) (3.106; 32-37-42)—'Prisoner of Zenda' (UA) singleton, 2nd week. $6,500. Last week, same. film. $12,800. great. Boo:3evelt (Sterling) (850; 21-32)— 'Road Back' W) and 'Marry the Girl' (WB) dual. ,$2,600. Last week 'Ex- clusive'- (Par), terrible, pulled after four days, $1,100. second week to around $8,00D 'and thus will show more =proflt that week than on its first. Others that remain are' 'Zola,' which last week (7) was around $17,000, good, and 'Fitefly* last, week (4th) Under $7,000. Latter is ready ,to scram shortly but up to yesterday (Tues.) no date was set. It has been a weak two-bucker. The new pjctureg and their grosses are ; 'Back in Circulation,' only around $15,000, mild,, at the Strand; ,Life of the Party/, a dull $14,000 at the Rivi and gets only one week- here; 'Sophie Lang Goes West,' about $6,000, poor, at the Criterion; 'Sea Racketeers' probably no more than moderate $7,000 for the Central; and It Happened in Hollywood' about $7,500 at the Rialto.i All of these dont total to much more than '100 Men' will do on its third week at the Roxy, proving among other things that the public knpws where to go. The State, consistent gppss per- former, looks to around .i!25,000 this week with 'Broadway Melody and the Fletcher Henderson orchestra, good. , Estimates for This Week ,„AJitor (1,012; 55.$1.10-$1.65-$2.20)— 'Plrefly' (MG) (6th week). Lastwed^ (4th) under, $7,000 and soon to blow. Hurricane' (UA) being rushed for opening here on a twice-daily D&Slq* ■ » ' Capitol (4,520; 25-35-55-65.$1.25)— 'Good Earth' (MG) (2d week) Climbed to beyond $40,000 last week (1st) and IS holding up well cur- rently, looking $30,000. Goes third week, with 'Bride Wore Red' (MG) instead of 'Madame X' (MG) to fol- low. Possible latter may be shifted lO another house. nr*ii*J*'?i ^y'^O; 25-35-40-55-65-75- 85-99)—'Sea Racketeers' (Rep). Not made .of the right stuff,, probably no more than $7,000. mild. Last week. Love -Takes Plight' (GN) no better than this figure. • Criterion (1.062; 25-:40.55)—'Sophie Lang Goes West' (Par). Aromlng only.,lesser interest,- about $6,000, poor. Last week, 'Shanghai Express' (Par>, (reissue), $5,000.- ■ GJobo,(L274; 55-$1.10-$1.65.$2,20)— 'Something to Sing About' (GN) (3d '^^^^J' second week around $8,000, better profit than first, and started third lap yesterday (Tues.). Though it will turn a profit on the 21-day run. Cagney musical is, how- ever, cpnsiderable of a disappoint- ment here. <J'*54; 55-85-$1.10^$1.65- $2.20)—'Zola'-(WB) (8th Week). Still doing a nite business, last week , (7th) around $17';O00. /oSJl.^*".i!.''°^' 25-35-55)-Thin Ice' ^l^^^*?"?. a"** 'Annapolis iSalute' , (RKO) (1st run). Henie- ,Ppwer musical responsible for bulk i'of business this Week, perhaps $11,- lOOO; Last week's doiibleton, 'Varsity .Show' (WB) (2d run) and 'Hide- away' (RKO) (1st run). $10,000. ; Paramount (3.664; 25-35-55-85-90)— .'High, Wide'. (Par) and in pit, Hud- ;Son-deLpnge orchestra, with Yacht Club Boys. A picture that did badly on a $2 rUn but . aided here by pol- icy and Yacht Clubbers is able to brarr pbout smart business; first week $49,000. and second week, ending last ni''ht (Tues.) $38;000, very good, with another seven days to go. 'Souls at Sen' (Par) next. Radio City Music Hall (5.980; 40- 80-85-9P-$1.65)—'Horizon' (Col) and stage show (2d week). More had been expected of this one, last week (1st) $87,000,' o.nd thl.s week (2d- final) stanza, not over $70,000, Rialto (7.50; 25-40-.'>5)—'It Hap- nened in HoUvwood' (Col), Expect- ing around .117,500, oke. Last waek, 'Outlaws r>f Orient' (Col) and 'Car- nival of Champs,' fight compilation, 57,500. • F.lvoH (2.092; 25-55-75-85-99)—'Life of Party' (RKO). Di.saopointer pnd nrobably not any better than $14.- 000. getting onlv one week here. House bvinTs in 'Wife, Dr. and Nurse' (!^Oth) Saturday (9). Last wftek, 'Make n Wish' (RKO) did the the- atre dirt, only around $8,000, n went vn extra three days, on that frp+tjn^ but !S2.500. R"X" (5.836; 25-45-55-75)—''00 Men' (U) and stp«e show (3d wesk). Too bid U hasn't got more like this f^p*^. flnal (3d) week beint? a fine ■$40,000 after H!50,000 iPst week (2d) •^"d $fl8,500 the initial seven days. V^h^w! 'Life B'^ins at College' (2nth) in Fridav (R). Strpnd (2,767: 25-55-75)—'Back «n Circulation' (WB). This on- viH •havp to go .some to too a mild !S15.O0O but house may hold it a second v^-^^k lanvwav. ' ^inal thr-aft davs on +hird •»'C''\ of 'Certain Wonian' (WB) a little better than $^000. nft'^" a p'>^- ond w^-^k of less than $14,000. dis- .annointiP''. ' .S'?.*-. A50- f«!i-55-75)—'B'w-v Mel- ■ '»'^.v' nVIG) (2fl rim) ani Fl2^-her 'He^'^er'"^n orches^r'<. An PVP^'P'^e •week of around $25,0nn. foori, is in ^nrospect. In ahe.ad. 'V-^""?;' 'UA) ' Cd rnn) and Vaude headed bv Fnric .'n/^af'ri.wuera orc^^^sfr.^ and Bert Frohman. about $28,000.