Variety (Oct 1940)

10 PICTURE GROSSES .: Sari Frahcisco, Oct 8, . Ejthibs are kidding- d^^^ ih€j'!ll usie for an alibi, now tbaithe -Exipo -is but of the \vay.' EyeningS and: weekerids are;\ip-spmewhat,-but: - it'll^e a week or so before full bene- fit of Fair'^ abserice \Vill be eri^ Golden Gate this week; picked u» ^ckne'SocK $8,500 In Im '■■'■:--y:::--y{r^:'. Seattle,: Oc^> 8.; ,■; That th^ fc^tball :sea5oh is here . Was evideiiced Saturday (&) not olrly 7 oh the grid locaUy, wliere ^W^ dliffbrd C. Fischer's T.olies Bergere i t^^ ,^nd 'Idaho met, but that evening from Treasurie Island .for a .week>[ the Orpheum,. the .Washihgton stand.;-- . ■ ^ v^^SS- — • Tonight (*l?ufesday) 'They Knew honor guests at 'Rockne, The, game ;What They Wante(?-gets ilasll" preem, drew some folks from nearby ,t^wns tSli L&hton: heading - flock .of - Pnhvened. the names iattehding and . streets' roped off foi: bally during which five tons of grapes'wiil be crushed by bare- looted- gals in huge vat. .'Foreign .Correispondent' still going liicely at. United Artists:,and Will stay for a fifth- framfe.. Orpheum. is, pepping •Hired Wife* With; ad! copy reading ^cornedy^sex--pl'osiori;*. ^ f- -: : : Estimates for This .Weik FdJt : (F-WC)-; (SiOOQ; 35-40^50)— so; that night life: was enlivened, the theatres cbmihg in on it.. .Not one of the /big* games hercf it neverthe- less/Seryed as ian :Jhtroductibh. 'Bobmtowii' has enougU to. head, into .sixth' week: -in town at Blue Mouse at ad.variced priceis,' But it ;is sagging.- . ;;.-•::■-;>;; /. Two: iriaj^ are. gbing second \veek, 'Strike Up* ; at Fifth and .'Correspondent' at .tiberty,: both to nice returns.. 'Hired Wife'..wins •rffv fionouest^ (WB^ 'Gay movebVer ito.-Music Box -from. t>arar P>y_ . .conquest- V.vyo J d^^^^ ;,,hPi«A nAnnnP Dnrb n s eet- Cabaliero'- "(20th)-. : Aided , by good reviews, arid' pulling, pkay $17,000. Last' week, :'Brigham^ Young' (20th) fair $14,000. ; Golden CSate (RKO) (2,850i 40.50- 5i9)—'Still AUve' iRKO) and JFplies •Bergere.' Stage sole magnet here, picture beirig liability ratherthan asset. Added';hypo of overlapping world preem Of :^'They Knew . What They Wanted' (RKO) bn final eve- 'riing will mean total: of $22,500, big. tast'week, 'Christian Meets Women (RKO) and Rochester, $14,500,; fair.. Orpheiim (F&M) (2;440; - 35-40-50) -^'Hifed Wife'-(U) and 'Won't; Talk' (Cbl). : iSbld on giggle angle for $12,500, aboiit right. Last ' week, ^Howards Virginia' (Col) ended sec- ond stanza, with mild $5,50.0.'. Paranibttnt;;(F-We) (2',740; 35-40-; 50)^*Strike Up; Band' (M-G)- (2d. wk.). Potent stuff for galloping $12,- 00b. Firrt week, .excellent-$20,000. - : St; Francis (F-WC); : tL470; 35r40- 5())-T'Brigham Young^ (20th). . Move- over from Fox will register average $5.fl06. Third-flnal week of 'Wyo-: minjg' (MrG) and .*Kildare Home' (M-G) got sariie fijgiire. ; United Artists (Cohen) (i,200: 35- 40-50) — ^Foreign CorrespotidenV (UA) (4th wk.).. iNights better sinpe Fair , closed. Will do; $5,000 and maybe more.: Fifth week definitely set. Last, (3rd) week healthy $6,500; Warfleld (F-WC) (2;68b;: 35-^40^50) >-'Dulcy'- (M-G) and 'Sky Murdei:' (M-G). ; Averaige $10,000, which seerhs tame after 'Boom Town' (M-G) got $7,000 on its fifth and fihial stanza last: week. ; - David Rose .Contlniied .from pagie ?. .hie bad been seated in his office on :Wardbur street/before going out. . The same night, three tiip.e bombs were, dropped riear a building across .the street.: Although adriiortished to. . leave by: the air raid warden. Rose . retired in a room most distant frOm the location bit the bombs. The next morning he found thai one "K^ra cTsii^^^ pletely demolished one .of the struc- tures across the .street. . ■ Indiscriminate ; bOmbihg made. it Impossible to carry on office workj Rose has advised Par officials. Con- 'sequently the London: offices of Par-; ariiount early this, month were moved'> to -previoiusly- selected coun- try houses so that: employes' ebuld get :sbme sieeif». in one of his let-, ters 'Rose said that pri the day he wais writrhg there had been six air- raid, alarms before-lunch time and that a seventh hjad been given:!as iie; wound rip t^e letter. ,, . Rose indicatied that it was imposr- sible: to maintairi any. regular pro- duction schedules, although Para- rriount presently,'is producing 'Quiet Weddirig' (sic!), as a quota ^feature.; Rose's family presently is iri!. the moririt, .where Deanne Durbin is; get- ting heavy advertising blasts in 'Spring Parade."^ Oirpheum is timely with 'Knute Rockhe/: All American*, as ats -^headliner;.;;:::; .^; '. Estimates ^9^ "This W *■ Blue Mou^e: (Hariirick-!Evergreen) (850;,40-50-60)—-Boom Town' ' (M-G) (6th local Week).,; Indicating :$2,400 for windiip.: Last" week, same -film $3,100, good. ; ■ Coliseum - (Harhrick - Evergreeri) (1,900; 20-35)-^'Love. You Again'; (M-G) ;arid v.'Pharitom Raider': (Par) (2d run ). Anticipate good $3,4()0. Last week, 'Pago' ■ (UA) and 'McGinty' (Par ), (2d- run) swell ,$3,500. Fifth' Avenue /(Hainirick - Ever- green) (2.349; 30-40-50)—'Strike Up.' (M-G) (2d Week). Lbbking lor $5,400 for eight days. Last week, $9,400, great. Liberty (J-vH) (1,650; 30-^0-50)— 'Foreign: Cbrresporident- <UA) . :(2d Week). Paced at great $6,500. Last week, nifty $9,300.. Music. Box (Hamribk-Evergreen) (850; 30-40r50)—.'Hired Wife' (U) and .'Gay Caballero' (20th), moved froril Paramount theatre, expecting okay $2,400 for six days. Last week, ■Wyoming* (M-G) and 'Kildare Home' (M-G) (2d week), $2,700 okay. . . Orpheum (Harfirick - Evergreen) (2,600; 30^40-50)—'Rockne' (WB) and 'South Karanga* (U). Playing up football , angle - with player-, guests Saturday night after Wash.-Idaho tussle; looking, to fine $8,500. Las ; week, 'Argentine Nights' (U) and ♦Mummy's Hand' (U) $5,100, .good, Paiomar (Sterling): (1,350; . 30-40 50)—'Girl God's Country' (Rep) and 'Sing, f Dance' (Rep) pliis vaude Anticipate big $5,000. Last week; 'Flowing Gold'. (WB) plus vaUde $4,600, okay. ; Paramount (Hamrick-:Evergreen> (3,039; 30-40-50)—'Spring Parade^ (U) and 'Quarterback' (Par). Head ing for likely $8,000. Last week 'Hired Wife' (U) and 'Gay Cabal lero' (20th) $6,100. good Roosevelt (Sterling) (800; 20-35)— 'Love Came Back' (WB) and 'Lady in Question' (Col). (2d run,), indi- cating okay $2,500. Last week (30- 40-50), 'Seahawk' (WB) (3d week). $2,900, gbodr——-—•■—— •— 'Boom Town' Great TO . •■. I . . Montreal, . Oct. 8. V First ivee'k of all hew pix here In some time offers good likelihood of nice grosses, with 'Boom Town,' at Lbew's, iri line for a sizzling $11,000. •Hired Wife;' at Palace, grossing nice $7,500. :'\ Estimates for This Week Palace (CT) (2.700; 25-45-55) ^ Hired Wife' (U). Pointing to good; $7,500. Last week, 'City Conquest' (WB),. nice $6,000. . - - r Capltor (GT) (2,700; 25-45-55)— Argentine Nights' (U) and 'Not So Tough' (U). Look like- nice $5,500. Last week. 'Frank James* (20th) and Girl Avenue A' (20th). good $5,000. Loew's : (CT): (2.800; 30-40-60)-- Boom. Town' (M-G). Going- great guns for $11,000. Last week, repeat Sea Hawk' (WB), nice $6,000. Princess (CT) (2,300;- 25-34-50)— Girl Dance' (RKO) and 'Wildcat Bus' (RKO). Should gross fair $3.- 500; Last Week, 'Flowing Gold WB) and 'Money. Woman' (WB), good enough $3.200i; : , Orpheum (Ind) (1,100; 25-40-50)— Westerner' (UA). Sure, to repeat at good $4,500. Last week, 'Captain; Caution' (UA) and . 'Plenty Hot' (Reo), weak $1,600. v :--,:,:■■-•;_„ . Cinema de Paris (France-Film) (600; 25-50)—'Sans Lendemain.' May gross good $2,000. Last week's fourth repeat of 'Pieges' fell to $1,000. ; St. Denis (France-Film) (2,300; 25- 34)—'Les Otages' and. 'Le Mot de Caml?rohne.' Good $4,500 in sight. Last week, 'Pere Lebonnard' and Mystere de la Maison Blanche', good $4,200. - Wediie8d<i7f October :9» 1940 Laurel-Hardy Copping $17,000 'Bri am'-' m $10,000 IN rviHc Spots, Air Raid Casualties London, Sept, 24. Chris Richards; . the dancer-come- diah, was killed in South London air raid; Michel (ancl liero) . sustained broken collar bone, while- his wife was. killed when sheltering in the cellar of a shop hear, the East . End theatre- where, they- were, playing. Bobby Olrac, English comedian in the same show, Vf^o. was with them, also Killed. ; y- \-': (Tecelia Harvey, young concert and teusieal comedy actress, died . when, her home in West London was der .molishea. Walter Payne, managing director of the Syndicate Halls,' is In: hosDital with injuries sustained Winter Garden (Sterling) (800; 16- 32)—'New Moon' (M-G) arid 'Phan- tom Raiders' (MrG) (2d run). Ex- pect neat $2,500. Last week, 'Heaven Too* (WB) and 'Those Were Days' (Par) .(2d run), $2,400, big. Par Takes Over Peskay's 2 Houses in Peekskill Paramount has closed a deal with Preferred Theatres, headed by Ed Peskay, acquiring control of the Peek- skill and Colonial at Peekskill, N. Y., which up to now had been pooled .with .the, NetcQ circuit, operating the upstate: New York theatres in the Par chain. ^ • , V Cincinnati, Oct. 8. Wham b.o. jirigle of 'Strike Up the Band.' at the Palace, is- upping combo take of major stands to a sweet margin over last week. Cur- rent results are favorable in face of Cincy's part in the world series and return of suriimer temperature over the weekend. ••' Second best returns this week are on 'Brigham Young,' at the Albee, yet it is ii.s.h. 'Want Divorce' is on the fair side for the Gt-andi 'Angels Over • Broadway' at Keith's and -Cap- tain Caution' in the Lyric are miss- outs. - ■ -Estlmates-for Thls-Week -— Albee (RKO) (3,300; . 33-40-50)— 'Brigham Young* (20th). N.S:h. $10,- 000. Last Week, 'Spring Parade' (U), sagged in last half to |11,000, below expectations. Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 33-40-50)— 'Spring Parade' (U). Mpveover. from Albee for second week; Fair $4,000. Last week, .'Howards Vir- ginia' (Col) (2d run), poor $3,000. Family (RKO) (1,000; 15-28)— 'Stranger Third Floor' (RKO) and 'Tom Brown' (RKO), divided With 'Leather Pushe»-s' (U) and 'Gang Mine' (Mono). Okay $2,000. Same last week on 'Secret Seven* (Col) and 'One Crowded Night' (RKO). split with 'Ragtime Cowboy Joe' (U). and 'Golden Gloves' (Par). Grand (RKO) (1,439; 33-40-50)— 'Want Divorce* (Par), Fair $5,500. tast~weekr-'No-T-ime-GomedyMWB)- (3d wk.), good $4,500. Keith's (Libsori) (1,500; .33-40-50)— 'Angels Broadway* (Col). Poor $3,- 000. Last week.. 'Haupted Hbney- mioon' (M-G). no dice at $3,000. Lyric (RKO). (1,400; 33-40-50)-^ 'Captain-Caution* (UA). Awful .$2,- 500.. Last week, 'Money Woman' (WB), six days, pitiful $1,700, low- est for a long time. . Palace (RKO) (2,600; 33-40-50)— 'Strike Up Band' (M-G). Socko $17,000. Last week, ^Foreign Corre- spondent' (UA), fairly good $10,000. Shubert (RKO) (2,150; 33-40-50)— 'F or e i g'n Correspondent* (UA). Transferred from Palace for. second week.: Fair $4,060. Last week, 'City Conquest* (WB) (2d run), mild $3,- 000. . - :■ ■ ' - Louisville, Oct. 8. <Tlie Westerner' is topping the town this week at Loew's State and is aiming at a nice sized chunk of coin, in spite bl the return of un- seasonable hot weather over the weiskend. There's" also ai slackening: of patrons* interest, due to the counter-pull of the World Series on the radio, arid the added interest lor localites in the- sbries between New- -ark and Louisville;. Night games m the Little. World Scriesv here have been drawing crowds :bf 12,000 and more, and now that the Colonels are playing iri: Newark, the radio airings ^are keeping • plenty of local: fans glued to their loudspeakers. Unusual booking arrangement has Fourth Avenue Amus. Co. playing 'Brigharii Young' and 'Great Profile' at both the Rialtb and Strand. Quite an exploitatiori campaign, "using 24- sheets arid splashing plenty of ads in' newspapers, to direct attention to the two shov^ings, but returns are on the medium side. 'No Time for Comedy,' iri second week at Mary Anderson, still going Plenty strong. : > Estimates for This Week Brown (LoeW's-Fourth A ven"e) (1,400: 15-30-40)—tStrike Up Band' (M-G) arid 'Secret -Seven' (Col). Rooney-Garland pair breezing along on moveover for .splendid $4,000. Last Week, 'Want Divorce' (Par) and 'Yesterday's, Heroes' (20lh), light $1,600. ;• Kentucky (Switow) (1,200; 15-25) — Boys Syracuse' (U) and 'Love Back' (WB), split with 'Captain Caution- (UA) and 'Blondie Servant' (Cbl). Stepping along for average $1,400. Last week, 'Daltbns Rbde' (Par) and 'Manhattan . Heartbeat' (20th), split with 'Windy Poplars' (RKO) and 'Military Academy' (Col), good $1,500. ,, Loew's State (Loew's) (3,100; 15- 30-40) — 'Westerner' (UA) ,arid 'Golden Fleecing' (M-G). Biz is plenty- good on the strength Of Gary Cooper's b.o. draw. Pacing, for ex- cellent $8,000. Last week, 'Strike Up Band' (M-G) and 'Seciret Seven' (Col), great $9,00(). Mary Anderson (Libson) (1,000; 15-30-40)—'No Time Comedy* (WB) (2d wk). Holding fine pace, for very good $3,400. fbllbwmg "fffst .week's splendid $4,200. RIalto (Fourth Avenue) (3.400; 15- 30-4())—'Brigham Young' (20th). arid 'Great PrOflile' (20th). This double bill is p}aying at the Stiand as well as this housej arid.both showings re- ceived healthy buildup. Patronage however, hardly warrants such an arrangement in this towh. Aiming at fair $6,000. Last weekV 'Public Deb' (20th) and Phil Spitalny's orch, okay $8,500. ■ - Strand (Fourth Avenue) (1,400; 15-30-40)—'Brigham Young' (20th) and 'Great Profile' (20th). Won't cop any great amount of shekels. Looks like around $2,300 at this stand. Last week. 'Men Sky' (RKO) and 'Leather Pushers' (U), lair $2,800. Minneapolis,.Oct. 8. it behooves 'Strike Up the Band' to cop a plea of guilty to the charge of aJrand larceny / for; stealing the boxoffice spotlight currently. Tak- ing jntb consideration various: cost factors involved, it relatively even has pilfered the play away from Laurel and Hardy in person. This proves again to the picture-riiincied' that a strong, straight film, bfiei ing can give boxoffice cards and spades to most stage shows, even when the latter boast names, as in this ' stance. -■*- ■ 'Strike Up* Is . the only important picture Ijnewcomier,, Jnasniuch'; as The Peekskill, which has been operating two days a week, goes to a full-week' (7 days) Basis iri swing- ing urider the Piar ,banner. Colonial, dark at present,Vj^L-be torn down arid for the titrie^Hp. the site will become a parkiri^^ot. Netcb has operated and coritrolled the Para-, mount in- Peekskill foi:'sorii,^ years. . : George Cavanaugh, formerly In Poughkeepsie for Par, is in charge of the Par iiiterests at Peekskill now. - Nizet's Appointment r Louis Nizer, film-radio attorney, has been appointed chairman of the advisory committee handling all cori- scriptjori iiiatters in the iriptiorj pic-^ ture industry and theatre buMriess. Appointment was riiade'by Major' B. McDermbtt,. of the draft bbafd, acting in behalf bf the Government's tlerusalem ' .Continued frorii page 2_ Kuykendall .^Continued from page 6>_ Boom Town' and 'Rariiparts We Watch' i are holding over for their fourth and third weeks, respectively, while the balance of the lineup com- prises coniparatively insignificant, fare. Despite the impressive Roonoy ■. gross and tlje pair of aforerrtentiohed extended engag.^iments, and also de^. ; spite the. throngs vbf .'trarisieats a^^^^^ tracted over the weekend for the Minnesota-Nebraska football game, busiriess still rates as very much sub-norriial and affords plenty of use. for the crying towel. Both of the town's stage iShoWSr— the Laurel and Hardy unit at;the; 6rpheum and the Alvin's 'Follies'— are failing to : cpjrie: up to" turnstile expectations. ;yv, ' Estlniiates for This Week Alvln (Hirsch-Katz) (1,400; 29-44- 55)-^'Crboked Road' '■■ (Rep) arid, 'Broadway Frolics' ori. stage. ./Lots of •; show for the adriiiSsiori. price, but picture valueless from boxoffice staridpoirit. PboJr $3,500 iridicatod.. Last week. 'Sing, Dance- (Rep) and 'Rhythin Revels' on stage,. $3,700, poor. . :■^ : '. \, Aster (Par-Singer) (900; 15-28) — 'Blondie Servant', (Col) and 'Haunted Honeymoon' (M-G), dual first-runs. Looks like nice $1,500 for live days. Last week, 'Ladies Live': (WB) and 'Triple Justice' (RKO), dual flrst- runs, split with . 'Leather Pushers* s(U) and 'Five Peppers' (Col), also dual first-runs, $1,700; good. ; , Century (Par-Singer) (1,600; 39-44- 55)—'Boom Town' (M-G) (4th wk). Will finish highly profitable and sue-.; cessful engagiejuerit. Sagging in final session, but plenty good $4,000 may be attained. Last week. $5.100., okay after big $14,500 first and $9,000 secorid. weeks. Esquire (Gillman) (290; 28)—'Lost Horizon' (Col) (reissue) (2d wk). Has demonstrated considerable box- office strength. Good $900 in pros- pectrpafter rfine $1;200 first: week. Gopher (Par-Singer) (998; 28)— 'Comin' Round Mountain' (Par). Looks like good enough $3,000. Last week, 'Argentine Nights' (U), $2,800, fair. ■ / . Orpheum (Par-Singer) (2.800; 29- 44.55) 'Wyoming' . (M-G) and LaurelrHardy tuiit on stage. Value of film comedy. stars showing through for big $17,000. Last week, 'Foreign Corresporident' (UA), $7,100, good. -■. /- -.. - . State (Par-Singer) (2.300; 28-39-44) —'Strilte Up Band* (M^G). Exploit well and delivermg in hefty way at boxoffice. Roohey-Garland team tops as draws. En route to very big $12,500. Last week,'Brigham Young* (20th), $5,400, light: Uptown (Par) (1,200; 28-39) — 'Stayed Breakfast' (Col). Fir.st rieighborhood^howing^ Looks-JiM- of Jesus or'Christ, and it is only for. cast that Jeshua will become the Messiah upon reaching manhp'bd. Question of having Jesus as stage -character arose; when 'Ben Hur' was produced; ;the problem being solved when the late A. .L. .Erlangei^, who produced the show, with Marc KlaW, indicated Christ by a shaft of light- en the filniversiori a hand was used for the same purpose. However, (flhrist was portrayed in Cecil B. De Mille's 'The King bf Kirigs,'-. part being enacted by H. Bi Warner. Film' created: much atten- tibn. and controversy, when shown at the Gaiety, N; Y. at $2.20 top. In England, 'Kings' was not permitted to • be exhibited in regular theatres. ing 'The motion picture industry did more to sustain ttie, morale of the Ariiierican people (during the; World War) than any other industry.' - kuykendall ejcpressed the belief that the Neely Bill is now a dead is- sue with little prospect of . being passed {by Congress. . He . declared also that jiikebpx manufacturers have riiaide provisions for 15 minute pix arid may double that time,period, Fred. H. Wehrenberg, prez of the lo- cal brganizatiori who was re-elected, said these shows would prove worse competish than the/ non-theatribal films tiiat the brgariizatibn has fought for so mariy years. The meeting adopted a ■ rribtiOn to* bptpose any change in the: ■ existing, clearance schedules in this territory and also recorded itself as opposing. slot ;ma-. chine pix. . In addition to Wehrenberg, other officers elected are Lbuis Hiehl, sec- treas.; Louis Ansell, asst. sec.rtt'eas.; S. E. Pirtle, Jerseyyille, 111., 1. yfi Rodgers, Cairo, Ill.,.Sam Komm;; St; Louis; Robert Cluster, Salem, 111., v.'p.s.; and Walter A. Thiniriiig, St. Louis, sgt.-at-arriis. The board of directors consists of Louis J. Menges, East St. Louis, ill.; L. A. Mercief, PerryvlUe, Mo.; Harry E. Miller, Fes- tus, Mo,;- Noak Bloonier, Belleville, 111.; JabkvSeipkeri Webster Groves, MO.; arid Harold W, 'Chick' Evens, Frank Soutter, Frank. Speros, Maury Davis and Sidney Johnson, all of St. good $2,500. Last week. 'Pride Preju- dice' (M-G). good $2,800. World ' (Par-Singer-Steffes) (350; 28-39-44-55)—'Ramparts' (RKO) (3d wk). Curiosity relative to 'Baptism of Fire' sequence still helping to bring 'em ini However, shbuld wind.., >up this week. Good $2,00O indicated. Last week, $2,500, after big $3,500 first 'week. ..v ■/: Eddie Davis _ Continued front page 2._^ Brobks wrote fof RKO In 1937..- U. S. marshal's men, who had the papers, repprted time after time /they couldn't locate the elusive Eddie. Then, one day Garfield passed L. & E.'s. Outside was a banner an- nouncing that Sunday would be celeb night and Davis would be the celeb. Garfield decided to atterid the swing street function in person and had himself swoi-h in as a depuly marshal to haridle the dirty woric. : Inasntiuch as it was Sunday, he had to wait until midnight tb ' make' the service legal. Smack at 12:01 :>Davis was shot the business. Brooks, who was also;: wanted but whom Garfield didn't recoi^ize, i> was alsO Iheye, Davis Ipst .no time iri pointing him out. Misery loves: company, he e>J- plained, . ■' Bringing the suit, in which RKO Is also defendant, is Jesse • Solomon, who clairiis lhat in 1938 he cppy-; ;ughted^ «nd^-sent-to-pplaybrdker& script whose principal .character: was, a songwriter who composed in his sleep, same as in *R. C/. Reve'ly