Variety (Mar 1941)

Wednesday, Matcli 12, 1941 PICTURE GROSSES 11 'Tobacco^ 20G DesiH^ Imo ^SMIJH' 7G, MONTREAL Orosses Fine Despite ; Lent—'Tall' Dual, $.6,000 '■, : . Sah Fraaciisco. Mir^^ . 'Fantasia' had; a smasll: opening, at the. Geary theatre: w an extended 'eitigagernent at $1,^^ last thubdajr (6).: Press was given ai preview of th(^ Disney fantasy on Tuesday night. The San Francisco Opera Guild bought thie house on Wednesday and sold the orchestra seats at $5.00 per. Official public opening foUowied on Thursday. Ad- vance campaign arid opening 'night «turits; Were: extensive. T Biggeist. grosser on Market street this Wetek is 'Tobacco Road, to which the. critics have been brutal. ♦A Girl/a: Guy arid .a Gob.' Harold Lloyd's first production -effort sans him/is clicking in a'big Wiay at the Gate-Where. It may bi held 9 sec- .ond-stint. .-■! ■^-^V'^'stlmfUeii'^fqr llib.W^ - F6x <F-WC) (5.066; 35.4d-50)rT-'Tp- bacco Road' (20th) and 'Sleepers West' (ZOth). t'ilm version of To- bacco Road,' which has played three times herie on the stage, received a lOd^o panning ftoiri the crix. But ihtere.'^t in the picture is still hot enough to draw $20,000, which ain't, hay. Last: week, 'StriWberry Blonde' (WBT and 'Honeymoon Three" <WB). swell $21.000.. \ Gearv fCurran) 11,286; 55-75-$!,10- $1.65)^TantasiB' (RKO^. Right, up highbrow San Fftiriclsco's alley. First four- days .has net around $7,500; Disney's musical: show expected to remain here three ihdnths, About $40,000 ha.s 'b'een spent ori the. Geary In refurbishing house and installing Fantasound.. ■ Golden Gate (RKO^ (2.850; 39-44 85)—'Girl. Guy' (RKO) and vaudc ville. .Harold. Lloyd brougiit up priri cipals of his first production effort to Gate for p.*. at all perfbrmanccs on .opening day. Comedy is: doing very Well here. Another liit afcithe Gate this week Is Carl Bris.son, mak- ing hi.s first appearance on any American sta'je in a sorig' routirie Will do swell $17,500.. Liast week (3d); 'Mr. and Mrs..iSmith' (RKO) and vaudeville ended with sizable $10,500. Ornheum (Blumenfeld) (2^440; 35 40-50)-T'Buck Privates' ' (U) - and 'Boston Blackie' (Col). • (12 days) Can't complain, over $5,000 for final five days of this bill. 'Back Street^ (U) opens today (11). Last week, bumper $l<l,Ci00. Par»moiint (F^WC;)' (2;470: 35-40 50 )^'Strawberry 'Bionde*^ (WB). and 'Hoheymoori Three' . (WB). (riiove over). This paiir surprised iat the^Fox last . Week, where biz ended several thousand faeyorid expectiations. Move over. looks plenty sweet at $12,000 Last week. 'Hardy's Secretary' (M G) and' 'Murdet Among Friends' (20th) (moveover). okay 410.000. St. Frariols (F-WC) (i;475: 35-40 50).—'Libci-ty* (M-G) and. 'First Ro- mance' (Morio). Take: of $6,000 Is- a bit above house average., Last week •Virginia' (Par) arid 'Wild Man Bor^ neo' (M-G) ■ (ihovcover) got .around $5:000. United Artists (CJohen) (l.^iSO; 35 40-50)—'Ends Night' (UA). Not quite up to snuff at $9,000. Last week (5 days). 'Blackout' (UA) did fairish $5,000. Warfleld (F-WC) (2.680: 40-55)— •Gone' (M^G) (4th wk); Okay at.$ll,- 000. Last week (3d), $12,000. : Estimated Total Grosi ' Thlayweek.. ......., ,1 i,638,96o (Based •.o»;2S citie», ,172 thcoi tres, chiefly ' first runi, includinfl w. y.)-;-.. V. ■ ■ -Total Grosp. Same. W«ek Last T«ar ,. . ; ; , .|l,80d,9e0 ■ (Based on 25 dtter, ilT. theatres) ' 'STRAWBERRY' 22G, B'KLYN Grosses Good Despite Bllz-^ Thing' Fine $21,000 Brooklyn, March 11. Despite,heavy snowfall downtown deluxers managed ;to: do remarkably: .well .over weekend. Fabian iFox , with 'Strawheriry Blonde' and 'Mary Ditgani' will.romp in-iihead.of others . thlij stanza! Second week. 6f fGorie' . at Loew's Metropolitan at pop prices . will als.o Result ; in . ;. profitable .transaction; . ':■ ,;.^■■;■ . tistlmales iPor^^^^^ ' ■ Albee (RKO) (3,274; 25.35-50)- •Mr; and Mrs. Smith' (RKO) and •Vivacious Lady* (RKO). :. Jumped to okay $18,000. Last week. 'Buck Pri- vates' : (U) and .'Murder Arriong Friends' (20tH), weak $14;000,' ' : ■ Fox -^FabiahV (4,0J(9; :25-55-50)— . "Strawberry Blonde' (WB)' arid . 'Mary Du.gan' (M-G); Booming $22,- 000; Last week; 'Honeymoon' <WB) and ^Captain Caution* (UA), good ■$i.6;ooo. '■■ V:-..- Met (Loew's) (3,618; ■ 40^55)—'(itohe' ■JM-(j): (2d wk).. Crowds continue ■flocking in; strong $19,000 expected; Last week, fine $26,000: , .Paramonnt .(FabianX (4,126: 25-35- . 50)—'Thing (jailed Love' (COl) arid ; JBlack Parrot' (WB). Fine $21,000. Last week; .'ArizonV (Col) and 'Henry' (Par) (2d wk), good $16,000. Strand (WB)- (2,870; 2Bt35-40)— 'Behind News' (Rep) arid 'Rldin' Rainbow' (Rep) So-so $4,500; Last \Week. 'Father's Son' (WB) and 'Se- cret Evidence' (Irid), mild $4,000. Pittsburgh,: March' 11. Heavieist snowstorm .. in last 25 years gave biz ah aiwfut beating over weekend, but yesterday (10) dawned. brigHt.and sunny and with traffic re-, storfd to normalcy cohvalescence is expected to iset in quickly. Even as it was; .a ' coUi>le of downtowii. spots ploughed throujgh the drifts and came up. smiling; Andrews. Sisters aire the big eUns at Stanley, on bill with 'Come Live With Me,' arid they accounted for si:it grand alonie on Saturday (8),. phenomenal in yieW of isriow couple of feet, high and a blizzard; Warhef also. bekt back the weather with. 'Strawberry Blonde,' on mibve-bver from Penn, and 'is headihg for great week. •'Fintasia' got Under way slowly at Fultbn, but picked Up after, the ret views aind talk got arouiid, and while hot get goirig full "blast is showing; enouigh stuff to indicate a sizeable run. Senator doing only ^o-so with h.o; of 'Buck PjriviateS.' •So Ends Ou: Night', is. flopping, all over the Penh. Not much either for 'Virginia' in third week at Rllr. : Estimaica for Tbis Week. Fulton (Shea) (1,200; '75-$1.10. $1.65)—'Fantasia' (Disney). Although seating norm here is. 1,700, back 500 seats in balcony have been closed, giving house capacity .of 1,200 for 'Fantasia' rUn.^ Including Greek War Relief preemi which was sold for a flat sum, gross for .first full week should rim to dround $12,000<or per haps .better. That's not a very good indication of possibilities', however, since advance sale' didn't really get going until reviews got out and everybody began talking. . Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 25-35 50)—'Ends Night' (UA). Will be lucky td wind up with $8,000, pretty awful for this spot. ' Reviewers gave .;the indication that they wanted to be kind but. couldn't, the sort of reviews which are invairiably deadly at b.O; As the figure proves. Last week, 'Strawberry Blondef (WB) grieat at over $18,000. Bltt" (WB) (800; 25-35-50)—'Vir- ginia' (Par) (3d wk). Warner and Periri got just about everything there was to get out of this one, and at Ritz it's slow but still profitable. Around $2,500 looked for. Last week, 'Kitty Foyle' (RKO) got Ginger Rog- ers' Academy award gravy; almost $5,000 for best session this small- iseater has ever had. It was a third week for. this one, too; and biz was ordinary imtil the Academy, selec- tions were announced, then it shot sky high. ' Senator (Harris) (1,700; 25-^35^50). -^'Buck Privates' (U) (2d -wk). -H.o. started all right; then came the snow and the h-o. ; blitz. Cut baidly into wiiat would have been; art okaiy. sec- ond week, and not much. riibre thah $3,800 anticipated; House 'gets: 'To- bacco .Road' (20th) tomorrow (12) for what it hopes will, be a four- week run. On opening, 'Privates' got around $7,500; .. >:•...: Stanley (WB) .(3,766; 25^40-60)—^ 'Come Live' (MrG). >and Andrews Sisters with Joie .Vieriuti band.: Give the Ajfidrews gals credit for beating the weather, at its own ganie. Strict- ly a jukebox audience, and they're storming the ^ g^te in. big enough numbers to" make $2Z:0()0 certain. Great, everything considered, .proof :6f their draw is'fact that they ap- peared Saturday (8) at a 5-ind-lb to autograph records arid police had: to hold back the riiobs. ,.'rhat was at tbp height of the snowstorm, too, and istore disposed of hiore than ;2.00b ^of their : platters." Figured weekend blitz' cost Stanley at least $3,000; Last weeki. 'Horieyihoon' (WB) and >Folies Bergere' unit finished at $18,- 000, juist iaiU right;. . Warner (^B) (2.000; 25-35-50)-:- 'Strawberry Blonde'.; (WB).. ' Move-; over froni Penn, arid "going great guns. Should click to tune of #.500 at le^st; bettering even Penn oh. cur- rent week, which is unusual. A sure shot to shift to Ritz for a third week. Last week, 'Virginia' (Par), iall. right at $7,000. . .. : ••■ ;■ • Montreal,; March 11, . Main stems continue to db satisfac- tory biz during the dull.: (Lent) sea- son currently); Best, among the ace houses: will be 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' at the Palace, which looks like hand- isome $7,000, Diials' showing Well, With Capitol leading on 'Tall, :park' to good $5,S0O. . Estimates for Thl^ Week Palace -(CT) (2,700; 25^5-55)—'Mr,, and Mfis. Smith'.(RKO), Heading for good $7,000; best in town. Last Week. 'Come Live' (M-G), good:$6,5;00. . Capiitoi (CT) (2,700: 25-45-55)--^ Tail, Dark'; (20th) arid; 'Ride Kelly' (20th). Opened well and. should gross good , $6,000. : Last - . week,; 'George' (Emp). arid 'Lone Wolf; (Col)^ satisfactory $5,500. ' . Loew's (CT) (2,8b6: 30-40-60)— 'Philadelphia' \ (M-G), (4th wk),- SboUId realize .,gck)d;. $5,000, after spurt in midweek attendance '■ last week put gross to $6,000, ■ Princess (CT) (2,300; 25-34-50)-^ 'Hbneymtiori Three' (WB) and 'Fa- ther's Soh'(WB). Pointing to fair $3,000. Last week, 'Won't Talk' (Col) and 'Ellery Queen' (Col), weak $2,700. drphenm (Ind) (1.100; 25-40-50)— .'Blackout' (UA) arid ^Margie* (U). Good $3,200 in sight. jLaSt week. 'Kit Carson* (tfA) and, 'Get Girl' (Emp), repeated for weak $2,200.. Cinema de Paris (France-Filrii) (l,100;:25-50)—'Le:Re;vOlte.' Average $1,300 ahead; Fourth repeat of 'L'Homme de Niger' last week, good $1,000.• ■ ■ ■ : St. Dents (France-Film) (2,300; 25r 34)^—'La Brigade Sauvage' and 'Pro- fesseur Cupidori.': Fair Lent gross of $4,200 in sight. Laist. week, ;'JoUr s'Eleve' arid 'Paprika,' averiige $4,000. lliirdert(r$W . Louisville, March 11. Dowritowri houses; iare going along at a profitable stride, leader being Rialto with: i $tage show, first in months.: Spending is on the upbeat in this burg,;arid spotting.the-Sammy Kaye band here during thie Lenten season is prd^ing to be smart book- ing. 'Murder Amorig Frierids' on the screen, gives a riice opportunity to Marjorie Weaver, lobal gal, arid is partly reisponsible for the splendid b.o: trade. 'Come Live With Me' dualled at Loew's State, is okay, while h.o's at the Mary Anderson and Brown, are. turning in about average second week biz. 'Male Ariimal' played three per formances at Memorial Auditorium Friday-SatUrday (7-8) to pretty good biz, while Home Show at the Jeffer- son County Armory is drawing gOod attendance with 15c service charge ticket^; Otherwise, activity in the town's amusement sector ia rather light. Estlmaties for. This Week Brown (Loew's-Fourth. Avenue) (1,400; 15-30-40) —'Western Union' (20th) and /Golden .'Hoofs' (20th) Getting better than average returns for a moveover, probably good $3,000. Last week, 'Virginia' (Par) and 'Be hind. News' (Rep), built strongly from word-of-mouth, to tally socko $4,000 on moveover. . Kerituckv XSwitow) (1,200: 15^25) —'Santa ^ Fe' • (WB). and 'Laddie' (RKO). Lobks like okay ;$1,800; Last week, 'Nanette' (RKO) and 'Chad :Hanna'- (20th),:all right; $1,700. LoewV State (Loew'i) (3,200; 15 30-40) ^ 'Come Live' (M-G) arid .'Road Show' (UA). Indicating. $9,000.. splendid. Last: week, 'Ends Night' (UA) arid 'Maisie; Lady' (M-G), caught good share ..of feriime trade tb ring Up satisfactory:$7,000. Mary:: Anderson (Lib.sori) (I.06O; •15-30-40)—'Footstiips'V (WB). Hold ing for second: week, with interest continuing at fair level. Prbbably $2,600, after last week's mediuhi .$3,400,;: ■■■■■ Rfalto' (Fourth Avenue) (3.400; 15 30-40).— 'Murder Among Friends' (20th) with Sammy Kajre ;orchestra and stage show. Splendid $10,000. and will put the hbtise in the bUck if b.p. pace holds iip through Thursday (13)..; Kaye's band is going over: big here, 'and wordrof-mputh is power fur factor in -draught of the ..stage show> With Marjorie. Weaver ih, l^ad of 'Wturder Amiong-Ftiends,' local gal will puir some shekels through the wicket, too. Last Week. ■''\Vestern Union' (20th) and 'Gbtden, Hoofs' (20th), hit fine $9,500 and mbvoover. Strand (Fourth Avenue) (1.400; 15- 30-40)—'You're the One' (Par) and 'Ride. Kelly' (20th). Fair; enough $3,500. Last week, 'Buck Privates' ;(U) and: 'Streets Cairo'.. (U), on second : week shaped up for good. $3,500. . \ .$, Sunshine Cfi|) LA. ■Tdtea OIL $2^200, ?hvafes^ 2d Bfoadwaji Grosses EsUmisiled Total. Gross .. : This Week.:.,.. ..;;; .$283,100 ■ (Based on 13 tHcdtrcs) ; Total Grbss Sainie Week Lait "Year .,.; yi339,800 ■ (.Based on lS ihedtres) ; ; CLEVE ; Cleveland, March 11. :Like the 'weather,' grosses, are struggling through ,Lenten (dbuds :to grab some sunshine. 'Tobacco Road,' sensationalized by : Hipp, to a fare^ the^well, is isriiashing out top biz. Staridee trade pushed it over the weekrend quota by generous! riiargin, with possible h:b. being contem-- plated. ; Bobby: ;Byrne's .crew on stage. Whipping up Palace's rating by mag- rietizing good turnout of jitterbugs, but 'Four Mothers' riot much help. 'CJoriie Live With Me' proving that James Stewart's Academy award has goiod b.o. power at the State. Move? over bri ^Strawberry Blonde' frojn Hipp tb Allen also a Worthy .invest- ment, way above average. Estimates for This Week Alien (RKO) (3,000; 30-35-42-55) ■^'Strawberry Blonde' (WB). Moved over from the Hipp.- Will do sweet $4,000. Last week 'Back Street (U); on similar pushbver, socked oUt fine $4,800. - Hipp (Warner) (3,700; 30-35-42-55) — Tobacco Road' (20.th). Stage ver- sion been here- several tiroes, but film is going like wildfire with crowd that only knew of play's rep. Both Saturday and Sunday attendance nearly averaged sell-outs, meauing great $15,500 or better. Last week 'Strawberry Blonde' (WB), a slow- builder that worked up to extra- nice $13,900. Palace; (RKO) (3,700; 30-35-42-55- 66)—'Four Mothers': (WB) and vaUde. Film sloughed off by critics, but Bobby Byrne's orchestral stage revue developed unexpectedly strong pull. Around $15,000 in sight, due to plugs for drummer Dick Farrell, who had a pop band of his own here urider monicker of Dick D'Nah Last week 'Buck Privates' (U) plus Ray Noble's band, okay at $14,800. SUte (Loew's) (3,450; 30-35-42-55) —'Come Live' (M-G)^ Hedy Lamarr took lambasting from crix, but Jim- my : Stewart's 'Oscar' pulling it up to $13,000, all right. Last week 'Son Cristo' (UA). rather mild $10,500. Stillman (Loew's) (1,972; 30-35-42- 55)—'MaisieLaidy' (M-G). Trifle be- low usual draw of series, and will have. to work i -.rd to nab $3,000. Last week 'Roiad Show' (UA) one of season's wedkesti $2,000. 'Saint'-Dorsey 19G Despite Balta Snow; Tobacco' Big $9,000 Baltimore,: March 11; . :.Strbng product line-up' .'offsetting killer-diller - blizzard which hit town on weekend; deriibralizirig traffic arid slowing everything down to a piere walk. Strong Sunday (9) biz puhiped' life into matters all around, however. Combo Hipp, with, Toriimy Dorsey arid 'Saint in Palm Springs,' broke a house record ori that day with rest of Week indicating a bang up total. Also big is 'Tobacco' Road/ at the; limited seated New, with doirig^ thetc exr pected to hit a high figure; Rest of town okay. .N ; Estimates f6r .T1|1b WeelK;.- .: Century (Loew^s-UA) , (3,000; • 15, 28'44)—'Ends Night' (UA). Pickirig up momentum, arid pointing to all right $10,000. Last week,:'Son Cristo' (UA) held up nicely at $9,700, . Hippodrome - .(Rappapbrt), (2,205; i5-28-39-44-55r66) — 'Saint in palni Springs' (RKO); Leaning entirely on ■tommy Dorsey band arid headihg for bahgb $19,000. Hung Up. ai-house recr ord' Sunday .(9).: Last week; secorid of 'Mr. and Mr.s. Srijith' (RKO) plus h,0; yaUde, added mildish $8,800 Vto fairly . strong opening ' round : to $13,000. , i. Keith's fScVanberge'r) (2,408; 15r 28-39-44-55-66)—'Nice .Girl': (U); (2d Los Angeles; March; 11,.'; . Exceptionally .warm arid jpieaSant Weekend weather hurt the maiustem . grosses: .slightly. Beaches and' mountain resorts drew .hundreds of thousands;: especially on Sunday, and this, of couLse,-. did; some knifing bri .the,:b.o.;-''■■' ■ ;■; . With riiitrierbus hbldovers./.bright- eist spots are the day-dite Fox-West:. Coast " hbus'es. State and; Ghiriiese. - .which, are preemirig ;'Tobacco Road' to excellent returns; Goritrbversial filmplay got away-strong, arid should do. a little: better than : $23,000 comf bined ofi the seven days, " < Holdovers include .'BackyStreet'. at the RKO and Pantage.s. 'Footsteps in ■ the Dark' kt the -Hollywood and: Downtown, and 'Buck Privates' at : the Paramourit,' with 'Hard Boiled Caniary' and a new stage show added to bolster. Others continuing are 'Fiantasia' at the Carthayi 'Gone-With, the Wind'at the United;Artis'ts and Four Star, and. -'Rebecca' at thi Hawaii. . ; ; Estimates for This'Week :- Carthay Circle (F-WC) (1.516; 83-i $1.10-$1.65)-^'Fantasia' (Disney) (6th wk).; Cartoon opus continued to shbw; strength, and ciirrent stanza will: likely add another $12,000 - to fifth week's $12,400; Cfaiiiese (Grauman-F-WC): (2,0.T4; 30-44-55-75)r-"robaccb Road' (20th) and 'Murder Among Friends' (20th). Heading for fair ■$9,()00. Last week, 'Hardy's Secretary': (M-G). and. *Kil- dare's Crisis' (M-G), $11,000 as pre- dicted. Downtown (WB) (1.800: 30-44-55) , 'Footsteps' (WB) and 'Happiness* (WB) (2d wk). Errol Plynn pic be- ing held: for secohd weck, with 'Hap- piness' again dualled matinees only. Secbnd. stanza mild $5,500 after first; seven days topped $7,600. : Four Star (UA-F-^O) (900; 30-44- 55)—'Gone* (M.G) (3d wk).: Conr tinues to attraict fair patronage hcra as compared with bisr biz downtown. . Current week looks like so-so $3,800, after last week ended with okay $4.500; Hawaii (GAS) (1,100; 30-44)^ 'Rebecca* (UA) (revival) and 'Chal- . lerige' (FA) (4th wk). Nearing the end, and satisfactory $1,000 the prob- able answer. Last week, on strength of'Academy award, hit neat $2,000; Holiywood (WB) (2.756: 30-44-55) -^'Footsteps' (WB) and 'Happinesr (WB) (2d wk). Another Week for this pair but not likely to do better than $5,000; First week hR arbund $7,200. fair. . Pantaues (Pan) (2,812: 30-44-55)— •Back Street* (U) (2d wk) and •Double Date' (U). Another good stanza in store, and holdover should hit okay $5,800.. First woek exceeded exnectatlbn.s with $11,200. - . Paramonnt (Par) (3.595; 30-44-55- 75)—'BuCk Privates' (U). (2d wk) iand 'Hard Boiled Canary'; (Par) plus stage show. House bolstered 'Privates' ori holdbver by bringing in Par's 'Canai-v' and addirig the radio quiz show. Truth or Consequences,* for good $15,500. Last Week, 'Privates' (U) solo With stage show, $16,500. RKO (RKO) (2,872: . 30-44-55)— .•Back Street' (U) (2d wk). and •Double Date' (U), Should have no trouble hitting good .$6,300 currently. Pirst seven days brought big $11,600, far better than looked for. State (Loew-F.-WC) (2.404; 30-44- 55-75)—'Tobacco Road' (20th) and 'Murder iAmong Friends' (20th). Much-discussed opus finally hit this burg and an excellcrit :$14-,200 iM. Iboked foi:. Last. week. 'Hardy's Sec- retaryf (M-G) and 'Kildare's Crisii* . (MtG), just under .$14,000, / . United Artists (UA^F-WC) (2.100; 30-44-55.)—'Gone' (M-G) (3d .wk). Unless bottorh dt-bps out, Selzriick topper should beheld a fourth week at this dbWntown spot; ::Current istanza looks like big; $10,000, after second week piled up $ll.200. : Wilshlre (F-WG) (2,296: 30-44-55) —'Hardy's Secretary' (M-G) and •Kildare's. Crisis' (M-G); Best pair house- ha.s had In. some weeks, arid answer will be big $6;!iO0. Last-week, 'Maisie Lady\ (M-G). and;: 'Mary'. ;D!Ugan* ;' (M-G'>,-: dismal $3,300 on moveover. ;. . wk). Holding good gait to po.ssibl* $6,000, after: brie of . be.st Durbin'^ week.s opener, which'reached $10,900. ...' ■■:; '-- ..•New (Mechpnic) (L.-iBl: :15-28:3:5- 44'):_:Tbbacco-.Rbad' (20lh): Open^ 'Thursday (6) arid -extra sblid since iri^^ spite of :bad: we.ithcr; ShbUl.d re^ch big $9;000. a bullish figure for Mm' ited .sealing: here. Previbus threia weeks of 'We.stem: Union' . .(20th) drew total of $13,0j)b for the tun. ' .Stanley (WB) (3,280; 15-28-39-44r 55)—'Virginia' (Par). Carrying on iri .steady fashion to possible $11,000. Last week; second of 'Strawberry Blonde* (WB) idded $7,700 to socko opening sifish of $15,8.00.