Variety (November 1922)

PICTURES '7 Friday, November 17, 1922 COSTUME PLAY TOPS B'WAY LIST; ; VALENTINO FILM FALLS OFF Have and to Hold'' Does $48,000 at Capitol— ^'Young Rajah'' at Rivoli Gets Only $32,000 After Big Start » COASrS BAD SLUMP DUE TO HEAVY RAINS ' For election week the four reg- Idar big prelcase Broadway run bouses and the Ave special fllm at- timctlons along the street playing extended engagements drew almost 1190,000 gross business on the week. Of course, th» Tuesday holiday helped swell the figures materially. for with holiday prices in effect at mU the houses and the crowds out looking for entertainment that day, th« picture bouses seemingly got by Ear the best of It. The one biggest surprise of the week was occasioned by the flop the latest Rodolph Valentino picture, *Th9 Young Rajah," did at the Rlvoll, where the picture got Just tinder 132,000 on the week. This •iter starting off on Sunday of the week by breaking the house record created by "Blood and Sand," then falling ofiC a little on Monday, pick- ing up again on Tuesday througA the holiday prices, and finally flop- ping steadily from that point on. Despite this, however, the picture is held oyer for the second week at the RlvolL The Capitol walked away with top money, getting $48,000 worth with rro Have and to Hold" as the at- traction, the Strand with "Oliver Twist" for a second week getting put over $30,000, while at the Rialto "The Man Who Saw Tomor- row" drew just over $21,000. At the Xjyric the Douglas Fairbanks pic- ture» '^obln Hood,** pulled a terrific week, selling out at each of the two performances daily and grossing around $20,7000 on week. The D. W. Orlfflth feature, "One BlxoUing Night," at the Apollo man- aged to creep up a coup^jD of hun- dred dollars over the preceding week and got around $7,900, whHe the two William Fox specials, "The Village Blacksmith" at the 44th and •^he Town That Forgot God" at the Astor, both made strong show- ing, each getting a little over the 18,000 mark. "When Knighthood Was In Plow- i$r" at the Criterion pulled $10,225, and at the Cameo the second week •f "The Queen of the Moulin Rouge" jftist about topped $4,000 with small Dapacity. The estimated business on the dreek was: Apollo — "One Exciting Night' tGrifflth). Seats, 1.200. Scale: ^ats., $1 top; eves., $1.50. Business lifted a little more last week due to the holiday, and the gross ran to $7,900. Astor—"The Town That Forgot Ood" (Fox). Seats, 1,131. Scale: Mats., $1 top; eves., $1.50. Second week. however, was held for the second week. Strand—"Oliver Twist" (First National). Seats, 2,900. Scale: SO- 50-85. Jackie Coogan star. Picture was held for a second week after having pulled in the neighborhood of $40,000 the first week, with the business dropping about $10,000 on the hold-over, the . ross being just slightly over $30,000. LA. BATTLE Two "Hoods" Fighting—Grauman*s 111,000 with "Clarence" Los Angeles. Nov. 15. The two "Hoods" are still fight- ing It out here, with "Knighthood" holding up at Grauman's Rialto, while "Robin Hood" at the new Hollywood is resorting to special publicity to keep the picture hitting on all six at the box office. "Silver Wings," tho^ox special at L.oe\y'8, showed something of an im- provement last week over the pre- ceding one. Estimates for last week: Grauman's — "Clarence" (Para- mount). Wallace Reid featured. Christie comedy. "Son of a Sheik." with Neal Burns. Publicity result- ant from Reid's Illness brought added business. Grossed $11,000. California—"One Week of Love" (Selznlck). Elaine Hammerstein and Conway Tearle used in the ad- vertising. .Elinor's special armistice music "underlined." and undoubt 'Knighthoo{r Opens at Curran to Advance Sale—Strand's Drug Store Tie-up San Francisco, Not. II. When "Knighthood" opened at the Curran Sunday night the house was jammed with the elite of the city. The picture had the distinction of opening here with a box-offlce ad- vance sale of $7,000, which is most unusual. This is the first time that a pic- ture attraction has played the Cur- ran, which is a new house, and the production was shown under ideal conditions. No seats were eliminated from the fioor as previously report- ed, but instead the seating capacity of the theatre was increased with added chairs on the side aisles. There has been a distinct slump in picture business in the big down- town first-run houses and the cause is believed to be attributable to a week of heavy rains, plus the ex- ceptional interest that has been evi- dent in the election last week. Usually election night has been a big night with the theatres, but this year the amazing spread of radio caused many persons to prefer to stay at home and get the returns out of the air rather than breast the inclement weather to attend a theatre. At the Warfleld "The Forgotten Law." a Graf Production filmed In San Francisco.^ got off to glowing reviews from all of the critics, but It didn't seem, to hit the fancy of the public in like degree. Business was not quite up to normal. At the Granada "A Week of Love" did a fair business, but nothing to get excited about The Strand made an effort to bol- ster receipts by entering into a deal with a big downtown drug company by which they disposed of several thousand matinee tickets. The drug company carried large ads offering a free ticket to the Strand with every 50-cent purchase. The Imperial has "The Old Home- edly was box office impetus, as this . musician Is most popular here. Tak- stead" which opened well but not to Ings, $12,515. Grauman's Rialto —"Knighthood" (Cosmopolitan). Marion Davies. Hearst publications strongly pub- licizing picture, with result receipts have been kept above average pic- ture, with "Robin Hood." consid- ered hits of season. Week's gather- ing about $14,000. Grauman's Hollywood — "Robin Hood" (United). Douglas Fair- banks' special. Hollywood patron- izing new house and premiere pres- entation of film, with Los Angeles turning out strong. Capacity at most performances. Gross under $17,000. Mission—"Dr. Jack" (Roach). Har- old Lloyd In "spot." While critics said film ROt as good as predeces- sor, "Grandma's Boy." business holding up. Slight fall off, but pros- WEEK AT CAPITAL Averags Business Last Week— ''Knighthood's" Fourth and Last Washington, D. C. Nor. If. •TCnighthood" continues as the money-getter among the films in Washington and finished its third week to a big gross which was but little under the other two precedings weeks and evidently coming up to expectations of the management. Weather conditions are continuing Ideal for theatres. The managers are now sitting back and watching results. Valentino Is scheduled to succeed "Knighthood" after the cur- rent week, opening Sunday. During the past week "The Mir- ror." an assembled film of news events taken some 25 years ago, was given special showings, and caused no end of comment. Universal News produced it, and one of the local Sunday papers made scenes from It a part of the picture section. Estimates for the week: Loew's Columbia.— (Capacity. 1,- 200; scale. 20-35 mats., 35-50 nights). "Knighthood," third week, looks to have done over $12,000. Drop of about $3,000 from previous week. Current week its last. Loew's Palace.—(Capacity, 2,500; scale, 20-35 mats.. 20-30-40-50 nights). Viola Dana in "June Mad- ness" (Metro). Light picture this Dana feature went over big. Splen. did story, gave Miss Dana excellent opportunities and, what Is more to point, attracted business to box of- fice on sheer merit.^'-Close to $8,500. Crandall's Metropolitan.—(Capaci- ty, 1,700; scale, 20-35 mats., 35-50 nights). "East Is West." Remark- ably good picture, which attracted little more than usual patronage. Beautifully presented, and to this was added additional Interest of presentation but few weeks ago by stock at local President. Close to $9,000. Moore's Rialto.—(Capacity, 1,900; scale, mornings, 25; afternoons. 35; evenings. 60). "Human Hearts," House Peters. Old timer hard one to figure. Some came away perfect- ly satisfied, some not so well plea.sed BOSTON WELL SATISFO WITH CENSOR DEFEAT "Excitina Niaht" Forced to Biaaer Advertising by "Knighthood" > ^^ Boston, Nov. 15. With the question of the State » censorship of pictures disposed of by the voters last week and in no uncertain fnanner, the film houses in this city slipped along on their normal way. ^" tslness at all the houses, according to the reports, * was i^rmal and there were no signs of any weakness or any great strength developed anywhere along the line. ^ "Knighthood" at the Park was a ^ big hit again last week, the gross at the house being In the neighbor* hood of $10,000. This is about the ' limit of what the house can do even at the $1.50 top and t' buslac:..^ is of the steady sort that is encourag* ing. The picture Is still being plugged big by the Hearst papers here and with the other sheets using the customary amount of publicity stuff. :■*.'■ ■..• '*! "One Excltlnr Night" hangs on at the Tremo -t Temple. It is lolng exploited bigger In th'' advertising line as time goes along. It is neces« . sary to plug this film more and more as the "Knighthood" campaign pro- gresses. The Griffith people realize this and are not skimping on any money for advertising. The general sentiment around the . city is one of satisfaction over the result of the censorsh'.> vote. The local dailies in editorials expressed was presented. About $7,000. 'ROBIN HOOD' GOING OUT AHER LOSING WEEK capacity. The Saturday and Sun day performances at this house are usually sell outs but last week tnere were seats available on both days. I The picture was not to be blamed I for It was well liked. At the TIvolI "East Is West" held over for a second week and did not suffer thereby. The picture is ex- ceptionally fine an^ the word of mouth advertising that It has ra- ceived has resulted in good business being maintained at this house despite bad weather and other hand- icaps. At the California, Thomas Meighan In "The Man Who Saw To- morrow" did'nt see much In the box ^ put-over. All elevated trains com- olfice reclpts. Business was only . - . . fair. pects for steady increase. Grabbed Pulling ^on the strength of 1 approximately $7,000 oa week. the big storm scene. Got around 18,500 last week. Cameoc—"The Queen of the Moulin Houge" (Smallwood-American Re- leasing). Seats. 650. Scale, 55-75. Second week. Picture was held over for second week, getting around 14,000. Kinema—"Lome Doone" (Tour- neur-Ince). Madge Bellamy in big type. Second week didn't draw so big, but business far from disap- pointing. , Took $10,000. Loew's—"Silver Wings" (Metro). With Mary Carr. Business fell off slightly, with prospects for big re- api>roval of the way the State voted All liked manner in which picture and It Is believed the question is decided locally for some years to come. Estimatis for last week: Loew's Stats (capacity. 4,000; scale. 25-50). Valentino In "The Young Rajah' this week, with "En- ter Madame" underlined. Normal business last week with "The Man Who Saw Tomorrow" and "Pink Gods." "It's a Boy," which opened at the Selwyn, while not registering very strong for the opening, is looked to develop as It runs along. The show comes In here with a good rep. and Is certainly in one of the best theatres in the town for this sort of an offering. And it never should be forgotten that the house has a great deal to do with things In Ihis city, where the transient business is nut extremely large. ^ Estimates for last week: White's "Scandals" (Colonial, 1st week). In for four weeks. Had strong opening and looks good to make money for period. In the final week "Music Box Revue" did $26,500, Balaban & Katz's Tie-up With Chicago "L"—"Kentucky Derby" Doing Well Chicago, Nov. 15. With the failure of S. Barrett Mc- Cormick to get over as producer at Jones, Llnick & Schacffer new Mc- Vicker's and put over one of the biggest and best publicity stunts by Balaban & Katz theatres were what kept the movie picture riftUo h«r,«- Ilng for the past week. B. and K.'s tie-up with the elevated lines was Capitol—"To Have and to Hold" | ceipts next week (anniversary !CParamount). Seats, 5,300. Scale ^T ., 30-50-$l: eves., 55-85-$l. Gross hit $48,000 last week on the •trength of the big business done on Blectlon day. House did a turn- away on the entire day after hav- ing a big Sunday and Monday. Criterion — "When Knighthood |Was in Flower" (Cosmopolitan- i>aramount). Seats, 886. Scale: week). Grossed $12,500. OLD NATIONAL ASS'N WINDS UP ITS AFFAIRS Se%t' 'FeroS^*7i?tle''iasf ;?^ RepOrt Of Com- mittee Named to End Body but picture will remain until the first of the year, after which it is Co be followed by the United ArUsts' •*Salome" with Nasimova. Got 110,226 last week. 44th Street—"The Village Black- irmlth" (Pox). Seats, 1,323. Scale: Mats., $1 top; eves., $1.50. Third week. Got away to a fair break on notices. In the neighborhood of $8,200 on the week. Lyric-"Robin Hood** (United Artists). Seats, 1,400. Scale; Mats., fl top; eves., $1.60. Third week. Claiming a turnaway business at All performances, with the gross last week around $20,700. Rialto—"The Man Who Saw To- morrow" (Paramount). Seats. 1,960. ' Bcale: 65-85-99. Thomas Meighan Btar. Moved down from the Rlvoll, -where it had played a week. Drew $21,022 on the week. Rivoli — "Tb«* Young Rajah" CParamount). Seats, 2,200. Scale: 65-85-99. This was the second of ^ the Rodolph Valentino pictures, and on the opening Sunday at the Rivoli the picture played to a bigger busi- ness than did "Blood and Sand," and thus smashed the house record. On the week, however, the business eluraped behind the good start, and despite the fact that Election Day was in the week to help'swell re- ceipts the Tross was only $31,750, about $7,000 under the total pulled IV "Blood and Sand." The picture. —Officers Resign The ofllclals of the Old National Association of the Picture Industry met at the home offlces yesterday (Thursday) to hear the report of the committee appointed several weeks ago to wind up its affairs. This ac- tion merely meant the return and cancellation of the New York char- ter to the Secretary of State. The committee was named at a meeting several weeks ago attended by the old executive board, William A. Brady and Elek John Ludvigh of Famous Players. Jules Brulatour resigned as treasurer at that time, as did Fred Elliott as recording sec- retary. Besides the cancellation of tary. Be.«5ides the cancellation of the charter the only business to be cleaned up was the payment of a few outstanding bills and the dis- position of the Association's records. The New York theatre offices were leased from Famous Players and this Item was easily settled. It is believed the Associaticn's valuable records will be transferred to the Hay's organization. California—"The Man Who Saw Tomorrow" (Paramount); seats, 2,700; scale, 60-75-90; Thomas Meighan, starred, with Leatrice Joy and Theodore Roberts featured. Also an Educational comedy "Blazes." Meighan is popular In this city but the picture struck an off week. Got $11,000. Granada—"One Week of Love" (Selznlck); seats, 2.940; scale. 60- 75-90. Conway Tearle and Elaine Hamerstein. This picture received xecellent comment from all critics and was labled an unusually strong Selznlck film. Grossed, $12,000. Imperial—"The Old Homestead" (Paramount). Seats, 1,425; scale, 35-50-75. Theodore Roberts and an all-star cast. Good advance pub- licity and reports didn't aid In the box-office, and although the picture pleased highly business was off and $7,000 showed on the week. Strand—"Why Girls Leave Home." Seats, 1,700; scale, 40-55. Anna Q. Nillson featured. Through a store ti^up, matinee business showed strength, but the evenings didn't pick up over preceding week. Got $5,200. Tivoli—"East Is West" (First Na- tional). Seats. 1,800; scale, 25-40. Constance Talmadge star. Second week. Business held up well the second week despite the unusual poor week along the "row." Week's gross $7,500, Loew's Warfield—"The Forgotten Law" (Metro). Seats, 2,800; scale, 35 to 75. Milton Sills and an all- star cast. Business at this house hasn't been big for some time and the presence of a home-made pic- ture failed to stimulate the box office. Got $9,000. Frolic—"The Wrong Man" (Uni- versal, Harry Carey star. "The Girl Who Ran Wild" (Universal). Gladys Walton star. This double bri brought returns at the box office, as both names proved an at- traction for the popular prices. House seats 1,000; scale, 10-30. With $2,400 on the week. ing downtown carry a painted board that patrons should use their " 'L' I off over $2,000 from the business of r.«-„" /r»i^^ »- .«.,«K «- «/»,. «ranr previous week. ""*-•- -' •- »— Knowles Going Back to England Harley Knowles Is to return "o England within the next two weeks to complete the contract he hold j with the Reliance Film Corp. Pass" (Ride as much as you want for $1.26) to vUlt the Chicago the- atre, while the trains going south tell the patrons to use their.pass to visit the Tivoli. It is said that B. and K.'s publicity man pointed out to the "L" offlcials the fact that these two theatres play to more patrons, and especially to riders of the street cars, than any other com- bination of theatres and even more than baseball, which has always had that space in season. Fairbank's "Rob'nhood," goes out of Cohan's Grand Sunday, with a loss of around $25,000 for its en- gagement. B. and K. are said to be trying to get this film for their Roosevelt for four weeks, after which It will be used at their three outlying theatres. What will hap- pen to the "Knighthood" film has not been definitely settled, as this film is said to have a $15,000 stop clause. "The Kentucky Derb^" at the Ran- dolph showed suprising strength and is being kept over for its third week. Estimates for the week: "The Ghost Breaker" (Paramount). McViclters. Seats, 2.500; mats., 49; nights, 59. Wallace Reid still con- tinues tremendous favorite with strong picture and plenty of pub- licity. This new picture house con- tinues to pack them In and Is still registering around capacity. Around $30,000. "East Is West" (First National). Chicago. Seats, 4.200; mats., 55; nights, 65. Talmadge film sure fire, with strong morning and matinee play brought up gross to around $36,000. Helped materially by Ar- mistice day and election. "Knighthood" (Cosmopolitan). Roosevelt. Seats, 1,275; mats., 39; night.s, 50. Sixth week and etil! holding up between $18,000 and $19,000. "Kentucky Derby" (Univer.^al). Randolph. Scats, 686; mats., 35; nights. 50. IMaying to around 70 per cent, male audience, showe^^ such added strength held over for another week, which will give this lilm three-week run. "Robin Hood" (United Artists) Cohan's Grand. Fourth week. Seats. 1.600; scale, 1.65, 1.10, 55. Plenty of publicity and special advertising in- creased business about $1,000 from previous week, which gave It gross of $10,000. Film goes out Nov. 19. This show is be- lieved to have suffered from the price scale, and. contrary to expec* tations, did not rally strong for the final Week, sliding off insteaa> "It's a Boy" (Selwyn, 1st week). While not packed for opening is believed this show will come stronger as run goes along. It is quite a change from previous at- traction, "Shuffle Along," and it will need a little time for thaetregoers to get acquainted with change. "Shuf- fle Along" did about $10,000 in final week. "Captain Applejack" (Tremont, 1st week). Has to be allowed chance to get started. Will do business after this week when capacity houses are not expected. In final week, 15th, "Kelly" show did $25,500. Capacity and plenty of standees. "The Bat" (Wilbur, 11th week). Only one Teft of those that had been In for long stays. Credited with $16,000 last week, which is on par with business It has been doing right along. Still advertising eight weeks' advance sale and looks good to stay here at least that long. Tremont Temple (capacity, 2,000; scale, 50-$1.50). —Advertising cam- paign for CTrimth's "One Exciting Night" is developing bigger and picture is being bolstered up in this manner to offset the draw of "Knighthood." Park (capacity. 2,400; scale, 50- $1.50).—About $10,000 with "Knight- hood" and assured of good business for remainder of stay. iModern (capacity, 800; scale. 28- 40).—$6,000 last week, with "Sher- lock Holmes," better business than has been registered at house for sev- eral months. Has done $7,500, but average is about $5,000. "Gray Dawn" this week, with "When Hus- bands Deceive" underlined. Beacon (capacity, scale, attractloA and gross same as Modern), Pathe Handling "Sport Roviev/' The Town and Country Films" Corp., manufacturers of the "tiport Ueview." have signed a year's con- tract with Pathe for distribution. ' The short reel sport snbjort.s will continue to be produced every two weeks with Grantland Rice editing and Jack Hawklnson behind the camera. "