Variety (December 1922)

.'JlIUl- . 'J. At PICTURES Friday, December 8, 1022 NO REAL BIG BUSINESS ON BlAY THANKSGIVING WEEK .:.>'^ Capital First with $44,000 for "Hungry Heart*''— Griffith's "Nation" Returns Thu Week with Promise DENVER GOOD "Prid« of Palomar^ BiggMt Thing Last W««k Th« Broadway picture theatres Aid not show any remarkable apurt last week, even though they had tho amlstance of a holiday to awell their grosses. In this respect, New York seems to have been somewhat of aa exception to the rest of the country. Other places, the week proved a record-breaking one for the season; on Broadway it meant nothing in the lives of the big ex- tklbltors. This was the case even though the screen attractions that were praaented seemlnglj had unusual strength, at least as figured before the box office acid test was tried. The Capitol, which lead off in the point of receipts, had "Hungry Hearts," and pn the week it did $44.M0. Thla U a Uttle better than what the house bad been doing the paat couple of weeks, but not what was expected for a holiday showing. At the Strand, "Bast la West." with the asslstanca of heavy freak ad- vertlaing in the dailies, front page •tuff and things of that sort, all of which oost heavy drought, did not help to materlallir smell the box office returns at the house to a point where they could bo marked as vnusuaU ▲t tho Rlvoll. "Singed Wings." which lo<riced like a big draw before opening; did in the neighborhood of $18.00«, which Is belOw par, but the Rialto showed the unusual in the showing of the Technicolor produc- tion. *^e ToU of the Sea." and the public seemlnglT was interested, aa the receipts pointed to $24,000 for the week. "Robin Hood* and 'TCnighthood" are going along at what practically amounts to an even pace, with the former getting around |17,000 at the LiSrric, while th4 latter dropped off a little at the Criterion, going Just under $10,000. D. W. Griffith revived rrhe Birth of a Nation" for a brief run at the Selwyn. opening on Sunday, and got awfty with corking notices on his first masterpiece. The picture looks as though it will do business. The Fox special, "The Town That For- got God" at the Astor. is improving somewhat, and it looks like a pic- ture that will gradually build up. The Canieo is still playing American HH^aning productions, and getting its average business. Estimates for last week: Apollo—"One Exciting Night" (Griffith). Seats 1.200. Scale: Mats., $1 top; eves., $1.50. Finished last week with a gross around $$.S00. Astor—"The Town That Forgot" (Fox). Seats 1,131. Scale: Mats., $1 top: eves., $1.50. Fifth week. Still hitting just a Uttle better than $5,000. but pleasing those that see it. Building up somewhat; last week better account of holiday, when $6,800 was reached. Cameo—"What Fools Men Are" (American Releasing). Seats 550. Scale: 55-75. This is really a Sat- urday and Sunday house, with the gross on those two days usually around $3,200. with the balance of the week contributing around $1,800. Capitol—"Hungry Hearts" (Gold- wjrn). Seats 5,800. Scale: Mats.. 80-50-$l; eves.. 55-85-$l. Ilad a corking week's business because of the holiday, with the gross at $44,000. Criterion—"Knighthood" (Cosmo- politan-Paramount). Seats 886. Scale: Mats., $1.50 top; eves., $2. Tenth week. Dropped a little last week, getting a few dollars under $10,000. Lyric—"Robin Hood" (United Artists). Seats ,400. Scale: Mats., $1.50 top; eves.. $2. Sixth week. Still pulling audiences; got around $17,800 last week. Rislto—"Toll of the Sea" (Metro). Seats 1,960. Scale: 55-85-99. The public exhibited a,n unusual interest In this picture last week, with the result that the house drew $21,000 on the week. Rivoli—"Singed Wings" (Para- mount). Seats 2.200. Scale: S'>-''.'?- 99. A good picture, but it did not pull as expected at this huuou i ..•- retu^ns were $18,100 on the week. Strand—"East Is West" (First National). Seats 2,900. Scale: SO- SO-85. They looked for a record- breaker here with this picture, and there was an unusual amount of money spent in extra advertislnp. but this did not pull as was ex- Iiected. The gross on the week went to around $29,000. TURKEY DAY PELED OUT KANSAS CTTY'S PICTURES ANOTHEB IN LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, Dec. 6. The town La to have a new picture theatre to be built by the Turner. • ]>ahnken A Langely Company. It in to cost no less than $1,250,000. The T., D. A L. Co. has been lont; *j»uiUished In the exhibiting buHi- m*B» aad at pr<>)«^nt owns a circuit •C niAOteen booses. Bad Business Early Last Week—Newman Saved by Heavy Bill« Kansas City, Dec. 6. Thanksgiving proved an oasis In what threatened to be a barren week in the film houses. In spite of the strongly advertised pictures and extra offerings In all of the downtown houses, the business failed to materialize and the houses were almost deserted the first half. First National had two of its features in opposition houses; the Liberty featuring "Oliver Twist," while the Royal's plea for patron- age was made with "Skin Deep." The Newman, with its 2,000 capa* city, not satisfied with Wallace Keid In "Clarence," added a ruimber of vaudeville acts in an effort to get the business, and it is to these extra features that a big portion of the week's business can be credited as the picture failed to register, other than as part of the snow. In the residential district, the Apollo led the parade with first runs, put- ting over three: "Hearts Haven," the first three nights; "Up in the Air About Mary," for the turkey day special, and "Other Women's Clothes" for the week-end. The Doric, one of the Harding houses, which has been dark since last spring, opened Thanksgiving for an indefinite run of "Nanook of the North." The house was leased for the engagement by W. P. CuUen of Pathe. The picture is at a 50- ccnt admission. This is not a first run here, it having been shown last fall. The Isin, the big residential house, put over some real budincss with "Grandma's Boy," with a 30-cent top price. The picture was shown for the last half and seen by over 10.000—not so bad, considering it had Just finished three weeks at the Liberty. The Lin wood, undergoing lemod- cling and redecorating, v/as opened Thanksgiving, after some bfx months' darkness. "Human Hearts" was the opener. Last week's estimates: Newman -"Clarence** (Para- mount). Seats 1.980. Scale, mati- nees, 35; nights. 50-75. Wallace Reid. Using familiar saxophone playing incident as basis, Newman management featured "syncopation week." This jazzy Jamboree cx>n» sisted of a regulation musical revue and several acts. In addition, reg- ular Newman concert orchestra. Christie comedy, and a scenic, mak- ing one of the biggest bills ever presented in a local picture theatre. Tho feature had the critics divided as to its merits. It did not have the necessary appeal to get big busi- ness, and without the big show given In connection would have been a flopper. The first three nights badly off, but picked up Thursday and week gros.i I around $14,500. Liberty —"Oliver Twist" (First National). Seats 1,000. Scale. 35- 50. Jackie Coogan. Picture exten- sively press agented and special showing was arranged for the city teachers. This part of the public- ity was sifmewhat of a boomerang, as many declared it "too gruesome for the children," although an ex- cellent picture. Others thought It mo.st appropriate for this time of the year, showing the contrast of the treatment of the poor of that period and this. Minstrels added. Around $6,500. Royal —"Skin Deep" (First Na- tional). Seats 890. Scale, 35-50. Milton Sills. Sure fire for lovers of the real old-fashioned "meller." "Ocean Swells," comedy. Gross about $7,000. Twelfth Street—"The Cowboy and the L.idy" (Paramount), Seats 1,100. Scale, 10-25. Tom Moore and Mary Miles Aflnter. IJusIness up to aver- age. "The Law of the Sea" and a Torchy comedy also on bill. About $2,300. Opposition films at the popuhir- prioed vaudeville houses: "Under Two Flag.s." Pantages; "The Jilt," (llobe; "L'p and At "Em," Maln- street. Denver, Deo. C *'The Pride of Palomar,** whloh supplanted Alice Brady in "Anna Ascends" at the Princess the week of Nov. 1$, was the outstanding pic- ture success of last week on Curtis street. "Anna Ascends" was pulled In the middle of the first-named week because it fiopped badly.. Just why is hard to determine. Those who saw the film appeared satisfied, but the U)oz office simply failed to show life, and Peter B. Kyne's Cal- ifornia thriller was caMed in to pull misters out of the hole. The Princess did business from that time on. and continued to do it the week following. "The Pride of Palomar" is Just the sort of Photoplay bound to be popular with Denver audiences, who like western thrillers above all other kinds—un- less It be society stufl?. Thanksgiving day packed all pic- ture houses, regardless of the merit of the attractions. The day was bright and sunny, without a hint of storm and only a faint snap of frost in the air. The 16,000 people \^ho packed Broadway park to see a football game didn't seem to detract from the throngs at the picture shops at all. Last weeks' estlmatea: Rialto — (Paramount>. Seats. 1,250; prices: matinees, 25 and $6c: nights. 40c. Gloria Swanson in The Impossible Mrs. Bellew" did ^ell. as always in Denver. Gross about $9,326. Process—(Paramount). Seats, 1,050; prices: matinees. 25 and $6c.: night.<t, 40c "The Pride of Palomar" kept the house full most of the time, despite the fact that the film had been on four days the previous week. Gross close to $8,000. America—(BIshop-Cass). Seats, 1.530; prices: matinees, 30c.; nights, 40c. Peter B. Kynes "Brothers Under the Skin." A good box office stimulant, apparently. Gross over $5,000. Colorado—(BIshop-Cass). Seats. 2.4S6; matinees. SOc.; nights, 40c. Wesley Barry In "From Rags to Riches." Opened weM, sagged In the middle of the week, picked up Thanksgiving Day and finished in a blaze. Gross close to $6,000. isis—(Fox). Seats. 1,776; prices: matinees. 25c.: nights, 30c. William Farnum in "Without Compromise." Farnum doesn't draw with quite his old sureness, although he has his following. Lupino Lane In "My Hero" helped out. Gross approx- imately $4,100. STRONG FILMS AND HOLIDAY HELP GROS^ HUB'S HOUSES SUFFER REACTION AFTER YEAR'S BEST WEEK All Theatres Did Tumaway Last Week—Held Up After Holiday— ^This Week Slumped—Orpheum Breaks Record ■♦ ■■ : —-__ ■•. WflAUNG FnH FIRST ROAD SHOW IN PHIIJI Holiday Saved Last Week From Slump —"Knighthood" Current Smash Los Angeles Houses All Have Good Week— Two "Hoods" Both Drawing Charlotte Greenwood in "New York** "Little Old New York," soon to .start at the Cosmopolitan's Rtudio ' with Marion Davles starred. ha.« cng.Tged Charlotte Greenwood for u role. MiH8 Greenwood Ih also appearing In the "MuhIc Ilox Hevue" In New York. Los Angeles, Dec. f. ^he hox offlce staffs were kept "on the jump" all week, the Thanksgiving festivities evidently serving as an Impetus to theatrical business. The legit and vaudeville houses "cashed in" big, as also did the picture theatre!^ The best draw for the week among the down- town houses was "Knighthood" at Grauman's Rialto. "Robin Hood" at Grauman's Hollywood ran a close second, with Lon Chaney's "Shadows" at Klnema, "Tess- at Miller's, "Dr. Jack" af the Mission, and Tommy Meighan In "Tho Man Who Saw Tomorrow" at Grauman's following close In their wake. "Brothers Under the Skin,** Cali- fornia, rolled up a nice profit The rain and subsequent cloudy weather hurt the takings a little. The week's estimates: Grauman's—"The Man Who Saw Tomorrow" (Paramount), Thomas Meighan starred. Special added at- tractions. Drew. $17,000. California—'Brothers Under the Skin" (Goldwyn). Author. Peter B. Kyne, featured more than players, who comprised Helene Chadwick, Claire Windsor, Norman Kerry, Pat O'Malley and Mae Busch. Elinor's muflir a played-up card. Grossed 112,430. Grauman's Rialto—"Knighthood" (Cosmo). Marion Davles In the big type. Business holding up; In fact, slight pick-up after a slight drop past two weeks. Took $11,200. Qrauman*s Hollywood •>-"Robin Hood" (Fairbanks). Increased business by arrangement with studio whereby patrons retaining seat ct^ecks admitted to Fairbanks studio. Approximately $15,000. Mission—"Dr. Jack" (Roach). Harold Lloyd starred. Begins to look as if picture will run till first of year, although second and third weeks showed falling oflT in re- eipts. About $10,000. Kinema—"Shadows" (Schulberg). ^on Chaney plrvyed up. Chaney big favorite, and orowds held up throughout week. Netted $15,300. Loew's State—"Enter Madame" Metro). Clara Kimball .Young emphasized. Picture picked up after first day. Grossed $1S,1S0. Philadelphia, Dec. 6. Last week was something In the nature of the calm before the storm in local movie houses. The features booked at most of the houses were program pictures and no big grosses were turned In. In the advertising, the Stanley company "pointed" to this week, rather than emphasise their current pictures, and If it had not been for the holiday It Is likely that some big slumps In business would have resulted. As It Is, most of the houses did satisfactory busi- ness. This week, however, saw the en- terlniT of an ' Independent picture Into the field. This Is "Down to the Sea In Ships," the Elmer Clif- ton whaling picture, which opened Monday at the Metropolitan opera house. A real box office demand' was reported by those connected with the picture. The scale was 25 cents to $1, with none of the orchestra seats higher than 75 cents. Elmer Clifton and Marguerite Cortot were both present in person. It Is understood that the backers of the picture have the house for four weeks. This is the first real attempt to road show a picture here this season, and Is being watched with interest because of a bad name given Metropolitan for film pur- poses Boston. Dec. ».j The picture houses got the best break of the season last week on what Is considered tRelr winter pro- gram. This Increase was due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but the bus- iness started to show signs of im- provement Friday night and kept on building up until the end of the week saw a big tumaway at the larger houses with the smaller, houses playing to capacity. The Orpheum, the big Loew house down- town, had more people In the house Saturday than they have had at this time of year in a single day la the history of the house, the total tickets purchased being* close to 10.000. The big Increase did not hold over for the first of this week, however, there being a slight reaction which was expected. It was considered quite remarkable by those that fol- low the houses that the "pep" stayed In so long for it wasn't what could be rightly termed natural—the play being better than is expected evea of a holiday. Griffith's film, "One Exciting Nlerht," departed from the Tremont Temple last Saturday, and Monday "Oliver Twist" opened for an In- definite stay. Estimates for last week: i Loew's State-—Capacity. 4,00<rr scale. 2S-50C. Gloria Swanson In' "The Impossible Mrs. Bellew," head- liner with "The Forgotten Law" un- derlined. "Clarence" last week play- ed to over $15,000, gain of about $2,000 over business of week before. Tremont Temple—Capacity, 2,000; scale, 50c.-$1.50. Jackie Coogan In "Oliver Twist," this week taking It over when It was vacated by Orlf-' fith's "One Exciting Night" which ran for several weeks to businesa that was only so-so. Park—Capacity, 2.400; scale, 50c.- $1.50. "Knighthood" did over $10,000 I last week.^an Increase of $1,000 over The big smash of this week, how- > week before. This film has been ever, must be accredited to "When I rather weak at niatinees but most of Knighthood Was in Flower," which opened at the Stanton and plans to stay at least four weeks. A private showing was * given on Sun- day night, at which society turned out. It was said by many that It was the most stylish audience that has ever attended a film In this city. Jack Potter. In advance of the picture here, had half of Rltten- L house Square in attendance. There were no less than five judges of higher courts and three railroad high officials there. The picture was given splendid notices in the dallies and ran up a big gross Monday, although rain prevented the figure from reaching the limit expected, or that achieved by "Manslaughter" at the same house. The Stanley has "The Impossible Mrs. Bellew" this week, and since Gloria Swanson's popularity has dwindled here, and also because of attraction at Stanton, gross is likely to tumble at this pet house of the Stanley company. Some very laudatory notices were given "Ebb Tide" at the Karlton, and ''Enter Madame" at the Aldine, but it Is hard to Judge the possi- bilities because of the rainy night. Both pictures are in for single week engagements, which Is considered surprising in view of program pic- tures having been given two weeks at these houses. The best of last week's business was done by "The Young Rajah." with Rodolph Valentino, at the Stanley. This film never came any- where near the gross of "Blood and Sand." Estimates of last week: Stanley— "The Young Rajah" (Paramount). Valentino's picture showed slump in interest In him here, but was above some recent weeks at that. Gross was al>out $25,000, partly due to Thanksgiving crowds. Stanton—"Nero" (Fox, second week). Business held up pretty well after apparently being on the verge of a serious slump on Monday and Tuesday. First of spectacles of this character to do anything at all here of late. Did about $11,500. Aldine—"Five Dollar Baby" (Metro). Not up to average set by recent pictures at this house, but holiday crowds made up difference. Short comedy with Bull Montana also heavily featured. "Enter Mad- ame" this week, with "Forget-Me- Not" in next. House seems to have reverted to single week policy, for tlnre at any rate. Karlton—"Singed Wings" (Para- mount), Got mixed notices and un- even business, which reached low ebb on Wednesday and then picked up wonderfully. About $7,000. "Ebb Tide" in this week, with "The Pride of Palomar" to come. this weakness was overcome after Wednesday and It trailed to strong closing. One more week after thla to go and then the house will ha taken over by "Robin Hood," sup- possed to stay for several weeks. The house is getting the best break with attractions that It has had for several seasons. Modern—Capacity, 800; scale. IS- 40c. In line with other houses bus* Iness showed increase last week with house using "Till We Meet Again.** This week the house Is using "Tha Headless Horseman," with Will Rogers and has about doubled Ita advertising to line them up for this release. House did $T,000 last week, about $500 less than it could do with absolute capacity. Beacon—Capacity, scale, attrac- tion same as Modern, and did about the same amount of business last week. Selwyn—Did about $4,000 last week, the first < one "Down to the Sea in Ships." HOLIDAY HELPS DETROIT Reid's Popularity on Wane Judging From Last Two Productions Detroit, Dec. 6. -^ Last week proved a corking good one for all the picture houses, in- cluding the outskirts, on account of a great break on Sunday and an- other good break Thanksgiving Day. Adams—"Knighthood" completed Its fourth week to excellent bus- iness and could have remained linger. Gave way to "Young Rajah." Madison—"One Week of Love" proved good box office attraction. Broadway - Strand—FIr.st present- ation in the world of Harry Car- son's "An Old Sweetheart of Mine." Received excellent notices and was a bfg draw. Mr. Garson was here personally for the engagement and it was heavily advertised. Capitol—"Clarence " and Warlng's Pennsylvanlanji. While this hou.se had a good business on tho week be- cau.'Je of It being a holiday week, business was not up to e.xpectations. Indicating thnt Wally Reid's pop- ularity is on the wane. Ordinarily Reid at a Kunsky house has been assurance of capacity bii.sinosH. but such ha.<< not been the case on his last two productions. .^'— SPEEDY JACKIE Los Anpeles, Dec. 6. A bench warrant ha.s boen issued for Jackie Saunders, who l.s charged with automobile speeding. A Jail sentence pos.Hihly awaits her, as the Judges have bd-n meting them out rather generously during the last few weeks. ■' ';,