Variety (May 1923)

Thursday, May 24, 1923 " PICTURES BJBJ 19 M'VICKER'S $33,100 HOUSE RECORD; •CHICAGO CLIMBED TO $48,900 Jazz Week Last Week at McVicker'* Kicked Over Record—"Souls for Sale" Did Trick at Big Cri- "Enemies of Women" in Third Week Chicago, May 23. The Loop held a real novelty last week in a gigantic "Jazz Week" at McVickers. Ttiere have been "Jazz Week" programs at other houses along the picture rialto, in fact the big Chicago with its tremendous capacity held one only a few weeks ago when apprised that J. Leopold Spttalney, accredited here with being the originator of the classical jazz programs, was to take over the baton at McVickers. Mc- Vicker'H $33,100 week shows some- thing like $3,100 over the actual cap- acity of the theatre. It was achieved through the medium of putting in an extra show from time to time during the week. The gross will have to be credited to the added attractions offered for the picture that they played was 'The Rustle of Silk," which seemingly had no draft at the box office as against "Souls for Sale" at the Chicago which played to $48,900 on the wee!?. The "jazz week" program at Mc- Vicker's has been held over. The picture was changed with Dorothy Dulton in "Fogbound." In the jazz show oie 34 people, headlined by the Courtney Sisters, comprising Nubs Allen, who may be a song plugger. "Babe" Payne, Capman and Capman, Al Copeland's Jazz Orchestra. Ultra String Quartet, 5 Blapper dancers, 8' Russian dancers and 8 Hawaiian girls. The program looks as though It stood the house about $5,000. In the trio of houses where picture attractions are in for runs the bus- iness seems to be building. At Woods', "The Covered Wagon," receipts last week topped the previous week by about $2,000 giving the picture a gross of nearly $13,000. At the Roosevelt "Enemies of Women" is still pulling them with $18,000, while the Snow "Hunting Big Game" picture at the Randolph dropped off a little getting around $9,000. Estimates for last week: Chicago—"Souls for Sale" (Gold- wyn). Seats, 4,200; scale, nights, 65c; Sunday, 65c. Managed to top $48,900. McVickers—"The Rustle of Silk" (Paramount). Seats, 2.500; scale, 65c. "Jazz Week" knockout; $33,100, smashing all records. Roosevelt—"Enemies of Women" (Cosmopolitan - Goldwyn). Seats, 1,275; scale, 65c. Now in its fourth week, Inst week's gross $18,000. Woods—"The Covered Wagon" (Paramount). Seats, 1.150; scale, mats., $1.10 top; eves., $1.65. Bus- iness jumped on week, gross going around $13,000. Randolph—"Hunting Big Game" (Universal). Seats, 686; scale, 50c. With grind and lobby display receipts dropped little last week, showing about $9,000. PICTURE SALARIES UP (Continued from page 1) large salaries, while smaller ones have more than doubled. Minor players are feeling the effect with Increased pay, while there are some stars tinder long term contracts to producing firms, at comparatively low salaries. James Kirkwood, six months ago receiving $1,200 a week, Is now be- ing paid $2,000 a week in pictures; Milton Sills got $750 six months ago, now he receives $1,500 and has worked in as many as three pic- tures at once at that salary with each; Lon Chaney has jumped within the year from $750 to $2,200 a week; Wallace Beery is getting $1,500, as against $750 six months ago; Svyndham Standing Is another $1,500 salary star, while Barbara la Mart- has been increased from $750 to $1,250, and Patsy Miller, a $200 salary six months ago, recently received an offer from Universal of $l,2r.O a week. Irene Rich four months ago was rated at $4."»0 weekly. Mary Pick- ford is now paying her $1,000 a week. liorenee Vidor. who lately received $soo, lias been tilted to $1,590. Among Up* stars lied up in con- tracts ere Loii Wilson, Bebe Dan- !*!• end Loatrice Joj with Famous Players, while Claire Windsor and Eleanor Boardman are similarly "«'.'i i<» ri with < :o!rtw\ n. DENVER'S OFF WEEK Everything in Pictures Dropped During Music Week Denver, May 23. Denver celebrated its annual Music Week last week, and the picture shops did what business the fans felt like handing them after satiat- ing themselves on the free musical attractions all over town. This was not so true the first two days of the week, owing to a belated spring blizzard that kept the people indoors, as they always do out here. But after that the sun came out and shone on both sides of the street, and amateur jazz orchestras ap- peared with the speed of mushroom growths. The customers simply re- fused to patronize the picture houses, and managers cursed soul- fully and fervently. Vaudeville houses fared no better, and the general slump was partic- ipated in by the stock house and the amusement parks, opened a week ago. The Empress (Pan) chalked up another rotten week. The Or- pheum did only fairly well. The Denham did what the management called "fair to middlin'". business, with no loud cheers from the box office. The first run houses in the pictures had no trouble at all, tak- ing care of the excess. Show managers generally didn't like Music Week, but they didn't dare advertise the fact in newspaper space, of course. However, if next year's Music Week is characterized by bad weather, the managers won't weep at all. Last week's estimates: Rialto (Paramount). (Seats 1.050; price, nights, 40.) Lewis S. Stone, Leatrice Joy and Nita Naldi in "You Can't Fool Your Wife." Picture put on Thursday of the week before, to take the place of a flop. It held the screen for nine days. Lloyd Hamilton in "Uneasy Feet" supplied the comedy relief. Little less than $4,300. Princess (Paramount). (Seats 1.250; price, nights, 40.) Monte Blue: Marie Prevost, Irene Rich and Funk Keenan polled fair business, con- sidering, with "Brass." Picture made hit here, and would have "been knockout from box office standpoint with anything like even break. Grossed about $4,500. Colorado (Bishop-Cass). (Seats 2.447; price, nights. 40.) Doris Kenyon, Henry Hull and Louise Wolheim in "The Last Moment." Nothing in title appeared to be strong enough to pull, in spite of plenty of good publicity and press stuff. About $4,100. America (Bishop-Cass). (Seats 1.530: price, nights, 40.) Richard Barthelmess In "The Bright Shawl" could have done better, especially with following in Denver. First three days pulled fair business, after that flopped. Around $8,750. I sis (Fox). (Seats 1.776: prices, nights, 40.) Tox Mix in "Stepping Fast." Jimmle Aubrey In *'For- ward. March." Mix did strictly and almost exclusively masculine trade from start to finish. Saturday, Sun- day and Monday the film stood 'em up. Balance of week cut down average, however, as was case with rest of show houses. Grossed little more than $4,000. Arbuckle Slips Out for Chicago. Los Angeles, May 23. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, accom- panied by Perry Kelly, his manager, and Dr. Sunshine, personal chiro- practor, left Sunday for Chicago to rehearse in the restaurant retue opening at the Marigold Gardens June 4. The comedian's departure was unannounced, he preferring to slip away quietly and insisted no recep- tion be planned for his arrival in Chicago. UNIVEPSAL PLANT SHAKE-UP 7 Los Angele . May $3. The resignation of Eugene u Ruth, i»er#onai representative for *'"' Laemmle, Indicates a shake-up " '!••■ luiv ei .-\il plait t l« to be ex- nre te i. SEMON WITH TIFFANY Chicago, May 23. T.arry Kenton is leaving Vitagraph and lias signed a contract for three years with M. If. Hoffman of the Tiffany films. Bemoti will abandon the two- reel comedy idea with which hi* name has been Identified and will make super features. Tills gives Hoffma n three stars—Ma e Murrav Elaine Hammei>lelri and Harry" Bemoti. PATHE AND CENSORS GO TO SECOND CLASH i R0ME0 ORGANIST Exchange in Court for License to Exhibit "Good Riddance." Lost First Action Max Clraf, Metro producer, ar- rived in Mow York this areek to ar- range i<»r future releases The Grnf prodn Ii< >ns are \>>->r. r x mode at tin Run Mateo studios in s.ir Fran* Cisco. The Pathe Exchange, Inc., is still combating the Motion Picture Commission of the State of New York, having made legal applica- tion for an order of certiorari to compel Gborge H. Cobb, Mrs. Eli T. Hosmer and Joseph Levenson. com- prising the commission, to issue a license permitting the exhibition of the Pathe comedy, "Good Rid- dance." Pathe's petition, signed by Lewis Innerarlty, the corporation's secre- tary, objects to certain cuts ordered on the ground they are not "inhu- man," and do not "tend to incite crime" as alleged by the commis- sioners. Pathe alleges that the eliminations ordered are "discrim- inatory and unwarranted" on the theory that the comedy is a slap- stick burlesque and could not be se- riously considered. This is not the first set-to be- tween Pathe and the commission. After carrying one of ' cases to the highest State court, the Apellate Division of New York, the latter up- held the commission's privilege to censor any news reel. The Pathe news reel in question showed a bathing girl scene which was oh Jected to. LONDON FILM NEWS London, May 13. * Herbert Wilcox, of Astra, has taken the German "E. F. A." studios for the making of the film version of "Chu Chin Chow." Herbert Langtey will play the Oscar Ashe part and Betty Blythe that played at His Majesty's by Lily Bray ton. The cameramen are American, A. Guissart and Bert Caan. British and Colonial are making a film version of a popular novel, "Heartstrings," the scenario being by Elliot Standard. The cast in- cludes Victor MacLaglen, Russe'l Thorndyke, Sidney Farebrother, Kate Gurney and Edith Bishop. Bertram Phillips is about to start work on "The School for Scandal' with Queenie Thomas and Frank Stanmore as Sir Peter and Lacly Teazle. Stanmore is an exception- ally clever rough Cockney comedian and appears, on the face of it, to be an odd choice for the part of Sir Peter Tcaslc. Having completed "The Lady Trainer." Walter West is now it work on a new film, "Beautiful Kitty," at Epsom. This will be an- other racing picture. It is doubtful whether West could make or con- ceive a picture without a stable or a race-course in it. In the old days of the "Broadweet" studios they were invariably known as West's racing stables. The cast for "Beau- tiful Kitty" includes James Knight. Arthur WalcOtt and Polly Emery. Walter West's company is practi- cally a "stock" one and he gives his people more regular work than sm- other British film producer. There eeems to be a further hitch in the plans for the filming of "Lady Godiva" for Stoll by Will Kellino. The firm is now announcing Kelllm will make a film version of Temple Thurston's novel, "Sally Bishop." The Anglo-French film entente U not likely to cut much ice unless the films made Improve consider- ably. "Within the Maze" was poor, but the last effort. "The Sacrifice.*' produced by Henri Roussell, Is little better. The Gaumont Co. Is shortly start- ing on a picturization of the late George R. Sims* melodrama. "The Lights of London." The Wilson Barrett part of Harold Armitage will be played by Nigel Barrle. and the leading lady will be Wanda I law ley. Wife Sues Ray Hastings for a Divorce After their present series of two- reelers is completed Quality Films- will go in for making big feature*. George Cooper will be the producer and the etories handled will !>e original. P. & P. CAST The complete cast of the Potash and Perlmutter picture Samuel Goldwyn is making for release through First National Includes Harney Bernard, Alex Carr. Vera Gordon, Martha Mansfield, Jerrj l>evine.— B e ■Sar in Mores. Moo** Sutherland. Adolptl Miller. Ben Lyons. Frances Marion made the adapta Hon from die screen. The film will i»- baaed an the I P. and P, play. Montague Class the author will rto the titling. \ m. Woods is Interested in the picture financially with Goldwyn Los Angeles, May 23. Ray Hastings, one of the best- known organists on the coast, is "being sued for divorce, his wife making sensational charges. In her complaint she names two women, one a choir singer in the Temple Baptist Church, and Vir- ginia Fox, a theatre organist and wife of Norman Fox, the Pasadena leadirg man. FRENCH PICTURE NOTES Paris, May IS. Adele Blood, who has been in the Orient with an all-American theat- rical company, ia now on her way back from Bombay. W. Renwick Smith as her representative is >n his way to New York with a couple of pictures produced during Mise Blood's dramatic tour. LOCAL EXHIBITORS STIR UP AUSTIN, TEX. Retaliate for "Sunday" Com- plaints in Circular Petition for Special Election Flora Le Breton, English movie artiste has just terminated a series of scenes at Beauvais. France, In the role of Juliette de Marny for the screen drama, "I Will Repay,'* being produced here by Henry Kolker and George Treville for the Ideal Film Co. of London. The story Is laid during the French revo- lution i D. W. Griffith* "La Nult Mys- tericuse" ("Mysterious Night") has replaced "Robin Hood" at the Salle Marivaux for a run as long as It will last "Robin Hood" has held this screen for the past two months. Both pictures have been handled in France by Guy Croswell Smith. Austin. Tex.. May 23. Two exhibitors, J. J. Hegman and C. W. A. MacCormack, have stirred up a hornet's nest following charge; which were filed against them for keening their theatres open Sunday, as a result of the Sunday law en- forcement war in Austin, the State capital. The dockets of the County Court and the Corporation Court are congested. In six weeks' time 120 complaints against alleged Sunday Closing law violators were filed. By far the largest number are against the two managers and their employes. They, in turn, charged that they were be- ing discriminated against, and caused similar complaints to be filed against owners of drug stores, confectioneries, cigar stores, gaso- line filling stations, grocery stores, soda fountain operators, fruit ven- dors and delicatessens. Meantime there) Is being circu- lated a petition brought about by the film men asking for a special election for the recall of Police Commissioner Nolan, who assumed his office May 1. A total of 1.SOt- voters have signed the petition, it is claimed. One thousand nine hun- dred signatures will be necessary to put the recall election over. . NEWS OF THE FILMS Douglas McLean will be starred In a picture version of "The Moun- tain Climber," a play in which Francis Wilson appeared some years ago. It is from the German "Hochtourlst" and from a French comedy by Bichon. The Associated Exhibitors will handle it. David Powell has been signed by Distinctive for an important role in "The Green Goddess," in which George Arliss is to be starred. Jetta Goudall is also in the cast The stage play of the same title was adapted for the screen by Forrest Halsey. "Mary of the Movies," the F. B. O. production of Hollywood life, has had its release date postponed for a week. The picture, according to present plans, will be placed on the market May 27. The 000-seat picture house re- modeled from the old Eureka Baths building at 28th street and Surf avenue, Coney Island, has been extended to 1,400 seats. Alex Weiss and Henry Brill will operate the Eureka, which opens May 1. Weiss is also Interested m Hender- son's In conjunction with his brothers. The Eureka will play straight pictures. The. State, owned by the Corn- ing Opera v House Co.; Liberty, owned by the Steuben Theatre Co., and the Princess and the Re- gent, owned by G. H. Tobias, all of Corning, N. Y., hereafter will be operated by the Corning Theatres Co., In conjunction with Associated Theatres, Inc., which company will act as fiscal agent for the theatres. coast Up to the present time "Glimpses of the Moon" and "The Exciters" have been completed, with no advice received as to whether or not she will make her next picture here or in Hollywood. The Key Holding Corp.. 209 East 124th street. New York, in a volun- tary petition in bankruptcy filed in the U S. District Court lists total liabilities of IS0.790.SS and assets of several picture subjects and the rights to a play titled The Key," all of unknown value. Ashley Mil- ler is president of the corporation. Among the creditors are the Clare- mont Film Laboratories, 82.500; Life Publishing Co., 814.000; E. Spits, a film man, 84,589; Jaxon Film Co., Ashley Miller, Leonla. N. J., 84,750, and Film Developing Corp., 81.250. Harold P. Coffin has been appointed receiver. Jackie Coogan's first production under the Metro banner will be "Long Live the King" from Mary Roberts Rinehart's novel. Victor Schertzinger will direct. Metro announces the purchase of Rita Weiman's "To Whom It May Concern"; "The Spirit of the Road" by Kate Jordan and Peter Clarke McFarlane's "Held to Answer." "Prince Ski," a snow white wolf- hound appearing In "Adams Rib," is dead. Its owner, W. B. Harkins, valued the dog at 85,000. Lee Moran and Art Gilstrom have arrived in New York from Los An- geles with the first of the two reel comedies based on the Ring Lardner "You, Know Me Al" series of stories and cartoons. Moran is the feature comic in the picture. This week It appeared as though a deal would be completed whereby this first of the series, "The Bush- er," would be released through Edu- cational as also the subsequent two reelers of the series. At Lyketis, Pa., the Loyal Order of Moose Monday dedicated a new auditorium which, besides being for lodge functions, will be used for pictures and vaudeville. Otto Henry Harras has signed a two years contract with the Fashionist," a new monthly style publication on the order of "Vogue." H* will take care of the screen de- partment, signing a page in every Issue. Bei»e Danltlt in in New York awaiting advice as to arhen she will start work on her next picture. When originally arriving in the < as' it v\iis planned for hOg l<> make four pictures before returning to the Otto Kruger has been engaged by Cosmopolitan for a role In "Under the Red Robe," which is being di- f rected by Alan Crosland. Ernest Glendennlng was originally sched- uled for the part but his engage- ment In Chicago with "Why Not?" forced him to forego the picture. "Under the Red Robe" la now be- ing shot In three different studio lo- cations In New York, the Jackson Avenue and Tilford studios and the 101st F. A. armory. J. H. Broomhall, manager of the Jefferson, Hamilton, o, secretary and treasurer of the Jewel Photo- play Co., was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage May 4 while walking through the business sec- tion of the city. Hopes are enter- tained for his recovery. The Grand, pictures, In the we«it end of Harrinburg, Pa., has beo<i acquired by VVilmer 4 Vincent. At a sale of fine saddle horses la Kansas City this week the Famous Players-La^ky Corporation pur- chased "Black Ball" and "Midnight Hex/' a pajr of fiv-gaited animals, for $3,000. The pair will be sent to California and used in the produc - tion of "Pharaoh's Chariot." R, K. Lincoln returned to New YorV li-^t week, having completed The Right of the Strongest" for th Pictures on the coast -