Variety (July 1923)

Wednesday, July 4, 19S3 PICTURES ai COOL WEEK-END IN PiflUY^ SENT FIH HOUSE GOOD TRADE ^Within the Law" Got $23,000 at Stanley—''Vanity Fair," With Dire Predictions, Held Up for Good Week and Fooled Town Philadelphia. July S. R looked as If laat week would •qua] or even beat the preceding six days In the matter of hot weather »nd low film grosses until Thursday, when some of the flrst real cool weather of the last two months ar- rived and business began to pick up fill along the line. Most of the downtown houses Bhared in the pick-up, the Stanley having a particularly successful week. "Within the Law" was the feature, and even on the hot days the demand was surprisingly big. "Enemies of Women" also picked «p definitely Id business, again en- couraging the Stanley company to the belief that the Stanton can be kept open all summer. If "The '■' Bpoilers," which opened this week, does any kind of business in its fort- night's run there Is little doubt that the Stanton will be kept open throughout the summer, especially In view of the fact that the Aldine, another of the Big Four (downtown) mm houses, was closed several weeks ago, due to bad business. The Karlton had a fair enough week with "Vanity Fair," consider- ing that many prophesied a hopeless flop. It was not that, and by the time the cooler weather came along business began to pick up quite rap- Idly. Another drawing card, as far as this city Is concerned, was the fact that both Mabel Ballin. in the lead, and Eleanor Boardnian as Amelia, used to live here and are well known. For this reason alone . ''Vanity Fair" fooled the pessimistic ones and turned in a better gross than any other house had had in some time. The Arcadia had a fairly good week with Alfred Lunt's "Backbone," •though the notices were not enthu- siastic. The Palace had an excellent week with "The Bright Shawl," Which has gained some flne word-of- tnouth advertising here. The Vic- toria also had an excellent week With Tom Mix in "Romance Land." Mix pictures are probably the best drawing cards this E^ast Marltet Street house has. The Capitol also bad quite a successful week with a second run of Mabel Normand's "Suzanna." This week's features opened well, although the hot weather appeared back fk town Monday night "The Isle of Lost Ships" was the Stanley feature, and It received some stun- hlngly enthusiastic notices. The Stanton had an encouraging start with "The Spoilers." Two weeks is Its length of stay. An interesting experiment Is the booking of Mary Plckford's "Daddy Long-Legs," at the Karlton. This Is hot the first time this house has had a booking of this kind. A year ago It ran the six revivals released by Lasky two days each, with consider- able success. "You Can't Fool Your Wife" Is the Palace feature, with "Soul of the Beast" at the Arcadia and "Masters of Men" at the Vic- toria. In all there were five new pictures Monday, the largest num- ber In several weeks. The Stanley will have "Daddy" next week and the Karlton will have •The Abysmal Brute," while the Stanton will have the second week of "The Spoilers." "Only 88," at the Stanley, and "Has the World Gone Mad?" at the Karlton, are bookings for the 16th. Estimates for last week: Stanley—"Within the Law" (First , National). Did fine business, about |23,(K)0. "Isle of Lost Ships" this week and third First National feat- ure In succession. "Daddy" next Week. (Capacity, 4,000; 50-75.) Stanton—"Enemies of Women" (Cosmopolitan). Third and last week, this big special held pretty steady. Oroas about 110,000, neat gain. "The Spollrrs" this week and next, and house may stay open all summer. (Capacity, J.700: 50-75.) Karlton—"Vanity Fair" (tSold- wyn). Touted by some as flop, this Ballin feature held up pretty well, considering weather, and at end of Week .spurted, bringing gross to about $4,000. (Capacity 1.100; GO.) Arcadia—"Backbone" (Goldwyn). First Lunt picture fairly successful here. Tiny house did about $2,200. JOH NNY HINES AND W ARNERS The Warner Bros, have signeil a contract with Johnny Hines to star in their productions. Ilines has Ju.st completed "Little Johnnie Jones" for them, he havinK been secured through a .npccial ar- rangement with C. C Burr. On the completion of the picture it was possible for the Warners to conclude an arrangement with the "tar whereby he will appear for them solely for art indefinite period. 'SOUUFORSALE'REPEAT AT IOC. IN K. C. HOUSE Hot Weather Scale—''Bright Shawl" at Newman Did $11,000 Kansas City, July 8. Heavy publicity, coupled with a favorable weather break, won out last week for the silent drama man- agers, although the first two days indicated tiie week would bo a bloomer. Sunday and Monday the mercury stood far up and the houses hau their coolihg uystems running full blast, but the customers were suspicious and refused to be enticed in. Then came a cool wave with the temperature down close to 60 and business picked up, although there was s .me loss Saturday after- n on, caused by a heavy rain ac- companied by a terrlAc hall storm. The Newman int^ests divided their energy between \he big New- man house with "The Bright Shawl," and "E lemies of Women" at the Royal. For the latter entertainment the regular house prices of 35-50 were tilted to 50-75c, although no 1 ention of the change was made In the advance advertising. Several of the drop-In shows along Twelfth street are continuing their play for business by offering big names and pictures at small prices of admission and seem to be satisfied with the results. An Illus- tration of this was shown last week, when the Regent featured "Souls for Sale" for a dime, it being the first showing after the Liberty's first run a few weeks ago. Commencing to- day the same feature goes to one of the Harding's suburban theatres, the Llnwood, where the scale is 25 cents. Estimates for last week: Nowmao—"The Bright Shawl" (First National). (Seats 1.980, 60- 75). Richard Barthelmess and Dorothy Gish. An atmospheric pro- logue added color. Several news and comedy reels and singing team rounded out the usual Newman classy bill. Close to 111,000. Royal—"E n e m 1 e s o. Women" (Cosmopolitan). (Capacity 890, 60- 76). Business built up strongly toward end of week. Neighborhood o: $9,000. Twelfth Street—"The "Hero" and a Sennett comedy, "Bow W^ow." (Seats 1,100, 30). First week for house under new management, it having been tinned out of the New- man fold and the lack of pubMcity was extremely noticeable. House de- pends almost entirely upon drop-In trade and that has not been so good for some time. Cross around |1,500. Liberty—"Trifling With Honor." ( Japacity 1,000, 35-50). Fritzl Rldg- way and Rockcliffe Fellows. Lovers of baseball should "eat this one up," for scenes of the National game predominate, although there Is an interesting love story running through. Close to $5,000, Opposition pictures at the vaude- ville houses were: "Bavu," Pan- tages; "Success," Main Street, and "The Right Way," Globe. DEFENDS HOLLYWOOD Leah Baird Personally Appearing with ''Destroying Angel" Providence, July 3. "The Destroying Angel," a plc- turizatlon of Louis Joseph Vance's .S'Ory. with Leah Baird, its star, ap- pearing In person, had Its world pre- miere at Victory yesterday. Sup- porting stars In the cast are Ford S'orllng, Mitchell Lewis and Noah Def ry MiH3 Balnl funvc a tnlk chiefly concerning Hollywood and its man- ner of living and asked that public or.inlon bo not too hasty in judging movie personnel. She pointed out iii;;t divorces In Hollywood were fewer than in New York, and stand- anlfl of livinK were hi;,'h'r in the movlvj c^'ony than In many modern cities. Tho photoplay deals with an act- ress of prominence who is kidnapped by a f.v.i>F '^^ thugs. An exciting rnotorlcat chase occurs wJth the cli- max In the waters off the 8(<uihern part of Rhode Island, where a num- oer of important scenes were filmed. =^ PRESENTAT/ONS (Extra attractions in picturm ih€atr€9, whmn not picturea, wiU be carried and deacri^ed in thig depart- ment for the general intormation of the trade,) ^ "IMPRESSIONS VIENNOISE** Songs snd Dances 9 Mins.; Full Stag* Rivoli, N«w York New York. July 2. Hugo Riesenfeld is presenting this as the prolog to the showing of "Merry-Go-Round" at the RIvoll. Because of the length of the fea- ture, which runs 91 minutes, the prolog and a comedy are all else presented on the bill. "Impressions Vlennolse" is a real delight fn the manner presented. The scene Is an outside beer garden, with its small orchestra of four pieces—two violins, a 'cello and an accordion. In addition there are some 10 people. At the opening Alexia Adamov displays a remarkable tenor voice of sweetness and clarity in a solo that scored so highly the proceed- ings were Interrupted with hearty applause. This la followed by a light dance scene, with Gretchcn Villa, Florence Davidson, Lottie Fields and Paul Oscard as the principals. It is the old-fashioned waits played with a true Viennese lilt that was delightful. In atmospheric touches the scene Is all that could be asked for, even to the wandering organ grinder with his monk. Fred. BURT EARLE'S CALIFORNIA QIRLS' ORCHESTRA (9) Orchestral Divertissement 15 Mins.; Full Stage Strand, New Orleans Formerly In vaudeville, Burt Earle Is now heading his own orchestra In the pretentious picture theatres. In his present arrange- ment he is assisted by nine girls. "Dearest," with a crooning trend as discoursed, is the Initial selec- tion. Follows. excerpts from "The Fortune Teller," given a novel twist. Next there is a Paul White- man arrangement presented with a zest that lifts the tempo per- ceptibly. Elarle here enters with the same talking banjo bit that was his piece de resistance in the vaudevilles, whanging them almost at will, and cementing his score. The girls stop on the accelerator again with a saxophonic rendering of "Carolina In the Morning." The finish, a medley of Southern airs, brought a maelstrom of applause, the mob pounding their palms for about two minutes after the weekly began to unwind. ' . The Burt Earle opus is a sure offering, with its dapper girls fit- tingly garbed and Earle always in the ofTlng to smooth over the mi- nutest sag as it appears. And Earle has adopted a movie mustache by way of adding color. • His orchestra is idrawlng tho largest crowds noted at the Strand in months and is an attraction of parts indubitably. tfamiicl. PIERRE and PAQIE Dancing 12 Mins.; Two and Three (Special) Delmonte, St. Louis -— .... ; • - - St. Louis, July S. A very pretty, well-formed girl and a male partner, who both can dance. The act was built to meet re- quirements of large film houses wanting original presentations, and according to reception received and manner In which It was put over, Pierre and Pagie have not built In vain. The pair look sure-lire for this sort of entertainment with vaude- ville not entirely out of the ques- Uon. They open with a modern mus- ical-comedy waltz after which the orchestra fills In with interlude; there is a change of liglits and at- mosphere and orchestra leads into a forti.ssimo s.ilome (initih, iiaving the way for tlu' "Dance of India" a solo by I'agie in abbreviated costume. In this number I'agie displayed fas- cinating powcrH. Another change of lightM and atmosp here f o:- a Chinatown-all* y giving an oppor- tunity to Pierre to ..olo "The Burglar Dance" in which he dis- played his talent as a clever pan- tomimic dancer. They close with a SpanL^h number somewhat different than the usual Spanish hokum. They work fast, do not stall for .'ipplau.so and display exc<ll«nt Hhowmanship in presenting their piea.sing offering. Ro$i. "MUSICAL VARIATIONS'* Four Divisions IS Mins; Full Special Strand, New York . New York, July t. The "camera Iris* effect first shown hereabouts in "Trene** is be- ing employed this week for the In- troduction of the four dill^rent di- visions of the "Musical Variations" that are serving as the presentation prologue to "Wandering Daufh- ters." The program holds the following four selections: (a) "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise" Selts Judson Uouse* tenor* (b) "Gypsy Dance" Brahms Mllle. Klementowics and M. Bout*- mann (c) "Qultarre" Mossko^skl Madeleine MacGulgan, vlollniet (d) "Nana" (from "Sylvia").Dellbes Miles. Xlementowlcz. Bawn, Bowno. Larina and Beamer With the opening of the Iris for the first time the tenor steps down from a slight platform and offers a solo that was mediocre In quality. The second number, a Hungarian Gypsy Dance, with the opening of the shutter showed that the back- ing had been changed, a like change was made for the third number, a violin solo, and finally for the fourth, when, unfortunately, the effect Jammed and refused to open further than one-half of the stage until after repeated efforts on the part of the crew. On the whole, the presentation was not in keeping with some of those that the Strand has offered in the past few weeks. It lacked iftap and pep for the most part and the premier danseuse of the quintet of young ladies that appeared in the final number was decidedly amateurish in her efforts. IVetf. "AIDA" Third Act Century, Baltimore Done by a group of local stu- dents, members of the classes at the I'cabody Conservatory of Mu- sic. This third act of "Alda" now being put on at tho Century theatre as an added attraction to tho movie, "The Nth Commandment," stands out as an example of what Is not suitable for a movie house. The management deserves com- mendation for attempting and actually putting on an acceptable and In many places a praiseworthy grand opera act, but the question arises why the third act of "Aida" when tho catchy music—and that Is what the movie patrons actually want—lies in the first and second acts. For in those acts and the tin- kling "Grand March" and the "Ce- leste Aida." If grand opera at all, it would seem that "Traviata," "Car- men," "La Boheme," "Madame But- terfly," or even the last act of "II Trovatore" would offer genuine possibilities, whereas this episode of "Aida" is nearly a genuine dud as far as the movie audiences are concerned. It Is a comedown from the "Waltz Dream" of last week, and if they are to be continued It would seem that a more thoroughly competent company be assembled and better scenes selected. In this version, Irma Payne sings a conventional Alda. Amneris is in the hands of Margaret Keevcr and In fairly competent hands at that, while Rhadamcs, the role that Caruso used to goal 'em with, is sung by John L. Wllbourno and sung only half well. The orchestra, however, under the direction "of Frank Itehsen, Interprets the score excellently and lends excellent sup- port to the work. Hink. "AIDA" (2d Act) Lyda Van Gelder and Bessie Kaplan 10 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set) McVickcr's, Chicago Chicago, July 8. The secon'l a< t scene from "Alda" re<inireH but two women, with a man's voice heard for a moment off stage at one time. The .story, told by means of Klldes, makes the offering undop- standablo to thoKC who are not opera regulars, but not particularly effective. The scene, a room In a castle., was f|uito elaborate. The singing of Mispes Van Gelder and Bessie Kaplan is pleajilng. Russfan Native Songs 20 Mins.i Full Stage (Two Speolal Drops) Rivoli, New York. New York, June 10. A cycle of Russian folk songs that might have been lifted bodily oi^of the '*Chauye Bouris," all backed up by bizarre and picturesque settings from the same model. The "atmo- sphere presentation" for "Peter th« Great" is divided into three sec- tions. The curtain rise* to disclose a woman In high headdress and veil seated on a high backed throne. She sings one of those curious Rus- sian numbem In a flne sopranow There is a shift to a new scene of a futuristio landscape in the dis- torted Russian style and a "Volga Boat Song** by sixteen In native costume. The drop is changed for another number by the same men, with a spirited dance for the finish ezecu'ed as a solo by Bugenla Repelskaya la feminised Cossaek costume. There intervenes a travel subject of one reel by Urban giving scenio views of the old Russia under the Ctarlst regime and for the finale an- other song interlude by the Rivoli ensemble again in native dress. The settings by the Eastman studios and the unusual musical program give a touch of novelty and provide appropriate color and atmosphere for the film feature^ •*.! v'r-. FREDERICK BAER Baritone 3 Mins.; One Rialto, New York New Yoilc. June tO. Possessing a vaoat excellent bari- tone voice of range and quality this artist scored highly with about one- third of an audience at the Rlalto Tuesday night.' He offered by one number, Del Rlego'o **Homing," but presented it so effectively that tho audience would have been pleased with an oncora, Fr^d, DILLON GIVES NOTICE | Two Weeks to Musloisns In T\^ HouseiT',' •■,.,'• k, ■v..:-: Ithaca, N. T., July I. Faced with a demand for a wage increase, effective Aug. 1. the Ithaoa Theatre Co., operating the Crescent and Strand, Ithaca, have served a two weeks' dismissal notice upon musicians playing in the orchestras of the two houses. William A. Dil- lon,! vice-president of the Motion 'q Picture Theatres Owners of New York state, is president of tho theatre company and actively in charge of the two houses. The present scale Is |S4 In vaude- ville houses and $28 in picture the- atres. The proposed contract called for $42 in the former and |36 in the latter. ' Dillon declared that to grant the demands would mean an added ex- penditure of $12,000 per year, ai)d would necessitate increased priojs at the box oflDce. ONE SUIT AOAIKST WILLIAMS Variety of June 14 erroneouirly reported there were several su)ts pending in New York courts against J. D. Williams. There is but one suit as far as :^ can be ascertained. In that action Williams is named as a co-defend- ant with Watterson Rothacker of Chicago. The defendants in the action were served on Oct. 11, 1922. On his arrival here during the past week Harold Lloyd, who, prior to leaving I«s Angeles, severed his eonnectton with Hal Roach, stated he did not contem- plate any sort of alliance with . Wllllnms for the distribution of any productions that he had In mind for the near future. Lloyd is to be entertained at an Informal luncheon at tho Hits Fri- day at which he and tho newfpaper- men are to be the guests of 4he Pathe organization. ATLANTIC cm CONVENTION The annual convention of the M. P. T O A. of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Deleware, will be held at Atlantic City, Aug. ' 6-8. President J. II, Schad, of Rending, Pa., will preside. The ses- sion Is to be an Importan. one with matte-8 pertaining to state and na- tlon.-tl legislation to b<' brought up. A no'her M. P. T. O. A. » -nt Sn — to be the outing of tlje M >tIon Pic- ture Th< atre Owners of Rochester, N. Y., which city is repiesented 100 per cent, a the State and National organization, which is to take place at Irondequolt Bay on July 17. Tha executives of the various sectional org.inizationg in the state as well as some of the National officers are to attend. , , .;'