Variety (July 1923)

^i0BoMKf, July II, IQgt PICTURES es MERRY-GO-ROUND" AT RIVOU DISPROVES BAD BUSINESS RULE '.'' -..' »5lSe Picture*' Can Do Trick-n$23,000 Last Week at Rivoli—"Covered Wagon" Neither Affected by Conditions •i ; T Broadway In midsummer, espe- (lallr »"t week (July 4th), isn't )np«cted to brln«r anything like a y«a|ipouring of dollars into the pic< tofV'house A>oz offices, but the Ri- y^ developed surprising box of- Hot strength with "The Merry-Go- RonBd** rolling up a groifs that proves there is no such thing as bad MUQUQer busiile^s providing the pic- tofHi played during that period jiufll the strength to pull audiences. T^Rl% Merry-Go-Round" did pull, and to such an extent as to surprise the biggest part of the Broadway wise folk, for the gross almost touched 123.000 on the week. That July 4th was a threatening 'd&y helped the picture houses. The Capitol on that day alone did $8,000, but the week showed a net of $31,- 40<^^ithout war tax. which does not ■how any remarkble strength for the picture that was the attraction ]there. The other houses along the line beld to a fair average for summer business—all except "The Covered tWsgon," at the Criterion, which, With holiday prices on the Fourth, got almost $10,700 on the week. The Rliato, with "Peter the Great" for It*.i, second week on Broadway, topped (14650. At the Cameo "Enemies of •Women" pulled a little over $3,500. and the Lyric, with "Human Wreck- age," was slightly under $6,500. The Strand, with "Wandering Daugh- ters," dropped considerably. This week the Strand, with "Ru- Dert' of Hentzau," is doing the busl- a«W'of the street, with "The Merry- .0#^«und," in Its second week at tb*;Illvoli, dropping off somewhat timates for last week: .. >so — "Enemies of Woman" Idwyn - Cosmopolitan). Fifth week. Seats 539; 55-86.) Trine better than $3,500. Capitol—"The Chase" and "Ivan ths Great" (Short Subjects.) (Seats WOO; 65-85-$l.lO.) Double short mibJect bill Instead of showing reg- ular feature last week. Ten units to program, but did not seem to |>articularly appeal. Gross $31,400, .Without war tax. Criterion—"The Covered Wagon" XParaunount). (Seventeenth week. Beats 608; $1.50.) With holiday t>rlces July 4. week's gross ran to t>ractically $10,700. Nothing, heat or holidays, seems to affect the iteady pulling quality of this pro- fluction. Lyrio—"Human Wreckage" (Ince- J. B. O.). (Seats 1,400; $1.50.) Jowi not seem to have hit public With force its promoters believed. Btislnesfl only mediocre. Itfuat week Jinder $6,500. Rialto—"Peter the Great" (Hamil- Ton Theatrical Corp.-Paramount). (Seats 1.960; 30-60-85.) Moved Jown from Rivoll, where week be- fore did biggest business on Broad- Way from drawing point. At this Sfi*2L^'"^P^*®^ considerably, getting Rivoli — "The Merry-Go-Round" luhiversal). (Seats 2,200; 30-50-85.) Thto Universal, heralded as unusual f i». ^®' proved more than that on ffil w showing at Rivoll. House JW business of street during week, giving to standees when other PJpses half niled. Arrangement Oflween Universal and I'^amous "ayers was that If picture did busi- "••■ it would remain for second JJJ^ and that f« being done. Gross jm week almost $23,000. which »*▼• picture certainty of second J»5«. This week business is little MT from last week. ^?^"'*"~ "Wandering Daughters" If r? National). (Seats 2.900; JB-50-85.) Failed to pull, even jnough title seemed essentially one r*f,'8Tied for box office. Picture »Ak '® ''^® "P *<> ^'*^^® promise, with result business decidedly off on week, dropping under $16,000. HART TO START WORK SOON William S. Hart will begin work UK** ^"'^y studios in Los Angeles Within the next 30 days on the flrj^t Picture of his new contract with Fami&us Players-La.sky. The old j^*rt studios will not bo reopened ^ the ftt,ir. The story is one which Hart pcTHonally wrote and I.s of the western varioty with whlrh ho ha.s ^ long boon identined. His fnmou.s J^m^ pony will also m.ako a return tj the Bcieen in the production. J. ti. Hawka ha.s boon aasiijnod the task of i»ronarinc; the workinfj; .script, *or the lucture. . ' ..... L A. BOX OFFICES DULL BECAUSE OF EXPOSTTION Opening of Centennial and July 4 Holiday Crimped Pic- ture House Business Los Angeles. Jul ' 11. The week was quiet and unevent- ful insofar as the picture box offices were concerned. It was a noticeably dull period, and the best way to ac- count for it was the opening of the Monroe Doctrine Centennial and Motion Picture Expo, which enticed thousands to Exposition Park, and the Fourth celebration, which took pleasure-seekers to the beaches and mountains. However, the better ad- vertised photo bills got a good play at night^-or most of them did, at any rate. The biggest stir was caused by the advance stuft on "Hu- man Wreckage," the Mrs. Wallie Reid drug film, which opened Fri- day night at Qrauman's Rialto. The estimated receipts: California—"Broadway Gold" (In- dependent). (Seats 2.000; 25-75.) Elliott Dexter featured. Robert C. Bruce Wilderness Tales and Elinor's orchestra concerts added attrac- tions. Qot $8,500. Kinema—"Alias Julius Caesar" (A. F. N.). (Seats 1,800; 25-75.) Charles Ray starred. Usual pop- ular musical features. Took $9,000. Grauman's—"Tea with a Kick" (F. B. O.). (Seats 2.200; 25-56.) Many prominent players In cast, headed by Doris May and Ralph Lewis. Lou Oim Yoke, Chlnefle, In specialty, and Queenie Tilton's beauty show also listed. Grossed $11,200. Metropolitan—"Children of Jasz" (Paramount). (Seats 3,700; 35-65.) Theo. Kosloff featured. John Steele, tenor, and Six Brown Brothers also big draw. Receipts estimated at $21,900. Grauman'a Rialto—"Divorce" (clos- ing Thursday). "Human Wreckage" (opening Friday). (Seats 800; 35-85.) "Divorce" did -only fair on Its four-week run. The Mrs. Wallie Reid film exposing the drug traffic got away to a big opening crowd and big advertising campaign Is on to put it across. Took $2,500 in two days. Grauman's Hollywood—"The Cov- ered Wagon" (Paramount). (Seats 1,800; 50-1.00.) Going strong, wltb no sign of let-up, even though weather is warm. Approximately $18,000. Mission—"Robin Hood" (Pair- banks). (Seats 900; 35-1.10.) Fair- banks proving almost 9.s big a fa- vorite downtown as he did in Holly- wood. In spite of long run there. Popular prices prevail. Estimated at $7,400. Loev/a State—"Penrod and Sam' (First National). (Seats 2.400; 25- 55.) Good cast Box-offlced $14,000. BUFFALO UNCHANGED Outdoor Amusements Getting Most of Public DETROIT VERY UmT; KUNSKY WONT SELL THE SPOILERS'DUE TO TAKE SUMMER RECORD AT ROOSEVET ■VV' Did $18,000 Last Week, lU First—Double Bill at Chicafi^ Last Week With Patriotic Presentations Generally -j: '"''^^'":"'"' ^ ' :'":■■ ' 'J'• ;vr|;''':^,i'•■,-■;'■' -■' Buffalo. July 11. Little variJUbn was shown In the takings at local box offices last week. Little in the bills offered to com- mand attention. It begins to look hereabouts as though it will be a loan summer for the theatres and»a fat one for the outdoor amu.iement places, In- cluding the beaches. Fourth of July was said to have been one of the largest days enjoyed by the Cana- dian beaches in several seasons. Last week's estimates: — Loew's State—"Crinoline md Ro- mance" and vaudeville. (Capacity. 3.400; 30-50.) IJu.sincss ran about even the preceding seven days. Almiit $10,000. Lafayette Square—"Temptation" and vaudeville. (Capacity 3.400; 35- 55.) Got about even break, although probably dropping somewhat under previous week. Botwoon $3,000 and $10,000. Hipp—"Grumpy" first half; "The Exritora" second half. (^Capacity. 2.400; 35-50.) BTi3ino.«»8 balanrort abo»if ovfn on both onds of weolt, with notliin;: exciting in view dur- ing poriod. Liito other br.u.«ip. Hipp iH nur.sing It.^iulf -ilong thtou»?h hot apoll and ofTonng hot wcathor pro- gr.ims as far a.** po^siblo About $9.0t)0. .... This Summer Better Than Last—Weather Cooler Last Week VITA. FEATURE PULLS BIG IN SAN FRANCISCO Detroit. July 11. Last week was another profitable week for the moving picture houses, the weather being much cooler in the evenings. Estimates for last week: Adams — "Woman with Four Faces." Drew very well. About 18,000. Broadway-Strand~"Ragged Bklge." Well liked. Over $5,000. 0«pitol—"Only 38." Drew smart people. Close to )20,000. Washington—"Environment" and "Isle of Love." Double bill. Around $4,000. Business as a whole this summer Is much better than Hst year at this time. Exhibitors say they can make money If It does not get too hot. There seems to be a certain clien- tele at every theatre, and these peo- ple only stay away when the weather is depressing inside. Fewer theatres are being offered for sale than ever before. A year ago John H. Kunsky of- fered to sell his ?ease on the Al- hambra for $60,000 cash. He didn't get one taker. To-day he is turning them down at the rate of about two a week. ''Masters of Men'' Does $15,- 500 at California—Forc- ing "Musketeers" SOME aOSED IN BALTO. MAY FAIL TO REOPEN Harsh Critics Affected by Heat — Business Fair Last Week • Baltimore, July 11. Movie business in Baltimore was only fair last week, with the heat, vacation period and the Fourth of July working against the film hou.se. The Klvoli is clo.sed, while the smaller movie houses have added several to the list of tliose already closed tight—maybe just for the summer and maybe for good. Natu- rally most of the trade is directed at the downtown houses—the Garden, Hippodrome. Wizard. New, and par- ticularly the Century. The Itivoli, howtjver. will reopen at the end of July and go again on its profitable way with the same brand of pictures it consistently displayed In the past. With, the heat growing more se- vere, the critics are also getting on their ears. Generally none too sweet tempered in this city, the heat seems to drive some of them crazy. It may really be the pictures, but in the past few weeks there has been more mud thrown at the white pcreens of the Baltimore film houses than during all the rest of the year. That hasn't made business any bet- ter, but it probably sent the critics away on their summer vaculiuns with a heart full of Joy because of work well done. "The Nth Commandment." the Fanny Hurst film at thd Century last week, got a neat little panning, while the operatic extract, "Aida" (third act played), was left unno- ticed, for a truthful report on It would have involved harsh words relevant to persons standing like sticks and singing lil^e scratched disk records. "The Man Next Door." which drew moderately at the New tlieatre. didn't fare lilce the rest, and landed a few kind words, while "Your Friend and Mine." the Enid Bennett film at the Parkway, was labeled as Just another movie. Ivor Novello and CJladys Cooper wore to be seon at the uptown Metropolitan last week. The critics said it was Inter- esting and the public said it wa.i funny, where it wasn't meant to be. Which end.s that. Estimates for lawt week: Century fcapacity 3,500; 25-50-75). "The Nth Commandment" and ex- tract of "Aida." Did about $12,000. bolow figures quoted recently. This wopk F!'>to\v'.s "Mnrtha," operatic ftttr i'"t ion in ponjurH > in witii "Chil- dren of Jazz." I'\iir .start, with wo.'tthor .still torrid. New fc.ipacity 1.800; 25-r,0-75). "Tiio Man Next Door," Vitagraph, booked in ;it la.'^t minute. House did f.iir Wf'ok. gotting moat of its fli- entole. as u.nuai, from the Hhofiping crowd in the afternoon. About $0,000. Parkway (-^apaeity 1.200. 25-44). "Your I'Yi'nd and MirMv" About $2,500; f;^ir..liUSineH.'?,., San Francisco. July 11. Business was in and out with grosses presenting a spotty appear- ance. The California piled up an average gro;is with Vitagraph's "Master of Men," while at the other extreme the Warfield which is con- sidered going in good form with a $20,000 week, did only $9,400 with Thomas H. Ince's "A Man of Action." The Portola with a Norm,'^ Talmadge reissue dropped from a normal gross between $8,000 and $10,000 to around $S,000. California — "Masters of Men." (Seats, 2,700; scale, 65-90.) This film opened to excellent business and smashing nature of the story, naturalness of the acting and pro- duction together with spectacular features, drawing well. It Is easily the best bet of the week. The fea- tured players Cullen Liandls, Alice Calhoun and Earle Williams scor- ing Individual hits. Did $15,500. Granada — "The Woman With Four Faces," starring Betty Comp- son. (Seats. 2,840; scale. 65-90.) A crook drama with a girl lead. Miss Compson well liked by patrons of this house. Story full of melo- dramatic hokum but the kind pic- ture audiences fall for hard. Prob- ably will net good box oflrtce results. An added feature Is Boris Petroff and his Chicago Ballet In big dance offering "The Garden of Dreams." A little highbrow in conception but girls pretty and clever. Gross, $15,000. Imperial—"Douglas Fairbanks In Robin Hood." (Seats, 1,400: scale, 55-76.) Second week of tjiis big feature at 'popular prices. Not hold- ing up as expected but probably will get fair returns. Looks like attempt being made to force run for several weeks longer than Justi/ied. Did $3,200 on week, . Warfield — "A Man of Action' (Thomas H. Inco>» starring Douglas MacLean. (Seats, 2,800; scale, 56- 75.) Hasn't seemed to catch the fancy of Warfield patrons. Opened rather light and failed to pick up aa week advanced. Receipts, $9,400. Tlvoli—"Your Friend and Mine." starring Willard Mack. (Seats, 1,800; scale. 40-76.) Didn't get over well. Business off first day ni gradually lessened. Business below normal. Turner & Dnhnken soon to relinquish lea.se on this house and they seem- to have lost interest. Receipts, v5.800. Portola—"She Loves and Lies" with Norma Talmadge. (Seats, 1.100; scale, 50-75.) Old time Tal- madge film and got little. This house apparently "white elephant" on hands of Rothchlld Entertain- ment. Inc. They have threatened to close It several times but are still keeping It going. Only $3,000. Strand—"The Face on the Bar- room Floor," with Henry Walthall featured. (Seats, 1,700; scale. 60- 75.) Another flop. Business'dls- couragelngly light at opening and failed to pick up any through the we«k. Got $9,700. Chicago, July 11. Leading picture theatres of Chi- cago did their full share last week in connection with the Fourth of July. JUST WEATHER Washinoton Must Hava It LittU Cool for BusincM The Chicago theatre presented a patriotic feature. McVicker'a had a special picture, "The American Spirit." The presentation program at the Chicago consisted of the patriotic spectacle, Dennis Sisters and the usual musical features, overture by the orchestra and an organ selec- tion. The presentation program at McVicker's consisted of the Andrieff Trio (Presentations) and an oper- atic duet by Bessie Kaplan and Lydia Van Gilder, who sang "Song of India" and another selection. Both were seated for both songs in a special act. W. Remington Welch at the organ rendered "Beside a Babbling Brook," with Interpola- tions having to do with vacations. He employed familiar tunes for the insert and parodied words told of his planning a vacation and his Idea of such summer "rests," drifting back into the original song Just be- fore the number waa concluded. He had most of the people following the words and tunea carefully and made it one of the highly popular num- bers on the program. "The Spoilers" opened at the ; Roosevelt and created much favor- : able comment from picture fans and the crlttlcs. The fight la referred to as the big feature of the photoplay. • Harold Lloyd In "Safety Last* con- tinued at Orchestra hall and "The . Covered Wagon"" at Woods. Ben Turpln In "Where la My Wandering Boy This Evening T" was at the Randolph as a part of a double bnl, shown In advance of thex regular release, set for July 8. He-^ was also at the Chicago In a comedy, "Home-Made Movies." The other feature of the double bill at .the Randolph waa "Black Shadows." Jane Novak In "The Divorce" was at the Orpheura in the loop and ^t the Pantheon on the north side. Estimates for last week: Chicago—Douglas MacLean In "A man of Action" and Ben Turpin In "Home-Made Movies" (First Na- tional). Seats. 4,200; 66. Interest- ing bill, with stage specialties. though the feature Is not great film. Neighborhood of $40,000. McVicker'a—Theodore Kosloff and others In "Children of Jazs" (Para- mount). Scats, 2,500; 55. Rather light picture, but with other portions of program interesting and enter- "* taining show about $28,000. Roosevelt—New version of "The Spoilers" (Goldwyn). Attracting much attention, and the first week started off as though record would be set for hot weather buslneHs at that house. Gross exceeded $22,000. Woods — "The Covered Wagon " (Paramount). Seats. 1,160. Con- tinues with seats selling fairly well In advance and brisk door .sales. Business last week run about $8,000. Orchestra Hall—Harold Lloyd In "Safety Last" (Pathe). Seals, 1,400; 55. With extra effort directed to- wards Interesting children through free showings for orphans and poor children maintained speed developed and finished with little above $13,000. Randolph—'^Black Shadows" and Ben Turpln In "Where Is My Wan- dering Boy This Evening?" (Uni- versal). Seats. 686; 60. Billed as' big summer double bill, only at- tracted fair businesa; not much over $5,000. The OrpheuQi. being remodeled, dark this week. Vardon and Perry are the pres- entation feature at Lubllner Sc Trlntt* Pantheon on the north side thin week. Washington, July 11. The best that can be eaid of the businesa here Is that summer "has came." The theatre.^ are not ex- pecting the unusual, but when a fpw days of cool weather come along, with the resultant upward trend In business, the local man- agers are Jubilant. The past week wa.s moderately warm, the pictures hold some Interest and the buHincsa realized was Just about what was expected. A new suburban house opened during the week in Takoma I*ark. a suburb that has developed rapidly, due mostly to the enterprise of the citizens residing there. The n»»\v hou.se is <;ai: I the New Takoma and .oponod with "The Ne'er Do Well.'' The house in operated by men living in the community and praetir illy all the stork of the ven- ture i.s alHO hold by them. The hti.si- nea.s the first wefek wa.<* exception- ally good. The four downtown liou.seH .sei»in- 'ogiy, got al>out an even t)rcak on the. wpek, Crandall'a Mftxopolit.m getting posHibly the greater play from the menfolks and children with the dog picture. Estimates for last week: Crandall's Metropolitan (seats 2,- 400; 50)—Strongheart In "Brawn of the North" (First National). Con- siderable Interest. Little under $8,000. Moore's Rialto (seats 1,900; 60) — Betty Comrwon In "The Woman with Four Faces." Held up well eonsidering season with about $7,500. Loew's Columbia (s^ntfi 1.200; 60) — Dorothy Dalton In "Th.- T.a w of fhp Lawle.sH" (I'urn mount). May li.'ive Kotten around $7,000. Loew's Palace (m\iiH 2.500; 50) — Viola Dina In 'Her Fatal Mjllion«** ( M-^'Iro). About $7,000. Florenre Fnii haa been cast for an important role In "Zaza," whieh AM»n Dawn is directing at the J'uramoMuf Lont; iHlind .studio, and in whi h (llorla Swanson has the titlu.ic role. ■ 1 : . J ':^ -I ■1 ■^ 4 '^