Variety (November 1924)

•' . I , ^^'.'"%^V<!!'^f. ■>.#**'2*?V'''W«rtn-" VARIETY PICTURte *T:»-#*i^.'.*-**«&.^--e5rt*:;.. Wednesday, November V1924 fltti *SVC ! ' ■\ ■ t ■ 4 4» LOS ANGELES SHROUDED IN GLOOM: STATE DID DIVE OF $9,000 LAST WKK PreEiection Week GeU All Blame-415,0C0 for 'Janice Meredith' Disappointing—Mini»ler»* Aid -Holds Over 'Abraham Lincoln*—Did $9,800— : Metropolitan in Lead by $12,000 -t- Lo8 Angeles, Nov. 8. An WM gloom with the picture houaee offwlng flnt runs last we«k. Week before election and business took a sudden slump. The average •lection means nothing In this city, but the presidential affair Is differ- ent. Without tourists the "perma- nent" reeldetats do not seem to find It convenient or advisable to go to the theatre any more often than they can help. _ The California with Marion Da- Ties in "Janice >ieredlth"; Loew's State with Constancy Talmadge in "Her Night of Romance." and Mll- Hon Dollar with Pola Negri in "For- . bidden Paradise" ran about neck '«nd neck. The California made a • much better showing than It has for a long time, but It was figured that ., It was a bit disappointing, as the ^^ bouse looked for the heavy exploi- . tatlon and advertising campaign by '^ the Hearst papers to attract a mqcb :f,, heavier patronage. >• Didn't Like SUge Show The T^lm^ge picture, which had ' as Its stage adjunct another edition ^-of the Fanchon and Marco revues called "Bubbles.** skidded about $9.- 000 or fo below the figures rot the preceding week. The Jocal papers r<^ spoke well of th* screen offering, ;_) but when It came to the stage offer- •f tng some of the critics pounced h upon It unmercifully, saying that the (-% only thing worth while eyen tolerat- ai, Ing it was the specialty of Jack ■£ Joyce, the monopiedo. . They Just ■'- did not seem ^o care for the gir)ie '"' ' part of the entertainment, and said .- so without hesitancy, which is ■S rather unustial here. The Negri pic- :■:.. turo did alt that was expected of it. H playing to about the same gross in f- the full second week that it rolled >„' up In the live days of the first. i;; The ministry, clubs and assocla- ;■■ tlons, feeling ■ the "Abrabam JJa- t coin" flint at the Criterion was ' worthy of public support, did thek- V.. share last week «nd loanased to see to it that the hous* was better pa- tronised than on the other weeks of the picture's run, with the result that it has been held over for an- '' o<her week. i"Circ« the Enchantress," which moved to.Miller's from the Califor- nia to make room for "Janice Mere- ' dith," played to fair business. "Janice Meredith" is to remain In- definitely, with the house adding a,n •^ orchestra to turnip the music in addition to the organ now used, Harold Uoyd in "Hot Water." . after two weeks at the Metropolitan y moved over to the Rialto for an in- definite stay. The picture, despite it had played to exceptionally big business at the other house, rounded out a week of better business than the average attraction. "Soiled." an all-star, did better than expectations at the Forum, beating the Intake of the previous week. This house is located in a residential neighborhood and does not depend on transients. The Cameo with "Slanders" (Universal) ground along steadily but could not Itass $1,000 on the week. Besides the screen attraction there were several stage specialties by pieture personages, headed by Billy Sulli- van. estimates for last week: Calif em is — "Janice Meredith" (CosmopoliUn). < 2.000: 27-85.) Starting oft with $S opening and avalanche of propaganda in Hearst papers, this Marlon Davles feature did better than average picture in this house, though disappointing ip intake by rollifig up in eight days gross of $1S.000. Million Dollar—"Forbidden Para- dise" (Paramount). (2.300; 2B-((.) Galloped along at fair pace. $14,(00. Metropolitan—"The Alaskan" (Paramount). (8.700; 25-65.) Start- ed off very well Saturday and Sun- day, .Jbut from Monday on .dropped below usual week-day intake. %2t,- 400. E 0 y ||.t i 4 iv—'rThlef of Bagdad" (Douglas Fairbanks). (l.iOO; 50- |1.«S.) Hit low ebb last week, 17th week. 11^.600. - MiesSbit—'fhe Clean Heart" < Vlta- graphKjL (••«; lf-80; 2d week.) Open days poor and aleappolnting, '. -Imt picked up during renitUnder of ..^%t«k. 13,500. Lmm/s SUi FENWAY'S RECORD Beban in Person and Picture Break It This Week May (11,000 IN CLEVELAND WAS HK» LAST WEEI Town Hit Hard by Pre-Elec- tion—Two FHms Held Over . Citli«lic Gmad I Elects MeigliailffMlwra't P»l«y Cm^f MaVickert Boston. Nov. S. From the business turned lii at the Fenway Saturday and Sunday tt appeared to those connected With the house that the box ofllce r«- ceipts for this week would b« la the record-breaking class. MMtasef Laurence ^uart was of the oplDKn^ the personal appearance of Oeorc* Beban with bis cast of 34 plaxara as an accompaniment to the pie- ture, "The GMatest Love of All," was responsible (or the business. Beban and his company appeared four times SAtufdAy and Sunday, a^ S-5-7->, and for the balance of the stay three appearances, >-7-t. were listed. Last week the business at the Fenway was not so good, and while it started off briskly it slipped toward the end of the week until at the finish the best "The flitst Set" could be credited with was |7|0M^ At Loew's uptown house, Statal business last week was a bit better than the week before, and the gross Was reported to be in the neighbor- hood of $1<,000 with Gloria Swan- son in "Her Love Story." This week the house is using the Pickford picture, "Dorothy Vernon" for the first time locally at popular prices. The Modem and Beacon, twin downtown popular-priced houses, using "The Past Set" and "Reckless Romance," did a gross of about |&,- 600 each. This is within a few dol- lars of capacity. "The Sea Hawk." which went through a couple of good weeks at Gordon's Washington street house, was shifted this week to another one of his big houses, the Scollay Square Olympla. where it is ex- pected that drawing from a differ- ent set It will come through big. The Washington street Gordon house is this week using "Ohristinie of the Hungry Heart" in its pop vaudeville and picture policy. Loew's downtown house, the Or' pheum. this week has Betty Corop- son In "The Fsmale" (Paramount). Another first thne in Boston show- ing "H*arU of Oak" la the feature at the Boston, the Keith pop vaude- vllle-ploture house. Last Week's Estimates Fenway (1.500; 50-76)—"The Greatest I/ove of All" (Beban) with bouse carrying as added attraction Beban and his company of 24 In personal showings. Last week |7,- 000 with "The Fast Set" (Para- mount), business slipping toward the end of the week. Stat* (4,000; 50-76)—"Dorothy Vernon" this week. Last week with "Her l«ve Story" (Paramount) about IICOOO. Modern (750; 25-35-40)—Using "The Mine with the Iron Door" aiid "Another Man's Wife" this week. About $5,600 last week with 'TThe Fast Set" (Paramount), and "Reck- less Romance." Beaceq (twin house to Modem)— Attractions, capacity, abtd* aitd gross same as Modem. « Jo -^ ' Clcvelaad. Nov. 3. It's a good Ahlac that they only elect Presldeata every four years. Tlie btuAacai Um^ weak was one of th» worst tlM iQMl bduMs ever ta> perlenoed at this time of th* year. JUtimalM far Uct Wcsk ftjI U wit ■ Sccoqd weak of Norma ta "The Oaly Woinajt." IiOS Angetet, Nor. t. Th« 0*thoUo aVottoa PtattBT* Acttora' Guild he^ Hs aibnual mMt- iag.and elected Thomas Melghan to the olBce of president. Plans for the forthcoming season were discussed at the meeting, with the matter of relief Xo those in dis- tress one of the most ImporUint SnnnET KEHT SAILED Although it was reported that Sidney R. Kent, general manager of Famous Players-Lasky, had been compelled to postpone his European "sailing for two weeks, got away last Wednesday on the "Aqultanla" wUh William R. Fraser and John C Ragland, representing Harold Uoyd. They will be abroad two months. William Vogel was also aboard. He Is an associate of J. D. Williams, of Bits, and wiU ne- gotiate abroad tor the foreign sales of the-Valentino product. ■ ■' ^ ■. t« Call Hr Anether Deck .V iv'-:|-,. ' --J, C|lf«M0, No. 3. Bruce Fowled, manager of Mc< Vlckers, and Ed Ohnstead, public ity man, have been working on Gloria Bwanson's new picture^ . •nVagea of Virtue,'* supposed to be ' the current week's attraction. On Thursday the theatre was notified that n Would be Impossible to get the print to-Chicago on time, and Poll Negri, In "Forbidden Par- adise," was substituted. This called for a lot of work to be done in two days. A new trail, er had to be made, the lobby re- decorated and new programs print- ed. This will also cut In on th«,. presentation, as the ope rehearseAit was in keejklng with the SwansOftv picture. , The latter wpl be showfi'a at McVlckers next week with Bnii^.^ ter Keaton In the "Navigator" lowing. BIABTDIG Oil "SALLT* Los Angeles, Nov. 8. Leon Rrrol signed by First Na- tional to play the role he created on the stage in "Sally" opposite Cof!e«n Moore In the picture adapta- tion has arrived from New York. June Mathls h&s comt>Ieted the' adaptation and Al. Green will dlrfct .^^.■. „ ^ the flitting which bekins Thursday. «»«•»"■ company, '"M* ORAVMAH'B H2WS8T THEATBB Chicago, Nov. 3. ' Sid Grauman. west coast plctur4' magnate, when in cnilcago ahj. ndUnced a new picture theatx*^ In Hollywood, to cost $2,000,000. Ground for the new house will be broken next month. Grauman is building the theatre in association with the ^est Coast T^h|ita<«e Oaly «rew about I10.0M. AHefi-^HnM 9^ast Set" (Adolphe Menjov. leeal hcf} did about |3,t00. A pretty Bttle wa&ng iiqi arraaged by VM4 'Bolsihtrth And Maurice I^lttflay' to' help. •WUtta' —Mae Murray, always a loeal' teVorlt* who could be de- pMMieA-eo any time to inerease the baak roll to the tune of at least tuM: didn't «et coffee and cahes la "Clroe." Muacer Maxwell staged il|ie Hallowe'en k>rol9g. and Phil Spltalny was also there, but not over Ill.eM. Park—"an Every Woiban's Ufe" ■ilkde this hduee look like a bargain siae on lingerie, as every night the gentler sex parked the males and came to learn alone.. About $<.500. Cirole—Second Ireek for "Dorothy Vernon," with all credit for doing bifger finish than start to Maurice Bafier,' manager of V. A., and .... -^ .». r ■ Ji*^V^S.^to'^.?ng"r^icrfrrSlGriffi& Feature, on Fir.t Showing. Did $7,000- film' before the eyes of the thou- sands of students who travel in dis- tion«---MiMJt'«el4||)o«M lUiOOO ^^^ trlet Cir<^ la located, the heart of the Mhobls and colleges. About Metro-Goldwyn BaU ' Draws Crowd at Astor The ao^e ball season has start- ed. The first gim was fired by this Loew-Metro-Goldwyn ball at the •■ Astor Saturday night, lisst year _ I H was the Loew-Metro Ball, this year the name (3oldwyn was added to the official title. The business this season did not seem to be quite as large as that done a year ago, at least the terrifflc crush on the ball room floor was not so apparent. It wfts Just the same old story, however, as far as cutting up was r-i ' i^ansas City. Nov; 3. The amusement managers did not advise their patrons that last week was to be a special «i>e in any re- spect, but it was and Its name was "Flop." , . TheV all suffered alike, legit, vaud^ and picture thea^s, but the latter felt it the worst because there are more of them. The most pronounced flopper among the films was "America" at the Royal. It was a Ont showing of this Griffith feature which had been given the usual Newman pubUeity with an additional tie-up with the schools. The picture opened weak Sunday and never rallied. In spite crept to be on, but there didn't any serious damage -"Her Night of Ro- ♦ V.fi C OSTUMES iP p R H ^.H^ PHODUCTION8 BXPLOITATION8 PRBSBNTATIONff , ,-» J4I7 B'way. TeL»6«0Pen. manee" (First National). (3.400; 25-85.) Business well shot with stage feature hurting instead of heljSng. $17,000. Criterion — "Abraham Lincoln" (First National). (1,(00; 50-88.) Remarkable life through aid from clergy and organisations. $8,800. Forunr»—"Spoiled" (Quality). (1,- 800; 35-45.) Instead of dropplav be- hind, beat previous week. $4,800. Miller's—"Circe the enchantress" (Metro-Ooldwyn). (900; 25-75.) Second' week. Including evtra day. $3,000. Cameo—"Slanderers" (Universal). (800; 25-85.) Breaks are not so good for this house, though manage- ment does everything .possible to- stimulate business., $1,900. Rialto—"Hot Water" (Paths). (900; 50-85.) Harold Lloyd dl^ re- markably well here after two weeks at the Metropolitan ' by beAtlng averafe weekly of house. $8,000. hours seem done. There was no attempt this sea- son to crown anyone King or Queen officially, although several unoffi- cial crownings took place. The show that 'XSranny" staged was all that It was touted to be in advance with all of the big musical success of the Main Stem contributing to the program, and when the stage had finished the night clubs con- tributed their shows, finally Lorry Fay bringing his entire revue from the new Fay's Follies Club, down at about 3 a. m., after busness had flalshcd at the new resort. For this attraction Jlmmle Hussey acted as toastmaster, and kidded the gang. Jack Dempsey was on hand with BMelle Taj^lor. Dagmar Godowsky was also very much on the scgtn with Peggy Joyce and a few others dancing attendance to the very much married Countess. here and there as the wee sma'.ef the boosting in the schools, the students were evidently too busy with their Hallowe'en parties and the older fans were occupied with political meetings and radio speeches by national speakers. At any rate the above is the only allbl the man- agers can think of, and it goes. It was the first time In the history of the Royal, some 10 -years, that a picture failed to make the estab- lished "dead Une" by Wednesday noon, and although It was expscted "America" would stay two weeks and possibly three, the "positively the &st week" sign went up Wednes- day, and the picture gave way to "The Female" with~ but a single week to Its credit on its first run here. At the Malnstreet It was the same story, but not quite so pronounced. "Christine of the Hungry Heart" was the screen feature. Florence Vidor In the leading part has many friends, but they did not rally to see her, and the vaudeville also failed to attract, business dropping noticeably from that of the preced- ing week. "The Newman, with a big "synco- pation show," added at a cost of some $4,000. suffered with the rest, and the week's balance sheet will be forgotten as quickly as possible. For election week nothing star- tling is offered, but next week will see the Lloyd "Hot Water" In the Royal for as long as It will stay and the Malnstreet offering "Abraham Lincoln" heavily promoted- The flop of "America" has the promoters of the "Lincoln" picture guessing, and they will spend some extra dollars in the papers to put it over. As this Oere-Lsse e r's New Corporation Los Angeles, Nov. 3. Another picture corporation, with capital of $250,000. has been started by (3ore Brothers, Ralph Qrunauer ai)d Sol Lesser., who filed Incorpora- tioq. papers in the superior court for South side Theatres, Inc. ^ The purpose Is. to engage in mo- tion picture seeaery and theatrical business. film Is In 11 reels the vaudeville pari tion of the bill will be cut to three acts, despite the fact that the man- afesnent has been several weeks In getting the regulars pacified to the cutting of the vaudeville' bill during the run of "The Sea Hawk." Last Week's Estimates Newman — "Cornered" (Warner Brothers). Seats 1,880. Prices 40- 60. Newman's Syncopation Show, given Jn connection wKh the picture. Revue contained Sammy White asd Eva Puck, Muldoon and Franklyn. Ferguson and NewiU. Walter and (3oold. Ruby Rosslena. the'Kelly Dancers and the Parisian Fashion Manniqulns. Marie Prevost featured In the film. As she playbd the part of two sisters her followers certain- ly got their money's worth and liked It. Picture fuU of dramatic sur- prises and sensatlonaj to the finish. The "Synoopation" show nicely di- rected and good entertainment, but business was far from expectations Hit around |12,M«. Royal—"America" (United Artists). Seats 8t«. Prices, SOc. Picture warmly praised by press and strong- ly recommended by teachers but never got started. Fell far below deadline Wednesday and vras taken off Saturday night, although ex- pected to stay at least two weeks. Gross. $7,000. Mainstrset—"Christine of the Hungry Heart" (^rst NaUonal). Seats 3,200. Prices 26-60. Burt EUirle's California Girl Orchestra and four other acts complete bill, a bar- gain show. Title did not seem to have any appeal and the action of. picture is without much Interest. Business much below the house average, around $11,000. Liberty—"The Fast Worker" (Uni- versal-Jewel). Seats 1.000. Prices, 86-60. Mllo Flnley's Orchestra and Henry Malcor, announced as mid- dleweight champion of the Pacific coast and sparring partner of Doug Fairbanks, William S. Hart and other screen "names," were added stage attractions. Fell below $3,000. Other first run pictures were "The Man LUe Passed By," Globe; "The Fire Patrol," Pantages, and "Painted Flappers," Apollo. The latter house is a residential, but has been run- ning first showings for several weeks. ^ ae ONE REELERSTHAT BUIID BIG BUSINESS-SEEXM! FOX ED U CATIO NAL ENTERTAINMENTS