Variety (August 1925)

VARIETY PICTURES Wedne^aajr, Aug^utt 5, 1925 'CHARLESTOir CONTEST ON COAST SENT LOEWS STATE TO $22,400 Grauman's Egyptian Again Led Town at $26,600— Met. 2d with $24,800—"Evolution" Dies Follow ing Scope.' Trial—"EvcU Lover" Did Well Los Angeles, Aug:. 4. Business began to climb a bit last week. The Grauman Egyptian and Metropolitan ran close for top hon- ors, with the former getting a bit the best of It. Business might have been considerably better at the end of the weeic, but on account of the length of the Greater Movie Season parade the houses lost out heavily on the matinee business Friday. Loew's State drew third place , %ith "The White Desert." Another case where a picture not expected to draw was augmented by a "Charles- ton" contest. It brought In the best business the house has had In almost two months. "Eve's Lover" was a corking good bet for the Forum, as Irene Rich, featured. Is popular at this house. The gross climbed, several thousand Above previous week. The Criterion Is still In a "rutty" condition. "If Marriage Falls" meant 'nothing so far as the draw was con- cerned. Picture poorly exploited, with Intake suffering accordingly. Redeemable feature was a superb Jau orchestra, with George StoU- berg at Its bead. "Evolution," flve-reel feature, well exploited and presented at the Rial- to. With the Scope's trial over, In- terest abated and the picture played to poor returns. The better feature of the program for the patrons was Harry Langdon in "Plain Clothes." Estimate* for Last Week Metropolitan — "Ll^ht of Western Stars" (F. P.) (8,700; 25-65). Re- turn bit surprising as thought pic- ture would be weak sister. Stage presentation proved important rea- son for draw. $24,800. Million Dollar — "Ten Command- ments" (F. P.) (2.000; 26-86). Got off to fairly good start second week, but did not run up to expectations, due to long first run in Hollywood. $22,000. Orauman'i Egyptian — "The Gold Rush" (U. A.) (1,800: B0-$I.50). Im- proves weekly, with matinees ap- Atta Baby, Bebe! ftPQiJUL ZUftOa «M irnSi L UMLtauuK ■ i'j ■M J. i^nRISK and peppy; snappy, gay -^ and amusing; the windup is a scream/' says the New York News. ''Very funny; goes at swift pace and has a thrilL All good clean fun/' says the Telegraph. Bugs Baer wrote the titles. Eddie Sutherland directed. Tom Geraghty adapted the story from Stewart Emery's Liberty story, "The Wild Wild Chad." Here's Entertainment! ONE OF THE GREATER FORTY I ^aixunount Q>iduijss MMilMr Muilon rictura ProducMi and DUtribulon of Amwica, Inc., Will H. Hvi, Pnt. proaching oapaoltjr and oapaolty nightly. $26,«09. Loew's Stato—"WhlU DeMrt" («.- 400; 25-85). "Charleston" contest pulled business to high mark for long period In this bouse. $22,400. Criterion—"If Marriage Falls" (F. B. O.) (1,600; 40-86). Though picture had good name oaat, manner handled failed to draw solidi*. $4,200. Forum—"Eve's Lover" (Warners) (1.800; 25-85). Irene Rich, featured, largely responsible for gross. $6,700. Rialto—"Evolution" (All Star) (900; S6-65). Public without inter- est, with returns affected according- ly. Balance of pro-am drew com- mendation. $2,S00. MIX'S "SAGE" FILM LED BALTO. WITH $11^ No Other Indoor Competition Last Week for Movie Houses —Ist Time Since 1918 Baltimore, Aug. 4. (Drawing Population, 890,000; 280,- 000 Colored) The count up Isst week revealed some paradoxical results. The Gar- den and Hippodrome went ahead of the previous week's figures, while the big Century failed to maintain with "Cheaper to Marry" the pace set by "The Wife of the Centaur" the week before. The weather, on the whole, was favorable, and the utter lack of any Indoor competition for the first sum- mer since 1918, gave the screen houses the most favorable late-July conditions In yecurs. Estimate* for Last Week Century — "CHjeaper to Marry" (3,300; S0-7S). Conrad Nagel fea- tured ahead of Stone and La Motte. Failed to equal Boardman draw in "Centaur." Slipped off to $10,000. Hippodrome—"Three Keys" and vaudeville (S,200; 20-76). Continued to build, profiting by lay-off of Maryland (big time vaudeville). Box ofllce bettered previous week's good showing, advancing to about $9,500. New—"Cheap Kisses (1,900; 26- 60). Didn't maintain spurt of week before. Nothing outstanding In fea- ture. (3nly got about $6,000. Garden—"Riders ol the Purple Sage" and vaudeville (2,800; 26-50). Picked up momentum lost previous w^ek and then some. Tom, Tony, Zane Orey and vaudeville shared In box office glory. About $11,600. Parkway — "The Mad Whirl" (1,400; 2i-M). Uptown vacation rush is on. About $>,600. Metropolitan—"Baree" (.,600; 16- 60). Failed to :ctll In line with sev- eral down town houses In upward trend. Business not exceptlonaL This Week Century, "Smouldering Fires"; Parkway. "Prairie Wife"; New, "Light of Western Stars"; Ketro- pollUn. "Waning Touth"; <3arden. "The Monster"; Hip, "The Illd." NEWMAN, MAINSTREET, K. CvEACH GOT $14,000 Kanaaa City. Aug. 4. Zane Grey was very much in evi- dence in the downtown picture houses last week. His story, "The Light of Western Stars," was at the Royal, and the Pantages featured "The Rainbow Trail," with Tom Mix. Both drew well, as these Kan- sas City fana like their shoot-'em- ups. Elaborate plans were made tor the Greater Movie season, Aug. 22. Some of the local features include speakers appearing before numer- ous civic organizations, telling the purpose of the event, a downtoWn parade, with street dancing at night, and other publicity stunts. Last Week's Estimates Newman—"Night Life in New York" (F. P.) (1,980; 26-60). Bath- ing Beauty Revue and several acts on stag-e. Most entertaining bill. Well received. Close to $14,000. Royal—"The Light of Western Stars" (F. P.) (920; $6-60). Around $8,000. Mainstreet-"The Talker" ' (ist N.) (3,200; 26-60). Regulation five acts in addition; $14,000. „ Liberty—"Playing with Souls " n.OOO; 86-60). Added feature also; $6,200. ..S}}i*I ""' '■""■ *° town: Globe. 'Wildfire"; Pantages, "The Rain- bow Trail." EIGHT FILM STOCKS (C^ontlnued from pags 1) Bible tor a strong opposition olroult of theatres to be established. Balaban & Kata stook. botb on the New York Curb and Chicago market, has been undergoing a steady hammering. PosalbUr the In- siders want to shake out the pub- lic holders with an idea ot buying in when the proper low level is reached. At present there is talk of trying to force the stock down to about 40. This would be about 20 points under where It was before the big drive upwaiyl started on the strength of the news that there was a deal contemplated between Famous and the Chicago firm. Last week Famous common hit a high ot 114%, a record for the stock. At the same time the pre- ferred -went to 120, while the fully paid rights touched 100. That seemingly would discount the re- ports that the Federal Trade report is to be against the corporation, or traders are figuring that if It is ad- verse Famous will come out whole skinned. The steady rise of Loew. Inc., since the first of the year Is an In- dication that It Is getting generally known that the theatres of the cir- cuit as well as the motion picture holdings are getting a steady play from the public as well as the In- siders. Last week's market showed the following:— Salea. Hlsb. I>aw.C1oae.Ch'fe. Eaatman Ko4. 2,800 lOT lOAH 105H - % Pkinoua P S5,»00 114^ 104Vi lOTtt -1^ Do F pd rcU 8,000 100 103 lOSM Do pf 1,100 lao 118H \li% -I- % Flr»t Nat'l.... 800 101 101 101 U>ew'a, Inc...29,400 31^ 2»% SIM -f K M.tro-OoM ... 800 20^ 20 20% — H Orpheum Clr..28.400 82% 28% 82% +8% Curb Salea. High. L<ow.Cloa«.Ch'c«. Ralab&n A K.. 400 78 74 74 rilcn Inapec... 1,000 «% 6 • — % Pox Film 3,900 R8% RT% M +1 M. P. Corp... 1,800 18% 17% 18% + % Path* EzCI A. 18,700 87 80% W^ +8% UnWeraal ....2,600 87% 35% 8« — % Warn. B.CI A.22,700 19% 16% 19% +8% At the close of the market yes- terday the rise was still on on three of the stocks, as Is shown herewith: Sales. Htsh. Ix>w.Cloae.Ch's«. Baatmaa Ko4. 400 106% 106% 106% + % Fam. Play-L.. 8,400 108% 107 107% — % Do F pd rta. 700 106 106 10S% — % •Do pf • .. •Flrat Nafl. I»ew. inc 19,200 82% 81% 82% -^1% Metro-aold .. 1,000 21% 21% 21% +1 Orpheum Clr.. 8,800 82 81 81% ... Curb Sales. HIch. Liov.OloM.Cti'ce. •Balaban A K Film Inapec... BOO B% 5% 6% + % Fox Film "A" 1,200 B9% 00% fie% -f % M. P. Corp... 100 18 18 18 Pathe Ex A... 4,800 88 86% 87% +1% Unlveraal .... 200 86% 36 86% 4- % Warn. B. "A" 0.600 20% 19% 20% + % Chicago Sales. Hlsh. Low.Close.Ch'se. Balaban a K.. S,10e 71 70 70 •Unl.Thea.Con 8t. Louis Bid. Asksd. Skouras 48 48 * No quotattoBs or salea MONTA BELU NATIVE SON, IS POPULAR "Pretty Ladies'' Did $9,600 Last Week In Capital, Top- ping Town Washington, Aug. 4, 1921. (Estimated Population, 500,000; ITSfOOO Colored) Washington demonstrated last week Its dtixens are loyal to Its native sons, Monta Bell, who was at one time editor of the "Herald," and who also operated a stock com« pany here, had his latest directed picture, "Pretty Ladies" at the Palace and it proceeded to top ths i)us|ness of the town. "Jazs vs. Opera" the presentatitiii at the RiaHo although crashing through with much publicity failed to hold up as did the Bathing Qirl Revue tl^e preceding week. Estimates for the past week: Columbia—"The Manicure GlrL" (P.). Failed to Increase recorded preceding week. Looks to have got* ten about $6,000. Metropolitan—"The Making of O'Malley." (lat N.). Unique situa. tlon. At Rlalto another policeman story, "The Man In Blue." "0'Mal« ley" had better of it about $7,500. Palaos—"Pretty Ladies." (M.Q.). Local angle helped. $9,600. Rislto—"The Man In Blue." (U.) and "Jazs vs. Opera" (presenta- tion). What "noise" was heard ap« parently to presentation. About $6,000. Little above the average ot the house. This Week Columbia—"Beggar on Horse- back"; MetropoUtan. "The Iterriage Whirl": Palac*, "Night Life of New York,,: Rlalto, •^lack Cyclone." NOW IN ITS Tf«WEEK AT THE LA SALLE Never In the History of the Film Business Has a Motion Picture Attraotsd So Much Attention Endorsed and Sponsored by Chi- cage's Most Prominent Clergymen rniniN.AKKDiiiHrrHj "NICHT LIFE" IN FRISCO "LOVED" FOR 520,700 San Francisco, Aug. 4. A lucky break, a combination of local attractions and picture that has been a clean-up nearly every- where gave Loew's Warfleld the edge last week. Ordinarily the week all around would have been light. Estimstes for Last Week Loew's Warfield — "Chlckie" (1st N.). Written by a San Francisco newspaper woman, Elenore Meherin, who, with Elsie Robinson, another of the sob sisters of the "Call," made a personal appearance. $23,100. Granada — "Night Life In New York" (F. P.). Made-to-ord«r pic- ture for this house—sort of story its patrons' love. Ralph Pollock, han- dling the orchestra. Is working out his two weeks' notice and will be succeeded by Verne Buck, violin loader. This makes three fiddle di- rectors—Lipschultz, Dolin and Buck —for the Market street picture houses. $20,700. California —"The Manicure Girl" (F. B.). Another smart campaign. Catch line. "She'll manicure your funny-bone," caused talk, and talk .sells tickets. $16,300. Imperial—"Wild Horse Messa" (F. P.3. Opened fairly well. $9,800. FEATURING HELENE CHADWICK JACK MULHALL EMMETT KING PAULINE CUflLEY Seven Reels of Thrilling Action With a Clever Plot Now Taking Bookings in First-Run Houses For Statm Rights WRITE OR WIRE- PubUc Welfare Pictures Coe 723 Seventh Avenue NEW YORK CITY, N. Y. or SAMUEL CUMMINS La Salle Theatre, Chicago MACK and LONG CHARACTER AND NOVELTY DANCERS NOW PLAYING THE PICTURE HOUSES 20 weeks Loew's State, Clevelsnd, changing routine every week. 9 weeks Balaban A. Kstz Thestres, Chicsgo. Just finished Granads Theatre, San Francisco, engagement. Now at Metropolitan Theatre, Los Angeles, for three weeks commencing July 26th. MANAGERS: STOP, LOOK and GET IN TOUCH WITH USI