Variety (Nov 1926)

VARIfiTY P1C J U R E S Wednesday, Novembtr If^ GRAUMAirS VITAPHONE'S RAN TO mono FOR THE FIRST FIVE DAYS Met.» at L. A., Dropped Below $30»000 Last Week f With 'You'd Be SllrprUed^-lowll WatSiiriiriied WMb^ lloiMiB^ at Loeir^ to $26,500 Jjom Ang«les, Nov. 2. (Drawing Population, 1,350,000) t'osisy lii^iits or something ot the sort put« damper on trade in gMi eral here last weok. Weather rather fi-eaJcy mid the tlrat run picture houae men had ewm to "bank" oh It for the Blackening up of trade Another excuse advanced was that the cut rate tranaeontinental toiir- Ifits had left the state. Probably When the new influx of tourists ar- rive, iibeut Nov. IS, the managers •will not have this excuse to offer. Metropolitan for the first time in mOhtht slipped below $80,000 with Raymond Grilllth's "you'd Be Sur- prised." with Griffith one of the beet bez office magnets the town has. Million Dollar, which had the Hearst battery of papers working in full force to sell "The Temptress," skidded around. 18,000 on the second week of this Cosmopolitan produc- . tlon. Ifoew's State under the condi- tions had most gratifying returns with "Four Horsemen." getting around $26,500 on the weelc. This OMO moved over to the Criterion this woek,. wlMra^t la inuwjoI* fartfllsht •otjoum. Qrauman's Egyptian roopaaod "Wednesday nighty adding the Vita- phoBO to its fjoreeii attraction of **DOB Juul." It wms a big night and 15.50 top prevailed. The customers W«ra. weli rewarded and got more tftiU'tliey ezpeeted, with the trade a^ the house being capacity for the bAlance of the weeic *«Bardelya the Magniflcent** la sUIl on -the downgrade at Carthay Circle witti house getting all refidy to . libliiieh fltir campaign on ''What Prlca mar*' Estimates for Last Week Biltmoff«"Ben-Hijr" (M-O-M^ (l.lM; 28-$1.60). Thirteenth week held up, around $12,000. Three we«ks to go living up to Variety's pMMstlon of 1« waaks. Qraumsn's Egyptian—"Don Juan" (Waroar) {IMNi 60-|l.M>. Re- opened with vftaphona Wadnaaday nrght at $5.50 top for premiere. Qot easy ISO.OOO on first fiVa days. • C#Hhay Girala—"Bardalya the Mirninccnt" (M-G-M) (1,550; 60- $iMkh Run looking as though ap- fMiolilBg atop Hitaii aodo. 110,600. Forui^—«**Wiiming of Worth** iVr, A.) {lM9i SI«T5). Hit- ting along at very good stride, with Ted Henkel prolog helping. Third Week, around |1L500. Loew's 8tate—"Four Horsemen** <M-G-M) (2.800; 25-$l). Relsaue «. natural here. $26,500. Metropolitan—"You'd Be Sur- prised" (F. P.-L..) (8.505; 25-65). RiyniMI 'Orlfflth respontfihla - for draw. Around $29,000. Million Dollar—*^Tho Temptress <M-Q-M) (2.t00: 26-76). ^aarat publicity for second week not so strong as first, with trade dropping IS^OO to 114.000. iFigueroa—"Bigger Than Barnum" <F. B. O.) (1,600; 26-75). Excep tionally good week; around $6,500. Criterion—"Duc^iM^s of Buffalo" (F. N.) 1,600;- 25-35). Motion toward boz office rather slow. $2,400 Uptown—"Poker Faces" (U.) (1,- 900; 25-76). I^aura La Plante and Kdward Everett liorton liked in this neighborhood. Better tha«i $7,000. (Copyright, 1920, by Variety, Ine.) $3^ and GMmes Makes Sft. John Normal 8t. Johns, N. B., No% 2. Only one of the local picture houaes functioned at an increase over the regular scale for last week. OutstandinK In Ozploltation for the WQOk was that in behalf of **Three 'Bad Men,*' Foz. at the Queen Square for four days. Tliroe youths em- l^yad in a local livery atfible from wfimi three nags were hired were a.MHigned to these mounts in cos- tumes representative of the three leading figures in the film. I'arlj was armed as well as cos- tumed and morning and afternoon aAd trio, always together, cantered • through the local streets. Eatlmatea for Last Week rmperfal —(1,600; 16-35) 26-26, •tJreater Olory" (F. N.); 27-28. "Wanini^ Sex** (M. U. M.). coupled With "Shadows of Doubt," Biograph relic of the past. Dlfferenoea be- tween paat and present in films. lt-80, rrha Quarterback" (F. P.). - phHt RaHoWe'en costiuna contest for fanciest and grotesque exhibits. Around $3,900. Unique—(#60; 25). 25-27. "The Runaway Express"; 2«-30, "Fight- ing Boob," Bob Custer western; 1060, Queen 8q.—(900; 10-35). 25-26. "Unknown Holdler" (P. D. C); 27- H, *'7hraa Bad Men" (Pox). Kor- mHjr Wfffcly thraa-hlll houaa, spa- GRIFFITH FILM WITH SISSLE&BLAKE, $15^ Topped All in Off Week at Minr>eapolis — 'Dearest Enemy' Did Poorly If InaaapoUiv Nov. 9. Amusement business decidedly weak last week. "0aaaeat Enemy." the first musical ahow of the sea- son, played to very poor patronage at Uie Metropolitan. Iteapite unani- mouB anthnslam af arltica—and of customers who did go—and friendly aid of the newspapers with special intervtawa with Helen Ford and a picture stunt or two. as well as ac- tual appeals in the editorial columns of soma of 4ho papers, this ihow didn't draw the first half. In fact, George Ford was looking into h $6,000 cbaaln up to. tha laat.half^ waok. Ifini^aapoUs al^jiraya per lea up on finding « good ahbw In town the laat of the week, and this patronage on "Dearest Enemy" was sufficient to pull it out about even.. It waa re- marked in discussing the situation that "Dearest Enemy" had a bad "spot" the Met schedule coming just a week ahead of the more widely heralded White's "ScandaU" and right after "The Big Parade." which brought pretty nearly a rec- ord in recaipta at tha Mat for two weeks. At th€^ other legit house, Shubert, the BaJohridge (atock) Players did well wfOr **0iBVenth Heaven.** Marie Gale returned to the company as leading lady after two years, and was given a most flattering racep- tion. The vaudeville and picture houses didn't do anything to brag about, al- though not complaining. Manager Harry Hirsch of the Qayety (bur- lesque)) had his own show. "The Band Box Revue," on. display, open- ing with a midnight Saturday show after shipping the preceding com- pany oh its way. Ha haa had a nlea week*s run. Estimates for Last Waefc State' (2.040; 60). "Syncopating Sue",(F. N.). Corinne Griffith film; with Sissle aKd Blake in corking good stage act. Buslnaaa r^|»ortil& "very good'*; $15,500. Gsrriok (l.SOO; 50). "Tou'd Be Surprised" (F. P.). Raymond Grif- fith: Garrlck Melody Makers as stage; good; about $7,000 Strand (1.700; 50). "La Boheme' (M. G.). Lillian Gish: good CTOUgh to wanaut holding over; $6,600. Lyric (1,200; 35). "Forerar After" (F. N.). About $1,800. Hennepin-Orpheum (2,825; 50) "Dancing Days" (Chadwlck); pic- ture featured this week with (Joe Mendi) chimpansee, principal va\idevine eftarlag; fairly good at $17,500. Aster <896; 25). "Last Frontier" (P-D). $1,100. Grand—"Men of Steel" (1st N.). He-run; good draw; $1,100. Pantages O.600; 50). "The Lily. Picture Incidental to vaudeville featuring Frank Van Hoye^i, always strong draw ovgr $7,000. Seventh Street (1.480; 60). "Lure of the Wild." Plctura one of units of vaudeville program; about $5,500. Palace (1.600; 50). "College Boob" (Lefty Flynn); picture filler be- twf^n musical tab shows; $6,000. (Copyright, 1926, by Variety, ii>c.) NEWMAN'S $16,700 FAR AHEAD ON C GROSSES Mainttreet JNd $14,000-^ Pantages, $7,800—'Poker F9C|$' Off at S3.500 Kansas City, Nov. 2. (Drawing Population, 650,000) Two popular screen heroes but of widely different type, Dix and SiUs. rara tha bast hata laat waak. It wma tha Malaatvaat** ifth «BnWar- sary ealabrgtioB. Tha ''pow^s** cut the vaudevilla to three acts, the house having presented five acts for years until a few weeks ago. The Newman., however, ran considerably ahead of the Orpheum's house. The reviyal of tha "Four Horse- men'* at^the Royal failed to develop the draw expedited. Tha manage- ment had received hundreds of let- tera asking that tha picture he shown again and on the strength of them probably anticipated too much. After the Saturday opehing buiii- neaa slacked up for a couple of days but gained a yttle Wednesday and Thursday, and the picture was hejd. ovar in conformatVoii with th^Jiouse policy of two waalM 6r Magar 1^ each showing. At the Liberty, Universal, house. Poker Faces'* was a decided fiop. The press returned favorable no- tices on tlie Horton-La Plante com- edy, but there was no response and tha returns were very meager. The Monday Bl^t busineaa at tha New- man was swolleii b'y a theatre party of 1.050, consisting of the membars of the Missouri Padflo Railroad Boosters' club, which was promoted by Jven Franklin,, publicity director, and clalmad to M tha largest the- atre party avar mttovdiag « pkstura theatre. For the current weak OUda Gray, making her first appearance in Kan- sas City with the "Aloma" picture at the Newman. Soma tOO.OOO f^ieces of extra advertising and literature have been put put, and'Uo-ups made with many aiii»attitlii Qfina for pub- Ucfty. Estimates for Last Week Mainstreat—' Men of Steel" (1st N.) <t,260; 26-80-60). Fifth anni- versary. Lobby tastefully decorated. Tluree stage acts. Milton Sills' hosts of admirers turned out. $14,000. Liberty—"Poker Facee" (U.) (1,- 000; 25-36-50). Klbler's Musical Malda addad stage attraction. Pic- ture got away to bad start Saturday and never recovered. Complimen- tary notices by revlaivara. Bwalnaaa pretty bad. $3,500. Newman—"The Quarterback'* (F. P.) (1,890 ; 25-40-50-60). Ander- son's "Milady's Shawl" Publlx stage unit, and'Foursome Quartet, added. Publix offering tuneful, colorful and good entertainment. Ken Wldenour with his "Singing Class'* had 'em warblipg all weak. Aa an extra bit Edna Kirby. appearing at a local store through an advertising tie-up> appeared In person, and a short trailer, showing her arrival and welcome to the store, was screened. A tieup with tha store for a lingerie and fashion display on mezsanine twice daily proved Interesting to the women. All in all a busy week, with business holding up nicely. $16,700. Royal—^Four Horsefiien** (820; 25-40-50-60). For some reason pic- ture did not open as strongly Satur- day aa expected, but Sunday busi- ness satisfactory. Reissue failed to show much strength, although prob- ably stood up better than ordinary program ptotora wottld have done. $7,800. Pantages—''Sweet Rosle COrady." Vaudeville. Another case of having hard bill to follow, as "Three Bad Men.*'Which preceded proved big draw. While title of Irish-Jewish opera should have proved attractive to Pahitea. they did not respond s'o strong, and the opening was only fair, with remainder of week same. $7,866. ' . (CopyHght, 1926, by VarUty, Ino;) ITS ALHAMBRA. mWAlKE WITH ACTS, $2P0-JOPPED TOWN New CojpibiiMtlMMi JPolkgr jRinming Rafged Over All Lofral Show Bueinese—^Ahead of Orpheum's Best BiU Obtiaiuible to $91,5(M>~Wu€oiisiii, $19$a0O WILL KING HURTING POROAND FILM HOUSES EOWLAHB AS ABXAHB lioa Angelea. Nov. S. Gilbert Rowland will play the leuding male role in Joseph M. Schenck's production of "Camille.'* which Fred Niblo will direct Norma Talmadga ta tha titla roW. clallsing hi three and four-day runs rof< ntly V3xploitation In favor of "Bad Men" more comprehensive than In past: 11,600. PalSce^-<560; 20); 25-26, "The Auction Block' (M. G. M.); 37-28, "Lermlne of Lions" (Warnara); 29- 30. Man from Red Oulah** (F. B. O.); $400. Qaiety—(500; 20); «8*26. **(}ent!e Cviloju'-' (Fox); 27-2S, "Auction Block" (M. G. M.): 29-30, '^Lorraine of Lions" (Warners): $300. Opera House(1.200; 15-85). House r«H>pening for pictures after hon.«ting dramnTic rep. for six weeks. Two nii'turt*". e irh for three days. (Copiriill^ 192e, by Variety, ina.) Doff/nrack OupobMi; State, N. $13,800 Now Orleans, Nov. 2. Last weelk was disastrous in the film ttniplis. Another dog track opened to wean a.way the nocturnal amusement aaek^. Show business bettor watfh tho dog tracks, for they're '*niglit en- tertainment.** possible of mainte- nance and operation within a square block, and they do "cut in" on the box ofllce. Loew's State, nearest to the new- est track, was off over $2,000 last week, the house falling below $14,- 000 for the first time since opening. l>ut It had ft very wesK ptetora in "Blarney.'* * "It Must Be Love" brought the Strand a fair week, the feature grossing a trifle more than $4,000 notwithstanding Colleen Moore is a favorite here; that is, if there is such a thing as a favorite in the worst picture town in America. Tha Tudor haa fhllaa away to Comedian Doing $10,000 at 60c Top—Rivoli Way Off .With AM'n Vaudci Portland, Ooe.. Nov. S. (Drawing Population, 810,000) 3usines8 was nothing to get hys- terical about last week, including the Liberty, which had.liarry Lang-' doB*a «^Tha Strong Manu^Tllil '^wn dpaa not aaan to tako to l4MBgdon as "Tramp, Tramp, *Tramp,** at the same house, also failed to impress. It seems that the opening of the Will King shows at the Music Box theatre, formerly the old Pantages, has ipterfered with tha downtown picturi^ftousea. At tha.praaant tlhio King is playing to capacity, averag- ing ai^und $10,000 in a l.SOO seatef with a €0-cent top. Rumor states that the Rivoli, which for the last 14 weeks has been showing Western Asaoelatlon acts, together with first-run pic- tures, will close Nov. 20 for reno- vating, and Will probably open up as a long-run house. This site, since it instituted the combo policy, has not Saan hltttag aa it ahouM. n« last few weeks were very low. The Majestic, holding over "Va- riety," aailad along «t a fair clip, while thiB People's; with "Fascinat- ing Youth" and a apeciai U^up with a weal danaa hall, clicked td>tfiMt- able intake. The Columbia on it's second week of "The Black Pirate" fell a' Wt, but'waa okay, while the house is plugging "The flaming Frontier" aa iU following "run" fll|». The Broadway had a great week- end and Idborius Hauptmann. new musical director, no dowi ^nm mainly responsible. The flftDH W^ "The Amateur Gentloman.'* EatiMMMisa fat" Laat Weak Broadway (2.600; 40-60). "The AaoAteur Qentleman" IF, N.). House seesiad to taka on sow llfo with Liborius Hauptmann as musical di- rector; Hauptmann popular locally; weak brought good gat% Faachon and Haroo fopm •« ■1 1 0 Jl ipli; 000. - . ■ Liberty (1.900; •f#-8S). ^e Strong Man" (F. N.). Comedy is rioi but looaUtiM do not seem to take td baby-mad eomadian; poor at $6,400. Rivoli (1.000; 66^60^. "Hard Boiled** (Fox). With Waatam Am- soclation vaudeville acts, house la not hitting the ball; theatrf former- ly di l.uxer and avldantly Mit by cheaper combMKIitt v iwl^ tf»y off at $4,600. Majestic (1,000; 50). •«V)kHety^ (UFA-F. P.). Holdlnj? own in third week; took drop over previous weeks; **Nell Gwyn** announced as a coming "run" picture. Psopta's (936; SO-46). "Fascinat- ing Tduth" (P. P.>. 'He-up .with dance hall and making movies on the stage, with local gsplranta atim- ulated; $4,000. Blue Mouse (800; 26). "Across the Pacific" (Warners). At two-bit grind hitting average gate; has built up regular quarter trade and business usually at aamo weekly dip; $2,900. ' Columbia (S60: 60). "The Black Pirate" (U. A.). Fairbanks picture in second week still clicking; 10- cent admission increase brought extra gate; house has bought fol- lowing "run" pictures for the com- ing season. "The Circus." "Spar- rows," "Four Horsemen." "Flaming Frontier," "Pirate," $8,000 and held for third we<>k. (CopyrisKt, 1926, by Var|a||r, ||ie.) nothing and the Saengers have slipped "Variety" into the theatre this week at 40 cents to bring back the house to something approaching normal. In other words, they're sacrificing $5,000 in first-run poten- tial profits to ra-oatabltok a tottor- ing house. Estimates for Last Week State (3,600; 60)-^"Blamey.** Very slender picture, doing but $13,800, much below the State's average. Strand (2,200; 75)~-"It Must Be Love"; $4,200. Libarty (1,S€0; 60)—"The Quar- terback.** Football fans not' very loyal. Just $3,700. (CopyriflHt, 1S2|, by Varioly, Ifia.) ' . ' MU>vaukee. Nov. 2. If you hear a loud laugh from tha middle waot. kaow tbst it to WX^ waukaa. having the time of their Uvea watching the battle for business'in tha downtown rialto. They are not. only laughing but attohdlag .tho shows. Tha grosses for the past week say that Milwaukee's theatra war, though a silent ona, to.dimvliiS' tha eustomera downtown, away from tha neighborhood housaa. which had^ baao hurting tho theatros. Dtia to Pantages bringing in hia biggest acts for tha Alhambra and that theatre playing the best Uni« veraal picturea procurable, othsr houses, notably the oombinatioot vaudeville and movie places,. aro strengthening programs. £vah bet* ter pictures ara being alMiToi In a^ thesjK houses. Heretofore wildcat films and Inda* pendents were considered aufHcienb. to round out the bills, but now only "namea** on the stage and screen are looked for. That the Alhambra has made In*, roads Into every branch of theatrf- cals here is evidenced by the fact that even a burlesque house, Sim*" press, is digging deep for Ideaa to draw 'them in. The house, with a. top of 60c., provides a two-hour burlesque, three acts, featuro, fllm*- serial, two comedies and extra at- tractions, including wrestling, coun- try fair, shape, shimmy and physical culture contests. Last week's grosaea gave the Al- hambra tha o homNm again with $23,500, bftlaglsg Ms w i M o m wooli^o' total. Estimates for Last Week Alhambra—"The Penalty" (U.) (3.000; 15-25-35-50). Lon Chaney always big here. Thia reissue, with Pantages acta ta addition, had their end in the draw. $28,500. Garden — "Marriage License** (Fox) (1.000; 36-60). Dropped oft again, not so much due to stiif com- petition aa to weakQesa of the pic- ture against "namesf ta two w«eka previously. Around J$3,900. MsJestie—"OevU ^ Horse" fPatbe) (1.600; ll-fS-^40). Strong aaooela- tion bill given equal break In adver* tialng, although picture again fea* turoff. SS,100. MarrilV-"Three Bad Men" (Fox) (1,200; 36-60). Big picture with big exploitation packing this theatra^ Again banner week, close to $7,200. MiUar—"CoUege Boob" (F. B. O.)! (1,400; lS-S6-40y. Ahothar eombln- ation house making game scrap for the business. Though not hittini^ top iNrMM dotag irell vndar dlrenm^ stances. Around $6,800. Strand—"Gay Deceivjar" (M-G-M> (1.^00; 16-36-60). Threw ta «ztr» picture, Mabel Normand in "Rag- gedy Rose" (Pathe). House also an^ nouhoad out In noon-tlma parformf ance to 15c. for few shoppara aUS. lunchers. Around $6,900. Wisconsin—"Mismated" <F. N.)" (3,500; 25-50-60).- Big stoge show, "Opera vs. Jasa," featured abova picture, at dai githtly te draw^ $18,200. Palaco—^'Clinging Vine" (P. D. C.) (2,400; 26-50-76). Orpheum acta still main draw here. Best obtain- able are being booked. Around $21,500. (Ca pyrif ht. 1826, by Variety, Ino.)^^ FifiM Niitlonal<b rtadl rilm Ea^lf It is reported that when "Just Herbert" is finished by Fhrst Na« tional that it will be the last pro^. ductlon to be made thIa year ta thf' east by F. N. THBATSX BSAOnrvt. uM POURTH WEEK SAMTKL aoLowm PreMnta nttmt Knro's Proda^tfon "The Winning of Barbara Wfrtk 7} with tad roleman Vllms Bankr Episodic Frvsontation 1rCD HCNkCL AWsowcMtsma