Variety (Feb 1927)

VARlfiXY PICTURES Wednesday, February 2, 1927 LLOYD REAL LEADER AT atOO; (lANm CHAW (aVESm $38,000 CRAZY WEATHER BilT cm latOSSES IN NIL Swimmer (^ng $5,000 » Wadi—Only Did 4 Dmf New York"^'ironsides" Opens to $7,i Fftivtat I23.M0 in L. A. Ill 1. Los Angolos, lYb (Drawing Pop., 1,450,000) Harold Lloyd's "The Kid Brother" Jn its nrst week at the Million Dol- lar was the real leader qI the t«WA laM weekr > mw i ii n^^«Kr— . tari, with "New Yortc" oh the screen and George * Youngr, the chttnnel Bwlmmer, playing there t6t follr Uays, did ^,0W more in business. This Lloyd film got the flying sUirt that all Lloyd producti db hm and played to turn-away busl- n^sa throughout the week. The - Met., however, did not Btart olf aa w»U. Toung did not begin his ap- pearances at the house until the fourth day of the picture. This par- ticular opus needed a name of some • uort to draw them. With Young coming in oh an ofvemight b^Xifcteg and the house having little time to • aiinounce the fact, it did remarkably well to count up fW.OifE'Toung, 1^ on the four days, getting (5,o«e a week. With the hoxise adding anr other |Z,000 for exploitation, eltn^ed the stipend paid. He is appearing foV three days With the current pic- ture, so that will be help, to«.'' '*'01d Ironsides" opened*at Grau- inan*8 Egyptian Friday night at A $5 top with a Orauman presentation l>eing used after six month* of Vitaphone In the house. The pre- miere brought around $7,000^ with the next two days practical capac- ity at matinee and night shows. Loew's State broke no records with -"Ladles at Play," even though ■ a my night from Monday on waa a apoeial night, with Richard Row- ' Duifioaa Sisters and others appearing to help trade along. The CaUfornia opened for two weeks* plairiilir the EucharUtic Coogreas picture, with the Catholic churches bucking the run. West Coast Thea- tres, Inc., tupued'M'iiouM over vithout charge for rent, the first Meek returns were not anywhere >niMr'«xpe€««tton8. The only adver- 'tiling done on the picture locally ivaa through uae of 24 sheets. < • ''What #Vibo Gtory" Md up in l^at .«)hape at the Carthay Circle. Bliht trade being very healthy, though matlneea were iHrtllor light. ••Beau Oeste" tallied around the fkve-flgiMiB .'mark on ita lUh and nMt to iMt'iroolt Ht the Fomm. With a rather weak picture, "Just Another Blonde/' at tha Uptown, the drawlii*' pummr of Abe hfmmn more than asaerteA .itself in carry- ing business cloia io $12,000. The picture «NM« aitaoliilaly mi at the boiic offloe. with a good portion of the trade Jfuat coming in for the $5 MifnuM that X^ynlUi and his o'chfRtra occupied the stage. **<)ne Increasing Purpose," at the Fig- tieroa, dM not • aiaasure up, as it rould not get over $5,000 on the w t ek. "The Show," at the Criterion •HI MlMP » week at IiOOfr^o Btgte. pioved profitable but not sensa- tional. Ken. Maynard's "The. .Vn- known CayaMtr^vJn $ii« B iurt iPgy Pi-lace had a rather hard time, as lite house Just cannot get the cus- tomed thropgh tli» t atmy^ f . Cflimatat for Laat Waok 6rauman's Egyptian — "Old Iron- sides" (F.P.) U,«00; 50-$1.50). Away to great start at |6 opening, with fillet five performances showing in- tuKe of around $1S,000: looks good foi^ at Ickst 28 weeks. Carthay Circle —"What Price <»ioiy" (Fox) (1.500 ; 60-$1.60); Hlt- tlfiir vary g<>od ' «tlp; ' profit tM bionnd nt $14,400. ' Forum — "Beau Geste" • (F.P.) (I.t0«: «0-|1.60]i. Trade light Unit p:;rt of week but packed from TiiurHday on; next to last week elose to $10,000. r . Loew's State —"I^idles at Play" (F.N.) (2.200; 25-$l). Seems as though Oene Morgah and atige en- tcitninment meant more here than j)i< ture or screen celebrities who made personal appearances iittrHig we«»k: onlv fair at $'2:i,600. Metropolitan—'New York * (F.P.) i9M6: 28-fS>. Oaorge Toung. «luiniiel Kwimmor, four-day ap]>fnr- ««nce here lit'esaver for picture; brought gross to around |S8,000, hut V«'ry little profit for house. Million Dollar—"The Kid Brother" (F.P.) (2.2M: 26-85). Harold X.Ioyd a p.Tni(', houiie turning thorn awny flrni week, though breaking no rec- 4wla tow Lloyd; an a von tlW.IHHI. 'SHOW $29,125 FRISCO; GLORY' $12300iST W'K Gitbert-Adoree Film Surprises $10,000 in 2d. W'k v-Oranada, $Y9,0Q0 $17,000 for '3rd Degree'— Wfsconsin $16,10(^'0am- aged Goods/$2,500 SiM9i.jrrancisco. Feb. 1. (Orawing p^pufmtlon^^ 615,000) Just one of thsme,Wx and warmer weeks. Nothing to brag about and nothing much to kick about. **What Price Olory" got away to good notices and nice business but the town is stiii a^iiing "What's the matter with the Harold Lloyd busi- ness?*' ' Tet thoy don't talk about the picture; that seems to explain the 'laek 'Of «ecelpt«-F-1aok ot . In- terest by the public. *The Show." which wasn't looked td w ahtthhig out M the Mlnary. ran away from everything on 'Hhe street." Reginald Denny, usually sure-Ill^ /or the Granada, waa Just one of those things. The Imperial's new policy, a grind of four changes Week at 15 cents, llm*t chiashig red ink oir the auditor's desk. Estimates For Last Week Warfiald-rr' The Show" (M-G) (2.- 630; 36-5t-«l$-SO). With JTohn Gil- bert and Renoe Adoree looks like another "Brown of Harvard" as far as unusual and tmlooked for draw; Just a program feature but a real kick at the b. o.; ran gross up to |2»,185; Itube Wolf led the Fanehon and: Maroo act with Henry Fink, Murray and La \ ere and the "Star- lets** as added featuree. Qrmioda—"THe <nieerfut FMinA" (U) (2.785; 25-50-65-90). Not the customary Denny business although satlafac«6ry at $M,OM; Biddie Pca- \i(>f\y topped Jack PaTtlpi^ftOil l|t«fe act which pleased. . • • Calilemio^*'Going Crooked", (ITox) (2.2dO; a5-60«t5). DMn't mean-anything unusual at ticket of- fice; showed $12,000; "The CJalJ-! fornia Theatre Orchestra" as the added, feature H that meiina jmy- thing. St. Francis— The Kid Brother" (F. P.) (L375; 35-50-e6-90). Lloyd continued even tenor of his way and it looks now, with little better than $10,000 for second week, that three weeks will finish run; that, to this town, is pretty much of a brodle; next one to be M-CJ's "Fire Brigade," with "Casey at the Bat" (F. P.) and another M-Q, "Tell It to the Marines," to follow. Curran—This legit house came into the picture categt)ry with "What Price niory"; C(»l. Itill Roddy gave the town and the surr'ounding coun- try an old fashioned circus bllHlIC^ result Was $12,300; the natives as well as the critics liked this one. i[mp#rJiMnto the grtnd list. ( C <i i f ni ght, 1027, by Varioty, l#ia.) Milwaukee. Feb. 1. (ttrawina PopMiation MQJOOO) Anothor of those typical Wiscon- sin weeks. Zero at the beginning of the week and by Friday night, when the week closed, it wae May according to the temperature. With nothing but the contiguous grind houses to buck, the fllih houses are having it easy. The pictures this week that took the cake were "Third Degree, ' which. tpPP«^ the list, and "Ben Hur," which made a return plav for Its third week, and "Just Another Blonde.'?' • « * . . letimatee Fer Upei Week AHMWnbra—"Third Degree" (War- ner) (3,000; 35-60-75). Picture h^d them fighting to get in and they sure fought: house rolled r^d ink out of the way in barrels and chalked up enough margin to, have twp dr three bad days jiny. tii^; yaude acts played second to the picture; as a matter ol fact, nobody knew ther were he*e; ^ally hit In $17,000 class. ' ' '-^.JS Davidson—"Ben-Hur" (M-G U.- •00; 50-75-$1.50). Back for a third Week after having set a higH'wsfter mark in ita first two weeks; slipped a Wt thW tiirie; *ot mbrt 'Ihan 113,000. ' - - ' Garden—" S u m m e r Bachelors (Fox) <1.000r 16-BO). De.**pite no tie-up with local sheet whi(>h is run- ning eerlal of same name, drew tIfaoSe rending the iHery and It helped the house; little better than tn past weeka at $4^00. \ ^arriok-^"Dama'ged Goods" (re- Issue) (1,100; 50). Second week for ♦Morality- film and flopped; not over $2.50#. Majestic—"Dangerous Frtends (Sterling) (1,600; 16-2*-40). With stage bill thle plcttiro got-around $7»700. - ^ MerriJI^"Kid Brother" (F. P.) (L200: 21^60). Second weeb tor Lloyd film still had them coming In to about $«.0O0.. • ■ ■ : • MHIof^^'There Yon Artf* <li-0) (1,400; lR-25-40). Another combina- tion grind house which managed to Miueeae out around $7,200. • • ; Palace—"Nobody's Widow" (P. t). C.) (2.400 ; 25-$0-25>. . Stage J)in fought them in hef« and Rjeture was a poor second In the biull4^; hit well at 118,300. ^ ^ ^ Strand—^Strong Man** (F. K.> (1,200; 28-80). Langdon's h^me town shelled out ground $9,«Q0 for Wiseonsin^"Just Another Blonde" (P. N.) (3,500; 26-60-10). Had a f Air draw, better* thdn waa expected because Milwaukee hasn't suc- cumbed to the blonde erase; eked out $16,100. J (CepyrH ht, W. by Veriet y, Inc.) HUNTUr, GUIiNiN\ SHOOHM' BOYS BIG Hoot Gibson in Film and Wife on Stage Give Emery $9,000 —Mix $9,700 at Fay's 1ST NAT'L BUYS "MIRACLE Fitxmaurice to Direct What May JNcome $2 ,00 0 ,000 Picture Willi !i meaat big proHt. Uptown —"Just Another Blonde" CF.V.) (1.700; 26-76). Blondes are too plentiful around tliis town, so picture carried no weight. Abe Ly- man proved the draw, as $11,700 In- dies lea* Fiouerea — "One Increasing Pur- pos« ' (toxj (1,100; 26-76). Rather wea!: fbr this house: $4,700. I Ca IIf• rfii«—"BuchartotieCpn- I-,OR Angel*»s, Fvh. 1. First National has bought the mo- tion picture rights to "The Miracle" through A. 11. Woods. AhndUnee- ment of the ptn-ohase was made by Richard Itowlnnd, general miiliager of the organisation. Vitll plans of -tbe purchase have not been worked out, but It l» un- deiatood a substantial cash payment will be made uiH>n delivery of the script, with k percentage ctt die gross to be jMiid after production. First National plans to make a $2,000,000 production, with the pos- sibility of George Fitsmaurlce di- recting. gress" (FokV (1.800; 50-75). With church support and no Ux-al adver- tising, this orte got olY to poor start in house reopened after two >ears; first week only $4,000, Crilerion — 'The i^how" (M.n.) (1.600; 25-50). .Moved over from Loew^'s Stale and showed nice proflt to house at $4.](i0. Broadway Palace—"The Unknown Cavali#»r' tF.N.) (1.545; i:.-50). R»all> unfair to slip thi.s K^n May- nai-<] in this houM-, wiii( h Juts so few seats on its lower floor; little better than $4,000 on w.ek (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, Inc.) I ((^pyriVhtii 1027, by Vfriely. Ine.) Providence. Feb. 1. (Drawing Population, 300,000) Unfavorable weather kept, the grosses down last week, few houses getting better than an even break. "The Cheerful Fraud" went over big at the Victory, while "New York," Majestic, did good business with the aid of the 'Vitaphone. Mille C3ade Corson and Tom Mix in "The Great K-A Robbery," packed the school children in throughout their vacation week. "Ben-Hur," to open at the Opera House Feb.'7. is rapidly ^In'g up a record ad- vance sale. -.'■>. Estimates For Last Week Rialto—(1,448; 15^0). RoAe along to a' good week with "The (Vorilla Hunt" (Winkler) and "Collegiate" (F. B. O.) palling well; fSvOOOt. Strand—-(2.200; 15-40) "The Kid Brother " (F. P.). Took a slump in second week; merely fair at $7;200. Victory—(1,950: 15-40) "The Cheerful Fraud" (U.). • Reginald Denny proved vaNd and -with "Bertha, the Sewing Machine tiirl"^ (Fox) w<'nt over big; <KC*llent at $7v500. . ■ Albee—(2.500; 15-75) "A Little Journey" (M. G.) and. K.-A.-.vuude. Nothing to enthuse over; 19,000. i • Majestic—(2.500; 1.^-7r.> "Now York" (F. P.) and Vilaiihone. Ctmi- bined nicely to do g<M><l ^jusiiiess at $S.(»00. Cmery—(1,474; 15-50) Hoot Gib- een In *'The Silent I^Mer" (IT.) Mini his wife in vaude jammed the house; $9,000. , ... Fay'e—(2.000; 15-50) Mille Cor- son in person, and Tom Mix fn "The tireat K-A Robbery" (Fox) caught the kiddies and rode along to big week: $9,700 '^Uf«r40er Loa Angeles, Feb. 1. "Opposition" is opposition in eome of the small towns around here where "Ben Bur^ has been one nlghtlng. An advertisement of an ex- hibitor recently advised the cltisene of a certain town not tfo patronM "Ben-Hur" at the reserved seat prices. "Wait and see it here for .40, cents/', the ad aald. PRESENTJITIONS DO iSljlItt FOR Films Meant Little at Either HiDti^e-rUoyd's 2nd Week/$15,S00 Phihtdelphia, Feb. l. Although the boys on the dailies said that the Stanley's ttlm feature last wiifek was one of the worst the house haa had. 4uri|ig it» q.areer. and that .Foz*e pholophiy was pretty bad too. both liotieeg got along swimiplpgly . and tupiied in good-sized grosses. Both gained o\iBr the precedlnjg week whoa the Aims were considered hMloh bbfter. The answer was to be found in the surroimding bills- or the ao- called "Presentations If^tures." The Stanley had C^us Edwards (himself) with his "Ritz-Carlton Nights" and billed this miniature revue almost as big as the photo- play. This number got a great hand In the dallies, and eertatnly helped off.set the feature tilm, 'Valencia.** "Mae |ifurray still has a big following hM hnS' iif! her films are shown at the Stanley. The gross was reported at a little over |80;000. • " • ^ ' "Stage Madness" wan at the Fox, but most of the dailies devoted three*feurtha of their reviews' to stich side features as Olga Petrova, "Tiie Four Admirals, and Joe Ter- mini. Petoo^ hot «dlng over very big, was a fine draw among the women es testtfled by the -Inflated maMMee ^^trMMt The combination drew between $20,000 and $21,000, and everybody was sat- Isfled. However, tbe real kick was the siBCond week of "Tlie Kid Brotlier" ait the Stanton. This hditsb hed been floundering for three weeks but Lloyd's popularity put it back on the map. Reported at |li,8H, It was a real gain over the first week, and the fllm should Oasiiy stay four weeks, possibly Ave. "Old Ironsides,'* in Its sixth week at the Aldine, almost held its own in business. • The house was turned over to the Navy Thursday night, with no admission charged, so the week's gross based ^11 Instead of 12 performances was about $13,500. The Arcadia staged a neat come- back after a couple of bad weeks, with "The White Black Sheep." Biz was undoubtedly on the strength of the personal appeal of Barthelmess. And over $4,000 is good for this small house. The Karl ton also made a gain with. "TheHhttilng Forest." This week the Stanley and Fox are again battling on presentations. The former has Van and Schenck and a couple of dance artists, Zena Larlna and M. Mikolaichik, to- gether with the Stanley ballet. The film is "Blonde or Brunette. " The Fox has a picture considerably better than the average, "Tbe Music Master," and also the Ford Hevue, with Ed and Lottie Ford, the Crisp Sisters. Kve Wendt and Herbert Leslie. Keller Sisters and Lynch, and the Metropolitan Male Chorus. With the Stanton, Aldine and Arcadia all having holdover pic- tures, the only other novelty Is Take It From Me, " with Reginald Denny, at the Karlton. Eatimates for Last Week ' Stanley (4,000; 35-50-75) "Va- lencia* (M-G). Called one of the weakest pictures house has had. but Ous Kdwards* H(>\mio ofTset that; gross better tlian $:?0.000. ' ' Sfanton (1.700: .^fi-50-75) "The Kid Brother" (F. 3rd week). Continued to hit with et-en a gain recorded; may sUy Ave weeks; $15,500. Aldine (1.500; $J) oiii !■ o nKi.i..v' (F. P.—«th week). House ttirned ovor to Navy Thursday niglit with no admission, so $13,500 not lair sl;int on demand; still big. Fox (3.000: 99) "Stage Miulnoss' (Fox). J'icture not highly regarded but bill, headed by Olga Petrova, helped; especially wrro niaiinpcM l.ig. Between $20,000 and $21,000. Arcadia (800; 80) "The White Black Sheep" (F. N.^^ Personal mUT OF LOVE' $8,000 2ND WEEK IN OPOL Palace $19,500 With lren« Franklin—Met Around $10,000 '* Washington, Feb. 1. (White Population, SiO^OOO) History was made here last week when United Artists' "Night of Love" got $8,000 on its second week at the Rialto. That flgure Is higher than the usual business on a one week showing, and the fllm gets credit for, being the first regular program offering td go into • second week. • Irene Frankli|i» at tbe Palace, held up to the high Uglifies appr tttorulo at-thia house, ... . . •The fkjairttt ttettor,- playiiiHr a class draw, dropped below the usual top flgm:9S.^«^t U|e Coluhibia but did enough to wai^nt a see^fhd week. The Metropolitan found no wild rush to see '^Summer Baohelimi" after dropping its stage attractions ahd cutting the admission 10 cents to get back to the oHgfnAl aMU^^ the house. Estimaiee fer Last Week r Oblumbfa (£ioe*w¥'^"The Bearlot Letter" (M-G) (1.232; 3S-50). Lim- ited draw meant $13,000; 11.000 ua- der usual top money. >^ Met (Stanley-Crandall) — "Sum-, mer Bachelors" (FOx) (1,51*; 36-iO). Fair in holding close to prevlewi figures with presentations; may be $10,000. If so, means more on net side to the house. « ' ' Palace (Loew)—Irene Franklin. Nelidoff Russian Quartet and "Stranded in Paris" (F. P.) (2,300; 25-50). Among top weeks; Rus- sians did their share in getting ,^em in, too; about $19,500. Rialto (U)—"Night of Love" (U. A.) (1,978; .15-50). House got Splen- did break in securing fllm; second week close to $8,000. (Copyri ght, i«gy, by y#)r«** y» •"••^ ^^^^^^^^^^ Westerns Mil 2fld Rns Tepdw s T'K'^pjpi^^.'jl^^ Topeka, Feb. 1, ' (Drawing Population, 86,000) With little special inducement in the way of pictures but with extra work on advertlsdng, the screea houses showed slightly better Isgt. week. But boxoflloe totals hre Stttl way off from what they wore thlg time last year. Frank Silver and band at the Jay- hawk, backed by heavy advertising and publicity, did not do all they should have. Receipts were Just about what they should have been with a good picture and no name attraction. Despite this. Silver is being held over, comedy pictures being booked to help the bsnd get over. ■ ^ ■■' The little houses with the wesf^ erns and second runs got the pay* ing business. The "Son of the Sheik" (Valentino) at the Isis fdr its second showing, did a dismal flop. For the rest house managers claim a scarcity of real features as the big reason for lack of interesjt by patrons who would rather With their radio sets than see m^(* ocre stuff. ' . Estimates for Last Week ! Jayhawk (1,500; 4u)—"Love 'Em and Leave "Em" tF. P.). In first three days and did not help busi- ness; "There You Are" (Conrs|l Nagel), last three days, got away better because of comedy; week's take about $2,100. Orpheum (1,200; 40)—"Man of the Forest" (F. P.). Did business on the aut h or ' s name (Zane Grey), but patrons commented on similarity of production to Tom Mix westerns; this comment not the sort to attra^ business, consequently about $1,300. Isis (700; 30)—"Son of the Sheik" (U. A.). Itoehl fshs |K>t Interested; about .season, ' ' Cozy <400; SO)^'«For Alimony Only," Lea trice Joy-Clive Brook combination as box oi^oe affair but failed of purpose; fans Itlck^fll J^ Lentrioo's .short halt .eili^. .slightly under $900. (Copyright, 1^7, by Vsrioty, liiO.) TABABE'S' $4,390 BEOOBB The record day's rece.lpta for road show business played at a $1 (op matinee scale and a $1.50 top night, has fa lieu to 'The Big Pa.^ rade." F,»r the matinee and night p«>rformanceH at the Auditoriuiff, (miaha, lust Sunday, $4,390 was Oi^ Ui w wtaluinen t . - The ma inee was $J,180, and th^ night receipts $2,210. draw of Hariheimcss hrlped «»fTs«t weak picture; over $4,000. Karlton n.KMi: 'a) ' Flaniinp For- est' t.\I.-<J^.. Kairly good; $L',7r.O marked a g^in. KCepyright, 1927, by Vsriety, Inc.)