Variety (May 1927)

VARIETY PICTURES Wednekbr. Ma7 4, 1827 HUH NEWS ALL OVER WORU) Washlngrton, May S. A patriotic film. "Pour le Roi," Id to be produced in Bel^iura, re- ports 0#M#». M.^^^-^-^^ picture trade lifiHtirnil. to the Depart- ment of Commerce. The film la to measure 5,000 meters with distrl- IbuUoh plans iMraetleftlly Mt The •cenarlo conceives several hlst(j|rical pictures, an orlgrinal war history, and winds up with what could be ttmad a .tffiTiiif- JMlitwm* Cine-Documentaire, under direc- tion of Leon Ardouin, and with the collaboration of Henri Vorins, film director, taa wklertalcen to show, In a series of arti.stic and travel films, the various aspectajjl.France. Ekich film will recall the local his- tory oC eno of fho French reriena. The next regional tti» frlQ Ottt- •orn tho Pjrrsa( E. J. HUl RmcuwI Salem, Mass., May I. Efhest J. Hill, vice president of the Colonial Photoplay Corp. of Saugui^ wa* rescued ,by coast guardsmen while drifting to sea in his fatbor'a motorboat off Bass Point Hill and soreral eoinpanlons went for a week end Ashing trip but the rough sens put the iprnition system out of order when Uiey were a mile out, at nighlr Two of the men started for shore in a t«^nde>r. It overturned near shore and they swam the rest of the way.^' It was the first rescue of the sea son off the Massachusetts coast Tho Mtmlelpal CofteeH of I*«ni- •mbour, in a mieting held Feb. 2«, voted 16 to 8 to rent the city the- atre for cinema exhibition during tho tin* wM thoro WlU bo no ^eatrical presentations. Tho boolc- ixi^i ^RfiJl' ^J^jh^^ ^^^^^. jjd^^^M^^ aion. TlM OMBpany te «KMi|loB htm pt- feroi^ to Mr IMH tMM for flat BALTIMORE SPOTTY 'CABARET'S' $17,000 Around $12,500 for "Better 'Oto" and "Slide, Kelly"— ^^^^ $34,700 FOR 2 FJLO'S IN PUBUX FRISCO BOUSES F. & M. Act Main Reason for Warfield's $27,850—81. Francis Does $18,170 San Francisco, May 8. (Drawing Population, 615,000) Milte Uore, through the local pub- lic ity department of Loew'a War- ftcld, brolce the story to tho local press that West Coast Theatres. Inc., would after May 1 operate all of the Publix holdings in San Fran- cisco. These include tho local Gra- nada, runner-up with Loew's War- tlcld for business; the California, priced at 10 cents lower becanso of its short program-»and location away from the film qieatre center; the 8t Francia now operating a longr-run policy, and the Imperial with a 16-cent grind. Tho local story did not givo any furthof do- tails as to manager of operation or who would bo in charge for West Coast Theatroa, Inc^ despite Harold Franklin's migration to this end. There is bound to be some con- flictlon, f^r Loew's ^V^arfleld plays the Fanchon and Marco "Ideas" as its stage feature, while the Granada holds the Jadi Partington prologs. In business—and it has come to Baltlmoro, May t. (Qriwing. Popniatioii^ 160,000) Past week was spotty. Several houses lost some of the momentum I be an ■tonMocally-the ^ , _ . <-v*v«^„ again ran away nom tno street, gained the post-Easter week. Others Nothing came anywhere near the Jumped ahead for swollen grosses, gross piled up, with Fanchon and At least one slumped badly. "Caba- Marco's "Serpentine Weas/' which ret" stood out at the Century, while had Doris Eaton as the star, and ••Slido. Kelly, SUdo." upstairs at the "Three Hours" as the feature. This Valoncia, did aacaUontly after » r*ki\%ho«S^lm;^^^^ hesitant start. weelts' billboard campaign, it Bmelka has acquired the Munich I 'Tho Notorious Lady," phis Cliff sot over to big jeturns ^ SSfLJ^l? ^v'SlL^rrtle Bel7er ^iS" ^t ViJ^T^'"^ Houri^^^F. N.) •ItOi MoMMr 60 m tm mwm %mt ^l^^^^J}^ wm w^^l up with ,t5.B«.6B.»0). Fanchon and Kraus, Bmelka has now Ave picture Tl-JTfl* i&mMml Marco act carried this one over for houses in Munich which totalJ.l«0 '^/frc^wSaSon'^!?^'^^ ?ll Jl^ia^l^CJe- fziTo ut im w»« lp»,»««^Kr»o- there was no deolaM alump. Tne „ ,j , vr«n" tv ttM aC ^ K t fmm t m Sm to comblnaUon with "Monkey 'T'^i^' \ B^^^'S^i^'S^iS^^I^'^-Bilt, breaking re«ora«- J^* va. Opem" a«a ttic hurrah, but e»en ports from that country. The capl- trade with **Love of Sunya," while tal of Norway has IB picture tho* I tho Bmbassy flopp;^ badly on "&or- atres which are all exploited divoet-1 rows of BaUn.'' ly fer tte elty^ ' ■ French fllmn ara alMI rM. W Horwoglaa ocroona* ' ta dsotfkodcj^iakla tlioiro wora hibited In 1926, 1702 films with 1,- 663,0«9 meters of length, of which 'em over the $20,000 mark. 8t. Francis—"The Night of Lore" (U. A.) (1.275; 85^65-90). Didn't break records on opening, but picked up a little as week woat-aa; matl- ness held up nicely-—oaottgh to torn In $18,170 on week. California —"Magic Garden" (F. B. O.) (2.200; 35-50-75). It has been a long time since F. B. O. had two features on Market street, and a The Embassy, after a number of indifferent weeks with second runs, retiums to a split week, first ran jwllcy Monday. Whether this is to prevail or is Jimt for tho moniont is not known. , MetropoliUn (Warner), 'The I J^w^^m^tance like this, with both number 902 were American, 342 Ger- Better 'Ole ' and Vita (W. B.) <2d ^o"^®^ .SPJ?™®"^' man. Ill French It Atwtrtaa. 11 week) (1.500; «-7i;).' Bus'lniss '^cLriSih^^^ Italian, II Scandinavian, 7 Russian, maintained fast pace of first week; I l*^Py«0»«» ay vanofy, ino.) 16 English, 1 Palestine, 1 Dutoillft 1 atill remains night picture^ how- ^wiai and 245 Czechoslovak. ' J^er; second woejgs gross cloao on ; |f Oil ff ^ Tho omoor prohlfcHoi iO^ «ms hjjete of opening waik at $ll.6«# or DH NeWSpapOr and 121 films ou. of the 1.702 were ""JaiXieU (Loew) ••SlMo Kelly Slide" (M.-G.) (1.300; 25-75*) Film' i p^bto la bolstoriB* its aroionta. to children. * SSl ^n^.Kfr.*'?nil2^ nSSniS Viw publicity angle mate upstairs house; opened ratner |r»-.^i„«4«„ ♦k^ ^t^^^ , mildly Monday, but rapidly caught R«PlacIng the former mimeo- DUMBBELL.FROM UP.STATE| on^^^n^j^u w«.»uMry ^JJS'a-SS.°Si5S;»"lSJ^fo Ta.;-^ f%^m B.»ic A«^uM» WiAl^l*'8®<> o*" the waste basket. Publlx last wook Tried 1? F^ ^^^H^r Z ^J'J^ ^*; Rlvol^ (Wilson Amusement Co.), began a weekly issue Idea. VCOIOR vnsiMS a t«m i ht^o Notorious Lady" (F. N.) [ A four-page paper, illustrated ibr««»..^-i xTn^ 1 I i^'^^^i 25-65). Lewis Stone a house and SOt np In thO Stylo of a Ubloid Montreal, May 2. favorite; Week aided by Cliff Ed- Ulll be Issued herenfter In connec Harry Anderson, ot Pla^^^^^***' T?^"JJ^n^^^^^^ tion with each of the weekly pres- K. broke lato pkitafia In overy I theatre s old form, which means Publix is also exnerlmentln^ itios of advaaeo aaoato for their units. A press agent (Charles Brennan) will travel two weeks .;na«**fcra luHd hf^^^ sUnd-outs; matinees good. «Sk5 sense tor a luria nair-aay oacuraay capacity result, a week *«>aa^ tha PubUa iinit routo. The and disappeared from the eyes of ^j^^^ ^^^^ better. IJea Is credited to Jack Mclnemey the work! for "^'^ y«*fV^"* Jf?J" Centui^ (Loew), "Cabaret" (Par.) of the publicity staff and the paper lowint Monday. Tfco Alboo httlld- (8,000; 25-75). OlMa Gray plus is called "Pufcllx Opinion." Five tag on Mayor street Is the parking film s title good b. o. bait; film made thouifauid Ooploo will bo printod Of place of most of the film exchanges mixed impression, but drew well; each edition. In this city and their mail bag is innovation In staging of stage acts a larre one. Harry was passing made excellent impression; Tommy, ^. , = w «n- iwn by thfbullding an^steppedln for Christian's band, Sebastian and | T^'J^^ bu8^"_«8s build^^^ a moment. He saw the maU bag^^,""' '^"'y Tichenor and Eddie reposing on tho basomont floor ^^i^T" ^ll^^L^^'^^/^Mr mLI*^^^ •k.>«nr^A«.v ^i.fi-thiittnn ftf grammed head of "A Night Club , , preparatory to distribution of j^^^^^,, culminating in an over- ahead of Borah Minevltch to stir letters. Seizing a double handful aj^ed film projection of a duplicate Up stuff. If tha Moa click* It wil liJ^^^S^!U*^-J L^^^^^^ ■^i*^.* thrown on a bo aMd goaorally OTsr tha circuit Marest cmireH whora no apoaod scrim In one and blending into the them in a back pew and picked out feature fllm: b. o. got its best break about |l,f>00 worth of cheques. In a long while at about $17,000. - He spent the rest of Saturday New (Whltehursfs). "Night Mralav la aov^flal offorU to open ^''i^^^" (P. d. c.) (1 800; 25-50). accounU in different banks with M^^JfJ^g* ^'^^^^ '^"^moderate- these cheques, but his appearance I 'L'f?.jl^^.'f.L^y»y ^^g^^Pl"' Marie was against him and the banks re- 17,500. wn^pooa^ iMd to iiillsa him. At that aono Hippodrome (Hippodrome Co ), appears to have thought of calling | "The Cheerful Fraud ' (U.) WER OLE" AND VITaI Seattle, May 8. (Drawkifl Population* 400^000) With five weeks of "Don Juan*^ and Vitaphone ending at the Blua Mouse, Manager Hamrick followed with "The Better 'Ole" and Vita, getting a nice spurt, to again piao(i his house among tha four laadors. The Fifth Avenue had na trouble^ howevar, la amiatalning Its loador* ship. •The UndersUnding Heart.** rather heavy titled, was rich with melodrama, well exploited and sup- ported by a cracking good Fanchon & Marco show. The Coliseum stirred oodles of interest in a blonde and brunotta contest, 100 local girls entering. The audience, Uirough applaus«^ POBTLAMD SUDES ^'Children of Dlvoreo* Fair st flfMXX) iL»srty Off at |4/)0Q With Double Bill Portland. Ore.. May t. (Drawing Population, SlO^tOO) Old Man weather was responsible for the slack In business at the local show shops last week. Portland folk flock to the beaches and drives as soon as thoy get a break la the weather. The Broadway, with "Children of Divorce," fell down on tho week. Feature was not generally liked and. together with hot spell, week fin- ished to small intake. The Colum- bia had "Tho Fourth Command- ment," which also fell by tha way- side. Another disastrous low week for the Liberty, which exhibited a double featuro, including "Shoulder Arms" »and "The Sea Tiger.** No _ _ orchestra or stage feature mlko this I selected the winners, and brunettea house dop^d entirely upon the predominated among the daily win- screen. However, no publicity or ners. The stunt cost the house less advertising makes honoo a dsad Is- than $200, and oortainly was a big suo on the street. draw. On tho MTtoa wag "Blonda Estimates for Last Woolf:^ I or Brunette." Broadway (N. A.) (2.500; 14^40- ^"Casey at the Bat" went strong 60)--"ChIldren" of Divorce" (Par.). H^® ^'""^ week and then dropped so Did not bring them in; hot wtather much that the picture was pulled may bo responsible; good Fanchon off after 11 days, and Marco presentation, together "The Loves of Sunya went on, with all-round program, gave fans P^ew policy at this house hereafter thoir money's worth flO.OW. will be one week, except two weeka IMusie Box (1,800; 40-60) — Will for United Artist releases, which King Co. "Up and Down" (W. B.). are expected to hold up for tho Continuing to fair business, al- fortnight. "Sunya" was weD bally though matinees slipping. Hermie hooed and started off at a nice clip. King's hand helping considerably. At tho Columbia "The GorillA LIborly <N. A.) (2,000; 24-81-60) Hunt" was liked and did nIcelF "Shoiuder Arms" and "The Sea j from the start. The Pantages had Tiger" <F. N.). Showed double "The Night Bride." backed with « featuro to diaaatroas rooulta; low at good yaudovlllo htlt and businesa 14,000. picked up considerably over tho C o I um b i a (Universal) t- "The previous off-week. The President IVMirth GOmmandmoat" (U.). Pic- pnllod well with "Buro Fhre," and ture did not connect; $5,500. | Manager McCurdy had four nights Rivoli (Parker) (1,210; 2S-(0)—1 sold to local organiaaUons. For 'Blind AlloyO" (Par.). Improved tho clooiiig week, neat week, he haa gross at house, which has found the nve nights sold, so the Duffy Plav- golng tough; Whiteheads band i ers will end hero in a blaze of clicking; IS.500. Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (800; 60) —"Don Juan" (W. B.). In fifth and final week continued to play to big business in spite of hot weather and tough competition; "Better 'Ole glory. They go to IMrtland Until about Labor Day, when they rotun to reopen in the old Orpheum. Estimates for Last Week Fifth Avonuo <N. A.) (2.700; 2S* announced as coming feature; $6,000. MO-65), "The Understanding Heart* (Copyright, 1927, ty Varioty, Inc.) O.). Fans liked the acting;^ also the tonso Interest well broken into by th^ comedy pair; midget 4TH COMMANDMENT VITA, $7,000 01FROV. "Glory" Did $18,300 in Two | "t'^Lt "S?« ^' Weeks, Bi|^"IWIIy's" Fine Shonvint at $7,700 Fro'v^dence, May 2. (Drawing Pop. 300,000) Joy of springtime penetrated the hearts of local theatre managers console pipe organ introduced on stage, said to be for first time la America, by Wallace; Fanchon and Marco, with Nell Kelly. presenta« tlon. splendid, well balanced and snappy; got $13,000. United Artist (N. A.-U. A.) (1.600; Bat- "Tha Love of Sunya" (U. A.) last threa days. 'Baseball picture figured strong first week, "but pulled off In second week; during four days grossed $2,100, whHe ••Sunya'* found Gloria Swanson pleasing tho local showgoers to the tune of about $2,200 In three days. Columbia (U.) (1,000; 25-85-50, •*The Gorilla Hunt" (F. B. O.), luy^Vil: C**^*'^ and loW display at- '^a? PHci aiVZ ^ITti. n "Blonde* o7 ^n^ti- \Var°). 'Lo'^' J]!!2?^*^iPl?**!7j"A*?»*.^P«'?|an^ was contest to select best run. topping the mark of opening b^"S ilwS week, with $9,600. This hoUso is to 8?SSt ^^wdiM^SSirS 2^4^^^ again to bo devoted to road com- show"-19 km ^ panles for a while. SumJ /tt-«»i.vx >n Athletic stuff made a hit with Lcf'Vlh?*^!?*^ -r^^^^ ^^Z tho patrons. -Slide, Kelly, Slide." LVtk^ T in^ fn^S^-^ i^^ ^"5 at Victory, and "Knockout Rellly '- ^ i^-^ji™ J^r Jr and at Strand, pulled well. Vitaphone M^"*]?*"" Jl"*^^ 'Sl*"*",??*"^ helped Majostio get awar to »ood uy^JJl^ iSS?t It i 2 nna^*^ start with ••Tho Vourth OoBuaand- S!"ff.? fi'^5'P®?- ment" *w»rui vu—1 ra Pantaflos (1,600; 40-50-60). "Tha Last weelfs opening of tho Albefe illSJi ^rlde" (P d. C ). Well bal- Stock, replacing vaude-film at thel^l^^i^^^^Zt!!!^^ ^V^^l^^^l^^ Albee (K-A). did not affect busi- around $9,600. ness at box offices about town. u/''";;?*"* IS"^?'^ 50-1.25), Estimates for Last Week if^i^'lIJ^^ (Duffy Players). With Opera House (Wendelschaefer) Y?*!LP'.'®^' "'"'^H: (1.375; 55-11.65) -r'^What Price ^^'^^^^f" A"*"** ^ Glory" (Fox)). Great stand In last^°"*' %T.OOO. $9,500. Two-weelt run, (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, Inc.)' In the police. It was only late that K.-A. vaude (2,200; 25-50). Denny night that detectives who wereM^as not come into his own as a asarohtat for btaB on a potty theft l'^ ''raw. due largely to the un charge, arrested Harry and found ^t'rtain shifting of his first runs the Incriminating cheques on him. 7?™ one house to another; week „^ ^, \, .1 f'*'T* or better. Company on Full Salary While Greta b m ^ Los Ahgiloo. May t. Greta Garbo, star of •Tiove," which Dlmltrl Buchowetzkl Is mak- ing for M-G-M, is reported to be and Iqultaill with an infoethm. Her physician states it will be another week before she will be able to resume work. The com- pany la laylac off at full salary* He pleaded guilty Monday and aM iKway for throa yoanh Par's Nowt Reel Men On Regular Astignmentt Parlcway (Loew). •'Ivove of Sunya" (IT. A.) (1.400; 15-35). Swanson proved good matinee draw, but failed to re<?ister at nlpht; one handed camera boys. An official routine I with a gross approximating $9,600. want lata'OffOOt May 1 with the Embassy (American Pictures first major duty, to "shoot" the in- M^'^rr >, ".cJorrowa of Satan" (Par ) aomlng Atlantic fleet last week. !^ ??^'J^JlJ^^^ Griffith film flopped Paramount had cameras posted P^^if' ^^••"'""f ^_ - - ^^-. ^-i—--^ . ,m weekP: house reverts to first runs an Sky gerapMt. Mt Rirer hridges.: ^^^^^^y ^^j, ^ change of program In planes and on tugs to catch the »y»|,„^„^j^y lU hoata aa UMor gtoamoa into port.) (Copyriilit, 1M7, by Varloty, Ino.) Roach's Extra V9 Per Cent Los Aniceles. Msrv S. Ral Roach Studios, Inc., have , posted dividend notice authorizing sided draw with a gross only fair payment of an extra dividend of % at about SS.OOO. - * , ^ n*, * Atl Gsrden (Whitehnrsfs). "The Per cent, in addition to the Monkey Talks" (W. B.) and vaufle- regul ar two per cent quartoriy divl ville (1800: 16-60). Ballyhoo aided lacn^T—«ll dUUtaadUu piofeiied Regular asslfirnments are being the Paramount newsreel I this one: managed to corne through I stoclt Roflors OpposHo Miss ^lolcfard Los Angeles. Mar t. Charles Rogers ha« been loaned by Paramount to Mary Pickford as hor Mdlng Biaa for Taradlso Alley." Sam Taylor la dhrootlnir. LANDRY AND ^BARBARA' TOP BUFFALO; $30,000 • _ Buffalo. Mav 8« (Drawing Population, 590,000) Takings veered off perceptibly at local picture theatres last week;* There was a decided drop In at- tendance, no particular reaaon at* week; $18,300. Strand (Ind.) (2.200; 16.40)^ "Knockout Reilly" (Par.)., Full of hokum, but Richard Diz meant something. Topped Clara Bow's "Children of Divorce" (Par.) of previous week by fair margin. "Paying the Price" (Col.) SUpporUl fllm. Good at $7,700. Fay (Fay) (2.000; 16-60)-^*Mat- Inee Ladles" (Warner) drew well. Bill Desmond. In person, attraction- Good at $5,000. Rialto (Fay) (1,448; 10-25)—Sec- ond run features got over nicely I trlbuted. last weOk, Pulled houso from luU; Estimstes for Lost Week 11.500. BufFslo (Publlx) (S.^^OO: 30-40-60) Majestle (Fay) (2.500; 16-40)— "Winning of Barbara Worth" (U. "Fourth Commandment" (U) draw. A.). Art Landry and *'Momorloa Vitaphone hit and saya gross Garden" on stage. This show pra- boost; $7,000. , sented splendid all around ontor- Emery (Fay) (1.474; 16-60)— talnment and ran to good returns;' "Salvation Jane** (F.B.O.). Only Landry a favorite here and strong one to register "oft" in good week, at $30,000. Band Maestro is being Title rather dI oc o ur ayomsBt fbr 1 held over, draw; $8,000. Hipp (Publlx) (2.400; 50) "Afraid Victory (K-A) (1.950: — to Love" (F. N.) and vaude. Only "Slide, Kelly. Slide" M-O-M) real house to better Its takings last hit. despite hokum. "Stage Mad- ^eek by re asoa of oxcelient vaudo card; $17,000. ness" (Fox) more than flller-In; $7,500. (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, InoO Oeo. O'Hara Free Lancing Los Angeles, May t. Gaorga O'Hara baa Ml B. O. to froa lance. He has boon nMl lho lattir gfiaalgatloa twa Loew's (Loew) (8,400; 85-60) "Slide, Kelly, Slide" (M. G.) and Tauda Good show but takings slumped toward oad ot wook; oTor . $18,000. LafayeHo and.) (S.400; 60) ting Gertie's Garter" (V. D. C.) and vaude. Business off here ala^', $14,000. ■ ■ (Capyriglit, 1187, by VaHoty, Ino.) ^