Variety (Jun 1927)

Wednesday, June 1, 1927 P IGTURES VARIETY m FILM $6i8(IO AT PARAMOUNT; ™?tosSo ™-' ROXYDOES ON WEEK-END *7th Heaven," $8,100 in 9 Performances—$110,600 for 2 Weeks of ''Wu^' at Capitol—Strand $37,- ^-RojLy's Lowest Week Is $90,500 Net ■ ^ — , ijii One H. 0. in K. C. Last Wk.—• Mainstreet Got $12,500 ^Vita at Globe THIS HOUSE EWAYS STANDS UP Broadway put up the family um- brella la«t week and kept it there. It was considerably wet alonij Uie main channel from Monday to Thuryday, with heavy showers pop- DinK up and diaappearlngr as quickly ai they arrived, it didn't help busi- ness much. . With tho approaph of the holiday Old Sol thought it about time the boys at the seashore and park resorts got a break. There won't be a much more pleasant week end for weather all summer thaji Uie one just passed. But him house receipts held up Saturday and Sunday, except in iso- lated cases. Manhattan's Main Street looked like Main Street Monday. As fast as the Broadway habitues had left town the excur- Bionists came in. and the latter were ail out on parade. Strictly a tran- sient crowd Monday afternoon, with an avalanche of foreign .state li- censes rambhns back and forth, shopping. Jioth the Roxy, $26,152. and the Paramount, $i4,&00, had a big day, but the title of •Slide, Kelly, Slide," evidently kept the women away during the alternoon at the Capitol. The Roxy had its lowest total to date larit week, with a net that just eased over $yo.OOO. tiross was $94,- SOO, with "Fighting Love" the pic- ture. "Cradle Snatchers" la cur-, rently in, and an effort will be made to hold it two weeks. The house Is also giving a two-hour and 13-minut6 show this week, with Boxy personally admitting he put K on thick for the transients who were expected and did arrive on the bollday. "Seventh Heaven's Start "Seventh Heaven" came into the Barris last Wednesday, preceded by a Movietone program, and got away to a neat start in rolling up $8,100 for Its first nine performances. "King of Kings" jumped back to capacity at $14,400, besides getting a big percentage fo the vlsitora for Its seventh week's start. The Strand thought $37,000 lucra- tive enough to hold "Resurrection" a third week, while Clara Bow's "Rough House Rosie*' brought the Paramount $63,800, "Beau Gesto" Clicked in at $27,600 and "Chang" Was along with $21,544. "Rough Riders" leaves the Cohan Saturday after 12 weeks. "Annie Laurie" tabulated $7,319 for the Bmbassy, "Old Ironsides" plugged away at the Criterion to $7,500 and "Vamllle* has tacked on an extra week at the Globe tosmako it an eight weeks' run. The second week of Lon Chaney*! •^■u" at the Capitol was $49,800, giving the picture about $110,600 on the fortnight. annings* "Last Laugh" played Its 'nth repeat at the Cameo to $4,000 and "Tiie Mis sing Link," gathered $14,500 at the Cfihmy. "When a Man Loves' gial)hed around $11,700 for Warners The * P.irade" entered lU 80th week to $14,200 Astor—"I5lg Parade" (M-G) (1,120; $l-$2) (SOth week). Now in 80th Week and still holding up; last week. $14,200. Cameo—"The Last Laugh" (Ufa Par) (549; 50-75). Fihn can almost be term-ed "Old Faithful" for this boil.so; was back again last week and di' 14.006. Capitol—"Mr. Wu" (M-G) (5,450; 60-$l.65) <2d week). Chaney pic- ture held over and fell to $49,800; fives film about $110,600 on two Weeks; "Slide, Kelly, Slide," cur- rent, with title apparently holding Oovvn foininino matinee trade. Cohan—"Rough Riders" (Par) (1,112; $1-12) (12th week). Is now in final week, leaving Saturday; semi-final total was stUl low at ■lightly over $6,800. Colony—"Missing Link" and Vita B.) (1,980; 35-60-75) (4th Week). Dropped about |1.000 from pr^vlo^^«^ week to draw $14.r>O0. .^pf^'t^rion—"Old Ironsides" <Par) (812; $l-$2) (25th week). Not catching much of tht> Bn adway trade; was up a bit previous week, hut slid to $7,500 last week, y-fw^hstay—"Annie Laurie" (M-G) $1.6.=;) (4th week). Doesn't JPpear to have any particular •trength; %7M0 pretty quiet h^re. *« ?f 15.*^"" '"S of Kings" (P. D. C.) (808; $l-$2) (7th week). Hopped jack to r.npaclty l.ist week at $14.- — ' V ^"'^^^'ty Visitors nocked inr jrjich management believes is tip- e« on prosperous road tour; opens aoston unit .Tune 13. Globe '^Camllle" CP. N.) (1.416; Ji-$-'j r7th wookV Droppp.l a littl ■ «> $11,687. but will stay an extra Harris — "Sevonth Tl.fiv<'T)" nn-l Mov,p^^„^ (Fox) (1.0:J4; ll-ll.**.:.) u.i w-M-k). Opened W. dnes.l ty «iiJht. with Uailles turning in lauda- MILWAUKEE HOUSES MAINLY DODGING RED Too Much Spring Last Week; Wisconsin Without Name Got $12,000 Milwaukee, May 31. (Drawing Pop. 650,000) Spring is here and the poor movie men are holding the sack. Wisconsin and Alhambra, both scrapping to hold the rod as low as possible, did weU but not quite, good enough. With the blaring of the Hearst sheet trumpets, the Merrill man- aged to slip "The Understanding lieart" over on the unsuspecting public to the tune of close to $8,000. Eddie Cantor was the Strand draw and rolled in plenty. Estimates for Last Week Alhambra (U) "Monte Cristo" (Fox) (3.000; L'5-50-75). Reissue got. Gilbert fans; $15,100. Garden (Uihleln) "Miracle Man" (Reissue) (l.lOO; 25-50). What Lon Chaney, Tom Meighan and Betty Compson didn't do for this long- suftering house can't be told. Real- ly banner business, considering late grosses, by rolling in $5,200. Majestic (Orpheum) "Quarantined Rivals" (Gotham) (1,600; 15-25-40). Combination policy here, with vaude getting cream of billing. Around $7,500. Merrill iSaxe) "Understanding Heart" (M-Q^M) (1,200; 25-60). Picture seemed to please and Hearst sheets helped. Around $8,000. Miller (Saxe) "Heaven on Earth" (M-G-M) (1.500; 25-50). Tried this with McCall stock. About $7,000. Palace (Orpheum) "Wonders of Wild" (2.400; 25-50-75). Special featiffe with vaude. About $18,000 Strand (Saxe) "Special Delivery" (Par) (1.200; 25-30-50). Every where you looked you saw Manager Stan Brown's ICddle Cantor exploit at ion Ideas piled about Helped plenty. $9,000. ^ ' Wisconsin (Saxe) "Tender Hour^ (F.N.) (3,500; 30-50-60). For some unknewn reason house has not booked name picture for t .o weeks. Suffered as res\ilt. Ahrmt $12,000. (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, I no.) INDIANjrcTURES Los Angeles, May 31. Big Chief Productions, new plc- turo company, has been formed to produce a series of American In- dian pictures, to contain historical and educational features. Alfred Weller and Harrison dor- don are the direc tors of the organ- ization; Harry Wilde, associate di- rector, and Alfred Gra.sso, produc- tion supervisor. The first picture Is now being made at the California studloa In Hollywood. tory reviews; Is In for so long as It can stay; In first nine performances ran up $8,100; strictly okay. Paramount—"Rough House Rosle' (Par) (3.600; 40-75-90). Showed re- turning signs of life, with this one after falling below $fi0.000 too regu- larly to be comfortable: Clara Bow film drew $63,800; got $14,500 Mon- day. Rialto—"Beau Gcste" (Par) (1.- 9fiO: 35-50-75-90) (3d week). First full week was $35,100 and last weok saw $27,600 come in; substantial drop, but final figure a fair gross. Rivoli—'Th.Tncr" (Par) (2.200; 40- 60-75-90) (Cth week). Giving way Inch bv Inch; last week fell off nbnut $700 to $21,544. Roxy—"Fighting I-ove" (P. D. C.) (6.250; mats. 50-$l: eves. 75-$l- $1.65). Had worst weok «5ince open- ing, with gross of $1)4,300. which rates $00,500 net; h.?s big show this week. With "Cradle .Snntrhors" (Fox) the picture: no deeislon on next film, but probably "H.^.irt of Falomo" (Fox>; on three-dny week TTfrT rnt $ 7< V ' ^40 :- *'r*na t r h er 9" wi ll Kansas City, May 31. "S'.iny.a." had 'em standing at the Newiuun the opening tsaturday and Sunday, but the business failed to hold up. with final count not as heavy as for Bebe Daniels in "Senorlta" the preceding week. At tho lluyal, second Publix hou:5e. ar^- other United Artists picture, "Res- urrection" In Its second week, held up nieoly. Other downtown theatres fared fairly. Many of the big suburbans aro complaining of poor business. The announcement that United Artists would remodel the Liberty and operate It as a deluxe house with U. A. pictures only, in for runs, has been rescinded and nothing will be done with the house for the pres- ent. The hou.so Is now being run as an indeix;ndent by Sam Carver, Who managed it for Unlvet^ial the past two years, and who may con- tinue to operate it independently. The Glooe starts June 11 '■irlth Vitaphono's "Don Juan" and the regular bill that goes with that pic- ture. Estimates for Last Week Newman (Publix) — "Love of Sonya" (U. A.) (1,980; 25-40-50-60). Boris UetrofC's "Egypt" was the Publix stage show, and as used by Manager McCurdy proved dandy prolog for feature. Presentation was staged Immediately preceding the picture and Instead of closing In at the finish with a heavy drape, scrim was used, with prolog and Its Egyp- tion scenes blending into the atage setting. Novelty Introdu^lon and pleasing. Saturdity and Sunday big, but fiattened out balance of week. $13,800. Royal (Publix) — "Resurrection" (U. A.) (920; 26-40-50-60). Second week with demand steady and result all expected. $5,000. Mainstreet (Orpheum)—"TheTaxi Dancer" (3.200; 25-50-60). Cash customers liked action and plenty in this flicker comedy. Vaude on stage. House Is In summer stride. $12,500. Pantages—"The Bachelor's Baby" '(2,600; 25-30-50). Regulation five- aot bin also. Bookers for Pantages must think patrons like dancing. Stepping In every fMJjt, and in Uuree featured. $7,800. ■ " ' Liberty find.) — "Heaven ^ on Earth" (1.000; 25-35-50-60). Names of Nagel and Adoree life saver for house. Tltl» 6Mtn SMMI * thlnff. $6,200. (Copyright, 1927, by V«He^» ln|».) Other Theatres Not Doing Well in Midst of Bust- nets Depression—Hennepin Under $11,000; 'Con- voy* and 'Cabarel' Don't Do It 'SERPENTINE' GIRLS, 30, GOT $16,000 AND HELP Fanchon and Marco Act Given Credit for Stand Out Draw at Portland, Ore. LONDON TRADE FALUNGOFF Film Speciak XhM Save Situation at BosoffiM to proVt.ihlv holfl nvep. Strand — "Reaurreetlon" (V. A^ r2.90n: '0-75) (3*1 woek). .<51inp'"",I ovrr the $?,7.000 mark and ' eld for Warners "W^en fl Mnn T/Ove<«" nnrl VItT <\V. P'.) n II riTth W« ek>. r.:\fif"} <>ff ni'^t a little, hut h')9 h>■U^ n. eonsist* nt ]>.\<-p: Inst (Copyright, by Variety, Inc.) London, May 20. Fine weather has helped to knock theatre business for a goal this week. The shortness of money and the bad Industrial conditions made things worse. In spite of the press storits of less unemployment and lower cost of living, money is shorter tdfeM at any time .since the war. None of the cinemas are taking more than $600 a day—not a ses- sion, but the full day's takings! General business runs anywhere from 1.500 to 1,700 a day as an average, but at present aeireral of the West End housea are not pay- ing their overhead. The one Seneflt Is several houses are likely to go over to exclusive nims and Mg presentation actii to try to pull busln<>ss up. Portland. Ore., May 31. Fighting for seats fruni noon to night, standing la. line and being turned aw ly at tho J'l' kuI w;iy last week. The liouso i umo near breaR- in^ its record, doing more on the first three days on tho pietiiie t"l«'risco JSally l.>evy ') ami b'anohou and Marco's "30 Serpti\line tJirls" than on the wci-k of tlie ih<'atro's opening, wluch is feoinj; some. The Broadway stepped on it for this proj^ram. gt-tting nearly all the L:4-sheet stands in town, makin}^ nu- merous tie-ups, grabbing ail the free space anil doing other stunts. House was forced to run five com- plete performances Sunday instead of the regular four, for the llrst time. Over $400 was given l>ack to patrons as refunds. Next to the iJroadway came Unl- versaPs Columbia. "Love of Sunya" attracted crowds, the opening day passing, the receipts of "Michael StrogofT* by over $500. A good ex- ploitation campaign also responsi- ble. Swanson held over for second w^eek. ■ The People's with "McFadden's Flats." second run, clicked to a good intake considering tho stiff outside competition. "Tho Notorious Lady" at the Liberty was one of those things, whil« 'The Better 'Ole" fourth week, front along at profit- able clip. Rlvoll, wlilofa has found t^e going rough of late, announces a new poli- cy. The house will go Into a split- week policy, changing features Monday and Friday. The house or- chestra is being cut down, with con- certs eliminated* Did 11,000 Itmt week. The Duffy stock had a very aus- picious opening with "The Little Spitfire." Duffy has leased the Muslo Box and will present hlgh- gradt stock plays at $1 top. Estimates for Last Wesk Broadway (Nor Am) (2.500; 25-40- 60). "P'risco Sally Levy" (M-G-M). IMcture, though popular, not draw at this house, which did sensational business on the week. Fanchon and Marco's "30 Serpentine Girls" brought home bacon. Crowds evi- dent at nearly nil hour*. Tremen- dous gross of $16,000. Columbia (Universal) (800; 2S-40- 60)—"I»ve of S'unya" (U. A). Swanson sure-fire at this small house. Did big on opining few days. $10,500. Big and held over. I.'.ert Levey now acting rnanacfer here. Blue Mouse (Mamrick) (850)— "Better 'Dlo" (Warners). Syd Chap- lin still brinpiner th^^m in f<>r this comedy production. Vita slat^'d to bo succeoded l>y hoii.so'.H farmer policy of two-bit grind. $3,000. Held over. (Q0|»yri«ht, 1927, by Vsriety, Ino.) 1st N. Takes Globe First National Gloh'^. N*' w York. haa leased the nrrordlrij? to re- port, for the .sho\vlr:'.r "The P.it- ent Leather Kid," its BarthelmeKs special. It Ih iiri ]'T st'-od t};e film will '•'-.mo hito th'^ ♦".lobe the first wo'k In Aucust. with F. oxecutlvea ex- pertnnt It wni reVnnln six months T'irst Vntioml ,has .•^Iso b-.wKht "The N'lose,** legit play, lor Bar- tholmosa. If Trade Doesn't Better, Summer Cloaing May Follow Montreal. Mny 81, (Drawing Population, 600,000) Gloria Swanson and cold weather helped last week, but not enough. If thin^TS don't improve very con- siderably before long there will be something very special happening In the way of doin?; what has not been done in this city for seme ye.ars past—shutting dcvn houses for the summer. A well attended thriller comedy at ITIs Majesty's didn't give much cnr<^,iirat'cni»'nt to the pfrfure tiif.''- tres. nor did a local pageant at tlie Princess. Fsti'matet for Last Week Capitol (2,700; CO-85)—"Love of Runya" (U. A.). Gloria Elwanson. $11 '00. Psisce (2.700; 55-S.'i)—"Nf)torlou» Lady" (F. N.). Censors had lot of fun with thi<^, but didn't materially hurt it. $9..''.00. Is (a,?on; I fi.TS)!*^" Ankles Minneapolis, May 31. Apparently Immune fr 'Mi the gen- eral depression, tho State o«ntlruies hitting?. It pr(\sonts a sturirt wall to all the various adverse factors that have driven competing th** at res' grosses to a low level. Week after week the State runi far ahead of the corresponding period of a year apo and turns a bl>; profit. Last week it npraln had a strangle hold on prosperity, shar- ing It only with the Shubert (dra- matic stock), which also haa beea going along nicely for the most p.irt. As far as all the other theatres arc concerned, it's a sad, sad story. All were In tho "red" or so neiarly ad.lacont tbeioto that the dividing Imo was thin. The State bad "Don Juah** witll a full Vita mu.'^ioal acrtaiiiianhiient for the first time, liow the fair sex in particular ate up this corking plcturo. The SlS OOO which It pot netted a dandy profit and waa splendid under the circumstances. Normal conditions probably would have brought at least $4,000 more into the box ofRce. Because of tho feature's lencrth, the program held only Roger Wolfe Kahn's orchestra oA the ATlta and the news weekly but patrons felt they were getting • hlfs money's worth. The Saturdaj and Sunday total alone was said to be In the neighborhood of $«,000. At the Strand the name of Doro- thy Mackalll was played up la tli« advertising and on the electric siga for "Convoy." Many people erron- eously confused MIsa Mackalll with Dorothy Mackaye, who has beea' getting much newspaper notoriety of late In connection with the Kelly murder trial. This helped business some and didn't make the manage- ment sore^ though Miss MackatB may he. Even with this advantagS and despite It met with approval, "Convoy" failed to pile up a spectable gross. "Cabaret," with Qllda Gray, not mean much to the Lyrle. ▲ double bill, "The Sensation Seek- ers" and "The Lost Battalion" (lat- ter at Pantnges recently), got fairly good returns. With "The Night Bride* on tho screen, the Hennepln-Orpheum had another <^ Us Infrequent excellent shows, but it suffered becausa oC the sins of its predecessors. I'antagea, ff)r a change, had noth- ing outside of a Tom Mix plcturo to lure the customers, and they did not come in goodly numbers. The Seventh Street also was minus • box ofllce card. Estimates for Last Week State (F. & IL) (2,500; 60) "Doa Juan" (Warner) and Vita. Un- bounded enthusiasm. Around $18,- 000. Splendid under circumstance^ but not as muck as attractl6a should have had. Strand (F. & R.) (1.500; B0> "Convoy" (F. N.). Well liked, but not big enou^'h to attract under present conditions. About $4,000. Lyrie (F. & R.) (1.850; 85) "Cab- .'ir<t" (I'ar.. (Jood enoujrh pic- ture for liouse, but suffered from adverse conditions. Around $1.00. Grand (F. & U.) (1,100; 25) "Sen- sation Sc<jkors" (F. N.) and "Lost Battalion." Doublo bill drew nicely. About $2 000. Hennepin-Orpheum (Orpheum) (2,890; iO-0») "Night Brtde" (P. D. C.) and vaude. Plcturo okeli and vaudeville far above average. Great money's Worth, but they've beea alienated from this housf> by numer* ous poor bills. Under $11,000. Pantages (Pan) (1.650; 50) "Out- laws of Red Ulvor" (l<'ox) and vaude. Picture very good, but westerns don't mean much to box olllco h»re. Tom Mix, however, somewhat of card. Nothing ia vaude to attract. Around $5,000. Seventh Street ^Orpheum) (1,4H0; 40) "llills of I'erli" (I?\>x) and vaude, good entertainment bargadi^ hut public overlooked It. About $4,500. (Copyright, 1027, by VaHety, lnc4. Prf f<rred" (Fox). V.'i'j'lc put.s this flK'-itre over, ;ilfhr»imh picture not h id of kind. $12,000. Imperial (1.'.K)0: r?0-«!f^) _ "Hom .Milce" (F. P.. 0.>. Fair to njid.llint,' v.i id^. only middlinsr picture. $0,000. Strand fVOO; So-40) "All Aboard" (F. .v.); "Madame Warifs No f'hil dr<n" (Vftx't: ' ir< v. If.-v. <'.,ul..\ ■ n'riiv ), .nri<1 "Ti'.t'.' " 'I'lr ., J;? noo. (Copyright, 1^7, by Variety, Inc.) New House Forced Cats Seattle, May 81. "\^'>len the palati.il new Mount p.rii' -r 0]>'-r\c>l r''•■•iiily In P<'llin<- ham at JCc, tho irir«»ad in othe^ houses was so great tliat a pric^ war foI'MW'tl. Av.i'ofj « ut f I om to 2r)C.| Ani' ii' If 'iMrri ."0 to i;.'ic.; Ks'ypliai^ Jo tb iZc. and Divum, 15 to IQ%