Variety (Jul 1927)

PICT U R ES VARIETY Bowing only to the big Uoxy And I'iiri.rn'Jiint and runninij ahead of tho btiand, wiiich had a htayo l>and to bolster It, the liialiu wiih Eniil Jaiuiings in "Tho way of All Fleah" contributed llie real box office flr^Wdirke last week. ••Flesh" at $38,200 bespeaks a solid, contiiiiteni, unaided draw, it wa. easily the only picture on the street showing a tendency to achieve ca- pacity under its own horsepower. As presently paced, •*The Way of All Flesh" looks set to finish out the •ummer on the 42d street corner. The Strand can probably thank WaringH IVnnflylvanlans for its $51,000 figure with "Broadway Wiglits." The picture drew faint praise locally. There Is no ques- tion that the stage band policy Inaugurated by Paul Whlteman at the Paramount was an Important factor In the gross at that house for "Wedding Bills." The Strand cur- rently has Isham Jones' new band on the rostrum, so It looks as if the Times Square movie parlors are •trong for versatile orchestras. After a long idleness in the Para- mount vaults the German-made *'Moon of Israel" (released by F. B. O.) wa.s presented as the screen fare at the Jloxy, which count<>d up.the week at $99,200. net Critical re- action to the picture was. In the main, favorable. It seems nut to have affected *'The Kinff of KMKi*' playing at $2 top. Both pictures have scriptural themes. Tiie De Mllle special held steady ftt |lt,»00. With the town empty ovit th( week end some of the .sn,MMlc>' houses were chnrch-like In th<*!r <t<»- sertedness. Hut Roxy copped $60,000 for ^a^urday^ Sunday and the Fourth.' - "'-Vw^--:' Ittlmaiee for taat Aster— r.ig Parade" (M-O) (l.li:0: $l-$2) (H5th week). IMo- tducer-exhibitor. that has house on -long term lea«e, instuHed cooling plant for "I'aratlf's" soiM.nd summer on Broadway. Hit $14,200. Cameo—"Dr. Callgari" (Ufa) (519; 50-75). Tiny house held this revival second week, grinding. An- other foreign-made, "Streets of Sor- »ow," current. ••Doctor," |4*fM. v Capitol—"Captain Salvation" (M- G) 15.150; 50-$l.65). Averagely good week with sea plctuir#| ISO^tlM). "Annie Laurie," which had a short run previously at .Embassy, will probably be held for a second week if the present wieek hold* to expec- tations. Colony—"The First Auto" and Vitaphone (W. B.) (l,fSO; 36-50.75). Barney Oldfield featured in adver- tising and making personal appear- ances despite having only a "bit" in picture. VIt-iphone Items In-cludo Weber and Fields, Aunt Jemima an<l Rspplness Boys. il*irst flVw days ••Auto" $8,000. Gaiety—Kin^' of KinK^" MV 1> C.) (808; $l-$2) (12th week). $ 1 U.auo. Harris—"Seventh Heaven" (I'ox) and Movietone (Fox) (l.OL'4; Ji- ll.65) (7th week). Fox has house on summer terms until Sept. i.'> Steady and should have run. $10,3no. Paramount — "Wedding' rills" (Par) (3.600; 40-75-90). I'it tiiro nn.1 Raymond Griffith counted. but Whitoman'.s stage hsud potent at h. o. $64,100. Rialto—•llie Way of All Flesh" (Par) (1,9G0: 35-50-75-90). OfT like a Winner, norman star (Emil Jan- T^inps) In first American production looks tfi eloan sweep. Box ntHco lines frequent. $38,200 almost equals opening weeks of "Kid Brother" and "Navy Now.** Rivoli—* Chang" (Par) (2,200; 40- 60-75-90). Elephant picture proved "Winner from Rtart Eleventh t\v\ final week. Six days, $12,000. ••Camlll©*» opened Saturday. Roxy—"Moon of Israel" (F. D. O ) (6.L'50; B0-$1.65). LookS like good one for preneral trade. Four or more y^'ars old. this Sacha (German) pro- duction shelved orIgIn«llv by I'ara- monnt to nvofd conflicting with Pe Mine's "Ten Commandments." $99,- 200, net, very good, •trend—-"}?rf>ad way Nlprhts** (F. N.-) f:>.!uin. .?^,.F;o-7r,V Stnro attrac- tion fai^or In $31,000 Intnke. Warner's—"Oid San I'ranclsro" jnrl Vitnphone (W. B.) (l.SfiO; II- ♦ 2). Nothlner as yet to prove this OflA llkelv to tarry h«nond f<^w ^^<^^kg. IKtaftft (Copyright, 1927, by VaHety, Inc.) Alvarado In "Ramona" Los Angclea. July 5. Hon Alvarado will play opj)o.site l>olorei Del Rio In •'Ramona," 1 ruled Artists picture. is^win Carewe direotlnff. TLESH; 1ST WK, RIALTO, ISRAEL,' AT ROXY. GOT Whiteman and ''Wedding Bills'' at Paramount, $64,100—Capitol Did $50,700 with "Salvation" Last Week—Special* Steady • BUMPS FOR WASH, WITH HIGHEST, $16,000 "Understanding Heart" Falls Over at Columbia—Milton Silte Only $8,000 at Met Wa-shinpton. July S. (White Pop., 450,000) Not so forte last weelc. Natural .slump prior to holiday; tWo hot (lays (though other live were just right) and the loss of the usual hlg Satuiday. Columbia was only one to benefit due to the Hearst tie-up with "The Understanding Heart." Tiven there, tliough, the gross was only brought l>aek to the usual summer figure after flop of previous week. Met. struggled manfully with Milton Sills and succeeded in hold- ing the figure to tMt oC ttP»^ *^ vious week. I'alace with an excellent stage lineup, plus "Frisco Sally Levy," dropped over $4,000, while the Ri- alto did quite a brodie with "Heart of-«ik>me.*«v -w... .' Estimates for Last Week Columbia (i-^ew)—"Understand- ing Heart" (M-G-M) (1,232; 85-50). Not picture for this house, but pIuKs in two Hearst dailies saved it. About $8,000. ' Little (Theatre Guild) — "Last Latigh (Ufa) C^L'.')-, sr.-no). Possibly repeated too often. Under $2,000. Met. (Stanley-Crandal 1)— "I'^rnmod (1st X.) (1.51 S; 3&~&0)« A thin $i>,000 for Milton bills. P^imtm (Loew)^ "Friseo flally Levy" (M-Cr-M) and sta^'e attrac- tions. (2,390; 35-aO). Dropped, de- spite •"Cooler** in doinff as adver- tise d. p lus e«c^Uti|t gtiig^ m aterial. $16,000. . ■ •■ ••• - • ■ Rialto (U)—rHeart fpt Mome' (Fox) (1.978; tft-iei^ &el0i^ atlMOO. This Week Columbia, 'Telephone Girl"; Lit- tle, "l^'oolisli Wives"; Met., "Rough- House Kosie"; Palac^ ••Cabaret" and stag* Revue; Riaitb» "Lost at bYont." (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, Inc.) PHILLY'S LOW WEEK; ^ANLEY'S $23,000 PEABODY'S RECORD AT SEATTLE, $20,000 Crackerjack Bill for Opening Week of Newcomer—Other Houses Uid Fairly UTTIE INTEREST Hi mm OR BABE RUTH ON L i SCREENS Philadelphia, July 5. Counting the week-end exodus there weren't piany brealts lor the 111m hOttsei last "ilreek. Nor were the pictures anything to write home about. It was a case of thumbs down on tkldie Cantor's ••►Si>ecial Delivery" at the Stanh^y as aoon as word gcft axound. Tiie stage bill, however, was tftfonir and the popularity of Cantor niiide his name sometliing of a magnet. The Stanley was probably ai^lWl •2S,- 000, l<»w even for 'tbe. il^i|B9;Mrtiiile for this big- house. : i The Fox had • Itlch bu t ll ef ieet " ;i.s it.s pietur*'. witli a cast of people nobody knew anything about. <->ii the bill were acts, and it wae char- acterized aa a pretty good enter- tainment, but no name^Jl'hfe jKin- eral breaks cut the groiil dOWn to ar»)und $20,000, possibly less. Stanton also took a nose dive with tho second week of "The Setter •Ole." This Syd Chaplin comedy liMs b«v^n a peculiar proposition here. Tho critic.s raved about it when In conjunction with Vitaphone at the Ahliiie. but iiatronage didn't hold up, a fact thot was apparently due to the rapid falllnj? oiT of int'r« sf nnd curiosity In the \'itaphon<\ When it becran its second showinp at the Stanton trade .started brisklv and then dropped away sadly. I^aHt week was prol>a!>Iy under $10,000 by a considerable marjrln. Estimates for Last Week Stanley (4,000; 3i-50-75). "Spc- f ial Delivery" M'ar). Eddie Can- tor's pletiut: not HO L^ood. With heat .ind hohdfiv breaks week's ffros? • il.out $ '3,000. low for this time. Stanton -f.O-Tfi) "Th- I'.etter "Ole" (Warners, I'd week). S>d (Miaplln picture to less than ? 10,000. F ox lllfm-, 9 3 1. ' TJi - h but lion - < st" ^F"X). I'ieture with no nam^s on '-taire. $'*o,onn or 1' .'••=i Arcade ^^OO; r.o). "Time to TiOv« " (far). Hnymond fJrllfith farce pot I '.7;",o. Karlton H.IOO; 50). "The Heart Tf '< f " n*. T» >. Fnir rtt .nTioii' .'.'I Seattle. .Inly S. (Drawing Pop., 450.000) J\ui ienmier liaU llie big attrac- tions of the week in local show cir- tles, and as a result Viflh Avetuie llieatre established a new house lee..id, at $20,000 tupping all re- '•eijiis sinee iho op.>ninj^ week, Kd- ilie IVabody debuted to Seattle au- liiences and went over great guns. The iiiti\t'rt simply went wild over his wililest banjo nuitaacs and would hardly let him stop. As musi- eal direetor and master of cere- monies, he also "eddies ' into favor. There were three strong: ^ides to the attrai'tion triangle at tlii.s house; in addition to reaboJy._Tiio mobs turned out to see Lon Chnney in "The Unknown," and tlie I'an- chon-Marco "Spring Idea" filled with talent and snap. No wonder, tor here are some of the names: Henry Fink, lidythe Kvans. Mau- ren UIo and Brother, The liios and Max lUackwell. All stood out. but little Mauren simply brought down the hoiise with her clever acrobatic dancint^. While the Fifth Avenue was mak- ing its new house record, other houses naturally felt the opposish. Coliseuni kicked through with just ordinary tiikings, having ordinary feature to draw 'em; United Artists showe<l no parth^luar, life; Pantages had a good week, for this house seems to have a big clientele and eli(ks unless there is something radically wrong with the town. Blue'Mouse found flrtt week of "Simple Sis" and four Vitaphone acts lining up the patrons and the little gold mine of John Hamrick keeps rl?,'ht on turning out the yel- low bullion. Very good business. Cotumbia theatre did fair with "1-ast and Furlous,** very well liked by patrons. Will King musical holds up*well at the Moore, offering' being about the best to date, "The Alarm Clock" ringirvg the bell right along. Hermie King band continues pleasure. Estimates for Last Week Fifth Avenue (N. A.) (2.700; 25-- 40-6(1)—"Tho Unknown" (M-C-M). Kddio Hiti hcock in charge of per- sonal advertising for Kddle Pea- body pulled great advance stuff, welcon\e banners in street in front of theatre; half dozen banner head- lines in newspapers and clever copy, whieh all helped new box office total. reahody, Lon Chaney and fetures on F. & M. presentation all played their part for over $20,000. United Artists (N. A.-U. A) (l,tiOO; 25-35-50) — "Myateriuus Ridei^' <F. P.). BuelneM holding up fairl»i;-|7.700. Columblii.(U> (1,000; 25-35-50)— ' Fast and Furious" (U). Fine start, but draw did not hold up, although picture liked. Typical Denny fast- moving comedy. $5,200. Manager It. W. Bender has arranged "re- vival" of greatest pictures of all time for next week, change each da V. Coliseum (N. A.) (2,100; 25-50)— "Whit© Gold" (P D C). Not bad start, but i.irture too serious for hot days. ""Ctood musical score by Jan Sof»*r. $6,900. Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (950; 25- 50-75)—"Simple Sis" and Vita (Warner's). Picture not big, but dandy audience pleased while Vita acts good, but not of previous .streni^th. Patrons flocked in as u.'^nril and ate it up. $8,700. Pantages (l.r.oO; 40-50-60) (Is Zat So?" (i<'ox), Slde-aplittlng comedy drama entertaining and magnet, wiiilo vaudo bill hefwtied by flashy song and diinee revue. $10,500. Moore (2.000; 25-50-C5)—'The Alarm <Mf)(k" (Will King Musical Stock company). Pop. priced mats getting big call. Evening business hoMs well. Good at around $11,000. (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, Inc.) Missing Link'* and ^'Climbers*' Two Other Features Town Walked Out On—Stale Fell to $20,( Met Went Up to $27,700, Last Week ''Sunda/' Fights in Iowa's Small Towns De.i Moines. July 6. P>1jo law advocates have iiad many battles la the small Iowa towns of lata. At Orlnnell the mayor ca-st the deciding vote when the council deadlocked, 3 to S, At the meeting of the city council a reso- lution waa unexpectedly Introduced which would have restrained the city clerk from renewing the theatre 11- rrnses .July 1. Mana/^ers pot the major to call the special meeting with tho vote removing the last Im- [. -.i ■ii'Ti? to T' n<-waL At Jewell, Sunday 1o«C t>f IT votes In 3S7 ca.«?t, Alu* h litigation has been golru? on In Chariton for scHne tinae over the matter of Sunday morlee. Tht city ctiunfll hfin now passed an onll- narico proliiMrln;^ .S-jnday perform- $14,000 FOR ENaiSH FILM UTMONTREAL Diamond Jubilee Celebration in Dominion Did Not Help — Theatres Last Week Montreal, Ju'v r». (Drawing Population, 600.000) St. Jean Bapti.ste and l>i.iinond Jubilee celehrations eoniltined with a hot spell tiid nothing to lielp the theatres, but another tlag-wavintj picture at the Capitol and good .shows at the other theatrea helped to offset this to some extent. There was a great Intlu* of out- .side touri.sts from the country. They made up in aonte degrie tor the outflow during the three-day holiday. Very big houses at the beginning of the weelc and the tie- I ng u p of * *The B*Iag I^ieittenant** at the Capitol—Hritish naval and pa- triotic ftlm—with the general cele- bratiohi resulted in * bigger gross than usual at that theatre. This picture is also quite another story and la much better directed than "Mon.s." In ad<llti(>n. Manat:er Dahn gives a very realistic presen- tation of th« **Fatliers of ConfMer- ation," the Diamond Jubilee of wiiich event in Canadian history has been feted in this city with gn>at brilliance at the latter half of tho week. This precedes the picture and has created a deal of favorable comment. Estimates for Last Week Capitol (2,700; Go-Sf)) "The I'^lig lieutenant" (British made—Para- mount). Much better than usnal run of iOnglish pictures and wi ll in keeping with Cana<la's great pa- tri(<tic week. $1 1,000. Palace (2,700; 55-hT)), ' Hroadvvay Nights" (1<\ N.). l air pieture with eonveTitloTial ploL Title best draw, (iood at $y,000. Loew's CI,200; 45-75), "Sun.set Derby • (V. N.). Itaeing story with roiaantic angle. I'rotty good. $12,000. Imperial (l.yOO; 30-85), "Kosher Ivitty Ivelly" (F. li. 0.>. Vaudc again holds up hOUse. Picture or- dinary. $5,000. Strand (800; 30-40), "Matinee I>!idies" (Warners), "Through Thick and Thin" (Col.), "L.ove Thrill" (L), "Too Many Crooks" (I'ar.). $3,000. (Copyright, 1927, by Vsriety, Inc.) First Hot SpeU Costty To Milwaukee Houses Milvvauk<e, July 5. (Drawing Pop^ 660,000) Sl/zling heat at DM during last week shot lirst three days to pieces. The heat drove tl»e customer.s out of tho theatres and to tho lake count-y within an hour's ride from this town. Advertisomenta of breezy conie- die.i and cooling apparatus Uid not flh<»w very good results. Mllwauk(;e is a f.air suiumer town, Imt with thf» first real hot npell in lull swiiig the thealiea were de- serted. - Estimates for Last Week Alhambra (U.)—"Venus of Ven- ice" (K. N.) (3,000; 25-50-75). Pic- ture was liMht and breezy, just conrvf fortable f<»r hot weather taking, and a took a little. Around $13,000. Garden (Uihloin)—"Shadows" (re- issue) (1.000; L'5-50). Chan*»y usu- illy draw here, but good for around ;1 Ou vnH h this one. Majestic ((Jrpheum)—"Wanted, a Coward" (llanner) (l.r.OO; 15-25-10). 'I'egetlior with vau lo li(»us«» did lit- tle below normal due to heat. About $»),900. Merrill (.Saxe) - "Callahans and Miirphys" (M-(i) (1.200; 26-50). 'I'Jio.Ko who saw It laughed loud enough to bring others in and cd aroimd $7,300. Palace (()rpheuni> "Too Many • •rooks" (Par) (2,400; 2r,-r,r)-7r,). Cood Stage bill surmounted [.irtur". While not usual bnslness. did \\*\] • r iu.'h to run ahead ol I'd. llT.'nn. Strand (.Saxo) - - "W' dfJin ,' Uiils" 1 . U- J a^ua., 2:.-50>. J,a<ml.iri:r '■jfi'.'.v L'"* this across pr(-tTy well .\rf>und jn.^OO. Wisconsin (Sax--; "Lox'-r^" (M- fl) cr^.OO; 30-50-r.O). '.S.m 'v Henry" did most of th«s businesH, but liarnon Nova no and Alice T<rry ■ re no m'-an 'irriv- jfir f rTd.s. IIou>-' le»1 tnro field nf $K (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, Inc.) , ^'■^^ th -atnsa in tbe future. , (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, Inc.) I^>s .•\iiirele>s, July j. (Drawing Pop.. 1,350.000) I'ii-'ture busiuesii was spoily last weelc. Metropolitan lor its first weelv un- der West Coast operation and witii Uul>eWolf as a siai;o attraction and 1-Jddie Cantor on *iie screen, led tiie Lowii at ovor $::.,ouU. "King of Kings," at Qrauman's Chlne.st'. niainta.ned a steatly pace, drawing heavily troiu tixe luurisls who iiave conihieaced to invade SoutlU'rn Ca'uornia in huge drove>s. Alulinoe bu.^aie.ss is piuKint; up slowly. l>esp.te the handicap of extremely warm wca her the new house couiii.aes to hold strong. A reversal of lorm at the Million Dollar, where \'l.anii ' in its lirst week bru.i^ht in aiouud $20,000, good n\ouey loi- iluit houso when not showing a sieilar draw ing caid. Co- incidental wilh the taUiiiij over of the Million IJollar mana;;«.'nient t)y West Coast last week, stage presen- tations have bcon eliminated and a straight picture policy is now In efCecu Loew's State took a decided di^p with "The l^rince of Head Waiters," not meaning anything. This Is the lirst iirudii r>uue i:as nad to contend w ith In a great many months. "Seventh lleavcu" continues to click at the Carthay drcls^' Oon- sidorable tourist l>u»iness has helped the matinees and with mild even- insrs the house ootittniies to shew a substantial profit. iaiu ' Ci .i.fif at (Iraain in s Egyp- tian where "Topsy and mnd tlio i>uiie,in ►Si.-^iers in person c*.»n- tinuo. This pr4>grani iias iltrec UHjro weeks o run, atfer w hi« ii the Dun- cans ^o <a. t and the lU^yptian be- comes a liid liou.se under VVcHit cJoa.st direi i 1.111. Syd Chaplin In "The Missing I.iiik'' tlop . ai tiie Mill ;uh1 eaiiie out at tho end of th«> seeond week, replaced by John iiarrymore in "When a Man Loves." •The Miss- ing Link" was woefully w«>ak and hail very little tu commend U at Uie box otfieo. One of the big surprises was tho meager interest in liabe Uulh's first starripg feaure, **Bs,bo COOMMI llonir," at the Cptown, fpr A ffr0M of slightly over $3,000. The Mgueroa with "Fast and Furi- ous" failed to show any fast and furious business, ending to $5,300, Estimates for the Week Qrauman's Chinetr (U* A.)— "KiriK of Klng.s" (I». D. C.) (2,030; 5U-$i.50). Settled to steady basis and with heavy draw from transients should ro for many months. $27,&00. Grauman's Egyptian (U. A.)— •*Topsy and Eva" (V. A.) (l.tOO; 50-$1.5O). Dune.in Sisters the dr.tw, their iH'rsorial apixaranco scoring over picture. $16,000. Carthay Circis (I'Yed Miller)— 'Uh Heaven" (l«'ox) (1,500; 60- |l.;>o). At $17,500 Utis Fox feature picture sliMiiid ha ve a t lea st another three nionihs at this outlying house. Forum (I', and II. Cir.)—'Missing Link" (Warners) (1.700; 50-$J.50). Two weeks enough fof "I^iiik ' with Syd C)iaj)lin. Closing week loss lhan $5,500, and picture yanked. Loew's Stats (W. C.-I.<iew>— "I'rinco of Head Wait<'rs" (Ist Nat.) (::,1,'00; l;5 $1;. Hot, weather u big show at the M' tropol.tan, and Ihln- n'.ss of "Th.; ri ln< e of Hea^l Wiiit- era" handicaps that State could nod overcome. (Iross barely reached $19,000. W.ck before. $25,000. Metropolitan (I'ublix)—'Spe<dal Delivery" (T^ar) (3.595; 25-65). With sure flre stage (Ituho Wolf) and screen (Kddle Cantor) show Met- ropolitan set pace that no other house In town eonld «appro.if h, at $27,700, with red Ink bottle thrown away for week. lYevious week it did $22.1'»0. Million Dollar (I'ubllx)—"Chang** (Par) (2,200; 25-85), Drew heavily beeause of novelty animal picturSc $J0.0O<j. Criterion (W. r.)—"Flesh and Devil" (M-r;-M) (l.ROO; 25-75). (id- Ixrt ;ind <lail>o did not brenk any records on this second run but with $r.,f»oo In, no <>nf^ \i>'<t. T.«v.ks I ke long run ftt tlx' IVitiim kilh d it for suI»se(juent .'»bo;v i ri . Uptown <W. (^)~"F!abe Comea IToror." (1st .Nat) (I.T.'.O; 25-7'.). I'„ihf» i: i!h innv bo i<hil of baseball fans but j'llm $S.100 here indl' utes h-^rehall faP"^ d" not Sjiend much tirii<' in nndion id< tMres lii«:it!<s. Figueroa (1 ir West)—'Fast nnd Furlou.s" (T') (l.r. 15; 2.'-75). iNg- inalfl l^ennv in "I'asr ii v. T Fiir'o'!'-?- with a program of West Coast vaudeville bioii 'ht In J'l '00. Broadway Palace («)rphetiro> — "The Cllmbn.r«" (\N''arner.<i) (1.515; l.''.-40). Fr at lire with Irene Rich fnMf'd to r' t h first b.isew House at $2.^(00 b' ivily In red. (Copynyht, 1927, by Variety, Inc.)