Variety (Sep 1927)

VARIETY P IX THJ R E S Wednesday, September 7. IWf WASH. PALACE STARTED TO SUDE; f ICTURE AND STAGE SHOW WEAK Drop of $3,000 Over Previous Week—^Management JMIIIved Show on Stage Mostly at Fault—Pro- diieMi Cdl•d^ ^li^^^ Presentation Framed "GESTE" AND TARADE" $90,100 IN ST. LOUIS state, $48,200—Ambassador, $41,90a-Bjz Good All Over WHKhliiKlun, Si'iit. 6. (Estimated White Pop., 450.000) I'-ii-.L' lias pi'li^si'tl tin- iMiiiil wlu rf a .--luKf pri sMitalion in (■(■iijunctiun with a rii-st-ruTi pi''!\n t will j,'<-t thnn in. That was dMiK-nstraU'd la.*;! W(-'-k whf.n lh«^ show wan not .^u | fori*', and :i $.'i,(Min Hrop was rooord- ed uiuii-r tile prfviuus woi-k. j 'I'li.it th, rii.inai,'(.nunt ro» op,iiizotl i thi fault V IS on ih*. stapo w.is o\i- j dt-fi.fil in Ilio hun\sini^ liorp t.f . conplc <'f <tan<'t' proriiiter.s and Ih adiliiiK f.M- tho fiiriont w.-ck <.," Wic ' Hloi-y ' is llnishi-d at the I'anlUi Willi. Kol.vn. whon iho s, hoduk- ' i" tli lohi r and "Thi' lilf: IMl-adi-" lallid for 1 lie mouii uf dan. iiiK Kills I lias IKissril <.IT ihi Hojal sciccn a to ho h. Id oM r in a n. w i-.Mitino. I fi w w . oks iator. .■x.hlition ilf Kol.yn an.l tlic oxtia i 'I'wn wroks' iiin of "Tho R<oii;h w.Tk aiiparciit anjjurs woll £oi- llio ] "t'dfr-s' w.is a .s.i.l .lisapiioiiitnioiit curii.nt week, for th* Saturday I m the lo.-al I'nhlix olll. lals. TIp .v St. tiouls, Sept. (. The fall season got under way last . o(.k with a speed for attendance ' t' at threatened to put to rout In a I hiHi y thoM howllnc "overaeated St. l^oiiis." There may be a drop after the fa- mous pictures that uahered in the new season are on their way else- where, but now business is as is. F'rlnstance, one loolc at Loew's .state at 6 o'clock Tuesday evening , fond it for the noxt three w^oks. .«o ; "'""Kh to send the squawkers I iho w.ir stuff i.uitiiiu..s Tlui-e will I'" cojor. It was "The Big Parade" I he no li tuii until .ift. r yW hat I'riue | iiirst time at pop prices) and the only other scene of the kind whicli the writer could recall, a view of Close Between Newman And Mainstreet in Gross Kansas City, Sept. 6. The strategic position on the Uiiyal's sereen, held for the past fortnight by "The Kough Hlders," has been taken over by the "Beau iloste" l-Ycnch forees, who will de- oponin^ had the ctistomers enthu- Ki.i i.-. S|i. ndiiiL: i.It iil> jn a.l\. rtisiuK the JalininHs "1'1< sh ' pi' turo at the othor I-oo\v h.ius... t"..liiMihi:i. found business an approximate J.'.tiO over the first weok. Opening S.-itm-«lay willi " liig T'a- rarte," .seven shows daily.,starting at 9.40 in the niotiilng to make this possible, the theatre played to ca- paeity the entire dayi ' . . Vs RIalto atalt had a jcQrous week, dearly indioatlmc.that the api^l of a fair tnaldta in a bathing suit has dimlnislMd none at ail. House was featuring. In addition to the town's own prise wihner, gtrts who copped as beauts In Seattle, Spokane and Uenver to deport themselves In At- lantic City for the title of "Miss America." Looks to have brouKht an additional two to thret- Kr.mrt. Little n»anai;enn'nt registered a strenuous kick on pre\'ious week's istimate for " Passiun" in this l.'ilO- soater, and claimed the juinii was to 11.900. Another JlfiO on that is claimed for tlie r.-issu.' W'all.iLo Ji* i'i pi' ture sliown last week. Metiopolit.an had "Ten .Modern «'ommamlmcnts." w iili the lau^,'hter created holdinK the figure ar.iund l haf Qf the itrevioiis week. I>an laeesKlii's sytnpTiony . ••oi»,*,iU-;i^ ttickiuK to the l;etter musi.'. Is still a mnney-gettins: f<'ature of this liouse. Harkint; back to the scjuahble in the dailies incident to the aiijKar- anre of Uosroe "Fatty" Arhllekk .at the I'alai .. week 1m fore la.st. v. hni the "Star" condemned and th.- •■.Ni ws ' .1. f( ndi.d. ll.irold I'liillilis. d. e, of th.' "Times, " look a iKirtin^ siiot in the controvery .S;iturday last by rutininK a two-c.lumn cut of . the c<imedian and tjuotiiiK \'ariely"s )-eported pross of $20.0ai), I*>iillips asked the opposition (l:'ily to jilcas,' note. Ix'oliard Hall ol the ■'.\..ws" dill not 1. t the liKUi-e pet by. eitlier, rimriinp ;i hex on it. Estimates for Last Week Columbia i l..oew ) - - ' W ay of All M.-sh" I Par) ll.'jn:; 3."j-r,n).' Scroll.1 iM-i-k climbed J.'idO. hittinc $11,1100. Much extra advertisinp. however. Little (Theatre C.uild)—"Kovever" (revival) (200: 3fi-.50». With names nf \\ ullace Held anil KMe Ferguson, run up claimed gross et 12,000. Met < Stanley - Crandali) — "Ten Modern Commaodniehts" (Par) (l.- IS-SO). House now. Itettihg for- mer blR grosses, though sticking rlgia.jgroiind jwnra figure weekly: not so good, nor nol 'Bad, $9,000. Palass «Lgew)—"We're All Oam- WcWt" (Par) and Chester Male (iirls also Phil Spttalny < n . ii. sira, l'.- 302; 35-50), Pulled out idw of s. ats -t»-mafce room for .■omhinati.m of house orchestra and Spital:i>'t ciow for overture. I'iclari' not riL'ht, fault with most of .M. iuhan's latrly, ami stape show riits-.cd. t.K*. Ilown went the cross lo vei v liherallv esti- mated $17.0(0. RialtO (I'l — "Clualilm Oheal.r.s" iV) and lialhinp Ue.iuls il.UT.^: ;:.',- So). Show eonHiderably bouated l.v iiddlii..n of little'Rt?(!e)i l>any, loenl 8nil. $n.e(ia I liad h*.en <-ountiiip uii a re.il clean- up \viih th.. pi. lui'e. Then came the Kandulph street near State in Chi- . i^u w iien the big Paul Ash rush is iliuler way. I'ackeU sidewalks In front of I.uew's State from uiio corner to the n.-xt w itii special jioliceinen detailed iiinounci.ni. nt thai th.- Kansas I'lty I to keep the good-natuied folks in c.;ar ' would show it as a free at- | line until they could replace the traction at the local hall park in honor of the pap.-r's first anniver- sary under the present management. The paper gave the picture thou- sands of doU-ars' worth of space and publicity, which drew over 100,000 people to see it, only 60,000 of whom throngs that packed the lobby ul- tiiost to suffocation, and then be linally rewarded by getting into the theatre. A couple of blocks away the beau- tiful Ambassador was drawing other 'dp crowds with "Beau Gesle." It could get into the park. It was flg- J41,900 to big week. Fur ured that the extensive publicity i th.'r out In town, at tlie Missouri, and the thousands of disappointed | „„ cund boulevard, '.Metropolis (NUa would spell big business for | ,vas the mapnet for some of the bip- the Royals engagement, but the re- erowds that have attended that suit was far different, the draw be- Lkouras Brothers picture theatre in ing tnost disappointing, a near flop | months. flnancially. Pantages celebrated its sixth an- niversary with a pool! comedy bill, and continued to keep the balance on the right side. As a whole the week was spotty. With the town greatly interested in its pennant-ciiasing ball team and "Old Ironsides" reopened llie .■\inerlcan Sunday niph4. with good prospects. "What Price Glory," also here at pop prices for the flrst time, at the iirand Opera house, took good care f yet more of the folks who still ,:;n;;^;r .^n;n„g Ju^t "he «|-^^ g-tmm ma^erpleces MOVIETONE IN LOOP; OPPOSING VITAPHONE t^liii alziv Seiil. r. Wovieloiii' wiil in.tk.- iis t'hi.'.apn debut ul t''..'X's .Monroe «.illi..p Sej.t. 10 or 17, House dark duiinp in- stallation of the eiiuipnicnt. At the same time "'Wh.al Pi i. e t.Ioi\ " \\ ill have its lirst p. iu i.il ^^.i^^u^ vhow ini; i n riii. .ip.». "(ilory .'' SIS a special, was at me tiarncK la«t winter. Movlefon.' will be the first op- JiOiitlon to he \ et . ncountere.l by ,Vit.'i|ihone in the I>oo|). fctlnce bow - ing in a year ago. Vita hns been eonstanti/ in Chicago. It is now at five Chlca«* theatres, four of them ••IghberlMwds. river, matinee business sulTored .sil.irtinp this w' . k a new dop track will lake a try for the extra money in the evt.ninps. This track Is also across the river, which takes the sjienders out of town. Clobe, with Its Vitaphone bill. Is maJdna a desper.ue attempt to huild it up ana Is Borag m tor rxtrs ilisplay advertising, but two and three weeks are too long (or some of the pictures that have been of- fered. Estimates for Last Week Newman (I'ublix)—"Barbed Wire" il'arj (1,S90; 2ii-40-60). "Iceland l iolic" on stage offering in addi- tion to the musical efforts of the .N'ewman orchestra. Picture Just fair. Stage show below the average of little lab units which have leached here since.regular I'nblix units discontinued: in tact, pretty poor amusement fodder. In sjiite of lino .show weather business failed to ni.it. rlali-/o. Down to JH.OOO. Royal 1 I'uhlix I—"Kough Hlders " I Par* liijo; .";,-,-iiO). Second week laile.i to hold up to anything like . xpei-fations. J4.S('ii. Liberty iln.l ) "I'lie Blood Ship" ii.o'Ui; :';"i-."aii. Koniantic melo- .iKima, One of most thrilling sea storit s on local seieens. Result sat- isfying. Started strong, but let down before end of week. $4,900. Mainstreet (Orpheum) — "Three's a Crowd" (K. N.) (3.200: 25-50). Re- viewers 100 percent and gave it sweet reviews. Customers becom- ing stronger Harry I.angdon fans with every pictur.'. He improves, I more than can I.e said for some of hlle other comics, ."-^tape show also j liked. Biisiriess h. 1,1 lip t.i fl3.S(io. I Pantages—"Pl..:isin.. 1!. for., p.usi- I m ss"" (2."J00: L"5-;:ii-.-,l.l. pan's sixtll j anniversary an.l .hiii i v amusement, jl'iatiire |ii,lure st.iit..! l.iiiphs iilid ;.apn."lty housis in poo.l humor for I . nl. rlaiiilnp vauil, vllle bill. $8,500. New Loew's Didn't Open; Schiller Collapses Pitl.-.lilll i;h, S. Jlt. 6. M.iii us r.o. \v s n. « I'cnn the.itr" .lal not open last iiipht. An .iiiiioiimfment was made th.'il the premleie had been postpone,! tlirnugh the sudden death Monday of the founder of the eirriiil. Several l.n(.w- c\^culi^,■s Wfi. ' li. 1." for th.' oi...|iiii.:. I When i;. .\. ,'<cliilb r heard lb.' I s.irt new.s, he pollapsed. that tell of the World War. And other pictures of lesser fame than those mentioned helped to make a spU.nilid week's apprepate, lo con- found the "critics" who are yelling for they know not what. Estimates for Last Week Grand O. H. (Orpheum)—"What I'rice Glory" (Fox) l.',;;oO: 1;.)-4U» r.O), nutjtlc Bo«mB rea,wukeoed to really "oig war pictures. liouse taxed practically to capacity until hot weather hit town last of week; even then business kept excellent. Long lines waiting; vaude rather insignificant; $19,000. Loew's State—"The Big Parade" (3,300; 35-85). Record week's busi- ness In St. Louis picture history probably established, capacity at al- most any hour, thousands turned tiway. Estimated total attendance for week at 116,000, surpassing pre- viotis attractions held over at same theatre. Held over; $48,200, Orpheum (Orpheum Circuit) (2.- 200: 25-50-75). "The Kid Sister" and vaude. Failed to get town, mainly herause of "Big Parade " and ""Olory " and oilier things were the proper caper for the week. "RED KIMONO" A DUD Ssnaatienally BHtod in Tcpska, Doas Somersault in O.; 91.M0 Topeka, Sept. I. (Drawing Population, 85(000) Without the pulling power of newspaper publicity about her hus- band to draw upon, as in the case of "'Human "Wreckage," Airs, "NS'al- lace l^•id"s latest lilmic broadcast »)f proiiapanda failed lo click, as far as Toj.ek.'L was coticerned. The Or- jih.-um. with '"The Bed Kimono." showed a dei i-Jcd falllnp off in busi- ness from tht: two previous weeks, when it look, d as if mid-.se;v*wn patronage was due to usher In the new season. The "Kimono" picture did not come up lo the lurid advance no- tices of what one could expect to see aided and abetted by the local management, which urged parents to leave their children at home. The children could have attended. They would not have learned any- thing—and no more did their par- ents, who went away spreading the wrong sort of talk. It was good business the first two days on the strength of the advertising, but then the fall-off started. The real business of the week was at the Jayhawk, where the cream of the bookings was on the screen fi>r the week. '"Hard-B4iile<l Hiipperty" and "Soft Cushions"' had everythinp in their fa\or, and there was .'v steady incre.-tse all week. \Vaddell Players tinished tlieir record-breaking stock run of 97 weeks at the Grand here Saturday. At the same time these players chalked up their best week's business of more than $3,400 at a 75c. top— record for stock in the burg. Estimates for Last Ws«k Jayhawk (1,500; 40) (Jayhawk Theatres Corp.) — "Hard - Boiled Haggerty" hit-pong and almost hit box-offlce record for first tliree days. Uoug MacLean's "Soft Cushions" tang b<ll again and little louder. Week ended just under $4,000. Orpheum (1,200: 40) (.N'atlonal Theatres)—.Mrs. Wallace Itei.rs ■"K.-d Kinioii.. ' not pornopraiihie film sheiks and tlappeis led to exiiisH by iulvertising, .lust anotlier wronp.'d- woman meb.drama. Gross disap- pointment; total, $1,600. Isis (700; 35) (National Theatres) —"Whirlwind of Youth" good aver- age pi'ogram material, but title pulled in youngsters. "Altars of IJesire" got good Blay because of young set knowing •ttsilaji^ mij^e- ment story. $1,400. Cozy (400; 25) (Lawrence Amuse- ment)—"Exchange of Wives" mildly amusing and Tom Mix's "Last Trail" as bookings proved surprise. Maybe weakness of former, but first time Mix has outdone any other pictiirs Iraoked "three and three"' witA 'it. Week's total $1,100. NEW UNION FORMED BY BALTO. HOUSES Union's Demands Bring Coun> ter Move by Smaller Treatres —"Paraiie,'' $22,500 BOSTON'S MET., $39,500 Rest of Town Not So Good Week Though Last Norma Shearer as "Trelawney" I.OS ..Vngeles. S(.pt, n. In .\oinin Shearer Tmawnry- he stari'ed ■ W t ll e " by lit th e .Metiii-Goldwyn-Mnyer. It will go ln(o production as soon as siilney Franklin, Its director, re- covers from an attack of pleurisy. Ralph Forbes will he the iavenlle lead. Frances Marion wrote the sre- narln. (Drawing Pop., 1,500,000) Boston, Sei.t. t'.. lltisiness at the picture liouses I. tst week was just about wlial iiiipht lie e«)ected_for thcjinal week o( what is figured the suminef~BKi- son. This week the State, Loew's uptown house, is showing "The Big Parade" at pop prices. The house ordinarily scaled at a 30-40-50 fig- ure. Is going to tip It a bit at the night show, A nickel here and ilicre Is the w.iy It Is being tigured. The Fenway, one of the local In- ih pendent bouses h.-rc, is poinp t.i (•lay "The Way of All i-'lesh,"' which just a few weeks apo .lid a whale of a business at the Metropolitan. Tlie Fenway is also carrying another |.it"tur.. bf.siiles the Jaiiniiips libii. Estimates for Last Week. State (4,000; :iO-4ii-,"',o>, ] ii,l »l:l,ooo last week with ".\.lam an.l I:m1 " I M-ll) as film. Metropolitan (4,000; .'.O-C.',). Ila.l .. big week witli "Were All liam- II. rs"' (Par) and stage bill; $39,600. Orpheum (3,500; 40-50). liusini'ss at this house last week was some- what affected by the mixnp over the booking of the feature film; "Calla- himn and Murphys" (M-(ii was ad- vi'rtised. but Iwrntisp of pt*otests n last minute switch brought in "Atte > 4l dn i |fli t' Scotch Lads and Lassies Help "Annie Laurie" Biz Montreal, .Sept. 6. (Drawing Population, 600,000) Man.ager Harry Dahn of the Capi- tol pulled in local Scotch societies to spon.sor "Annie L.iurie" at his house, and the result was a capacity week for a gross of around $10,000. The Palace had "After Midnight," which Norma Shearer, originally of .Montreal, held up. Films were sec- ondary to vaude at the Imperial, while, on the other hand, the pic- ture was the highlight at Loew's. Estimstes for Last Week Cspitol (2,700 : 60-85)—"Annie Laurie" (M-G). Scottish attraction exploited and house near capacity all week: $16,500, Palace (2,700; 55-8.'.)—"After Mid- night" (M-C.l. Norma Shearer saved show from bt inp flop; $10,000, Loew's (3,200; 43-7,1)—'".Moulders of Men"" (V. n. O ). Old stuff, btit Klin polls in erowds; Jll.OOO. Imperial ll.fldO; ^.-.-SS)—" .M.itlier" (F. I!. O.) N'.,t much of a show, liut v.aiidc o\'vr a\erape; $5.0(10. Strand 11-110; 30-40)—-"White Pants Willie' (I"'. -V); '"Dearie"' (W. P): "".No Man's I,aw" (Pathc) and "Time to Love" (Par); $l,O00. Circus Hurts on Coast Son F)ranclBco, Sept. 6. ningling-Ramimi Circus hurt downtown theatre attendance Sun- day, for the film houses weie a bit olT. The big tent show did six performances here on a new lot. Opening day business was bad, but Saturday built up ami Sunday saw two rapacity .■r..«.ls ,,,, h ind. ma mill im week. Modern (tir.O; 3,-,-r,n> Near $5,000, with doulde hill, "D. arie." "The Clr- eim Age ' and Vit i|.tione progmm. Fenway il,liii(i; .",iii. \". i v goo.l on splil wiik bill; ".Moon of Israi-l" (F. B. ().) and "The i:reat .Mail Hob- bery" the llrst half and "IJon Juan" the second half. Gene Ford and Relative I.os Angeles, Sept. 6. Gene Ford will dirert his brother- in-law, Tom Mix, In the latter's next iiiclure for Fox, an adaptation of "lIi.isMu.-n of the Plains," by ll.nrry Sinclair Drago. (!• org., c, Hull (lid the scenario. LATTIMER'S HARD LUCK TALE •|'..ront... Si pi. I'., Baltimore, Sepi, c. The storm long brewing b.t«,',n the Motion Picture Operatoi s l uion No. 181 and the local exhibi ..rs broke last Wednesday nipht, w hi.n 44 neighborhood houses r. fiiM .i to sign the new wage scale apre,.nient offered by the union. The manageis met earlier in the day and signed a two-year contract with the Moving Pictuie Operators and Managers' I nion No. 1, The M, P. O, & M. Union Is not afflllated with th* A. F: ot Labor. Bight large Ant-run houses signed new contracts with the old union before the expiration of tiie old agreement "Wednesday night. The light centered on an extra man in the booth, and as most of the thea- tres already carried the extra there was little change In the bip liouse scale. The downtown liplit c ntered around the New and the two com- binati..n houses, Oarilen ami llippo> drome, 1'he Iii"st-rim Uiuuwii .Met- ropolitan was also lined up with the downtown houses in the dispute, and was one of the eight to sign a new agreement with tlie old union. It means an increased outlay for a number of theatres in this group* at eight, but It was the smaller neigh- borhood houses that stood to b« hardest hit by the old union's de- mands, and this led to the bolt and the forming of the new union. Three more neighborhood houses Joined the 44 already signed with the new f.per.-itors' orpan izal ion. This lea\es about 20 small th.iitres not heard from. Some are closed for the summer. The old union dec-lai-es that it has been pioniiscd suijporl b\ lli. inler- national T'uion, iind also dc. l.ires that the local operators' wage scale is below that in other cities. Tb* old Baltimore rate was a fraction more than $1.11 an hour. Kingston Howard, secretary of the Baltimore local, termed the exhibitors' move a "lockout," The spell of unseasonably cool weather was .a box-ollice booster here last week, and, coupled with some outstan.ling pl.-tures. shot the week's average up Into mld-w"inter figures. Estimates for Last Week Valencia iLoew)—"Big I'.ii.ide" (1,400; 25-60). Greatest week for house and greatest draw for a pic- ture in Baltimore. Running time of house increased, making a continu* , ous showing from nine a. m. to mid- night. This meant two extra shows daily. Six o'clock titutm eqwaM others In draw. Phenoinettal at t$2,- ' 500. Run Indefinite. Century (Loew)—"Soft Cushions" (3.000; 25-60). First MncLean pic- ture In house In long while. Drew good reviews, but not outstanding as draw. Fatty Arbuekle well re- ceived, petting nice applause each performance. Not capacity week, however, at about $19,000. New I Wlilielnu sts) — "Country Iloctor" il.MiO; 2r,-r>0). Pictui-e well likeii and drew pood notie. s. Ad- . \-erlised as .'mother ""Way Down I'UiSt." In spite of stiff opposition, exceptional week at $0,500. Rivoli (Wilson Amusenient Co.)— "Lonesome Ladies" (2,200; 25-50). Oood week. Critics didn't like pic- ture but public did. Manager Price announced return of this theatre to presentation policy Labor Day. Ford's (Stanley Co.)—"Old Iron- sides" (50-$l). Slipped on second iveck, although business still profit- able. Increased sale noted for third week, with classroom prop.ipnnila throiipli oponinp of school c.Mnte.l on. Hippodrome < Peai ce S: .'^. lieck) — ".Magic (lanlen" and K-A \an.le (3.2110; 2.'^^-,',(il. Hig we.-U at this family trade ( .imbination. Film well liked and \.'iude pot.d. Met (Warn, rs) —"Missing Link"' and A lia ( 1.700; IS-.'iO), lli 1.1 over. Second week not up to first. Garden ( Wliitehursis) — Hero on Horseback" and vaude (3.200; 25- 50), Outstanding week, with Leona LaMar. stage headliner, topping bill. About $12,000. Parkway (Ivoew)—"Captain Sal- vation" (1,400; 25-35). R. pea ted b. o. success of downtown showing. Atiout $6,500. K. .1. l.aiiimer, scenario from the west coast Is in town with a tough luik stor>- nt the hands of I*. S. i!nniipr;'1ion aiithoi if ics. He sa>s h.- w.is l iken off a train at ."Sanderson, Texas, while en route from New Orlenns to I,,08 Angeles, j Imprisoned and later departed.^ _ Wouldn't Wash Neck—So Mrs. Holman Walks Out l.os Angeles. Sept. 6. Mrs. I.oie Holman was granied a divorce from William P. Holman. treasni-er of fhrisli.. Films, alter slie air.'d h.r tioul.Ifs fi..ly ..ml op.'nly to Supi ilor .liidp.. Si.roiil writer I— A r ( oidi iiK— m — Mk wiTc. I |..|nian never grew up to thi. <M. ni of P' - ing nble to wash his own ii." . ."'l it was a continual sti upgle i..r h. i to do it for him. Judge Sprnul eniancip.iti d her from the wash rag by lian.lipK he