Variety (Sep 1927)

Wednesday, September ~T, ItST PICTURED VARIETY 'UNDERWORLD' DREW $41^ INTO | RIVOU; 'aORY; 3 WKS, $408,152 Big Money La«t Week on 'Street'—Paramount Reached $77,200 with "HuU"; Midnight f Shows No Hiot-^'^Parade" Leaving Broaiiwuy tiiaiiV.i-rt iisi if a iiifc piecf ol olimiKC last u..k rf- mrds the picture lioiisrs, llmvfvor. the theatreBoIng wfailuT li-iined over backward on Thursday when II terrific rain swept the city day and niKht. This hurt at the various cateH. but not enough to cause yelps for help. PrDlialily the outsiiindiiig picture «>n tl"- .siii'ot tor niiiMfy is "L.'nder- woi liJ. " "liii h piislii i) the Ilivoll to J41,i>00. a llHUie tliot li.iuse hasn't tii)p<'ii Its hat to in nimy sun-ui>s. Movitig irfirn the i'aiaiaounl, thin film has cliclced siiar ii lii^t liit Broadway on the 43il Hirect cui ner «nd has had what jHautically amounts to a steady sidewalk line. Ali other houses held up reason- ably well, aitliough the Capitol went back $13,000 for the second week of "Mockery"' to $47,500. "Hula" gave the I'uraniount $77,200 on the week, but tlii.s inrhide.s the $2,700 that seven niitini!4ht perfornianee.s added. Tlie 11: 4.'i Hhows at this house have not lieen elieerint;. l''oi- the .Monday midnight slu.w of "Hula" there Wiis no more than Jirj3 in the hou.ie. The Paramount continues these ex- tra performances this week, after which a decision will be reached ^-whether they are to be retained or not. "Olory's" third week at the Boxy turned In $126,000, giving the war film a roeord of $408,152 for Its three weeks. Labor Day matinee huns; up a top matinee lifjure here toi -Tlie .loy (iirl" when $1B,000 came in liefore neven p. ni. On tlte three-day hoild.ay week-end the house got $70,475. "Way of All Flesh's" $26,100 was satisfactory, but the Jannings pic- ture w'ill leave next week to m.ike way for "The Magic t^lame " (U. A.) which cornea in September 17. "Smfle, Brother, Smile" and Ben Bernle's band gave the Strand |S5,- 200 while "Chang" held up the Cameo to $5,500. Among tlie $2 entertainments **Kid" and "Wing.s" continued to capacity with "Les Miserables" Claiming a similar shiire of patron- aife. That means $1.''J,l'0I) for the ■special at the (Jlohe, $10,41)0 for the Criterion and $14,200 at the Cen- tral, "rieventh Heaven" has de- parted from the Harris, getting $8,- 250 for ita final week. "Old San EVonclaco" Icept its head above water at $12,400 whila "King of Kings" found matinee trade excel- lent and counted up 112,600. The big electric "Big Parade" sign Is down with the war veteran readjing to Quit the Aslor. This will depend on how long "Hen-Hur" stays at the Capitol as the "Parade" is scheduled to follow at that house, l^iat week the Astor played to tl4,»00. EttimatM For Last Weeic Aator — "Big Parade" (M-Q) (1,120; $l-$2) (94th week I. Getting ready to blow, but will wait here until ''iJen Hur" has run course at Capitol: war film due u|i street af- ter "Hur ■; last week house got $14,- too. Cameo—"Chang" (Par.) (549:50- 76). Brought In $5,500 and house holding animal picture witii atory ever for another aeven daya. Capitol—"Mockery" (M-G) (5,450; . H'tl.tS). Dipped $13,000 on second week to $47,500; "Ben Hur" current, I WI,U will stay at least two weeks, ■;. WW three if possible, g.it Sl'L.'SOfl Saturday and Sunday; "Parade" to follow. Central — "Les M Iserahles"" (U) («2J; Jl-$1.65) (3d week). Held up with trade brisk and claimed ca- pacity; this figures at $14,240. Criterion—"Wings" (Par.) (8TS; ♦i-»2> (4th week). Only difference U in standees; buying at b. o. for October dates; $16,400. RmbMay—"Garden of Allah"" (M- O) <51)6;$1-$1.65) (1st week). Opened Friday and won moderate acclaim fi-,,m the dallies. Gaitey—■ King or Kings"' (P. D. C.) (SO>i; $l-$2) (20th week). Noth- ing to worry about; goes into 2nth Week: matinee trade big and $12,- 600 Week's total. Glob.— Patent Leather Kid" (F. N.) (1.416; $i-$2) (4th week). May nave had tew upstair vacancies on couple of nights, but rates cap.icity; will .Htiek until first of year; last week $22,200, again big. Marrit — "Seventh Hi'.iven" and Mo\i,.t,,ne (Pox) (l.ojl: Jl-$l'i. Uniihe.i loth week lo J.i.Jiu and $24,000 FOR 5TH AVE., SEAHLE'S BIG SHOW Clara Bow and Eddie Peabody With F. &M. Pull'Emin—Or- pheum's 1st Weeic, $17,000 Originality A |>i edue.-r t>n the \s .^t coast ulio was wtiiling he- cause of his inability to ob- tain suitable originei stories p .inted to a story by a sce- narist whi. h he had Just road It called for the Interchange of two men's stomachs as the dramatic punch to the plotui e rBARRYMORE'S LOVES'H. 0.2D WEEK, BmYPAUCE, LA. $1,800 "FIREMEN," $11,000, 2D WEEK Di PHILLY PROV. BOUNDS WITH 'Underworld" Sent Metropolitan to $35,200 Despite Heftt and Light Mats. Last Week—"Magic Flame/' $23,300. to "Riley" at State, $21,300 . August Now Better for Fiimj Theatres-;Tiesh" Under Ex.; sj^g^j P^^.^^ j^^go^^ (Drawing Pop.. 1.350,000) EVERYBODY DOING BIZ not the daily l' IKl'M Worl.l, w liieli 1. ,1 :h. pectations at Aldine S«ittle, Sept. 6. (Drawing Population, 450,000) ''Greater Movie Sea.son" holding up during see<>n<l week, with strong attractions tin- rule. "Hnla" hl'A at the Fifth A\'eiiue; so was Clara IIow, I-Mtiie r.-ahoil.v .'iml one of the very clever i* anelum - .\l.u'e,> ideas. '■Sereens." ratUaii-s followed its banner w eel< of ■"Wh it I'riee (;:i,r.\' with a seeond w < ek, that .tsain went above aveia^ce intake. .soeoiul week of '"The Mls&iitig Link" In-Ill up iiicely. as did the see- ond weelt of "ileau Ceste" at the Columbia and "Camille" at the I'nited Artists, formerly Coliseum. I-,ilH>rty had "Adam and Kvll." and business was considerably ahead of the week before, when "Three's a Crowd" Hopped. Orpl'.eum opened Sunday und<'r new poliey of grind on week-und, and with feature picture. Opening fair, although event not very stioriKly ad\'ertl.sed. Kegul.-ir Sun- day nighters are now reserving for .Monday nights, .the first reserved nlKht of each week. That night was early entirely sold out, as was Tuesday. Estimates for Last Week Fifth Avenue (VV. C.) (2.700; 26- 50-60). "Hula" (Par). Cliira Bow didn't have to wash an elephant to do something big. Krncst Charles hit in songs, and his arrangement of music for Fanchon-Marco "Screens," using theme of "Song of Songs" throughout, bright stunt, went t>ig. Pretty flgores on various acraen come to Ufa to dance and sing. Kddle Peabody sure Are again. Bus- iness big, spite all opposition. $34,- 000. United Artist! (W. C.) (2,000 ; 2S- i;0)—' Camille " (K.N). Second weelt, natur.iUy below first week. How- ever. Kood. $».r)(ill. Columbia (C) (1.000; 25-50) — ' Beau Heste " (I'ar). Above averaKe althouijh second week, following great first week. First nine days brought lines to thb» house. Sunday and .Monday trille off. J7,ai)il. Liberty (W. C.) (1.600; '25-50) — "Adam and Kvil" (M-U-M). Busi- ness little better but only fair, al- though packed with fun JS.fiuo. Blus Mouss (Hamrlck) (93U; 50)—"Missing Unit" and ViU (War- ners). Second week did llttle above average. 17,000. Pantagas (1,600; 3S-50-65)—"What Price Glory" (Vox). Strand for sec- ond week folIowlnPT tremendous first week. Draw continued good, backed up with vaude. i;i« frross week pos- sible with live sliowin«s of pirtnre and four vande apiR^at.mees daily; this week cut down to three-a-day. »i5,000. Orpheum (2.700; 2:.-.';0-7.-il — "FislitinK KaKle " I I'. 1). C ) and acts. New house was chief draw opening week. Kegulars biHtkin*; for Mon- fl.iy, as Sundays not res erved. $17,- 000. Philadelphia, 8ept «. | The films are going through some- | thing of the experience of the legits, i They have discovered Atigust is no lonpor a de.ad ni.nith for business. | The only real w.-akness in attend- Jlnce at th.' downtown houses oeeor^ at the week-enrls. Rest of tt:. w.'ek is not far below the usual winter normal. It may be that the treni, ndous business done by l*anl ^^'hit■'n»an'.•; crowd has given lilni attendance an added impotus too. The Stanley has done exeeptlonnlly well since the two Whiteman we.ek3. though, of course, takinc: a nose-divp from the sensational grosses i>iillod by Paul .and his men. T*nst week, with I'ola Neirri in "Itarbed Wire" as the picture and Tsham .Tones .and orchesfr.a as jnes- entation hendliner. the Stanley .n;,-ain r.iti.cl around $1'T,(1ih1, (l, K. lo everybody, rietilre wotl niixe.l ntt- tlces. The 1-^ox h.'id ,a lot of varietx- but dropped a little with less than $20.- 000 reported. Blanche Sweet in "Singed" was th» film. It was gen- erally panned. Oeorgie Price, Max Fisher and his orchestra (second week), Myrlo and Desha, dances, and the Plums were also on the pro- gram, collected hastil.v because ot the postponement of "What I'riec Glory" a week. Mtitinee weekness hurt '"rhe W.iy of All fTesh" Considerably at the Ahllne. Despite amazingly fine no- i '"'j T.,„„;,..,.. ^.^..f...... --.II—...J r>trann Victory. $8.000—Convention in Town for Anotiier Week Sunday; had good run at fair money, easlnf off as new $! entries came In; due at Roxy this Satur- day Paramount—"Hula" (Par.) (3,600; 4p-.j-i)0). Gave house »77,20o, In- clusive of seven midnight perft.nn- ancea whh h have yet to i... deemid added by extra shows; Whiteman comes In Satur- iday for two weeks. Rialto—"Way of All Mesh" (Par.) (1.960; 35-50-75-90) (10th week). B'alllng off bit and slated to leave for "The Magic Flame" IV. A.), entering Sept. 17; Jannings film Will have had run ot 11 weeks; Jl^K.l nil. Rivoli — "Cndprworld" (Par.) (2.200; ?,r,-5ll-7.i-9l)) (2d week). Surprise ot Street way it holds up; nrst week here after like stay at Paramount brought in »41,000; got J21.500 over l-d«y holiday week- end. Roxy—"What Price Cilory" (Fox) (6,254; 50-I1.85). Topped oft two record weeks by Just edging in un- der former high mark; I126.000 fur third week gives film $40«,16! on run with ait. ndance ligures of 49S,- ii.'i'.i; K 't J7'),475 on holiday week- .■n.l ot' tbie" days. Strand — "Sn.ile. T'.rothcr, Smile" iF N.) 12.DU'I. 33-iO-i'.l i'en I liernie held UIi ll .ll.^n to $:!.".200. salisfa-t.,1 \- l.M,'! It l liiiL' r,. er this wei'k. r.',;;' r K !■ ]■■■• i .ili'y, but dependent upon boo;<iti.is Warners-"Old .San Fr.ineisio" and Vltaphono (W. li i (l.^tSo; jl-2) (l"tli weeki. Tiailiiig along , fair en.rich \vhiic aw aiting "Jazi Singer' ; last .**y'«..fijty" tires the J.innint's feature collected only about $12,000. It looks duuht- ful if the Stanley people can hold this one In the Aldlne until "The King of Kings" arrives Oct. 3. Wliat is likely la the closing of the hotise (or a week to emphasize the transi- tion from popular prices and con- tinuous showings back to the former two shows a day. reserved scats and $2 top. "Fireman, Save My Child." could have remained a week more at the Stanton, where It grossed almost $11,000 in its se<-ond and last week. It is this week at the I'alace. The Stanley currently has "Hiil.-i" and is civinK almost equal prom inence to Van and Si;henck, who have played almost as many en- gaKcments at this house as War- ing's Pennsylv.aniana. Fox has "What Price Olory" and will break its usual Weekly change policy by holding the big war pic- ture over. An elaborate prolog is Ueing used. Inability to get that prolog last week was the reason f.ir the postponement of "Glory." The Fox-Locust also gets under way this week with "Seventh Heaven," plua the Fbs-Case Movie- tone. The .Stanton should crash into the lilg money class this week with "Beau Geste," which, when at the .■\ldine last season, proved to be one of the most successful draws the hotise ever had _^,_Tlie Arcadia has W. r. FleiaSTiPllunnlng Wild." and the Karlton has Thomas Melghan In "We're All Oamblera." This Is the first time in years that a Melghan picture has not either been booked Into the Stanley or placed In the SUinton for a run. Estimates for Last Wetk Stanley (4,000; H-SO-TS)—"Barbed ■Wire" (Par). Pola Negri picture won mixed notices, bordering on extremely favorable. Surrounding rrovid" Ml -■. S' pt- It (Drawing Population, 300,COO) For the )>.ist tlirte months Lliere lias not he.Tl .1 Wi'tk to e.|ual the past on.' for attracti'.ns with appeal ■:nd a I ea 1 pouch ut IhO box otiit e, l-;acli o!* tltc tour leailing houses un- old.-,l a bill with a kick. Ami what a wt ek to unloatl the naturals. They only had to c,.nip,-te with the Itnal week o( the .\11 Players (who had iilienometial hi/, on closing after a great S4!uson). the first week of burlesque at the \'Zm- plro. and Whlteman's big iiluht at llhodes dance hall. Put there it Is. Flood or famine. The jdckup looks real, ahil this wi-ek Ml>pears to be . ven blKtser. Ail houses got a break witli rain, anil got away to a j;ood start l'*;iy's listed lilt. biK drawing ciird, with W'.al'il.i llawie,\ apliearin;; in vamle, and a |iop west'-iu, "The l«ast (Hit- law," supporting. It was :\ b. o. ciiinbination that clicked. The .Ma- jestic presented a strong double fciiture iiroKrani, "The Prince of Headw.iiti rs" and "Weiblini; Hill$." which Included two favorites here. Stone and Uiltnth. "Tillle the Tidi- er" made an overture to the flappers It the Victory, tecether with "The Heart of Saloni*,* %*ilch further Kasped the younger generation on the title. It gave this house its fourth big week In succession. With W. C. Fields getting the howU, the nosed Into the ranks with uunlna Wild." "B>* ppSrted, and theHltle evideMly "Uu: supi meant something. All tills meant nothing to what the houses did this post week end, with the Veteran of Foreign Wars' convention in session here and about 50,000 visitors in town. The Opcni House led with "King of Kings " on the new oiieniims. I'nder new man- I ai;eni*.Tit the Columbus started wiili a ilouhle feature bill and slane pre- sentations. \Vit)i a Tiew name the old Kmery theatre reopcni-d, lilay- ing vaude and pictures. The .\lbe<' went back to its vaudc-fllm policy tifter a summer stock scasMI. The llfth opening was thtit of the Mod- ern theatre with slock. There are at present three hou.ses presenting films; one. film specials; four with vaude-nim proifram.s; one with stock, and one with bur- lesque doing business here. Estimatsa for Laat Week Rialto (B'ay) (1.44S; }••»)—M. T. W, "The Auctioneer" (Fox) and "The I>ancer of Paris" (P. N.); T. P., "Kich but Honest" (Fox) and "The Splendid Road" (K. N.); 8. 8., "Uance Magic," "Tant^n and the Coid- n Lion." Stronger than usual at $1,300. Victory (K-.\i (1950; 15-tO) • Tillle the Toller ' (.M-C.) w.is a real card and caught the time-cloi;k punchers; "Heart of Salome" (Fox) tirew on title as supporting feature; $S,000. strand dnd) (2.300; 1.1-10)—"Ilun- ning Wild" (Par) was nice conOMly hit, anil scored; "For Ladies Only " (Col), iirelty bad, but okay on title; $7,500. Majestie (Fay) (2,500; 15-40) — ""The Prince of Headwallers" (F. N.) and "Wedding Bill!" (Par) host double feature program In town: closed week with a rush after good start and fair mhl-week; $5,500. Fay's (Fay) (2.000; l."i-50) —Wan- da Hawley jammeil them with per bill headed by Isham Jones and or- I s'mal vaude oppcaranee; '"The I^ist rhestra Good weok"s business at Outlaw"" (Pan, film feature; very $27,000. : ^ood at $7,500. Stanton (1,700; 35-50-751 ' Tire- man, Save My Child" (Par. 2d week!. l",eery-Hatton picture Ic l<| lip splendidly with almost $ll.oao in j san l-'ran<-lsco .Sept 6 last w.-ek. C'ould have stayed lonKer. i ^„ „rtermath of the fire that de but switched to I'alace, -Irop-.n , ^^^^^^^^^ state, Sacramento, i No Smoking—Sacramento house on Market street, instead Aldine (1,500; 75)—"Way of All Flesh" (Par., 1st week). Kmll Jan- nings picture, In for run, received fine notices hut only fair business, matinees hurting. Arcadia («00; 50)—"Metropolis" (1-ar 2d weekl few weeks ago Is that the city council has adopted an ordin.anee prohibiting smoking In any theatre during a picture or stage play. Vnlrlv nrnfilnhb. I JACK COHNOLLT BECOVERS I w iHi j:; 1)011 or llttio les.s! I Karlton 11.100; 50)—"Lonesome I I.a'lies." Mediocre business at uii- ilcr $ !.0Oii. Fox i:i.0OO; 99)—".SlnKwl" (I'ox i Pi'-lure panned but bill varicl and helped with Georgie I'ri<-e and M i . Fisher's orchestra prominent. Lil- Washington. Sept fi Wor.J retichiiiK here i.s tliat J.i U I'otinoll.v, formerly l eprescnt j n^ tb. Will Hays or^:ani-/.at|,.n. but now Iti Hurope for I'oit, linH entirely re- covered from a re',.nt Illness thai hou'.s ben so torri.l at the M.>tropolitan, I.iwti by aroutNl $12.- wen',.! V d..t|.- at least $'. aim more .lust as it bit the strid.' in New ) oi k, this .los. pli Vnn Stern- |.. r- |'( odiJcl!..M Ij.il t.\ --i- .Ml all e:i:lit h< re fl oiii the sl.M 1. w ith its opening il.\y aim >st bciin: a rec,,rd-br,'aker. "The MaKie Flame." which Sam- uel (ioldwyn calls "the best picture I ever made," pot off to a very good start at the .Million Dollar on ita first week. Goldwyn put his usual publicity Initiative Into the explol- t.atlon w ith the result that it heljied the boll..;., coii^jd-'rnbly. l.ocw's .s:t It.' had soincwh.at of a dis.tptioiii t iiic wis'k Willi "The Lite of liil. y. " Despite that Cliai lie .Miifiav ainl Ccoiu.. Siilniy .are c.i- f'atlir.il and lii.idc several p.M'son.iI tippearanfa's. returns wa're i-onsiiler- ahly under expectations. This was (lossibly due also t.i the f.ict that the West Coast i>eoide concentrated more on the picture at the M^'tro- polltan than they did on Loew's State. Had just a little bit more newsiiaper publicity been used on this one. it might have hit above $25,000 on the week. Graiiman's Chlni\s,> with ''Kins of Kinds'" dropped off a few thousand below the precedini; week. This w.is ai,'ain due to the f illint^ off of trade in the da,v time on .account of the beat. However, for the IGtl, w.'ek of this picture, business rcinark.able, "Carmen"' on Run Carfhay I'irc],. h;id quite a crtmp )iiit info Its tiade with ".Seventh Heaven." whose li^;urcs came close down to the stop mark. This one win go out in about four weeks ta be followed by "Carmen" for a Ions run. "BIc Parade" for Qflh w»-l. w-J* »7,t)tm at Ihe ("riLei ion. KJC- change exploitation aid h,%s helped keep this one alive on Its popular pri(!e showing- Buster Kenton's "College." his second United Artists product, had a fair week at the ISgyptian, over $9,000. ITptown played Unlversal's "Back to (;od"s (^^oiintry,"' and with a very Mood l'",.iiM'bon and Marco stage pro- duction Kc|it out of the red by Ik fraction in ilolm; over $6,000. l'"or no known reason .lohn Harry- niore"s ""When a Man Loves"" was held ov<T for a second week at the Broadway Palace. Hamlet probably saw more people around a grave- yard on a clear night than a Variety reporter could see around this the- atre any night. On actual count during a haif-h(>ur period at the height ot the evenlnB four people entered this house, while other houses within a li.alf block distance cither way were handling them to alnioHt capacity on the same even- ing. Cttimatei for Last Wmk Grauman't Chinese (('. A )—• "King of KiniiS"" (P. U. C.) (1,9.5S; .',11-$ I .Ml). For Kill, week, with heat as diverting matinee factor, $22,500; very consistent business. Carthay Circle (Fred Miller)—"7th Heaven" (Fox) (1,500; S0-$1.50). On Its last lap hit close to stop by do- ing Just little better than $13,000. — MWtp6lit«h (Publlx T—"1 nd)!-- world" (Par) (8,S»6; 25-65). Pos- sibly best screen and stage bill thifl house has had In long lime. ItulM Wolf cliciieii as easy as the picture did. ?35.'J00. Million Dollar (Publlxi "Tli« Magic Flame" d". A.) (2,200; 2;;. K5). Magic hand of Samuel Gold- wyn obvious in exploitation on lni« tial week for this Etonky-Cuhnaa product. $23,300. Losw's •tate (W. C.-Loew)—'"The Life of Klley"' (F. N,) (3,300; 35- $1). Though this one had loads ot deep laughs ami l''anchon and Marco [irolog a pip, best It could do was $21,300. Egyptian (V. A.)-" (" .Ib Kc " (IT. A.) (l.SOO; •J.i-n5), Fairly Rood bieak (or Luster Keaton here at $'J,nilO. Critsrion (W. C ) -'The Bi^ Ta- rade" LM-C-.Ml (1.600; 23-7:.) Kx- ceptlonally good for liflh w.s k, due to consistent exploitation nieibodi of distribution organisation. $C.:'Oi). Uptown (W. C.»—' Back to God s Country" (!,') (1.750; 2a-i.'i). Not oulHiandIng feature for this faous» bijl ilodi-.Ml red with $6,350. Broadway Psiace (Orplie'im)— ' »s h. 11 a .Man l>ivi>«" 1 Warners) (l,.'.tr,; 15-101. No one seems to I lilC'W lliat they run yood picture I or, ;isi ■: .il!y. W ith lesult that ihis L.irryinoi (. picluie on seco'id week confined him to a French hospital ,.,,,01,1 „,ji draw >ii any better than i tar Mveral days. tl.HOO.