Variety (Oct 1927)

Wednesday, October 5, 1927 PICTURES VARIETY PARAMOUNT $71,600; $113,000 FOR ROXY-"SUNRlSr $19,450 Weather and Holidays Held Down Trade Last Week on B'way—"Parade" Held for 3d Week at the Capitol—Roxy Also Holds Over "Carmen" Slow along Broadway last week, with the Jewish holidays giving the film houses a two-for-one break. Monday night cut off extensive ac- tivities at the box offices, but Tues- day and Wednesday soothed every- body's feelings. Then, as the boys were settling down to a comfortable week, Thursday and Friday repeat- ed Monday's slap. Unseasonable heat and the holiday reaction were the general excuses. It was warm enough over the week end to drive them Into the cooling plants, with the bathing beaches getting a post- aeason break. At that a majority of the receipts hung around normal, with no stand- out total at any point. Pola Negri kept building at the Paramount un- til "The Woman on Trial" had $71.- 600, while "Loves of Carmen" sent the Roxy's blood pressure into high at $113,000. "Big Parade's" second week slipped $7,200 to $59,700, while the Strand eased in at $00,000 on "Rose of the flolden West." Both the Paramount's grind-run houses, Klvoll and Rlalto, were In the $30,000 class, with "Underworld" currently on its last week at the " irmer house. "Firemen. Save My hlld" comes in Saturday. "Magic ne" has two more weeks to go, ough the Colman-Banky combo : $35,800 last week. "Jesse James" due at the Rlalto Oct. 15. "Po- temkln's" second week at the Cameo produced $4,800. and Reg Denny did $16,500 at the Colony with "Out All Night." In the Elites Among the elite films which have theatres to themselves "Old San Francisco" bowed out of Warner's In concluding Its 13th week to $9,400. "The Jazz Singer" entrances here tomorrow (Thursday). "Sunrise" led this faction with $19,450. Figures for "Wings" remain a blotter of standees, with the Cri- terion reputed the only celluloid auditorium which held capacity the night of the Tunney-Dempsey scrap. It got $16,200 last week. "Patent Leather Kid" tripped along evenly at the Globe to $00,000, and "Sun- rise" was capacity at the Times Square for $00,000. "Student Prince" ran up $16,600 In Us first full week at the Astor. "Garden of Allah" elid Just a bit under its previous week to $9,250 at the Kmbassy. "Les Miserables" climbed slightly In get- ting $10,800. with "King fo Kings" remaining steady at $11,300. Estimates for Last Week Astor — "Student Prince" (M-G) fl.120: $l-$2) (2d week). Quite re- spectable at $16,600 for first full Week; artermath of Jewish holiday and lots of heat affected entire street. Cameo — "Potemkln" (Amklno) C649; 50-75). Not first time house has played this one, and holding for second week got $4,850; on two weeks, totaled $10,150. Capitol—"Big Parade" (M-G) (5. 450: 35-50-75-99) (3d week). Held for third week on strength of $59, 700 second week; new stage policy goes in here this Saturday (Oct. 8), headed by Pat Rooney and Paul Specht's band. Central—"Los Miserables" (U) (922; $1-$1.65) (7th week). Lifted $500 to $10,800 and supposedly staying until "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in ready; print of latter hasn't been yet seen In east Colony—"Out All Night" (U) (1.980; 50-75). Denny bent second Week of "Cat and Canary" in doing $16,500. Criterion—"Wings" (Par) (873 »1-$2) (8th week). Consistently Playing to standees. Last week $16.- 200; road show unit for Brlanger, Chicago, Oct. 30. Embassy—"Garden of Allah" (M-G) (596: $1-$1.65) (5th week) Eased oft $450 to come In at $9,250; satisfactory. Gaiety—"King of Kings" (P.D.C.) (80S; $l-$2) (24th week). Now Veteran amongst Broadway supers and got $11,300. Globe—"Patent Leather Kid" (FN.) (1,416; $1-12) (8th week) Dropped under $20,000 by about $1,100. Paramount—"Woman on Trial' . fP") (3,600; 40-75-90). Pola Negri followed up "Barbed Wire's" August $67,500 here by doing $71,- 600 on this one: midnight shows still in vogue which "Wire" didn't have and doing ahout $2,500 wcckly wlth possible gross of around $5,500 for these seven late shows, Rislto—"Magic Flame" (U.A.) (1.960: 35-50-75-90) (3d week). Col- man-Ranky team being approved by. public: dropped $5,600 from pre- mier week, but $35,800 productive of no complaints. Rivoli-"Underworld" (Par) (2.- 35-50-75-90) (6th week). Pow- WHITEMAN, $50,000 IN BOSTON; TERRIFIC BIZ With 3 Hot Days Last Week Besides—"Big Parade" Big on Second Run Boston. Oct. 4. Even though It was a week when indoor entertainment would natu- rally suffer through the abnormal weather conditions, three days of the week being exceptionally hot, three of the picture houses hung up grosses which read more like those that are entered in the books durinsr the height of the season. Whiteman and his orchestra at the Metropolitan took Boston by storm at the opening and kept fill- ing the house and the lobbies with standees until when he had finished the gross had run to $49,800. Even though Whiteman was not actually in need of it those In charge of the publicity for the house did not over- look any chances to get him into the dailies. This gross of Whiteman's, for it can all be laid to Whiteman with the picture furnishing but littlo In the way of an attraction, ranks well with the record breaking grosses of this house in this and other sea- sons. While Whiteman was turning them away at the big Met. "The Big Parade" downtown at Loews Orphenm was hitting strong. With five shows a day In a house capable of seating 3.500 and with the first show starting at 9 o'clock In the mornin?, this picture went over tremendously. In two weeks at the State this picture did big business and then with a lapse of a couple of weeks it walked down- town and repeated the performance. Van and Schenck at the State were believed to be responsible for the better than normal business that house hung up last week. The gross went to $17,900. The weather hurt some at this house, but it was figured that the Jewish holidays of last week helped out and offset whatever losses might be charged up to the weather. Estimate* for Last Week Metropolitan (4,000; 50-65)—With Paul Whiteman and orchestra the big card, $49,800. "One Woman to Another" (Par) with picture not figured in business. State (4.000; 35-40-50)—Van and Schenck strong entries, with "Road to Romance" (M-G-M) feature pic- ture. $17,800. Orpheum (3.500; 25-35-50). One of biggest weeks of season with "The Big Parade" (M-G-M). It re- peated record breaking business that accompanied showing of same film at State. Loew uptown house, few weeks back. Scollay Olympia (3,000; 25-35-45- 50-60). Very good week with "Chang" (Par) for picture feature and pop vaude making up the bal- ance. Boston Keith-Albe* (3.300: 30-40- 50-60)—"The Blood Ship" (Colum- bia) picture, with vaude. Good week's business. Modern (800; 40-50)—"When a Man Loves" (Warner); "What Hap- pened to Father" (Warner) pic- tures. Also using Vitaphone.'About $3,000 on week. T0PEKA OFF "IRONSIDES" Couldn't See Special at $1, Fsiled to Draw Overhead Topeka, Oct. 1. (Drawing Population, 85,000) "Old Ironsides" at a plunk and a half no hit In Topeka—at the box office. Apathy was assisted by a rainy Saturday and the three-day road showing of the glorification of the American navy did not take enough to pay expenses. Usually road showed pictures do a meager top priced business and the balcony Is filled. This time the balcony was as meagerly occupied as the main floor. Weather blamed to a certain ex- tent, but not for all the general slump that has descended over the picture business here for the past week and shows no signs of letting up. Lack of drawing features and lack of enthusiasm on the part of the managements may also account for some of the apathy on the part of the public. Estimates for Last Week Grand (National Theatres) (1,500; $1.50). "Old Ironsides" three day's road show failed to make "nut" even though advertising cut to bone; total under $2,500. Jayhawk (Jayhawk) (1.500; 40). Fashion show first three days In connection with "After Midnight" brought week's business up to near normal. Rain and "Running Wild" did not mix to any profit Total for week, Just over $3,000. Orpheum (National) (1,200; 40). "Firemen Save My Child" got real business of week, with about only live publicity campaign behind It; $2,800. Coxy (Lawrence Co.) (400 ; 25). May Robson in "Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary" pulled out all Robson fans. In consequence Cozy did best business for first three days of a week it has done in some time. "While London Sleeps" with Rln- Tin-Tin doing "extra work" In it did not hit so well. Topeka is more than fed up on dog pictures. Week's total, about $1,000. DISPUTE OVER FOX'S 2D WK'S GROSS, WASH. Opposition Estimates $10,000 Under Fox's Side Claim of $32,000 MINN. STRIKE HASN'T HURT B. 0/S; $400 BETWEEN HENN-ORPH, STATE State's Style Show Not Up to Predecessors, $12,000 —"Geste" Dives and "Rough Riders" Climbs to H. O.—"Carmen" Boosts Pan "GLORY" FOR 3D WEEK IN K. C—2D RECORD erful picture getting ready to blow this Friday; creeped $100 over $30,- 000 last week with "Fireman, Save My Child" due Saturday. Roxy—"Loves of Carmen" (Fox) (6,256; 50-$1.65» (2d week). Didn't do business expected but blames weather; male reaction favorable to film but portion of feminine view- ers Indifferent; thought enough of it to retain for second week and $113,000 considered sound. Strand—"Rose of Golden West" (F.N.) (2,900; 35-50-75K Long title picture seen by enough customers to get $28,200; light. Times Square—"Sunrise" and Movietone (Fox) U.OBO; $l-J2-$2.«5) (2d week). First full week capacity all way with Mussolini on Movie- tone drawing certain class of pa- tronage by himself; $19,450. Warners—"Old San Francisco" and Vita (Warners). Melodrama finished Sunday doing $9,400 on last eight days: "The Jazz Singer" Thursday night (Oct. «). Washington, Oct. 4 (Drawing Population, 450,000) Entire opening attraction was held over at the new Fox including the film "Paid to Love." Roxy's stage end held up, but the film re- ceived a word-of-mouth panning. Drop in business was very notice- able. The Fox, however. Is severely punishing everything with the ex- ception of the two Loew houses, Palace and Columbia. Rlalto has had a good break. Last week with "Cat and the Canary," takings actually took a real jump upward, and of such proportions as to get the house Into the five figure class. This Is not the usual for the U. theatre and thus comes under the head of a break. When (Miss) Lee Morse cannot pull them in it is evident some- body is taking a licking. That is what happened at the Met last week. Figure may even have dropped below the new low gross of the preceding seven days. At the Palace the bargain could not help but get them in. That bargain consisted of Rita Owln, Burns and Kissen, Valo and Stewart, Eight Tiller Girls, Marshall Sisters and Rob Rrandeis with an orchestra behind him, and the Novarro film, "Road to Romance," with the whole business going for 50c. Terrific heat last half of the week. Columbia, with " Underworld" booked in ahead of the regularly scheduled pictures, holding over. Estimates For Last Week Columbis (Loew) "Underworld" (Par.) (1,232; 35-50). Not up to usual big takings for first week In this house but still $11,000 and held over. Fox (Fox) "Paid to Love" (Fox) and Roxy presentation (3,432; 40- 75-$1.10). Bad judgment In holding over feature. At finish claiming $32,000. Opposition estimators claim $22,000. Little (Theatre Guild) "Variety" (Ufa) (200; 35-50). Drop under first week with uncut version; $1,600. Mst (Stanley-Crandall) "Country Doctor" and Lee Morse on stage (1.518; 25-50). Deserved much more, $6,500. Palacs (Loew) "Road to Ro- mance" (M.-O.-M.) and extensive stage attraction (2.363; 35-50>. Climbed upward to $18,000. Rislto IV.) "Cat and Canary" (U.) and Florence Seeley Co. on stage (1.978: 35-50). Acceptable week at $10,500. Newman Went to $15,000 with Poor Show —Main- street Got $14,000 Kansas City, Oct. 4. Another spotted, druggy week for the picture houses with a radio show In Convention hall drawing some SO,000 admissions as opposi- tion, comes pretty near covering the picture business story for the week Just passed. Pantages with "What Price Glory" held over after a record breaking week, continued to draw em in and finished with over $14,- 000, several thousands over the the- atre's normal business. It will try the same picture for another week, the first three-week run for the house. "Way of All Flesh" continued Its second week at the Royal, and in spite of the disappointing opening the first week's showing held Its own and nearly equalled the first week, remarkable as a decrease is expected. Estimates for Lsst Week Newmsn (Publlx)—"Swim, Girl, Swim" (Par) (1,980; 25-40-60). Bebe Daniels starred. Tiffany color art. 'Sport of Kings" and Paramount news completed screen show "Sur- prises" with Vic Ince and the New- man Merrymakers stage show. Ca- pacity Saturday got house away to good start, but after Sunday not so a:ood, although picture well liked. Reviewers razzed the stage show, poorest of band units to reach here. $15,000. Royal (Publlx)—"Way of All Flesh" (Par) (920: 25-35-60). Sec- ond week for Jannings and critics again printed unusually strong no- tices. Contrary to usual conditions, business did not fall much below first week. $7,500. Mainstreet (Orpheum — "The Country Doctor" (3,100; 25-50) Melodramatic story. Stage show headed by Herbert Rawllnson, pic- ture actor, personal ap|>earance and telling stories. Vaude. $14,000. Liberty — "The Gingham Girl" (1.000; 25-50). Intended to feature "Les Miserables," but sidetracked for Dempsey-Tunney fight pictures. On Saturday afternoon, but with drawn Monday. During stay busl ness immense. As It was only $5,100. Pantages—"What Price Glory' (2,200; 25-50-75). "Glory's" second week, premiere for Kansas City having been record-breaker for house. Business continued' steady, but, of course, not as strong as for opening, retained for third week, another record for house. Second week, $14,100. At the Globe "Topsy and Eva' given second week showing with Vita best of rather poor draw. Papers did not give the picture much In review or previews. Short of Personages Los Angeles, Oct. 4. William van Dresser, portrait painter in New York, has secured a contract for a series of one reel- ers from Kelth-Albec, with probable release through Pathe. Van Dresser will show famous picture celebrities posing for their portraits, and mark the progress of each painting by stop motion work with the camera. Ho Is now can- vassing the coast studios lining up film players for his subjects. This Week Columbia, "Underworld"; Little "At the Grey House"; Fox. "What Price Glory" and Roxy presentation; Met.. "Prince of Headwaltera"; Pal- ace, "Firemen, Save My Child" and Humbird Duffy Ensemble; Rlalto, 'Shanghai Bound" and stae* at- tractions. Clara Bow's "Get Tour Man" Los Angeles, Oct. 4. Paramount has changed the title of Clara Bow's new picture from "Vou Will Marry Me" to "Get Tour Man." One Msn Csst Los Angebs, Oct. Gardner James, together with a company of 15, left on location for Norfolk, Ark., to shoot scenes for "Akansas," a picture being made by the Geographic Production Com- pany dealing with mountain life. Jarces Is the feature,! and only male actor In the film. Minneapolis, Oct I (Drawing Population, 470.000) Despite labor troubles, tho local show houses continued to operate at a profitable clip last week. As far us the box offices are concerned, the unions' influence thus far has been almost nil. The manner In which grosses held up Is taken to indicate that public sentiment, like the newspapers, is with the theatre owners. The theatres are going ahead as though normal conditions existed. They are not curtailing on stage presentations. In fact, If anything, they are splurging their entertain- ment. "The Big Parade" went into the Garrlck last Saturday and 'What Price Glory" Into the Grand, while the Lyric made a consider- able noise with the official Demp- sey-Tunney fight pictures In con- junction with Harry Langdon's 'Three's a Crowd." The State camo to the front also on Saturday with an elaborate stage show, "Campus Copers," holding 35 performers. With nearly 50 percent more loop houses operating than during the summer. Individual grosses In some Instances, notably that of the State, are not as large as they have been. But as yet over-seating is not a factor here as It Is in so many cities. When the 4.200-seat Mlnne- ipolls opens, however. It looks as though much will be heard on this over-seating subject. For the second successive Week the Hennepln-Orpheum had an edge on the State In patronage. One of tho surprises last week was the comparative collapse of "Beau Geste" at the Garrlck. Its first week was sensational, but second week's takings began to dwindle. The sharp drop was profitable, however, and considerably above what house would have done with an ordinary attraction. Picture bowed out at the end of second week, making room for "The Bur Parade." "Rough Riders." at the Strand, was Intended only for one week, but showed distinct signs of build- ing toward the latter part of the week and is held over for a second "Smile. Brother. Smile." the State offering, proved entertaining, but not strong box office. A style show, with 20 University of Minnesota co-eds as models, and several vaudeville acts, accounted for the draw. It did not pull In usual fashion because It failed to measure up to past standards, especially In the quality of its acts sandwiched between the fashion displays. "Loves of Carmen" was a real business-getter for I'antages. It was hot enough to provoke consid- erable comment among the fans and the box office didn't suffer on that account. The Hennepln-Orpheum had a mediocre picture, "The Otng- ham Girl," but the vaude pleased and accounted for the good trade. Estimates for Last Wssk Ststs (F. & R.) (2.G00; 60), "Smile. Brother, Smile" (F. N.). Style show and Aunt Jemima on Vltaphone; picture pleasing, but no particular magnet; style show had draw; nearly $12,000. Qarrick (F. &. It) (2.000; (0). "Reau Geste" (Par.). After enor- mous first week picture nose-dived; takings still profitable, however, on second and final week; $5,500. 8trand (F. & It.) (1.500; B0). "The Rough Riders" (Par.). Ex- ceedingly well liked and built up after slow start; held another week: around $4,000. Lyric (F. & R.) (1,350; S5), "Moulders of Men" (F. N.). Picture ind business satisfactory; $1,500. Grand (K. & R.) (1,100; 25), "Camllle" (F. N.). Second loop showing around $1,100; an Improve- ment over previous week and con- sidered first-rate. Hennepin - Orpheum (Orpheum) (2.890; 60-75), "The Gingham Girl" (F. B. O.) and vaude. Plcturo bad. but vaude good for prices; around $12,400, okay. Pantages (Pan.)(l,650; SO). "Loves of Carmen" (Fox) and vaude. Pic- ture the Important attraction and stimulated gross; $'i,300, fine. Seventh 8treet (Orpheum) (1.480; 40), "The Great Mnll Robbery" (F. B. O.) and vaude. Held to usual clip of close to $:.,000. Bethel, Conn., Thsatreless Danbury, Conn., Oct. 4. The town of Bethel Is apparently lo be movhUss this winter. The Community theatre, tho one house in the town, owned by Hi Idft.port interests. Is not expected to reopen. The town has been a loss as far n« pictures are concerned.