Variety (Nov 1927)

N«vwnber 2, 1927 PICTURES VARIRTY GHTS,'$7401)0 AT PARAMOUNT; 'JAZZ SINGER' AGAIN HIIS $22J0 CempMrativ* High Gmmmm of Week—Roxjr to $91,000—Capitol, $79,700—"Wings" Goes Under $16.0Q<^ New "Run" FUnu TkU Week Carrying an edge with the Hearst publicity on the Mark>n Daviea pic- ture, "Fair Co-edr the Capitol •UmM iMt wMk to $79 J«0, a gain «f IfM arar tlia,previou8 week. Cur- rc-ntly the house Lb in its fourth W«ek of the new policy of "names.** Abother house, the moderate- alatd Colonjr, hai^ ambraoed stage iaada. It has angaced Art Kahn. from Chicago, tha moat typically ^western" of any stage band leader yet seen in Manhattan. At present there are on Broadway four mon- fekMPtd arc h ta tn a W >rlag*a BMnn- flytvaataiM, at tha Ittnad; Vlnoent XiOpei, at the Capttol; Kahn, at the Colony, and Inrlng Aaronaoa, at the Boxy. Two Arabian JCnlghts," tha first trnttad Artlato plotUfo 16 play tha . piaramount, gave that houaa $74,000 last week. It was In the bag before the Paramount opening that the picture would be switched to the Rlvoli as a follow-up. The good blisiness done at the Paramount gives the picture a rating. **BaGk to Qod's Country" quietly lollad up 119,000 at the Colony, sec- ond highest gross since Universal took the house over. Roxy tumbled to 901,000. Great (difference of opinion on the feature, "High School Hero." The gist of oomment from trade angle was that the tHla hurt badly and the lack of gmantlo appeal for tha woman cut Amohg. the specials tha trend of grosses, with the exception of "The Jass Singer," was downward. - •Wings" unconventionally dipped below $16,000 for a gross of $15,960. rrhe Student Prince" slipped a couple of pegs, reporting $14,600. •Sunrise*' Is not making out a case tor ttself at the Times Square. The comment is not box-offlce comment. It Is now beginning to be figured that tha 4«d street ballyhoo with Movietone has not aided a picture needing high-hat exploitation rather than tie-ups with the tonsorlal par- lors. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and •Quality Street" open this week. •The Gaucho" oomss la at tha liW •rty Nov. 21. ^ Estimates for Last Week Aalor^''Student Prince" (M-O) g,120: $l-$2) (6th week). Down to 4,500; not likely to Improve, ough with steadying could prob- Itbly ride out a while; M-Q has Em- bassy for ordinary extended runs, and Astor will not ba aasy to book. Can>eo—"Secrets of the Soul" <Ufa) (549; 50-75). More cinematic art from Berlin; generally sells at ■ this hotAe, and did for $5,200. Capitol—"Fair Co-Ed" (M-G) (4,800; 86-60-75-99). StiU taking big blocks In the dallies; overhead With weekly charge off on new ■cenle Investiture, extra exploita- tion, and a super cargo of high- priced entertainers big; finding it- self as regards policy; this week James Barton, Grace XaRuo, Vin- cent Lopez orchestra and Adler Well and Herman; DaTlas ipoMlblty helped for $79,700. Centra i~"L.es Mlserables" (U) (1.980; $1.65) (11th and final week). (Quoted takings never big with final grof» around $9,000; "Uncle Tom" next. Colony—"Back to God's Country" (U> (1.980; 60-75). James Oliver Curwood name may have been a draw; $19,000 exceptional and ac- complished without any fanfare of trumpets; house want Jan this ^Wtek. Criterion—•Wings- (Par) (978; $l-$2). Was $40 under $16,000; Chicago got another company Sun- day night. Embassy—"Garden of Allah" (M-O) (696; $1-$1.65). Completed •eVen weeks on Broadway; final gross $8,400; carried extra adver- tising during entire run and hardly qualifies as much of a saccess; "Quality straet" oponad last night ((Tuesday). Qaiety—"King of KlngS» (P.D.C.) (808; $l-$2) (28th week). Again pegged at $10,300; length of run and small house should bo con- sidered. Globe—"Patent Leather Kid" (F.N.) (1.419; $l-$2) (ISth week). A bang at the start but has needed nursrlng for longevity, due to lack of feminine Interest; $19,400. Psrsmoxmt — "Two Arabian Knights" (U.A) (8,900; 35-50-75- 99). Ores* improvement over pre- vious wr.k for house; 974,000 means briHk bis hero. Rialto-^esse James** (Pkr) ^1.- fi60: .?r.-r,0-7r.-00) (:<1 we<>k>. With LMid dime novel pobiers bandit pic- fi'WAY AGAIN HIGH IN PORTLANDT AT $17,000 "Gay Retreat" $9,000 for Pan —"Riders" Lets RivoU ^ Oown, $5,500 Portland, Ore., Nov. 19. (Drawing Population, 310,(X)0) Business at the local pictur** em- poriums took an upward risa last weak. The Broadway saslly Isd the town with Eddie Peabody as th« drewing card. Salvatore Santaella, and his orchestra of 18. are proving a drawing magnet at the small RivolL Sunday fliooa eoncorts at this house sssm to hava hit Pantages opened to excellent busi- ness with "The Gay Retreat," and an ordinary vaude bill, while Uni- versal's Columbia sailed along to good iBtaka with •Tha Thirteenth Juror.** •Tha Way of AU fissh," goes into this house next week. John Hamrlck's Blue Mouse found the going a little rough this week with Warner's "The Vitlll AUtO," and a few Vita acts. A real surprise was sprung by the local Orpheum circuit house, when it announced it would go back to the ol^ policy of reserving seats, Monday and Tuesday, with continu- ous performances on Sunday. At the opening of the season, the house went into a cotoblnation policy. Many s<iv*wks ara bahkg made as to the calibre of acts sent out here by Orpheum. They are much in- ferior to tha aCandard aC a Urn years ago. It was rumored here this week, that a deal may be closed whereby United Artista will acquire an in- terest In West Coast's Broadway, where U. A pictures will be given distribution. AnothM* story wliich tha daUlea hava bean plugging is that Orpheum will acquire the Broadway when tha new Publix house is oomplatad. Estimates for last week Broadway (West Coast) (2.000. 96- 40-60) "Rose of the Golden Weet" (F. N.). Eddie Peabody the big card; Fanchon - Marco's "Sea Nymphs" given wonderful press praise and featara also Will ra- ceived; 917,000. LibeKy (Wast Coast) (2.009; 99- 40)—"Lonesome Ladles" (P. N.). Just one of those things at this house; vaudeville still off; 99,400. Rivoli (Parker-W. C.) (1.210; 85- 60)—"Rough Riders ' (Par). Santa- ella in concerts popular; Frank Hopper. Roosevelt double in film, made personal appearance; biz off at 85,600. Columbia (U) (850; 85-60)—"The Thirteenth Juror" (U). World pre- miere showing of pictwa brought average trade; 96,000. Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (700; 96- 50)—"The First Auto" (W. B.). Hovse did below average business; proper publicity and exploitation would have helped; $5,200. PanUges (Pantages) (2.000; 25- 50)—"The Oay Retreat'* (Fox). Opened great, with vauda weak; burden on film; $9,100. Orpheum (Orpheum) (2,000; 15- 26-60-75)—"Easy Pickings" (F. N.). Brought the house around $5,909 on three-day angagaoattts iraiMto. aaly average. ture gettng plenty of prents without neckties; for third week name of Fred Thomson, star, is on marquee; opened to $36,300; second week $23,500; out after this week with "My Best Olrl** to follow. Rivoli — "Fireman. Save My Child" (Par) (2,200; 85-50-75-90) (9d and final week). Final gross $16,800; big opening week gives picture nice average; not up to previous Beery-Hatton pictures. Roxy—"High School Hero" (Fox) (6,205; 60-$1.65). Got laughs but only moderate trade; Horatio Alger title against it; $91,000; low for Roxy is $87,000. Strand—"Cr>sUl Cop" (F.N.) (2,900; 35-50-75). Grossed $28,260. Times Square—"Cunrise" and Movietone (Fox) (1,080; $1.65) (6th week). Not drawing well and 'wa y off at aroimd $9.!)00. Warner's—".Tnr.z Slntr^r" and Vita (W.H.) (1.160; Il-f2> (4th week). No aVatement in pare: ranks with "Wings" as profltat»le attraction for ticket specs; last week $:.'8,2O0 again. ARBUCKLE $18,200, N.O4 TARADE'S $5300 LOW States Best Gross in a Year— Saenger, $14,100-* Naw Orlsaa% Hot. U (Dff«w|nfl Popuiatian dliylpO) Loew's State ran ahead of every house in town last week. The magnet was Roscoe "Fatty" Ar- buckle in person, tha fqnner film lumiaanr briaglaf tfeaai aioair la droves. During tha lattsr part of the week Arbuckle ran through much of his flicker pantomime in a series of clown nights and had them standing against the back walls. Haid to gauge the strength of the feature, "Shanghai Bound.** for ap- parent the patrona were la to see Arbuckle. Biggest business la a year at above $18,000. This hurt "Old Baa Franolsoo." across the street at the Saenger. It started well but seemed to fold. Barely passed $14,900, which aiaans a losing' week at tha housa. "The Big Parade." in lU second week at tha Strand, fell by the wayside, doing less than half of its opening week. New Orleans al- ways spends Its money for *'run" pictures the first week, avaa when advised ahead the engagement will be an extended. It waa hoped to raa ^a **Parade" far a iaoaw bat a fortnight was plenty. **Flgures Don't Lie" passed out early at the Liberty, which is back again In a losing stride, and "Lioves of Carmen" helped the Orpheimi, which is not having a rosy path here any longer. Picture showed strength in sending returaa above 97,900. vaudoTina aeetioa fraa quite remiss. The Palace was worrying along with a "western'* that Included "Ranger," the dog star, while "What Every Girl Should Know" did not interest enough Of the na- tives to bring tha Tudor out of lU constant steta of quiatuda. Kstlmataa for 1^ Woak Loew's State (3.218; 60)—-Fatty" Arbuckle In person and "Shanghai Bound** (Par). AHraekla real card and established laooCd Isr past year; 919.200. Saenger (3.668; 96)—'*Old San FrancskJo" (W. B.). Picture gener- ally commended but ram to only $14,100. Strand (2,200; 60)—"Big Parade" (M-O). Dropped disastrously on second to $5,300 and out. Orpheum (2,400; 71)—"LoTSS of Carmen" (Fox) a»d vaude. Oct $7,500 aad piotara oatlrsljr Bible. Palace (2,800; 40) dog, in a western little noUoS; 98.900. Liberty (1.600; w,, ^ Don't |j^4^:Oaly 99499 Is g9t«aa days. ~ Tadar (lOOt 4S)<-^;What Srery Girl Should Know." found out; 91.100. Gnaaia, ^,000, Mae "CO-ED," $23,000 St. Louie Has No Kicke^Ambassa- dor, ISIJSS^MissauH, $1t,700 St IjOuIs. Nov. 1. (Drswing Population t00,00S) H.Tc's the way picture busine.«»s at the three big playhouses lined up. Bstimatsa Last Week Ambattador (Skouni) — "Tho Drop Kick" (F. N.) (8.000; 86-65). Crilics didn't like It but crowds that came In to see the- picture ami enjoy £d IjQwry chose that way ci telling the reviewers they did[a*t %i9^ li.-vo; got $31,700. Loew's Ststo—"The Fair Co-Ed (M-O) (9,909: H-86-99). Termed •smart" and Coon - Sanders* WIgSt* huwks (band) big; $23,000. Missouri**Chsaling Cheaters" (Select) (8.800: 85-85). Picture doesn't mean a thing here because of stage prodttotioa; however, Betty Compson ptcturt .4ilMlarad worth while; $19,700. STANLEY,CH1PS San Francisco, Nov. L (Drswing Population, flSkOOO) Oranada had an almost clear field and ran close to breaking tha house record. Mae Murray In a Itechon and Marco Idea proved a strong drawing card. She set a new at- tendance record tha first two days by packing 'em in five times each day, but there was a let up the early psjrt of tho week, maybe due to the deprsssion thai haa hH tha town.* Warfield took on a new lease of life and enjoyed a healthy week, as did the Cali ornla. Second and final week of The Blood Ship" was a disappointment at tha St Francis, jwhlle the Imperial was an> out-and- out "flop,'* flgurad tnm bos-oflloe returns. With a hot manldpal election Just a week away, locals are evi- dently not paying as much attention to their antartainmant as usuaL Kstimates for Last Week Granada — "Soft Cushions" (Par) (2,785; 35-60-95-90). Curious out in force to see Maa Murray in per- son; pleasing screen feature and strong stage show; around $89,000, clo.qe to house record. Warfield—'The Crystal Cup* (F. N.) (2,660; 95-60-96-9b). Jumped nearly five "grand" over prsvlous week; 9^4.000 a nice profit Ca I if or nia—'**rwo Arabian Knights" (U. A.) (2.200; 86-65-90). Well liked and 919,000 considered qi.ite satisfactory. St. Francis —"The Blood Ship" (Col.) (1,375; 35-60-90). Kecond and final week around 99,909; not ao good. tmper ls l—"Ten Modern Command - m^nts"- (Par) (1.400; 85-40-60). House cannot seem to hit a stride; one week up. next treek down; barely rf.K hod $5,000; bad, consid- ering low admlHsioB and high grade of entertainm^nC Fox SiM»w Better Lflud T)Mn Film. $27,000 Philadelphia. Not; 1. Only throe new pictures down- town last week, and some of th§ hold-overs showed Indications that they had be<'n In too long. Stanley did well with "The Road to Romanes^ and Al Wohhnan on stage, well known here from his night-club work. Week-end foot- baU fans pashad to about |S9,999. The Fox also fared well, although presentation! outweighed the film feature. ''BM Side, WSat Side." Karyl Norman, who only a few weeks ago appeared at Keith's, an^ the Keller Sisters ar;d Lynch were before the foots, and tha combina- tion around $27,000. "King of Kings" dropped at the Aldine. but claim€^ a little over $16,000 in its fourth week. Looks now as if about four more^weeks will see the end of this engage- ment. "The Big Parade" claimed around $14,000 in its third week at tha Stanton, gaining a Uttla ba- causa of tho batter ara ath ar . ■ "Rough Riders" dropped to $3,000 or lesa in Its second week at the Ardadla.* and tha Karftoa got about the same with "Tell It to Sweeney." Neither record was particularly startling, avon in these tiny houses. "Seventh Heaven" was down to $8,000 or less in its eighth week at the Fox-liooaal and SM ail this week. Estimates for Last Week Stanley (4.000; 35-50-7^) "Road to Romance" (M-G-M). Novarro's popularity helped, also Al Wohl mann as presentation headliner. coaxed in about $30,000. Stanton (1,700; 85-60-T9) "Big Parade" (M-O) (3d week). Up bit to $14,000; one more week. Aldina (1,990; $1.96) "King of Kings" (F. 0. C.) (4th week). Down to $15,009, at s ttttia avagft si definite. Areadia (999; •#) «*lloagh lUdsnr (Par.) (2d week). Dropped con- siderably; little over $8,000 re- ported. Karlton (1.100; 60) "Tell It to Sweeney" (Par.). Just ordinary; about $3,000. Fox-Locust (1.800: $1.65) "Seventh Heaven" (Fox). Last two weeks announced* with "Suarlaa^ 9a fol- low; less than $8,000. Fox (3.000; 99) "East Side. West Side" (Fox). Picture didn't mean as much as Karyl Norman and Kel- ler Sisters and Ly^uih; good at $87,999, maybe more. Vaude Above Films in Mfm6l!^^apttel, $16,000 iiontrsa], Not^ (Drawing Population, tOOiOOt) Vaude puts it over plcttures this week, headliners at Loew's and the Imperial with the condensed acts and orchestra at the Capitol ac- counting for most of the grosses. "Beau Oeste" ran a second week at tha Palace, but the gross faded from 1a^ W(sak*s high. Tha Prin- cess (legit) did w« 11 with the play "The Jazx Singer" at $16,600, while His Majestsr** waa dark. Estimates for Last Week Capitol (2,700; 90-86) "Road to Romance** (lf*0). Norarro attracts the flappers and the tumstllsa k^t clicking; $16,000 big. Palace (2,700; 66-85) *'Beau Ctoste" (Par). Second wsek and grosses faded: $9,000. Loew's (3,200; 46-75) "Adam and Kvii " (M-G). Fair picture and good vaudo; $13,500. Imperial (1,900; 86-8(i) "The Chi- nese Parrot" (V). Good picture and neat vaude: $7,000. Strand (ROO: 30-<H>)—*The T^uRh Leaguers" (W. B) "The Silent Avenger" fCol.) "Heart of Mary- lan'l" (W. R ) nnd "A Terffct (;«Dtleman" iPathej. All tog<;lher. $4,509. FOX'S POLICY CHANGE HURTS GROSS, $27,000 Lowest to DSte—Palace Got Reaction for $14,000— Connie Talmaiigi I8|000 iNrhahingitoS» ii^ 1. (VMMIa Populatlofi, 460,000) Process of adJuHtinent is still on, with the older houses not yet get- ting their l«ga aet In Ihba of tha new competition. That competition itself is doing some wabbling while also getting set. Eliminating Roxy last week from the active directorahip of the house and a general cutting of tho pay roll both front and back finds the cur- rent week going into a new soalo of prices at the Fox. The $1.10 la dropped entirely, puTtlng Sundays, Saturdays and holidays at a top of 75 cents. For the balaaof Of the week nights. 65 cenU gosa. Bal- cony prices, too. have been lowered. Management claims, however, that In revising the scale the same money capacity ri*malns. Business at the Fox was spotty last week and the lowest yet to ba recorded. Switch in policy undoubt- edly had much to do with It, but "The Joy Girl" a great deal more. Reaction wa.s immediately fslt down the street at the Palaoa. where, though the week started sickly, things built and may hava topped the previoua wsek. Thia was with "Annie Laurie." which the custom^^rs i|taysd awajr tram at tha beginning. ' « Saturday of new week at this Loew house again started low. in- dicating, sinca tha Met. too. went to Saturday openings, that too auumr of them are doing it. Columbia got enough with "Magic Flame" to hold it another wosk> while the Rhdto, with **cnilnsso Par- rot." skidded. The Met sufTered a disapnohttment with "Breakfast at Saarfta.** ffMvloasly a sure money- getter. Constance Talmadge just didn't get them into the old flguraa. ' Bs9inMitsa 9sr laailft' W^sali Columbia (Loew)—"Magic Flama* (U. A.) (1,882: 99-99). I4kad aa4 got $18,000; held OTsr. Fox (Fox)--"Joy Olrl" (Fox) and stage attracUona (8,498; 49-T9- 9U9). Things not yot^itghl. with current week finding pfjgia ajJWi ed; $27,000 claimed. Little (Theatre Outld)—"Birth ad a Nation" (Orlflllth) (899; 99-99). Lowest yet; evidently reps at s d too often: print bad, with running alightly orar 9L999. 99alropolitaa (flthnlay-Ciraadal)^ "Breakfast at Sunrise" <F. N.) (!•• 618; 86-60). Disappointing at 99,« 000, although above Intake of lata. Palace (I^w) — "Annie LaurleT (M-O) and stage attractions (S.999t 86-90). Not so good; started slov; but picked up; possibly 914,009. Rislto (U)—"CMnese Parrot" (U> and stage attraction (1,979; 99-99). toi$^PkUB aat; ast ove r 99.999. TARADr GIVES BUF. ITS BufTalo. Nov. 1. (Drawing Population, 990,000) Grosses last week presented strik* ing oontrast between high and low marks. With tho Buffalo hitting a house record It seemed to sap busi- ness in other quarters. Practically every other housa dropped holoir averago with tha azception of tha Hipp. "Tho Big Parada," haro for lU flrgi tima at pop prios% ahol haslapia sky high at the Buffalo. StartTag with flYf^lhows that day's marked Mia theatre. The Dempsey-Tunney fight fllma at tha Hipipodroaia got real ooiav with many woaisa fans prdseaL Matinees were particularly big. This continued up to Wednesday whea other prints began to appear at ipd« ous neighborhood hou s es. •., ■otimalaa for Um^Hhtk Buffalo (Pahlte) (8,900: 80-49-90) —"Big Parade^ (M-G). Mike Shea fighting for months for tha relsass of this picture for second run lo- cally; played to almost 199,(KH).psot pie on week; gross !• MfiMI w house; nearly $40,000. ^ ^ Hipp (Publix) (8.400: 99)~*TfO Plaoo to do* m H.) and vaude. Takings climbed materially hero ei^rly in week on Tunney-Dempsay film; 917.000. . Great Lakee (Fox) (8.400; 80-99) —"Joy Gill" (Fox) and vauda Housa in « coma; film completely over- Bh.'^dowffl vaude, which was bOlOW even modlfx're: around $10,009. Loew's (lA^ow) (8.400; 88.59>—• "Reeky " (M-O) and vaude. I>W!i* exreiifnt pictures house barely hoMlnsr It.M own: matinee business has strength, but that's all; around 15.000. Lafayette <Tnd > (1.400: S5-60)-* "Satin Woman" (Fox) and vnud^ Mrs. Wal!f»*»e Held In person out- stP'^'I'nt? f.. "iro i.r [•ro{,'ram, but bu»in* HS rername<? dormant; uadM^ $11,009. •"■i -3. ■ ■A I 1 i