Variety (Dec 1927)

• PICTURES VARIBTT JOE AND SAM TALK SHOW STUFF TELL EACH OTHER NOTHING Glad to Hear Embassy Has Live One at Last—Hope Helen Will Hurry to Reliere The iUd-^Twji^ BotwMn Bow and Gilberi I 41^ I - 'Lo, Sam • ••How's business, JoeT^* **L«ousy, Sam. 1 want namM and they MUd mm poems. I'm afraid you were off last week, too^ I lM>p«." -What you get. Jo^V •Oh, just about." •Yeah? Me too.** •Well, that's that* •What'd tti«f i«l up tlM w^gm^ loe?" "Guess 'Thirteenth Hour' let '•m slide there, too. Anniversary down the other way wasn't bad. Ltookm as if we're in between thia week, Sam. Bow w^ mm Mm and Olihert the other." . •And dont forget Christmaa, Joe." "Gripes, Sam, what're you going to do—believe Schenck or the stage ahewar* •I'll slice, Joe, but I'm going to keep those ahowa. Rialto, Rivoli and Colony ar* tMillnc it, and they've just got picturea. Can't get the breaka all the time.** '•What'a Map wWk the apeeiiaa. Bam?" "Don't ask me, Joe. But if Helen doesn't hurry up and meet th? Kid en 46th street ha'a saiair t« he in tough shape." ■Jt "Oh, yea? Well, listen, you! They tell me any rooster'd get laryngitis over at the Times Square waiting for the world's greatest arc lamp to come up. And someone aald •Uncle Tom' is just wandering.* "But Fairbanks Is doing all right, Joe. Jolson, too, even though he •lipped last week." " "About time the Embassy got a ireal one, eh, Sam? UnderataUd even the apeea h*tia «ot *eMi ^er there tor the first time." *^ue8s the Criterion fell off, d'ja hear?; •'No. But the Astor IMS down and the Cameo fair." ••Well, Jo% get ta vat ittik* Go- ing up?" , "Nope, to the Astor. Wonder Who's goin' to be the luciqr; pqfF'to l>uy me lunch today." », "So long, Joe." ^Vee you later. Bam." Eatimatee for Last Week Astetw.«*student Prince" (M-G) (1,120; $l-$2) (11th week). First aigns of pre-Xmas slump around; heavy rain Friday didn't help Street and all-day sleet storm last Sunday curtailed usua4 heayy intake on day; |lS.itS h«ra; Cameo—"Peaks of Destiny" (Ufa- Par) (549; fiO-76). Took heavy drop from prevtona wmtik but nM iad at 16,600. Capitol—••The 13th Hour" (M-G) (4,620: 85*SS.7i-$1.10). Mystery film didn't mean much; felt shop- ping pressure with rest; short of $60,000 at old scale and only doing four shows thia week-end with Gil- bert-Eagles. Central—"Uncle Tom's Cabin" (U) (»22: 11-12) (5th week). Strug- gling already and with aeaaonal slump due will have taugh aledding; wider $9,000, Colony—•811k Btoeklnga" (U) (1.- 980; 25-50-75). Laura LaPlantc couldn't offset weather and general condltiona; went back to $10,700. Criterion—"Wings" (Par) (973; $1.$2) (17th week). Won't have any travMa navigating between pre- holiday shoals; under $16,000. Embasey--"LiOve" (M-G) (596; $1-$1.«B> (Sd week). Opened Tues- day and on first four days, $5,500; b. o. clean from Thursday to Mon- day, with specs handling; has three weeks' advance sale and looks good for heavy run; house capacity $10,- 000 and will enjoy the novelty. Gaiety-"King of Kings" (P. D. C.) (808; $l-$2) (33d week). Christ- tnas Day will end biblical picture's long run; "Chicago" due here Dec. 17; played to $10,200. Globe—"Patent Leather Kid" (F. N.) (1.416; $l-$2) (17th week). Stringing out last few days prior to entrance of "Holon of Troy" Friday night; "Kid" started off well, but began slipping a»bout sixth week and never recouped; final full aeren days, lucky if $6,000. Liberty-"The Gaucho" (U. A.) (1,234; $l-$2) (3d week). Minus the holiday previous week had went back $S,000 to around $18,000; good figure and will retain $2 Sun- day mats for this week at leaat. Paramount — "Spotlight" (Far) <l ,<00 i —3fi.5fl.76.90). AnnlzeimiY week may have helped; dropped off a little, but weU above board at $71,700. Rialto —*n!lough RldenT (Par) (1,960; 35-50-75-99) (2d week). First week of former $2 special just all right; $24,700. on strength of "Un- d'^rwnrid," Baaefolt baiit featvred in hilling. Rivoli—"Sorrell and Son* (U. A.) (2.200; 35-50-75-99) (4th week). Took first decided drop In third waak; after ata: $20,000 AT BROADWAY, PORTLAND. A RECORD Duneans, $6,500—"Body and Soul," $5.00O-$5,50Q f or Bebe—"Hero," $8,500 Portland, Ore.. Dec. 6. (Drawing Pop^ 310,000) Business took a fair inoiM4 IMt not of the 'boosting order. Xnoomes the past few months have h aO ft very low, thia being mainly trua 1* the big first-run theatres. Last week the Broadway increased a bit with ''American Beauty," but the real draw was the farewell week of Ed- die Peabody. Red Corcoran, clown, will succeed Peabody for a week, with OUie Wallace scheduled to come In for an indefinite engage- ment ^ ... The Liberty and "Body and Soul found the going of an Improved na- ture, while Untveraal's Columbia flopped with "Swim. Girl. Swln." Thia waa partly due to unfavorable show weather prevalent the entire week. Hamrlck's Blue Mouse, ex- hibiting "Jaws, of SteeV caught on aa Rln^Ttn-TlM la atttaftra In HUa town. Pantagea had a fair week, the vaudeville overshadowning the pic- ture. ••The High School Hero." Pic- ture did not mean a thing aa far as Portland was concerned. "Seventh Heaven" is expected here soon. House could get more sheckles if it Would let the town know what it's selling. "Kiss Me Again," brought hack for a three-day run at the Peo- plea, collected around $2,200 on the run, giving the house a substantial profit. The Rivoli, with "Topsy and Bva," only had an average week. Estimates for Last Week Broadway (West Coast) (2,000; 25-40-60)—"American Beauty" (P. N.). Eddie Peabody'a farewell week brouprht them In to capacity; picture popular; $20,000 a record. Liberty (West Coast) (2,000; 26- 40)_-Body and Soul" (M. G.). Pic- ture's title believed to have Im- proved things; vaude just fair; change of policy reported soon at this house, which is dropping plenty of dough; did $5,000. Orpheum (Orpheum) (2.000i S6- 50.75)~*n»ook and lAddef^ CU). Picture did not mean a thing at gate; Firemen'a Band (local act) and aene Aium, baadllnar* bfought house ax^wkd aa |hraa-day date. ^antagee (Pantagea) (1.800; 26- 60)--"High School Hero" (Fox). Local customers fed up on football picturea. No namea In pietnra alao a reaaon; vaoda faal 4r$ewi af««nd $8,500. V Rivoli (Parkep-iriit Coast) (1,210; 35-50)—"Topajr and Eva" (U. A ). Picture did not connect: "Qar- den of AlUh" (M-G) UVMm nin; last week $6,500. Columbia (U) (700; 35-60)— •*Swim, Girl #irlm'' (Par.). Bebe Daniel's picture opened nicely, but aHd to a losing Intake; near $5,500. ftlue Mouse (Hamrick) (700; 26- 50)—••Jaws of Steer (W. B ). Im- proved gross at this house; $00,000. Hollywood (W. C.) (1,600; 36)— "The Poor Nut" (F. N ). House Is on downward path; probably due to Increase of admission; something besides straight pictures would help; on three days barely grossed I$1,200; mats have been eliminated. to $31,700; no aauawks and ontfltn- nin? scheduled three weeks. Roxy—"The Wizard" (Fox) (8,- 205; 50-$1.6r»). Street's second mys- tery film on week left house flat; $92,000 no rave here; fashion show next week in conjunction with Rus sek's and "Ladles Must Dresa** (Fox); following pictures, "(llrl from CThicago" (W. B.) and "Silk Lees" (FOX). Strsnd—"Wreck of the He«nerus" (P. D. C.) (2,900; 86-60-80-76) Longfellow poem pletttHsed couldn't do anything at boS office; very wrnk at $22. 300. TTmes SdUM " "Bum lee"—and Movietone (Fox) fl.OSO; |1-$1.65) (11th week). 'Way down in four figures; giving tlcketa away by the handfuls; one plctnrf; trade unani mously deemed great, but public won't buy It with Musaolinl at- tached. Warner's — "Jaxa Singer^ and VIU (W. B.) (1.180: 81-88) (8th week). First real slide last week, but fli^ires to go well Into winter: M.80«BOtb UNDERWORLD' STARTS OFF SLOWLY IN PHILLY Stanley Got $30,000 Through Waringt on Stag^-'minngt'' and ''Jazz Singer^ Spooials Philadelphia. Dec. 8. Only downtown ptetnra houae that dld&f aaparlanoa a aharp alump laat week waa the Aldlae. The film waa "The King of Kinga," ending lU nine-week engagement. Stanley got the advantage of the tremendoua local popularity of War- ins*a Pennaylvanlanii^ and although the picture. <*flpirlnv Vaver,** was only mildly treated by the critics, and a rather light draw, the combi- nation pulled a Uttle ever $80,000. according to the Stanley people. Other houses were off in varying degrees. Fox had a Ugbt week with "Ladies Must Dress" aa tiie film feature and Blossom Seelejr as the presenution headUnar. Oroaa waa about $24,000. Stanton's picture, "Underworkl," was very highly praised but did not really begin to attract until late in the week when word-of-mouth got in Ita work. However, attendance was good enough to warrant hold- ing the picture over. "The Jazz Singer" slumped con- siderably at the Fox-Locust and was reported at around $18,000. This picture will have to hold up from now on to achieve a lengthy run. Next week or ao will tell the tale. Waring'a Pennaylvaniaaa are in for a third week at the Stanley this week. Stanley's picture this week la Bebe Daniela in **8he'a a Sheik. Any local houae that haa Warlng's crowd needn't worry about the film feature. All the other flUna are holdovera or returaa. Next week brings "The Fair Co- EU" together with the University of Pennaytvanla Olee Club to the Stanley, and a twflMml mi "St, Wtmm** to the Fox. Estimates for Laat Week •Ctnley (4.000; 86-60-78)—*nBprlng Fever" (M-G). Picture only ordi- nary in drawing powers^ but War- ing'a Pennsylvanlana, 8d widr, held gross up to $30,000. Stanton (1.700; 88^80 and 76)— "Underworld" (Par. 1st week). Melodrama highly praised* . Got about $13,000. Held over. Aldine (1,500; $1.66)—"King of Kings " (P.D.C. 8th and final week). Played first four days of the week to ^ro.s8 of over $12,000, within few dollars of capacity. "Wings" (Par) opened Friday. Capacity last two days of week. Fox (3.000; 88)—Tadlea Must Dress" (Fox). Picture weak. Stage features, headed by Blossom Seeley, didn't hold muoh. Maybe gross reached $24,000. Arcadia (800; 60)—-"The Last WalU" (Ufa). Continental film not a heavy draw, but aurprlsed by be- ing hedd over. Hardly $4,000. Karlton (1.100; 60)—"Spotlight" (Par). Not ao hot at under $8,000. Fox-Locust (1.800; $1.66)—"The Jazs Singer" (Wamor-Vlta. 8d wMK Off again with aboM^i f 80 or Sltia under reported. STATE, $15,000-HIPP'S Buffalo, Dec. 8. (Drawing Population, 590/)00) Picture bualneea laat week showed queer drbai ^nrrentSk Logw'a State took a decided' boost, due probably in most part to the Ahn attraction. Other downtown houaea ware off and on. Estimates for Last Week Buffalo (Publix) (8.800 ; 80-40-86) —"Rough Rldera" (Par). Suffered a decided setback; picture appears to have little drawing power, with taklnga dropplns off well below $20,000. Hipp (Publix) (8,408; 60)—•'Man Orasy" (Par.) and Taude.« Julian Eltlnge headlining vaude was main feature; matinees strong and eve- nlnga held up; excellent takings in view of business elsewhere; $17,000. Great Lakes (Fox) (8.400 ; 86-60). "OIri from Chicago" <W. B.), Movietone and vaude. Despite In- troduction of Movietone, did little bnalneaa; excellent all round show meant little additional at the box; estimated under $11,000. Leew'a State (Loaw'a)—*'Man, Woman and Sin" (M-Q) and vaude. House shows decided signs of sub- ■♦•n»t«i pi<*iMtp tfe^vy flim attrac RUTH $17,000; MANY CHANGES IN CAPITAL Met Becomes Splil-Wk.— Earle Main S-C House— Fop {Jndmt $gOjm Wasihiiigton, Dec 8. (Drawing Population, 380.(K)0. Whi^s) rictute situation Anally reached the breaking point. iStanley-Cran- dall are not only s /Itching over to the Kaiie as tlie lirst run preHcn.a- tion house, but are relegating tlie Metropolitan, former ace house, to a twice weekly change, though still with first runs. This also Incdudes the throwing out of tlie K-A vaude bookings of live acts weekly into the l!ku*le. Crandall Is moving the Met orchestra under Daniel lireeakin to the Earle and increasing it to 26 men. Much is being spent for addi- tional equipment, electrically and mechank»lly. and a ek^ut down for a week la Ukely. Attractions in all houses found pickings considerably lowered after the prevloua holldhar week. Ruth E)lder, at the Palace, Is credited with drawing all that the houae garnered. The AOaa^ia Star drew bis matinee trade, but was not so good nights. Fox had Cliff Kdwards and L,ester Allen and a dance revue plus the "High School Hero." In spite of the stage names tumbled $9,000 under the preceding week. CteWPa aet a low record for the scale since opening. Columbia had a fair week with "Garden of Allah" on a holdover. Met took a licking with "Figures Don't Lie." while lAura LAPlante, previously a flop here, got a little extra for the Rialto in •'Silk Stock- Estlmstes for LasI Week Columbia (Loew)—"Qarden of Al- lah' (M-Q) (1.232; 86-60). Second week tb a possible $7,000. Fox (Fox)—"Ulah School Hero" (Fox) (8.482; 88^-88*78). With stage attractions should have done better; lowest yet, just under $20,- 000; stock company for opeMa aam- ing In here. Little (Theatre Quikl)~"Moon of larnar m B. 0.> fSat; H»m. Got first showing of film here; increased takings to approximately $1,900 and held over. Met (Stanley-Crandall)—"Figures Don't Lie" (Par) (1,689; 36-60). Not much, maybe $7,000. Palace (Loew)—"Tea for Three" (M-Q) and Ruth Elder (2,363; 86- 60). Bntire draw credited to Blder; Just crawled over $17,000 mark* IMlOO under previous week. Rialto (U)—"Silk Stockings" (U) (1,978; 85-50). Laura Laplante pre- viously meant nothing here; this timit fT.MO; above uanal IHv ^ 'HUfl''SEATTLE RECORD Doee 822.000^ New Film Mark, •Ma tifins nnrl blpr names on vaudeville end appear to be reviving takings; change to Sunday opening also had something to do with Increaaing gross; 815,000. Lafayette (Ind) (8.488; M-iO)-- "Racing Romeo" (F. B. O.) and vaude. Phil Spltalny, headlining, failed to produce at the box; good showman with good act simply Igone to waste In this location; eati- BMrtad nndar W UNDERWORLD' SWEEPS; Him DONATES $13,000 OffMti Blizzard—Town Won't Take Monjou, $14»50a-«i 'Rose/ $4,000 at Strand Seattle. D ec. 8 . (Drawing Fapnt a t t aw , 4IMIII Big show value given customers the paat week. The pictures did it. Added Mtract lona were okay, but Estimates for Last Week Fifth Avenue (W. C.) (2,700; 26- 60)—"The Qorilla (F. N.). Mystery and laughs didn't MS np at 818.800. United Artists (U. A.-W. C.) (2,- 100; 86-80) "Ben-Hur" (M-O). aredt biMlsaaar iaatt aiplglted: $22,000 braiki ioioal focord for a pia- ture. Columbia (t7) (1.008: tt-80)— •'Les MIserables" (U). Heavy ex- ploitation to library patrons and literati; town liked It. though pon- derous In partH; $8,500. Liberty (W. C.) (1.600; 86-40)— "Figures Don't Lie" (Par). Clever comedy brought aoaa ImpfOfirainent; $4,400. Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (060; 26- 76). ••The College Widow" and Vita (W. B.). House plugging for Movie- tone next; $9,coo on clpht dnvs. Pantsoes (1.500; 25-40-60-80)— ••Slaves of Beauty" (Pox). Slow to start: had with $7.r,00. Orpheum (2,700; 26-40-50-78)— *1>resa Parade** (P. D. C). William Boyd haa some draw har% but week off: $12,600. Preefdent (DufTy) (1.400; 26-81)— ••The Man Who Came Back." Henry Duffy (stock); bia holda great; $7,500. ■ ■ I Minneapolis. Dec. 8. (Drawing Population, 470,000) Showmanship will telL Plus good pictures It proves an irresistible U o. combination. This was demon- strated by the Oarrlck. On the heels of "Cat and Canary's" hlg bis, now comea '•Underworld." and aided by clever ahowmanahip, tuma the town topsy turvy. Picture, minua a stage show, gave the house within about 81.888 of the amount garnered by the larger State, which boasted a gigantic rostrum outlay. "Underworld" was such a smash that on the week it beat "Ben-Hur," "The Big Parade" and "Beau Geste" In the face of the first blizzard and below zero temperaturea of the wUl* ter. It got $18,000. The showmanship consisted of ob« . taining John Todd, former local stock favorite, for an inexpensive pro- log. The tough weather dented grosses everywhere else along tha rialto. It undoubtedly hurt tha State which only got around $14,000.^ However. "(3entleman of Paria" un- doubtedly was a factor In' keeping the gross down. They don't like Menjou here and they didn't Ilka thIa pteture. Splendid atace eliaw deserves entire credit for total In its second and last week at Pantages. **My Beat OIri" held v» as well as expected. Fortnight's intake was over $18,000. healthy for this city. '•Roaa aC the Ooldea West" did not prove much of a lure at the Strand, while "Adam and Evil" at the Lyric did well enousb. The Hennepin-Orpheum had nary a name, let alone a headllner. It'a program consisted of six acts, praa* tically every one of which had been there at least onoe before and ra* turned unchanged. Cstimstee For Laet Week State (F. 4k R) (8.808; 80) •Xlen- tleman of Paria" (Par.). SUge show and Vltaphone. Picture flopped, but show a great buy; by far tha best show In town, excepting *'Tha Vagabond King"; around $UM$ and deserved mora. Qsrrick (F. 4b R> (8.888; #8) tTn- derworld" (Par.). A smash; $18,000. Strand (F. 4k R.) (1.600; 60) "Roaa of the Qolden Weat" (F. N.). Uked by those who saw It, but failed to pull worth mentioning; about $4,088 satisfactory under circumstancea. Lyrie (F. 4b R) (1.860; $6) "Adam and Evir (M-O). Cody picture proflted some by coming In dlreetlF after star's personal appearance eg Hennepin-Orpheum; $2,200. good. Gund (P. 4k U.) (1,100; 26) "War of All Fleah" (Par.). Second Loop showing and did nloely; close ta $1,000. Hennepin • Orpheum (Orpheum! (8.880; 88-78) "Black Diamond Bx- press" (W. B.) and vaude. Oood enough at price, but far behind sute in quality and quantltr; near $10,600, quite a 4rap Irom preoedlair Pantages (1,860; 60) "My Bea8' OIri" (TT. A ) and vaude. Second and last week; a real money getter at |6.L'00 and $18,000 on fortnight. Seventh Street (1.480; 40) "In m Moment of Temptation" and vau4Mi^ Okay on valoa bvt aa masiiatx $6,008. Wampflks Frolic Feb. 25 T>os Ancrelos. Dec. 8. The Wampan will hold Its annua frolic and ball at the Ambassador Ratal Feb. 88. A maaasar for 8he affair has not yet b^en appoint"!, but possibilities are that Mark I^r- kln will be loaned by Douglaa Falr- baaka for the taak. MONTREAL TURNS OUT FOR TARAOr; $1S.OOO Montreal, Dec. 8. (Drawing Populatlont tOCOOO) The Palace hit the roof with •The Big parade" and that. In spiu of the worst weather in years. 818.00f is a pretty nice take for the Palace^ and given an even break on weather it would have been nearer 818.00a. The picture played here about year ago at 82 and they're not about U. S. war stuff up here. THe other houses did nothing out of the ordinary. Vaude scarcely made up for a poor picture at Loew*a and was the main item of the bill at the Imperial. The Capital ran about 50-60 between "She's A Sheik" and the condensed vaude tuma. His Majesty's (legit) is playing "Happy," a mualcal aimed for Broad- way. Catlmalaa far UsI Week Capitol (2,700; 80-$5).—"She's A Sheik" (Par.). With condensed vaude acU. 818.808. Pstsce (2,700; 65-85)—"Biff Pa- rade' (M-G). A wow in spite oC terrible weather; 818.008. almost top for the year. Loew's (3,200; 45 - 76). —'Two Girls Wanted" (Fox), ix emed plrfure, T»tit fnir vaud»'; $11,500. Imperial (1,900; 25-86).— Country Doctor** (P. D. C). Strsnd (800; 80-40).—'TTlO X>e- '^Irod Woman" (W H ): "T>ie Swell Hr«ad" (f'f.I); "Tlie Crystal Cup** (F. .N.) and * Sllvrr Valley" (Fox). AH together. $6,000. Ai