Variety (Mar 1928)

VARIETY P I C T U R E S Wednesday, March 7, 1928 ORPHEDM'S NEW GRIND POUCY **$orrell and Son" at Strand Led Town and Made Distinctive Record with $11,000, Held Over— "Wife Savers** Very Bad at State, $9,500 Minneapolis/March fr. Comedies lu'odoniinated in loaal film house.s liist week, and they did liot fare any too well. . The out- standing serious picture, "Sorrcll and Son," did a whale of a business, leafJlnff the town at 50c. in the 1,500-seat Strand. It was one of the few timeg m local theatrical-f histoi-y that the Strand has outdistanced the State and. the Hennepin-Orpheum. Both of th,03e houses fell down badly. "Wife Savers," at the State, com- plete flivver.. patrons of this ace F. & R. house apparently do hot care much for farce comedies. The- atre had one of Its worst weeks in years. Wallace Beery and Ray- mond Hattoi); as stars, are aiiythlng but draining cards here. . Despite a big show for the money, Hennejiln^Orpheum, in the first ■week of Us hew policy of reduced prices, three shows a day and no reserved seats, experienced' a con- siderable slump In gross. The new policy apparently drove away a large, portion of the reserved seat crowd, but attracted a new element numerically stronger. The gain in total attendance over the previous poor weiek wa& not sufflclent to off-' set' the loss occasioned by the cut In prices iand the takings went even Jower than during the; preceding •seven terrible days. The picture, "Stand arid Deliver," was the best the house has had In ma,ny months, and the vaudeville was. good, but the new policy received anything but a warm welcome. . "The Cohens and Kellys In Paris" did nicely at the Garrlck. This . sort of "Abie's Irish Rose" stuff seems surefire with a certain -large class of fans. At least, the business done by these pictures would indi- cate as much. Explaining About''Geesa* Incidentally, the GarricU is going along at a consistently good clip. Last -steek^s profitable trado came on the heels of splendid business enjoyed with "Wild Geese." This latter had been booked la at the eleventh hour, and would have been held over a second week, except that "The Cohens and Kellys" and "The Gaucho," on this week, Were already set and "Wild Geese" had to make room for them. The fail- ure to retain it was not because It played on a percentage arrange ment, as erroneously reported. This is not an influencing factor with P. & Ri, as attested by the engage- ments of other percentat,e arrange- ment pictures. Critics and public united in heap- ing praise upon "Sorrell and Son" and, benefiting both from news- paper laudations and word-of- mouth boosting, it got a beautiful play.' Held over. While the reviews were none too favorable and" the fans did not wax (particularly enthusiastic over it "Two Arabian Knights" was helped at Pantages by Veterans of Foreign Wars members, which organizaltlon put on a ticket drive for the com «dy. "Body and Soul" attracted some * trade to the Lyric on the strength of its title and the reputation of the- novel from which it Is adapted Did not win much favor. Esiimates f 6> L«t Week StatiB (P. & R.) (2,500: 60)— •^ifie Savers" (Par), Singer's Mid- get Jazz band and Vltaphone Beery and Hatton no box office as- set here. Their last two pictures at this house have been bloomers Around $9,500. One of worst weeks ■In -years. •:' Garrick (F. & R.) (2,000; 60)— "The Cohens and Kellys In Paris" (U). Drew beyond expectations. About $7,000. Good. Strand (F. & R.) (l.BOO; 60)— "Sorrell and Son" (U. A.). Went over big. Takes its place with soa son's film knock-outs here. Close to $11,000. Splendid. Held over. Lyric (P. & R.) (1.360;. SB)— "Body and Soul" (M-G-M). Title end book's reputation helped. Pic ture nothing to get excited over. Business failed to build. About |2i000. - Grand (P.'& R.) (1,100; 25) "West Point" (MrG-M, Seteond loop run after Immense week at Staltc. Around $950. Very good. ~H€rn1neprn^^^OlT>KeTim-^-(Orpheum) <2,890; 50^"Stand and Deliver" (Pathe) and vaude. Good picture and flrst-rat? acta, giving big amusement value at the price. Tak- ings exceedingly disappointing, in- dicating unpopularity of ne\*r grind policy. About $10,000. Previous nreek big time policy and bad bill; ^9,700. Pantages (Pantages) (1,600; 50)— »*Two Arabian Knights'' (U. A.) and raude. Vets of Foreign Wars shared In receipts and plugged hard lot picture. It did not live up to ^'WINGS," 2D WK., $12,500 Road Show Film at $1.50 Makes Big Showing in K, C. Kansas City^ March 6. Clara Bow, Shubert. .Nbrrrla Talmadge, Loew's Midland. Phyllis Haver, Malhstreet. Bebe Daniels, Newman. . Viola Dana, Liberty; Laura LaPlante, Uptown. The girls were here last week on the screens. To see a man star you had to go to Pajitages and look at John Gilbert in a revival of "Honor First/' or to the Globe, wbere Al Jolson in the "Jazz Singer" was do- ing a Vita return, the fifth week for the star and picture this year. In spite of the "names" all well supported, and with good stage shows thrown In with most of the pictures, business not so good. The red ink got th« treasurers' prefer^- erice. • •. Mainstreet got. a running Btart with its "Chicago" picture, with a Saturday midnight and 50c. gate. No turnaways, just a. steady play/ with satisfied audiences. While the stage road show of the "Dove" never reached here, the play was presented by the National stock, and It was thought that would help the picture. If It did, hot noticeable. Picture nothing to rave about. Shubert, with "Wings," second week, held up fairly well on. the evening shows, but mat^ fiat. After playing the "Jazz , Singer" for four weeks in Januttry, Globe brought it back for a week at 35c. matinees and 40-60 nights. No holdouts. ^timates for Last Week Loew's MidlaiTd=^"Tbe Dove" (4,- 000; 26-36-60). Norma Talmadge. Presentation, "Marchin' On," like- able: without acrobats or adagio dancers. First part of week fair but last four days slipped; $21,000. Mainstreet (Orpheum)-:—"Chicago" (3,200; 26-50). Those who saw the stage "Chicago" here early In sea- son cannot find much in the pic- ture to connect the two, but enough film thrills and excitement for most dievoted follower of melodrama. Stage show. Sunday shows sell- outs, but balance ot week not much waiting; $16,500. Pantages—"Honor First" (2,200; 25-60). Revival with John Gilbert and'Renee Adoree. Brought out reg- ulars. Vaude. Business building a little at this house; $7,900. Newman ^Loew)—"Peel My Pulse" (1,890; 26-35). With Bebe Daniels in a rum-runners camp. Past and furious farce. . Shoppers have found they can see good flicker here for two-bits, as sheets look Uttle bet- ter; $3.800.. Liberty (Ind)—"That Certain Thing" (1,000; 15-26-36). Viola Dana here proves Clara Bow has no exclusive on "It." Shubert—"Wings." Road show- ing at $1.50 top nights and $1 mats. Second week for flying war feature. While first week brought heavy re- turns, no announcement made of holdover until Thursday. Business continued strong, with some turn- aways; $12,500; first .week did 115,200, Globe brought the Al Jolson "Jazz Singer" back, with Lole Bridge stseir tm^ stjcge; - - ^ ^ ..^ Uptown, only residential with fir^t runS; cbnti;iuou.sly, had "plnders Keepers" and stage act. Cartoonists* Society Los Angeles, March 6. National and International car- toonists residing in Los Angeles or Hollywood have formed the Cartoon- lists' Dutch Treat Club. They meet every Tuesday at the California Art Society building with the idea be- ing ai get together one so far. Entertainment committee of the club is comiiosod of George Harrl- man, Vic 'Porsythe, Blosser, Clare Dwig, Gene Ahearn, Sid Gale, Webb Smith, Sol Hes.s and Bert Levy. FABKUS, GEN. SALES MGR. Jack Farku.«5, former olfice man- ager of the New York exchange of Commonwealth pictures, has as- sumfi^th!!i=^!^TLvr?y.^jM§3:^^ ment. : Jack Herz, salesman, and a brotherrin-law, by the way, of Sam Zwlerler, head of Comnionwealtii, succeeds Parkus a.«i office manager. advance promises, Around $8,600. Good. Seventh Street (Orpheum) (1,400; 40)—"Little Mickey Grogan" and vaude. Hurt badly by new Henne- plh-Orpheum. policy. May iiot hav6 long to live. Under $5,000. TORONTO TOUGHER; GARBO GETS $16,000 All-English Film and Stage at Pan's 2d With $13,000-^ 1 Wk. Enough for "Tom" Tijronto, March. 6, (Drawing Pop., 700,000) : With Greta Garbo pulling the'm into Loew's for almost $16,000, the town showed tho biggest single gross since NeW Year's weiek, when the same house rolled up $20,000 with extra performances. Went al- most capacity for the past two weeks, with afternoon biz heavy. Pantages went better than $13,000 to grab second money with ah all British vaude bill surrounding "Land of Hope and Glory" (Br). This iilnglish drama did nothing to encourage the demand for English stuff up in the snovr belt. .Routine plot of the lost papers and honor of the family at stake with plenty of fiag waving and Britannia. Rules the Waves stuff. Stage show away below par and one long yawn ex- cept for the closing bit. : Six acts, four of them singles. .' "The Circus'' continued strong to close three weeks at $8,000 and made way for "Battle of the Falk- land Islands" (Br.), which opened turnaway biz oh a strong adr vance ballyhoo Saturday. The Chaplin picture hung up $34^- 000 In three weeks, a near. record for this 1,400-seater at 60c. top. "Tlvoll Topics," one of the smart- est selections of shorts ever shown, in these parts,. was out during the Chaplin run and -brought plenty of squawks from the regulars.. Mean- while both . the Loew and Uptown houses have been paying stricter attention to magazines with no no- ticeable effect on the b. o.. Uptown never got going on "Gen- tlemen Prefer Blondes" (Par); The result was under $9,000. Dailies gave the picture the razz and the boys passed .it up. Femme. biz fair with afternoons light. Bobby Jones tried out^as ma.ster of ceremonies and the Dand was dragged up from the pit. Jones didn't make the grade, and was not held over. Stage show weak. Band back In the pit for "The Dove," which opened to good biz Saturday, but was badly cen^ sored apparently before this one crossed the Canadian border. "Uncle Tom's fcabln" was a dis- tinct disappointment: and drew un- der $8,000 on Its second week «le- spite a strong campaign by Leon Victor. The house went dark Sat- urday and the stafi: was paid off. The old Regent will probably never open again. -Once the class spot of town when Jack Arthur was run- ning It for P. P., the veteran house Is to be pulled down to make way for an office building. A second casualty from the pic- ture standpoint was the Princess, E}rlanger legit house, which returns to legit with. "The Optimists" next week, to be followed by "Merry Wives of Windsor," and others. Paramount booked "King of Kings" (P. D. C.) in here, to be followed by "Wings" (Par), but the original booking was delayed and "Wings" only ran two weeks to under $18,000. House has been dark pending fur- ther picture bookings, but these are all off. "Kings". Is not^likely to play here this season. "Sailor's Wives" got the help of a good stage show at Hippodrome and handed them an average $10,000, mostly in towai'd the end of the week. Neighborhood biz waS particularly strong, -some of the FP houses goin.s? better than $3,000. Pictures are. go- ing Immt'dlatelyinto neighboi'hoocls now after playing the main stem rather than hanging off a week or two. ■ Estimates for Last Week Loew's (2,300; 30-60)—"The Di- vine Woman" (M-G). Greta Garbo put house back in leading po-sitlon with $15,600. Only thing.in town to show a real jump over previous week. Stage show above average. ; . Pantages (FP) (3.400; 30-60) — "Land of Hope and Glory" (Br.). English effort didn't mean much but got $13,000 with help of very weak all-English vaude bill. Picture hani dlcap to any patriotic ballyhoo for English pictures. Stage show ditto. Hip (FP) (2,600; 30-60)—"Sailor's Wives." Little better than $10,000, good average week: Vaiide fair. Uptown (PP) (3,300; 30-60)-^ "tSentlemen Prefer Blondes" (Par). Apparently Toronto gentlemen don't. $8,C00 that trickled In mostly from femmcs. Make another play for- ball and chain patronage with a big spring fashion show next week. Tied. up=.wltJ3u4epMiJ!nent_storp^i}d^ league. ' ■ Tivoli (FP) (1,400; 36-60)—"The Circu.s" (UA). Chaplin picture got about . $8,000 on thn-d week. Still above average for house. l*hree weeks near record. ' Gave way to Battle of Falkland. Islands" (Br) Saturday. Naval picture has strong hook-up arranged by Tom Daley. Regent (U)—"Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1,400; B0-$1.60). Answer was no on this one despite good publicity and hook-up. Under $8,000. One week enough. House closed. "CHICAGO" OFF IN ST. LOUIS Got but $20,000 at Loew's State— "Last Command," $34,600 St. Louis, March 6. (Drawing Pop., 1,000,000) St. LkjuIs' three largest picture palaces boasted three big pictures last week. All three theatres got 'em, riiaybe. triple, Jahnings Iri ""The Last Command)" at the Ambassador .nd packed 'em; "The Dove," at Loew's State, and "Chicago," at the Missouri theatre. Estimates for Last Week Ambassador. (Skotiras) !(3,000; 35- 65)^"Last Command." Ed Lowery, m.c, bigger than ever; $34,360. Grand Central (Skouras) (1,700-; 60-75)—"Jazz Singer" (W. B-). This Vltaphone production still drawing fairly well In 10th and last week. Loew's State (3,300; 26^35-65)^ "The Doye" (U. A.). Norma Tal- madge's. latest but not greatest. Teddy Joyce, m.c; $22,200. Missouri '(Skouras) (3,800; 35-66) —"Chicago/' $20,000; low for this Pathe film, St. Louis (4,280; 35-65)—"Blue Danube" with Leatrice Joy. $tage acts. Orpheum (2,200; 15-25-35-50-65)-^ "Woman Against the World," and. vaude, with Eugene O'Brien and his playlet. Capitol (Skouras, small downtown hbuse)—"Pitfalls of Passion." for women only. Fourth week. "PATENT LEATHER" IN PROVIDENCE, $7,500 Providence, March 6. (prawing Pop., 300,000) With a let-down In the attrac- tions at the Providence opem house, apd some weather made to order the movie houses rode Into a heavy week . at. the. b.. o. derby. "The Desert Song," "My Maryland" and "Good News" visiting In succession and taking away plenty of dollars. Tilt the pictures hard. "Napoleon," none too encouraging play at the Opera House, kept thiem away, and "The Patent Leather Kid" and "The Jaziz Singer" got the breaks. . The Carlton, in Its second week of two change movies, after quit- ting vaude, gathered in the bargain hunters with Its 30c. tops and coal mine features. '" Estimates for Last Week Majestic (Fay) (2,500; 10-50), "Jazz Singer" (W.B.). Second week almost as good as opening. Cor- rected gross of opening week about $12,000. Second week good for al- most as much. Estimate for both weeks approximately $22,000. Carlton (Fay) (1,474; 10-30), "Cruise of Hellion" (Ra) and "Rag- time" (P. D.) opening half; "Temp- tations of . Shop Girl" (Ind.) and "Galloping Tony" closing days. Sat- isfactor-y at about $3,000. Fay's (Fay) (2,000; 15-50), "Un- der Tonto Rim" and good stage rer vue. Only vaude house now com- peting Albee and going good at $6 800. Strand (Ind.) (2,200; 15-50), "Pat- ent Leather Kid" (P. N.) very good attraction to buck "Jazz Singer." About $7,500. Uptown (Ind.) (1,492; 15-35), "Old Ironsides" and "Buttons" with special beneM-^lierformance. Secr ond run. (?ood at $2,200. Opera House (Wendelschaefcr), "Napoleon," with Lionel At.wlll. At- wlll's draw bigger than play; $6,500 Not Chaplin or Chaney Could Stir Up Buffalo Buffalo, March 6. .• Combination of Lent and of \vh;il Keems to^ be^ a general depres>jion loc'aTIy T^epttlowrr-dospii< cxtniordinary attractions 'in many qujiitcr.s. Neither Chaplin or Cha- ncy were able to pull biisincsH out of. the rut. • Estimates for Last Week .Erianger (1,770; 50-$1..50). '. Wings" (Par). PurriiBhed.surpri.se t>y holding • up Surpi islngly secbnu week, and held for third. Matinee business off, but nights strong, with end of week capacity. • E.stlmatf:" $12,000. Buffalo (Publlx) (3,600; 30-10-65). "The Circus" (U. A.) Did .six .shows daily, one more than usual. Gi l off to a sensational start, but failed to do as expected. $34,000. Hip (PubJix) (2,400; 60). "Honey- moon Hate'-vaude. Drop-off no- ticeable. Under $13,000. Great Lakes (Fox) (.3:400; 35-50). "Cohens and Keljys In Paris" (Fox)- vaude. Under normal, although en- tire bill better than average. Around $12,000. •Loew's (Loew) (3,400; 35-50). .iaiig.X'ityiLJAL-G^M).--Vimd£^-_£ha^ ney film failed to bring returns or- iHnarily accorded star. $14,000. Lafayette (Indcp) (3,400; .35-50). "The Siren" (Col.), Vita and vam\<\ Sixth anniven-ary week with noth- ing of distinction. $12,000. "BIG Cin" NOT BIG IN DETROIT AT $22,000 Lent, Etc., Pleaded for Gen- eral Drop in Hank's Town—* ''Circus^' Not Handled Right Rothaker in Hawaii Los Angeles, March 6. Waterson R. Rothaker left this week with a party of CRicago friends tor ft trip to Honolulu. Detroit, March 9. Arrival of the Lrenten period ac^ cepted as the most logical explana- tion for the general slump among film places last week. Lineup madQ It unanimous, air going under nor-;^ mal, some plenty under. • A coincidence Is that the Capitol,, after taking the big climb the pi-c- ceding week, took the worst drop. Adverse break: for Chaney'a. "Tha Big City," coming in when it did, and the stage show fell under par. Decline of the Michigan not so great, but eiiough to tilt the large one's gross to the lowest in sonie time.' "Feel My Pulse" here. Chaplin, in; third week at the Adams, slipped again to further illustrate that proper handling of "The Circus" Is lacking. The idea of giving iaway peanuts, to each cus-. xomor, as last weeK, is toulrh on the cleaners and strictly for the kids, while the fact remains that it's an adult picture as well. United Artists counted $hort In the second week of "The Gaucho'* after a very good operter. Fair- banks h.o.'ing currently, with thei Wife set to follow In "My Best Girl." "Les Miserables" was light in sec- ohd .week at the Madison and pulled oiit for "The Patent Leather Kid." This is the "Kid's" second bout here, the first being eariy' In th<9 season , at the old •Miles and as a road show. . House looks for Jm^ provemeht with Barthelmess. "Sunrise" neared bottom at the Washington and now seems to be on forced run.- Same attraction prevails this week, the slj^th. Oriental again trimmed the State by ia slight margin, the former with "Little Mickey Grogan," the latter with "Wickedness Preferred," and both wrlth their vaude. Hot price- cutting by this pair has simmered, down, though both are retaining the trick scales. Next, move In order for Joe Lee (not the laundryman) to start would be a gratis mat iat the Oriental for the kiddles. Eisti mates for Last Week Adams (Kunsky)—"The Circus" (U. A.) (1,700; BO-76) (3d week). Peanuts no aid; outside ballyhoo continues off and apparent In ad- ditional drop to $16,000; reduced $9,000 since opening week; current likely to be lait, with "Beau Sabreur" getting id vance billing. Capitol (Kunsky)-^"The Big City" (M-G) (3,448; 50-75). Not up to usual. Chaney standard here with $22j0pO: house affected by Lent and film accompanied by. lightweight .stage bill. Madison (Kunsky)—'Les Mlsera^i. bles" (U) (1,976; 50-65-75). Out after two frail weeks, "Patent Leather Kid'* supplanting' at pop*; $10,000 in final. MichJqan (Kurisky-Publix)^"PeeI My Pulse" (Par) (4,100; 60-75). Down with the rest to $36,000, for shortest tifcuie In. a lonig while. Oriental ( Milts)—"Little Mickey Grogan" (P. B. O;) and !Pan vaud* C-.'JdO; i5-90). Under usual last week with under average program; tieavy advance stuff for "Legion-' nalres In Paris," current, and tie- up with the local. Legion headquar- tfirs, which might mean something: ?].3,000. State (Kun.sky) "Wick'ednesa Preferred" (M-G) and Loew vaude (3,000; L-.'S-TG). Little known tl^at Pat. Tlociiey played this house last week und little Rooney trade In con- •'^ciuvncc. Name pair in film fig- ■!i i-(r slijcrl^.tly in low. $11,000. ;J T'l-rc' / rt sts .,U. A.) - - "The .Gauclio.'_',4U..^,). (2,00ft;: 50-65) (2d:. •..ci .rj. i , L> this midweek willvde- loitnine whether Fairbanks sticks for fnurth; .second week's $16,000 is now: strbng indication Of holdover; •:Ar;v Be.st Ulrl" (U: A.) in readiness. Washington (Fox) — "Sunrise"- MovieLone (FoxV (1.778; 35-50-66) f.fith v.- -' ''. .iVsr rush anpareht, cohsiderih.sr $6.p(|0; played conceded "•;i:iit. I > : . lotiirns; no announce- ; v-nt > f <;i sing as yet. . ■ V TACdMA LOOKING UP Picture Trade Improving'—"Com* mand" Ciot $6,000 Tacoma, March (Drawing Pop., 125,000) Rather attractive features at th« local houses: .and fair returns, '*The Last Command," at the Broadway, leader. Pantages did improved biz, Colonial in showing steady lmi)rovo- ment. Estimates for Last Week Broadway (W. C.) (1,650; 25-60)— "rmst-:-eoiiiniand'--(-Par-) ;=--Fanohon- & Marco show good and Dave Good o. k. as m. c; $6,000. . Pantages (1,450; 25-50) — Vaude;" $5,500. . Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (650; 25- 50)—"Good Time Charlie" and Vita. (W. 13.); $2,800. Rialto (W. C.) (1,250; 25-40)— "Night of Love" (U. A.). Considered good; $2,900. Colonial (W. G.) (850; 25)—"Life of Riley" (P. N.). This lame house is picking up; $1,800.