Variety (Mar 1928)

Wednesday, March 7, 1928 PICT U R E S VARIETY 16 B'WAY HOUSES SUPPED DOWN $82,000 FROM PRIOR WEEK'S TOTA^ $447,400 Holiday Week Against $395,300 Last Week—Roxy Had Worst Slump, Off $35,006 at $86,000-^Strand Only Exception, Up $11,900 Lent developed a stralglit left q,nd the approaching Inconae tax served as a wicked; right which left Broad- way's Vfllni box-offlces Viay out- pointed on last week's seven-round encounter. It meant a drop for the Street ^of $82,000 below Washing- ton's Birthday week, or the differ- ence between the two grand totals of . $477,-100 and $395,300 for 10 houses and many pictures.: Outstanding exception to the ruk- was the Strand, which had a low- gross on the holiday week, bui jumped $Il,aOO last week, while the others were . sliding. Koxy, Para-, mount and Capitol alone show a railing off of , $G7,450; with the $. pictures also feeling the pressure. "Chicago" had a good \ycGk.at the GARBO AND STAGE BILL GOT WISCONSIN $20,000 "Sorreir' Repeated tst Week's Gross on H. 0.—Palace Climbed to $22,000 • Milwaukee, March 6; • (Drawing Pop., 650,000) Ideal weather, a street filled with groat pictures that pulled, them out arid the Wisconsin, Midwesco's best bet, running . away from the field I marked "last week, Roxy's Prodiiction Cost Along with the Roxy's . ap- proximate $5,500,000 gross for its first year are prpduction figures. House estimates that Its weekly stage show will re- veal an average weekly cost of from $35,000 to $45,000. Scenery and costumes ap- proximated around $250,000. for the year. TThe theatre Is con- fident of chopping this expense In half, due. to the necessity of outright buying of tnateria,! during the initial 52 weeks; Scenic weekly budget has already been cut from $3,000 .to $l-,560, . .. • ORIENTAL AT $10,000 WORRYING TEBBEHS o anybody thinks that M-G-M StranX'vUhTa'a.^ogTomLnE In, and I hurt anybody by separating Greta deemed sumcient to give the fea-. Garbo. and John Gilbert they never ture another week. : "Latest from heard o: Milwaukee. Greta is some Paris''couldn't stand off the general magnet here, and together ynth a exodus and let the Capitol down to stage show which brought Walter Likewise, ''Feel My Pulse,'" I Iliers in person, the Wisconsin 157,500 ^t the Paramount, this house slip- ping to $C4.b06; "Soft Living." a.t the Roxy, failed. to mean anything during the general depression with 186,000, a $35i000 slide. , "Sadie Thompison" is getting ri ady to leave after a fourth week at $24,-. 000, while "Last Command" will withdraw March IC arid did $23,800 last week, combined dive of $17,850 for the Publlx-U. A. twins. The British niaval film Is In Its fina! stand at the Cameo, falling to $5,400, while "Love" was another to drop; quoted at $9,500. "Leopard Lady" eased the Colony off to $7,200. ■ Specials' "Four Sons" held up better than the other special runs, .although getting a bit away from full capac- ity at $13,400. "Jazz Singer" leaves this Sunday with 22 weeks to its credit and a claimed $15,700 for its semi-final week, "Drums of Love" finished weakly at the Liberty and the house is dark, although U. A. has until this Saturday on the. lease Astor reported well over $13,000 for "The' Crowd," after a $5,00f week-end start. "Slmba's" $10,500 stipulates the animal picture will fitay until March 17. . "Uncle Toni" held to its usual in come of around $7,000 and will ei'-hor bo • fiillowpd by "'iVie M:>t Who Laughs" (V) or "We^ Ameri- cans" (U). "Wings" hnd no com plaints at $15,100. "Mother Ma chree" came into the Globe Monday night. ' Estimates for Last Week Astor—"The Crowd" (M.-G; (1,200 ; $l-?:i) (2d week). Opening on Sat- urday, picture got $5,000 on week end and claimed over $13,000 for first week; bolstered by M-G-M'.'- special on Lindbergh and only here | $22,000. tintil "Trail of '98" comes In March 20. Cameo—"Tho Battle of Falkland Islands" (Artlee) (549: 50-75). (4th w^eek). Now in final week after turning In $5,4 00 last week; "Ivan the Terrible" (Amkino), Russian picture, to follow. Capitol—"Latf-st From Paris' closed for the week Friday night with 820,0.00 or more. Another surprise was the Garden. The. Brin house, holding "Sorrcll and Son" for its second week, did Within.a few dollars of the amount chhlk(id up in the first week. Al- hambra, too, showed that Reginald Denny can get some business, and pulled away with the leaders. The Merrill, Strand. Majestic and Mil!er marked time, with the latter two jiist a wee bit ahead. Estimates for Last Week Alhambra (U)—'"That's My Dad- dy" (U) (1,800; 30:50). Denny gi-owlng m popularity. Picture got lots of laughs and $9,600, slipping out of the red. . Garden (Brln)-^"Sorrell and Son" (U. A.). (1,200; 25-50). Second weiek. Heavy plugging and r-ecerit seriali- zation showed again. ' $8,800, mak- ing it $17,600 for two weeks. Majestic (Orph)—"San Francisco Nl£;ht.s" (Warners) (1,600; 10-25-40) Hand credit to little chimpanzee named "Joe Mendi" oh vaude bill. Picture meant nothing. Around $6,500. Merrill (Mid wesco)—"That's My Baby" (M-G) 1,200; 25-50). Plenty of laughs, but not enough cash Hard to make comedies pay here, outside of those with names. Lucky to hit $6,600. Miller (Mldwcsco)—"Foreign Dev lis" (Fox) (1.400; 25-50). Again stage show saved day, although wostern.s do click in this house Close to $6,000. Palace (Orph)—"t^f Er Go Gal- lagher" (Pathe) (2.400; 25r50-75) With Trlxie Friganza and Lucille La Verne as headliners, picture didn't get much play. House smashed Into real money class, v/ith Strand (Midwcsco)—"Flying Ro meos" (F. N.) (1.200; 25-60), Now advertising children 10c. any time Reason why picture flid not click 1b explained In Merrill notice—come 'dle« nil. Not ove-'- ?4 000. Wisconsin (Mlr!we.«!co) — "Divine Woman" (M-G) (2.^00; 25-35-50-60- 75). Her<» is movie house that Tnade (M-CJ) (4,620; 35-50-75-$1.65). Took Mack--and how! Great stage show decided drop from previous week In and Garbo for draw meant $20,000 but getting $57,500; had big week-| or better. end but fell down thereafter Carroll—"Slmba". (997-$lr$2) (7th AvooU). Ki'inniiii; aroii'iil j!OiHOO an*' -Btay extended-until March -17r " - Central—"Uncle Tom's Cabin' (U) (922, $l-$2> (18th week). .Un certain how long this one will stick; If "Man Who Laughs" (U) doesn't follow, '"We Americans" (U) will; either way change will probably take place before end of month. Colony—"Leopard Lady" (Pathe) East for "Tempiest'' John Darrymore. Ca.nill1a. Hoim. and John Consfdirie, Jr., are coming east for the New Tork premiere of 'Tempest," New Indie House at Seattle After -Names'—Broadway Did $14^000 Last Week OiOENTAL CHL, WITH PAUL ASH, Star Draw Stationery M. C. Feeling Efforts of Qyer 2-Year Run in One House—"Circus," 2a We^k at U. A,, $34,000, Very Big NEW SEATTLE OPENS WITH PUBLIX UNIT by only getting $64,000; fair figure but considerably under what haa (1.980; 26-50-76). Drdn't gof much been weekly Inc^^ up here; when house gets down to Rialto—-"Last Command ■ (Par.) $7,200 it's pretty low even for thin (1,960; 35-50-75-90) (7th week). 63d street corner. Plunged to $23,800 and will call lt a Criterion—"Wings" (Par.) (836; run after elsht weeks. $l-$2) (30th week). Half wav Rivoli—"Sadie Thompson" (U. A.) through seventh month and road (2.200; 35-50-75-90) <5th week) Bhow department wondering what's Swanson picture now in final week going ::o be done with "Able"; with "Gaucho" (U. A.) following "Wlnga" sub.«3tantlal at $15,100 Embassy—"Love" (M-G) (596; |1-$1.65) (16th week). Silent clinch opus down to $9,500. Gaiety—"Four Sons" and Movie tone (Pox) (808; $l-$2) (4tb week) Saturday;. down more than $10,000 from previous week, at $34,000. Roxy—"Soft Living''(Fox) (6.206; i50-75-$l-J1.65). Took drastic t,um- ble of $35^000 and $86,000 not good: house holding ovier last week's Drawing women to matinees and, as stage show In order to concentrate always, Iniportant factor In help- on anniversary splash which will Ing.gross reach $13,400: alight)-' off stay two weeks , and the Jazz trom capacity but figure unusual in Singer," with Vita, for two more face of conditions Wf-r>k.s. starting March 24. = - Giobe='T^i)^tHer""~"MS"cfim^^^^ Movietone (Fox) (1,416; $1.66 (1st 35-50-65-75) (2d week). Qutstand- Week). Came In Monday night to Ing example of street in Jumping, make Fox's third-run . picture on its gross in face of arops all Broadway. around; got $38,2()0. and holding Liberty—"Drums of Love" (U. A.) over. ' . 'a a;234; $l-$2). Eased out with no Warners—"Jazs^ ^X^^^JT one paying attention; will come Vltapbone (W. B.) (1,360; $i-**J back to the Rialto at pop prices (22d week). Jolson fllnri leaves this with changed ending. Sunday after 22 weeks; la-it week. Paramount—"Feel My Pulse." $15,700; "Tenderloin," newest of the Times Square house shaken up bit I Vita "Ulkers,". March 11 Portland, Ore., March 6, Everybody in town is all pepped up ro.fiardiiig the opening March 8 of the big 3,500-seat Publlx-.Port land house. This house, the largest in . the Pacific Northwest, is to pre- sent Publlx-Loew unit presentations, the opening show coming from the east, entitled, "The Merry Widow itevije." . Alex Ilyde, master of ceremonies, will ofliciate in that capacity,;coming here from the Buffalo Publix house/ Liborius Hauptmann, formerly di- rector of the west Coa.3t Broadway, will direct a 20-piece concert or- chestra for the opening weeks. Bebe Daniels in "Feel My . Pulse" is the opening film attraction. A great publicity^ campaign handled by Eddie Hitchcock, aoe p.. a., while Kob Blaire, formerly In charge of. Texas Publix hou.ses, is manager. Pantages had a record-breaking week with the personal appearance of the Duncan Sisters. Blue Mouse with "Good Time Charlie" started slowly but finished to $5,000. The West Coast Broadway aced in the'Eight Victor . Artists as the stage "name" to counteract Pan's show, and it was a wise move, as the house registered a profitable gross. Adolphe Menjou In "Sere- nade" went over fairly as the pic- ture. Charlie Chaplin in "The Circus" was not the hit at Universal's Co- lumbia expected. On the opening three days the house went to fair results, but the balance of the week was off. Picture lacked proper ex- ploitation and publicity from hou.se. "Old Ironsides" in its second week at the Hi vol! connected to a fair return, while Tebbett's Oriental also Improved its • past few Weeks with "Not For Publication." This bouse Is making a change in Its stage end. vvhich has been unsatisfactory since the hoiise opened a fevv months ago. Walt Tebbetts, owner, is planning on bringing to his bouse some ."names." . Wiest Coast Theatres wlD install a radical new policy at the Liberty when Will. King and a musical com- pany goes in the house March 10. Kirg is a great local . draw, and with first-run pictures, at 50c.. the house should click. Tt fa ander- fjtood, that the King company is In on a straight salary and pcrcentae«, with' W, C. handling tne house. Estimates For Last Week Broadway (W. C.) (2,000; 26-60) "Serenade" (Pax.). Adolphe Menjou picture rather weak, but stage end bolstered by Victor Artist*. Ollle Wallace, organist and m. of c, leaves for Fifth Aveniie, Seattle. Hermi6-KinK-succftssor; -U^.OOOi - - Oriental (Tebbetts) (2,700; 26-36) "Not For Publication" (F. R O.). Picture connected solidly but stag:e portion not of clicking varle.Ty. Change In this department soon, with bigger and better acts; $10,0.00. Liberty (W. C.) (2.000; 36-40) ■'IIoheymoon Falo" (Par.). Florence Vl(?or picture o. k. : Will Klh« com- pany la March 10; $4,000. Rivoli (Parkcr W. C.) (l.21«; t«- 50) "Old Ironsides" (Par.J. Picture m second week continued to get kale. .Sanianella'a ban'l and Cocll Teague, organist; okay, $5^500. Columbia (U.) (35-50) -The Clrcu.q" (U. A.). Chaplin picture not draw expected. House felV down on exploitation; $7,600. Held Over. Pantages . (Pan.) (2,000; $6-60) "Thanks for the Buggy Ride" (U.). Duncan Sisters and (ieorge- Llp- schultz on st.Vgo bruUght hoose rec- ord crowds. Picture over also. One of biggest weeks since opened. Orpheum (Orph.) (2,000; l6-«6-»0- V6) "Vanity" (De Mllle) and vaude. f^ood incdme for three days. _ _ "° Music Sax R"enrt^ Duffy" PlayirB (1,300-25-50-75) "The Nlghtaticb." One of latest Duffy, plays,, connected big. Around $7,000 for week. 5th Ave., with "Noose" Last Week, $15,400^"Circus at Columhia, $12,500 Seattle, March 6. (Drawing Pop., 450,(X)0) Tlie giant new .Seattle (Pubiix> iipc-nod to big business-'March ' 1, \S'h(»ii.. the first week is over it wilt iikoly show a- rrv'ord gross, for a picture house in Seattle. N^iturally ina.ny thousands went to see the nt5w theatre, biit of course IJebo Daniels in "Feel My Pulse" and a I'ublix unit show, first time in this city, had heaps of merit. Opening night found two packed liouses, with but a limited olientele there upon invitation. Regular prices, 60c top, arid all given an equal Shot at the seats.. The warmth, subdued brilliance of color scheme, comifort and all arotind at- of tractiveness of the new "acre ^ seats in a palace of splendor" -made-UTas-gtven-^he brcai ts~ to -very-fev^ Chicago, March 6. Docliiiiiig steadily for quite a few weeks, the Oriental last week went to $35,000, lowest grosis It ever haa liad with Paul Ash on the stage. While total business of Loop houso.s was $20,000 less, than, tho previous week, no other weekly oliango houses experienced poor l)UsincHs nor showed more than » slight drop. The Oriental fell $4,000' last woc.'k, with "Feel My Pulse" ( Par) as the screen feature and not at all bad for that house. ' . Opening more, than two years agO, t.liia 3.;!00-seat theatre started a ter- rific fvait of $10,000 weekly with. Ash oil- the'stage, dropping a little later to a $17,000 average and holding It uVer a yoar, most- of the time lead-- mg even the Chicago, a 4.500-.seater. It eased.again to a.$44,000 avcrag* :ind hold It. consistently until the re- cent arid most pronounced letup. During his stay at the Oriental and previously at McVlckers,. Paul \sh has proven the most sensar tlonal stationary drawing person-, ality show business has knowiL His present low gross still gives the house , about $10,000 above th* overhead.. Two Road. Show Films Entrance of two road shoW films, last week was watched, as this towQ BELL DiHECTINO 'TEIAl*' I»s AngeleA, Maxell C. Waldemar Young 1* writing axlap- tatlon of "The B^llanjy TriaT for M-O-M. Monta Bell wffl tflreet. a hit with the mobs, and critical a,nalysi8 was okeh. Messrs. Levin and Hlnos are In direct management,: the former as manager and the latter as assistant. Herschel Stuart represents the West Coast operation and R. E. Crablll, western manager, for Publix-Loew, their interests. ■ With 3,800 seats the house Is the largest In tho northwest. Its luxu- rlousness and beauty make It stand but as the "last word"—at least until some one else speaks—and by the looks of things this town Is about built-up on seats, counting the ' new Mayflower, now being erected and announced for May i opening. However, progress there With* tho Seattle showing Itself and its nifty show. Lent was an other competitor that the older houses , had to contend with. Lent hurt them all. "Hit the Deck" (staged xjid fairly at the Metro- polit^in and also hurt. An exception was Chaplin at the Columbia In "The Cli-cus." Chap.'in Wild •"The Circus" at the Columbia- Town .. seemed Chaplin . hungry after such a long time since last here. Manager Bender .sa;id biz was big right along, biit no houBe rec- ord in danger, for In days gone by, when the Columbia had muob Tess opppslsh, some high marks were set up.; with the Seattle ope-ning, Carl Reiter of the Orpheum is advertis- ing "Important announcement about new policy at the Orpheuni soon. This will be an all-grind three-a day. No reserved seats. This will leave the President (stock) and. Mel (legit) only reserved seat houses in the village. With "Circus" at Columbia, Em bassy ran a CJliaplln reissue. "The Immigrrant," to get somo Chaplin fans, taking advantage of Columbia advertising. Oliver G. Wallace Is back at the 5th Avenue at the organ, Hermle King ^and -Red. .CorcQranv^M. .ot_ ,C a.nd specialty comedy singer, have gone to Portland. .Benny Tlubln opens In another week, Kolb and Dill being due next and then the Victor Artlsta . Estimates for. Last 'Week Fifth Ave. (W. C.) (2,700; 25-60) "The Noose" (F. N,).. Farewell week for Hermle Klng^ He has been building nicely, leaving after nearly six months, j, Picture Ukod .Stage show, "Crinoline Days," oh* of best. King. Corcoran and McOIU. all with band, stopped show. Jimmy Ray, Helen Warner and Rublnl also hits; $15,400. United Artists (U. A. - W. C.) (2,100; 25-60). "JAai Command' (Par). . Jannlngs Impressed, but bl/ off to slow start One week; $11,000 ."U.eave 'Em Laughing" (M-G-M) Two-r*eI comedy, big hit. Original bit Wcrtt great 13ur,lne.s3 falir. Columbis (U) (1,000;. 25-50-75) "The Circus" (U. A.). Stand-out Good for run: $12,500, ■ ' Blue Mouse (Hamrlck) (950; 26 =7.6).,.^^=ilD.pening^.Nlght^-X-^^^ Vita. Quiet; $5,200 Pontages (l,5r0. 25-f>S). •*Pa- Jarhaa" (Fox), ICaryl Norman in lights. Big let down from Duncan .Sisters' record of p.-jst WQ^ek, bo .Mtni good; $7,500. Orpheum (2,700:.. 25-76). "Plorulc for Night- (Pathe). Vaud*- Im- proved, Denny gets over nl'iely a« master of ceremonliis; Sllr.OOO. I'dsnt (Duffy) (1,650; 26 t<. nickers. "King of Kings," opening without a Sunday matinee/dr\ir $12,300 at the Erlanger. At Its Sun- day night opening 12 rabbis wers present by invitation to see the full version. Neither heated controversr nor stlmtilated trade haa resulted so Car. This Just moderate gross may not. be a true slant on the picture's worth here, as "Wings" o'pened ts ' only $11,000 at the same hotise and jumped to $17,000 the second vtreok. "Kings" has a similar, ch^nc*. Week-end trade indlca-tlons wers favorable. "Slmba." Martin John- son's freak film, opened Friday night at $2.20 top. and looked good on ttas week-end. No line oh it yet Among the run specials "Circus" at United Artists continued the letUk In its second week, taking $34.00t after a record $40,100 :f)rst week.. The press department Is' on the Job, working hard oh exploitation and using different snappy ad cop^ dally. "Student Pr^hco" at Mc- Vlckers, third week, showed a slight letup In its fine pace, garnering $30,- 000, only $2,000 drop from its seo- ond week's gross. Chicago rated above average hot less than recent high grosses with Latest from Paris," Shearer film, at $47,000. "Girl in Every Porf at the Monroe fooled predictions by drawing a strong $6,«00, It's a nifty lilm for tiie gents and the Monros . gets 'em. Opening week gross for "Les Mis- crables" reported as $14,500 by Va- riety, actually was $20,000 and verf good. Second week, $1 1,000 and out. Estimates, for Last Week Chicago (Publix)—"Latest from Paris" (M-(?-M) (4,500: 50-75).- .Vorma Shearer feature rated aver- age program material and drew 147,000; little above average. Erlanger (ZZ. & Jones)—"King of Kings" (P. O. C.) (1.345:. 50-$2.50). First week not strong at $12,300, but has good chance to pick up; no- tices varied. McVickers (Publix) — "Student Prince" (M-Q-M) (2,400; 50-76). -Pretty-third week with $30,000; sec- ond week, $32,000; first $34,000; opened to v/ithln $2,000 of hoiiss record hrld by "Parade." .Monroe (Fox)—"Girl In Every Port" (Fox) (975: 50-65). Man's film In man's house; better than, oke at S5.S00, Oriental (PubHx) "Peel My PulseV (Par) (3:300: 35-60-75), Rec- ord low for house. $35,000; pictures mean little here except exceptional ones. Paul Ash on stage. Playhouse (MIndlln)—"Tower of Darkness" (Ufa) (600; '■0-$l). Lit- tle Art theatre, has established m $3,500 average on forelgns and rs- Issues. Roosevelt (PuhlJx)—"Les. MIs- erablea" (U) (1.400; 50-CO). Second week and out $14,000; unusually good opening at $20,rPO. State-Lake (Orpheum)—"Dooms 'Inv- (Par) fl,400: 50-75). Vldor nUn. booking hero Is-shelving; $J17,-. OOO with Orplii'iim vaude. ' United Artists (U. A,)—"The Clr- iu;;" (U. A.) (1.702; ?5-75). Town's Jifl.T rnrnrd npcmlng of $40.100. Woods (Jonvs)—"SIriiba" (John- Mon) ■(1,07.1; 'uO-JI.CF^.. Opened Frl-^ 'lay n(:,'ht to good buslne.ss. Too ' arly fcr lino. $1). ".Mary's. Other Plusband**. I Huffv Tl.'<y( r.<!). Opf" of best .contv-. cilv rir.'iiu.i^' "f .-'•a.sorj. Uid nicely;