Variety (Mar 1928)

8 MET, AT $2W(), AND STATE, $lim TELL HOW BADLY 1. A. FELL OFF "Foiir Sons*' Got $12,000, Not Strong Money—Chi- nese Did $27,000 With Prolog arid "Circus"— *'Bl6ndes" Died at Million Dollar ' . . Los Angeles, March 6.. . . . Annual bugaboo of Lent factor in hurtinp all around last week; Pown- town houses felt the crimp most, while the Godfrey-Uzcuder. heavy- WdtglVt nght Tuesday night took plenty of iash customers away. ; Moti-opoliian had. the aee picture from a draw viewpoint in "Chicago, while Fanchon and Marco; provided a ilash layout on the stage, headed by Al I.yons,- With -11 that, gross nosb-divcd about $7,000, 'way below normal. • . "The Circus," cohaidering condi- tions, held UP okay for its lifth week, showing marginal, dlfCerence from the week before. Grauman's prolpg Is attracting attention. Carthay Cir-, cle with "Four Sons" - "-^ LENT AS ALIBI FOR LOW GROSSES IN WASH. "Circus" on 2d Wk., $13,000; Still Big—"Ironsides" on Run at Met, $15,000 Washington, March 0. (Estimated White Pop., 450,000) Weather last week fairi Ma,nagers doing • business claim ■L-ent means nothing here. Others, is^'advoKising I hot doing -business, say it does. STRONG AGITATION AGAINST SUNDAY-KIDS BILL IN MONTREAL Making It too Hot for Politicians to Monkey—Loew's With Herb Williams Headlining Beat Town Last Week at $15,000—Good All Around "ENEMY" OFF IN BETO; DOVE" GOOD ON 2D RUN THE PALM BEACH SEASON There's very little else alter you've been to Whitehall, The Breakers. Everglades . Club and; the Patlo Lamaze. At each place you'll hear a Meyer Davis Orchestra, but eacK so differ- ent that you quickly reaplye that Meyer Davis builds his orchestras as Shubert, Dillingham, Erlanger and Ziogfeld produce their shows. " Montreal, Mai'ch 6. Theatres, pool rooms, dance halls', .and hotels are promoting petitions to the pravlnclal government against Sund^iy closing, while warnings on the screens of. the 50-odd theatres I of the city exhort the public to show I ont Hurt in ^not^ Last Week ^^^^"^ objection to the proposed Leni nun m OpUlb l.ctM change. ComWned with resoutlona from labor bodies, clubs and other organizations, not to mention half> page ads In the local press, there is working up an agitation that will make the politicians hesitate before endorsing a plan arousing popular. Indignation in Increasing volume in 'Mronsides" Made to Stand Up at Century free bus faros to the theatre. Three I palace did above average, though more weeks should be enough K^^^p^j^g ^^^.j^ below the record this one. . . preceding week Despite exploitation . angles for 1 ^'^^''^ . "Gentlemen Prefev Blondes," tOEW'S STATE;N. 0., AT $21,300, TAKES RECORD Fox was tumbling the Paramount's - '-Legion. Of the Con- "The Serenade," doing about the dciTlTlGCl*' TillIl'StlSLy I BaUimore, March 6. , inaj(jna.i,jun in increasmB voiume lu The reopening of the Embassy as Uhis city and throughout the prov- a stock burlesque house Saturday In ce. J 11 fho nrnhihiA re- Grosses: last Week showed a big ends all rumors of the Probable re- K^^^^^ Loew's and the Capitol led turn of this theatre to the movie ^j^h jjg QQQ g^^^ $14,500, the former fold. more on Its vaude than picture. The question of Sunday movies Herb Williams' act crowded Loew's In BaUimore has been marking time all week, ^ ^. , , „ u for several weeks pending the trial ■ "The Dpve''^ at the Palace feU ^b^^ , of John G. Callan of the Liberty low last week's gross, but^was hard- Defens^ League ahd two associates, ly in^the same class a.s Sorrell and vV'ho, after several attempts, were Son. . ■ ■ *,...«.^ WW ...... ^ i flnaly indicted by a grand Jury. - Talk of change In ownership In stage Act Did It-"Big City" The %c«j,es« Not Hot With $18,600 , Spj.M^?or^ day . in Baltimore. ■ ■ . within the next week or so. I Last week had some mm^ups and -The Vagabond King" ystage) re- ___ . New^Orleans, March 6. J downs.. The Stanle y, with^the m ost peatcd a t the Princess to S23 .000. _ The sensaUon of last week's local ambitious an^expensTve stage prOr fair. Good advance sale for '"The biz was the tremendous draw of gi-am since ppenmg, was out in c^^^tant Wife" this week, with Lou • - - front,- although the Century with | Teiiggen, Norman Hackett, Char- ^'le'to I "Smart Set" Film and Freak Loew's State, which established a money and attendance record for all time when it played to $21,300. ri1,h nOOdO. . \^y^^ ip Sv^^ time when it played to^$2l,30U. Imm^yB mmMm ^^^ms nine weeks at the Criterion with the an matinees for 25 cents. Also, for Saeng.. .-.-r^-- -^.y. - ^ha- "Patent Leather Kid" opening: Wed- |^^^^tme^^^^^^ freak act being ' ^^"^ ^««>^- ^^^^ Lon Cha nesday to $2.50 top and^^$2,500. J^e • ^^^^ clrcuslng of Critics unanimous In .a orUiB It- \^^^ g^.g^ man^woman, Joseph- ."French Dressing" at he Boule- V'" {;= vard, with Gene Morgan cutting up Jpsepnine. . _ . on the stage, got away nicely to a Estimates for Last Week better than average week. "Wings^ | Columbia (Loew)—"The Circus' I,' L Lt: L LIICllI €A.v»-J.n.^w —^ at the Biltmorc is still, holding on In Its seventh week, though rapidly de- clining.; Estimates for Last \A/eek Graumian's Chinese U. A )—"'The Gireu.s" (U. A.) (1:,?58; 50-$1.50). an matinees lor -so cemo. j».«=»u, - tirAvious week the first time, is a freak__ac_t being | the V^'^Zi^^l^if^'city." Chaney, as a card, is on the down grade here. • The Showdown" displayed a wisp of strength by sending the Strand above $5,000. Film liked generally. Liberty slipped with "Honeymoon "Old Ironsides" was a close second, hptte Walker and Emma Bunting. Valencia, second week^ of The , . Eitimates for Last Week Enemy," way off, this picture not Capitol (F. P.) .(2,700; 40-85)-.* getting a b. o. response in this town.—The Divine Woman" (M-G-M). The combination Garden was also pjned theatre latter half of week, way down, "Silver Valley," the Mix 114 500; film, being blamed. The cowboy jPalace (P. P.) (2,700; 60-85)—"The r aiso. I stuff was on the tobogaran at this Dovy' (U. A.). Not enough to over- Saenger dropped materially from house before it went K.-A^ New, | come the Lent handicap.. $11,500. riT A rri 232- 35-507 Second, week Hate," rather a vague title. <)t^ I der tirst hess for capaci with "Leopard Lady," was. also off. Loew's (3(200; 45-75)—"Alias Lone Parkway was up, "The Dove" Wolf" (Col ); Vaude big attraction, doing better at this uptown stand but picture also drew. $15,000. than it did at the downtown Average here, $12,600. , Valencia.. Imperial (K-A) (1,900;. 35-8.0)— Metropolitan,, with, the, eighth I "ii-reslstible Lover" (U). Average week of "Jazz Singer," istlU Is the vaiide and picture. $4,500. endurance marvel of the town.). Strand (U. AO (800; 30-40)—"Law ftOft'' Dron of $4 boo un- I pheum. wltirila~ hew gi-iird policy, hHolding' over for ninth. Lent un- of Range" (M-G-M); "Stage Kisses" wPPi^ Remarkable busi- went down some, below $9,000, with Uoubtedly: hurt business generally. (Col.); "Artists Lover" (Wamer)» ai^^iTiVv anTscale "Let 'er Go, Gallagher," as the film Weather Ideal. . and "Hero for Night" (U). All to* "f5pr<^ J feature. A terrific d^^ Estimates for Last Week jgether, $4,500. Earle (Stanley-Crahdall) "Sere- nade"- (Par.) . and presentation Keerin-^ to^'front, with exploitation Ushers had plenty of Ume to loaf Ktunts and out-of-town trade help- Around $9,500. ,t fng Chaplin's name and talked- Fox (Fox)-"Come to My House about prolog arousing interest; (Fox) and presentation (3,432 around $27 000- still good. 35-50). Good stage show, with Tarthay Circle (Miller-W. C.)- much to counteract, but film meant "Four Sons" (Fox) (1.500; 50-$1.50). nothing. Possibly nosed over $20,- Not^muoh curiosity, gradually fall- 000. Recovered and opened big lis o?^^ Nllht business only holding with Warner's "Slightly Used/' 119 nnoNd week Met (Stanley-Crandall) — Old "^Ci-iterion ?W cS-".Tazz Singer" | Ironsides" (Par.) (1,518; 35-50). In feature. A terrific drop noted at the Palace when "A Fool's Advice" fell by the wayside. Tudor has lapsed into quietude aga;in. • Estimates for Last Week Century (Loew), "Old Ironsides" 1 j t» j. iir u (Par.) (2:074; 25-60). This nautical Granada Bcat Warfield special had. three fair weeks at legit Ford's last season at a higher top. Loew State (3,218; 60).—'"The Looked like a gamble for the return. By $10,000 in iFrisco (W. B.) (1,600; n0-$1.5a). .Tolson's Vitn. subject kept . .pace for final week; $8,400. „ • „ Biltmore (Erlangcr) — '"W ngs" (Par) (1,6.55; 50-$2.20). Still show for run with much extra advertis- ing; held over, indicating above $15,000.' ^ Palace (Loew)—"Gentlemen i?rc- fer Blondes" (I'ar.) and presenta Smart Set." ■ Aided freak stage act to break house record; $21,300. , Saenger (3,5C8; 65).—"The Big I City." Chaney not so popular here; $18,600. ■ Strand (2,200; BO).—"The Show- down." Neat showing at $5,400 (Drawing Pop., 756,000) . San Francisco, March 6. Market street was Off from 10 to Hate." Never got started; $2,800 Orpheum (2,400; 50).—"Let 'er Go, Gallagher." Film-vaude; $8>600. vjTi.. , va.v.,.,. V-.-,- . - . - ,1 Palace (2,300; 40).—"A Fool's Ad- Ine nroflt in seventh week, but about tion (2,303:35-50). Film caused in- yj^,^ ,. qjj again; $4,300. rcndv to take to road. terest; Publix units also attracting . Tudor (80Q; 40).—"Chinese Par- Loew's State (W. C.-Tjoew)—"Feel which, coupled with fact house^haa j.^^... 11,300. Mv Pnlao" (Par) (2,200; 25-99). Pic- been coming, gives Just above — tuV no draw and little else to get UI7.00O. . i. , -vt * •enr Dropped about $5,000 to $18,850. Rialto (U)—"H-nchbacK of Notre ' Metropditan (Pub.-W. C.)-"Chl- Dame" (U.) (1.978; 36-50) Reissue cafTO" (3 595; 25-75). Dospite con- Ujot more than expected: $3,000 ovei sidcrcd draw on picture and fairly previous week, to about $9,000 good mats, hou.'je took It on button "Chicago" in current and packed at $^»6 600. 1 them week-end. ^ United Artists (U. A.)—"Sorrell National (Erlanger) —^'King of and Son" (U. A.) (2,100: 25-$1.10). Kings" (P. D. C.) (60-$1.65). Booked Considered great picture by those in in to avoid legit try-out. Re) t know but couldn't click hore. Final looks to have done fairly well; intriVp barolv-$13,000. - :—™ -|-about-$9,000, . Millibn Dollar (Pub.-W _C.).—• «'Gpntlcmon Prefer Blondo; (Par) (2.800; 25-99). Anita Loos', story (2.800; 25-99). Anita 1.003^. ^^o^J^ ^^^3^, the Orpheum. Ruth Elder didn't .catoh on, with single week .^^^ gtate this Monday jnee. . , enough. B.-xpld dlvo to arouna ^d the hou-se is looking to a record. Fashion show at the Jayhawk.i lowuu .tnc vax. ...... ^^"L . J r>-"French Attendant publicity for Ruth could first half big draw, but dldn't.pull About $5,000 .Well helow.^ave^^^ Boulevard (W. c.)— 1, K. ,o-<^.. if onmo )rw\^r. v/^a-iriiv nftor the first dav. 1 Rivoli (Wilson Amusement Co.) but. surprised by exceptional draw. Effective, but not intensive pub- "M^y/t^S'^^'f^im^P^t'** hut^JS rast'week: with"the 'sta^t '"•l^v, '^'^^t^-^oi i^r^w iffpi?^ staged I J ^ ^^^^ ^^^^ figured ^J*^ HU'^^^ w t^^^i, lik^d per cent Catholic). Some very show, "Flymg High.^ Hked, Ted business, and some not so nvii. =..v, D — , Claire, new m. of c, scoring. Well • Liberty (1,800; ^60).-;;Honeymoon above average at $20 000 ^ _ ^V'arfleld took another drop below TvT.„.- i2R0O. ' Stanley (Stanley-C^and^^^^^^^^ that spells murder. Flaming Youths'(Par ) (3 600 25- J^j^'^ ^ customers to see the Gran- 60). Spent plenty on Stage last , .^j _ +v„ town bv hlt.^ week. Sophie Tucker big follow- ^da «how^ town by mt .^'"°^^«v"°MJtfn^^^^se^^^^^^^ Saf thela^e oM story as crowd Monday. Matinees ^eased o^^^ Granada and Warfield. A somewhat^ after this, but nig^^^ ^ picture and a pleas- built steadily. .Leo"^avaro,j^^^ show at the former drew scored in this ^lo^^e when Inaugu- ^ j while a notably ratmg its ^tage band policj^^^ screen attraction and so-so turned on a "ew^and more ucra^^^^ offering proved disastrous for contract after two ^^^^.L. U»i<i W^i^eld It still looks like the during the Leather Kid picture fans have cultivated the run Navaro ^L?if^ ^uilt up bi^ ^^^^^ lowing here Good week for^early the hOUse that has. the best Is Lent probably touching $22,00(). Lj^^^^g ^j^^j Valencia (Loew-U. A.), The California has a healthy week with Enemy' <M--G.-M ) (1.500. 26^^^^ ..^he Legion of the Failed, to click. Business up some- condemned," and satisfied all ^what^last^lew^ days,-largel3^^^G 1-,—^ overflow from downstairs. Century. About ?6,50^-.^>Jot sood. , ^ . . jazz .ssinger, ' New (Whttehursts), leopard . . ( Lady" (2,800; -25-50). Business fol-1^"''^'^ K^ano lowed the seasonal trend down-ward. 2 Fashion Shows Same Week in Small Town Topcka, March 6. . (Drawing Pop., 85,000) First week of Lent was one of the good weeks of the season for To- peka. Good bookings in practically all cases got normal or^ better re- sponse fi^om^t^ . "Broadway," here for matinee and night Wednesday, did capacity at the night show after a meager mat- .-•;; -/■« •M'k /9ifi4- 2')-50> have been str«Miger if she came by so heavily after the first day, Dressing" ^T- ^'l^^y^^: ni'tuVe plane, as the papers w^^^ bolstered by "The Latest Gene Morpan 8t^o"^^^i';''^vPi7 ?00 on filers after a week of LIndy, his. From Paris." The picture fans pre- did.n't mean nj"ch; f^l;^^^ '^^';;i,V^^'. .pother and- Charlie Levlne. But ferred the colored film fashion pic- Egybtian (U-. A;"^- Vk I Ruth's first visit to Boston must | ture at the Orpheum with Chaney s Rivoli (Wilson Amusement Co.), 'Two Flying Romeos" (Par.) (2,600; around. Embaiisy shoWed exCiSp- tlonal strength on third week of The ^azz .Singier," and though off ..ibout two grand over the second week, still was close to $4.0OO over the previous house record (befor* current attraction). Estimates for Last Week - /TJo^\ n Rnn- 25-I Ruth's first visit to Boston must 5^"' M^T'^^^ a^'Jimost I liavo.been nuite satisfactonr from top. figure for the house; $9,900. the clipping book standpoint. "Under th^ Tonto Rim" and vaudo to average houses at the New Bos- ton: Al .ToKson in "The Jazz Singer" got its .second big week at the Mod- ^ _ . 1 orn and Beacon and stays on. "The With Stage Unit Gave Met, Boston, U^^j^^^g ^^^y Kcllys In Paris" at the "HELEN OF TROY" GOOD Last Week $43,700 Boston, March 6. The return of Gene Kodcmioh, house band leader to . the Metro- . Solitan,. after, a . stretch wUh tho . baton at. the Paramount in ^c\\ York, was the signal for a st rong =--box-=offlce=for--the=weck^ai_^liiL.M-. lix house. "Helen of,Troy" (F. N. and Jack Partingl6n:« "Hula Hula . Blues," stage revue, rounded out .> good bill. Gross , of $43,700 not so tough for a Lenten wook Scollay Square OTympla. broke no records. "Ladies Night in a Turk- i'^h Bath" went over well at tho Washington St. Olympla. "The Pat- ent Leather Kid" at the Fenway, liig wcpk. Estimates for Ltist Week - -"A"-' -V " I - A 1 Granada—:"Chlcago" (Pathe) (2,- 25-60). Comedy team clicked well. 7^5; 35.50-65-9O). Picture: gets /mbitlous stage show added. House ^^.^^j^ j^^^. j,raw, though return of not affected by Lent to extent ot q^^^j Sweeten to stage with hand some others.^ . and pleasing specialty show helped; Garden (Schanberger), "Silver pass^fi |29.000. Valley" (Fox) and K.-A. vaude California — "Legion of Con- (3,200; 25-50). Management ac-^,^j„„pfl» (Par) (2.200; 35-66-90). cumulating Tom Mixes on shelf. Uy^j. picture well liked. $20,000 on Finally took down what they con- opening week and no sign of weak- sidcred best and chanced showing, .ening on second. Westerns closely associated with Warfield—"Flying Romeos" (F. the old Garden and apparently Uj ) (2,672; 35-BO-65-9()). "Weak Paris!' good, but dian't pacK mem. 1 present clientele doesn't want theni. gij,ter" and plenty of panning. Lucky "Gatewfrto Moon-' as good draw blame for drop. Uo reach $19,000. ^„ .Kjn-HrtTi flrqf half Week About $14,000. / U Embassy—^"Jazz Singer ' and Vita ?,i<.t under $3 200 Hippodrome (P.carce & Schecli). (War. Bros.) (1.367; 60-65-90). Con- Nnveltv-- (1 100-40) (Crawford). "Red Raiders" and K.-A. vaude gidering depression this: one clicked wS?k bm first half got B.an^ kl% (3.20^ 26-60). Business took sea- ,mponantly. Third week of indef- J^tLness Poor bi& ^^^^^ way sonal drop. AfCexted by .general ,„ite engagement better than $18,- "Big City." Estimates iFor Last Week Grand .-(1,400-76) (National) I Waddell Players ih "New Toys" out I Wednesd.ay to make way for road "Broadway." About normal or $2,200. Jayhawk —(1,600-40) (Jayhawk). I Fashion show with "Latest From ParlsV good, but didn't pack them, .« X i-i. /l■>..>^^i.l,^ /Anm- nn. hnqini^qq Poor bilUnc With way Hontti uiup. .^iluv^i-cu ^y^'^-^'^f \mne engagement oeiter L,,.,WetrpppMan i;o). ''riclon of Troy T(F. N.7 Genr above avcra^^^ family trade now shop- st. Francis—"The Gaucl mi," Trt=,.r Tnnii<:<»«< fjtato uptowii Womtin"- (M-O-M) and Jack Craw «^^n^n^^P^m dSown r;.n Vic-tor record band did not Jn3 nock a $2looj'S;p above for allow grn.s I0 f.U down, but.bu.sl- the State, and "The Gauclio,' with'week. Rotlcmlch and hand back homo, only little better. Take below nor "Hula TTula Blues," stage ""it. mal at $2.300.. : /xTrtfi«,,niv i,'ros.so(] above uvorage, $43,700. ^''P^^f"""T^V^5^^o^.,„i'it^'°HJ^^^ State (H 500; 35-50). "The Divine Lon Chancy's "Big City b g draw caters to family trade now shop ping, for amusement or falling back St. Francis—''The Gauch'o'''aT. A.) puifj i«r iiiiiu.-5«iiit;ui, ui minus, w"^" I (1,375; .35-6.5,-90). . Grabbing off on radios purchased on the install- around $7,500 on fourth and final ment plan. week left nothing to be do.=iired. •Parkway (I:>5ew-U. A.). "The' Dove" (U. A.) (1,00.0; 15-35). Sur- S5y-(400-.6) (Lawrence). '-Very | ^^^.^.i^JSr^'S^^ I ^^^^1%, ^"|ti^'2n^;^"n5 Oonfi/entlal" A^t^half and "Shc,rp during two weeks downtown. About jJ^J^';' -^„';,5>;^ ^ver for a ninth shooters" second half did bit better ?4.300. ,w„^r,«.,.aA "THp ' consecutive week Over $!',OoO. than ordinary; just under $900. • Metropolitan (Warners), The conbccuuve wctK. Aner,., of week. With colored fa.shion pic ture added, above normal wUh $1,90.0.