Variety (Apr 1928)

Wednesday, April 4, 1928 P I C T UR E S VARIETY CHANEY SENT CAPITOL TO $68,700; ROXY'S $117,10 WITH JAZZ SINGER' Paramount Up Again with Bow to $73^000^ and Whitenian Took New Week-End Record There with $33»000—Specials and Supers Spotty Approh.ch of Holy Week )ield no ^reat fears for.the picture houses last.week and the.usual melancholy <ln that account was further lessened by the terrific Palm Sunday week isnd business. Practically all houses aashed Saturday and Sunday. Examples cited include t\ie Par- iaimount's new week end. record of $33,000, credited to Whlteman, the Roxy going to calpacity both days in starting "The Jazz Singer's" sec- ond week, and "Wings" having the biggest Saturday it has. had in ihany A half holiday. • • Oh the past wfeek the Capltol ghows the top increase, jumpinig $16,200, with Chaney above an off total for the preceding "Bringing tip Father." The big M..-G.-M. house turned in $68,700 for "The Big City" and the picture is staying a second week. ' ■ The Paramount has been climbing, back to respectable figures by means of Oorinne Griffith and Clara Bow. "Bed Hair" rolled in $73,000 for this Pilblix site on the last 'week in March, an Increase of $3,000 above the pirevious film and a' fortnight's climb of $11,000 since iSTegri. Busi- ness.', was also good at the little Cameo, which found In $7,000 suf- ficient inducement to hold "Ivan, the Terrible" a . fourth week. After plenty weeks at Warner's, "Jazz Singer", came into the Roxy to get $117,066, excellent att: this stage of the season. The smash trade for "Legion of the Condemned" cooled on the sec- ond week, $32,600 showing a drop of $17,250 at the Rlialto from the hectic pi-emiere pace. Sister house, Rivoll, only saw $20,000 on "The Gaucho's" third week. Picture ha;s been taking decided drops and. will be willing to call it a visit Friday When '-Speedy" .(Lloyd). premieres to a special showing. Strand's sec- ond week of "The Noose" caught $24,400. Spotty High Hats Most of the spotty receipts were confined to the high hat $2 element and the b. o.'s were rather pock tnarke<}. Not any of the twice daily pictures reached capacity, "Trail of •98" setting the pace for this group at $18,400 on Its first full week . "Tenderloin" with Its dialog skipped along well enough at $16,800, and "Wings" continues' consistently at $15,000. Initial full week of "Two Lovers" showed a neat $8,300, but there's hot much activity around either the Central or the Globe for "Uncle Tom" and "Mother Machree." "Pour Sons" holds its own at the Gaiety. Notices for "We Ameri- cans" were good and business at the Colony on the half week was okay "Slmba" left the Carroll Saturday after a nice run of ten weeks. Immediate Incoming high scale pi ctures a re confined to two.: "Abie'i3 "Irish Hose" Is slated 'for the filW Street April 16 or 21st, and "Street. Angel" launches its New York car'eeir at the Globe next Monday night (April 9). Although Fox has this house under lease until October, First National may sublease for "Lilac Time" in June. Pathe may also renew tenancy of the Gaiety next month for "The Godless Girl." Estimates iFor Last Week Astor^"Trail of '93" (M-G) (1, 129; $l-$2) (3d week). Braved last days of Lent to open and first full week showed smart $18,400; hot ^capacity,, but- figure :Cpnsidered,_ex ceptional for time of year and new $2 picture. ' ^ Cameo—"Ivan the Terrible" (Am- klno) -(549; 50-75) (4th week) Pulled surprise by lingering fourth week; third week totaled just above $7,000. "The Chaser" (F. N.) next Capitol—"The Big city" (M-G) (4,620; . 35-50-75-$1.65) (2d week). Chahey rejuvenated b.o. for- $16,200 leap; rewarded by second week; got $68,700. . Central^vuncle Tom's Cabin". (U.) (922; $l-$2) (22d week). "Tom" Still here; receipts don't warrant continuance of stay, but, sticking along. Colony — "We Americans" (U) (1,980; $l-$1.65-$2) (2d week) Opened March 28; approving notices by dallies; had good week-end. to push house over $5,000 by Sunday night; give away premiere with figure for eight shows rated, all right. Criterion — "Wings" (Par) (836; .$l-$2)_(34th weeky. DoesiVt deviate '"Tlira (5h"an d"$T570W"a"ga in^^^i gn^'o f"s tU--" blUty; final of three weeks' return engagement in Brooklyn, this time at the Teller, summed at $8,000; drop of $4,300 across bridgo. Embassy—"Two Lovers" (U.A.) (696; $1-51.65) (3d week). Roman- tic subjoct had satisfactory first full wcok at SS,300; .short of capac- ity but nndiing to squawk, about; reported Tt; '.A li.'is house for cl^ht Vveeka. with :\^-G-M contemplating N. 0. DIPS AGAIN "Legion's" ^18,100 Luke Warm- State Down to $12,500 DODGE HOUR HELPS "SORRELL" GET $21,000 Michigan's "Chance*' Week Clicks at $48.500—Capitol Off with "Danube," $18,000 . . New Orleans, April 3. (Drawing PopulatTon, 500,000) Weather: Clear and Cool Very little of. moment In the. pic- ture theatres last week; Saenger show was. rather drab, its highlight being "Legion of the Condemned," which failed to draw as anticipated. Barely- passed $18,000,. a drop of $4,000 from previous week; Saenger organization is doing something for the Strand by in- stalling a new organ, sending over Ray. McNarnara from the. Saenger to bccupy the console and bringing back Don Phillipihi from Mobile to lead the orchestra. House needs lots of . pepping to be placed ;on profitable basis. "Heart of a Follies Girl" literally died at the Strand last week, $2,800. Lioew's State took- a dive below $13,000 for the first time in mO;nths. An average yaude program and "Bringing: Up Father" the reason. Jjiberty did nothing with '-"The Whip Woman" on returns. "Midnight Rose" succeeded In sending the Orpheum above $8,000 again.; Surrounding vaude nothing to. brag, about, . so the. upturn: .in business: Could be attributed, solely to the picture. The Palace had a Mix, "Silver Valley," but a good niusical helped get tlie $4,000. Tudor worried along with "The Gingham Girl." Estimates for Last Week , Saenger (3,C68; 65), "Legion of the Condemned" (Par). Much ex-, pected of fiying film; but hopes were not realized; there is Lent to blame it on; $18,100. Loew's State (3,218; 50), "Bring- ing Up' Father" (M-G). Comedy was a lightweight for-house, which has come to be considered for its outstanding pictures; poor session at $12,500, lowest gross in a year. Strand (2,200; 50), "Heart of a Follies Girl" (P. N.). Billle Dove and an ordinary vehicle no combi- nation to bring them in; dipped to $2 800. ' Liberty (1,800; . 50), "The Whip Woman." Cracked early and never recovered; $2,200. Orpheum (2.400; 50), "Midnight Rose." Orpheum ipicked up last week; $8,200. Palace (2,300; 40), "Silver Valley" (Epx); Best musical ever offered by thl Danny Duncan company saved western; $4,000. Tudor e«00; 40), "The Gingham Girl" (FBO). Maybe for cryin* out loud; $1,100. . . : TACOMA CUTTING DOWN B'way Playing Stage Unit but Half Week—"Wild Geese," $3,400 following. In, with .".C&sanfi-W" th.e. $150,000 French made. . • Gaiety—"Four Sons" and Movie- tone (Fox) (808; $l-$2) (8th week). Sticking right along and. no. com- plaints at less than $10,000. Globe "Mother Machree" and Movietone (Fox) (1,416; $1-$1.65) (5th week). Weakest of neighbor- ing "mother" pictures and office not satisfied with business; moves to Times Square next week making room for . "Street Angel"; "Sunrise" out after this week. Paramount — "Red Hair" (Par) (3,606; 35-50-75). Clara pulled $73,- 200 . to ■'windQwaL S^S® gross^ and carnes 6'n cTImlb hdijse Tfas been do-" ing past two weeks; Whlteman started three weeks' stay, Saturday, to record week-end of $33,000; this Includes midnight shows at which band didn't appear. Rialto—"Legion of the Con- demned" (Par) (1,960; 35-50-75-90) (3d week); . Fell away . after big first week, but still healthy at $32, t 600; drop of $17,250 doesn't mean-so much, in face of heavy opening; getting down to normal that's all. Rivpli—"The Gaucho" (U. A.) (2.- 200; 35-50-'75-90) (4th week). Dropped sharply since first week, but is on return after $2 display at Liberty; rounds out four weeks Fri- day at . six p. m., to permit special showing of "Speedy" (Par); Fair- banks' third week, $20,000. Roxy—"Jazz Singer" and Vita- phone (W. B.) (50-75-$l-$1.65) (2d w^eek). Known for Its out pf town strength, curiosity' manifested on what picture would do. here after long stay at Warner's at $2; quieted the skeptics and dispelled all doubts =v(iTh-aver-"$-l-l 7^0 0 Or^^^^-=-^~^-^= Strand—"The Noose" (F. N.) (2,- 900; 35-50-65-75), Barthelmoss slid $10,000 on holdover wcok to $24,400; on two weeks, $5i»,000. not bad; first week held up when most everything else was off. Warner's—"Tendfrloln" and Vita- phone (W. E.) (1,360; $l-$2) (4th week). Gave way bit under pres- .^ur*» but right in running at $15,- 800. Detroit, AprU a. Weather Fair ,. .. Presenting one of the atrongest fronts in a long whiles the film places saw grosses shinny up a few pegs Ijist week. Although hot quite up to expectations In two or three instances; attendance was generally good; The drop Thursday, night (Dodge hour) was instrumental in restraining at least one stand from entering the sky-scraping, class. ..United Artists' theatre Installed a loud speaker for its broadcast and played to a packed house, in severe contrast to surrounding con- ditions. Program proved a bust through continued static said bad reception," but the coin tpas In the mitt; "Sorrel and Son,'' in its first week, started fairly well and demonstrated Its ability to build. Mid-week tempo" on the Current lap will tell the story of three weeks or two. In the latter event "The Dove" will open Friday, . contrary to a previous report "Ramona" would follow. The natives went down the line for the "Take a Chance" week and- slipped the Michigan $46,000', the best figure shown. by the big house, in isome time. Capitol had a so-so screen ani stag^ and was not highly rewarded. "The Blue Danube," film, missed; attaining the Capitol's aivierage picture quality and might have served better for the less pre- tentious State, at present the Kunsky freeze-out spot for doubt- ful cinemas. State deviates from that classification next :week, how- ever,, when changing to presenta- tions. House labored in vain last week with "Flying Romebs" and Jim Corbett. "The Crowd," Adams, and "TThe Student Prince," Madison, are likely to be pulled at the close of the current week, the second for both, if not improving. Oriental was around normal at $13,000 with "Coney Island." "Sunrise" will ^nally desist upon completing the. present (nlnt^) week at the Washington. Whether the obviously forced nature of , the -ru n for tho past^our weeks will enhance its chances in the neigh- borhoods is a question. Movietone helped more than a little in turn- ing the trick downtown. Estimates for Last Week Adams (Kunsky), "The Crowd" (M.-G.) (1,700; 50-76). Good first week for house at $18;000, but film fell somewhat short of expecta- tions; "40,000 Miles with Lindbergh" added, missed exploitation received elsewhere; "Crowd" remaining cur-- rently, with third week possible. Capitol (Kunsky), "The Blue Danube" (Pathe) (3,448; 60-75). Several bucks under house average at $18,000; unusual weakness In offering doubtlessly the cause. Madison (Kunsky), "Stiident Prince" (M.-G.) (1.97«; 60-76). Heavy flapper draw and $17,000; should hold over for third week; line, in house ad sugigests matinee trade is in need Of stimulation^ ■ Michigiln (Kunsky-Publlx), rTaka Chance Week" (4,100; 60-76). Spurred on by curiosity, umpchays flocked in; big week for big house; $48,500. • Oriental (Miles), "Coney Island" (FBO) (2,950; 25-90). Better film than usual and formal. Pan bill; slightly under previous week, but oke at $13,000. State (Kunsky), "Flying Romeos" (3,000; 25-75). Just biding time un- til advent of stage band policy next week; drew $9,500. United Artists (U. A.), "Sorrel -and-Son"- (U. -A.) -:(2-.000; 50-66)v Three-week stay at hand. If pace continues; Thursday night radio tie-up helped opening week's $21,000. Washington (Fox), ^Sunrlse"- Movietone (Fox) (8th week) (1,778; 35-50-65). Hardly profitable at $3,000 or less; apparently forced run nearing end with "Mother Machree" (Fox) slated next week. "Ramona," $35,700, Pitt Pittsburgh, April |. (Drawing Population, 600,000) Penn (Loew) (3,700; 25-35-60) f'Ramona" (U. A ) and stage unit, "Hula Blues." Big business fo; this time of year; only houise do; so well this week; $35,700. Aldino (Loew) (2,000; 25-36-60). "Warning*.' and Chaplin .reissue of "The Rink" and vaude. Oft at about $io;3oo.' . . Stanley-=^43,Z2Z^^-.25.-^^^^ f!howdown'* (Par.) and Florentine singers. Not capucity and ranging around throo-fourths. Grand (2,700; 3u-50), "The.Circus" (U. A.). First time for a second run in this house not .so good. Davis (,2,100; 35-50-75). . Trlxlo Frif,';uiza.'toplini.'d to a fair draw. Cameo. So longer flUlnf: • 600 seats at 35 and 40, starts as a shoot- ing gallery with l.j cents top. Tacoma, AprH 3. (Drawing Pop., 125,000) Weatheri Rainy . Better attractions meant Jm-. proved biz the past week. At the Broadway, Dave Good put in his final week as m. c, OUle Wallace coming in for a .short /stay. Fan- chon-Miirco presentations will play but a half-week at this house, man- agement beinjg .determined on re- trienchment to piake 'racoma pay. Blue Mouse found a draw in "Wild Geese.", Pantage^ had good vaude, and ;'Wolf Fangs" put more; life into the party, although ques- tionable if the.name Mlured or hurt' Rlalto found better ftate: with heavily advertised "Chicago." Estimates for Last Week Broadway (W. C.) (1,6,00; 25-50). —"The Big City" . (M-G). Lon Chaney, as ' usual, meant some-: thing. Stage act; $7,500. Pantages (1,500; 25-50)—"Wolf Fangs" (Fox). Nice biz; $5,500. : Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (650; 25- 50)_"Wild Geese" (T-S). Bei-nie's band on Vita liked; picture drew well; $3,400, Rialto (W. C.) (1,250; 25-40)— "Chicago'-' (Pathe); $2,250. Colonial (W. C.). (850; 25) — "Strieets of Shiinghai" (T-S) first half and "Let 'Er Go, Gallagher" (Pathe) second half; $1,200. , "WltD GEESE," $7,100, SEAHLE^S BIG HIT TATSr OUTRUNS 'DOVr $27,000 TO $24,000 But Warfield Had Good Stage Bill, Too—"Enemy" Off, $14,000 "Red Hair" Got $20,000 for New Seattle—f'Ramona" Opened Well,. $9,000 San Francisco, AprH S.; (Drawing Population^ 756,0()0) Weather: Unsettled Another week of spotty business. Combination of bad breaks held re- sponsible for some of the drop. Over the week end . the town Wais treated to some "very unusual weather" in steady downpours which continued from Thursday through Tuesday. Rain helped on week end, but hurt Monday: and Tuesday. . ■ Thursday Dodge hour locally be- tween six and seven, the dinner hour Wasn't bad. One of the surprises was the way Marion Da vies in. "The Palsy" out- drew Norma Talmadge In "The Dove." But, In explainatlon, it must be admitted that the Warfield show was one of the best all-round ehr tertainments offered herea.bouts In months. No records were broken but it was healthy business. Beery-Hatton combination at the St. Francis didn't fare so well, while the Ca.llfornia was a distinct dis- appointment with "The Enemy." California has been, in a rut for the past-three or four weeks. At the Embassy, where "The Jazz Singer" Is now in its eighth week, business was.more than satisfyingi Seventh week ran just about $50 under $13,- 000. -'■ Jolson picture is assured an- other four weeks, a total pf 11, making it the longest, run picture oh Market street on a grind basis. "Ell-Ell" at the Capitol, With Alice Gentle (soprano) appearing on the stage In concert, was an out- and-out flop. Opened Saturday on a two-a-day basis, at $1 top, but Tuesday switched to an all-day grind with the gate lowered to 50 cents.. Even this didn't help and.tho revenue was very disappointing. Another failure was "The Road To Ruin," sex propaganda picture, which didn't mean much to the so- phisticated bunch. Plenty of en- dorsements from women's clubs and the._llke;-but-.trado.-was not'encoijEr aging. Wiir be yanked at the end of second week. Estimates For Last; W^ek Warfield—"The Patsy" (M-G) (2,- 672; 35-50-66-90)^ Kinded out real entertainment program and house led the town at $27,000; nice profit;. Mbvietdno helped'revenue. Granada—"The Dove" (-U< A.) (2,- 785; 36-50-65-90). , Norma Tal- miadge's. first appearance oh the screen in months,, but public didn't display any too much Interest; at around $24,000, nothing , to brag a,bout. St. Francis—"Partners In Crime" (Par.) (1,375; 35-65-90). Opening week a disappointment for this one. but showed nice profit; near $14,000 oh first week. California—"The Enemy" (M-G) !5[2,200; 35-65-90). Another disap- pointing week for run house, making three in a row; picture failed to click; $14,000 considered poor. Embassy—"Jazz Singer" and Vita (W. B.) (1,367; 50-C5-90), Breaking jill=,priiyi.Qus^riicorjl3.=:ior.=.lo:ngeLvityi. figured to run through April; sev- enth week at $13,000'immense.. Imperial-—(Markowitz) "The Road to Ruin" (nroughton) (1,400; 25-50). Pro.''.clirnioiit agaiii.st pronii.scuou.s loving and Uv'ini;; film' drew .some, of tlv rui'ioua, hut bli.sini-.ss to Dic. bod; Itieky to r''.vh . $.'i,''ifiO: Jarik Hn4i;iny, f/rit'in/illy ri.'inif'd as ili's pi'".-i>-/it' r, Avilli(ij.(;vy hia (•>j)iiiL'f iji»n after fjut th day, . ' Seattle, April 3. . (Drawing, Pop., 475,000) Weather: Unsettled Business at the picture emppriuma mailed along to a fair gate last week, considering the. competition amonfp' the local houses. The new Seattle Is going to be a tough problem for a while; House had "JRed H;'r" and PubUx'fl "Hands Up," opened big, but took a slip for the balance of the woek. Fiftb Avenue went strong on . xrlugging "Chicago," first De Mille picture to play thie house In months, and as a result showed an improvement over past low weeks. Fjuichoh and Marco's "Circus Idea"^ did not seom to mean a thing as far as gate was concerned. United Artists. with"Rarn6na," In for a run, clicked to gopd. crowds.' Blue Mouse" lined them up for blocks with Tiffany-Stahl's "Wild Geese" and an excellent Vita pro- gram, ; House seems: to 'be clicking to good returns, regardless of the .big.Capacity houses. Columbia was a bit better than average with Earl Griy's orchestra and "Liove Me and the World Is Mine." Gray's orches- tra was the real attraction. . Orpheum, with a brand heW policy of continuous performances, failed to show any big returns, although it had a strong bill. This house will, keep open throughout the summer, according to reports. Pantages' business has been completely oft for months. Last week h juse Improved with ."Come to M.v House" as film, but with the vaude responsible. Eddie Peabody opened at . the Fifth Avenue Friday for four weeks, and Riibe Wolf Is. announced as his successor. Ollle Wallace, organist and m. c. at the Fifth Avenue, ia again being shifted to the Broadway, Tacoma. John Hamrick, owner of the Blue Mouse circuit. Is still in Los An? geles. Hamrlck's franchise with Warner Birothers Is understood to be nearing Its end. George Marlon, auditor of the string. Is occupying Hamrlck's chair at present. Estimates for Last Week Seattle (Publlx-W; C.) (3,10*; 26- 60)—"Red Hair" (Par). Picture main card, as "Hands Up" (unit) nothing to brag about; Jules Buf- fano, m. c, and Ron and Don, or* ganists, popular with patrons;. $20,000. Fifth Avenue (W. C.) (2,400; 2t- .60)—"Chicago" (Pathe). House went the works on .advertising; "Circus Days," prcsehtation, a flop; $14,000, United ArtisU (W. C.-U. A-)— "Ramona" (U. A.)i Opened to big crowds; "Speedy'^ and "Patent Leather Kid" following on runs; $9,000. Orpheum (Orph) (2,7'O0; 25-50)— "Shield of Honor" (U). House will have to do plenty of . missionary work before new grind policy catches on; $10,200.. Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (960; 26- 75)^"Wlld Goese" (T-S). House had one of biggest opening crowds for months, many being turned away; Vita acts okay; $7,100. Columbia (U) (1,000; 25-50)— "Love Me and the V'orld Is Mine" (U.). Picture a distinct flop; ma- jority of biz brought to house by Earl Gray's orchestra, very; populeu* herie; $4,800. Pantages (1,550;. 25-65)—"Gome to My House" (Fox). Business took tipward slant; Dowey and Goldie Revue and Ray Hughes on stage holned considerably; $7,300. President (Duffy). (1,650; 25-$l)— "Madamo X." Arthur Frahm, at present manager of Duffy's Music Box. Portland, succeeds Bill Mc- Curdy here, who In turn leaves to oi^^rShizo a' new 6onripany a:t tlw Vancouver theatre, which Duffy has leased from Orpheum for six months: "M.Mdame X" got $4,900. . Metropolitan (Klaw-Erlanger) (1,- 700; 50-$2.75)—"Broadway." Play glvon a heavy ball.vhoo and cashed In for plenty of sheckles. Sapene's Foreign Buys Jein Sapene, French film producer who led the demand for restrictions against American pictures in France, has bought a producing company In Germany for a sum running over $300,000. He is now negotiating for the purchase of a producing com- pany in England, On account of the German and English fjuota restrictions recently put into force, it is reported Sapenie finds hilmsclf obliged to produce in twojJther cQuntrles in ord^^^^ tp,_g Qt^ fiis French pictures in. Claire Windsor's "Price" JjOH Angeles, April 3. Cl.iire Winilsor, .screen af:trc.<!H, is ^ J'•Jic'ir.'^in^'- a .'-Udi-'h called " What !. It \vil! Inivr' a tryout for Orpheum J t;iiciiit at Lofig Beach next week.