Variety (Jun 1928)

8 VARIETY PICTURE GROSSES Wednesday, June 6, 1928 Clii Erratic—"Teen," JANN"GS AT $1, $1,500 VS 'GAUCHO,' $21,000 Stanley, PhiBy, $24,500; Fox Close at $23,500 ■ Philadelphia, June 5. with the Stanley company/en- >>ntk II " ♦ Cki k/t f • 1^ s.» i aaged in extensive campaign for 'UtnellO fit onUDeri in V' 1 JubHee Wock, the downtown houses Couldn't Draw—"Thief in Dark," Pan's, $8,300 ChicaeOi June 5. Weather: Fair. Wlijle MomoTial i)ay brought exti'u business to all Loop houses, grosses for the week were e'Tatic.. Third week of "Street of Sin" at McVickev's was one long dirge, $18,- 000 being: the linal recording. This is one of the least endurable Jan- nings'li'lnis ever In tbWnt. The Chi- cago, as contrast, continued its up- ward climb to hit $46,000 with "The Yellow Lily'.' and Lou Holtz heavily ♦exploited on stage. • This is.only $2,- 000 above average, , but the , house was steadily below normal until a few weeks ago. Oriental dropped to its loweist figure since Ash's departure with "Harold Teen." Somewhat of a sur- r/i'ise, as the house was getting a strong young element throughout the week. Absence of adults pps-' sibly responsible for the slump to $33,000.. At the Monroe Abe Cohn experienced a good seven days with ''Don't Marry," a popular picture lo- cally. . Besides the Monroe, ''Don't" was playing three large neighbor- hood hqu$ea and drew a unanimous line of okay noticies. . Roosevelt held ''Laugh, Clown, 7>ai(gh" for a, second week, after McVicker's already had played it two, and bit the dust with $10,000. Chaney film Avent into the RoosiBvelt to substitute for. "Drag NctiV Latter picture, having over-, come its local police ban by reVIsioh and cutting, .opened Monday at the Koosevelt thr^e weeiks behind schefdr ule. Filrri won't profit by the lifted ban, as B. & K. and Paramount have kept the police trouble out of print. Whatever the film does will be on what merit the cutting. has left. Judging by newispapei" notices olone. Paramount made a mistake In. slipping "Partners in Cririie," Beeryr Hatton comedy, into the State-Lake instead of a Publix house. RQ,view- ers gave It second best comment of the week. House went above aver- age, of $17,500.. ."Glorious . Betsy" continued, a real draw at the Or- pheum with no "d-ut"» notice posted as yet. Third week brought $9,100, Third and final week of "Sadie Thompson" at. United Artists gave the film, definite local rating as mod erate money stuff. "Ramona" off Friday to a flying start. ?.Iindlin's Playhouse went' up with '"Ihe Strange Case of Jonathon Drew," British product, getting $3, 200 on the weelc. Estimates for Last Week Chicago (Publix)—'.'The Yellow Lily" CP. N.) (4,500; 00-75). Clive Brook and Billle Dove good for mod- erate money in Chi, and Lou Holtz in "Ai-aby," Publix unit, helped with sll.ght draw;. $46,000. ; McVicker's (Publix)—"Street of Sin" (Par) (2,400; 50-75). Jannlngs picture diropped $5,000 in third week to $18,000; judged by three Siireek average this one didn't fare so well Monroe (Fox)—"Don't Marry" (Fox) (975; . 50-75); Better than usual here;: also playing three neighborhood de luxers simultane- ously; house plays Movietone and no stage show; $4,100. Oriental (Publix)—"Harold Teen" (F. N.) (3,300; 35-75).. While plainly choice stuff for the flaming genera- tion, adults didii't go for it; $33,000 with locally produced "Here Comes the. Bride," Publl-x unit. . Orpheum (Warner) — "Glorious . Betsy" and Vita. (W. B.) (760; 50). Talking film great at $9,100 in third week; Vitaphone subjects regular part of bllli Playhouse (Mindlin) — "Strange Case of Jonathon Drew" (Piccadilly) (600; 50-75). British import went above house average to $3,200. R o o s e V e I t, (Publix)—"Laughs Clown, Laugh" (M-G) (1,400; 60- 60). Second week very low and out at $10,000; al.<?o pliayed. two weeks at McVicker's. State-Lake (Orpheum)^"Partners In Crime" (Par) (2,500; 5Q-75). Un- usual film break for vaudfilm stand; . drew well at $17,500. .United Artists (U. A.)-^"Sadi.e Thonipson" (U. A.) (1,702; 35-75). .. Out after three weeks of fair money; closed .to $17,500; "Ramona" (U. A,) curreiit. 'RAMONA,'$9,000, H. 0., 3D WEEK IN TORONTO All Other Locals Under Sum- mer Average Last Week— ' "Drums" Fell Down Toronto, June 5. . (Drawing Population 700,000) Weather: Fair and'Cool "Ramona" sayed. Toronto from a disrhal last week. Everythlrig else fell, laelow summer averages due in part to comp.etitlon from the race track and ball yard. "Ramona" was brought into Tom Daley's Tivoll as a program release with nothing, much expected of it. The musical plug helped and after a routine opening the picture bet- tered $9,000 in its first week in this i;400.--seater. Held, over and ;last; week again $9,000.; This means a third and probably fourth week. Word-of-mouth advertising and oc- casional organ concerts via Iradio big helps; "Drums of Love'r (UA): expected to do hie things, but after a fair opening faded badly to a little over $7,000 at. .the Uptown. This town has niever . qjiit razzing Qrifllth's last, "Sorrows of Satan." , "Glorious Betsy" opened stronger Saturday but largely on the strength of the stage show. . Jack Arthur had operatic .stars dh the stage aiid on. the screen an English travel picture Tyith a lecturer. Lbew's got about $9,000 with "The Big City" despite handicaps of be- ing in a small temporary house with carpenters and painters helping to make life unpleasant. Estimates for Last Week Tivoli (FP) "Ramona"*(1,400; 30- 60). Continues to win. Eased up. Better than $9,000 in 1,400-seater real going for May. Held for third week' Hip (FP) (2,600; 30-60) ''Love Me arid the-World Mine" (U).. Strength of show in stage effort. Almost $9,- 000, good for this season with radio plugging help. Opened weak. ■ Loew's . •'The ..Big City" (M-G) (1,541; 30-60). Lon-Chaney has big following here. While this one did not add many to list, satisfied die hards despite; discomfort of paint smell and sound of workmen re- pairing house recently burned. •Uptown (FP) (3,000; 30-60) "Drums of Love" (UA). disap- pointment at under $8,000. Critics razzed picture as elaborate nothing- I16SS Pantages (FP) ''Surrender" (U) (3,400; 30-60). Failed t<J corhe out of slump at $7,800. Weather and aU that sort of tiling. Kansas City,.June 5. (Drawing Pop;, 600,000) . Weather—Good; one riight rain Loew's Miiflland, with ''The Gaii- chd,'* drawing $21,000, and : the, Shubert, with Emil Jannings in "Othello,',V as a rental, around $1,500, were the two extrehies on the street l^st week. First tinie the Midland; had had, a Fairbanks picture. It turned in a better than' average week, but tailed to top the gross of the last Clara Bow feature, although it had the advantage of a iiolidiay with in- creased pi-ices. The Jannings picture at the Shu- bert could hot get therri in at any performance; T.WQ shows dally up to $1 top at night were given for seven days. ■ ' '•; .; ,.\ • MainStreet played the Mexican Orchestra up. with extra publicity and was. not ;disappointed. . Number of Mexicans here ;and they all' turned out. With the other houses it was just another week. Estirnates for Last Week Loew's Midlands-"The Gaucho" (4,000; 25-35-50), Held up fairly well to expectation. Memorial Day with holiday , scale helped. , Stage show, "Hula Blues," . Loew-Publix unit; ^21>000, Mainstreet (Orpheum),! "Vamping Venus" (3,200; 25-50). For first time in many weeksi title of Sdreen feature given second place. Mexi- can Orchestra,, oh stage, topping; $19,000. . , . , Pantages, "Thief in Dark" (2,200; 25-50). Film feature good melo- drama. ; Stage vaude. . Show badly balanced, most^ tiresome in spots; $8,300." ;•. Newman (Loew's), "The • Drag Net," 1st half; "Fools fdr LUck." 2d half; (1,980; 25-35). Got away to good start and. would have been money ahead had bill lield up for week instead of changing to Fields- Conklln comedy; $3,200; ; Liberty (Ind.), "Son of Sheik" (1,000; 25-35). Another revival; $1,100. . Uptown (Universal), "Golf Wid- ows" on screen and. stage orchestra, with acts. , Hi. Hans Flath at organ. Globe had"Powder My Back" and Bridge stock. Capitol's picture,"The Perfect Gentleman." Fairbanks and Jannings Close in Small Town Topeka, June 6. . (Drawing Pop., 85,000) Weather: Fair and Warm Contest between Douglas Fair- banks and Emil Jannings last week, with "Gaucho" a:t the Orpheum, and Jannings' "Liast Command" at the Jayhawk tlie first four days. Extra dime tacked on to the price at the =^DrplieutirmerpG^^ neck and neck race. The prizes ' and special '■ prize stunts used, by the Waddcll Players at the Grand and the. Art Higgins Company at the Novelty, showed some effect but not greatly when the cost of the stunts is taken; into consideration. . By next wcfek the Novelty will be having . something special with prizes, attached " for nearly, every day or night of- the week-'' It was the first really warm weather of the year and instead of the expected harvest Wednesday (Memorial Day) there was a decided slump. ■ Al Russell and vaudeville revue in stock at the Best continues • to increase the grosses, the Best be- ing about the Only place, in to\Yn that showed good returns for the holiday. Estimates for Last Week Jayhawk (1,400; 40) (Jayhawk)— "The-- Last' Command" with Emil Jannings first four days lauded by critics and did extra business "Slightly Used" last two days only program material, didn't help; about $3,200. Orpheum (1,200; 60) (Natiohal)- "The Guacho" with Douglas Fair banks, playing belated run in this territory got Fairbanks fans but not hailed as his best. Extra dinfie kept many away but also helped buMd. up total of about $2,400; .Grand (1,400;. 75) (National)— Waddell Players with aid of two for-ones and prize nights showed increa.se with "To the. Ladies" as bill. About $1,900. Novelty (1,100; 25) (Crayrford)— Art Higgin-q arid "Follytown Maids" in tab musical stock and "Turkey liens," ianother version of some thing, pulled; total: tip {fr bit with pi-i'/e stunt.s,. etc., making just under $2,000. ■ • . . Cozy (400;;25) (Lawrence)—"Soft Living," First half assisted by ad dition of Photophone, replrtcing trio In pit and organ, picked up fair ^bosmT'Ksr^-''THe=^E3?aTJ6''^in.^t= iTair did. better, bringing week's gro.ss to about .$800. Best (550; 20) (Lawrence)—Al Russell's vaude revue with three changes for week 4ind second and third run pictures showed increase Arenioviiil J>ay busiri<^s.4 accounted f ■' lilt, which made gros.s about $900. "50-50 Grr in U. A. at Seattte Sagged to $13,000 Seattle, June 5. (Di'awing Population, 500,000) Weather: Warm : and Rain Town's over-seated condition is evidenced by the closing of the United Artists theatre next. week. And soon 2,500 more seats will be added by the Mayflower and later 1,000 by H;arnrick's Music Box. No one had to call out the fire departmerit to hold ba:ck mobs last week; "Street. of Sin"^ was sordid enough and had the call on the draw. 'Ivan, the Terrible" made •Jiz sdmewhai; bettier at the Columbia Blue Mduse was dff with Vita just so-so and the show at the Fifth Avenue was yes and no. United Artists poorly, ahd Metropolitan ha'd "Wings" for a fair second week Estimates for Last Week Seattle (W C-Pub-L) (.3.100; 25- 50)—"Street of Sin" (Par). Jannings billed heavily and "Milady's Fan" as stage offering. Started oft well, then sagged; gross an i'mjprovement over recent weeks; $16,500. Fifth Ave. (W-C) (2,700; 25-60)- "50-50 Girl" .Par). Usual Bebe.Dan iels with average Fanchon-Marco show. Not quite so go I at $13,000 United Artists ("VV-C-U. A;) (1, 800; 25-60)—"Shepherd Of. the Hills" (F. N.). Biz still sldw; $5,100. Columbia (U) (1,000; 25-30) — VIvan, the Terrible" (Amkino). Lots Of folks didn't like it; .but sdmethins appealing in this foreiga realism; better, at $5,200. . . Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (950; 25 50-75)—"Sporting Age" (Col). Not so gay arid Vita acts not up to par; off at $6,000. Pantages (1,600; 25-50-75)—'^The News Parade" (Fox). Backed with good vaude; not so forte at $6,000. Orpheum (2,700; 25-50) — "Hold 'Em, Yale" (Pathe).' Smashing col lege play didn't smash anything here, but brought some laughs; vaude average; best Sunday since grind policy started. Winter Garden (U Chain) (850; =lF.-25')—'-Th€-GauGhoi^-(=Uv-Av).-Ovej^ to. good returns on second run; or chestra music feiatured; $3,3.00. President (Duffy) (1,650; 25-$1.2.5) —"Shalhnohs on Broadway" (Henry Duify Players). Marion Lord as guest star; fairly good; $4,000. Metropolitan (1,450; 50-$1.65) — "Wings" (Par). In second week fair at $8,500. reported only fair - to - middlin' grosses last week; A sustained stretch of real summer weather from Thursday on did not help at- tendance and the pictures, in gen- eral, were not such as to cause niuch box office excitement; This Jubilee Week experiment is being watched this week. Trade has been badly off this spring' and all of!, the houses have suffered. Last \veek the Stanley had Adolphe Meh- jdu in "A Night of \ MysteVy;" plus another of the Stanley unit revues with Buddy Page as m. c. The com- binatidri dragged in about $24,500', slight gain over preceding week, but nothing to rave.'overi : Stanton also disappointing With the second and final week of. "The Patent. Leather Kid" with Barthel- mess. This feature did fine busi- riess when road-showed at. the Er- langef last winter, but .flivyered on its first showing at regular prices. Last week's gross was under $8,000 and there was no .question, of It be- ing held in as had been orifirinally intended. It is succeeded by "Old Ironsides," another road-show here with big, .success, running for sev- eral months last season at thp AI7 dine and getting . a better record here than in most cities. One case of Improvement was the Karltdn, which had had . a number of bad weeks, but came back strong with "Aeross to Singapore," to $7,50.0, exceptidhally good consid- ering the adverse conditions. Held for another week. "Seventh Heaven," which finished a six weeks' r.un at the Fox-Locust Saturday, had a peculiarly, uneven ecord, but on the whole a profitable one. It ; started weakly, spurted, dropped and then after "last week", was announced, came back to $10,- 500 last week. It might have re- mained longer, but the Fox people were probably wise in taking it off while the film was still a money- maker. The Fox made more of its presen- tation features than of it^ main .film last week. The pictiire was "A Thipf in the Dark.": Not a isinglo membei' of the cast mentioried in the billing or ads. The.principal at- traction was "Syncopation Revel- ers" on the stage. Hot weather late in. the week kept the gross down to $23,500; . ' Estimates for. Last Week Stanley (4,000; 35-5.0-75).—"A Night of Mystery" (Par). Adolphe Menjbu jpicture given fairly good notice. Another Stanley stage unit revue. About $24,500,; fair; Aldine (1,500; 50-75)—"Old San Francisco-" (Warner; .2d week>. Nothing unusual second week. House needs strong,draw because ot location, and this film missed that by mile. Under $9,000. Stanton (1,700; 35-50^75)—"The Patent Leather Kid" (1st N., 2d week). Big when road-shdw:ed at Erlanger earlier in seasdn, but dis appointed here. Under $8,000, karlton (1,000; 50 and 75)-t Across to Singapore" (P. D, C, 1st week). Exception to general rule of bad business last week. Satisfied with $7,500. . Held another week. Arcadia (800; 50)—"Baby Mine' (M-G-M, 2d week). Held up falriy well with $3,000 reported. Fox-Locust (1,800; $1,65)—"Street Angel" (Fox, 6th week). Closed Saturday after uneven, but profit- able, eiigagemeht. Jumped to $10.- 500 at end. Fox (3,000; 99)^"A Thief in .the Dark" (Fox). Picture not given much attention. On stage tabloid revue. $23^500 or better. ST. LOUIS MILD WARFIELD FRISCO'S BEST $29,500 WITH "LILY" "Lily" Gives Missouri Very Week at $28,800 Good California Going Dark and Granada ''Way Down at $14,000 With Menjou (Drawing Population, 756,000). Weather: Fair San Francisco, June 5.' In the face of a state-wide busi* ness depression, the Warlieid went close to. record figures, demonstrat- ing beyond question,. that it's the dufstanding house on the coast for consistent business.. Holiday heiiied, yet the fans seem set for this house no matter what jtiie screen feature. Since Publix units canio in here, the Warfield has increased its busi- ness until It has; averaged a weekly profit of better than $5;600. Grana-Sa has not once been out of the red. Much of the Granada, grief has been due to poor screen features, though Publix is given first choice on all available pictures. St. Francis went Movietone last week with "Sunrise." Initial week was satisfaetory, con.sidering the general slump. California took an- : other dive and had its lowest week in months. House hks gone to the bow-wows and will be closed after this week; Inability to get suitable run pictures coupled with what are termed unreasonable demands by union musicians, and a failure dri their part to co-operate with the management in the face of depress- ing business. Is responsible for the shut down.. Embassy wound up four weeks of "Tenderloin." Picture fell off aro\ind $1,000 a week; no , great slump. "Good Time Charlie" current. Estimates for Last. Week Warfield—"The Yellow Lily" (P. N.) (2,672; 35-50-65-90). Okay. Billie i)ove feature, ahd strong stage show pushed total to $29,500. St. Francis—"Sunrise" and Movie- tone (Fox) (1,375; 35-65-90). Didn't start as strong, as anticipated but built as week advanced; George O'Brien, local boy and strong favoi-- Ite! opening week close to $18,000; satisfactory. . Granada—"His Tiger Lady" (Par), (2,785; 35-50r65-90). : Bad opening day through Menjou feature not ar- riving until first evening, show; off about $8,000 from previoUs week; little better than $14,000; plenty of red. Embassy—"Tenderloin", and Vita- phone (W.B.) (1,367; 50-65-90). In- terest in talkers continues strong; fourth week grossed $10,750; excep- tional. Cailifornia—-^"Across the "Pacific" (W, B.) (2,200; 35-65-90). Public used to seeing high type of run fear tures here; last few weeks have not ijrovided . that sort of entertain- ment; last week dismal flop at around $6,000; house goes dark in- definitely after current' w*eek. PAN'S $6,000, TACOMA .'r- Dressed, to Kill, Pan, Tops Town . . at $6,000. Good , St. Louis, June 6. (Drawing Population, .1,000,000) Weaither: Cool and Rain Failure . of summer to ,arrive on schedule prdved a bddn to the pic- ture theatres. Real cempetltlen enters the field this week, hdwever. In the opening of the Municipal open air theatre in Forest Park, and Charles Sinclair'is Garden theatre on the city's dutsklrts. Estimates for Last Week , Ambassador (Skouras) (3,OO0; S6- 65)—"Street of Sin" (Piar). Jannings at his best, despite rather poor ma- terial; Lowry stage show splendid entertainment; $30,300. Loew's State (3,300; 25-35-65)— "The Devil Dancer" (U. A,). Gllda Gray, in person and film production; Nat^NazaTrorir]f'^'d6iiir-6Kay"'as c; $23,600. ' Missouri (Skoura.s) (3,800; 35-65) —"The Yellow Lily" (P. N.). Frank Fay as m. c; 1st week, $28,800. Grand Central (Skouras) (1,700; 50-.75)—"Glorious Betsy" (W. B.) and Vita. Prospered on, third week; St. Louis (4,280; 36-66)—-"Broad- way Daddies" arid vaude. T^coma, June 5. (Drawing Population, 125,000) Weather:' Mostly Fair ; City is not going wild, but busi- ness is satisfactory. It makes a difference to the other hduses to have the ace West Coast iiouse out for the summer, Rialto and Colonial have been perking up under guidance of Steve Perutz and Earl Cook has helped the Pan along. . Estimates for Last Week Pantages (1,500 ;jre-50')—"Dressed to Kill" (Fox). Not sd ba'd with $6,000. Rialto (W. C.) (1.250; 35-50)— "Legion of the Condemned" (Par). House brightened up, biz the same way; $4,400, Bl^e Moiise (Hamfickl T6 50)—"The Sporting Age" (Col) and Yita. Did $3,200. ' Colonial (W. . C.) (8BO; 15-25)— "Tigress" (U) and"dirl in Pullman" (Pathe).' .Low price and low nut seems to be putting house into win- ning class; $1,600. TRYON IN "KID'S CLEVER" Los Aiigeles, June 5. Universal, has purchased "The Kid's Clever." original by Yin Modre, to be used as their next starring picture for Glenn Tryen. Jack Foley is writing the screen treatment' with William J. Craft scheduled to direct. lO-EPiSODE "WOLVES" . . . Los Arigeles, June 5; Nat Levine started production on his first 10-eplsode serial for Mascot release. It is titled "Wolves of the Sea," with ' Johnny Walker. Shirley Mason=^and^^om =Santsohi=^i n-=the cast. Richard PhilliJ) directing. M-G's Ufa "Spies" . M-G will release "Spies," Ufa pic- ture, as part of Its .share of CJermnn quota films. It Is more or less fnlnristic.