Variety (Jul 1928)

Wednesday, July 4, 19M PICTURE GROSSES VARIETY 9 ^Cossacks; GSbert and $71J50 Near July 4th Nifty k ^^C^^ ^'Red Dajnce" at $2, $15,250, Tfeanks to Shawr—Par Under $70,000—Specials Drooping MONTREAL'S 4 FIRST RUNS NEAR $50;0D0 Loew's $15,000—Negri, $13,- 000—Billie Dove, $12,000 :ju3t enough heat slipped'in last week to make Its presence felt; un- der the various marquees. A warm ijreeic-ehd plus the approach of.the national holiday also made the past Saturday and Sunday anything hut w. rave for the film contingent. • "Cossacks" and Gilbert about -np?ad-eagled the field for June's gS d£?ys^ in . gathering $71,200 at 5?e Capitol and holding over Only ither noticeable rlse^^as the Rtrand. where "The Hawk's ' Nest' Sn ?ake credit for $28,600. but the Kse^ives.lts new aU-film (talk- liS^ shorts last week) policy some ^deration in the matter. The lather two big theatres were off, -Magnificent Flirt" not being able to reach. $70,000 for tbe^P'^^^^,!?" ; Arid "Foreign Legion" falling short «f J90,OQO at the Roxy. ^. .Bivdll took a soiyi . bump with -Uncle Tom's Gabin.^' which hung op a record low first week under the "run" regime by. doing but $10,- 900 Picture goes out this Saturday for* "King of Kings," which comes tn with sound accompaniment. •^Tom" did .$2,200 on its second . tveek-fend. , , . The twin house, Rialto, also light With $20,950, and ."Drag Net" de- Darts to allow "Man Who Laughs" to enter, latter film closing at the Central Wednesday. This house goes dark until "Lilac Time" (F. N.) cbmes in Aug. 3 plus Firnatone.syn- chronization. "Station Masters second week at the Cameo hung fairly close to its initial) gross at $6,200. ^ ^ , Specials None of the ■ $2 group, really Showed anything unles-s It was "The Red bance's" opening $15,250. Most Of the draw here Is generally ad ftiitted to be the Movietone short on iBernard Shaw. "Fazil" is getting feady to blow after a fourth week to $5,000. About two more weeks tFlll conclude this stay. "Trail of '98" is another oh its way out. "White Shadows," M-G's first sound picture, being due at the Aator about the first w6ek .in Aiigust. "EJnd of St. Petersberg" Claims to be hovering around five figures and will attempt to remain for the summer, while "Dawn" isn't bringing much attention to Itself on 42d street and tjuits this week; "Lion and the Mouse" is using tig ads in the dailies but doing all right "Wings" was steady, and f'Tempest" down to $6,700. Estimates for Last Week Aster—"Trail of 's'S" (M-G) (1,129; $l-$2) (16th week). Basing Along not showing much at $7,400; will depart last of this month to be replaced by "White Shadows," south .sea film, M-G-M's first sound &tid effect effort. '^Cameo—"The Station Ma,ster" (^ovklno) (549; 60-75). Did pretty vfW. on second week; fell oIT $600 to $5»200; using triple bill this week m'cludlng Chaplin and Jannings. '^Capitol—"Cossack.s" (M-G) (4,- 62D; 35-50-75-$1.50) (2d week). Big- tfest business on Street and at $71,- J50 holds over; jump of $23,500 over pireceding bad week, ^ .Central—"Man Who Laughs" (U) (922; .$l-$2) (10th week). Univer- sal gives up house this Wednesday; Sicture started off smartly but \irlndled to medloCre figures; opens at the Rialfo this Satufdayr "Lilac Tipie" (P. N.) here Aug. 3 with . AbUnd. " Criterion^"Wings" (Par.) (836; $l-$2) (47th week); Sticking it out fdlrly well; at $11,000 or $12,000 no cbinfi,plaint5; picture now in its 13th Week in Cleveland. : Embassyw«'Tempest" (U. A.) (596; $lr$1.60) (7th week). Dipped; down to $6,700; small house would like to be wired to do away with 19 xnuslcjans now in orchestra. Gaiety—"Fazil" . and Movietone (Fox), (808; $l-$2) (5th week). . Woii't and can't stick, much longer at $5,000 pace; duo to leave July 15 with "Lost in the Arctic." Snow's . picture, to follbw; "Godless Girl" (Pathe) here last week in August orJirst of September. Globe—"The Red Dance" and Movietone (Fox) (1,416; $l-$2) (2d Week). Started to $15,250; okay but below "Street Angel's" opening pace;' Movietone short on Bernard Shaw getting most of credit for JJraw. _ . • . _1 "H a m nhe'rsf e 1h— t>erg" (SovkinoJ (1.265; $1-$1.50) (6th Week). Hanging around $8,000 ftna will try to stick through sum- mer. .Paramount —"Magnificent Flirt" ,(Par.) (3,666; 40-65-75-$l). Vlor- enco Vldor never has been tuctor here and repeated on that verdict; plus weak stage show house under $70,000 for second time since Paul Ash bowed In; $68,750. Rialto—"The r)rag Net" (Par.) »«46&; 36-50-7«.(l^ (jd weok). Just 'HAROLD TEEN' BEATS BOW'S FILM IN SEATTLE ''Lion and Mouse" Gave BJue Mouse Big Gross Last Week; $11,300 Seattle, July 3. (Drawing Population,:450,000) . Weather: Fair Right on the heels of the United Artists reopening at pop prices comes the announcement of new policy at Orpheum. Vaudfilm house ia going back to the two-a-day and r^eserved seats. Sundays, only, will see the continuous grind.. Prices go to 75c. top Sundays .and $1 for week day reserved; Went into ef- fect July K Mat prices, 25 and 40, with 1,000 reserved at latter price. ' Columbia is doing better, but It looks as though this house will have to eventually cut prices to meet new U. A. competition. Biz just fair the past week. Blue Wtou^e .doing great with the talker, "Lion and the Mouse." Ed Emer- son, in charge of publicity at the Seattle, went heavy publicizing Lena Malena, new star to appear In person arid 6n screen liext week. First Hollywood star at the Seattle. She was welcomed and kissed by the mayor, and feted and feasted, Seattle had some special Interest past week with red hair contest during Bow picture. But "Ladies of Mob" given bad beating by "Harold Teen." Estimates for Last Week Seattle (W. C.-Pub.-L) (3,100; 25- 60)—"Ladles of the. Mob" (Par). Deemed poorest vehicle Clara Bow has been seen In here; Publix stage show, "Pagoda Land," dandy; $14,t 500. light. Fifth Avenufl (WC) (2,700; 25-60) "Harold Teen" (F. N.). Unex- pected big, beating Seattle; $15,000 Hermie King, m. c, helped. United Artists (W. C.-U. A.) (1,- 800; 25)—"Burning Daylight" (F. N,). Price, 25 cents, featured; good picture for . opening and with lim- ited advertising, okay; $4,400. Columbia (U) (1,000; 25-60)— "The Whip Woman" (F. N,).' Fair at $3,400. Blue Mouse (Hanirick) (950; 60- 75)—"Lion and Mouse" and Vita (W. B.). Doing great; $11,300. Winter Garden (U) (850; 15t25)— "Wild West Show" (U). Did biz; $2 800 Pan'tages (1,500; 25-50) — "Don't Marry" (Fox). Lois M^oran has name in lights; fair-at $6,500. Orpheum (2,700; 25-50)—"Alias the the Deacon" (Pathe). Vaude ordi- nary and biz still bad; new policy next week; $6,800. Presiderit (Duffy) (1,650; 25-1.25) —"Alias the Deacon" (Duffy Play- ers). Second week, with Berton Churchill and Helena Shipman in leads; Helen Audiffred returns riext week; $3,000. ■ Take Up St, Claires Option Los Angeles, July 3, Paramount has renewed its op- tion on Malcolm St. Clair, dire^tor^ for another year. " - -: • Montreal July 3. (Drawing Population 600,000) Weather; Fair : A wet Saturday anfl Spnday wrecked the national FrenchHCan- adian process of Sti Jean Uaptlste, but helped the. theatres. People who camb out and were caught in the; downpour pa.cked the matinees. Enough were left over to also make good nights. Hence, close to $50,000 was the total in the four first runs. "Three Sinners," at the Capitol, was a near rave. Pola Negri in a blonde wig and some snappy clothes brought in the f emmes.. Film's $13,- 000 would be pretty good at any tinle. Another good picture was "The Yellow Lily," which jumped the Palace to $12,000. This postpones further chance of the house being closed for a couple of montlis. "His Tiger Lady," at Loew's. was okay, with vaude that was better than usual. The Imperial, rebuilt Into a new theatre, is scheduled to op€n next week as a straight vaude .house, the first here for aibout 10 years. Pic- tures are out and youngsters under 16 get their .first cliancc to see something besides musical comedy and stock since March. Seats , are reserved and Manager Conover fig- ures on lifting- his grosses to $10- 000 and $12,000 ev^ry week. Charles Emerson Cook's Savoy stock grossed $10,000. Estimates for Last Week Capitol (FP) (2.700; 40-60) "Three Sinners" (Par).. Wet opening night and Sunday brought in crowds who were out to see St. Jean Baptiste celebration; fell off later, but good enough to boost to $13,000; very good for time of year. Palace (FP) (2,700;. 40-6,0) "The Yellow Lily" (FN). Matinees much better than usual; transients con tinue to help grosses; $12^000. Loew's (FP) (3,200; 45-75) "His tiger Lady" (Par). Menjou helped bv eood vaude; excellent at $15,000; ^"^Strand XUA) (800; 30-40V "The Magnificent Flirt" (Par); 'Light- ning" (Educ); "Burning Daylight (FN), and "Stop That Man' (U). Altogether. $3i500, better than pre- vious week. Neighborhoods—NormaL STATE HOLDS ALL-SOUND FOR TfflRDWEEK Detroit House^ $22,000-^ Michigan, $40,800-^ap<- itol, $23,900 Detroit, July 3. Weather: Warm and Rain Ktinsky's State, with its all-sound program, came .back with another fine sum in the second week of that policy. House stayed well over $20,- 000 and continuing to grab most of the attention dowhtown. "Glor ious . Betsy." as well , as the Vita Mpyietone shorts, hold for a third week. It's , the first time In this section a straight picture, at pops, has been able to remain three weeks in a 3,500-3eater. "Tenderloln"-Vita, also talking, saw enougli in its sixth week at the Madison to stick currently. Tliis one must be surmounting the red by plenty as "The Jazz Singer" has been set to return for the pa.9t two weeks. ■ Present, pace, -if adhered to, will keep "Tenderloin" in for eight. Pair of silent films, "Drag Net" at the Adams and "Garden of Eden,',' United Artists, both went out after two weeks. No Important, money fpr either at any time. Capitol screened its. best picture in some time In "Happiness Ahead" and beat the weather with a,nother normal'receipt slip. Michigan wa.s also strong in the film department, "Street, of Sin" managing to go sev- eral thousand above the previous disastrous week. . . FRISCO STAGES BIGGER THAN SCREENS LAST WK. doing fairly and leaves I^iday In favor of "Man Who Laughs (U), underworld film $20,950 on second Rivoli—"Uncle Tom's Cabin" (U) (2,200; 35-50-75-$l) (2d y/eek). Poor first week record for house; $10,900; understanding IS U guar- anteed' house P^io^^t regardless of gross; "King of Kings" (Pathe) here Saturday with first Photophone synchronized score. ' , Roxy—"The Foreign Legion (U) (6,205,^ 50-75-$l-$1.505). Pi<^l^ed^up over two previous weeks to get ?»8,- 000; is Increase of . $10,000 and may m^an that worst is oyer. Strand—"The Hawk's Nest (F N ) (2,900; 35-50-65-75). Did pretty well with second week of all-film policy, $28,000; scven-reel talker, "Light of Broadway" (W. B-), open- ing at special midnight show this Friday; in here first because of high Wafaftte(r"aTid-percei vtage. Times Square—"Dawn" (Selwyn) (1 080: $l-$2) (6th week). Has been quiet and departs this Sunday Warners—"Lion and the Mouse" and Vita (W. B.) (?.360; $1- 2) (3d week). Doing nicely but not up to previous money of talkers here; may be that clientele Is getting used to dialog or possibly that Strand, with its Vita talkers and shorts, Is cutting in; lio^vcr'''.,'^,''n^A'if th^« to make excuses for $11,000 at this time. Girts 1)0 All Right ^ lnK.C^,500Tops Kansas City. Jujy 3- (Drawing Population, 700,000) Girls were it on the screens last week. Corlnne Griffith was at the Midland; Colleen Moore, Mainstreet; Dolores Costello, Globe; Vlrgin4a Lee Corbiit, Uptown; Helen Foster Liberty, arid Nancy • Carroll. Pan,- tages. Newma;n, with William Haines, was the only house featur- ing a male star. _ Weather was half fair and rain and the wet didn't help, some of the downpours coming early in the even- ing; Radio reports of the Demo- cratic convention also held many at home or took them to one of the city parks where the Kansas City "Star had installed a loud speaker which could be heard for a mile. Estimates for Last Week Loew's Midland. — "Garden Of Eden" (U. A.) (4,000; 25-35-50). Stage show "Rio Romance," one of the poorest Publix units to reach town; $18,300. -Mainstreeti—"Happiness Ahead (F. N.) (3,200; 25-50). Colleert Moore a natural for this house, coupled with more than satisfying picture was great bargin bill in honor of Louisville Loons' first an nlversary In house; $19,500. Pantages.—"Chicken a la King (Fox) (2,200; 25-50). Made to order for Pari customers; $8,000. Loew's Newman. —"Telling the World" (M-G) first half; "Mile, from Armentlers," last half. Haines foa-turo. first four days, , has Anita Page and reviewers claiming great things tor her; $3,800. ^ Liberty.—(Ind.) "Road to Ruin (1,000; 25r35). Third week for pic- ture with a moral and there were some who were curious; $3,900. Boston Light . Boston, July 3 I (Drawing Population, 850,000) L^^Businfias -^i aat- week . .was j-ather spotty, the State having one of its weak and leans arid the Metropol itan just doing fairly. ^ Met did about $33,000, which shows an improvement on the same week last yoar. \ ... , Estimates for Last Week Sta*e (4.000; 30-40-50)—"I^ugh, Cl6wn, Laugh" (M-G). Did $17,800 on the week. Metropolitan (4,000; 35-60-75)— "His Tiger Iiady" (Par). . Fair at Estimates for Last Week Adanis (Ktmsky) ,"Th© Drag Net" (Par) (2d wxiok) . (1,700; 50-65). House still neglected since talkers hit town; underworld film got good notices but no real money after first few days; "(Soodbye Kiss'' current; $10,500. Capitol (Kunsky) " Happiness Ahead" (FN) (3,448; 50-75). Strong screen and stace bill last week and normal at $23,900. Madison (Kunsky) "Tenderloin"^ Vita (WB) (6th week) (1,976; 50- 65). Remains In profit class despite unusual run for this town; looks like eight weeks; "Jazz Singer" billeid to follow; $10,000. .: Michigan (Kunsky'-Publlx) "Street of Sin" (Par) and "Kat Kabaret" unit (4;i00; 50-75). Big house re- cuperated after bad week to . get $40,800; Jannings and heavy ex- ploitation for hew stage draw, Frank Beastoh, responsible. Oriental "Sporting Age" and vaude (2,950; ,26-76). Paul Specht on stage last week but without sup- port; gross no better than usual'at $9,000. ' State (Kunsky) "Glorious Betsy"- Vlta (WB) and Movletotie (Fox) (2d week) 3,000; 60-65). Second ex- cellent week for all-sound bill at $22,000; program holding over fOr third week, setting local record. United Artists (UA) "Garden of Eden" (UA) (2;000; 60-65). Low second week at^ $11,000 after fair opener; Keaton's "Steamboat BUI" (UA) first comedy to play hou^e and away to good start. Heat Soaked Portland Houses T^2Lrd Last Week Portland, Ore.. July 3,. (Drawing Population 400,(X>0) 'Lombarcll, Ltd.," holds^ over for Its 6th week at the Heilig aifter cre- ating a record in long stock runs here. "Ramona" had Its second big week at the Columbia, but other than this business declined with the advent of hot weather. Estimates for Last We«k Portland (PubHx-"Wr. C) . (3,500; 35-60) "The Big Noise" (FN), Only fair success; Rubllx "Tak-a-Charice" unit. Did $10,000. Broadway (W. C.) (2,000; 35-60) "Ladies of the Mob" (Par). More underworld stuff; Movietone-News; got $13,800. Pantages (Pan) (2,00P; 35-50) "DoTi't Marry" (Fox) and vaude. Around $11,800. Oriental (Tebbetts) (2,709; 25-35) "Turn Back the Hours." Colorful picture of South Seas; $7,000. Columbia (U) (1,200; 35-50) "Ra- mona," (UA). Big In second week; women liked; promises third week; $8,000. . Heilig-Henry Duffy Players (2,- 000-;—25T'$lrj25);——Fourth-:-wcek--ot Bessie Love Helps Warfield Do $26,000—Frank Jertks Boosts Granada to $18,000 San Francisco, July 3. (Drawing Pop., 756,000) Weather: Fair Warfield and Granada .were* long on stage entortainmtMit arid more • or loss deficient on screen. Run houses, SL Francis with. "Four ■ Sons" and Embassy with "Lion and . the Mouse," clicked handily^ grosses but slightly oft over the preceding week. Warfield continued to lead : the town with Bessie Jjove heading a Farichon and Marco "idea." "Bring- ing Up Father," film, didn't mean much. . , At the Granada, Zane Grey's "Vanishing Pioneer" was a doubtful draw. On the otlier hand,. Frank Jenks c, was back after being away . nearly six riionths .and is given credit for a major portion of the business. Estimates for Last Week Warfield—"Bringing Up Fathei-" (M-G) (2,672; 35-50-65-90). Bessie Love a jreal box office attraction,- Rube Woif clientele getting bigger, no. trouble passing $26,OCjO. Granada — "Vaniahing Pioneer" (Par) and Publix unit. (^,785; 35-. 5.0-G5-90),. Gala return for Frank Jcnks .and bus'ness up, with strong- er scteen feature might have got- ten back to winter and spring Stride; $18,500, exeelleht. . St. rrancis—^"Four Sons'' and Movietone (1,375; 35-65-90). Sec- ond week consistently strong; around $11,500. Embassy—"Lloh and the Mouse!' and Vita (W.B.) (1,367; 50-65-90). Talking picture continued draw on third wej:ik; two more to go and then "Glorious Betsy," a little over $12,000. , "Lombardl, Ltd.," with Leo Carrlllo, local record since early '903; busi- ness dropped for last week, $6,500, but holding over for 5th week U?« Movietone Truck. Los Angeles, July 3. Universal Is using a Mbvlotpno truck for sound In the wator scenes now being filmed for "Forbidden Love," Jesse James'Neighbors Dislike Thomson's Idea Topeka, July 3. (Drawing Pop. 85,000) Weather: Unsettled; rain Only one 'house that showed an Increase over the previous week, but that week a new low record was set for the first three days at the Jayhawlc so last week a slight in- crease there was to be expected. It wasn't the bookings. Chiefly the weather, a typical Kansas mix- ture of hot, cold and r-ain. Estimates for Last Week, Jawhawk—(40—1,500) ( Jayhawk) Colleen Moore in "Happiness Ahead" pulled. Last three days Dix's "Easy Come, Easy Go" stood up against conditions. Total $2,400. Orpheum—(1,200—40) (National) Double bill was "Magnificent Flirt" and Fred Thomson's "Jesso James" scored flop, practically all charged to bandit picture. Eastern Kansas was the scene of Jesse , James' oper- ations and Kansans cannot stand for Thomson's interpretation of the out- law; Grand—(1.400 —75) (National) Waddcll Players iri "The Parish Priest" fine opening but business faded. $1,400. Cozy—(400—25) (Lawrence) "The College Widow" first half suffered and while Rinty's picture "A Race For Life" last half did as well as could be expected, another demon- stration Topekans don't care for dog pictures as they did. $600. Novelty—(1,100—25) (Crawford) Art Higglna and his "Folly Maids" held just about even. Stunt nights well scaittered through -week cause. $1,500. ^ . , Best-(550-r20) (Lawrence) Al Russell and musical tab show seems to be due for all summer run. Busi- ness off every where else but with third run westerns right at figures for week before, $900. Buffalo Quiet Buffalo, July 3. (Drawing Population, 550,000) Weather: Wet . Business remained on the slide last week. Excessive rain kept the public home several days. Estimates for Last Week Buffalo (Publix) (3,000;. 30-40-65) "Shepard of the Hills" (F. N.) "Bowery Follies." Good show kept the house above water; $26,200._ _ Hipp (Publix) (2.400; 60)—"Night Flyer" and vaude. Hfld up remark- ably, both picture and vaude .shar- 1ng-thc-credit^-$12;000.=.--^-=^:*~^ Great Lakes (Fox) (3,400; 35-50) ^"Nows Parade" (Fox) and vaude. Continuance of tlio eight-act policy kept business up the finst half but dropped away toward the end; house returns to five acts this week; around $10,000. _ Lafayette (Indcp) (3.400; 35-50)— "Llttlo Shepard of Kingdom Gome' fR N) ftnd v.audc. Flna.1 week I)rior to summer closing; tapered off to under $9,000.