Variety (Sep 1928)

10 VARIETY PICTURE GROSSES Wednesday, September 26, 1928 Dancing Daughters/' $51,00(1,6 Days At Oriental, Chi, Big Thing of Week Chicago, Sept. 25. . Weather; Fair Among: last week's crop, of Lioop ofCei-ings was one of the greatest femme magnetlzers ever in Chicago. In six days ''Our Dancing Daugh- . ters" drew $51-,-000 into the Oriental A full-week stay Would have set a house record with a wide margin. The short engagement wa.s caused by change from Sunday to Saturday opening. "Daughtera" had the flaps mob- bing outsldietUe theatre throughout the six days, with lines at various times over a. block long. Besides excellent reviews arid powerful ex- ploitation the film also cashed in on simultaneous serializatl6n of th6 story in the"American." B. & K: abandoned their original plan to hold it over for another week rather than set ia precedent for the house, although the gross more than mer- ited the contemplated h. o. "Wings" is displaying strong en-, durance qualities in Its run at Mc- Vicker's, holding to $40.,&00 in its third week after a hopping opening at 146,000. That's with , only six shows dally, and In a 2,200-seat house. It holds the attendance per performance record of the theatre. Opening of "The Patriot" at the Roosevelt looked good biit not in , keeping With Its raving notices at 126,000. The house previously ha<J been playing! to the sky with "Lilacs . Time." Fox's Loop stand, Monroe, opened last week after summer closing and brought in a high $7,800 with second Lioop showing for "Street. Angel." "The Whip" was average, at $44,- 000 in the Chicago. Closing weeks of"Miclnight.Taxi" at the Orpheum and . "Tempest" at United Artists satisfactory. . Estimates for Last Week Chicago (Publlx)—"The Whip" (R N.)"Main St, to B'way," Pub- lix unit, and wired (4,200; 50-75). Average at $44,000. Apparently los- ing some trade to Oriental last week. McVlcker'6 (Publlx) — "W i n g s," wired (2,200; 50-75). Opened sky- high, sticking there in third week with $40,000; first week, $46,000; six shows daily. Monroe (Fox)—"Street Angel" (Fox) wired XD75; 5fl-75);, First week, after summer closing. Very good at $7,800; second Loop showing for "Angel." Oriental (Publlx)—"Our Dancing Daughters" (M-G-M), "Melody a la Mode," Publlx unit, wired (3,200; 50-75). Almost hit house record with $51,000-"in six days. WoiJld Kave passed It on full-week booking; house changed from Sunday tp Saturday opening; biggest lines of Btandees. house has , ever had. Orpheum (Warner) — "Midnight Taxi" (W. B.) (760; 50). Wired. Money run of four weeks, closing to $8,900. Playhouse (Mlndlin)—"End of St. Petersburg" (Sovklno) (600; 50-75). Arty house had good week with $4,- 800. Held over. Roosevelt—"The Patriot" (Par), wired (1,700;. 50-75). $26,000 In opening week, good but letdown from high grosses of "Lilac Time." State-Lake (Keith)—"Taxi 13" (FBO) (2,200; 50-75). Conklin com- edy brought in additional money, $19,500 for week; with vaud.e. United Artists (U. A.)—"The Tempest" (U, A.) (1,702; 35-75). Fourth and last week, $17,500; nice rating on run, "Two Lovers" in. "EXCESS" NOT SO HOT IN N.O. WITH $18,100 New Orloans, Sept. 25. A slight sag last week, with poor returns reported from the suburban houses. A surprise at the Saenget .when. Bill Hain6S, heretofore a fav here, failed to draw in the accustomed way. The Saenger was awry $3,000 from its previous week, when It held "State Street Sadie." Little enthu- siasm for "Excess Baggage." "The Jazz Singer" again went above $4,- 000 during the sixth and final wdek of its sensational (Vor this town) engagement at the Tudor. "Sad- dust Paradise^ at the Tudor this week. The Orpheum, along with the others, shoWed a decline with "Chicken a la King." Loew's State started in big when "Women They Talk About", showed early strength, but the returns grew smaller as the week progressed. An excellent week, however. Estimates for Last Week -"Excess Bag- expectations, drop. Sound. In for some the patrons'; Saenger (3,568; 65)r iiage." Not ■ .tip to Business showed sharp accompaniment came local panning from $18,100. Loew's State (3,218; 50)—"Wom- en They Talk About." Started like house, afire but cooled. $17,300. Orpheum (2,400; 50)—"Chicken a la King." Not so fancy, as gross of $9,300 tells. Less than theatre do- ing in recent weeks. Tudor (800; 75)—"Jazz Singer." Sixth and finail week, $4,100. Holds run record here for all time. 'Taxi," $42,600 St. Louis, Sept. 25. With cool fall days once more, thihgs theatrical have taken a pros- perous turn at the picture theatres .The remarkable , business at the Grand-Central, where '!The Terror' is talking its way Into grca.t pop^ ularity, has been one of the out- etaridlhg features of the last couple of weeks. Estimates for Last Week Grand-Central. (Skoufa.g Vita house) (1,700; 50-75) "The Terror" (W. B.-Vlta.)—Second week of this screamy thriller; $18,600. Loew's, State (3,300; 25-35-05) "Daiicing Daughters."—This Joan Crawford picture, called by one re- viewer "nearest to perfection pic- ture of present jazz age seen on the Bcroon";. $23,600, Ambassador (Skouras, down- town) (3,300; 35-50-65-75)—"Mid- ^irlght-TaxI—and-Ed-Lowny-^on^stage. Lowry's anniversary made up for anything picture may have lacked; 1-12,600. Missouri (Skouras* uptown house) (3,200; 35-50-65-75) "Caught In Fog" and Frank Fay stage show; 122,000. St. Louis ( 4,280; 35-65).—Bob Murphy's splendid m. c. work and vaude. Picture, "Silks and Saddle.s," didn't get much. *Jazz SingerV Sweeps Top As 1st Talker in Town Topeka, Sept. 25. (Drawing Pop., 80,000) Weather: Fair Sound pictures took Topeka by storm last week. Grand, Topeka's first wired house, with "The Jazz Singer," piled up the biggest box report ever scored on any picture there under road show booking and road show prices, though the "talkers" played at 50 cents. V. ' ; Every other first-run; house in town with but one exception showed a sharp falling off for the week, getting only the overfiow from the Grand, where the week opened Monday, night with just a half house; but by Thursday began turning away long lines of would- be patrons. A third performance Satui-day night failed to accommo- date all who wanted to get their first view of a "talker," The worst drop was the failure of the reduced prices and. family policy at the Orpheum, wliere first- run features have been the rule for a decade. The success of the "talker" at the Grand was in spite of union musicians, operators and stace hands picketing the walks and giv- ing each person in line a personal appeal not to patronize a theatre "Unfair to union labor." Spokes- men for the unions Saturday gave out reports that "the strike has been settled," M. W. Jencks, presi- dent of the National Theatres) Com- pany, declared that it had not been "settled" with " him and that- the: ''open shop"- policy of. the Grand, Jayhawk, Novelty, Orpheum and Palaco theatres will continue. Estimates for Last Week Grand (1,400; 60) (National). "The Jazz Singer," with full pro- gnun of sound unit,s, hit new record for house; $5,300.." Jayhawk (1,500; 40) (Jayhawk). Good pull first hnlf with "The Mys- terious Lady," but Novarrb'3"For bidden Hour.s" la.st half suffered from sound opposition at Grand; $2,700, Novelty (1,100; 40) (Crawford). "The Scarlet Lady" first half , with Garcia Marimba ' Band . and two other acts did big business of" the week, but the last lialf "The "Way of Strong" failed to pull even above average vaudo; $2,100, Orpheum (1,200; 25) (iN'alional). New . family policy and reduced prices didn't start off to anything like big busine.ss. "Tho Grip of JtuJi<>llV=,lLrst^>!^f Jind_ nothirig and "Jazz Mad" last Tiaif sTfiT^''iHMl"'fr(M" sound wave, I*oon'St business theatre has done in years; $700. Cozy (400; 25) (Lawrence). Good, box . office titles drew with "On to Reno" getting the be.^t break, but "Chicken a la King" holding own; $950. Best (550; 20) (Lawrence), Jiggs Downward's second weelc with Roiseland Maids drew bettor; $900. ' Par's Talking Musical "Cocoanuts". as a talker with the Marx Brothers will be made by Paramount. It Is the musical com-, edy in which the brothers appeared for the past two seasons. They opened In a new show, "Ani- mal Crackers," In Philadelphia Tuesday,. the show being due Into the 44th Street In two w'eeks. During the,run the talker will be made in Pararnount's Long Island studio. 1-Reel Life Story for $297 , ■ I^s Angeles,: Sept. 25. Count that day lost which does not bring forth another film made in Hollywood by unknowns for a couple of nickels. The latest of the low cost Is a oncTreeler called "Scrapped, a Life Story In Tabloid," made by a quin- tet of studio wofker.s for , the re- ported sum of $297. ' The story deals with the romance and tfouljles of ah average couple who meet, marry and try to brin.? up a baby on $25 a week. A decrepit nivver Is said to be the motivating force r the picture. ' No studio sets were u.sed, all the shots being made In and around Los Angeles strieet.s, pai'ks and resi- dences. The picture was written and. directed by H. A. Woodmansee free lance scenarist, fornier gag man for Johnny Hlnes, .ind photo- graphed by Joe Darrell, assistant cameraman with the Larry Dar- mour-F.B.O. productions. The three players who comprised the entire cast were Ned LaSalle, Mlgnon Rlttenhouse and Baby Jini- mle Kellar. Whitbeck, Gen. P. A. For West Coast in L. A. Los Angeles, Sept, 25. Frank Whitbeck, now in charge of publicity of the Northern Divi- sion of California for West Coast Another Keith Market Boom; No Strength to Carry Through; Fox and Warner Quiet Down Theatres circuit, becomes genel*al press agent and advertising head i,off sharply upon the publication of of the entire circuit Oct. 1 Whitbeck will move his headquar- ters from Sin Francisco to Los An- geles taking over the post held by Jeff Lazarus, who. becomes personal as.slstant to Sol Wurtzel, general superintendent at Fox studios. Bob Harvey, former assistant, to Whitbeck and manager of the T. & T. Theatre, Oakland, will be given tho^ post vacated by Whitbeck In San FranclscOi Wampas' Amendments Los Angeles, Sept. 25. Some warfare Is promised for the next meeting of the Wampas, film press agents' organization here, to be held Oct. 1, when the organiza- tion votes on a series oif constitu- tional amendments. These amend- ments deal almost exclusively with the matter of electing, suspending and expelling members, a phase concerning which the present con- stitution Is extremely vague. Under the. amendments the mem- bership of the Wampas will be li- mited to a maximum of 150 ac- tives. There are now slightly over 100 active members. The amend- ments also provide th^t only six new active members may be added In any year and that other, ap- plicants will be pla.ced on a waiting list, in order of their acceptance. With the; rank of "associate-members, given the privilege of attending all meetings, but having no voting power and being hon-participating In Wampas assets. • Centre Figuring by Feet iibs Angeles, Sept, 25. Some "of the Wiser* actors on the Paramount lot are not worrying much over the possibility of l.irgor features being taken to New York, to be made into talkers. They are basing this on the .small area given to sound stages at the Astoria studio, 4U by 73, whorcaa the usual dimensions here are around 75 to 110. MILESTONE ON ELUS ISLAND Los Angeles, Sept. 25. JjoWIs Milestone will direct Kmll Jannirigs ln"I211is Island" instead bf Jcsef Von Sternberg. The Latter "wilT'bW "tied Ttpf^makin^ of Lena Smith" too long to allow him to handle the mogaphono for th(^ Janhing.s' film. Milo.'^tiine Is en route to New York, where he, Le.s- tor Cohen. and Samuel Ornitz will remain to prepare the various at- mo.sphcric scquencoH, Milestone was borrowed for Uie picture from Caddo. Fox and Warner Bros, quletea down In Stoek EJxchange trading the past week, giving place to new features, when Keith was boomed In a violent run up to 34 and then fell, back. Its sponsors lacking the punch, for a real bull fbllow through. The whole show business was tipped on Keith at the oiitset last week and scores of player people are lit at 29. and thereabouts. Cam- paign, was based on rumor that a Keith-Warner deal was In the mak- ing and this persisted through yes- terday's session when issue waS' ajam above, 30 and held but failed to make new top. Whole drive has been surrounded with mystery. Warner Bros., who were frank during the neeotiatlons for Stanley, made a .flatfooted state- ment that any immediate Keith deal, was out of the que.stion, but still the talk, always of vague ori- gin, continued. Yesterday . show business was still In the dark about the facts while Wall Street sources was In- spired by a new flock of rumors.. Best Information was that nothing could be done toward a merger or .sale until the arj-ival of Jos. P. Kennedy, due. from Europe Friday. It is certain Kennedy has had no hand In the proposal, but on the contrary was not at all pleased with its appearance during his absence. Shubert Has Relapse Talk of Warner-Shubert deal subsided. Legit circuit stock eased statement for year ending June 30, showing inci-eased profits before depreciation. Interest and taxes, but a decrease in profits per share or the increased outstanding stock.- Total net available for stock was $7.53 per share on 180,020, com- pared to 1927 showing of . $10.17 per share, of 160,670 shares. Increase in stock is due- to exercise of stock purchase warrants. W;h}le interest in the spectacular stocks like Warner, Keith and Fox diminished, an increase In. the fol- lowing of Loew was noted. "Where- as 'Times Square the play in the volatile I.ssues canie from stage people concerned entirely in the chances of a quick turn, the parti- sans of Loew were the more con- servative managerial interests of the theiatre more di-'^poscd to ex- aniine into the long pull invest- ment possibilities of the members of the amusement group, ** For son»e reason not on the sur- face everybody Ignored Pathe in the current, flurry, although it would seem logical that any sltur ation that affects Keith should have influence for better or worse upon the Kennedy film enterprise. : Paramount Split Up Paramount went through a typi- cal phase of Its gradual approach to the goal of 150. Spht up Is due this week, with the probability gen- erally accoiJted that the new three- fOr-one issue wiil go on a $3 basis, representing 6 .per cent, which, it Is figured, should make an attractive proposition for wide distribution into outside hands. Following Its spurt to within a fraction of 147, Par dipped under 140. After a week of churning, ai'bund within a nari- rbw range, yesterday camo to life and was again near its top, moving in good volume at and better than i45v.; ■■ Stanley lost further ground In Its relation td: Warner common, the spread exceeding 3 points at times. Arbitrage dealings ought to keep Stanley in line with Warner, but apparently the risk of a precipitate drop discourages operations of the sure-thing dealers. The drop in Warners of two weeks ago awak-. ened the. ticker folk to unpleasant possibilities in this direction. Yes- terday at one time Warners com- mon was up 4 polntsi, while Stanley had slipped back a fraction, Phila- delphia dealings, by the way, have suddenly.increased during the week. Ordinarily a New York listing puts an end to out of town trading In a minor stock like Stanley, Fox: Back Near 100 Fox did nothing one way or the other. Its performance seemed to bear out the view expressed down- town a fortnight agb when the stoclc was close to 120 that the vio- lent move was not Inspired by com- pany interests. Story then was that- a clique independent of the Fox recpgnized sponsorship had given the Issue a whirl on its own, and the semi-official pool would hot get into action until, the intruding cliqu© had completed its turn. Story then was that the old pool prob-^ ably would return to the operation around 100, the goal they had orig- inally set for the present move- ment. Summary for week ended Saturday, Sept. 22: STOCK EXCHANGE ^—1028-: , High. Low. 4Z •MVi lil-lVi 77 110% 3-1 0!)% 11!>% 34 27% 11 34 72 S3 101 114% Sl'V-i 101 04% 20Vi 23 10.1 40% !)0% jr.'/i 7SVi 72 22'/« 24% r, 114',i 2 S% 3((.>i 22 -12-% 17i^i i; as i(y->% w so Sales. Issue and rate. .1,400 American .Seat (4).... 4,300 Consol, Flm pfd. (2) .'. 2,.'iOO Ea.'^tinan Kod.ak (8) 28,400 I..oew (3) 1,100. Do. pfd. ((ji/s) 00,-'JOO. Kftlth 1,500 Do. prd. (7).... 72,900 .Fox Clas.s A .(4) 0,dOO Madison t'ciuare Garden (2).... 3,200 Met.-G.-M. pfd. .(l.Sa). 32 28 INt l(>:i% 2!l-')i 01 10T--J4 •■iiV. 20 3,000 Motion Picture Cap lo>4 40,000 raramount-Fam.-Lasky (8);., 40,fiOO Pathe Exchange , 12,300 Pathe Class A..... I5..300 .Shubert (.'i) 47,700 Stanley of Amcr. 120 Universal pCd. (8)... 102, n00 Warner: Uros, ., 120,0.''0 Do. Class A CURB 1,000 Balalvin & Ka.lz (3) 1,800 Con. Flli'n 13nt; C5.800 Fox Thentrea A 1,400 r.oew rlRhts ,,, 7(KI Nat. Theatre Supi)ly 800 Univor.'sal Plotui-es BONDS U.COO. Keith fig, '40..-. 43.000 Loew O.s, '41, ........ <M,000 Do. ex-warrants .lO.0.0 rathe 73, '37.. 70,000 Par.-Fam.-Lttsky Os, '47; 10,000 Shubert Cs 4 • ■ • • • 141% 0 27% nsv4 110. 118 81V4 30-% 1!.S% ■• ir.t, 27% 1)4 . 112 lOO-X 78% 100>,i 1)3 Not Chge. + - 1% — 1 — 1 + 2U - 2'g + % + % - 3% - 3% - 1% - 1% + 2% ■+ % % - 1% - 1% + % H--S>4 + 1'4 2% + % - a% +'i% JSx-dlvldPnd. Larry Semon Serious Los Angeles, Sept. 25. Tjarry Semon, screen comic, may no.Vcr act again, according to word from tlie Victorvllle, Cal., sani- tarium, where he has been under trc'utmont for several weeks. It Is said that Semon has not bppn^responding--to=^thft=-treatmenU Cor a nt'rvous breakdown. Joscphson Goes to Fox Los Angt'le.'^, Sept, 25,,, Julian .losopbson, who Ju.'it com- I'h-led a six-month contract. at Pathe, l.«! now with Fox. Movietone, on ovi.;;ln!.il stories and adaptations. Par Adds $5,000 on Each Fs!m for Sound Los Angelas, Sept. 25, Duo to the additional expendi- tures that Paramount has had on -talk i n g=cxi)erl men ts-they^Jia.ve.^10.-..^^ cided to add $5i000 to .the produc- tion cost of every j)icture made for 1.028 and lOliO. di.stributioj) .vcasoh. It is likely the cost wiil te iidded to the pictures that Were made and distributed during the last six months of 1()27 and 102S .so•l^•on. Charge on these plcturry is to hi clns.sifled for research.