Variety (Nov 1928)

TJtrednesday, November 21, 1928 PICTURE VARIETY Menjou FOm Dropped Par. to $65,100; 3 Class Talker Plays Open oii Fway Eyebrow elevation Among the Tiulse-reaaers last week .when the iCiimouut, steadiest house _on tnV dway. dropped to $65,100 with 5do pie Menjou In; '-His ^ Private Tifo" It i3/?10,000 belo>y-the pre- vfbus week's gross obtained by the PoTa Negri flicker, "Woman From Mofcow,''which was low from Par's reS weekly gross of $78.000' up. In general, business, good along the street, intensifying . the poor showing in the main Publix stand. "Woman Disputed" XV. A.) showed, class on its first full week at the Bivoli. , "qhow People" rang the bell loud- Iv at the Capitol while the Roxy rc-istcred a gain of $25,000 over its T.r?redihg sevenrday period. ^ Srst National's "Gbod Bye Kiss" •niaving irniversal's Colony was be- w the average quota for hpusf, but "Mfita Hari," foreign opus, was worth $7,500 and a holdover to the cameo All of which Indicates there were more ups than doNVns In the .field. . . „, Stjecials Di*opp A-mong the stuff purveying to the. ♦^n'hiir it $150 to $3 a gradual fall- fn? off "Singing Fool" at $43,400 at the Winter Garden, after missing $ 0 000 by a finser the week before. Stiil potent and a pipe for holidays, even at $3. "Lilac Time" probably Hberany 'estimated at^ ^l.OOO. with a week or two more, to go. i'our DeWls" just bettering $10,000. still Sdef at Gaiety. Tiffany-Stahrsspe.. clal "Marriage Contract ls_at- tractint? some a.ttention at Em-. iSsy arid may have sticking powers Well Into Decembei*. .. , . ^Three reserved seaters^ush^red last week, "Jimmy Yalentine at Astor "On Trial" at Warner's and interference'' at Criterion. . "Val- . feSune/' semi-talker, liked generally. . but d vision, of opinion on two a 1- talkors Trio started out briskly, rlrst full week will give better hne ton box offlcie magnetism. Estimates for Last \Neek Astoi^"Jimmy Valentine," sound YM-G-M) (1.129; $l-?2) (1st week). Keported $10,500 for first four days (Thurs-Sun). Good notices and ehould stay Into new year- _^ Cameo—"Mata Harl" (f'S (5?9, 50-75). perman-Russlan^le of secret service ^vamp^ ^"^pYcture's ■ Holdover money at $7,500 Picture a fiub^title, "The Red Danqer _same fas current attraction at Roxy sound (4.620, ? ^ ■tr'i-.ps Jn :sSiir^^""^SS^ . themselves into $88,700. One of four ^•^II^^Sl^-tlSl^iml-'FN) sound $l-$2) (16th week). Around $??,000^ "The Barker" following '"Slony-"Gobd.Bye Kiss"^^(FN) riySO- 50-60-75-$l). So-so at *11,- JJb. or thereabouts.. House record for Sunday broken^ by ^^^^ when ••rinne War" (FBO) copped $4,900. C^r?ent program also interestlng^as holding example of Interchangeabil- fty in animated cartoon ^ychronized by cmephone. Last week of Ben Bernie. Benny Rubin oP^ns as m._c. next week with Jimmy Carrs or ^^''crit'erion - "Interference" (Par) »ffier^i;¥^^SS dav's three shows, $3,600. i-.iot>e capacity indicated. First dla og pic- ture in high hat manner billed |s "melodrama of upper world- ^House plugging Eddie Cantor talking sl>ort heavily for additional draw. -.^ Embassy.^-Marriage h? Contract (Tiffany) sound (596; n-$\50)^<35 week). Problem picture pretty good, at around $9,000.^ RCA-Photoph^^^^^^^ synchronization. Marion Hams substituted^for Brox Sisters as talk- ing short (M-G-M). ■ _ Gaiety—"Four Devils" (Fox) Bound (808; .$l-$2) <8t^ w^ek). Suc- :• cesser not: yet reported. Beat $10,000 . %&,ount-^'^His private. Life" (Par) (wired) (3.666; 40-65-75^8,5- $1). Getting series of weakling pic- tures. Aciolphe Menjou Possibly too often at this house. Something wrong when Paramount slips below ■ $70,000. "His Private Life'' counted up at $65,1.00. Ufa quota picture this week. Frank -Fay, ex-vaude- ville wisecracker, will take a s^ao at m. c. thing starting Saturday, re placing Eddie Peabody. Paul As^n opens new Paramount, Brooklyn, eamc day. ' , Rialto—"Wings" (Par) sound (1. SCO: 3d-50-75-85-$1) (4th week). TiU drop. Original booking calls for three more weeks, "The Awaken- . i nBiu^tU,:=^-A, )=^prx>Ml3lfe-^s uac^^ ; "Wings." $26,600. ,„ RiVoli—"Wom.an Disputed (U- A.) sound . (2,200;, ,35-50-75-85-$l) (*Jd work). FAcellont showing lor • Norma T;ilmndge picture. First full Roxy—"'riio R-d Danfcr" (F".x) fifii:n(l (fi.Liur.; r.0-7.".-$l-$l.r)i)). I'jc- turo pri'vlously ;it Glfln' at ?2. I!r.u:-ht hon.-o b.ick from .«lntrip witli 1>Mif,', ffl-Jii,TI<-M f>viT. Strand-"Thij Turrur" (WH) clia- Cahada's Thanksgiving Gave Town Good Week Toronto. Nov.'20. . (Drawing Pop,, 700,000) Weather: Warm . Canada's . Thankaglving Day (Monday) saw plenty, of- raJn and gave main stem houses big open^ ing but biz fell off by midweek. Final check up .brought little \yhbopee except at Pantages where the house canie. to life with "Obey the Law" (I^ar) td better than $15,- ■ 000k ' : \, . This picture was changed from original title "Underworld" by re- lease ofllce here but not on requeat of censors. So far as running time indicated. it was not cut. .. , Week also saw main stem'- flicker palace? increased from 5 to 7. Added starters were Regent (1.400) with first Canadian feature length picture, "Carry on Sergeant," which did $9,000 at ^1.65 top,-and "Smiba,^ animal film, at the .Princess^at^$2 top. Gross here about; $11>000, but contrary to other houses biz built from a slow opening and held over. The Canadian pictlire dreW plenty of publicity after the shareholders were asked by . the government ; to withdraw the whole thing oi: cut scenes branded aa re fleeting on the Canadian army. Since the whole picture was based on the moral fall of the sergeant it was impossible to cut. Word that the picture held dirt brought them flocking in after midweek and the picture held oyer. Looked, like deliberate publiolty plant except for use of biggest names in business world here. Loew'S went about $13,500 with "Brotherly Love"; $1,000 jump oyer week before all collected on. the holiday. "Captain Swagger' did the same at Shea's Hip getting ad^ vantage of stronger stage show and like everything else fading after midweek. , , 4. i„ Uptown was the only house to de- crease its gross holiday wieek but that was because of hold over from nrevlous week, first time fOr house. Went $14,000 with "Mother Knows Best" (Fox). Entire bi? here built up on family vc<eek to week patron- age and hold over ihade need for new biinch. . ..^ Tivoll on third week of "Four Sons" (Fox) collected $12,000 and again held, over with no change In progrrani. - . Estimates for Last Week Pantages (3.400; .:30-C0)^';Obey the Law" (Par). Canadian title for "Underworld." Very strong at $15,- 000. Stage, show fair. . ct^ Uptown (FP) wired (3,000; 30-65) —"Mother Knows Best" <Fox). Sec- ond week as wired house with hold- over picture did about $14,000 with benefit of POod stage^ show. Shea's Hip (FP) (2,600 30-60)— "Captain Swagger" (Pathe).. Con- sistently good biz reflected in $id,^ ^"lioew's (2.300; 30-60)—"Brotherly Love" (M-G). Dane and Arthur al- ways good here. Better than $liJ,- 000 after big start. ' „^ Tivoli (FP) wired (1,400; 35-65) — "Four Sons" (Fox). Third week, saw no drop in gross. About $12,000 and "^g^lS'(Sdr (1.400; ,50^$1^0) —"Carry On, Sergeant." First effort of Canadian Interational Films, Ltd., opened to society crowd, faded, than came on strong after blare of ad- verse publicity on grounds of im- morality. Picture released without submission to censors.. Held over but no general release arranged. Neighborhoods strong. "Revenge" Near'Capacity, $23,000, Loew, Providence Providence. Nov. 20. (Drawing Pop., 315,000) Weather: Fair ProviJonoe fans dumped plenty, of jack into the films last week for four evackerjack 'biHs. But not so hot to the reviewers. ^,' . . Majestic ddi' another good week with "Wcddini,' March." "Show Girl,, at tlie .Strand, hit high, helped by the' I'rovidenc.e News running the sttiry for past month. ' .." Loow's State had another capacity week with'''Kovensc." ; , ' - ■ Estimates for Last Week. , Majestic (I'-ay) (2.200; -15-75)— AVcdding :Maroh;* ■ Fine, on heels of Jolson and "l^our Sons;" . $11:.500- • Strand, ■(ind). . (2,200; , lo-50) — '•Slunv Girl" (FN). Good draw .at $10,750. :. . ,-, Loew's State.. (Loew) (3,S00; .1:)- 7r,)_-:Kevengc" (U-A). .lust bit .short of o.'ipacity. $23,000. Loop Comes Back Witli Chi J W^^^^ But Jolson s "Fool'' m S Wks , $301, Wii^s" Best in Syracuse, $15,000 and Held Over 20. . Syracuse, .Nov (Drawing Pop; 220,000) (.Weather: Variable) "Wings" closed week. to $15,000. and liad the picture field much to itself last week. Scale Went from 35 to 50c helped, but lengtli of ^pic- ture reducing STireenings offset that. Held over. ' ■- • ^.^ ' Keith's turned in. another $14,- 000 groSvS. Three remaining deluxe picture houses reported varying business. Strand found "Submarine stronger • than "Beware of Bache- lors" an dbusipess climbed $2,000. "Revenge" 'was <,4,000 weaker than '•White Shadows" at the State, while "The River Pirate" meant but $7,- 000 at the Briipire. Estimates for Last Vi/eek Keith's (vaudfilm) (2.595; 30-^50) —About $14,000,With bin for .last half mainly responsible.- Strand (wired) (1,700; 40).— "Submarine"- (Columbia), wired, critically best liked film of week. Reviews helped; Approximately ?s>,- 000; good. for. house. , .■ Empire (wired) (1.600; 40).— "River Pirate" (Fox) wired, nothing extra, about $7,000. 2d.week for that gross at this house, "Melody of Love," also, doing it. . : . State (wired) . (3,300;. 20-50).— "Revenge" (U.A.) average for^tate at $12,000. $4,000 below "White Shadows", which preceded. Eckel (Wired) C1.500r 50). — "Wings" (Par). Easily $15,000. for. week "and ciean-up. H. o. ^ Brighton-(^ims) 1.760: 20-35).-- Deluxe neighborhood, about $4,000 Riviera (wired) (1,100; 25)—Also about $4,000 for first week. Chaney's Silent Film Istin Montreal at $17,000 ,; Alontreal, Nov. -2:0., (Drawing Pop., ■600,CM)0) Weather: fair : ■ Holding over -LilitC Time": at l*nl- ave f;ot §10,000, Wiih the two ^veoU.•^ ci;i)si> .c)n $-10,000. . ThiAmakes onc vU the r>esl resiilis at I>alaee since Sep- li'iniier, when wired house reopened. UMly 'been o.ne fall-down sinee talk- ers .Uu-ri'.. «i- ' Oapitol tupped for week with ?n,- 000 t\)r-"\Vhile Ciiy Sleep.-.."- eapaciu- iiiK^uly and fair matinee ln/v <.'l>aney ■\viihout ni:ike-up novelty for Mont- r.'al.- ■ ■ ■ ■ , Loew's continues • wuh good pic- lure.s and . fair vaud'e,; holding its average- . . ^: " :' ' • "The-Perfeet Crime", another good dniw^at the ■ Imperial, while vaude hili)s. Theatre iiuikiiv.ir- i>"^ version .,io vaiidfilin policy. $9,000 LToivd gross on euV pfiee.s. ■ . I>)iu press put ovfu- pri'inierc of r.riii.'^h pic'Luro,"Ti:iuini)h of the Kilt." Good notiees and. attrae.ted ii'iorc than usual gate, iit $2,500. Princess and Ills M^ijesty's, local legits, (lark la.st week. . ,: . Neighborhoods good all around week. ■' ■■ ■ , - '- . :V Estimates for La t Week Palace (FP) (2.700; 45-75)--' Lilac Time" (F. N.) (2d week) (wired). Haldover gross of $16,000 proves drliwing power of Colleen. Moore in this town. ^ ^. Capitol. (FP) (2.700; 40-60)- "While City Sleeps" (M-G-M). Lpn Chaney in everyday role, rated big. House had one of biggest grosses of year, around $17,000. ■ . Loew's (FP) (3.200; 35-75)-"Ex- cess Baggage" , (M-G-M)^ ^J'^^^^'. film. Haines picture, $lo,500, good ^'Tmperial (Keith) (liOOO; 35-5()) — "Perfect Crime" (FBO). Vaudlilm. Fine suspense film drew well, whll.o vaude also of good class. $9,000 shows customers returning to this theatre on price cut and return to "'^SS'Sj^) (800: 3t)-40)-Trlple change. $3,500: • . Empress (CA).. (1,500; 25-35)-- ••Triumph of Rat" (British); '^Klt Parsons" (Par); "Figures Don t Lle_ (Par), and "Good Morning, Judge (U) Located in British suburb, hou^e. doing well on British.pictures Sends Loews Slate in LA^^^^ Los Angeles, Nov. 20. (Drawing Pop., 1,460,000) Weather: Mixed Any time the Hearst papers, get In back of a picture it is a b. o. natural here They did. It last week on Marion Dayies' "Show People.': and the gross Jumped clo^® to .$33,000. Rain during the week did not help ""warTrt on sixth and final week of "Singing Fool" ran ahead of pr©- ccedlng one. Due to special mid- night show Thursday with all seats $l^and Jolson doing 45 minutes on the stage: Turnaway. . Richard Dlx has been one of the best b. o. bets the Met haa had In long ^time. His .:?!MOran of the Ma 75). With annIver.sary week, cele- brated, helped along to $9,000. ■ Grauman's Chinese (U. ^A.)— "N'oah's Ark." wired (W. B.) (1.038; 66-$1.50) (2d -week). Mot wallop thought to be at b. o. Week end trade good. Balance week n. s. g. $21,000. ^ ■ • Loevv's State (W. C.-Loew)— "Show People" (M-G-M) (2,242; 25- $1)'. With Movietone weekly, F and M stage show and Hearst publicity trade very big.- $33,000. Metropolitan (Pub-W. C.)—"Moran of Marines" (Par), wired (3,595; 25- 75). Dix favorite here and $24,700 taking house out of red. _ United. Artists (U. A.)-"Thc Awakening" (U. A.) wired (2.100; 25-$l). Vilma Banky big draw. Weather: Rain, Cold Mnjoriiv of the i.uop. liouses . 5il;i^;<'d a i<retiv ei.u\el>aek la-.-^f week from the . .^luiup .. whiili had been pulling in .b.id iii'Mis for a fi>rt- ni.nht. ■ • -.. . . As a reliable token that ■ thintjs . oiiee niore are in tiie noruKil .trroove, l.he'(.'hie:\L,'o Imneil out a tiovd $46;- ili>0 with -Masky. of ..the. Devil, (-triehlal was anoihor . t.f the . nu)i-e notable : uphiU eliiul'itM-s, dv.vwing $40,000 with "The fni'^h" and farc- weU week-'of I'aul Ash. "iVeveiii?e'' stayed in I'nited Art- ists ' onlv two weH<s, but made a. i-ii.-e mark, opening , at $2.S'>00. and I'losing with ?.'J3,500.. Last week was ' helped by personal appearances m0.£ the star, I.>olores Del Kio. for one d'av aUhough she didn't appear for all" four performances advertised, "Mother Knows I'.est" blew out of Die Roosevelt Tluirsd:iy after iiarig- .. ing . around three weeks without catehiiVg on, . Again "The. Fool" Despite iiaving already pl-iyed six weeks, and In a house half as big as the "Loop's ,.:l)l!;gest. '-Singing li'ool" ecuUiniies healing everything in town. Led the street last w.ctjk. again with $4S.000 at MeVickers; "Home Towners" at the Orpheunv also^.g.ot in .the better grosses, with . $10,466 for its second-week-in the 7G0-seat house.. . . Monroe didn't fare so well with,. "Win That Girl," partially because ; the picture bad played the Orien- tal recently.' "Singapore Mystery fair at the State-Lake. Estimates for Last Week Chicago (Publix) — "Masks^of Devil'.' (M-G-M-), "Teeing .Off., Publix unit, and sound (4.000,. 50- 75). Better than average week with $46,6o6; John Gilbert film.; . - McVickers (Publix) — "Singing Fool" (W. B ), sound (2 200; ^60-75). Sixth great week: with $48,000, making total so far. $301,000. : Monroe (FOX)-"Win That Qlrr. (Fox), sound (970; 50). Second loop booking for this oiie. Not Bp forte at 113,900. , ^ ^„ Oriental (Publlx)^"The Crash" (F N.y arid "King for a Day," Pub- lix' unit (3.200; 50-75). Drayrlng quality of picture submerged m. farewell to Paul Ash on stage; good, ^^.oJpheum (Warner) — "Home Towners" (W. B.). sound (760; 50). 69cond week, $10,400; opened stronfe ^'£>^^^J' (PUblix). -"Mother Knows Best" (FOx). sound (1.700, 50-75)i Out after three unlmpres-. sivo weeks; 1st, $18,600; 2d, $16,- 000; 3d, $14,00». ■ ■ ^ ■ State- Lake • (Kolth) — "Singapore Mutiny" (FBO) and vaude (2,200: 50^75). picture rated rather weak with good, vaude in support; around *^Unit4d Artists (U. A )-j"Rev.enge" (U. A.), .sound (1,702; ; 50-75). Do- lores Del Rio feature quit -with twp weeks, satisfying at $28,500 in first and $23,500 in 2d; ^Oran of .the Ma-. L.go .rqo. first week $3,000 more tban Bros. JOE BEOWN IN PEHSON Los Angeles, Nov. 20. Joe E. Brown has been- conti-acted to make . personal appearances at the United Artiste theatre, starting Nov 21, in. collaboration with "The Hit of the Show," FBO picture co- starring him with Gortrude pim- stead. ■ - . ■ . With the Joe Brown act, tne usual house array of. eight chorus girls has been enlarged to 16. KENNEDY HELD WEST Los Angeles, Nov. 20. Joseph iP. Kennedy will be tied up here until Some time next week, straightening out personnel and other matters at Pathe. log (2,900; 35-50-65-75). Fourth l)ictm-r^Kera"^or-SecoTid-week7-^l<iri-^ i.shcd $2 engagement at Warners throe weeks ago. J'iO.lOO. Wafner'«—"On. Trial" .(WB) di.a^ log (1,300: ■■$l-$'2) -<'lst'woek). Fir.sV three days, $0,500. Mixod notic-c-s but r'-af-tion genf-r-illv' favorabl;;'. ^ Winter Garden—"Sinning. 1-""1 (W-B) dir<lng'(l,-l'J3;.$l-?ii-?a;. 'l-'U' week). Off $7,000 from previuuf. y-roHS. hut lot'J and lots (>£ irHiri'^y -at $i3,0'J0 f'jr $3 lop. rines*' got. about - the preceding attraction. ., „„, United Artists had : exceptional I first week with "The Awakening. Vilma Banky. Good stag© show, _ Grauman's Chinese not so forte for second, wfcek. Good week end and holiday but other days off. Egyptian had anniversary week with^Buster Keaton in "Oamcra- mart" on screen coming through to. "^'^<^^'knd final Wedding March" at Criterion came within $2,000^ of first week, better than-expectations. , .^^Hh Holiday helped Boulevard lot with "Win That (3irl," screen attraction, and Lynn (:owan heading li'anchori and Marco show on stage, beatlnf, previous week by around $500. Estimates for Last Week Boulevard (W.^ C.)-^"Win Thjit Girl" (Fox) (2;i61; 25-50). WU Covvan liked trade rather atoady and over average on. account holiaay sc'(00 lI=.C.fljlbay^pie^-P- C,r.M^^^ "Interference" (far) STiUloa^J M'' • no-$1.50) (2d week). Though best of all-di.-.log OUkers. not wow. at 51-50'." t:antor short groat.help for b.T..- Around ^IhlOO. • -Criterion < W, 'C.)--'W';d'lm( Mruvh." sound n'.ir) a,.000; CM -.t.-k), 'l'ii:3 Von Htroholm lik'.-l k-iyptian (V/. O.-U. A.)-"^^' Warner Bros, (W. B.)—"Singing Fool." wired' CW, B.) (2,156; 25-76) (6th week); Best money; Kctter In brief career at house;" closed to around $29,000 On final istanza. Silent Topeka House Beat «T New York*^ - Topeka, Nov. 20. (Drawing Population, 80,000) . Weather: Bad Bad weather last week but all the biid busine.ss couldn't, be charged ur) to it. \. ■ ■ Surprise was that the .Tayhawk (lid jOightly bfttor -than, the wired fiWind with "Lights of New York." f)ut of lino box oiriee reports may ")f rflU'ctlon of Topeka's aversion to -torlf.s with "New york" in the title. Estimates for Last Week Grand (1.400; ..50) (National) L{-)its - of Now York," Talker ■•fMr'tf-il. h-idly and continued that ""^Jayhawk f 1,500: 40) ( Jayliawk). I.f.n Cliiiri* y's i);iTrie j'avf. tlii.s hojis'- ),.. t t'U^-i-ri< i.'S Hi \<r.vn_ f-irst th'i''■ ■;•.^, h'-ll'"''!' '.S i'li- l'''-'^' '-'''"r- t-i'n'r«. ' "V":-!rsirv" .-.nd L'd'-ki .1- K VA\' \v..\\\ bii'; Novelty ' I P.^i; i' ) •;:< p. il.-'V ''f I'lijr i.;'tur<! .'i'"'! .'"I'li'- v^•'•i'.^ <iiij(:'l I in'r;h; ?J,'".'.'J. Philly Got Weather Break and Business Philadelphia, Nov. 20. Weather: Fair Few film novelties In the down- town picture houses last, week, but bu9lnes.s generally improved. J Olson's "The. Singing Fool, af ter four sensational weeks at the Al- dlne, had a whale of a week s busi- ness at theStanl.ey, tP_abput $35,000 ' the bV'St figure Ws~house ■ Kits had in a couple of months. .This week finds "The, Fool" In the Earle ^^Fox*^ turned , lh a good week with, "Fazll," with a stage show. Report- ed gross of $29,000. Estimates for Last Week . Stanley' (4,000; 35-50-75)—"Slng^ ing. Fool" ( W..B;). Riot here. About ^StSon (1,700; 35-50-76)---Wlngs" (Par) (2d, final week). Oft after big business In three downtowa houses. $9,500.or .le.ss.. Aldine (1,500: 50-75)-^"Subma- rino" (Ool). Second, final week, dropped sharply. Between $9,000 and $J 0,000 claimed. ,,->..,^ Fox (3.000; '90)-"F.Y-ll" (Fox) Reeeiilly had run at Jiox-Locusu Proved strong I" ,fJ,''^",'^^;S' .showing with almost $120,000 claimed. "^^/i^ust (1.800; SlW'TheBod KMLTy! »$« Li^ttie flilc 50-75)-"Tsar Tvan, the cnouKh 10 warrant vSOfw,n. week. 'Karlton a.OOO; 50-7;o-"I m Ter- I- K. Jl 111."" 'A'' i>./ .1.1 I ( •.v. l'.). f)i->-t I - T' ntly at c- r W at 1(11. , 1 I.. '.I' (,v'-r, .^ ■ '; ^j ) . ';> '"i hut n V. -l!()t .- inrii;. r liOUf>e It :T.:."0. ii;, i.y ' 'V'' >n< niio .■.'•n;ia