Variety (Mar 1929)

10 VARIETY PICTURE GROSSES Wednesday, March 6, 1828- Tavements' Hops Loop U A to Chi UM, Oriental $M; Biz Holds Chicago, March 6. Everybody over the nut last week with a few Juicy flgures visible. Chicago was $10,000 above average with "The Red Dance" for 163,000. May be some regrets by B. & K. about the previous week when Guy Irfimbardo's band and "Canary Mur- der Case" were offered simultan- eously to a recotd $71,000. Either would have been good for great money. Together they drew mobs that couldn't even get In. An In- stance of double barreling one bird. United Artists took a long jump In going to $3:,000 with "tiady of the Pavements" assisted by Lupe Velez and her personal appearances. Could have taken more but fbr long running time. Miss Velez Is staying around for Another week before Jumping to New York for tfaer saiqe chore at opening of "Pavements" there. "Tide of Empire" (Cosmo- poiitan: was getting tbe usual extra exploitation in Hearst papers but wasn't considered an appropriate -selection for the Oriental, where ' flaps were milling in to see' Jack Osterman in his first'week as ra. c. Osterman getjs considerable credit tor the above normal $10,000.' "Jimmy Valentine" didn't weaken at McVlcker's, holding to Its opening figure of $26,000. "3arke^' dropped few thousand to fK.OOO in Its 'second ''week ' a.t tbi . Roos^Velt^ "Shddy Xady" and Charlie Mnrraiy on the stage at the State-Iiake drew a good $26,000. Estimate* for Lart WmK Chleago —"Red Dance"- ■ sound (Fox) and'Stage show (4,'<00; 60-76). Easy Loop leader at $63,000; — McVlcker'B—"Jimmy Valentine" dialog. (M-Q) (2,200; -60-76). Dis- playing unusual holding qualities; duplicated first week's ' $28,000 on aecond week. Monroe (Fox) "Red Wine" (Fox) (976; 60-76). Second time tq Xoop and satisfied with $3,900. Oriental (Publlx) "tide of Em- pire" (M-G) and stage unit (8,200; 60-76). Extra-i.xploltatlo'n for pic- ture and Jack Ostermaitr new m. c; dropped to 440;000 after two $43,000 weeks. bi)t still above usi|al money. ^.--Orpheum -(Wamer) ".Greyhound jUmlted" di^og (WB) (760; 60) gpened good at $9,600;' second and fit week $8,100; "Stark Mad" In. Roosevelt (Pufolix) "The Barker" aialog (FN) (1.700; 60-76). First Milton- SlUe talker dropped' nor- mally to $18,000 for second week; Dff $4,000. St^te-Lake (R-K-O) "Sfaody I^dy" (Pathe) and vaude (2,200; .pA-76). Good stage assistance from Cparlie Murray, picture comic; $26,- 000 oke. United Artists (UA) "I^dy of the Pavements" sound (UA) (1,700; CO-76). With personal appearances of Lupe Velez got great start; $34,- *00. FAIR FILMS IN BALTO Some Pared Well and.Some Fliwed Last Week Trends'$1«,400, hi N.O^ Saenger's Thai $17^00 New Orleans, March 6. (OrawInQ Population, 478,000) Loew's State stepped out In front, beating the larger, capacity Saenger by . over $2,000 last week. LoeWs played Garbo's "Wild Orchids" to go past $19,000. "Conquest of .LiOve" started fiop- plng ofter the . opening day at the Baen^er and skidded right through < to the closlner night. OLocals like : ta1k«F8. .but -this one slowly pace.d. At $17,200. picture sent, the Saeh- . eer .into, the r^ . for . the first, time In mohthd. drpheuni. showed some- thing ot a drop when "The Nlsrht ' Bird" ^dld an >«ven $10,000. Tudor made sorne money with "The Air Clrcfs" at $3,760. Estlmrtes for Last Week Loew's State (3.218;' 60) "WUd Orchids" (sound) (M-G). Typical Garbo opus helped by successful treasure hunt arranged by Managei; Hnups; $19,400. Saenger (3,668; 66) "Conquest" dialog (WB). One of the season's bloomers; did $17,200, and house m"st p-et $18,600 to break. Orphe'.im (2,400; 60) "Nla-ht Bird" (U). Denny rather cold, here; vaiide helped save for $10,000. etr.md <2.200; 60) "The Crash," (sound) (FN). Brutal returns, $2,- ton. ■ ■ Tudor (800; BO) "Air Circus" (sound) (Fox). Average biz, t3,760. USEHS-TWO-BOUSES Lios Angeles, March 6, Upon taking charge of Universal's theatre department I<ouls Cohen rid the company of a pair of sUperflu- oOa;. houses—Clemmer, Spo'kaiie. ^ eeajling 1,200, sold to Ray (Sroijn- ^. Iwcher, and 'the C^meo, FiisCo| 9.00 'GQOts, to '\V. B. Weignon, :'who also operates the Embassy in that City. Baltimore,- March 6. (Drawino Population, 850,000) Weather: Wet The fight continues at Annapolis.' on the proposed Sunday act for Baltimore. A protesting group, headed by the executive .secretary of the Lord's Day Alliance, went to the State capital to argue against the bill last Thursday. T.bey de- clared the passage of the bill would have a devastating effect: on the morals of this town. There are'two Sutiday movie measures before the legislature. Both were drafted by Representative Cal|an: of this city. One wpuld permit, theatres to -opr erate - in Baltimore after - 2 p. ip. Sundays; the other puts the.whole question of Sunday shows in. the hands of tke Mayor and .City Coun- cil. ^ Estimates for Last We«k . Century (Lo«w) "Children pt Rlt2" (wired and orchestra). (3,200; 96-60) Great week. .Picture proved Al flapper fare, and mats.were blg,- wtth nights^ ditto. Rlchy Craig de- but as m. c, and scored. 'While not touching "Wplf of Wall tStreet" in- take, well-above-average at $23,000. Stanley (Ijoew. Stanley-(^ndal|) ^'Doctor's Secret" (wired and or-' (ihestra) (3,600; 26-60). Got oft to bad start. Picture well liked and built steadily. Talking shorts' caused favorable-comment. House-couldn't, overcome weak start. Week below par at $17,600. Valencia (LoewX "The Crash" (all wired) (1,600; 26-60). Sills film pretty much of flop here. Busi- ness down almost a grand, about $2,700. Parkway (Loew, United Artists) "The Rescue" (wired) (1,000; 16- 36). Low gross getter at downto-wn Stanley and ditto at this uptown stands Under ' house average at $3,800. . ■ ,. Keith's (Schanbergers) "Geral- dlne" - and vaude (8,200;. 26->60^. Show pleased; business up .fromi previous we4>k and very satisfac- tory; about $11,600. San Francisco, March 6. (Prawlng 'Popiilation; t62,OP0) Weather; Clear and ^rm Comlilhatlon of "Tra<l of '98" aiid Benny-Rubin hcilped 'a lot and the Warfield took a spiirt California ran along' Tery well with "Wolf of Wall Strieet." "My Man" ended Its run at the Bhnbassy last Tuesday and was followed Wednesday by "The Redeeming Sin." .".Lucky Boy" is In Its second week^at the St. Francis. EMimates for Last Week Warfield (Loew-WC) . fTrail of '98," ^ound (M-O), and stage show (2,672; 60-66-90). Took a glide up- ward and sailed close to $36,000. Qranada (Publlx), "The Dummy," dialog (Par) and stage show, (2,- 698; 36-60-66-$l). Did not set 'em wild: Brook Johns new m. c.,,abo^t $28,700. California (PublU), "Wolf of Wall Street," dialog (Par), (2,200: 36-60-66-90). Did .well second week and stays third; about $17,000. St. Francis (Publlx). "Lucky Boy," dla'og (T-S), 11,375; 36-60 66-90). F^rst week fair and held .p.vr; $8,700. Embaiwy (Wagnon), "My Man," dialog (WB) (1,367; 60r66-90) Third and final wtieh ende^t Wednes day.' $11,000; "Redeeming Sin' (WB) current. FOX'S SITES IN L A. One Worth 4>^ Mtlliont—Other Ni^i Over $760,000 Los Angeles, March- 6. William Fox's proposed $10,000,- 000 theatre and building project here will b^ on one of ,two sites un- der consideration. The one between 6th' and 7th running from Broadway to Hill street, has a frontage of 120 feet Md_depth ^t_^b^ ' Present land value is $4,'63b,000'andlncrea8ln?,' rrhe: second site, negotiated for Is at' -7th - and Figueroa, -four blocks west Of the downtown theatre cen ter- but becomlne^ a commercialized neighborhttiod. It is. believed suf- ficient for k l&rge theatre of the propoi'^d'. FOx tyiie and has been d'ckerbd for' by Fox for some time This site -will not''cost oVer $7EO;000 Montreal Censors Change, "RescneV Wife to Sister Montreal, March 6. (Drawing Population, 600,000) Weather:-Mild Springlike weathei^ most of week provided a pleasant contrast, with the year sp for. .-By holding up Ice sports It helped the'theatres. Other matters are beglhuing to come, to life as well - with this turn of the year, and the era of spring fashion shows will soon bei here, bringing Increaised attendances, Action Is also promised after long delay In - the Sunday Closing Act appeal by the film men, scheduled to'be heard week after next. Sooner this menace Is cleared away the better, since wiring of new houses and building of new theatres are beln^ to'some extent .jield up until greater certainty as to c<>ndItlons. Oiir. Quebec Board of Censors got busy, on the week's pictures, doing plenty to both of the leading shows. At that, they couldn't ruin "The Barker"' at the Palace, which had a bigger attendance than for home weeks. "The Rescue," at the Capitol, one of the most beautiful sea pictures of the' year, was to some extent made silly as to sub-titles and con- fusing 'as to plot by censors' action In maklnff heroine sister Instead of Wife of one of the characters. ' LoeWa piit.on a better than usual picture In "Strange Caee of Leiia Smith." Cbmblned with good vaude It put this house over to an aver- age gross, of $14,600. Imperial was down from week before, but put on a good oU-axound show, with pic- ture, "Nothing to Wear," rating as high as -vand'e. EatlmatM for Las) Week Capttel (FP) (2,700; 40-66) (sound) "The Rescue" (UA). Con- rad picture badly mauled by cen- sors, but went over to good houses all week; $16,000, good at prices during lient, Palaea (FP) (2,700; 40-66) (sound) "The Barker'^' (FN). Story of big top started ofC with bang. Fell off some later owlnt; to hockey competition^ but will make a good fortnight's' total' when jseen again this week; $18,000, easily best In towii. . . Leew's-(FP) (3.200; 86-60J vaud film; "Lena Smith" (Par).^ Unusual plctvre tor this House, but-'got over. About equal to vattd as money-get ter, and latter up to usual average $14,600, good for season. . Jmperlal' (RKO) . (1.900; i&-76) vandfllm "Nothing to Wear" (FBO). Nice, , bright , picture that fitted in w^U with -vaud. Maintained aver- age gross, around $9,600.' Nelghboriioods enjoyed better business owing-:to milder weather, which eliminated-outdoor sports. Toronto Fith 809,000 imOOO Weekly Toronto, March 6. A^si^ssment records foe Viii put the population .of Toronto, and Im- mediate , eurroundlng'district, at 809;000 of whom 666,0)16' sire within city limits. Town has 103 theatres, 82 neighborhoods playing a straight picture or' vandfllm p'rQgr.mi Estimated attendance In these houses lB7S(r,000 d^Ily with 100,000 on- Saturday, or 400,000 people a week at an avenge o^ 26a a ticket. Simple arithmetic brings that out at $100,000 a. week/or shows. Loew-Keith Pools Columbus, O., March. 6. It la reported Keith's and Loew's are about to. pool their local the atres, with th6 operation under It unknown. The,.eame thing. It Is said, will occur between the two chains' at Louisville. QmCK ADTANCEHENT / Pittsburgh, March 6 Less than five years ago Frank Shepheird walked Into the Grand, then a Rowland-Clark film house, and asked for a Job. They gave him a uniform and made htm a door man. Last week he was nained manager of the Stanley, downtown de luxe house, to succeed Guy Won ders. The latter goes Into New York and from there Is slated to assume the general managership Of Stan- ley- W.B. Interests In AtIantIo^Clty. Shepherd .haa been Wonders' as- .slstant..— l.^ , , Shepherd, makes the fourth man dger at the Stanley since house opened a year ago. Schick, Back With M-Q-R/h Los Angeles,: March 6. Raymond L.' Schrock is again with M-O-M, doing . another, original story for William Haines. Fox's Loew Buy a Talk Riot (Continued from p(£ge 5) erally rldlcuied by the trade press. Only, a few insider^ at the time ap- peared aware of the attempted deal. At that period from accounts Fox offered $80 a shi^e with Loe'w'd-theii quoted on the .^jxchange at around 60. When the sale , went through last week? t.oew's was around 76 on the board, having shortly before dropped from 80. The Warners' pro- posals In between sent up the Fox offers. A puzzler to the show people' was Schenck turning Loew's over to Fox, strengthening Fox to the ex- tent It is now referred to by dallies as the foremost figure In the sho-W: business, -without Adolpb Zukdr of Paramount-Publlx appar^ixtly mak- ing any effort to-divert the sale or take It on for his own (companies. That no unfriendliness exists Is. evi- dent since Mr. and Mrs.. Schenok spent the weekend after the sale at the Zukors' country place. It la said that Schenck laid the whole proposition before Zukor, a Hfe-Iong friend and the same with the late Marcus Loew, but tliat %ukor.'s position was one of Indiffer- ence, with Schenck proceeding. - 10-Year Franehlsaa Loew's and Paramount are bound- In a written agreement through in terchanged product franchises given, for 10 years,'about three of which have expired. These franchises pro- tect each other also 6vl the build- ing or acquiring of theatres within the other's, territory, since the re- spective franchise carries the first run rights to afl program releasea Loew's Is also linked with United Artists (Jos. M. Schenck) In eight or nine'-theatres in the east While it Was expected XliaX U. A. would follow Loew's Into Waimers, If go- ing there^ It Is not'reported that 3J. A. has 'any Idea of tlelng up with Fox. Joe Schenck Is working out a financing plan that -will- keep U. A. distinct, it Is said, unless something unforeseen turns up. Joe Schenck left ^or Florida Sunday, to be gone two weeks. ' Next the Wash Up Showmen are agreed that the Fox-Loew deal will be followed, hy another big merger In'^theatres and studios, with the next to wash lip the Important merging. It' will leave, It Is claimed, two > big chains. Fox's against the regular field, with the scattered Independent's then left possibly forming a third chain as best they may. Fox reiterates It wUl tiCke oil the Metropolitan Independent theatres, 176 or more within Greater New York, These, with the Loew the- atres and the .Loew franchise from Paramount, <with Its own 'M-O-M product also for the metropolitan area, appears to completely sew up New York for Fox. New York al- ways .has been the most stiiigetlc point for prestige In the U. S. Pre- viously It has been dl-vlded for that purpose between Paramount and Loew's. ~ With Loew's, Fox adds on three important Broadway theatres, At>- tor. State and Capitol, besides the New York theatre and Fox's Roxy. Several cities hold both Fox and Loew houses. Chicago Open Some cities hold neither a-Loew or a Fox theatre. Principally among this list is Chicago. A few far western cities are likewise with out Fox or Loew representation. Marcus Loew never invaded Chi- cago because of his fond friendship for Aaron Jones (Jones, Llnlck & Schaeffer). Just why William Fox skipped that city has never been mentioned. Chicago IS at present controlled by Balaban & Katz, ex cepting for a few neighborhood In- dependents and one or two small downtown grinds. B. & K. Is 100 per cent o-wned by Paramount. Several economical movements by Fox-Loew that might appear log! cal at first glance have not been dwelt upon, from accounts. One of these, of course, is the merging of the Fox and Metro exchanges. It would effect an annual saving of $3,000,000, it is estimated. Nothing seems to have been settled regard- ing it. _ .._Toli.lnj9IiLE«reo>a{Lh8_ For the biggest and most start' !Ing theatre deal on- record of the show business anywhere, 'Wllliaqi Fox, In person, presented to thei press JSundoy afternoon vat the Roxy theatre, a statement contain ing six paragraphs, occupying less than one sheet of typewriting paper. Present with him-'; were. Nick SchenclC. Winnie Sheehan, Dave Bernstein and -Arthur Loew. ^sewhere In this Issue Is a state, ment by Mr. Schenck of his Inten- tloU-to . remain with Loew's as its president, and Including Berntiteln as well as the Loew boys. William Fox In speaking to tha newspaper men Sunday made it plain that Fox theatres and not Fox Films (both Fox corporations) was acting in the Lcew buy. - Warners' Disappointment Warner Brothiers and their asao- clates. Including the banking con> nections, were reported badly dls> appointed when learning the Lp^w sale had turned away from them. The-' Wamer-Loew deal had pro- gressed' to the point where the at- torneys were on the final papers. It' Is raid that the Warner bank- ers, (36Idman, Sachs and Company,. -were 'dealing on an exchange . of stock ;baslB, with the Loew group somewhat reluctant to wholly ac- cept it. One claim was made that the" ^prdsent Warner assets might not equally mdet, the Warner stock ourrent market quotation. Another hitch, from reports. Is that the same tankers wanted Nick Schenck to agree to remain with Loew's' (or at least two years after the sale of his stocli. Neither did this proviso meet with Soh'enck'A approval. His cl^e'f reason for selling has been that h^ wanted to retire, intending to first take a trip around the world with his family. Acting for the Loew group In the financial dealings with the Warners were Joe Toplltsky of the coast, Jos. M. Schenck and W. C. Durant, the latter the capitalist and a-hea'v]^ Loew stockholder himself. Goldman, Sachs had about de- cided to organize a holding com- pany with $200,000,000 capital to take over 'Warners and Loew's. This was in line of possible federal scrutiny of the me^er. With War- ners getting -Loew's, It would hiive had three big competitive prod<ie- ing companies: Warners, First Na- tional and M-G-M (Loew's). At'the reported price of* $126 fdr Ltiew stock, it Is said the bankers thought thef iprlce $26 too hijrh but were wUlfriir to agree to It In view of the value of the Loew oonoem and Its fixture. Many of the Warner staff, along whh' outsiders .of the film trader bought heavily of Warner stock shortly before It was learned the deal had blown. Fox's Announcement Official- announcement. in full read's: WUllam Fox Issued the fol- lowing statement from his office at the Koxy theatre at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon: "Fox Theatres Corporation has ' purchased a substantial block of the common stock-of Loew's Incorporated. The transaction was concluded by Mr. Fox, on behalf of Fox Theatres Corpo- ration, acquiring the shares held by the widow and family of. the late Marcus Loew Ond those of a group Intimately ^associated "^vlth the management lof Loew's Inc., which owns also the Metro-GoldwjTi Pictures Cor- poration. "It is the intention that Loew's Inc., shall operate as a- separate unit in the amusement field. ' Nicholas M. Schenck will re- main OS president and David . Bernstein as vice-president and treasurer. The officials and ex- exutlves of the Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer studio lii California will cbntlnue in authority and the production personnel and ao- tlvlties will be unchanged. "Loew's and Metro-Gold-wyn- Mayer theatres, studios, branch r offices, etc.. In foreign countries as well as In America will con- tinue to operate separately. No change In'"management, policy of operation or production at the (^ifornia studios Is con- templated. "The distinguished production achievements an^ the splendid business conduct of Loew'a, Inc., Is acknowledged In the amuse- ment world, and its policies and personnel In the domestic and foreign fields will be contlnu^ by Fox Theatres Corporation. "Fox Theatres - Corporat'o" present associations augmented by. Its new afllllation will bo productive of a vastly improved quality of screen entertainment —brlnglng-to^audlences-throushr.,. out the world ope;atIc, musical, dramatic, audible news reels and a variety of entertainment in the educational, Industrial and . theatrical fields through the medium of Movietone, the sound on film method developed by the ■Fox Case Corporation, an asso- c'ated commny of Fox Thcatrts Corporation." .