Variety (May 1929)

Wednesday^ May .1, 1929 PICTURE GROSSES VARIETY 9 Special $2 FOmsRiglit Well; 'Truth''at Par Ran % to $79 JO; "CAPTIVE WOMAN" $18,000 Oke In Buffato^^iibUx Hpuse Now Fri«lay:.,OR«n'(ii)i~'. . • Feature ot the local film business Is gettlne to be the money being spent in the dallies day after day. Broadway was 4own to normal last ^™h perhaps ' too much rain around for It to be called perfect show weather, nevertheless the boys ai« getting. somiethlnK .the best of it'trom the elements. There hasn't fieen any. i'eal heat since'that burn- up.'6t)ndaiy aiid Monday a while ago. TM'r-ixiost recent'Sunday was no h0p as a heavy downpour kept the heffB and girls. home. ruining what would have been a sure week-end record at the Paramount This house lifted approximately $11,000 to $79,300 for Dlx's flrat talker, "Nothing . But the Truth" and iMjunded away with Rudy Vallee on a.p: $18,000 Saturday, ^ .the Monday pa<ie holds house' figures up. It will annoy $90,000 :t6'death "between "Val- lee and "The Detter" thin week, Other big liudltorlvms . showed nothing- special, - the Gapltol <^x\<i Strand having - holdovers. "Dukfb Steps Out" labeled,. $78,100 on Its' exit for a $169,70Q fortnight, and "weary River" can buy coffee on o two w«ks' total bt'$80,900,'neat In both Inst^nc^, Roxy couldn't get out'of the' rough with "Girls Gone Wild" and $86,000 left this house •way oir the fairway. • $2 Films Of the newcomers, "Madame X' looks sti'ong At the Harris, cdtch in'p' stroiiK; wprd-of-mouth and^flne notices. House is depending upon a ' clhss draw ■ and the women, whoni the publicity Is choslng, to send this one across. "Show Boat" snapped off $17,100 at the Globe, which Isn't a sensa- • tlonal figure but satisfactory. No chance of it moving to the Colony right away as latter house will be dark three or four weeks to become a " Cooling station. "Rainbow Man" is. sSproading paper and getting along tp about half Its capacity at $1^,^00. ''qiirlstlna" and the Gaiety ■were amoVig the lowest of the low OBa :had " "Divine Lady," at "War nees.cfoi' company. ICIalm for "Alibi'' was the biggest week of. this '44tb Street run In nudging $18.000,. while the Embassy maintains "Mary Dugan" Is holding up at $0,800. Sam'e goes for the Astor and "Broadway Melody,'" which rated Itself at $24,000. Others "Coquette" retained as much strength as anything on the Street dipping but $5,200 for a $31,800 third wcclc. Picture sticks five weeks. "Wild Party" finished Its month at the Rialto to $24,600 '■Leatherneck ' had a healthy $9,200 at the . Cameo and "His Captive "W.Oman" trails along fairly near . $10,000. "Noah's Ark" picked up slightly but waa far from what It takes at $16.150.. Estimates for Last Week Astor—':Broadway Melody," dia- log (M-G) (1,120; $l-$2) (12th week). New veteran of Broadway sound era; $24,000 again claimed for Street's senior film member. Cameo—"The Leatherneck," dia- log (Pathe) (549; 60-75) (2d week) Good first week; $9,200 strictly okay in this small seater. ' Capitol—"Duke Steps Out," sound (M-G) (4,620; 85-50-75-$l-$l.B0) •Haines-Crawford feature demon strated strength at $78,100 on sec- ond'week: dual seven-day total $169,700, very good. Central — "His Captive 'Woman dlalpg (^^^•) (922; $l-$2) (5th .week); Retreating slowly and $10, ICQ .oko; now in fifth, week, which some never thought it would reach. Colony — "Scandal," dialog (U) (1,980; 66-75-$l). Laura La Flante flljn, but U star can't draw by her self along candle power row; you could make a living betting on un- der-$11,000 here eight weeks In ad vance. If you could find any one to bet' with; house now dark, so that cooling summer breezes can chase . ea'Ch other through a network ot pipes; reopens in three or four weeks. Criterion — "Innocents of Paris," dialog (Par) (862; $l-$2) (1st woek). Opened Friday, depending on Chevalier's iiersonal class draw and women to keep it alive; started fairly, publicity heavily stressing Stan as rave for femmes. Embassy—"Mary Dugan," dialog (M^CO (598: $l-$2) (5th week). Stilted $9,800 again; big figure for fourth -Kvcck on this site. **th St.—"Alihl," dialog (UA) ((,253; $l-$2) (4th woek). Going along easily; reported bjggest week ■"'ro "aaTe'5l^lT,TJ0ir;''h~ef cramHp-^lJVer preceding stanza. (Jaiety—"Christina," sound (Fox) (808; $l-$2) (5th week). Going no- where and well Into red; If "Fox Follies" riot ready sobn enough "The DIack Watch" (Fox) may be rushed in. Globe—"Show Hoat," dialog (U) (1,418; $i-$2) (Sd week). Ha« lost "SHOW BOAF $26,500 AT CAPITAL'S RIALTO $4,000 Over Old Top— "Speakeasy" $21,500 — "Canary $28,000 at Met . Washington, April SO, CWhite Population, 450,000) . W6athari Fair and Rain ' U's "Show Boat" did st^methliig for the Rialto that nothing else baa ever done before; It got $26,600..on Its first seven days. That's about $4,000 mor6 tlian the "Sea Beast" (WB) record of long ago. Regu- larly scaled at 50-73 week days and 75-90' Saturday and ' Sunday it is now getting a higher ante'than, any .of '.the downtown .houses". Picture In for an Indefinite stay.' "Broadway Melody" was some- thing else for the town to talk about, On Its fourth week it got'ji reported $13,000. '-Canary Murder. Oa8e"'.46ts credit, too; It got $11,000 on a second week for the Met. 'Speakeaisy" did not gaxiler for the Fox 'what ''waa e'xpected but It did Jntsrease -takings- $3,000 over: pre- ceding week, that's something.. Pair ace, wUh "Spite Marriage," got Its usual healthy figure, while the Earle, with "Hia Captlv<5 Woman,'' got a- few.hundred extra over the alcAost assured 14 grand. Estimates for Last Week Columbia (Loew) "Broadway Mel- ody" dialog (M-G) (1,23l'; 35-50) Fourth week and could have gone more; reported $13,000. Earle (Stanley-Crandall) "His Captive Woman" dialog (FN) (2,- 244; 36-50). Held to $1,500 above the usual, $15,500. Fox (Fox) "Speakeasy" dialog (Ko.\) and stage show (3,434; 36 50-76). Plenty of comment on pic ture, jumping up over preceding week; $21,600. Met' (Stanley-Crandall) "Canary Murder 'Case" dialog (Par) (1,686; 35-30). -Better first week than esti- mated, second running to about $11,- 000; total on two weeUs $28.,000.': Palaoa (Loew) "Spite Mai^rlage' sound (M-G and stage show (2,363; 35-50). Habit house coming right back with $19,000. Rialto (U) "Show Boat" dialog (U) (1,927; 60-75-90). Compared with previous high, intpike remark able; compared with previous low, which was the usual week prior to closing for several months, $26,600 here for seven days a knockout. : * Buffalo, •April 30. (Drawing. Popui.^tibn, SCKtOOO) WWathir:'Rain Business was ihoderate-at the pic- ture box office? laat week. "Broad- way Melody," in- Its' t^Itfl week at Shea'o Century,-continued'to bowl along: in excellent. btylei. la held over for. a- fo.urth week. -Eiitimat«s for Last WMk BufFato '(Publlx) (3,600; 3D^40-75) Hole In the WaU" dlWbg (Par), Bubbling- Over," runlt. Due to chan'ge of opening date, Saturday to Friday, last week's figure represents Six.days only; $20,650. Century <Pub11x) (3,400; 36-60) Broadway Melody" dialog (M-G) (3d week). Picture built steadily from the '.beginning,, going, to over $22,000 second week; demonstrating strength and getting topnotch-word- of-mouth; third Week ' $18,40D~ and staying for fourth.- .. Hipp (Piibllx) (2,400; 85-60) "His Captive Woman" dialog (FN) and vaude. Business good here with vaiide parU'ciilarly strong; $18,000. Groat Lake* (Fox) (3,400: 30-40- 75) "Thru Different Eyes" dialog (Fox), dobd for estimated $17,000. Lafayette (Ind) (3,400^ .36-60) 'The Leatherneck" dialog (Pathe). Just another week, .around $16,<>00. TORONTO IS MUSICAI4 Same as 1 st Week, and '^Mel cdy" Staying B^British Film $16,d00; Pan plenty of footage and catching nice word-of-mouth; $17,100 bfg enough to satisfy all around; reported "Broadway" (U) will not reach here, as at first supposed, for at least another month. Harris—"Madame X," dialog (M G) (1,101; $l-$2) (2d week). Opened Wednesday (April 24) and got Into action smartly; lots of prolse and newspaper raves. Paramount — "Ndthing .but the Truth," dialog (Par) (3,G60; 40-66 75-85-$l). First DIx talker needled house for $11,000 leap, so that it reached $79,300; Rudy 'Vallee and "Letter" (Par) slapped over $18,000, record, Saturday, and despite oVerly wet Sunday, looking for $90,000 this Rialto — "Wild Party," dialog (Par) (1.904; 35-50-86-$!). Bow film closed month's run to quiet $24,600; started big, but-simmered quickly; kept off bottom,' however, and no grouches. Rivoli—"Coquette," dialog (UA) (2,200; 35-50-8S-$l) (4th week) Mary more than holding her own $31,800, good third week, and at present rate penciled for two more weeks Instead of-one. Roxy—"Girls Gone "Wild," sound (B'os) (6,205; 50-75-$l-$1.50). Meant nothing to big house; $86,000 spoils appetites here. Selwyn — "Rainbow Man," dialog (Sono-Art) (1,167; $l-$2) (3d week) Playing to about half houses in money: fair, considering hea-vy op poslsli^ spending heavy dough In dallies right along; $12,300 Just all right. •■ ■ Strand—"Weary River,'* dialog (FN) (2,90(^; 35-50-66-75). Stayetl two weeks after sizeable run at Central: $34,000 second weeic, $80 900 two; "Singing Tool" (WB) nc-st. Warner's"'"Dlvlne'--Lady,"'-«(>und (FN) (1,360; $l-$2). Dropped off sharply during five weeks' stay finished on the ropes. "Desert Song" (WB) arrives tonight (Wednesday). Winter. • Garden — "Noah's Ark, dialog (WB) (1,494; $l-$2-$3) (8th week). Up bit, but not enough struggling for life; $16,000. Hot StuT Not So Hot at $32,000 at Oriental;1)iike''$58,000 for B&K Ace PENH'S'BRIDGE'$34,500; PITT STANLEY $31,500 Toronto, April 30. Hold-over musicals, "Broadway Alelody" at the TivoU and "Close Harmony" at'the Uptown, continued to mop up most of the town's loose cash, 'although all other houses showed a -slight hop. "Melody," In Its fourth week, nailed $17,000 for slight drop, while. "Harmony," surroimded with a smartly staged all femme revue, equalled its first week at $18,000 and led the town '.'Melody" holds over again, with 'Singing Fool" spotted next. Up town had a strong Saturday with The Letter." Pantages .pepped up with an all British . rprogram built around Tommy Atklps," second, of a series of 'World-'Wlde pictures to be re- leased here. Went to $16,000.' This house went 'sound Saturday and turning them away with "Chinatown Nights." House, seating 8,400, Is the largest wired spot In Canada. Understood Famous Players Is go- ing to spot English sound BttiS here, Three-World Wide dialog efforts are ready. "With FP now free " from any Paramount strings, these will likely get a big campaign and break in bookings. Loew's Improved with "A Single Mail," which went for $11,600, with no particular help from the stage. This house also went sound Monday with "Duke Steps Out." Shea's Hippodrome had a profitable but routine 'week with "Man, Woman and Wife" (Pathe) and vaude. Town went daylight saving Sunday. Two fires during the week. A small blaze backstage at the Uptown caused slight damage and no excitement. House was dark. More serious fire at Beach, a Famous Playecs neigh- borhood, where folded curtains and back drops took fire from short cir- cuit while orchestra was going through bvert'ure. About 1,200 peo- ple were led safely to street by coo! work on part of ushers. Damage slight. Neighborhoods had good week, with Palace. Charlie Querrle's acc, nailing $4,200 on take a chanci- week. Estimates for Last Week Uptown (FP) (3,000; 30-60)— "Close Harmony," dialog (Par). Second week unusual at this house, but l)eld to first week strength and led town at $18,000; all fenune stage show helped. Tivoli (FP) (1,400 ; 35-50-66)— "Broadway Melody," dialog (MG). Still holds In fourth week at $17,- 000; another week; "SIng|ng Fool" (\VB) next Pantages (Eastern-FP) (3,400: 30-60)—"Tommy Atkins" (World Wide). English effort with all-Eng- lish stage show, headed by Ella Shields, drew will at $16,000; sound Saturda: opened to S. R. O. Hippodrome (FP) (2.600; 30-00)— "Man, Woman and Wife" (Pathe) Good enough at $13,300. Leev/a (2,300; 30-60)—"A Single Man" (MG), Some Improvement at $11,500; house •went so und Monday "sTiofts'Kere exceilehL . "Show Boat" Opens Big— "Letter" $16,500, 2d Wk. —"Melody" Sticks Pittsburgh, April SO. (Drawing Population, 740,000) Film business returned to normjil last week If no one set the town on fire. Ballyhoo on Stanley's new stage Idea died down somewhat and gross dipped as the result. With "Chinatown Nights" and stage show featuring Kate Smith, hefty blues ■warbler, and I>ez2o Bet- ter, Stanley dropped around $7,000, claiming about $31,500. Nights vir- tual capacity but mats were way off. Stage being plugged to exclu- sion of film at this stand now, with local staff Jumping down to Mast- baum In Phllly every week to catch show and Improve on It as best they cdn In Interim. Penn had "Bridge of San Luis Rey" for $34,500. Pic- ture was- jjanned heartily by critics but this, didn't 'stop mob. from go- ing to'find but. 'Presehce of Brian McDonald, formerly local radio favorite,'on 6tage may htfve helped sotnd. ■ Dlok Lelbert, organist. wx>rk Ing up splendid foUowtag here. "Broadway-Melody" was. the real surpilso In Its fourth week by get- ting around $2(1,000. nothing like the drop expected. I>ecided to keep It another fortnight. "The Letter" was good for at least $16,600 In Its sec- ond week at the Grand and prob- ably could have stayed longer It It weren't for "Show Boat" booking. Universal special opened Saturday to great biz. In on a splurge and should stick at least three weeks with "Desert Song". (WB) %o follow. Out In East Liberty. Enrlght couldn't better medtocre taklngrs with "Strange Cargo.': Liberty was just fair-with "Lady of Pavements" (UA), second run, and Regent did ordinary biz with "Wild Party," also second run. Estimates for Last Week Stanley (Stanley-WB) (3;660; 26 36-60) VChlnatown Nights," dialog (Par) and stage show. Kate Smith and Dczzo Retter on stage; claimed around $31,500: mats way off but nights capacity; picture liked and biz Jumped after middle of week Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,600; 25-35- 60-75) "Bridge of Son Luis Rey" sound (M-G) and Publlx unit, "Fore." Close to $34,600, Jumping house about $6,000 over previous week; Brian McDonald, former local radio announcer and entertainer, on stage, Aldine (Loew's) (1,900: 25-35-60) 'Broadway Melody" dialog (M-G) Singing merry b. o. tune oC $20,000 In fourth week; lonpeat any picture has ever stayed here at pop prices looks set for another fortnight; re action expected this week. Grand (Stanley-WD) (2,000 ; 50 75) "The Letter" dialog (Par). Did $1G,500 in second and last week coQld probably have .stayed longer but "Show Boar' (U) booked In latter opened big Saturday. Enright (Stanlcy-WB) (3,300; 26 35-40-60). East LIberty'-M de luxe house hardly moving along Strange Cargo" dialog (Pathe) re celvcd heavy panning: stage show didn't mean a thing; business still off. Charlie McCarthy on Coast . Charlie McCarthy,' Par's publicity chief, left last week for a month's visit to the Coast. Harold Flavin will supervise dur Ing McCarthy's abaenoet - ^ B'klyn Par Up, $53,200; "RiverV H. 0, $26,300 Brooklyn, April SO A good week all around. Weather fair and business growing. The Paramount, which has been suf ferlng for sometime, got a better break last week with "Nothing But the Truth," and a radio show with plenty of publicity In the dallies helped. Showed $63,200, but could rise to higher figures. Strand held over "Weary River' on $26,300. Estimate* for Last Week Paramount — "Nothing But the Truth" (Par), dialog; (4.000; 85-CO 75). Went over big with good stage show; $51,600 somewhat better than past month, but room for more. Strand — "Weary River." dialog (F.N.) (2.000; 26-35-50-76). Held over tor a second week and made $26,300, fine. Fox — "Hearts In Dixie." dialog '(Fox)-(4;000;-35^4O--S0=6O-7ftr.'~11c^ ture and Charles Ray on the stage did well. Metropolitan — "Wild Orchids .sound (M-G) (8,577; 85-40-50-CO 75). Quiet week; $28,200. Albee — "Godless Girl." dlnlo (Pathe) (3.248; 35-40-50-60-75 Film appealed and better viiud" got I over; $26,300. Chicago. April 30. Weather: Rain and Fair Last week's layout revealed a couple of hot ones. "Duke Steps Out" shot the Chlcogo up to $58.- 000, and "Coquette" went wild at United Artists for a $45,000 start. Makes two winners In a row for U. A., "Iron Mask" establishing a new mark of $47,000 on Its opening week. ^llce White, In "Hot Stuff," at the Oriental^ didn't turn out to be that. House dropped to $32,000 despite the title appeal. "My Man" started at the Roosevelt to a poor turnout. In- dicating a short stay. Among the established rims, "Broadway Mel- ody" displayed strong holding abil- ity with $3»,000 In Its third week. "Noiah's Ark," at $2, also refused to allow any marked slip, getting $17,- 000 In Its. third weekv That's $1,000 above the rather slow opener. StaterLahe turned in another high score bf $28,000 with "Cohens and Kellys m A. C." Monroe wa» above usual at' $3;800 for .second Loop showing of "Strong- Boy," and Or- pheum was okay at $8,100 with "No . Defense." Estimates for Last Week Chicago . (Publlx)—"Duke Steps" Out." sounid. (M-Q). aild stage show 1 4,4d0; 60-76)., Haines and -Craw- ford na'm'es a'diraw; combo strong.- wl^h $68,000, iiesplte mlTd notices. 'MbViisker'a X^ubllx)^*'Broadway Melody J' dialog (M-0> (l.,86S: 60- . TE), - Steady strength;, third week. ' - Monroe* (Fox)—"Strong Boy." sot\nd (Fox)" tljOOd; BO-76). Monroe sti'eet i:rdwd. Ilkes *em- fbugh: more dropped In.itfutn usual: "$3,800. • Oriental (Publlx)-r"Hof Stuff,"' dialog (J'N). and' "piay BalL" unit (3,600 ; 60-76). Not so hot; low at 1182.000. . .- ' Orpheum CWB).—"No',. Defense," dialog (WB) (760; 60). Monte Blue talker satisfactory for one week; $8,100. Rooaevelt (PublU)—"Jly Man.", dialog (WB) (1,500; 60-76). Fannie Brice i^ot' doing so welt In small run house; opening under.average. '■ State-L«kelRK0)^rC(>lien8 and' Kellys iQ A. C." dlolos (U) and ' Vaude (2,700; 26'^75).' Another snappy week, with 198,000; wJrIng has tebught most noticeable in- cteako here of liby Xooiii house. ; Uiiittd Artl«.to (UAX^"Coquette,'* <Ilalog^ tUA) '^1,700: TiO-lrBi.- Great start (It $46,009; with better weather might -llflve beat«n "itaHtC^ #47,000. : Woods ;(ShUbert)^"N6tiI»*s Ark,", dlalojj (WB) (1,267'.' 1il,TiO-$2). Not Creating a sensation but 'showing sticking' pbwer; fK.OOO.'^fjtart bet- tered In third week for $17,000. MONTREAL PERKS UP; lMPERiALNMR$lO/)0^ Mon^eal, AitTll 30. . 7 . n, M0/)00)„ Weather: Fair and Cold (Drawing Population, Last week was oke for the local main stem houses. In addition there was the Hagcnbeck-Wallace circus at the Forum^ Palace was again the standout with "Broadway Mel- ody," which left town with a final groNs ot $21,000, making close to $80,000 for three weelcs. "Duke Steps Out" brought the Capitol back Into line with $18,500. Loew's put on "Power of Silence," one of those murder trial pictures, with the -usual light vaude bill. Two likely rated 60-40 in a good average gro.se of around $16,000. Im-' perlal Is trying* 6ut-of-ordinary' playlets and with "Undercurrent"' showed something more usual at legits than In vaudfilm . houses. It came through, and with "Children of the RItz" as the picture drove gross up $2,000 to around $10,000. Neigh- borhoods fell off again last week. Estimates for Last Week Palace (FP)" (2,700; 40-66)— "Broadway Melody," dialog (M-U). Fell off from prevlpus wcelc»but still enough to top town again; with $21,000 finish, total foi= three weeks near, $80,000; easy record for any picture ever shown here. Capitol (FP) (2,700; 40-65)— "Duke Steps Out," sound (M-G). Haines always big attraction here and picture raised gross to $18,600. Loew's (FP) (3,200; 35-00)— "Power of Silence" (Fox), and vaude. A little heavy to go with vaude but seemed to go over well; vaude best In weeks; $'15,000. Imperial (RKO) (1.000; 35-7r.)— "Children-of the Rltz," sound (I'N). Background of bent seller to sc-ll it to fans; bark to old figures at arouifd $10,000. F'OR hire: PUODOCTIONS - DXPI.OITATIONS PHB3ENTATI0NB