Variety (July 1929)

PICTURE Wednesday, July 24, 1929 Chiaga Sees Concrete Example of Talent Name vs. Freak Buddy Rogers Did $64,000, Big, Against Publicized iUted Girrs $27,000, Nprinal-^$36,20b ai Orieii- tal for "Pr. Fu Marichu»'-^'*Noah*s Ark" Good • / ■.'Chicago, July 23. Weather: Fair : Buddy Rogers Iri ills pergonal ap- : pearance at; the Chicago .last weelc had the same trouble Tom >rix had ■ iri this town:;he broke .the. attend- ance record .but .missed the actual money record by several thousand. $liidiWsrtcii'1ieaaPfl^^ $14,000 at Broadway Portianclt, Ore., July 2?.; FOX-BVo.idway continued • to hold With' Mi^ if ' Was.Yh'e • loV juvenile I grois lead, scorinj^ ■ yith •S^^sion pi-fce holding . back the watch,'' ..well explpite doing - wS?^iitii Rogers;' the-te-h<Jeiicy.-of I bettei- than expeqted; Capitol, has 'flSy oiv "umml^- vacatiort to get in been. y.-ir.^^ and has new policy^of "n^thrcheap matinees. r^ run talking films, pay top price in tli.e even , . ; Estimates for Last Week The Rogers.gross, 1^4,000,.is..ney- , «oii with.the Show'' he.ld .over, at .ertheless,: a' lulu. ^Veviou^ , weeu^^^ with a good picture, was con^iaered . , v.;.- •Rocer's .at'the State-Lake,-w.a»-Ann: 500. , . .. .. . ■'. . Livingston headlining the yaude Broadway (Fox) (2,000; 25^0)^-^ bill This gal recently secured-.na-. -'Bidck Watch*' . (Fox). Big. Stage tioiial. publicity throUgh her $250,000 slnovi; $14,000. ■ Weach-of^promise:.' suit against., a ; -, uj^jted Artists (Parker-Fox).. (1;- wealthy, ;.aged and somewhat tired, j^q: 3:5^goy_..Thfee Passions." Pair •• business man. Miss Livingston was. not strong.. Shorts; $5,000. .. •^hoved Into a unit, did a; waltz with I . . • < all the grace of three men .iwalkin^ to their, .12th speakeasy, talked. a HEADLINING • Master of his profession is the keynote" of the huge success of Joe Moss iji the .oi*chiesti'a field- . Already d favorite of. the social elite and a• liit en Broadway,; Joe Atoss {ind his.Hotc'l Astor Orchestra. —iMeyer Davis': niuSic—is enthrall-: ing audieiices at the B-KtQ Palace this week..' . ..' .:'' ■■' : ' ■ littlfe and. laia a brass egg. Gross on the week ; was $27,000, exact y what a't>oor picture and the faintly known picture jflayer, Kenneth Har- " tan, did. last week. Contrasting: grosses, ot Miss Livingston and Buddy Rogers might assist theatre mahagerjs iii any fiitUre doubt abo.yt the- relative merits; of real and no- torious "narrie's/' .. . - .~ Vlltha Banky appeared in person during first two days of .."This Is Heaven" at .United Artists,; and helped the gross quite a bit, .Fin- ished the week with;, $28^500, highly satisfactory, figure. '.'No.ah's Ark, which Started an avalanche at. the 760-seat Orpheum with $13,000 for its opening week, rang up another -nifty with $11,000 for the second Error last week In quoting open- ing" AVeek's gross of "The Cbcoar nuts'.' . at ' McVicker's at $28,0.00^. Actual figure was, $35,000, and sec Music Box (Hamrick> (2,000; 50, all day). Second week of 'lOn with Show." Held up; 'i $9,800.; . % ■ Oriental' (Tebbetts . (2.700.:': 25-3;5) —"Footsteps to Satan.!' Okay. St.a^e show; $6,000. : Pantages (Pan) (2.000; 35-50)— "Modern Love.?' Okay. /Vaude; $10, 000; ■ ■■. ■, ^'On With Show" Cte^ To Record at COAST PRETTY DRY Hollywood, July 23. If Volstead could have made the country as dry as. the cur- rent pliy.slcal condition of this state, he would have done . .something. Things • arc so: parched here that - police ; are . now stoiJping. cars going over Dark Canyon ;roaa, connecting,, highway b.ct\Yeen Crthueriga, Pass arid . ijurbank, arid der. manding that .everybody; stop -gmoking wliile en. route. Several briish. fires have re-- pcatedly. endarigered the First National .and Uhivcrsail lots, "the cops simply putting into effect riiles applying to nation-' ai forest preserves during th<9 cloudless seafjon. m g—Both at "Curtain" Jumped Fox, Washj, $4,500 to $22,000 ; ';. > \Vashlngt6ri,. July 23.. (White Pop, 450,000) y Weath.er: Cool .\ ..•'Evoingeline,;' ' ccfupled with the personal appearance of Dolores Dei Rid, got: the town's interest centered in the Columbia liast week. At the same time- "feehind: That .Curtain:' jumped the Fox almost $5,000. . Others stuck at about tlie same fitrures as previous/'which . dofisn>!t Providence, July^ (Dravtf Pop, 315i000) Weather Fair Strong bills arid fairly comfortable weather helped to pile up' -mid- winter business. • Iioe\Y's State led with VIdle Rich." "Oh with, the Show:" at Majestic made : the . best . business in towrt ond (last) week got $28,000.. Fine .comparatively, nearly $14,000, al showing. ;Orierita[l was above aver age with'$3G.200: for "Dr. Fu Man- cbti." Third weeH of "Mary Dugan w!xs also satisfactory , at the Roose- velt with $21,000/ rS- Estimate for Last Week (PiibVix), "Twin Beds" most sensational. . Estimates for Last Week Loevy^9 State (3i5Q0; 15-50), *'Idl« Rich" - (M-G-M). ShortSi : Feature Avent oyer big; $19,000; okay. Majestic (2.200; ISfSO), "On with Show." (WB). Fine support bill Chicago x . -■ .. /■PNV '■ atacre show' '(4.i400i. 50-75). ■ ►j..^... . v....—.,.. — Baddy Boiers. film, star, in perSon,,"Shbw" tilk of town; .big all week responsible .for great week at $64.- $14-000; close to; sensational record -~00i); broke house attendance redord, made by house Q.n Jazz Singer. . , but couldn't beat money mark be- Strahd (Irid) (2,200; 15.-50), '^Hole. cause flat>s preferred to get in .6n low-scaled matinees. Picture rated weak. ■ • ' _ McVicker's (PubliX), "The Cocoa- nuts" (Par) (1.865; 50-75). First week -big at $3.5,000; 2d. $28,000. . Monroe (Pox). "One "Woman Idea" (Fox) (1.000; 50-75). Above average at |4,30O. - . - Oriental (Publix), "Mysterious Dr. Fu jtfanchu" (Par), stage show (3.500; 50-75). Held house higher iri Wall" (Par) arid "Two Men and Maid" (T-S).., Bill not so hot. About average all week; $io;500. Victory (RKO) (1.600; 15-50), "Behind That Curtain'.' (Fox). House again having trouble with reproduc- tion. Squawks .continue. ■ House booking .tiiirly. good hills, but p6.cr amplification keeping patroris away; $ff.500; Fay's (1.600; ■ 15-50), "Frozen $10,500 :'frorn mystery regulars,, besides cus tbmaty flariiirig youth. ' ; ■ Orpheum (WB), •; "Noah's Ark" (WB) (760; 50). Scoring great in fii-st time at pop. prices; 1st week, $13,000; 2d, $11,000. . • Roosevelt (Publix), "Mary Dugan" CM-G). (1,500; 50-75). First, $26,000; 2d. $22;000; 3d. $21,000; high start. Coriiior \b6afd; first i)lrilted' this 5rie,..1 Clara Bow in Honie Town Gives B'klyh Par $65,600 ■ Brookiyri, July. .23 .Better pictuvefare iastr week Svith ■ Pittsburgh, . July 23. Unexpected happened here -. last week. " Despite weather tho,t rivaled the season's: hottest;^ biz shot up all over. Just one of those things., . Paramount got a break>. Par pic- tures .teha.nting ; ea'ch of ; the four downtown hbusfes, ' , : ' Clara Bow packed them into the Stanley to $31,000 jump of . several grand over previous six days.. Penn ^yerit to $32*20.0 With "Innocents of Paris," though Jack Osterman, here in Publix uhit,; meant sonae money at b.' o.' . .-'. v', --" ..^ . Grand came along mcely with "Cocbanuts," in third and final .week; about $14,000. Profitable eil- gageriieht for Marx picture. ,"On 'With the Show" opened Sat- urday. • "Man i • Love" . well; liked; at. Aldine'v'and snared. $11,000, excellent for suirimer. Enrighf,: in East Liberty, took , a jump with, "Twin Beds." Harris just eased • along with ''Scandal." Estimates for Last Week Stanley-^(Warners).. (3.600; 25.-35r 60). Clara Bow piacked -em; with "Dangerous Curves," (Pat) to $32,- 000 Charlie Melson's- stage Show, "Blue iSkieg" not bad and they're coming to see hirii In ..his last two weeks here. Takings represent real dough here, •vyhere; the 3.5c. scale stJvy.s on until six o'clock, enabling only one full turnover at night-for the 60c. price. .'; -..; Penri —: (Loew's-UA) (3.300; 25r 35-60-75) ; '.'Innocents of" Paris". (Par) and "Wealey Eddy's stage show^ "Wall Street Blues," account- ed for nice. $321000. Grand^(Wa;rners) (2.000; 50-75). "Cocbanuts" (Par); 3rd. final week, $14,000 "nice for this house. $50,000 for 3 weeks. - '; ' .' ■• Aldine—(Loew's) (l.flOO; 35-50). 'Man I Love" (Par) light hUt. well liked and took $11,000, one of beSt weeks here this summer. Contest for girl.3 in brie of. dailie-. stirred up interest-.. ■. '.i Enfight--(Warriers) (3,700; 25- 35-40-60). Looked up with "Twin Beds". (FN) and stage show. Pic- ture's .title probably responsible. Ha,rris-T-ContinUes to ease along slowly under new jioiicy of straight pictures. : "Scaridrir,-.(,U) so-so.: ' good figuKos iiil around. Tarariiount did a .woSv; businp'ss with Ciava; Bo.w speaic- so well, in .vle\y, of the. great break in • weather.;. T . Estiniates for Last Week ; Columbia. (Lbew), •'Eyafigeline" (UA) (1,232; 35-50).; Del Rib in per- son did it; on several days, had to make art extra appearance; about $15,000, real business for .an old house with two balcoriies, no cpol- ipg plant; and other shortcoriiings; picture,.held over, but Del Rio. not. Earle (S-C ; Warner). "Wheel of Life" CPar) '(2.244| 35-50).Tumbled but caught Itself in time to beat a.verage with $12,000... • ; ; . Fox (Fox),"Behind That Curtain" (Fox), stage shbwr (3,434; 3'5r50-75). Excellent. reviews and comment.; .with good matinee trade; resulted I in $22,000, $4,500 above week before. . Met:(S-C Warner),:''On "With the Show" (WB) (1,585; 35-50), . Plenty comment and interest in novelty of all: color, backed up plugs from the dailies, reisulted . in second week count of ;$l0.000: .' Palace (Loew), "Divorce . Made Easy" (Par), stage show. (2.363; 35- SQ)/ House no longer playing home- town angle on Douglas MacLean, star of this ' one,; Gross, though good, much below iisual. Weather considered. $17,200 should have been better for this hiTibit house of town. "War" Light in K. C; "Drag" Best, $21,500 Kansas City, July 23. . Hottest weather of the summer hit the theatres a terrible, slap. - All of the alluroments" of "coo.I' inside" publicity did :nQt iielp some. ■ : j ' ■ . Real btisiness of the week was at ' the Mainstre^t 'with "The Dra^.".. So. popular is. Richard Barthelmess, the star. .Svith the Mainstreete ; it pretty near means cajsacity when he is on the screen. :. Newman with "The vGainblerS" :Brid Loew's Midland/ featuring. "Sho GpeSi.to War," suffered, badly. Re- viewers tore the "(3oes to War" pic- ; ture, to pieces. Quite the reyorso was the attitude of the' press oa Menjou's .'l^'ashioris. in Love," at the' Royal. Papers vyere generous in-, praise. In spite bf thci good notices business but normal. Following the policy adopted when "Show Boat" opened for a -run Jit. the Royal some- weeks .ago, premier showing of : "Noah's Ark" was, given Thursday' evening, With the thfejitre jammed: Feature on run,; 75*. top. Estimates for Last Week ' ' Mainstreet-^V'The Prae'V . C3*20a;; 25- i5- 50-«6)'i ; Saturday, and . Sun- day capacity; 'with turnawriys, bil:*.' ance of weelc heavy. . Strong vaude.' $21,500. . .,; •,. ■• ■•■;.: LoeW's Mid|arid--"Shb ;:Gbe3 War" (4.000; 25-35-50).. Elcanpp Boardriian starred. Never.'.;gx)t: a start;. $10,000, V . Newman—''The GariihlerS" (1,890; 25-35-50-60). .■ Did net fare well.- ■Title against it; $12,00(). Royalv-"Fa6hions. in Love" (840; 25-40). Mehiou's at his best first talker unanimous verdict, but seems almost Impossible to get heayy busi- ness for any program, picture at this house, although it. is building; . :$3,ioo.. :.' •. ..•::'; ■ : ..• V' '•■ 'Pantages:-r-"ThrU Difllerent Eyes" . (2.000; 25-35-50). Lil«ed,; ;Vaude; $8,000. ■ ■ '.: [in .''Dangerous Curves.'., juhipihg to . $C5,€00;. 'C.l.-Tirars a. former Bvnoklyn girl..: Rudy yalloc on ..stage und go- ing strong; Strand did bettor than i>i"ovioufi.ly with- "Twin Beds," ;to $17,500.. :Fo.x otTercd: "Behind .the Curtain;" good then biirined: it. and finally let i through, with much resultant; pu.b.- '•"st^te-Lake '(Keith). "High Vol- t;ige" (Pathe) and. vaude (2,700; 50- , • 75). Ariri Livirigstbn; freak attrac- • tion w.ilhbut stage experionce, booked after, -wiriiilng ■ brcach.v of - premise : ' .*!uit against wealthy manufacturer, ,. ... . .. . ^ .. Itlld an-egg; $27,000 nice gross, but thriller and plenty of vaude 'house did :the same figure, previous . Estimates for Last Week . week without a notorious V Paranlount;—''Darigoi-buS - Cui^y^^^ ■■• United Artists.„ (UA), ;^ a?his . Clara Bow ; ,Heayen:' .fyA).^1.70p;:;50>75). y>J'?i^. ^bld inihe In Brobklyn, Stage show. ; • ■ P><^P}\y' '^^ -P^^^o^^^^ . ms.m vcvy big for.thi.^ season; . ■ ... days; .started good with $28.500.. • .| strand-^"Twin Beds" . (FN) (2.^ 800; 25-35-50-60-75).: Fair at $17.-. 500; ,. ;■• : ■ ,. Fox—"Behind That' Curtain"- (Fox (4,000; 35-40-50-6.0-75). Interesting I thriller and long array of vaude. ; Metropolitan — "Eternal Love" (UA) (-3.577; ,35-40-50-76); So-so I with vaude; js.eiinjs, wjiLii u wccn. oi^Mt ^tv..^^., Albee—"Fashiona in Lbve" (3,248; "F'lylrig Fooi:L_(Pathe) > rid ''Black 35jT.50.^60-j5)..^:\yi t h_yaujle._J21 Magic" (Fox), topped witH""$l'4;000-[fair. ' Loew's State, iri the past -con- .«5istoritly loading;..dropped into sec- oiid place, '*She Goes to-War" (UA) g:etting only $11,600 Open Aiir Opera Opposish Pretty Stroiig in St. (Draw. Pop., 1,000,000) : Weather: Warm arid Cloudy St. Louis, July 23. : Good houses, last week, cbnsider- Ing the weather.. Clouds threatened ajmbst: every: night with b,ut little rain. Threats of rain, did not affect crowds, at the. Municipal. Opera, which: Set a record for attendance and naturally hurt filrri houses.- The open air theatre •. iri Forest Park I seats 10.000 and was- filled all week. D.avey Lee in person at the St. Louis attrapted the kids, and that hou.se did an excellent busiriess.with a poor Show. . • Estimates for Last Week Ambassador (3.000; 35-50-65-75)— "Drag" (FN). Bfirthjelmess. Lowry back in .stage show; $26.400.. Fox (6.000; 35-71"))—"River Pirate" (Fox). V.aude.: Loew's. State (3.300; 25-35.-65)--^ "She Goes to War"-j(UA)'. - Shorts;' $li:n'00. . . . Missouri (3,800; 35-50-65-75) — "The Gamblers" (WB); Rose's, re- turn in stage show; $10,500. . : Gfiand Central (1,700; 50r75.)—'['On With Show.'. 4th week. ' St.. Louis (4,280;: 3.3-65).—'"rhe .ShakedoAyn" (U). Davey Leo in |.va,ude. . ... •. . ' • State, Syracuse, Forced Into 2d Place at $11,600 Syracuse, N. Y., July 23. . (Drawing population, 220,000) Weather: Hot Keith's, with a week split between . Eckel (Schine) split the week be- tween "Wolf Song" (Par) and "Sto- len Ki.sse.s" ("V^^arners), with $7,000. ''The Jazz Age" (Cbl) meant onl;, $6,000 at the Strand.' Sid: Bart(ett's Contract Los Angeles, July 23; Sidney "Si" Bartlett has broken into pictures. He will be in MtO^M's "Road Show." Company has a five-year option On his; serv- Irices.." Colonial Tries. It—=-Fair Return at : $2,200 ■ ■ EB."SlM)w*'«iiRun; 111,500; Kg kSeattl? •: V ; . Seattle July 23; • ■ ; (Draw; pop. 500,000) Weather—Warm., ' ; Roriamccl as 'TheVe Is No Sin," the next picture at .the. Fbx,- "Ma- dame ■X,", will be an interesting ex- iioi iment,' due to too ma:riy :- t.i-ial pictures .iec.ently, the: riew hAriie was giveriv Billed merely as, "Tljeire Is No Sin,"-.- • • -\ : . W,eathcr going , into ren:i ..suriimer, . felt :at .-b. b. '"On .'With the- Show"' - ■ tAnhMA'^ <\PI It WFFK drew big linos nightly for; loges and I '' I «VUIVIM O ..OrLI .I WV|-C^ ■g^eneraisii, iv^itlrtcerf Way-off,, in spite (iooiirig plari'tg.; :•. . ;' ;• •. ; - Estimates for Last Week; Seattle (Pub) (3,106; 25-60). ''Dangerous- Curves" ■ (I»ar)j Clara Bow did her stuff to best crowds, in months; . $14,000. . 5th Ave. (Fbx) (2,500; 25-60).. "The Drafe" (FN)^ Dick Barthel- mess oke. Nipe stage show. Fair. $rt.l60. Fox (2.500; 25.-60) "Pleasure Crazed" (Fox). Biz still off; $6,000. Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (900; 25- =^5')=^'Mtcdenn3,=ot=AArei=^-A-^(^B)r Dolores Costello has. following; $6,- 800. ; Music Box (Hariirick) (1,000; BO- 75). "On.With Show" (WB). Going big; tll,500. Coliseum (Pox) (1.800; 25). "Stairs of Sand" (Par). Fair; $3,600. Orpheum (2,700; 25-75) "Hole In Wall" (Par). Marcus stage tab. Biai off; $11,900—biz improving. San Francisco in Grip Sari Franci.sco, July 23; ; (Draw Pop , 750,000) ■■. Woather: Cool Summer v^Lcatioris seem to, effect picture shows. No other explanation foi?; the lack of iDep. : FoX held up fairly well and. of course the new ■-. theatre is getting the big biz of ; the towri.-It is si question whether.: the picture or a reniarkably gobd. presentation drew the. crowds;- But. a. slight falling :6fE in .3d week frorii week before. .: •. Clara Bbw: stimulated ;return.s.- at. . the Granada, but the star did not eqiial her last appearance. .CHeya-' -; lier is on his 12th week at the St, Fraincis and holdirig Well. ■ The first week . of Sbphie Tucker - at the Davies was a disappointment; while ':On With the Show" .shows „ signs of slipping in its second week at the Embassy. > . . Estimates for Lasit:. Week >ox (Fox :Loe<v) (5,000; 50-65-.75V: $1)—Fox "Follies." Slight dcci'oaso from week before, but comprtrativ?- ly speaking holding Well at under $60,000. - Warfield (Fox^Lbow)' (2,672; 50^ 65-90)—^"Broadway Melody'' (M. G* M.) 3d. final week. $15,000. Granada (Publix) (2,698; 35-50- ; 65-$l)—"Dangerous Curves" (Par).. Increases over week before, but riot up to. Bow average. $2 2,0 00. • California (Publix) (2,200. 35-50- 65-90)--"The C.ocoamUs". (Par). .:2d ■ week, fair at $16,700. . St. Francis (publix) (ii375; 35-50- 65-90)—"Innbeonts of Paris" (Par), may run forever. 12th week. $«.200. Embassy- (AV'agnon) (l,.1fir>; . SOii. 65-90)^"On With Show" CW. B.), 2nd Wofik, .tiiifflit: shading' at !"$ 12,000. . Davies, (Wagnon ) (1.150;. 3-.50- .65-90)—"Honky -T.onk" (W.^ . B.); First \vook disappointing, but showg .signs ■ of building with- {?ophle Tucker, t7.000. • ■ - . - ■ • .> GOOD BUFFALO GROSSES Pierity of Heat 6ut.Only 3 Houses: .V Downtown.Open Tacoma, July 23. ,' (Draw. pop.,.i25j00d) : r Weather—Hot Pantages had "Dracula," experi- ment Stage drama did just fairly but anyhow brought variety to the town. : Estimates for Last Week |--Pantages—(=lv500;v—l--1^.50^-2;o.0)= •^•Dracula" (legit). Fair; $6,300. 6lue^ Mouse (Hamrick) (650; 25- 75) "This Is Heaven" (UA).. Vilma' Banky liked; $4,000. Rialto (Fox) (1,250;. 25-35-60). "Movietbhe Follies" (Fox); $4,300. Colonial (PoX) (850; 25r50)- "East is East" (MGM) arid "Girls Gbne Wild" (Fox). Split week, new pol- icy tried for sunimexv Fair; $2,200. - ■- Buffalo;. July 23.. (Drawing Population, 500,000) - Weather: Hot :- ' Desj/ite oppressive heat; and sea- sonal dcpressiori, the three down- town houses remaining open liere last week turned: in excellent busi- ness.- ■ Estiniates for Last Week Buffalo (Publix) (3,600; 30-40-65) . "Darigerous Curves" (Par), ''Circus -> '€abarfrt .-"-^E QW^a;i-way3=Hgood^for== sub'staritial takings at this house;,: $32,900. Hrp (Publix) (2,400; 40-60) "Ca- reers" (FN). Vaude. Slipped slightly but still kept well in running;; $13,- 900. ■■ dreat Lakes (Fox); . (3(400; .30-40- - : 65)- '"On With Show" (WB)...7 De- livered in good style and held over; ~ $22,0p0. ....