Variety (Jun 1930)

8 VARIETY PICTURE GROSSES Wednesday, June 11, 1930 Capitol and Paramount Only $400 Apart Last Week, While at Roxy, 'London,' 2d Week, Memorial Day week-end seemed to retard rather than accelerate the spending tempo in the Broadway picture parlors. There was hardly ahythine commercially Iridescent along the street with the possible exception of "So This Is London," whose second week in the Roxy at $92,300 was not far behind the opening week's gross. A matter of $400 separated the Capitol with "Florodora Girl" and the Paramount with "Safety in Numbers." It was $70,600 and $70,- 200, respectively. These figures are fair, but not big, for either spot. "One "Romantic Night," Lillian Gish's farewell United Artists pic- ture, opened at the Rivoli with $39,- 500. That bespeaks a short en- •gagement and compares unfavor- ably to $35,000 obtained by the 3d week of "The Big Pond" in the Rlv- oli's sister house, Rialto. In the $2 division "All Quiet" con- tinues to be the only real attrac- tion. Metro's procrastination on "The Big House," which ir vill open at the Astor, has given Warners a chance to slip "Numbered Men" ■into the Winter Garden at a pop scale. Weather was generaly hot, with the season's high point, 90 degrees, registered last week. This week- end in contrast was cool and marked by Intermittent rains. Estimates for Last Week Astor—"Rogue . Song" (Metro) ■(1,120t$1-$2.50) (20th week). Prob- ably touching red last couple of weeks; $7,000 maybe. Capitol—"Florodora Girl" (Metro) / (4,620; 35-50-75-$1.50), Marion Da- vies slapstick generally liked. Busi- ness fairly good at $70,600. Central—"Western Front" (U) (910; $l-$2.50) (7th week). Memo- rial Day counted with week before so holiday doesn't figure in $20,900. Still in excess of orclinary capacity. Criterion—"Silent Enemy" (Par- Burden (silent) (864; $l-$2.50) (4th week). Probably can stay beyond original four-week booking. Para- niount has nothing to spot in house and Indian picture doing some busi-. ness. Just under $10,000 last week. Drop from $12,200, but not bad. Embassy — "Newsreel House" (Fox-Hearst) (568; 25). Turns nice profit between $9,000-$10,000 at 25-cent grirtd with moderate overhead. Gaiety — ''Journey's End" (Tiff) (808; $l-$2.50) (10th week). Al Selig points out that "Vai'lety's" comment of last week: "In four fig- ures" is not sufficiently definite as there's a lot of room in that bracket. "Just under five figures" is the way Mr. Selig prefers it. Globe—"Midnight Mystery" (Ra- dio) (1,065; 35-50-75). In without advance publicity and depart with- out affecting the Broadway status either way. Lota of parking space within. Around $8,000. Hollywood—"Bride of Regiment" (WB) (1,068; $l-$2.50) (3d week). Around $11,800. Can't be for long. Paramount—"Safety i*i Numbers" (Par) (3,665; €5-85-$l). Buddy Rogers' draw paradoxical at this house. In per.son some months ago he broke the house record. But his pictures since then have never done better than fair at the crossroads. That'.s the story of $70,200. Rialto—"Big Pond" (Par) (2,000; 40-65-85-$l) (4th week). Holiday helped this one. Very little differ- ence from, previous week, for around $35,(100. Rivoli — "One Romantic Night" (UA) (2,200; 40-65-85-$l). Marie Dressier heavily plugged in pub- licity and billing with other mem- bers of cast, Conrad Nagel, O. P. Heggie, almost equalized with Lil- lian Glsh. Reviews fairly good. Opened to $39,500, not good .for Rivoli. Roxy—"So Thl« Is London" (Fox) (62,005; 50-7o-$1.50) (2d, final week). Followed $99,700 with $92,- 300 for eminently okay fortnight. Strand—"Bad; Pay" (FN) (2.900; 35-60-75). Pretty good at $28,000. Warners—"Song of Flame" (WB) (1,360; $l-$2.60) (6 th week). Grosses hardly warrant continuance but nothing mentioned; $10,600. Winter Garden—"Numbered Men" (WB) (1,410; 35-85-$!). Opened Saturday after "Courage" exited ahead of anticipated three week.*;. Latter got $20,700 on second and scram week. Opened to Day's Biggest Gross; Closed to Lowest Day-Nayy/ Buffalo Hip Buffalo, June 10. (Draw Pop., 500,000) Weather—Cool Picture theatres, scraping rock bottom for the past month, picked up neatly last week, aided by Deco- ration Day week-end and by the weather. Estimates for Last Week Buffalo (Publlx) (3,600; 30-40-66) —"True to Navy" (Par). "Smart Smarties," stage show. This Bow feature started like wildfire, but dropped sharply. Decoration Day opening was to $9,000, on© of the biggest days for house, Gross for closing Thursday worst house had ever seen. Good at $31,700. Hip (Publlx) (2,400; 40-60)— "The Texan" (Par). Vaudc. Even takings. $21,200, Century (Publlx) (3,400; 40-60)—, "Hold Everything" (War). Open- ing week of two weeks' run, fair. Holiday helped. $28,000, 1st week of last Lightner • feature, "Gold Diggers." Last week, $18,800. "NAVY" OFF IN IND.; mUES" HELD OVER "Big Fight" on Time Tonight (11) at the New York Athletic Club Sonoart-^Voildwldo hopes to gel aome of the prelimi- nary gravy from the actual Schmol- ]Ij»g-Sharkey battle tomon-ow willi Its preview showing of the Cruze picture, "The Big Fight." ■ Jnvltatlons In tUe form of fight fld'ket.s have been widely dispensed tl^rpjiighout the film trade and local sport world. Indianapolis, June 10. Weather Fair Managers agree grosses are from 20 to 30% off normal. Season's first week of warm weather made no change In the film crowds. "High Society Blues" brought additional coin to the Apol- lo, while other first run houses lacked customers. With $10,000 considered strong enough to hold over. .Clara Bow in "True to the Navy," played to only fair business. Estimates for Last Week Indiana—"True to the Navy" (3,- 331; 35-50-65). Not so hot. $19,900. Circle—"The Texan" (2,600; 25- 40-60). Very good at $10,500. Ohio—"Western Stars" (1,250; Ip- 35). Not so good $1,900. Apollo—"High Society Blues" (1,- 100; 25-35-50). Favorite with $10,- 000. But not as much as expected of the picture. Held over. Loew's Palace—"Grlscha" (2,800; 25-36-50). $8,000. Pretty bad. Lyric—"Men Without W9men" (2,000; 25-35-50). Fair at $8,000. Wash. Houses' Averages Last Wk. Thought OK Washington, June 10. (Draw Pop. 500,000) Weather: Okay "Caught Short" did It again and goes 3rd week at Columbia. Hou.se Is sans cooling plant and that makes the picture all the more worthy of extra credit, Earle got some extra money with Will Osborne's band co'ipled with "Sweethearts and Wives," while the Fox, though losing a day In switch- ing to a Friday opening, did well with "Arizona Kid" on six days. Palace wasn't complaining with "Young Man of Manhattan," though figure Is lower than usual; 2d week of "Journey's End" at R-K-O hou&e to okay business. Metropolitan with management's endorsement of "Courage" got by fairly well. Estimates for Last Week Columbia (Loew)—Caught Short" (M-G) (1,232; 35-50). Second week to excellent figure; $12,100; holding over. Earle (Warner) — "Sweethearts and Wives" (I<^ N). Will Osborne Band on stage (2,244; 35-50) In con- trast to previous week's flop this stage attraction helped; $16,500. Fox (Fox)—"Arizona Kid" (Fox), stage show (3,434; 35-5O-G0-75). Six days; 020,000; olcay. Met (Warner)—"Courage" (W. B.) (1,585; 35-50). Management made much of picture and did fairly; $.14,000. Palace (Loew)—"i'oun"" Man of Manhattan" (Par.), stage .<!how (2.363; 35-50-60). Okay for this time of year; $18,000.' R-K-O (Keith's) — "Journey's End" (Tiffany) (1,975; 35-50). 2d week to fair intake; $7,500. MNP" ' HOT WEATHER HELPS Washington dances all summer at CHEVY CHASE LAKE where Meyer Davis built two huge pa- vilions over a natural ravine of magical beauty. This is the tenth year of suc- cessful operation under MEYER DAVIS MANAGEMENT. Of course, there are two Meyer Davis orchestras. STANLEY, BALTO., LED WITH TARADE,' $17,000 Baltimore, June 10. (Drawing Population, 850,000) Weather: Hot Circus cut capers with the m. p. b. o.'s here last week. Clear, hot weather for the tent show. Four performances took away enough dough to queer the screen houses. Add to this ideal outdoor weather the answer to the first-runners' lament. Stanley topped the Century for the second consecutive week, un- usual lineup of this house in the b. o. parade. It took "Paramount on Parade" to do the trick. Cen- tury had "A Notorious Affair" with Billle Dove never a big draw here. "Man From Blankley's" doubling at the Rivoli and Metropolitan no match for the big • top opposition at either stand. "On the Level" at New so-so, and "Spring Is Here," first-running at the upstairs Va- lencia, way below b. o. par. Ditto for "He Knew Women" at Keith's. ''All Quiet" concluded four weeks at the Auditorium. Estimates for Last Week Stanley (Loew, Stanley-Crandall) —"Paramount on Parade" (3,600; 25-60). . Stood up better than ex- pected, with weather and circus; $17,000. Century (Loew)—"Notorious Af- fair" (3,200; 25-60). Film no match for adverse conditions. Doubtful whether a big one would have turn- ed In anything handsome. Stage show. Richy Craig, m. c, favorite here since his resident m. c. days. Off week at $15,500. New "(M. Mechanic)—"On the Level" (^l,500; 25-60). House not in frigidaired class. K e 11 h's (Schanbei-gers) —" He Knew Women" (2,500; 25-50). Same story here; $7,000. Liberal. Rivoli (Wilson)—"Man From Blankley's" (2,100; 25-60). This on© puzzled many customers. Not so many; $5,000. .Valencia (Loew)—"Spring Is Here" (1,200; 25-35). Elevator handed F. N. first run but did little with it; $1,800. Parkway (Loew)—"Dr. Fu Man- chu" (1,000; 25-35). Held up better than average. Film also figured $3,800. Good, considering. Auditorium (Schanbergers)—"All Quiet" (1,572; 2S-$1). Finished run Thursday, making three weeks and four days. Siirprised by holding oyer that long and appeal. Adver- tised not to show anywhere else In this town until fall. Pop price immediately at Keith's; $5,000 for last four days. Liberal.- CONEY ISLAND ALWAYS OPPOSISH TO BKLYN Brooklyn, June 10. Hot weather descended here- abouts and the crowds fiocked to Coney Island. At the Paramount "Safety In Xumber.s" and a stage show brought In $50,600, not bad, considering. The Albee had Hearn's Fashion Pageant which must have cost that store plenty. "Texan" plugged heavy on screen, first time Albee has shown a Paramount 111m for some time; '$17,700 gross. • The Fox with its second week of cut rate prices struggled along with "Double Cross Roads" and Al Lyons in the pit and on the stage. As yet Fox hasn't found a way to handle Lyons who seems to be versatile but with Vallee at the Paramount it's tough for anyone in these parts. "Ship From Shanghai" didn'l mean much at the Metropolitan and there was nothing In the vaude bill to help; $17,500. ^Caught Short; UlU Penn Record; Tronf Big at $1.50-Both Beat Heat In Hot Week, Only Cold House in Newark Beat Previous Week by $5,000 Newark, N. J., June 10. (Drawing Population, 850,000) Weather: Hot Surprisingly good business at all Warner houses despite great heat. Branford, only one with cooling plant, very fine at over $25,000. .showing Clara Bow, who holds house record, can still draw. Most other hou.sea off. Estimates for Last Week Branford (WB) (2,350; 25-50-65) —"True to Navy" (Par), stage show. Picture panned but $5,000 increase tells story; $25,300. . Capitol (WB) (1,200; 15-25-35- 50)—"Puttin' on Ritz" (UA). Still gaining; $6,200. Little (Newark M. P. Guild) (299; 30-60-60) —" Waterloo" (Emelke). Good and held over; $3,200. Loew's State (2,800; 30-50-60)— "Arizona Kid" (Fox), vaude; $13,500. Mosque (WB) (3,281; 25-50-65)— "Courage" (WB). Shade better at $16,700. Mindlin's Playhouse (436; 30-50- 75)—"Ladies of Leisure" (Col). 2d run. good; $3,500. Rialto (WB) (1,762: 50 - 65)^ "Murder Will Out" (FN). Still go- ing up; $7,900. R-K-O Proctor's (2,650; . 25-60)— "French Gertie" (Radio), .vaude. Picture not cared for. Poor week at $l3,000. LOUISVILLE IS VERY CRITICAL ON FILMS Louisville, June 10. (Draw Pop, 500,000) Weather Warm "High Society Blues," replacing "Mammy" on 6th day of 2d week, did such nice business for its first nine days it was held over. "The Devil's Holiday," failed to start anything. Loew's suffered a set-back with "Hell Harbor"; too many "accents" in the recording. Estimates for Last Week Alamo (4th Ave.) (1,100; 40)— "Men Without Women" (Fox). Ex- cellent undersea atmosphere. Only fair business due to intensity of plot .and lack of femmes In cast. $3,600. Mary Anderson (R-K-O) (1,387; 30-50)—"Devil's Holiday" (Par). Nancy Carroll waxes dramatic. Fine performance by juvenile, Phillips Holmes. Very good for this house at $4,400. Brown (Brown) (1,509; 30-50)— "Swing High" (Pathe). Good in spots but average Business, $3,800. Plenty of ad space in dailies. Rialto (R-K-O) (2,940; 30-50)— "The Texan" (Par). Only average at $4,900. State (Loew) (3,252; 35-50)— "Hell Harbor" (UA). No one under- stood 50% of the dialog. House tired out trying to catch various lingcs. Less than $9,000, not good. Strand (4th Ave.) (1,785; 30-50) —"High Society Blues" (Fox). Gaynor-Farrell oke until talking and singing. But colleglates ga-ga and held over. $9,000 for first 9 days, full week to follow. 'CUCKOO'S' LAUGHS GOT $15,000 IN DENVER Denver, June 10. (Draw Pop, 400,000) Weather: Fair Grosses good at most of the houses. "Junior League Follies" did a good business at the Broadway. "Cuckoos," at the Tabor, nearly made figure necessary to hold for second week, but left after seven days. "King of Jazz" held 10 days at the Orpheum. House will be dark for a couple of months. "Journey's End" did ordinary business at the Denver. Estimates for Last Week Tabor (Bennett) (2,200; 20-40-60- 75)—"Cuckoos" (Radio). F. & M. stage show. $15,000. Very "good. Fans roared at film. Huffman's Aladdin (1,500; 35-50- 75)—"Follies of 1930" (Fox). Fair at $8,000. Orpheum (RKO) (1,600; 25-35-50) —"King of Jazz" (U). Home of Whiteman—parents live here. $8,000. Denver (Publlx) (2,300; 25-40-60) —"Journey's End" (Tiff). $16,400. Huffman's America (1,500; 20-35- 60)—"High Society Blues" (Fox). Above avetaije. $4,000. Rialto (Publix) (1,040; 20-40-50)— "Dr. Fu Manchu" (Par). Average. $6,300. Pittsburgh, June 10, (Draw Pop, 1,000,000) Weather: Hot Old Man Heat took it on the ohin last week when "Caught Short" smashed all-time house record at Penn, and "Western Front" sold out every performance In first week at Pitt. Shuberts and Universal got to- gether at last minute before "Quiet" opening and reduced top from $2 to $1.50. Apparently wise move, for first two-a-day picture here in twd years overcame everything to pull i^ close to $18,000, this with extra Sat- urday night performance at 10:30. "Caught Short" went to $43,850, tb take, record made here by Garbo- Gilbert's "Love" nearly three year,s ago. Other houses fared only so-so. "True to Navy" started off big at Stanley, but fgll off immediately after opening and couldn't better $27,000. Picture also in East Lib- erty at Enrlght, where it claimed around $10,000. At Warner, "Song of Flame," In for fortnight, pulled after single week. Made a litti© money at $15,000, but not rated strong enough to hold over. "Flirt- ing Widow" brought In for single week prior to run for "Courage." Sheridan Square held "Cuckoos" over for five more days after first week, and biz Jumped to around $8,500. Aldine had quiet week with "B© Yourself" and PInchot travel picture as extra added attraction. Maybe $9,500. At Harris, "Ladies of Leisure" did creditable $6,500 after having previously run two weeks at Sheri- dan Square. Estimates for Last Week Aldine (Loew's) (1,900; 35-50)-- "B© Yourself" (UA) fair at $9,5a*i Fannie Brice hardly b. o. name her^ Enright (WB) (3,700; 25-35-40-eOV —"True to Navy" (Par), day an(jl date with Stanley, and okay at $10,- 000. This figure means a little byt of profit here now since house wert( straight pictures. Harris (Harris) (1,800; 10-20-30- 40)—"Ladies of Leisure" (Col). Nicely her© after two weeks pre- viously in East Liberty at Sheridan Square. $6,500, considerably better than this stand's recent average. Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 25-35- 60-75)—All-time house record smashed by Dressler-Moran "Caught Short" (Metro). Around $43,850, or about $300 better than former mark made by "Love" almost three years ago. Plenty of extra space in Hear.st daily, with full-page spreads for two weeks before picture opened, helped, as did five shows on Deco- ration Day at holiday prices. Holi- day biz set all-time single-day rec- ord here, too, with around $10,250 for the day, Dave Apollon on stage, well liked. Pitt (Shubert) (1;700; 50-$1.50)— "All Quiet" (U). First road-show film here in two years and great at $18,000 for first week. Rave notices sent picture off to fiying start and biz never let up, with virtual ca- pacity twice a day. Forced to put on extra show Saturday night fol- lowing regular performance. U hopes for eight weeks and may get it. Whole town's talking. Sheridan Sq. (Radio) (1,200; 35- 50)—"Th© Cuckoos" seemed to find ready public despite mixed notices, and okay at $8,500. Holds over for another five days, house reverting ' this week to its regular Friday open- ing with "Midnight Mystery." Stanley (WB) (3,300; 25-35-60)-r "True to Navy" (Par). Started in whirlwind fashion over week-end, but skidded quickly and wound up' at $27,000. Initial biz presaged $35,- 000 week, but Bow picture went fiat quickly. \ Warner (WB) (2,000;. 25-35-60)— "Song of Flame" (FN). Moderate at $15,000, representing little profit. Originally penciled In for fortnight, operetta pulled after one week when picture failed to build. "Flirting Widow" (FN) current for week, to be followed by "Courage" Friday for run. Next Two on L. I. Next two features to go into pro- duction at Paramount's New Ynrk .studio will be "The Best People and "The Royal Family." . „ . They will start early in .Tuly. No leads set although Ina Cl;iiie has been mentioned for "Tho Hi'val Family." Fred Newmyer will direct "Pest People." "•Sap From Syracuse" and "Ih'ads Up," current, will be comiiU-l< d about two weeks and ono wt-fk reepectlvely.