Variety (Jun 1930)

10 VARIETY PICTURE GROSSES Wednesday, June 11, 1930 Palace, Chi, Vaudiilin, 75c, $23,500; Better Than 2-a-Day Vaode at $2; 'Navy' at CE, $38,000-Very Weak Chicago, June 10. Two Oay.<3 of continuous, di.scour- acing rain showed its effects \ipon the box office. Weelt was dra(;p;y and without enthusiasm, with only a couple of bright spots. First week of vaudfilm at the Palace was successful. Startinc: out Jike a riot, in perfect theatre weather, it ran into a squall of r.iin at the close, and in the {len- erally off week, still got $23,500, niuch more than many weeks of big time vaude here at $2 top. The State-Lake, rival vaudfilm spot, was down -a couple gi-and to ?17,500. "All Quiet" continued as the con- sistent money-maker of the loop, taking an excellent $34,000 at the McVickers for its second full week. After five great box office weeks, tlie Chicago, ace spot, dropped badly with "True to Navy." Took a weak $38,060, marking a .slump of $22,000 from previous week'^s figures. "Di- vorcee" In its second week in the loop, at the Oriental, showed its "pink" ability with the flaps that hit that spot, by a neat $36,500. "Mammy" disappointed at the Roosevelt in its first week. Can't last. "Paramount on Parade" opened at the United Artists in midweek and in two days took $8,000, the only picture to show real strength in the closing days of rain. "Bad One" closed a five-day run with a fizzle at $8,500 for the last five days, "Whit© Hell of Pitz Palu" al.so opened mid-week, at the "Woods, to $5,000. "Cuckoos" finished an ex- cellent run with $8,000 for the clos- ing. The two small houses were off with second loop runs. Monroe, Fox house, with a Paramount pic- ture, "Light of Western Stars," did $3,700. Orpheum had a weak $5,000 With "Under a Texas Moon." Estimates for Last Week Chicago (Publlx-B. & K.)—"True to Navy" (Par), stage show, (4,000; 50-85). Down in cellar, with Clara '^ow slipping for first time. Very weak at $38,000. McVickers (Publix-B. & K.)—"All Quiet" (U) (1,865; 50-85). Going Into 3d week, continued i-emarkable pace. Ads appealing heavily to women now and showing 1-esults. Great at $34,000. Monroe (Fox)—"Western Star.s" (Par) (1,000; 50-75). Picked up trifle with this western a;t $3,700. Oriental (Publlx-B." & K.)—"Di- vorcee" (M-G), stage .show, (3,200; 60-85). Moved here after great week at the Chicago, and repeated with good trade to $36,500. Orpheum (Warner) —" Under Texas Moon" (WB) (799; 50-73). Off at $5,000. House had tough time opening Saturday (7), because of big fire next door. Theatre filled with .smolce and water. Crew work- ed all night cleaning up the place. Palace (R-K-O)—"On the Le\>el" (Pox), vaude, (2,300; 60-75). Suc- cessful first week of vaudfilm with $23,400. Press department spejiJing plenty In the dallies. Roosevelt (Publix-B. & K,)— -Mammy" (WB) (1,500; 50-85). Jolson flicker disappointed in first week. Weak at $23,200. Will scram shortly. "King of Jazz" (U) slated to fdllow. State-Lake (R-K-O)—"Borii Reckle.S!5" (Fox), vaude, (2,700; 50- 75). Picture cut to pieces by cen- sors. Vaude had a couple of names. House lost about $2,500 at $17,500. United Artists (Publix-UA)—-"Par on Parade" (Par) (1,700; 50-85). Revue picture opened' at fast pace In midweek and took $8,000 for two <layH. "Bad One" (UA) on last five days was brutal at $8,500. Woods (R-K-O)—"Whiter Hell of PItz Palu" (U) (1,200; 50-85). For- eign flicker with Unlve\-,sal rolea.se opened nicely at $5,000 for two days at this .small hou.se. "Cuckoos" closed successful run with $8,000 for closing five day.s. Garrick) (Shubert)—"Ingagi" (In- die) (1,200; 50-75). Sth week and making money. Consistent at $7,000. TIRED OF "B'WAY" So Topeka Kept Away From "Lord Byron" Last Week Topeka, June 10. With 10,000 delegates to lodge convention, picture houses took a slump, but only the Novelty went Into the red. Opening of stock In tent theatre got gbod bu.sines.s. It only partly explained the drop. Estimates for Last Week Grant* (1,500-50)—"Girl Said No" (Fox) .slightly below normal, $4,000. Jayhawk (1,500-50), "Green God- ■dcss (Fox). First three days failed to draw as' expected, but made up lor big .drop recorded by "I^ord Syron o£ Broadway" second half. LATE PARADE KILLS MEMORIAL MATINEE Detroit, June 10. Decoration Day didn't mean as much as it should' in this town. The annual parade, a big event here, was poorly scheduled. Supposed to have started at one, and over at two-thirty, parade didn't end till five-thirty, killing all the matinee bu.siness. Buddy Rogers pulled a surprise for the Fisher with "Safety in Numbers," and picture was taken Into Ma.dison for continuous run. Estimates for Last Week Michigan—'•Cuckoo.s" (Radio) (4,- 045; 35-50-75). Laugh picture didn't get money it was entitled to. $36,200. Fox—"Born Reckless" (Fox) (5,- 100; 35-50-75). Not bad business for this house. Smart exploitation on this picture gave this house a good break. Not bad at $32,000. Fishei "Safety in Numbers" (Par) (2,300; 35-40-75). Business warranted taking this opera Into the Madison downtown for a week. Got $24,300. United Artists—"Journey's End" (Tiff) (3,000; 35-50-75-90). This picture at last reached its journey's end and landed with Publix. Publix Is making more money with It sec- ond run than the others did with It first run. $17,900. Paramount—"Song oE the Flame" (WB) (3,300; 35-50-75). Fair. $12,a00. State—"Mammy" (War) (3,000; 35-50-75). Al Jolson Isn't doing the business, and this one scheduled to leave next Wed. . Adams—"Midnight Mystery" (Ra- dio) (JU700; 25-35-60-75). Vaude in its second week and too soon to pre- dict success or failure. Still doing fair business and fnaking money. $11,300. Madison—"All Quiet on the West- ern Front" (U) (1,700; 35-50-75). Fifth week and picture did good business: Shubert Detroit — "Ingagi" (Win- stead) (1.500; 35-75). Fifth week and still playing to plenty of profit. Run here looks indefinite. This is the picture played two - weeks, was taken out for two' weeks, and came back again. Plenty of gravy for all concerned at $8,500. FREE GARAGE WITH DUCAT, FOX, PTLD. Portland, Ore., Juno 10. (Drawing Population, 400,000) Fox Broadw'ay pulled' the fastest ducat-selling stunt for weeks—and an easy one. Free garage parking now given with theatre ducats. Tie-up was made with nearby ramp garage. P4itron parks car and turns the ticket Into the box office for rubber stamp "paid." As park- ing is worst problem of the patron, the Broadway hit a soft spot and registered. .Shows running later with box offices seldom closing before 11 p. m. Duffy closed DuCwih," • stock, for summer, maybe for good. First local Grandeur showing last week at Hanirlck's Music Box, not exploited and few patrons seemed to know the difference. Estimates for Last Week Broadway (Fox) (25-60)—"Born Reckless" (l^ox). Program film okay. F. & M.'s "Bells and Belles" stage show. Free parking for pa- trons. $12,000. Paramount (Publix) (3,500; 25- 50)—"Song o£ Iflame" (FN). Heav- ily exploited and did well. House staging comeback with stage band. $8,000. Orpheum (RKO) (2,000; 25-50)— "Strictly Modern." Program fair. Vaude. $9,800. United Artists (Parkor-Fox) (],- 200; 25-60)—"Lady of Scandal" (M- G-M). Big opening week. H. O. $8,500. Alder (Parker-Fox) (1,200; 25-50) —"Montana Moon." Okay for 2d downtown run. Music Box (Hamrlck) (2,000; 25- 50)—"Western Front" (U). Good 2d week. Local sensation. Topped all with great second week, $13,500. Blue Mouse (Hamrick) (800; 25) —"Royal Romance" (WB). Okay program film. Fairly. $3,500. Rialto (Publix) (2,000; 25-BO)— "Devil's Holiday" (Par). Picked up some extra biz. House recently in doldrums. $4,000. Topeka is wearied of that word Broadway; $3,800. "Novelty (1,200-40), "Up the Con- go" put in to help "Roadhouse Nights" (Par), needed help and nights dimmed, .scoring low for week of $900. 1st Runs on Broadway Sub«ct to Change Week June 13 Capitol—"Lady of Scandal" (Metro). Paramount — "The Social Lion" (Par). Roxy—"Mamba" (Tiffany). Strand — "Hold Everything" (WB). Week June 20 Capitol — "Caught Short" (Metro). Paramount—"Border Legion" (Par).- Roxy—"Czar of Broadway" (U). Strand — "Sweethearts and Wives" (FN). $2 Openings June 17—"Big House" (Met- ro) (Astor). . $22,500 FOR 'NAVY' IN MINN., NOT SO GOOD Minneapolis, June- 10. (Drawing Pop., 500,000) Weather: Unfavorable' Local rialto is unable yet to vis- ion any sign indicating a nearby termination of the gross depression. High temperatures added to man- agerial woes last week. Even such a trio of talkers like The King of Jazz," "Under Texas Moon" and "True to Navy" couldn't get going properly, Estimate* for Last Week Minnesota (Publix) (4,200; 75)— True to Navy" (Par) and Publix unit stage show, "Ace High." Pic- ture and stage show well liked, but toughness of times indicated by Clara Bow's inability to pull. $22,- 500. Returns under normal for this girl at this house. Century (Publix) U.OOO; 75)— "King of Jazz" (U).- Excited plenty of raves and deserved considerably better play. About $9,200. Bad. State (Publix) (2,200; 60)—"Un- der Texas Moon" (WB), Went over nicely with audiences. Considering caliber of attraction, gross weak. $7,600. R-K-O Orpheum (2,890; 50)— Double Cross Roads" (Fox) and vaude. Nothing on screen or stage that counted much at box office. Picture and vaude pleased, though. $9,500. Pantages (1,500; .25-50)—"What a Man" (U), vaude. Called it season after stretch of bad business. Hoped-for Improvement never came. $3,500. Terrible. Future of house in doubt.' R-K-O 7th St. (1,500; 25-40) — "Ten Days That Shook World." So- viet Russia picture on percentage. Did nothing. $3,800, Lyric (Publix) (1,300; 40)—"This Mad World" (M-G-M). Far too grim and tragic. Absence of box- office names also hurt. $3,600. Very bad. Aster (Publix) (900; 35)—"Roar- ing Ranch" (U). Hoot Gibson's westerns get across nicely at this house. $2,500. Fairly good. Grand (Publix) (1,100; 35)— "Western Stars" (Par), 1st half; Mammy" (WB), 2d half. 2d loop runs. Around $2,000. Boston Held Up Fairly Well—*Front' in on Run Boston, June 10. (Draw Pop., 850,000) Weather—Hot Films did fairly good last week. Unlversal's "W'estern Front" at the Majestic did uncommonly good with $15,000. Met fair at $37,000. Hot weather did not change this theatre's gross much from previous week. Loew's State had good week. New refrigeration plant may be reason for fine figure of $25,000. House had rep for heat In former seasons. Radio houses are still down around twenty, with the Keith- Memorial figured at $500 more than the K-A, whose $21,000 is good, al- though K-M's $21,500 is nothing but low. Estimates for Last Week- - Majestic —"We.stern Front" did $15,000 for first week of what looks like good run. Keith-Memorial (4,000; 35-50-60) —"On the Level" (Radio).' $15,500. Keith-Albee (3,000; 50 - 60)— "Around the Corner" (Radio). $12,- 300. Loew's State (4,000; 30-40-50)— "Caught Short" (M-G-M). $24,200. Met. (Publix) (4,380; 5a-75)— "Devil's Holiday"- (Par). $40,200. WARNERS CASTING FOR ROLE ONLY IN FILMS Hollywood, June 10. Warners Is expecting a big change in talent lineup. Policy will be to cast each picture according to- the role and not try to make the part fit contract players, regardless. Comparative Grosses for May Table of grosses during May for towns and houses Hsted as previously reported weekly in Variety. Where title and gross of picture omitted, frequently is "sex" film or picture played in "sex" film style for that week. NEW YORK (Continued on page 25)