Variety (October 1913)

VARIETY 13 PLAYHOUSE HISTORY BEING MADE WIT H NEW YORK HITS ««Peg»0* My Heart** at Cort and ''Within the Law'* at Eltinge Establishing Records for Long Runs and Money Receipts. Two Remarlcable Attractions Two very remarkable attractions are now running in New York. Some facts in connection with them are unprece- t^ent'^d in theatric;;! history. They are "Peg o' My Heart" at the Cort and •vVithin the Liw" a* the Eltinee. "Peg" opened Dec. 20, 1912, and is now in its 42d week. Throughout thit lime, including the summer monthi. it has averaged more than $9,000 a week. This is the longest consecutive run by a voman star in the metropolis, b*at- in^ Maude Adams' record run of 299 performances of "The Little Minister." Throughout that time Laurette Tay'or has never missed a single performance, and none of the original cast has taken a vacation nor been absent. The expec- tation of the management is that "Peg" will remain at the Cort until spring. Two "Peg" companies are now on the road, and two more will be launched shortly. "Within the Law," during its 56 weeks to date, has done an average business of $10,841. Its average throughout 436 consecutive perform- ances has been $1,342.25. The Eltinge has 902 seats, so that the average per seat has been $1.44j/2. Just a year a^o, before coming to New York,^ the show, with Jane Cowl in it. played BuflFalo for a week to 15,- 721. Last week, without Miss Cowl, one of the road organizations returned to the same theatre and drew $9,450. The show opened in London May 30 last, and the first week's takings were $3,450; second week, $4,500. It is run- ning along in the English metropolis at present to receipts that vary from $7,800 to $8,400 per week, at the Hay- market. It is playing in Australia (at the Princess, Sydney) to capacity since its premiere last April, with every in- dication of a year's run. Eight com- panies will shortly be playing "The Law." The piece will remain at the Eltinge until next January or lonKcr, thereby filling two solid years in New York, a thing never before knowii in the his- tory of theatricals, with such business. "The Lion and the Mouse*' played 660 consecutive performances at the Hud- son, and that is the record to date. "The Lion and the Mouse" went as low as $1,800 on some weeks in the sum- mer, but "The Law" never even in the hottest weather played to less than $5,900 any one week, and went as high as 114.500. Henry E. Dixey in "Adonis" and David Warfield in "The Auctioneer" both enjoyed two seasons at the Bijou, but laid off during the hot weather. "Within the Law," before opening in New York, played Chicago for 16 weeks to an average of $2,800. Margaret 111- ington opened there at the Olyrnpic July 27 last and averaged $10,650 per week at $1 top price. Her first week was $8,223, and last week, the closing one, the show did $11,500. "Peg" was not greeted with special enthusiasm by the metropolitan critics upon its premiere. Later, when the show commenced to do business. Miss Taylor was given credit for the success. The reviewers had praised Miss Tay- lor's work to a degree. It remained a momentous question with the "Peg" management for some time whether a "No. 2" "Peg" could draw on the road through the prominent identification of a woman star with its New York suc- cess. The "No. 2" "Peg" in Toronto a week or so ago played to $9,000 gross, giving the show more profit than the original company netted in New York for the same six days. "Within the Law" when in Chicago was variously looked upon by its own- ers. William A. Brady, then interested, was not very confident of its future success and sold out his share before the show opened in New York. The Eltinge, where "The Law" piece is appearing, holds more money pross than the Cort. "PURPLE ROAD" CLOSINO. Boston, Oct. 1. "The Purple Road" will likely close at the conclusion of its engagement at the Shubert. It has been doing only about $500 a night. The Orange Manufacturing Co. of New York, which holds a $12,000 mort- gage on the costumes, has been keep- ing it alive, having put up about $15,000 additional to protect its original in- vestment in the enterprise. They have indicated a disinclination to dig any deeper. GERSON AT AMERICAN, CHICAGO. Chicago, Oct. 1. Sam Gerson has been appointed manager of the American Music Hall, succeeding Frank Buck. Gerson was manager at the American last year. "UNCLE ZEB" DISAPPOINTS. Fall River, Mass.. Sept. 29. 'Uncle Zeb," the dramatic work of Rupert Hughes, was produced here last week by the Malley-Denison stock company, with Willis P. Sweatnam of the Henry W. Savage's forces, and who has been announced to star in the piece, playing with the local stock. The piece was a disappointment even to the stock following, and they found in it little genuine entertainment BISPHAM PIECE NEXT MONTH. "The Jolly Peasant," with David Bis- pham as the star, will he produced next month, according to present plans in the Werba & Luescher office. If won Ann't sdTertlM In TABIETT. 4«Mi't •dvertlM at all. GOING OVER FOR WAYBURN. Philadelphia. Oct. 1. "The Honeymoon Express" at the Lyric loses its stage manager, Arthur Evans, this week. He sails Saturday, having been sent for by Ned Wayburn, who is now in London. Harry Hall, assistant stage man- ager of "The Passing Show of 1913" at the Winter Garden, New York, will come on here to take Evans' place with the "Honeymoon" show. Edgar Begley retires from "The Passing Show" at the Winter Garden this week, returning to his original role in "Excuse Me." Monday night Mae Dcaley assumed the principal part formerly held by Grace Kimball, who has left the "Pass- ing Show" company. Miss Dealey's main work in the promotion is to de- liver one line. Harry Norman stepped into the part vacated by Hairy Gilfoil. SHOWS IN BOSTON. Boston, Oct. 1. Again the booking arrangement be- tween Klaw & Erlanger and the Shu- berts which was to bring an opening or two every week with as little cross- bucking as possible because of the dire results of last year, when every Bos- ton manager suffered, was evident this week. Five openings came Monday night out of eight first class houses in Boston, and the public was running around in circles and tossing up coins to find where to spend the money. The Boston with "Joseph and His Brethren" suflFered because of this and the tack of proper press agenting and played to a three-quarter house when it should have been packed on general principles to convince the public it was a stupendous production. But no paper was out. The Plymouth was not filled. "The Five Frankforters" at the Majestic suf- fered bitterly because of the multitude of openings. George Cohan at the Co- lonial and "The Follies" at the Tre- mont both did big. Julia Sanderson, who opened the Hol- lis last week, did practically 115.000, making it paired for second place of all road shows in the country with "Damaged Goods" in Cleveland, the Montgomery and Stone in Chicago beating this by a thousand or two. SHOWS IN CHICAGO. Chicago, Oct. 1. The run of "The Lady of the Slipner" (Montgomery and Stone and Elsie Janis) has been extended three weeks beyond the original six weeks booked at the Illinois. "The Double Cross" production goes to storage at the conclusion of its en- pnpement at the Cort. Raymond Hitchcock in "The Beauty Shop" is the next attraction at the Cohan, following "Stop Thief." OPENING NEW CORT THEATRE. "The Tik Tok Man" opens at the new Cort, Boston, Nov. 30. Sydney Grant and Charlotte Green- wood join the show Oct. 5 at Kansas City. Gypsy Dale replaces Miss Ber- gere and George E. Lask is the new stage director in place of Frank Stam- mers, who retires owing to illnes*. SHOWS IN PHILLY. Philadelphia, Sept. 29. There was a general slump in busi- ness Mcviday night. "The Honeymoon Express" at the Lyric had the biggest house and is holding up to fine business in its second week. The sliow is booked for another week. Next door "At Bay" had very few people in the house. There does not seem much <?hance for the George Scarborough play, although the papers treated it kindly on the opening night last Thursday. "The Merry Martyr" opened to only fair business at the Forrest and was lightly received. The piece received the worst press criticisms given a produc- tiori here in a long time. The general opinion is that the book by Glen Mac- donough is weak and despite some good music by Hugo Riesenfeld and a capa- ble cast headed by Maclyn Arbuckle, there is nothing merry about the mar- tyr and it will not do in its present form. "Fine Feathers" opened nicely at the Garrick, but business fell off from what was enjoyed by "The Master Mind." The play was warmly received and the press comments very favorable. It's a splendid cast and the show is expected to do business here. "The Common Law" opened well at the Walnut and the piece received warm recognition from the audience. "The Yellow Jacket" is causing a lot of talk and is doing big business at the Little theatre. SHOWS IN FRISCO. San Francisco, Oct. 1. "The Lure" failed to get big money here. Business slumped od markedly this week and the passing up of the piece by the local theatre going public is taken as an apparent rebuke to an overdose of underworld stuff. "The Lure" moves out this week after a fort- night's stay and will be followed by Kitty Gordon. The incoming attraction is already receiving much interest. Business is comparatively light at the Columbia, where Margaret Anglin is presenting Shakespearian revival, al- though there was a perceptible increase during the last week. Considerable ad- vance interest in Charlotte Walker's opening here next week in "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine." The Alcazar continues to do a fairly healthy business, while the Tivoli also is good. BUFFALO SEES "INDIAN SUMMER" BuflFalo, Oct. 1. "Indian Summer," Augustus Thom- as's new play in which John Mason is starred, opened here Monday night at tlie Star. " 'Indian Summer' has ti'.ined the trick and will flash in the electrics of Broadway for a long time," id the comment of one reviewer. The interesting plot is developed with the utmost skill until it works out into a mosaic picture. GRAPEWIN OO.MPANY BACK. Charles Grapewin and the "Sweet- hearts and Wives" show brought their proposed season's tour to an abrupt end Saturday in Port Jervis, N. Y. Manager Charles Strum had provided Grapewin with a good shrjw, but the people wmjld mrf turn rmt <*n route.