Variety (December 1919)

-.-;; -.;"—;-.":;-..'•- ■ -..- - ' : '■ '■■■ -■ ' ' - f -■ ■ - ■'■».-• '■■'• ■Ji' U I TAKINGS FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK EVERY B'WAY RECORD This Week Showed Immediate Drop—Shows Not Able to Stand Pace to Go Before Christmas—Six Plays With-* drawtt—Out-of-Town Conditions Excellent—In- creased Admission Prices Discussed—"Aphro- dite" Should Get $50,000 This Week— Broadway held to form last week and as expected the harvest week of the sea- son piled more money - into the box- offices than any tone this season—that with just half a hundred attractions bid- ding. Inflated grosses topped all other seasons* records through the increase In scales which worked to profit twice he- cause of the Thanksgiving. Wot all shows played an extra matinee, the tendency to drop the Wednesday after- noon still prevailing, thereby keeping the number of performances within the sight per wee:; limit. Only one other week this season can top last week's figures and that is the Christmas to New Tear's span. .Business too ran true to* conditions starting this week, with a sharp decline except for the pronounced successes." The three-week period between new and the holidays will make for a clean.ng-up process in the matter of eliminating at- tractions not able to stand the re- markable pace requircl this season, and it is certain that the long house shortage will again be eased by the first of January. There are still a score of new plays waiting to come in. No less than six plays withdrew last Saturday after having been primed to stick until after Thanksgiving and get last week's easy money. Two of the withdrawn shows. "Just a Minute" and. "Flfty-Fifty. Ltd.." stopped, although the latter may go on out on the one nlgnt- ers in a revamped edition. The four others started for the road, they being "On the Hiring Line." "See Sa.w." "The Dancer" and Where's Tour Wife." ',." Conditions in the cities outside of New Tork last week were Just as favorable to big takings. One musical show did $7,000 for the two perfor- mances Thanksgiving in Philadelphia, but that was beaten in New York by several houses. The star gross for that day went to the "Happy Days" at tbs Hippodrome, which played to $18,200 on lbs day and went to $83,460 for the week. Only one other week at the Hip ever exceeded that figure, the house playing to $89,000 fair the week of Oct. 12, The Hip u out for a record. It has an advanced scale for last year, with $3 the top for Saturdays and holidays (both performances). It expects to reach $100,000 for the coming Christmas-New Tear's week. The matter of increased admission prices; in New Tork and on the road continues to afford discussion. Man- agers insist that the increased costs all along the line demand Increased ad- missions. One manager with three musi- cal shows stated that for the week end- L.g Nov. 20 the combined gross of the trio was $49,000, and yet the total profit netted was but $3,000. To offset this he jumped one of the companies into a bad stand through forced book- fngr conditions and drew a loss, which almost ate up the combined profits of the week before. Managers say that in- creased coats also include the tighter terms which the. are forced to accept i because of booking congestion. i Figuring the number of attractions waiting to come to Broidwrrr and the number which will probably withdraw within the next three weeks, there ap- pears to still he a condition where pro- ducers are continuing to bid for houses. !*• It certainly is the yea rfor the theatre ewner or lessee. Stop limits are h'^h r enough to insure big seasonal profits. Guarantees are freely demanded and producers, who haven't, unlimited back- ing are giving In to snob) regulatio 4 rather than stand continued losses which touring brings without a New Tork reputation. . The coal strike situation docs not loom up threateningly to New. Tork though, there is a .chance et regulation in regards to the big electric signs. In the central west, however, the closing of a number of. important cities has caused additional trouble to the booking men in addition to losses, for the man- agers. With the route clogged up it looks sure that a number of big attractions wfll be Torced to my off until the bal- ance of their routes can be picked up. "Aphrodite" at the Century has usurped the spotlight not only from the four other new attractions which ar- rived this week, but from all the others. The show is the greatest spectacle yet put on in this country and it represents prodigal production outlay. One of the papers attacked the play from its front pages, saying it is indecent, which led to the Mayor ordering an investigation by the commissioner of licenses. All of which brouglrTa box office Jam which should make for a clean-up for the Mor- ris Gest, F. Bay Comst.ck production. Figuring the $10 first night "Aphrodite" should go to $50,000 for Its first week. Among the other new offerings Elsie Jan is and "Her Gang" stands out as a hit at the Cohan Theatre. Lanrette Taylor in "One Night in Rome" did not gain flattering notices. "Three's a Crowd" at the Cort and "My Lady Friends" at the Comedy opened Wednes- day. Two non-musical sho s beat. $19,000 again last week. One was "The Jest" at the Plymouth, which got $19,349 without an extra matinee Only the last week last spring, before the show closed down for the summer, beat that figure. The other show te reach top class was "Clarence," it too getting $19,000, but with an extra matinee. "Apple Blos- soms" drew $24,000; "The Bon-Daugh- ter" went to $16,000. with "The Gold Diggers" around the same figure; "Declaasee" beat $13,000; "Bast Is West," a champ holdover, went to n-arty 000. New figures were drawn from practical- ly every house in New Tork "Buddies" hit the class in takings by going to $22,000, and other musical shows went Into great money. "The Magic Melody" climbed up to the leaders among the Shubert group of musical plays .wi" over $16,000, with "The Pass- ing Show" of course topping i others. The latter's pr.ee. however, is nc reg- ularly as strong as first indicated. Other figures for last week's big draw can be found in New Tork Shows and Com- ment. Few new shows will arrive until Christmas. The only new show was listed for next week up to Wednesday. It was "MiwS Millions" at the Punch and Judy. Despite the fact that a number of buys have run out and not been re- newed there are still $0 running this week. There has been a buy of about 400 seats for "Aphrodite," 300 for Elsie Janis and about 160 a night for Lau- rette Taylor. - The buys now running are "Son- Daughter" (Belasco); "Abe Potash" I Bijou); "Little Whopper" (Casino); ^Continued on Page 27) BIG SHOW FOR PUNCH AND JtfDY. The Burnaide-Habble production, "Miss Millions," Is to come 4nto the Punch and Judy theatre next week. The piece has a company of (0 and a rather heavy production. The tatter fs to be cut down to meet the conditions of the stage of the.little house, but the com- pany will remain the same. .. . The "Miss Millions" show has a sal- ary roll of $4,800 a week and the figur- ing' is that it wilt have- a hard struggle to get by at the Punch and Judy be- cause of the limited capacity of the house, which seats only 300. At a $3 scale, which the show is to play at, the best that the house can get on eight performances is $7,200. With a salary roll, of $4,800 and a possible extra 11.000 for newspapers and billing it looks as though the bouse la going to com* out at the short end. dwrW Hopkins is at present abroad and it is understood that B. Hi Burnable has been directing* the destinies of the Punch and Judy. Even with this con- dition the house could not be gotten at less than $1,000 weekly and then there would only be $440 left to cover royalties and production charges. "Miss Millions- was opened out of town and is playing Providence this week. The management aould not ob- tain any further time on the road be- cause of crowded conditions, and rather than close the show and disband the company fn order to wait for a large house they decided to take a chance. "FBTTOLniBS' u SECOND TRY. j » i ■ , ■ Boston, Dec J. ©. M. Anderson's "Frivolities of IMS,* which was taken off some weeks ago after* • try out of several days, arrived berel Sunday for a series of dress rehearsals* The show is due to open a three-week engagement at the Boston Opera House' at the latter end of the week. It is then primed to go into New Tork, maybe at the 44th street There have been a number of east changes. Nan Harper in and Nellie and Sara Kouna remain In the lead. Others are Henry Lewis, Davis and Darnel, Sammy Weston, Irene. Dehroy, Seven Musical Nosses, Thornton Fly nn, Charles L. Marsh, Zelda Stanley and Glenn and Jenkins, a colored team. ROBERT STOWS GUI POST. A theatrical post of the American Le- gion, named in honor of Captain Robert Stowe GUI. who died ht France and was 8 member of both clubs, was formed by members of the Lambs and Players Dec 8. The following officers were elected; Everett Butterfield, commander; Earle Booth, vice-commander; John C. King, adjutant; Earle Metcalfe, secretary; Basil Broadhurst, treasurer, and Robert Middlemasa and W. J. Connelly, mem- bers of the executive committee. It was "Resolved, That the particular purpose of the organization was to foster Americanism,, and' especially to keep watch for any un-American propaganda connected with the American stage and screen " LEGIT. HOUSE IN MINNEAPOLIS. Minneapolis, Dec. 3. A new $100,000 theatre is to be erected in Virginia City, Minn., on- lots for- merly owned by the Virginia Brewing Co., and located directly opposite the Grand. ' Rubel & Finkelstctn, who operate* a string of theatres In the "Twin Cities" and other towns; William J. Hamm of Minneapolis, and William J. Rezac, also theatre owners, are interested in -the venture. The theatre will play legitimate at- tractions, and when these are not avail- able a vaudeville program will be pre- sented, secured through the Marcud Loew offices. DITRICHSTEIN IN "BED' MASK." Leo DitrichBtein, who has been tour- ing in "The Marquis ds Priola," is plan- ning to appear next in "The Red Mask," the play tried out on the road last season by Winthrop Ames, with Richard Ben- nett in the leading part It did not work out successfully for either of them. The play may be renamed when Dit- richstein appears in it Brandon Tynan ■w'll be in the cast He is now playing the son in the Lavedan drama. "CANARY" CLAIMS DAT RECORD. Philadelphia, Deo. 9. The Charles Dillingham "Canary" management claims the highest gross Thanksgiving Day at the Forrest ever played to a single day at that house. The original arrangement between Anderson and Jean BedlnJ called for the latter to stage Anderson's shows, the first being "Frivolities." ,It is claimed that a two-year contract was made; calling for 9600 weekly for Bedmtv The latter ia reported going to court over al- leged" contract violation. W. B. Fried- lander, who rewrote it, is staging the revised Anderson shew. War Drama Is to Be Produced. . "A Man's Job," by John Meehan, tried oUt in stock with the Lowell (Mass.) Players some weeks ago. will be pro- duced by William Harris, Jr.. in the spring. It is a drama and deals with the war. CORSE HAS LEXINGTON. Curse Peyton has a lease on the Lex- ington theatre for four weeks, com- mencing Dec 22, when he will fnstat a stock there. Mr. Pay ton is paying $9,20* rental for the month. Following the four weeks of Peyton's the Chicago opera goes into the Lexing- ton for another four weeks, with Payton holding an option for 13 weeks longer, following the eat pi ration of the opera engagement - Should the opera wfsb an extension of time. It will have to do business with Corse, Cleofante Campaaini, general director of the Chicago opera, was stricken with double pneumonia early this week and is now at the St Luke's Hospital. Chicago. John Brown, the New Tork representa- tive, said Wednesday his condition pre- dicted a swift recovery; K1RALY HANDLING PRESS WORK. It was learned that Jack Pratt, en- gaged as special press representative for the Billle Burke show, is out after serv- ing in that capacity for a fortnight Pratt came off the "cable desk" espe- cially to do press work for Zlegfeld's attractions in the absence of 'Leon Fried- man, who went on ahead of the "Fol- lles." The press work for the Burke show and the two Ziegfeld roof attrac- tions ia blng handled by Victor Kiraly,. general manager for Flo Ziegfeld. LEMATRE'S BREVITIES. George Lexnafre is writing a review, lyrics by Blair Tray nor, music by Archie Goettler, called "Broadway Brevities of 1920," which he will produce next sum- mer in association with his brother. Rufus. A feature of the production will be the selection of a cast of players never before seen on Broadway, with the exception of the author, who is under- stood to have refused an offer from Florenx Ziegfeld for next season. GRACE GEORGE'S NEW PLAY v Grace George will put into rehearsal In two weeks a' new play, the name and authorship which is being withheld. It is definitely stated by the William.A. Brady office that this play is not "The Widow's Mite" tried out last spring on the road. Miss George is now touring in "Quick Work," by Sir Arthur Pinero, WRITING BELASCO FLAT. Preston Gibson has been commis- sioned to write a play for David Be- lasco. Farce Catted "Not Tonight Dearie," The Blaneys intent: trying out a farce by Harold Brlggs. in stock, shortly, en- titled "Not Tonight Denrie." Forrest Orr and Frances McGrath will head the company.