Variety (March 1921)

14 LEGITIMATE Friday, March 4, 1921 SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT - Afgar," Central (17th week). Has four weeks more to go. Show will not be sent on tour until next season; Delysia will sail for Paris early next month for vaca- tion, returning in the fall. D. W. -Griffith'!* lecture v\J)rea.ro S^eeV.' to succeed. *Bad Man," Comedy (26th week). Stuck to eight performances last week, management being opposed to extra matinees. Business con- tinues strong, with the business pace constant at $12,000 weekly. ■Blue Eyes," Casino (2d week). Heady demand for this new mu- sical show, names in the cast be- ing credited. Agency buy makes it safe for good takings for first six weeks. Takings iirst week surprised wiseacres with well over $21,000 drawn. "Broken Wing," 4Sth Street (13th week). This comedy has been a money maker since opening. Last week, with an extra performance, pulled gross back to $11,000. "Cornered," Astor (13th week). The holiday aided in sending this drama back to a $15,000 gross. There was no extra performance last week, however. "Dear Me," Republic (7th week). Nine performances last week sent gross upward again, the takings going to $11,700. Attraction suc- cessful to date, though not count- ed with big money winners. Is strongest house has had in some time. "Dcburau," Belasco (11th week). Nine performances here and a new record for the Belasco es- tablished at $20,450. Saturday scale for holiday shows aided. "Emperor Jones," Princess (5th week). Was originally booked in for four weeks; engagement made indefinite. Daily matinees of "Diffrent." Together business last week went to $7,500; very good figure for 300-seat house. "Enter, Madame," Fulton (29th week). Ten performances last week; attraction has been playing nine. Additional matinee with Washington's Birthday sent gross to around $17,000. "First Year," Little (20th week). Ten performances last week here also. With increased scale, gross was lofted to around $14,500; house seats 520. Comedy smash. "Gold Diggers," Lyceum (74th week). Got its full share of the holiday trade, with the gross hit- ting $16,400. That was gained with an extra performance; nine shows last week. Still capacity. "Good Times," Hippodrome (30th week). Big holiday trade found reaction late last week, but big house hit a gross of $67,800, which beats last year's Washington Birthday week. "Greenwich Village Follies," Shu- bert (27th week). Knda run on Saturday, with Boston the first road stand. "Her Family Tree" moves over from Lyric. "Her Family Tree," Lyric (10th week). Nora Bayes takes her show to Shubert, Lyric getting a picture, "Four Horsemen of Apo- calypse.'* Bayes show has been doing fair business, takings over $14,000 last week. "In the Night Watch," Century (6th week). Demand for this melo- drama remains strong, with the cut rates doing heavy trade. Last week the takings beat $19,000 in eight performances. "Irene," Vanderbilt (67th week). Extra matinee, with night scale for the holiday, gave the musical run record winner $18,600 last week. Capaelty right along. Looks like it will go into the summer.* "Ladies' Night," (El tinge (30th week). Heeord for house estab- lished last week with $17,300; nine performances. "The White Villa," special matinee attraction, player to $1,300 in three after- noons. "Lady Billy," Liberty (12th week). Stuck to eight performances, but bettered the predicted gross for the holiday week, the figures be- Ing $22,231. Has been a big money maker since it opened. "Little Old New York," Plymouth (liOth week). Beat $13,000 with nine performances last Week. Strength of thla comedy shown by the fact that it has a dash of Irish, without Lent denting its business. "LightninV Gaiety (120th Week). Broadway's marvel sailed the big money division last Week with f is.700 in. Cave io perform- ftnros, with the increased scales for Washington's 'Birthday. "Macbeth," Apollo (3d, week). In spite of panning this show got $13,000 last Week \» I au-e of ;ipoli- cy buy. Failure of demand to show any Activity Indicates piec< to be season's most disappointing failure. Practically entire buy allotment dumped into cut fates. No real call there either, and brokers tearing up many tickets. "Mary Rose," Empire tilth week). Will run until Easter (late this month), then go on tour. Limited appeal, with Barrle name stronger than play itself. Drew $9,700 last week; eight performances. Pro- duction for John and Eth.fl Harry- more being readied. "Mary," Knickerbocker (20th week). With nine performances the gross last week went to $22,000. Strong box-ofilce trade continues. "Meanest Man in the World," Hud- son (21st week). Played tc $14,- • coo tact veek* the. bpbd«Y J»Jus, an extra matinee accounting for jump. Figures to run through spring. "Miss Lulu Bett," Belmont (10th week). With nine performances this small-town book-comedy went to $9,000; very good gross for this small house. Show start- ed badly but should turn eat a money maker. "Nice People," Marc Klaw (1st week). Was to have gone on last week, but house was not finished and premiere was delayed until Wednesday night of this week. "Passing Show of 1921," Winter Garden (10th week). doing strongly, with' the gross better than $30,000. Figures as one of the best Garden shows because of comedy values. "Prince and Pauper," Selwyn (18th week). Another week to go. Scheduled to open the new Hanna theatre, Cleveland. House is sup- posed to get a picture undr guar- antee arrangement. Takings fell off sharply of late, indicating run spent. ^ "Peg o* My Heart," Cort (3d wee!?). Its second week won an excellent gross at $2.50 top, the show get- ting over $15,800 in nine perform- ances. Revival looks good for a run. "Rollo's Wild Oat," Punch & Judy (15th week). Takings last week were the best thus far, with the exception of the Christmas-New Year's period. Gross was $7,300; nine performances; arrangement calls for piece running through balance of season. Matinees of playlets started this week. "Rose Girl," Ambassador (4th week). Trade here continues better than predicted. Last week it drew $16,- 000. Holiday aided, but no extra performance. "Sally," New Amsterdam Ulth week). For first time since it ppened Broadway's leader in de- mand and gross played an extra performance. Gross went to $39,- 100; one of the biggest weeks in history of house. "Romance," Playhouse (1st week). This revival with Doris Kea.ne, who played it four years in Eng- land, opened Monday night. May complete season here. "Skin Game," Bijou (20th week). Down to around $7,000 weekly now. Special matinee attraction opened in house Monday, "The Tyranny of Love," with star cast. "Samson & Delilah," 39th St. (10th week). Extra matinee here last week, the gross going a little over $9,000. Attraction will probably last until Easter, then take to the road. "Spanish Love," Maxine Elliott (30th week). Counts as one of the dra- matic successes of the season. Has been pulling good though not big grosses. Ought to last out the season. Got $13,000 last week. "The Bat," Morosco (2Xth week). Drew $21,000 gross last week, with the extra matinee in. Plans for road companies other than Chicago, but strength of mystery play should keep it on Broadway into summer or longer. "The Green Goddess," Booth (7th week). Best gross of run last week, more than $14,000 in. Th- figure represents capacity through- out week, plus standing room. "The Tavern," Cohan (23d week). Played an extra performance last week, the gross going to $12,900. Piece has remained for very good run and will be plugged, with com- pletion of season in view. "The Mirage," Times Sq. (2:?d week); Has been heavily cut-rated of late. Is slated for the road this month, with "Maid to Love" named as the succeeding attraction. "Cradle Song" for special matinees r.tarted this week. "Tip Top," Globe (22d week). Sec- ond best figure of the run secured last week, when $31,440 w;»s drawn, the business for New Year's week being high, as with ihe other attractions. Nine per- formances; advanced scale Mon- day and Tuesday night last week, "Three Live Ghosts," (Bayes «2.'M week). Went to $10,000 last week Is a good buy in cut rates and continued support from then' will keep attraction In Indefinitely. "The Champion," Long acre (1*th week). Had its best gross las! week, with the holiday aid and extra matinee! $15,00.0. Should In re easiiy. "Wake Up, Jonathan," Henry Mill' r (Tth week). With an extra mati- nee the gross went to $H».nno Inst week. Attraction moderate suc- CCSB. "Woman of Bronze," Frazeo (20th week). Drew $11,500 last Week, with extra performance in. Mar- garet Anglin has "Joan" ready, but present vehicle should hold up until spring* "Welcome Stranger," Sam H. Hauls (2",th week). Extra matinee and the holiday scale sent this COmtd) upward, with the gross last week hitting over $18,300. "Way Down East," 44th St. (27th week). Getting $14,000 weekly now. "Over the week). Hill," Broadhurat (22d WEAK ONES DYING IN CHICAGO SLUMP NEWS OF THE DAILIES Takings shaded finish out sea on • • < <•»»...- »*, Trade Generally Off—Seven Changes Listed. The Manhattan Opera House, ac- cording to stories in New York dailies. Is on the market for $1,000,- 000. The recent decision whereby the daughters of the late Oscar Hammerstein were awarded a Judg- ment of $124,000 against their step- ► mot-her*. !»..<*«Jd >to .Jhe ope <\X Xhy factors in the situation. Chicago, March 2. Seven new shows billed for the boards between now and next week. My Lady Friends," "Cognac" and "When We Are Young" never seemed to catch on. The first had a run of four weeks, while the other two lived only two weeks. Most of the current shows gave an extra matinee Tuesday, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. A few of them just switched their matinee from Wednesday to Tuesday, doing away with the extra pay i erform- ance and grabbing off the gravy on the holiday. Estimates for the week: "Shavings" (Powers, 1st week). Looks good for eight weeks. Played its matinee Tuesday, doing away with Wednesday matinee. Getting a great play from women and chil- dren; $12,000. "Fancnon-Marco Satires" (Olym- pic, 5th week), $12,600; got $1,600 Tuesday matinee. Strikes out for Eastern time, following its eight weeks of fairly prosperous city sen-ice. "Irene" (Garrlck, 13th week), $29,- 500, with matinees Tuesday, Wed 1 - nesday and Saturday. Moves into Studebaker next week. "East Is West" coming into the Garri/.i for a limited run, with "Midnight Rounders" due in April to try for summer run. "Way Down East" (Woods, 11th week). Slipped about $1,500; grossed $16,000. "Follies" (Colonial, 9th week. Under $40,000, with extra matinee. Monday and Tuesday business con- siderably off. "The Night Eoat" coming in next week for six weeks. "Dulcy" (Cort, 1st week). $11,000. Seems to have caught on, with chances good for a run of ten or twelve weeks. Local critics very complimentary to show and players. "The Tavern" (Cohan's Grand, 4th week). With extra matinee, pulled $19,500. Seems to be getting stronger as it goes along. "When We Are Young" (La Salle. 1st week), $7,000. Never had a chance. Leaving after next week, making room for "Kissing Time." with William Norrls and Edith Tal- iaferro. "The Bat" (Princess, 9th week). The demand for this success is es- tablishing a record that will be hard to beat; $22,352, with matinees Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. "At the Villa Rose" (Illinois, 4th week). Business lamentable. "Hitchy-Koo" opened Sunday to packed house. "My Lady Friends" (Central, 3d week), $6,000. Only one more week and then "The Heart of Erin." with Walter Scanlon, for four weel.s. "Happy - Go - Lucky" (Playhouse, lath week), $8,900. "Woman to Woman," with Wilette Kershaw, opening March 6. "Cognac" (Studebaker. 1st week). Never had a chance; show did not gross $4,000, several nights holding under $200 gross. "Irene" comes in next week for indefinite run, mov- ing 'rom the Garrick. "The Famous Mrs. Fair" (Black- stone, 9th week), $10,000. One more week, then Patricia Collinge in "Just Suppose." "Mecca" (Auditorium. 5th $44,000 in ten performances, nomenal publicity helping. week), phe- "APHRODITE" GETS BIG RETURNS IN BOSTON Other Attractions Do Well— "Mary" Draws $23,000. Boston, March 2. As il was (he only new show in town and had been extensively ad- vertised, "Aphrodite" got the big play here Monday night, the Indi- cations being that the show would do a whale of a business during the limited stay, it is playing at a $.{ top at the Boston Opera House and the house had a groaa of about $."i,ooo for the opening performance, Buaineaa at the other houses dur- ing the week w;is except ionn llv ••""<! for the most part. All bill one of the legitimate theatres had u special matinee on Tuesday and this Increased the weekly takings. Traffic, which was Interfered with hy the big snowstorm, was normal after Monday night. "Mary," which is playing a re- peat in this city, where it start ed ami ran for several months Into the fall of last year, is the wonder of the town so far. The takings for the week have seldom fallen below the $-0,000 mark and last week the Jim Thornton has been In court again. This time he accuses a restaurant proprietor of short- changing him $375, but the restau- rant man declares Thornton is try- ing to collect the money twice. Thornton handed the man a $500 bill in payment of $125 and re- ceived an I. O. U, payable the next day. The restaurant man produced witnesses who testified, he gave Thornton the money, but that Thornton did not have the I. O. U. with him. pleural cavity and it was said hl% condition again was critical. The watchman of the Thalia the- tre on the Bowery was found dead in a dressing room, a revolver un- der his head. Police declare he was murdered, but mystery sur- rounds the case. One theory is a duel was fought on the stage as the dead man was shot through the forehead, left breast and abdo- men. Little Oeorgle Wolcott, 9, son of William Wolcott, has beeji awarded a verdict for $60,000 by a jury in the N. Y. Supreme Court against an apartment house owner, because of injuries received in an elevator accident. The boy, who appeared with Laurette Taylor in "Happiness." and also in "The Betrothal," "The Piper" and "Seven Miles to Arden," has been in a hospital since last July and may never appear on the stage again. His parents are professionals. Enrico Caruso was 48 years old Sunday last. Still dangerously ill. but making good progress toward recovery, he was the recipient of thousands of messages of cheer from all parts of the world. Tues- day night, however, he underwent a third operation for draining the Ministers and dancing masters of New York expressed themselves in favor of the suppression of "the alligator glide," "Chicago" ana ,"cnmel," togftthefjyith other alleged Inuecent aanTes. A ^fn^l pending at Albany to restrict public dances on account of so-called "degrading" styles involving close grappling by partners. "The Passion Flower" will play a limited return engagement oq Broadway when it has tinished He Boston run. Muriel De Forest, Eddie Cantor's lead, almost had a $3,000 "Cad" bought for her in Boston. It seems a gentleman went with her to the Cadillac show room, pieked out a car and left a check for $500 as first payment, the remainder to have been paid later. Now the comnany ha. j sued Miss De Forest for breach of contract, alleging the original cheek was no good. Forty dancing girls of "Mecca" have volunteered as witnesses for Comstock & Gest in a Chicago in- quiry into the propriety of the big ballet seene of the extravaganza. Moving from the Lyric to the Shubert next week, Nora Bayes will make several changes in "Her Family Tree." She is dropping Noah's Ark for a "song chat" spot and also introducing a new Chinese act. The District Attorney of New York is investigating the "anti-blue law" organizations which have be- come epidemic recently among the incorporations at Albany. One has been summoned to explain about its objects and its method of soliciting members. Others are believed to be mere button-selling schemes. A man and His wife, convicted of disorderly conduct in the Hamilton theatre, were fined $25 each. The (Continued on page 16.) show drew $23,000 with the extra performance on Tuesday. Estimates for the week were: "Mary" (Colonial, fourth week). In for two weeks more and doing exceptionally well. Gross for the past week, $23,000. "Abraham Lincoln" (Hollis, third week). No indications that this show will not be able to keep up the good record it has set so far. (Jetting a big play from schools and colleges. Clot $22,600 last week. "Passion" (Tremont, second week). Fiim is doing well. Is. however, being advertised big at great cost. Estimate for the first week is $12,000. "Honors Are Even" (Park Square, ninth week). Still shuffling along with a nice comfortable margin each week, indications being that the Selwyns n\ay keep the show here for close to a record run. Got about $11,000 last week. "Kismet" (Majestic, second week). This film followed up the turnaway opening with good business during th" balance of the week. About $8,000. "Jim Jam Jems" (Wilbur, second week). Show caught on after the opening and did a business of about $17,000 for the week. While actu- ally one of the cleanest of musical shows, folks go there prepared to be shocked. "Broadway Brevities" (Shubert. fourth week). Did better business during the week than any of the other shows at the Shubert houses. At a $2.50 top got about $17,000 and looks as though it will go strong on this, the final week. "The Passion Flower" (Plymouth, fourth week). Will leave town this, week after doing a very fair busi- ness during stav. Played to about $14,000 last week. "The Old Homestead" (Globe. first week), Sho\ is in here for two weeks and marks the dropping of the house for the time being out of the first elass. Playing at a $1.60 top. "It's Up to You" on the fin;il week here got about $o.ooo. <! Way Dow* East" (Tremont Temple, 26th Week), smi going big. "Aphrodite" (Boston Opera House, first week). Ihi<l :i capacity house Monday nfght With a big advance sale. SLUMP HITS PH1LA.; 'TICKLE ME" LEADER Last Week's Hcliday Found Receipts Way Off. The week past saw no great change In Phllly's show business, and this week, wilh one opening, looks about the same. The continu- ous boom of the fall and early win- ter has apparently run its course. The weather has not helped any. It is the consensus of opinion that only "Tickle Me" made any kind of a killing Feb. 22. The Tinney show is slated to go after two morn weeks, dnd it looks safe to go out to big business. "Erminte" was the only opening this week, and it showed a tidy ad- vance sale that foreshadows a busy two weeks: "Smilin' Through" is the surprise show here and seems on the way.. to set up a ph "iomen.il road record after a "so-so" stay in New York. "Transplanting Jean" < Broad). Last week of this one, which hasn't set Broad street on fire. On the shady side of $10,000 and not up to the year's average at this popular house. "Tickle Me" (Shubert). Tinney's show has knocked the bottom from under the rumored hoodoo of this big house. Has to leave in two weeks, but could probably stay a month to good advantage. Over $23,000. "Erminie" (Forrest). Opened well and got plenty of special notices from the papers. Wilson, a Phila- delphian, got an ovation. Is getting a different draw thai, the usual For- rest clientele, who steer clear of anything that lacks jazz. Wiite's "Scandals of 1920" went out last week to only fair business after a p/omising start. "Call the Doctor'' (Garrick). Last week. Not doing as well as most of Belasco*! here, but is getting by well downstairs. About $11,000. Francep Starr in "One" slated to «.ome in next week. "Smilin' Vhrough" (Lyri-\ This one is the surprise hit of the last two months. (lot $14,000, which isn't vey far from capacity, with indi- cations for another good week. Is announced Cor only a limited run, ^> hlch may be prolong, d If bookings permit. "Scandal" (Ad el phi). Continues t« get a good draw, though nothing to rave over. The crowds here like jun« Walker, who has the part played In New York by Franclne Larrimore. play is mostly down- stairs. Honeydew" (Chestnut Street). Zimhatist's play nn't crowding the Opera House, a* it did the Casino, although it is drawing •< distinctly class patronage, should land a fair profit for its four-Week stay here, is being much helped by sue. ess of the preceding shows at this house. $13,000. •'The Masqueradcr" (Walnut). This repeater is doing well, al- though hit by the weather, in flew of its distance from the Imtel dis- trict. Looks good for an extended run. About $12,500.