Variety (August 1925)

n VARIETir' LEGITIMATED WtiSnt^SB^ August IZ, 1925 NEW SEASON GETS EARLY START; HUMIDITY NICKS BlAY GROSSES Three New Shows This Week and Others to Follow Presages Busy Early Season—Heat Wave Cuts a few Capers—Receipts Also with three new shows coming to Broadway this week It might be stated that the starting gun of the season of 1926-1»2« has been fired. From now on there Is to be an ever increasing list of openings from week to week. The current three Are: 'at All Depen^a," at the Van- derbUt; "A Lucky Break." at the Cort last night, and "Something to Brag About," -vhlch the Selwyns are opening at the Booth tomorrow night. This week also marks the pass- ing of "A Good Bad Woman" from the Playhouse after a run to medi- ocre business, the house going dark until such time an Alice Brady is ready with "Oh Mama." There is a possiMlity also "The Morning ykfter" will pass away at the Hud- son, but Tuesday afternoon this was not settled. Another house to go dark after this week will be the Henry Miller, as "The Poor Nut" will move to the 48th Street after Saturday. Two new attractions are sched- uled for next week, although three houses reopen. *^he Family Up- italrs." by Harry Delf, comes Into the Gaiety and "In Gay Paree" Is scheduled for the Shubert. The lat- ter has had two weeks out of town. The L^rceum reopens with "Ladles of the Evening" Monday. Funny Capers . XiSst week's business on the street eut a couple of capers. It started slowly Monday night and renaalned about the same Tuesday; on Wed- nesday it took a twist that made the street look as though mid-sea- son was on. Bverythlng did busi- ness and practical sellouts were the rMe rather than the exception. On Thonday night It tamed hot and the business went blooey again. This continued up to the end of the week with the thermometer increas- ing Us climb. It was natural that the revues got the big play and "Artists and Models'* led the procession with a gate that showed almost $42,000. The "Follies" next with around tSS.OOO and "Scandals" third with a littie over %2§fi(i9. *XouIe the 14th,'* at the Coemoi>olltan,'' did a little better than |24,000, but had cut rate help. "Rose-Marie" went along at about 124,000 and "Lady Be Good," at the Liberty, hit between fK.OOO and $17,000 on the week. •Canities," at the Karl Carroll managed at around $24^000 through the lower floor business holding up fairly strong because of the inti- macy of the entertainment, includ- ing the girl ushers as well as the girls at the ringside table seats. The other musical attraction is "Sky High" at the Casino, which Is about ready to finish, going out •tther next week or the week fol- lowing. Last week the return there was between $10,000 and $11,000. In the non-musical class the leader loomed as "Abie's Irish Rose," which got $10,000 last week. Prom that point on the receipts trailed on down the line to the point where "The Morning After" was listed at a little over $3,000 for . the week. Practically everything on Broad- way except the revues are quoted In the cut rates and a good part of their business is coming from that course. One New *'Buy" One of the new attractlond of the duo that came to Broadway last week was added to the list of buys bringing the toUl to seven at this time. The brokers took 200 a night with 10 per cent return for "Spring Fever" at the Blilott. The quintet completing the list are "Scandals" (ApoUo), "Louie the 14th" (Cosmo- politan), "Xady, Be Good" (Liberty), "Follies" (New Amsterdam) and "Artists and Models" (Winter Gar- den). . Over on the cut-rate counter there -were 18 attractions listed at bargain prices. They wore "June Days" (Astor), "Sky High" (Casino). "De- sire Under the EHms" (Cohan), "Spooks" (Daly's), "The Fall Guy" <<151tinge), "GarrJck Gaieties" (Gar- «ck). "White Collars' (Harris), "The Morning After" (HudBop), •rrhey Knew What They WanWd" (Klaw), "Lady, Be Good" (Liberty), rAloma of the" South Seas" (L; ONE SHOW LEAVING 'HSood Bad Woman Excttlno— ''Mominfl After" May Q6 Out There is but one show definitely slated to close this coming Satur- day. It Is the William A. Brady production of "The Ctood Bad Wo- man" at the Playhouse. There is, however, another possibility in QOOD BAD WOMAN Opened Feb. 9 to severe erfti* eisms as to its profanity. Man- tle ("News") deemed it '^he worst of the protane dramas to date." Vanety (lb«e) said, "unlikely to draw real money." The piece was taken off by William A. Brady aftw the die- trict attorney threatened ac- tion. Brady revived show at the Playhouse two months age, and oritics (mostly second stringers) declared the dialog toned down. On original ah ow- tng the piece did abeiit $12,000^ with front pso* publicity. Av- eraged about SMNW weekly dur> ing recent ciglit week s* Cloeee Saturday* Shubcrts-Union Still ,, Apart in ftrrtciwe Syracuse, N. Y., Aug. 11. A most unexpected angle cropped out here today in the anticipated oompromlse settlement of local theatrical union troubles with the Shuberts when the International Theatrical Mechanics Union No. 9 voted to reject the oompromlse wage contract negotiated by the executive committee and George A Chenet, local Shubert repreeenta- Uve. This action ^rew such a monkey wrench Into the peace plans of the union's executive committee It will most likely result In International Alliance intervention in the local crisis which affects the Shubert plans for operation of the Wletlng for the eomJag season. The compromise contract, It Is understood, called for practically the same agreement as prevailed during the past season. This fixed the scale for the stage crew at $45. The union asked $4T.S0. The union entered Into a SO cent In- crease with the Keith-AIb«« ta- terests at $45.50. The vote today was announced as "unanimous," but the under- standing l8 not of sufficient weight to reject the compromise plan. Today's action came as a oom* plete surprise as the proposed agreement bad been approved by the Shuberts and was expected to be ratified by the union. Enxlish Players for Hansen's Mass. Rep Among the Bngllsh actors and actresses engaged In London by Paul Hansen, managing director of the Northamptoa repertory com- pany, ar« Stellft Patrick Campbell. daughter of Mrs. Patrick Campbell; Margery Bryce, nieca of the late Vlsoount Bryoe; J. W. Austin, Clif- ford Marie, Hasel Jones, Margaret Murray. Mary Uttcola. Walter But- ler and Maurloe Braddoek. The playws will arrlTc liera next month with the season opening Oct. I at the Academy ot MmIoi. DETROIT OPENINe UP Season Under Way With ''Ri- quotto"—Orpheum for Run* Detroit, Aug. 11, Tb« local tboatrloal season opens next Sunday night at the Shubert- Detroit with the American pre- miere of "Riquette," comedy oper- etta by Osear Straus, which the Shuberts secured in IiUrop« In the cast are Vivienne Slgel, Alexander Gray, Marjory Oatesoa and Stanley Lupino, English comedian. ■The Orpheum. the new Shubert house, win open Its doors the last part of the month with "The Stu- dent Prince." The Sbut>erts have definitely announced this theatre will be used for runs. Tho "Prlnoo" wlU b« bold there Indefialtely. "The Morning After" which has been present since July 27. but which has not shown anything at the box ofllce. Up \o Tuesday it was undecided whether or not the latter wo^ld be withdrawn, although freely ad- mitted that that was about the only thing that co«ld be done with the show. 2 FEOHKAH SHOWS IR WASH. BUsle Ferguson In "The Grand Duchess" opens at the National. Was^iington. Sept 28. coming Into New Ifork at the SUnplre shortly after. "The Tale of the Wolf," also Frohman show, with Wallace Sd- dinger. Roland Young and Phyllis Ponah, opens at the same theatre SepC 21. XALBT-BLOCK PRODUCING A. J. Malby and William Block have Joined forces as legit i>roducers and will sponsor "In the Dark." a melodrama by Allen Lleber and Jack Arnold. The cast includes Ray Col- lins, Mary Ellen Ryan, Mlna Glea- son. Arthur Hull. Harry Sothem, Thorny Fadden. Ben Southard, Bme ^nell, LotUe ^ams and Charles Lewis. The piece goes Into rehearsal next week with the opening set for Sept 7 at an undetermined stand. "GREEN HAT" CAST SWITCH Margalo Gillmore Replacing Ann Harding—Latter in "School . Mistress" HEAI£Y-CHASEN MISm; LOST IN BOAT Not Carroll's Press Stufl •—Martin Jones with' j Them ■ Ted Healey, comedian of "Van^ ties"; Dave Chasen. principal wltM the same musical; Martin Jooani said to be stage nuuiager of "Whltg Cargo,'* and £ fourth man haT0 been nilsslng since Sunday, whei( they put to sea in Healey's 40-fooi yawl after landing a party of tha« atrlcal men at Sea Gate. The entire party left the Hudsoif River Yacht Club at 94th streed New York, Saturday night on theli| way to Rockaway Point. wltM Healey booked to appear for thf Lights Club annual cruise. After a terrible experience dnr« Ing the Saturday night storm th4 yawl dropped anchor early Sunday) morning near Coney Island. Non* man Carroll, Russell Market, Diw Louis A. Wolfe, house physician o* Carroll's theatre, and Harryj Schwarts, city chemist, went ashord in a row boat Healey, Chasen, Jone^ and another elected to stick to thil yawl and rowed back. The yaWl put to sea again aa4 has since been lost. Harbor polled and other marine aids have beei4 enlisted without avail. Monday night Carroll's "Vaabt ties" gave its usual performance without Healey or Chasen. Friends of Healey saV he has ha4 several mishaps with the yawl, oa4 of them being a coiliaion with i^ yacht in the North River onT> twd| weeks ago. He is reported to b4l without a license and inexperieuce4 In the operation of the boat The first report of the disappears ance of the 'Canities" men watf taken wtth a grain of salt by thej daillea on account of Earl Carrolfit past methods of acquiring publicity* but yesterday (Tuesday) Betty] Healey, wife and partner of Healeyj^ and also a member of "Vanities.'*:^ confirmed the story over the tele*, phone. The yawl was also reported missing at its regular anchorage a< the Hudson Rhrer Yacht Club. Tod and Betty Healey until thit season have been a standard vaude^ vllle team. Last season they head-* ed a big act on the Kolth-AIbee etrt cntt Dave Ctuisen also appeared fl| sevef^l Taudevflle acts before gra^ uatlng Into musical comedy eircleoti "The Poor Nut" (MUler's). -.■■r^^'Mfe. - yrlc), •The J Margalo Klllmore has been chosen for "The Green Hat" role originated by Ann HardiiQg. who remains under A H. Woods' direction and will ap- pear in "The School Mistress." It was first intended to have Miss Harding open on Broadway in the Arlen drama, a replacing actress to be chosen later. Instead, Miss Glll- more will be in the H»8t when the "Hat" opens at the Eltinge. Sept 7. H. W. CORHELL "BEOKE" Henry W. Cornell, a writer of 139 W. 74th street. New York, declares himself "broke," according to a vol- untary petition In bankruptcy filed last week. Cornell has no assests and the debts total $3,624. Musical Minus Producer's Name A new musical with Independ- ent backing is slated for early pro- duction. Chewter Santley did the libretto; score by Will Perry, also arranger for Riesenfeld's classical Jaxz. Bride Retires" (National), "A Good Bad Woman" (Playhouse), "What Price Glory" (Plymouth), "Tho Go- rilla" (Selwyn), "White Cargo" (8»th St.), and "Kosher Kitty Kolly" (Times Square). WALTER WINCHELL Dramatic CrKlo and Editor, Now York "Graphic* Walter Wlnchell la one ol the youngest dramatic men. In years of serv- ice, on any of th« New York dally newspapers. The responsibility of bar- ing coined the phrase, "One Man's Opinloa." and inscribing his decisions beneath that caption is responsible 4or the premature gray hairs you may see in the above passport photograph. Walter dropped the aforementioned lead to his opinions soon after the "Music Box Revue" opened last season, which also forestalled "Oraphio" patrons donning red coats and adopting the sJk>gan, "Get Your Man." However, this is presumably supposed to be a plug for Walter. __ - . _^ .. This Mr. Wlnchell has run the gamut of Broadway occupations from being an usher, a member of a Gus Edwards act becoming the mythi- cal mayor of Broadway into the present setting up exercises he is per- forming down on Cits' Hall Place. Other than thinking up gags for 1^ dally column that his readers may possibly get a laugh the next morning, Walter laughs every morning. His chief worries concern who win pinch hit with his column so he can give the Atlantic some time, and whether he'll bat his weight in the critics' box scorn. ■ "APPLESAUCE" TWICE Richard O. Hemdon wiU sponsor two companies of "Applesauce" thi* season, a road company to b« TOi V iM «_-* . » , .. * ^.- « . >. formed in addition to the original,! WinchelYs ^rst nip-up to look at copy was on the Pantages Circuit ^j,eaded by Allan Dlnehart, which U where he edited a sheet ifor the road show in which he was an active ■•■' ... NEW EXPERIMENTAL THEAL Coopor S«|. Playhouso to Givo Thrti Porfonnanoao Weekly ' New York is to have another •»■ perimenlal theatre la the Cooport Square Playhouse now under eon<i struction at Sixth street betweeoi Second and Third avenues. It will be completed by Labor Day. The playhouse will open with al Chinese fantasy. "The Flower o8 Heaven." which will be given foi< threo performances weekly. Thar policy will be a change of bill monthly. Any pieces showing eom^ mercial possibilities will be moved up to a Broadway house for a run^ While operating on a subscription! basis and partially a Uttle theatre affair, t^ casts will be made up o^ profeaslonals. The playhouse has a seating padty of 600. participant. He then declined a return Pan date at $276 weekly (no mention of whether he had a band with him) to become a columnist on the "Vaudeville News." After that he migrated to the "Graphic." Walter admits to being less than $0, married, no aliases but plenty of alibis. Beyond credited with having put the "Graphic" theatrically on the map,* Wlnchell Is the acknowledged dean of all Charlestonlng critics, holding the record for wearing out apartment carpets. Other histrionic highlights of this youth list song titling and a yen for "hot" phonograph records. As a side issue to hlli duties theatric Wlnchell is aa authority on sports. He can conclusively prove why Tllden Is the greatest poloist this country has ever known, that Hitchcock la Sande's only rival, and explain in detail why a Big Three football game is Just a long ride there, a lot of people and a long ride back. In fact, Walter la highly regarded in his home town—wherever that may bo. spotted for the Belmont, Now York* tho latter part of Septemt)er. The road company now being casfl is scheduled to go into reheamal next week under the direction of DineharfT The latter company wUl open its season Sept. 7 at Erie. Pa. HOUDINI'S BOAD DATES Harry Houdini's road show, unde^ direction of L. Lawrence Weber, will open at tho Maryland, Cumberland, Md.. Aug. »1, splitting the week be- tween that stand and AVheellng. W. Va. The Alvin, Pittsburgh. l« 1 the following week's date. i