Variety (Dec 1929)

Wednesday, December 11/1929 LEG I TIM ATE VARIETY 67 BVay Legit Grosses Badly Bumped; 28 Houses Going Dark Next Week . After' ThaTikselvine^- Jasf week -was weaker'than flgured.' This 'Is the usual aqua.xV'klrig period. Some Qiusliia'ls dropped as .much as f9,000 from the holiday levels, the longer run shows being affected principally. Slackening in pace for the comedies and dramas was pro- portionately as large. Talk of $2,- 000 and ?3,000 grosses 'w«re doubt- less true. . ^With a dozen more shows off the list it is figured that Broadway will be 36% dark next week. That inea.ns there will' be 28 dark the- ■ atre's.-.' Two new musicals are in the money against the general decline. "Sons of Ouns'V is a contender for top money honors. It grossed $48,- 200 the first full week. "Fifty Mil- lion Frenchmen" Is especially good In lower floor demand, credited with $44,000 last- •w'eek. Of the newer comedies "Young Sinners" has a chance, getting $12,000 last week Last week's entrants didn't mean a thing. Two closed right off— "Amorous Antic," Masque, and ^Whirlpool," ipiltmdre. "Headquar- ters" at the Forrest is in doubt. with "Bitter Sweet" and "Sons of Guns".'very close for top toioney honors and ■ "EVenchmen" well -up, next In line is "Sweet Adeline," a bit down at $37*000; "Heads Up," new/ stood up to better, than $33,- OOO; "Scandals" skidded down to $31,000; "Sketch Book" dropped to $29,000; • "Wonderful Night" about $24,000; "Street Singer" $23,000; "Little Show" $20,000; "The Silver Swan" tinder $1%000. : Dramas "June Moon" slipped a bit but BtiU led the non-lnusicals at $26,000; "Wise Child" held to nearly $23,000, and '.'Strictly Dishonorable" -vtras in no -way affected, again bettering $19,600; "Berkeley Square" too held its pace, better than $19,000; two boldbvers next, "Street Scene" and "Journey's End," $14,000, but both off: "liendel, Inc." slipped, $11,600. Shows getting $14,000 and better but dropped to $10,000, Included: "Gambling." "Ladles of the Jury," •Jenny," and "Bird in Hand"; "Candlelight" about the same with less for' "Subway Express" and "CriminarCode." "Karl and Anna" has been g'<6tting $14,000 but . via 8ubscriptl6hs. "Broken'Dishes" $9,- €00; ^*How*s Tour Health" $5,000 to $6,000; "SToUr Uncle Dudley" a bit more and the others down toward zero. "Sherlock Holmes" again istood with the leaders, getting $27,- OOO .In . seven jperformances: Date at Kew Amsterdam has been extended to isix weeks Instead of three^ Only "Half Gods" for the Plym- outh and "Babes in Toyland," Jol- son's, are definitely listed for next week, with "Red Dust," matinee ehow at the Beck. Leavlnig: "Let Us Be Gay," Little; "The New Moon," Casino; *^Iot Chocolates," Hudson;. "Rope's End," Royale.; "Winter Bound," Garrick. "Top o' the Hill" closed last Saturday at the Eltlnge as did "Veneer" (48th Street), "The Amorous Antic" (Masque). "The Humbug" (Ambassador), "Whirl- pool" (Biltmore). Houses go dark. LEGIT HOUSES GOING DARK IN PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia, Dec. 10. Although it could not be said that legit business was good here last week, it -was actually better in some cases than before, which was un- usual, inasmuch as the traditional pre-holiday slump period had ar- rived. Several dramatic sho-ws showed building powers. This week's only newcomer is "Blind Window," Belasco produc- tion, with Beth Merrill, at the Broad. Opening postponed until tonight (Tuesday). ' ' ■ ' Eetimates for Last Week "Blind Window", Broad (Ist week). New Belasco production opening Tuesday. House dark last week. . . "Nina Rosa," ShubGrt (4th Week). In 3d week this well-regarded operetta still weak at $18,000. Hbuse dark next weelc .• "Courage," Walnut (2d week). In first week started low, but gained to about $7,000. May stick through holidays; "Death Takes a Holiday," Adelphi (3d week). Surprised, by beating holiday figure last week. Almost $10,000. Next show not announced. "Homicide," Lyric (2d week). Better thought of than any Hodge play in some, tlmje; $iS,000. House dark next week. "Top Speed," Chestnut (6th week). Musical got around $16,600; not so hot. House dark next week. "Wings .Over Europe," Garrick (2d week). Third Theatre Guild play not strong at box office, but with subscription help got almost $17,000. "Little Accident,*' Keith's (2d week). Pretty tame, for show with N(6w'Tork rep; not oyer $6,000. Frisco So-So Two-Way Stock Los Angeles, Dec. 10. "When Ruth Renick organized her stock company she meant It. Most of the actors bought blocks of stock. Salary pay-off for cast and house staff is also partly stock. MONOTONOUS BOSTON Last Week Like Week Before, But Not So Crowded Boston, Dec. 10, Last week Just like the previous one . In. . legit standings, with "Whoopee" and "Journey's End" cleaning up the to-wn and none of the other attractions doing worth- while business. State income taxes due this week and Christmas is coming. Last Week's Estimates "Whoopee," Colonial (3d week). Cantor show off about $1,000 from the week before, with $39,000. "Woof Wqof," Majestic (3d week). $13,000 last week, .about $3,000 less than previous week. "The Duchess of Chicago," Shu- bert (3d W6ek). Grossed $16,000 last week; down $1,000. "Journey's End/' Plymouth (6th weeik). Better than $19,000. "Meteor," HoUls (2d week). In first week Theatre Guild attraction grossed $15,000. "Waterloo Bridge" did $10,000 In final week at the Tremoht. San Francisco, Dec. lO. Legit business only, so-so among most of the houses here last week. Outstanding attraction was "Jour-, ney's End," at the. Geary, which opened to capacity and held up strong throughout week, grossing better than $16,000. Mae WCiSt In "Diamond LU'" at the Curran, hardly, holding her own at ^9,000. Duffy's Presldenti with Charlbttis Greenwood in "She Couldn't Say No," still doing very well and main- taining $7,000 at stock prices. Al- cazar with "The -Boomerang," first week. Just fair. Got $6,000. Second week' of "Hunting Tigers in India," roadshow film at Colum- bia, slipped to. $6,000, considered good for this attraction. Green Street theatre, with 12th week of "The Plat Tire," picked up a little. Claimed $1,600, TANKEE'nop AT $2.50 ENDS MINN. FOR ROAD . Minneapolis, Dec. 10. Despite praise from the critics and newspaper exploitation urging attendance, "A Connecticut Yankee did poorly at the Metropolitan Scale $2.50 ' top, but even at that low level the public wouldn't buy, CrroSs estimated around $11,060. Following oh the heels of the eX' tremely slim trade attracted at the same house the preceding week by "Blossom ,Tlni6," the experience of "A Connecticut Yankee". Is ex pected to sound the death knell for further road attractions in Minne apolls this season. There have been a flock of cancellations—mstny of them. Including "After-Dark," due to the closings, of the shows before they could, reach here. "Porgy" plays a return Engage ment at the Lyceum and the The atre Guild Repertory company is due next month. The Shubert (Balnbridge dra matic stock) now practically has .the flesh and blood spoken drama field to itself. Laist week the dramatic 'stock company" did the musical comedy "Sally" and with night prices tilted to $1.25 it grossed. around $6,000, a small profit, but less than the house did a few weeks ago at $1 top with "No, No, Nanette." Stock < burlesque at. the Palace, after a' good start. Is. sinking fast and may' not survive much longer. Last week's gross was' around $4, 000. ' . Have You Tried VARIETY'S CAMPAIGN SERIES ADVERTISING THE FINEST KIND OF WEEKLY PUBLICITY Write for Fall Intprmaiion 154 West 46th Street NEW YORK CITY Shows in N. ¥. and Comment Figures estimated and comment point to some attractions being ■uccessfut, while the same gross accredited to others might suggest mediocrity or loss. The variance is explained in the differei^ce in house capacities with the varying ov«rhead. Also the size of casti with consequent difference in necessary gross of profit. Variance tn business necessary for musical attraction as against dramatio play is also consideriBd. . . Classification of attraction, house capacity and:top prices of tha admission scale given below. Key to classification:. C (comedy) | D (drama); R (revue); M (musical comedy); F (farc«)j O (operetta).. Admission tax applies on iickeis doer $3 "Berkeley Square,'^ LyOeum (6th week) (C-957-$4.40). Pre-hoUday slump Indicated by many grosses last week, but not for this show; capacity, surprise; over $19,000 ■ again. : '' ■' "Bird in Hand," Barrynxore (37th week) (CD-l,099-$3.86). Still mak- ing money and indefinite; $10,000. "Bitter Sweet/' Zlegfeld (6th week) (M-l,622-$6.60). Another English attraction, biggest money draw yet brought over, off bit last week, but none higher at $48,000. "Broken Dishes," Rltz (6th week) (C-946-$3). Hooked up to make nioney at. moderate grosses; $9,000, plenty both ways. "Candle Light," Empire (llth week) (CD-l,000-$3.85), Reported closing, but now intends sticking tlirough month; $10,000 last week. "Family Affairs," Maixine Elliot's (1st week) (C-924-$3.85). Pre- sented by L. Lawrence "Weber and Arthur Hopkins; Billle Burke starred; opened Tuesday. "Follow Thru," Chanln's 46th St. (49th week) (M-l,413-$6.60). An- . other week to go, then road; mu- sical smash of last season run almost solid year; "Top Speed" follows; , - "Fifty Million Frenchmen," Lyric (3rd week) (M-l,406-$6.60). New musical hit; first full week's gross quoted over $44,000; lower fioor especially strong. : "Gambling," Fulton (16th week) (CD-913-$3.86). Cohan's dramatic hit should last through winter; money maker from start; slipped to $10,000 last week. "Headquarters," Forrest (2nd week) (CD-l,160-$3). Opened mid-week; light trade indicates doubtful chances. "Heads Up," Alvin (6th week) (M l,387-$6.50). Aarons and Freed ley appear to have money maker in their latest musical; bettered $33,000 again. "Hot Chocolates," Hudson (i26th week) (R-l,094r$3). Final week; goes on tour, starting in Boston; "Broken "Windows" Christmas tveek. "Houseparty," "Waldorf (14th week) (D-l,101-$3). Sticking under un- usual managerial conditions and probably remain through holiday time; under $6,000; ' "How's Your Health," Vanderbilt (3rd week) (C-7Tl-$3.85). Bettier performance now than at open- ing; trade disappointing; $6,000 to $6,000. "Diana," Longacre (1st week) (C- l,040-$3). Presented by L, Law rence "Weber; first called 'Tsa. dora"; written by Irving Kaye Davis; opened Monday. "It Never Rains," Republic (4th week) (C-901r$3). One week more; under $4,000 artd from cut rates; house will get "Seven" dur- ing Christmas week. "Jenriy," Booth (lOth week) (CD- 946-$4.40). Slipped to $10,000, low to date; will go Into January, businesis deciding further stay. ^'Journey's End," Miller's (39th week) (D-946-$4>40). Off lagt week when long run shows prin- cipally affected; got $14,000, as against over $16,000 previous week. "June Moon," Broadhurst (10th week) (C-l,ll8-$3.86)„ Leading non-musicals in point of gross since opening; eased Off last week, but still big at $25,000. "Ladies of the Jury," Erlanger (8th week) (C-l,520-$3). Skidded to No future Pittsburgh, Dec. 10. "With Alvln dark for first time this season, Nixon had legit' trade to itself last week and Guild's fourth play of subscription series, "Pygmalion," did around $21,000. "Window sale better than on pre- vious Guild visits, but subscriptions .still the life-saver. Another week of Shaw current, "Major Barbara." Trade at Pitt, stock, picked up under impetus of play, written by local playwright. Sharp Players staged "The Leper," written 15 years ago by George Seibel, drama critic for fhe' Sun-TelegraphrT^ith Inex pensive ^payroll and mostly plays with single set, stock hex-e show- ing a small profit. Both legit houses dark week be- fore Xmas, AivIn to reopen with Ethel Barrymore In "Kingdom of God" and NIxon with Earl Carroll's "Vanities," Bookings after that few and far between and season as a whole looks like an in-and-outer. $10,000; will lay off next week, resuming Dec. 23. "Let Us Be Gay," Little (43rd week) (C-530-$4.40), Final week; excel- lent run; $8,000 lately. "Many Waters," Times Square (12th week) (CD-1,057t$3,85). $8,500; staying until Jan. 6, when "Strike tJp the Band" in. "Mendel, Inc.," Harris (3rd week) (C-l,<)61-$3.86), Second week not so hot, though Everything else slipped; just missed $11,600, which should be topped for profit. "Primer for Lovers"; closed Satur- day; three wieeks; raw show, too raw; maybe $6,000. "Rope's End," Royale (13th week) (D-l,118-$3). Pinal week; moved from Elliott Monday after having moved from Masque. "Salt Water," John Golden (3rd week) (C-900-$3). Moderate, un- der expectations; paced about $8,000, but will probably continue for tiine. "Scandails," Apollo (12th week) (R- l,168-$6.60). Slipped considerably; approximated $31,000; lowest for this revue. "Sons O' Guns," Imperial (3d week) (M-l,400-$6.60), Broadway's hew muslical contender for leaderiship; better than $48,000, which tied "Bittersweet"; standees through- out last week, when nearly all other shows were slipping. "Sketch Book," 44th St (24th week) (R-l,386-$6;60), Eased downward, llkiB other run shows; around $29,000; previous week $30,000, in- dicating general decline. "Streist Scene," Playhouse (49th week) (C-879-$8,86). Keepingpace with "Journey's End," this hold^ over got about $14,000, "Strictly Dishonorable," Avon (ISth ; weiek) (Cr830-$3.85), Advance sale 6o strong jsmash not affected with comparative moderate capacity ft factor; over $19,500. "Subway Express," Liberty (12th week) (D-l,202-$3), Expected to last Into January; continued fair, with probable profit; $10,000 esti- mated. "Sweet A d e It h e," Hammerstehn's (16th week) (M-l,265-$6.60). Pace slowed in proportion to others; around $86,600. "The A m 6 r o u s Antic," . Masque. Taken off Saturday; one week. "The Criminal Code," National (llth week) (D-l,164-$3). About month to go, permitting drama to get holiday trade; about $10,000.- . "The Game of Uove and Death," Guild (3d week) (D-914-$3), Do- ing an right, supported by sub- . scriptlons; little otheirwlse. "The Humbug,"Ambassador. Taken off Saturday; two weeks.. . "The Little Show," :^Iuslc Box (33d week) (R-l,000^$4.40). Dropped to $20,000, not unexpected; one of best draws in town and should run until spring. "The New Moon," Casino (66th week) (O-l,477-$5.60). Final week; last season's operetta, smash go- ing on tour after great run; re- cently around $20,000; house prob- ably dark. "The Silver Swan," Beck (Jd week) ' (O - 1,189 - $3.86), Not what It should be after good notices; not $10,000. "The Street Singer," Shubert (13tb week) (M-l,396-$6,60). While not among musical leaders, has drawn substantial buslneiss and may go to spring; about $22,000. "Top o' the-Hill," Eltlnge. Taken off Saturday; t\^o weeksf. "Veneer," 48th St Closed Saturday; four weeks; favorable notices failed to count. . "Whirlpool," Biltmore. Disappeared; three days—last week. "Wise Child," Belasco (19th week) C-l,050-$3-86)., One of very few exceptions: continues with little deviation; demand excellent, and last week $23,000; "Wonderful Night," Majestic (7th week) (O-l,776-$6.60). Better than expected, but not exceptional; estimated under $26,000. "Young Sinners," Morosco (3d week) (CD-893-$3). Claimed Improving; notices arid type liable to put this one over; $12,000 claimed. "Your Uncle Dudley," Cort. (4th week) (C-l,042-$3). Little change; again around $7,000; will , stay through holidays and maybe later. Special Attractions—Little Theatres "Sherlock Holmes," New Amster- dam; revival doing so well an-* other three weeks after this added; BedOlld^W6K-$277000 In Bev€n-per=^ formances. "Michael and Mary," Hopkins. MUno' play opened Tuesday. "The Novice and the Duke," Assem- bly; modem version of "Measure for Measure"; opened Monday. "Winter Bound," Rarrlck; final week. . "The Merry Widow," JoleOn's; re- vival; "Babes in Toyland" next