Variety (February 1912)

VARIETY SHOWS AT THE BOX OFFICE IN NEW YORK A ND CHICAGO Several New York Theatres Playing to Capacity. "Officer 666" Surprise Hit, "Lonesome Pine" the Reverse. Bunty in Chicago Duplicating Its New York Success. ttr In New York, with the passing of the holidays, business turned tor the better. At present there are a number of big successes in New York, some playing continually to ca- pacity, others so nearly as to be placed in that category, and still others going along to steadily profitable re- ceipts. This week there were three new ' productions locally that cannot at. this early date be accurately clas- sified. A portion of the present success in the metropolis is due to the ad- justment in box office prices at some of the playhouses. Several of the at- tractions in for a run have found it expedient to make substantial reduc- tions in the price of balcony and gal- lery seats. There seems to be a growing tendency on the part of pat- rons to refuse to pay $1.60 and $2.00 for seats upstairs. On the other hand, when there is a genuine hit the or- chestra seats at $2.00 are the first ones sold, and there has been &o ob- jection to paying $2.60 Saturday nights and holidays. There seems to be a growing increase in the dividing line between those who can afford to pay full price and those who can't. New York is < approaching 'nearer to London and continental capitals in this respect. "A Butterfly on the Wheel** (Madge Titheradge) (39th Street). Doing ex- cellent business, about $9,000 weekly, nearly capacity. "Around the World** (Hippodrome) gradually fading away. The huge spectacle is, however, still running along to a profit. Picked up after holidays, but fell off again. "Bought and Paid For** (Play- house), capacity at all performances. Nine shows a week. No passes issued not charged up. Total money capacity, $11,000. "Bunty Pulls the Strings** (Com- edy), turning people away. Including three matinees. Playing to about $10,000. "Cousin Kate** (Ethel Barrymore) (Empire) revived by the management to complete term alloted for the star's New York run. No expectation of in- creasing receipts, but to stop the rap- idly diminishing takings. "Disraeli" (Wallack's) holding up around $7,500 weekly. Will probably remain all season. Playing to less than two-thirds capacity, but yields a profit and makes an enviable reputation for road tour next season. "Elevating a Husband** (Liberty). Louis Mann has not hit it off this time and his stay in New York is necessar- ily limited. Announcement of with- drawal looked for at any time. "Kismet** (Knickerbocker). A big hit and will stay till hot weather, surely. Playing to around $16,000. "Little Boy Bine** (Lyric), Genu- ine surprise to "wise" folks. Started slowly, but took on a spurt and is running along to about $11,800. One of the attractions charging reduced prices for upstairs seats. House has a large seating capacity. "Officer 666** (Gaiety). Opened Monday evening, and went over with a bang that startled the management, which had small hopes of this melo- dramatic farce. Third night capac- ity attendance and will probably run out the season. A Cohan & Harris show. "Over the River** (Globe). Eddie Foy's new show doing excellent busi- ness. It must play to $10,000 a week to break even. The show costs $6,000 to run and the house not less than $3,600. Drawing about $13,000. "The Bird of Paradise** (Daly's) playing to small takings and not likely to remain long. "The Garden of Allah** (Century) doing a $14,000 business, but the enormous expense of maintenance ne- cessitates its transference to Chicago in a few weeks. Present receipts do not show a profit. "The Little Millionaire** (Cohan) will be witndrawn before season ends, it has been running for over five months to large takings. Business is slowly but surely dropping off. About $8,000 now. Draws largely from transients in town. George Cohan may not take the piece on tour this season, but revive "Get-Rich-Quick- Wallingford," "Little Johnny Jones" and other former successes at his theatre, appearing in each as the star. "The Million** (Herald Square), doing about $8,000 weekly, very good; playing at reduced prices tor all seats. Comparatively light run- ning expense. "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine** (Amsterdam). Opening Monday, did not live up to expectations. Came into the Amsterdam, with production paid for, and Klaw & Erlanger at least $20,000 to the good from the Phila- delphia run. New York evidently does not want pure melodrama. Will prob- ably go the way of "The Littlest Rebel," with excellent road prospects. "The Pearl Maiden** (New York) practically no business at all. The house will be closed for "redecoration and renovation" before turned over to Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., February 22, for transformation into an American Moulin Rouge. "The Quaker Girl** (Park). Steady business at around $10,000. Will re- main for an indefinite period. "The Red Widow** (Astor). Ray- mond Hitchcock's personal popularity and the pleasing entertainment com- bine to do business big enough to keep Wagenhals ft Kemper's own show, "The Greyhound," scheduled for that house, out of New York for an indefi- nite time, possibly until next season. "The Red Widow" has fallen off some- what in receipts, however, of late. 'The Return from Jerusalem" (Hud- son). Mme. Simone, playing in English, is drawing good downstairs business, with the upper part light. Engagement limited to such time as a suitable attraction may be found to substitute. "The Return of Peter Grimm** (Be- lasco). Not the usual Warfleld turn- away business, but close to capacity. "Hie Rose of Panama** (Daly's). Nothing doing. House being papered and announcement of its withdrawal looked for at any time. "Sumurnn*' (Casino). Averaging about $1,600 a performance, with $6,000 advance sale. Original four weeks' stay has been extended. Shu- berts paying $4,000 a week for the attraction. "The Talker** (Harris). Fair bus- iness. Not an expensive show and probably making a little money. "The Woman** (Republic). Fall- ing off. Nothing near the usual Be- lasco success, but will be held for some time yet for the benefit of "the road". Winter Garden. Big business hold- ing up. Mordkin, the Russian dancer, excellent successor to Gaby Deslys as drawing attraction. "White Magic*' (Gertrude Elliott) (Criterion). Failure. Not likely to remain long. "The Wedding Trip*' (Broadway). Did some business for a while, but will be sent on tour after this week to make room for the Weber ft Field's Jubilee. The three shows opening this week are "Lydia Gilmore" (Margaret Ang- lln), Lyceum; "The Trail of the Lone- some Pine" (Charlotte Walker), Am- sterdam, and "Officer 666" at the Gaiety. Chicago, Jan. 31. In the legitimate field of theatrical Chicago, the month of January shows a perceptible increase in box office re- ceipts over that of its predecessor, probably due to :the favorable change in the weather. While this statement does not apply to each and every Chi- cago theatre housing legitimate attrac- tions, the majority have picked up and the prospect looks quite promising. The recent ticket scalping scandal caused through the publication of the many and queer methods employed by the speculators shows little, if any, of the expected effect on "the loop" houses, although it may eventually mean the eradication of the sidewalk broker. The "Syndicate" managers very diplomatically placed the bulk of the blame on the Shubert outfit and General Manager A. Toxen Worm found it necessary to talk himself out of a very uncomfortable position. Eight sheets have been distributed throughout the city, informing the public that seats for the Shubert thea- tres can only be obtained at the box offices, but the general theatregoer feels inclined to believe the Shuberts are endeavoring "to lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen." Patronage has fallen off slightly be- cause of this. The Colonial with "The Spring Maid" still keeps in the lead as far as business is concerned, although the Olympic with "The Woman" and the Chicago Opera House with "Gfypsy Love" (in its last week) are playing to exceptionally large business under the circumstances. • , "Passers-By" (Blackstone). Prott- ablo engagement. Management nego- tiating to extend run a few weeks longer. Booked for three weeks. "The Earl of Paw tucket" (Lyric). This week only. Will be followed by the Drama Players. Shuberts' attempt to sell the Lyric does not speak well for the business. "Shorty McGabe" (Cort). Now shows to much better advantage. Since opening the piece has undergone a strenuous overhauling. Business at high tide now. "Gypsy Love** (Chicago O. H.). Last week. "The Typhoon" at the Kohl- Castle house next week. "Gypsy Love" has had a long and profitable run. "The Typhoon comes well spoken of. "Louisiana Lou** (La Salle). The Askin shows holds all records for the current season for this town. The house is still well patronized. "The Woman** (Olympic). Should run for sometime yet. The public are beginning to realize that Major Glover is offering them the goods. It's one of the best shows in town, suffering little from the cold spell. "The Greyhound** (Studebaker). Doing quite well, although opinion as to its merits Is divided. Undergoing several changes and rehearsals may whip it into shape. "Bunty Pulls The Strings** (Prin- cess). The Scotch comedy is pulling good houses and seems to have settled for a run. The show is considered fit and will remain at the Singer house for sometime yet. "Pomander Walk** (Grand O. H.). A good show that started poorly, but has picked up wonderfully and now playing to big houses.- "Hanky Panky" (American). Was to have been the last week. Manage- ment decided to extend the stay an- other week. Its successor remains un- announced. "The Scarecrow** (Powers') House having a run of hard luck. The last several plays to appear at Power's have gone by the boards. "The Scare- crow" lacked the strength to turn the tide. Next week Charles Cherry ar- rives with "His Neighbor's Wife." Cherry is popular here and should face a welcome. "The House Divided" (Whitney). Next week this piece comes to the Whitney, dark since "The Campus" closed. "In Old Kentucky" (McVicker's). Rig business has held up. The man- agement shows Judgment in plays and prices. The house is one of the few lucky onos in town. The (Hone "went dark" during the "Ten Nights in a Barroom" engage- ment. At present the Woodmen of America are holding a convention there. The Haymarket goes into vaudeville next week, with a big bill headed by .lack Johnson. "Yiddish" Stock (Bijou) doing well. Among the outlying houses the Col- lege and the Crown seem to have the best of It. The manager, the business manager, the stage manager and the house manager are still the Old Faithful Quartet.