Variety (April 1912)

8 VARIETY SHOWS AT THE BOX OFFICE IN NEW YORK A ND CHICAGO Holy Week Against The Theatres. Disastrous Season Drawing to a Close. Some Interesting Figures on New York Theatres Furnished by Real Estate Paper. 36 New Houses Building Despite the disastrous season experi- enced by most theatrical producers, and which is now drawing to a close, there seems to be no lack of confi- dence on the part of investors in this field of industry in the metropolis. At the present moment New York City is experiencing the greatest the- atre building boom it has ever known. Building records show thir- ty-six new theatres about to be, or in course of construction, the minimum cost of which is $300,000. According the figures compiled by the Record and Guide (a real estate Journal) there are at the present time 949 licensed places of amuse- ment in New York, which does not include cabaret and other restaurant attractions. The Record and Guide says: "The capital invested in enter- prises designed to entertain the pub- lic in its leisure hours is estimated at 411,388,000, exclusive of ground and building values, which, if added, srould bring the figure up to more than $127,000,000, and the gross earning power of all these various theatrical enterprises in one year, based upon a 25 cent average admis- sion fee and a minimum average night's attendance of 200 and a sea- son of six months, would be at least $67,650,000, or more than twelve times the amount of money derived by the State from all the liquor li- censes granted in the city during the year ended September 30, 1910." The present is Holy Week. There has necessarily been a temporary slump even with the big successes. "Bought and Paid For" at the Play- house, and one or two other theatres will give no show on Good Friday night. A more or less accurate sum- mary of the business being done in the city at present is as follows: Little Theatre. Doing capacity busi- ness, which means gross on week of nine performance (through capacity of 299 seats at $2 each), about $5,- 400. Something of a fad. "Monsieur Beaucaire" (Lewis Wall- er) (Daly's). No interest in revival, and Waller not big enough over here yet to bolster it up. Running be- tween $5,000 and $6,000, poor for this house's capacity, but good under the circumstances. "Quaker Girl" (Park). Falling off somewhat, but still holding around $8,000 and $9,000 weekly. Good un- til the summer; may try to run through it. "Peter Grimm" (David Warfleld) (Bela8co). Capacity houses two per- formances Saturdays ($3,700) brings weekly taking around $8,000. Busi- ness varies during week. "Bought and Paid For" (Play- house). $10,000 weekly given out by the W. A. Brady office as average figure. Probably correct. "The Woman** (Republic). Not doing well but will stick it out. Had a $5,400 week recently, which looked good to management. Winter Garden ("A Social Whirl"). Business in bad way through no draw- ing attraction. Claimed the Garden (inclusive of the Sunday night show) hasn't fallen below $18,000 any week so far. Much doubted. Present com- pany a cheap one comparatively (for the capacity), and show itself too wobbly to draw rest of season. Another production possible before long. Wouldn't be surprising were "Vera Violetta" revived as first part, with present minstrel performance there used to close a new perform- ance. Hippodrome. Closing best season it has ever had, the Hippodrome is playing to but ordinary business at present, with no hopes of it picking up before the final day is reached next month. "Elevating a Husband** (Criterion). Weekly receipts estimated between $3,500 and $5,000. Much curiosity as to financial backing of this show. Run being forced. Criterion rented. Show hasn't played on percentage since opening in New York. "Oliver Twist** (Empire). Expen- sive cast to fair business for house, but not drawing much over what company costs the Lieblers to op- erate. $8,000 liberal figure for weekly gross. "Garden of Allah** (Century). Drop in business partially balanced through saving effected by Liebler & Co. replacing the two expensive play- ers, in lead at the opening. $1,000 saved on salary of Mary Mannering, and another thousand through de- parture of Lewis Waller. "Bunty Pulls the Strings** (Com- edy). Doing between $10,000 and $11,000 weekly. New York hit not duplicated by Chicago company, rais- ing some question as to the possi- bilities of this developing into the big money maker expected on the road. "Little Boy Bine*' (Lyric). Holding up very well, from $10,000 to $11,- 000 weekly, with best balcony busi- ness in town. Leaves April 18. <( The Rainbow** (Henry Miller) (Liberty). Genuine hit. Receipts run around $11,000, some distance removed from full capacity, however, but very big for a comedy, with in- expensive company, excepting the star. Certain for remainder of season. Weber A Fields* Jubilee engage- ment at the Broadway still playing to takings (not under $20,000 any week), but they do not expect an In- definite continuance of business, as Lew Fields has engaged passage for Europe June 1. If, however, business keeps up, his trip will be postponed. "Forty-live Minutes From Broad- way** (revival) (Cohan). Has not turned any people away. It leaves April 13 for a brief spring tour. Blanche Ring in "The Wall Street Girl," opens there April 15. The Barnnm A Bailey Circus (Madi- son Square Garden). Appears to be doing its usual amount of business, despite any sensational feature. "Baron Trenck** (Casino). Losing venture. Succeeded shortly by James T. Powers' new musical comedy. "A Butterfly on the Wheel** (Thir- ty-ninth Street) has been until re- cently, one of the small houses doing a capacity business, but it has begun to show evidences of waning receipts. Drawing around $7,000 to $8,000 now. "The Bird of Paradise** (Maxine Elliott). Started off only fairly strong. Doing around $6,000. Leaves April 13. Chas. Hawtrey with an English company in "Dear Old Charlie" fol- lows (April 16). "The Typhoon** (Fulton). Artistic success, but only fair receipts. Is renting at the Fulton and may be moved over to the Lyceum to play on percentage. On rental basis, attrac- tion not making money. "The Talker** (Harris). Just squeez- ing through, though building up repu- tation for road next season. "Kismet** (Knickerbocker). Still doing enormous business, with best advance sale of any local attraction. t( The Man From Cook's (New Amsterdam). Won't do. Hotels con- tracted to take $500 worth of seats a night. Can't last long. "Officer 666" (Gaiety). Capacity. Will probably run through the sum- mer. "Over the River** (Eddie Foy) (Globe). Has dropped off but still doing fairly well. "Disraeli** (George Arliss) (Wal- lack's). Still doing profitable business, but not as big as earlier in the sea- son. Will finish season in New York. "The Greyhound'* (Astor). Doing between $5,000 and $6,000 weekly, considered bad, for this house. Chicago, April 3. With the Lenten season at its height, theatrical business is hover- ing around the low water mark. Holy week finds three Chicago legitimate houses on the dark list. The Olympic, Garrick and Princess will reopen Easter Monday, with new attractions. The Princess with "Bunty Pulls The Strings" had a profitable stretch, but toward the finish the Scotch comedy wavered. While Lent may have had something to do with the business end, the piece about ran its length. "The Woman" at the Olympic has re- mained as long as expected and the Belasco shew leaves town, one of the few winners on the season. The Gar- rick has been unsteady all season. "The Never Homes" failed to break its hard luck spell. Beginning April 8, Robert Mantell will arrive at the Shubert house for a fortnight in repertoire. Tw) openings were held this week, one the new Martin Beck Pal- ace theatre, and the other the James Montgomery farce "Ready Money," at 'the Cort. The latter house Is num- bered among the lucky ones* "The Only Son" with Thomas W. Ross has passed muster and has been declared a hit. "The Pink Lady" continues at the Colonial to big houses and can comfortably remain there for the rest of the regular season. "The First Lady in the Land" (Blackstone). Last week. Business excellent during the run. Next week William H. Crane in "The Senator Keeps House." Drama Players (Lyric). The Drama League is having its troubles during the current ten-week run at the Lyric. Undoubtedly one of the best companies in captivity, there seems to be something lacking. That unexplainable something has kept pa- tronage down to a handful. While the engagement may be a roaring success from the artistic standpoint, financially it is a howling "flivver." "Tlie Trail of the Lonesome Pine*' (Chicago O. H.). Maybe it was tho book. The Eugene Walter play is considered a gem out this way and while business settled around capac- ity at the outset. General Manager Glover has issued a statement that April 6 the show takes to the road and Martin Beck's new piece, "The Glass House," will come into the Op- era House (April 8). "Louisiana Lou** (La Salle). Passed its 300th performance. In a class by itself. Business keeping up nicely. Will stay here for the season. "Dr. De Luxe** (Studebaker). Ex- hausted its "pulling" powers. Return engagement. Next week Paul Arm- strong's elaborated version of his former vaudeville act "A Romance Of the Underworld" at the house for a run. "Tho Marionettes** (Illinois). Nazi- mova has been doing business with "The Marionettes." Easter Monday "When It Comes Home" introduced here. "Officer 666** (Grand O. H.): Play- ing to big houses daily. Comedy tout- ed as one of the best in town and looks good for a continued run. "The Chocolate Soldier** (American Music Hall). The Shuberts have a little consolation in the fact that "The Chocolate Soldier" is drawing at the American, although at reduced prices. The show should close to a reasonable profit. "A Single Man" (Power's). John Drew next week in "A Single Man" following in "The Only Son" (going over to the Olympic). The Ross show has made money at Power's. Among the other houses McVicker's playing second run attractions at re- duced prices, is head and shoulders above the list. The Whitney and Globe are dark. Neither house gives promise of relighting until next sea- son. The Marlowe is doing nicely as Is the College, although at the latter house business has taken a slump during Lent. Jewish stock seems to prosper at the Bijou. At the Crown and Imperial things look about even. Owing to the sudden illness of Miss Dugal (Mack and Dugal) the act did not appear at the City theatre last week.