Variety (October 1914)

VAKIK T 11 SHOWS AT THE BOX OFFICE IN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO But Few New York Theatres Did Any Real Business During September. Change of Weather Expected to Help, But Bad Business Generally Attributed to War Uncertainty. As has been the custom of Varibtt in the past to print monthly the condi- tion of the theatrical business in New York and Chicago, as expressed by the box offices during the season, herewith is given the estimate of receipts at the metropolitan houses, although this first report comes at an inopportune time. The depression that has existed throughout the country has also been felt in the larger cities. During Sep- tember, the abnormally hot weather further held down what might have been a favorable showing. Last Thursday, late in the afternoon, the weather grew almost chilly within a few moments, after New York had passed through three of the hottest days of this summer. The lateness of the change was thought to have been the reason why no marked increase of business followed that same evening, but Friday night the theatres did not do much better. Saturday evening business was strong all over the city, and Sunday the vaudeville houses (regular and those playing vaudeville Sundays only) had their first good showing on a Sabbath since reopening. The weather continued cool this week. The effect was felt in a brisk advance sale for the legitimate attrac- tions, something very few had had since opening. Monday night, how- ever, was not as good at the legitimate houses as had been anticipated. Tues- day evening showed much better. While the warm September contributed to the distress of the theatrical man- agers, it is pretty nearly universally conceded the European war has left the most blasting mark upon the re- ceipts. Theatrical managers believe if thij country could obtain a line on the duration of the war, the United States would return to a normal business con- dition once more. In the present state, about Dec. 1 or perhaps not until Christmas is when better times is look- ed for, especially in the wilds. The larger cities are expected to recover before that time. Last Sunday a New York daily printed that 82 per cent of the working men in New York are working. The tightness of the country in money matters just now is reflected in the theatrical condition. Variety's estimate of the current at- tractions in New York is as follows (allowing for the bad September and particularly poor opening of last week, for which most of the receipts men- tioned below were obtained): "Consequences'* (Comedy) (1st week). Opened Thursday. "A Modern Girl" closed last Saturday, doing hardly nothing, perhaps getting $3,000. Century Opera House (Grand Opera > (3d week). Started off very badly and shows no signs of picking up. May have done $6,000 last week, meaning nothing at all to this big house. "Daddy Long Legs" (Gaiety) (1st week). Opened Monday. Secured ex- cellent notices, with an immediate ad- vance sale. On Tuesday afternoon nothing better than the 12th row could be had for any performance for the next two weeks. "He Comet Up Smiling** (Douglas Fairbanks) (Liberty) (3d week). Did $8,000 last week, and seems to be in strong favor for proper weather. "Innocent" (Eltinge) (4th week). Ran along around $5,000 for first weeks, when A. H. Woods' office start- ed extra advertising campaign, spend- ing $1,700, which sent the receipts up to $8,400 last week, as against $5,600 the previous week. Extra advertising equally distributed among New York's morning and evening papers. "It Pays to Advertise" (Cohan's) (4th week). Got between $7,500 and $8,000 last week, disappointing to the management, which expected a $12,000 clip. Paper somewhat plentifully given out. Show doesn't universally please. "Commercial mind" said to be neces- sary to "get it." "Miss Daisy" (Lyric) (4th ' week). Moved over from the Shubert this week. Around $3,500 last week. Closes at Lyric this Saturday. Evidence," the Shubert-Brady-Ames play, opens about Oct. 11. "On Trial" (Candler) (7th week). New York's biggest hit so far this sea- son. Played to capacity, with an ex- ception or two, through the hot spell. Doing around $12,000 weekly, and often playing to over-capacity. "Pretty Miss Smith" (Fritzi Scheff) (Casino) (2d week). Last week, its opening one, played to around $6,0001 Not a success, but Oliver Morsoco management expects to push it into a winner strong enough to remain here ten weeks for a road rep. "Tipping the Winner" (Longacre) (2d week). Going out Saturday night. "Kick In" next. "The Beautiful Adventure" (Ly- ceum) (4th week). Picked up with speed last half of last week, when some newspaper notoriety was obtained throuph your old friend, Anthony Corn- stock, but it looked later as though \nthony had laid down. Show finished the week about $7,000, and may keep up the spurt. "The Dummy" (Hudson) (24th week). Running since last April. Busi- ness on the average between $5,000 and $6,000. "The Heart of a Thief" next week. Playhouse—"The Elder Son" closed last Saturday. Dropped away down. "Tilings That Count" will be revived ihorr next week, to till in until "My i i-iy's Dress" is ready. "The Girl from Utah" (Knicker- bocker) (6th week). The second strongest draw in town. Music com- edy (Charles Frohman), with prac- tically no opposition at present. Doing around $14,000. "The High Coat of Loving" (Lew Fields) (Republic) (6th week). Took a slump last week, but got $7,200. Show not a matinee drawer, but said to be one of the best laughmakers New York has had in years. "The Miracle Man*' (Astor) (2d week). Did about $7,500 last week, and $10,000 expected this week. Di- versity of opinion over this piece. "The Hawk" (William Faversham) (Shubert) (1st week). Opened Mon- day night. Notices very good. Sec- ond night (Tuesday) did $1,400, with a capacity matinee Wednesday. Big advance sale started also. The Law of the Land" (48th Street) (1st week). Opened Wednesday. "The Passing Show" (Winter Gar- den) (16th week). Going out this week. Has dropped off to around $10,000. New Al Jolson show next week. "The Prodigal Husband" (John Drew) (Empire) (4th week). Doing but a fair business, from $5,000 to $6,000 last week. "The Third Party- (59th Street) (9th week). Business bad. $4,000. "The Story of the Rotary*' (Manhat- tan) (4th week). Not doing as well as it could by far. Between $7,000 and $8,000 last week. "Twin Beds" (Fulton) (8th week). Picking up rapidly. Town flooded with People's League tickets. Management attempted to recall them when busi- ness braced. Certain nights weekly now set aside for them. Show doing about $7,000. "Under Cover" (Cort) (6th week). Third best drawing card. $8,500 last week, with good advance sale com- mencing with cooler weather. Will run over $10,000 easily in this weather. "Wars of the World" (Hippodrome) (4th week). Bad season for Hip so far. Matinees away off, nights good. May be doing around $25,000. In pre- W. E. WHITTLE, Ventriloquist, as Officer Dunn, In bis latest suc- cess. "A BUMMER'S MORNING IN CENTRAL PARK." vious seasons Hippodrome nearly had its production paid for by this time, M What Is Love" (Elliott) (2d week). Did about $4,000. Plenty of cheap tick- ets out. Standard (John Cort, Mgr.) (Broad- day and 90th street). Combination* "The Marriage Game" this week Mc- Intyre and Heath in "The Ham Tree" drew $7,200 last week. Grand opera house (Klaw & Erlan- ger, Mgrs.) (8th avenue and 23d street). Combinations. 'The Mislead- ing Lady" this week. "The Crinoline Girl" (Julian Eltinge) played to $8,400 last week. Bronx opera house (Cohan & Har- ris, Mgrs.). Combinations. "Seven Keys to Baldpate" this week. "Potash & Perlmutter" got $10,000 last week. Increased business due to elimination of Royal for travelling shows in the Bronx. Strand (Broadway and 47th street). Moving pictures at pop prices. Said to have made a profit of $5,100 last week, and is $86,000 ahead since house opened. Chicago, Sept.30. Business in the "loop" district of Chicago is said by those in the know to be better than any other place on the face of the globe at present. Jo- seph M. Schenck is reported to have made the assertion that Chicago was doing more real business in its the- atres than any other city known to him, and displayed figures to back it up. It is more difficult than ever to get at the receipts in this town, owing to pools that are formed, and also to the general prevailing hard times. Those presented here are estimated: "Joseph and His Brethren (Auditor- ium). Not making money. It is said show needs about $16,000 to make good profit. Receipts have fallen away below those of "Allah" last sea- son. "A Pair of Sixes* (Cort). Doing very well. Takings between $8,000 and $10,000. "Under Cover" (Cohan's). Meeting with pretty fair returns. Did $8,200 last week. "The Belle of Bond Street" (Illi- nois). Probably $8,000 last week. In this, its final week, the figures will probably be duplicated. "Peg o* My Heart" (Garrick). Has been hovering around $10,000, and the show has been here for over a dozen weeks. "Today" (Princess). About $7,500 last week, with better prospects in view, as show is more talked about. "One Girl in a Million" (La Salle). About $5,000 weekly. "The Yellow Ticket" (Powers). Playing to between $8,000 and $9,000. Did $8,900 last week. "Potash ft Perlmutter" (Olympic). Taking in from $17,000 to $18,000 weekly, with $2 prices to help out. $17,840 last week. Weather conditions have been better for the past few days. That added to the receipts in most houses. Kepuits from Sunday and Monday were en- couraging. Vaudeville reports good business and even the outlying houses have sent in favorable reports.