Variety (November 1914)

Vol. XXXVI. No. 11. NEW YORK CITY, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1914. PRICE JO CENTS THEATRICAL BUSINESS IMPROVING STEADILY, VARIETY'S COAST-TO-COAST CANVASS SHOWS Forty Expert Observers in Two Score Theatrical Centers Express Almost Unanimous View 'That Better Times Have Arrived and Predict Early Return to Normal Conditions. Vaudeville and Burlesque Hold Their Own. Legitimate Hardest Hit. Foisting of Inferior Offerings on the Country Blamed for De- pression in Dramatic Field. Feature Films Are Sweeping Country, While Cheap Commercial "Movies" Seem Doomed. Reports from Variety's correspondents in 40 theatrical centers indicate emphatically that box office conditions from coast to coast are on the mend. Optimistic views are expressed in all sections with startling unanimity. The reports here presented are the views of Variety's representatives, all active daily newspapermen, closely in touch with local conditions and uninflu- enced by any consideration but the facts. They were filed by telegraph and re- flect the up-to-the-minute situation. The only city that looks for a winter of dullness and depression is Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Most other points report improvement already set in and the prospect of a return to normal within a short time. A composite summary is that legitimate attractions have suffered and still are suffering severely; vaudeville and burlesque are holding up fairly well and cheap commercial moving pictures have gone back, while feature films are sweeping the country, the bigger and more expensive the film and the theatre where it is ex- hibited, the more imposing the business. This estimate of the situation occurs and reoccurs with significant regularity and emphasis from every point. On the statement that the current week and the one preceding week have been better than any since last season, and on the prophesy that the improvement will continue, the two score writers find no ground for argument or disagreement. Among the specific reasons given for the bettering of the amusement busi- ness are the arrival of large buying orders and manufacturing contracts from Europe and elsewhere; the marketing of big crops—apples and wheat in the northwest and corn in the middle west—the recovery of the people from the fright of the war and (this is in the south) the release of much held cotton due to the partial resumption of shipments abroad and takings by American mills in response to the various trade campaigns. Legitimate managers are blamed for a considerable part of their own ills. One of the most frequent statements is "only good shows with metropolitan prestige draw big houses." "Shows that couldn't make money under any condi- tions" is the statement from New Orleans descriptive of this season's offerings. The south is comparatively optimistic. The upward trend began there two weeks ago, when the cotton situation was relieved. It is in this section that the complaint is loudest against the quality of legitimate offerings. In Atlanta two of five theatres are dark, with three performances a week in the others. The lake towns have suffered somewhat in sympathy with Canadian depres- sion. Detroit's automobile industry has slumped. Vaudeville and pictures hold up despite dullness in trade. Even Canada, except at the capital, Ottawa, where the outlook seems to be rather hopeless, expresses confidence in the immediate future. On the Pacific coast Los Angeles sounds the only doleful note. The elimination of a competing burlesque circuit, leaving :"ic .'nlmnbia Amusement Co. alone in the field, has improved the business .-.{ the !y."ises surviving the merger. An interesting phase of the picture situation, applying as well t'- \)^\> v.m 1<*- ville, is that the "downtown" houses are getting business, while the -.f^hbo'-h <■»> (variously described as "outlying" or suburban) establishments are playing to smaller returns. The returns from over the country seem to say that the small film establishment or "nickelodeon" has seen its best day. They also refute the individual picture man's cry his business is bad, a condition usually found to exist through a congested territory, where the picture patronage is widely split up, although the gross attendance is sufficient for profitable support. The following reports were in reply to this query by Vajubtt of its cor- respondents: "Wire general theatrical conditions in your vicinity. Distinguish legitimate, variety and pictures. Also general commercial conditions." • Chicago, Nov. 11. The closing of the stockyards on ac- count of the hoof and mouth disease epidemic among cattle, temporarily caused a setback this week to the slow improvement of business. The dra- matic shows have been getting the worst of it, while pictures and vaude- ville have been doing fairly well. Gen- eral business conditions are better than they were two months ago, and, except for the check just mentioned, the ten- dency is toward better times. The one- night stand business is picking up. Commercial and theatrical business men look for a sharp upward trend toward the end of November. St. Louis, Nov. 11. The vaudeville and moving picture theatres here are turning away crowds, while the dramatic houses are doing nothing and burlesque business is only fair. Money is tight and the big fac- tories are doing little. In consequence the city is overrun with idle workers. Philadelphia, Nov. 11. Conditions are far from cheerful and no brighter in prospect, at least for the legitimate theatres. Big and small time vaudeville have suffered some- what, but the legitimate has been par- ticularly hard hit. The commercial situation has been bad for some months, but ; s slowly picking up now. Pittsburgh, Nov. U. The season has averaged poorly for dramatic houses although metropolitan atttractions of merit have made money here. Business has been good at all the vaudeville theatres, and the pic- ture establishments downtownl have been crowded. ' Western Pennsylvania is suf '"n; from commercial depression wifh many workmen idle, but the signs .; toi •'• business boom. San Fianois' o, Nov 11 Dramatic houses are suffering sc- verely from bad times and it takes a strong attraction to draw a full house. Downtown vaudeville theatre? report a satisfactory business, but the outlying pop establishments feel the depression. Theatres showing feature films are get- ting good returns almost without ex- ception and the nickelodeons hold sat- isfactory business. Commercial conditions are generally bad with the banks fighting against ex- tending credits and money tight. Washington, Nov. 11. Legitimate managers are complain- ing of hard times and business condi- tions arc not encouraging. Only thf