Variety (November 1914)

VARIETY best shows draw. One big vaudeville theatre is reported as doing good busi- ness, receipts are off in the others. Fei- ture films shown in large houses are doing well both downtown and in the residential districts. Business is poor in the five-cent houses. Commercial men say collections are poor and blame the war and unseason- able weather. New Orleans, Nov. 11. While business conditions are not good, vaudeville and feature films at popular prices remain unaffected. Le- gitimate attractions this season have been of poorest quality ever and could not get money under the best auspices. A few good shows have done well. Galveston, Nov. 11. A canvass of local theatre managers shows an agreement that business has been bad, but that an improvement has been growing since two weeks ago. Local showmen complain almost as much at the quality of bookings as at attendance. Commercial lines have been extreme- ly slack, but business is improving daily and business men generally are optimistic Baltimore, Nov. 11. Business has been picking up dur- ing the last two weeks. Before that there was a slump. Last week was the banner one of the season and the pros- pect is that this week's business will be even better. Feature films have done so well an increase in admission scale is probable. Many are still idle in commercial houses, money is tight and commercial paper finds a dull market. Louisville, Nov. 11. Theatrical business is satisfactory. Legitimate houses are doing fair busi- ness, slowly improving. Vaudeville houses draw well, while the picture houses are well patronized. Commercial conditions are dull, but the placing of large contracts and or- ders with the factories has created a hopeful feeling. Normal conditions are believed' to be in sight, although some factories are still on half time. Atlanta, Nov. 11. Two of Atlanta's five theatres are dark. Moving pictures are drawing their usual heavy patronage, while one of the pop houses is doing poorlv. First class legitimate houses are averaging three performances a week, good shows getting a profit, bad ones starv- ing. Warfield did $7,100 in three per- formances. Trade is improving slight- ly Shows with New York prestige prosper. 1 Nashville, Nov. 11. The last two weeks have disclosed a most encouraging increase of theatri- cal business, following a period of lean box office statements. The legitimate attractions have suffered most, but that, too, is improving. Memphis, Nov. 11. Show business is better here than any other city of south, visitors say. Poor legitimate shows play to empty houses, hut good ones draw big with- out exception. Feature films do to well, three new theatres are under con- struction for that policy. Orpheum vaudeville has gained steadily since opening of season. Cotton slump hit Memphis hard. Im- provement is slow but steady. Richmond, Nov. 11. Big returns to vaudeville and pic- tures. Local trade reports show steady improvement in commercial situation. Stock and burlesque show exceptional returns. Montgomery, Ala., Nov. 11. Commercial conditions have been bad, but are improving. Feature and first run films get the money. Legiti- mate attractions doing well. Vaude- ville at Empire bad and has been abandoned. Stock fair returns. Spokane, Nov. 11. Big wheat and apple crops have been sold and the bank statement shows ex- traordinary good credits. Prosperity is reflected in theatres' business. Only legitimate attractions fail to get re- turns. Two new picture houses being completed. Those running prosper. Legitimate bookings are scarce and of questionable quality. Portland, Ore., Nov. 11. Legitimate shows do business when attractions have merit. Variety thea- tres show a profit, but not as large as in former seasons. Small picture places getting nothing. Trade is generally quiet. The Orpheum, the largest vaudeville theatre on the coast, opens this month. Los Angeles, Nov. 11. The theatrical conditions are worse than at any time in 20 years. Legiti- mate houses are either losing money or barely breaking even. Dozens of pic- ture places starving. Vaudeville is saved from loss only by economy in operation. Trade is only fair, but better than the average of the west. Many out- lying theatres are closed or running at a loss. Buffalo, Nov. 11. Local managers declare Buffalo's theatrical situation is favorable in view of trade conditions throughout the country. Legitimate attractions, how- ever, are suffering. Pop vaudeville is doing fairly, burlesque good and pic- tures better than other amusements. Low prices prevail. Nearby Canada is suffering depression. Cleveland, Nov. 11. Box office conditions are dull. Vau- deville iydrawing, but legitimate thea- tres are getting little. Burlesque profits have been reduced by reason of the recent competition, but improve- ment is noted. Downtown picture houses are doing well, but outlying en- terprises feel the pinch of hard times Detroit, Nov. 11. The automobile industry has slumped badly and box office returns show de- pression. One leading legitimate house is even with last year, the other is do ing little. Vaudeville is holding up on the big time. Pop is off 10 per cent. down town and 25 per cent in the out- skirts. Commercial lines are dull . Milwaukee, Nov. 11. Better lines of attractions have kept the legitimate theatres here and throughout the state on a profitable ba- sis. Vaudeville here is off, particularly Sundays and holidays. Feature films are doing extremely well, especially when used in large legitimate houses. Commercial run pictures fair. Commercial conditions normal. Duluth, Nov. 11. Show business is apathetic here, a condition that obtains throughout the state and the Lake Superior territory generally, although indications are that improvement is in sight. Vaudeville is very poor while legitimate attractions are getting only fair returns. Stock enterprises are surprisingly prosperous while pictures draw exceedingly good business. Minneapolis, Nov. 11. Business is up to average. Leading legitimate house draws good houses generally. Two stock enterprises do fairly. Either one alone would return big winning. Pictures and vaudeville are doing well. Commercial conditions are satisfac- tory. Toledo, Nov. 11. The theatres are in a general slump as compared to last year, the legitimate attractions suffering worst. "The Dum- my" closed here last Sunday. Vaude- ville is doing but fairly. Keith's lost $7,000 on summer stock. Burlesque is showing poor returns. Picture man- agers add to "poor business" chorus. Indiauapolis, Nov. 11. Leading legitimate managers com- plain of decreased receipts. Pop vau- deville and feature films are getting the money, particularly the downtown establishments. Neighborhood estab- lishments not doing so well. Burlesque is doing fairly. Kansas City, Nov. 11. Agents say Kansas City theatres are doing better than those of any other town in the country. Vaudeville is not up to the average, but good under cur- rent conditions. Legitimate attractions are doing extraordinarily well. Bur- lesque is far ahead of last season. Commercial conditions, which have been extremely bad, are improving steadily. Topeka, Nov. 11. Show business here is good and be- coming better following the marketing of the fine crops. Money is plentiful. Legitimate business is fair to good, va- riety generally good. Feature films are making money, while the commercial- run establishments are getting fair re- turns. Stock does fairly with bright prospects ahead. These conditions obtain in spite of an oversupply of theatres, which split tip amusement money. Cincinnati, Nov. 11 Box office returns are discouraging Legitimate houses have had a few good weeks, but the average has not been high and the majority of engagements have been' unprofitable. Vaudeville only fairly. The elimination of compe- tition in burlesque results in good profit for the survivor. The little pic- ture houses are complaining of the times, but owners of big modern thea- tres with good feature films are well satisfied. General trade conditions have been bad, but are picking up slowly. Montreal, Nov. 11. Business is slowly recovering from the complete collapse which followed the declaration of war. The legitimate is hardest hit to which result the poor quality of attractions contributes. A feature film at his Majesty's at 10-15-25 turned them away. Vaudeville good; burlesque as usual; pop average; pic- tures extraordinary prosperity. Cafes and cabarets doing nothing. Toronto, Nov. 11. Conditions are improving as people begin to regain confidence. The legit- imate houses doing satisfactory busi- ness. Local burlesque is off since the young men have enlisted. Feature films in big houses are doing well, the small- er and cheaper picture places have slumped. Ottawa, Nov. 11. Business is generally bad. Alice Lloyd, at the Dominion, this week, promises to prove one of the rare ex- ceptions. The legitimate houses are falling flat. Several shows have can- celled rather than face the prospect at the Canadian capital. Falling off in all theatres estimated at from 25 to 50 per cent. Commercial conditions bad. Many are idle. Newspapers have cut their staffs to last extreme and survivors ac- cept 10 per cent, reduction in salary. The winter prospect is disheartening. Winnipeg, Nov. 11. Conditions returning to normal. Peo- ple retrenched when hostilities began, but are regaining confidence and spend- ing more freely. Poor shows have been put on to reduce expenses. Poor business resulted. Some shows are said to have cancelled. War films failed at Walker, amateur variety did worse. Comic opera billed next week. Stock drawing crowds nightly. Orpheum do- ing fairly. Pantages small time making money and picture houses are mints. Providence, R. I., Nov. 11. Legitimate business worst in years. Only two musical comedies to date. Keith's holding up by reason of clever advertising. Loew running strong and picture houses getting crowds. Busi- ness conditions fair and becoming bet- ter. Syracuse, Nov. 11. Despite poor season, good shows are setting profitable patronage; mediocre shows flop. All houses are top heavy. Vaudeville below overage except when headlines draw, then business big. Pic- tures are off, thrillers best attraction. Large European orders have helped local industries. Trade is still below normal,, but recovering rapidly.