Variety (February 1920)

% RECORD-BREAKING BUSINESS CON TINUING DESPITE LENT All Houses Do Tremendous Business on Washington's Birthday. Both Matinee and Night Capacity. Ticket Brokers Buy for Three of Current Week's Open- ings. "Jest" Tops Half-Million Mark. -:■: .Vf' «! .; - ; ■ -, 36! ■.- :■:■■ •'. g ."•:• raSa 1 ) :'."•■': '■■■ .;.'. -J- ■■ '»■:<■:■■.■ >:■■-/ i; ■■i.--■•• ■■■■• •:■•, ! ■ . 18 .■•■'•• . ' ■ ■ ■V-. 'A.':., . *; • •'.•V, '■'■.. ' .v.- : . . i't'-f-.V.. , - t,l-. ; . ■ .•'■''. ■ •• /•;. : .:-. ' • -,.,.-■ ;</;.: if! ■j} ■ •: is! i ■ m w ■'■:■.■■ With Lent now in its second week and there being no evidence of a fall- ing off in business, it appears to be es- tablished nowadays that the seasonal period religious devotion means noth- ing to Broadway. The dissipation of the.Lent "bugaboo" has been narked for the past three or four seasons and last year, managers claimed little de- cline. This year the forty day period started exceptionally early which brings Easter Sunday at the end of March instead of middle or late April. Rarely has Washington's Birthday (Monday last) fell within the Lenten season but instead of any lessening of takings at the box offices this year, business was bigger than ever recorded on that day. Monday's matinees were complete sell outs along the whole line and few houses failed to do equally well at night in spite of discouraging weather, with the current week start- ing jo strongly managers predict grosses as big as any during the season this far. Most non-musical shows went considerably over $3,000 for the two performances Monday, while the musical shows played to over $5,000 and several went over $6,000. At the Hip- podrome "Happy Days" played to $18,- 900 on the day with a new matinee rec- ord being established, with $9,181.50 being drawn. r The passing of Washington's Birth- day, -however, puts the season in its last quarter. - According to seasonal limitations there remains two months' (March and April) of good going, with the break of the season figured to fol- low. However, it all depends on weather conditions, judging from the continued fast pace on Broadway. An- other long season is quite probable and signs now point to a merging of sea- sons again for a group of summer musical shows are already lining up. The season opened up with half a dozen attractions holding over from last season. With the withdrawal of "The Jest" at the Plymouth last, Sat- urday, but two holdovers remain in the field—"Lightnin'," the run-leader, now in its 7oth week at the Gaiety, and "East Is West," playing in its 68th week at the Astor. Both comedies are up with the leaders in business in the non-musical class and both are sure of completing runs of two season length. ' . "The Jest" in its 31 weeks' run, es- tablished a dramatic record for all. others to shoot at. The Hopkins piece averaged $17,700 weekly for a total gross of almost $550,000. The strength of the final week was even more re- markable for last week's business was $17,169. The Plymouth is dark this week and the premiere of "Richard III" has been set back from Monday next to Saturday (March 6) of next week. The Shakespeare play is await- ed with much interest. Like "Redemp- tion" it will be annexed to the grow- ing repertoire which Arthur Hopkins is building for John Barrymore, with the probabilities of again teaming Lionel Barrymore some seasons hence. Mr. Hopkins was greeted last season after the opening of "The Jest" as one of the leading producers of the times. His "Richard III" is pretty sure to fur- ther establish him. But his genius for production If being contested thii iea« son by John D. Williams, who has rapidly come forward since his pro* duction last year of "The Copperhead." There is mixed opinion regarding Wil- liams' latest effort "The Letter of the Law" now at the Criterion with Lionel Barrymore. But there is unity in the opinion that his offering of "Beyond the Horizon" is one of the Greatest American tragedies. Attention in this play however is divided, with Eugene O'Neil, its author, receiving the com- mendations of the critics as much as Williams. "Beyond the Horizon," despite the exceptional amount of praise, .is a matinee attraction and to date no house for its regular presentation has been found available. This makes three matinee shows running in New York, with Alexandria Carlyle playing "The Tragedy of Nan" at the 39th Street theatre and matinees of Shakes- peare starting at the Fulton. Among the new musical plays The Night Boat" has-caught onfhe best and is establishing new business records at the Liberty. "As You Were" is running a close second at the Central and while the gross is slightly less, new house figures attain there also. "Beyond the Horizon" looks like a cinch even for afternoons and is sure to find a regular house. 'The Letter of the Law" may be hindered by its deep-died tragedy but "Sacred and Profane Lpve," which didn?t get a world of praise at the Mor- osco, is regarded as sure of getting "regular money." "He and She" at the Little has failed to catch on to date, .the house being under a guarantee arrangement. "Shavings" at the Knickerbocker is now regarded as having bright prospects and should settle down for a run with the pace around $12,000 or a little better. "The Cat-Bird" has done well thus far at the Elliott and while "What's In a Name" is due at the house at Easter time, the John Drew play should en- dure longer, probably at another house. "The Wonderful Thing" at the Play- house started weakly but may catch on. For next week the new attractions include William Collier in "The Hot- tentot" which succeeds Laurette Tay- lor in "One Night in Rome" at the Co- han. It is the Broadway of Sam H: Harris first production on his own. "George Washington" will succeed "Al- ways You" at the Lyric, with Percy Mackaye the feature. "Look Who's Here" is the new offering at the 44th Street following "Frivolities of 1920." Three new buys were added to the list this week and a like number of the. older ones end tomorrow night. The new shows which arrived on., Broadway for which the agents took seats are "Sacred and Profane Love" (Morosco) for which .300 a night have been sold to them for four weeks with a return of 25 per cent.; "The Letter of the Law" (Criterion), 200 a night, four weeks, 25 per cent, return, and "Tick-Tack-Toc" (Princess), 200 a night, four weeks, 25 per cent, return. The buys ending this week are "My Golden Girl" (Bayes); "Breakfast in Bed" (Eltinge) and "Aphrodite" (Cen- tury). There won't be a renewal on any of these, according to the agents. The buy for "Declassee" (Empire} end- ed last Saturday and the majority of agents refused to renew, although Ty- son and McBride are said to have SHOWS CLOSING. "The Boomerang" closes in Pitts- burgh Saturday. It is claimed that trouble with road stage Crews was the reason. "The Master of Ballantrae" with Walker Whiteside was forced to close in Canada because of influenza. The show is due to reopen next month in St Paul and continue its route. "Kiss Me Again" with Frederick V. Bowers closed in the south due to in- fluenza and returned to New York. The No. 1 "Going Up" closed at Binghamton Saturday, having played out its'route. The No. 2 continues on the one nfghters. "The Unseen Hand" has been called in by Woods to be rewritten and re- cast. It is looked upon favorably in the Woods office and following its opening in Providence received good notices in the dailies. The final touches will be applied to the "Hand," piece before starting out again March 15. STOCKS DOWN. The stock quotations and theatrical circuit stocks are down this week, in sympathy with the entire market; but they have not fallen in the same pro- portion as most of the standard stocks. This is remarkable as all are relative- ly new to "the street" and their outfit of certificates are as yet undigested by the general public, which class is al- ways the first to unload whenever there is a slump. 'i Famous Players-Lasky fell from around 82 to 69#; Goldwyn was off 3 points, while Loew, Inc. held around 27. Orpheum Circuit hovered, between 30J4 to 32, with United Pictures more or less stationary at llyi. 15 SCENES IN "TIME." "A Question of Time," a new play by Emily Ann Wellman, is shortly to go into rehearsal. A. H. Woods is the producer. It is in three acts and 15 scenes. W. H. Gilmorc will put on the show. taken a few seats on a buy for an addi- tional four weeks. All told there are 23 buys running at this time, this, however, will be cut to 20 by tomorrow night. Those listed are "Son-Daughter ,r (BelasCo); "The Purple Mask" (Booth); "As You Were" (Central); "Aphrodite" (Century); "The Acquittal" (Cohan and Harris); "My Lady Friends" (Comedy); "Abra- ham Lincoln" (Cort); "Letter of the Law" (Criterion); "Breakfast in Bed" (Eltinge); "Apple Blossoms" (Globe); "Wedding Bells" (Harris); "Famous Mrs. Fair" (Miller); "Clarence" (Hud- son); "Night Boat" (Liberty); %old Diggers" (Lyceum); 'The Cat-Bird" (Elliott)'; "Sacred and Profane Love" (Morosco); "Monseiur Beaucaire" • (Amsterdam); "Golden Girl" (Bayes); "Tick-Tack-Toe" (Princess); "Scan- dal" (39th Street); "Irene'' (Vander- bilt); and "Passing Show" (Winter Garden). The strongest demand in the agencies still remains on the crown of the Ly- ceum with "The Gold Diggers." This week, however, "Sacred and Profane Love" seemed to hit and after the sec- ond night $6.60 a seat was the market price along Broadway for that show, with the demand strong. In the cut rate market there were 12 shows listed on Wednesday for the matinee and night performances. They were "Smilin' Through" (Broadhurst); "Little Whopper" (Casino); "Aphro- dite" (Century); "Breakfast in Bed" (Eltinge); "The Storm" (48th St.); "Frivolities of 1920" (44th St.); "Adam and Eva" (Longacre); "Always You" (Lyric); "Golden Girl" (Bayes); "The Wonderful Thing" (Playhouse); "The Magic Melody" (Shubert); and "Pass- jng Show" (Winter Garden), "APHRODITE" STATS HERE. Arrangements entered into late last week with the Shuberts will permit Morris Gest to remain at the Century with "Aphrodite" until the end of the run there. When the Shuberts bought the house plans were made to take it off about the middle of March. De- pending on business, it will remain until spring. Mr. Gest may possibly produce "Mecca" there in the fall. It is now not believed that the Winter Garden shows will be switched to the Century, at least not for the next year or, two. The lease for the Garden is said to date for a period of 99 years. That, however, .would- not prevent, the erec- tion on the site as planned, upon agree- ment between the Shuberts and prop- erty owners". ; .' 1 1 ",'•■,' DULUTH'S MUSICAL STOCK. /• v Duluth, Feb. 25. The La Salle musical stock from Louisville opened a month's engage- ment at the Lyceum, Duluth, Feb. 22, in "A Yankee Princess" at dollar top, to two large audiences who gave an en- thusiastic welcome to the players. The company consists of seven prin- cipals and a chorus of 20. In the com- pany are Elmer Coudy, Grace Man- love, Doris Canfield, Johnnie Gilmore, Harold De Bray, George Burton, Clar- ence Backus: '..-.. If-patronage continues profitably the company will remain during the entire spring and' summer. Road attractions booked for the Lyceum have been can- celled. ' -i i % SHOWS OPENING. The Selwyns will place in rehearsal a •new play by W. Martin Brown called "The Double Bar." j> Comstock & Gest are readying a show in which Harry Fox is to star. The production is scheduled to see day- light around April 26. Fox is under- stood to be financially Interested in the, venture. ' ,:&> m 1 Yiaye Suing Manager. Eugene Ysaye, the' violinist, has brought legal^action against his con- cert manager, Robert E. Johnston, to recover $7,000 on a series of 13 notes which have since matured but have not been satisfied. ..'.■•>><? wm SHOWS IN PHILLY. Philadelphia. Feb. 96. Monday's holiday Rave business a big: $ boost In all houses this week, tho gen-' oral report being a sell-out all along the line, no matter what the attraction. Special matinees were held on Monday with capacity returns at both perform- • ances. There was a slight falling oB Tuesday, ./ ; " VDore Mable," the only new show In £ the piece pot over In very good shape, the reviewers treating; It very kindly. It Is not considered hlo;h class material, but catchy music holds It up. Crowded houses are still going to see I "Ben Hur" In Its final week at the For- o rest. "Listen Lester" Monday. Robert Mantell has had a. fine two weeks of big business at the Broad in I his repertoire of plays, "The Irresistible- ;. Genius" March .1. "The. Greenwich Follies" which ha* c been holding up around the $25,000 mark:; winds up Its stay this week and "Take It From Me" will be the next attraction.' r "Somebody's sweetheart" which has been pulling strong for three weeks at the Chestnut Street opera house moves over to the Adelphl March 1, replacing "The Crimson Alibi" and will be followed at the Opera house by "Frivolities of 1920." William Hodge, who has a new hit In "The Guest of Honor," Is playing to big business at the Lyrlo and should con- tinue for the piece is well liked here. "Twin Beds" has had two weeks of good bu sin ess at the Walnut It will be replaced by "Seven P»rf **»▼•" m w>$\> ;"••; "-p ■31a