Variety (February 1921)

16 LEGITIMATE S^g* g«v W Friday, February 18, 1921 ^s—--. SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT NEWS OF THE DAILIES Street (11th held its own drop in mid- Wodncsday) Over $11,000 F "Afgar,'' Central, (15lh work). Has about six weeks mor to run. Last week the takings jiimiml w ith the house sold out Monday to i party. Week-end strength sent gross to around $16,000. •Bad Man," Comedy (24th week), lor past two seasons this house ■"■tofts '■!*«: locky In, .getting staving attractions. "Had Man" however, much superior to "His Lady Friends" of last season. $12,000 right along. "Broken Wing," 41 th week). More than Inst week. Natural *1 lo of week (Ash failed to hurt here, again. "Cornered," Astor (11th week). Holding to strong pace of over $15,000 weekly, with last week around $100 better than previous week. Should play out season here. "Deer Me, M Republic (5th week). This comedy ought to run until spring. Not in the hit division, however. Getting between $9,000 and $10,000. ' Deburau," Belaseo'(9th week). The class of the dramas, drawing 'lowbrows" and "highbrows." Re- markable adaptation by Gran- ville Barker: great production by Relasco. Selling out clean with $17,800 weekly. ''Emperor Jones,** Princess (3rd week). Second week of regular presentation after a series of spe- eial matinees, stood up "Different" weird in conception also playing special afternoon perfcrmonces. "Enter Madame," Fulton (27th week). Extra matinee still play- ed, with the takings warranting. Off a little upstairs but show went over $15,000 last week; nine per- formances. "Erminie," Park (7th week). Has two more weeks to run; starts road tour in Philadelphia. "First Year," Little (18th week). A John Golden show which some showmen predict has a chance of approaching the remarkable rec- ord of •*Lightnin\" also Golden's. Roth small town comedies. "First Year" better than $12,500 weekly; nine performances. "Gold Diggers," Lyceum (72nd week). "Lightnin's" only con- tender. Takings at $14,500 is tinder former's weekly gait but "Lightnin' " is running nine per- formances and the scale is higher. "Good Times," Hippodrome (28th week). Takings for the big house usually reflect conditions. J^ent has failed to affect gross; last week saw a jump, the total going over $64,000. 'Greenwich Village Follies," Shubert (25th week). Two weeks more, then tours. "Her Family Tre " may move over from Lyric, con- tinuing house musical attraction policy. "Her Family Tree," Lyric (8th week). Offers to move show over to Shubert. This would leave house open to reception of fea- ture picture. Willia.ii Fox has option on house for pictures for sur.imer. * "Honeydew," Casino (24th week). final week here, goes to Philadel- phia for four weeks starling Mon- day (Chestnut Street O. H.) with other eastern stands up until spring. "Blue Kyes" succeeds next week. "In the Night Watch," Century (4th week). Melodrama commanding more attention than first indi- eated Agency demand good: also for cut rates. Gross climbed last *week with $20,000 claimed. fc lrene," Vanderbilt (65th week). Strongest musical card in seasons still playing to great business con- sidering size of house. Better than $15,000 weekly. "Ladies' Night," Eltinge (28th week). Remarkable record at box office here last week when $15,100 was drawn, without aid of advance sale as with New Year's week which grossed less at $14,729. In the outstanding farce hit on Broadway* "Lady Billy," Liberty (10th week). Continues to pull excellent busi- ness, and stands a good chance of lasting until the weather breaks "Little Old New York," Plymouth (2ttfe *<:('!i). Wttrt ahead of its Settled gait last week With nearly $12,600 in. Matinees continue to draw capacity. Will lasi out the season. "Lightnin'," Gaiety (127 th $20,000 weekly. Road companies reported doing just as well. "Meanest Man in the World," Hud- son (19th week). t Business here figured to drop further than it did with change in lead role (George If. Cohan). Last week it drew $13,900, considered very good. Should last put season. "Miss Lulu Bett," Belmont \Sth weels.) Both house management and producer feel this ono has landed. Gross has steadily climbed. Last week it reached $8,100. Which is about $1,500 under ca- pacity. "Mixed week), about A seventeen-story addition to the Plaza Hotel, fronting on 58th and 59th streets, is to be built at once at a cost of $2,500,000. A Yiddish theatre is to be opened soon in London's "West Knd, the (list in the metropolis. Jewish actors from all parts of the world are to l>e seen at intervals, and a plan is under way to present successive nights. 50 plays on 50 "The ' named Selwyn $12,000 Apollo. The Massachusetts legislature has turned down a bill to banish high heels, shoe manufacturers having appeared and fought it as a "freak and foolish measure." week). Clicking along regularly at a pace not much under $16,000 weekly. Probably the biggest single protlt- maker ever on Broadway. "Macbeth," Apollo (1st week). Arthur Hopkins production star- ing Lionel Rarrymore and Julia Arthur. UntlSUal interest in premiere Thursday night. Injunc- tion to restrain Barrymore refused John Williams. "Mary Rose," Empire (9th week). Looks like three or four Weeks more for this offering. Gross last week a little under $10,000. Sue- eeeding attraction not settled. John and Ethel Barrymore men- tioned in "Claire de Lune." "Mary," Knickerbocker (18th week). Looks like a einch until warm weather, with the Daee still around Marriage," 63rd St. (3rd Has another week to go; $4,600 last week, figured good enough for attraction of the kind. Irish Players with matinees withdrew after three perform- ances. Irish propaganda film comes in Feb. 28. "Near Santa Barbara," Greenwich Village (3d week). A little flurry for first week failed to carry on and show stops Saturday. "Evynd of the Hills," playincr matinees hire, goes on as regular attrac- tion beginning Monday. Survival of the Fittest" for premiere soon. "Prince and the Pauper," (16th week). Went over again last week at the Moved in Monday and will stay in this house three more weeks. "Passing Show of 1921," Winter Gar- den (8th week). Though this at- traction is not selling out it Is getting important money and rates next to "Sally" In weekly gross business. "Peg O' My Heart," Cort (1st week). Revival, with Laurette Taylor starred again, opened Monday. "Peg" played this house orginally and made its long run there in 1912. "Rollo's Wild Oat," Punch & Judy (13th week). Continues to get a good play and little doubt a* to its chances of running for rest of season. Clare Kummer to offer four one-act playlets at special matinees, starting next week. "Rose Girl," Ambassador (2d week). Opened last Friday night. House designed for musical attractions principally. "Rose Girl" bright in spots. "Sally," New Amsterdam (9th week) Still the musical smash of Broad- way with a clear lead over the field. Doing all it can holu with the gross varying only as to amount of standing room. $34,- J53 last week. "Skin Game," Bijou (18lh week). This Galsworthy play is drawing steady patronage with the gait around $8,000 weekly. Engage- ment still indefinite. "Samson & Delilah," 39th street (4th week); Getting between $9,000 and $10,000 weekly. Work of star t Hen-Ami) largely credited with this attraction standing up. "Spanish Love," Maxine Elliott (28th week). Picked up last week with the takings going to $12,100. Looks safe until warm weather. "The Bat," Morosco 26th week). The non-musical leader. Got $18,- 754 last week. Chicago Company able to get more only through capacity of the Princess and Sun- day nights there (nine perform- ances in Chicago). "The Green Goddess," Booth (5th week). $14,000 weekly now or slightly better. Gross nightlv is around $1,800, which means stand- ing room. Strong demand at agencies. Melodramatic hit. "The Tavern," Cohan, (21st week). Off a little last week, with the takings going to around $11,400. This may be one attraction feel- ing the advent of Lent. "The Mirage," Times Square (21st week). This drama has run much longer than predicted. Brisk support from cut rates. "Thy Name Is Woman," Playhouse (14th week). A profit maker though business not in the big money division. Around $8 000 Four players in companv "Tip Top," Globe (20th week). Bet- tered its gait for normal eight performance week, but scale in- crease for Friday night (Lincoln's Birthday eve) to $4.40. Gross over $27,000. Can run into next season. "Throe. Live--Ghosts." Bay** <t*ot week). One of the Pest profit makers this season. Is ahead $26.- ooo to date and should increase that sio.ooo before it is through. *9,ooo. Can make mom y "Happy Xew Year," by Hale Hamilton Brothers Shore, will be hearsal by John Golden a new play and Viola put into re- March 7. To avoid congestion at the Metro- politan Opera House, automobiles are l>eing called in groups of ten. The police have declared the starters discriminate in favor of parties which tip the heaviest. Miriam Rubin, an 8-year-old Illi- nois girl, had been talking steadily for ten days, at last reports, having slept only an hour in that time. Physicians were baffled by the case. LEGITIMATE REVIEWS Kochanski, a Polish violinist, who made his debut in New York this week, has been declared one of the world's artists. Avery I lop wood will sail :>oon for London to prepare the production of "The Bat." W r ith De Wolf Hopper as auc- tioneer a tea party at the Biltmore led to subscriptions of $32,500 for the Hoover benefit i>erformance of "Carmen," to be given Feb. 22. The New York Supreme Court re- fused to grant John D. Williams an injunction against Lionel Barrymore to prevent him from appearing under any management other than Ids. Titto Ruffo, tenor of the Chicago Grand Opera Company, denied he intended to quit that company for a place in the Metropolitan. Hans Wulle, playing the role of the ghost in Hamlet, was stricken on the stage in Berlin and died later in a hospital. His collapse was pre- ceded by an unintelligible line of talK having nothing to do with the role. William Faversham made another move this week with "The Prince and the Pauper," this time quitting the Apollo for the Selwyn. This is ^his third move since the show opened. Willard Mack closes Saturday night in "Near Santa Barbara," and opens Monday in "Smooth as Silk," at the Lexington. LEAGUE OF NOTIONS. London. Jan. 31. After several postponements C. B. Cochran has given us at the Ox- ford (Jan. 17) as fine a show of its type as we have ever seen, produced by John Murray Anderson. It is not too rich in'humor and the fun- xuaking element is cxtrcmeiy woitk, but that is a defect which the comedians will speedily rectify. The keynote Is spectacle, and in that it has had few rivals. There is a good deal of originality in the setting, but the scenery is not par- ticularly sumptuous. Plot there is little, and after the prolog, which contains all tho story there is, there are 18 "episodes," which embrace every phase of the art of the theatre. The prolog opens in a realistic fog scene with Pierrot and Colum- bine wending their way home. They meet a harrangued theatrical man- ager, who explains that he is Idea- less, and, taking pity on him, con- duct him to "The Show Shop." where a crazy tailor works on a huge patch-work quilt and tin? vivid and many colors of this article provide the motif of the show. There is one more scene in the prolog—"A Stu- dio in Chelsea"—and here are the much-advertised American types of beauty—for once they live up to their reputation—.and the Holly Sis- ters, who score with a musical num- ber "1 Love, Thou Lovest ." The "revue" is an entertainment of infinite variety suggested by the c*azy tailor (A. W. Baskcomb) and his crazy quilt. The Items are all good, but among the best is "Flats to Let." a somewhat unfunny parody on the miseries of the perpetual hunt for houses or flats. A couple trudge from one side of London to the other "flat hunting." But their two children prevent them getting In anywhere, until at last the mad- dened father shoots the little ones (nlayed by Bert Coote and A. W. Baskcomb), and all is well. George Hassell and Porothy Warren get all that Is possible out of the narents, but H. F. Maltby. the author, has provided his interpretators with poor material The Dollys have number, aided by chorus and Jud "Hiehlowhrow" is in which Coote and music of the production, although Herman DaVewski is to be thanked for the music-hall burlesque. There is little doubt that "The League of Notions" will be as suc- cessful as any of Cochran's other productions, but that comedy must be gingered up and probably will have been long before ihis is read, ... fiOW. LE COMEDIEN. (The Comedian.") _ Paris, Jan. 28. Coated) in 4 acts, by Sueha tJuitry, 1'eriod: Present. The comedian Lucfen Gultry Author Deafontalnes Manager Aiphonae Franck An actor Saint-Paul Stage manager I.. Kerly Footman ; .U. Lomaire Maillard (uncle) Berthler Antoinette Mine. Alice B«ylat Marguerite Yolande Iiaffon. Jacqueline , Falconetti A dresser Kllcn Andrce Erno Dohnanyi, Hungarian pian- ist, and his wife, Elsa Galafres, a dancer, have arrived for an Ameri- can tour. Ivan Caryll, composer of the 'Tip Top" score, is sailing this week for Kurope, to Join R. H. Burnside. Fred Q. Latham and Victor Jacobi, all Dillingham representatives. Clare Kumnu. is to present four one-act plays at a matinee, Feb- ruary 28. Catherine Proctor, understudy to Florence Reed in "The Mirage," subbed for the star at three per- formances this week. The widow of Joseph J. Ryan, son of Thomas F. Ryan, announces she will fight to break the will of hrr husband, which left the bulk of his estate to Dorothy Lucille \\ hit* ford. She has asked for let- ters of administration. Pushman and the N. V. A. Bayne have joined Jane, Mamae, star Wife" In Paris. Around :il $6,000. "The Champion," Longaere (7th week). On? of the strongest com- edies on the list playing to ca- pacity, except for gallen*. Drew SU.tiOO last week. "Wake Up, Jonathan," Henry Miller t.»th wreck). Matinees here arc stronger than night patrol Little over $10,000 last Should run into spring. "Woman of Bronze," Frazee <24th week). This drama continues to hold up strongly as predicted Still getting around weekly. "Welcome Stranger," Cohan £ Har- ris (23d week). Getting a great play. At $2.50 it is comparatively (.Continued on page 32.) age. week $1 1,000 of "The De Luxe Wife" in Paris, was burned when metal trimmings on her-gown came in contact with the footlights and caused a short circuit. Mottle Williams has >>een award- id k wrdk*v of$580 an 6) costs against the Bucherman, an Albany cleaner, for gowns gtroyed his lost when a establishment. lire dc~i Knunctt Corrlgan is to have the hading role in "Nemesis," a new Augustus Thomas play, to he pro- duced by George M. now is |n progress. Cohan. Casting Caruso's cook, who says tired because .Mrs. Caruso iil<<' the way he cooked brains, was awarded g $770 against the tenor The tenor will appeal. he was did not calves' verdict of this week. What the dailies scent as a press agent stunt the cashier at the RlVOll theatre'declares was an at- tempt to hold up the Rivpll the- atre' box ofllco. A shabby young man stuck his hand through the opening In the booth, grabbed $5 in (Continued on page 24) a capital dance several of the Brady's collies another nlaylet Hassell tell each other stories over the phone, the said stories being enacted behind them The second story Is the best and gives Jenny Dolly a chance. "A Young Man's Fancy" Is a dain- ty number with a whimsical main idea. A Dresden china shepherd and shepherdess live happily on a musical box until a dancer appears. Then the shepherd deserts his love but after a while returns. This dainty number is one of the hip: successes and Josephine Trix scores heavilv In the principal vocal num- ber. Coote gets some humor out of an Interlude with srolf clubs. For- tunello and Cirillino present what Is probably the finest knockabout tum- bling turn- ever seen In London, the youngster being remarkably clever "Heirs Kitchen" Introduces the :, Fete de* Mannequins" and allows Clifford Morgan to get away with a good song. "Two Dreamv Eves." H'den Trix and Josephine Trlx have "Snap Your Fingers at Care." and the Dollv Sisters sret a good dance over. Grare Christie scores In an episode with Benda masks, a novel- tv which roused the audience to en- thusiasm. "Russia" Is a beautiful spectacle, with Its quaint dresses, and the Dolly Sisters, assisted by Earle Les- lie, crlve ■ fine exhibition of Russian national dancing. Helen Trlx and the producer—or If mav be C. Ti. C.'s showmanship— provide the real big thing of the evening In a number "Rat-tat-a- tat." Tn this the audience, provided with tambourines, help out the ar- tists. It is a nity that this reallv hrllHant "stunt" was not kept until the final curtain. Tn the second half "The Garden of Dreams*' Is a beautiful Persian scene, with George Rasely as the dinger. Miss Christie gives her dance with a silver bubble In thl* scene and has much to do with lt« success. Helen and Tosenh'ne Tr'T at a piano contribute yet nnotber SUCCeSS. These two clever ladies :ire the t»ig personal hit of the entire production. Another II F. Maltby p'avlet. "\ Gho«t Storv." shows none of the ''hujiv of the nvin who wrote "The Potters" and "Th^ Te-nporarv Gen- tleman " but Baskcomb a« a drunk. 'Trissell as the ghost and Dorothv Warren as the inebriated one's wife evtr.iet what humor there is. The outstanding feature Is the burlesque "On the 'Alls." It is bur- 'esoue of the best and funn'est tyte. and the clever neoo'e nlavlns it rise to pre.it heights The DoHVfl are delh'bt'u! a^ the s'fttlte clog dancers. and H s-e'i's principal bov is a thing of niwT : ',.i,.,i inv. but the rvilm must go to Raskcomb for his illus- trated song. The book and lyrics are by John Murray Anderson and Augustus Barratt. With help from many other people, and August Barratt Is also responsible for the always tuneful The latest work of Sacha Gultry was produced in good «tyle at the Theatre Edouard yil, under the management of A. Franck (chair- man of the Paris directors' union). It made good and excellent business is being recorded. It is the dressing room of tho star actor on the occasion of the last performance. The comedian is comparing notes with two com- panions, Antoinette and Marguerite. The former Is his particular friend and will possibly have to give way to the latter In the next production. A college mate Is announced. It is Maillard, who calls to introduce his niece Jacqueline, a timid crea- ture of twenty summers. The girl is Infatuated with the popular comedian and the uncle suggests he should receive her without his make-up. plainly revealing his ago of past fifty years. The actor seems enchanted at the idea that a young girl should be really in love with him, and when Jacqueline is invited to enter, he goes out of his way to make him- self agreeable. The girl is more struck than ever, and when the actor purposely but off-handed mentions he is leaving for a rest but is dining alone the following day at a restaurant prior to his de- parture, the Infatuated girl whis- pers she will meet him there. In the second act the comedian has returned to Paris with the girl who adores him. They have been away together and she is now in- stalled In his home. Maillard re- proaches his old friend for his ac- tion, but it is to have a clear con- science. The comedian reciprocates the af- fection of his new mistress, but realizses it is an illusion. The dif- ference of age will always be an obstacle in the future. He is suffi- ciently blind albeit to confide to her an important role in the next play, though she is a novice. He con- siders he can impose the stage- struck girl on the public. In the third act, during rehearsals, she gives proof of sincerity but lacks talent in spite of the come- dian's careful prompting and tol- erance. The stage Is set as for rehearsals, and Lucien Gultry conducts tho show from the auditorium, as dur- ing a real rehearsal. In the fourth act, back in the dressing room, after the premiere. The manager drops in and hints at the disastrous re- sults of Jacqueline's acting. It will be impossible for her to continue to hold the role. When this is re- vealed to the would-be actress her pride is bitterly hurt. She declare* she must continue or she will quit the actor. And the comedian, truo to his art, takes no steps to detain, her, though his heart is touched at the abrupt termination of their love intrigue. Such is the role played by Lucien Gultry in his son's piece, and it suits him well. He is probably the finest actor in France today. Kcndrcw. ADLER'S YIDDISH REVUE. Buffalo. Feb. 16. To Jacob P. Adler. throughout his long and eventful career in the Yid- dish theatre, it seems always to have been given to bear the flick* r- ing torch of progress. For forty years—forty years this very week—■ (Continued on page 18) Leading Makers of Stage Attire For Men and Women We costume completely mu- oSical and dramatic produc- tions, moving pictures, acts,! -revues and operas. 143 Wcit 40th St., New York ♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦* i