Variety (March 1921)

LEGITIMATE Friday, March 18, 1921 I > DREAM STREET FILM RUNS PLANNED FOR THREE CITIES Griffith Picture to Open Here at Central, Then Have Boston and Phila. Houses—"Four Horsemen/ 9 with $17,000 New York Week, Will Move to Astor—Plans in Other Cities. O. W. Griffith's new special fea- ture, "Dream Street," opens at the Central, New York, April C. It will run three weeks he fore a second print Is utilized elsewhere. After the New York engagement the pic- ture will occupy the Chestnut Street opera house, Philadelphia, and the Garriok, Boston, opening simultane- ously. Metro's "The Four Horsemen of th* Apocalypse," which Is doing over $17,000 a week at the Lyric, will move to the Astor theatre on April 10, following the run of Madge Kennedy in "Cornered," which closes there April t. "The Four Horsemen" is playing tw'ce daily at the Lyric to prices ranging from 66 cents to $3.30, and the seats are be- ing avidly snatched up by the ticket speculators. It opens at the La Salle, Chicago, Easter Monday, the La Salle having been leased by Metro for six months. Another print opens in Boston May 1, and still another vill go into St. Louis for a run during the summer. It is now in a run at Los Angeles, play- ing four shows daily in that city. Both the K. A E. and Shubert booking offices have offered routes for the road companies, which will not be sent out until next fall over the Shubert time. When "The Four Horsemen" leaves the Lyric the house will be given over to William Fox for the Aim "The Queen of Sheba." The latter producer also has another big picture, on a Chinese subject, which he may follow the "Sheba" picture with. Most of the film features being exhibited in New York for runs are playing on a 60-40 basis, the house taking the first $5,000. Two years ago most of the Times square the- atres could be secured on a $3,500 a week guarantee. FIRE PARTLY DESTROYS "VILLA ROSE" SCENERY Baggage Car Burns Causing Cancellations. Louisville, March 16. Otis Skinner's show, "At the Villa Rose," was forced to cancel three one-night stands last week as a result of a fire which destroyed about half of the company's props and scenery In a baggage car in the Big Four yards here early on the morning of March 10. The blaze is believed to have been caused by an oil lamp which had not been prop- erly extinguished be/ore the car was locked. The show closed at Macaulay's a little after 11 o'clock Wednesday night. It was after one before the car was packed. The blaze was discovered at two by a night watch- man. Parts of the Lake of Geneva scene, the Villa Rose at Alx, and the home of Mme. Dauvray at Paris were destroyed, together with sev- eral trunks of costumes. Valuable floor coverings, including a Persian rug and a number of drops were badly damaged. The show was to have played at Lexington, Ky.; Huntington, W. Va., and Lima, O., the three following nights. New scenery was ordered from the Frohman warehouses in New York and the company con- tinued to Milwaukee to await its arrival. The show lo booked through May. 1921 MINUS VS. 1920 PLUS WORRIES ACTORS Income Tax Department to Be Lenient With Unemployed Inroad way gossip had it this week that hundreds of* prdfe'ssioiiftrs are worried over their inability to pay the Federal income tax. More concrete information came from a showman to whom complaints from other actors were registered. The condition has been brought about by the unprecedented closings of road attractions this season. Play- ers who were fairly successful last season and who figured this season to furnish as many weeks work, have found themselves minus en- gagem its and minus the where- withal to pay taxes on the salaries earned in 1920. Reports from tax circles are to the effect that the collector will be Inclined to be lenient in the matter of the collection of the Federal tax because of huge losses sustained in business and the great numbers of unemployed. The law is quite clear, however, In whe matter of failure to flle in- come tax returns and for the fail- ure to pay the tax. The regulations call for a more severe penalty for not filing returns, with the fine as high iio $1,000 or a penitentiary sentence or both. The penalty for failure to pay the tax calls for a fine, based on a percentage of the tax due. If the delinquents are as great In number as reports indicate, the Government will return to the former plan of collecting the tax at the source. This would mean that every manager would be held re- sponsible for the £ax due and would be withheld by him during the season. LOWER ADMISSIONS FORCED REMAINED TOO LONG "Villas, Follist" Drops Down in Frisco on Third Woek McBRIDE'S NEW SYSTEM. A. E. F. SHOW REVIVED "A Buck on Leave" in Pittsburgh Easter Week Pittsburgh, March 16. The big A. E. F. show, "A Buck on Leave," with the author, Pat H. Barnes, in the lead, will be shown at the Syria Mosque Easter week. Many of the original cast will take part. Several professionals are in- cluded in the list, while the bulk of choristers will be recruited from local society folk. The show was considered one of the most pretentious given overseas by the soldiers. It is being given under the aus- pices of the 18th Regiment here, \*hieh is conducting a drive for more men. CHORUS SUES CREAT0RE. Gulseppe Creatore and the Crea- tore Grand Opera Co. have been named defendants in a $1,082 action by the Grand Opera Chorus Alli- ance on breach of contract grounds. Through Max Kendler, the plaintiff alleges an agreement of Sept. 18. 1920, guaranteeing thirty weeks' em- ployment to nineteen of the Alli- ance's members in the Creatore com- pany in the roles of chorus people. Each chorus man or woman was to -receive- $51 per w&ek salary. When the defendant* encountered financial difficulties in December, the con- tract was breached and suit was started last week. No answer has been filed as yet. Will Give Subscribers Number for 'Phone Identification. MISS CLARKE'S TOE HURT. Dorothy Olive Clarke, last with the Hippodrome show, has begun a $25,000 damage suit in the Supreme Court against Charles Hart, the tenor, for injuries alleged sustained in an automobile accident Jan. 13, last. Miss Clarke's complaint is that the Injury to her left too will in- capacitate her for further profes- sional exhibitions as a toe dancer. ii ' Drury Underwood Minus Two Toes. Drury Underwood, newspaper man here and manager of one of the "Clarence" companies, was taken ill while playing Boston with gangrene maA was rushed to a local hospital As the result of a shrewd system of fraud whereby McBride's theatre ticket agency was telephoned to in the name of known patrons with the order to leave tickets at the box offices, where they were then picked up and sold on the street, the agency has changed its method of phone sales. Each patron of Mc- Bride's will be furnished a num- bered identification coin amd will be required to give the number when tickets are ordered by phone. McBride's claim they were mulcted out of about $700 by the trick or- ders and they charged the scheme was planned by opposition brokers who were disgruntled by the efforts of the McBride agency to put over state legislation limiting tickets sold by brokers to 60 cents premium. One offender was caught last week when he called for tickets "ordered" left at the Casino. The man later tried to sell the tickets to detectives employed by the McBride agency. In court the man stated he was act- ing for some one else and swore he did not know of any Intention to de- fraud. He was freed on parole. San Francisco, March 16. After doing great business its first week and a decreased but still good business the second week, the "Greenwich Village Follies" played its third and final week at the Curran to only 12,000. The second week brought $18,000 and it was at the termination of this week that the show should have de- parted. "The Sweetheart Shop" closes a four weeks' engagement at the Columbia Saturday. The second week brought $11,000, an increase of $2,000 over the first week's sale, and the outlook for the final week Is good. It looks like the show will hold up around $10,000 on its final two weeks, although four weeks is a rather long stay for such a play at the house. JOHN J. CANNING, BROKERING. John J. Canning, formerly treas- urer for the various K. & E. houses, has gone Into the brokerage and surety bond business with offices at 200 5th avenue. Canning is a di- rector of the old Treasurers' Club. (Continued from page 1) claim the only way out Is by cut- ting down wages. High transporta- tion costs are said to have been one important reason for the many closings on the road this season. It has also affected New York because of light travel. One angle "of high costs' in pro- duction Is the Increased tendency to put on matinee attractions. These special presentations are in greater number than ever before on Broad- way. No outlay for out of town showing Is incurred, with the pro- ducer having only his production expense as a big item. Special at- tractions at matinees, too, are not regarded with the severity of regu- lar presentations, and those which do display merit or strength are al- ways in the position to secure a house regularly. With the business off. quick changes are In order. Three at- tractions will leave the list Satur- day and by then an additional at- traction or two will be added to the departures. Holy Week is unusual in the showing of four premieres. The new Ritz theatre will open with "Mary Stuart," John Drinkwater's latest work. "Toto," with Leo Ditriehstein will succeed "The Skin Game'' at the Lyric. "The Ghost Between'' will replace "Samson and Delilah" at the 39th Street, while "It's Up to You" will arrive at the Casino late next week. William Moore Patch was given his choice of the Shubert or the Casino, taking the latter. This brought about or- ders to send "Blue Eyes," which fell below its stop limit last week at the Casino, to the Shubert, Nora Baycs' "Her Family Tree" with- drawing and closing Saturday, last- ing but two weeks after moving from the Lyric. The class of the new offerings is easily "Nice People," at the Klaw, and it is now the leader of Sam II. Harris' quintet of attractions, not counting "My Hero." which he opened as a special matinee attrac- tion at the Longacre Monday. "Nice People" played to around $14,000, about all the house will hold. Two musical attractions opposed each other Tuesday night, when "Love Birds," with Rooney and Bent, and "The Right Girl." ; owed in at the Apollo and Times Square respectively. Both houses are con- trolled bj the Selwyns. "Love Birds" has the best chance. Tor a moderate run. The concensus of opinion on "The Right Girl" is not as favorable, and ticket brokers give it no chance. "The Survival of the Fittest" was offered at the Greenwich Vil- lage Monday night, receiving a lacing from the first nighters. The management believes the piece will draw and intends remaining through the four weeks guaranteed the house. Among the special feature pictures on Broadway "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" Is the outstand- ing winner at the Lyric. In the six days of its first week (Sunday not counted because most of premiere tickets given away privately), the Metro-Loew picture drew better than $17,300. Long lines at matinee and night showings this week proves Its REVISING HEDMAN PLAY. The Charles Frohman, Inc., pro- duction of "The Romance of a Young Lady," starring Martha Hed- man, tcheduTwd to succeed 1 "Mary Rose," at the Empire, and which is playing in Washington, probably will close for revision, and "Mary Rose" continued at the Empire un- til the new Ethel Barrymore piece is made ready. Ruth Chatterton in "Mary Rose" will go to the coast, the tour ex- tending throughout the summer. (i PEG" IN THE WEST Los Angeles, March 16. New York is going to have noth- ing on the Pacific coast in the pre- sentation of a revival of "Peg O' My Heart." Mrs. Morosco, who holds the rights to the piece by an arrange- ment with her husband, Oliver Morosco, has leased the right to present it in the Far West one- night territory to Joseph Glass. The company will cover the terri- tory from the Pacific to Kansas JED DOOLEY strength, and the gross for the full 14 performances this week will total between $20,000 and $21,000. "The Four Horsemen" will move to the Astor April 10, Immediately following the withdrawal, of "Cor-i i.ered" (with Madge Kennedy), which will play eastern stands for about five weeks more-. The Lyrio will switch to the control of William Fox after the "Four Horsemen**' moves, and the first Fox attraction there will be "Queen of Sheba." Another Fox film, "A Connecticut Yankee in the Court of King Arthur," opened at the Selwyn Monday, drawing notices on Its com- edy strength. "Happy Days" at the Hippodrome is expected to run until May l f though a definite stopping date will not be decided on until after Easter. The big house is operating on a weekly total expense of $41,000 this season, the increase being charged to labor. Last week the show drew $47,000. The Park is still minus an attraction. "Smooth as Silk," a crook play by Willard Mack, was suddenly withdrawn from the Lex- ington last Saturday. Pavlowa is playing a return en- gagement at the Manhattan, on a 10-day engagement, which started Thursday of last week. The dance Btar is drawing exceptional busi- ness. She closes her season at the end of the week and sails for Europe late this month. The slump is naturally registered in the ticket agencies and the dump into cut rates has been regu- lar. "The Rose Girl" buy drew am extension of four weeks. But six buys expire this week. They are "Blue Eyes" (Casino); "Lady Billy" (Liberty); "Dear Me" (Republic);' "Her Family Tree" (Shubert): "Enter Madame" (Fulton) and "Passing Show" (Winter Garden). The latter two have the best chance for renewal. Other buys are "Duburau"- (Belasco); "Green Goddess" (Booth); "In the Night Watch" (Century); "The Bad Man" (Comedy); "Ladies' Night" (Eltinge); "Tip Top" (Globe); "Wake Up Jonathan!" (Miller); "Nice People" (Klaw); "Mary" (Knickerbocker); "The First Year" (Little); "The Champion" (Long- acre); "Gold Diggers" (Lyceum); "The Bat" (Morosco); "Sally" (New Amsterdam); "Romance" (Playhouse) ; "Passing Show" (Winter Garden); "Love Birds" (Apollo); "The Right Girl" (Times Square). In the cut rates are offered: "The Rose Girl" (Ambassador); "Cornered" (Astor); "Afgar" (Cen- tral); "In the Night Watch" (Cen- tury); "Mary Rose" (Empire); "The Broken Wing" (48th Street); "Three Live Ghosts" (Bayes); "Little Old New York" (Plymouth); "Emperor Jones" (Princess); "Dear Me" (Republic); "Rollo's Wild Oat" (Punch and Judy); "Her Family Tree" (Shubert); "Samson and Delilah" (39th Street; "Passing Show" (Winter Garden). SELWYN-HARRIS BUYS. Secure Three French Plays for American Presentation Paris, Feb. ST. Archie Selwyn, who has returned to this city, after a brief vacation at Monte Carlo, announces that In addition to "L'Homme a la Rose" ho has also bought for America "Lo Chasseur de Ches Maxim's" (The Doorman at Maxim's), and "Daniel" created by Sarah Bernhardt la Paris, and now running in London. He Is also negotiating with H- BataiHe for another of his pieces. Mr. Selwyn mentioned Sam Harris 1 as his partner In these ventures. "THE CAMEO COMIC" Plays twenty consecutive weeks in New York. Opened Nov. 15, Hamil- ton; 22, Flatbush; 29, Coliseum and Regent; Dec. 6, Orpheum; 13, Colo- nial; 20, Royal; 27, Bush wick; Jan. 3, Broadway; 10, Riverside, (doubled Palace, 2 days); 17, lUhambra; 24, Mt. Vernon and Prospect; 31, Fifth Avenue and Jersey City; Feb. 7, 81st Street; 14, 68th Street and Yonkers; 21, Paterson and Passaic; 28, 23d Street, and 126th Street; Mar. 7, Newark; 14, Elizabeth and Coney Island; 21. Palace; 28, Jefferson. PALACE, NEXT WEEK (MARCH 21) Direction, HARRY WEBER NOT A PROVIDER. Cincinnati, March 16. Mrs. Emma R. L. McLeod, aged 26, actress, of 2527 Hackberry street, testified in her divorce suit against Alexander D. McLeod, aged 31, who is playing with a company in London, Eng., that, although his salary Is $150 a week, he had given only about $20 toward the support of herself and their three-year-old child during the past two yoars. Before they were married they played in the same company. She was granted a divorce. JOE C0N0LLY IN ON "EILEEN." Joe Conolly, formerly general manager for Gus HJ11. has become affiliated with Barry McCormlck In the latter's proposed venture to re- vive Victor Herbert's comic opera, "Eileen."