Variety (March 1921)

I n LEGITIMATE Friday, March 25, 1921 ITSE PRICE CUTTING ON NEW SHOWS BRINGING BACK PRE-WAR PRICES »«• *». ,* >'*,■,..,. » ^. .... ^ .>'•>. >- v ».. HANNA. CLEVELAND, CLAIMED BY SHUBERTS Selwyns Allege First Claim on Bookings. !#'>'■ %■ » i •*'»*»• •' • » I . ■ ■• » ► - » j- . Wt • > * s *> »»* >..• > v ■ • * "Love Birds" Set the Pace—Patch Charging $2.50 Top at Casino for "It's Up to You"—Charges for "Right Girl" Lowered—Road Charges Still Drop- ping—After Easter Return to Business Form Looked For—Holy Week Premiers—Last Week Worst for Cut-Rates. Price cutting Is in the air along BrOAdway and the admission scales ©f three new attractions are on a pre-war top—$2.50. All are musical offerings. Wilner & Romberg's 'Love Birds" at the Apollo was actually the first to re-establish the lower scale. The William Moore Paten show, "Its Up to You," will follow with the same scale at the Casino, the piece having postponed its premiere until next Monday. At that •••*• "The Right Girl," which started at the Times Square with a $.1 top, will lower the scale to $2.50. Broadway continues to trail the road in the matter of reduction in admissions. The "Follies" will go to Philadelphia at a $3.50 top, the engagement being the first for that show at less than $4 on the road for the past two seasons. In Chi- cago the "Follies" went to $4.50 for the front rows because of the ticket agency regulations which did not permit theatre tickets to bo sold at more than the box office price. All the front row seats were therefore disposed of to ticket agencies under a "buy" agreement. The lowest scale in several years was established in Philadelphia this week when "The Whirl of the Town" opened at the Chestnut Street opera house at $1.50 top ex- cept Saturdays. George White's ' Scandals," which reduced its scale to $2.50 in the same city several weeks ago after opening at $3.50, started in Boston last week with the $2.50 scale. In New "York managers are ex- pectant that business will show some return to form after Easter, and any extension of price cutting will likely wait until the second or third week in April. It is sig- nificant that "Love Birds" at the lower scale drew $15,000 for its first week, as against "The Right Girl's" first week's gross of $8,000 with a $3 top. Both shows opened at the same time and opposed each other at the premieres. "Love Birds" showed real strength this week, with indications of a $17,000 gross in sight. The number of now attractions this week were cut to three with the postponement of "It's Up to FRIAR'S "ROLLS-ROYCES" New Acquaintanceship Committee Giving Dinner to Themselves "The highest priced dinner in the history of the Friars" will be held in May at the Monastery by the 'Rolls-Royce Committee." This committee numbers 23 Friars. It is officially known as the "Acquaint- anceship Committee." Few of the member! know each other, despite its official title. That is the reason the members are giving a dinner to themselves. Billy B. Van, Tdmmy Gray and Walter Hofettn are the fixers. Tickets for each of the 23 will be priced at $100, but there is a 95 per cent..discount to all those on the • HoTlV-Royce Committer" Any other Friar wishing to horn in will be forced to separate with the 100 smackers." For guests the charge will be $200 each, with no discount. The fixers declare that it is to be a "he" parly, and any person trying to attend in evening clothes will bo given the air. Neither tho Abbot nor the Dean has been invited, prov- ing what a hard bunch tin "Ilolls- Roycers" are. Van war, showing a pair of platinum cuff links studded with diamonds, which he said would be the favors to guests (who pay top money). Privately he said the jewelry was only a blind, but thai guests and others who horned in and paid the price printed on the tickets will bo given badges in- scribed "suckers." You," but the trio of openings was important and showed tho disre- gard the managers have for Holy Week, so far as Broadway figures. The premieres this week establish a sort of record therefor. "Mary Stuart," the new Drinkwater play at the Shuberts' new Ritz theatre, drew a smart first night crowd, and though it may be limited in appeal, is regarded as one of the English playwright's best works. "Toto" with Leo Ditrichstein is rated as having an excellent chance, while "The Ghost Between" bowed into the 39th Street with most favorable reports on its dramatic quality. Though business in general showed more strength early this week than last, there are not more than eight attractions which have not been hurt In the slump which started three weeks ago. But two musical offerings are standing up to capac- ity—"Sally" at the New Amsterdam and "Tip Top," the Globe's star at- traction. "Sally" is the "darling" of Broadway. It has stood up so consistently to standing room busi- ness that it has now beaten the "Follies" records here, with $34,000 weekly clicked off. "The Passing Show" has fallen off at the Winter Garden, and it is not sure it can stick until the time for a summer start In Chicago. "Mary" has an- other four weeks at the Knicker- bocker. P"or the first time since Holy Week of last season "Irene" dipped under the $15,000 mark, last week. It still looks good for con- tinuance into the summer however. "Blue Eyes" has little chance at the Shubert where it moved Monday. (Casino dark until next week.) (Continued on page 22) V ' Jim* 'aniieumomen'..-•>-'*nt>-©i.<b-. tkie week with a request from the Shu- bert press department that a head be used with the item, states the new Hannfl theatie in Cleveland was built by Dan Hanna and that it lias been leased to tho Shuberts and Crosby Gaige, with the Shu- berts booking the hou..e The the- atre was previously mentioned, without contradiction, as one of the group lined up for the "third com- bination" of legitimate managers which include Sam H. Harris, the Selwyns and Arthur Hopkins. It is the first mention by either of the big offices of any sign of conflict. This week it was stated the Selwyns had first call on the Hanna book- ings, but that it is opening before they are ready to supply attrac- tions. Mr. Gaige is general manager for the Selwyns and is financially in- terested with them in productions a :d theatres. The Hanna will open with "The Prince and the Pauper," a Shubert attraction. ALMA GLUCK ROASTED. Buffalo Critics "Go After" the Singer. Buffalo, March 23. Alma Gluck, who sang here Fri- day night was roasted to a tilrn by the local critics. The Express jumped down the madame's throat and, besides hailing the concert as "inglorious," admonished the singer to beat it for retirement. Whether last year's episode— when a party of local critics r.fter tramping through the mud and rain of the local railroad yards, were met at Gluck's private car by the singer's maid, who informed them she would sec no one—had anything to do with the present reviews is not ascertainable. f l- *l Li ■ — 5- 1 Jl Lll l WRONG ^FOLLIES." John Murray Anderson Staging Vill-age, Not Ziegfeld's. DUQUESNE STOCK QUITS. Closes Suddenly Afte. Three Weeks in Pittsburgh. John Murray Anderson will stage the new Greenwich Village Follies." It was reported last week Mr. An- derson might stage Ziegf eld 'Fol- lies." Slipped past a drowsy copy- reader. Anderson and Ziegf eld have yet to meet. Edward Royce will again do the Ziegf eld "Follies." It's reported if the negotiations between tho Shuberts and" Paul Sla- vin for the Century Roof over the summer are successfully concluded, Anderson will stage the Slavin show to go on up there. Tuesday the Slavin negotiations were clos« to signing, it was said. Pittsburgh, March 23. The Duquesne Theater S'.ock, headed by Robert Bruce, failed to open last week, after a shor- life of th.ee weeks. Illness of Bessie Ey- ton, leading woman, was assigned as the reason. TIkj passing of this stock company marks the second stock failure here this ser.son. The newest group tried to profit by the former's mistakes and tried a policy of low prices and popular diamas of many seasons back, and, though success greeted its first ef- forts, prospects grev duller as it continued. NO 0NE-NIGHTERS FOR THEM. The Ed Wynn Carnival, which is slated for a run of one night stands, will change practically its entire chorus, due to all of the girls but four turning in the^r notices when informed of the one nighters. •»— m - „ i ■ ■; >;■*■:; 1 i , .• ih$ji$!# , $& : • vv *•' V.. :.-x. I f -J BRADY'S "EAST LYNNE." William A. Brady has start*.? tasting a jompany to present ft re- vival of "East Lynne." Julia Deft* will play Lady Isabelle. aw . I CHARLES GRANESE Presents his sister JEAN GRANESE "THE UNUSUAL SONGSTER" 1LAV1XG B. F. KEtTH'8 CIRCUIT This week 'March 21>, Keith's Rushwick, Brooklvn. N< xt week (March 28), Keith's Colonial, New York. Week, April 4— Keith's Alhambra, New York. Week, April 11—Keith's Hamilton, New Fori Direction, ROSE ft CURTIS MANY MATINEE PLAYS KILL MOST OF THEM Only Two Survive of Special Afternoon List •Uvea,ArSfta^ft crop -cf rr\a.Mn<vx.j>l«\|v, v productions offered for special show- ings on off-matinee afternoons in the legitimate houses, has been cut down in number. Most of the clos- ings were because of poor attend- ance. Showmen say it was over- production. "Diffrent" at the Prince**, and "The Tyranny of Love," which has switched its afternoons from tho Bijou to the Kltinge, are the sur- vivors. The latter piece succeeds "The White Villa," withdrawn from special performances at the Kltinge. The Kummer playlets were with- drawn from the Punch and Judy Saturday, but the house will prob- ably get ".Mixed Marriage" for aft- ernoons. This will be a "revival," the piece having been on for after* noons some weeks ago. It was later taken to the 63rd Street Theatre for a four-weeks* regular showing. "The Hero," played afternoons at the Longacre for one week, has been withdrawn and will be saved for next seas* n. > The group of co-operative play- ers who put the piece on is known as the Mixed Marriage Co., and is to be incorporated. The same group produced the short-lived "Cradle Song," which died because of poor business, an argument among those interested also iigur- Ing. •The Tyrany of Love" Is being offered but three performances weekly, one show being cut to re- duce expenses. Most of the players in matinee attractions receive a share of the profits, but are given, a stated salary per performance. One player in the latter company is being paid on a weekly salary basis. ■ SUNDAY COMPLAINT Sabbath Association Against "Joan of Arc" for Charity. A complaint was made this week by the Sabbath Observance Asso- ciation through its attorney, Crich- ton Powell, against the holding of the special performance Sunday at the Century of "The Trial of Joan of Arc," which will star Margaret Anglin. The benefit performance will be given under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus, the pro- ceeds goir.g to the Hoover fund for child relief in Europe. Officials of the K. C. stated they were proceeding with the entertain- ment under a permit, and were not concerned with the complaint. One executive stated "if the Sabbath Association deemed It fit to take food from the mouths of starving children, it could go ahead." Tho K. of C. expects the net $10,000 from the Sunday performance. The Neighborhood Playhouse con- tinues to hold Sunday perform- ances. Tho current show there is "The Great Adventure," advertised "every night but Monday." FRANK KBENAN AS "RIP." Tom Wilkes to Sponsor Legitimate Production. San Fran%fPco. March 23. Frank Krpnan, screen star, will again be featured in a stage pro- duction of "Rip Van Winkle," to be sponsored by Tom Wilkes. The play will open at the Columbia, this city, in June. Keenan recently played In "John Ferguson," which was also sent out by Wilkes. Wilkes has made arrangements for - the--launching of aeveml road shows this season. LEW L0CKETTS ILLNESS. Albany, N. Y.. March 23. Lew Lockett, playing in "Mary," was taken suddenly ill Saturday night, and, after treatment, left with his mother for a long rest in Maine. Report says Mr. Lockett suffered a breakdown and lapsed into a some- what violent state following the conclusion of his last performance. SIM WILLIAMS' SECOND Sim Williams is to have another show in addition to his "Girls From Joyland" on the American wheel next sea sen. Williams has tentatively titled tho new one "Birds of Paradise." Leo Btevena has been appointed manager of Williams' "Glrla VrvM Joyland."