Variety (April 1921)

14 LEGITIMATE Friday, April 15, 1921 SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT • "Bad Man," Oomotly (324 week). Continue! in favor and classes as one of the ix'st bits of comedy satire In recent seasons. Was hurt in downward trend of business la*t Week, the takings going- to T $11.000. "Broken Wing," 45tK'Street; (19rk Week), Strength displayed by this comedy. Has the locale of "The Bad Man." but its rating is differ- ent. With cut rate aid it should run until June. (Jot $9,500 last week. "Dear Me," Republic (13th week). Slid back last week along with the rest of the*list with the gross about $6,500. Continuance after this month not certain. "Deburau," Belasco (17th week). The dramatic smash of the lis*. Capacity attendance to date. Warm weather figures to be felt, with show costly to operate. Should remain until mid-June. "Emperor Jones,'' Princess, (Hth week). Engagement with the ma- tinees of "Piff'rent" continues in- definite. Takings last week off in proportion with most others. Gross of $6,500, however, satisfactory to management, with profit both to house and attractions. "Enter Madame," Fulton (35th Week). This long run success has chance to continue into June. Its takings slipped down last week with others, but gross went cose to $10,000. "First Year,'* Little (26th week). One of the very few current offer- ings not affected: Appears to have the best chance among non-musical attractions of holding over through the summer. "Ghost Between," 39th Street (4th week). Doubt if this offering will land. However, while others were dropping last week its business went upward, the gross going to $7,500. Is getting smart audiences. "Gold Diggers," Lyceum (80th week). Business is holding up sat- isfactorily, the management having booked the show for in here until August. Eased off to $11,700 last Week. Figure affords a good profit. "Good Times," Hippodrome (36th week). Is in its last weeks and is due to close April 30. -While business is claimed to have been as big this season, profits are reported under those of last season's banner half million winner. "In the Night Watch," Century, <12ih week). Number of weeks to go depends on how much "pull" re- mains with the "two for one" ticket plan. Has about broken even of late. Shuberts may succeed it in May with "The Last Waltz," now being readied. .."Irene," Yanderbilt, (73d week). Ties the record musical run for New York on Saturday with 603 performances, claimed the consecu- tive performance mark attained by "Evangeline.'' Business last week held up in fine shape for this stage of run, with the takings a little under $14,000. "It's Up to You," Casino (3d week). Failure to attain stop limit first week led to two weeks notice to vacate and a film, "Mother Eternal," starts at Casino Sunday. Attraction reported In financial dif- ficulties. "Ladies Night," Eltinge (36th week), itu nning ahead of most of the season's long run offerings. Last Meek, with $12,260 grossed, it showed a heap of strength at box office. "Lady Billy," Liberty (18th week). Has been a winner since premiere. Not off as much in proportion to others last week, the gross going well over $15,000. Looks safe to run well Into May. "Lightnin'," Gaiety (135th week). Fast reaching for attainment of solid three years' run; unheard of mark on this side of the pond. Has not fallen under $15,000 in last nix months and showmen predict it stands good chance of going into a fourth season. Management figures to send it out in August. "Little Old New York,'' Plymouth. (32d week). Slowed off like many of the other long run shows last week with the gross a little over $9,000. A comedy success with in- dications of the run reaching well into May. "Love Birds," Apollo ($th week). Holding to a pace of $1">,000. Easily the strongest of the recent musical arrivals. Ought to last into June with a chance \<t a longer vtay.. "Mary," Knickerbocker (26th week). Cohan's musical winner has another week to go. then leaves for Philadelphia and makes way for Sherman Brown's presentation of •June Love," which has hern done over and is reported in good shape. "Mary Stewart.'' Riiz. .'4th week). Looks like ■ limited run for this latest Drinkwater play because of it< limited appeal. I>* getting class audiences, but appears strictly a lower floor draw. Slipped in last week's slump to $11,000. "Miss Lulu Bett." Belmont ilfith week). Dipped under $7.0<i0 mark last week. Attraction is in small house«nd not costly to operate. "Nemesis," Hudson < L'd week). Pace of tho first w«<k claimed at nround $11,000 should be easily bet- tered this week when call was strong at box Office following extra advertising. Management believes it a winner. "Nice People,"' Klaw (7th week). ft)ucc< <s of this comedy certain. Ex- tra Friday matinee, again inserted this week. Last week, with regu- lation s performances, tho gross went close to $14,000, which Is ca- pacity (a sell-out to a party pulled down money capacity). Figures to run through the summer. "Passing Show of 1921," Winter Garden (10th week). Reports tfi.i' new* summer show has started preparing with Mclntyre and Heath. That gives "Passing Show" until early June. Business off riince Easter. "Pea o' My Heart," Cort (9th week). Dropped o*ff again, with the tak- ings* around $10,Of) last week. Length of stay after this month not sef. House due for a summer show, and may get "Elsie" ("A Dangerous Maid"). "Right Girl/' Times Square (5th week). Management continues to use extra advertising. I^ast week gross was $9,000, a profit for hou^e at this time of season, but hardly for a musical piece. "Rollo's Wild Oat," Punch and Judy (21st week). Indications still point" to this comedy justing out the season. "Mixed Marriage" continues as special matinee at- traction. "Romance," Playhouse (7th week). Success of th> "evival surprising even to management, it continu- ing to very good business. Con- sidered fine property for road next season. Grossed around $12,000 last week. "Rose Girl," Ambassador (10th S OF SHUFFLING IN CHICAGO HOUSES <■* > Four New Ones This Week, Two Last Week Chicago. April 13.' A very small slump in a few of the leaders \viift "M.i'.y" jumping way ahead. This Week saw the opening' of four hew shows. - "Ling- er Longer- Letty" at the Olympjc, "Fitter Patter" at the Playhouse. "Gertie's Garter" at the Woods, .and "Bab" at the Blackstone. , Estimates for the week: "Shavings" ePowera, 6th week) Still turning in healthy profit; $12,400. Leaves in three weeks. Thurston . (Olympic, 3rd week) Left to small intake, with "Linger Longer Letty" following for limited run. "East Is West" (Garrick; 5th week) Slipped aroui.d $1,000 after high mark of previous week. Still leading legitimate hits with $22,000. "Way Down East" (Woods', 17th week) $16,000. Leaves for two weeks at Auditorium, "Gertie's Garter' coming in to replace Aim. "Mary" (Colonial, 1st week) $27,000; tremendous hit with smart publicity. It looks like all summer run. ♦'The Tavern" (Cohan's Grand, 10th week) $11*000. Doing heavy last half business. "Four Horsemen" (LaSalle. 2nd week). Matinees off, but heavy night business; $12,000 3 \Jiri, J\II1IM>><(<II»X V XV III ' «»»fS«»i «jw«iih. o.-> , ,i.,uto. week). With the cut rate system] "The Bat" (Princess, 15th week), in force, like with several others, I $19.000.__ Expected this show will the takings are claimed to be sat- isfactory, with around $12,800 last week. Cast changes have pulled down operating expense. "Sally," New Amsterdam (17th week). Is far in lead of anything on Broadway, with only the Hip able to beat its gross. Is the mar- vel to ticket brokers, where de- mand still tops by a wide margin, at end of fourth month. "Smooth as Silk," Frazee (5th week). First week on Broadway, and the fifth actually. Show opened at Lexington some weeks ago and closed suddenly. Crook piece, with a chance. "Spanish Love," Maxine Elliott's 36th week). Will leave soon. Is a dramatic novelty, and though Its grosses have not been large, the run equals any of the season's offerings. "The Bat," Morosco (34th week). Is the come-back winner for Wagenhals & Kemper. Off at midweek matinee, and is not go- ing to clean with box seats, but is leading or equalling anything on non-musical list. "The Champion," Longacre (15th week). Standing up well, with the gross around $10,500 last week. "The Green Goddess," Booth (14th week). Has not had an empty seat since it opened; matinees also going to capacity for a gross of better than $14,000 weekly. "The Tavern," Cohan (29th week). Has two weeks more to run. House then gets musical show, scheduled for opening May 2. It is "Two Little Girls in Blue." "Three Live Ghosts," Nora Bayes 29th week). Cut rates keeping this comedy alive and responsible for it beating $7,000 last week. Profit at that figure. "Tip Top," Globe (28th week). Was closed last week after Tuesday night, when Fred Stone broke lit- tle toe. Reopened Monday with Harland Dixon in Stone's place. stick till next season. "Tickle Me" (Illinois, 1st week) $22,000. "Deliverance" (Playhouse, 2nd week) $2,000. "Pitter Patter" had favorable opening Sunday. "Irene" (Studebaker, 19th week) Still playing to $20,000, with no end in sight. "Just Suppose" (Blackstone. 5th week) Little better than $12,000. "Bab" which opened Sunday at $2.50 played to best of society and drew most of the critics. Show being handled in a masterful style for an all summer run. BOSTON'S BUSINESS FLOPPED LAST WEEK White's ''Scandals" the Sur- prise—'Honeydew" Big. Boston, April 13. In the case of three shows, two of which have left and the third go- ing out this week, business took a decided flop last week. George White's "Sear.dals of 1920" slid down to takings of about $11,000 for eight performances, considerably poorer business than he should have done with his "rep," and which was considerable of a surprise. The show did not make extra big money any time during its stay, which may be due to the fact that the Shuberts slipped the "Greenwich Village Follies" in a week ahead of it, taking the cream, and also the fact that "Honeydew" came in and took some more of the top milk. "Gerties Garter," which closed at the Wilbur last week, also did poor business at the finish. In fact, this show did not make the hit at any time, except the first week, that Another month unless star is able Woods' farces have made here in the to return to cast. "Toto," Bijou (4th week). Has been selling out since it opened, with the house going to rew box office records by means of revised scale. Should last until hot weather, and has chance well into summer. "Trial cf Joan of Arc," Shubert (1st week). Stars Margaret A glin, wlio tried piece at Century bene- fit lately. Opened Tuesiay night, replacing "Blue Eyes," which stopped. "Wake Up Jonathan," Henry Miller (13th week). Final week. "Mr. Pirn Passes By," a Theatre Guild attraction, moves up from Gar- rick next Monday. "Welcome Stranger," Sam H. Har- ris (31st week). Pace is now around $9 000. Number of weeks yet to go not definite, Dili'tffiouj last well into May. House # is to get a summer revue. "Way Down East," 44th Street (33d week). Wiyi attempt to remain a year. Takings last week were slightly better th m $11,000. "Over the Hill," Broadhurst (2*th week). Moves to the Park Sun- day. Will be succeeded by Wal- ter Hampden, starting "Macbeth." "Four Horsemen of Apocalypse," Aator <6th week). Only a few legitimate attractions beating this picture smash, it. went to 120,000 last week. Moved over from the Lyric Monday. "Connecticut Yankee in King Ar- thur's Court," Selwyn (5th week). "Dream Street," Central 1st week). Premiere tet back and picture had first showing Tuesday, this week. Hun not figured indefinite, and reba.se date has been ~ t. "Queen of Sheba," Lyric (1st week). Opened Sunday, b«ing third Fox picturi in Broadway houwes. past. "Honors Are Even" also slid off at the Park Square, showing takings of about $7,000 for the week, and it is now announced that it is on the finish, and that "Honey Girl" will come back for a run of five weeks, which should about fin- ish the regular season for this house. Probably the usual custom of putting; a snappy musical showimatic critics had the evening to i in there for an early summer bid J to the fights, will be followed. "Honey Oirl" was that show last season. Business with the other showj in town did not reflect the flop noted Inv the above three, Indicating the business drop was not a general thing, but rather the fault of the shows themselves. Two openings Monday r.Ight, wit^h another one booked for Tues- day night. "Blossom "Time" opened at the Wilbur to a capacity house, which was sold at regular price on' the/ merit of the show, and Fisk^ O'Hara in "Springtime in Mayo" opened at the Tremont. "Two Lit- tle .Girls in Blue," A. L. Erlar.ger's newest show, opened at the Colonial on Tuesday night. Estimates for. the week ar.e:. "Two Little Girls in, Blue'' (Co- lonial, 1st week). Opened to house that was a winner .for a^ premiere performance. Indefinite engage- ment. White's "Scahdkls" did about $11,000 on its final week, and then company disbanded. "The Famous Mrs. Fair" (Hollis, 2d week). Of the type Hollis people like, with names in the cast that are drawing in themselves, coupled with really decent show caused house to do $17,000 first week, with ouening Monday of this week indi- cating the drag was still there. Only other bookings will cause it to be withdrawn for some time. "Springtime in Mayo" (Tremont, 1st week). Near capacity house at opening. Should get the support of those that hare been blamed for the failure of other shows, of English type, that have flopped here this season. "Call the Doc- tor," on final week, got $12,000. "Honors Are Even" (Park Square, 15th week). Will shake the dust of this city from heels after this week. Engagement has been a profitable one, considering type of show and money it cost to put it on. but last couple of weeks has indicated it has about rim its course. About $7,000 last week. "Honeydew" (Majestic. 3d week). Will probably prove big- money maker unless suffering from "Blos- som Time" across the street from it in another one of the Shubert houses. "Honeydew" got away to fine start and did $15,000 last week, making a total of about $35,000 for the two weeks it has been here. A little lean Monday night, but noth- ing for Joe Weber to be frightened about. "Blossom Time" (Wilbur, 1st week). One of the slick openings of the season, with house enjoying every minute of the show. A nice chance for run that will extend well into the summer. "Gertie's Garter," on last week, slipped off to about $8,000, which could not be called very good. "Greenwich Village Follies" (Shubert, 6th week). Will finish up this week while going very strong. About $18,000 last week. "The Skin Game" (Plymouth, 2d week). About $8,000 for the week, considered good for show of this kind. Is getting a steady support, which should get it by without much trouble during stay. "The Storm" (Globe, 3d week). More publicity than most of them that has played the house this sea- son. Business very fair. "Way Down East" (Tremont Temple). Thirtieth week. Business big. Last week's six openers can h* judged pretty well by now a« their success or failure, and th* conclusion drawn if only moderate ly opttenjstic. "Lincoln" has caught on splendidly for an avowedl* "highbrow" play; "The Son Dauah- t:r" is drawing a class attendance, but not any too much of it- "Tha Follies" is setting a substantial fiS! ore, but below the average of th* last few years. * In the Shubert ranks Floren** .Reed's "Mirage"' is rte.onlv out! and-out success. "Opportunity" only so so, and "As You Were" tZ being cut some by the "Follies" across the street. ..,. •• ^ The two Shows, opening .previou* to last Monday are fading away thii week, "Adam and Eva" miserable «V,d -The Whirl" to a gross pulled l/kWrn Yv«* *l«A In...' m Y>. • • PHILLY'S NEW SIX BREAKS ABOUT Plays Last Week Hold Nothing Startling—"Follies" Off. Philadelphia, April 13. A dead calm succeeded the flurry of last week in the legit here. Not an opening Monday, and the dra- Way down by the low' scale, lea vine? no profit for the expensively C aS attraction. . "v "Dream Street," which will follow the latter show at tlu> .ChestmS Street, will run about six weeks, when the house will be closed and extensive repairs made. For sev- eral years the Chestnut has been open late in the summer with fea- ture pictures or musical shows A possible hitch in the plans for a summer run of high class stock at the Lyric has thrown a further gloom over the hot season here ir is beginning to look as if the pic- ture houses would have a> clear field. Theatre people here are wonder- ing just how long "Mary" can last on its third try at the Garrick. The general concensus is that with any kind of a weather break the Cohan show can earn money for every, body concerned for a couple of per- haps three, weeks. Nothing else is carded for the Garrick. The high spot of the prospective openings is "The Prince and the Pauper," which comes to the Adel- phl Monday. A lively battle of box offices is prophesied when "The Greenwich Village Follies" reaches the Shubert On Monday, with Zieg- feld's show playing its final week across the street at the Forrest "Abraham Lincoln" (Broad. 2d weok). Enthusiastically received and well patronized. Not knock- out because the hoi polloi steers clear, but best bet the Broad has had since "Clarence." $14,000 "As You Ware" (Shubert. 2d week). Suffering from competition pf 'Follies," and fact it is repeat In poor season. Making bit. how- ever, in shor^-stay. Sam Bernard lJjtA nd out of cast Monday night. "Follies" (Forrest, 2d week). Not even approximating capacity and distinctly under last year's aver- age, but financial gold mine of the J22^ ent shows ' iuBt the same - About "The Mirage" (Lyric, 2d week). Doing nicely, better than some of the wiseacres predicted because of rival openings. Florence Reed, re* siding here, also helped. Over $11,. 000 in small hOuse, with good pros* pects. "The 8on Daughter" (Garrick, M week). Probably weakest of three syndicate shows, but showing good houses. Show an expensive one, and scale only $2.50, wliich cuts: chances for large gross. Has had several benefit performances. $12.- "the Whirl of the Town" (Chest* n ,V. t .^ tr ^ et ° n era House (4th week). With Dorothy Miller, the much- touted $1,000 bride, in east this one took a fair jump last week. Clever Shubert advertising of their new star got lot of laughs, but ac- tually brought in cash. Doubt as to success of $1.50 top. which brought the week's gross down to about $15,000. "Opportunity" (Walnut, 2d week). £ot so good. This house would have been wise to stick to the policy 0 Jr.,r unning big names like Arliss la The Green Goddess" or Hampden. This melo of Owen Davis' is limp- ing. $8,000. "Adam and Eva" (Adelphi, 4tk week). Keen disappointment, per- haps because Broadway run was tot much a thing of the past. Xo naraM to help pull them in, and indefinite stay cut down to four weeks. T« be succeeded by "Prince and ths Pauper" next week. About $8,000. TH0MASHEFSKY, CO STAB. Boris Thomashefsky. the Yid- dish actor will co-star next sea- son with Adolf Phillip in 'Auction Pinochle." The piece had conoid- erabte vogue in 'the 'Cihi.in *ongtw In New York, but failed to attract big interest on the American stage "Jeff" in Disguise. "The Talking Shop." produced Monday at the Apollo, Atlantic City, by Sam H. Harris, was orig- inally produced under tit-- title i "Jeff," with Cyril Maude in tb< JOE FLOSSIE MORRIS and CAMPBELL ,. S Vi th « n «*«fmtllt at Palaeo. New York, this week (April 11) nnd after the Monday matinee moved to next-to-closing. Our 181st wei k of Koith and Orpheum vaudeville with our present vehicle "Tho Avi ;i» her" by JOB BROWNING, who is preparing our new act. Keith's, Washington (April 18): Maryland, Baltimore (Am 11 "A- Keith's, Philadelphia (May 2L Direction ROSE & CURTIS title role. The piece, which h*i Robert MoQuide in the leading role, will play a week in Atlantic City, with Springfield, Mass., to follow- All Colored. Creamer and Layton, the colored songwriters, have written a music* revue, "Ebony Nights," whi > *'" be Mitt out with an all-negro <" fl8 as a road show. The piece li bein ' cast.