Variety (December 1921)

M LEGITIMATE Friday, December 9, 192l1 AND COMMENT "Alias Jimmy Valentine,"* Gaiety ilsr we*.k>. Willi "Bought anil l*ai<l For" brought back to life at the l'lay house, this is forerunner of flock of revivals, unprecedented in number and thig early in sea- won. "Valentine" opened Tuesday. George Tyler again presenting. "Ambush," Belmont (9th week). Moved up from Garrick last week. Business uptown not strong but improvement over Garrick pace, with last week's takings close to 95.00*. Showed climb during week. •Anna Christie," Vanderbilt (Ith week). Chances of this Kugone O'Neil drama growing better. Last week saw early days $200 better, than previous week. Gross shaded M.000, best normal week since opening, and • this week should And further increase. "Beware of Dot*," 39th St. (10th week). Annual William Hodge .comedy regarded as amusing per- formance and better than* his of- fering last year. Not exceptional draw here but looks like a cinch on tour as usual. Is announced to switch to another house here Dec. 19. "Bilf of Divorcement/' Times Square 49th week). Excellent call for Knglish drama in agencies and business continues to stand up strongly. Last week Sl*,70O» close to dramatic leaders. "Bteeaem Time,** Ambassador (11th week). Getting excellent support, draw coming from smart music lovers. Last week's gross shaded $19,000, as strong as any normal week since opening. "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," Rita (12th week). Rebound from noli- daya found takings around $13.000|-^™> last week. Lowest figure since opening but sizeable gross this season •Bombe/* Jolson (10th week). First part of last week reported to have dropped sharply. But business here has been big and J olson show ie with the leaders. ••ought and Paid For,* Playhouse (let week). \V. A. Brady revival of drama which holds house rec- ord here. It succeeded "Marie Antoinette," expensive production lasting two weeks. Revival opened Wednesday. •Daddy's Gone A-hunting," Ply- mouth (14th week). Is through as far as Broadway is concerned. Leaving next we*k for Chicago. "The Idle Inn." adaptation from Yiddish, with Ben-Ami, succeeds lie . l«*. •Dtmi -Virgin," Kltinge (Sth week). J'raw as strong as house can ac- •-omniodrite, last week's grosi over $lo.oco. •Dream Maker," Empire (3d week). William (;illctte in new detective drama finding fairly food support, with bu«-.ne.<s last week at $11,200. •Duky," lYazce < 17th week). Busi- nes-< slipped down following holi- day, as with virtually entire list. La-t w< • k's takings about $9,000, won h was under expectation*. •Everyday," Bijou (4th week). Will be withdrawn Saturday. Another disappointing n»-w attraction: flg- ur»il to build. House listed to go dark. •Fair Circassian/* Republic (1-:: week). Came in Tuesday, ?■;■•- reeding "Tiie Man's Name," n four-p< -rsriii d.ama that lav*» . two -\« i-ks. ^ "* i-1 rst t ear/ 1 * T,i 11: e 7591 h'"" w < ■<1:' i? indications are for second sea- son s successful stay. Normal pare of $10,000. which mean* h*avy night attendance in small "Get Together." Hippodrome (13th w*»k). Probably lowest week of Kt'.'i-on with (32,000 grossed. Re- ported show can about break even »»n T iiat. •Good Morning, Dearie/' C.lobe (6th week). Dillingham musical smash. Business shaping up as strong as Fred Stone at this house. Looks easy for balance of season. Drew $1:9,200 last week, which means "Dearie"' is par with Broadway's best. "Grand Duke," Lyceum (ftth week). Getting class carriage trade and although not among money lead- ers of non-musicals, should stay for a run. Cross last week $12,000. "Greenwich Village Follies," Shu- b*Tt fl5;h week). Strengthening of miuw has' helped, unusual tor attraction announcing elianges on Broadway. Around $18,000 la.*t week. Will run into late January as originally planned. •Her Salary Man/' Cort (2d week). New comedy getting fair business, ranging from $K00 to SI.'00 nigh;ly anil a gross of about $8,000 first week. Approximates V>u«i- iwss of predecessor. "Only 38." Is listed for a month with Sam Har- ris* "Rice to Face," probably com- ing in Jan. 1. •Intimate Strangers/ 1 Miller (ith weelo. Billie Burl<»- show holding up vi-ry well for thi* house. Last we.kn business $12,000 or trifle better. I* come-back for vtar who has bright vehicle. •Just Married," Nora Bayes (32d we*k). Business last week sur- prisingly good for holdover farce. Over $£.000, considerably belter than some new offerings that ave been hanging on. Two for one tickets area. a-y.^^ii'. for good a' •fMl- "Kiki," Belaaco (2d week). Smash of new shows. Jumped to sell-out for second performance, never known for Belasco show. Demand iu agencies best; Lenore Ulrica performance as star counts heav- ily in show's favor. Got $14,300 in seven performances (opened Tues- day last week). "Lilies of the Field." Klaw (10th week). Extra advertising cut down. Pace is about what man- agement aimed for, with last week seeing gross of about $10,500. May settle for run. "Liliom," Fulton (34th week). New attraction may be secured for house around holidays or shortly afterward. "Liliom" still making profit, with cut rates now im- portant aid. "Main Street'' National (10th week). Has another week to go, then (or road. House announced going into stoek revival with star cast forming, headed by Wilton Lack- aye and George Nash. "Music Box Revue," Music Box (12th week). Unwavering call at agencies and box office promotes prediction that ahow will run a solid year or longer. Last week takings $29,500. That is regular pace now for eight performances with $5 charged nightly and takes :.i standees. "Nature's Nobleman/' Apollo (4tta week). Four week guarantee ex- pires Saturday. Show then moves; to 48th Street, keeping that bouse from darkness. Apollo will be shut for changes until "The Two Or- phans'' opens Christmas week. "Na- ture's Nobleman" gross reported very low. '•Sally/' New Amsterdam (51st Completes solid year next week, with money gross probably unprecedented on Broadway. Drop early last week pulled down gross slightly, but takings went well over S2ft.Q*Q. "8huffie Along." C3d Street (29th week). For all-colored revue hold- ing over, this one is a wonder. CJet- ting $2 top, for over $12,000 kist week. Will charge $1 New Year's Eve. "Six Cylinder Love," Sam Harris (16th week). Post-holiday slide no- ticed here as with other leaders. Last week business not up to nor- mal pace and around $14,000 drawn. Southern mn^ Marlowe, Century (Cth week). Final week, Shake- spearean stars having stayed two weeks longe.* titan )>ookings called for. Attendance aimed for month's stay and business dropped sharply last week. "The Chocolate Soldier" revival opens rfext Monday. "Tangerine," Casino <18ih week). Leader of the $3.50 musical offerings this season. Weekly pace of around $20,000 continues with last week's gross $19,900; virtually no drop af- ter holiday for normal week. "Thank You," Longacre (10th week). Management hopeful for this eomedy, with agencies getting calls for it now. (Jot $7,600 week which is claimed to be better than even break. "The Bat,' Oliver Morosco (68th week). Nearly $10,000 last week and should jump this week, judged from Monday ami Tuesday pace. I I«'ll over mysti ry piece figures to ; •' 1.;;^; Washington's Birthday. •T: c C rcl?," Selwyn 113th week). • •■'<. proportionate drop -- ••" •••-*.-•■ • heip.^.«;j> ou t same ■■•• ?• 'ion-musical attrac- ts". .. ■' ■ ' ;: ore it led dramas. Hroadhurst (8th we. k no exception to about ■ premiere. Punch and new com- edy finding support in cut rates, but there is little call in agencies. House tiny and only small gross possible. "The Green Goddess," Booth (46th week). Certain to attain year's run. Business last week held up better than expected, the scale reduction to $2.50 figured to have aided. Tak- ings around $9,0o0. "The O'Brien Girl," Liberty (10th week). The Cohan show should ride nicely through winter. Attendance held up to expectations last week with gross around $17,000. "The Perfect Fool," Cohan (5th wwk). Kd Wynn show getting great play so far with 50 extra seats iii.sei ted duMii.siuiis and 3.1 iu "bal- cony. (Crossed around $18,000 last week, about all house can do at $2.50 top. "The Silver Fox," Maxlne Rlllott (Hth week). Final week for this comedy, for which a run was hoped. William Knvorshnm hends cast for revival of "The Squaw Man" due for Lyric. "The, Mountain Man' suc- ceeds next week. "The Varying Shore," Hudson (1st we#k). KHie Ferguson under Sam Harris' direction relighted house .Monday. Attraction en me in with favorable reports and big business from prembre points. One of the f'-w attractions this season at $3 top. "Tho Wild Cat." r».i:-!; Much ir:f< re-c \ t •: i>\- f 1, a»! 1 .'»■•! iop, \\ )'ii-h j ■> ;i! ; Oje n« d to $ ! m(M» . v ..)■•. d a.\ 1, wit h la<: wi c v« • of around S1 :j,<n• ■ 1 or li tional. "Wandering Jc.v," K-i '< '..it.- 1. Tth wt-kj, J :..s ' w«, in .. i- v.. FORCINC CHICAGO RUNS TO GET HOLIDAY TRADE Arrival of Seasonable Theatre Weather Gives ^Mana- gers Hope *H CIs L;- "Tne Wi • I >. 1.♦■)•«. an takings went $H.ttin), jn-.veyt ertiss sine. "The Great Broxopp," Judy (Ith week). This Chicago, Dec, 7. The Rialto was very quiet this week, with hardly a thing to cause commotion. Ideal theatre weather at la^ is making its appearance. The managers look to hold their produc- tions In Chicago at all hazards uj to the first of the year. If the attrac- tions now In town succeed in this they likely will tack on fancy figures to the Christmas and New Year's performances. Most of the shows are settled and will prolong their runs so as to get the gravy from this town on there two days. Bookings on some of the shows split the two days. "The Gold Diggers" goes out Dec. 24 and "Scandals" will be here just long enough to grab off the Christmas business. "The Follies" and "The Return of Peter Grimm" squeeze in in time to enjoy one holiday's busi- ness. * Estimates for last week: "The Gold Diggers," Powers, (12th week). Leaves Dec. 24. About $17,500. Will finish a good run. *Tbo White-Headed Doy," Olympic (3d week). Grossed *9,e#eV Adver- - Using heavily and may be able to stand an extended run. Greenwich Village Follies," Garrick (5th week). Racing along steadily, grossing $15,900. "Scandals" is just half a block from this show. "Queen of Snoba," Woods f 3d week). Film. Continuous, grinding $.6,700. Expects to stand off further book- ings until after the ilrst of the year. "Tip Top," Colonial (17th week). Left Dec. 3 for Bo?ton. Business has been very wabbly the latter part of its run. Hlippt t down last week. This show did not complete its booked time, and George White's "Scandals" came into the Colonial from the Illinois at a new top of $3. "Nice People," Cort (Cth week). Everything running in this show's favor. $14,500, sell-cut. "The Bat." Cohans Grand (50th week). No doubt will close its run immediately after the first of the year. Has broken all Chicago run records Ions ago. 0\er $10,000 claimed (9 performances). "Woman cf Bronze," Princess (5th w- ':». Margaret Anglin praised ev»- y where for her performances; Sl.ViOO. "The Skin Game," Shubert Central (5th week). Can stand a few n>ore weeks at the pace it is going. Grossed $6,000. "Take It From Me," Shubert Great Northern (1st week). Opened with a punch and centered more than a little attention on its showing. Considering this is also a come- back ('The Woman of lironze" be- ins th" other), its gross of $12,000 is excellent. "Scandals," Illinois (8th week). Moved Dec. 4 to the Colonial for a three-week run. Grossed around $15,500. Klsie Jams and her gang opened with everything in her favor. "Love Birds," Studebaker (2d week). Finished weak with an intake of $6,500. The show ilid not catch on in Chicago and will leave in another week. "Enter Madame," Playhouse (2d week). The star was ill and one performance was missed, giving the show a gross of $9,100. "Lightnin'," Illackstone (13th week). $21,000 and scats till at a pre- mium. WORST OF WEATHER LESSENS PHHIY'S GRI Succession of Storms Last Week—Three Openings Monday FRISCO SHOWS San Francisco. Dec. 7. The Georgia Minstrels, filling a week at the Savoy theatre last week, drew good business at $1 prices, as did the Harvey Minstrels, who preceded the Georgia aggrega- tion by two weeks. "The Marcus Show of 1921," at the same house in between the minstrel troupes, and offering the snappiest entertain- ment that has been at this house thi«» tpMson, f**tl way below o rx ■ pected receipts, and this despite the heavy advertising done by the Mar- Philadelphia, Dec 17. The worst weather of the year caused a wailina; and gnaahing of teeth In most of the legit box offices here last week. The oJ ro ost con- tinual succession of storms sent some shows which* had been teeter- ing down on the wrong side. With the before -Christmas slump In the offing. It will take exceptional at- tractions to weather the storm. The syndicate people seem pretty well provided, with Skinner, always I bear office winner here, opening at the Broad, Monday, for a two weeks' run, and Ethel Barry-more in "Declassee" to fallow bias for three more weeks. The DUUagbaa* Im- portation of an English thriller. "Bulldog Drummond," leaks good for the Garrick, although four weeks seems too long to tne wiseacres la such a season. The Forrest, witji "The Broadway Whirl,- appears the most doubtfuL The Shuberts hare one wouM-be record-breaker. -The BaV which ha* begun to slide some, but will continue to realise good money until after the holiday a They also have the uncertain "Afgar" coming in- next Monday at the Lyric, where rwtrlchstein failed to much. "Hie Last Walts/' ends next week, and the Shubert will bo dark the week before Christmas. The Wal* nut has "Emperor Jones" this week. but has announced nothing fc rween that and "The Bad Man," which opens Christmas Day. There were three openings this week, and they all had satisfactory. though, in only one ease big. open- ings. Skinners "Blood and Sand" drew a splend.d house to the Broad. 'and the consensus s^*emed to be that it was a better vehiete for the star than "At the Villa Rose,' in which he appeared here last year. The tragic end, however, received some rather critical slaps, especially from the nrst Light society audience. "The Broadway Whirl - bad a fine house downstairs, with a few gaps above. It was well taken bv the critics. Ditrichstein's "Face Value" showed promine afte. - bad week of "Toto," but the papers the show as very frothy material. Estimates for last week: "Blood and Sand" (Broad. 1st week). Opened to house that showed only last three rows vacant. Froh- man office is emphasizing appear- ance of Cornelia Skinner, known around here in social circle* and for her work in Bryn Mawr College amateur theatricals. "The Easiest Way" did nicely with about $13,000 last week. "The Last Waltr" f.Shubert. 3d week). Looks unexpectedly good, though new Forrest show mav dent it some. Three-fourths house 4 downstairs have been the rule, even on bad nights, with sell-outs at end of week. $22,000. "The Broadway Whirl" (Forrest. 1st week). Well received on all sides at .pnepinj?. Is., in for ♦.»?••*•-. weeks at a bad time, and st ill re- mains very doubtful. Janis dropped to scant $14,000 for last week. '•Bull Dog Drummond" (Garrick. 2d week). This Dillingham thriller is well liked here and manage- ment Is running some publicity to get it goins- in money swim. A bulldog contest with prize for best presented was one stunt. $14,000 first week. "Emperor Jones" (Wahiut. 3d week). flood balcony pliy helps offset weakness downstairs'on this one, inexplicably held for a third ► announcement of next Bad Man" Christmas. WEATHER BOSTON tho ints big the **igbt N< week show. $9,000. "Face Value" (Lyric. 1st week). Had about $1.2*0 houne at opener and showed promise, though men- tioned as flimsy material. "Toto" did about $9,500 for its last w*ek. "The Bat" <AdelphJ. llth week). Bad weather hit this long run win- ner, and it was away eff several nights, but managed to $14,000 for wci»k. 1 cus outfit. The Savoy has been do- «•-»« « A ing business for dollar shows of MKS - C0UTH0UI AUD FO LLIES merit, while the $2 attractions h;ive been unable to draw satisfactorily, the on!i exception thus far this year being the picture "Way Down K.ist," whi.'h ran successfully for .several weeks at $2. o Mr ' li- fer Chicago, Do. 7. f N*r-nce Couthoui, "Queen iiMi,-," will handle tickets ■:.'■ 1 nilics," which opens ..'1 heafre, Dec. 25 on Stone Opened to Capacity in "Tip Top" at Colonial, Boston Boston, Dec. 7. Getting the break of the first goal Monday night where weather was concerned for several weeks, thi syndicate honses in town got away to a good start with the new at. tractions that came In for openings. The only switches in attractions for the legitimate houses were at Tremont, Hollis and Colonial. "Mr. Pim Passes By" came the Hollis and registered a opening, there being about in the house when be curtain wee up, which Is considered a very fa» break for a dramatic show witbeet star on the opening. Fred Stone opened to capacity at the Colonhii with his "Tip Top" show and aT reody the advance sale for this at- traction is in the neighborhood of $15,000. This show will draw for at least six weeks, with local run probably goinL weeks. It should be the big money maker during the holiday *easoa and at the present time has the ejbj to Itself for a musical attraction, there being nothing stacked against it at either the Shubert or the legiti- mate houses. In the offing there are a couple of new shows. Petrora In "The Wsito Peacock* is due at the Selwyn next Monday night, following Thurston. Tliis will give the Selwyn the tost break of the season for a legitimate attraction, as Thurston's shew ant "The Mirage." which preceded it, did not have the pull to re-estab- lish the house as a theatre for legiti- mate attractions after the run of the photoplays. Both the Boston opera house and. the Shubert will be dark next week with the indications being that the latter house will stay dark until tho 26th of this month, if hen "Irene" will come into the house. This will be a return engagement for "Irene? as it played here at another one of the Shubert houses two seasons ago ami left while doing a wha'e of a business. The Shubert people are planning an innovation to carry the «,pera house through the rest of the sea- son, according to 1^'al report nnd this will take the form of a "Winter Circus." This is something that has never been attempted here befett spoke of and whether it will get over >. -mains I to be seen. As things go now great [things are expected of it. Business at all of the local houses sot a smash the first thre«» cars ef last week because of the Storm It cut into the box office in grand style. There was a recoverv at tho end of the week, however, and the gross was brought up to a satisfac- tory figure, everything considt red. "Only 38" (Tremont. first week). Opened pretty fair on Mondav night and occupied the same position as •Tittle Old New York" did when Jt came. However, the bed is not so warm for this show as it was for the "Little Old New York" show and It is a question as to whether it will get over very strong. 'The Love Letter" took, the expert* d flop and only did about $12,000 cm 'h.«i'"w , «?efc."VtTflf'~fhe" show going the storehouso and the star vaudeville. "Mr. Pim Passes By" <IIolli«, first week). In for a live weeks' stay and opened strong with the usual splendid opening night Hollis the- atre audiences, strong on the car- riages and the evening clothes re- galia. In the last week "Blond and Sand" did about $12,000. whi- h is* not so bad. and produced a fair mar- gin of profit. "Tip Top" (Colonial, first week). As was expected, opened to capacity. Always a big favorite here. Fred Stone should score very heaviiv for six weeks. The only thing that may react against the show is the $3 top and this *show will prove whether it is possible these da^ s fee a show, except the ••Follies," to ask over $2.50 for the regular night per- formances. "Two Little «iiiis in Blue" in the linal week got away with $1C.OOO and thin figure excep- tionally good when It is figured the show had played here four weeks on this, the repeat showing. "The Bad Man" (Plymouth, sixth week). Has done better than wm expected when it came here. It did about $10,000 last week. The final two weeks is annouiv »-d for this show. the into into gross over to go, opening in Philadelphia, read tour. (I -o-»s last week $11. Knga'.lenient disappointing in tot "Wife With a Smile," (Jaiick we IV 1. .1 W- e!.V S;ijuc-:< i f o np< 1 :i - i'i < S 11' 1 i - i' g ;i i!i'.i \v 't»v aihii- •Th \\ cs w<»-k show 1' roc o !«> ; liv -I s pr' n> With • luild -r «.f • 'rn\ in. 11 ]■< ■■ • » for .'in). :»l. (2d "ftouhnuo: ( ii;:" h; nfTiving; ••SmjV 1 •>'.•«> plays. • T'c •i pi-'iy. now !'"' :' 1 • 1' > -•. fill W\- ' ) • t ■ 1 If ,1 I I I.V I • - man -■ .1 !i'»t '<]>[' 1 v. without guarantee 'I w I IM| \\ Ml. I a >:>>:>i ri -»ie-»i basis. Mrs. Cou- :--.:»d fe Zn«gfeld nttrac- ■i ••-■<> :- • i »»n and allow her • »■» ♦!••» tickets, but on 1 ' S. I ill Marry '•)1»1 ' i :.':<■ f >\ Oil Jil tliol.i ' I.g'llt \ *!.e , r, ■ ii-K< ts s j <>. 1 u. :i.-; : Slo :'r«..a 1|.». Ziegfi-1,1. j r 1e. agrn? «>f the show. ' ' "• ' i* *: 53.SJ would be • ■• ' ' '• <; 1,0 commivsion *• ■■;!'•»«.■#!, so Mrs. r»u- • >;,'i v(»} to make an out- •»nd niakf \ht profit fruin niam. She is also handling fi»r the Apollo thratre, th«- iiubert vaii(le\rlN' house, and '-Ing a 50c. pifmium for them. "The Nioht Cap" (Wilbur, second week). Has picked up well «<ince arriving and grossed $M-t*0 last week, which is satisfactory. Thuriton (Selwyn, second week). Drawing very fair from a <-ir a tele that will nlways rnnaln d« .<...«! to a magician. "Theodora'" fShubert, third w.ek). Cro.-scl about $7. .'.00 la»t week, whirh is ahfujt $1,000 above the fig- ure it has to make to be a P'Mng l»rop<»:-it ion for c\crybo<ly. 'I" ' ls the final week. "Queen of Sboba'' »Tr- :• 1" »»* pie, second wnk). CfMi.g JS FRANK VAN HOVEN ICE