Variety (March 1922)

s. Friday. March 24, 19gg LEGITIMATE 13 GENERALLY BAD THEATRICAL SEASON FIDEUTY STARS LEAD IN 10 THEATRE WEEKS \ FINDS REFLEX IN FEW SHOW TRY-OUTS Revivals Off for Spring from Season's Experience— Play Prospects for Next Season Will Be Held Back—Four Dramatic Plays on Broadway Fight- ing for Leadership—Nothing New Next Week spring bounded In officially Tues- day amid an overture of snow flakes. Quite Avprable to theatricals, but the outlook for spring production nctivity Is subnormal in tune with general business. There will be no revivals this gprlng, the Heason's revival strength having been us«h1 up during the fall and winter with no success. More Important are the few. spring try- outs announced. There are less »how8 listed for production try-out tWs spring that ev^r remembered. There is a tendency In managerial circles to hold back plans for new shows tentatively listed for next season and even some of the most conslstant producers' have cut the try-out list to the bone. Production activity In p^eneral has fallen to low level, with the general belief that the cujtain will fall early on the season, and has for most of the attractions on Broadway. Managers are frankly skeptical about next season and with production plans set back, the pre- diction of too few shows to go around next season still* stands. One effect of the slicing down in tryouts will be a hardship worked on the eastern stands that have been kept busy throughout spring and summer. Under-production Is already evident* out of, town. This week in Washington there la but one show offered—"Mr. Plm," at the National. I'oll'a and the Oar- rick there are dark. The week atanda In the iddle west are flg- ured to close soon for the same reason. Tryouts date with early May aa a rule, and though there la bound to be more activity than now in sight, the rush of new playa de- algned for next season will prob- abfy not start until June—if there la any rush this season. Starting next season, the federal Income tax period will be regarded aa a danger poln^ in theatricals. That the general payments to the government did hurt was proven. Receipts for a majority of attrac- tions started climbing from Wednes- day (March 15) last week on, that date being the final day for filing of returns. There was no spectac- ular rise In takings to match the ■udden falling off, and It waa not •xpected. This week business again was re- ported slightly better, though that does not Include all offerings for •ome slid back even further. Mu- alcal shows moved up $2,000 and more last week trver the previous Week, showing tha*^ I^ent alone was "AaORS HATE FILTH," SAYS IND. MINISTER not tho cniiso of the jjlump. Gen- eral forecast does not anticipate the season making any exceptional spurt from now on. Tile weather has been excellent so far as amuse- ments are concerned, so the only answer to the season Is bad condi- tions. There are now four dramatic shows on Broadway blanketed for leader.ship. *Kiki,' at tho Belasco is considered the leader with the weekly gross $16,500, and demand unabated. whil« the Cort with "Cap- tain Appb'jack" is pulling to better than $16,000 also. "The Cat and the Canary" moved up another notch last week, zainlng $17,000 at the National, gjAing it actual leader- .ship In weekly gross. Indications for the full capacity of $18,000 were present early this week. "To the Ladie;'." at the Liberty, also climbed, getting better than $16,000 and plac- ing it right with Broadway's best money getters. ""The Literty capa- city is considerably more. It Is a musical comedy house and the "Ladies" comedy fn a smaTer capa- city berth would likely be called a smash. "The Roj-e of Stamboul,' the Im- portant new musical production, got away to a slow start*aN44ie Century but climbed about 20 per cen* for its second week, with around $19,000. " he Hotel Mou?»e,*' also musical, at the Shubert, did not impress. Its first week being around $12,000. "The Music Box Revue" and 'Good Morning Dearie' remain unchal- lenged for Broadway's leadership. "Sally" made a slight Improvement and anything like an even break will kee? it going through spring. Last week the gross was around $22,000, claimed ir be a loss. "Bom- bo," at Jol.son's. also moved upward a little, that attraction being figured to run another three weeks. Of the newer arrivals "The Hindu" at the Comedy opened to general satisfaction Tuesday and is regarded as having a strong chance, "Voltaire" which relighted the Ply- mouth Monday la In doubt. "Just Because" a new musical production was a Wednesday premiere at the Earl Carroll. Of last week's open- ings "The Truth About Blayds" won excellent notices and built up to very good business late last week, "The First Fifty Years" the two- person play at the Princess started weakly with less than $3,000. There are no new attractions for next week nor are there any wllh- (Continued on page 15) Churches Discovery in 1874 — Splendid Work by Actors' Church Alliance Tndianapolls. March 22. "Aotor.«'^ate filth and would much prefer not to be comi ellcd to play to a public taste which is ntt alto- geth\;r above reproach," declared the Uev. Clarence Wyatt Blsphain In a noon Lenten service at Christ Epis- copal church last Thursday. Sev- eral members of the "Honeyd.'w" company, playinr at the Murat. and acts from Keiths and tho Lj ric attended the service. Rev. Blspham score^^ the ae.\- play where the emphasis Is placed upon the fiesh and the devil. "Whose fault Is it?" he asked. "Your fault and my fault. Theatres are not run merely for pleasure. They are run for you. The patrons furnish the money. I know actors and actresses hate "Ith. Let us go to the plays and picture shows which have good influences and let us keep away from the other kind." The rector praised the Sarah Buschman Home In Philadelphia. "I wonder if you have ever aske« your.'^elf what the actor does be- tween performances. Give the peo- ple of tha stage the glad hand be- cause they are men and women just like all of us. The church made an Important discovery in 1874 and that discovery /as the players are of the »ame flesh and blood as you and L The players are not t -> be put Into a separate class." He spoke of the love which the actors have for the Church cf the Transflguration in New York City and of the splendid work he says is being done by the Actors' Church Alliance. TOO MUCH COLOR Over-supply of Color«d Shows in Pa. Ruin Business for All Almost ruinous competition of colored attractions followed the booking of no less than llvo such shows into Pennsylvania territory. Tho No. 2 "Shuffle Along," which recently opened well In the state was routed toward the southwest- ern portion. Recent bookings there of colored attractions included Charles Gilpin in "The Emperor Jones.." Mamie Smith with a jazz organization. Jack Johnson with a show unit and a colored edition of •Mutt and Jeff." Statisti(?s from Newark Take Account of Affiliation MOORE-MEGLEY PIECE FOR CHI SUMMER RUN HOUDINI AND FILM Both Opening at Times Square for $2 Top. WIFE ADMITS FAULT Mrs. Harlan Sorry She Was Cranky —Husband Escapes Alimony Kenneth D. Harlan (pictures) t»eed not pay Mrs. Harlan (Flo Hart) the $100 weekly alimony and 1700 coun.«pl fee which the Supreme Court awarded her. the Appellate Division reversing tho decision. Mrs. Harlan sued on grounds of abandonment and cruelty, Harlan •ounterlrg and alKging * ahandon- ■>«nt. The counter.-^uit Is still pending. Nelson Putt'inb(»rg of J. Robert Rubin's olTlce argued In Harlan's ^half on the appeal. He set forth khat the alleged abandonment of July 25. li)21. was negatived by let- jera Mrs. Jl.ulan i^ont to het luis- '^nd subsequently in which she ac- *®Pted full responsibility for their ™atrimoniaI difTercnces. The at- Jornoys introduced a Iff tor datojl September 5. 1921, in whiih sho ^»d. "OoodSye. dear, be a'lgood bny. JZ^ I ^vas HO cranky. Lovo. vir. ^FLO." HILL'S FIRST $2 SHOW h^f^^^^ dramatic play produred \lit "'"• ^^^ which a title has yei to be selected, opens April 2. in l^ton. Pa. Hill has been Interested thi *?7^'"'*' Broadway attractions, B-I!. • ^^^^ attempt as the aole ^J^'Qduccr of a $2 .how COHAN'S UNCHANGED Same Name and Policy When Thea- tre Passes to Mark-Spiegel Co. The George • M. Cohan theatre, which pas.'^es Into the control of the Mark-Spiegel Realty Co. May 8. will contini.e with its present policy and with the name of the house unchanged. It was recently n^^orted that an annual rontal of $0n.ooo for the property iniuht be accoiUed, l)Ut this was donied by tl^e new l(>sse«-a, which has refused an «iffer of $100,- 000 yearly for an eight-year period. MASON-HOPPER DIVORCE Los Angeb's. March IJ-'. A soi'orid suit for divorce was lil d list week by Ruth E. Mason Hopper against K. Harold Mason-HopjM-r. pictur»> direr'tor and produ<-<r. Sin- charg< s h.>r husl)aii<l >«*nt b>'r a wire during a trip slif ir.;.i!" to .\\aIo!i in which he crUvl h"v ;• • tv. ..-I'a ♦■<1 woman." OfhtT arcMS,itir)n.-< ar" ililv.U'd against tin- dirccior \<y bis wif< . Mr.s. Mason-Hopptr's lirst sn:f was tiled a y»'ar airo. but slior:l.% aft.r- ward-< tho (ouple w.-r..' r»'Cf.iuibMl and action dismissed. They were married at Kalamazoo, Mi«'b.. Sep- tember, I'JU, and separated .Novem- ber. 1921. . ii , Mason-Hoppc • *' ^ iist signed a ilong-Urm cor "*' ® li Goldwyn. Harry Houditd. both In film and personal appearance, will be the next attraction at the Times Square, succeeding 'The I^aw Breaker" there April 2. The latter show opened at the Booth, moving over to the 42d street house last week. Tho Houdinl date is Indefinite and win play at $2 top, with 50 cents for the rear balcony. The Il- lusionist and escape expert will have tho stage about 45 minutes, the show total running the usual two and one-half hours, with two showings dally. A number of new illusionb in addition to "standard" Iloudlni feats will be given. The picture is said to havo been made to fit the Houflini personal Inter- lude, and it is proposed to tour the show after the Broad Aay appear- ances. Full Length Musical Comedy for Palace—For New York in Fall It was definitely settl d thia week that Menlo Moore and Macklin Meg- ley would provide the summer en- tertainment for *he Prlace, Chicago when that lioupe discontinues lu regular season of Orpheum vaude- ville, the date of which has not aa yet been announced. The production will be "Molly Darling." the book by Otto Har- bach" and William Carey Duncan, with music and lyrics by Tom Johnstone and Phil Cook. Julian Mitchell is staging the piece, which goes into rehearsals at the Liberty theatre. New York, next Monday. J. J. Rosenthal will supervise the management of the piece. This Is the first fffort at musical comedy by the Moore-Megley com- bination, although they have pro- duced a large number of successful miniature mu.<*Ical productlona and girl acts for vaudeville. The show will open at Detroit April 18 with Cleveland following tho next we^k after which it comes to the Palace, although It Is possible the vaude- ville jooklngs may delay Its arrival there a week or two. Following the Chicago run the producers propo.se to Introduce their show to New York, a September opening hero now being 1*. negotia- tion. Newark. N. J.. March 2* Kqulty continues to make Iarg» claims of its dominance in the field. That there are pie'Uy of non-Equity attractions, h o v.-e v c r, has been shown here In a etrlking manner lately. The prominent part Fidelity stars play la theatrical fare hua been impressed upon Newarkers, who are aware of the alllllation of the actors. Commencing Jan. 31, out of tea successive attractions at tho Broad Street theatre, eight have been headed by Fldolltj utars or are ainilated and Independent produc- tions. The list reads as fol'owj: Mary Ryan (Fidelity), Oeurge White (Independent). Hoi brook Bllnn (Fidelity), Henry Miller and Blanche Bates (Fidelity). Fay Balnter (Fidelity), Margaret Angltn (Fidelity), "Mary" (Ind pe.ident), Sothern and Marlowe (Indepenc'.ent). Many members of these com- panies were not Equity. In .Ute'a large aggregation but one principal la Equity and aome three membera of the chorus. Thla la not a complete list, but simply ripresenta 10 weeks at Newark. OFFERED^UT SALARY "Marjolaine** Mambers Requested tp Reduce for Longer Run TRIES SUICIDE Lawrence F. Berry, Jr., at Newark Hospital, Re^vering Newark. N. J.. March 22. Lawrence F. Berry, Jr., an actor, attempted suicide Sun«lay morning by drinking pol.sojj. He had been out of work for three months and was ('espondenL because his wife had left him and returned to her parents in S.»;ita l^irbara, Cal. Berry served In the war and was wounded and gas.sed. After the armistii/e he returned to his profes- sion, but wan unable to get engage- ment.'^, aji<1 had done otlwT work, from wliich he 'vaa iinally b'id off. Berry was taken at once to Ibo Newark City lIo.q)ital, where he Is recovering. H,' i.> said tu)\v to be In ro (^•l^.J^■r THOllNTON IN CO'JllT r.ert,;ird Thornton v.as arriii^rned j;i 111.- West f. lib 1 >liee court Tu»H- (i.iv, on a fbarpe j.r« ferred by i>olice of^ieeis. Ili.^ bearing was adjourned. The company appearing In "Mar- jolalne" at the Broadhurst, New York, waa called togcthor Wednes- day by the producer, .usaell Jan- ney. and requeated to accept.a cut In salary in order that the piece may remain on Broadway over the summer. It la reported the mem- t>er8 of the caat, with the exception of Peggy Wood, who i> featured with Lennox Pawle in the piece, agreed to take the cut Misa Wood, according to tha report, informed the manager she would withdraw from the cast If the cut was placed in effect. "Marjolalno" opened originally at the Broadhurst with Janney giving rhe members of the cast I. O. Us. for the first few weeks. The piece hav« ing caught on, salaries have been paid up to date. HUBLBUT^S 'HAUNTED HOUSS'* A ftew legit show with a cast of 14 people, entitled "The Haunted House," by William Hurlbut and being produced by Joe Shea, will go Into rehearsal next week. SHU6ERTS' PRODUCTION SHOPS ARE ALL SUDDENLY aOSED Managers Reported Disgusted with Theatrical Con- ditions in New York—^**Rose of Stamboul*' and ''Blue Mouse" Disappointments w*^ Eclasco's Play for Francet Starr David Bela.'^co has peeured the production rights to a new play by Jean Archibald, to be used aa a starring vehicle for Frances Starr. The Hhuberts shut down their produetlon phops Haturday. The order to close wa.s suddenly issued. It Is reported the managers became tllsgUHted with the poor business on Broadway, espc-ially noting the slow start of "The Uoso of Stam- boul" at the Century, with "The Hotel Mt^usc,' at tho Shubert, con- siderable under cxiiectations al.*^© for its first week. Tbo general carpentry doparttnent, v/bich ineludes tbo building of sots and affects, and the scenlv? studio were dosed, between 25 and 30 mc'n being affected. The property ware- h(»U3e, however, was little disturbed, tbotigh several men were laid off tli'-re .also. It was s;iid tho Sbu- iMits' Mj<Mb.ini(;al dejiartments would remain (lo. ed until the managers made a decision about try-out pro- dUf tions, usually dated after May 1. The shutdown Will prol>ably con- tinue for six. weeks. The Shuberts plunged Into active production around tho first of the yeax. at which time Indications were for a betterment In the legitimate fieftl. Unleaa the closing ord^ li> withdrawn, the final prpdj^ctlon ^ntil aummer will be "Jenny yfonea.** a drama with Mirjorle Han;bea'i, opened by the Shuberts and /.. 11 Woods in Baltimore Monday. Shubert, RADIO MUSIC Minneapolis, S^grtS Concerts fOf Minneapolis, March 22. Buzz Bainbrldge, manager of the Sliubtrt, has snnoimced signing of a contract with ihe Hadio Orcelistra Association of America whereby the local stock house gets tho exc! alve rights to concerts to be sent by wireless. No jorchestra has been used at tho Hbubert for three ycar.s, and the question of displacing Io^iaX musicians will not bo Involved. Tho aerials and receiving set aro being installed. The audience will hoar tho music through tclephono receivers and amplifiers within tho theatre, the Shubert being licensed to cut In whenever it pleases. Under tho plans for distributing "canned/nustc" fi. the United Stivtea th^ country Is divided Intc four aec- tore corresponding with time <Uvi- aiona. Mual<} U prOYlded lB*eack sector between 7.1S and 10J., atftiUy.