Variety (March 1922)

14 LEGITIMATE Friday, March 24, 1922 INSIDE STUFF ON LEGIT Bcvd.'il of \i\c I'.''«iul\vny producrrs have conclwtlcJ to acoopt no script for stage i>ro(liJt!i<tn tliat does not also give them the film rights. Recent purehas<"M if i.l.ijh mlnu*! the f,cv(<n rights lja\e resulted in the pro- ducer teeing liis id;!, tiiriicd into a pietine with no benefit to himself. CUT RATES LOWERS RECEIPTS "Fair nnd AVarnier" will he prrsrnted in Parlfl, Germany and Italy this •priiig. Avery Jlopwood, who is abroa*! will superintend the rehearsals, not jet i»resrnted on the continent. 'The Gold Diggers," a Ilopwood ronu'dy. will be produc d in l^ari.*-: in the fall, also *'Th«? Hat," now play- ing in Lmulon, and which is the ji)int woik of Hopwood and Mrs. Mary Roberts R« inhart. Hopwood is due back in New York in May, by which time he is to bavo two now ))lnys ready. One Is for A. II. Woods and the oilic: f'-r Wagenhal.s &- K<iiip<r, who produced '"The Bat." The In«-pcction of aH tlunins in New York that followed tho AVash- li.pton disaster, when the Knickerbocker collapsed, has resulted in limi- tations for standees being set for various hou.ses, mostly concerned at the legitimate tlv?ntres which have been over capacity. The Music Box was limited to 18 .^tandcf s for any one performance, and th«i regulations for ether houses were made according to the lobby fpace. For other houses. Including picture th< atrrs, the standee rule within roped limits has not been diiiturbcd. Booking coiipcMion hn* ;ilrt-ndy devr'opod in routing attractions for r.ext season, due to tlie pooling arrantement between the Shuberts and Erlanger in certain citie.«. New Orleans, for several years con.<idered the hub of the southern territo.*y, will have but one hou.<e. Tulane, next searon, for attraction."?. The Shuberts will turn the St. Charles into a vaud'^ville stand. It Is said. At the pre.sent timt tho Tulane la booked solidly until February, 1923, with the majority of attractions controlkd by the larger producers. "With two houses playing attractions in New Orleans, the road managers could rely upon a full week stand aftrr having played several one nighters to get into Texas. With the elimination of the St. Charles, a number of attractions will be forced to continue over tho one and two night stands to work their way into the southwest territory. "The Rubicon" did $9,500 last week at the Hudson.- The play open* d to a I6.&00 week and shortly after thought of closing. It is paid the company ran get out over even at $7,500 gross. It followed on the heels of 'The Demi-Virgin" publicity. "The Demi-Virgin" unanimous decision by the Appellate Term has been appealed by the city of New York. The Appellate Term decided tho Ijiccnse Commissioner could hot revoke the license of a legitimate theatre; that the State .stattite supposedly giving him that power applied only to pi«turo houses. If the Court of Appeals doe.s not uphold the lower court and Woods is decided against, the producer intends taking the matter Into the V. S. Supreme Court on its constitutionality. "The Demi-Virgin" is still running at the Kltinge, New, York. The Woods office this weel; prepared .a Ftatem* nt in answer to the many detractors of tho piece and contemplated placing it as a paid advertisement in the New York dailies. P.« yond ihc booking and pooling understanding of the Eilanger and Shubeit sides, th.cre has been no merger nor amalgamation of interests or productions. The joint production ntory f^pread about had no acturtl basis. A. L. Erlanger has hoi n in French Lick for several days. He was expected to return yesterday (Thursday), perhaps stopping on the way to pick up Flo Ziegfeld, who went to Chicago from Palm Beach to see the Will l{f>g« ;s .*-liow. The Selwyns will start rehearsals for the new "Potash and Perlmutter ' come<ly v.hich will feature Eariiey Bernard and Alex, Carr. The show Is by Montague Glass find Jt^les Eckert Goodman, who collaborated in ofher "P. &; P." shows. The title for the new play may be sub-titled ••The Schenken Six." ■".Schenken" is a Yiddish expres.sion which means "111 fctake you to it." Anotlier tentative title is 'The Flivver Six." the new play having to do with motor cars. The Selwyns will produce in a8so<iation witli A. H, Woods, who presented all tlie other P. & V." shows. Woods is said to have remarked that it was worth $10,000 to bring Bernard and Carn together. Thero was considerable personal feeiing between the pair, and when they iplit, Bernard appeared alone In "His Hnnor, Abo Potash," which was th« last show of the series. Bernard and Carr are now f=ald to be otj good term?'. They will be c<iually billed In all announcements, Bernord doing "Abe" and Carr again playing "'Muv.ru.s.' S«\era. piof« svi,.i-,als who reerntly have visited the f.3d Street Mu«lc Hall, where 'Sljufilc Along* is holding forth, are conimep.iint on the tactics of the sidewalk ticket ,specfi, who solicit those waiting on the lines befoic show tim**, offering choice seats in the first five rows at a 60-<"ent ad\nnce. Tho sidewalk boys make no attempt at secrecy, dis- regardin'j the presence of any uniformed house attache, even to the extent of walking into the lobby and audibly announcing their offers. Even in the gri ate.st rush it does not seem likely the box office men or an ununiform* d house nnployo would be deaf to such tactics. The wise 'uns have been commenting just what arrangement the house man- agement must be having with tho sid«'walk sellers. The new ticket speculation bill now pending in AU>any is aimed at just such practices. Willian. Hniris Is asking 10 per cent, royalty and 50 per cent, of the profits for the Kngli'-h rights to 'The IJad Man." Arrangements were under way for a London prtiduction of the piece during tho coming season, with a possibility of HoUtrook Blinn going abroad to i»lay the title role, liut were discontinued when the demands of Harris were made known. It is po.'^sible that Mr. Harris wants to lndd" the jvhcc ft>r production abroad uJid» r his own management, as he in i-onlemp'ating making his residence in I'aii-, it Is said. (Coiitinucd from page 1) goers believe they can event- ually get reduced rates for shows at some time, if not early In the run either through cut rate agencies or the "two for one" plan. With the cut rate list averaging over 20 at- tractions to ficlect from, tho cut rate hunters have been afforded a diversiUed amusement faro and with nearly 50 per cent, of Broadway's list available, the awaiting of the more favored shows to make an ap- jiearaiice ill "ciHs' has been made easier than ever. The (/entury, now plaj ing "The Rose of Stamboul, • is tho most prominent example of playgoers' control through cut rates. Tho big house on Central Park >Vest has been given over to "two for one" tickets and cut rates most liberally for its past three attractions. It has thereby built up a remark- able call for the cheap tickets. The "liose" was scaled at $2.50 top and it was thought the establishment of the lower scale there would counter- balaiice the Century's "rep." But In spite of tho show being the finest production the Shuberts have placed in the Century, the show has drawn luactically nothing in the balcony. It is believed that group of pa- trons that demands reduced prices is 'waiting out" the pitching of bal- cony seats Into cut rates by the management, or the distribution of the "two for cne.s," That the "Rose" opened at the worst possible time, its premiere coming during the sea- sons lowest gross week, occasioned by tho beginning of L.ent and the payment of federal income taxes, made the failure to dispo.^e of balcony seats In tho regular way all the more a bald fact Business for the second week of the "Rose ' at the Century bettered tho first week al out 20 per cent., the gross going to around $19,000, Most of the takings ar ? represented in the orchestra floor, the sale now being about two-thirds of the avail- able number of seats there (tlv<? Century's lower floor holdd about 900). The hou.'^^e can get around $40,000 weekly a*, the present scale, so that the business is off one-half in volume to date. Like "The Last Waltz." "Tho Rose of Stamboul' is an imported musi- cal piece. The "Waltz"' show opened In May of last year, and even at that late premiere date averaged $32,000 weekly for th? first four weeks. It was regarded a sensa- tion at first and did run throughout tlie fall, thouph tho matinees were cut out during July and August. Cut rates figured in the run of "The Last Waltz,' with "two fjr one" sales counting heavily also. "Tho Night Watch" provided much opportunity for that class of ticket sales, the draw coming from all points. "The Chocolate Soldier" re- vival, which followed "The Last Waltz" was a favorite In th« cut rates, tho sales from that source being as high ar 2,500 in one day (for two performances Saturdays). It appears to be so well known that "Rose" tickets will reach cut rates, that it Is the accepted explanation of why the upper floor seats re- mained unsold at the box office. Other attractions, particularly the musicals, have felt the powe** of the cut rates also. "The Blue Kitten" found balcony sales virtually nil at the Selwyn, ana alloted tickets to "cuts" a fe»v weeks aft?r opening. "The Blushing Bride,' "Up In the Clouds," "For Goodness Sake," "Pins and Needles'* and this week "Tho Hotel ^louse" all were dumped into cut rates soon after opening,' and all vere topped at $2,50. Not a fo'iv dramas which won good notices found the balcony sales away off, desi)ito good siipport on the lower floor, and such attractions are now to be found in cut rates. Some managements are opposed to the cut rate sy-jtem but a portion of them have given way to what may be assumed to be the public call. Others have steadfastly refused, pointing out that the creation of a precedent brings about the very thing that Is now complained of— failure to sell balcony soats at the box office. The "waiting out" of the bargain hunters for ami'sements is not con- fined to the legitimate, but that ap- pears also true of the special pic- ture showings. Long runs at $2 top on Broadway are becoming difficult, the public knowing that sooner or later the same pictures will be exhibited iu one of the other regular Broadway picture pal cos, where the top admission is less than one-half. The spu'Ial showings, too, are round Jj^ cut rates, but the re- lease of such features works out about the same way. HONORING ABBOTTS Friars Holding Special Meeting to Ratify Action A special meeting of the Friars in the Monastery will be held today (March 24)), at 6 p. m. It has been called to ratify the recent and unanimous action of the club's Board of Governors, rec- ommending Wells Hawks and John W. Rum.sey be made honorary mem- bers of .he society. >rr. Hawks was the Friars' first abbot; Mr. Rumsey also was among the earliest abbots of the Friars and became noted among its members for the earnest attention devoted to the affairs of the club by him for many years. to promote advance .sales, and is Just the rever.sc of the method In dis- posing o." theatre tickets. Some of the agencies dispose of the Greenwich Village events tickets, and in ., sen.se that makes them cut raters. "Tic Hotel Mouse," which Is a Shubert success with Taylor Holmes and Frances White, adapted by Guy Bolton, is running as a farce without music at the Queen'.s, London, a literal translation from the French work of the oiigiiwl authors, M, Paul Armont and >rarcel Gerbidon. Dorothy Mlnto and Henry Kendall are the principal players there. Gforgo Arli-s i;; to >;i» ai-ruad this year ar.d appenr in "The Green God- dess" in Lon«lon utuh-r ih" inanagenient of Winthmp Ames. Mr. Arlis.s, although an JOngli.thman, has not appeare«l there in J2 years. He has a lueliM'' lontract in this country with three ye.us to run. Fnder It ho is to make at least one produetion e;o ii summer.' An arrar.K'ment regard- ing thi-5 >\ouUl ha\e to lie *'neirte<l before he wriit ir.to a London run unless the pictured were mndt.' abroad. There has been a l.-attlc on between the Shuberts and the majority of tiiv til' .'itr» tiel;« r agencies since the opening of "The Hotel Mmis*" at tb< Shubert. The reason is the Tyson Co, K«C!ue«l th" majority of the front frcuts for tho attraction."*, wli»reupon the other brokers would not "buy," The arr.u.gement with the Tyson i'o. was reached through the "con- cys.«J{>n' i»lan tluy h.ivo with tho .Snuberts ;.nd which a i.:.iuVnr c' the o?^*er aKe;,ts rifu.*-;* «1 to aecef-t. Thoj-o funny Grconwkh \ illage balls that rev« r get going until ^ell past midnight and usually flaro forth a^ Webster Hall, have a ticket Belling system. Tickets bought In advance are $3, but if bought at the ^b« sanie acheme Is one TliA rise of Keystone Tiro stock within the la'-t week caused some interest, but not much excitement along Broadway. The sensational rise of the stock several years ago, when it climbed to 126. led to many per.<ons in theatrical circles to believe themselves wealthy. Millions were made on paper, but before a few wise ones got out Keystone dived and found a final resting place with the quotation of 6. Actual losses of thousands ♦e.sultell when the stock dropped, any number of pur- chases beinjjmadr when the stock was above 100. This week it was around $17 .ishare. with one showman declaring he had tipped off the jump in <iuotation as eairly as the first of the year. Manipulation of Key.wtono Is apparent in the upward movement. Lissburger and Jacobs, who .started the Keystone tire stores, are still in control. Ex-Congressmati Joseph L. Rhinoek's home in New Roclu lie, N. Y., was entered last week and a handbag belonging to Mrs, Bliinock was stolon, the bag ct.ntainlng diamonds valued at $12,500. The family was at dinner, tlie tliief- probably using a ladder lo gain entrance to the second lloor. The loss was covered by insurance, btit Rhinock was not fully app«'ased. He was sore that the.tri.k should luive been pulled off while he was at home. Arthur Hopkins rushed "Vf.ltaire" into rehearsal on short notice and oi)» ned it within ff>ur week-? of his fn-.^t sight of the m.'inu«cript, as the rc'sult of a coincidence whieh startled a certain star atul two hopeful girl««. Leila Tayhr and Gertrude Purcell. who wrote "Voltaire," had looked t;io tield over and decided George Arliss was the man to cr«ate the rob-. They got an audi, luo with Arliss. To the mutual amazement of the authors and tho star, wlim they told Arliss what they had done, lie tobl th' m he was preparing hi- own pl;iy on A'oltaire's life and intended producing it >hMri!y. The gir!.^ liurri««l to an old fvi.iid, n literary man. who tof.iv th<'m to Hopkins. That nota»de j)r,,diirer immediately accept< d the play and engaged Arnohl ]\\]y. .Strangely, one of the New York critics hJgge.vud that Aili.s wo lid have j.layed it better than Daly did. The formation of a $.'.000,000 corporation by .\. 11. Woods and Martin Herman has no connection with the merTer stories regarding the Shu- berts and Krlanger. The Woods enterpU>e.s started .Incorporation of theatre Interests here and in rhi<?ago some month'* The Woods office will control its houses and productions as a ' >^'Jruon. STOCKS Ed Robins, for seven 1 years man* ager of the summer stock at th^ Alexandria, Toronto, has poeurefl the Ills Majesty's, Montreal, and will operate companies In both houses. Jessie Bonstelle is organizing stock companies for Roche^ier, But* falo and Detroit. Poll's Court Square. Springfield^ Mass., will have dramatic stock May 8, with "Experience" as tha Initial bill. C. E. Whitehurst will play dra* matic stock In the New theartew Baltimore, commencing April 17, Willard Dashiel has been engaged as director. Keith's Hl^^podrome. Youngstown discontinues vaudcvillo April 23. A, dramatic stock under the manage- ment of F. P. Horn will be installed for tho .summer. Horn Jkis operated stock companies here for several seasons with this being his first at- tempt at the Hippodrome. Keith's, Union Hill, N. J,, dis- continues dramatic stock April 1, An attraction policy the foUowiri^ week, starting with "The Unloved Wife," at popular prices. Tho Merklo-Harder traveling rep. closed Saturday in Mcriden, Conn, The illness of Will H, Harder, the m(jnager of the company, necessi- tated the closing. Hardi r will In- stall a permanent stock in Bayonne, N. J., for tho summer. The Jimmy Hodges Musical Comedy Co. closed a 12-week stock engagement at the Orpheum, De- troit, Saturday. House installed pictures this week. The Broadway Pantages, Los An- geles, reopened its doors last week as Dal ton's Broadway with a per- manent musical comedy company. This is tho house which was leased for five years by the Dalton broth- era from Alexander Pantages. Tht theatre had formerly used combi- nation shows and an occasional musical comedy presented through Pantages. Billle Moody. Sybil Bacon, Wil- liam Rader, Nat Wentworth, PYIti Fleds, Jerry \Vitney and Ted How- land are the players in the new company. Howland is al.so eta^a director. i>tuart Walker and his stock will move into the Cox, Cincinnati, April 24, for a run. Peter Markowitz bought the Roy Clair Musical Comedy production during its engagement in Modesto, Cal. Roy Clair will fill a summer season in Fresno this \<?ar. Tho initial production of the stock organization for which Ralph E. Cummings stands sponsor was given Monday at Richmond, Va., making an excellent impression. "The Dancer," witli Isabelle Lowe in the title role, was the play.. A capable supporting company includes Jack Warner as leading man. The run will continue so long as businesa justifies. Scale $1 tep for nlghta and 50 cents matiness. Weekly change of bill. Olga Boaumann, the 11-year-old daughter of Prof, and Mrs. Jamea R. Boaumann, was ijrevented from appearing in "Very Good Eddy," which the I'roctor Pki> t rs produced at HaVmanus Bleccker hall, Albany, N. Y,, this week, because of lier age. Tho cliild was scheduled for a dancai in the production, but when Man- ager John G. Wallace was Informed that it was against tho law for a girl under 16 year.s of ago to dance In a professional show, her number was omitted. The musical show is the second played by the stock actors, "Oh, Boy," being given several weeks ago. A New York chorus, trained by Adrian Perrin, was engaged. Minna Gombell, the new lead, scored In the "flapper" wife role. Gilman Williams and Jane Seymour put over a duet nicely. Billy Amsdell, stage manager of the I'layers, wa» a riot as the hotel clerk. Marion Lor«l joined the companv this week. Tho J<fforson, Portland. Mo., will open with dramatic stock April $• headed by Adelyn Bushnell. Will- iam D. Bradstreet, Jr.. of Maiden, Mass., manager of tho stock com- pany thero for eight years, is noW dlrect(.r of tho Jefferson, Ho brings with him a numbor of recruits to tho lUishnell Players from the Mai- den companv. John Llte'l and DoKy Spencer joined the Somerville players at Binghamton. N. Y., this week »• le.nling man and woman in "Kick In.' SEASON ENDING SOUTH New Orleans, March 22. The end of the legit .season in the south is in sight wifh but few sliows in this territory. "Angel Fa-e,"' *^ tho Tulane, \a tho .-^olo atfraetion locally^ scheduled to eloso in'three weoks.* It will do abo\it |7,O00 thlt week. William >rcStay has bft 'ho com' pany, Harry Quinu suct ceding •" advance man for the remairid'f ^ the tour.