Variety (April 1922)

14 LEGITIM ^IWJjWJl^ff^ Friday, April 28. 1922 f ( SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT Figures estimated and comment point to tome attractions being successful, while the same gross accredited to others might suggest mediocrity or loss. The variance is explained in the difference in house capacities, vwith the varying overhead. Also the size of show cast, with consequent difference in necessary gross for a profit. Variance in business necessary for musical attraction as against dramatic play is also to be considered. These matters are included and considered when comment below points toward success or failure. *. v. ulii.li i.ulkO Biouliivii last •Back to Methuselah," <..rrl<k f9ih \\«tk). Fiiia) \vo» k f«»r tonrna- ni'lit p'ay t>f tJ. H« tn.ud Shaw Tli»'.'itro <;uil«] will otfV r new one r(\t WfAi, 'WJiat llie rul.Jir \Van<s.' "Blossom Time," Anib iss.nlor <.11st wrc'k). J'j< k< tl un smartly la^; week. >-'i<»9 ^'Oi!)p to nvoui\*l |14,- 400, jump of neal*!y $.'..000 fi.r KnsttT n«<k. Ohan«'ts of rtvnlinii- iin;e into h(.»t weailK-r tinoiuai;- : ing. •'Blue Kitten," S«h\\n nOth weeki. Thou>,'h business juniixil up al>»»m 12.000 fur fcMoss of annind $13 400 last wcok, will niov«> Satunlay to the Earl Carroll lo jn.ike \\;iy lor .•<<lw\ns' n. w 'V 6^ W show. •Partners A^,'aln.' preat business in week. ••Bronx Express,'* As^or (Ist w•.^U"). Mr. ami Mrs. Toburn return with their own proOured show, lieatlJuic < ast. riay is from YhMi^h fiifri- nal of OsHJp l>vm<iW'. ••Bliihhing Bride" moved to 44rli .«;t. "Bull Dog Drummond,'' Knhkei- bock^r USth week). i:nKH>*ii lueio- <lrama ."till mon«'y mal<«;j'. witli better than $10,000 quofi-^a last week. Made best r\u\ of any at- traction In }ii'us;e this f:eaHt>n. "Captain Applejack," Cort (l^th week). Kxtra matinee Jul or ted Kasster ^fonday pulbd in b»^ticr than $1,000 in .spite of rain. Gavf the Sam Harris hit gross of around $ir..S00 on we« k. "Cat and Canary,** National (12th wef'k). KiisTrr v%eek tra<le strong, mystery ieailcr going elovo to ra- pacity aRaiii, for gross of $lT.9o0. That K'd draina.*^ again for money d ra w n. "Chauvis-Souris." week). Played wefk. extra 4!>ih St. nath 10 perfornuincr <» maiinve -Monday last and three matin«<s given regu- larly h«ro. Russian novelty keep- ing up wondeifuUy under Morris «;e.sl» manijgi inent. Moving^ to Ceniiiry Koof. "Czarina," i:mr>irr <l3th week) Cut rates for lower floor did exv)ected. la.st week rinding house w«'ll popu- lated and bu-:russ prn-e much im- provf-d over Ib'iy week. «.>vt r IK.500. "Demi- Virgin," ICltingo •2Stli week). Woods far e should easily run through .May, Cast changes nec- essary in revising operating «"'osts made hero as with nt^'irly nil at- tra«ti«')is on list. Abotit $8,000. "For Goodness Sake," Lyric «10th week). Pickf'd tip about what slipped during Jloly week, gros^ for last w'^ek again going to $*«,00<>. For musical attraction that fig- ures no better than even break. "First Year," I.itlle (71»th week). 1-ike most of list, business from AVediifsday on last week strong, with Frid.iy night close to sell- «'Ut. Pi«ked up about $l..'i00 for gro.v^H of $^,500. Comedy rui> leader. "First Fifty Years," Prin.ess. Clo>ed withotit annouiu«mcnt Saturday after having r< m.'un«Ml six weeks. Withdraw,! 1 *xpe,tf-d; two-p.^i.son play got nbovit $2.r>00 wr.kly. "French Doll," Lyceum (10th week>. Kif.'iui'^ to remnln ;inf»tli« r month, with aitra«ti(Mi thus f.ir turning piollt over oi'»}.11itig txp^ns*. though not r.tted bii. P«tw«eri $7.(100 and $S.(iOO. "Funmakers," .lolson *'\\ w'ck). f'omtnoiiw ♦aiih revue, b»-aded by J>e Wolf llopiier. lUisiness last week away otf, with bttb' eh.tuce given for stay. House offered to musical show, but rejected. "Good Morning Dearie,/W;u,bp <2f,th wcfk). Noexiia perfoiiDance last week, business btdding up. bow- ever. t«> ev«'n b'^ifer figures and gros« iL'O.r.od. "He Who Gets Slapped." Fulton (iCth werk). Puked up ll, ('(»(> or bettor last \veek. with t<»tal $9 7oO. Will be kej.t going as Umg as projir.ible biisin<ss lOntinues. "Just Because," Karl Carroll t«ih week). Could !iot draw and closes »Satuid;iy. thou-xh house was guar- anteed for anot!i«r w«ek. Wr.iithy backer reason coniimi.d this long, $r),000 l.i.st week. Loss to bhow about $C,000 we.kly. "Blue Kit- ten" moves in Mond.iv. »*Kiki," Belasco < I'lM w . k). Strong- est attra tion delivered l>y Belaseo since "The fioid J>igge»s.' riding considerably ahr.id of that eom- <dys weekly gro.«J.°. <'apacity business and demand leader in ■'igrncies. $l<:'.r.oO. "Lawful Larceny," BepubHc »17th week), {Strong <!ram.i. .ind thftiglt not Willi i«';id« i«. f;)r .'ihead \>f tn.i- Jorlty. Went to $10,000 di. i.ion Just wtek and will jun into, v .irm weather. ^. "Letty Pepper," V..ndMbiU (2(] week). Stcond wtek found <1raw about same as first, gross In twoen ft.OOO and $9,000; not promising rojr profitable for $3 top musieal Bhow. Another week to go here. ''Madclaine and the Movies," (tnlcty (Sth week). Ha.s be« n profitable. . tUaction showing avibstanlial ^l>r,d* profit to date. I^nst week Jumi)ed to over $S,.')00. Will end season in two w»ekK, Getuge M. Cohan Then preparing for Boston sum- mer show. "Make It Snappy," Winter GardMi '3d wet'k). kddie Cantor show on form Jo<»ks good thri>ugh the sum- mer. Wealth of comedy feature. l:usiness biggefit in town, with $.U,200 in la.st week. "Marjolaine," Broadhurst Olth we(k). Cast changes nvently sent two of three ftatured bads <*\}t of show. Business last week bttter, takings g<dng to above $10,000. May net profit with pres- ent line-up. "Montmartre," Nora Bnyes rilfh AK.ls>. Moved fr«tm Behneuit Monday. Js co-oi)erative attrai- !ion. Larger capacity here with eut rates and two for one should keip show going for month more. "Music Box Revue," Music Box <;{2d we^ki. T..kii«gs agUin w« lit • biSt- to $21<,000 last wtek, though scale is liow t4.40 top, f xtra matinee in- ] sej t«'d Faster Mbnday, with hout^e j virtually .sol«l out. "National Anthem," Htnry Miller f (14th wt»k). Closing Saturday.' hoiise seeking aiioiher -attraction J'olicy is for continuance through uaini wfather. May get •'Tbe Ad- vertising of Kate," nrvw preparing. "Rose of Stambout/' Century iSih week). Le.'»der of $2.50 musical attraetions, but not getting sup- port expected. Moved upward last wei k. with neaily $ll«.(K»0 draw. l>oui>tful if that is pr<»fitable in big hous«\ "Rubicon," Hudson «llth week). Pn ke<l up over $1,500 last week, business being as good as any time sinfe ."-bow opened. Gross over $1',.jOO. .Should outlast most of Ijvt. "Shuffle Along," (53d w«ek». AM colored money maker, an<l lookb for eontinuance into sum- mer. Last we.'k $8,700 clauned. Axith No. 2 show on tour getting sev»'ral hundred better. "Six Cylinder Love," .<;am Harris 3'»tli wetk). Last week consider- ;. l)le improvement ovrr Holy \V. »k. gross easily $1..')00 better. aiKl lilted to around $11,000. Will liiiisli out season hero. '•Tangerine," Casino <3Sih wr«k). .Tumj» in takings healthy ijist week, beating Holy Week by over $1,500. Gross went to $12,500 or belter, which m«ans profit for show. "Thank You," Longacre (30th week). Another week to go; show will call CHICAGO SHOWS MOVING ABOUT WITH SPEED May Robson's Play Failed to Please—*'Just Married" Opened at La Saile .*=?:reet V4f«fh show steady ifianaginx nt road in. fall. it season, taking "*;o F^nsy ^label." musical farce, with Lthel Levey, dje to succeed May H. "The Bat." Mcuosco <8Sih week). (Jetting share of business pace lately, between $7,000 and $S.OOO. Bun bader may try for second summers eominnance. "The Blushing Bride," 4nh Street <12ih we#.k). Moved hrre Mon<lay from Astor an<l via two for (>ne will l>o tri*d through May. .\p- prti.ximatt'd $n.000 last week. Busi- JieFs at 44th should be better, with added capacity. "The Charlatan,** Times .*^«|uare '1st wf«k). Adoljih Kl.iub»r produc- tion, opt ned Mond.'iy when housi again went ba« k to .'itfraetions fitter three weeks with Houdini and blms. New show mystery ol.'iy, wlii( h impr» ssed. "The Dover Road/' Bijou <10th weik). Moved Mpw:4!d briskly la«t we« 1;, jvin.p being more tbali for most dr.im.'is. «;ross Ititle un- der $S,5<'»0. Has been money mak* r frr>m start, small east comedy. "The Goldfish," Maxine Klliot't (2d week). Though difference of opin- ion ex)>irsstd by reviewer.«. new Marjorio Bamb<au play got off to good start. tiiKt aio\ind $10,000. •The Hairy Ape," week). liuilt steadily last wck. fust uptown, with I'lid.'iy nights 'aking.s $1,S00. .\"ot matinee siictw >'Ut PtajKls clijiiM-e of landing. Nearly $11,000. "The Hindu," Comedy (Cth week>. I'lomisc. of op« ning not up to ex- pect.'itions. Nfit mu« h of inerea.se last we« k, takings being between 55.000 jtnd $5,5(tO. "The Mountain Man," 30th .«;trret <'2(»th week). Final week. Ma\ tiy road next season. Nothing an- nciuncd lor hou«e, which again goes d.irk. BusinesH last w»e!< grovs<(l i« .«s than $4,000. ^'how has house gu.'nanteed. •The Nest," 4Sth St. (13th week>. This drama may be turning profit with house and show undtr same mana.'Mm* nt. Moderate gross of beiwc* n fC.OOO and $C.500. "The Perfect Fool," Cohen <'27th week). Won good share of holi- day trade, last week being best for soiTio time, with grosfi aroun<l $14,000. Atfracliop ahould clean on road. M,iy try for a^nimer run. "The Hr'-l Mouse," Shubert {ixh we».k gro^Jting riymouth «2d Chicago, April 26. Ore new thow opened during last wtek. May Bobson in "It Pays to .Smile" at the 01ynii)ic. The public "shied" from the attraction, with l>usiness very poor. Grace George concluded her local engag«nent after five weeks in 'The K.xquisite Hour* at the IMincess. It was figured on keeping the show for another week, but business retur)is did not warrant the producer in doing so. This will keep the house dark for probably a week, when the new mystery play "Whispering Wire.s" may take possession of tiie house. Of the trio of .*5hub< rt houses I losed at present .the .Studebaker will reopen shortly to house Charlotte Greenwood in "Letty Pep- per." In that case there will be two '■Pepp» r" ^hows in Chicago, as ih«' )lre^J«•nt vehiile of Mclntyro and Heath, now at the Apollo is "Bed Pev»i>er." Much interest is being manifested in what impression is m.ide by *Just Married." the Jules Hurtig and Shii- Itert comedy which opened at the La ^alle Sunday. The Shub<;rts figure that with its record of 60 weeks in New York it might have a chance of remaining at the La .*:ialle over the summer. The show is said to be hookerl up most reasonably and a moderate weekly intake will carry it o\er the "liurdles" at this house, have been very small. This week sees two attractions leaving lo«al houses. "Ladies Night." which A. H. Woods figured would be a good over-the-summer attraction at the Woods will fob! up Saturd.iy. The show gave promise of becoming a .sensation, but after the "Tribune" commented on it editorially and the local censors ordered revisions, the business began to dwindle. It is said that either "The Blue Kitten" or a s'cond company of 'The Cat and th^ Canary" will be the successor. William Gillette will complete a three weeks engagement at the I'tiwers Saturday and make way for "Lilies of the Field." opening Mon- day. The (lillette engagement is said to be tinanciajly successful. Estimates for last week: "The Dream Maker" <Powers, Cnd week). Eight performances, with .*^unday night off, Gillette has more than held his own second week. (Jross dropped a bit below preced- ing week, reaching over $11,000. "It Pays to Smile" (Olympic. Ist week>. May Robson s«ems lo havo picked bad one. Busine.^a said to have been very bad. "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife" (Gar- riv k, Vih week). Ina Claire and Arthur F.yron starring weathered storm much better than some com- petitors, around $15,000. Ciross shows good profit to house and at- traction. With business holding up to this figure show will probably stay for another live or six weeks, "Just Married" (La Salle). Opened to capa< ity Sun da v. "Ladies Night" (Woods Lack of interest to the receipts dwindling down $7,000. "Red Pepper" f A polio, 3rd week). Mclnfyre and Heath managed to hold their own, with business pick- ing up last part of week bringing gross to same proportions as pre- ce<ling weok. $14,000. Ziegfeld "Frolic" ^Colonial, 5th w«Hk>. Beturns not up to anticipa- tion with show starting heavy bill- board 4uid display advertising cam- ).aigrir^3.S5 lower floor top is said to t»e UHponsihle for this Saturday nights and early in week evenings. I'pper portion of house only fairly filled all of ttrru*. Btislneas regis- tered >>it over $20,000, quite a drt»p ft)r this show. "Anna Christie" vCort, 2nd week). week). Easter week trade true to foi m of others, busine.'^s bettering over $1,500. and gross going to $1(500 or more. That may mak*- money with s.ilaries down. "The Night Call," Frazee (1st wetkV Co-operative attraction produ«'«'d by Players' Assembly that started w ith "Alontmartre." now at Bayes. <»pened Monday, suececding "The Pigeon." "The Shadow." Klaw Mst week'i. Produced by Marc Klaw, Inc.. is also on co-operative basis. Small cast, and thenfore stands chance, tint reviews des»iibo drama as dreary. "To the Ladies." Liberty dOth werk). (iot share of Last* r week s upward tr<nd, biisiness i»)taling around $11^000. "Up tha Ladder," Playhotise (Sth we« k). Quoted between $5,000 and $0,000, with cut rate sales count- ing for good percentage of total. "Truth About Blayds," Booth (7th week). Most of non-musical at- tracti(Dns mado up $1,000 drop of • Ho^y Week, with no exception here. Grosfl last week beat $?,- 500, meaning profit. iV: 5th week>. extent of to around Pauline Ix>rd eeems to have flock of fricnda here, who are ihrongitig to see ber in first starring vehl<2le. Business reported good. •The O'Brien GIrr (Cohan's Grand, 3rd week). Fared farely wVll on wcok, getting close to |13,000. The Exquisite Hour" (Prlncefis. 5th week). Addition of Asquith prolog did not help very much with show closing local engagement to week short of $5,000. ••Lady Bilfy" (Illinois, 8th week). Did nicely considering length 6t run. Around $13,000. Remains h4re Indefinitely. "The Night Cap" (Playhouse. 16th week). Completing fourth **month and having its run extended another month. Marcin's mystery play need not hide it.«i face In shame for It got close to $7,000, which does not necessitate the use of red figures on the ledger of the theatre or producer. "Lightnin'" (Blackstone, 33rd week). Drop of around $2,000 on preceding week's business marked inauguration of ninth month. PHILLY'S BIG BUSINESS GOING ON WITHOUT STOP Some Bookinq Surprises—Jol- son Gets $26,000 at Shu- bert—•*Liliom''$15,000 . *.') ''.» t f Philadelphia, April 26. The fact that Holy Week business was generally so decidedly big pre- vented the usual big jump following Easter, but the opening of the Shu- bert, which had been dark a week, with "Bombo." which went almost to capacity, brightened the hearts of the Shubert people here. Of the other openings, "Tell Tales," the annual offering of the M.isk and Wig Club, ran to a virtual sell-out. Generally s|>oken of as the best show ever put out by the bovs of that I', of P. club. F:i.«»i.> Pergu.son in "The Varying Shore," which will stay three weeks, instead of two, had a big opening and is drawing the usual Broad Street theatre soci- ety audience. The play was spoken of in mixed terms by the critics, but the star was highly praised. The fourth opening, Sothern and Mar- lowe in repertoire, had a fine house Monday, but was noticeably off dur- ing the wiek. especially Wednesday. Of the holdovers, "Angel Face," the $2 experiment at the Walnut, limped very badly, and never did share prc.f erly in the Easter Week recovery. AViih no other boohings in the ofhng. but a late announcement has "Haunted" • formerly "On <he Stair!-;"), with Uobert Edeson and Hilda Spong. for May 1. This show- is by AVilliam Hurlburt. Al Jolson. booked for onlv three weeks, could remain twice that time. It is understood it is a ques- tion of the star himself, who wants to lay off for the hot weather. If he does go out Mav 5. the house will not in all probability have any other show this season. This week's only novelty was the debut of the Russian Opera at the Forrest. Some papering is being done, but business looks very good for the two weeks. This organiza- tion has all the earmarks of a win- ner for New York and the rest of the P:astern cities. It Is not known whether the hou.-^e will close May 5 or not. From the pre.^«nt layout, tlie Syn- dicate will have at least two houses open May 15, while the Shuberts will not have any. It is believed, however, that the latter will try out one or two new ones before they call it a season. F>timates for lafrt week: "The Varying Shore" (Broad, 2d week). Elsie Ferguson doing very nicely with usual big play of Broad downstairs. Stays three wepks in- stead of two, evidently quirk of booking, since such sure-fire stars here as Otis Skinner and Frances Starr stayed only two. "The Dream Maker" unlerlined. $11,500. Russian Grand Opera (Forrest, 1st week). In for two weeks onlv, giv- ing new shows every night and Sat- urday matinee of first week. Highly praised her.e and novelty is drawing ♦ rowds. In fact, bigger houses looked for next week than this. Mask and Wl^ show did about $24,000. virtual capacity, with sper-ial rate.-i on some nights. "Bombo" «Shubert, 2d week). Al Jolson getting usual reception here and seats impos.sible ♦ xcept days in advance. First time this big house has ueen jamming them in for some time. $26,000. "Welcome Stranger" (H.-irrick, 1st week), (leorge .Sidney back tO gOOd opening and will stay three weeks, probably closing house. "The () Prien Cirl" went up wh n end was announced: about $1 .'1,500. "Angel Face" (Walnut, ?al week). I.ederer show at $2 top not .^o good and after-Lent improvement not shown here to any great degree. "Haunted.' with itobert Edeson, coming in Monday. $H.00O. • "Liliom" (Adelphi. 4th week). Last two weeks' announcement complete surprise, as show Is doing well. No jump thin week, ns "Liliom" was one show which entirely escaped Holy Week ulump. About $15,000. Sothern and Marlowe CLyrlr. weejv). Not quite up to expectatioryi "SAUYT $50,000 SER RECORD FOR BOSTON High Priced Seats Sold in Ad- vance for Two Weeks- Outlook Brightens u. . Boston, April Unless there is a bad weather break thc_Qutlook for the four shows due to remain is better than since early in the season. Business lagt week at three of the ait raetions showed strength, and the fourth "Sally," which opened Monday night, .^ot away to a better start than looked for, upsetiing all the dope^. When the ctntain wmt up on "Sally" an advance sale of hiore than $50,000 had been achieved. This is a record for this city. It means that the choice seats downstairs and in the first balcony have bi;en sold for two weeks in advance at a $3 50 top. and the show will attract the speculators in larger numbers than ever before this year. The showing of "Sally" eclipse.s that of the "Fol- lies" by a large margiu. As far as S.illy" will bo the final for the Colonial this is known, attraction •Season. At the where a Tremont. $14,000 last good start was ideal other syndicate house success is running, the the "Gold I)igg.i>i" (lid week and got away to a on M(uiday. Last week weather for the show business, temperaturts close to the freezing mark on several nights. The business at the Tremont was of the sort that inspires confidence. This house has had a tough time recovering from the effect of having a tllm booked in for a 10-week run • just when things were breaking fine. The attractions that followed the film were not of the popular variety either, as shown by the e,ross. And from one of the best housey in this city fro a legitimate attractio it was transferred into a tough one. The "Gold Diggers" will be able to sta.v on with good paying business until Cohan takes the house over next month for his regular aimnur play. Due in part to the fine '. ay in which an extensive public; • .".-.in- paign was handle*!, Courtenav mi "Smooth as Silk" -put the Se'hvyn into the money-making das.s hist week, his first week there. This is another one of Bo.«^tons first-cliiss houses that was a victim of poor booking conditions, it was thought a come-back could be effected when "The Circle" was booked 'i, Jiut such was not the case, and a s* al- tering—and only a .scatterinK—busi- ness was done with "Kmperor Jones." It is now predicfd that Courtenay's show may pull this hou.se out of a bad hole for the season, and a long run is antici- pated. "The Last Waltz' ojientd at the Wilbur last week and j.^ to be the Shuberts' bid for the summer busi- ness, playing against "Sally" and Cohan's show. "Dulcy," playing at the Ilollis, has cracked, and ihi.s is the final week of the show. It is scheduled for the storehouse when it ends the local run, according to report, and the house is due to clo.-'e. "Sally" (Colonial, 1st week), Had the big opening of the season, play- ing to capacity on Monday night with the back of the orchestra jammed to the limit with standees. The "F. C. A." show, "Sixes and Sevens," last week about $12,000, about what it cost to put the ama- teur production on. "Dulcy" (Holli.s 6th w.eK). Busi- ness was worse last .week than Holy Week, and show will .'-hut down on Saturday night. Played to ojdy* $6,500 gross. No oth<r attraction named for the syndicate society house this season. "The Gold Diggers" (Tremont, 2(1 "week). Got away with a gross ot $14,000 for the opening week and business seemed to be building up. Will trail along at about this llgtlre, with the prospect of better business next week, when "Dub y ' will have departed. "Smooth as Silk" (S»l\vyn. 2d week). A big hit. M.iying at a $11.50 top. got in the neighborhood of $14,500 for the first week. This business was a surprise in a way, and. as "The Circle' could not re- main with its double star cast, if Courtenay's show can maintain the r)ace it will be the -nly r^al live one the house has had this ^ont'on- "Greenwich Village Follies" (Shu- bert, 7th week). Will leave at the end of this week. Business only fair. "The Last Waltz" (Wilbur, 2d week). Did good '»u.-<ine,-^.s the open- ing week and outlook now consid- ered v<ry bright. The Plymouth is dark this wo*K. with an amateur show booKcd in for an early showing. last week, considering big advance mall order sale. Spottv, with hard- ly half hou.se at >if;inibt'* Wednes- day, and nothl|ip rxtraordinary flt "Twelfth N||5^' Tue,-dav. Opening ^'*^« bI»>(Sd -Shrew" did big ftls^ Thurrtr.V^ x.irh .cll-out Saturday rfT, av. with S' 2d T if Saturday L'Li almost that his week looks about bame. 11,500- nit?l'^' AW"^