Variety (September 1922)

Friday, September 8, 1922 LEGITIMATE 17 SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT ■ Figures estimated and comment point to some attractions being successful, while the same gross accredited to others might suggest mediocrity or loss. Ths variance is explained in the difference in house capacities, with the varying overhead. Also ths sizs of cast, with consequent difference in necessary gross for profit. Variancs in business necessary for musical attraction as against dramatic play is also consldsred. ^A .8erpent's .Tooth," .Gok'en ,(8d put on last season and now ex- I week). Not up to promise of | panded. Opened Monday, with premiere last week, first full week ' Takings under $5,000 Pace Is about half capacity at $2.50 top. "Abie's Irish Rose." Republic (16th week). Only attraction charging $3 top among non-musicals. Sale went up for merchants' exposition last month and not lowered. Ad- vantage for cut-rate sales and at • box'office. Around $9,000 claimed last week. "Betted Times," Hippodrome (1st week). Big house opened Satur- day night, again under manage- ment of C. B. Dillingham, and production again directed by R. H. Burnside. Won praise from critics. This season top ad- f mission is $2.50 for center sections downstairs, balance there $2. 'Blossom Time," Ambassador (45th „ week). Moved up another notch last week when takings were not far from $1.2.500. With start of Labor Day, when wet weather was perfect for theatres, this week's business should be as good or better. "Captain Applejack," Cort (37th ■ week). Influx of new productions not harmful and last week gross well over $9,000. Another six weeks for this remedy success, and has chance to run into No- vember. "Cat and Canary," National (31st week). Picked up again last week and management still expects continuance through fall. Busi- ness better than $7,000. "Chauve-Souris," Century Roof (32d . week). Morris Gest's surprise novelty smash of last season continues to rate with best money- getters in New York. Figures to stand up5 strongly through the new season. Only show at $5.50 top. •'Daffy Dill," Apollo (3d week). Ex- cellent takings last week for Ar- thur Hammerstein's show, with night performances capacity. First of new musical productions to arrive and first to score. Getting $3 top. Got $18,500. "East Side, West 8ide," Nora Bayes (4th week). Moved Monday from Playhouse, where called "Manhat- tan." Business not good for first weeks. •Tollies/' New Amsterdam (14th week). Holds to remarkable busi- ness, and plan of Zlegfeld to con- tinue revue to holidays or longer instead of going on tour in Sep- tember as usual looks set. Bet- • ter than $37,000 again last week. ••Fools Errant," Maxine Elliott (3d week). Slipped last week, takings being around $5,500. Appears to have come in too early and may pick up during month. "He Who Gete Slapped," Garrick (35th week). Another three weeks for Russian adaptation, Theatre Guild then going directly into now season. "He" surprised by run- ning through summer. •Her Temporary Husband," Frazee (2d week). Farce got oft! to Thursday night (last week) start. Comment mixed, indications be- ing for fair business only. *Hlnky Dory," Klaw (1st week). Bright billing labels first Klaw at- I traction of season as "Real Im- ported Scotch." Company brought over intact by Mark Klaw, Inc. Opened Monday night, winning good notices and credited with being laugh show. *l Will If You Will," Comedy (2d week). Will be taken off Satur- day. Premiere displayed nothing and Broadway figured closing at end of first week. Is third quick flop of season thus far. Smallest matinee possible Labcr Day. "Kempy," Belmont (17th week). Present plans call for "That Day," listed for Belmont, getting an- other house. 4 *Kempy" doing fair business at around $5,200 and may be tried with through fall. "Kiki," Belasco (41st week). None of new dramas threatened su- premacy of Belasco's last season's smash with Lenore ITlric. Busi- ness holds up to capacity at around $15,000 weekly. ''Molly Darling,^ Liberty (2d week). Opened Friday last week, winning very favorable reviews. Produced by Moore & Megcley, vaudeville producers. Attraction credited with having plenty of stuff. "Music Box Revue," Music Box (60th week). Three or four weeks more to go, show opening on tour at Philadelphia. Music Box will dailies giving it good* chance "Scandals," Globe (2d week). White revue went to capacity throughout first week and grossed $31,800. Charged $10 and tax for opening performance, with balance of week at $3.50 top. This week admission is $4 and extra matinee played (Labor Day). "Shore Leave," Lyceum (5th week). Early arriving Belasco attraction continues to equal or better any- thing new season has trotted out to date. Last week beat $12,000 and looks sure until holidays. "So This Is London," Hudson (2d week). Opened Thursday last week. Majority of notices favor- ably, with several reverse. New Cohan show has many laughs and should land for run. Last week pace was on basis of $10,000 week- ly. Two performances Monday grossed $3,500. Spice of 1922," Winter Garden (10th week). Final week for Jack Latt- Arman Kaliz revue, which opens on tour next week at the Forrest, Philadelphia, -«ew "Passing Show of 1922" to enter Garden Thursday night next week. "Sue Dear," Times (9tb week). Broadway time of this musical show again extended. Attraction will move to Pijou at end of next week, with "The Exciters" next attraction here. "Sue" drew $6,300 last week, but is Inexpensive mu- sical show "The Dover Road," Bijou (38th week). Last week for Milne com- edy. First production attempt by Guthrie McClintic, who has piled up nice profit for Broadway run. House will try its luck with mu- sical attraction, getting "Sue Dear," now at Times Square, Sept. 18. "The Endless Chain," Geo. M. Cohan (1st week). Opened Monday with new James Forbes comedy. Com- ment mixed, with doubt as to show's chances. "Ths Gingham Girl," Earl Carroll (2d week). New musical entrant off to strong start. First week nearly $13,500, which at $2.50 top is accounted promising for week before Labor Day. Agency buy started this week. Much favorable comment. "Ths Goldfish," Shubert (20th week). Final week, attraction Jumping to Chicago Sunday. Drama credited with scoring by holding to profit- able business during hot months. "Greenwich Village Follies" suc- ceeds next Tuesday. "The Monster," 39th Sjt. (5th week). Cooler weather ought to bring this attraction into its own. Is thriller and attracted plenty of attention at opening. Figures to move quite above $&,000 class with advent of fall. "The Old 8oak," Plymouth (3d week). Bettered good first week and went to $11,500 for second. Pace up to Saturday exodus for Labor Day was much stronger. Counts as leader of new season's productions. "The Plot Thickens," Booth (1st week). First offering of Brock Pemberton's second season as producer. Is of foreign adapta- tion. Opened Tuesday night, un- opposed. "The Torch Bearers," 48th St. (2d week). Much expected of this sa- tire, which slipped into town al- most unnoticed. Had to rent to get berth. Moves to Vanderbilt next Monday on regular terms, and ought to prove smart draw. Critics like this one. "Whispering Wires," 49th St. (5th week). Shuberts' mystery con- tribution ought to land for run. Despite holiday exodus and new bidders in field, last week's busi- ness around $9,000. "Wild Oats Lans," Broadhurst (1st week). Second production for George Broadhurst. Piece slipped up to Stamford, Conn., for tryout, and Broadway premiere Wednes- day. HOT CHICAGO OPPOSITION; "PERFECT FOOL" LEADING Wynn Show Smash Hit, to $26,000 First Week— "Rubicon" Burned Up by Critics, but Sticking— Chicago's Total Gross Last Week, $117,500 ♦ „ PHILLY SEASON OPENS; "BLOSSOMS," NEW • "Hairy Ape" Gets Over- Mixed Notices for "Blue Kitten" REAL SHOWS GET REAL MONEY! BOSTON SHOW-MAD LABOR DAY Sally" Returns to Capacity—"Bat's" Advance Sale For Eight Weeks—Last Week's Figures Never Before Reached in August Boston^Sept. 8. Real snows will pull real money In Boston at the present time. Labor Day night, after a rainy stay-at- home day, found the town show- mad, and the specs reaping: a golden harvest. Last week's sheets had figures for August that have never been approached In the history of the local Rialto. The $21,500 credited to "Tange- rine" with Julia Sanderson and Frank Lalor last week indicated what the town can do, Its opening week at the Shubert. "Little Nellie Kelly," the Cohan show which open- ed cold at the Selwyn was just un- der $23,000 on its fifth week. "Shuffle Along" at the Selwyn, also on Its fifth capacity week, hit around $14,500 which is all that it can do without violating the fire laws. This line-up held over for this week, with "The Bat" coming into the Wilbur, and "The Nest" into the Plymouth, and both jammed Labor Day night. "The Bat" has a whale of an advance sale with eight weeks cold thrown on sale Tuesday. "Sally" returned to the Colonial Monday with at least 1,000 people turned away on the holiday, due mainly to Jack Pickford's presence in town with his bride (Marilyn Miller). Despite its 12-wcek run in Boston into the summer, the ad- vance sale on "Sally" indicated capacity again this week, which moans approximately $33,000. The shrfw bus open time here and will undoubtedly be continued indefi- nitely, until the minimum figure of $2r>.000 is hit. The previous pub- licity, breaking ail Boston records, uiven Miss Miller, Pickfcrd, Ztrpr- fe!d and Billie Bucks over the Miller- reopen In October with new revue | marriage, was regarded as now being readied l>v Sam Harris and Irving Berlin. "Partners Again/' Selwyn (19th week). SelwynS* comedy riding along to good business. Expecta- tion or return of big grosses when weather settles. Increased again list week, grossing $13,400. Extra advertising this week calls it "2d season." "Sally, Irene and Mary," Casino (1st week). Basis of vaudeville revue so unsavory and dangerous in its re-actions tfiat not even a press notice wis sent to ths dailies about Pickford's visit to Boston Labor Day. The papers carried it under New York date lines, however, and Pickford was the renter of C r n- siderable lobby gossip. Just why the Shuberts did not crash their vaudeville season open Labor Day night instead of sitting tight for next week. Is as unex- plalnable as is the failure of the Hollis street (syndicate) to open be- fore Sept. 25 when Franc!ne Larri- more in "Nice People" Is booked, with "Lightnln" underlined. The Larrimore show Is so well known locally one dramatic editor has al- ready referred to it as "Pleasant Folks." The Weber and Field unit was bill-boarded last week and opened Monday night in Hartford. The Arlington, formerly known as the Castle square when John Craig made It famous for its stock pro- ductions, opened Monday as a play- nursery for H. k H. Frazee. The in- itial premiere was a farce comedy by Dana Burnet, the "Saturday Evening Post" author, entitled "A Bridal Suite for Three." The house is going to play $1 top, with Craig at the helm back-stage, and with a policy of producing nothing but new shows. There are about 30 plays, mostly small-cast dramas and farces, under consideration at pres- ent, and Frazee Is going to use the house for all of his try-outs. Any- body with a likely looking manu- script will be given a production, the only stipulation being a slice of the royalties turned over to Frazee, John Craig. Matt Smith, et al., these royalties to hold for the life cf the production, Including film and stock rights. Frazee will also use the house for any big-time legitimate productions which he may make, including one which rumor say will he as laviuh a drama, as "Ben Hur" and which is at pres- ent tentatively under way. The Arlington has a four-story ware- house jammed with a 20-year accu- mulation of props and sto<k scenery, which means that with the strong little stork remjinny Hi »l haH b< . n Philadelphia, Sept. 3. The lefitlmate season got all the breaks at the opening here after it bad every appearance of bucking a midsummer heat. The four opening houses had re- ported little advance business since the box offices opened Thursday, but when Labor Day turned out to be overcast and dubious, queues started to form, and by afternoon, with spitting rain, the box offices were besieged. As a result, "Orange Blossoms," the new Edward Royce-Victor Herbert comedy with music, had a gala opening at the Garrick, with four or five rows of standees; "The Blue Kitten" had three-fourths ca- pacity at the Shubert; "The Charlatan" did nice business at the Walnut, and "The Hairy Ape," the least likely to be affected by this class of business, also felt the boom. The "Ape" show, which opened the Lyric's season, had a matinee with bettter business upstairs than down, and "The Blue Kitten" also had a successful matinee, getting some late comers, as the rain started about 2 o'clock. "The Kit- ten" did $1,300 in the evening. "The Hairy Ape" had some glow- ing notices and two sturdy slams. "Orange Blossoms" was very well received, and hailed as a prospec- tive world beater. "The Charla- tan" was also well treated by the dailies, but "The Blue Kitten" had mixed notices. The regular critics divided up on openings, with the Eugene O'Neill show getting the call. » Next Monday's openings Include "Spice of 1922," making Its return bow, at the Forrest, and "Dulcy," which opens the Broad's season earlier than usual. "Marjolalne" and "Pomeroy's Past" will* occupy the Lyric and Garrick stages Sept. 18, and "The Dover Road" will probably hit town to open the Adel- phi on the same day. "The Hotel Mouse" is now definitely set to fol- low Carle and "The Blue Kitten" at the Shubert. SAN FRANCISCO UNDER WAY; ALL LEGIT OPEN Alcazar Stock, $5,500— $8,000 at Columbia for "The Fool" San Francisco, Sept. 8. The legit houses got underway together last week for the first time in a long while. It was also the first week for the Wilkes stock at tho Alcazar, with the gross, Including two Saturdays, reaching $5,500. At the Columbia "The Fool," with Richard Bennett, got $8,000. "Abie's Irish Rose," after five weeks at the Century, moved Sun- day to tho Rialto, getting $2,400 on tho day, beyond expectations. The premiere of "You'll Be Sur- prised" at the Morosco (formerly Century) started to fair trade. "Abraham Lincoln" opened very blp: this week at the Orpheum, Oak- land. mbled, almost anything can be Staged for an author and the pro- ddcei i can i <■•■ a stock production Instead of ploughing through a manuscript. A Eugene Walter play Is said to bo among those Frasee Will try out within a few weeks (Continued on page 38) Chicago, Sept. 8. Nine attractions, with another in- cluded, for three performances, gave an aggregate gross of $117,500 for Hie initial week of the new season —not bad, considering the record heat which reached these parts after Wednesday's matinee and struck its highest mark Friday, completely killing the week-end business. While five new openings crowded the theatrical calendar, the ther- mometer registered a now heat rec- ord, not only for this summer, but for the last nine years. Notwith- standing this unbreakable opposi- tion, there was an outpouring of business that held aloft the maiden speed of the new season. Truly, the thickened paths to the playhouses with the prevailing heat was phe- nomenal and again Indicates that this town is show-hungry. Sensible magnates didn't com- plain last week. Some howled and did considerable worrying. The complaints came from, pessimists who refuse to weigh conditions. They shout calamity at the very first chance. The hotel agencies were cfcught fn the weather jam, and the'"diggers" were quite notice- able on the curbstones Saturday night, attempting to rid themselves of an overstocked array of good seats. "Good Morning, Dearie." didn't record the first week's gross ex- pected at the Colonial. | In "The Perfect Fool" the Dillingham show is going to face troublesome oppo- sition and the variation in the scale of prices (noticeably high in com- parison with what the Shubert of- fices will charge for musical enter- tainment this fall) between these two attractions will be closely fol- lowed. Wynn's organisation is the rags of the town at this specified hour. He lead the shows in the loop for week's business and proudly boast- ed of an advance sale which will keep the business high until it re- ceives a challenge from the Jolson show. The critics helped along Wynn's popularity. One in making a second-thought review and com- menting upon the packed houses at the Illinois, went to the heart of the enormous demand for Wynn by claiming he (the critic) was stopped for logical explanations by credit- ing the comedian with being "s natural born darn fool." In the competitive campaigns be- tween "Thank-U" and "The Rubi- con," two vastly different shows, neither gained a satisfactory get- away. Two reasons are advanced for ^he slow start of the Cort at- traction—the high scale of prices for the matinees and the weather conditions. Golden's show just climbed over the top clause of $10,000 that the Frazee offices had inserted In the contract. The Olymplo attraction got th« worst massacre of adjectives ever grouped by the combined forcoa ol the newspaper critics. Many shows would have been forced to in- stantaneously stop after the reviews appeared on the street, one critic claiming he had the facts to say the players themselves were ashamed for appearing in the French play. "The Rubicon," undaunted, is going to make a fight, for it has a New York experience to nurse hope. It won't take a big gross to make a profit for tho attraction. It's dif- ferent with the house, however, at this particular time of the season. "J!ull-Dog Drummond" picked out the hottest night in Chicago (Friday) to introduce itself at ths Powers. The premiere held a most Interesting audience study, for all classes of loop celebrities perspired while applauding the meldrama. It will rest between "Bulldog Drum- mond'' and "The Cat and Canary" for tho melodrama honors of the fail Keaaon hero. Each attraction GRAND, K. C, FOR ROAD SHOWS Kansas f'ity, Sept c. The Grand here will play road shows this sea.son Instead of Us usual picture policy. B. s. Brig- ham If its manager in charge of bookings with all time open. is referring to being better enter- I kinment than "The Bat." "To the Ladies" is being delayed In grasping the Cohan's Grand win- ning atmosphere due to the weather only. Thus far tho attraction hasn't responded to tho splendid newspa- (Continued on page 40)