Variety (October 1922)

Friday* October 18,. 1M$ ^s: LEGITIMATE IS ONE-NI^HTERS REPORTED BETTER THAN LEGIT WEEK STANDS ASTOR AND LYRIC RENTS IN "ROBIN HOOD" JAM ^'Broadway Shows** With Names Getting More in Stocks—Plays of Rep Being Called In—Road r Business Outlook Not Rosy $5,000 Weekly for Astor, $2,500 for Lyric— Astor Lease in Court ."V^-^lt- Repi>rts of bad buslneHs on the road are substantiated by an un- usual number of early closings. Booking men assume the situation outside of New York Is not alarming by commenting some attractions "got bumped earlier than usual." Managers take the view that the forced withdrawals are signals of a season worse than last, or, at least, with nothing in sight to point to better business. Attractions sponsored by leading producers lead the Hat of shows or- dered off the road. In other seasons that class of show was the I&bt to come In. for the reason that busi- ness in the week stands had stood up better. .>v-; This season the one-night terri- tory is admitted runn.iug ahead of week stands. That »;ot s for c\ ery attraction with a Broadwjiy name and particularly where a sf*r >m i*re- sented. Names count as proof »n the one-nlghtera of something worth while, and business Is known ty have been from $900 to $1,700 nightly. In some of the small Mtands there have been only occa- sional plays In the last two seasons, and there is a reaction against the long periods bet\\een good shows. One Broadway producer this week refused to book an attraction which carries a star into a middle western ■week stand. The show has been doing so well In one-nighters that a loss was figured for the week date offered, despite the fact the attrac- tion is clOse to the city. In this case It was some time before the star would believe there was more money in the one-nighters, but once proven, there was no objection, since there Is a percentage ar- rangement with the management. Listed closings in the week citands between Pittsburgh and Chicago have tangled the bookings. Attractions sent out with routes are In some instances getting their next dates from week to week. That has resulted in advance matter being lield up. and sometimes sent out without sulhcient time. "The Blushing Bride" was called In from Baltimore Saturday, the •week-there being about $7,600. It •was out about six weeks. "Mary," out a similar period, has also been ordered off. That makes four mu- sical attractions pul!od out after trying the going for a little more than a month ("The Blue Kitten^' and "The O'Brien Oirl" were the first called back). "Welcome Stranger" has also been called in after a six weeks' attempt, bu^„ re- ports of a No. 2 "Six-Cylfnder Love" being closed were^ wrong. That attraction was never sent out. "Pomeroy's Past," a new show re- cently tried out, was closed in Philadelphia last week because no Broadway house was available and the producer refused to keep it out at a sure loss. Reports from the west that "Bluebeard's FJighth ■V\'ife' 'had been ordered back were denied here, though it is known t^t attraction and others are "on the edge" of stopping. One musical piece which recently left Broadway and jumped to the central territory Is wabblinj; badly and is making its jumps by grace of the house managers aiding. REWRITING ''SWIFTY" The William A. Brady prodi/ctlon of "Swlfty," to open at the Play- house Monday, will have been wholly rewritten In it.s dialog by Hing Lardnor. the hunu.ri.st, befori^ the play's i)r«micre, Mr. Brady has been jwrsonally di- recting the rehearsals of "Swifty." besides giving his attention to "To Love," the play Grace George also opens in at the Bijou, N«'w York, next week. COSTUMES BURNED "Passinfh ShowV Equipment in Fire—Show Delayed Week Zanesville, O., Oct. 10, Costumes of "The Passing Show of IDt'l" were burned when two cars were destroyed by fire while the show was en route to this city. It was to have,opened Monday. Other costume;} are beinj shipped from New York, and the produc- tion will resume its tour next Mon- day at Johnstown, Pa. The fire. <n addition to completely ruining the production, also de- stroyed virtually all the personal effects of the company, the trunks being carried in the same car, ac- cording to reports. The car was de- tached from" the train, bu^ was loo far away from Columbus to be .sal- vaged by firemen. v It Was the same attraction whfch lost its production by baggage car fire last season while traveling from Montreal to Boston. The Howard Brothers were then heading the show. The production destroyed last week was hastily got together from the Shubert shops. The value of the destroyed prop- erty, Insured for $100,000. wKs $165,000. A year ago the same show had a similar fire while en route to Montreal, witlv loss and Insurance of the same amounts, but the In- surance has not as yet been settled. The Shuberts were obliged to huq through the insurance company and ■ railroad disputing liability. The equipment to be forwarded to the "Passing Show" in replacement is all new, taken from the Hhuberts* reserve stocks. TOWN HALL CONCERTS No Shows or Pictures There This Seamen .^^ : Town Hall will follow the policy origlmilly intended for it, and this season no theatrical or moving pic- ture engagements are to be accept- ed. Last season the backers ol! the project were shocked when a colored show occupied Its limited stage, and were no better pleased at a picture engagement. The book- ing of the colored troupe came about through Town Hall being rented for a term of months by outsiders who were not restricted. Concerts will be this season's principal offerings, with the League of Political Education lectures also being carded as last season. Tom Burke is now in charge of the box office at Town Hall. -Louis Berge has switched from the lat- ter to Aeolian Hall as treasurer. Larry Fitzgerald, treasurer of Aeo- lian Hall, will be back,with Pade- rewski, on tour this season. If the Shuberts' extension of their lease on tile Astor, New York, holds good legally, that house will not have legitimate attractions before the first of the year. That applies to the 44th Street and the Lyric, also Shubert theatres. There is a mix-up over the book- ing of the Douglas Fairbanks' spe- cial "Robin HooA." Which is due in at the end of the month, with the Lyric named to get it, at a rental of $5,000 weekly for "the bare walls," The Selwyns were also after the picture for the Apollo, which In- stead will receive Grilfith's "One Ex- citing Night" In two weeks. William Fox. who has the Lyric under lease until Jan. 1, was offered the Astor as a transfer, the rent of $2,500 weekly to apply, that being the same' flgure for the Lyric. It was regarded favorably by Fox and the Shuberts then tied up "Robin Hood." When Fox was called to sign the arrangement for the Astor. John Zanft demurred until the firm's lawyer went 9ver the le^se. The attornr-y advised Fox there was a contest over the possession of the Astor, , It is said a certified check has been deposited by a bidder for the Astor lease, the Shuberts contend- ing It is not a bonaflde offer and appealing to the courts for a de- cision. Meantime the managers no- tified the Astor owner (E. R, Thom- as) that they would continue to rent the house for another five years. Fox's attorney advised against ac- cepting the Astor transfer until the case was settled or until positive assurance of tenancy up to the first of the year was made. The Shu- berts' lease on the Astor expired Oct. 1. but they hold possession pending the outcome of the court action and basing their right on the notification of the five* year's op- tional extension. Frank Godsol was concerned in the first booking plan for "Jiobin Hood." While at the coast he wired the Shul>€rts with whom he Is in- terested In the Astor lease, that the Fairbanks special could be secured. They answered it was .satisfactory at $3,000 weekly rental. When It became known "Robin Hood" had been secured for the Lyric, which is leased by the Shuberts alone, the quoted figured for Fox's term at the Astor was made $3,000, The inside .story is in effect the Astor rent, If Fox takes the house will be $2,500, to which will be added $500 from the Lyric rental for "Robin Hood." RIGHTS TO "NIGHTINGALES" Laura Wikk ha.9 purchased the world'.s rights to "Die Zwei Nach- tigal" ('The Nltfiingales"), a musi- cal comedy, with the score by Willy Bredschneidor. co-author of "May- time^" and liljretto by Leo Walter Stein. author of "The King's Dancei*" which David Belasco has and will produce later, "The Nightingales" has been play- j ing in Germany and Holland for the past six months. PEGGY O'NEIL RETURNS l*eggy O'Noil Ims returned to Xiondon, sailing from New Vork last Saturday. She is to appear in a new production to be made under the direction of Albert de Courville. although an American drama m.iy star Miss O'Neil during p«*r; of the KnglHh peason. Miss O'Neil was hue about five we^'ks sptjiding most of the time at hot hpme in BuffalOj 'BE CAREFUL DEARIE' CLOSES San I'rancisco. Oct. 10, "Bo Careful. Deajrie" did about $3,500 last week at the Shubert- Cifrran where it was transferred for its third week stay from the Mo- rosco, Tho show has not cuight on at the high prlpts and will close aft^er it.s ,'^.in l'"i ;nui.;<() entcageni' nt. SOUSA'S CLEVELAND GROSS Cleveland. Oct. 10. John Phillip Sousa broke all Cleveland records for a single day's receipts at the Armory here, gross- ing $18,770 for two concerts by Souaa'a Band d •* Z, ALL MiSTERS MAYER FAILS FOR |7,500 Harold P. Coflln Is referee In the voluntary bankruptcy petition Al Mayer, manager of the Hotel Well- ington, New York, has filed in the U. S. I^iatrict Court. Mayer was last Identified as interested In a number of John Cort productions, including "Shuffle Along" and Frank Fay's "Fables." Mayer's total liabilities aggregate $7,419.78. There are no assets. The debts are chiefly for merchandise, hotel bills, notes, a $96 debt to the lalM Bert Lament and $300 due Sam Aste, the Putnam Building agent, on a loan. t GAMBLED— AND LOST Marie Nordstrom replaced Nan Hnlperin temporarily this week in "Spice." opening^ in Brooklyn. It was a gamble by mutual agreement, no contract being signed, with a view of trying out Miss Nord- strom's ad.aptability in a show of the type of "Spice." The show opens next Monday for three weeks at the Boston opera house, with I'.altimore, Pittsburgh. Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago to follow. '■ . • . ' Politeness, Theatrically, N Chicago Vogue , Chicago, Oct. 10. Some press agents striking Chi- cago scheme up new tricks In the newspaper advertising. "Under False Pretense" at the LaSalle Is becoming very formal, with the ads suggesting a bowing party between producer, star and author. Mr. Lee Shubert, according to the ads. 1} finding divine pleasure in bringing Mr. Leo Ditrlchstein In Mr. Ben Hecht's play, "The Mister" idea might have been suggested by the legal tangle between Gallagher and Shean and Duffy and Sweeny. But everybody is "mistered" now, not only in the nds, but around the theatre, back stage and In front. HAL FORDE OUT Harry Holman Replaces Him in "Molly Darling" Harry Holman replaced Hal Forde In "Molly Darling" at the Liberty Wednesday, last week. Forde retir- ing after being given two weeks' notice, Moore & Megeley who pro- duced the show, decided on changes in the first act, the new playing plan eliminating two numbers which Forde was in. He protested, saying he had accepted the role because of the numbers and threatened to sue the managers if his assignment was cut, Forde also declared Equity would stand behind his contention and he apparently placed the matter before the association's officers. The man- agers were called by phone from the Equity office, at lea&t the speak- er said so, and the message was that Moore & Megeley "were taking advantage of Mr. Forde's gener- osity," There was no written evi- dence, however, that Equity or one of Its officers attempted to dictate the direction of "Molly.'* The man- agement retained the Forde num- bers until he left the show, after the player stated it might hurt him If a^ manager "caught" him in the show without them. Holman is well known as a vaude- ville comedian and has appeared in several comedy sketches. MORE LONG ISLAND HOUSES FOR TRYOUTS $3 for "Hitchy Koo" at Century The Shuberts have decided to place a $3.30 scale for "Hitchy Koo" at the Century, New York, where the new production with Raymond Hitchcock will follow the current San Carlo Opera Co. It is reported a $2..*)0 scale was considered but discarded. Colonial, Jamaica, Seating 1,500, Started—Known ^^ as "HIde-a-ways" The development of Long Island atand« as try-out points for legiti- mate attractions is predicted for the next year, while It Is likely that one or two stands may be added to the "subway circuit," which is made up of a string of houses within the metropolitan district wherein the policy is Broadway successes at pop prices. The Strand at Far Rockaway and the Hempstead at Hempstead, Long Island, have been used quite frequently in the last two seasons. The latter house is new and, like the Strand, is re- garded as a Ifide-a-way much the same as some vaudeville houses lo- -cated in outlying districts. The newest addition to the grow- ing Long I«land group wiir be lo- cated In Jamaica. The house will be called the Colonial and will scat 1.500, while an assembly hall up- stairs will accommodate 1.000 per- sons, Jamaica is believed ripe for a theafre with a legitimate policy, partly because of the success of vaudeville there. The town is credited with a population of 85.000 and with a draw of about 100,000. The Colonial project has been I Incorporated for $330,000. Stanley Sharpe, Charles O. Stewart and William Willlman are the principals - named. The latter is reported backing the venture. He is a resi- dent of Suffern, N, Y, The house will be located on Flushing avenue, which is the main road to Flushing from Jamaica. Nearby tryout houses are com- paratively new in the legitimate field. Heretofore it was believed Important to take the new shows outside the metropolitan area to get a line on them. In the past two seasons the precarlousness of pro- duction brought about reductions in the original production eost and nearby stands wore regarded favor- ably by some managers. Brooklyn was used for trying out a number of plays last season. House man- agers in the week stands where new plays were booked for premieres, have frequently complained about such offerings and several have de- manded attractions with Broadway reputations. That has partially shortened the list of theatres avail- able for try-outs and the near\)y stands are welcome to the booking offices as well as to some of lh« I prrt<Jucers. i ■■Vi STAGING POWEES' PIECE Ned Wayburn has been placed under contract by the Moro.sco Holding Co. to produce the musical version of "Somebody's Luggage" in which James 1\ Powt-rs is to be starred. Tl>e original book, authored l)y I'owers and Mark Swan, will be employed, with the mu.sic by Wer- ner Janssen and lyrics, Francis De- Witt. The piece will be placed In re- hraisal next week with the now liUo to be announced later. WILLIE and EUGENE HOWARD Now at the peak of their career in the now "i^issins Show of 1922' at the Winter Garden, New York, In this starring triumph, Willie and Eugene Howard topped all thrlr many provious suiiesses and firmly established themselves as the most popular t<>am of musical comedy stars on Droadw.iy. KAUZ'S "POIKA POLLY" Arui.in Kuliz announces that he is casting a musical comedy erjtill' il "I'olka I'oily," and that ho hu.s siKn»'<i a light opora .star. The book is an adaptation by Jack I.ait, w»th music by Pcny WcnrLcti DIVORCE FOR ELWYN HARVEY San Francisco, Oct. 10, Klwyn Harvey, former leading woman at th«' Alcazar, w^s grant««d a divorce lure last week from hof husband, Alfred Marks, an Austral-* I iM tli<- itri( al I'nani'^'Ci". bhe charged him with cruelty. ,