Variety (October 1922)

'■x^-.->;r" »:•■;■; V ■''■^'Js?f'J''y^'" ?>' ■■'^i\^'^'''T*rY '1 "'•"•;> ♦7.7 T-i -3" »"r(V- "'T'jr^'V* ^ -■ V ,t-.,-v'. ■i.-^'T ff ^' WT.'-- •.^■w.r LEGITIMATE ■TT'T!:' :>*<X^J'>;*''i''.''"'^^'' . ri.* SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT Figur«a •atimated and commant point to aoma attraetiona baing auccessful, whila tha aama groaa accredited to othera might auggeat mediocrity or losa. Tha variance ia explained in the difference in houae capacitiea, with the varying overhead. Alao the aize of caat, with conaequent difference in neceaaary groaa for profit. Variance in buaineaa necessary for muaical attraction as against dramatic play ia also considered. "Abia'a Iriah Rose,** Republic (22d week). From pace this comedy alnce moving to 42a street showed run through fall at profit. Started slowly, but surprised wiseacres. Strong cut-rate offering, but box- offlce support also. Last week 111,400 in nine performances. "Banco," Ritz (5th week). Pace con- tinued about same last week, when takings were between |6,000 and 16,500. Management not sat- isfied with draw, mostly on lower floor. New attraction reported sought. "Better Times," Hippodrome (7th week). Big house needs cool weather before hitting stride. Re- ported doing satisfactory busi- ness; last week's holiday counted, as all celebrations do at Hip. 'Bloaaom Time," Jolson (51st week). "The Insect Comedy" listed here next week. W. A. Brady's produc- tion of Czecho-Slovaklan novelty, "Blossom Time" due for big-town stands, with No. 2 company com- ing In for continuance of attrac- tion at Century. 'Captain Appltjack," Cort (43d week). Sam Harris' holdover winner will stay another three weeks. Due for road Nov. 12. Succeeding attraction mentioned, John Barrymore in "Hamlet." •*Aplejack" most successful Eng- lish show of last season's crop. "Cat and Canary," National (37th week). This mystery play ought to run through fall. More than held Its own against new season's contenders. Busine.s8 profitable, with last week's takings again jumping for a total of $10,500; ex- tra matinee. "Chauve'Souria," Century Roof (38th week). Third bill of BallefTs Russian company debuted Tues- day last week, with Morris Gest retaining $5.50 top scale. Consid- ered best of programs, and more than year Is in sight for this re- markable attraction. *»Oaffy Dill," Apollo (9th week). Final week for Hammerstein show, which goes on tour. Griffith's film, "One Exciting Night," takes house next :^Jonday. "Daffy-Dill"' beat $12,500. *'East of Suez," Eltinge (5th week). Woods' first production this sea- son on Broadway. Counts with loadinj? dramas. Business about $12,000; last week, with extra matinee, takings moved up to $14,500. •'East Side, West Side," Nora Bayes (lOlli wuck). lic'puited leaving; last week was best since show moved from Playhouse. With ex- tra performance Columbus Day gross between $4,500 and $5,000. "Evergreen Lady," Punch and Judy (2d week). Opened Wednesday last week, good reviews. Business disappointing. The "49ers" will take house in November. "Follies,** New Amsterdam (20tli week). Outstayed any other "Follies" and outgrossed prede- cessors. End of run not In sight. Business around $37,300 last week. "Greenwich Village Follies," Shubert (6th week). Running second to Ziegfeld show and business better than any other attraction on Broadway. Night business ca- pacity; matinees not sell outs, but $27,000 and over weekly estab- lished new ^ house record. Got $28,000 last week. "Her Temporary Huaband," (Frazee (8th week). P^arco regarded as mediocre, though business pace enough to warrant continuance, with cut rates doing well with It. "Lady in Ermine," Ambassador (3d week). Shubert'a newest operetta promises to establish the Ambas- sador as house for this type of attraction. Started off nearly as well as "Blossom Time." Grossed $17,500 last week, with extra mati- nee Columbus Day. Around $5,000 last week. Man- agement after succeeding attrac- tion. "It's a Boy," Sam Harris (5th week). Spurted during world's series week. Novel publicity stunts to give attraction best possible chance. Due to leave town in three weeks, with Boston first stand. "Kempy," Belmont (23d week). Picked up during month. Busi- ness better than $6,000 last week. Scheduled for Chicago middle of November. "A Clean Town" suc- ceeding. "Kiki," BeTasco (47th week). Will Complete year's run In another month and Is run leader Qf the non-musicals. Management ex- pects attraction to remain througli soj'ond .«;oason, indications pointing to that record. Last week takings — 410^000, holiday prices Coluniliu=( l)ay matinco cour.liiif,'. "La Tendresse," Empire (4th week). Henry Miller's attraction ought to remain until holidays and may stay longer. Business good, and though show not with leaders pot $12,000 last week, c<iUiili"S pacc of laitial veolc "Loyalties," Gaiety (4th week). Business Jumping steadily, with agency demand increase index on English drama's chances. Rates with Broadway's non-musical leaders, with takings around $14,- 600 la.st week; no extra matinee. "Molly Darling," Liberty (8th week). Increased activity at box oflflce and advance sales bettered chances of Moore & Megley's production. Last week's pace around $15,000, aided by good Columbus Day inat- Inee. Best gross to date. "On the Stairs," Daly's 63d St. (4th week). Joseph Shea secured this house for two weeks and moved up from Playhouse, which offers "Swifty." May move downtown again early next month. Arnold Daly remains In cast. "Orange Blossoms," Fulton (5th week). Lower floor patrongae excellent, Royce musical produc- tion winning smart audiences. Wednesday matinee top now $2. which should lift afternoon at- tendance. Takings around $18,000 weekly. Scale nightly, $4.40 and 60 cents more Saturdays. "Partnera Again," Selwyn (25th week). P. A. P. laugh show, fun- niest of series, again got $13,500 and time extended here until holi- days, when It will go to Chicago for balance of season. "Passing Show of 1922," Winter Gar- den (5th week). Garden revue got good break from visitors during world's series week. Business fairly good. "Queen of Hearts," Cohan (2d week). Nora Bayes starred. Opened Tues- day last week; accorded fair men- tion. Scale was $3 top; admission revised downward to $2.50. ."Revue Russe," Booth (3d week). Business last week far from prom- ising, and Imported Russian show will go on tour after another week. Takings undt*r $5,000. John Gold- en's "Seventh Heaven" succeeds. i "Rose Dernd," Lonaracre (4th w.eek). Arthur Hopkins has money show In this foicign work in which Klhel Barrymore is starring. She will play it two months more, then , ar)pear in "As You Like It." Last 1 week around $14,000. "R. U. R.," Garrick (Id week). The- atre Guild's first try this seat^on. Curious novelty; critics believe It Inspired by revolutionary spirit in central I^urope. Little agency call noted but first weeks are support- ed by subscriptions. "Sally, Irene and Mary," Casino (7th week). Extra matinee last week gave show new gross record, tak- ings close to $20,000. Leads all $2.50 shows and looks set for sea- son. to muaical play running through aeason. Clicking to food profit weekly, with takings laat weelt again around $16,000. The Faithful Heart," Broadhurst <2d week). Max Marcin brought Monckton Hoffe drama In Wednes- day last week; English play awarded as favorable set of no- tices aa anything yet presented this season. Business away off to date. Moves to Elliott Monday. "Springtime of Youth" succeeds next week. "The Monster," 89th Street (11th week). Got better business with turn of weather. Last week best to date, business in 17,000 divi- sion. Expected to climb from now on. "The Old Soak," Plymouth (9th week). One of new non-musical leaders, with popular angle fig- ured to keep it favorite draw for long run. Matinees fair. Last week with $15,000 again In, place among leaders maintained. "The Torch Bearers," Vanderbllt (8th week). Clever satire able to draw up to $1,000 nightly for weekly pace of $7,500. Expected to build to better proportions, but klr>d of play accepted with differ- ence of opinion, which partially limits draw. "Thin Ice," Comedy (3d week). One of new comedies touted to land and well spoken of. Business for first weeks around $5,000. "To Love," BIJou (Ist week). Sec-f ond Brady production this week. Grace George starred In adaption of "Amier," made from the French. Premiere Tuesday night. "Whispering Wires," 49th St. (11th week). More than holds winning pace. Last week, with extra mat- inee, takings totaled nearly $9,- 500. Mystery play. Ought to stick. "Why Men. Leave Home," Morosco (6th week). Business last week nearly $9,000, best since opening. Part of increase counted through extra matinee Columbus Day. "Yankee Princeaa," Knickerbocker (3d week). Doing comfortable but not big business. Highly regard- ed as operetta. Gross last week between $14,000 and $16,000. No extra matinee. Friday, October 20, 1923 i BOSTON MAY YET (HACK ; LOCAL SHOWMEN FEAR Season's Sensational Opening Weeks at Hub Letting Down—^''Lawful Larceny'* Stopping at Second Week—Several Nose Dives $7,500 for "Endleaa Chain," Newark Newark, N. J., Oct, 18. "The Endless Chain," with Mar- garet Lawrence, did $7,500 last week at the Broad. A fair week had bee" looked for through Miss Law- rence living in West Orange, N. J. Boston. Oct. 18. It looks as if Boston is going to crack. Starting early in the summer, al- most anything has been able to crack the ball on the nose as regards box office receipts, and some of the gross flgures have been so fat that the rest of the country was frankly skeptical of them. But the hand- writing seems to be on the wall, and white last week held up strong with the strong shows the second balcony weaknesses and the back of the orchestra and first balcqny began to be noticeable. It should be remembered that the holiday tak- ings at advanced scales Columbus Day covered up many apprehensive symptoms last week by fattening the week's grosses. "Lawful Larceny," for example, showed around $8,500 last week with the holiday, and although expected to run for several weeks will close Saturday at the end of its second week, leaving the house unexpect- edly dark and with no definite book- ing of a succeeding attraction aa yet lined up. Harry Lauder had looked for at least a repetition of his last year's clean-up of $34,000, but came through the week with approxi- mately $5,000 less than hia last year's figure. "Tangerine" on its last week at the Shubert came through under $15,000 despite the holiday, and its previous week of $13,000 was Its poorest. "The Rose of Staraboul," coming; in next week, is already reconciled to sad busi- ness. To cap the climax, this week thus far has been warmer than the cor- responding August weather. Mon- day and Tuesday night houses indi- dlcated a probable dive this week that may prove that Boston is no inexhaustible gold mine. "Spice of 1922" at the Boston opera house will be the barometer of the town for the next two weeks, as it is oft to a fly- $250 BELIEVED'RIGHT SCALE FOR PHILADELPHIA SHOWS "Demi-Virgin" Playing to Good Notices—"Sally" "Hitchy-Koo" at Shubert $2 Top—"Rain" Gets Tops Everything— "Scandals," Globe (Slh week). George White's revue will remain another three weeks, its Broadway season only figured for three months. Business last week $22,300. "Judy and the Bunch," Nov. 11. "Shore Leave," Lyceum (11th week). Due to remain until holidays, show with FYances Starr therf go- ing to road, and David Warfield making his Initjal bow in Shake- speare, as Shylock. Last week $11,000. "So This la London," Hudson (8th week). Broadway leader among n^n-muslcal division. Cohan at- traction started at $12,500 pace and climbed steadily. Won new record last week with $19,000 In; nine performances. Capacity and demand leader. "Spite Corner," Little (4th week). Climbed about $1,000 last week by extra matinee; takings beat $7,- 000. Small town comedy undoubt- edly excellent biit has yet to show real strength. "Swifty," Playhouse (1st week). W. A. Brady production. Show by John P. Toohey and Walter C. Pcrcival. Opened Monday. "The Awful Truth," Honry Miller (.'jlh wcpIx). Went to best takings since opening, gross $14,500 last week. No extra performance, reg- idar Thur>;day afternoon getting big play. Business virtually cu- l)aclty, "The Exciters," Times Square (4th wcL'k). Alu\ Ld upward ;i ;;iin, list werk s liiisint'SH Ix-ing Js.'o.i. p, of- italile for attraction. Listed to be purceeded next work by "The Fool," and if another house Is not secured, will close. "The Gingham Girl," KmvI Cnrroll (Sth weelt). Appears to be firm- ly established and all signs point rhiladelphia, Oct. 18. Encouraging, though by no means phenomenal, business brought a brightening In the theatrical situa- tion here last week. Of the five openings, none showed signs of a complete flop, and at least three made some real money. This, together with "Sally's" unabated sell-out, and the fact that the Wal- nut with the third and flnal week of "Up the Ladder" turned In the best gross of the engagement, caused he local managers to take heart after the disastrous frosts of the first three or four weeks of the new sea- son. The Adelphl, the last of the seven legit theatres to open for the season, was a money-maker last week. "The Deml-Virgln," despite all the competition at the opening, started with an $11,000 grossj, helped. It is believed, by rumors of police Inter- ference, none of which was borne out. This Ilopwood farce. In its present pruned state. Is not likely to be tampered with during its local run. Its cleanliness disappointed the rough stuff seekers, but tickled others, and it looks as if it would enjoy much of the success of "Ladies' Night" last year. The bar- gain matinee Thursday proved to be a complete sell-out. "The Czarina," which came to the Broad, caught more of that thea- tre's clientele home than was the case with "Duley," but business was still under the Broad's average of last year. A rather interesting situation de- veloped Monday, when the majority of the critics passed up this Doris Keano play and rho.sc Sam Harris' new prciluetion. "Hain," at tlio 'Jar- rick. Only two caught "The C/aiin.'i. " All its notices were favornlde, and It Is figured to come close to averaging $10,000 a week gross In Its three-wtek eng:tgement. "Hain" was the week's big sur- prise from the stand r)oint of notices. I and ■ Saturday "second thought." Business could have been better, but a steady building trade was en- couraging. The Sam Harris offices are very optimistic over this South Sea Island drama, In which a num- ber of changes have already been made. Some exception was taken In a few quarters concerning the play's profanity, but most of the critics declared this a necessity to the story. The two musical shows which opened last week had to buck against the overwhelming vogue of "Sally." and neither set any big record. "The Rose of Stamboul," originally booked for the Shubert, but switched atithe last moment to the Lyric, had to be satisfied with the left-overs as far as Tuesday notices were concerned, but as a whole the papers were kind -to It. Business did not, however, ma- terialize. The wise ones here doubt the Lyric's suitability for musical comedy, although every attempt is being made to put across this kind of show here. "Blossom Time" is coming In with the first New York cast following two weeks of "Stam- boul." "Hitchy-Koo." the new Raymond Hitchcock revue, came Into the Shu- bert on Tuesday, and lasted on Its first performance until 12:30. Most of the notices were lukewarm, with one or two savage roasts. Pruning and cutting went on during the week, with the show out at shortly after 11:30 by \ay. This week Harry Lauder Is In for a single week at the Walnut, and "The Beggar's Opera" with the original I^ondon comr»any at the Metropolitan opera house. The latter ia the company which has played two years in the Lyric. Ham- mersmith, 'and they arrived in the country biit a week or so ago. An advance sale of over $11,000 was re- ported for the two weeks' eng.ige- ment. but as this house is far re- moved from th»! Hialto and is an immense barn to fill, nobody is overly enthusiastic ;et. It is lucky (Continued on page 15) Ing start and should get the busi, ness with its $2 top If the public la really in a spending mood. The Keith-Shubert situation seema to have adjusted itself to the mutual satisfaction of both, the Keith houso doing a normal business for th^ middle of October, with business under rather than over if anything and with bills averaging much higher in cost than before. Th« Shubert house (Majestic) is ehow^ ing a satisfactory cut to the unlts^ although all squtl^k through habit about having expected more and having a whale of an overhead to carry. "Steppln* Around" last weele with the holiday hit nearly $10,000 and Gerard's "Town Talk" the pre- yious week.,was practically $9,000. It is proving keener competition to the burlesque houses than it ia to Keith, the Gerard show being re- garded frankly as opposition by the Columbia houses week before last because of Gerard's personal follow- ing in Boston through his long sum- mer run at.the Columbia circuit- owned (JJayety. The "Spice of Life" unit this week, however, is nearer to vaudeville opposition than bur- lesque, although Keith did not tighten up for It. Cohan's "Little Nellie Kelly" con- tinues to jam them in at the Tre- mont. and "The Bat" at the Wilbur is Btill Jamming everything into this intimate house that it will hold, with seats selling eight weeks in ad- vance. "Oh Joy," the colored show which lasted through a third week at the Ill-fated Arlington (formerly Castle Square), has at last blown out of town. The flrst-line colored show, "Shuffle Along," on Its twelfth week at the Selwyn, is beginning to let down noticeably, although the holiday last week fattened up the gross comfortingly beyond the $13,- 000 of the previous week, which was about $500 off its previous capacity average. It will hold on hero until it has two successive weeks under $10,000, at which time either the house or the show can give notice. Estimates for last week: "Music Box Revue" (Colonial, third week). Around $32,500 last week, due to holiday, with the house little off starting this week. Scaled at $3.85 top for orchestra, business on floor seems to jusUIy price, al- though "Spice of 1922," billed as Winter Garden triumph, playing Shubert's Boston opera house at $2.20 top, has started town talking along comparative lines. The Co- lonial balcony is obviously scaled too high at $3.30, $2.75 and $2.20, as this is four bits higher than "Sally," and "Sally" was considered a pretty stiff dose for Boston. "Little Nellie Kelly" (Tremont, 12th week). Played last week to practical capacity of $23,000 through holiday boost. Making more money for Cohan than he thought simple show of this type could ever net him. as he is paying no royalty on anything and has "nut" of less than $9,000. Town simply mad over the show and with unlimited time ahead Cohan will play It out, something that booking conditions did not per- mit In previous year with "Mary" or "The O'Brien Girl." **8huffle Along" (Selwyn, 12th week). Still "proper thing to see" In Boston and rolling along merrily* although ominous rumblings in ad- vance sale show in,. "The Bat" (Wilbur, 7th week). Nearly $18,000 next week, utmost limit. Selling eight weeks in ad- vance and having good sale. Not as worried as some of other houses about what may come in next few weeks. "Tangerine" (Shubert, 7th week). Under $15,000 on Its next to last week, business having been falling off steadily and getting out just In time. "Nice People" (HoUIs, 4th week). Frantically plugged to stave off slump. Hit around $8,000 last week, equal to previous week, but In real- ity slump becau.se of boost holiday Thursday should have shown. W^iU play through next week and Is ap- parently slated to go to Baltimore and close there. Harry Lauder (Boston opera house, single week). Nearly $29,000 for week, corking figure but $5,000 under the previous year's corre- sponding week. -"Spice of 1922" opened to $2,300 Mondiv night and looks like $15,000 on the week, which . will ci.use no gloom if it comes. Should go str.JKg week-ends because of football mobs, as Boston is gold- miuo fur girlio slxowa- during fall _ football season, surroiiiidcd by rol- lege.s', of which llarv.ird and Tufts are l»est spendern. "Lawful Larceny" (Plymouth. 2d week). Showed a round Ss.ftUO Ia.sl week (opciilMK) and will closi> Sat- urday with bu.'iiiess iloing nor^c- dive. House dirk i.oxt week.