Variety (November 1922)

14 LEGITIMATE Friday, November 17, 1822 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. The variance is explained in the difference in house capacities, with the varying overhead. Also the size of cast, with consequent difference in necessary gross for profit. Variance in business necessary for musical attraction as against dramatic play is also considered. (41fit piece right com- •Abie's Irish Rose," Republic (26th wockV Still »;» ttiPff ."surprising at- tendance anii indications are tor show to rt-maln well into new sea- son and may run thr^>ujfh. Tak- ing's jumped to $11.COO last week.! with one extra performance. "Banco," Hiti (9th week). Liked comeily has drawn on l«^wor floor mostly. Pace has been in groove t'f little under $6,500, and material Jump i.s hardly expected now. An- other week listed, with Fay Baln- ter in "The Painted Flapper' due Nov. 27. "Better Times,** Hippodrome (11th week). Big house enjoyed another holiday spurt last week, with Election day seeing big attend- ance both performances. Business reported well over $60,000. ''Blossom Time," Century (55th week). Best operetta try of Shu- berts since "Maytime." Ran sea- son at Ambjissador and moved here three weeks ago. Business highly profitable though not of excep- tional gros.s; cut rated now. Bet- ter than $16,000 last week. ••Cat and Canary,'* National week). Holdover mystery has been making money along and fall takings are paratively good. L.ast week gross was over $9,000, but house is said to have high stop limit and busi- ness under that figure may see withdrawal late this month. •'Chauve-Souris," Century Roof (42d week). Gest's Imported novelty show from Ru.s.^ia keeps corking pace nt $5.50 top. Doubtful if record already made will be equaled. Year on Broadway looks sure. "East of Suez," Eltinge (9th week). A. H. Woods drama of English authorship rates well enough, but pace recently has slowed down. It ought to stick to Droflt until first of year, with road likely after that. "Follies," Now Amsterdam (24th week). Chances of Ziegfcld show running well past first of year look certain. No extra perform- ance la.st week, but holiday aided gross, jumping about $2,000 for total of around $36,500. MQers," Punch & Judy (2d week). Top here is $5, probably risked because of 299-seat capacity. Firs.t night complimentary, with week's^ takings between ^5,000 and $6,000. Can get $11,000 In eight pcrform- ance.s at kcmIc. Prices droppetl to $3 this week. Claimed operation too costly for lower scale. "Greenwich Village Follies," Shubert <l(th week). No'extra matinee l:;sr wr---, Wednesday afternoon ])< i-formnnoe switched 4o Tuesday • <>■•.IrnV ns tiue of most of mu- y.c:< ". ' r.iisinoss excellent, gro.s3 'loln-.T Mt under $26,000. ■hamlet." Sam Harris (Ist week), i ..ohn I'.'irrymorc starred, produc-I tion ma'le by Arthur Hopkins. First oi big Shakespearean pres- entations carded. Opened Thurs- <lay ''vrniiig. Scale $3 top. *her Temporary Husband," Frazee (12th week). Final week for farce, which goes on tour. Business fair here, pace approximating under that In Chicago during summer. "U. V. R." moves up from Garrick Monday. ••Kiki," Belasco (51st week). Com- pletes solid year next week. Looks as strong as any drama presented by Belasco in decade and figured to run into spring. Business holds! to $15,000 weekly. "La Tendresse," Empire (8th week). Final week for drama of French adaptation, which goes on tour. Will be succeeded next week by "A Texas Nightingale," which was called "Greatness" In Chicago for a few weeks. "Lady in Ermine," Ambassador (7th week). Run Indicated for this operetta, known In London as "The Lady of the Rose." Business excellent on lower floor and gen- eral improvement noted last week. Extra performance last week for gross of nearly $17,000. "Last Warning," Klaw (4th week). All markings of hit. Agency call and interest holding uj). Nine per- formances last week, when tak- ings were $14,500. Second week's takings totaled $12,600. "Little Nellie Kelly," Liberty (Ist week). George M. Cohan's mu- sical piece which ran 15 weeks at Tremont Boston, and might have stayed .all season there. Foi<-« d to come in. Opened Monday with fine promise. Indications arc for capacity, bettor than $24,000. "Loyalties," Gaiety (8th week). Dillingham's dramatic winner. English piece inserted extra per- formance last week and gross around $16,000. E«iuhIs — it —Bot leads in agency call. "Merton of the Movies," Cort (Ist week). Dramatization of story of that name which ran serially In ".Saturday Evening Post." Pro- duced by George TyNr. Opened BUSINESS LOOKING UP OVER IN PHILADELPHIA Different Box Office Tales for Several Plays—Four New Shows Next Week Monday and won corking notice* "M«lly Darling," Gl^be U-lh wcekj, Moved from Liberty Monday. Listed to take to road after one more week, replacing "The Bunch and Judy" at Garrick, l*hila., lat- ter .«iluiw coming to Globe Nov. 27. "Music Box Revue," Music Box (4th week). Another big gross week, takings a^ain going to better than $32,000. That nieflns capacity plus. Extra matinee played lust week en Election Day. "On the Stairs," Daly's 63d St. (8th week). Will probably run through month and may ptick longer. Tak- ings last weik $5,600, which makes money for house and show. Col- ored attraction again reported readying but not due until next month. "Orange Blossoms," Fulton (9th week). Additional airing of Pat Somerset-Edith Day matter wHh immigration authorities now be- lieved to have affected business. No extra performances last week. Takings about $14,000. Scale dropped to $3.50, which may length'.»n run. # "Partners Again," Selwyn (28th week). Two weeks more for P. & P. Qpmedy, which will be holi- day card at Selwyn, Chicago. House dark for two or three weeks while '"Johannes Kreisler" is read- led. "Partners" played to $11,500 last week. "Passing Show of 1922," Winter Garden (9th week). Goes to road after two weeks more. Garden to be remodeled during December and new attraction due around Christmas. "Rain," Maxine Elliott (2d week). Looks like liroadway's new dra- matic hit. Notices excellent and big draw from jump. Takings mounted to $1,800 at night, about all house will hold. Opened Tues- day night last week; in seven per- formances got $11,600. "Romantic Age," Comedy (1st week). Play of English origin by A. A. Milne. Opened Tuesday, succeed- ing "Thin Ice," which moved over to Belmont. **Rose Bernd," Longacre (8th week). Indications now are Ethel Barry- more attraction will stick over planned 12-week period, which would keep show in until after first of year. $11,500 last week; no ^xlra performance. "R. U. R.," Garrick (6th week). Will move uptown next week. Business between $7,000 and $S,- 000. Theatre Guild wHl offer "The Lucky One," its second pro- duction of season, Monday. "Sally, Irene and Mary," Casino (11th week). Played extra per- formance last week and grossed between $15,600 and $16,000. Three name show turned good protit at that gross, though draw has not been as strong lately as in earlier weeks. "Seventh Heaven," Booth (3d week). Extr.a performance last week. Business looking up; show being given word-of-mouth pUigging. Takings went to over $10,000 and this week started oft at better than $1,000 Monday. Indications are show will settle for run at fairly good pace. "Shore Leave," Lyceum (15th week). Three weeks more for ^Frances Starr play, which goes on tour Dec. 16. David Wartleld in "Mer- chant of Venice" succeeds. Pos- sibility of Elsie Ferguson in "The Wheel of Life" getting Lyceum few weeks prior to "Merchant's" premiere. "Six Characters in Search of an Author," Princess (3d week). Novelty drama attracting some attention. Second week's takings picked up; gross about $4,500, said to be even break. Show announced for four weeks, but will likely stick. "So This Is London," Hudson (12th week). Going stronger than ever and last week-established now record for run and probably for house in nine performances (extra matinee P^lcction). (iross close to $20,000. Iv;:tds non-musiqals by Kood margin. "Spite Xorner," J<:tle ;^ih week). Played extra matiTTcu last week, but draw was olY st)mewhat early in week and gross about s.inie as preceding week, around $7,000. "Springtin-e of Youth," P.roadlnirst (4th week). Operett.a has drawn much under expectations. Last W(>ek business improved, gro.ss be- ing around $10,000, but with aid of extra matinee Election day. "The Awful Truth," Henry Miller (9lh Wick). Nine j)erCoimances last week, when gross took jump. Has been capacity downstairs since opened. With extra matin«e aiding business, last wcfk $14,400. "The Gingham Girl," Eurl Carroll (12tli week). Held to eight pcr- formt'incos last we»»k. but busi- ness moved upward for gro.s.s of around $17,000. Planted for run. $4 charged Election night, and Saturday night scale now $3.oO top. "The Fool," Times Stjua're (lib week). Leaped upward and uo\n SIX SHOWS IN LOOP LEFT CHICAIXI LAST WEEK Philadelphia. Nov. 15. For the first time this season, Monday night had no openings, but the hiatus will be short-lived, as there are four novelties booked for next week, one still in the doubtful class. Business has picked up gradually here during the last few weeks Al- though there were two or three houses under normal last week. It was no longer a case of one knock- out ("Sally") against six Hops or near-flops. The splendid business of "Blos- som Time" at the Lyric wa^ the most interesting feature of the week. This operetta has shown a building power that has surpriaod some of the dopesters here. Tlie last three performances last week were sell-outs, and the gross for the week leaped to the $18,000 class, missing that figure by only a few hundred dollars. Monday night it was way off, for some Inexplicable reason, but Mondays have been weak hero this year, and a rapid recovery Is expected. The»e are no underlines at this house, and "Blos- som Time" will be allowed to ride as long as it shows real nsoney-mak- ing powers. Its big success was especially gratifying in view of the weak showing of "The Rose of Stamboul." "Just Married," touted aa stay- ing fifteen years at the Adelphi, la going to have its troubles for half of that time. Two underlines. "The Cat and the Canary" and "The Guilty One," are now prominently mentioned. It is hardly likely the Vivian Martin-Lynn Overman play will staj^ over another week or so. Its first week's gross was only a lit- tle over $6,500, despite favorable no- tices. Some society theatre-par- ties are helping it this week, though the Monday gross was very low. With Marilyn Miller back in her role, and the end announced, "Sally" is going along at a great rate, with the last-minute buyers on deck to get tickets. "Good Morning Dearie," which is being heavily advertised as "Sally's Successor," comes in Mon- day hoping to counteract the unex- pected flop in Chicago. The DIl- lirgham offices ^re avowedly watch- ing this one closely with hopes that it will stay here until the holidays, and possibly to the new year. It is (Continued on page 15) Four Departed With Losses—Election Week Not Good—Line Now Possible on Value of Outright Buys—Mysterious Specs '■ '' "^ classes with most promising dtamas on Broadway. Last week takings beat $14,000, and there is activity in agencies and at box office. Jump in business paralells that of "A Bill of Divorcement" last season. "The Love Child," Cohen (1st week). A. H. Woods' production of French drama by Bataill?. Suc- ceeded "Queen of Hearts," which went to storehouse. Openel Tues- day. "The Old Soak," Plymouth (13th week^. Three matinees last week, when gross climbed to former pace of nearly $14,500. Business here is strong for night perform- ances, but not matinee draw. "The Torch Bearers," Vanderbllt (12th week). Will likely remain until holidays. Last week, with extra matinee, takings around $8,000. Clever comedy, though ap- peal somewhat limited. "The World We Live In," Jol.so.i's 59th St. (3d week). Looked weak until Election night and picked up from then on for about $10,000 on week. Attracting plenty of at- tention, but not measure of busi- ness expected. "Thin Ice," Belmont (7th week). Moved up from Comedy Monday, taking place of "Kempy," sent to Chicago. Business about same, little under $5,000. No extra per- formance. "To Love," Bijou ^5th week). Nine performances last week. Attrac- tion's afternoon strength has led management to Insert extra mati- nee weekly. Between $'\G00 and $9,000 last week. "Up She Goes," Plnyhouf;e (2d week). New musical entrant adapted from "Too Many Cooks." Started off promisingly with first week drawing over fl 1,000. "Virtue," Bayes (l.st week). Pre- miere dated for Tuesday set back until Thursday. New producer, who has taken house under six- week rental. "Whispering Wires," 49th St. (15th week). Business better again last week, and without extra perform- ance gross little under $8,500. This mystery play has suited mod- erate capacity house well. "Why Men Leave Home," Morosco (10th week). Extra performance last week aided bit. lUisiness be- twfeu $9,000 and $10,000. Bright comedy that has drawn fair busi- ness and Is cut-rated In balcony. "Yankee Princess," Knickerbocker (7th week). Got good break Elec- tion I>ay. Business took jumj). though no extra pj-rformanc*- given. P.etwef'n $15,000 and $16,- OOO. Operetta figures to remain uuUl holiday a. Chicago, Nov. 15. Pour out of the six departing shows Saturday took with them losses that far overshadowed what little good business was done In town on one of the slowest weeks of the year—Election week. If It hadn't been for the capacity "draws" on the week-end, movne of the surest "fire-hits" In town would have experienced trouble in keeping away from the red Ink. The political campaigning was stiffer than usual- ly noted on a supposedly off-year, causing theatrical Interest to lag beyond expectations and making the majority of the theatres look pitiful for the size of their respective audi- ences Monday and Tuesday nights. When a Dillingham show like "Good Morning Dearie" falls below $15,000 with the usual departing ex- penses added to the week's total, showmen can estimate the loss. Same goes for the Selwyn office with Its high-salaried "Circle" com- pany. Some nights during the week there wasn't a 1500 draw in such joirted names as John Drew and Mrs. Leslie Carter, quite unbeliev- able, but truth nevertheless. What losses were suffered by the Dillingham and Selwyn shows can bo attributed to a false idea tlie booking offices have in Chicago's theatrical area In these new days of competition. In the Dillingham cast there wasn't a name that could overcome the mistake the attraction made in contracting the scale of prices at the start of the engage- ment. The musical piece was forced to struggle along on its merit. Thus it did in the closing three weeks better than the early stay of the at- traction predicted. Chicago is still a town where the $20,000 and upward weeks can only be gleaned by at least one good name in the electric sign. If "Partners Again" is holding up at the Selwyn in New York, the loss suffered by "The Circle" in the ex- tra two weeks the Drew-Carter cast remained at the Selwyn in Chicago won't be so severely felt. "Kempy" will now fill out the remaining six weeks at the Selwyn before the ar- rival of "Partners Again"—the lat- ter having Its arrival delayed here for eight weeks due to a sudden rise in business for the Carr-Bernard engagement in New York. "Kempy" comes In at the tail-end of the epidemic of small town at- moshere plays—"The First Year" beating in the Nugent piece by a week, making it hot competition for "Kempy." Against "Thank-U," "Six Cylinder Love" and "The First Year,' conservative estimators say "Kempy " will have to fight hard for $8,000 weeks. Under the present conditions of bookings. It Is reck- oned that the Selwyns made an ex- pensive move for themselves when they held off "Partners," consider- ing the known high rent they are forced to meet at the Dearborn- Lake house. It is reported unoffi- cially that the rent at the Twin Theatres stands each bouse $2,500 per week. "Greatness" and "Revue Russe' were the other two shows that dipped heavily into the sinking fund to reach other destinations. The Olympic attraction ("Greatness") went to New York to reappear at the Empire under another title, "The Texas Nightingale." The Russian outfit, suffered internal troubles as well as box-office deficits at the Playhouse. If Lester Bryant can recover from this loss, he'll need no further assistance. So that all can recover from the excitement the Russians caused at the Michigan boulevard house before going into the next engagement, the Shuberts kept the theatre dark this week with "At the End of the World. ' featuring Alexandra Carlisle, Will- lam Morris. Vincent Serrano, and Alphonze Ethler to come in Monday night. "The Perfect Fool" and "The French Doll" were the only depart- ing shows that carried away a smile The Wynn show had a remarkable Chicago engagement. BordonI didn't hold up the pace set on the opening week but did well, with the critics and public clamoring for the French star to return in a musical piece fehe made her biggest hit in one song In the Powers stay. The Bor- donI songs are what have made Bor- donI i)o|)ular In the loop. All the high expectations antici- pated for the premiere of "The First Year ' were lived up to. The Craven piece is nicely set In at the Woods, with outside chances of hurting both "Thank-U" and "Six Cylinder Love." Interest In all four small town at- mosphere plays In the vitinity of Dearborn and Randolph will ke<<p iij» for several we«'ks because of curi- osity in making comparisons, but "The First Year- will outlive all. TlM-re's no mistaking the popularity of a play when it is "in the air" in Chicago, and "The First Year" la high in demand. The Woods' visitor is headed for $18,000 this wee. Where "Six Cylinder Love" will land this week with the Couthoul "buy'' diminished by 200 tickets is hard to say. It will be a speculative week for the Harris attraction. In the comparison of the first two at- tractions at the Twin Theatres for the first six weeks which were fea- tured equally with outright '•buys," the Harris attraction faIle<J ^b reach the highest week's gross pt "The Circle," but beat the Selwyn play on the engagement's average gross. "The Circle" required "pushing." while "Six Cylinder Love" drew a demand that would have been greater if there had been more seats for the popular public at the box- office—at least this is the consensus of opinion of those following the evils of outright "buys." Jack Lait's "Spice of 1922" was underlined to follow "The Green Goddess" at the Great Northern, coming In on Nov. 26, but "Spice," owing to Lait's objection, knowiner what other musical shows have done there, has been shifted to the Stude- baker. Chicago followers of Lait'a fire ready, to give him^ big recep- tion, even if he refuses to concie out here and merely sends big dialog. • WTiat "Shuffle Along" will do at the Olympic will settle for all time the difference between Chicago and other towns for enthusiasm over colored plays. If any co4ored show stands a chance for Chicago suc- cess, it will be "Shuffle Along." and the pulling is* for big business to allow George Wharton, house man-* ager, to overcome some of the heavy losses experienced thus far this year at the Olympic, because of erratic booking. The Olympic is a Kohl house, Mrs. Kohl's lease expiring this year after a 20-year term. The rental now is about $50,000. The ticket scalping angle during the week was productive of added comment. The Apollo management planted three sheet stretchers on all sides of the theatre warning the public that tickets purchased from sidewalk speculators would be turned down at the door. Even this failed to stop the activities of the nejvr crop of street speculators, whose identities are said to be un- dergoing considerable investigating In order to ascertain Just how they come Into possession of the tickets. With the opera season opening Monday on top of the legitimate openings, the first-nighters are get- ting their fill of premieres this week, and how the big Influx of shows will twist the local theatrical calendar only the happenings of Uie present week will reveal. Last week's estimates: **The First Year" (Woods, l«t week). Opened to $2,600 as result of being long anticipated and heavy billing. Got $1,400 at mid-week matinee, and finished strong Satur- day night with capacity house of $3,080. Prevailing Interest augurs well for average of $16,000 for first 10 we.ks. Hit off $15,700 without Sunday night. "Bill of Divorcement" (Central, 2d week). Got away Sunday night with $790 and average during week so encouraging Allan PoUock is de- termined to create unique record by remaining here Just as long as there is a dime profit. Seats now selling for six weeks in advance. Mr. I'ollock deserves much credit for faith and personal efforts. Splen- did at $6,500. "Six Cylinder Love" (Harris, Ith week). Finished with outright "buy," netting capacity for final hou.se Saturday night. This week will tell what effect "buy" had on box office draw. Ripped off $14,900 with wise ones claiming show will hold its own in rural atmospheric play competition in neighborhood, "Bombo" (Apollo. «th week). Fell into somewhat of decline at get- away of week, but still rambling along for huge profits. Is apt to be hurt by arrival of "Music Box Re- vue." Street speculators Injured this attraction like it did other .shows Involved In ticket brokers Ix'ing overstocked. Still great With $29,200. Will hold over until new year by latest arrangement. "Revue Russe" (I'layhouse, 2d and final wook). Lack of novelty still holds field clear for Morris Ge.st s organization later on. Prize fiop of soason here. House went dark with departure of Russians, reopening next week with "At the End of the World." Lester Bryant Itulting up game fight, considering exit gross for "iiuwse" was Usa t ha n $1,500. "Good Morning, Dearie," (Colonial, nth—final wccjo. Dillingham's biggest loss ever for music il shows for this town. Never went into popularity, creating oddest situa- tion aftor Broadwav hit. Loss '.'in be judi;«-d on gross of $14,700. N<»