Variety (December 1922)

Friday, December 15, 1922 LEGITIMATE f . • •' - 17 PRE-CHRISTMAS DULLNESS HITS PHILADELPHIA HEAVILY If*, ^ > Everything Bearish—''Abraham Lincoln's*' Return Did Little—"Good Morning Dearie" Alone of Musicales Makes Good Showing, I Philadelphia. Dec. IS. The slump that came last week in the business at the legitimate houses was more disastrous than generally expected. It particularly hit the three serious shows which opened Monday, but even the mus- icals were affected. Right now the situation up to Christmas looks rather gray. The Shubert will be dark next week, al- though "Tangerine" has been one of the real money makers and could propably weather the storm. Added to this, the Adelphl with * To Love" haa decided not to attempt it. This Grabe George drama opened rather weakly and business was depressing all last week, with no sign of much improvement this week. "Abraham Lincoln" returning to the Broad where It played to big business two years ago, his been another disappointment. This show is in for only two weeks. "Anna Christie" at the Walnut showed more promise, but business was below normal last week. This was despite a set of glowing notice. "Blossom Time" took a big drop at the Lyric after steadily Improv- ing and finally reaching a pinnacle ■with a gross of virtually $21.000. Last \^eek. Monday and Tuesday saw fractional houses, and the slump was again to be noticed Thursday. It's problematical whether thLs drop will be continuous or not. No end has been announced jis yet for the engagement. J Eighth Veek. "Tangerine" at the Shubert and •"Good Morning, Dearie" at the For- rest have kept their heads above water, and have come pretty close to sharing what was left of Philly's theatrical business after the crash came. "Dearie" will definitely run until Dec. 23 (making five weeks) and with "Tangerine" out a wrek ahead, the Dillingham show ought to have its own way with what bus- iness is left. The only possible opposition might come from "Molly Darling" at the Garrick which, however, has not yet shown on which side of the ledger It may be placed. After an opening week's gross of $16.00, this musical comedy took a dip the first few days of last week and didn't recover en- tirely. A rather unusual condition of things exists this and next week with Mantell coming into the Broad next Monday, as the only opening. This Is an unusual time of year for Mantell to pay his annual visit, and just what he will do in this week before Christmas is a thing of doubt. Four openings Christmas day, one less than last year. "To the Ladles" at Garrick, "The Guilty One" with Pauline Frederick, Adelphl; White's "Scandals" at Forrest, and "The Passing Show of 1922" at Shubert, This will leave "Anna Christie" fit the Walnut to coast through until Dec. 30, with "The Monster" opening Jan. 1, together with some attrac- tion succeeding Mantell at the Broad *—pos.sibly "Captain Applejack." The 8th will see Ed Wynn at the Forrest with "The Perfect Fool" and "The Dover Road" is an underllner for the Walnut for Jan, 29. This leaves as a question mark the Lyric which will probably break in with a suc- cessor to ''Blossom Time" about Jan. 1. "The Guilty One" Is likely to make way for "The Cat and the Canary" by about the second week 6f the new year. :_ Estimates for last week: "Abraham Lincol/i" (Broad, 2d week)—Did little on return. Scarcely grazed $8,500, "Tangerine'* (Shubert, 4th week) ^—Dropped with rest, but not with the thud regi.stered by some of the rest. This show has shown real building power, and without aid of holidays, reached $22,000, with pros-, poets of being able to do as much this week, l^nderstood to be only question of terms which keeps it from staying in next week. "Passing .Show " Dec. 25, for three wcck.«j. "Good Morning,'Dearie" (Forrest. 4th wook)—Held up to good level and overcame some of weaknes.ses shown upstairs. This show mo.'^t encouraging of all in town last week during slump. AVcnt to over $23,000. "Scandals" Doc, 25, "Molly Darling" (Garrick, 3d week)—Dropped about $2,000 from opening week gro.ss of $16,000, but showed pronii.sing nlgns of being able to hold out for allotted four weekn, "To the Ladies" Chiistma.s. "Anna Christie*" (\V,i:i it. 'J! weolt) — Received enthus.a.sh* ally l>y press, but crowds didn't respond. Ifopc i.-^ still, exjire.-.scd it will build thi.s week, hold it.s own next weu-k, and ride through to .some real |)r<»rit during holidays. "The Monster" Jan. 1. "Blocsom Time" (Lyric 8th week) fc—Took plunge downward after $21,000 gross week. Claimed it touched ^17,000. with two very weak nights. Loss about evenly divided between downstairs and balcony. No underline mentioned. ""To Love" (Adelphl. 2d week)— Mixed notices, and despite some society draw, didn't seen to build as hoped. Indications discouraging and decided to close house week before Christmas rather than let Grace George drama attempt the heavy running. This will confine run to two weeks. Last week's gross around $7,000. SHOWS IN CHICAGO (Continued from page 16) success must run along even after chopping off the usual business for all openings. Much of the show romance in Chicago is gone for the veteran showman who likes to observe a response to a campaign, Chicago is rich with theatrical money, with the playgoers wondering why New York olfices still think that a show holding only a draw of $7,000 In New York should be expected to come to Chicago and whack out $14,000, even with important changes made in the cast- To draw this rich money Chicago demands the best these days, and to give the best the producers are forced to add to their road expenses. Then when a slump does come, there is a greater loss here for the producer than in New York. When the New York producers catch up with the way the Chicago playgoers have changed their theatrical tastes, bet- ter off will be everybody concerned, say those who apparently know whereof they speak. Last week's estimates: "He Who Gets Slapped" (Play- house, Ist week). Everybody boost- ing, W'th play threatening to bring house out of hoodoo season. Will be carefully nursed on strength of $9,000 week. ' "Spice of 1922" (Studebaker, 1st week). It wasn't show; wasn't theatre. Instead it was Jack Lait's name that brought big premiere. Recorded at $18,000. ^ "Cat and Canary" (Princess, 14th week). Seated nicely In long run saddle, with no prospects of tum- bling off for some time to come. Al Spink caring for both ends. Easily reached $14,200. "Music Box Revue" Colonial, 4th week). Reported around $32,000, with New Year's Eve prices an- nounced at $8, and promises to be sold out early. Thoroughly liked. "Bcmbo" (Apollo, 12th week). Bounded along close to $31,000, with prospects of $10 for New Y'ear's Eve. "Six Cylinder Love" (Harris, 10th week). Demand fell off at hotels, but slipped nicely Into $10,000. yet considered "through" for big call. Will be held for holiday rush, with "Captain Applejack" probably to follow. "Tfiank-U" (Cort, 15th week). Is holding better than any of other small town plays In town, doubling own popularity with this theatre's established clientele. First to an- nounce at least four matinees for Xmas week. More big profits on $11,000. "The First Year" (Woods, 5th week). Reported gross of $11,000 for Monday night; $1,300 Tuesday night. Indicated biggest trade came from "buy." Will be closely watched in this*1iouse. Little over $14,000 ($7.00 drop'over previous week). "Kempy" (Sclwvn, 4th week). Un- fortunate opposi^on greeted this well-liked piece, causing prediction in these columns that the "money- play" would average $8,000. This Is what the piece has been doing. Now that "He" caught on at Playhouse, all chance of "Kempy" being switched there gone. Leaves Dec, 24, with "I'artners Again" to follow for much heralded engagement. "The Czarina" (PowfJrs. 2d and final week), Wqnt around $9,000, with Otis Skinner opening Monday, another limited engagement. "Shuffle Along" (Olympic, 4th week). Breezed around $17,000 with new records promised during holi- days. Solid hit. "Lightnin*" (Blackstone. C7th and final week). Record engagement at all times for Chicago spoiled with death of the croator of .same (Frank I?ar()n). Henry Miller and Ruth c^liatsrton hi **igt T e ndres se" (jjM-nfd Mrinday n'ght. "So This Is London" (Cohan's fJrand. ^d week). Moving fast, typieal (Tohan .swing. IMonii.srs to leap high ere long. Given out as $13.r.00. "For All of Us" (La Salle. 3d we^'k). Town's .surpri.se. Hit off $11.'J00 by hard campaigning, giving William Hodge more confl<lence to bull-streamerizo Henry Fords en- ISADORA GOING BACK Returning to Moscow, Dancer Says in Speech ac Baltimore, Dec. It. Isadora Duncan told her audience in Baltimore last plght that she is going back to Mosco\ soon. This statement came during a ten- minute speech made at the conclu- sion of her dance program, which was marked by many interpreta- tions of an extremely somber mood. In her speech Miss Duncan said she was not a Bolshevist, but that she had brought a message of love (didn't mention brand) to Balti- more, because she had seen the suffering on the other side and had been deeply affected by it She said that she could still teach ihtle chil- dren to dance gaily, but that she Jierself was unable to do it. The speech was made before a half-empty house, in contrast to the multitude which had watched her performance, drawn, perhaps. In the hope she would pull a 'strlppinflgr Cupid" stunt, and was disappointed when she didn't. The nearest Isadora reached a flesh display was at one time when she came perilously near exposing her left breast. ^ y' At the conclusion of the dances, the audience, which packed the Lyric here, arose to go. When the dancer began to speak most of them kept on their way. Even her speech failed to arouse any enthusiasm, and when she pulled the love stuff, the audience still kept their hands in their laps. SHAW TRANSLATION Mme. Kaiisch's New Play Produced by Lee Shubert "JItta's Atonement," the new Mme. Bertha Kalisch starring piece, went Into rehearsal this week under John Harwood's directlbn. B. Iden Payne will not stage it as previously announced. It is a Lee Shubert production, although the star Is financially in- terested. Its distinction is that George Bernard Shaw translated it from the Austrian of Siegfried Tre- bitsch, the first translation of It^ kind done, to oblige the star, who Is a personal friend of Shaw's. The play Is current in Copen- hagen and was produced In Vienna. Mme. Kalisch will introduce it lo- cally, to be followed by a new play by Herman Sudermann, especially written for her. STOCK AT ACADEMY, BALTO. The Academy of Music, BaltinMre, went dark last Saturday. The house started the season as a stand for Shubert unit vaudevHle, ending that policy last week. Instead of straight vaudeville, the Shuberts have ar- ranged for a production stock p?^n to be managed by Henry Duffy and A. Li. Smith, who are successfully conducting the President, Washing- ton, along such lines. "Abie's Irish Rose" is in its third week at the latter house. NEW HEMBEES m ''ANOELO'' The Leo Carillo play, "Mike An- gelo," has been rewritten and sev- eral changes made in the cast with Wanda Lyons, Doroth]^ Mackaye and Grant/ Stewart the new mem- bers. It is now in rehearsal, and Is to reopen in New Haven Christmas night. dorsement. Forced to vacate hotise Dec. 24 for "Demi-Virgin." "Bill of Divorcement" (Central, 6th week). Two weeks' closing no- tice up. Reported around $5,000. "Greenwich Village Follies" (Great Northern, 2d week). Misjudging scale of prices checkers gave'This attraction $3,000 short on premiere we^. Really did little over $21,000, Slumped second week, however, with reported gross of $17,700. SHOWS IN BOSTON (Continued from page 16) seasons ago, is scheduled to open here Christmas. "The Dover Road" (Plymouth, 2d week). Got away with about $7,000 for first week, starting off weak and building up toward the finish. "The Bat" (Wilbur. 15th week). rDojost week of run; about $12,000. Said to !)«> ;i fair advance sale re- corded that will carry it along for couple of weeks, at any rate. "Bulldog Drummond" (Hollls, 2d week). Sur|)rlHe of week. Started f)rf slow, but took brace and finished with gross of $10,500. RuGtian Grand Opera Co. (Boston O. H.. L'd week). $12,000 first week. Considered exceptional for company playing entirely In Russian. • FILM AT ASTOR Rented House May Play Piotures Remainder of Season The Astor, New York, the lease for which the Shuberts renewed for a long term period recently, will re- main in pictures for the balance of the season. Robertson-Cole are re- ported having secured the house under a rental arrangement start- ing the first of the year, the picture producers to use the Astor for ex- ploitation purposes. It Is said R-C wlfl pay $4,000 weekly for the bare walls. For the last several seasons the Astor has been used for special pic- ture exhibitions, in spite of its moderate size and bOoause of Its prominent Broadway location. Wil- liam Fox is the present picture tenant Fox started the season out with both the 44th Street and Lyric rented for specials. When the Shu- berts arranged for "Robin Hood" at the Lyric, Fox agreed to switch to the Astor, changing the feature at the time. Fox has the 44th Street under rental until the end of the month, but the house went dark sev- eral weeks ago and will revert to the legitimate Jan. 8, at which time the Moscow Art theatre will open there. QHICAGO BOOKINGS Windy Town's Layout Until Feb- • ruary ; •'"--■ '■'. ChlcagQ, Dec. 18. Barney Bernard and Alexander Carr come to the Selwyn Dec 24 In "Partners Again." On the same day "The Demi-Virgin" will open at the La Salle. Frances Starr in "Shore Leave" starts her engage- ment at Powers, Christmas day. "Why, Certainly" will be introduced by Allan Pollock at the Central-on Christmas day. "The Book of-Job" will be a third attractloft opening here Christmas— but the theatre is not yet announced. "The Invisible Emolre" comes to the Aryan Grotto Dec. 30, where home talent flourishes, and there is Interest in the announcement that this is a play about the Ku Klux Klan. "Orange Blossoms" will come to the Illinois the last day of the year. "Sally" will open at the Colo- nial Jan. 7. Eddie Cantor in "Make It Snappy" is due at the Apollo about the same time; not certain yet. Elsie Ferguson In "The Wheel of Life" at the Blackstone Jan. 8. and "The Last Warning" there Feb, 5. r BACON'S WIFE SOLE LEGATEE By direction of Surrogate Co- halan, Adolph C. Kiendl, one of the transfer tax State appraisers at- tached to the local branch of the State Tax Commission, was ap- pointed appraiser of the New York property left by Frank Bacon, who died at Chicago, Nov. 19, for the purpose of assessing whatever taxes. If any, may be due to the State, under the inheritance tax laws. The action of the Surrogate was based upon a petition filed by Jennie Bacon, of Bell avenue, Bayslde, L. I., widow of the decedent, through Lloyd W. Moultrie, of 608 Security Building, Los Angeles. In her pe- tition Mrs. Bacon claimed that her husband died a resident of Santa Clara County, Cal., and that no let- ters testamentary or administrative upon his estate had been granted to her. At the home of Mrs. Bacon It was stated that Mr. Bacon had left a will naming her sole legatee and executrix, and that Mrs. Bacon, ac- companied by her two children, were now on their way to Santa Clara County to probate the docu- ment. No one in authority at the Bacon home at Bayside was able to give an estimate of Mr, Bacon's estate, Mr, Bacon was a member of the Friars, Lambs and Green Room Clubs, and second vice-president of the Actors' Equity Association, as well as a member of several fra- ternities. He was laid to rest at Mounlalnview, Cal. His daughter, Mrs, Bessie Allen, Is the leading woman of his play, while his son, Lloyd Bacon, is a director for Lloyd Hamilton. Legit House in Charleston, W. Va. Charleston, W. \'i , Der. 13. The new Kearae, .seating 2,000. IS open and gives to this city a house which will allow for the pre.sentation of the IcRiiimate. It is something which Charleston has lacked for half a decade. The theatre will be devoted to pictures and legit attractions. Ku- gene Quigley, of Chicygo, is re.sident manager. NO OUTDOOR BILLING A BAD BUSINESS aUSE Booking Experts Concede it a Reason—They Want It Restored '-■■t' The absence of outdoor billing of legitimate attractions this season has drawn the attention of ser* eral booking experts and they hav« now admitted that variation from theatrical road practice is an im« portant contrlbutary cause of bad business outside of New York. One of the booking executives addressed a notation to the head 'of a major ofllce stating the sooner houses out of town reverted to the billboard method of advertising It was his opinion the quicker business would improve. Rules made when Erlanger and the Shuberts formed the present booking combination and the regu- lations forced by managerial asso- ciations in the various week stands, are claimed to have handicapped publicity of road attractions to such an extent that showmen are asking for revision that will at least re- store the billboards. The week- stand managers, in seeking to lower operating costs; found no bar to their suggestion to eliminate out- door billing and the big offices on top of that made a provision in sharing contracts that the houses participate in newspaper advertis- ing to an extent of not over $200 weekly. It is claimed that not only hava the individual houses in the week stands thrown aside outdoor bill- ing, but also the Erlanger aAd Shubert houses in those cities. Wherever there is an association it has become a fixed rule to allow no billboard publicity. That stands for Boston, Chicago, Cleveland and Philadelphia, the managers thera stating they "do^not believe in it.' In some of the week stands whera outdoor billing has not been en- tirely done away with. It is limited to such an extent that little valuo is secured. The Pitt, Pittsburgh, has but ten three-sheet boards. That is also true of one of the blc houses in Detroit, while there is none at all for one or two houiM In Cleveland. . . ;V Kansas City. Cincinnati and St. Louis are using about twenty-flva boards each, but in no case in the important road stops is there spaca available that the road attractions deem necessary. There lias been no similar curtailment in the one- nighters and strong attractlona have been billing freely and claim- ing the better business noted In the small stands is the reward. KLAW LIEN VACATED A mechanic's lien for $107,488.It which was filed against the Klaw theatre, New York, June 22, 1D21, ' was ordered vacated by the New York Supreme Court, the order also disposing of the suit. Jardln Co., Inc., which built the theatre, was the plaintiff against the Walk Realty Corp., owners of the Klaw. The . lien was levied for moneys alleged due, Jardln Co., Inc., subsequently starting action to foreclose the lien. The Walk Co. (Klaw spelled back- wards) defended through Dltten- hoefer & Fishel, generally denying and counterclalmed for $52,325.66 « overpaid for alleged defective work. The Jardln Co. has since been ad- ; Judlcated a bankrupt. * ^; LAMPS HOLD BACK OPENING * The Selwyns* production of tha i foreign novelty drama, "Johannes ; Kreisler," set for its premiere Mon- day night, has been set back until Wednesday evening next. The production will be ready for the original date, but six large lamps with special lenses are still on the high seas. The necessary lights are aboard a freighter, due Saturday, but will probably not dock for sev- eral days afterward due to heavy storms in the steamship lanes. There are 24 special lamps In all for "Kreisler," all operated from back stage. FRED SANTLEY VICE BRIAN Saturday Donald Brian will leave Tp She Goes." W. A. Brady's musical production of "Too Many Cooks," which is running at the IMayhouse. lie will be relieved by Frcdfric Hantley, It is .said the role was not suited to Urian. ♦ "^ , »:.'. A.«.'.*tl*Uft ■ ■n'.'l :'■: -.. ';,i 'to/ ■