Variety (April 1923)

1 .^'r^- ^>\ ...V." '.'; ■ ti ■ , ■ .♦, ■ " ■'. ^V >* i- -^li-f -•'i* Bl.^-».'*-■' ir^**|^':;^^^V JS- Thursday. AprU 19, 192S LEGITIMATE 17 SUMMER SHOWS PROMISED FOR - PHILA. AS SEASON NEARS END •«.' "*r:. :* «■ Fortnight of Moscow Art Players Remaining Event i of Spring—^Advance Estimated at $25,C00— "Applejack'' and Spice" Show Strength Philadelphia. AprlllS. Will Philadelphia, after many false alarme. actually have a summer theatrical season this year? That is the question which is be- Uig asked on all side^ with opinion fibout equaily divided on the'suc- cess of the venture. At prc«ent writing: three houses appear to be set for the hot-weather jToin?—one syndicate, one Shulnrt and one. the Walnut, independently booked, with Shubert leanings. The flrst^named is the Forrest, which on Jlay 7 will gret/the negro revue. "Shuffle Aloiig." The fact that it is a "limited engagement" i3 mentioned in the press copy, but it is pretty definitely reportoil that the revue will ride through the entire summer. The Forrest has nothing more booked uritll next Labor Day. and. because of location and popu- larity, is an ideal house for such an Attempt. ^ The Chestnut Street, jyst returned to the legit field after a year and a half with N'audevllle, has "Spice" on a fourth visit now, and will follow that with Elddie Cantors "Make It Snappy." This will take the house up to "about the 1st of June, ani it is saJd that other revue bookings will follow as long as business Jus- tifies. The Walnut, like the Forrest, seems definitely set for summer go- ing. Following a return engage- ment of ''Kempy," which starts April 30 and. it is understood, has four weeks. Joseph Caites will put a brand new revue Into this house. The nature of the show and the principals are nvatters of dark mys- tery now. but it, too.'is expected to run as long as business warrants. In fact, in this case definite com- pariaon is being made in the pub- nclty matter to the success of the Tremont In Boston with Cohan shows. There Is an agreement be- tween J. P. Beury and C. C. Wana- maker, owner and manager of the WaJnut and Qaites, for an anniial summer revue at this house. Last summer "Spice" opened at the Walnut in June, during one of the hottest weeks of the summer, and packed th^m in for slxTlays. It tras generally admitted at that time that "Spice" could have stuck at the Walnut for a couple of moaths. hot weather and all.* Except for these possible summer shows the current season here Is just about played out after the batch of openings this week. The Moscow Art, opening its fortnight's engrage- ment ai the Lyric next Monday, and "Kempy" are the only underlines. Buolness dwbidled considerably, as expected, la«t week, following the Easter week boom. "Spice." at the Chestnut street, and "Captain Ap- plejack," at the Garrlck. held up the best. The Chestnut is being featured as a "pop-priced" house. $1.^0 being the top at nights (except Saturday) and 11 at matinees. Incidentally, 3hree matinees are being given regu- larly. "Spice" started lining them up Monday night and kept up the Tood work all week, though hit once or twice by some miserable weather l>reaks. "Captain Applejack" has been the spring's surprise sensation "here, -ollowing its rather disappointing career In the middle west. It was lelpcd a lot by some bully notices md showed Its strength by a sell- )ut on Holy Week Thursday, faster week It reached a mark ^lose to $19,000 and didn't drop nuch below that mark last week. There were never more than a few scattered seats downstairs at eve- ilng shows, the weaknesses devel- )plng at the Wednesday matinee md In the gallerj'. Frantic at- empts are being made to cancel K>okIngs elsewhere which will en- ible "Applejack" to stay at the larrlck. Up to the present time, lowever. the negotiations have >een unsuccessful and the final two veeks of the show's five-week stay ire announced. It li^'believed it •ould make money in eight weeks md perhaps more. As was confidently expected, an- louncemcnt has been made that •'Blos.«-.om Time" is to trnnskcr to he Adelphiii Monday, when the Russians take posses.sion (<f the jyrlo atnpTo. That will be for two veeks oni>-. tind it is almost certain hat at the end of that tinu> tlio jchubcrt operetta will return ti> the .^yric and nm na lute into May a.«« t can. Tills record -l»re:ikinj:: oi)- •retta h:t s Ih'm itloddin-^ ;i'(»:i'r ;it V marl; ih U-'^ '* 'i> 1m' ii.-ftt\ ( Insi- :o nn c\e':i Un-aU. thouyh it went veil nbove i: i.m»M- v.-o«,'U. Th>re H *on8iderab!e difitTenc i.f opinion is to what li'^iire ran Kive tiie .'-.hav I. suffgeHtion of profit. Sy.OOO bein;,' ^he popula.ly accepted sum. The Siail)eit opened la.^t wct«k '.fter all. The rcar^on wa.«? the wal- -oplng big business* done by the Mask and Wig at the Forrest wid the big turnaway. It was decided last Monday night to stage three extra performances at the Shubert. Extensive advertising was done, and good business restilted, al- though snow and rain put a damper in the brief engagement. This is the first time that the Wiggers have given so many extra performances here. Usually a single show at the Academy of Music late in April has sufllced. ;\ •, ■■.■•^,:^} "The Monster** tan Into a good deal of trouble at the Walnut in Its second and last week and proved the wisdom of not attempting extra matinees. It was the first really bad week the Galtes* melodrama has had here, although the previous one had shown signs that the thriller exhausted its big demand in its January run. "Ths Cat and the Canary' was low, even with the announcement of final two weeks to bring last-minute business. It has not been decided whether this com- pany will call It a season or play a few other dates during May and early June. . This week had threaj open'ngs, "The Greenwich Village Follies" at the Shubert. where business looks to be very big for the week; "The Changelings" with Henry Miller and hia star cast at the Broad, and FIsice O'Hara in "The Land o' Promise" at the Walnut. The "Fol- lies" will probably stay about four weeks, though they may hang on to the end of May. "The Change- lings" may stay the usual Broad allowance—two, or it may make It three weeks, as there are no hard and fast bookings for this drama on its way to the coast. Fiske O'Hara stays just two weeks, to be fol- lowed by "Kempy." The advance sale for "Mbscow Art Theatrej has been enormous, and the Shuoerts tried to get some news publicity on it, but weren't very successful. In their stories for the dailies they made a rough estimate of |25,000 for advance sale up to Thursday of last week; this is probably pretty close to the mark. The Forrest, with the first week of the "Hunting Big Game in Africa" film, made quite a splurge. The dailies were enthusiastic and the first night audience contained quite a few distinguished faces. It is a bit too early to predict on the business here for the ailotted four weeks. This week will tell the tale, and from the word of mouth com- ment that is going around it looks quite promising for the Snow pic- tures. In the evening Snow was prominently billed to tell of his experiences on the Walton 'Root, one .of the most prominent of the city's cabarets. Estimates of the week: "Gresnwieh Vills0s Follies" (Shu- bert, first week). Opened to big business, with a sell-out Tuesday, also due to big benefit. Looks like a box oflflce wallop for three or four weeks. "Mask and Wig" did |3.- 600 last Friday, and repeated Satur- day night, but the matinee gross was off, due to bad weather. Still the three-day engagement was highly successful. "The Changeiinga^ (Broad, first week). All s^r cast play opened to virtual sell-but. May stay longer than two weeks, as house has noth- ing to follow. "The Mountebank" was better than expected in second week, gross reported as nearly |11,- 000. "Hunting Big Gams in Africa** (Forrest, second week). On 15,000- a-week rental basis. First week en- couraging, but not conclusive, this week telling the tale. Has house for month. r' "Captain Applejack^ (darrlck. fourth week). Held up splendidly and grossed nearly 118.000, a loss of about $1,000 over Easter week mark. May stay longer than five weeks originally planned. "Spice of 1922" (Chestnut, second week). Business big for fourth en- gagement In Plully of thi« revue. It marked return of this house to legit, and If last week's mark can he su.stained. move was wise. Chest- nut may stay open late into summer. "Land o' Promise" (Walnut, first w<'ck>. Fiske O'llara play opened with pi-omlse. ''The Monstei*'" dropped very badly, and ended sec- ond stay lu'ie with a gros".** that 8rr.iiH'(l $8,500. ••Blo3=om Tirrie" (Lv'rio. 2<i'.\\ v"ki. R(-iiO!'r<?il r»? li wor?fr V. (•( :< (»f Ktn:/ here. prol... ..,., diir to b.ad v/oather lir«'alcs; IMoves to A(J"lpIii next Moii'l.'iv for t\v.) wrek.s whib' Moscow Art o('fiii»i("< Lyric; afterwr.rds. ' Blos5'.om Time" niav return to Lyric. I..ot<s th.'iii |7..'>00. "Cat and Canary*' fAdelphi, 12tb week). Final weclc for mystery SHOWS-IH NEW YORK (Continued from page 1() "Rain" excels. Both attracUom running neck^nd neck on receipts, "Heaven's" $15,000 averagv being slig^htJy'less and attained b^ extra majtlnee. Bootli. however, is smaller than Elliott. ''So This Is London,** Hudson (S4th week). Always w4th non-musical leaders and holds that rating, wKh summer continuance in sight. Last week the gross was a little under normal, but nearly $14,500. <'The Adding Machme," Oarrlck (5th week). Moves to Comedy next week, and Theatre Guikt's repu- tation nMiy keep it going until warm weather arrives. About $e,000 at Garrlck. *T*hrs Clinging Viu^," Knickerbocker (17th week). Holding up very well and scheduled to run until Juna Recent pace has been around $14,000. which measures up well for a $2.50 top musical. "The Comsdian/' Lyceum ($th week). Will be moved to Belasco when "Klkl" clo.se* May 5. Busi- ness good, though not big. Profit- able at over $10,000 last week. "The Dancing Girl/' Winter Garden '(ISth week). Two or three weeks will find Garden show op way. J Olson returns here for limited stay, to start May 14. . Musical production for summer bedng readied. "The Enchantsd Cottage/' Rltz (3d week).\ Agency call good enough to attract moderate buy last week. Management, however de- cided on cut rating because of lateness of season. Jumped $500 for a gross of $6,60f( last week and considerably bettered pace early "The Exile,'' Cohan (2d week). Did nt>t get break from critics, but Niome-caJl In agencies. I^rst week, grossed about $7,000. Show took house under guarantee of $4,000 for four weeks. Must pick up to turn a profit. "Ths Fool," Times Square (26th week). "Heavy sugar baby" of the season, with signs pointing to staying Into next season. Still playing extra matinee. Last week was a reaction of the remarkable trade Easter week; crross was $16,500. "The Gingham Girl," Earl Carroll (34th week). Will move to Central for summer continuance after an- other week, yaklngs last week $10,500. House change figured to boost pace consiiderably. "The-Old Soak." Plymouth (S5th week). Arthi|p: Hopkins' most consistent moneymaker this sea- son. Though not counted to score hit. Jumped into popularity from start. Has varied in pace but always "came back." Dropped about $1,500 last week, gross little under $8,500. Will be taken c3 Saturday. 'nrhs Lovs Habit," Bijou (6th week). Never got>olng, trade averaging under $5,000. Last week droppedv fuKher and not-^ much over' guarantee. "Uptown West" suc- ceeds. •The Wasp," Morosco (4th week). Guarantee period of four weeks expires Saturday, ^ut another week will be played here, as "Pride** is not ready to succeed next week. "Wasp" shows life, but not strong business. $6,000 or a little more last week. "Up Shs Goes," Playhouse (24th week). Brady's musical running along at approximate pace of $i.000 for months. Claimed to be making money and ought to do well on tour next season. "Whispering Wirss," Broadhurst (85th week). Mystery play which fooled producers, who announced it touring some time ago. With- out drawing big money, has been profitable nearly every week played. Last weel. saw sharp drop, gross going under $6,500 and tite lowest of run. "Wildflftwer," Casino (11th week). Though off trifle last week, when entire list dropped, gross was nearly $17,000. At $2.50 top that means splendid business. Tbls musical easily leads field in clkss. "Within Four Walls," Selwyn (1st week>f' Comedy drama by Glen MacDonough, produced by Mack Hllllard. Late season entrant opened Tuesday, succeeding 'The Guilty One." "You and I," Belmont (9th week). R. G. Herndon's most successful try this season. Smart comedy with capacity draw on lower floor. Strong cast for Harvard prize play, and $8,400 groAs last week means big business In this small house. , "Zander the Great," Empire (2d week). Alice ISrady greoted cor- dially all around In melodramatic comedy which looks like be.it at- traction Empire has had this sea- son. First week grossed $10,800 or more, which gives show stronpt rating. I'ace early this week should send figure;* to $14,000. The Harv.ird Dramatic Club came to Uroadway. at the Comedy, for the first time, offering "The Life of Man" and "I'.eranser." each for tliiee days, but cnRUfferrent i.s for tliis week only. The Lyric a! o HOLIDAY THIS WEEK IN BOSTON AFTER PICK-UP OF LAST WEEK >»■ .'4 ''Minnie and Me" Opens Well—^Jolson Also in Town —"Lightnin* " Goes to $15,500—"Just Married'' .On Way to Coast , ^* > >-v h.iH a one-wec'j: htlr.'iclihrt Ih "'I h* Son?,' of SoHiff" and "The Sliow IJonth," .short ijl.nyn of .'•emI-}»ro- f'v Hional present \tion. AHo for orii' week. pla\-. wl.lrh has been n (li.'«.'ji»i.(i;nf - ment Iutc aftor lli-eo or four very bie: ^■ roks. (1vr)nti probab'y misxed $7.C00 In.St v.-eek. Boston, April 18, Except at the houses where shows have practically run out their local drawing capacity, the theatrical business in this city picked up last week. The gains over the week be- fore were not sensational, but they were encourasing. Local managers believe the flgures of the week will hold for the balance of this month and perhaps ^nto next month. The local legitimate houses will this week get their flnal holiday op- portunity next Thursday, a holiday that is conflned to this State, and which in other years has not been considered an especially strong one for the theatres. But the weather that has prevailed during theSpast several weeks, and which Is stlU running true to form, will give the breaks to the theatres and the out- door amusements will suffer. Every house In town will have a matinee Thursday, the holiday. The usual Wednesday matinee at the Tremont and the Colonial will be omitted, and the afternoon shows will be on Thursday to get the breaks. Tn^o big shows for Boston opened Monday, when Al Jolson came into the Shubert and Mitzi opened at the Colonial. In past seasons both stars have been able to pull them Into the houses In capacity style, and there is nothing to Indicate they won't be able to repeat on this visit. The Jolson show opening at the Shubert Is In for four weeks, and during the lo6al^tay Is expected to smash tlte house record for this sea- son. Although coming In on the heels of the "Greenwich Village Fol- lies," "which closed with a $2S,S00 week. It will not suffer from that cause and will have opposition from Just on* source, "Minnie and Me," at the Colonial. Dwing the local stay the Mltsi show is priced at $2.50 top. with .the ads for the show carrying a speclaT line about the new prices being the spring and summsr scale? "The Fool" at the Selwyn has been off the form of Its earlier weeks, but seems good for an Indeflnlte stay, an engagement that will prob- ably be terminated only with the comiQg of the summer weather. It has a good, strong advance sale all the time. It Is drawing from out-of- town patronage steadily, and as the show has been advertised as not to play any other cities in New Eng- land this season, the play from the sticks will more than likely con- tinue. Last week it got about $8,500. "Llghtnln* ,'• at the Ilollis went to around $12,000. Up to a few week^ ago its average was $15,000 weekly. It will easily flnish out the season at the Hollia Outside of the city It is being liberally billposted and has shown good drawing power along the Una "Six CyMnder Lovs" gecms to have settled down for a comTortable time at the Tremont. The business the opening week was $12,000, not a rec- ord for comedy attractions playing the town this season, but with a comfortable margin on the right side of the ledger. If it can keep on at this rate It is good to stay here for several weeks. VJust Married" will flnish at the Plymouth Saturday and start on a tour through New England, headed for the Coast. It has been a money- malier at moderate grosses. Last week marred by the death of Jess Dandy, who had been with the com- pany from the time It was organ- ized. Helen Hayes In "To the ladles" Is on the third week at the Wilbur, and the Majestic has swung a«aip Into the musical comedy field with "CJalctles of 1923." The changes scheduled for the lo- cal hotises In the Immediate future are "The Monster," a mystery play, duo Into the Plymouth next week, atUling another to the long string of plays of this type that have ar- rived here since "The Bat." 'Sun .Slio'.vers." a musical play into the Wilbur to replace "To the I>adles." and the Hu8.slan players (Moscow Alt > into the Majestic on May 7. I'l.Mtinr.itfH for last week: ••Liflhtnin*" (Hollls, 17 weeks); $tf^ ' t oo : ;i t jt>ut $8 00 bPt t r r than nor - iiMl. I'.Klrii matlncr thiH v/f-ek on «hr h liili;.-. making ibrco afi":noon sbow . "Mir.i 0 and Me" (Colonial. l«t v«-'^k>. Opened Mlronj: f«)r metro- joliuiM jjrcnUcre. In lin;il week ' .M<r .. VVidcMv" did %]?..<)ij0. "Zix Cylinder Lovo" ^rr'-mcnt." Cr.il t c^:l;>. Oil r.V;ii v.cel; Ihjj t'liow did $12,000, above average for dr*:«e^ matic attraction. '^ •"The Poor (Selwyn. 9th week)| $8,500 last week. "To the Ladisa** (Wilbur. Srd week). A weak draw—a little better than $5,500. "Just Marrtsa** (Plymouth, flnal week). Moderate business, though a profit claimed. Last week was un- der $5,500. *'QaisttM of 1923" (Majestic, 1st week). The "Whirl, of Joy" was olt from expectations.' Got under $5,000 last week. An Italian company headed by Mimi AgugHa and Maria Braxzl have the Arlington this week, and the Boston Opera House is dark with the departure of the Russian Grand Opera Co.. credited with splendid business during its stay. BALTO'S BIZ Wynn and Olcott Followed in Msnsy-Qsltsrs * Baltimore. •rApril -18. Business at the local houses last week was good, oM things cohMd* ered. The week before the "Music Box" and Al Jolson -cleaned ths town for a good-slzel sockful oC money, but Ed Wynn and "The Per- fect Fool" and Chauncey Olcott and his "Heart of Paddy Whack" fol- lowed, and both took In enough at the gate to kesp the wolf fk*om the door. Wynn, playing at Ford's at a $2.50 scale, did a bit over $16,000. aild more than held his own in the bad weather, which came ov«r ths town Friday and Saturday. However, following the "Music Box' and striking bad weat^r, he did welU Olcott also did fairy well, con- sidering. His show, geared to run economically, (pt about $8,000 on the week, meaning a break for the show and tlW Auditorium. LOOP SHOT Business Thtrs Drops to Minimum Monday of This Wsok •f;: Chicago, April 1$ Th# 1.00P houses.were shot t3 pieces at the box offlcs Monday lUffht. Some of the theatre* rssched tl)e minimum of gross receipts, not getting over $200. Last night was a little better, al- though several of the legit houses continued to draw comparatively nothing. SHOWS IN FBISCO v'r-* San Francisco, April tS. Walker Whiteside In "Tlie Hindu* opened at the Curran tp fair busi- ness <with an Improvenient at tho box office noted daily. The return of Kolb and Dill for two weeks at the Columbia proved to be disappointing in the matter of attendance. The team opened 6ers at the Curran earlier In the season and remained for four weeks, play- Ingf to a gross of $73,000. It was figured that a return would be sure- firs for capacity, but Instead It was only a light attendance that greeted the coast favorites. .1 FITTSBUB6H FIOUEE Pittsburgh. April 18. •'Abie's Irish Rose** at the Pitt held up to the former week's busi- ness, about $11,000 on the week. "The Last Warning- ct the Nlxo% with one of the best mystery shows ever seen here, grossed $14,000 on the week. At the Alvln ".n. U. R." was not so fortunate, and only did about $9,000. Burlesque business picked up with the Academy, doing over $^500, and the Oayety about $7,109. Colored Show Got $17,000 Los Angeles. April IS. 'Strutting Along," a colored show at the..Au<li»'>ri.!m. did $17,000 last week. Thr > ■ /i.|>any played six pcr^ fonnances at $1.50 lop. -^, --r ■ -.^ 111.- ■' —— ■ ■ ■ ' ■ 1^ 1^ ^ ^ $10,000 in Denver for "Awful Trulh* Denver, April 18. Ina flaire and P.ruce McRae, in "The Awful Triith ' at the Broadway la.st w(.!<, Uidiib^jiJ ^O^MIb ,.,^,^^.