Variety (May 1923)

Thursday, May 24, 1928 LEGITIMATE u 9= "WINNIE AND THE WOLVES" HAS FIRST CHANCE IN PHILLY HEBREW UNION'S FUSS Jurisdictional Matter Up Again Be tween Noa. 1. 3 and f ■ ) Opened _ Monday by Guild Stock — Excellent Notice*—Legit Season Dwindling Down—Shu- bert Now Dark Philadelphia. May 23. The local theatrical season is be- ginning to slide away silently as several possibilities for summer go- ing fade. This week sees four legiti- mate houses still open for business, but one, Garrick. goes over to pic- tures next Monday and another closes after next week. In the place of the last named, however, the Wal- nut will rejoin the ranks, beginning June 4 with its summer revue. Announcement was made of the last two weeks of "Shuffle Along," which will give this colored revue just four weeks. Business has held up. but it was very soon evident the all-summer continuance at first planned was out of the question. There is a possibility that a streak of good business following this an- nouncement of departure will result in an extra week's continuance, but there is no doubt whatsoever that the Forrest will be dark by June 15. not to reopen until September. The downstairs trade is beginning to dwindle as society leaves the city. It looks pretty certain now that the Shubert will stay closed for the summer despite rumors that "Lady Butterfly" was booked for this house. It is closed this week. The Garriek, whose last few weeks of legit have been weak. wllHhave pictures for one month if present plans are adhered to, with "The Greatest Menace" opening Monday for a fortnight's stay. The picture to follow this drug Aim has not been announced. This supplementary season of pictures Is being run by the Stanley company, the first time in several years that they have en- tered one of the legit houses for this purpose. The' Chestnut Street opera house, which has been turning in some un- usually big grosses of late, has a revue to follow Cantor's "Make It Snappy," whose run extended from three to four weeks. This successor ia "Happy Days," the Lew Cantor musical comedy, which has been playing under the title of "Sun Showers," and comes here from Bos- ton. "Happy Days" is generally be- lieved to be good for two weeks, and there is some doubt as to whether house will close after this engage- ment or stick in the running through June. When the Chestnut first an- nounced its new policy of revues and musical shows following the vaude- ville fiasco there was mention of a "spring and summer season." So far business has certainly warranted a continuance, aa both "Spice" and "Make It Snappy" have'cleaned up real money in the past seven weeka. The newly organized Theatre Guild has been showing flashes of promise, but its staying power is considered very doubtful. Following its excellent opening week the reper- toire organization fell off badly last week with "Good Gracious Anna- belle," which was at the last moment substituted for "Winnie and the Wolves." Lola Fisher didn't prove anywhere near the draw Gillette had been the first week, and the play itself didn't seem to draw heavy patronage. Unlike the first week, business did not pick up. and some performances had mere handfuls in attendance. The gross for the week didn't touch $3,500, a drop of more than $1,500 from the first week. To offset this discouraging week those back of the Guild made a big play on the opening of "Winnie and the Wolves" this week. The fact that it was a brand new play, first time anywhere, and that it was by William Gillette was played promi- nently in the advertising matter. The paid attendance was not aston- ishing in numbers, but the audience was very enthusiastic and tried, but in vain, to get Gillette out for a cur- tain speech. Some of the papers gave ^the comedy excellent notices, and an encouraging Jump in box- office demand is recorded, with the probability that last week's grors will be beaten by at least $800 and possibly $1,000. Next week's offering by the Guild will be another show which has played here not many seasons a; o, "Scandal," but emphasis is being placed on the fact that local the- atregoers will now have a chance to see Francine Larrimore in the part which brought her success. June Walker had the role w hen it played here previously. Miss Larrimore may stay only a single week, or may be sue--ceded by Nance O'Neill or Grace George. It has been decided pot to include Miss Larrimore in "Nice People" In tfew of the poor business done by this C rot hers show at the Broad last fall. Plana for the summer revue at the Walnut have been virtually completed and rehearsals arc In progress daily. It will open next Thursday In Allentown, playing there three days before coming to 1'hilly. Included in the cast are the Pour Marx Brothers, Muriel tin«i- S"n H'Audrea and W a.id Ger- trude O'Connor. It ia understood that there is no limit on the length of the engagement provided busi- ness is good. Contrary to the cus- tom of most shows here at this season of the year, virtually no pa- pering will be done on the openiug night, June 4. Last week, in addition to the Lyric, whose business has already been reported, the GarciCc showed a mediocre figure, but looks to beat that mark by several thousand dol- lars this week. The show, "Adri- enne," has been whipped into more presentable shape, the comedy im- proved and the running time cut by almost an hour, and a bris!; trade at the box office began Monday. "Shuffle Along," on the other hand, is not likely to reach its last week's figure of nearly $19,000 and "Make It Snappy" will probably fall below it*» mark of $12,500 »ast week, though not by very .much. Estimates for last week: "Shuffle Along" (Forest 3d week). Held up in fine style, helped bv no prolonged spells of hot weather. Management f*els long continuance *\ou!d bo bad business, and last two weeks announced. Extra week pos- sibility. Close to $19,000. "Adrienne" (Garrick, 2d week). Werba musical comedy Is showirfg signs of coming around In good^style after a weak start. Had a good house last night and ought, with any kind of weather breaks, to beat last week's gross of $13,000 by several thousand dollars. lipase gets pic- tures, starting Monday, for lour weeks. "Winnie and the Wolves'* (Lyric). Third offering of the Theatre Guild, just organized here, and may be most successful of lot. Expected to beat dismal gross of "Good Gra- cious, Annabelle." which did less than $3,500 last week. "Scandal" next. "Make It Snappy" (Chestnut, 4th week). Gratifying surprise and justified continuation for four in- stead of three weeks. Last week Cantor show reached $12,500 and started this week well. "The Greenwich Village Follies," In their fifth and final week dt the Shubert. dropped still further and reported at less than $18,000. House now dark for season. The Jurisdictional battle which haa been going on for yeara be- tween sections No. 1 and No. t (legitimate) on one side, and No. I (vaudeville) of the Hebrew Actors' Union, the subject of an investiga- tion by the Four A'a (Mountford, Fitzpatrick, Carr and Redfleld Clarke, the committee appointed to look into the matter) recently broke out again, and waa the aubject of another conference May 18. Hugh Frayne acted for the A. F. of L., Mountford for the Four A'a, Max Pine for the United Hebrew Trades, Jean Greenfield for Noa. 1 and 3. and Abe Mittelman for No. 5. The Hebrew factions claimed the decision rendered by the Four A'a committee was impracticable for their purpose, and really decided nothing. They now want other ar- rangementa made. No decision waa arrived at during the current conference, but the con- sensus of opinion seems to be that the only solution is an amalgama- tion of the three locale, in which case any difficulties arising within the body may be settled Inside the organization (Hebrew Actors' union) without consultation with any other local or international body. MISS NICHOLS RECOVERS Settlement Arrived at Litigation in Morosco BEDSIDE CHATS By NELLIE REVELL Some day I may have enough money to entitle me to go to Philadel- phia and laugh at the mint Some day I may even have money enough to tip a head waiter aa much aa he thinks he ought to get. But when that day cornea the thrill will not even begin to measure up to the one I got a year and a half ago, when there arrived a little slip of paper bearing the once familiar words, "Pay to the order of." It was the first of its kind in over two years. For 24 long months I had teen interned in a hospital room, every day seeing "life, liberty and try to balance your bank account" drifting farther away. Then came that oblong of paper, the like of which goes the rounds by the million, never exciting more than transitory interest in those who give and receive. I had signed and gotten them by thousands myself. But none of them, even my first as a writer, represented one-hundredth as much aa did this one. It meant the self-respect that comes from the ability to pay one'a way, it meant a rebirth into the bleaaed, workaday world, it meant that once again I could pass on the public I loved the thoughts and experiences of two yeara with nothing else to do but think and explore the crannies of the soul. It was more than money. It waa a direct wire between me and hope, it was proof, if I needed any, that the world Is full of klndneae and love and helpfulness. That cheek I couldn't bear to cash. It would have aeemed like aacrilege to consider it on a mere commercial basis, like sacrificing the child chat had in the darkest hour, amid travel and sorrow, upon the altar of a commonplace financial transaction. Finally, there came the necessity of turning it into .noney, but through the thoughtfulness of friends who knew how much I valued it I regained the stamped, restamped and canceled paper and I have it still. And I mean to keep It so that In after years whenever the day has been long and the steps have been weary I shall look on it and know that when the storm is blackest the rainbow's juat behind. SHOWS IN BOSTON (Continued from page 14) Colonial. Ia then due to close for this season. It is reported that "Come Clean," supposed to come into this city after a tryout on the road, will not he brought in this season and that the show will close out of town. Dif- ferent plans have been announced for the Wilbur, and as far as pres- ent conditions indicate the Hollis Is through for the season with the closing Of "I^ghtnin*," which fin- ished up at the house Saturday. In the final week this show displayed considerable strength, closing to a gross of $12,000, and while it showed signs of weakness during the latter weeks of its local run, it will go down as one of the big money mak- ing attractions of the season and runs in the same class with The Bat." It broke the house record for length of stay at the Hollis, which Is something of a record in itself. "Minnie and Me." the Mitzl show now finishing up at the Colonial, also showed considerable strength last week, the gross going to V14,- 000, which is remarkable. In this show the great drawing power of Mitzi is shown, for the general be- lief has long been that the show is not up to the standard Savage has given his star in other years and that the personal popularity of Mitzi has been responsible for a great deal of the business that has been done at the box office. "Sun Showers" finished up at the Wilbur Saturday and this house is dark this week. "Lady Butterfly," the musical show at the Shubert, is also billed for the final week, with nothing underlined for the house at the finish of this engagement. In the dramatic attractions "The Fool" will conclude Saturday, but "The Monster" remains at the Ply- mouth with no date set publicly for its going. It will depend a lot on the business that the show pan do. With the lln'sh or The Kir Players at the Majestic the ho i swung over to Hie picture game, with "The Covered Wagon" owning there on Monday nlghl to capacity houses, plaj Ing twice i daj r * ! •"'' top. l/:'ii" i•• ■> for l isi w ' "The Hiss of Rosie O'Reilly" (Tre- mont, Isi week». Opened Tuesday with while o»f flrat-nlghl attend- "Minnie and Me" (Colon il Ctii Anna Nichols, playwright and author of "Abie's Irish Rose"' (in private life Mrs. Henry Duffy) has effected a settlement of her quad- ruple litigation with Oliver Morosco. The settlement was arrived at a few hours after M. L. Malevinsky (O'Brien, Malevinsky & Driscoll) acting for the authoress, made ap- plication for the appointment of a receiver of Morosco's property to satisfy the balance of a $14,000 judgment for the amount against him, admitting hla indebtedness for royalty and other obligations aris- ing from the west coast production of "Abie's Irish Hose." He paid $7,000. His failure to pay the bal- ance precipitated the filing of a mo- tion for the appointment of the re- ceiver which was soon thereafter withdrawn. General releases have been signed between both litigants whereby Miss Nichols becomes the sole owner of her play. Heretofore Morosco waa interested in certain rights to the production. Jack Lait and I are finally vindicated and Chicago at last Is going be famous for being something other than the home of the stockyards and the southern terminus of Lake Michigan. According to the New York Herald Magazine, Mrs. Josephine Turck Baker haa come out of the West with the message that the only Simon-pure English la spoken in Chicago. To be extremely technical, this defender of the Chicago mother tongue hails from Evanstcn, but that makes little difference. Chicagoana view that talr town as a part of their metropolis, while Evanstonlans regard Chicago as a rather unnecessary adjunct of Evanston, and visitors can take their choice. The point is that after many years I have* been confirmed in my opinion that' the best English, just like the best ham and bacon, cornea from Chicago. From thla time on Jack Lalt and myself can be openly proud that the English we boast carries with it a Windy City flavor. I have felt a qualm or two when I thought of exposing my forthcoming book to the gaze of people who learned their broad "A** at Harvard. That worries me no longer, for 1 will know that if any of them should quibble over a word or a phrase, I am right, since mine la Loop English, fiaVored with sawdust, and they are merely exposing their ignorance. I am wondering, though, If the lady had heard of "Sport" Herman's speech when he swooped down en the ticket agencies and If that variety la In- cluded In her, Idea of Simon-pure English. MORPHINE" 2NJJ DRUG PLAY Los Angeles, May 2$. "Morphine," an adaptation by Os- car Apfel, a film director, and stated by him as the initial presentation, opened Monday at Egan's. The critica received it favorably. The play ia not preachy and con- tains smooth running dialog and logical situations. Pleasing enough but not likely to create a sensa- tion. It is the second dope play to be presented here since Wallace's Heid's death. With Grace Carlyle and Harry Hilliard in the lead It is well acted. Vacations for "Girl Ticket Sellers" Chicago, May 21. Couthoui'a system of ticket spec- ulating atanda haa ordered vaca- tions for the "girl ticket aellera" 'way ahead of the uaual period. It is reported that when the new sea- son starts there will be several new faces at several of the important "stands." The present arrange- ments are to diminish the operating expenses of the whole system. Mrs. Couthoul la attempting to hurry her plana of incorporating her entire system. These plana have been in the making for sev- eral montha, but thus far have failed to assume any definite form other than necessitating several im- portant trips by the lady epecu- lator to New York. Just what ad- vantage Mra. Couthoul will gain by incorporation it la hard to ferret out, but It is known she is enthu- siastic over her Ideas. and final week). Did better than $14,000 last week, above that of the week before. Would not hive been n mm prise if this show had dropped, and even the slight gain 11 cone id- ered to he good break. "Tho Fool" Selwyn. l lih we Final week; takings down to $*> «><»o Or less. "Lady Butterfly" (Shuberl 2d i. Only moderate draw. 1 tat week mossed about $V>00. <-»ing out Saturday. "The Monster* (Plymouth. Uh week). Drew about $$.r#oo l • M *eek A little profit. The matter of where I'm going to eat when I leave the hoapltal is be- ginning to worry me, for I noticed the other day that another of my old-time haunts, Rogers' Restaurant on Sixth avenue haa cloaed, thue Joining the ranks of the Claridge. Shanley's, Churchill'a, Relsenweber's. Rector's and Delmonlco's. The only one of my old places left it Child's, and they would never let me sign a tab there. I auppose John Pollock will have to reserve a slot at the Automat for our next luncheon engage- ment. ' The newspaper story concerning Rogers' was very matter of faot, but I spent a half hour when I should have been working on this column In missing the old place. With many other New Yorkers, I shall miss the hospitality and particularly I shall feel rather at a loss without that second table'from the door with George Lash in attendance. George waa the perfect waiter and in the course of 20 yjears, during which he waited on me all across the continent, he grew to know the meaning of my every expression and translated it into food and drink such aa mother would like to make. In San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and New Tork he has been my accomplice in the work of pampering my palate and his hands tied the napkins under my children'! chins almost as often as mine did. It seems strange that so many of my favorite eating places have closed since they lost my patronage. It may be only a coincidence, but I am beginning to suspect the worst. I wonder if the hospital will close its diet kitchen the minute it loses this regular customer. Attention, Fiske O'Hara! Our baseball team out In Cleveland is going to end their losing streak next Sunday. I know, because the captain promised me that their next game is going to g*> On the credit side of the ledger. Here is his letter: "Dear Friend: We lost to St. Michael's yesterday by the score of 10 to «. They were all bigger than ua and ought to be up In Class C. They had a good pitcher. I am sending you the score. We have a good pitcher, Francis Reddy. We win win next Sunday." And then came a postscript In boyish handwriting that touched me aa much as anything that has happened in montha. "Our team," he wrote, "ia going to communion In a bunch next Sunday, and we will offer it up that you may get well. Our coach reads us your writings in the magazine every Saturday, and he says that It will not be long until you oaa travel about. So when you do, please come and see us play." L" I do not get well after that, I win begin to fear that my confidence in the power of faith has been misplaced. * NO WONDER One little doctor looks you through and through; Can't diagnose jour case, then there are two. Two little dor-tors, failing to agree; Call a consultation, then there are three. Three little doctors poke you o'er and o'er; .Send for a specialist, then theFe are four. lour little doctors wonder you're alive; Another brings the stomach pump, then there are five * l.ve little doctors trying funny tricks; Order an anesthetist, then there are sic. H k little doctors, preparing you for heaven; Call in a I>. IV. then there are seven. '» 11 tie doctors, decide to oper.af*; Call in a surgeon, then there are eight. it little doctors think it's your -pine; Send f.»r * "'"' ' " I it then there are nine. 1 ' le ' all of them men i or N'urse Will imson, then there ire ten Ten little doctors s' mding by >our bed, i me •» " le nioh; find -m i i • I • • I rler fM»nfltr«f KfctceSjf.