Variety (October 1923)

IS VARIETY LEGITIMATE Thursday, October 25, 1928 f S"^. i( umm: era week in phiily, LED ENTIRE TOWN WITH $15,000 "Go-Go" Slammed— "Give and Take" Now in Seventh Week—"Chauve-Souris" Up Against It f.t Opening ' Th' su iiici' 6itualion of a noii- )iii]Hi(.i snow walking oflf wltii iho hiKlx.fit j;i-osj! honors oPCuncil licrv h«st wc<'k. Inrklontnlly. 1)>is!!iops fell pcnrr.illv all along <h(> lint- ex- (■<>pl Willi tlKU nttrnctlon—"LishI • T)in' " ■liit-'iitnln's" Rr'i5s of KiiKlitly ovrr Jl.'i.duft .1' the Bro.id beat the iifa:i'si riv.Tl by H'.rti'O. So f:ir nunc of thi; Jnfoniiiss opposition hns hpen ahlf t.. di'iU the liuflness of this (iolilon Bliow. whiili, wliilp srldom acturilly •tl.iininfr capacity, alwu>s romea cIoR»: to it. Of last week's openings, three in nnmhfr. •'Loyalties," at the Garrick, dill the raof.t satlgfactorj- oiislne.'^)". tonslderlng the house and the na- ture'of the show. The notlcesi for tho Galsworthy play were generally »iiilm.«ia«tlc, but it la doubtful If liiey affected the gross sreatly. as ihe show had a gplendlj advance • a •■. It did not, however, come up i« the business achieved by "The .\wful Truth" in its iiecond week, Ijcrhapf! because it h.Td to buck the (jppositlofi of another straight drama, "The lyjvo Child." at the Walnut. . This Woods production had a splendid opening, much of the money >.-»iming into the box office at tlie last minute and neces.sitating the shov- ing of some pas.s holders into the balcony. This start indicated a high gross, but business for some un- known rCKRon dipped considerably at the end of the week, so that the •diow failed to top $9,000. There Is I great deal of talk about the show iiul some of the dailies gave it big s|iace in their dramatic columns, so hat It is expected that it will hit a iicttcr stride this week. Neverthc- css its present pace Is profit mak- ing, and management and house t)Oth professed to be well satisfied. II ts in for four weeks. "(Jo-Go,' the Cort musical comedy which opened at the Forrest, was considerably panned In some re- views, and given so-so notices In others, only one critic really liking It. The Saturday and Sunday sec- ond ihoughiH dismissed it briefly, ("onsideiiug these notices, business was remarkably good most of week, though many unfavorable cnmmenis were heard in the lobby and smok- ing room. It began to droop toward the end of the week, and indications .ire that its gross this week (Its l,'\st) will show a whale of a slump. The geni'ral opinion is that it is distinct- ly not up to the average of this llOUMC. "Give and Take' has fallen off froni its first pace, but Is still get- liiiK real money at the Adelphl and seem.s bound to Justify the decision ef the management to keep it eight weeks. In fact, there Is some talk of switcliing It to another house on \ov. 12, when "The Fool" cornes into ihe Adilphi. but It Is hardly likely thai the gross of the Mann-Sldney show will lie such at that time as to warrant such a move. Its record last week wa.^i around $10,000, which is its present avenigc. ■ The Dancing (Jiri" and "Caroline ' did little of anything In their final week.-!. The former bv no nieans llvetl up to the reputation of Winter <iar<len shows at tho Shubert. Its fo\ir weeks' engagement started at oply a fair clip and dwindled steadi- ly, .so that a loss was checked up for the run. which would h.ive been gre.itcr had the show carried its oriKin.il exjienijiye pay roll. "Caro- line" stayed only three weeks, and In a smaller house (the Lyric), so tha' I lie weak business w.is not so noiiciable. but this opel-elt.-i «i^< a big disappointment, considering the highly laudatory notices it received. Tlie feature tllm, "Uunelihack," eoniinued to draw very well at the clo^Tnnt .Street oper.i house, wheie it IS likely to complete a six weeks' or two months' slay. Here ag.iln the pross v.u,e^ but little from week to wi.. !;. Two Openings This Week Tills v.ei'k's openings were two in iiunilu I-, and one wa? the lii),'hly her- alded "(^hiuve-Soiiris" at Hie Shu- bert. The breaks '.vtre against this Oest iniporlatiioi, wiili iiie ,s;an Carlo (Jpeia company op< iiIul' ai (he Metropolitan wiih soinediin^- of a flurry and a Phil.idelphla Oirliesira «peeial conceri at the Ac ub my, luxt door to the Shubert. Tliesi' two drew many of the society p(,,|.l. and Tlie highbrows, such as wouT.T naiu- rally he attiactcd by the Ko^si.in Affair. Tlie result was that the vast or- fhestr.i of the Shubert was scarcely half tilled. Upstairs, however, there were fewer vacant seats, the oheaiier sections being entirely sold. This und the fML't that the advance sale shows a big gain commencing Wednesday nro encouraging .signs which would seem to predict better things for "Chauve." The norlces weie far more enthusiastic as a rule ilian those given Ihe Moscow Ait f»\iy,.,.fc ji.jf .;(%.'i«oo, and *^v'-n with the opposition of ihe .-^an Carlo jico- ple plus Ue 1^1 climaII and Schumann- lleiiik concerts this week 13alieff and his crew oiislit to depart smil- ingly. The scale is much lower than that used by the Moscow Art, with a $:i.30 top except Saturday nights. , With this Scale tho Shubert can do '.somewhere in the neighborhood of Mi'.ooo. The other opening, "ITj) She Goes," at tho Lyric, was gratifying in the extreme to Brady and the local Shu- bert ofllcials. Upstairs was big Mon- day, so that, despite much papering downst.'iira, the gross must have hit close to $1,S00. Here, too, the no- tices were fine, one critic calling it tho best musical comedy so far this season. Next Monday will see tho flrst- nlghters In a stew. Indeed, with George M. Cohan nimself appearing at the Garrick in "The Song and iJance Man" and tlie Ziegfeld Follies, first visit here in two years, at the Forrest. Because of the sentiment attached to Cohan's llrst appearance here in many years, the critics will lirobably be drawn to that show, though tho "Follies" always gets the best of everything here. At any rate, big grosses are expected In both houses, and the "Chauve- Souris" will have to step lively in order to meet such healthy opposi- tion. Both engagements are for two weeks only. Estimates of the week: "Lighlnin"* (Broad, 6th week). Shares with "Give and Take' sea- son's run record to date, though beating Mann-Sidney show right along. Last week led. with around $15,000. "Chauve-Souris" (Shubert, 1st week). Opened with breaks all against It (opera and concerts), which meant weak downstairs busi- ness, but balcony and gallery were almost filled. Expects to hit full stride Thursday. "Dancing Girl'' down around $10,000 last week. "'Go-Go" (Foriest, 2d week). Panned in most of dallies and drooped after encouraging start. Gross fell somewhere short of $13,- 000. "Follies" open Monday for two weeks. "Loyalties" (Garrick, 2d week). Fine notices for this, the first real drama of season, with good business, arouiid $12,500. Ought to beat that figure in second week. "The Love Child" (Walnut, 2d week). Also won some good notices and apparently well Ifked. Gross not .so good as Hrsf expected, due to slump at end of week. Cut-rating again being used. Around $9,000. "The Hunchback of Notre Oame" ((^"hestnut, ftth week). Continues at fast gait, gross missing $14,000 by very little. This feature film ought to stay two months. "Up She Goes" (Lyric, 1st week) (lot splendid opening Monday, espe- cially upstairs, where weaknesses here generally lie. "Caroline" de- parted with weak $8,000 figure, de- spite praise of critics. "Give and Take" (.\delphi. 6th week). Continues at moderately good rate, around $10,500, and ought to hold that until it leaves on Nov. 10 to make way tor "The Fool," which has house for indefinite period. "OLD SOAK" IN BALTO. DID AROUND $9,500 '"Last Warning" Last Week as Much With Half the Publicity lialtimorc. Oct. 24. ' 'I'lie (jid Soak" was a distinct disappointment at the Auditorium and came through last week with aliout $8,500. Although this was a fair gross, the show really never got started here, and with its reputation and the excellent puliliclty should have done twice that much. This week "The Lady in Krminn" at the Auditorium Is the llrst muelcal show of the season for that house and a moderately good week is expecled. ">s«iA<^»n)ua> h« ' fell pretty flat at the Academy in its fourth and last wck, gettln;: nhout $j,500 or less, '"i'hc Hunchback" follows lor three weeks, with option for longer. "The Last Warning' got a fair break at Ford'«" and about tlio same gross as "The (Jid Soak" with lialf tho publicity. This week Ford's lias "l.ltlle .Vellle Kelly" and a $Jrt,O0U week Is looked for. The Lyceum reopened Monday with "The rofters' to a f.iir-sized iiobse will h eonfiiipd lis >harc of lillie,- SHOWS IN NEW YORK iConilued from page W) recently. May be sent out when Woods' "Mysterious Way" ready. "Seventh Heaven," I'.ooth (iL'nd weiki. .\ttains year's run Satur- day, "r.ain," which is its dramatic running male, passes same mile- post next week. Both going strong a= e\er; $13,700 for "Heaven." I "Scandals," Globe (19th week). Will leave for road after one week more. To have stayed uiilil Nov. 10, but "Stepping Stones" will ar- rive week ahead of sc hedule. White's show has had best season hero since he started iiroducing revues. Dropped $3,000 last week for gross of $23,000. "Scaramouehe," Morosco (Isl week). Charles Wagner producer of this dramatli! version of story now presented In picture form. Opened last (Wednesday) nigh I, house li.ivins ht( n secured under rental. "Sun Upi" Lenox IIllI. Small cast show gelling .suine money on iip- I.ir Kast Side. .Ability to draw business in out-of-way place rates It having chance on Broadway. "Tarnish," Belmont (-llh week). One of new dramatic hits. Spotted in small house, which should keep demand heavy riKlU aloim"; $S,500 or bettor last week. Scale lifted to $3 this week, which permits pross uoing to bit over $10,000. '"The Changelings," Henry .Miller (titli week). All-star show stood up ."trongly last ■week. Ran less than $1,000 under holiday week, with takings estimated not far from $15,000, "The Crooked Square," lliidsoii (Tth week). Seems to be able to better an even break. Approximate tak- ings claimed to averase $8,000 wecRly. House and show under same nianngemeiit. "The Daneere," Broadhurst (2nd week). Opened Wednestlay lust week, getting favorable press com- ment. Business for balance of week excellent, and English pioco regarded having chanco for run. "The Megic Ring," Liberty (4th week). Mltal continues to draw strongly, with last week better than initial pace, which indicates attraction remaining through fall. Gro.ss $19,000. "The Nervous Wreck." Sam 11. Har- ris tSrd week). New comedy leader playing to standee business, and only one n<)n-muslcal able to beat it last wefek. Business quoted at $17,500. "The Swan," Cort (1st w<?ek). An- other new Wolnar .adaptation Produced by a Frohman office. Followed long-.staylng "Merton" Tuesday. Piece started slowly out of town, but picked up smartly. "The Shame Woman," Greenwich Vill.ago (2nd week). Author same as for "Sun Up." .Mixed comment by critics. Takings reported <iulte ordinary. "Tweedles," Frazce (Uth ■week). One week more to go. Comedy well regarded by reviewers, but never seemed to bo able to rise above groove of around $7,500 weekly. "The Deep Tangled Wild- wood" will Bucced Nov. 5. "Two Fellows and « Girl," Vander- bllt (15th week). Made good run thus far and figures to remain until Thanksgiving, perhaps llrst of year. I-ast week around $10,000. "Vanities," Karl Carroll (17th week), l^ooks set here until first of year. Business fluctuates, with last week $2,000 under previous week, but show Is steady money-maker. Last week's gross quoted .it $19,- 000, Saturday night scale going to $4.40. "What a Wifel" Century Roof (4th week). Moved to Impossible house for farce last wee'K. Takings at 49th St. not over $4,500. and hardly J.t.'iyO here. Most of !.>i|.slness from cut rales. "Whole Town's Talking," Bijou (9th week). Off aliout $1,000 from pace of World's Series week, but at $0,500 gross i)robably s.itisfiytory, and in that slot slated to continue ihi'oiigh fall. "While Desert," I'rincess (2iid week). Opened Thursday last week, re- \ iewcrs touching oil drain.a's lurid sttu.itlons, but business w.-ts only medioire. Kailetl to get eaiiacity in siiinll house Saturday. "Wildflower." Casino (3Sth week). The excellent bvisiness since new season set in continues with little variation, and this musical figures to remain through second season. Last week $23,500, "Windows," Garrick (3rd week). -New Galsworthy play pulled with- in $.")00 capacity last week, the matinees being off a little. Gross quoted at $7,500, which included subscriptions. "Zeno," 48th St. (lOtli week). An- other wiek to go. .Mysteiy piece settled at $S.000 pnro ,7nrf man- aKcment seeking another house rratly to gii.arantce as Ijere, but will jirob.ably go on tour. "Queen Victoria" succeeds Nov. 8. Sothcrn and Marlowe, .lolson's, 5CitIi St. (4ili week). Thii.e more weeks to go. house then gettlncr -Moscow Art Thc.itre. Shakespearean stars h.ive not fared well this season. Sir John Martin Harvey, Century (1st week). Dlsilngulshed Hng- lish star opens .■\meii''.in tour Thurs.hv,- (lonlgliM with "<)'d:pus Itex • BOSTON BUSINESS IS BOOMING: "KIKI" LAST WEEK, $22,001 $136,000 in Legit Grosn, ing to Turnaway This Week Best Yet—"Follies" Leay*! Trade—Three Openinf|; M IJoston, Oct. i4. The tiica'.res in this town still keep on doing the boom business that has characterized the town since the month of October set in and which has resulted In the box ofllce receijjts climbing to exception- ally hign iMilnis. O'fte of the few Huak spots which had been on the nlrizon, the Trc- mont. where "Loyalties" tailed to register top, was bolijtered uj) last week when "Klki'' came into the house an1, with a gross for the week of $i2,000, put lhi« show at th( toj) for the driimatio productions and made it run better than the musicals with the exception of "The Follies" and "Chauve-Souris." Last week the gross was about $138,000 for th seven houses that now have legitimate attractions. Thla Is better l)y about $3,000 than the buslne«=s of tlie week before, despite the fact tiiat in the previous week there was what is considered the best theatrical holiday of the early season, Columbus Day. The Increase was ilue t.) the remarluible business of "The Follies," "Chauve- Sourls" and "Kiki." "Th Follies" has but one more week to run and it is positive at ihls writing that the show will go out playing to a turnaway. Tho $4 top wlilch the house haa carried since it came here has scared no- body, it wouU seem, and with the football season the demand for seats has been on a par If not bigger than has ever been the case before. Cus- to.uere turned down for seats at the end of the week have been glad to get seats for the performances earlier In the week, the feeling be- ing that one must se« the show at any prije at any time. The Wednes- day and Saturday matinee houses have been capacity every week since tho sh »w hit here. This is the sixth week and unless there is a flop, and that is tho last thing ex- pected, the show will go out of the city after relieving Bostonians of something like $216,000. This may not be a record, shows which played here during the war-time boom days may have done better with a longer istay, but it is all that was possible for the house to do in a six weeks' period. Capacity is $36,000 and this is the pace the show hae hit from the beginning. The other sensational show which has struck the town this season Is "Chauve-Souris'' at the Shubert. In the three weeks this shotv played here it did better than $80,000. The first two weeks it played at $26,000, capacity at the $3 top which pre- vailed. In the linal week the show played an extra matinee and thie resulted In a $30,000 house for the week. It was the biggest money- maker the Shuberts have put over this season, based on the length of the stay, and there i6 nothing In sight from their angle for Boston that is liable to equal it. "Klki" at the Tremont is sure to be a big moneymaker. The first week demonstrated this and the house for tho second week regis- tered a big advance sale. It is the sort of a show that Bostonians go strong for, just enough pep to make It interesting and far away from tho ragged edge of being declaeso to allow the best people to put down their coin at ihe box ofllce. The show has three weeks more U run here and thi'n "Nellie Kelly" will be brought back to give Cohan's show a chance to play a repeat engage- ment of a limited period. "The Old Soak" opened strong at the .Selwyn Monday of this week. It got the majority of the first- nighters railicr than "Tho Dancing Girl"' and "Caroline.'" which opened at the two Siiiibert housca. Majestic and Shubert. This was a legitimate play, for the iwo niusicuil shows step into a town that has had the best of that sort of thing for weeks past when "Tlie Old SoaR" comes In here with the reputation of being as good as "I-Ightnln' " along lines that are a bit more broad on the comedy vein. It is anouiiced as the last two weeks of "Tliank U" .at the Hollle. Ina Claire in "Awful Truth' is booked Into that house and for the first time this scison it can be said that the house ii.is stru^'k lie stri,le. Tho Hollis is a peculiar theatre. It appeals to .1 class of trade that want to be sure in advance they are get- ting value. .Much is expected of Warfleld. Last wrek'« isiimates: "Follies," Coioni.il (6ih weeU) doing out doing turnaway business with enougli < ustomers left unsatis- fied to keep ;'ie sliow running foe month longer. "The Old Soak," Selwyn '1st week)—Big o)i<'nliig of town Mon- day. Final week gro«» for "Runnin' WiVI" $11 (inn Vover hit -"top niny\ but never came anywiierc near sue*, cess of "Shuffle Along." "The Cat and Canary," I'lymouth (,Sth week)—Indicating some weak* ness and may cease pretty soon to I'c In with moneymakers in town. Credited with grosvi of $10,500 last week. Better busincs.s than this hoped for and result rather fltt.. appointing, even thotigh show fteljl on eight weeks here. ' "Sally, Irene and Mary," Wilbtlif (12th week)—Despite Ion;; run stfll keeps going at flne rate of spe^d^ Willi last week about $!«mOO. ■ "Thank U," Hollis (.^th week}. Crossed $11,000 last ■week. "Kiki," Vremont- (2d week)—^Put gimp into dramatic entries last week with total of $22,000 for opening week. Capacity and about figure musical show ■would gross at eome house playing to llnii;. Fine pick for Boston and chances are tlubt trade will remain with show. "CBroline," Majestic (1st week)-* Puts house back into ranks of those housing legitimate attractions, "The Dancing Girl,"' sluiliert (lut Week)—Opened fair. "Chauve- . .Souris" final week hung up grou of $30,000. -7 : ..■•■■■ •■: LEGIT ITEMS % Adorjan Otvos, a Hungarian com* poser, who contributed one of tb« bit Interpolations in "Battling But- tier" at the Selwyn, New York (to collaboration with Louis Breau), «B« titled "Tinkle Tune," says his nuMi < was omitted from Variety"s review of the show. "Tinkle Tune" an^ Walter L. Rosement's "Will T«o Marry Me"' are the two outstanding • numbers of the show. The proposed revival of the mu- fcloal play, "So Long. I.eiiy," haa been called off. Inability to secur* a principal comedienne is said to have prompted Rellly *• Woods' de- cision not to send it out. White's "Scandals' wll have to leave the Globe, New York, Nov. 3, opening at the CoIoiii.il, BostODt Nov. 12. George White is attempt- ing to fill in the week between, with the Manhattan opera house a posai- bility. Walter RoseniObt and Ci-Mig Wil- liams (Friarly known as .1. William Ledercr) are colloboi aiing on a three-act musical comedy based on a European success. Williams ia doing the boo'rf and ftosemont tha ■ music. . , . Alex Yokel has been ap)io!ntad press agent for Lawreuc- Weber'i enterprises. Yokel was with tha ("lileago "Examiner" .-s dramatic editor and baa handled luildiclty for pictures and burlesque jneviously. ^he old Harvard pi izi play, "Be- lieve Me, Xantlppe," will lie the next production by Boar's Head Dntmatic Society of Syracuse i;n!\ eisity. The lilay will be given at ilie Wieling on Ian. 2S during Senior Week. The scheduled bretjk in of "White Cargo," a new drama lie show set for Thursday, Oct. 2.i, at Wilkes- barro. Pa., has been called off. The show will continue rehearsing. Leslie Morosco, brother of Oliver, is planning to Invade the legit pro- ducing field. His Initial effort will be '"Crossed 'Wires,"' a new comedy by Richard Purdy. Dayton Stoddard w,i: i.laze the trail for Grace fieor;;e in "All Alone Susie." The piece will get under way in Trenton next Fridsv night. Tuneful, sprightly .springtime," with a ca-st of ncarlj 2i|ii, was of- fered at the Union opei.i Houi«, New Phlladelplila, O., Od. II. undn" ausidccs of the I. O. (». I-', lodge. The cast was ilirectetl l,y .\|;irle C, Richter, and the John Kodgers Pro- duction Co. staged the |>i .eduction. Contracts have been tinned with the Edith Miller Prodo. ii i,- CO. Of Inilianapolis, Ind., for il.e presenta- tion at Alliance, O. of "Professor Pep" at the high school aiidltoriuir, .Vov. 1"7, under the ausplics. of the .Alliiinee 'Women'l' ('"Iiib