Variety (November 1923)

18 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Tliursday, November 8,1923 LOOP'S BUNCH LOSSES ON GROSSES LAST WEEK ALONG LEGITIMATE ROW SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT "Music Box Revue" in Center of Spec»' Fight, Affect- ing Other Shows a» Well—"Revue" Way Off on Full Week as Against First Week With Tuesday Opening Last Season FRISCO GETS SAMPLE OF DRAWING POWER Chicago, Nov. T. )Ilyli hopes for the loop's legit BrossPB to r«erh the flrat quarter •f the eeason (Nov. 10) at a figure not eurpaesed In yeara got eevercly punctured last week. An aruption of ambitions took p}ace. Frantic became tlie nian- ouveringa of thOi«o Involved. The town's spoiled again. The "buy" Uoh seized the "Queen of the Specs" and thereby revealed the greatest diii.iater. Drops In w«kly gio.°8<« as hifth •« tCOOO aoJ averaging on the whole t3,000, were chalked up. Tho man- agers drew no sympathy. Tli'-y are credited with killing Chl's high standing as a theatrical town throUKh not standing by their boi office salej. In most instances the "spcch" are running Chicago, and flKhling among themselves. l'"or eight weeks tUia season thlnRS nent along nicely. Thiatres were piling up big grosses, ami Chi's sales ■>vora the talk of the country. ■Jspeca" were kept In their place by Rome shrewd managers. Then the old afflUction of not let- ting well enough alone broke out. The whole explosion started in the I'owers offices with the announce- ment of "The Music Box Uevuo" en- gagement. 'Tls reported they haven't anybody In the Powers offlce.i who can handle Mrs. Couthoui. and one may tell the world the "Queen of the Specs" Is a fast talker. She doesn't profess to be theatre wl.'5e Some of the theatre managers do. She's got some of tho managnr.'< here eating out of the palm of her hai:d. If Mrs. Couthoui wt)u'.d only take tickets which she knows she can sell and not stock up with a view- point of drowning out Waterfall. there wouldn't be so many rum- puses and business wouldn't be so badly hurt. It's here that the bK-ime can be east at some of the house managers. They allow the "specs" to talk 'em Into everything, forgetting the "specs" out here tn Chi know little about attractions. A good wise guy can sell the "specs" here a gold brick. This has been proved, for every once in a while some smart manage r puts over a deal that smells of the country fair Bturr. This Illustration Indi- cates how backward some of the managers are In falling for the schemes of the "specs," who are Ishtlng among theni."!clves at the cxpenae of theatre salus. Chicago All Wrong win be able to t^il; ilKinselves out of the "buy" of four weeks at the Colonial. If so, "Music Box Revue' will aiok lower than ever. Tiie playgoers have already been dis- appointed at tho Colonial boxolllcc window. They won't go back while the big re.ue Is there. If that's not a case of Mra. Couthoui running Chlc^igo, write your own. Two-thirds of the reason for the general slum]) In Chi last week was credited to the "spcca" war. The balance comprised just the usual lull which pops up every now and then. Friday night was. the only good night of the week. A nasty niln killed Saturday niijht's sales. The football game at Champaign drew away a good portion of tho Satur- day night crOA'rta. It wa.^ tho lowest Saturday niglit goiitral saJos In sii years. "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" "Lausli, Clown, Laugh" (Powerr;) checked a brilliant premiere. It'.s in for four weekii. Just as this re- porter predicted, ".Spring Cleaning" was driven oui of town because of the "ttpcci!.' Ne\vs)iapcrs made sur- prising comment, knowing great trade for the Adelphi was being done by the Lon.-'dale piece. Mary Nash in "The L,ad>-" opened a the Adelphl la.^t night (Tue»<lay). "Ill Say She I.s" (Sludebaker) took the dive prcdi<tcd. They're running things Indepen- dently at the Selwyn and Cohan'.s Grand. Both 'Hosio O'Reilly " and "The Fool" were oft {2.000 over the prevlou.9 week, but each got hit in the balcony. The "specs" aren't running the salcj at either of these two hits, 'i'iio (Irrht at the Selwyn has been followed closely by the whole town since It waa known tho house made a mistake on "Tlie Circle,'' but the quick way this house has jumped back Into popular favor Bpeaks well for the sbowmau- ship of whoever is responislble for the campaign. No bis business Is now antici- pated until Thankag-lvlng week. New plays will come thick and fa.= i until then, however, for several can't withstand the present let-up. All the hits will pet good money except those in the power of the "specsi." but even those will get It it they are not planning on a long run. Last week's c.Htiraatcs: "Music Box Revue" (Colonial. 1st week). Killed by "specs." Will go lower if Immediate remedy Isn't of- fered. Fipured $-4,000, big loss; ;J4,700 less than last year wiieii li opened on a Tuesday and did be- "Topsy and Eva" Drops Oft Half Without Duncans— Eltinge-Brown Gets $13,000 San Francisco, Nov. 7. t^l./o got a sample of drawing power at the Lv..t ofKce last week when "Topsy and Eva," in its 17th we< k and withojt tho Duncan Sis- ter.s, did $7,000. Tho week before with the Uurer.n.s the show did $15,000. Tho Julian KltlnKO-Tom Bro'wn Black and White Revue at the Cur- ran got $13,000, very nitty, and Mr. and Mrs. Coburn in "So This Is London" at the Columbia drew down $12,500. At the Capitol "Tho lliin-hback" (film) dropped oft to $6,500. Musical stock at tho Ca.'^ino ("The Merrymakers") did $3,500. This week the iSusslan show Is at ih'-' Oiirran, "London" iiuld^ over at tho Columbia, "liunchlack" is in itK fourth week at the Capitol, and "Topsy and Eva," with the White Sisters, coutlr.ues at the Alcazar. Gisino Is dark, awaiting Monte Cater and his muslcil «t(xk. Figures astimated and eomment point to •em* •ttractiona baing auccassful, while tha aam* grots aceraditad to othars might auggaat mediocrity or loss. The variance is exclained In the difference in house capacities, with the varying overhead Also the size of caat, with conscauert difference in necessary gross for profit. Varianee in butiners necessary for musical attraction aa against dramatie play is also considered. The town's all wrong. Attraction jtwccn $28,000 a^id $29,000 "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" (Pov.. .■ sfter attraction la killed here. There'a no town In the country , j^,^"-"^')' -^^lYV'l.j,,-^'^';;,'!,!,,^/^';,^,^. where some of the ho-.ise matiag.rK|^.gp,.^ ^.jl, ^^^^p ^ tremendou.^ly place themselves so much at the prolltable. ArouiKl $10,000. mercy of tho "specs" a.s here In dear ole Chi. What happened last weel; m.ijscs , ,. 1.1,1, i _kv». •'..^^.^• - jjily {jjp I epocs and killed wlKsn spe<'« "Spring Cleaning" (Adelphl, 81I1 and fin il week). At mercy of ngcrs the legit house;i in t>i*i loop. Road managers and agents visiting Chi know this. Perhaps after all the calamity of last week will rein<«1y Rome of the local conditions quicker than anticipated. "The Mu.slc Box Rerue" eritage- nunt fit the Colonial l.s being fea- tured t)y a "spec" war bet-vtcii the Outhoul offices and W.Tfertall. The form-'r had about $S,000 worth of tiikeia last week; the latter In the iii-inhlnihuod of $3,000. 'I'liii pl.-iced tl.o plajgoer out In the ci'.d. Hoth "itncc!" over-hoURht theni'^eh <•«, yet tli> Couthoui olHces f.ufd better than shows on the siirfar^. hciause the "little gyp" placi > Couthoui ofPcps had th< hi .1 tick- ets, quietly made theii piiieiiascs at the Couthoui stands. Ti..!.' were b:g loeaes at the ".spn>' for the ■ .MUPio Ko.\.' The ailr.oiion lia»i.<!ump, been lilt like no other show in > ears li.ight. Jn thi." town. The pabljc took a'lteacl "Secrets" (Harris, 3d and fln.il week). I'rivate eln'i.'? i>ales s.ivrd gTOfis iroing below $9,000. 'Huicli- baek" oiiened Sunday. The Rainy Day" (Cort, 4th we. kl. Holds on, helped by spcci.il club night Tuesday. About $3,500. "Polly Preferred" (La Salic. Sth week). S^iirpriM-o flop. Couldn't y> - Kpond to camiMiign. Under $T(ili.i Leaves in two week.s. "You and I" (riayhoi)?", flli week). Wiiy ofi" from speedy gai' <-l early wedi.'. I'ouglit for $7,600. 1 >•- parts Nov. IS. RUSSIANS FALL FLAT New Company Opens in Frisco— Small Timcy and Amateurish San Franel.sco, Nov. 1. ■ The niueh-heraldrd Chat Noir Art Theatre Players, who reached here several weeka ago from Russia, opened at the Curran Sunday for their initial appearance In America, booked for ono week. The trotipe is headed by Joseph Ualgeim. Thaae people claim to have fled from Rus- sia OS n result of activities of thf liolshevikl. After witnessing the opening perfoirmancc one Is Inclined to sympathise with tha Bolshevlkl. The Chat Noir Players must have flej Russia mornlnj; after a per- formance at which Bolshevlkl were In the audience. Their show Is trivial and uninteresting, having all tho L'urmarka of an average ama- teur peTformauec. WctHs between eaich number wtr'; fioni 10 to IS minutes long. There Is little novrlly in the numbers, not one ranking much higher than small time vaudeville. Dalgelm appears as director and steps before the curtain to an- nounce each act. III.s English is as b.-.d a;; his ent( rtaiiiinor.t and ap- parently ho Is utterly lacking In a comedy sen.nc. The organization numl)crs 25 peo- ple, of which but throe show more th.-in mediocre talent. These arc Lena Dalgelm, Ladov and Qeorge S. Romanovsky. The prograai coD^isIx of 10 num- bers, as follows: I'ctrovi^hka or Puppet Show, Moscow Tzlgany Choru!«, Karmarinskaya, Courtship of the Goblins, Chat Noli- Women, Masquerade BurloBquc on "Wooden Soldier.s," Pearl of Chat Noir. Bur- j lesque on Syniphtiiy Orchestra and I Chat Noir Swing?. j Of theae the only oi>>s' with any I appeal wero I'lf nv-hka, whicli I proved to bo a Pun. li and Judy |sh.:)W with a Imnian punch; Mas- i ipi.'ra.le. a Hiiectaculai' dar.i'o act Il 11..wing 1 weekl. lie,000 holdiiif.; "The lOlh w. "I'll Say She 1" (.^tudebiiker. 3i! I with one character In skeleton co.s- Slii'l). d he tw.-eu $ir.,OOU ar.l j tumo appearing !u< death and aji.l will havo hard tin..' ! chilnilng fairest <i:Mioer, and c^aill^t towii'.s doniaml. Woo.hrn Soldier;: niiniher. I>o. silt look like ilii> rlmw will go my farther than ihi on" week's ni-'.'iP' nien;. Gingham Girl" (Oarrl.'k. el,1. ill.It like J.I1 oihers by iirst noli.'.al>l<» Tuey.l.iv a^'iin ni.it.i'.ee Wc.JiK.-d'iy 1 $p;.uuii. Follies" hand In the 'war aii.l ref.i.^ej to "Greenwich Village pey tlw f.ancy prices. Ther. is In* , (Apollo, 4th w 1<). Off ueailv $<'.,ono slory of the "flop" of an iri'.ieij.m , f,.,„„ previous w.-lt, barely strlkiii:; -41iat In the vhnii u o f l i... ,,|.,...,, " | ^j„ „ „ | , ^-,.fp^— W" ; . to g o—hcfnr w.ir. Mrs. Cou'.houi l.i ).ist s;n.iiK' I'lvt^sin.,' Sh linek laughing. Sh«j .^ j.i.ii.ib.y ofTl'-f s The opinion that tho I'ov.c;.-. om-.i,^ am tho finest in town wiili whom '.oi, (i'.i business. I 'J'hi'n herc'.i where th" .Sa"il..rli come in. Hearing about the "i.uy" ..» the C.)!oiiiaI, the Shubcil« ate re- l.orlcd f.) Jiavo dcman.Iod ti.o s-ini" • l/Uy" for "The Passing tino«," due at the AvoV'i .Simd.-jy (Nov. 11). Tlie "king-pin" explosion wi li -lo i:'Hi:h.>ul olllccfl loaded up Hl'h two jri-.achinir U'tw .)ii.i .' of BO)iM» 350 scats ii look-'..! j "Old Soak" ior. !'• ■■; >.' ..:■■ Cou'.'; lui ti"".' s .O'.:''r , • i v Rosic O'Reilly" iCoh.in', Cr.in.i. tvi-k). I'lrst empty ».?a.s o. '.:i,v.;;. nil n'; ff.i.- • .1 $:':),000. "The Foci" <.•Selwyn, 0th v.e. ;<). SI:imp even hit this non-niusiea! paccniakei", c\eiT.; m.atincp.M. bo'li HcU-out^'. i'i;,';!:- U :',:'\'. over Jlil.ouo. "Merlon of tho Movies" (t;i.i.,-'c- st'in. I goo. ■, 2d v.. cli;i, y« U>. ijoing aloii;; .it .-ufrered like orliers, . !i $1 j,Oi)0an.l $li;,ourt. (i'riacc.M, 2d wci*). .'i.i ;'.ji- ii.'.v .i"i'u JORDAN ATTACHED Th- I'lil-'r.i F.-s.]^-r.L-.- I'.ni.k, l(i00 lirnn I\v;,y, Ni w Vnil. lite last wc'k s. rvr.I ,1 |:'.'),ilijO ,.;\u-l>incnt on Walt-r C. Jorii:m ami Marlh.i U. .Tnrdan as a b.ilin.-e -In' on a $40,000 notn on a !o,in. Thf> Nationl, tl'.e Midt N?fore. p.i.-;sed Into ij^p o.'iver'< hards fol- lowinrr a mor' •■!■."• ■■) f.ir''.-losure sill;. !io; M-w '. loiis at $ I.'1.000. "Magnolia" «ni'ow, Will gi) out h' >l we. '■ • Mr. ■. .\ ■ii.n.l $'l:/M» , ■•'I. Around Tst week). Never had 1.- i^v'h V, .;el.. "Abie's Irish Rose," RepubMc (77th week). I<a9t week saw business off In most Broadway houses, and while Friday and Saturday were big, grosses for the week again decllne.l. "Able" continues Its wonderful business and run with- out great variation. Slightly off last week, but got $13,000. "Adrienne," Cohan (24th week). .Started week with good odvanec sale, quoted at $6,(M)0. Takings last vc-k were down, as with others, cross being around $14,000. "Artists and Models." Shubert (12th week). Shul)CrtH' best money- m.iker still has big call In agen- cle.f. Emptv rowH Iirst nights of fast week reliected In total of little over $20,000. Drop about $1,500 from iirevlous week. "Aren't We All," Gaiety (25th week) Ending sixth month, and call for English comedy remains ono of list's leaders. Indications It will run throucrh winter. Pace $13,000. "Caianova," Empire (7th week). W^lll probably run until holiday.!. Bu»lne.-s fairly good at $3 top. though behind leaders from start. Last week saw further drop, gi-os:: being under $11,000. "Chains," Plavhouso (Sth week). Between $",U0U and $8,000 weekly with house and show under s.ame management and claiming profit Other attraciiona have offered to guarantee house, which figures to get attraction before long. I "Chicken Feed." LltUc (7th week) I Some disappointment this laugh- I making comedy did not land on Jump. Picked up well lost week. Lower floor has been virtually capacity, with ngcnclea Belling. Gross went to wcH over $8,000, In- crease of $1,100 despite general falling off. "Children of the Moon." Comedy (12th week). Caat losing fceveral leads an.i run hardly figured now. Business never big, but probable profit made because of percentage system of paying players. $5,500. Reported le: vlng after another week. "Cyrano d« Bergerac," National I2A week). W.ilter Hampden's preset^- tatton of Rostand comedy one ot season's fim «t. Opened Thursday last week to high praise, and actor-manat;er ought to score hit with engagement already eet be- yond suhscrliition period. Agency call early this week indicated strength. "Follies," New Amsterdam (3d week). Show getting around $6,- 000 nightly and over $3,500 at matinees, Ziegfeld show gro.sslng much mfi-e than anything In town. New high flenirra pos8it>le because of $6.50 senile. Between $42,COO and $43,000. "For All of Us," 49th St. (4th week). Indication? are for William Ilods' to land b' ttcr -un th.an he has had for seanons In New York.. Husl- neSA last weej< held up to previous week, ni'nily $S.00O. "Ginger." Ualy'x 6.3d St. (4th week). Management believes this musical will build, although stained weak. Management renting house and has extended rental another four weeks. With cut-rate aid, alx)ut $5,000. "Grand Guignol," Frolic (4th weckV Parisian urbanization figuring on attracting better patronage this week throujjh introduction of Alia Nar.Imova in "The Unknov^-n Woman" sketch, tossed out of Palace show last week. $6,000 to $7,000 pace thi.s far. "Greenwich Village Folliee." Wlnti r Garden (.Sth week). Went off re- cently, like most of list, but still big at nearly $24,000, and ought tu stick through fall. "Helen of Troy, New York." Tlin-s Square (21st w.'ek). Three weeUn more for this holdover mu.'^^i.al. which juinprd after moving from Selwyn and then slipped. Llttlti better la.st week; $12,600. "Poppy" movi« from luxt door (Apollo) end of month. "In Love With Love," Ritz (14tli week). Affe<ted early in week, but get g.)oil share of week-end busliiesn. Attraction will move to ro.id after another week or y.o, though business very good at aver- age of $12,000. Off lately; $in,0»y last we. t;, "Lesson in Love," SOth St. (7th week). Il.iuso and show r.liou! broakiii? even until last week, when Ki ' s .-diiiped to $6,000. Mu.-.t re'ov. r 1.1 .s' ly until holidays. "Little Jessie James," Longarn (I3th ^^'.-eli). M,Tnag"ement claitii- ing hIioiV will easily run to New Years. liiLtliioss showing prol'.t tlioush n:.t exceptional, tjti.it .l around $:t.i)00 latl week. "Love Scandal," Anibi.ssad.ir (l.;t we.'K). Sii.M. nly hooked for liou.-.' late l.i.'t Week, when "Steadfast" decided to ^1■^) at end of first week Opene.1 M.,iiil:iy to lukewaiiii not ice ~< "Little Mi»s Bluebeard." Lyceum tilth V ' .«). il';M up better tli.in mo.st Oilers iiist week, KioKR over 1': •■.li.'lion for JJor.hiiii $|-,00). show to remain through tall looks right. Counted as one if successes. "Lullaby," Knickerbocker ^Sth week). I''norence Reed drama leading non« musicals. Big house capacity aiding. Last week oft somewhat^ but taJctngs quoted over $18,000. "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," Be- lasco (9th week). Another two weeks for Mrs. Ki.sk e, who then goes on tour after exteiiding origi- nal booking four weeks. Will likely succeed "Laugh, Clown, t.ttugh" at Powers, Chicago, l.iitir i-how theu coming Into Belaseo. "Music Box Revue," Mt: -i'' Box (7th week). Going to capaeiiy busi- ness all performancis ,ind ought to duplicnto first se\Ko:i's business record. Getting $29,:",00 to $30,000 v.-eckly. "Mr. Battling Buttlcr," .-^elvyn (6th week). Title given jirefix of "Mr." in bllHng, counteil on to correct wrong impeeelon of lu.nio. Gross under previous poii ir because o" weakness Monday i.ii.! Tuesday last week. Little u olti- JIG.OOO. "Nobody's Business,' Klaw (3tl week). Matinee irado atrong, 03 liguied. and draw of blar, F*an- cine Larrimore, sh..>uld givo show fair engagement. Porformanco Improved over opeiiinf,-. Agency call fairly good and s.-.ond week's takings quoted at $8,0C. "Poppy," Apollo (lOtli week). Like most others, drop ear y la.'it week pulled down gross, I.1.1 .show rated hit and will come back. Ivast week $18,000. almost as i/o^d oa any musical at scale. "Rain," Maxine Ellioi! '.",3d week). Irfust season produced two dra- matic smashes, "Rain' and "Sev- enth Heaven," still very much among current leaders. Both do- ing capacity trade and should easily run through s..i-.on. Close to $15,000 "Runnin' Wild," Coloni.i! (3d week), fleorge White brought colored at- traction in and It g<)t off to grroat start. First week grii.>Kied $19,000; $5 opening perfurinatico aided. Opening pace thrc-e liuies Uiat Ot '■Shuffie Along." "Seventh Heaven." It<-ith (64th week). 80 ateady In trade man- ageiaent figuring on this drama not on>y staying through season, but longer. Just under |1>.000 loaf cnAAlr "Scandala," Fulton 'iitn week), Moved here from Clolie Monday^ forced to change b. eiuso Of en- trance o< "Stepping Stones," but remaining for thi.s w« ek only, then Boston. About $2ii OUO with aid from cut-rates for tmul weeks. "Scaramouche," Morot^.o (.3d week). Being cut rated apd unless pace ran improve engagement likely to bo brief. Somu up'niDn around that plcturleallon i 1 ior to dra- matic presentation did not aid show. Bit over $.s.nuo stop limit. "Spring Cleaning," Kltinge (1st week). Selwyn.s' Chlv^.igo hit by Lonsdale brought :n and "The I>ady," slated for I'll luge, sent to Adelphl. Premiere dated for to- morrow night (Friiiay). Averaga pace In Chicago $1.':.U00, regarded excellent in Adolpbi. "Steadfast," AmbOiieado.-. Ijrcw pan- ning from reviewers ai.l business only $2,S00: was witli.ir.awn Sat- urday after trying for one week. "A Love Scandal" .lui l.ly booked in as successor. "Sun Up," Lenox 11.U Show writ- ten by Lulu Volin. ,. whevse "The Shame Woman" w i-< in.>ved from Greenwich Village :o the Princess Monday Small grosses approxi- mating $2,000. but .'Liimed profit- able in small out c nay theatre. "Tarnish," Belmon'. iCih week). Rated dramatic sii ■.■es.s from start and Is epotte.) in sm.ill the- atre which shou'd inike for con- tinued run. Scali lilred after opening and takini,'.s of $9,000 weekly means capi.eiiy. "The Changelings," Henry Miller (Sth week). Get:!:!'; excellent, grosses and a'.lho:i_-ri i>aco eased oft last week ll.ree-star piece ehould recover, Alwiit $13,500. "The Crooked Square," liudaon (Sth week). Operating ..isIs have been reduced, attraction (..liing around $S,000 weekly and diimcd to be making money be: >i v.ays. Man- ag.>ment has hoth sl....v and house. '•The Dancers," Ih o ...iiiiirst (4th week). Richard I'.. 1... :t appears to havo landed t ,.■. ;•.• with Da MBurier play. T'l:-* week re- ported having bi'ii. i prumiiing liaco of start an.i i.,:..tifl quoted around $15,000. "The Deep Tantiicd Wildwood," I'razco (1st wedi). 1: ".t.o Tyler'e production e.f •r.'-t George Kaufman-Mar.; C 'i:!':;/ comedy. OjHined Monday .m.l a.'tcredlted I'lugh allow, btit ■ 1 uments on lil.iy's merit cor.sii. : iliiy mixed. '"Ths Magic Ring," ).;i>erty (6th wei>k). Mitzl f.ho.v t-irding up ne)! and getting $ii".,'H).l to $17,000 iLiteiy, though afti.'.d by general (Continue.! on ;"i'„'e 17^ i