Variety (November 1923)

14 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Thursday, November 22, 1923 SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT Figures estimated and comment point to (om* attractioni bting ■iiccessful, whila the tame gross accredited to others might suggest mediocrity or loss. The variance is explained in the difference in house capacities, with the varying overhead Also the size of east, with consetAiert difference m necessary gross for profit. Variance w business necessary tor musical attraction as against dramatic play is also considered. "Abie's Irish Rose," Uoiiublic (79th week). llriiadway's box olllrf.s wcro in rrjK'tion from the bis takluRs of election wcel<. Satur- day niBht trade peculiarly off. "Abie" somewhat afTectcil early in the week, but easily beat $13,000. That means being money for the run leader. "Adrienne," Cohan (26th week). Another three weeks ior Louis W*«rba'a muslrral, whicTi has al- ready scored half a year's run. House will get feature lllm, "The Ten Commandments." Show got around 113,000 last week. A jump Buro this week and next, which has football night and Thanks- giving. "Artists and Models," Shubert (14th week). Shubert's musical leader Btill big, and though slightly off rarly In the week, business last week around $27,500. Is best money maker among musicals of Its kind. "Aren't We All," Gaiety (27th week). Clicking to excellent trade right along. Strength against newer hits gives Knglish comedy rating to run through the season. Get- ting $13,000 and over. "Casanova," Empire (9th week). Uusiness fairly good with roman- tic book play. A few weeks more, house pretty sure of getting a new attraction by the holidays (Jan. 1). Takings about the same or a bit better. (Juoted at over $11,000. "Chains," Playhouse (10th week). One of the moderate gross attrac- tions said to be netting a little profit through house and show be- ing under same manngoment; also small cast. Approximately $7,000. "Chicken Feed," I.ittla (9th week). I'rosprclB are for a good engage- ment on llroadway. A good agency ticket. Takings up again and bqat $9,000. which is considered very good for limited capacity of Little. "Cyrano de Bergerac," National (4th week). Costume play much in fa- vor, having a class draw and also strong balcony trade. Agency call slarlei] promisingly, but the real call for Hampden attraction is at the box olllce. Charging $3 toj) and getting higher gro.sses than mcst non-musicals. Iteported bet- ter than $15,000. "Follies," New Amsterdam (5th wtek). Going like a house alire. All performances sold out, with weeU-and call from visitors f^trong'.st on list. Quoted gross lietU-r liian $42,000 weekly. New high figures for show and house be( au.se of $3.50 top scale. •For All of Us," 49th St. (Gth week). Jl.is gone in for extr.a advertis- ing and that ha.s helped busines.s. l-.iHt week was better than $10,- OOO. v\hlch counts very good for lloiK'o play. I'revious week was around $9,000. "Go West, Young Man," rnnrh and Judy (L'd week), lluuse taken by attraction fur four weeks. Indi- cations are show will not lai;t longer. llusliies.s first week re- ported wc.'ik. I'rohalily iilaying un<U*r a guarantee to house. "Grand Ouignol," Frolic (»jth week). One more week, enKagement hav- ing been p>)'>rteiieil three weeks and house rented for that period. (.'oniited on to make money in Canada, French players going to Quebec and then Montreal. Ku.sl- iiiss last week dropped down; hardly $5,000. "Greenwich Village Follies," Winter Garden (10th wo'k). iSuro until the first of the year, which was counted on. instead of spriiiir, whlrh w.i!< the run of Last ye.ir's eilitlon, then jiarki d at smaller Shulierf. Gross about $21,0110. "Helen of Troy, New York," Times Siiuare (2.'ld wciK). tiding on tour after another week. House will get Jane Cowl Dec. 3. star liaviii^- three pla\s listed. \\'as originally .■innouni I'd fur the Ajiiillo. Little undi-r $i:t,nno last week. "Lesson in Love," S'.lth St. (9th week). Final week for \ViIliam Faversham and Kniily Stevens, who open in lialtimore next week. Started off to promise, but fell off promplly after first uiontli, al- though sm.irt tr.iile nlw.iys on luwer Hour. About $G.M()^ "Unu:" succeeds ne.xt yrek. "Little Jessie James," I.nnsacrc (15th week). I'erformance of lliis musical ha.s surprised the wise ones. I'.itronage has junipid in last three weeks. Gross last week at $12,000 or more provides .a good profit. "Love Scandal," Comedy (3d week) .Morris Rose's attraction, which took I be Amli.iss.idor for two weeks and was assigned the (Jom- edy. which was to have gotten "■What a Wifel " Uose is guaran- tc-'r I'" '" ' I'^*' V—-'- quoted around $6,500. House gUar- antied $4,000. "Little Miss Bluebeard," Lyceum 13th week). Ir> lie IJordoni having a successful engagement, with business profitable from the first week out of town and here. Strong enough to ride until the holidays and may stay longer. Last week takings again bettered $11,200. "Lullaby," Knickerbocker (lOth week). One of the few successes not lofting prices for Saturday night (Army-Navy game and called "football night"). Size of house probably the reason. Leads the non-musicals in gross. $19,000 and over. "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," Bc- lasco (11th week). Final week for Mrs. Fiske, whose original engage- ment was extended from seven to 11 weeks. Goes to Chicago, re- placing "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" at Powers, latter attraction opening at Belasco Nov. 28. "Music Box Revue," Music Box (9th week). Doing all the hoiise will hold and. like "Stepping Stones" and the "Follies," standing room is the rule. Weekly average is almost $30,000; bigger" gross this week, as Saturday night scale Is topped at $7.70. "Moscow Art Theatre," Jolson's (1st week). Kcturn engagement of the highly rated Kusslan players. Opened Monday for a week en- gagement prior to touring. Scale tills time Is $3 top after the pre- miere. "Mr. Battling Butler," Selwyn (8th week). Has been better for the last two weeks, and title change with "Mr." prefixed probably helped. Last week went to $17,500. "Nobody's Business," Klaw (5th week). Final week for Francino Larrimore play, which stops Sat- urday. Bid fair for first two weeks, with gross about $9,000. Dropped oft to around $6,000. ".Miet the Wife" succeeds Monday. "Out of the Seven seas," Frazee (Ist week). Kilbourn Gordon produced this new show, which succeeded "The Deep Tangled Wlldwood," the Latter play lasting but two weeks. "Seven Seas" has $8,000 .stop limit. "Poppy," Apollo (12th week). Going along to great business with thq business typical of a true hit. Last week very little under the pace of election week, takings over $:i,500. "Queen Victoria," 4Sth St. (2.1 week). First Kquity Flayers production. Opened Thursday night of last week, %vinning favorable notices. Business after premiere, however, reported of fair proportions. "Rain," Maxino Klliott (55th week). When this smash opened last sea- son i>redictions Included the belief it would stay two years, and the way the sliow is drawing that may lie correct. Getting $15,000 and over weekly with very little dif- ference in gross. "Robert E. Lee," r.ilz (Ist week). Willi.'im Harris, Jr., opened this biographical dram.a in the south and started a flood of discussion. It is sure of class trade for a. time regardless of what rating it wins from critics. Opened Tuesday. "Royal Fandango," Plymouth (2d wick). Kthel Barrymore's new veliiele of light texture. Draw the first week only fair and will be taken off afler another week. About JD,.'.00 lirst «cek. "Runnin' Wild," Colonial (4lh weik). I'li'iori'd comedy show doing excellent business, the draw )ielng better than man.igement luiped for. Ma.v use up patronage more quickly than ".'<luiflle .\loiig," but is far in the business le;id of any colored «how ever In New ■i'ork; $1R.OOO. "Seventh Heaven," Booth (56th week). Ailil'd an extra niatinie Momlay of last week (.Vnnistlce Day). tiiiKigh few attractions tried the aiblilion. This holclovcr hit. liowever. continues to dr.iw gre.it Imsiiiesr, along with "Itain"; $14,0011, "Searamouche," .\Iorosco (5tli week). It.is not uliown anything as yet. alth'.UKli iii'ture version of "Scaiainiiuelii-" continues to make UiK-Pi'^^llK, T;U(iug« for hIiow I^kI week ag.iin between $7,500 and $8,000. Is rejiorled guaranteeing liinise after Dec 1. "Sharlec," Daly's 63.1 .«t. (Ist week). A new John Cort mut-ical comedy, whi. h was first cul!>-d "Tliat's That" in rehearsal, llous.} dark last w.ek, when "Ginger' sud- ilenly sl.ippcd. ".Sharire" opened. "Spring Cleaning," Kit Inge (.'1.1 wck). Hrilliant Knglish come.ly ha.l r.iirly good gros^ la«t w'.k. which was Hr.s" eight-performance week. Quoted at $11,200, but can rlo eor"ldc?.n>ilv more St $*^ top. Lower floor ntll 'ia good and agencies report Increasing de- mand. "Sun Up," Iienox Hill. Completes Its sixth month at the end of this week. Startec. in Greenwich Vil- lage and moved uptown to new ^ouFc quite away from show dis- trict. Has been t^le to draw de- spite that, and at small grosses le making money. Around $3,500. "Tarnish," Belmont (8th week). Ijooks like house was set for the season. Call for this drama con- tlnii.s strung and r.>.ising scale to $3 top after opening had no 111 effe. f. About $9,000 weekly, which is capacity here. "The Camel's Back," Vandcrbllt (2d w*ek). New Sehvyns production of Somerset Maugham's comedy going off Saturday. First week (seven performances) about $9,- 000. Will be taken off after an- other two weeks; the house gets "In the Next Room." "The Changelings," Henry Miller (10th w*ek). Making nice profit weekly. Agencies have show for a 12 weeks' buy, but attraction looks set for good business beyond that luriod. Last week $13,500. "The Crooked Square," Hudson (11th week) Knds Saturday. Never pulled better than moderate businesA and stayed because house and show are under same man- agement. Last week down to $5,000. "Sancho Paiiza" succeeds next week. "The Cup," Fulton (2a week). En- tered house under agreement call- ing for two weeks only; house ohurtage accounts for manage- ment taking chances of getUug another house if show landed. Initial week did not beat $5,000 and most of that was cut rates. Doubtful if another .louse will get this one. "The Dancers," .Embassador (6th week). Afler doing splendid tusl- ness at the Broadhurst, English come<ly-drama was moved here Monday because of necessity of spotting "Topics" In a house with a large «tage. "Dancers" drew aroun.l $14,000 last week. "The Magic Ring," Liberty (8th week). Mitzl will remain another month, which is about the usual Broadway booking for star, who is a clean-up on tour. Business around $15,000 now but ran ahead of other New York engagements for fir.st six weeks. "The Nervous Wreck," Sam H. Har- ris (7th week). .A. solid smash parring with anything on the list in point of call and doing top business among the comediee. Nearly $18,800 last week. That means over capacity and Monday night (Armistice) may have used holiday scale. "Topics of 1923," Broadhurst (1st week). Shubert production with Alice DelyVia; opened out of town as "The Courtesan." W.xs listed for Amba.xsador but stage there too small. Premiere Tuesday night. Sir John Martin-Harvey, Century (5th week). Final week for Eng- lish star, who will tour in prin- cliial stands. Started off very well, with moderate business last two weeks. House gets "Le Bal- let Suedols" for one week starting Monday. "The Swan," Cort (5th week). An- other comedy smash which eur- prised the talent by a bull's-eye on Broadway after weak start out of town. Business better than $16..t00 last week. Capacity draw. "The Shame Woman," Princess (6th week). Since moving up from Greenwich Village this drama has attracted attention. Business not exceptional but does not require big gru;-ses. "Stepping Stones," Globe (3d week). T.alkrd about along Bro.adway as anotiier "Sally." Great demand fur tickets in agencies. At new scale of $5.50 at Glolie takings are biggest in house's history. Over $35,000. "Vanities," Earl Carroll (21st week). Around $21,000 last week; pace jumped $2,000 over previous week with a p.irty sell-out helping. Uevue counteil on until the first of year bat mi^'ht last longer. "The Failures," Garrlck (1st week). Second pruducti.in this season by Tlieatr.' Guild. "Windows." the lir^t try, stopjied .Satiird.iy; was not offered a berth on Broadway. Stayed s^x weeks, tlie usual eub- scfiptiun period. "What a Wife," (.'entury Hoof (8th w.ek). Was to have move.i down to th'' Come.ly. but that house was allotted aiiuther attraction ("A I.iOVe Sc.iiul.-il "), which is guaran- teeing. 'W'ifcs" businesH alxiut $3,.',00, niostly cut I'.'ites, .and prob- ably nothing over expenses ch.arged fur huuse. "Whole Town's Talking," Bijou (13lh week). Aiuwars to be able tu ktup la llui slot iha av«i-age weekly total for a normal week being $6,500 which was last week's gait, "Wildflcwer," Casino (42d week). Still a gre.it muney gett'r and figiir. d on tu run through winter. Last week bettered $20,000 and liolidays will again sc.. gross jump upward t.>warcls the record. "White Cargo," Greenwich Village (3d week). Is reported being brought uptown. lUisiness In the VlHage quoted around $3,000, but «how ought to h..ve a chance on Broadway. TOKI" AT PIEA. GARRICK > HAN(S UP NEW MARK OF $23,009 Dillingham's "One Kiss'* Begins to Look Like a Hi^ —"Lady in Ermine" Makes Indifferent Showing, Though Plugged Hard—Monday Slump '^','*"_ Philadelphia, Nov. 21. For the second time this season a straight show led the field in busi- ness here last week, and this time by a margin that left no chance for doubt. The winner was Belasco's "Klki," which, at the Garrlck, Ijcttered the previous records this tall of a house which has had one hit after an- other. The reason for the latter is that a $3 top Is being charged for the Lenijre Ulrlc comedy, w'hereas Cohan's Song and Dance Man" and Dillingham's "Loyalties" were em- ploying the $2.50 scale. "Kiki's" gross passed the $23,000 mark by several hundred dollars, a few seats out early in the week being all thtit separated it from capacity. The notices were extraordinarily laudatory, and the demand at the l)Ox office beginning Monday of this week point to capacity throughout the three weeks' run. Already the Thanksgiving performances are sold out, and it begins to look as If the show would leave Phllly with the demand only half satisfied. Dillingham's new musical comedy. ."One Kiss," through its downstairs attendance, breezed through a stitis- factory week. The critics were far kinder to it than the first-nighters were, the latter objecting to the very features which Dillingham emph.a- sizcd in making this an "aristqcratic musical show." "One Kiss" was lost on the vast Forrest stage. Its chorus of eight girls looking very strange indeed, and the voices of the principals fail- ing to get across the way they would in a small house. Despite a bal- cony an.l gallery play that was piti- ful some nights, "One Kiss" is re- ported as cle.ving $17,000 last week, and started this week witli a bang Monday night, though ujistairs was still off. "Lightnin' ' and "The Fool' checked in with excellent grosses. The former, at the Broad, has now dropiied to a $13,000 level, but that is still good profit, and it could stay indefinitely at such a fl.- re, which is more tlian many short-run plays get at the .s.ame house. "The Fool," opei.ing at the Adel- phi, did not get the absolute cr.pac- Ity expected by considerable, but it «lid do fine business, getting especi- ally big play at the matinees. "The I-ady in Ermine," at the .Shu- bert, is being desperately plugged for a run, but it has failed to re- spond very substantially. Benefits and special nights have served to keep many ef the seats wari^ but the grosses have not soared. " The Wainut didn't get the busi- ness expected with '"The Good Old Days" and that Aaron Hoffman comedy goes out Saturday after two weeks instead of staying n. month as planned. "Red Light Annie" has been booked In to Jill the gap. The Tuesday notices for "The (Jood Old D.aye" were very high in their praise of the comedy, and the crowds seemed to enjoy If, but these facts were not reflected in the box otllce. The Walnut has been attempting four-week runs on all Its attractions, and In some cases has not been en- tirely successful, but with "Polly Preferred" and "Vou and I" coming, an improvement Is expected. Just why "Give and Take" went over big. and "The Good Old Days," by the same author, and of the same gen- eral character, plus the booze angle. flopped, Is a mystery. "The White Sister." on a rental basis at the Chestnut Street opera house, is not going to equal the record of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," which prccdcd it. by a long sight. Its notices were on the whole more entliusiastie, but the first week's business was down be- low $10.0^. whereas "The Hunch- back" started at a $14,000 clip. One of the most dismal of weeks was that of "l.'p She Goes" at the Lyric. This musical adds ,to the mystery of this house First "Caro- line" won a set of siilendid notices there, and flopped entirely, and now the Brady musical comedy, called by some of the critics the year's best show of Its kind, has failed to live up to expectations. For the third time this year. Philly was without new nftractions this Monday, following the five which deluged the city last week. In- cidentally, it was the weakest .Mon- day night In several weeks, only "Kikl" and "One Kiss" being proof against the slump. Next Monday, with the addition of "Hed Light Annie" at the Walnut. will have three openings, the other two being Peggy Wood in "The Clinging Vine"" at the Forrest and "Partners Again" at the Lyric. On December 3, the Swedish B.allet will come for a single week only to the Shubert. and "The First Year "' will start an iiuUfinite run at the Qar> rick. Estimates of the week: "Lightnin'" (Broad, 10th week). Average groes now down to around $13,000, but that is still fine profit "Zander the Great' and not "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," Is now tin- derllned, coming in within month probably. "One Kiss" (Forrest, 2d we«k). Plenty of knbcks from blase thea- tregoers, but critics liked It .,and business seeme to bear them otit. Reported at $17,000 last week, down.< stairs accounting for most Of it. "Clinging Vine" Monday. "Kiki" (Garrlck, 2d Week). Town's knock-out at present writing, and only dramatic show to attempt a $3 top in some time. Achieved about $23,500 last week, and ought to beat that figufe this and next week when it leavee for Washington. "The White Sister" (Chestnut, Sd week). This film very well liked by critics, but didn't get the play Ita predecessor. "The Hunchback," got. Didn't reach $10,000. Length of Btay not known. "Good Old Days" iW.alnut, 2d week). Must be classed as a flop despite good Tuesday notices, and enthusiastic houses. F.ailure to draw bigger a great surprise. Down around $8,000 with no advance aale worth considering. "Hed Light Annie" suddenly pushed in for next Monday. "The Lady in Ermine'' (Shubert, 3d week). Plugged desperately via the benefit route, but hasn't »e- sponded much if any. Claimed cloee to $12,000 last week. "Wp She Goes" (Lyric. 5th week). One of the season's mysteries. Highly regarded by critics, and well received at all first performances, but has dwindled away to next-to- nothing. and failed to reach $8,000 last week. "Partners Again" Mon<iay. "The Fool" (Adelphi, 2d week). Looks promising for five weeks stay, although not striking '-apaclty gait at start as expected by some. Did around $13,000. an excellent figure for small house. PITTSBURGH BUSINESS Colored Show Got $12,000 Thera Last Week Pittsburgh, Nov. 21. The Nixon with "So This la Lon- don?" topped all legitimate house* here with a gross of $15,600. "Fol- low Me," a colored show at the Lyceum, was second with a IMtle over $12,000 on the week. "A Charming Conscience," at tha Alvin, grossed $10,500, while at the Pitt "Whisperiilg Wires" did lera t:.an $4,000. In pictures the Aldine again topped with $9,400. while the Gr&nd^ with "Ponjola" did good buslnesa for $8,500. "His Children's ChiUlren" at the Olympic received close to $6,500 on the week, while all other picture houses report good business. NEW CAST FOR "LOLLIPOP" "Lollipop" is the ntw title for tha Ada M.ae Weeks musical play for- merly known as "The Left Over"' (Henry W. Savage, Inc.) The piece was tried out earlier in the season in New England and is now being recast for Broadway. The new cast will 1 eg;n rehearsale Dec. 3. "Circus Lady" Displeases Critics Cincinnati. Nov. 21. Klsa Ry.in. in "Tiie Circus Lady," an "only-fair" play, that is said to be on its wa.v to Broadway, opened at the Grand Sunday night, and received an awful p.;iir.;iig from all four critics. "The Circus Lady' .attracted a capacity audience h< cause Mias Rytin is popular here. The review- ers ruH H-n-rhrrrtp rmrtniion of o' .My Heart.'" . It Is til ■ story of a girl parachute jumper in a carnival company who makes an ascension, only te fall into a young minister';! garden. The majority of the audience seemed to like it. Besides Miss llyaii. the cant In- cludes Nettie Davenport, Douglas MiicI'lierson, Fdward Keenan, Helen Blair, Victor Hammond, Ma.rgaret Sullivan, W, J. Hrady. Frank Hil- ton and Edward Coltbrook.