Variety (January 1924)

If VARIETY LEGITIMATE Thursday, January 17. 1924 LOOP'S TWO MUSICAL FLOPS LEAVES 4 MUSICALS NEXT WEEK Town Clown" and "Moonlight" Way Off in Chi— 'Topsy and Eva" Pulled Up by Publicity—Soth- ern and Marlowe Did $8,500 Last Week Two new mu?lcal flops, a cun- tlnued scarcity o( Shakcepi'arcan enthusiasm, Al Jolson smaslilnt? liia own oijtnlnsr figures and a whirl- wind campaign to "put over" a weakly constructed musical play at the Selwyn, constituted the four chief points of attention In the Loop legit theatres laat week. Prize losses of the season were checked up In the local salvaging of "The Town Clown" (Illinois), and "Moonlight" (LaSalle). Both were musical play premieres, but ghastly In grosscfl drawn. Each go to other fields Saturday, making brief their respective try locally. Into the llllndis comes Florence Reed Jn "The Lullaby." The La- Salle proceeds with "Give and Take," starring Louis Mann aud George Sidney. Close tabulation pave "The Town Clown" and "Moonlight" the fattest lossoe checked around these parts for sometime, for each hold a salary list that Isn't to be sneezed at. Per- haps they'll both be successes else- where, but the business done at both the LaSalle and the Illinois provcf how local playgoers keep away when they don't know in advance about an attraction. It's <uiitc apparent Chicago doesn't want Shakespeare at this particular time. Southern and Marlowe may ImpriAO in trade at the Oreat Northern, but It wasn't the oldtime "puH" for the two big stars. Al Jolson again cut up record capers at the Apollo. It there were not strict fire laws governing the r.umlior of extra chairs that can lie placed In a Chicago theatre, Jolson would have done better than the approximate J30 Increase over his record opening at the Apollo of a ye.ir ago. Thi.s star luillcd eome- thinc; lilie J5,039 tor hi.>< opening. Fully loo peojiie were turned away. There was a bit of a scare at the Apollo the second night when Jol- son's gross tiimbled to $3,300, but it held strong for the balance of the week, reaching $3,470 at the finish. Jolcioii's engagement Is limited to three week.s. That's a badly constructed show, "Topsy and Eva," at the Selwyn. I.lku one critic stated, It would roll uji, turn over and die quickly ex- cept for the lJunc;4n Sisters. Hut .'something happened at the Selwyn int he shape of the Duncan Sisters being hurled into the moet talked about pul)llrlty campaign any Loop thealro has checked in years. Every newspaper, particularly the Hearst newspaiier, have carried front page stories on timely stunts. The. re- sponse for "Toi)sy and Eva" dSim- paign etarted to manifest itself the latter part of the week. A clean sweep of Saturday's matinee ($2,500 gross) at $2 50, resulted with $3,200 gross Saturday night at $3.50. A smash $1,800 gross was checked Moiuiay night of thifl week, indi- cating that "Topsy and Eva" threatens to be "Abie's Irish Uosc" of the nuisical field. The Duncans arc great, and so are the tunes, but I lie dialog, as iilaced In the show, had evcrybiuly believing the en- gag. nieiit would be short-lived. .Now tin rc'« unexnected promise for "Topsy and Eva." In most iiLstances the anticipated lull following New Year's week transpired. <;eorf,'e M. Cohan fired a shot that startled the town when he ordered closed at the end of this week the extremely succisfiful "Nellif Killy" at Cohans (Jrand. It was a swift pace "NclUe" had to fulli.w after "Itirsle O'ltciUy," t.ut "Nellie" was doing it when along laiiie internal strife in \h{< cast, with deorge M. rifiising to aliido with It. "Nellie Kelly" gu<'.') to tile store- liou«c for the time being nt lia.^-t. with "We Moderns" ta flop at the Illackstone) moving over to the lirand .Sunday. The wise boys In town believe that i^S'e Moderns" will have to have Its nialog severly slashed to withstand the necessili(>ti of a home at Cohans Grand for any length of <<Inie. Over at the Adelphl "The Best I'e(ppli'' has lost Its "pimch" draw, prolj.Thly due to the c.^^I for "Klkl," sailing along furiously af Power«. Thn Adelphi show la at its stop clause, mark. "The Nervous Wreck" Isn't n knockout In Chic,'i;;o. yet it is hold- ing a favorable position to Jiiinp Into a biggtr demand. The lower floor is Btrong at the Harris nttr.ic- tinn, but the balcony, wtil>h is m.ik- ing high the figures for "Aliii's Irlsji Rose' a( the Stud<bak<r, l.s miss- ing. "Able" is having a gay t.'ino In Chlratfi. last week there'll be only four mu- sical shows in town next week. Into the niackstone will come "Th« Changelings." The real competition will be among the comedies. Last week's estimates: "Moonlight" (La Salle, 1st week). Opened to around $600. went to $400 the second night and tabbed about $8,300 on week. Leaves SatOrday with "Give and Take" to follow. •The Town Clown" (Illinois, 1st week). Eigurcd less than $1,000 on opening and made no headway on week. Quick closing Saturday, with "The Lullaby'* to follow. Sothern-Marlowa (Great Northern, 1st week). Newspapers made men- tion of vacant seats at opening. Estimated around $8,500 high. Two weeks to go. "Bombo" (Apollo. 1st week). New opening gxossi figure for Al Jolson. Balcony litMe effected Tuesday and Wednesday nights, yet week's gross smashed close to $33,000. "A King for a Day" (Cort, 7th and final week). Went fo about $6,000 for farewell. Leo Ditrichstein opened (caapcity, 1,500) Sunday. "Wo Moderns" (Blackstone. 2d week). Evidently given chance here for moves over to Cohan's Grand Sunday. Around $7,500. "The Highwayman" (Playhouse. 3d week). Struck close to $8,000 by good Saturday night house. Last three weeks announced. "Tho Honeymoon House" (Central. 3d week). Cut rates held up trade to $6,500. "The Nervous Wreck" (Harris. 3d week). Like all others, drew early sell-out Saturday night, bringing gross to $14,000. Pick up in balcony will mean higher gross. "Topsy and Eva" (Selwyn, Id »cck)__Went caacity latter part of week after slow start, breaking house record Saturday's two performances. $16,000, and will do better this week. "Nellie Kelly" (Cohan's Grand, 4th week). Surprise closing notice given for this Saturday will hurry clientele to better $17,000 gross done last week. "Kiki" (Powers, 3d week). Still hard-to get tickets for. Figured the townlt dramatle pacemaker at $21,000. "Abie's Irish Rosa" (Studebaker, 3d week). Started off with $3,200 gross, sold Monday night for $1,600, and then kept high, reaching $20,000 •without trouble. "The Follies" (Colonial, 3d week). Steady capacity sale. Estimated gross placed at $35,800. "Old Soak" (Princess. 17th week). I.es sthan $10,000. but plenty of profit. "The Best People" (Adelphl. 10th week). Circling stop clo.se. for Just squeezed over $10,000 mark. "Chaave-Souris" (Garrlck. 4th week). Played out society clientele, weak grosses being checked first part of week, but came back Friday and Saturday to reach $12,000. Change of program Sunday night helped hut little for Sunday night gross on this week. UP SHE GOES" STARTS SWIFT PACE, WITH $15,5i IN BOSTON SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT^ ■1 Figures estimated and comment point to seme attractions baing successful, whila the same gross accredited to others might suggest mediocrity or loss. The variance is explained in the difference in house capacities, with the varying dverhead. Also the size of cast, with consequent difference in necessary grossfor profit. Variance in business necessary for musical attraction as against dramatle play is also considered. ' 1 I Tops "Irene's" Record—"Adrienne" Does Well, While "Perfect Lady" Is Off in Final Week— Boston, Jan. 16. Every once In a wblle some ehow comes into town which is figured upon to do a fair business and, starting oft with a rush, leads the town for business before the first week is over. This time it Is "tip Sho Goes," which opened at the Wilbur last week and has copped this distinction. The Brady musical came In with the usual amount ef advance pub- licity. It was not figured by the wise ones to do any better than fair for the first week. On the open- ing night the entire show was radioed from the Shepard stores and the listening conditions were ideal. The first night tho houne was within $300 of capacity andithe next nigiit the business was off ^Jn«t $200 from capacity. From then on the show did capacity business and wound up the week with $15,500 to its credit. Tlio best the house can do under the ecnie is $16,000. One of the things which make the showing of the musical such a stirprisc was the fact that there had not been anything unusual In the way of an advance sale and the show wasn't figured to have draw- ing names th.at would call for such a play on the fli«t week. On busi- ness the show broke in better than "Irene," always figured the record holder for the house. I'laced at the Tremont. a larger house, -.Vdrienne' did $17,000 last week. This show is also reported to be strong, although it is about $5,000 below what it could do if playing to capacity at the present .'•eale. It is figured .as being a com- fcirtal^le hit. The tliiiii musi.'al in town last week, "A I'erfeet Lady," at the Shu- bert. did not get out with such good Inisiness. It Is reported this show on the final week in Boston picked up $1.1.OuO. It never did a wh.ale of a buHiness here and the fact that the "Greenwich Village Follies" was underlined for tho s.ime house and opened there this week la fig- tircd as having had something to <1« with this. For the non-musical-i Otis Skin- ner in ".Saicho I'anza" at the Co- lonial w.". ; the best money getter. The first week this show did $16,000. It h.is two more weeks to run at thi^i house and Is exiiected to travel along at tho same pace, with Just a possiMlity that the la«t week. Willi Jane Cowl iilayiiig at the Sel- wyn, niiy nick into tho gros.ses pome. At the Ilollis "Tlie First Tear" fair business for t'ne house. The engagement Is Indefinite as far as Is known here and It can stay on for several weeks. "Whispering Wires" at the Ply- mouth did $0,000 Ust week and the show le scheduled to remain here for a while. Nothing to supplant It has been .uinounced. "Sweet Lavender" at the Selwyn trailed along last week with busi- ness still poor. There does net seem to be a demand at the price acale for this attraction in Boston and it 1« pulling out at the end of the week to take up some Canadian time. Jane Cowl Is booked Into the house for two weeks. Last week's estimates: "Sancho Panza" (Otis Skinner), Colonial (2d week). On the first week this show did $16,000. "Sweet Lavender," Selwyn <Zd week). liu.slness stil off and did less than $8,000 last week. 'Up She Goes," Wilbur (2<1 week). One of the surprises of the sc.T-son. hitting $15,500 for the first week, within $500 of capacity. "The First Year," Hollis (2d week). Did $15,000 for the first week. "Adrienne," Tremont (2d week). While not playing to capactly, this muelcal cli iiied up $17,UUU tor the first week here. "Whispering Wires," IMymouth (4th week). Slipped off considerably last week and played to a gro.s.s of about $9,000. "Greenwich Village Follies," Shu- liert (1st week). Openc strong with house sold out in advance for the opening. Scaled at a $3.85 lo|> and supiilantfl 'A Perfect Lad.v." wiiidi closed with a business of $13,000 for the last week here. Temperament at Fine Arts, L. A. Los Angeles, Jan. 16. Temper.imcnt, resulting in differ- ences on production mattcne. Is given as the cause of Willlmenc Wilkes and Dickson Morgan with- drawing from the Fine Arts. Fiiia • cea didn't figure, as the theatre Is doing well. "Tiger, Tiger" Is the current bill. Watcli for that "(irwii C"o\er" IT'S "THE CLIPPER" Ol'T TOMORHOW lOo "Abie's Irish Rose," Republic (87th week). Automobile week not pro- ductive of exceptional attendance on Broadway. Exhibits being so far uptown blamed; business gen- erally, however, stood up rather well. "Able" appears to have re- sumed strong fall pace, with $14,- 300 last week. "Aren't We All," Gaiety (35th week). . Final week. Going along to excel- lent grosses and pointed to year's run. Withdrawal of Cyril Maude from cast caused sharp drop. Film, "The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln," succeeds. "Artists and Models," Shubert (22d week). To date this revue reported more than quarter of million to good. Big grosses during fall, w,hen criticism of undressing, lines and situations kept interest alive. Not been doing so well in last month or so, LAst week around $24,000. "Chariot's Revue," Times Square (2d week). Opened 'Wednesday last week, winning favorable notices and going to over capacity second performance. T^onks set for run. Knglish musical's strength is In principals. Scale, $3.50 top. Can do about $20,000 weekly. "Chicken Feed," Little (17th week). Making money right througli fall, getting about $8,000, although pace " dropped about $1,000 last week. Will be sent out to accommodate "Little Jessie James," now at T,ongncre. "Cyrano de Bergerac," Xatinnal. <Sth week). One of excoptional suc- cesses of seu.sun. Getting more money or as much as any non- musical in town. Playing $3 top. .Tnd ought to stay until spring. Quoted at $1'0,000 or over last week. "Fanshastlcs," Henry Miller (1st wtel;). OdJ-numed piece Henry Millcr'.s second production this season. Premiere Monday. House dark last week. "The Changelings " went to road this week. "Follies," Amsterdam (l3th week). Auto crowd played Ziegfeld show strongly. Gross better than $42,000. "For All of Us," Amb.-issador (14th week). Moved over from 49th Street, one of number of switches Monday. William Hodge's attrac- tion doing well, with nearly $9,500 In last week. "Gypsy Jim," 49th Street (1st week). Arthur Hammerstein produced this Leo Carrillo-starr^ comedy- drama, which gives him three cur- rent attractions on Broadway. Opened Monday. "Hurricane," Frolic (4th week). Olga Petrova rented roof house for four weeks and has added another week; star also giving Sunday concerts. Play has drawn lightly, pace being between $4,000 and $5,000. "In the Next Room," Vanderbilt (8th week). Neat money maker for Wlnthrop Ames; rates with fall successes, although not capacity draw. Averaging $12,000 weekly, gait last week, "Kid Boots," Earl Carroll t3d week). Placed at top of .musical list In point of ticket dcnland in agencies. Capacity trndo from start. Last week gross about $33,000, which means standing room. "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," Belasco, (Sth weekK Belasco looks set for sea- son with Lionel Barrymore drama topping dramatic list in gro.ss with exception of "Cyrano de Bergerac." CJuoted at $16,000 last week. "Little Jessie James," Longacre (23d week). Hit best figure of run New- Year's week with $16,500. Last week gross $13,000; good profit for this musical. Will move to Lit- tle after another week. "Moon- light"' succeeding. "Little Miss Bluebeard," Lyceum (21st week). Excellent profit throughout fall, but Is forced to go on tour after next week be- cause of new-attraction pressure. Last week $10,200; could easily stay until Wa-shingtons Birthday. "Lullaby," Knickerlioeker (IRth week). Pinal week. While this drama, which topped non-musical list frequently through fall, has dropped, could remain anothin- two months at smaller house. Never had losing week. Next week II. W. Savage's musical, "Lollipop," suc- ceeds. "Madro," Jjr-nnTt Hill. Withdrflwn after two weeks out-uf-way hou.sc; meagre takings rule. "Mary Jane McKane," Imperial (4th week). I'sing some cut rates in balcony, but lower fiour trade big latter portion of last week. Busi- ness went to about $17,500, prob- ably prolltjihle, although attr.ic- tion not classed with leaders "Meet the Wife," Klaw (Ktli week). Did .n.s well last week as New Ye.ii's. gross not far from $12,0011. Fig- ures to rem.Tin until W.ushlngton's Birthday and may run until Easter. Moscow Art Theatre, .Tolson's (24 ^ repeat) (1st week). Morris Gest " brought Russians back after few weeks on road when operatinc expenses found too high. Plrrt return started mildly, but closed to real business. Second repeat for six weeks. Scale now at $2.S0 top. "Mr, Battling Buttler," Selwyn (16th week). Afaking good prediction It would last through winter. With- ' out capacity Is consistent drair | and turns weekly profit both for | house and show. Held to nearly $18,000 again last week. i "Music Box Revue," Music Box (Igth I week). Enjoyed sfiecial call laat U week from auto show crowd. Ilk* ^ other leading musicals. Attend* 'i ance capacity plus, and gross bet» - ter than $29,500. "Neighbors," 48th St. (4th we^). Will be succeeded by another Equity Players' attraction, "The New Englander,'' at end of month. Business reported away off. "One Kiss," Fulton (Sth week). Uka Little Jessie James," this musical is novelty, having but one set, with small cast and chorus. Very smart show drawing smart audiences. Business, howeven not strong. Little over $14,001) claimed laat week. May show profit. "Outward Bound," Ritz (2d week). New English drama pulled excel- • lently after exceptional notices, plot idea furnishing plenty of food for discussion. Gross for first week nearly $12,000; good chance. "Poppy," Apollo (20th week). Should have no trouble cleaning up for balance of season, artd counts as one of most successful musicals of fall eiitiance. La..,t week held up nicely, gross $20,200; only $3 rau- • slcal to top it was "Uosie O'Reilly." ., recent arrival. | "Rain," ilaxine Elliott's (63d week), | Jeanne Eagcl, star, out of show tot 'i half dozen performances, but re- 1 turned last week (Wednesday). J Bu.'-intss off a little when star wa« 1 absent, but nearly $13,000 last' week. "Rise of Rosie O'Railly," Liberty (4th week). George Cohan brought two attractions in at same time and both have landed. "Rosie" should rup out season. Last week gross of $22,000 nearly all house will hold at $3 top. "Roceanne," Greenwich Village (4tM 3 week). Curious play about colored people, played by whito company, Closes Saturday; gross about $2,600 last week. "Runnin" Wild," Colonial (12tlt ? week). Colored revue still m&k.' ing good weekly profit and ramt run into late March. Last week gross $13,600. "Saint Joan," Garrlck (4th week). . Best thing Theatre Guild has don« for year, and has good chance to land on Broadway after subscrip- tion period. Getting capacity, with between $8,000 and $9,000 last , week. "Sovehth Heaven," Booth (»th week). Running neck and neck with "Rain," "Heaven" one week ahead. Business standing up comparative- ly as strongly, with little doubt both attraction."? will complete sec- ond season. Last week's gross about $12,000. "Song and Dance Man," Hud.-ton (8d week). Cohan's personal appear- ance doubtless counting in suc- secc of new comedy drama. Takings second week bested initial week, discounting New Year's eve. Quoted at over $15,000. "Spring Cleaning," Eltinge (11th week). Ought to remain to real business until spring. Lower floor slill excellent and getting repeat- ers. Gallery never has drawn, which may be explained by attrac- tions scale—$3 top. Last week nearlv $13,500. "Stepping Stones," Globe (11th week). Like "Kid Boots," this musical is rlas.^ed as "great." and going to cai)aclty for all perform- ances. Last week found normal groiis est.iblisheil. takings being between $34,000 and $35,000. "Sun Up," Princess (31th week). Ideal allractii.n for this tiny thea- tre, which b.is not had run candi- date like this in years. Most of attrartion's pl.iying to date has been away frum Times Bnuare. Getting alif-ut $5,000 wctkli';. satiti^ faetiiiy all around. ^ "Tarnish," Hilinont rifiih week). AU signs are for season's run. At- t 'ar'tion spott('d c|e\'erly, mn<ler.'ite Kiz.i of theatre affordirig over C'l- pac'ity demand for night perform- ances. (Jross- between $8,500 and jo.oon. "Tho Alarm Clock," 33;li St. (4th ueek). 1'111,1 weik. riuler stop limit two weeks and will P" to sieirehoiiso, ".Mr. I'itt" succeeded Tu' sday. (Continued on page II)