Variety (January 1924)

W" Thuriday. January 31.1924 VARIETY 18 ETHEBARRYMOREINSHUBERT; HOUSE RECORD FOR JANE COWL ''Laughing Lady" Booked at Wilbur, Boston, Feb. 18 —Turnaways at Selwyn, With $18,000 Grots— y $150,000 Total in Boston Last Week Boston, .fan. 10 F'lr the flrst time this scaaon coii ditioiui are normal i\a (:ir aU the the atrea are concorneil. At the Boston Optra, house the Chlcagi) Opera started Monday oir a two weeks' en- gasemetit: the Majestic, which for the past couple of months has housed a film, is back in the legitimate fold with "Polly Preferred." and legiti- mate attractions are housed at all the other theatres of this class in the city. It isn't oTten that Mich in the case here in Bnafon. for the tendency the past couple of seasons ha.") been for the situation to be moie or less Jisied up all the time. .\s far a.i the weather i.i concerned thf theatres Jii.Ht now are petting all the breaks. Last week. Monday night, there was n bit of a. letdown because Cf a cold wave, but buKiiiess piclted up the next nisht .ind kept goips strong for the balance of the week. Tho other cold wave struck the city Saturday night, the theatres being prevented from any great lo.^s by the advance sale that charastcriieU the final night ©t the week, and Monday of this week the cold wave was all over. Eusir.es:> at the theatres in Hos- ton last week grossed close to J150.- 000. This Included the business done at the Boston opera house by Harry Lauder, who played six nights and four matinees at the house to ca- pacity houses. The business grossed $30,000, the same amount turned in by the "Ureenwich Village Follies" on the second week at the Shubert. Monday night the business at the Shnhort wa.i off, but standees the balance of the week brought It up until it touched th^same figure tha Is grossed the opening week. There are two weeks left in Boston for t"liis attraction, and business about the fiame as it has done is expected. It set ms to have found a i»oft spot here, and the arrival of "Vanities" at the Colonial is not figured upon to hurt it much. The house record for money went by the board at tlie Selwyn Ia.^t week, the tirst of Jane Cowl in "Romeo and Juliet." Scaled at ti tot> for the night performances and $2.30 for the mats, the house was capacity throughout the week, with n big turnaway. The reviewers treated the performance with consid- ers bit- Importance and favorably, and there is some talk of extending the engagement another week, tak- ing three weeks in this city. K this is arranged "Komeo and Juliet" is on the cards for the final weclc. with "Antony and Cleopatra" this week. The most important Rain made by any show playing the city last week was 'The First Ve.>«r." at the Hollls This show seem^ to have registered strong here, and last week business was $2,000 better thap it was the Week before, bringing the gross up to $17,000 for the week. "I'p She Goea," at the Wilbur. filled to reach the week before by about $500. This drop is not con- wilered important, blamed on Mon- day night's cold snap. •Whispering Wires.' at the Plym- outh, IS about all throuRh in Boston. It slumped off $2,000 last week from the bUFiiness of the preceding week, •nd Is due to leave the town In two weeks The day of the mystery play seems to be Rone here, but bucking this is the plan to bring "Tha Bat" at $1 top into the Boston opera house after the opera company leaves. "The Bat," while at the Wil- bur last season, cleaned up big money over a stretch of several weeks, and really took the cream of this sort of money from the town, neither "The Cat and the Canary " nor ■ Whispering \S irea" approaclung In the final week at th« Colonial Otis Skinner in "Sancho Panza" did $15,000, the same hMsiiiess rsglafcred the other two weeks the show played here. "Adrlenne," at the Tremont. !.« on the final week, with seeminBlv little chance of bettering the busi- ness of last week i'.i the iic-ighbor- hoiid of $16,000. Last week's estimates: '■Vanities." Colonial tlst week), l-'inal week at this house '.'^ancho Panza' did $16,000. ^ "Antony and Cleopatra" (.fan*- Lowl). Helwyii (id week. House record for receipts broken last week "'ith .lane Cawl in "Romeo and Juliet,- $18,000. HotOie, .small, was caaprity all week, with a big turn- away, especially lor $'J..';o mats. "Ut» She Goes." Wilbur (4th iveeUi L,i,,t week bii.'-iiie-, dropped off $:".Oil, due to a bad weattier break rm Mon- I'ay night. Recovery vra.< rapid, however, and total gross $15.500. "The First Year." Hblii.: (4th week>. Seems to hive caught on. with Jl 7.<iOO I.aat w»ek. increase of $2,000 from Week before. "Adrienne," Tremont (4th week). Finishes this week, nei-er having gone over very strong. Business re- corded hist week, $15,000. fame as week before. "Whispering Wires," Ph mouth (6th week' Thi.s .show flnli'Iie.-i up .here in a vouple of weeks, :,'.,d at that has be ii held liere much longer than corHlitlnns warranted Did about $7,00u last wee'K "Greenwich Vlllasc Follies." Sliu- bert (id weelw. Grossed sumo laji week as week before—$30,000. Chicago Opera, Bostoii opera house (1st t^eeki. "Polly Preferred." Majestic (1st week). Returned to legitimate after six weeks of film, 'White Sister." 'UGHTNIN'/' $20,000; REPEATED AT CAPITAL Mr.=. l^yli" Cart.'r in "Stella lial- las" is due to follow Jane Cowl at the Selwyn. her arrival here being governed by the question of whether or not the engagement oC *Ii9s Cowl will be extended beyond this week. and Vivienne Segal Is due into the Tremont next Monday with "The Clinging Vine." 'The Whole Town's Talking" is booked into the Plymouth for Feb. 11, when "Whispering VV'iies' leaves, with "The Passing Show" coming to the Shubert the same night. For the first time within memory of many of the oldest persons in theatric.ils here. Ethe! Barrymore is billed to play a Shubert house In Boston when she opens at the Wil- bur Fet>. 18 i:i ' Th.- Laughing Lady." CIRCUS NEWS *il »f 111., nown of Ih- rlrrturn wr-i ^ 'THE CLIPPER" ^ OLT TOMORROW— 10c %. SHOWS IN NEW YORK (Con;inued tvoi.\ page It) looks sure of staying through 'ct- pon Business varies but little and last week grcss again hetsveen $8,500 and $3,000, r.eariy all house will hold. "The Danc«rs." Broadhur.'?t (161h «oek>. After turning neat profit in first two months this Kngish comedy-drama dropped off and now supported by, cut rate tickets. Around $'>.nno "A Beggar on Horseback" listed for Broadhurst Feb. 9. "The Gift." Greenwich ■\'illa£re the- atre. Closed with Saturday. Opened Tuesday of Last week. House tonight h.as "Rust." "The Goose Hangs High," Bijou (1st week). First production .attempt by Dramatists' Guild. Opened Tuesday night. Authored by TmiiIh Beach. "The Lady." fJmplre (9th week). Business aver.aglng between $10.- 000 and $10,500 re,-ent!y, figure counting profit for house though show rather expensive to operate. Another month or so to go. "The Miracle," Century (3d weekl Wonderful call for Morris Gest's biggest production. Takings Ifist week went to $50,000 and Indica- tions are for Indefinite sens.atlonal gros.';es which top Broadway. Weekly operating e.ipenses said to be" $30,000. •The Nervous Wreck," Sam H. Har- ris <17th weck>. Comedy smash continues to capacity. Normal weeks over $18,000 as last week. Looks like odds-on to run through next summer. "The New Poor," Playhouse. 4th week). Final week. First produc- tion by Aarons & Freedley, won good notices but not profitable busifess. About $6.0P0. House will get 'The Show OIT" next week. "The Other Rase," Morost o (7th veel;>. P.iir business pace about In If of what is possible at scale ($31, Last week grfvsj quoted .ihom $i».r.oo "Tho Potters." Plymouth (Slh weekl. .Seems to li.ivo caught on Clever support won thi-ough asenoy deal has worked out well. Shuw sells out bal:ony before lower floor. In- rfa.^a l.'ist week pv.t gross at over '•The Shame Woman," Comod.v (Ifith weekl Attraction claims indefi- nite liooldng here; pace moderate, letti'iing even break though. Cross is $5 ."<00 or little over. "The Swan," Cort (liith week). Comedy team m^te of "Nervous Wreck' rating of season's pro- .luclion.'». Weekly pace better than $17,500 and Indication* are for summer extension. "Topics of 1923," Winter CterdMi <llth week), Acencr deal where- by br»k«r» pusbkiir this haa aent bus(ne>is up and sjcteislon of Other Legit Shows Didii't Do Overwell Last Week—Carter Play Has B'way Chance 'Washington, Jan. 30. 'Lightnin'" did it again! Held for a second week at the National. The liou.se did practically capacity for the flrst half, and for the last half tho house got it all. Friday and Saturday nights found extra chairs placed in the boxes. Had It been po.Hsible for the house to hold the show for a third week, It could have played to another week of ex- ceptional business. Mrj. Leslie Carter Is he.adcd for New York with something worth while. This cannot be doubted It the business locally can be taken as a criterion. Opening light. It mounted throughout the week, and ulthoURh not totaling any startling figure, however, when it is consid- ered that Washington always In- sists on the New York stamp of suc- cess t)Ctore unstrapping the pocket- bootc to any groat exlent, no com- plaint can be registered and Edgar Sehvyn, hcr.> the greater part of the v.eek. should be hopeful. Another femaie star whose n.amc has long been connected with the theatre was let down easy at the Belasco—Mary Ryan, in "Red Li^ht Annie." This can be attributed to one outright unfavorable notice and another stating that it melodrama was wanted, "Here's your dish." Miss Ryan was likt'l, but the piece only created but mild Interest. For L. Stoddard Taylor and hia delightful little Garrick theatre, the local scribes have all gotten behind that Shubert manager in trying to put some "coin" occaslosjally into the till o,t the boK-otJlce. Somehow or other Washington looks upon the place as a "maternity ward" for new plan's, where quiet and scarcity of callers are the things most de- sired. During the past week a fair melodrama was born under the guiding influence of Brock Pembcr- tun. The play itself gave a fair evening's entertainment, principally due to a remarkably good cast. Estimates for last week: '•Lightnin'," National. Second week's business equally as big us the first; over $20,000. Mrs. Leslie Carter. In 'Stella Dalla."." Poll's. New play, getting $S.0OO: has a chance on Broadway. Marv Ryan, In "Red Light Annie," Eelasco Star liked, but play only moderately so. Possible $6,000. "Anna Christie," President. One night given over by the stock com- pany to the Washington Opera Co., three to a local organization, the St. Patrick's Players, with Friday and Saturd.ay held out for stock play. Held over for current week. "The Marionette Man," Garrick. At $1.50 top, and judging from Tuesday night performance to .about 30 of the faithful, show played to somethiTig lees than $1,000 on week. Current Poll's, B-rnard nnd C.arr In "Part- ners Again." (Had one of the best Sunday openings for a dramatic of- fering of the scasion at this house.) National. "The Clinging Vine. Be- lasco. "Beggar on Horseback." Gar- rick. "The Chiffon Girl." ''LIOHTiraf " AGAIN $22,000 Keeps Up Remarkable Gross in Sjn Francisco San Francisco. Jan. JO. "Lightnin'," with Percy Pollock, again topped the local legit list with $22,000 at the Columbia lost week, holding over currently. The Curran had the San Carlo operatic company and got $15,000; the "White Sister" film did $5,000 In Its sixth week, and I'aulin'c Lord, phaying "Anna Christie" at the Al- cazar, reached $9,450. The Ferris-Hartman musical stock at the Casino in '"Wanfe" touched $4,r>00. This week's liold.ivcr is the ?"er- ris-Har!man company in "The Prince of Pilsen." "Innocent Kycs." Mstlnguett show, set b.iok. "Way Things Happen," Lyceum (1st weekl. Came In after sl.'irtlng something in Phila. Monday's pre- miere found critics distinctly di- vided In opinion as to Clemenco Dane's play's merit. "White Cargo," Daly's «Si fit. (l«th week). Cast chaAgea In this drama which has been drawltiK fairly well uptown. Management claiming takings better ttuut $7,- 000. .Small cast ahow, not re- quiring bis g r oaaaa t* maka money. "Wildflowar," Caalaa (fM waek). Complete* raar'a mo Saturdar. barring few daf* (opened orlg- tnally In middle of week). Bus- laeaa still profltabia and ahow ahould rUla Into aprtnc WMk $1(,S0«. MlSirAI. ACT DK LVSB SUSAN TOMPKINS Violinlste. Formerly Soloist With . SOl'SA'S BAND ami MONS. EDMOND QUERY ruKNrii I'lAMH'r Now Keith's Temple, Rochester. .Next Week (Feb 4), FRANKLI.S'. OTTAWA. CAN. Our Directors: ALP T WILTON. Associate. FRF.D B. MACK. Western, CHARLKS CHOWL 'SITTING PRETTY" HELD BACK Comstock & Gest will shortly place "Pat," a feollon, Wodehouse and Kern musical comedy Into re- hearsal, but have decided to hold "Sitting Pretty," another musical comedy of same authorship until next season. "Pat" was due to be- gin chorus rehearsals this week but plans were postponed through (he death of Bert French, who was to have staged the ihovt. Jack Donahue is the only princi- pal definitely engaged for "Pat." EXCEPTIONAL WEEK lig B Fool " Brings Out Church PaopI* Baltimore. Jon. tO. . The town had an exceptional week at the box offlcea despite a duo of cold waves and a heavy rainstorm. "Vanities" totaled the second high- est gross of tho season at Ford'a with $25,000 and Inserted a dozen local girls into the presentation, while "The Fool" at the Auditorium did $14,000 and a smashing business, attracting hundreds of church folk, who seldom visit a theatre. The piece Is booked tor a return dato at the house. Tl'.e Lyceum's $11,000 was In the running with "In Love With Love." The house Is dark this week al- though Feb. 4 will see the Introduc- tion of a new mystery drama named "The I'ool Woman." Oell Mann's "Band Box Revue" Is headlining the bill at the Hippo- drome this week, which marks the end. for a time, of Loew vaudeville In this city. The Keman Company, headed by Frederick C. Scban- berger, takes over the house next Monday, at which time Keith acts will Inaugurate there. COLLIER Tnr.T.Ti UP Chicago. Jan. 30. Willie Collier was returning to the Sherman House from a restau- rant early the other morning, when he was approached by a man who asked him the time. At the same time a policeman stepped from be- hind Collier and knocked the man cold with his night stick. The ofncer Informed the "Follies" comedian the man was a notorious highwayman. When the latter re- covered he was locked up In the Central police station. LONSDALE IN NEW ROLE Frederick Lonsdale, author of "Spring Cleaning," appeared In a new role last Monday night at the KItlnge, understudying for Gordon Ash, who was suddenly taken 111 with pneumonia. The regular un- derstudy also Is 111, and Loaedale w^ called in at the last moment. "Service For Two," by Flavin "Service For Two." a new play by Martin Flavin, author of "Clilldren of the Moon," has been accepted for early production by Ide Payne. Revising "New Toys" Script The script of Sam Harris" produc- tion, "New Toys," will be revised. The preliminary tour closed on Sat- urday and the company was dis- banded. Guild's Next Play Tha next production of the The- atre Guild, at the (iarrick, "Fata Morgana," by Krncst Vadja, will be placed In rehearsal next week. "DREAK GIRL" DELATED "The Dream Girl" (Shuberts). scheduled (or casting last Monday, has been delayed (or two weeks. Just ttt present, efforts are being concentrated upon getting the near Mlstlnguett show, "Innocent Byes," whipped Into shape. "The Dream Girl" Is a new musical comedy by KIda Johnson Toung and Victor Herbert. The Sbuberts are said to want Eleanor Pointer (or it. NORTHERN "FOOL" CO. CLOSED The Northern compan'y of "The Fool." assembled primarily to play tho provinces of Canada and Inter work to the Coast, was closed In Toronto Saturday and the company returned to New York yesterday. "Lady Killer" in Rehearsal A new comedy by the Hattons, "The Ijady Killer." went Into re- hearsal last Monday, produced (or a Broadway showing by the Mo- rosco Holding Company, under the direction of Franklyn Underwood. "Marionette Man" Taken Off Brock I'emberton's third produc- tion, "The Marionette Man," was taken off last Saturday in Washing- ton, cifianges in the script will be made before the attraction Is again tried. FRANCIS RENAULT CrMitIng a furore on I'.rondwar, this week (Ian. t() at the 8tat«k N«w Tork, b«adllnlng to capacity audiences. Tha Timaa Square Daily, said— "IIik k f.oni Parisian and London tri- umphs Praaols Renault head..i the bill iit the .'^tata. Flashing an arra^ of blzarra gowna on the aiidleiice about ml<lwny In the show he puilad dowa a solid hlL His first costume brr>ii;:ht (xi l.imatlnns of .-ipprovmi tho audlanee, while his impersonations of (;<r:ildinc Farrar, Julia and Rath St. Denis v.ere lie.irtil.v apiilnudid." Direction JENIE JACOBS