Variety (March 1924)

VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, March 5, 1924 5S|< THREE SHOWS, ALL FAILURES, ARE LEAVING THIS WEEK ♦New Englander," "New Toys" and "Other Rose" Storehouse-Bound—Two Others, Also Shaky, May Fold Tents ^ Thrf'r nttrnitlons arp lifir.p w;i!i- dniwn from tlio liro.ulw.iy list fliis wrek. AH are "cnjtuiird lioiind" to the stfin liouse, wlili^ clri^sos tlioni «s failiiri^s. Two ofhiTs af.' on tlio brink nrul thout-'h ono rii.iy litul an- other hirth t»i)iii"r;i' "y. a fourth show Is virlu*lly c<il:iin of ilis- apprarinp also. Kqiiity I'lnyfTR, Inc., Is taklnp off "The N'lW Knt'landfr," its third flcp tliiM Benson, at the -IStli Street. The umal tuh.i'.'riiition jierind of rix weeks was ( ut short a week. Um iponsors eiaiined tllb play all ri^hl irtistically, but it h.Td less ehanee »f I'manoial suoee.ss than most of 'he other tries by thljj proup. I'rob- ihly $5,000 was the toi) pros---, and la.st week was estimated around |3,S0O. THE NEW tNGLANDER The daifl** were doubtful about the merits with the ex- ception of the "News" (Mantle), who was impressed to the ex- tent of "holding, honest and well acted." Variety (Abel) specified the termination of the usual sub- scription period for Equity shows would mark the play's run. "The Other Kosc," produced by Pavid Helaseo In association with \V)lli;im Harris. Jr., will complete 12 weeks at the Morosco. It started oft r.ither well, the holidays aidlnp in the grosses going to $14,000 or more for a lime. The jiace eased off steadily, how- ever, with the normal gait $10,000 or tmder, which failed to satisfy .it a fS.SO top scale. Doubtful if .show- made money. It will not be .sent on tour. THE OTHER ROSE A majority of the notices on this Dec. 20 opening read much alike in that the play was deemed thin but pleasant. Neither Fay Bainter nor Henry Hull received particular praise, with the honors donated to Andrew Lawlor, Jr, in a sec- ondary role. The "World" (Broun) called it "indifferent," the "News" (Mantle) believed it "sweet and pretty," while the "Times" (Corbin) narrated "mild and light." Variety (Ibee) quoted the cast might bring "good grosses for a time," but predicted a "limited engagement." "Xew Toys," prtidu<ed liy Sam H. Harris, will ptop after three we<U.- fit the Kulton. Tlio comedy is we); thought of general'y, hut thfre Is no agency dimand and takings are under the stop lim-t for the ]'"ultnn. The first week was atiout $9,000, vitii last we(.k quoted at $7,.'.CO. * $10-$15 TOP FOR BILTMORE'S OPENING "Sally" Starts Los Angeles' New House Monday— Seats 1,700 T.ois Angeles. March 4. Th!s >:;y's latest, and the we.<t's most la\ ish pl.iyhouse. Hiltmore, opened l;is; night t^^ an attendance whicli iiii'Iuded the ehte of society and picturedom. -.Sally' was the attraction. I.iim Krrol, after repeated c\irtains at the linale of the first act. re- iiiuiuislied the honor of making a siie.ih to Will Ilogers, who, in his store clothes, re--pondcd by speaking n.r Abe i'^rlanger and Joe Toplitsky, tlie owners. The thi aire has a seating capacity of 1.700. Siglit lines and acotistics are perfect. The ornamentation in pine classical French blue and gold is made to conform to modern adaj)- t;iti(jn, while sustaining an age old intim.'icy. Much credit goes to House Man- ager Kd«,-ud L). Smith for rushing the last mini'te chaotic details for the perf'-cting of a smooth running premier. .-V particular feature of the house id the carpet which covers the entire lower tluor, and is seamless. The seating arrangements consist of a balcony, and tlie now nearly ex- tinct gallery. The opening performance's price scale carried a $10 top for the entire orchestra and lirst balcony, wi'h box seats going at $15 and gallery seats listed at $3. The lirst night's gross was $14,000, with $:!.S5 to be the scale ft • the balance of the fortnight's engage- ment, for which the house is already pr.ictically sold out. "S.illy " will undoubtedly establish a recmil for the city, and tlie initial we< k's gross sliould go beyond Sl.'i.- 000 alone, due to Monday night's prii'e li'-t. This new theatre is the first legiti- mate housi- to allow road attractions to get away from the old downtown section, moving into the hotel and I new >hupping district, which should I prove most benelicial. It give.-; I-.os I .\ngcles two legitimate pl.iyhouses, 'botli i-ontroUed by Kriangtr and Toj)- litzky, the old Ma.on and thi.-; newest addition, I'.lilmore. "Sally " seiured $30,000 in one night stands last week wllilc waiting coiiii);c;io;i of tlio new theatre. the NEW TOYS The strongest affirmative phrasing came from tlie "Mail- Telegram," which put it as "makes audience fairly squeal with delight." The "Tribune'' (Hammond) differed to the ex- tent of calling it "unmtolii- Qcnt," with the remainder of the critics writing in a more or less similar vein, although Ernest Truex was unanimously praised. Variety (Lalt) thought the play might look good for a few weeks with cut-rate assistance. JANE COWL IN EAST Leaving Lyceum Shortly for Road Time Theie ;s some ,li.ui,t as (o the con- tiiiU.Tnce nf •■Ku>-t," which was jipeiicd .some weeks ago at the ilrceiiuicli Vi'.Iage and was moved to |iie JL'd Strdt. llou.-o rcpoitr,! cit'irecl to another at'r.o'ion ior ».t .vt w > I a. Jane Cow] In "Antony and Cleo- patra" will leave the Lyceum for the road after another week. The star was booked for four weeks, the limited engagement being antlcii)ated [•y the .sdhvyns .vheti the Uroadway showing was lirst arranged. Miss Cowl will tour in "Romeo and Juliet" for the balance of the SI son, how'ver, playing eastern staiuls whicli have not lieen given .Misji Cowl's most successful cliar- acterizations yet. The spring tu'ir, however, includes several cities in wl.:ch s'le en.icted Cleo. PALM BEACH INSPIRATION Berlin and Connelly Go South With Missions Irving l{>;lln and Marc '■"onn'-lly departed for I'alin Hea.h yistirday going noulii to devote themselw^ to playwritiiig and comjiosing. It HARRY RICHMAN Uro.iduay has stvKil him ."-Society's l-;nlertainir. Itioadca.-^ting has made him .America's I'lnorilc I'.adio Ait- ist. If voii lion t hi lii'\e he is a KKCOKD 1I1:A1>1.1M:1! trv and get in the STATI;. .\K\S' VOKK, thi.s week. -March Third. RICHARD BENNEH'S RAGE VENTED ON SHOW Sarcastically Alludes on Adel- phi Stage to Play Next Door at Lyric Philadelphia. March 4. Richard llennett is back at his trick of rebuking audiences. He started last week at the Wednes- day evening performance and con- tinued it at the Thursday matinee. Bennett said that he "had not been in -Philadeliihia in 10 years," and he "hoped it would be twice that long before he came back agaiii." At the Thursday matinee per- formance Bennett went even fur- ther, handing a few hot shots at the show ne.xt door, "Saily, Irene and Mary," which has been packing :hem In at the I-yric, while Den- nett's show, "The Dancers," was getting virtually no bu-^iness at all at the Adelphi. "I suppose the only way I could get a response from Philadelphia Hudiences would be to play in vaudeville and then expand my skit Into a full evening's entertainment," he said, referring to Kddie Howling, star and author of "Sally, Irene and .Mary." Members of the cast of the latter show were at the Adelphi when Bennett made his fiery speech. Much peeved, they reported it to Dowling. The scene was all set for a nice row, but Dowling, very sensibly, decided to ignore the Ben- nett rampage, tliough ho was ad- vised by Some to write a very scath- ing letter. Kiimor has It that Bennett's out- burst was reporleil to Lee Shubert in New York and that the latter replied via wire, "Pull down the curtain on him next time he starts anything like that." It Is noted by those on the inside that Bennett goes over to the Bc- lasco management for his next play. The Bennett outbiiist was par- ticularl.v amusing to those who at- tended the lirst night and licard the star make a pleas.int little speech In which he referred seml-humor- ously to the fact that he hadn't been here since he appeared in "Dam- aged Goods" 10 years ago, and th.at since that time he had decided that It was better to give audiences something light and entertaining rather than preachment like the Brleux play. Also, In a radio Interview to the dramatic editor of the "Ledger" Bennett went out of his way to hand bouquets to I'hill.v audiences. His own work In "The Dancers" was praised in all the dailies, but the show was panned. It is re- ported at less than $7,000 last week, whilo "Sally, Irene and Mary" had over $20,000 and an ever present line at the box olllce. rRIARS-REVELL DINNER Xil'ie I!. \ill l.a.s th'.' san.tiiin of h.er jdnsi. i.iin to uet a Sn".: f .ed, ai d the Fiiirs Will Ismvo t!ie :!i\-.illd as the gurst of iionor at a l-'n.irs din- iier at one of the large hotel.s In Ajiril. Lndits ;i;,iy i^t .ir. It-,-.J ;o .'..•■. <.ffa;.-. I is Berlin's se ' thi.^ se.i the ri Pirim wi:i "M iiiii n — H i DC g nn<i comjiosmg. it iind trip to tlie j-es.Tt thi.^ se.ison. He has a cottage at ■ it. work lit . \ I I P . " on the e\t writing .1 jilay alone. Ibi' he has colluboiaatcd witii (.,c,,i^.' .S. Kaul'man. Kaufman l.s at work on a rem- edy with Kdna l"ii her. M:ii • and (jenriTe are re! d je to t' .iiii agai:i ■Jr.t.i i:< x: lali Music and Art Center The City Chamlierl.-iin's otlbe of Xew Y<u-k hxs circularized all the theatrical clubs and allied so. ieties asking them to pass on the desirability of a music and all rfntre. The site of sueli ein- lle i^ Sll";-e.~ted to 1" ;n Centr.'il P.irk at Seventh a\e!;u<. ,\nd itlth sir'tt. An aiiiiropriation of $1S, 000,000 for Its support is .suggested as a necessary bmiget. CRITICAL DIGEST Opinions of the metropolitan critics on the new legitimate pro- ductions. Published weekly in Variety as a guide to th« reliability of the critical judgment on plays expressed by the reviewers on the dailies. The opinion will be repeated when a play closes on Broacfway after a long or short run with the critics to be boxscored at inter- vals, rated by percentage on their judgment as recorded. The Outsider Favfirabie comment emphasizing on KatJierine Cornell and Lionel Atwill. "Herald" said, "one of the most notable plays of this or any other season "; "Times" declared it of "stirring emotional cliaracter," ami the "Sun" lelieved it "absorii- ing and stimulating." Fata Morgana T'nnnimously comiilimentary with jthe rriticg again going into a rave," this time over Morgan Far- ley, to equal any individual notice of the season. The entire -ast was also jiaiticu- larly praised. Theodore Hammerstein to Produce "Moonki.-.t" is the title of a new musical cotnedy with which Theo- dore Hammerstein, the latest of the f.imily to branch out as a legiti- mate producer, will make his debut. The piece will go into rehearsal late this month under the direction of Mr. Price. The book is by Sidney T«der and Alonzo I'rice, and the music and lyrics by Cxiilo and Sanders. STONE'S BENEFIT SHOWS A heneiit perforinance at the Peekskill tlieatre, Peekskill. X. V., in aid of the Buchanan .M. K. church, liuined recently, was given by Fred Stone and the entire "Stepping Stones" ye-terday afternoim, and last night a vaudeville entertainment was held. .Stone iiaid all the salaries of the acts for the night performanic, most <if tluni being acts laying off. Equity-Shubert Agreement Of 1921 Announced by Equity The agreement below between Equity and the Shuberts was an- nounced by Equity to its members in March, 1921, with the agreement executed Feb. 7, 1921. It is entirely apart from the agreement between the Producing Managers' Association and Equity, in which P. M. A. body the Shu- berts were (and are) members. Through the indefinite term of the contract below as specified in the final paragraph (with no announcement the agreement has been canceled), it is unlikely the Shuberts in view of it could stand with the P. M. A. managers against Equity on the closed shop objective of the actors' organization, unless the Shuberts were agreeable that "the charges brought against the Shuberts" on Jan. 13, 1921, as also mentioned in the final paragraph, should be pressed: THE EQUITY-SHUBERT AGREEMENT 1. The Messrs. Shubert will send within seven days, and after the communication has been approved by us, instructions to all company and theatre managers in their employ that they are not opposed in any way to the interest of the Equity and desire to co-operate with it, and the Messrs. Shubert will give specific instructions to said managers not to discriminate against Equity members, and that if proof be given that such a thing has happened the manager respon- sible will be dismissed at once. 2. Within 14 days a copy of the above letter will be framed and kept permanently posted in a prominent place near the call board of each theatre. 3. Paragraph "2"' will be made part of the letter mentioned in paragraph "1." 4. When Messrs. Shubert arc abojt to give an Equity member his notice the A. E. A. or C. E. A. will be notified at once, so that an investigation can be instituted if desired. 5. The Messrs. Shubert will not object to our representative re- cruiting in every one of their companies. 6. Any Equity member who fceh that he is being discriminated is to report to us, and we will bring it to the attention of the Messrs. Shubert, who will immediately adjust it if the claim be proved correct. 7. Any existing wrong, including claims, which can be proved, will be adjusted and settled at once. 8. In case any Equity member makes a claim against the Shuberts, he or she shall not be dismissed pending a settlement of said claim. And after said claim is settled such member shall not be given his or her notice without good and sufficient reason being proved. 9. All Equity members to have their present contracts changed to the present Equity forms, without riders attached thereto increas- ing the number of performances or making other changes in work- ing conditions. 10. Our representatives will have the privilege of going behind the scenes before and after the performances at all times. 11. Our representatives shall have the right to attend rehearsals. 12. Principals shall receive their contract* before the first re- hearsal. 13. Deputy reports shall be permitted on all their call boards. 14. Triplicate contracts shall be issued to the chorus and one copy to be filed at the Headquarters C. E. A. 15. On the tenth day of rehearsals a list of the entire cast shall be sent to the A. E. A. and C. E. A., and C. E. A. contracts shall be signed on the 15th day, the exact time of which shall be told us, on which occasion our representative shall be present and point out the members of the chorus who are to receive C. E. A. 16. It is expressly agreed that no one shall be asked before the 15th day of rehearsal whether they belong to the Equity or any other question regarding their affiliations with any organization. 17. The question of salary shall be settled at the time when the party is hired and asked to come to rehearsal. 18. No contracts will be made out with additional salary or other consideration in lieu of extra performance money. If such a practice be pursued with non-members we shall consider it discrimination against chorus Equity members. 19. No discrimination in wages shall be given in favor of those who do not belong to the C. E. A., it being understood that our minimum wage mentioned in the contract is not a fixed wage, but simply the lowest which any manager is allowed to pay to his chorus. This does not apply to individual cases, but to a set policy. 20. Our representatives will visit the different companies and see that old contracts give^ to Equity members are changed to the correct ones. 21. Mrs. Bryant will take up and settle all existing claims with Colonel Booth or some other representative. 22. Whe:i casts are to be cngafjed, and at the same time as the Shuberts send out notices to the chorus, they shall notify C E. A. of their requirements and give the C. E. A. Bureau an opportunity to send applicants. 23. As long as th'S agreement be lived up to, the charges brought against the Messrs. Shiibort on Jan. 13, 1921, will not be pressed. (Signed) jj:ij A\U J. J. S}irni:i!T, '■ . Actors' Equity Association. ,^.'■■'•" ritAMC OlLMOlli:. ». Sec, TxinoVlIY J}I{YA\I\ i:x. Brc.