Variety (March 1924)

Wednesday, March 19. 1924 LEGITIMATE VARIETY IS EXTENDED SEASON IN PHILLY EXPECTED IN LEGIT HOUSES Griffith's "America" in Chestnut Street March 31— Houses Closing for Holy Week—Summer's Inti- mate Revue Reported for Walnut I'hi!;nUIi.hi;i. ^r:^^l■ll IS. ] Aitlioupli two houses -NviU bo Um- porarily .link the rii-xt Wfckv, ii geinM-al "early clo.sing" lure looks uiiiiiifiy. Till' Slml)t'i-t!< sppin to have in the Lyrie their best bet for ii late- stayer. ■'Sally, Irene and Mary. " at that li'Xise is still re.^lim; olf I.is; Erossts. ami the l.enten iUd ha- not been yo proiiouni-ed as to make It ai)iie:ir that the end of its run is in "sit hi. 'Die Cliestiiut Street opera hoiis.^ Rill remain open Inn^-er than iisiiai, but its Mtxt attraeiion will be a feature lilm. •'The (iinuhain Cirl" eoialiHles its lon^' b.e.U mil Maich 2!i|h, and the 3lst. tiiiflilli's "Anier- iea" will open. The Adelpbl is liUeij In >tay opi n until May 1. but no longer. At pres- ent it has no booking for the two weeks beginniiiK Maieh u\. l)Ut after that Jane Cowl's arrival is expeeti d Taken as a whole then, the tour silllbert houses OUKht all to be open by May 1. :i"*l "' '''•""' three shmild still be dciins business by May l.'i. Further than tliat, it is itnpossildc to prophesy. The Walnut will umloubtedly be jet for the summer as was the ease last \ear. Wanamtiker and Ueuiy h.'ivoiVt made any annoiiiueiiient yet as to their summer show. It is re- ported thit instead of the spee- taeiilar. jazzy summer revue ty|ie of tliiiih', this year's show at the Walnut will be of the "intimate," unpretentious type. The Syndieate houses are not so veil set for the remaiiaier of the ppriiiK seaMon. Two of their houses will bo closed for sinjile week stretches, the Broa'd rommeneiuR rext Monday, and the Forrest Holy Week The Broad's elo.<ln« to "Airos.i the Street" leaving. It was penerallv panned by the critics, and has needed whole.sale papering. Moros.o was reported to have had the houses for four weeks, guar- anteing $4,000 a week to the local management. ThLs was first rut to three, and now to two. the sliow leaving Saturday. It was hoped to Ret the next attraction, "I>augh, Clown, Lautch." in for next week, but as yet this could not be ar- ranged, and the Lionel Darrymore play i.s .set for March 31, to stay tw() weeks. There are no further bookings at the Broad, which may close after Raster week. It is tjsiially one of the first of the legit houses to close, due to its Hociety clientele. The p'oreat will have the "Music r.ox Hevue." beginlng Monday, for a limited stav which will not. It is said, inrlude Holy Week when the house will be wurk. This Is some- thing of a surprise as the wise- acres figure that this revue is one show that could offset the tiadi- tioiiallv bad week. The Mask and Wiu a'nivorslty of Pennsylvania Jhow^ pla.\s its usu.'il Easter week engagement at the F'orrest. but after that the house has nothing, and will inobably close. The syndic-lie hou.so appareiitly set for the longest .spring season Is the Harrifk where "The lUse of Itcjsie D'lteilly" opened last r.ight. If this Cohan show lives up any- where iie.ir to the roi ord of the others of the series, it ought to be good until the mid.lie of May al least. The Ionise ha ^ no other liook- - ing. T,a>t Week showed a geiural ite- cline i;i -rosses but the musical shows turned in lin" ligures. A niu- si.'al that staved riuhl up at the top was "The Magic King." expeited by some to fall off sharply in its seioiid week ;it the big I'oirest. In- stead, it, gro.ssed io-;irIy $-jr>.(ii)(i, maintaining its p.iee of the oie.ning Week. Kstluiatos for l.ist \\'-Ai: "Across the Street," i I'.roail 'M w.-'Ui. Criii.-s knhled this one. or f'l;^.- !> 11 i,ed It. Oni;lnally planned to Keei) it here for four weks, tiin.> •"ut in half. Kark next w.ek. tlon 'Laucli Clown. Laugh." la."00 geinTons limire for last wee'n. "Tho Passing Show," (Sliule;' -i' wi'ik 1, r.i ,1 the t:!ii oiiii. l-'oiir "■.-k. i,. .,ii "The Magic Ring," il'ii's! "d ^vi" 1;) i;.:ti( • ,-t;' \ .t ' ' ii.it most peop;.. e^cp ■.led. A 111'o.-t ^ $.■'."OH "•■li. ■■.Mu>i.- r...x KeVio' IllOl.til^ I'loler $!J.000 almost tin- last week. "The Whole Town's Talking," f.-Vdeiphi, 1st wei-k). Moved fioio W.-iInut. "I.ady" picked up con- siilerably despite unf.-ivorable con- ditions of wealhir and Lent, a few; .'iundi-cd (lollai-s under $lo,0il0. "Sally, Irene and Mary," (Lyric r.th week). Demand still big though off fioiii opening pace. About $17.'00 last week. WARFIELD'S $19,000 "Sally' Did $33,000 Second Week it Biltmore i, ; . - . , Los A:meli-^, M.in li IS. Ilaial Wii-lield got $111.OOU last week .-it the Mason. At the new I'.ilt- niorc in its second week "Sally" did $:!:■,.UlUi. 'A Naughty Nice Cirl" at the (ii-.ind Aseniie did $J,:!il') on the week. I SHOWS IN NEW YORK (Coi.tuiiie.l from P.ige 14) ver.v good for limited capacity theatre: oUkIU to l.ist out se.ison. "The Lady Killer," .Moro.->-o 12iid week). Opened A\'<-iinisday last week and not voted having mm h chitnce. X.ikings for liist live Iierformain-es prob.ibly un.iler $4,000. "The Miracle." Century (loth w.-ik(. Morris (iest's wimder proilin tion getting much piiblii ity out of town in preparation for indux of visitors this summer. Holds to great business; last week's Kross off a little, but claimed better th.in $4.'i,0oii. "The Nervous Wreck," Sam II. Harris (24th sveek). Dented fur- ther last week with gjoss around $14,000. Was noii-miislcal le.ider for first five months. Should re- cover and m.iy run through the summer. "The Outsider," 49th. St. (3d week). Newest dramatic hit. Smart trade drawn, business capacity at^ over $Ki.O00. 'Will move to Am-' bassador after next week. "N;»ncy "Ann" gets 4'.ttli St. "The Potters," I'lymoulh (1,'th week). Heal money maker al- though not capiiclty. Last week nearly even with previous week with count nearly $14,000. "The Shame Woman," Comedy (23d week). With subw.-iy construc- tion marring enirance, house lucky to ha\-* attraction that tnakes any profit for house. This one with cut rates about $r.,r)00 last week: attraction apparently satisfied. "The Show-Off,' Playhouse (7th week). Om- of sweetest pros- pects for long run developed this season, (iet'ing about all house will hold — $14,1)00 or little over. "The Swan," Cort (2'2nd week). Slack going reflected in business here last %veel<. too, but with gross over $l."i.0»O this show holds its ratir.'.; \vi')i sefison's bi'.-^t. "Topics of 1923," Wii'.er (iarbn (ISth week). l'"il:-ll Wef-K. OlT during l.ist niorth but pulled ex- cellent bii.-im-ss for time, after being iiioM-d from Lroadhiir.-^t. "Artists and .Mod.'Is" will .-ta eed for .-itioiit inoit!.. moving o\er from .SliMbert. "We Moderns," (■;;ii"ty (2iid woi-ii). New Zani^wiU toiiiedy accoidi'd m.irkedlv in-.xed notices and no re.-i! (-al! in ageucii-s first week. M iv bevilop better demand. "Welded," ;".Uli St. <Ist week). New I-;n:.i.-nc ••'.\'-'il drama stan'ii'.g Doris ICcar.- ,ind .laiob Hiii-.\n;i. Schvj lis pr.'diiction in association with' ri-ovircetown I'layho i.-". C,-i^-t bi-^ liu! tour pl.-ivcrs. "White Cargo," D,il.\ s tl;id St. (-'Ota week). 1: u ' Caii-oll h.is tiioncj - maker ;i. 'hi- di-.ttna wlia-h .-■t.il-ted i-|i!.--'.ly ill Village ..j.d since in.ivi:-.g ilptu, n has oiiaii- li.-d fill i-iii: h SHOWS IN CHICAGO (Continued from I'agt 14) I a go run. Doubtful If $9,000 was rc.-iched. "The Nervous Wreck," (H.irris, TJth week). Has played out its string. le,-iving two weeks from Rat- unlay to be followed by lOthel Barry- more. Attempt -made to return "Wreck " to winning figure."", but evi- dently no response. tlrossed la-^t Week around $10,000. "Peacocks" (Cort, 4th and final week). Went out Saturday on approximate gross of $5,000. Third act is figured to have kiUel all chances. "We've Got to Have .Money " opi'iied Sunday. "Red Light Annie" (Princess. 4lh week). Another one to leave Satur- day, f.iiling to ride the general slump sit'u.-iUon. Will be followed by liia Claire. $s.00o given as last week's gross for "Annie." "The Great Lady Dedlock" (Bl.ick- slone. l^-l week). Lusiness so bitd (piii-k decision to close .Satunlav night. i;iving piece two weeks. Uated in fr,,(i,H) i-!.-i-s. "Innocent Eyes" (Apollo, M week). .X'loiit f.I.oou off from iirevious week. with "specs" gelling badly stucli. Word his gotten around town the cl>oi-i:s is dressed up. causing at- traction to run on its merit. Sc.it- m^r cape :lv of house ni:ide $;1S,000 I,o>Ml,le. "Scandals" (Colonial, 3d week). \oi lolling p.-ice the premiere wceli ■iidiiali-d, bill $4.40 scale helped to pull up mo.'s to around $24,000, C!:::iiii-il to be in for six weeks moie, "Topsy and Eva" (Selwyn. r.th we. lo. \'irlii.-illy capacity at all pel f- 1 tn:iii. es except Miuid.iy and Thursday. Will easily win the run rii-..rd for musical plays, and ;it prices i-h.-ii-ged and capacity of house now owns gross average sales for ID vvcclis foi- musical cards, l.'igured l.-i.ie lind' r $21,000. "Little Jct;sie James" (Ciarrick. ?d w.-.-lii. Considering expense, looks as if it is in for pood to weeks' run. if not longer. Should hold an iveii ge of $l,a,000 weekly gro.ss a I this house. "Abie's Irish Rose" (Studeb.iker. 12;li weik). Went a shade oft over in-evious week, but in landing $1R,- TTl.TJ registered strong. Will easil.\ outdo !(ny dramatic attraction in years for average gross on first 15 "Honeymoon House" (Central. 12(h ucck). Comes back as fast as it iroes di>wn. and through (lever hand- ling is striding on the right side of ledger. $C.000 gross can do it. "Patches," (Playhouse, 2d week). Showed a little stronger than pre- miere week, and KettinK the atten- tion that indicates mtinagement in- tends to make nght for it, Tal>bed close to $7,000. "Give and Take" (LaRalle, Rlh week). Continues to be off. not surpassing $9,000 last week. INSIDE STUFF ON LEGIT ' ICelley's \':l ation," which opened in \\ .ushiii,. Robert Ames in the lead Frances C.oodiich, f.>rmerly company. It in said she was engaged at Ames' (crliin rumors. Ames' wife, Vivienne Seg.il, was Ion list week, lirii Mrs. .\mes, is in tho re.|uest to disprove .it the out-of-Jowa I renilere .-.nd that set at rest the dis.iuletlug reports. "Kelley" is sprinkled with the "plctinesiiue" lau'j.ii iv:e i.f the i^i Dniinary golf cussing ma\ Huri)rise some pla.\ ^;o(■l■s, but not the There Is also a bedioom bit, hut the show isn't th.it type of pl;i.\. links. h'era. According to Stiniue'. Shipman, three iii.magers were anxious to prodiico his "Che.-iper t ) Marry." being readied by Klchard Ileindon. Tho 1.liter, .-ucomiianled by .Mian Dinehart, who advised the nian.iger to put on tho piece, willed on Shliipy tit his nuarters in the Hotel Alamac, New York, and ii conlraet was the result. Prior to that the Sehv.\ ns h.id the comedy. Crosby (iaige kisisted or ch.uiges. but Shippy refused. I .-iving the o'her iiianagcis In I ind, ClU'ert .Miller is also said to li:ive been interesti dill Cheaper to Marry." Dinehart is in the cast, along with Uoberl War- wick. Cl.iijiorn} Foster and l-Mitli Taliferro. - ; After .lames K. Hackett w.-ilked in on the reliear'ials of "Macbeth" rceet:tly and ordered a niimlier of changes In the cast, there was more KWitcliing liefore the shov opened last Saturday at the 4Stli Street. Dudley Digges was called in on direction, one ciringe oriiered hy the latter con- cerned P,.iri-y .McCuUum. The 1. liter h.id played "Macbeth" with Hackett ,it the ( literioii some season;: a^o. Digues stated l-.e could not hear .Mc- CuIIiini who was handling three rol. s. Two is-irls weie allotted to other pl.iyers. McCulhim insisted liia salary be th- same as o, Iglnally named. The icemii . • did not Ireak until ne.irly l.iidnight. ll.ickett. In a speech, -e;Hl a newspal>er clipping d:iUd 1S40, relating to his father, .lames II. IIarl%. !t. The elder H.i'kett iilayed Shakespeare abroad by royal com- annul. T-ie sol- siiiiikirl;. won fame by his foreign appecirances. The Hungarian playwright, F.rnest Vajd;i (pronounced Voyda). who has : til acted attention here this .season through the production of three of Ills plays (one, "Fata Morgan.i," is current at the Carilck), w.'is regarded is an in and outer among the lUidapeslh inanager.s for about 10 ye.irs. None of the producers cared considering X'ajd.i's .scripts. The author com- pleted a play called "Confesson." which ho believed was his best work, l)Ut inslead of offering it diret-tly to the rnanagers he "framed thorn." Vajda sent the script to New York to his brother with Instructions that it be translated to Knglish and sent back with a letter stating tho play h.id been running for months on Ihoadway .and was considered one of the fnancial hits of the town. "Confession," when it was returned to Budti- pestli. carried as the author the name of one "Sydney Ciarrick," sup- posedly a famous playwright, Vajda, as agent for C.arrick, had the right-* for l-;ir,-ope. and the Budapestli managers fought for the play, which was sidil with the provision that he .adapt it. The producer who secured it olijected to one scene, saying it was "too typically American," but \'ajd;i. refused to make ,-iny changes. The show proved a real hit locally. A derman li'm company bought the film rights, whereupon a rival der- ma n picture firm determined to ste.-il the stiuy, llgurinp tho American (opyright h.id no standing In Cermany. A court action followed, Va.ld.i going on the witness sl.and and "i-onfi ssing " the [lUiy was never authored m America and that he was "(larrick." John 'Willard may believe the fume of "TIu- C.-it and the Canary" as .1, m.vsleiy play has penetrated to the Innermost deptiis of the country, but he is wrong in th.-it assumption. In an advance notice concerning th<5 engagement of the pla-- at Snialley's l''ort Plain (X. Y.) theatre, "Tho Standard' stated that ";his charming musical production is just endlnd its second successful «eason in New York," and will "measuro up witii The Chocolate Soldier." " FLORENCE REED DRAWS $3,900 IN 5 STOCK DAYS "Lullaby" at President—Leon- ard Wood, Jr., Undecided About Himself—$24,000 For "Blossom Time" $60 BILL I.I -Mm: "Rise of Rosie O'Reilly "^ — w l. i . i;; in of z n )ii i nl i :g — wliirh mij.-l T^ l-lick 1 dol I'llll.-l!. show b""te.|-l:,.,„ ..s,. Till """■I- to $-i .-.iirt or 1. .-- I o- "Cl-ains," i\V:i|niif 1st w .i holl--e f„r f,,.,,. ^veiks, sued - .-■innli. , "The Gingham Girl" I't'la^iniit .'.lii i ^■'■"ki. Kdge now delinlu ly off this, '""■"•'Ci. .-l.o.v, .11 cii:. ithrc lii.i;s.-si ! r -.v-.-k. i!). Ill- s jirob- la.t li..^ ■■■<■• house .in.i •Wildflower," i-:i .N I'll ; ll-.o-ll-'ll )^" Pill-l.i-rul' Ue.-1< ilUle (Use A'ie. ■ Musical VcrsitHi tfl Cnicatjs Washington, March U. Tl'.e greatest attraction Waahlnj?- ton has seen in years la being staged in Koom 411 of the Senate ofllce building. It ran to capacity and had therp standing up two rows deep In the h.iUw.iys waiting for admittancr All this was golnpr on while ■Kelly's VaVatlon." a brand new show by Vincent lAwrence: •Ch.iins, ' with Helen Oahagan, and Florence Heed in "The l..ullaby" found the "pickings" mighty thin. It must have been tough on the man.igers to see row after row of empty seats while the dailies were 1-,-irr.v'ing "streamer heads" on the .>;»nate attractions. The fact that the governnient clerks were broke until the end of the week, due to pay day not arriv- ing until Saturday, and a grand -.•r;imble to file Income tax returns -not forgetting the radio- and it is .a-ii'v seen that the theatres were ii.mid to come out at the .unall end, .\s usil.il. thei-.. was .'in exception !-r,|.i-som 'I'line.' jiaying i'-'- fourth i\j-i;t this time with the origin il i New' York cist, got $l'4.r.OO. I 'j'i,,. Pig disapriointment w.is 'm-ii!\'s '-I'hains." .'it the National, \Ui(li '.vis exiwcted, but It fuil.-d to ',,-,..,ie atiytliiiig more thjii what ', loil.l i.e t.-rme.I .'i ripple. I.e nil! U'.iod, ,Ii,, HiicceedeJ in ■il.tg I'onsi.lei ,ble iiiiblicity for loiiisilf on his s.-ns.iiional aecusa i,ons ,ig:iin.-' th.' pollliciaiis of ..ntilrv .itternptlng to tie U|» ' 1|.- L'lV That's What Brady Charged Syna- gogue A short time ago William A. Hrady was "invited" to address the metnbers of the congregation of Hnal .Tesliuroii. at West Knd ;ive- nue and SHth street, on the drama. The speech came off the last day of February. The vestry rooms were crowded and Hrady'a aildress most enthusiastically received. The of- ficers of the temple thanked Mr. Ur.idy for his friendly Interest. A few days later came a little bill from the Hr.idy oftices. "For services rendeied. $60." The trustees held a speiial meet- ing and reluctantly decided to .settle, Brady ha? been paid for his "lec- tures," fre(|uently more Uiaii the f<-e (barged. Wallace in Charge of Plymouth "Davis Wallace, general press rep- resentative for Arthur Hoiikins, li.is been appointed manager of Up- Plymouth, to succeed Ihe kite I.ulc Phidfis. "LIGHTNIN'S" $25,692 Coast Record—Mayor at L. A. Depot to Meet Troupe fJakland, Man h I!?. All (oa t records are claimed by .lack l!reh;uiy, of the local I.iiiie, for "Ligblniii' " which grossed $'.;.'(,- (jDZ last week in nine perform.-inec,-). Hrchany asserts that this is $1,000 above the best week the show ha'I during its 10 weeks stay In Sail Francisco. . « T.03 Ange|e«, M.ii-i-h IX M.'iyor Crjer and a eontinger,i of olllcials met tho "I.iglitnin' " i-om- pan.v at Ihe ib-pot upon .'iriiv.-il lorq Monday morning. Tho show entir-i Ihe new liiltmore theatre h'n for an extended en-.;igement. -Ul 'I'll l-'liei Flic- 11,-1- Is,' ii.al - \-: :.- 1 ,:■!, Clii a.4-. eding ' W <■'■■■ Kdwa.i- 1!- ..-.v. ••i-...,i 1 ■. • 1..- 1, i;m III • ! n .1 in-.:. '■ • V .1, L.ll,-' yix3-» the to tie up his the first two nights we.l; o\ er to a lo^ai presen- . ',11 t . till' of the Washingtoti ((per,. ' I .- Ill •-(•.i?inr-n." \\.,oi! liasn't yet had lime to dem- I,,:; --I it.- to the Vest of the t'le.-itrn- il !-vol III. nor e-.eli to himself, whether ;;,e contrict wi'h Florence It.red i.,),.s hlr» 'Ihe wisest managei <,- le t,;gg» b'-.ob in the .i!)iow uus,- !n.i ness," as he stated in this connection for a story in the "Times .Sfjuure Dailv." 'The Il-it" didn't make the fourth week of the allotti-d time set down, ami ju.st got by on the third week at the darrii k. Pay day Satunkiy s.iveil the silliatlon. "Ki'liy's Vacation'" has the eai- nnirks of success, but got nothing to speak of lieie. Ksiimale>j for I.isf week: "Blossom Time" Poll's. $L'4..^00. "Chain:." .N'alional. I'ossibly just .ll.ove $.'. OOU. Florence Reed in "The Lullaby"— Presi'leiit, .^si.ick jire'-f-nt.-il ion. with )Uil live days, going to just ui.iler $:i,!ii)0, "The Bat" ' .",()() al $1 ,'.0 '.op I ai,' . .1 beie "Kelly's Vacation iirii-liii lion ■ i:!.'lOO. iiiiek, Thiid Ale W-i ek lilt $.-..- . Slio.\ --Ri-laseo New Ni'.: Poh'-i, Highv, lab\" Heir- .'lin;i' This Week i:i r, '-fbe ('hinrihn-""; Moscic.v. Art; P,el.-isi-o. "The :i-. ni.-ip'; Pr<,<id(Iit "The I.lil- Oil week); (i.iriick. dark: Hams H<-,iil The.-itie. • |-;,i ,t( i" proilin tioii of season al llii> "BOOTS" CO. ASSISTS ~" ^\■i;li.lm .McCulie, chorus boy. and his inolher. arc being looked .iftir by the entire "Kid Uoot's" compan.y who conti ibiited when It was made known tinit an operation and a r< st in a d;-y i-Iimate were imiieratiM; to the youth's ejctplenie. Mi-diiiie was gas.seil in the w,ir and (oil.i]),;. d just before liie fin lie at Thursday night's perfoi tnanci'. Kddie Cantor ;iiid Teddy llo.cn are creililid with being Ihe prim i- p:il instig.iters. KICKED OUT WINDOW, FIUED ('ini inn.iti, Mar.-li 1 ■. Cli.-ii-g' il Willi mail liois desinii-- tion of pi-r.iK ily and dl-'orderly con- duct, di-orgo Collins, :."<. with tin' "Irene" i mni.iiny. wis lined and hid to p.'iy co?.ts for knocking out tlie ,. indow ot a l,i\i. lo and a.s<aull.ng 1 lie (h-iilt'lellr. I'ollin- V. I,- r. ■ 111! .'ng fioin '1 p ii t V of the 'li.i...' aid '.M.n'.i Ir.-ii KoM. c oiiin nil.-, |. lilt. 1 i-.i til cm . 1 :i prn.i'i- lioiiie. Last "Hele n" Closing^ '11.. .'.I oe.l coinp.iiiy of "Helen of T:.. . "v. v.. :s il i--. to close a lii',-.,'- Iiaiiiton, N. Y., S.ilmday. The iio- llie of the f'lo'ing was iiosted in Witoi 1)111 >, Conn , lasl Krid.iy i Ii4ht. The .No. 1 i-oiiipiitiy of the hh.iw J ( ioscd on M.;ii- »(-\ei-,il weeks agu.