Variety (March 1924)

Wednesday, March 26. 1924 LEGITIMATE VARIETY IS THREE NEW SHOWS FOR BOSTON OPEN; 'MUSIC BOX REVUE' CLOSED TO $33,000 "Merton" Looked On as Boston Hit—"G. V. Follies" Couldn't Better $23,000 on Return—"Stella Dallas" Left Hub, Limping IB. AND O.DEPT. HEADS !^ CUniNG OVERHEAD ^ Boston, March 25. peiKirliiiS from the routlnn which has iiri'vaiicd hfre for somw weeks bark, tlin-o new altruc-lions ojifiipil last Mondiiy iiiKht. Two were musi- cals, •Topics of r.l23" Koins into tlic Shubert to pirk up where the '((reeii- wich VilUiSO l''«llles" left off, a ml "One Kiss ' coniiii!? into the Cnlnni.il. where "Tlio .Music liox Keviie' pulltNl out Saturday. The third openiMK wa.'s at the .^-^elwyn, where "D:«nP>''oti>;-l'<'op:e." William Coiir- len.iy'-'' leopeiu'd pl.iy was hrou^-ht in. .!ii.-iiiess aroui;d .town w.is re- ported .as lietter, or. the whole, than is (() hf expected .it this .'■eason WhilP losses were reported by two of the .-luiws over thai d.iio' at the same hoii.-e the wiel; before, the shows just dhint t.ike hold, and that wa.s where tlie loss came in. One of the sens.ifioiis of th('> soa- son was •'The .Music I'.ox Kevuc," which lirished up a four weeks' rn.i at the CoUinial. It pro\e<I .t^ Id;,- hit and built til> as it went alonK. Strong play noted for the mats, something rhot usual for .i music-il. and 111'' linal week found the liox- odice receipts totalins $.'!'i,iHM>. up J2.onO from the week liefoi-e. ".Mcrton of the Movies." now on the .second week .-it fhe HoUis, showed further indications of beins a Boston hit. lis business 1,-ain was greater than for an.\ other show playing the city, it beins figured th.it the Kross took a jump of better than $2,."iOO last week over the busi- nes.s of the openinp week. The show la beinK broadly advertised throujjh the word-of-mouth method, and with $1G,,''.00 last week, is in the same class with "So Thi.s Is Lon- don," which c.ime into town in much the .lame manner. •The (.Ireenwich Villase Follies,' which came back to Bo.ston to take up two weeks' time, one-half beinij the automobile show week, never touched the business of its first ahowlng when it played four weeks. At that time the lowest figure was $27,000, but on The return the best business w.'vs $2;<,000. "In Love With I..ove." which opened at the Wilbur last week, has but one more week at the house. The first week the show did $11,000, off $1,000 from final week by "The Dancers." It is said that at the tln- Ish of the Boston enRagement the attraction will be taken oft and Lynn Fontanne is due to go to Cleveland in stock. "You and I" Is also due to leave the Plymouth at the end of this week, and "The Whole Town's Talking" wilt be brought back. Last week "Vou and 1" got $9,000, off $1,000 from the week before. "Stella Dallas" closed at the Sel- wyn hast week still limping: never • hit and r.ither sad .it times. It Is said that for the final week of the stay the business was in the neigh- borhood of t.'S 000. Last Week's Estimates "Topics of 1923." Shiii.erl (1st wsek). Opened to stn>iig lirst night •howing. In linul week "Creeiuvlch Village Follies" did $2:!,000. "One Kiss," Colonial (1st weekV Comes Into house doir.g wonderful btisines.s for sever,il weeks with "The .Music U.ix Uevue. ' In ttnal Week th.it show gut |^33.000; ca- p.iclty .^ntire period. "Dangerous People." Schvyn (1st week). William Courten.i.\ s play opened Monday. Looked to for gooil business. In tinal week ".sJtell.i Dal- las" creiliteil witli $.S.IIi)0. "Morton of the Movies." llf>nis (3rd week). Credited as liuslon hit and said to have picked up $lii,500 last week. "You and I," I'lymouih (Srd week). Not strong .and due to leave liere ,at end of week, with "The Whole Town'n Talking" lulled in. I*isl Week, $9,(100. "In Love With Love." W .'.iir (filial Week I Did $11,000. SHOWS IN CHICAGO (Conlini.ed from I'age lli ISth week). .Not hitting the ..ip.i. .ly figure liki. the origiii.-il gut. but step- ping lrem"iidniisl.s fiisl iiid no woir.N' ■•^t ,ill in predietioii piei e w'H e.isily gn throii-i, .siiiniii. r. IIuul! iround $1S (JIKI "Red Light Aonle" i I'l iii'•■-.,, .-.th Iflll In; ,; „ ,,,.|; I .-l ] i | , | ie 1 . I W t .\ l|U<et- ly '■!, J-;,iMiii n;.,s- Willi Ir.i C'l.iirc "l>ei;:n.r .M.ifpl i\. eymoon House " ( '« ' i'i ' i' t » ' . lllli gait, running along much after the fashion of "The Cingham Cirl" en- gagement at this house e,'irlier in the season. .lumped into the $1G,000 i;ross aver.ige. "Sancho Panza" (Powers, 2d week). .\ clear tiiiiniph for Otis .Skinner. Wold out solid after Wed- nesday night. On seven perform- .ances ,'ippidaclied $17,r.no. "Topsy and Eva" i.^elwyn, 12th week), .\o telling wheie the records for this Duiu'.in .Sisters smash will end. Kxtra matinee .idded this week ( \Vednesda> ), making 10 perform- ances for the Kith week,- most un- usu,al in mennry of local legit record jcekeis. .Newspaper ads changeil il.iily. Cracked out $22,00(1. "Patches" i I'la.v house, 2d and fin;il week), (juicd; decision to close, but Friday's and H.iturd.iy's sales brought gi'oss to little over $6,000. Krnest Truex in "Xow Toys" opened Siindav, "Give and Take" (La Salle. 9th week). Uiiniblngs indicate piece will leave in lliree weeks. Checked trille betler Ukui $9,000. "Scandals" i Colonial. Itli week). Stiff scale only holdini; up grosses. ll.id to figure stronger than $25,000, if that. Show liked, but lacking the Chxago punch—a punch unlike any other cit.\. "The Nervous Wreck" (Harris, Llth uiek). Farewell announcement in two weeks thought will hold up sales iWH indiiated by return to around $11,000. Kthel I!,irrymore al- re.idy heavily underlined for April 7 at this house. "Silence!" (Colian's Orand. 3d week). Has pulled around $27,000 li three weeks, but announced a fare- well for this week. Nothing slated for the house to follow. Late changes made by author in third act, where fault of piece was easily depicted. Second act claimed as a wallop tor any melodrama. Will not be placed permanently on shelf. Attended Meeting Called by M. P. P. A.—Orches- chestrations 25c New York, March 2«. i: C. Mills of the Music Publisher.^ Protective Association cu'led a n-.ceting Friday, ot the heads of the b.ind and orchestra departments of the vai ious music publishers to formulate plans for the cuitaii- mer.t of the overhead In connection with this phase of the business. The most radical departure calls for tne charging ot 25 cents per orchestration to all minor orches- tras. Leo T^ewin of Waterson, Berlin & .Snyiier suggested the plan ot I'irst testinK out a tune with the big local b.afids and If It proves worthwhile, to place it for dis- tri'-ution .among th© orchestra supt)!y agencies, picture theatres :iinl out ot town olfices. $29,000 FOR "SALLY" 'Whispering Wires" Did $6,000 in San Francisco Last Week Week), Coiisidei'^d an .i ■■■ of i . ut- rjitp l,,nise. .iticl wir. sink as long ,is the cut -rates bring in !li>' ii'e.led gl'OSSev K.iMl... .1VI .-.11,;I'd .1, the |.-,,- "Little Jessie J.imes" i<*iiii'i'iei; " 1 I "'''^;:). H;i^< iciid. i;. > .j !.■••.'...".■ .13 SHOWS IN PHILADEPHIA (Continued from Page 14) ' Chauve-Souris. " and nothing at all tor April 14. (Holy Week) Easter week, present plans Include Jane Cowl at the Adelphi, the Mask and Wig and "Topics" at the Shubert. Estimates for Last Week "The Passing Show of 1923" (Shu- bert, 3d week). Took decided dip, barely reaching $25,000 mark, "Music Box Revue" (Forrest. 1st week). Opened Monday. "The .Magic Ring," with Mltzi. ended splendid and surprise engagement with gross of over $23,000. "Rise of Rosle O'Reilly" (Garrlck, 2d week). Off from expectation by big margin, after p;icked opening, but still figured as hit. Under $16,- 000. "The Gingham Girl" (Chestnut. (;th week). Last week for this long- stayer. Down to .irounil $10,000 last week, another stiff drop, "America" next Monday. "Chains" iWilnut, 2d week). Only dr.iniitic In town, and helped by that, but iMVirwg its ditllculties .Notices not quite as enthusiastic as generally expected. .-Xbout $S.O0O. "Sally, Irene and Mary" (Lyric, (ith week). Last two weeks hive brought big drop to thi.i sin'cessfiil miisit-al, gross last week about $14,- 000, ,(s ojiixiseil to -better than $20,- 000 first few weeks. "The Whole Town's Talking" (.\delphi. 2d week). Moving to this house after fortnight .it W.ilnut. re- sulted in dwindling of gross re- ported af around $S,r.OO list week. SHOWS IN NEW YORK (Coiuiiuied from Pag-.- 14) opening best house has ever playi-d to with attraction of kind; jl.'i.TiOO. Moves to I.irger Ambas- sador Moiid.iv. "The Potters." Plymouth (ICtli Week) One fif se.-isoiis comedy winners: ,ilso lia< good cl\:ince for summer Cfintinu.ince. Liisiness .iroiind $14,001) through slump; uross Iioiniil .iiid sustained. "The Shame Woman." Comedy (21th Week). Held on surprisingly through comp.iny fo-o|)ei-,itive. 'I'h.it iiertllJis romp.ii- itiv ely sniill groses lo tie salist'.ai toi y. Uoin'g .iroiind $5,001) loiw. "The Show Off," Plaiiiouse ciii. u,.."ki (ii.Mt i-oinedy wlii''li will iloiibt!f-s r.iie aiiiong log sur- , .....jse.s t|ii.-i hoii>e foriiie|!.\ be!d l.:voeii;iiioii~ are -'or :t ruining San Francisco, March 25. Last week at the Columbia "Sally" did $29,000. Her nearest rival was "Whisper- ing Wires" -at the Curran with $6,000. At the Alcazar Margaret Law- rence with "Secrets" drew $5,900, and the Ferris Hartman company at the Casino got |4,600 with "Chimes of Normandy," The two legit shows hold over. Current also at the Alcazar are Leo Carrillo heading "Magnolia." and the Hartman company doinij "Katinka" at the Casino. Sacramento, March 25. Last wefli, playing for three days, "The Ten Commandments" film drew $8,100, smashing all local rec- ords for length and amount. $1,900 FOR NEW SHOW But Los Angeles Last Week Gave "Lightnin"' $20,000 Los Angeles, March 25. Business at the legit houses here was off by Saturday night with "Lightnin'" the only attraction to sustain a consistent draw. This show played to capacity houses In its lirst week at the Biltmore, do- ing $20,000. Warfleld slumped at the Mason in his second week, getting around $12,000, while Wallace Eddinger, In his final week of "Captain Apple- jack" at the Majestic, grossed $8,400. "The Famous Mrs. Fair," at the Morosco, could draw but around $4,000 and "The Naughty NUe Olrl," chi.ilng this Saturday at the Grand, rang up a total, Including much publ.city, of $1,900, :iill) I.e.'Ct -e.-i«i,ii. I.' Ip iCil,. FHT .lioll;; ,1 *1 1.II0_I1, 'T'+'e Swan," iTet i :::<] w-k< I'.r '- li lilt .Mo;i;.,l' ■■.ifil. 'I.\ ill - ;■: o .I'M el rs-. Iioldllii; uo '■> $l.i,"elO Hid l.eltei liming b.ol yoil.g ot las' iiioi III. 1: '.^ ii. e.i- ;. I I'l" ■. aio'igl ■se.Tson and may contlriuc thi'ougb summer. "Vogues of 1924,'' Shulort (Isf wi'ck). New Shubert revue opens Thursday. "Artists and Models" moving to Winter Garden for final weeks. "We Moderns," riaiety (3d week) I'iii.il week; drew panning and paee for tirst two weeks did not indicate Zangwlll piece < n draw kind of business ne<-ess:iry for siiili a cast. About $7,000 lns( Week. "Kust" sueeeeds next week, movinc; from 52d Street. "Welded," 39th St. (2d week) New liuiieiie O.N'cil play does not look aimid for run. First week very good for this house, wei<;ht of c.iit n.'inies drawing smart audiences; -ios« tie.irlv $10,(100. "V/hite Cargo," Daly's Bid St. (21st ■.\eek). Compares so well vvitb oil.er drntnas of season that ' I'ai iro" li.is exee'Tler." chan'^p ol sticking out. Well over $9,000 iiiie; on Mroadwai' it would prob- ililV In- Cle.'lllUp. ■ Wildflower," Cisino fOOlh weoki — r' l r i l i l ' Wi' i' k f o i— lii' .< t mu - ie.il wi n- BAWUNG'FOREIGN STAR RAPPFO BY LEONARD HALL IN "NEWS' Schildkraut Tried "A Bennett" on Washington, but Critic "Cured" Him—Wood's Stock Blows Up— "Highwayman" Did $3,000 •JAZZ KING" LOOKS GOOD Bethlehem, Pa, Surprised at Lew Fields' Dramatics i| Arthur Il.immei ^leiii h.'is had 111 y^ars. Due at Ai>ollo Clii'-.igo. .Xpir. 20 Pei ent paee ibout $1).- mil tor average o.er $2ii oi)ii I'irid.se A;;oy" s"- 'ei'di n";i" Rethlehem, I'a . March 25. Lew Fields will 1<< .a rexclatioi: to the public in his role in this three-act piece, which opened last night at the Kurtz. I''ield.s :s masterly in his handling of the dramatic situations and the roined.v builds ii|) from the ciuielu- sion of a corking lirst act to a sen- sational third. The show has been pcrfi-clly staged Willi the curtain down at 10 ,"0, following ,'in S:"0' start. The .su|)porting cast gavf jier- form.anees to signify it. as a whole, as the best support Fields has had in years. It is UhiUrslood that the Shu- bcrts want the show for New York immediately on the strength of the oiiening report. It is said to be aimed for Chicago. This comcdy-di-iima. with but lit- tle fixing needed, looks to be sure- fire for any city. BROADWAY STORY (Continued from page 9) long running "Wildflower' and "Nancy Ann" which l.ikes the 4iith. which has been flourishing with "The Outsider"; the latter show bet- tered its pace again last week for a count of nearly $!,■),GOO. "The Lady Killer" expired at the Morosco Saturday, sticking for a ,week and a half. The house is now accommodating "Mr. Pitt" which is guaranteeing for three or four Weeks. This ."how laid off a week. follo\i||ng an eight weik struggle at the Stflh street. "The Miracle" remains a remark- able draw at the Century with around $li),000 quoted lawt week, but the great business ot "IJeggar on Horseback" at the Hro.adburst has attracted much attention. Last week's gross was over $21,000, Non« of the other non-musie.ils are any- where rear such businc:;::. 'T,"yr,"ino de Itergeiac" i.s still strong .it around $16,000; "The Swan" proves it's class by consistently beating $ir>,- 000; "The .N'ervous Wreck" was bet- ter last week, going not far from the $15,000 mark; "The Shi.w-(jft" is a solid hit, ^nd the running mate for "Beggar" at $14,000. which Is all the Pl.ayhouse will hold. Only two ot the $,'i.jO inusic.ils hold to capacity, "Kid Itoots" and "The Stepping Stones" being tlie outstanding smashes. "The i''ollies" still draws big busine-s. but bows to the leadership ot the Stones. "Chariot's lievue" rates with "Stepping Stones" and "Kid IJoots' in point of demand ,aiid Is pl.aying to all the Times .Si|uare uill bold, l.i.st week's gross going to $2:1,700, "Lol- lip'ip" bettered its previous pace for a count of around $IK,0O0, The other iniisirals are all under nor- ma I. I,ast week's shows were not im- pressive, although "Welded" got $10,000 for its opening week at the I'Oth .Street. The draw ot the stars is credited though the play Itself Is I ot liiglily rated. ".Sweet Seventeen" looks like a candidate at the Hud- son, doing about $i;.000 the first •Aeek. The house is booked to get "Fata .Morg.'in.'i" .alter another two weeks. "Fata' Is a Theatre Guild attraction Ihat has been ilr,'iw;ng ca- pacity at the f;arriek. Subway Circuit "The rireeinvieh \'ill,'ige I'(dlle>," again topped the neighbrnl, a.'d ho.ises l.isl week drawing '.veil over $27,000 at the .Ma.)estie, P.rookiyn; "Lltile Miss p,l.i..be,ard" got ;il,,'iO(i at the proid .Street. .N'cwiik; "P.ira- dlse Alley' was niioted under $lii(iOO ■it the .Stiiiiieit, Ne«:irk: ".Varc\ .\ri'i" p'i'.ed :o $.".,,ICO .'i' the .Moii- taal;; ''.'.■t iiinl C.m.ir.^" got flO.- fiOO at l)e Uiveiii, ai.d 'Wica. ■"ii'.vn's T, liking '"• ;iioiii;d $: iio .i' i»^ !;■-,,: V »ip' r i Ho i-e. Cut R at e L i st O i y Washington, M.irch 23. Leonird Wood, Ji,, forced himself into the limelight again during the past week, getting on the front page of the local dallies but in this In- stance the notices given were the "obiiiiary " of his stock at the Pres- ident, The dailies didn't carry any idvertising fur the house for the f.nal week but spread the "smash" of the company '•all o\er the place." It was a "smash," too, in every sense. The Daily News attached the box office for an allefted unpaid advertising bill on Frld;iy night; on th.it s.ime night the stage hands re- fused to work because of the re- ported non-payment of their s.il- iries in advance, a practice in vogue for several weeks, and then IVggv C-udry, the regular lead of the company, w.is down with the grip. As for li'lorenee Heed, It Is reported that she failed to get all of the money due on the contract that Wiiod stated would either njake him "ihe wisest stock manager in the c uintry or the biggest boob." Henry Miller tried to find out what was the matter with Washing- ton from numerous sources. An- swer Henry .Miller's aggregatioi. cf big names only did a fair week at the National. .loseph Schildkraut In "The High- wayman " pulled a "Richard Rennett' a: the lUdasco by Informii.g the audience that this week (Washing- ton) was the worst one of his career. He said other things along the same lines as have been said bv liennett and others who upbraid those that do come for tho^ that don't and to such an extent that it got under Leonard Hall's skin. Hall writes for the "News" and proceeded to "bawl" this foreign star out. Schildkraut Is reported to have stated to Hall on Sunday night when both attended tlie opening of the cur- rent attraction at the house that he (.Schildkraut) was "cured," The s:.ow was entirely recast here and is now in Philadelphia. The busi- ness here amounted to practically nothing. Keith's was slightly oft although with a great biH, This can be traced through to the seasmi of the year and two nights of a miserable break In the ae.it her. The Moscow Art Theatre—Poll's Ki|)orted as $!.'i,000. "The cb.irigelings"--National. Not over $l).ooo. "I'll'- Highwayman"—R e 1 a s c o. $.'!.000, "The Lullaby"—President, Flor- enej. Keed starred, six performances to just about $S000 (the "champ" figure for the town), .No news- papers week. "The "Ireio'," .Magic O'.Neil carried advertising entiie This Week Uiwr's Knil," liel.iseo; Poll's; Mitzl in "The King," .N'.atlon.il; Ninie and l''rank Criimit splitting Tti ■< «•■,;, I i,e I III I i: to 2i' 11 ,'i ,1 '-Mo, .* Oft sa )i' .1 f\ n ■{ :i' ti '• s'ltiie "I 's'.'m'p o,- -HI [ ••i\ 111 ; I .1'■■• II" ioi\;< '.v!,;.'!: were Hie lop of the bill at Keith's. right buys by the advance brokers 'J'he lilti'r held .is buys 15 .ttti.ic- tions wliii-h wen; "The Goose H,iiigs High" (l;,joii); "I!ei.;gar On Horse- back'' (|!ro;idliuist) ; 'Kid Hoots" (CirioID; "The Swan' (Cort); "Sjiriiig Cleaning" (Filinge); "Saint ,Joan" (Fmpire); "The Outsider" (lUth .St.); "Stepping .Stones" (Globe); "The .Nervous Wreck" (Harris) which has been cut some- what; "Lollipop'" (Knickerbocker); ".Music IJiix Iteviie" (.Music liox); "Follies' (Amsterdam); "The Show Off" (Pla.Nliouse); "Outward ISound" (Kit/.); "Charlols Itevue" (Times S(| ) 'i'here l.s a fiue.stion wlietlier or not there will be a buy for "Vogues" which opens at the .Shubert tomor- row night. At the bargain counter there wa» offered 'T'or .Ml Ot I's" (.\mbass.i- dor); "Popiiy" (Apollo); "Wlld- llower" ((.'asino); "Uunnin' Wild" ICoIoiimI ); "Wliilo Cu gii" (DaK'si; "Kusf (52nd St 1; "Hell lieiit for He.mil" I I'l-.izepi ; "Hiiiii'an" iImoIhi; ''I'lie .Moon-Flower" tl'iil- Ion); ' \\e .Moderiii'" iG.'iiely); '.\mo^< the .stliect" (Hudson); Mii'.s line Mil\.ii.e" (liiipiilal); ■'I'lie > li.rion Gnl" (.Ii.lsoMi; "T,ii!!i- Iiop" 1 K tor), ciliockei ); "The \\on- deriiil \'i,'..i" if.'iiox Hill); "Lutle ./.•.sie .l.ini"S il.itilei. ••.Moonligbi " I i g:l : I .1.-. :.i- ni'l 1 i.s ir I I I - ' i <\ I \,\ II urn I: "M.-rr'. i llo'liaiii' I \l: l.ii : I i.Mo-'..~i .i; "W-M. d' I Ai I,.-. ...'l M...ieN Ivbin. >«* Mr i t, W mtnt iii ' ii " WiVPs of •'.Mis'er Pi "" lilf'ib St ' ,itid I'vV.n er Cir-