Variety (April 1924)

Wednesday, April 2, 1924 LEGITIMATE VARIETY CRITICAL DIGEST Opinions of the metropolitan critics on ths nsw legitimais pro- ductions. Published weekly in Variety as • guide to the reliability of the critical judgment on play* expressed by the reviewers on the dailies- • The opinion will be repeated when a play closes on Broadway after a long or short run with the critics to be boxscored at inter- vals, rated by' percentage on their judgment as recorded. Vogues All liked this latest entrant in tlu' levue lie:tl. liuvuiK the "Tribuni" (H:immonill typifying It as "ncsi behaved of the Khuberta." Oilette Myi'til ■•""' •'• Haro!d Murray wer:- accinded pniti?ulnr attention, but chief honora went to the comedians, I'red Allen :iiul Jimniie S:ivo. Nancy Ann Twu-thiri'ij* i>f the dallies carried ehet'i Till re ,ic\vsi, tlioush sottini; tlir- first act an belciw par. "Tribune" (Hammond) and "World" (Hroun) were the leist impress-'d. clo.sely tidlowed by the "News" (Mantio). who tjild, "Pleasant t>ut trivial." Clare Weldon, in a minor role, won nersoiml mention e<|iial to or beyond ;hat nlven the play's lead, Kiaacine Larriinore, The Main Line "Worst play i>f the year,' said the "Mail-TeleKrann." and the review- ers, en masse .about a«ieed. 3 FMURFS LEAVING, | INCLUDING OmiL'S FLAY ''Merry Wives" and "Welded" to Storehouse — "Moon- Flower" Taking to Road l;roadwi:y W- losiny three attrar- tii>ns at the end of ihe \v(>ck. Al !ir'- rated as failures, although each w.i^ al!e to make a busin( -h;; flash 'i'uii of tile Irio. "Merry Wive.^ oi' (■■otharn" .iiid "Welded" will go to the stor<lioiise. ' .\Ii.oii-Klower" tak- ing; lo the road. "Weldcil." a dr.ima by Eusetie OWeii. e.tpires nt Ihe 39th Street ■after three weeks, an immodorate ly short limit for an attraclioti of nanus. I>oiis Keane and Jacob IJen-Aml .are co-starred. The pro- duction was under the nianaKcmrnt of the Kelwvns and the i'rovince- town I'l.i.vliouse directors (Ken- neth MacCJowan, Uohert Kdniund Jones and O'Neil). The names ac- counted for the smart audiences drawn the tlrst week, when al>out JIU.UOO was grossed. L.ist week business dropped to $7,000 and the notice went up. mrnt with a considerable i»>rtion of ment probabl.v lfa\eK the nianase- MANAGER-EQUITY AIR DEBATES SUGGEST TALKING TIME IS HERE Merry Wives of Gotham Originally named "Fanshas- tics," at whic'h title the critics I'uly snirkered while classifying the piece as "uneven." Grace George and Lauia Hope Crews wore allotted favorable individual notices, although the show made little impression. Variety (Ibee)) stated the play would not be a candidate for run honors. Welded In and out designation greeted this March 17 opening that had the "Herald" (Woollcott) quot- ing it as "dull and monotonous," balanced by the "World," which said "true, bold and well writ- ten." Neither the cast nor the play's direction was particularly praised, but a majority of the critics recognized O'Ned's writ- ing, despite deeming it one of his poorer efforts. Variety (Ibee) said: "Its chances are against a run." Ihe (iroduetion outlay lot won back. LEGITS OF Ilf !^0RTANC1 WANT VAUDEVILLE Scramble of "Names" fo" Routes as June 1 Approaches I.egit actors of inipoitame seem .scrambiinK toward vaudeville in i;reater profusion than ever before accordinB to bocdiers on the bip time, who claim that h.irdly .1 day pa.'ises without their ticiiiR ap- proached by a number of "names" anxious to set themselves in the two-a-day. A canvass of Keith anri Oiphci:ni routes Is in Itself convincing :!.at <iuife a number have swung over to vaudeville, supposedly staunch Equitylts who have constantly been comforting the smaller fry of the organization's membership with the asimrance that the talk of the man- apers of closing theatre.i rather than submit to "Equity Shop" Is merely a bugaboo. CHARLES ALTHOFF lleuUliniaij the Keith Circuit in tlu South. --"The ("onstitiitioii." Atlanta. Cla . Mar 2.'>th -Jofcn //. Ileulett. FORSYTH FIDDLER STOPS BIG SHOW WITH UNIQUE ACT Brady-Gillmore, Thomas-Emerson, Etherizing—Va- rious Reports Sounding Like Propaganda—^Some "Round Robins" May Fly Over SPECIAL DEPT. TO BOOK I "10 COMMANDMENTS" CllHrlin AUliirff, "YanUe,' Vi'lill r. ' HI Ktilh« rors-ylh IhPaIrr Ihv tlrsi llir.'f thiy.^ of t h'^ w,»pk. stopped tlif stiow .\lon- <ljiy niKht with Ihe rlevtresl artiit^. thf c-lfunesl wit unil tiUTiior. unci Mic tn's( kA\\- fashiftn fiililltn' "itcfn in tti,-?.'' hyr> <ltK- Kinfl in iiuilt* a «pell." Tt»e l,vp!<*ul littckwood!, (liiwnen.sl tttl- (IltT \\i\^ fill" I'f the most uniiiuc Hfls ivit ."t't-n her** Mn»I pt«.\« e\er>' det:nl fnutt- If-isl>. IJi3 aiipeHi unti" wii-; th.* Hi^n:!! fi;r u wMVf ot! appl;iu:,H whith swept into H I huntiTnil.^ rojM- It!, lie left tllf st'tire. It broUKJlt htm hark once. lwii:P, ttirice -liiali\' tinifs .Mr Allt-offa tlry hutiior and his i\<-ellcnt niuwh-ianslitji comtiineit to make hiin n f rentendouw favorite of lv»'itti'..« nfreiiritf thiM week. l»rrtion KDW. S. KI'.I.I.KK. "Moon-Flower," produced by Charles 'Waijner. starred Klsie Fer- guson, with Sldne.v Blacknier fea- tured. On the road it averaged $11,- 000 or better weekly and its lirst two weelcs at the Astor approximat- ed $14,500. The balance of the four weeks at the house were not as good. Booking at the Fulton, where the show moved last week, was limited to two weeks, because of a prior date, but the pace of about $8,000 was hardly sufficient for the management to seek another house ajid the Broadway engagement Is but six weeks in all. On tour the attraction should again pull paying business. The Moon Flower "Herald" (Woollcott), "Mail- Telegram" and "American" phrased the only complimentary sayings among the dailies. "News" (Mantle) designated It ae "futile and empty," and the "World" (Broun) was ourt In "not convincing." Sidney Black- mere wae generally thought to be miscast, but Elsie Ferguson secured her usual quota from the critics. Variety (Lait) wae of the opinion that, "despite its short- coming!, this effort should draw." "Merry Wives of Ootham," pro- duced by Henry Miller, originally f^pened under the title of "Fan- sliastits." with tlrtice George and I-aura Hope Ci-esvs co-starred. The »PThi!» wri'kR were poor, btjt the chiinc in title aided .at;d the week- ly takings went to $11,000. Cut rates jiidrd m.rtcrlally and when the latter tvcii-' dropped for a time, the r,'ross promptly died and failed to rc()\(r. The li: w^'U:.' engage- "ROSEANNE" IN PHILLY Colored Show at Colored Theatre Advertises Extensively Philadelphia, April 1. The New Dunbar (colored) thea- tre, came into the limelight this week by presenting "Roseanne," re- cently given In New York. Paul Uobeson, who is to appear In the lead in Eugene CXeill's "All God's ChiUun Got Wings." Is the leading player In the engagement. For the first time since the ap- pearance at this theatre of the Ethi- opian Art Theatre, the Dunbar Is doing extensive advertising In the regular dailies, and is catering to the regular white trade. In fact, invitations were sent to a number of people prominent in the city gov- ernment and in local society and business tor the opening night. The engagement is for a single week. PRESS AGENT'S CUT-IN Chicago. April \. Even the preliminary advertising for Guy Bates Post who comes to the Cort Sunday In "Th© Climax," carries the name of Melville B. Raymond as director of tour. Raymond la understooil to have a clause In rtis contract calling for this billing and also for a percent- age on the show. "LEAH KLESHNA" APRIL 14 The revival of "Leah Kle.schnu" will open In Buffalo, April 14, and a week later, Ea.iter Monday, will come into the Lyric. This will allow three weeks in that house, for "For All of Us," whicli moves from tlie. Ambassador. PLAY CONTRACT Court Upholds Century Play Co.'s Contract The rer:tiiry Play Pc's inolr.Kl with Wilson Collison. llic play- wright. Wiia Irsally ari.iii(liiale(l by .TuMtice Geor.cje V. Mullaii in the New Vork Supreme Court \e.':(eiil,iy (Tuesday), who upheld the [il.iin- tiff'.s claim to handllnj? all of Colll- son's pay output for five years fmm Oct. 2S, 1922, as oiiglnally eoii- trarted. The Century sued ColU- son. the Cn-Xatlonal Plays Frank Teller .iiid Vacabond, Inc. to en- force its rights under the agree- ment. The detaili< arose from CollisouV arranging with Teller to prniluce "The Vajraijond," which was a niiick flop on P.roadway. The Co-National partment. and is Implicated Iwrause l.s the Shubert stock rele.i.-jlntr de- Tom Kane of the Century Co thinks "The A'apahorid" a worth-wlille piece of stock projierty despite Its Broad- w.ay flop. The consideration for the flve- ye.ar contract with. Colllson was $7.0no nd\anced by the play com- pany to the author as advance roy- alties. It accordinKly sought to pro- tect Itself by undertaking to handle all of the author's plays. Colllson Is currently on the Coast, and Incidentally producing "The Vasahond" and "The Taming of B.irbara." another play, there. As soon as the formal Injunction order Is slprned the matler will be taken up on the Coast. O'Rrlen Sc Cassidy repre<--(titr(l the Century I'lay Co. "HORSE THIEF" OPENS IN CHI "The Horse Thief," the new play by Louis Ely and Sam Forrest. which Is being sponsored by Sam H. Harris, has gone In rehearsal under the direction of Forrest. It Is scheduled to open nt the Harris Theatre, Chicago. Easter Sunday. The cast Includes fJenrge Marlon, Ann Harding, Kafherlne Emmett. Calvin Thomas. J. K Hutchinson. Douglas Dumbrllle and William Corbett. J- J. McCarthy to Book 14 Companies—Will Play Le- gitimate Theatres Dcliiiile tilans I'or Ihe future of Cecil i:. De.Miile's great sr'ectaele, • Tlie T«ii Coniiniindment.s." have ju.st been annoiincetl thrmigh the l''anious ri.ivers- l.asky ('oriKiralion. which control.'^ (his firoduction. For the present the introductory iiins of "The Ten Comnianilments" w\\\ be contihcd to the six cities where it is now lieinj; presented an I follous: f!ei>. M. Cohan. New York; I Alditie. riiii.idvlpliia : Woods. Chi-' ijipo; Tremont. Ilfston; Egyi>tian. I.os AtiK>'l<'s, and the I.,ondon Pa- vilion. London, ICn^l.ind. Beginning next .September 12 to 14 touriii;^ organizations will be sent tliroiiglioiit Ihe foiled Slates and (?anada. These loiirins units will be (liiecteil thli>UKli the F'amt)us Play- ers-l.asl;y road show dep.'irlinenf, .1. .1. .\lcCarihy, geiiiril m.inager. at U7t; nroi(l\va,\'. and will be handled ■ ep.iralely iiinl dislinelly from the system of rtlea.sing the rcKiilar I'.aratnouiit pictures. The sep.irate eiisaKcineiil.s will l>e booked finly in theatres that play Ihe louritig th<alrical attractions such as dramas, musical comedies and plays. Ivnh li..Miin.ir tinit of "The Ten Cninmaialiiuiits" will be eqtiipped exactly as the ones now playing. The loinp.inies will consist of two ad- vance represiiitat ives, a manager, a large spci ial oichestra. a complete mechanical slaff. including special operators, ard will also carry a car- load of spcci.il ec|iiipment and effects to round out Ihe most elaborate pre- sentation of a motion picture pro- duct Ion ever seen in Ihe theatre of I his couiilry. ANOTHER FOOL" AlU.iii.v, .v. v., Al>rH I. I'lider the Icrins ot a bill intro- duced in the .New York Stale A.s- semhly hy ). Boyle, Republican of Suffolk connly. aminding the gen- eral business law, "it is declared that the price of or cliarge for ad- mission to theatres, places of amuse- ment or cnfei talriment Ik a nvilter affected wili^ public Interest. No person, firm or corporation, as agency or otherwise, shall resell or offer to resell any ticket of admis- sion or offer to rcs'll any tic ket or other cvldenie of the rl;^ht of entry to a theatre, e.xcept that such tickets may be resold or redeemed by the original Issiiee thereof. Violation would be made a misdemeanor. AUTHOR SUBSTrrUTES Lynn Starling, author of ' .Meet the Wife." returned from the Coast la.st week Just In time. When Er- nest Lawford was stricken with ideurlsy Tuesday there wa.s no one to take hl.s part. Lawford's role was the one p.'trl with which Tom Hnlen, general un- derstudy, was imfamlliar. Starlin'r. ulth a little stud.v, wa» able ;o .-lep in. MISSION PLAY IN FRISCO Los Angeles, Ai)ril I Tile Mission Play will open i; i ter Sunday at Ihe Columbia, Sc I'rancisco, for four weeks. Its i:!i' .annual engagement here will < lo.s. April 12. The ManasiMs-l';c|iiil.\ (iis|iulf> over closed shop Is approaching lh'< talking phase. According to the in- dhtated plans afoot, both sides are willing to "talk It out along thoHe lines" if it taiies all summer. W. A. Itrady is dated for a radio debate will Frank Gillmore, altliougl^ Mraily has not been designated by Ihe Producing Manugerp' Asst>ciu- lion. Gillmore can do Itis talking, too. witliout coiUerrinii witli other l-:ciulty leaders. Anotlier debate is c.irded, ;intl will have Augustus Thomas, exei-utive chairman ot the 1>. M. A., and .lolin Emerson, president of Etiuity, a« op- ponents. Uoth iiave been Invitetl to address the New York City Federa- tion of Women's Clubs, whose meet- ini; is carded for .May 2 in the l>all room ot the Hotel Astor. Vhoiiias has already accepted the invitation extendeil by Mildred Htdland. chair- mar, of drama for the federation, and Emerson is expected to follow suit. There are about 400 members in the Women's federation. The speeches also will be sent out by radio. Among vaiioiis leports spread about, which savor of propaganda is the iiUeged warning from Eijuit.v p«>opie that afler June 1 ultraotiouH will not he permuted to play houses Ihe managers of which are not in favor of dosed sliop. The report appears to have been spread among dramatiats. Such a program, It at- tempted, would lay Equity open lo the charge of boycott, according to those informed on the legal angle. Another move concerns Gillmore's alleged appeal to English theatrictil papers that the latter acquaint Brit- ish professionals of the proposed titrike June 1 and that Engli.sh play- ers contempl.atlng appearing here bo a.sked to have a clause In their con- tracts which would subject tl. > agreements to "suspension of terml- natitm hy rules or regulations adapt- ed by the Actors' Equity Association of America." The steering committee of the "loiind robin" managers, that groiifi uhii'h is pledged against Ihe closed shop pr.n(i|)le, w.is held la.st we 'I'li.it some of the we.iker members u( tlie 'roup ml.i;ht withdiaw is ex- P'clccl, hut Ihe tiody of the "ll!.-iit- iiiK rohl is" Is as deUMnilnecI .is over . The propos.il of /i |>«>rcentai;e ni - rin^'cment of casting shows was dis- cussed, particularly the SO-20 split (SO per t<enf. Ec|Uity mcmheis). While it Is concoilf'd more than th.it proiiortion now attains for most ai ■ tractions, the commiltie exi)ressril Itself as against any ide.i or pl.ti. which countenances closed shop la piiii' ipli' or indirection. DRAMATISTS' 2D Frodticing "Rabbit's Foot" in Boston —Mooser Leaving VAN BERGEN RESCUED Chicago, April 1. Martin \an Bergen, once u singer of the .Metropolitan Opera Company, who was being cared for by Thomas Masterson, a life long friend, es- caped from his refuge and was found miles away in an exliausted condition ori a doorstep. He is 40 years old and was recently removed from an asylum to the Masterson home where it was believed his re- covery would be more rapid. "G. V. FOLLIES" REPEATING Tlie fourth edition of the "Green- wich \illage Follies" will play a number of r«peat d.itcs th.it may keep the show out Itilo the lattei part of June. The show is repeating at the r>p- trolt opera house this week with re- peats at I'ittsbiirgh, Cleveland. D.iy- toM, Indi.ti;at>olis anil Cincinn.ili. this in additloti fo a n.irnber of siands in virgin territory. Nick Ayre, Pre*, of Gille S. P. A. N. (.\i(k) .\\r>', fcimerly ii.an- aging director of the Collsecini. a big neiKhborhood picture house, lias resigned and been appointed presi- dent and K'-ricr.tl in.m.iger ot llic Gille Show Print Co of this i ily. The Uraniatlsts' Theatre, Ind llie <;omblnatIon of pIay\vrU;hts at pies ent running "The Goose Hangs High" at the Hijou, will produce "Tlie Rabbit's Foot," by Rida John- son Tounp, In Bo.ston, Easier week. James Forbes Is directing. In the cast are Tom Moore. L lie Shannon, Purnell Pratt, Sylvia Ki.Id and others. The tliLme Is the human "uai complex." George Moo.ser. general manager for the dramatists, has ten lered his resign.'ilion, effective as M)m as the new piece Is set. PULLMAN ROBBED Indian.apolls, April 1. The Pullman coach in which the mcrnhcrs of the "Rringing T'p I'allMr" were traveling on the I!ig I'criir Railroad w.is robbed whllir the occii[c.irits were sleei)iiig Sunday iri'irtilng. , Kcl J. Morris lost $S5. Including a couple of walche.s. eyeglasses, etc. The thieves look a look Into all of lilt: bcitlia and grabbed anything In s'Kht. Mo.tt '>f the company had their week's s.ilary on their person 111.I thus escaped money losses. The CO.oh was in the IndianapofU .' iri!^ of the I'.ij; Voiir at the time of ll" M.Mwiy.