Variety (June 1924)

IS VARIETY LEG I TIM A We^mcMby, JoDe 4^ 1S84 CRrnCS' FINAL BOX SCORE ^ (Continued from page 1) eon" leads the Hst. although throug-h Alexander Woolloott (wtto tottoms the list) having been trans- ferred to "The Bun" from TThe Herald" and dividing the reviewing, the Plathbun total of reviews Is con- siderably below that covered by Burns Mantle of "The News." ManUe stands fifth aft«r having Men 136 new plays. The reviewing record for the flnal percentas* seors of ths critics on the New York dallies is complied upon a total of ITO new plays throughout this season. Shows remaining of May 31 (last Saturday) and inclusive of <lie plays "mariied oft" by Equity were oonMdered aa successes or failures according to the record and the grosses as known In Variety's office. Jamea Craig, the newest reviewer of them all and who was relieved of dramatic work by "The Mail" Jan. 23, to do epaoial writing assignment. He held to the lead for two periods and finished with .(77, still the high In percentage of the dailies' critics. Dale ("American") remains sec- ond with .656, ha havingretired for the season Feb. 16 after having caught 103 shows. While WooUcott's '•Sun's" reviews •re Included in his total, the burden of his reviewing for the season was for "The Herald." Percy Hammond of "The Tribune" (now "Tribune-Herald"), who per- sisted In occupying the flnal posi- tion on the list for three periods through omitting definite opinions, was noeed out of the last hole but held to his record of omissions, Percentages Next SeasoH With the commencement of the new '24-'26 season Variety •zpects to resume its critical box score for the New York reviewers, with the likelihood the reviewers of the Chicago dailies will be Included in a separate box for that city. In the New York box score for the forthcoming season all of New York's critics on the regular dailies will be listed and also the dramatic critic of the Brooklyn "Eagle." Cakdatiiig Percentages An instance of the method of determining the percentages of critics occured in Variety's New York ofllce among its own staff for the flnal box score as published In this i0- Bue. It arose over Jack Pulaski's review of "Moonlight." On the record sheet his notice was pkiied agaln:!t blm aa wrong, one of th« three misses Pulaski Is charged with. Piiiaskl claimed that through the following two paragraphs contained In Lis notice, the sc ^ond the flnal one of the re- views, he should have been crcilUed with tlie Right. He was decldL 1 against on the f.i-et paragraph, and the record remained Wrong. The paragraphs: "It is pitidictta the songs will get the show across, but unless laughs are provided the chancct* ar>> agaiiiwt 'Moonlight' being a hit, even though it does turn a profit. •• 'Moorilight' may not bo a knockout, but Its shortcomings are Ifahie to be distanced by the weight of the score, which would give Con Conrod the cre<Ut." Vbee. swiping at 13 no counts, and tleinj f^^next to last with John Corbin of "The Times." Corbin had eiglit no-opinlon reviews and WooUcott 10. Rathbun gave a decided forecast of vi^Tf i>lay he saw excepting three, wbile Mantle failed but in nine times to make hla decision definite. * Heywood Broun of "The World" of the continuing critics saw the lowest number of plays and ended fourth with .673. ^ Failures and Successes Variety's named failures and suc- cesses on page IS of this issue are of the period between Aug. IS and May 26 (weeks), exclusive of "The Road Together" (opening and clos- ing the same night). The failures reach 114, leaving 56 successes dur- ing the season. From March 11 to April 7, 14 plays Bucceesively opening were failures. It marked the lengthiest string of flops. The largest numbei- of succesive hits was three, from Sept. 20 to 24, and this repeated in the same number from Nov. 5 to 9. Variety's Score Variety's statement at the outset ~, of the box score on percentages at the opening of the season (the first percentage box score ever kept on theatrical critical opinion) that trade-paper reviewing should be of more accuracy in decision than the men of the dallies is borne out by Variety's total percentage (4. .800, exceedingly high. Variety's individual reviewers of Icglt plays are led by Jack Pula.ski (/6ce) with .923, an abnormal per- centage. Out of 39 new shows caught by Mr. Pulaski he missed In judcmcnt on but three. Pulaski's expert opinion was conspicucus in one instance, where he termed a special matinee play might stand a chance as a special but would lose out if attempting to become a regu. ]ar attraction (nights and matinees). It so developed. Fred Schader's (Fred) percentage proportionately vies with Pulaski's. Mr. Schader caught but 11 shows (mlBsing on cne), through liaving given the most of his critical atten- tion during the season to pictures. Jack Lait of 54 plays caught was r^ght on 88, missing 15 and omitting •AS opinion, while Abel Qreen j 4Jilel), with some of the most HBI-' •alt a,Bslgnments for definite opln- $100 FINE OR 30 DAYS FOR FUG INDIFFERENCE Congressman Sol Bloom Marched and Watched— Flags Passed Hats-on- Heads Ions (the "high brow" or "freak stuft") correctly called 16 out of 21. The remainder of Variety's 165 in total count, 30 i lays, were caught by other members of the staff, giving the paper 124 rights out of 165, with 28 wrong predictions and three re- fusing on opinion, Lait's single omiraion of a predic- tion wa.>* with "White Cargo." He said U would be a decided hit or flop. It is a hit. Bex Score Caught Attention Variety's box score on the New York critics has caught and held the atientlun of newspaper men throughout the country. It has from time to Mine provoked much com- ment, e< riously or in raillery, with many txpressloas as to what it pointed at. Many of the reviewers In other cities have the opportunity to pass initial opinion on plays when ap- pearing in their cities before reach- ing Broadway. Invaribly those re- viewers, though outside New York, give their opinion k>cally and add an estimate of how the play may fare on Broadway. Some very snuirt opinions are often ventured by the out-oJ-towners. Variety has had several requests to include other points in its critical score card. It Involves considerable labor to keep the box score. Variety does not feci it should call upon cor- respondents to uitdertake the burden. The Chicago critics. In the main, havt been so unerringly correct with the shows reaching Chicago that, es the next largeet city. Variety be- lieves the Chicago dally reviewers should have their score boxed for comparison with the New Yorkers. The precet'ing box scores for New Yoik of this past season are also on this page. Through the newspaper strike early in the season, when the dailies held out or held ever reviews in their limited editions, the score of these days canno* be guaranteed, but as all of the papers were simi- larly situated, it had no important beaiing on the flnal result. The Ecores, with the exception of the mid.sea.9on and final ratings (percentage tables of January 17 and In thL-s Issue) were based upon shows which had failed only. The two exceptions niftned In- cluded all plays up to the respective datce. It accounts for the difference in the number of shows reviewed b" each of the individuals and their resultant percentages. Washington, June 3. Sol Bloom, the theatre's Con- gressman from New York, on Dec- oration Day marched In th« parade. He noticed there was a marked lax- ity on the part of the spectators in doffing their hats when the flag went by. He has Introduced a bill that provides a flne of tlOO for failure to remove the hat or salute the flag when It passed on parade. The bill also provides the alterna- tive of 80 days In Jail, or both. "I was one of those who marched in the parade today," said Congress- man Bloom, "and I was astounde<l at the lack of respect shown to the national colors by persons standing on the sidewalks. The flag would pass, followed by hundreds of vet- erans In a semi-military parade, and yet men and boys, either out of Ignorance or laziness, would stand by, too lazy or Indifferent to tip their hat or come to attention or.sa- lute th« colors. "Such seeming lack of patriotism and respect for the Stars and Stripes in the National Capital is astounding to me." "ABIE" IN LM FOR AITJRICAN RECORD New Contract on Republic for Another Year Without Stop Limit Made with Bailey Anne Nichols, authoress and pro- ducer, has entered into a new con- tract with Oliver D. Bailey, lessee of the Republic whereby her "Abie's Irish Rose" may remaAi in the house for another year. The agree- ment entered into last week super- ceded one under which "Able" was guaranteed tenancy of the Republic from May 23 last until September, without a stop limit provision. The new agreement expires May 23, 1926. If "Abie" runs out the next season on Broadway it will not only tie the American run record of 'Xtghtin'" which played three years at the Gaiety, but would actually beat the "Llghtin"' run. That Is poseifc4e because, whlls "Ligbtia's" date was exactly thres years. It missed about three weeks perfor- mances during the first summer of the run through the actors' strike of 1419. Miss Nichols' "Abie" has been on an independent basis from the start, the casts here and on the road being all Equity members, so the run cannot be impaired by the present strike. During the spring the Republic has been considerably improved through remodeling by Bailey. "Able" opened at the Fulton when Mr. Bailey conducted that theatre and moved with him when he se- cured the Republic. "Abie" is in its 107th week. HABC-6£0.'S MUSICAL Marc Connelly and George 8. Kaufman are working on a musical comedy. It will be produced late in August by Wilmer & Vincent. The latter firm backed the Connelly- Kaufman musical, "Helen of Troy, New Yjjrk," last summer. The attraction will be booked through the Erlanger office. Reed's "Clean-Up" Carl Reed, who has taken over the Henry Miller theatre until Sept. I, announces the initial attraction will be "So This Is PoUttcs," by Barry Connor. SOAFES WITH 6BEENFIEL0 Oakland, Jun^ 3. Wood Soanes, for the past two years dramatic critic of the Oakland "Tribune," has resigned to take a position as general press represen tative for the Louis Greenfield in terests, San Francisco, July 1. Ac- cording to present plans, Soanes will continue to furnish the "Tri- bune" hla daily column, but the principal reviewing will be done by Leo S. Levy, managing editor, who has functioned in this capacity in- termittently for a number of years. The Greenfleld theatres Include the New Mission and New Fill- more in San Francisco, some neigh- borhood houses and theatres In Santa Cruz and Honolulu. IiAIT'S BUSH OBDER Jack Lait's adaptation of the com- edy, "Gus the Bus," has been or- dered rushed rehearsals by the Shu- berts. Rehearsals will start June 16. The opening wtis scheduled for August but a much «arller premiere will take place in view of the "rush" orders. CRmCS' BOX SCORE (Box sc«r« for final psrcsntss* en Pass 1 ef this isaus) The key to the abbreviations is 8R (shows reviewsd); R (right)' W (wrong); O (no opinion sxprssssd); Pet. <percentags}. DALE ("American") RATHBUN ("Sun") CORBIN ("Times") BROUN ("World") '. MANTLE ("News") WOOLLCOTT ("Sun") HAMMOND ("Tribune") VARIETY'S OWN SCORE*AS OF MAY 7 8R S7 63 54 '. 47 68 67 61 VARIETY PULASKI (Ibee) QREEN (Abel) .. LAIT R 33 28 22 18 26 18 13 SCORE SR R 77 57 14 13 11 9 34 21 SCORE AS OF MARCH 5 SR R DALE r'Amsrica") 57 is RATHBUN ("Sun") 44 22 MANTLE ("News") 64 20 BROUN ("World") 42 15 CORBIN ("Times") 43 15 WOOLLCOTT ("Herald") 48 15 HAMMOND ("Tribune") 40 8 VARIETY'S OWN SCORE 8R R VARIETy'(Coniblned) 62 46 PULASKI (Ibee) 10 9 QREEN (Abel) 0 7 LAIT r 28 18 SCORE AS OF JAN. 17 SR R DALE ("American") 82 64 CRAIG ("WU'I") 67 44 RATHBUN ("Sun") 69 36 MANTLE ("News") 77 42 BROUN ("World") 64 28 CORBIN ("Times") 66 27 ^OOLLCOTT ("Herald") 62 29 TiAMMOND ("Tribune") 68 24 VARIETY'S OWN SCORE SR R VARIETY (Combined) 93 72 PULASKI (Ibee) 22 21 SCHADER (Fred) 6 5 LAIT 32 24 GREEN (Abel) ..- 13 9 GREASON (Rush) ^ 5 SCORE AS OF DEC. 6, 1923 SR R CRAIQ ("Mail") 31 is DALE ("American") 37 M MANTLE ("News") 33 15 RATHBUN ("Sun") 27 n BROUN ("WoHd") 25 10 CORBIN ("Times") gr 10 WOOLLCOTT ("Herald") 31 g HAMMOND ("Tribune") 24 e VARIETY'S OWN SCORE SR R VARIETY (Combined) 89 26 PULASKI (Ibee) 7 « LAIT ,7 ,2 GREEN (Abel) t 4 SCORE AS OF OCT. 25, 1823 CRAIQ ("Mail") *^ 7 BROUN ("World") 13 a CORBIN ("Times") , n 5 DALE ("American") .- '. ig 8 WOOLLCOTT ("Herald") 15 K MANTLE ("News") is 6 RATHBUN ("Sun") n 3 HAMMOND ("Tribune") 12 2 VARIETY'S OWN SCORE LAIT «? « VARIETY (Combined) 20 14 W 22 22 28 25 a« 35 31 W 18 1 2 13 O Pet 2 .879 3 j628 4 .407 4 .383 4 J6e 4 J16 7 .265 O 2 Pet .740 ,921 .81^ w 18 1 1 . 7 4 4 W 9 15 t4 16 13 16 18 14 W 11 1 S 2 W 4 6 6 10 8 9 8 6 W 3 6 O 9 O 4 1 4 1' 2 2 e 4. o 2 Pet .774 .966 433 .750 492 456 Pet 480 467 A» ACfT AOO 470 .268 .280 Pet .666 457 J06 O 2 1 1 2 1 Pet 486 .466' 433 433 .272 .166 Pet 471 J26 PIANISTE'S DEBUT Doris Levene in Jones-Green's "Young Artist" Doris I<evene, the young pianlste, will make her stage debut under the management of A. L. Jones and Morris Green in "The Young Artist," to be produced in August. Miss Levene is a New York jirl, studying under Prof. Phillipe in Paris for the past two years. LEADING "THE PUBPLE COW" Dorothy Francis has the leading role In "The Purple Cow,", an- nounced as the Initial production venture of the Musical Comedy Guild. Rehearsals wl 1 start In August. 86 Weeks of Ons-Nighters The second company of "The First Year" closed Saturday at Ifanchester, N. H. The company had been out 16 weeks playing mostly ene-nlghters. "SCANDALS^HEARSALS Start, Stop and Resume—Future li» Doubt. t Rehearsals for George White's new "Scandals," wh'ch had been In progress for several days, stopped last week and after a few days were r-;umed. Matters seemed uncertain for several days. White Is grouped with the "round robin" pftpducers, which may explain the uncertainty. It was also re«- ported that Equity stepped In, but thfs is doubted, as the actors in re* hearsal, who are members of EJquity, put up a "loud" kick. The future is in doubt, but re" hearsals are continuing. Musical "Belles of Yesterday" "Belles of Yesterday," a new musical comedy, book and lyrics by Dailey Paskman and Kenneth Keith and music by Otto Motzan, is being cast for an early production by Harry B. Herts.