Variety (June 1924)

Wednesday. June 4,19M LEGITIMATE VARIETY IS RCED OFF HITS NOT EXPECTED t^ TO HELP BUSINESS OF THOSE LEFT ; Equity RespontiUe for Eight SucccMes Closing- Two New Mufticalt Among Money Getter*- i Broadway'* Sbow List Now Under 40 ^ ' Showmen we arueMlns whether the actors" atrlke that forced eight ■ucoesses from the Broadway Hat Baturday will benefit the remaining attraction*. It Is debated both I ways, with the indlcatlon«i against ■ ' Mny appreciable betterment. It has been proven in the past that successes liven theatrical trade. The demand for the hits can be talcen care of only up to the capacity of the huusea holding them, patrons Interested in attending > theatres may be sold tickets for other attractiv^ns when there U nothing available for the demand •hows. The shrinkage of hits means » decrease in proportionate patron- . ago. Some of the shows forced to close were near the end of the runs but half or more could have remained Into the snmmer going and were iamong the best sellers in the agen- cies. ; Tbrough the forced closing the ^^' number of plays on Broadway . dropped under 40 for the first time , .since early last fall. Half of the current list figure to drop out by July 4th, with only a haiidful of succeeding attractions in sight. Two recent musicals axe among the money leaders. "I'll Say She Is," With the Marx Brothers, is a capac- ity draw to date at the Casino. Last week the gross was $25,000 in nine performances, an extra matinee be- ing played Memorial day. "Keep Kool" at the Morosco got $16,000 meaning a profit for the show. "Kid Boots" is top among the musicals with $32,000 regularly grossed. "The Stepping Stones" was easily in second pl««e with 110,000 weekly. "Chariot's Revue" im still a big favorite end last week got $23,000 at the Selwyn in nine performances. "Plain Jane" t>ea>t $1S,E00 at the New Amsterdam and will soon move to the Sam H. Har- ris for a summer run try. "Vogues" at the Shubert never did attract real business and is reported at $12,000. "Moonlight" is breaking even at the Longacre and that may go for "Blossom Time," repeating at Jol- son's for a pace under $8,000. "Sit- ting Pretty" slipped to $11,000 la&t week at the Fulton and will r«duce prices when it moves Monday to the Imperial. "The Show-OfT' now tops the non-musicals with "Expressing Wil- lie" a bit behind. "The Show-Oflt" is beating $14,000, holding its gait right along while Sthers which were topping it have slipped down. "Beg- gar on Horseback," "Cobra" and "Cyrano De Bergerac" are all paced around $12,000 and still making money. "The Potters" is cut rating and. with an arrangement with ttie Plymouth is also turning a profit at $8,000. "Abis" Only Holdover. "Abie's Irish Rose" is now the only holdover attraction in town, "Rain" and "Seventh Heaven" hav- ing been forced to step Saturday. "Abie's" gross last week was $12,SO0 In nine performances. "Round The Town" which closed suddenly at the Century Roof Sat- urday got about $2,000, the lowest gross for a $3.50 top attraction known. The attractions forced off by the strike are "Stepping Stones," "The Outsider." "The Swan," "Rain," "Lollipop," "Seventh Hea- ven" and "The Nervous Wreck." "The Right to Dream" which opened at the Punch and Judy last week got $1,200 arid is due to stop Saturday, along with one or two other low gross shows. (Continued on page S8) FAILURES OF THE SEASON ■Twssdies" "Ths Woman on ths Jury" "The Good Old Days" "Thm Breaking Point" "Chiidrvn of ths Moon'* "Brook" "Ws'vo Qot to Have Money" "Home Fires" "Zeno" "Maonolia" "Ths Jolly Rooer" "Four in Hand" "Connie Qoes Homo" "Ths Crooked Square" Marionstte Players "Mary, Mary, Quits Contrary" "Peter Weston" "Chains" "A Lesson in Love" "Nifties" "Csssnova" "Floriani's Wife" "What's Your Wife Doing" "Forbidden" "Cymbeline" "Nina O'QIock Revue" "Windows" "Launzi" Qrand Quignol Players . "Qinger" "White Desert" "Nobody's Business" "Scaramouchs" Sir Martin Harvey "Steadfast" "Dsep Tangled Wildwood" "A Love Scandal" "Qo West, Young Man" "A Royal Fandango" "The Cup" "The Camel's Back" "Queen Victoria" "Out of the Seven Seas" "The Failures" "Robert E. Lee" "Sharlee" ' "Sancho Panza" ' "lime" "Dumb-Boll" "One Kiss" "The Talking Parrot" "Pellcas and Molisande" "The Business Widow" "The Other Rose" "The Alarm Clock" "The Wild Westootts" "Hurricane" "Neighbors" "This Fins Pretty World" "Ths Vagabond" "Madrs" "Ressanne" "Hell-Bsnt for Heaven" "The Spook Sonata" "Ths Nsw Poor" "Gypsy Jim" "Merry Wives of Gotham" "Rao* With ths Shadow" "Sweet Little Devil" "The Living Mask" 7 "The Gift" "Mister Pitt" "Fedora" "The Way Things Happen" "Rust" "Myrtie" "Ths New Englander" i "The Wonderful Visit" "Assumption of Hannslo" "New Toys" "Antony and Cleopatra" "Chiffon Girl" "The Moon Flower" "The Strong" "We Modems" "The Lady Killer" "Macbeth" "Welded" "Sweet Seventeen" "Man Who Ate the Popomack" "Across ths Street" "Ths Main Line" "Vogues" "Nancy Ann" "Paradise Alley" "The Ancient Mariner" "Helena'a Boys" " I wo Strahgers From NowI>ere'" "Man and the Masses" "Cheaper to Marry" "Flame of LOve" "Whitewashed" 'The Dust Heap" "The Admiral" "Garden of Weeds" "The Bride" "Peg o' My Dreams" "Catskill Dutch" "The Melody Man" "All God's Chillun Got Wings'^ ■Hedds Gabbler" "Round ths Town" "The Leap" "Right to Drsam" I Al Smitk Leagie An AI Smith Theatrical League' seems certain to bs formed within the very near fu- ture. Al already has a world of boosters among all branches of the profession who seem to think he will be a bc'ter cham- pion for their interests than any of the other men men- tioned as having a cha:.ee. The Governor has alwajra held a personal intereat in thea- tricals. Al Smith Is known personally by many managers and players. NINE BlAY SHOWS ARE OUT; EQUITY FORCES BIG HII^ OFF WAYBURN CONFERENCE EXTENDING FOUR WEEKS July 7-Aug. 1 In New York for Instructors in Stage Dancing The Ned Waybum studios of stage dancing wiU hold a four weeks' conference at the New York headquarters, 1841 Broadway, from July 7 until Aug. 1. It Is the outcome of a prepared plan of Ned Wayburn's to bring dancing instructors throughout the country, franchlsed to use the Way- burn system of Instruction, once an- nually or more often in New York to receive the latest methods of dance Instruction adopted by- the Wayburn schools. The four weeks' conference will be attended by stage dance teach- ers from all over. It Is called a Normal Course for Instructors. Waybum has issued the program for the daily course during the month's convention. Nearly every day Mr. Wayburn in person win lec- ture the assembled Instructors on stage dancing and Its requirements, the convention ending August 1 with a good fellowship dinner with the Wayburn school as the host and a Ned Wayburn production entitled "The Dancing Master's Dream," with the cast composed of Ned Wayburn's pupils and proteges. Nine attractions or mors are oft the Broadway list ot will be by Sat- urday, by which time another two are slated to slide, which would make a record withdrawal within a week's period. Of the shows definitely through seven were forced off by Equity, which ordered its members to strike. All were outstanding hits. Among them "Rain" and "Seventh Heaven" are holdovers from last season and have two seasons to their credit notwithstanding. "The Stepping StoneiT ts rated with ths l>est musicals of tho season and drawing record businsss at ths Qlobe. The other hits forced to suspend were "The Nervous Wreck," "The Swan," "The OuUlder" and "LoUl- pop." "Round the Town," a certain flop, stopped suddenly Saturday on the Century Roof, while "The Right to Dream" is slated to exit at the end of this webk. "The Stepping Stones," a big ace for Charles Dillingham, was forced off at the end of its 29th week at the Qlobe. The grosses held steady at $34,000 and more up to Baater, and since then the pace has been around $30,000. at which figure It stopped. Ths Swan Another Octobsr prsmisr ac- corded a splendid next morning outburst "World" (Bronn): "Olves everir Indication of being the most conspicuous success in- troduced this season," while "Mail" (Craig): "Abotit the hap- piest evening la the theatre this season. With the possible excep- tion of "Tarnish.'* no non-mn- sical had received better noticss up to this time. Variety (Lalt) was doabtfal and said: "WIU miss bolng a soUd and long-lived hit" "LoUlpop," H. W. BaTSCs's show, was ths best musical sroduoo4 by that manager In years. It was forced oft at the esd oit tbo }>th week at a pace of $14,000 and had a strong chance to last through. «um> mer. The averaga buainess during ths first four months was around $18,000. T.T.MAn»t FSODUcnra Rufus LeMalre is added to the Shubert group of managers, who have banded together as the Man- ager*' Protective Association. In addition to being an agent LeMalre Is also producing. He has In rehearsal a musical show with book by Fred Thompson and Clifford Gray, music by Her- bert Stothast and Phil Culkln. Sam- my Lee Is staging the dancea and William Oiilmore the book. The cast Includes Elisabeth Hines, Andrew Toombes, Richard Gallagher, Marie Saxon and Roy Royston. ^ £££0L QUITS "FOLLIES" Leon Errol has gone to Kansas City and wont be in the new "Fol- lies." Errol arrived In New York for a chat with Zlegfeld and decided that after being starred in "Sally," and with the promise of a new starrln^- vehicle In the fall, he couldn't very well afTord to merge bis comedy with the many comedians scheduled tor the new "Follies." Errol said he knows where there is a good dentist in Kansas City. He will remain there two weeks. Stepping Stones Superb reviews centering around Dorothy Stone which equalled any personal press trib- ute allotted during the season. "News" (Martle) styled it "the greatest of the Stone shows." while the "Tribune" (Hammond) printed: "Very happy family af- fair." Variety (Fred) sUted. "No question of show being 'in'." "The Nervous Wreck," produced by Lewis A Gordon with Sam H. Harris, got an early start and was sated the top money getter among the non-musicals through foil and winter. The average gross during the height of the run was nearly $19,000. Though easing off, the pace was still profitable when forced off, with last week's takings over $10,000. It completed 34 weeks Saturday. $2,500 FOB PATTLIHE HALL Los Angeles, Juno t. The State Suprems Court today afllrmed the verdict of $2,600, glvsn Pauline Hall four years ago against Oertrude Steele, a local "beauty ex- pert," as damages. As th* result ot a Steele opera- tion Miss Hall's lower Up dropped on each side, and iMie successfully maintained an notion for recovory. Ths Nsrvous Wrsok One of the early openings, Oct 9. and acclaimed from all sides. "Tribune" (Hammond) admitted "the audience thought It was funny." while the "Herald" (Woollcott) was reticent with "last act very funny, the rest mildly amusing." Variety (A.bel) listed It: "A lairgh show of strong box Office potentialities." "The Swan" was greeted as one of the most brilliant comedies of the season and rated close to the top in grosses among the non- musicals. The admission was raised from $2.50 to $3 after opening with- out injury. The average business during ths height of the S2-week run was over $17,000. Last week's pace was $11,000. Like the others, it could have run well into the summer. It was produced by Oilbert Miller for th* Prohman office. L*llipoi» Generally well liked ,althouch 'American" (Dai*) tbooght It "wholesome but undlstinc«lsh*d." "Sun" took ozeeptlon to th* Utl*> and th* "Times" commented fa- vorably upon th* danfilng. Variety (Lalt): "Should run out th* ssason and eloan up on the road." "The Outaidar" was produosd by William Harris and r*gard*d th* strongest of the early spring's dra- matic entrants. It grossed over $14,000 for most of lU II weeks. An attempt was made by the house management to force Its con« tinuance, indicating an expected run through the aummer. The Outsider Rated as weU acted, with Kath- ^Ine Cornell allotted predomi- nating notices, as also was Li- onel Atwlll. Only one critic (Woollcott) *skeptieal.' Variety (I^lt) was emphatic with: "Cannot tail to b« a finan- cial success." "Round the Town" was produced by two newspapermen. It gtopped last week when the gross wan ItjUO, the engagement l>eing one week and four days at the Century RooC Round the Town No doubt expressed concern- ing the mediocrity o< this ebow. except by the "MaU-Telecram," which said, "Off to a flying atart." "Times" (Corbln) about aiummed up in saying. "Blda fair to fall dismally." Variety (Lalt): "Hasn't a chan*e to build up or even cheai: along." "The Right to Dream," put on by new producers, was greeted by uni- form panning In the dallies. Two weeks is enough for it at the Punsh The Right to Dream None thought vuU of this late offering, with "Timea" deeming it "dismal and poorly wrlttwi," and "Tribune" (Hammond) be- lieving it "a terrible bungle." and Judy. The first week's takings were about $1,200 with the aid of cut rates. LOWELL pwTgRMATf DEPAETS Lowell Sherman sailed Tuesday on the Berengarla for London to view Frederick Lonsdale's "The Fake," in which Al Woods will star blm DSKt tail \a thii city,