Variety (June 1924)

■;'»i^fi*'-t.-i' ■ WcdnMdajr, Jtai* 4» 1984 LEGITIMATE ■ 'i-^iiyv; ■•» VARIETY Jf V«Vi INSIDE STUFF ON LEGIT i I It fa not wboUr certain HeTWood Broun win Bld«Mt«p dramatlo oritlolaB ipr "Tb* World" and In faror of Alex. WooUoott, aa r»port«d and generaUx naderatood. The plan waa set but according to report. It was intimated to Broun i( he were relieved ot a portion of hie newepaper work it ahould loUow that a proportionate reduction reet acainat hie name on the ••World'e" payroU. Broon had been agreeable to the switch until that chanoe remark hit feoth of his ears simultaneously, the story says Heywood replied he dtd not mind the extra work as much as he might mind the loss of income. Th«re the ma .».er rests with WooUoott in Ekirope but still attached to the "Tribune-Herald." Before "Round the Town" took its preordained and inglorious flop on the Century Roof it was remarked on the advertising of that show and its ■tar "name," Broun. Below the title, "Round the Town" was heavily featured in ows line, Harry Fox. On the next line and all in one line were three names, in about one-quarter the size type. The sub-featured names were Julius Txnnen, Gloria Foy and Heywood Broun. With the other newspaper men Interested and exploited in connection with the shov, all had a fair chance to gauge themselves as drawing cards for the box-offloe. If Broun should accept a vaudeville engagement he will find himself much better billed, but It's doubtful If the vaudeville people, at one time willing to pay the star of the "World's" staff $1,000 weekly for a few we^a, would be as willing to attentively listen now, after the Century fiasco. Broun Is said to have received |400 a week with the revue. If worth anything at all the first time out as an actor, he was worth much more, just "to use him up." It loolts as th DUgh Broun is through as an actor for the present at least in New York, although still good in lectures for the^ edification of Little Theatre movers. ' The next critic in line to be hooked for his "name is Percy Hammond. Percy, If falling (doubted), may perhaps take a lesson from He)rwood, to the extent that if you can't make them laugh once in IS minutes of talk, don't talk for 18 minutes. ■ _ : Paul Gerard Smith wrote the lyrics for the "Keep Kool" show which came into the Morosco for anticipated summer run last week. In one of his songs, "Fairy Tales." Smith had a few lines kidding the Hearst papers. When the Hearst powers learned of It a representative Informed the show management the lines were offensive, so ^ Aew stanza has been written by Smith. The objectionable lines ran as follows: "If things came to the worst They might work for Hearst If they were writing fairly tales today." This Hearst kick recalls a similar controversy that arose soma years ago when George M. Cohan produced "The Little Millionaire" at Cohan's. In a song "bit," which Sidney Jarvis and Josephine Whittel. playing a "bold, bad pair" of blackmailing reporters sang the following lines: "I'm a reporter from the New York Times'" . , (By Miss Whittel) With the refrain by Jarvis: 'Tm from the Infernal 'Journal.'" It happened that Hearst himself attended a performance and after hearing the Cohan lines issued a drastic order to his dramatic depart- ments not to give a line of publkity until the lines were deleted. The lines were cut. An advance agent of a New York show did acme daring work on the tt>ad this past season. Now that the^show is back in New York, the stories of his f'ght are seeing the light. In Washington the show played earlier in the season at )2.50 top. When the agent went into Washington to fix the house scale on the show's return, he stuck for a IS scale. The house manager thought he was crazy to set such an advanoe over a former 12.60 figure and the agent's own New York bosses re-echoed the "craxy" tefraln. However, the sgent refused to budge. The $t scale was In effect and ttte house rang up |27,000 on the week. The New York offices didn't svsn wire the agent a vote of thanks. This same show reached Chicago at a holiday time. The agent de- aoanded the "special price" (all shows tilted for the holiday in question) be $(. The house manager and his boss wanted to compromise for $4 hoiMe. Again the New York producers and general managers of the show thought the agent was crazy. They let hhn have his way and the IS top resulted in a se*l out. Again no acknowledgment tor the agent's insistence which brought regular money into both "shares" of the house and •ompany. The attorneys in the Producing Managers' Association-Equity flgbt same into attention within the last two weeks, and, although several are Well known along Broadway, at least one la a newcomer. He is £hunuel R. folding, counsel for the P. M. A., associated with the legal firm of Snltkln A Goodman, reaching prominence when he acted as counsel for the cloak ' and suit manufacturers' association, defeating the garment workers' union Sbl a strike flght, winning an Injunction. Mr. Golding has made a legal study of labor unionism. He is not unac aualnted with theatricals, having written the KngliSh version of "The Bronx Ebcpress" two seasons ago for C. B. Cobum. William Klein has been the Shuberta' attorney for years, while Paul Turner has similarly acted for Equity, winning prominence during the actors' strike In 1919. Justus Sheffield, associated with Turner, la • so- ciety man, being well connected In New York. Sheflleld was interested ..In the Provlncetown Playhouse movement at one time. Charles H- Tuttle. who la Klein's trial lawyer. Is a brilliant attorney. He ia of the firm of Davles, Auerbach & Cornell. i > .- iXffiAH GIRL" Bosnnrs PRESENT HUGE HIT $21,000 Last Week—Every. thing Else Off Excepting Sells-Floto Circus When William A. Brady decided to bring out "Simon Called Peter" Cor a New York presentation he little dreamed that among his "first night" I Broadway audience the author, Robert Keable, would be there in person. Keable, who was a chaplain during the war, and made more money out of bookwrltlng than his preaK'hing and lecturing, plans his first trip aoross the ocean next falL Keable has written a number of books, with his greatest returns coming from "Simon Called Peter." Among others were "The Mother of All Liv- ing" and more recently "Recompense" which is a sequel to "Simon," but nbt having the "kick" that his "Simon" story carried. Percy Hammond, sometimes re(erred to as the dean of "cynics" In dra- matic criticism from Chicago to New York, almost got the thrill of his • life when he reviewed "The Klght to Dream" at the Punch and Judy. He found what he termed the worst play he ever saw on Broadway. Several of the agents, Just back from their present season's wotic. In ^ dlscusBing probabilities with producers, desiring their services enext fall. _^hav» come out natfooted that under no coiualderatlon will they have any- thing to do with the "one niehter.x." Only w-eek shows or nothing, they ■ declare. All the staff In the front of the Playhou.w, New York, sport white ..carnations. Tliey are Buppliod fre.sh dally and ch«rged to the expense of ■ "The Show-Off" company. The idea Is taken from the show Itself, the "«how-oft" alwayb being dolled up with a flower in his button hole. The line In the nhow Is: "A man v.'ho a carnation in his lapel and with tiis hat to a siiglit angle will attract the attention of any sensible woman." (Continued on page 42) Boston, June S. As Iat as the legitimate attrac- tions are concerned the town last week went Just one way—toward "The Dream Girl," the new musical at the Wilbur. This show and the circus (Sells-Floto) must have done all the business. The takings for the other four attractions were so poor that they were startling. "In Bamvllle," the all-colored show, came Into the fold Monday night when it opsned at the Tre- mont with the chances good. On top of this another musical Is an- nounced for the Shubert June SO, "Marjorle Daw." Whether the "Dream Girl" can stand up against this opposition Is a question. It is doubtful It it can for while it is generally admitted the show is a good piece ot prop- erty playing a $3 top for Boston during the summer months is a big chance to take. Cohan with his shows, even in the days of real high prices, never scaled the house above 12.60 and made that price go for all shows, Saturday nights and the holidays Included. The people behind "The Dream Girl" evidently don't believe In this policy, or per- hapS there Isn't any reason for' them to believe in it as yet. Last week with nine performances "The Dream Girl" did 121,000. This musical was the only at- traction that played the town last week that was seasonable. At the other three Shubert housea, Shu- bert, Plymouth and Majestic, were shows that couldn't by any stretch of the Imagination be classed as good properties for the end Of May. What If the weather was more like that of late October, the public still believes.that with May only light entertainment can be masticated. Aa a result, "Leah Kleschna," playing the Shubert, with eight performances got only 19,000, and any plans those behind the attrac- tion might have had about taking extra time here went glimmering. An all-star cast with a 19,000 week Is something that just won't go and the attraction went out after the one week advertised. In the same boat but a little worse off was the Mrs. Flske show, "Helena's Boys," at the Plymouth. Hard put to it from the very first week It opened here, thia ahow could get away with but |7,600 tor the final week, a box ofBce figure moat disappointing and lower than any figure Mrs. Flake had ever had chalked up against her in thia city in past years. Booked in too late with too many dramatic attractions In town is the answer. "The Highwayman" at the Ma- jestic did a bit better than Mrs. Flske, but there was a reason tor this as this ahow had an extra performance, playing the Memorial Day matinee, l^r the final week here it touched 18,000. The opening of the new Jams Cowl show, "The Deptha." haa been postponed for a week at the Selwyn next Monday night The perform- ance here Is frankly a tryout and the show is billed for but one week. With the closing of "The High- wayman" at the Majestic this house of the checkered career once again goes back to the film field with a travel picture which has been at Tremont Temple for many weeks switched there for this week at least. Last Week's Estimates *ahs Dream Qiri," Wilbur (4th week), 121,000, with nine showa. "The Whole Town's Talking," Plymouth (1st week; third engage- ment same house this season). Final week at this house Mrs. Flske did 17,(00 without any extra per- formance. "In Bamvllle." Tremont (lat week). Show opened last night after several weeks of plcturea. What Doris Keane Did b Variety of May 14, the bualneaa ot Doria Keane tn "Romance" at the Playhouse, IjOs Angelea, waa under-eati- mated to per cent. In justice to Miss Keane's popularity and drawing power the correct approximate grosses for the three week's engageident of "Romance" are given. For the firat week the tak- ings were over |10,900; the sec- ond week, around 19,800, and the third week, 19,000. That business Is considered exceptional for a revival in a new theatre and under general bad coast conditions. Miss Keane's success in Los An- geles Is reported having led to other coast bookings for "Ro- mance." CONTEST WILL W. V. Briahtman. Author of "BuH- ler," Concerned New Bedford, Maaa., June I. An action has t>een filed In the Bristol county probate court, ait Taunton, over the wiU of John F. Brightman, ot FaJl River, father ot William V. Brightman, tfas play- wright, author ot "Mr. BattUng Buttler." The elder Brightman died March 29 last, leaving his estate to his sister, Nellie Darling, who filed the will for probate. The sum ot $100 and a watota waa left to the son, whom the father had not seen for many years. The estate la valued at 140,000. The unique phaae of the contest la the appearance, aa a contestant, ot Hannah J. Allen, of Provldenos, who obtained a divorce from the decedent in 1890. She aska part of the eataU aa heir-at-law ot her daughter, who was born, the mother asserts, on Oct 10, 188J, and died 12 hours after birth. Her exptana- tien ot the fact that no record of the death is on file la that her hus- band burled the Infant'a body on Oct 11, 1888, in a lonely spot with- out filing any record of the birth or death. The charge is that undue influ- ence was used by someone to indues the father to make sucAt a wllL $16,000 FOR BORDONi Played Nine Performances Week on Coaat LssI Los Angelea, June S. Irene Bordonl In nine perform- ancea here laat week did 116,000 groaa. "Six Cylinder Love" in lU first week at the Morosco got 18.800, and the second week of "MagnoUs," at the MaJesUe, |6,600. PUYWRIGHTS NOT INTERES1ED IN SI TOP Promoters Meet Unexpected Indifference—Want Orig- inal Plays The new Commonwealth Circuit, Intending to produce road shows at |1 top next aeasoa. seema to havs run up against a snag in operatloa through Its Inability to interest standard stage authors on account ot small royalty possibilities. The present plan had been to sell the shows outright to the theatres for |1,S00. with a (0-50 split oa grosses over tl,000. The planners had not taken the playwright angls into consideration. They are find* ing themselves up against it in Un- Ing up good plays by known au« thors since the money inducements do not Interest the established play* wrIght The heads o( the elroalt ars. working on a scheme to take over plays from their creators at a AM weekly rental ia lieu of the cus- tomary royalty. If this can be ac« oompllshed it is said it wiU neces- sarily ralss the ante on the weeklr cost ot the show to the thsatrs owners. The new circuit claims It win go in for originals and will not resort to road-showing Broadway suc- cesses, a policy formerly utilised by Stair and Havlla. JOLSON'S SHOW CLOSED Second Week in Saa PrsMcisoo—* Did 186,000—Star Tired Ban IVaaclaoo, June I. Ai Jolson abruptly closed "Bom« bo" at the and ot the sseond wtik at the Curran when the gross waa 188,000. Ths Jolson ahow was ta' hav« played SaorMaeats ysstsrday and Oakland tonight but Jolsoa said a throat apeciallat told hhn to look after hia roles. The "Bmnbo" oolnsany left tor. New York yestsrdajr. It Is aot az« psotsd'Jolsoa wlU Isay* ths co^ for a while. 0e likes It oat hsra. Laat week at ths AJoaaar "PoUr Preferred" did |4.M«. The Columbia continues darki and the only legit this wssk is at tha .^ Alcasar, "Julio and Roaurstts." CHORISTER NOT ACTRESS^ Judge McTigue Handa Down De- cision in Test Caas Judge McTlgue, New York city, has decided a chorus girl is not aa "actress." His rullfig In an action brought by Ek)uity, In behalf of one of Its members, throws the chorus girls into ths "unskilled" labor olasa. The test 'case was brought to establish the legal status of affairs fo'llowlng the reorganization of "Spice of 1023" after the Chicago run. The damages sought in the action, entitled "Ruth Elliott vs. R. Robert Law et al," Is for one gill's salary for one v/eek, a nominal .sum, 130. There Is a new law that permits laborers to hold shareholders^ oer- tif1cate.s In corporations for wages due them. Equity contended that as chorus girls are actresses the law docs not apply to them. The court held otherwise and the case will be appealed. Edelatsn Cxpeeted Out *19e YourssU," the new Jack Me- Oowaa ahow in which Ernest Sdel- sten la Intereated, resiunea re- hearsals Wednesday. EXletetsa, who has been in a k>cal howital. Is sac- pected to leave today. Cyril Ksiohtly In "Sprina Cleaning Loa Angelea, June 8.- OyrO Kelghtly haa been chosen to play ths lead opposlts Pauline Fredericks In "Spring Cleeminc" at the Playhouse. SHOWS nr v. t. aid gohheht (Continued froan Page 14) week. Finished up to about 111.- 000. May business among beat house ever had and show might have run through summer. "Two Strangara Prom Nowhere,* Bayea (9th week). Mystery plar to 18,000 and leas, but still con- tlnuea. Backera taking steady loas. "Voguee of 10M/ Shubert (11th week). Withdrawal ot other musi- cals through strike. may benefit this ona Business fairly good, but never big. Laat week |12,00* or less. ' "White Cargo." 68d St (81st week). Management claiming summer continuance. Lcuit week figured around 18,000; excellent here. Cut ratea havs aided considerably with ahow steady draw. Ida Mack Joins "Melody Man" Ida Mack (Regal and Mack) haa joined the Lew Fielda' ahow, 'Tha Melody Man," at tha 49th Street. THURSTON HALL FAR AWAY Thia group picture shows Thurston Hall and his company of players upon their arrival at Cape Town, South Africa, on their worldli tour. The Hall players opened In Johannesburg, April tS, ths Initial attraction being "The Broken Wing," followed by "So This Is London," "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife" and others of the regular repertoire list Ia the picture. Hall Is sitting In the center with his hands folded. To tM right is his leading lady, Gladys Webster, daughter of George P. WSbl*en a former partner of William A. Brady. The man with the mouatachs aM.': the upper left is Ward McAllister, an American actor.