Variety (July 1924)

Wednesday, July 9. 1984 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 11 CONVENTION BUGHT ON THEATRICALS PRESAGES DULLNESS UNHL ELOON 22 Shows Remaining on Broadway—Producers* An- nouncements Indicate Holding Back Until No- vember—'24-'25 Season to Slow Start—Legit Business Last Week ROGER KAHN MAY BECOME LEGITPRODUCER Feeling along Broadway U that the political situation will have a material effect on theatricals during the flrst part of the new season, starting about Labor Day or before. That may explain the lassitude ot producers, a nuni-ber of promlneni managers, however, also postponing production because of the Equity dispute. The decision In the Fidel- ity case denying temporary injunc- tion relief appeared to have not re- sulted in changlns the general situ- ation. The blight of the Democratic National Convention itself may sup- ply an indication of what to expect la'.cr on. The Presidential campaign will see three CMiidldntes in the field. Bitterness in the viewpoint, with the Ku Klux Klan issue a prin- cipal factor, is expected to result in a specta'-ular race. a la further pointed out that the financial barometer is against nor- mal business conditions until after the election. Call money is quoted chcnp. with little of it boing lent out. Ei;her ti spirit of pessimism or a fecljng that the '24-'25 season will get off to a slow start has brought out statements from managers that they do not intend to become active until November. The wholesale wlthdrav.-al of at- tractions has not aided the remain- ing shows, a sure test of the axiom that a weak play will not draw un- der any conditions. Broadway's list has been cut in half, but busi- ness last week was little better than the previous week, only a good weather break over the Fourth of July lending some aid. and this week started off considerably un- der last. This is the third week of the con- vention, during which period not less than 23 attractions have been killed off. Thirteen shows quit th« tftat week the political show started at Madison Square Garden. Last week eight more went out, and this Saturday will see from two to five others disappear. Four of the new productions lured onto Broadway by the con- vention closed Saturday and are regarded as total losses. Qrosses from 11,200 to $1,600 were regis- tered by them. Houses were willing to permit continuance provided the (Continued on page S9) Commonwealth—Dues According to reports Equity is •ncourasing the commonwe:^ltli productions which have been prevalent this spring and sum- mer to keep actors employed and eligible fiir the dups list. Were it not for the number of commonwealth shows that have' already been done and those planned, the idle actors would have t.iken out temporary re- leases fiom iKiyment of dues, v.hlch they could car»y with im- munity until securing an en- g:>Kenienl next season. M.my of the actors that have fiillen for the commonwealth ar- rangement are not only finding themselves out time and money when the shows flop, but also ad- ditional sums for dues from their meagre reserve funds. They claim that as long as they are accepting this kind of work their dues must be promptly paid or else Equity could have them or('ered out of the cast, since the commonwealth shows are all pro- duced by Independent producers. Son of Otto Kahn Reported to Have Made Business Con- nection with Father Roger Wolfe Kahn. son of Otto H. Kahn, banker and patron of the arts, is said to be looking forward to becoming a producer of legiti- mate attractions next season. He is now in Europe and is not ex- pected back for two months. Reports in New York say that young Kahn has effected a working agreement with a prominent Broad- way producer and, despite the fact that he is but 17 years old, there seems to be every reason to believe that the youth is sincere in his de- sire to produce plays. The likeli- hood is that hi will produce mu- sical plays and use his band In the first production. Otto H. Kahn has said he will back his son to the limit and if the boy wants a theatre of his ov.-n he can have it. ''Sweeney Todd, the Barber of Fleet St.; or^ The String of Pearls" ■<( The booking of "Sweeney Todd," an Old English melodrama, into the Frazee next week by Wendell Philips Dodge may bring about a civil suit, with B. K. Bimberg, of the 52d Street theatre, the com- plainant. Dodge posted $700 as ad- vance rent with Bimberg, and also arranged to build a trap In the 52d Street stage. The little westslde house has no basement and excavation was nec- essary. Last week Bimberg vas advised by Dodge that he had booked the attraction elsewhere, but that he is witting to defray the expense Incurred. Under the arrangement made Bimberg was to pay for the excavating, while Dodge agreed to build the trap mechanism. According to Bim- berg'fl claim, however, the house was to have been rented for four weeks by Dodge. "Sweeney Todd, the Barber of Fleet Street; or. The String of Pearls," Is one of the oldest Brit- ish mellers. The action calls for a trap, since the victim after being seated in the barber's chair, Is dropped into the cellar (well known to students of the drama). The balance ot the yarn has to do with making sausage out ot the victim. Dodge will offer a double bill, the other section ot the program being the ancient burlesque operetta. "Bombastes Furioso." English players have been cast for the double bill, the company including Robert Vivian, Edward Jephson, Elwyn E^ton, Charl..-s Penman, Frank Hubert. William A. Evans, Herbert Radus, George Sydenham, Percy Baverstock, Mer- cedes Desmore, Venle Atherton. Raphaello Ottlano and Jeanie Beggs. I 72 CHORUS GIRLS IN NEW 'CANITIES" Carroll's Company Will Num- ber 110 in All—Chorus Rehearsing The new edition ot Earl Carroll's "Vanities" will enlist a cast of 110 players, with 72 of them chorus girls in groups of 24 each. Thus far Carroll has signed Joe Cook, Margaret Hawkesworth and several others, but Is still angling tor two other big names to grace the cast. The chorus went Into rehearsal this week under the direction ot Sammy Lee. Carroll Is completing his cast of principals and will have tbem In re- hearsal next week. BAD CHECKS AND LABOR COMR : AT FINISH OF FASHION SHOW Actors with Claims of Over $5,000 Looking for Money from Those Held Responsible—Show Started Back in January Los Angeles. July 8. George Oswald, Mrs. Joseph A. Small and Dick Castle were held responsible for the salaries of the 72 members of the cast of "Mile. Magnificent" which was closed by a strike ot the cast prior to the eve- ning performance June 28 at the Mason, where three performances had been given. „ These findings were made by Dep- uty Labor Commissioner Stelnick J>* the Labor Bureau at a prelim- inary hearing on the matter, fol- • lowing the presentation of the con- tract entered Into between the three people for the production ot the _«how. Commis.iloner Stelnick set the hearing for July 9. at which time the performers who presented claims Of »5,267.50 will bo asked to present proof. Commissioner Stelnick told the attorneys and principals in the mat- 'er that when ho determined the nmount due he would Institute im- mtdiMtciy civil and- criminal action 10 m.ii.p the responsible people meet 'SUNSHINE' FOLLOWS 'RAIN' Sequel Concerns "Sadie Thompson's" Daughter—For Fail Production "Sunshine," a play written to fol- low "Rain," by Wm. Dugan, may see production in the fall. The action is concerned with Sadie Thompson's daughter and a naval officer who knew the heroine of "Rain" in the South Sea Islands and Is puzzled at the striking re- semblance. Jones and Green have an option on the production rights, but both Sam Harris and W. Somerset Maugham may be inter^ted because of the fact.that it is looked upon as a sequence to Maugham's "Rain." DELTSIA WITH SELWTNS The Selwyns have Alice Delysia under contract tor next season, and will present her in a comedy-drama, "The Adventurers," written by the Ouitrys. She has heretofore ap- peared In musicals on this side of the Atlantic. Delysla will be co-featured with a male star, as yet not decided upon. The show will open In Oc- tober. 21 B'WAY SHOWS STOP (Continued from page 1) recorded by Variety for summer productions, for which reason no comment on such attractions Is car- ried below. The new bunch which "took the veil" are: "The Locked Door," Cort; "The Blue Bandanna," Vanderbilt; "Shooting Shadows," Rltz, and "Try It with Alice," at the 5 2d Street. The litter aho^ lasted but one week, the others about two weeks. The other five closings included three successes—"The Potters," "The Goose Hangs High" and "Mr. Bat- tling Buttler." The latter show was announced to shut two- weeks ago, but risked an extra week when "Poppy" ended Its engagement In- stead. "Spring Cleaning" closes at the Eltinge Saturday; so does "Meet the Wife" at the Klaw. Last Satur- day. "All God's Chillun Got Wings" stopped in the Village. "The Potters" was produced at the Plymouth by Richard Herndon and ran 30 weeks. It started mildly, but after the first of the year started Jumping and maintained a pace of over $14,000 weekly until Easter. During the spring it eased oft. but was making money up un- til the opening of the convention. THE POTTERS Favorably impressed all the dailies and having the "World" call it, "indispensable." "Sun" (Rathbun) predicted it, "a big hit" VKhile the "Times" (Cerbin) described it as, "a wholesome comedy." Variety (Ibee) labeled it, "as « laugh play has chance of mod- erate stay." "The Goose Hangs High" was their obligations. There were only eight Equity members In the cast with the bal- ance ot the performers mostly ama- teurs, some 16 and 17 years of age. Many had been rehearsing tor the project since last February. The history of the venture dates back to last January, when Walter D. Fleck approached Ernest Joy, at that time the Equity man here, and informed him that he was going to stage a fashion revue, which would be costumed by local nverchants and that he would like to engage people through the organization. Joy at that time Informed him that as It was not a theatrical per- formance Equity was not interested. Shortly after that conference Fleck rented desk room from Wal- ter Wills, who conducts a dance hall in the assembly room belonging to Equity. There he began engag- ing girls tor the revue. March 24, « complaint was made by a girl to the Hollywood police station that Fleck had endeavored (Continued on page }•) SPANISH SINGER'S DEBUT De'Hidalgo With Met. and Chieaga Operas Elvira de Hidalgo, Spanish colora- tura soprano, makes her American debut in the fall with the Metro- politan and the Chicago opera com- panies. -* Following the ooera season she goes on a concert tour under 3. Hurok's direction. produced by the Dramatists' Guild, a group of playwrights who landed a success on their first try. It ran 22 weeks at the Bijou. The weekly pace was consistently between $9,000 and $10,000 at this small-ca- pacity theatre, and It did not have a losing week until the convention opened. The spring pace was $7,000 or over. For the last two weeks takings dropped to $3,600. ' GOOSE HANGS HIGH Nicely received on the part of the critics with James Forbes especially acclaimed for his stag- ing. Variety (Lait) tendered; "looks set for • long flight." "The Bride," produced by Jewett and Brennan, stayed nine weeks at the 39th Street. For the first two months the average gross was $5,000, which was hardly profitable. When the convention opened the takings dropped to $2,500. LESTER ALLEN — George White's Scandals, Apollo, New York, Now The leading comedian of America's Foremost Revue. Playing here now we have two representative English comics; one featured with his native revue and the other with one of ours. Their style and their work differ, but in the "Scandals" Lester Allen embodies their diversified talents, displayed by playing travesty, the light and low comedy skits, and dancing. Which prot)al)Iy proves that a repre.ientative American comedian posses.sen versatility. Yen'' Anyway, Jack Lait said, "Cop* the big laughs ot the show—a scream " „ . THE BRIDE Oiversified notices on Peggy Wood's invasion of the straight field with actual honors going to Ferdinand Qottschalk. "Tribune" (Hammond) and "World" (Broun) failed to be impressed with the pla^ although other dailies wsre ■miably inclined. Variety declared, "looks like a winner in this intimate house." "Spring Cleaning" was produced at the Eltinge by the Selwyns, and is withdrawing' after a run ot 3$ weeks. It is rated as one of the smartest comedies ot the season, and was a big money maker, never having a losing week until the con- vention opened. Business was bet- ter after the first ot the year than before, and the average pace untU after Easter was $14,000 weekly. SPRING CLEANING Opinions coincided the piece would meet with success with "World" (Broun) predicting sim- ilarly although calling it a poor play. Opened Nov. 9. Variety (Ibee) said, "Should be cleaning up long after the robins start chirping agsin." "Meet thj Wife" was produced bjr Rosalie Stewart and the late Bert P'rench, running II weeks at the Klaw. For the first five months It averaged about $11,000, going be- yond that figure at times. Whlls MEET THE WIFE Well liked but not catching many of the first string review- ers. "Mail" conceded it "looks like a long run success* and the "World" termed it, "bright and merry." Opened Nov. 26. Variety (Ibee) quoted, "tMd chance to land for a fair rw»i.* not a capacity attraction, tt Is classed with the season's hits, and was easily the beat Csrce presented.