Variety (July 1924)

VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, July 9, 1921 ^ $8,000 REFUND FOR "TOPSY AND EVA" SENT "NANETTE" INTO LOOP LEAD Rosetta Duncan's MisfcHrtune Abo Helped "Easy Street"—"Amber Fluid's" Quick Demise—"Abie" Still Around $12,000 and Draws Attention Chicago, July 9. Dismisaal of the "Topay and Eva" audience Friday (Fourth) and the refundins of money for tickets pur- chased for the Saturday matinee and night performances pushed "No, No, Nanette," into the leading rross of the town last week. "Easy Street" also received great help from the Selwyn Incident, particularly Friday Jilght, for It didn't take "Nanette" long to sell out after the "Topsy" audience was dismissed, with ihe re- salt that the Woods theatre was next In line. "Easy Street" picked up a gross close to $10,000. which'returned to Ralph Kettering much of the loss sustained at the Playhouse. Close to $8,000 was refunded at The Selwyn for the three lost perform- ances. "Nanette" was running ahead of "Topsy" up to the time of the trouble, because of a bigger gross in the Sunday night business. The Harris attraction, howler, hasn't drawn full balcony trade, something "Topsy" always does, and this weak- nesa would have made it another neck-and-necl: race between the Twin theatre attractions if "Topsy" had played out the week. It's prob- able the gross of $20,000 was the highest ever drawn at the HarrLs. "The Amber Fluid" met a quick death at the Princess, lasting one week. The premiere drew a sale of less than $1,000. The Fourth of July audience was the scantiest hoiiday theatrical assemblage ever spotted here, not sizing up for more than $200, if that. The Princess is dark again. "A Trial Honeymoon" Isn't Indica- tive of any big summer money at the I>a \BalIe. It got away to a small gross start, and considerable picking up will have to be done to hold it In, regardless of the operating expenses. It's problematic what effect the ■ "Topiy" trouble will have on the business at the Selwyn. A shrewd ad campaign started oft "Topsy and Kva" last night after the Sunday night performance was also missed. Some claim the "Topsy" sales will go higher than ever because of public sympathy. Pending the uncertainties of the Selwyn attraction to prolong its rec- ord pace, "Nanette" promises to step out for the pace-setting gross of the town. It's been an uphill fight at the Harris, with the turn coming when Harry Frazee made important cast changes. As has been stated, the balcony sales can be improved at the Harris. The lower floor is prac- tically capacity at all performances. "Wlldflower" now Intends to play out the month at the Qarrick, and it's doubtful If the attraction will draw more than a three week's rest before opening Labor Day in Boston. "Artists and Models" has slipped into a moderate summer pace at the Apollo. Considering the weather break for the holiday week, sales for all the dramatic attractions were ex- ceedingly meager. "Sun Up" tried the Great Northern In the transfer from La Salle, but did nothing ex- cept add to the list of shows which draw a quick exit after halting at that theatre. "Sun Up" closes Sat- urday night. "On the Stairs" and "The Three of Us" were both below $5,000, with the former probably outliving the latter in the next fort- night, since there is a financial tie- up at the Central that probably will hold in the attraction. "Abie's" Eye Ad "Abie's Irish Rose" is now featur- ing the last eight weeks of the sum- mer prices. The Sunday ad was an eye-attractor. They're not wor- rying at the Studebaker, for all signs point to the attraction easily reaching Christmas, the goal marked I off when the piece opened here. ' "The Deluge" is doing what was ex- pected, proving a good summer at- traction for the Cort at low operat- ing expenses. "Easy Street" is reported to have the Woods until Labor Day, when this house returns to the movie at- mosphere. Kettering has made money the past two weeks, and If the "breaks" continue the young local producer will be ahead de- spite some heavy losses checked when the piece played the Play- house. While the remarkable weather continues the local managers aren't backward In expressing fear that September and October -will bring them the heat that will, kill off the fall premieres of the opening of the new season. There has been only one night which could be called "summer heat" thus far. That's the main reason why there are 11 the- atres open instead of the usual Ave at this period of the year. Last week's estimates: "Th« Amber Fluid" (Princess, Ist and final week) .Healthy flqp. 'Twas strange showmanship that brought such a play In at this time of year. About $2,300 for gross. "A Trial Honeymoon" (LaSalle, 1st week). Trying for summer run. no doubt, with viewpoint of gaining attention to make neighboring ter- ritory valuable for fall tour. Won't get that far unless stronger Impetus pops up. Reports around $0,000. "No, No, Nanette," (Harris, 9th week). Holding steady good call that came with cast change. Looks now as if it would go beyond Labor Day and hold house until Harris office ready to send "Rain." If It didn't hit $20,000 w.asn't far from it. "Topsy and Eva' (Selwyn, 27th week). Unfortunate C;icero mix-up stopped whirlwind engagement Fri- day night, which would have been 25Sd consecutive performance. Last three performances of week called oft; also Sunday night of this week. Drew $12,000 up to time of trouble. Would have gone close to $20,000 on week, judging from refunds made. Interesting to observe how attraction will hold after newspaper notoriety over "Topsy's' trouble with police. "Wildflower" (Garrick, 11th week). Going along easily, making little money for attraction, but probably being kept in tq gamble with uncer- tain Chicago summer weather. Fig- ured $15,000. "Artists and Models" (Apollo, Sth week). Down to moderate summer pace, finding gro.ss of around $20,000 challenged by "Nanette." Under conditions of bookings In town can easily play out string here. Cast financially arranged for summer sales. ' "Abie's Irish Rose" (Studebaker, 28th week). Everybody smiling at this theatre for profitable split, at- traction and house. Eight weeks more of summer prices, which again gave up strong $12,000 gross. "On the SUirs' (Central, Bth week). Little less than $4,000, yet no indication ship will be deserted at this theatre. "The Three of Us" (Playhouse, 2d week). Far from winning sales on reported gross of $4,000, but will be kept in for at least another fortnight. They keep trying under Lester Bry- ant's roof, anyway. "The Deluge" (Cort, Sd week). Considered one of finest plays in town, but didn't move beyond $6,000. This is profit money for the house. "Easy Street" (Woods, 2d week). Best week of whole career of the piece, figuring gross little under $10,000. Previous losses nearly all wiped out. "Sun-Up" (Great Northern, 9th week). Gained nothing by transfer- ring from La Salle, for gross didn't size up stronger than $5,300. Moves out of town this week. Guarantees for Try-Outs Although the number of try- outs Is far under normal this summer, some new producers are aald to b« (ailing for guarantees in resort theatres. "Love 'Em and Leave 'Bm" Is reported hav- ing guaranteed $4,000 for a week at Asbury Park and I<ong Branch while the show actually grossed $1,700. "Love 'Em" was written by John Weaver, the Brooklyn newspaper men, who recently married Feggy Wood. It Is doubt- ful if the show will turn up on Broadway. DEPENDENCE ON ELKS NO GOOD IN BOSTON Like Convention in New York —Two Legtt Shows Continue Boston, July £. Although they had before them the experience of their New York brothers with the Democratic con- vention those connected with the local theatres lived in hope up to the opening of this week that the Elks' convention being staged here for a week might be sutficient to give business a kick upward, some- thing needed and would be appre- ciated. What slight hope the managers had was pretty weli crashed by Monday night, however, after one of the hottest days of the season, with the parks and shore resorts getting all the play and the theatres being ducked as though they had diphtheria signs placarded on them. As It stands now the two summer shows playing here have been find- ing the going rather tough the past couple of weeks. Two musicals for summer in Boston Is a bit top heavy. Every time the weather gets warm It takes the theatres two or three days to recover and by then another hot spell has arrived. "Marjorie Daw" is booked Into 4he Shubert starting next week. If this musical gets anything like a break from the reviewers it will probably pull from "The Dream Girl," as the all-colored Slssle and Blake show should be on the way then with the Tremont either dark or housing some different sort of an attraction. The Filene people opened with their amateur production, "The Cad- die Girl," at the Selwyn last night. This show made a record for busi- ness when it played the Colonial quite a few weeks back for one week, and If the weather gives them a break the show will likely clean up. Last week's estimates: "In Bamville," Tremont—Did $12,- 000, with aoout two more weeks' booking allowed for this city. "The Dream Girl/'Wilbur—Slipped off to $14,000 last week. Has had long money-making run here, and with the weather against it is show- ing signs of slipping. SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENF Figure* eetimatad and eommant point te aeme attraction* being Micce**ful, whil* the *am* tr«*« a cer*dit* d te other* might euggest madioerity or lo**. Tho varianc* i* oxplainod in the difforence in hou*« eapacitJoa, with th* varyins ovorhoad. Alao tho six* of east, with eoneoquont difforoneo in noe***«ry groa* for profit. Varianco in bu*ino«* nece**ary for muaioal attraetion a* againat dramatie play i* also een«(derod. TWO RECORDS GO "Nervous Wreck" Got $9,847 in L. A. Last Week; "The Cat," $9,500 Sttmmer Subscription l^ for VARIETY 3 months, $1.75 Mail name and address to VABIETT, 154 West 46th Street, Hew York City. COHAN REVIVAL OFF Writing Memoir* Coneuming All of GeA-ge'* Time Work on the n>emolrs of George M. Cohan, to be captioned "Twen- ty Years on Broadway," Interfered with the proi osed plan to make an all-star, 100 per cent. non-Equity revival of Cohan's "Seven Keys to Bn Id pate." 'Cohan can't stop work on hi* book. He never did two things at a time and marie a success of both, he says. So the revival is off. Had the revival gone through, the cast would have included Cohan, Henry Miller, Mrs. Flake, William Collier, Ruth Chatterton and other brilliant artists. •I' "Fashion"—Craig and Young John Craig Is assembling a cast for a series of performances of "Fashion" to be given at the Am- phitheatre at Maryarden, N. H., the latter part of the month. Craig and Mary Young will head the cast. Jjoa Angeles, July 8. The return engagement of "The Nervous Wreck," In Its flrst week at the Majestic broke the house rec- ord, going to $9,847. "The Cat and the Canary," con- cluding Us third week at the Mo- rosco, topped that theatre's highest gross of the season and hung up a mark of $9,500. The opening of Raymond Hitch- cock In "The Caliph" at the Bilt- more has been postponed un'. 1 July 21. PAT MABBE IK "ETES" Marguerite and Gill, who Joined "Innocent Eyes" when Mistlnguette left. Marguerite taking the role left vacant by the French woman, will leave the show Saturday. Fay Marbe will assume the twice vacated role with tho Monday per- formance. CAST FOE "BOYS ABD JUDY" John Henry Mears has begun as- sembling a cast for "The Boys and Judy," a new comedy by Mark Swan In whlcb Mariv> Mears will be fea- tured. ■ "Abie'* irich Rose," Republic <112th week). Another flock of attrac- tions stopped Saturday, conven- tion again blamed for keeping regular vialtors away. Fourth of July did nc. help, ". . cloudy and moderate Saturday favored thea- tre somewhat. "Able," with ex- tra matinee, got $10,000. "Beggar on Horseback," Broadhurst (22nd week). Probably played to loss last two weeks. Business picked up, show going into cut rates, and gross reaching $9,000, $1,500 better than previous week. Continuance appears to be matter of weather. That goes for some others sticking It out. "Chariot'* Revue," Selwyn (27th week). Held to about same gross as week previous. Takings quoted at $16,000. ^rop in last two weeks was first break in splendid busi- ness English show drew right along. "Cobra," Hudson (12th week). Fell off almost 50 per cent when Dem- ocrats started world's most stub- born convention. Takings quoted over $6,000. Little better than even break. "Expressing Willie," 48th Street (13th week). Dropped like a plummet when weather got warm, with convention and Fourth send- ing that class of persons who pat- ronited "Willie" out of town. Re- ported easing off last week to $6,600. Agency sales virtually nil. "Fata Morgana," Lyceum (19th week). Hardly getting by of late. Plans call for moving show to Garrick after this week. Esti- mated around $4,000. "Follies," New Amsterdam (third week).- With "Scandals" hns been getting bulk of Broadway's busi- ness since opening. Claimed over $43,000 last week without ex- tra matinee. "Her Way Out," Gaiety (3d week). Listed for another two week*, al- though business no better than other new produ ' >ns. Able to hold off like them because show is co-operative; $3,000 or less re- ported. "I'll Say She Is," Casino (Sth week). Held to eight performances last week, rule along Broadway. Is claimed to have gotten same gross as previous week. Over $17,500. May regain some of lost pace from now on. Musical bit. "Innocent Eye*," Winter Garden (8tb week). Reported away off. With name players out of cast, show can break even at $15,000 weekly. Estimated having done somewhat better than that groas last week. Can hardly go through summer, however. "Keep Kool," Globe (8tb wee». Moved here from Morosco Mon- day. Last week's takings an- other sharp drop from previous week; approximately $8,000; dis- tinctly losing pace. Management hopes for betterment through di- rect Broadway location. "Kid Boots," Earl Carroll (28th week). "Boots" going along In third place now, "Follies" and "Scandals" topping list Busineas holds to great figure for this Zleg- feld show. Last week again around $30,000. "Little Jescie James," Little (48th week). Stringing out run, be- cause attraction can operate at very low gross for mueical. FYob- ably $6,000 weekly. "Meet the Wife," Klaw (3Jd week). Pinal week. Crashed under $4,000 two weeks ago, when heat and convention entered together. Last week reported little better. Show a big winner; one of season's hits. "Mr. Battling Buttler," Times Square. Stopped Saturday. Was to have closed week earlier, but management took a chance when "Poppy" was withdrawn. Ran 40 "Plain Jane," S-im H. Harris (9th week). Ran Into losing business when moved from New Amster- dam two weeks ago. Last week slightly better, when threatening week-end favorable break for the- atres. Between $8,000 and $9,000. "Scandala," Apollo (2d week). Opened at $11 top. First week played nine performances (extra matinee July Fourth), sending gross to nearly $36,500. Record for house. Show can get around $30,000 normally at $4.40 top. "Shooting Shadows," Ritz (3d week). One of low gross new shows continuing attraction guar- anteeing house again.:t operating loss. Estimated less than $2,000 "So This I* Politic*," Henry Miller (4th week). Though trade last two weeks $3,000 or under, man- agement hopeful of regaining losses by sticking. Plans call for continuance until Aug. 1(. "Spring Cleaning," Eltinge (36th week). Final week. Convention low level of under $4,000 first loalng week. Picked up over $1,(00, with gross nearly $6,000 last week. "The Blue Bandanna," Vanderbllt. Taken off Saturday at end of second week. One of six or mor* flops which entered late in June with expectations of convention trade. Maybe $2,000 last week "The Bride," $9th St. Closed last week after trade had been cut In half by convention bloomer. Re- ported around $2,500. "The Gooaa Hang* High," BijAu. Taken off Saturday at end of 22d week. Gross also dropped 50 per- cent, with advent of convention. About $3,500. "The Locked Door," Cort. Stoppei Saturday after battling for two weeks and half. Sum required to « protect house hot posted. Last week estimated hardly over $1,500. "The Potter*," Plymouth. Closed Saturday also convention victim. Ran 30 weeks. One of season'* comedy successes that expected to stfck through July. About $5,000. "The Show-Off," Playhouse (23d week). (Quoted little under $8,000, drop from previous week. "That gross however high in present going. Likely to coast along at. better trade and regarded best' candidate for '•olding over into fall. "Try It With Alice," 52d St. Closed abruptly after playing one week. Lowest gross among new shows. Estimated around $1,000. "The Wonderful Visit," Princess (Sth week). Opened originally last winter at Lenox Hijl. Reopened here May 14. Cut rating, with company co-operative. Probably $2,500. "Vogue* and Frolks," Shubert (16th week). Last half of last week dark. Closed temporarily through reported illness of Odette MyrtlL Had been on six performance basis. Gross very bad at between $6,000 and $7,000. Last week haU that drawn. Reopened Monday. "White Cargo," Daly's 63d St. (3«th week). Management expectant of running this money maker through summer. Still strong seller In cut rates. Quite satis- factory for house and show, now at $4,500. ; Attractions outside Times squarg) district: Tashion," Greenwich Village, moves to Cort next week. "Grand Street Follies" at Neigh- borhood Playhouse. "Mud" at Cherry Lane. "Ka-Bu-Ki" yer- slon of Japanese entertainment opened at Threshold theatre Monday. "All God's Chillun Got Wlnga" closed Saturday at Provlncetown Playhouse. BRITISH FLEET IN SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR Theatre Managers Waiting for It—Business Last Week San Francisco, July 8. The British fleet anchored ye«- terday in the harbor with the the- atrical managers prepared. Special features were billed for the vaude- ville and picture houses with en- tertainment aimed to amuse the Britishers. Last week "Lightnln'" on its re- * turn to the Columbia and second week, did $7,000. The Lionel Barry- more play, "Laugh, Clown, Lnugh," also second week, got $11,000, $1,000 off from Its previous week at the Curran. "The Caliph," with Raymond Hitchcock, on its run at the Alcazar, did $7,200. Yi Doris Keane In "Romance" at the ' ' Curran this week, with Columbia dark and "Caliph" continuing at Alcazar. C. K. HOYLABD SUED BY WIFE Chicago, July 8. Anna K. Hoyland has sued Charles K. Hoyland of Hoyland & Lemle, a ^m handling advertisements for theatrical curtain.<<, for separate maintenance. Hoyland was formerly with Sos- man A Landis and William Lenile waa formerly of Barrett & Lemle, who operated the National theafr-, for a time.