Variety (August 1924)

'•T^t.Tit;-" * - ;■*?.',•'. 3'»OS*'VK>'Tjt^ -. fi^fwrnffscr: '■ -■ r- yfiin—day, August SO. 18M LEGITIMATE '^rr. jSh^^^m^^i^K'iVimfww ' VARIETY' I■,I rT = 18 *'"' LO(rS STARTLING MONEY GROSS PACE EVEN ACCELERATED OVER LAST WEEK .it Nanette*' Hit $23,000—Colored Show on First ^ Week Got $21,000—Duncans* Show, with Sunday vHiOwt, $22,000—Dramatics Feel Improvement— • Ho Summer This Summer in Chicago ^ ■ 'Chicago, Aug. 19. IfoUr attractions within a stone's throw of each other crashed out big arosiws last week. It's hard to flsure t^^^ vhether it's the t(ill-«nd of th« Bunu^er season or the start of the nSS^y'li'-'ason. "there's been no g;ap IMWWeen seaso'hs for Chi's legit cal- •mMr. No cOilventiohs helped niat- taM I tt week. It was an unusual outpouring of local patrons, encour' ac*<Mo a great,degree by chjlly night teijberature. jRunnin' WHd's" entrance Into thp locMl field added to the velocity of t M wrt r egolng. It tt^as a wham 6Y a W*«l^for the troUpe. With three at- tractions a\eraginK )22,000 Rnd an- Otten at. iking within $1,000 of that nuHr^, the Jam In.trafHc at the cor- ^«j^ of Randolph and Dearborii ■treets every plght made new hlST tdn^'for the town. It was at t^t hXtllity that'the'four concerned'at- trUcUons h«ld'8way. flOhere's no chance of any di8p\.te rMfie in saying it was the : Igtocst K^Qcral gross flgpre we«k tha town •v*r claimed ^for the second ,w«ek In Au^U^tl In other years the iqo^I cidwidar never had the Twin the- •t***" wHh wlilch to flgure: The pH«.'«t ti*e Harris and Selwyn fcon- tifMiM to be phenomenal. ' Toesinjg the Rightly assemblage of the Twins Into .ttfe , corner, of Randolph and ICmrhorn streets, with the cl^se ^q «J*IK.elty audiences that came out of the Woods to encounter the im- proved audiences at the Apollo, the congestion of traffic thereabouts was *. new, theatrical eight for ever- Clli!i;i)>ing Chi. I..1I-. .. Hour for ■Study Btir what tlie Lu>op theatres have doi^eritta^s summer in.the way of big SrOfui business, there has come an hpwr for rlcfj study. Chicago play- gOets want entertainment, '"'lai^ea in costuming and sizzling scfetiery ho longer catch the Chicago theatre money. A Jot could be written In t,hl« vein, but Jet the New Vorl^er, who U accustomed to dazzling oos-: ttilhes an«^>^lll}anUy lighted stage Wtects, comwWnd look over thj pres- *nt attractions hertf, and perhaps wobderment would be expressed as to what is drawing; the cron-ds. It's jthe entertainment, say those who b&ve studied the current shows. "Topsy and Eva" continues to be liaikned by New Yorkers, who are attracted to It by the reccrd run here. Cast changes have been made In' the last three weeks, but many toy the support of the Duncan Sls- lera is weaker than ever before. Tet the c rowds continue to pack the Sel- J*yn. No doubt, many producers who have placed big money into pro- jBuctions And moments to do some f.' InUlng when they consider the £ resent bill of fare that Is drawing' nmatched gross business here. . The dash pf "Runnln" WIW (Woods) was strong .enough to draw • little better than a $21,000 ^ross Wetk. Catting away to a premiere froM of between $Z,SOO and $3,000, fRunnln' WHd" kept up a steady ca- INtetty gait at $2.60 top, even doing S, little better than $1,700 at the Thursday midnight show. This mid- night show was the best the town ak» checked outside of a New Year's waek midnight show. '''^''' ■ Colorkd Shew Scrap ■ •Vow comes a he&ted scrap for col- ored show honors. "Broadway to DisU»," starring Florence Mills, was traapferred from the Great Northern to the Garrick, next door to the pi'^Aent home Of "Runnln" Wild. To combat the popularity of "Runnln' Wild" the new Garrick attraction wHrutlllze a $2 top scale. Four doors down the street, at the Olym- ph; (hurlesque)!, thin week, is found (^pother array of colored talent. This tn^ans this week will find three col- orM.nhows in a row, all within the samie bl<^ck. ,^ "Runnln' Wild" has only «■ week from Saturday to hold at the Woods. "Broadway to Dixie" is better off at the Garrick, for it looks as if "Mary Jane McKane" has been held Aifay from the Garrick, due to, the Rrobable musicians' strike Sept. 1. : such is the case the Shuberta have acted wisely, for the colored lAioW carries its own brchestra. At this writing there's otie Chance of ■')Au»nin' Wild" remaining in town by being moved to another theatre. "No, No. Nanette" came close to "■"reaching $23,000 gross; considered the pacemalier of the town. "Artists Km Models'' K'ot a lot of hclh for • Ita improveii ll«ure by the capacity on the Wednesday matinee. "Tepsy ll^d: £,va" would have aurprlslagly, led everything ip toivt^ |f the at-, traplldh had ntayed Sunday night foipaclty In every loop theatre). "TopBy," as It was, did $2i.000, full (Multeity at eivery.i ,pertOormiinoe 9lmy^tL„- ,U^»«s.,t^f, S^lwf/*. attiwH V<> V>' .M C ■! » I »)•( ) tion goes into a freaky slump, there's betting here that the attrac- tion will stick until Christmas, making a brand-new record for mu- sicals for this town. As figures now stand, "Topsy" leads both musicals and dramatics for gross figures for 33 weeks. It's almost time to pub- lish comparative figures. Increase for Dramatic* There was marked increase even in the dramatic field trade. Folks out' here would like to know jurft what the New York producers think about the pace ol' Chi is setting for August theatregoing. The feature of the whole situatlon.ls the weather "break." Nearly every night last week was too chilly for outdoor recreation. With the weatlier maii in this region - claiming *'there will be no summer in Chicago," the theatre managers are smiling, al- though'to interfere with this pmooth gblAg: there is the'strong pbsslbility, of the musicians' strike g(>lng through within ■ a' fortnight, and therefrom will probably oom« mitch trouble, for It begins to look as if the managers are determined to fight th|e iniisi9la/>9 thj^ tinneu Three premieres got under way. this week. •*Tarrii^h" reopened the. Playhouse, "Wages for Woimen" ap- peared at the Cort, and "Broadway to Dixie" relighted the Oan-icK^" There's another handful ot opening;*! next week, and by Labor Day every theatre in town will be opened ex- cept the Illinois, Cohan's Grand and Great Northern. ' Uaist Week's estimates: "Runnin' Wild" (Woods, Ist week). Like 'every colored shoW that plays here, got away to'a fly-' Ing. st^rt. Midnight show a bugC' success, drawing Intact nearly every company playing the town. Figured for gross, vyith midnight show, betr ter than $21,000. "No, No, Nanette" (Harris, 16tb week). In drawing oIoMe to $2S,o6o did several hundred dollara within full capacity on week. Nothing-.in sight for fall bookings that should interfere with present d'emand for Piiece at hotels. Will sti^k anyway until Oct. 4 and should remain longer on present merit of call. "Topsy and Eva" (Selwyn, 33d week). Kept from $25,000 week by management giving Duncan Sisters Sunday night off for a rest. Would have been the attraction's highest mark, nothing shgrt of tremendously phenomenal considering length of engagement. Over 500 people in line when the box ofldce opened Monday morning (Aug. 11) with extra Tuesday matinee selling out six hours after seats were placed on sale. Betting now attraction will easily reach Christmas at high figures. Gross last week placed at $22,000. "Artists and Models" (Apollo, 11th week). Increased sales at every performance over previous week, getting good help from early turn- aways at the Twins. Got into $22,- 000 average class, if not little better, for matinee trade was great. "Abie's Irish Rose" (Studebaker, 34th week). Probably had best week at summer prices, going between $13,000 and $14,000 without much trouble. Requires lot of patronage to draw this figure at prices charged. Will go back to regular scale Labor Day week. "A Trial Honeymoon" (La Salle, 7th week). Held in |ie,000 average class, which looks like profit for both sides, as expenses are light. Will pick up neighboring territory route after exit hpre. ■"The Deluge" (Cort, 9th and flngil Week). Got hold of little of im- proved dramatic play demand, doing around $7,000. "Wages for Women" opened Sunday for usual capacity at this theatre for any premilere. Gqlden's play getting first campaign any show at this theatre has had since "Thank-U." "On the Stairs" (Central, nth week). Lot of pep to the campaign- ing at this theatre since Carl Bar- rett took holdi Another $4,600 gross week brought profits. SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT Figures eatimated mn4 eomment point to aome attmotions being Buoeeaeful, while the earn* gross aooredited to others might suggest msdioerity or loss. Ths varianea Is axplainsd In the difference in house capacities, with the varying overhead. Also the size of cast, with consequent differenoe in necessary gross for profit. Varianea in business necessary for musical attraction as against dramatie play is also considered. LtLE AKDBEWS' BAC|C AQXm Commodore of Csnterport Yaeht Chib and Flagship The north shore aloAg Loni^ Island got excited recently when the news- paper of Huhllngton rap a yam to the effect the bathing 'grounds of the exclusive Huntipgtbriiana were being polttited by the drll IfroAi the Centerport Yacht Club'tf tnotor b6ats. • A committee vlrtted the dab with the idea of s<iu<twkJpgi)iit:Tiot- f66ted if aiway oti dh»fcbverirtg th^ entire fleet conshited of'49' flap-bbt-" tonl' fow boats., « •• Lyle AUdrfews, Whose fetfuiar lob Is ronnln^-fhe VandferBilt thWitr*, New , Y<>i-k,' Iti cpnlmbaor*' of fhlr'club and, labdvri Is a picture of "his' flatfahtp. I The vieiJy Shows Tiltft; backlog back from the clubhouse to his Watet- kissed-home across the Inlet. 'It came out that the principal func- tion of the yacht clubhouse' is to provide a place for the boys to play pok^r. , , , , The"^othnioaoVe'.« secrfetylce Is playing'the trap drum at hoiJie'.' UNIQULABOR UPSETS f inSBURffl, TOO Condition there Stagnant as In Boston and '.r. Philadelphia ■ " TIMES' " NEW CRITIC Stark Young Succeeding Corbin, Who Resumes.as Editorial Wr;ter Joha Corbin, dramatic critic, of the "Times,'^ will shortly rosimie editorial Writing on 'the snmc pajJer. He win be succeeded In the dra- matic chair by Stark You^g, dra- matic critic, now of the "New Re- lj>^l:jl(C," . 'oRe, ,,<ft , ,the , "^Viyjpp^ l^pWlit,''..»»*f'^f*r' ti Pittsburgh, Aug. 19. liOcaUy tb^ unions' deljiahds for increases have stagrnated legit the- atricals here as mUch as they have done In Boston and Philadelphia. Nothing is becked to open the season at the Pitt and the Alvin doesn't seem ^ much better off. While the managers are pledged to - hold together, the unions arc strong and confident. Blake Fitted by Training Chicago, Aug. 19. Charles E. Blake, fO|rmer press representative for'Sev- eral attractions, has deserted anrlusemetits, entering a tanuch heavier business. He has connected himself as a salesmr.n with a firm manti- facturlng rftonuments and matisoleums. ' ' BOSTON UNCERTAIN "Poppy" $13,000 Last Week—"Jfrne*"* $16,000 •' ~' Boston, Aug. 19. With the weather breaking gooS for them, the legitimate attractions playing the town last week did very fair business for midsummer. There .are but twx> attractions playing the city now, both musicals and in Shu- bert houses. For the time being there is little said aboxlt any more openings in the town, there being more or less un- certainty In connection with the pos- sibility of labor trouble hre. If things are straightened out. musicals are due Into the Colonial and the Tre- motit, but Ju.st ilow little Is heard of them. •Little Je.ssie James." at the Wil- l)ur. did in the neighborhood of $18.- 000 last week, with "Poppy," In at the ^IaJ08tic, doing a bit better than $13,000. Lnst night the indications were 'that the good business would con- tyma.t'tor t^9 w.tnit'hetcwas atlllifa" ' 'f}>' r. siv6rab'e.-foi indoor entertainment^] i «•} l>)a>l I'f ,' l-ilim l.«* !«;:i>jvi,» 4 ,r<H "Abie's Irish Rpsa." Republic (llSth week. Favorable weather last week when cool evenings pre- vailed, considerably benefited the- atres. "Able" held its astonishing lead of non-musicals, run wonder getting $12,900. "Beggar on Horseback," Broadhurst <28th week). Final week. Might have good chance for holdJLng over through fall, but routed out. Sec- ond money show In class last week, with nearly $9,500. ' 'laxie": succeeds next week. "Best Peopisr" Lyceum (lirt week). Frohm^n production which, draw M attention In Chicago through spring and early sunimer, saVed toe new season. Opened last (Tuesday) night. "Charhofs Revue," Belwyn (SSd- week). Still nifty money' maker.' Last week pace Improved like most othecif, and English show went, to $19,200. May move back to Tinaea Sqhare for September) as "Kid Boots" moves froiii Elarl Cai'rOll tA Selwyn Labor Day. "Cobra," LongaCre (18th week)>. Moved here Monday frocn Hudson^' .wh(M:e th'iSi'lAte spring drama coa8t;e<l t^roiugh, summf!}'.' , I^t. week between I^.OOO and t8,<)0(). £ixpoctatIon' is fpr' continuance until'holidays. "Dancing ' Mothers," Booth (2d week).* iB4gar sieiwyn'a comedy drama .got off to. prooaislag.stai'tt fpr so early , premiere. First week's grQM ^ttefed $9,j500,. ,,N.o-. tices faVoranle! -Dr. bavid's Oid^'Vanflerbm,. Laat- ' ed'but half a'week, house order' lAg show oat Siatiit-diEiy, when this week'a> guarantee .not posted. Oot about $1,200 in three days. House, dark until Sept. 8, when "The Thoroughbred" opens. "Easy Street," 39th ijtreet (2d week). Another quick victim. Will be taken 'off - next Satorday,' with "Th«'EicMy-Mark" Bucoeedlag-next week. .^'Easy Street" und^ $il,&09 for .three.4ays last .we.el(, (opened^ Thursday). "Expressing Willie," 4gth St. (19th week). Jumped about $2,600 laAt week after having dipped well un- •dfer $6,000 week previously. Tak- ings not far from $7,000 and plans call for continuance through ^11. ;"Faahion," Cort (29th week). An- other week to go, house getting "The Tantri^ms" Labor Day week. Old-time show dropped away off lately, going under $2,000, though little better last week. "Fata Morgana," Garrick (asth week). Theatre Guild Intends running this one through Sep- tember or early October, when new production season starts. Paying busine&s reported, with last week's pace not mu(^h under $6,000. "Follies," New Amsterdam (»th week). No question about "Fol- lies' " money supremacy. Last week gross was $40,600 and revue should easily hold to big business well Into the fall. Demand now appears to be better than earlier in the summer, "I'll Say She ls»" Casino, (14th week). Excellent chance to ride until first of year. Business last week nearly $19,000. Little chance pace will be affected by newer attractions for some time to come. "Innocent Eyes," Winter Garden (14th week). One week more to go. Ever since Mistlnguett left cast business mediocre. Though •Eyes" was strung out through summer doubtful If It made money. New 'Pasfllng Show" due In Labor Day week. "Keep Kool," Qlobe (14th week). Averaged better than $12/>00 since moving hei'e from Morosco. Must vacate after another week, but due to remain throQgh September, possibly at the C.irrolli The Step- ping Stones" will reopen at Globe for four weeks. "Kid Boots," Earl Carroll (34th week). Matlngeraent counting on engagement Ifiatlng through new aeasoTi. Will be moved to Selwyn Labol^ Day. Business holds to big figures, last week totalling $29,500. Still virtual capacity. "Marjorie," Shubert (2d week). Most promising of new crop of productions that arrived last week to blare In new season. First week's takings were $16,000, which verified good reports from Boston. "No Other Girl," Morosco (2d week). Musical comedy, which opened Wednesday of last week, drawing less than $7,i\00 in five performances. First called "The lielle of Quakertown" and tried out last season as '•The Town • Clown." "Plain Jane," Sam H. Harris (16th week). Picked up la.st week, with over $11,500 fjuoted. Moves again next week, to-Eltinge. "Be 'Vour- seir' succeeding, •'Jane" will prob.-tbly move to road In October, "Scandals," Apollo (8th week). White's rcvUe appears to have best chance for long Broadway staor, of lany summer musloni pro- , du«U«n., it^ia , »eA9O0. Last holds steadily to capacity, week, $30,200. "Strange. Bedfellows," Henry Miller (10th week). Best gross to date scored last week when takings went to $8,500. Good measure of cut-rate sales, but window trade also lively. Can remain Into Oc- tober, from present Indications. "Sweeney Todd," Frazee (Jth week). May be building old English blood-and-thunder meller up for' 1^0*4, Ruainess last week a liUIe under $3,000, with taking^ about best show has done. Attmctloit renting theatre. "The Dream Girl," Ambassador (Ist w»ek). 'Shubert thUttlcalspotte'A" in : Boston .for. summer, '. behiir-> saved for new, season, Favorablx. r«l>brted. Opens tonight (Wed- nesday). , , I. ■ . ; .1 ( "The Miracle," Century (M en«a«»- ment; 1st week). Big spectacle ran 24 weeks; dark for tiast seven ^.weeks, during which time rent was paid for theatre. Reopened Monr day, with admissiflln'scall $ls6 i«J?''' £? *Ka'n»t $*.60 originally.... •The Shpw-Off" Playhouse (29th week). Aimed for' continuance witil winter. Holding to «*ce1'- , lent tradej and new season sh<Mld "" u: ".«*;l?5* '** capacltyj iMMt weejc $9,000. .,,., , „ i uhder t,;600 *n4 SkWS wpi?!^* etf Unpaid. ' '■' ' '••• ■"...)>. "Whit* Cargor'^ Daly's 69d Bt: (4t9 X^JJa*' .Ctalme* to have Jumpe« W.300 . Jaat week , over • previous. y*«*-. ,.<?/o"1. WM.about W.BOlOk- ■ sort? •" '^*""»V mo the .fa^^jiieij;, Attractions outside the Tlineii- square district: "All Ood's Chll- lun Got Wings" reopened at the Greenwich Village Monday; .??k"*'xt^!'^1* FolUea" continues ^t the. Neighbo rhood Playhouse. ;- XIUFORNIA Fwi^ AS TOM WUQ^'9Mf Building Kew House on Holly^'' wood Boulevard—WMUfit ' Stock at Alcazar ? San Francisco, Aug. W...' Tom Wilkes has engaged On» Edwarifs under a contract for nve years to produce on the coast, "The California ^OlMes." The Edwards contract Is In effect frorlf Dec, 1. At that time rehearsc^Is'will start at either the Alcazar or Columbia, both under Wilkes' control. touring Mie first week In Septem- ber Wilkes expects to launch a comedy stock at ^he musical Alcasar. In addition the producer has signed with the P. J. Walker Co. of Los Angeles to construct a the- atre on Hollywood boulevard, three blocks from the Egyptian (Qrau- maa's). By the time that hous* Is finished It Is expected tiie "Cali- fornia FolUes" will be well under way and open the house. • .,.:: .„ "PRINCESS _APRIL'S" STAR Cfiie* Comedisn H^s Not Yet 9«n^ Se^oted , Tfhe hrst production of Barry T«nwnley, Inc.. '•I^plpcese April" goes intp rehearsal Qept. 1 and opeoa.a month later out of town. Townl^y Is negotlflting with a woman 8t4r for the lead, with a famous <)apcer mQst prominently, mentioned for the r.<^ The chief comedian also re- mains to be chosen. The balance of the cast includes Charles Derrickson, Milton Riche^^d- son, Alice Hegeman, Pam Travers, Ekidie Gafvle, Ben Taggert, Jack Hartley, Mat McHugh. Charlie Harris for Weber's Charles Harris Is now generai representative for the L. Liawrenoe Weber offices. Monday he asasmod the management of the Longacre' theatre and the present attraation. "Cobra." which moved In there- Monday from the Hudson. "Gebra'? Is a Larry Weber production. •■i'< Sol. Meyer was formerly handllns the show. The general press work for all Weber shows la being at^i' tended to by Alex. Yokal froni..t|ift Longacrei pfflces. ; i i ,!.-|* ;^d4le Ito{(enba*»m. jr..'ls,m^hf«-i. Business ln«, tiie ^o|/tpp„ "/aipf a't ,co<np^itt5,^t vtiir.itir')' I i3» jumir r't{8 raa-jonsf