Variety (September 1924)

■■■PKfmM.' 'un«npw"^w mi ii 111 i^jpcwwiu ■ m>i 1*111; i • 1. iuijibbuii BROADWAY STORY ; (Continued from page II) tar* of that attraction la doubt. "Th* Haunted House" got $11,700 at th* Cohan, the Improvement be- ing promising. "Rain" la holding to Croat business .getting $13,000 again at the Gaiety ahd now aimed for the first of the year or longer. "Iaajr" In seven performances was not far from |8,000 at the Broad- burst, the pace being about $9,000 weekly. It has a chance to grow, hat. Ilk* preceding dialect come- dies, the matinees were weak. "My Boa," also a last week's entrant, won Tory favorable comment, and make a run of it at the Princess. but la a modest way because of the email capacity. "Schemers," an- other new one, has little chance at the Bayes. With over $5,000 the first week It about broke even, but little money is In sight unless from out rate*. Th* Ughtw*lghts / «Th* Mask aod The Face" was Withdrawn from the BUou Saturday, remaining but a weak and a half. Th* house Is dark this week, but get* "Busybodies" next week. The •how was la Chicago under the title of "Early to Bod." "K**p K00I* stops at th* Earl Carroll Saturday. th* house getting "The Great Music.' "No Other OUT' must leave the Morosco at th* end of the week, the house, "Th* Awful Mrs. Eaton" suc- ceeding Monday. "Girt" may take a roof theatre, but appear* to be washed up. "Th* Tantrum," with ' tt* tltl* changed to "Th* Third Tear," held over at th* Cort this week, bat depart* Saturday, "The Far Cry" succeeding. "Bewitched" wUl relight th* National next week or that of Oct. 6. This week's fresh productions In- ©lode "Hassan," a spectacle which, unlike other attractions, did not boost th* seal* for th* premiere, charging $3.30 nightly at the Knick- erbocker. There are two play* from th* Hungarian of Vajda this week. "Grounds for Divorce" at the Em- ptor, and "Th* Little Angel" at the Frasee. Th* latter show announced to open last Saturday bat was post- poned. Th* other premieres are "Lazybones" at th* Vanderbllt; "Boar- Sir" at th* Times Square; "Mlntck" at th* Booth, aod "Mad* for Bach Other** at th* Mad Street. Subway "Th* Outsider" at th* Riverta grossed between $11,500 and $12,000 last week 00 th* subway circuit "Th* Nervous Wreck." holding over at Werba's Brooklyn, approximated t hosame pace. "Tarnish," at the Majestic, Brooklyn, did not reach $7,000. "Boar Sir" at the Shubertj Newark, was between $10,000 and $11,000. Bath Buys and Cut* Mount Both th* buy* and the cuts mounted during the last week with th* score standing at 1$ attractions which the premium men are holding a* outright buy* and SO show* of- fered at bargain prices over the cut rat* counter. Dp to Monday the brokers in.l th* management of th* "Greenwich Vil- lage Follies" had not crmc to an sgreomont en the buy for that show. Th* managers are holding out for an eight weeks buy and while the agencies are willing to buy for that length of time they are battling over the matter of location of seats. Of the crop of plays for the cur- rent week there arc three that have been placed on the bay list. "Grounds for Divorce," the Ins Claire play which opened at the Empire last night ha* a buy of $60 a night for four week* with 2$ per cent return; "Laxy Bon**" at the Vanderbllt which opened on Mon- day night ha* a buy of $00 a night "Plain Jane," Eltlnge; "Marjorle." 44th St; "Th* Werewolf," 40th St; "Top Hol*," Fulton; Fata Morgana." Garrtck; "All God's Cblllun Got Wings." Greenwich Village; "High SUkes." Hudson; "Pigs." Little; "The Best People," Lyceum; "Strang* Bed Fellows," Miller; "No Other'Girl," Morosco; "Havoc," $8th St for four weeks, while "Hassan" at th* Knickerbocker received a buy of 40« a night for th* same period. After this week-the hays oa a number of current show* which are running out will be cat about 60 per cent whoa they are* renewed for -teat wish. Th* complete list oow Includes "The Dream Girl," Ambassador; •G**, White's Scandals," Apollo; "Th* Haunted House," Cohan; "Grounds for Divorce," Empire; Dancing Mothers," Elliott: "The Werewolf." 4»th St; "Stepping •'Stones,*' Globe; "Be Yourself." Kar- ri*; "High Stakes," Hudson; "Rose Mart*," Imperial; "Hassan," Knick- erbocker; "Pigs." Little; "Vanities," Musks Box; "Ziegfeld Follies." Am- sterdam; "What Price Glory," Ply- mouth; "Haaaard Short's Bits Revue," Rlts; "Greenwich Village FoUie*," Shubert; "Lazybones," Vaaderbltt, and "Th* Passing Show." Winter Garden. The score of attractions offered in the cat rates were "Schemers," Bayes; "Conscience," Belmont: "Keep Kool." Carroll; "The Miracle." Century; "The Ba«y Mark," Com- *dy, "White Cargo." Daly's; LOOP FLOPS (Continued from page 1$) gross for limited four weeks' stay. "Seventh Heaven" (Cohan's Grand. 2d week). Landed strong. Should be one of season's long runs. Will better $18,000 when settled. "Vogues and Frolics" (Apollo, 2d week). Between what "specs" got left with and empty seats after pre- miere, it's hard to figure, but doubt- ful If $17,000 was passed; bad for this house with new musical show. "Mary Jane MeKane" (Garrlck, $d week). Flop here. Mighty small grosses some nights. Didn't sise up better than $18,000, drop of near- ly $5,000 from previous week. "No, No, Nanette" (Harris, 21st week). Stepping along fast as ever, drawing house's full capacity all performances, netting around $33,- 000. **Top*y and Eva" (Selwyn, 3»th week). Another blast of publicity with World's Flyers' appearance for front page reading. $23,000 gross again. ' '. ■ . "Blossom Tim*" (Auditorium, 4th wek). Big local success for this re- turn engagement ending Saturday. Looks as If Shuberts have it right for $1.50 attraction* here. Checker- up hasn't this house properly slsed up as yet but looks like $20,000. 1 - "Beggar en Horseback" (Adelphi, 6th week). Went around $17,300, only about $600 off from previous week. Will hit full capacity (trifle over $18,000) during bankers' con- vention week. Tarnish" (Playhouse. 6th week). Up with leaders for non-musicals, getting' Immense gross- (averaging $18,000) for* size of this house. ,»" Abi *'* ,p| '* Row " (Studebalser. 40th week). Onward marches brig- ade to this great hit $11,000 gross wonderful, considering $2 scale. "£* riy „ to " Mr <*•* *->»•• I*h week). Cannot draw out of bad groove. despite good boosting. Leaves Saturday for Bijou, New Jj>5*- "Apple Sauce" arrive*. Around $6,600. W*B**_fer Wives" (Cort, $th w**l»). Drawing but little interest Doubtful If $7,000 was reached. "In the Next Room*' (Princess 4th week). Much below stop clause w ut ._ wm l** 0 *^ atlck until next booking is ready. Figured in $«,600 class. *•*», "Dixie to Broadway" (Great Northern, «th week). Went to piece* In switch rom Garrlck. Midnight show suddenly called off. Looked as S.. ,ut ^ rale " **** out thl » **eek. Slipped so hard gross made to look like $10,000. "Welcome Stranger" (Central. 4th week). Never high, most grosses pretty smalt When they don't plan new show at this theatre, they're PHHIY'S FLOP (Continued from page IS) *L th *. ** hub « rt . '•« to around $8,000, pitiful for the big house. .-.■ ..ZP~J'' M * r9r Disappointing "The Potters" at the Lyric has, •° -. ar . been another disappointment It drew most of the critics on the opening night, but some or the notice* were by no means as favor- able as those tendered it on Broad- way. Business was correspond- ingly off, a pusxle to the wiseacres, who Insist, however, the- Herndon play came in two weeks too early to catch its real clientele at the start. In all probability It win be held a month, the management fig- uring that If it hasn't got started by that time It never will. The opening figure was around $8,000. This week's openings ar* two In number, "Hell-Bent far Heaven" marking the Broad's debu*. for the season and "The Goose Hangs High" opening the Adelphi. The first- named- Is In (or two weeks, the lat- ter for three. "Hell-Bent" will give th* city two mountaineer play* at the same time. Th* other 1* "The Shame Woman." Monday sees "Sitting .Pr«tty" at the Shub*rt and "The Tantrum" at the Walnut Oct $ win bring Ethel Barry more Into the Garrlck in her revival of "The Second Mrs. Taa- queray" and "Th* Nervous Wreck" into the Broad. The 13th will have "Lollipop" at the Forest (two week* only) and a new attraction at the Walnut and th* Adelphi, and per- haps the Lyric and Chestnut Street opera house. Estimates for tast Week "Hell Bent for Heaven" (Broad, 1st week). Opened Monday with some promise, although this house's real clientele not back In th* city. • "Musio Box Revue" (Forrest $d weak). Led town, bat not all that might have been expected; $28,000, without touching capacity. "The Grab Bag" (Oar.lck. 3d week). Ed Wynn show talk of thea- tregoers and recounted a sure win- ner. Last week about $23,000; fine, considering opposition. "Moonlight" (Chestnut 2d week). Started weakly, but began to sur- prise with big Wednesday matinee. Now looks like builder with hope* of neat profit Better than $12,000. "The Sham* Woman" (Walnut 3d week). Not type of show for s.nsa- tional demand, bat did very well •specially with women's trad* at matinees. Claimed better than $8,000. "The Potters" (Lyric. 2d week). Not what was expected, but hoped to Jump as theatregoers get back; $8,000. Long Stay Improbable. "The Goose Hangs H'gh" (Adelphi, 1st week). House opened season Monday. Show In for three weeks. "Wildflewer" (Shubert, 3d week). Fell way off; $9,000; very small for big house. SHOWS IN N. Y. (Continued from page 14) day hat postponed to same night this week. "The Miracle," Century (2d engage- ' jgagement: 6th week). Working on excursions within radius of several hundred miles. Announced as playing last week but big spec- tacle due here Into November. Probably $22,000. "The Mask and th* Face," Bijou (Sd week). Suddenly elosed Satur- day. Next week Bijou named to get "Busybodies," which opened In Chicago as "Early to Bed." "Mask and Face" very weak, with about 38,600 grossed. "Th* Schemers," Bayes (2d week). Counting premiere performance first week hardly, over $5,000 bat ehow claimed to break even at that figure. Producers renting house, but show ha* no chance. "The Shew-Off," Playhouse (34th week). Ability of holdover com- edy hit to climb In face of rush of fresh attraction* strong sign of run tasting well into new sea- son. Credited with getting be- tween $11,000 and $12,000 last "Th* Tantrum," Cort (4th week). Kept in this week through last minute, decision. Title changed tp 'The Third Year";, will go on tour next week under that name. Last week' around $6,000. "The Werewolf," 48th St (6th week). Management ready to change title, feeling that ia one reason why risk foreign comedy has not landed. Prix* offered for new name. Business picked up considerably, last week, with tak- ings about $8,600. Has expensive east. "Top Hole," Fulton (4th week). Guaranteeing house. Picked wrong spot for premiere and not able to get out ~o4V mediocre business groove, though well liked musical. With cut rating last week Im- provement at $8,000, but still at losing pace. "Vanities of 1844." Music Box (Sd week). Off to moderate start, cold premiere preventing fixing prior to Broadway showing. Last week was first full week, takings be- ing around $17,500. <. "What Pries Glory," Plymouth (4th week). Broadway's new dramatic smash. Matinees went clean last week, with night trad* of standee proportions, and gross beat $20,600. "White Cargo," Daly's «3d St. (47th week). Has been doing fine trade through cut rates for some time, but natural betterment last wedk resulted in lower floor sales being made through box office itself. $8,000 to $8,000. Attraction* off Broadway: "Grand Street Follies." Neighborhood Playhouse; "All God's Chlllun Got Wings," Greenwich Village; "Made for Eachother" (featuring Lillian Walkw). 62d Street (open* Wed- nesday). " UTTLE THEATRES Continued from page 18) _ School of Expression and Dramatic Art, will present Salisbury -Fields' successful comedy, "Wedding Bells," at the Plays and Player* Clubhouse Wednesday. Sept 84. It is their Ini- tial performance, and the Margaret Lawrence role will be played by Sue Readr Others ia the company In- clude Walter Zlegler, Frances Fluck, Tiilie Shalet, Inez Cuneo, Julius Hol- lander, Charles Kleeman, William Fater. The- Temple University of Phila- delphia has a regular course la the drama, a prise being awarded every year for th* best play turned out by any oa* taking this coure. This year the prize winning play will be given a professional production by the Hedgerow Flayers of Rose Valley, either In their MoyUa home or else during their contemplated engage- ments in Philadelphia. The arrange- ment waa mad* between Dr. Arthur Cleveland, professor of English, and Just placed in charge of th* dra- matic course at Temple, and Jasper Deeter, director and leader of the Hedgerow Players. Th* Lawrence, Mass.. Community Service ha* started a school Of dramatic* with th* Intention of forming a group of community play- er*. George Jukln will instruct the LOUIS H. MUDGETT Louis Harding Mudgett, $4, man- ager of th* Boston Opera House, in Boston, died Sept 14 at Center Harbor, Laconla, N. H., where he was passing his vacation. Oa Aug. 1, 1861, he became man- ager of the old Music, Hall when th* Boston Symphony Orchestra was under the direction of th* late C. A. Ellis, with whom he was as- sociated for many year*. He re- mained there until th* building was remodeled for a vaudeville house In 1800 and then became th* man- ager of Symphony Hall, which post he retained for more than 20 years. Ia April. 1882, Mr. Mudgett became th* manager of the Boston Opera House. He married Susie Armstrong, of Boston, who- survive*. He also leaves a son and a slater. OBITUARY whether hi* wife waa when' ha died. with hint EDWARD 6*. HUGHE8 Edward P. Hughe*, one-time stage door keeper at the old Cal- ifornia theatre, Sao Francisco. CHARLES E. PARKER Charles E. Parker died Sept 16 at Aglncourt, Ontario, Canada. He is survived by his wife and two sis- ters. I HhaU Never Forget Toa BARNEY BERNARD Died six months ago today A FRIEND Mr. Parker was formerly active in show business as •>. performer, bat at the time of his death was interested in the hote* business. MARTIN VAN BERGEN A wire to Variety from Santa Monica, Cat, announced the death there. In a sanitarium, Sept. 14, of Martin Van Bergen. 36. At one tune time Van Bergen did a singing single in cowboy attire. Later, HI health kept him off the stage for some time. He suffered a nervous breakdown, which resulted in his placement in a sanitarium for treat- ment Van Bergen waa married, hut Variety's. wire did not Stat* IN IA>VlNO MKMOKT OP MT DBAS WIVK AND PAL Tifiie Storke Somen Who Departed This Life October 1st. 1»1* PERRIN a SOMERS which position her held for 30 years, died last week at the age of 80. In 1852 on a sailing ship from Liver- pool, his birthplace. COWARD VON ROY Edward Von Roy, 80, former light opera actor, died Sept 22 in th* Brunswick Home, Aroltyvllie, L. L, of infirmities. Von Roy had been in the United States 28 years and tor many sea- spns was with the Henry W. Sav- age companies. Since 1820 Von Roy had been cared for by the Actors' Fund. He had no relatives as far as the fund officers could ascertain. The fun- eral was held under the auspices of the fund, with interment la the Actors' Fund plot. . JOSEPH BARNE8 Joseph Barnes, 71, died at the home of his brother, Zanesville, O., Sept 20. Barnes started his managerial and agent career in 1878 and was later connected with a number of burlesque shows. A brother and two sisters survive. Sine* 1818 he has been cared for by the Actors* Fund, with the ob- sequies being conducted. In Zanes- ville under the auspices of the fund. The mother, 73, of Mr*. Billy King died Sept $0 at Fair Haven. N. J. CLUBS ARE TRUMPS (Continued from page 1?) to see the curtain fall upon their hero as only the runner-up in th* golf tournament. Golf sketches with or without music have "been standard on the vaudeville stag* for some years. At present there are at least two golf musical comedies, "Kid Boots" and "Top Hole,** la the legitimate field. "Clubs Are Trumps," however, has the distinction of being the only straight golf comedy at present to make a bid for popularity. Will its bid be rewardedT ^That's th* big question, for Hlsk- son-Dickson opus arrived at th* Wleting here still bundled la Its crib blanket—it was bora in Blmlra two nights earlier. The answer la: It all depends. There is .much that Is good In Harry Green's starring vehicle. And, by the same token, writing and more able direction, plus several changes in the cast will give the show a chance. Otherwise it is des- tined to shortly fold up. The most important alteration re- quired is that William Augustus Jones, our hero, must undergo a chang* la race and name. Or Harry Green must step out of the title role—Indeed a calamity. Mr. Green la Yiddish by birth aad hi* characterisation of William Au- gustus Jones 1* 66 per cent Yid- dish. T^ ask the theatregoing pub- lic to accept his Jones a* a young Anglo-Saxon business man Is too heavy a strain Upon th* imagina- tion. And yet if some ether actor were to attempt th* role the comedy might be lost -No, the lines were built for a Hebrew comedian. The mistake was In dubbing the hero William Augustus Jones. The simplicity of the plot brings the suspicion that Messrs. Hickaon and Dickson wavered over the prob- lem as to whether or not their brainchild should be musicallxed until th* eleventh hour. You • in- stinctively look for the chorus of Carver employes to enter in that unfortunate first act and save the day. And somehow or other you miss th* "friends of th* family" in the second, while in th* third th* absence of th* cute little chorus girl*, all dressed up In golfing togs. Is little, short of astounding. Our bero, a dud as an advertising writer, and even worse as a golfer, vows he'll ride th* winged horse. Meaning success—this for the Info, of the poetical uninitiated. He does —wins the girl from the chesty successful advertising agent and lands a Job with the Anglo-Ameri- can Soup Company to boot And what could be more musical comedy than that? Mr. Green is Immense a* th* hero. May Collins is entirely satisfying a* th* heroine. Of the others Mr. Barrett, Miss Deffry and Miss Meadows give the most satisfying performances. Mr. Rushton is patently miscast and probably also , Mr. Davidson. His make-up was too sallow and he waa guilty on several occasions of standing with his back to th* audience.- Efficient ■tag* direction might help in hi* case Bohn. MY CHINA DOLL (Continued from page 17) she Is supposed to be a little Chinese 8rfrl. , Bessie Delmore and William P. Murphy and Tom Crowley carry th* comedy with th* honor* going to Ml** Delmore. No doubt If Miss Delmore had more to do, she would take th* comedy entirely away from her running mate*. Th* story constantly kept before th* audience by a series of pro- lose between scenes, ha* to do with a stolen wblte girl In Chinatown; how she la saved and marries "he man ah* lovea Her wedding In th* last scene, while beautiful and given ia a lac* setting, oould be dispensed with, a* It seems to make the show run too long. Ia between, the stolen white girt bite th* poppy pip*. Her dream* carry her aad th* company to th* Land of Story Book*, and th* Land of Music. If one-nlghters were ever to . * graded. "My China-Doll" would grab off 100 per cent, a* it I* Just a llttl* too good tor a on*-nlght attraction. and a little too weak for a big city production. WOsoa. VANITY BOX Rutland, Vt. Sept. 1$. Edward Wlntx ha* reconstructed th* "Vanity Box" for one-nlghters. The show has sjood possibilities, but under its present handling It come* very do** to being a flop. Th* on* big feature in the "Pennsyl- vania Twelve," the orchestra en tour with the production. The musicians, however, are the actors, and they can't do It The cos- tumes and scenery appear to be second hand and spoil some op- portunities for good flashes. Hal Klter is playing lead come- dian and using all old stuff, much of it borrowed from other produc- tions. Mltls Sasrdo, with a very strong French accent, Is out of place as the leading lady. Bob Drlscol also has a place In the cast. Harry Shanon, Jr., the orchestra leader, play* the Juvenile lead. The show was advertised here re- cently at $2 top, but the price was cut to $1.60 before the opening night