Variety (October 1924)

.^^^^r^^ ■*.... ..^'J^^ iVA"»(/n'V;^r''-T^"|- »y-5^-.'-s-|-Tn.^ '*>P^lf ■ ^-^*' VARIETY TJ».*-flfiws» v i^'r<i','9iK^:vvi «,j .>r.>. vir*?" J" !•;<?■ ^ October t, 1M4 MtAIATICS DOING $15,000 TO $18,000 : - IN LOOP'S CLIMBING GROSSES ^^jvr iA "Applesauce' Htaven," $18»000—"Beggar," Steady at $15,000 and "Abie" StUl Around $14,000>-Mu«ical Hold- overs Have Chased Competition Off &e Lot week), atmrim* «m tMm WMk with Slips in for Unexpected Hit-"7th ^^^^ ^%:nS^Z^T^^:^- looa in everr way. More oast ciiaiiccs to be HMd* aceardlac M fe^-- f1, CkJcafo, Oct. 7. Tft« dramatic play coms*iIU«« in tMro keeooMa mora atiS witk tk« mn*nii*t "White Gwco" <Cwt>. ^■- It r I" l ■'* i «te«e«" (UaWte). mw clMclMd atei f Wfcarr iMt week. «ne to the baaker*' ems- 'voattoa. A mtl* tan Saturday viat- hMa kept the groeaee ftrom aacend- taK higher. The hotel aalca wore way off tor Satnrday m a ttae e. with the warm temperature cradUed aa th*WBeaae< (or tha alew-up. It waa • banc eoBM'^Mk that tha trade 4MI Snaday airht «t thia week at 9MMtic«By vtmtr theatre. The city bMeban acriea bronclit a tot of via- itors to town Suaday. ttwftMtm th* X««p atrcaO to aa ovarSov arovad K looha as if fha sfOBMn for **Ap^ 8aa6«r have a svprisa hit 'Bar the baoka. 11m prevent tenlt la ttet the ahow ia abort. Tl»e curtain is down at le.Ur with plenty of prO- lM«ad iatcnBlnlaba. -ma boaMinr for the LafMIe atti«ction i« can- tos from the qoartei^ t>eai Qfrurcd. MHM^, the b«x olBee window. A new show cant lu m ii to town and ■)MW Improved nichtly gro s ses un- lM» "thMTv'a ao —t hi n g t« t*." A caoaa af between ftt.M( aad tltjtm, wtKtk as "^Apple SascoT tabbed on its llkst we«k. la a healthy stvi for the week. BetwecB tM.M« *»» fll.VM last weaL " a waa l LJttl« Dtvtt" <Oarrtck. M weak). Oat two asMsbing caod no- tices. b»t ethara ImM me d e r te ay- peat to p«tt bax-oflk* window sale. Z/oeft* Ike $1C,0M groas stepper, per- bapa Mt higher If Monday aad Tues- day g i sas ta don't UM down te« se- *errty. "CyraM da Bergerae^ COrcAt KorliMrm. Sd and hnaJ week). Drew all rni-ttmil ThtTiighT review space. probahty icaelUng Y1«.M0 tor Ue combined gross tor engagement. "The Potters'* eoBtea next. ."Wehome Stranger" (Central, (tb week). Brew extra trad* because of theatre being cloee to hotels patron- latd by convention visitors.* Thia bronght gross wp to Uttle l>etter tlian H>0«. Carl Barrett wach«^ profit- tftla campalgii. "No. WQ^Wanetta" (Harris, Md week). In hurricane demand, solidly iQlRg ont every nlglf^ and both ma t tn ce e . Now ranks as best long- n mnatcai engagement, next to "Topsy and B\'a." h»re in. years. Went Mttte strongrr than %»JM9. •nrapay and EvaT (Selwyn. dist ""■p^^y manage m en t. «Vo«Sea mm»- Ftvliea* (Apoil% 4th ). N* eaU gM hafw at "^Whit* Oarvo" had enough ad- InBareat to attract the hast ■Ight asaswbfge the Owrt theatre ban cfaaekad ta a tifSi. It I't a carioua aodieaea. It the sort of aadisaaa had advaaes laCormatlon ala>at tha This sttnatioa waa ha t ped _ by one of tha dramatic erities SIttaig Ma spaea hetere th* op< Br wstiW tha popniaca to flfnaghahad wlUwaaad tha pleea ia Masr Tsck. This advanaa b>iiatlBi; hMm^ baca the habit et loeal news- daring the present regimm of Pwhapa other s wBI say theatre * SBna^ers, when ire done as wtf as "White Cargo" for Chi- Tha iacidsMt is liaMa to re- ttutn the Cert tfeMatrs to ite own. •pealac attaad tth :knd Saal w«*). Baleoaiy tfad* thUed to rrayitwf at aay Oakc. hartlng all chances for staying qualities. Fig- ured ta.M«. "expreaalac Willie" nest attractioa. "Seventh Heawan" tCohan's Grand. 4th week). Coasiderad consiatcnt winner., going h etw as a flT.Mt gnd )18,«M, checking heavy advance salCi "The Swan" <Blackstane, 3d week), reported between tlft,MO and tl6.(MH>, with every sign of befcUag the^e. Drawing class aaotor trade' of town. "Benw ON Horseback'* (Adelpbl. Tth week). Holding steady gross around $15,0<lt. earlier sasaah ftgarca being pulled down by stronger dra-> matic competition aow here. -Tamieh" (Playhouse. Tth week). Sticking in tho- IMM groas class. which Is freat prdtt aMoey both siden. Bsa starftd off Laster Bry- ant's ROW sea*on In whirlwind shape. "Abie's Irish Rose" (Studebalier, 42<1 week). Got a push upward again, result of visitors, figuring close to |t<M« K not UttJa highor. News- ^paiier aprrads stilt eootinnlng, feat- uring tha bargain prices. SiOtS IN K y. AN0 COMM^ Figure* estimated and comment point te tome attractions being successful, while tiie ssm* gross accredited to other* might suggest lioarity ot leea. Tha vananee »* eaplainad in- tha diffarance ia a paeWia a . wHh the -tmrrh^t li ur h tod . Alao tha ate* af cast, with oo«>«s<iusrt dilloratic* >n asesssary gross for proft. Variance m basmess wens*an *^ mvawal attraction a* apaiast dramatic play it sito oonaidcrad. "AbMt's Irish Rose," Republic (125tb week). Jewish Kew Year started last week oCf with rush; trade eaasd away off la stiddla ol smek. bot soate attractions flgvre to have bettered g rs s s t* of wa*k pre- vious. "Abie's" great trade conr tiaaes withoot abatement. tK.M*. "Be Vouraalf," 8am H. HarrU «th week). LAet performances last week when Jack Donohue was ill Qraas about $1S,M« in sev^ per- RKeBTKKEP, LOWBTBEOHISS Way Ugft ButinMS Working Out This Season in Qinkcrtown The bigger SwaW and "Seventh veaT are erowSlag each other 'beggar ca H( stflP hoMa at % good pa«» bot baa adaohanad down to arooad |lt.M«. high profit for the Adelphl theatre "Tb* Potters" and Ttxpressiag Wil- lie" eomc ht next weHt to add to the dtamatic situation, re^acing "Ciirano de Bergerac." hers for a Umlted' two weeks' entertainment, and "Iti th* Next Koom." wholly up- set for better bosiness by bad bal- cony trade. Vntil the'Apollo goto a amash aiasloal piece to work aloqgaide of a »U.d«t to •18,0M consistent gross wttractlon at the Oarrick. neither "No, Ho, Nanette'' or "Topcy and Bva" win receive intcrfertace. "Voguea and FVtiics" waa a failare la. this competition, so the "Green- wteh Village Follies" wlU take np the issue next week. 'TBweet Little Devil" win move along quietly at the Oarriidc. ludg- Ing from the present pace, profltal>Ie so tar but. not with the "pudch" to keep it out of the in-and-out gross otacs. "The Magic Ring" is giving the Twin theatre knockouts the aeansst run for the money lead, get- ting big help from the hotel trade through Mitzi's local popularity. The veal test for the Twins ia pre- dicted when Fred Stone strikes town. The town's average is far ahead to date over last year. The cnliber of shows presented here this fall Is the neason. This adds another point in fiavor of those who shout "Send good sh«w» to Chi and there won't b« stamps." In most cases In recent years' slumps have come after some whirlarlnd campcUgn has given a preaiiers nJgbt a,great send-off, only to fla4 the axploitetions miles ahead of the- worth of the attraction. Last Week's Estimstss "White Cargo" (Cort, 1st week). Sen-out premiere audience Sunday, drawing this theatre'a old-time open- ing night crowd of celebrities. Prom- Hsea to restore activity around this tJwatr*. *^agep for Wives" aver- aged aboat t(,000 per week for the eight week's stay, most disappoint- ing, * "Apple Sauce" (La SoHe, 2d week). |: X<Mks very much Uke hit, building 1 M9 alcatar and drawing advance sale, result of good word-of-mouth chat- \S ilU^iitan^y seH-out S«tndayt>'^s fMlaaelpMa. Oct T. the repntetioa the the gr^aa! That was the sitn- atioB tat tho laglt last wedu Bost- aaas was aiact dioi^polattag: the oeasan docsat aacaa to hava Bsada oar kind, of start, to gat en tts feet, wita th* biggest wctucnMses In the balcaaiea aad gallerlca. The chief safferer was the "Music Box B«va^ tthird edition), which ran into a stonay and hectic period at iit* y wi ea t . and dropped to a lc««l thai ataoat « dteUact lo« on arooad. This big revu* la said to acad yrr.Mt to break, if tkofa the caae. It waa ator* thaa 94.M0 behhtd. as the gross failed to olto tonoh 123,000. Heavy rains Monday aad Taea d ay resulted in pitiful attendaaee, aad was true of the Wednes- day matinep. Kvery h<Mae in town saftcrad flrom the rainy Monday aad Tueadoy nig|its, Init several came back nicely later in the week. Most proteinent of thcae was the Brood, whi^ bod done only mildly well with the «en- ing week of "Hell-Bent fer Heaven." bot which came back with a fine bang, reaching close to capacity at the enA.of the week, with a splendid WednMSaV matinee, considering that BMieh of the ^house's regular clientele is not yet bock. "The Goose Hangs High." at the* Adel|>hi. showad a pretty improve- ment, as prophesied, business never reaching the phenomenal gait, but spelling profit to an concerned. Wonderful notice*, phis particularly fine word-of-month did the work, and with better weather breaks, thlfe week (ite lost) ought to show stUl another gala. Last w*ek about |10.5«0. As opposed to (his pieaaaat sur- prise, the liyrie, right next do^. with "The Potters." a heralded hit expected to run for a couple of months, was most disappointing. The McEvoy comedy in its- third week aqueescd around lt.500. prov- ing the wisdom of the decision to cut lU stay to four weeks. "The Third Tear," a last-minute booking at the Walnut, received kinder notices than it did on Broad- way (as "The Tantrum") but. with tb* weather bieaics against it. foiled to do much business. The manage- ment Is not expecting any consider- able gain, but is looking forward With much hope to the engagement of "Twish." which follows (open- ing next Monday) and to last prob- ably four weeks. Tho Shuhert. after the flop of "WUdflower." booked in "Bitting Pretty," previously Intended for the Walnut. Although the show seemed hardly suited for so big a bouse, It was liked, and received \ glowing notices^ all of which dwelt\ on the fine lyrico. For a comparatively in- expensive show, its gross of $18,000 or better meant something. This W*ifc This week ase* twa new ones, the most impoitaat beinr ICtbel Barry' moore's revival fArthur Hopkins)' of '"The Second Mrs. Tanaueray." which came into the Garrick for two weeks only. The combination of p Hopkias show ia a syndicate was saiaathhig of a. novcKy Th* other o^eBlag was "Thm Nervoaa Wreck." whMi bowed into th* Broad for four wedm. with ex- cellent prospectm. Nex> Monday bringa the flood *C H cwc cm c i s. no less than six opeaiag •n that o^ht. Three arc dramas and three ■rasfeoL "Tb* Outsider." at th* lorrlc; "Vhta Morgana." Adel- phl: "Taralah." Wahrnt. Th* maai- "XaOlpop.* et ypnrast (twa ealy>: "Artlsta aaA Models." Shabert tfor ran), and T itfla Irnak^ Jamca^'at Chcotaut. , Sttbnatea fer last wedt: "The Nervfae Wreck* (Bre*^ 1st wedE). Opened Meaday far (ear weAs. ^RdK-Bcat fer Heavca" pidied ap finely, gcaaarfav fia,OM. "Maaie Ban.Revwe* crorrcst, 4th week). Badly oK an week. VnOtr $U.OM. Ppetsira attendanee rettea. " S e e aa d Mrs. Tan^aaray" 40ar- rick. Xtt WfA}. BMIUaBt epealiw Monday. Twto wcdU* only. "The Third Year* (Walniit, >d week). Snddea hooking, little chance for campaign. Oveaa ealy $f,OM. "Meealialil" (Cheatant I^treet, 4th weA). Coatiattcd Itne dip after bad breaks at first of week. Capacity (downstairs) ea Friday. Over "The PMtereP (lorrie, 4th week). Big disiwpoiataewit for heralded hit Last week famt limped ahatg with few kaadrad SoBar* ever tS.*M. "The QcMC Hanoe High* (Adel- phl. Sd week). Plek^ a» splendidly. Groea Jumped aboat M.Md to reach tlO.600. "Sitting .Pretty" (Shnhcrt, 2d week). Very well liked by critics. Out of plaee la this big honse^ pulled nice gross of ahottt $13,000. Oth While business Improved pace not yet of sacoesefal proportions; probably staking llt|ie profit; rated around |>>(M. "Bewitched,'* National (M week). Opeo^ Oct. 11 with subsequent performances doing-disappointing bpsiness. but big percentage of improvement Friday and Satur- day: Perhaps «4^00« in six peic- formaneee; euality of play entitled to ntuch better an ppert. "Checelato rearfits.'* Colonial «th week). Oiviag midaight perform- ance Thersdey aight. mid-week matinee switched aa with previeus colored attracCoas. I10.0M. Good enough. •^Jobra," Longacre (25th week). Drama getting good break. wMh gross claimed w*H over $I1.0M. Bxpectatlon (or eoaitipuaitoe w«n through winter, show beiag able to climb against neve offerings. "CAnscience." BchMcnt (Slh week). Figured to ga about »1.500 over previous week, last week's gross approxlmnUng |S,et0. Very good in this small theatre^ "Danctng Methera," Maxiae BHett (9tA week). No deul>t about this one being dnunalic soeccaa. First attraction of new season, and chmbed stcadOy to pace of nearly tl4.«W. Moving down tToia Boe«h no difference. Sir," Times Siiuere. Token off Satnrdoy ofter ploying twa weeks. Heavy loos sustained. House dark. Due to get "AnaW" Inter la meath. FRISCO BUNCHED Three Houaee Finish Wsek Within U^/OOQ of Each Other Boa Vtaaclsco^ Oct 1. Iiegittanate house g roe se s last week were led by''"The Ten Com- mandmente", (film), at the t^lom- bia which scored $13,200. Doris Keane In "Starlight.' 'at the Cur- ran, was not far behind with $12,000, while the Negro revue at the Capitol, "Steppin' High," was under the btanket finish when rcgisterinr tll,M«. "Slippy Mc- Gee" (stock) at th* Casino took $2,000. "Solly. Irene and Mary" ore hold- ing forth at the Curran this week, while the remaioing theatres will retein th* beted attractions. "SCHOOL BEUST LOOKS GOOD Atlantic City. Oct. T. "School BeRes," revised music- ally from "The Charm School" and presented here last night by the Shuberts, looks to have a very fair chance on Broadway. It has good and wholesome com- edy, with a nicei^r balanced cast heoded by Overman aad Jtra* Walker, (■•.,,.- ,.< 11 I i,.,.t "Tsprstsina Wittie»* dtth Bt (Ztth week). Iteperted ahdiag tbeoi^ went through simtmcr to profit- able business and picked up after Leber Day, going to around $t.OM. "Fate Morgaaa," Garrick (SSd week). Final weA. TO read and sheuM be sseney moker. Fhlrty good buslneoe when on nroadway. At a*rri<A pace of tt.MO to $M9* qpito profitable. "Thp Guards' mmar aext we^. "FeNiesb^ New Amsterdaia UMk woek). Fan edttien startiag next week w foreign features inserted. Oae of two ot preeeat cast swltdied to rood "FoUies." Bnslnese stlD top- ping list with approximate gross ' of $40,000. "Qreet Music." Btrl Carroll (3d We^). Drama by Mortla Brown, produced by George Becker', Jr., new manager. Opened Saturday. Mixed reviews with choaceo denbt- fuL *«r**nwi«h Village FeRieet," Sha- bert (4th week). GetUag fairly good agency support; business comparatively strong but under expectations. Ought to settle down for engagement thot shcnld lost to first of year. About t2S.0M. "Oreunds for Divorce," Bkapire (M week). Looks Uke thia'one is ia. Excellent call la agencies. Tak- ings beat $l(.00t lost w««*, which rated attraction among three Icod- fag non-musicols. "Hevoe," Astor (tth week). Finol week. "Artiste and •Models" due next week. RngUsh war dromo never stiowed much. Opened at Slllott and moved to 39th before coming here. Grocvcd at $5,000 to $0,000. "High Stoho%" Kltinge (ith week). Moved Monday after showing promise of run at Hudson follow- ing diseentlag preas oplnloas. Buslnees lost week wen over $!>;- MO. Maybe better here, with en- gagement Mkely unUl first ot yeor. or longer. -m Ssy She Is," Casino (Ztst w*A). Off to strong start early lost w*rtt, pace again going to $21.M#. Kx- ceUent^grosses since Labor Doy; new musicals have not hurt "izzy," SBth St. (4th week). Little call reported in ogencleo, business principally coming direct to box office. Good start ihst week, with Jewish New Tear aiding. Moved down from Broodhurst Monday. Business better, estimated at $l,SOO or more. "Judy Drape In," Punch A Judy (Sd week). Timed to open Thursday, but bowed in lost Saturday. Prob- ably renting, policy of little house around Broadway section. ■Kid Boote," Selwyn (41st week). Zlegfeld's surest bet Bualnass roRs in so, consistently manage- I mentis cxpeotetlon of reniainlng well through new season not ex- aggeratcd. $12,000 weekly overage "Lseyhew ee ," VanderbiU (Sd week). SeoM extra advertising on s:rength of finely written pta.o. Basiness improved second wce^ about fT.fOO, and word of mouth ph«gi»g tfkeuM find reaction la futt hei bettislng poee^ "Morjerir," 44th St (tth week). Went ahead of previous week, baotnees sati s fac to r y to house and showhkg profit fOT attrac'lon. Around $15,500. "Minick.'^ Booth (Sd week). Climbed dnrlng'tecond week with four fig- ures approsimated at night per- formances. Rated between $J.- and $9.0M, satisfactory for atirac> tlon (comedy) of type. "My Sen," Princess (4th week). Good notices not cnoHgb to send dran^a off to siseable. gross. t*st week about J3.500 with cut rates. Honee ?99-eratrr and no big money pcosible. On way company- ^Jtooked op. even break hidieated. "Paasing Show" Winter Gordm <«th week). Appears to be getting fair buaiaees. Not rated exceptional In any way. Under $26,000. •^•9«." Little <«th week). Kat draw- ing exceptionally, but apparently mokiag ntosey at around $7,000. ^wlth chance to build on ttren-th. "IU»n," Gaiety (2d engagement; Ith week). New in S8th week and credited with two yeors. run bar- ing bcrn Interrupted by strike. Third season for draia4tic wonder contianes at great pace, wl.b groeo up neorty to tI4,0M lost wee'.:. "Ril* Revwe.'> RHs (4th week). O*- Ing along to very good but not ca- pacity business. CIosb draw on lower fiftor. with improvement looked for la boleeny. Ooited over «20.000. '^tm-Umtt^" Imperial (4th week), Staad-out musical soccess of new eeoOoa. Gross capacity Ogure, IS1.S00 at $4.40 top. Scole bo«*tc4. to f8.M eterting this week. ^STooJl^" ^ • """ ''**^*' " S ehe m ero." BayaC. Taken off Sot- urtfay after playing three week*. P»obobty $4,000. House dark, but ■tey get -My Son" from Prlncesa. "Stran«e B Od fs Mewu," Henry Miller (17th week). Going to road after a nac her week. Devrtopcd into fair money ■saker following slow start Mme. Simeae. Wrvith star, suc- ceeds uader Anno Miebols' aio»' •Ceatcat First' "L'Alglmi." ^nrhal Aarful Mrs. Eataa," Mocooca M werit). Final tacek- Manogo uMBt keenly dteoppointed in faU« ure of Andrew Jackson dromo. About $4,50*. followed by order* to take show off. "Firebrand" suc- ceeds. ■The Buqrhedy." BUou (2d week). Another new show starting badly and liable to close. Good first act^ but little merit thereafter. Knowa as "EJarly to Bed" in Chi<yigo. Estimated under $S,000. "The Dream Girt," Ambassador (8th week). Operetta ottracted good business, though not reochlng ex- ceptional fignree. Agency coO fair. Bxpected to lost through folL ^Approximating $1S,000 weekly. •mie For Cry," Cort (2d week). Drew mixed.notice*, .though playing and preducUoB pralaed. ladleationtf ar« dees draw for lower floor, but up- per floor trade doubtful Opened Tuesday; $0,000 in seven perform- ances, or weekly pace of $9,009. "The Former^ Wife," Comedy {1st week). Sni^sb ploy, prodiiced here by Shuberts. with Mr. and Mrs. Coburn featWed. Opens Thursday. The Grab Bog," Glohe (2d week). Bd Wyan'o new mnalcal. Drew ottentiea and business out of town. Spotted in Globe at $4.40 topi «The QfU M ftoMIs," Klow ((th week). M«Iodrop» with iB-betwesn bnsl- ncea, Jwt over moderate mark. Making Uttle money oad doing around $$,500. "The Nounted House," Geo. M. Co- han (0th week). Apparently com- edy success, though not among leaders. Gross around $11,000 mark since second week; w;o1it- oble both woya Th* Utti* Anooi," Fraaee (3d week). Frank dloloit on expectant motherhood of maiden enough to arouse attention and discussion. Buslneea Ugbt however; about $6,000. "The Miracle," Ontury (Jd engage ment; eighth week). Ancther month to go; big production ad- mitte\<ly taking weekly loss now. Wm be sent to Cleveland, opening next month under guarantee. About $21,000. "The Retf Folcen," Broodhurst (l«t week). Second production this season offered <^y George BToad- (CoDt4p««4 oo, poge IS) I,