Variety (March 1925)

Wednesday. March 25.1925 VARIETY lb WISE LOOPERS TRYING TO SOLVE MYSTERY OF GOOD PUYS FLOPPING *The Show-0£P' Stopping in Chicago Unexplainable —Killing OS , Drawing Territory May Be One Reiason—"Nanette" Closing 49-Week Run in Two Week*—Beau *Top»y and Eva"—"Student Prince" Makes It at Great Northern, $26,000— Worried Over Spring Instead oL Planning for Summer Chicago, March 24. ' By the way the town Is swinging on the pendulum of current legit groasea, with no help in sight from Broadway, figuring what houses will remain open for the summer has been supplanted with worry over the spring. It's Konerally about five weeks later that tlie managers become un- easy about what to do for the sum- mer, but this blast of discontent ^bout the spring tseasjn is most un- usual, giving birth to a new state of affairs, partlcutarly when such good spring possibiltles as "Show-Off." "Hell Bent fer Heaven," "Minick," "Aren't We All" and others fall by the roadside. If anybody who witnessed the pre- miere week's demand for "Show- Off" would have stated this piece would draw only 14 weeks in Chicago and only seven of these weeks at a satisfactory average gross insanity would have been the charge against the concerned individual. But it's what will happen. Two weeks more and Cohan's Grand will go dark If another play isn't brought out of the existing meager output of new plays. Grosses can fall at an amazing clip In Chicago. It's gotten so, too, that they don't come back. Complete dis- appearance of balcony trade has been the biggest contender in solving the local mysteries surrounding the er- ratic legit business. Throughout the country the balcony trade weakness la known, but a careful investigation Into the Chicago balcpny weakness gives, perhaps, stronger wonderment than elsewhere. Combination of false impressions about Chicago by New York produc- ers Is conceded to be one of the strongest reasons why so much dis- appointment is carried back to Broadway by the owniera who stick here one day and then Jump the 20th 'Ceiitury Limited. Chicago haa be- come a theatrical center all its own, not thoroughly studied by those who yell the loudest over disappoint- tnenta. Better Resulta from Hints Variety's reports from Chicago In the last two years, when the change In the legit tastes of the town was firat observed, have been firing aub- . ktantlal hints at the Broadway man- agers. Many of the hints have been ^nicked up and found to be right In ^the campaigning for better results. In last Sunday's "Tribune" Frederick Donaghey forsook his usual second- thought comment and wrote wisely iibout conditions that proved the present trend of worrlment on the ^rt of Chi'a theatre managers. Wrote Donaghey: "... besides, producing man- agers are baffled by certain manifestations in the Chicago aeasofi, although the season haa yheen generally better here than ' In New York or any other city. Thus they are puzzled as to why 'Seventh Heaven' was not suc- cessful here; as to the compara- tively brief run of 'The Show- Oft'; as to Cyril Maude's failure to draw in 'Aren't We AH'; and as to the. slim returns and the hostile press on 'Minick.' . . . "Seeking to explain such things In the lucid terms of ordi- nary business is always a chore without rewards. Drama in the matter of income and outgo be- longs under the heading of Bage- hot's 'commerce on the impon- derable.' "I can glibly and with perfect sincerity say that 'Seventh Heaven' was not managed With ■ due regard for Chicago condi- tions by its producer, Mr. John Golden. That 'Aren't We All?" was a thin, shiny little piece needing a high grade of what are called 'drawing-room actors' to make it seem substantial and shining, and that Mr. Maude brought hither a company of an- other kind, whereas In New York the piece was well nigh perfectly played. That the favorable chances for a good month of business for 'Minick' were de- stroyed by the defeatist device of the local management In flooding the town with half-rate tickets even before the first Chi- cago perfrfTmance, and of dis- tributing these bargain slips among the naive theatregoers who thought 'Sakura' a wonder- play and 'Up the Ladder' Just grand drama. . . . Yes. indeed, the words of explanation Just pour themselves Into order on the sheet; but what explanation have I in the case of 'The Show- Oft?* There Isn't any that I may make; and there is none to be made by others that I should accept." Such is the Chicago situation at present—of comment and total in- ability of the town's leading com- mentators to solve. Here's "Hell Bent fer Heaven" dying tremendous- ly fast at the Playhouse. "Ma Pet- tlnglU" won't get far at the Black- stone, from present appearance. "Badges" can stay longer than the current pace warrants, for it looks as if the Shuberts haven't anything to take Up the Garrick's time. Luckily for "The White Cargo" the Cort can be operated at a low cost, otherwise the run there would have ended Ave weeks ago. 75-Mile Radius Killed The Cort has a fine clientele with- in a radius of 75 mllei In Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Thij pull ended when another "White Cargo" entered that territory. "Apple Sauce" has grabbed the best dramtlc honors of the town for this season. "Is Zat So?" is going akng pell-mell at the Adelphi, but balcony weaknesses creep in every now and then, preventing full capctty, but straw hats will be in their second edition before this one runs toward its end in town, unless It will be another case of a oomedy, having difllculty in passing the Itth week at high flgurea. The musical fleld has Anally entered the shape-up predicted. "Rose-Marie' is leading all, but Fred Stone is settling, at the Illinois and now It looks as if "Stepping Stones" will engineer the 18 weeks marked oft for it, making it a full season for the Stone organization. "Student Prince" Wina Out "The Student Prince," with only the Illinois and the Woods attrac- tions aa counter opposition, has come into Its own, shaking oft the hoodoo of the Great Northern, where It is housed. "Nanette" will close April 11, giving it 49 weeks, two weeks better than the ' Topsy and Eva" run. "Vanities" doesn't get anywhere when Barl Carroll is mussled in his controversies with the police over naked chorus girls. In Chicago it's probably a case of the nude-seekers having been over-fed not only In the theatres but In the night clubs. Nude choruses can't draw money In Chicago at this particular period of civilization. How long some of the present law gross going attractions can hold on is hard to figure. "The Green Hat" (Selwyn) April 5, and "Be Yourseir' (Harris), April 13, are the orly new attractions on the horizon. There are five attractions In town that would be making an immediate exit if the houses holding 'em had other shows to put in. Such id the low- ness of the output for the f.pring season in Chicago. / Last Week'a Estimates "Cobra" (Princess, 1st week). Re- lighted Sunday, entering with no advance sale, something quite* a thing of the past In this lOwn. Only moderate grosses anticipated. "The Bat" (Central, iJt week). Another experiment by house man- gement, since it appears tough go- ing to book regular run of plays in this house. May be few citizens left who didn't witness this piece on record run at both Princess and Cohan's Grand In the yesteryear. "The Student Prince" (Great Northern. 5th week). Practically found itfvslf after scare start that caused money to be spent in ex- ploitation. Proof substantial thc- atregolng public here is unaware of what really are Broadway hits, causing second companies to be or- ganized. Should sail along nicely from now on. Figured 526,000. "Rose-Marie" (Woods. 7th week). Drawing reol demand and seems des- tined to get record musical run at 13 50 top. Matinees practically solid of women folks. $30,800. "Stepping Stones" (Illinnls, 6th week). Wiggled out of musical play competition. $26,000 gross average. If not little higher. "No, No, Nanette" (Harris. 47th wepk). This ties "Topsy and Eva" run of 47 weeks. Two more to go before exit. "Nanette" will own town's record run of 49 week.'!. Final weeks' announcement shouM return high grosses. Around $19,500 list woqJc ' "Vanities" (Selwyn, 3d weok). Completely lost without nudity con- troversies, although did better than previous week. Matinees In Chi- cago are composed 75 per cent of women, and women do not patron- ize revues at matineoa. Around $16,000. "Apple •Sauce" (LaSaUe. 26th week). Looks easy to hold f 11.000 average, length of run notwith- standing. With nothing sighted for house probable piece yet good for at least eight weeks more. "Ths ShoMfOff" (Cohan's Orand. 12th week). Another corkinc (ood play gone wrong In this town, last two weekj listed. Picked by wise ones to stick at least six months. Just why It couldn't—add to the mysteries piling up thlc!i and fast In this town for Broadway man- agers to solve. Estimated gross, $9,000. "Is Zat So?" (Adelphi, 6th week). Going along at great clip, with pos- sibility of flgur.ng stronger when balcony crowd knows of it. Again around $12,5CO. "Whits Cargo" (Cort, 25th week). Down at flgures ($6,500) that would bring immediate exit If hous« had anything to follow. Attraction ap- pears perfectly content to remain at small figure, since profit Is re- ported. ^Badges" (Garrlck. 4th week). Another local case of where attrac- tion getting better chance to stick than if surplus of shows. Little ac- tlvltv noted, with 11,600 about speed. "Moonlight" (Apollo, 2d week). Drew about two satisfactory grosses during premiere week, holding gross to around $17,000, making big fight to keep up in future weeks of stay. Saturday-Sunday grosses save mnny shows at this house. "Hell Bent far Heaven" (Play- house, 2nd week). Far from catch- ing on, one gross below $300 and several others not much higher. Around $5,800, If that. Prize plays have had hard time of It in Chi- cago. "For All of Us" (Studebaker, 2nd week). Getting many repeaters from previous visit, sfthoujrh thus far hasn't been encugh to push av- erage beyond $9,000. In for two weeks more, but can stay longer if business warrants. "Ma Pettingill" (Blackstone. Snd week). Solid clientele r>atronlxtas plays of this type missing these ever so many months in, Chi. Gross wasn't checked, but known to be very small with little prospect of better to degree of local success. BOSTON SPOTTY BUT "BOOTS" $34,000 AND "GRAB BAfT $23,009 Dramatics Off—"Spin-Drift's" Withdrawal Leaves Park Dark—"Chauve-Souris" Big at $18,000— *'Goose" Leads Non-Musicals with $11,000 Harrison Staging LeMairo Play Rufus TjO Malre haa begun as- sembling a cast for his next pro- duction, "Missionary Mary." non- musical, which goes into rehearsal next week under the direction of Bertram Harrison. Boston, March 24. As might be expected at this sea- son in Boston conditions in busi- ness at the legitimate theatres were rather spotty last week. Some strange situations existed. Two •hows, musical, "Kid Boots" (Co- lonial), and "Chauve Sourls" (Shu- bert), played to capacity during the week, with "Chauve Souris" doing better for the second and last week of its stay here than it did the week before. "Kid Boots," fifth week, continues to do the biggest business in town, with the demand very steady and capacity houses ruling. "The Grab Bag," the Ed Wynn show, second week at the Tremont, came the nearest-to the business marked down for the leaders. Just now Wynn is up against strong com- petition. It appears as though it would have the edge now with the new attractions in town and would travel only second to "Kid Boots." Park Dark The dramatic end waa not ao good last week. "Spin-Drift," new at the Park, was unable to stand the gaff, and the show did not prove to be a big money maker. As a result It ended the Boston engagement on Saturday, second week, and one ahead of schedule, and the house is dark this week. This is considered by local showmen a rather tough break for the Park, for it had the business coming good, and if a strong attraction had come in at this time it would have set the house definitely on Its feet. Due to the long time it haa been in town and the opposition it-la up against in the way of musical com- petitors, 'Til Say She Is," now on the final week at the Majestic, last •week showed signs of the strain. The show weis liked from the start by Bostonlans and got over far bet- ter than was anticipated. New Attractions For new attractions thia week at the local houses there were two ar- rivals. "The Passing Show" opened at the Shubert Monday for two weeks, and "Little Jessie James," which played the city before this season came Into the Wilbur. This last show played 10 weeka to very good business at this same house last summer. Attractions due in the near future are "The Four Flusher," at the Selwyn next week for its metropolitan premiere, with "Rose-Marie" scheduled for the Shubert the week after that. "The PLAYERS IN MUSICAL SHOWS jaybrennan stanleTrogers with "RITZ REVUE" 8kak«rt 0*tr«lt 0»«ra Hmm Dttrsit BM. HARRY PUCK "My GirP' Vandsrbilt Theatre, New York INDKFINirai.T BERT GILBERT COMEDIAN "CHINA ROSE" Knickerbocker Theatre, V. T. C. BUY TAYLOR JUVENILE "CHINA ROSE" Knickerbocker Theatre, V. T. C. BETn BYRON COmCDIENKB Vinth "ROSE-MARIE" CO. Woods Theatre, Chleage Indefinitely HARRY FENDER "Louie the 14th" Cosmopolitan Thsatrs, New York INDEFINITELY SIBYLLA BOWHAN AS WANDA WITH "Rose-Marie" Co. Woods Theatre, Chicago rarMOiU lUp.. JENIK JACOBS CHARLOTTE TREADWAY I.«hI»— Moroa«o Thcatie LOS ANGELES CHARLES WILLIAMS ECCENTRIC COMIC "STUDENT PRINCE- JOLSON, NEW YORK WM. T. KENT "ROSE-MARIE" Imperial Theatre, New York ARTHUR DEAGON "ROSE-MARIE" Imperial Theatre, New York Music Box Revue" ia due into the Colonial April 1>, when "Kid Boots" will have taken all its local time, and on the same night the Fllene people will take over the Tre- mont for a week with their annual amateur musical, "Barbara Lee." Last Week'a Estimates "Next Door," Mollis (2d week). One of shows in town that went off in business. Last week $7,000. "Whits Cargo," Selwyn (final week). Having been in here 10 weeks is not too strong and was unable to stand double gaff of Lent and long run. $9,000. "The Grab Bag," Tremont (2d week). Runner up in way of bual- ness last week. Very close to leaders and considered strong prop- osition locally. $23,000. "The Goose Hanga High," Plym- outh (3d week). Managed to main- tain the pace of prevlona week. $11,000. "Kid Boots," Colonial (Sth week) This musical continues to lead town as it has done since here. $34,000. "I'll Say She U." Majestic (final week). Up against strong opposi- tion, and after several weeks busi- ness slipped off a bit. $14,000. "The Passing Show," Shubert (1st week). In Anal week at house "Chauve Souris" almost completSv^' sellout. $18,000. "Little Jessie Jamea," Wilbur (lat week). Show in for repeat. Con- sidered strong attraction to round out few b«ul weeks. "Beggar on Horseback" in final week at the house picked up some business. $6,000. Park—Due to the closinc of house because of inability of "8pin-I>rift~~ to do satisfactory business, bouse dark for this week. '7tliHeaTeB"B« in Frisco f San Francisco,' March 24: Legit grosses estimated for last week: Curran—Gallagher and Sheen In "Greenwich Village FoUlea." $S.6t top. Second week hH $21,800. Not bad for Lent One more week to go with advance aale light. Kxp^ted to go as low as $16,000. Cheaper seats picking up in sale. Columbia — "Seventh Heaven." $2.60 top. Helen Meneken featured. Second week, cloae to $18,000. In- definite run. Show and aUr liked. Big advance aale tor the next two Wilkea — Harry Carrol's "Pick- ings." $2.20 top. Very poor. Not over $4,200. Cant hold on much longer. Capitol—13th week of "White Col- lars." $2.20 top. Back to almost normal with $7,700. Good old "two- for-one" helping. Alcazar—Henry Duflfy Playera. 61h week of "So This Is London." $1.26 top. House is scaled close to $11,000 on capacity. Matinees off, with ca- pacity at night, bringing $7,800. $14,000 FOR "FATHER" New Cartoon Show in Baltimore at flM Laat Week JIMMY SAVO "BITZ BEVI'IT' JOAN FBANZA gbsbert Detroit Opvrs IIoom, netrolt, MIrh. t...p. ........ .... . - Baltimore, March 24. , With the Lyceum joining th«« Academy on the dark list .and the Auditorium taking on "Bringing Up Father," the "Folllea" at Forda tX $4.40 was the only high-scale legit In town last week. The comic strip musical was booked for the Academy, but Man- ager McLaughUn of the Auditorium having an open week on his handa and sensing the box office value of the McManus musical, successfully steered It Into the latter house. The press was divided on the show. "The Sun" papers, which formerly ran the strip, found little to praise In the dramatization, while the Hearst papers warmed up to It quite nicely. At $1.60 it grossed nearly $14,000. • The legit line-up shifts somewhat this week, with the Lyceum going over to the films for six days, while the Academy turns on the lights for "Aces and Queens," colored show, at $1.50 top. L. A. GROSSES Los Angeles, March SC / "No, No Nanette," In lU week at the Mason, kept up Hs '. pace and got $22,500. Kolb and Dill in their first at the Hlltmore got $ie,IO«. while "So This Is London" at the M«roM^ drew $«,900 on Its initial weak. | At the Majestic, "The «W<h-' 0ot $6,600t •