Variety (March 1926)

Wednesday, March 10, 1926 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 19 WINCHELL DISPLACES GABRIEL AS FIRST IN CRITICS' BOX SCORE 166 New Plays Produced to March 6 as Against 155 to Same Week of Last Season—Osborn Beats Out "Times" for Last Place—Groups in Trios The critics' box score In this issue I Is based only on the Broadway fail- ures to date and reveals the dis- placing of Gilbert Gabriel ("Sun-) from the leadership, a position which he has held all season, by Winchell ("Graphic") under those conditions. "Wlnchell's ascendency to first place follows a rise from fourth position in the initial box score of the season, published in October, and a stubborn hold on the runner-up spot thereafter. Another prominent item in this acore is the proximity of Coleman ("Mirror") to the leaders. The latter's critical opinions were not tabulated by this department until early in October. This box score should not be confused with the mid-season and final compilations which rate the reviewers on all shows they have "cauKht," whether "hits" or "flops." In the present score the basis of the percentage is on the shows which have left Broadway finan- cially in "the red." Of these there have been 103 out of the 189 which opened between Aug. 3 and March 6. Last season (*24-'25) 155 shows had premiered on "the street" over a similar period, signifying that the production pace Is slightly in excess of a year ago. Other than the three leaders, the grouping of critics by trios remains about the same. The triumvirate of Hammond ("Herald"), Anderson ("Post"), and Rathbun ("Sun") still compose the second threesome in the standing, although Hammond now leads this group, while Ander- lon has passed Rathbun. Of the next set, consisting of Dale ("American"), Vreeland ("Tel- egram") and Osborn ("E. World"), Dale actually retains his six point "edge" of the score of Nov. 7, while Osborn has tobogganed into the cellar, ousting the "Times," which paper seemingly had a lease on that closing spot. Two Drop* Further comparison between this score'and that of Nov. 7 brings out the drop of Mantle ("News") from fourth to eighth position and the descent of Woollcott ("World") from third place to seventh. In the narrating of these ups and downs the mid-season score of January is completely Ignored, as tho Inclusion there of rating the scribes on all shows invariably lowers the gen- eral percentage total and is the cause of much changing in this guess league standing. At the time of the last box score, based only on departures (Nov. 7) Variety "took it" from a daily critic for the first time since the inception of this method of rating tho metropolitan dramatic men. In that instance Gabriel topped Va- riety's combined percentage by .893 to .875. In this current recount Gabriel has slipped a matter of S9 points, and while Variety has dropped six points to .866, still that figure is enough to top Winchell, the leader, by 29, although it marks a gain of 37 points for the latter over his Nov. 7 standing. "The Times" tops everything in the number of shows reviewed w ith 103, or every departure to date. This, as regards the other critics, explains that paper's greater num- ber of right, wrong and no opinion derisions. Individually, Dale with 79 has "caught" the most of those shows, which more or less abruptly departed, while Rathbun has re- viewed the least, explained by Gabriel being the "Sun's" varsity man. The difference in the figures be- tween the gross of 103 departures to date and the number of shows reviewed by the critics, which that column In the box score reveals, is made clear in various ways: second string njen draw assignments on lights of multiple openings, those pnpers having only one regular critic ("American," "Mirror" and "News"), often cannot review when ■ show closes before they've had a 'banco to get around to it, ah- •eBCW through illness ete. Variety does not take cognizance of the second string men In the box score oher than to ch(>-k off that the par- ticular paper has "caught" what- ever show it may happen to be in such a case. Homestead Squawks Among Variety's "own." Pulaski is the leader, with only one wrong out of 20 chanees. This will sponsor much squawking around the old homestead, when the rest of the boys get a slant at the lineup. Inasmuch as the keeper of the box seore has fohd hopes of be- ing around F( oria at press time, he will laugh ofT the pros and cons. And as he's thus far successfully escaped running into any of the boys from the dailies, the chances are that he may live to make up another score—although don't for- got here's a guy who rates a griev- ance against the whole bunch. He's got to read the stuff this box score gang writes. ULRIC WILL RECORD "LULU BELLE" SONG Belasco Drawing Royalty on "Official" Harms, Inc., Num- ber Now in Show The only official "Lulu Belle" song, booked up with the Belasco production, went into tho show Monday night for the first time, re- placing the famous W. C. Handy "St. Louis Blues" which he r etofore was the indigo musical theme of the third act cabaret scene. The "Lulu Belle" song, which Lcnore Ulrlc Is. now singing, is a Harms, Inc., publication, authored by two 23-year oM newcomers, Leo Robin and Richard Myers who came to attention with their con- tributions to the current "Green- wich Village Follies." Miss Ulric, incidentally, will make her phonograph debut as a record- ing artist on the Victor disks with tho "Lulu Belle" number. Her photograph also adorns the title page of this song, as per agreement with David Belasco who, like all production managers. Is receiving a royalty on the number. Belasco has advised Harms, Inc., that he will ask other publishers of "Lulu Belle" songs to desist from using the title and Miss Ulrlc's picture on the title pages. ALL-STAR "PINAFORE" Milton Aborn is intent upon doing another Gilbert & Sullivan revival for the spring, having settled upon "Pinafore." The cast will be an all-star for the principal roles. Names have been tentatively chosen. A Shu- bert theatre will house the pro- duction. Aborn stages "The Mikado" last spring, his production and casting calling for much praiseworthy comment and reviews. CRITICS' BOX SCORE The key to the abbreviations is: S. R. (shows reviewed^: R (right); W (wrong); O (no opinion expressed); Pet. (percentage). Score of March 6, 1926 SR R W O Pet. WINCHELL ("Graphic") 43 36 7 .. £37 GABRIEL ("Sun") W 45 11 .. .80-1 COLEMAN ("Mirror") 45 36 6 3 .800 HAMMOND ("Herald-Tribune") 47 35 12 .. .745 ANDERSON ("Post") , 52 35 17 .. .673 RATHBUN ("Sun") 27 18 9 .666 WOOLLCOTT ("World") 50 33 16 1 - .660 MANTLE ("News") 73 47 24 2 .644 DALE ("American") 79 46 31 2 .582 VREELAND ("Telegram") 40 23 14 3 .575 "TIMES" 103 54 46 3 .524 OSBORN ("Evening World") 67 35 28 4 .522 VARIETY'S OWN SCORE SR R W O Pet. VARIETY (Combined) 97 84 13 .. .866 PULASKI (Ibee) 20 19 1 .950 GREEN (Abel) 16 15 1 .. .937 SISK 27 25 2 .. .926 LAIT X 16 11 5 .. .687 (This score based only on failures up to March 6) BRADY LOSES DRIFTING' SUIT Referee Recommends Ver- dict for Estate Grand Opera at Windsor; Semi-Professional Group The Windsor, John Cort's tryout house in Fordham, goes into a week Of grand opera Monday (March 15) when the National Grand Opera Company ta!;es possession. It will present a different opera at each performance, eight in all. ATTACHMENT TO CLOSE MAIDEN in spite of pretentious announce- ments, the National Grand Opera qroup la recognized as a semi-pro* fcsslonal organisation. A few ex- perienced singers have tho leads, the remainder are raw Student I of voice culture given (his "opportunity" by their Instructors to make pood the promise of "professional" engage- ment! upon the completion of tutelage. Ned Wayburn Stops Piece at Pittsburgh — Internal Bickerings Blamed At Equity Monday It waa stated that there was $6,400 due the 31 members of "Tho Maiden Voyage," originally a Ned Wayburn produc- tion traveling under the title of "The Honeymoon Cruise." operated by Honeymoon Cruise, Inc. Against the Indebtedness due the people Kquity held a $4,000 cash de- posit mado by Wayburn •with a promise to deposit $2,000 more, while gYayhurn at the same time set forth a claim of $13,000 due to him from the show. He attached it Saturday night at Pittsburgh. It had just finished a week there, playing to a gross of $11,400. Wayburn seated he had wired In- structions to pay off the stage crew and musicians in Pittsburgh, re- turning them to New York which was done, according to Wayburn. Joe Sullivan, of the other faction associated with tho show, claimed that Wayburn had not paid oft the crew and musicians, but that he had and produced a signed voucher by all of the mechanical end. Sulli- van also at the same time stated every one in the company had been paid up to Saturday night. The statement made at Equity disputed Sullivan. Charges Bad Faith WaybBrn says he would not have attached the show had not remarks come hack to him made by the coterie consisting of Sullivan and Leo Morrison. Wayburn charges Morrison with bad faith and the "engineer" through which he was ousted as president of the Honey- moon Cruise corporation. Aecording to Wayburn. Morrison started to work for him three And one-half years ago at $25 weekly. A few weeks ago while Morrison was receiving $125 weekly from Wayburn, Morrison, jvlth Sullivan and Monroe Jacobs, another stock- holder In the company, voted Way- burn out of office, giving them control of the company. Way- burn alleges that Morrison held five per cent, stock In tho concern, whhh stock had been given by Wayburn to Morrison as a present in ease there were any profits. Morrison's stock was part of Way burn's 50 per eent. holdings. It was that five per cent, added to 35 per cent, held by Sullivan and IS per cent, by Jacobs, amounting to 55 per cent. In all that voted DORIS KEANE'S LIBEL RESTORED BY COURT $100,000 Action Against N. Y. "Graphic"—Story Men- tioned Arbuckle Albany, N. Y.. March 9. Doris Keane won her point when the Court of Appeals handed down a derision reversing tho lower courts in dismissing her $100,000 libel action against the Macfadden Newspaper Publishing corporation, which publishes the New York "Evening Graphic." Miss Keane, the wife of P.asil Sydney since 101S, alleges that the publication stated In its issue of l>ec. 15, HUM, that "according to rumor, she Is Fatty Arbuekle's latest lady love." The article appeared on the front page of tho paper with her photograph, the actress charges. Tho complaint further charges that another article appeared in the same issue under a dato line of Monterey, Calif., to tho effect that Miss Keane attended a barbecue given by Arbuckle and that no In- formation could be obtained as to whether or not he was fo marry her. Judge Frederick E. Crane, writing the majority opinion of the court, said: "The court should take the de- famatory publication In determin- ing its Characteristics and result In the same way that the reading pub He acquainted with the parlies and the subject take it." Judge Cuthbert W. Pound wrote a dissentlnc; opin- ion, with which Chief Judge Frank H. Hiscock concurred. Referee M. Warley. Platzek, who was assigned io adjudicate the .suit of Walter Scott, as father and exec- utor of the estate of Daisy Scott Andrews, .against William A. Hrady, claiming royalties on Brady's pro- duction of the p'ay, "Drifting;," has decided In Scott's favor. Mrs. Andrews, under the nom-de-plume of Leslie I.oring. in collaboration with John Colton, author of "ftaln" and "The Shanghai Gesture," wrote 'Drifting" for Alice Hrady and received a royalty up to her death. The executor of the authoress claimed further royalties an i an interest in the $1 W »« accruing from (he sale of the film rights to l'nivcrs.,1 for Prisellla Dean's use in pictures. Brady Sought to prove that Mrs. Andrew's only conceived the idea of the play, that Cotton rewrote it ami that three other recognized playwrights, including Owen Davis, Ueorge Brondhurst and David Carb fooled around with it, but to avail. no Coast Ticket Brokers Advertise on Billboards Los Angeles, March 9. Glttleaon Brothers, who operate two theatre ticket Offices In local hotels, on a 5<)e. margin, have started a billboard advertising cam- paign to call attention to the courtesy and service that patrons receive In letting theatre and fight tickets. They have obtained CO painted boards, placed in attractive loca- tions throughout Los Angeles coun- ty. This Is the first time In the history of the theatre business that brokers have resorted to this form of advertising. him out, Wayburn states, Sullivan had disposed of the 15 per cent to Jacobs for $3,500, ac- cording .to Wayburn, which, with $ 1 .."00 more made up $5,000 which I Sullivan produced, after, having had agreed to finance the show. l)es-pjtQ the financing promise, Wayburfl "aid he hod hid to supply production and equipment, besides cuMi tor the bond, hi* total Invest- ment reiiresenting $16,000. Of this Wayburn lately received $3,000 on account. fj Sullivan and Morrison's story is that Wayburn whlletJcontrolling the show failed to consult them, booked where ho pleased and they were of the opinion WayburifJ wanted to use "The Honeymoon Cruise" (then called) as propaganda for his School of Dancing in New York, preferring to spread the show over tho country rather than to make bin city stands for a run. Wayburn states the show as framed is not for a Broadway or Chicago run, but has proven Itself a good road at- traction. This week the show was booked for a split in West Virginia. Sheriff Has Show Most <>f the show's property is In care of the sheriff of Pittsburgh. Nothing Is known as to the show's future or If the partners will agree Sullivan and Morrison have stated they did not want the Wayburn props and costumes. Moirison as- serted that all of Wayburns stuff had been delivered to him before the show left New York for Pittsburgh. Wayburn posted notice of closing at Daytona. Fla.. with the show to close Feb. ■>! at Miami. The other side claimed Wayburn had no au- thority to post a notice and repu- diated It. At the same, tune eight weeks booked south for the .show after Miami had been can. eeled and the company was obliged to make a direct jump back to New York. Sullivan Is a vaudeville ag< til Morrison had also b< > n iti a v., I. viljs agency before going with Wayburn. Equity's Coast Show Rule Los Atlgeles, March 9. According to Wedgwood Noel!, representing Kqulty. the executive council of the organization has de- cided to allow actors to take a part cut to encourage managers bring- ing shows from the east to the Pa- cific Coast. A cut will he allowed of a maxi- mum of one-half pay for one-half a ue. k of the engagement to pro- tect the managers where they are Unable to get consecutive booking for one night stands en route, Strindberg: Heirs Suing- Broker for Accounting- The heirs of August Strindberg are suing tho United Plays. Inc., of Berlin and New York, Tor royalties alleged due under a contract of Nov. 21, 1922, whereby the I'. 1 to pay 1260 advanc was royalty per play production against a two per cent, royalty Interest In all KiiKllsh productions of Strlndberg's plays. Thus, through Charles Recht, their attorney, oi;:a Strindberg, Erik Strindberg. Karin Smirnoff, Astrld Von Philip, Weiam Henry Von Philip, Kerstln SulZback and Anno. Marie Strindberg, as kin of the Swedish author, are asking In total $0,500. Of this amount, $5,000 rep- resents royalties due and the re- mainder is for royalty advances not paid. Olga Strindberg Is tho widow of Hans Strindberg, the author's son. The others are next of kin. Peggy Fears' Film Contract Los Angeles, March 9. Peggy Fea:s. a "Follies" Kir! who reci ntly v\.-iik<d out on Ziegfeld, has been riven a contract by Warner Brothers. The contract specifies that she wlil be a featured player. Donnclly-.Dillon Engagement Jack Dillon, company manager of the touring "Music Box" and to (Ska the Moscow Art Theatre Mu- sical Studio on the road. Is enraged lo marry Miss Donnelly, secretary to a. I.. Rrtahger. The wedding i» expected soon.