Variety (May 1926)

44 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, May 26, 19St 40 B WAY PLAYS IN JUNO START; MELLER DID $140,000 ON RUN Season Officially Over Saturday—Hot Wave on Way Reported—May Be Many Absentees by July 4 —Look for ExpoMf^i Help FUTURE OPENINGS "Celebrities This piece by Lawrence Langer baa been selected as the opening bill of the Stager* next season. It will be launched In August under direction of the author. Though the season of 'L'5-26 offi- cially closes Saturday (May 29), Broadway will enter June with 40 attractions regularly presented. That number looks better than It really Is for the reason, that by July 4 Indications are that 60 per cent of the list will have retired. The Sesqul-Centennlai in Phila- delphia should benefit Broadway theatres. Cool weather has favored the- atricals ' through many May days. Last year June entered with scorching heat. Weather reports of- a hot wave tearing in from the West may see the same conditions by the end of the week. Despite the cool going, between eight and 10 attractions will have closed between last Saturday and this. Included were revivals. Oth- ers were shows which exhausted the draw, whether by cut rates, two for ones, or coupled with sal- ary reductions and pooling. Raquel Meller closed a six weeks' date at the Empire sensationally, getting $20,731 the final week and a total gross oyer ^140,000. "Sunny" has a contender In "The Great Temptations," which opened at the Winter Garden last week and went well above $35,000 in seven performances. "Sunny s" tak- ings were $42,500, a figure only $1,000 under the pace when stan- dees were constant. The money leader may ease off through June, . bu^t as soon as the visitors start arriving business is sure to jump. Good for "lolanthe" The success of "lolanthe" con- tinues to stand out, as the revival went upward last week, while the others' business dropped further. The Gilbert and Sullivan revival got nearly $18,000 and with on ex- tended agency buy may go through summer. 'The Vagabond King" at $25,000 is holding its own; "The Cocoanuts" about $21,000 (summer edition due soon); "A Night in Paris" holds to better than $J0,000; •'Tip Toes." $19,000; "Vanities," $17,000. and nearly through; "Nan- ette" $15,500, also, due out soon; "Bunk." $11,00P, but not profitable; "The Girl Friend" about an even break at $10,000; "Kitty's Kisses," may be $9,500; "Garrlck Gaieties," $8,500 and o. k. because co-opera- tive revue. "The Shanghai Gesture" has eased off. but with the pace at $23,000 the last two weeks, holds money lead- ership among the non-musicals. The dramatic smash moves to the Shubert Monday for an indefinite date. It may drop a bit more, but is expected to go into next season. "Lulu Belle." with capacity all performances claimed, is the only show in town not affected in some measure. "Last of Mrs. Cheyney, $15,000; "Cradle Snatrhors," $14,- 000; "At Mrs. Beam s," $14,000, are the balance of important money- getters. "Sex," a freak, was ruled at $12,000 again; but "Able," at bet- ter than $10,000 for the first week of its fifth year at summer prices, is still the wonder show; "What Hvery Woman Knows" surprises by keeping a $10,000 gait; "Kongo," $9,000; "Alias the Deacon," $8,000; "Bride of the Lamb," $9,000; •Tomcroy's Tast" and "Love in a Mist" rated about $7,500; "Young Woodley" and "Wisdom Tooth" a bit less; "Not Herbert." under $5,000; "Square Crooks," about $4,000. Five fhows stnppt-fl suddei'ly last Saturday. "The Student Prince" ..closed Jolson's; "Cyrano" closed Hampden's; "The Sport of Kings" closed the Lyceum; "Juno and the Paycock," which moved to the Mansfield, left that house dark: "The Climax'* (revival) lasted one week at the 48th Street, which this week offers the only premiere, "One Man's Woman"; Pinafore" stopped Monday, leaving the Century dark; ••Greenwich Village Follies" closes at the Shubert, which will get "Shanghai Gesture," now at the Beck, which goea dark; "By the Way" continued an extra week, but leaves Saturday, with the Central also probably going dark. "Henry V," a one-weak revival bdheflt for Another Raccoon Coat Last summer Al Lee and hia side kick, George Sullivan, were chatting In the hearing of George White, whose "Scan- dals" Lee manages. Lee said there was only one thing he wanted In the world—a rac- coon coat. At Christmas time White went for $600 to buy Lee the coat as a gift. Sully was duly informed and Al declared he would sport the "heater"' a few times and then take the river, because he had every- thing, anyhow. Last week Sully, who la on tour as stage manager for "Naughty Cinderella," tele- graphed Lee. "Wire lowest rental on your raccoon coat. Want to wear it crossing des- ert and in pictures. Have Buddy Desylva write me nine bars of bow music." "Cowboy Crazy" Comedy by George Abbott and Pearl Franklin. Will be Lawrence Weber's Initial production next sea- son, opening at Aabury Park July 2JL . _ SMALLPOX SCARE -SupernatVal" Being MM(jj*»d f<, r a tryo^t In June by John Golden. First of next sea- son's list. Now being cast, and will play two weeks, then put away until August. The Small Town Gal" George Stoddard musical being readied for production next month by Clark Ross. Now casting, and goea into rehearsal in two weeks. "Betsy Nobody" Comedy by David H iff gins, spon- sored by Barry Townly. Gets under way at Stamford, Conn., May 38. Flora Le Breton starred. "Half-Naked Truth" Reaching Broadway shortly under managerial auspices of Mabel Ryan. Cast not aet yet.* Duffy Stock Co. Encounters It on Boat San Francisco, May 25. On the trip across the Pacific from San Francisco, smallpox broke out on board the liner. The Henry Duffy "Best People" stock which he sent to Australia in association with B. J. and Dan Carroll was held in quarantine at Sydney four days. The company opened May 9. ft Frazee's "Betsy A comedy called "Betsy Nobody," written by David Hlggins, has been taken over by H. H. Frazee. The show was to have been promoted by Barry Townley. Flora I- T :r2ton will head the cast which included Hlggins, Charles MacNaughton, Reynold Dem.Ison, Stanley Rluges, John Davidson and Louise Clark. "Beyond Evil" Comedy-drama written and pro- duced by T>avld Thorne opens "cold" next week (May 31) at the Princess, New York, remaining for two weeks*and scheduled to fol- low "The Jazz Singer" at the Cort. Mary Blair heada the cast. Edward Massey staged. ••Broadway" Comedy by George Abbott and Phillip Dunning listed as Jed Har- ris's next Now being caat for a spring tryout after which it will be put away until September. •The Claim" Comedy-drama by James Rellly. Opens Hudson, Union City, N. J„ May 31. Harry J. Wolcher produc- ing. Cast Include* Zlta Johann, Warren Ashe, Ruth Sackville Stoner and others. AHEAD AND BACK Will A. Page, ahead of Raquel Meller, special exploitation. Victor Kiraly, recently back with "Kid Boots," will be tack with Raquel Meller on her tour which opena in Boston this week. Bertram Babcock handling pu- blicity on "Great Temptations." ASCHER'S STOCK "BUN" PLAN Chicago, May 25. Starting with "Weak Sistors," which opened Sunday, Ascher broth- ers have discontinued the fortnight- ly chango of plays for the stock players, and will play the various pieces as long as box office demands warrant. new ^attraction carded for next week.* The subway circuit saw moderate business all around last week. Most of the outlying houses are ready to close, but Werba's Brook- lyn will stick longer, having added "Stray Sheep," Tune 7, and a hew ('•race George play to follow. In that house last week "One Man's Woman" got $6,000; "Old English" grossed about $10,000 at the Majes- tic, where bigger business was ex- pected; "The Two Orphans," at the Shubert Newark, only $11,000, and closed; "Magda," at the Broad there, around $6,000; "Butter and Egg Man," $5,500, at the Bronx opera house. Two Buys Renewed ■Jhe renewal of buys for two of Hie remaining attractions for a fur- ther period of four weeks and with the brokers taking about 150 seats a nik'ht for the Alice Brady show, "The Bride of the Lamb," the total of the shows represented in the pre- mium agenc.K-s totaled 15 this week. The renewals wore for "The Cradle Snatehers." at the Music Box, and "lolanthe," at the Plymouth. The buy for "I'oineroy's Past," at the Longacre, ran out last Saturday night .and was not renewed One buy that had this week to run ended abruptly last Saturday night, with the closing of "The ^port of Kings," at the Lyceum, and the brokers weren't sorry. The complete list now contains "Lulu Belle" (Belasco); "A Night in Paris" (Casino da Parts); "The I*ast of Mrs. Cheyney" (Fulton); "Garrlck Gaieties" (Garrlck); "Tip Toes" (Liberty): "The Cocoanuts" (Lyric); "The Shanghai Gesture" (Martin Shows Closing "Sweetheart Time" did not Jump to Boston when departmlng from the Imperial, New York, Saturday, but called it a season instead. The road tour will start late in August. "The Dybbuk," produced by the Shuberts through arrangements with the Neighborhood Playhouse, closed in Chicago Saturday (May .2). It has been out five weeka. Society Backs New Play Los Angeles, May 21. Mrs. E. Magnus Ingleton, who wrote the book and lyrice of "Patsy," which closed at the Mason Saturday, has written a musical comedy entitled, "Patsy Beats the Drum." A company is being formed among society people in Los Angeles to finance this production in the fall. It will have Jts premiere in Los An- geles. "PAY DIRT" RECAST Oliver Morosce's production of Pay Dirt" shifted from the Rialto, Hoboken, N. J. to the Hudson, Union City, N. J. this week, and is due to follow Into New York. The production will close at the end of the week for revision and recast Ing. Shows in Rehearsal (AND. WHERE) "The Palm Baaoh Girl" (F. Zlegfeld, Jr.), New Am- sterdam. White's "Scandals* (Geo. White), Apollo. "Beyond Evil" (David Thorne), Cort. "Babies a la Carte" (S. L. Simpson), 688 8th Ave. "Missionary Mary" (J. M. Nichols), Bryant Hall. "Stray 8> >ep" (Cevrge Ash- by), -Cohan's. "The Claim" (Harry Wol- clier\ Bryant Hall "Fanny" (David Belisco), Belasco. "Ginger 8napa" (L Sim- mons), Hudson. "Abraham Lincoln" (Red- path), Bryant Halt 8 SHOWS OUT Counting five attractions which suddenly closed Saturday and one which stopped Monday, by the end of the week another eight shows will be off the Broadway list. The count may be an even 10 before the week ia out. Three revivals went by the board, "The Climax" and "Cyrano," coupled with "Servant in the House." "Juno and. the Paycock," which decided to move instead of closing at the May fair, lasted one week at the Mansfield. Another re- vival -Went down Monday, "Pina- fore" stopping at the Century. "By the Way" stayed over an ad- ditional w^ek at the last minute but leaves the Central Saturday. "Love 'Km and Leavo 'Em" will be through at the Apollo but may move to the Times Square. "The Student Prince" produced by the Shuberts closed last Satur- day at Jolson's after a run of 76 weeks. The operetta was a sensa- tion last season and held over, playing two other theatres, then moving back to Jolson's. This sea- son's business was profitable un- til recently when takings dropped to $10,000. / THE 8TUDENT PRINCE Opened Dec 2, 1924. Re* eeived raves, "Graphic" sum- ming up by aaying "The Great Critio will forgive Lea and Jake many a theatrical pecca- dillo for having produced this." Osborne ("Eve. World") said "so many good things, one re- gretted seeing it end." Variety (Abel) picked for a long run, aaying "should com- mand mass attention." "Greenwich Village Follies" pro- duced by the Bohemians, Inc., will close at the Shubert. It was orig- inally spotted at Chanln'a 46th Street where tk£ average weekly gross was between $23,000 and $24,- 000. Though not actually with the leaders, the revue did as well or better than previous editions in point of takings though it was more expensive to operate. The en- gagement was for 23 weeks. GREENWICH VILLAGE • FOLLIE8 Opened Deo. 24. Woolicott "World") called it "spry," and ioleman ("Mirror") also called it good. Anderson ("Post") said it was "aimless and un- amusing." Majority of noticea favorable. Variety (Ibee) predicted it would get money and run well into the spring. ■ "The Sport of Kings" was taken off Saturday after playing three EVISTON'S MUSICAL STOCK Jimmy Kvlston, stock manager and producer, who has been out of the business some time, returns with the placement of all-musical stock in Forsythe, Atlanta, His opener will be "No other Girl" June 7. "SOLD" NOW "SHOPWORN" Los Angeles, May 26. Max Marcln annouceb that Cros- by Galge In association with Sam H. Harris will produce his comedy drama, "Shopworn," formerly called "Sold.". THE SPORT OF KINGS Opened May 4. Mixed no- ticea, Vreeland ("Telegram") and Anderson ("Post") liking it. Hammond ("Tribune") and Gabriel ("Sun") wrote panning notices. Variety (Lait) succinct with "about two weeks." "RUN OF THE PLAY" AND "SHOW SEASON" To be determined Is the status of run of the play contracts fes. which the clause la scratched stipu- lating that the season is regarded aa starting Sept 1 and ending May IL Managers contend in auch instances] an actor may be required to play 1* an attraction aa long aa it romalne under the same management and either in New York or on tour. . There ia ft difference of opinio* expressed by Equity cfflclala, but aa a concrete case carded for arbitra- tion has been adjuated otherwise* the mutter la still undecided. The test case waa to have been that of Harlan Dixon, who haa been ap- pearing in "Kid Boots" for the past three seasons. When "Boots" re- cently closed for the aeason Dixon signed a run of the play contract with Sam H. Harris for the musical version of "Hawthorne, U. S. A," ia which Oscar Shaw will be starred next season. Zlegfeld thereupon Informed Har- ris that Dixon will be called on to resume with "Boots" when that aU traction reopened on tour, explain- ing that Dixon's run *of the play contract was one in which the sea- son* clause was eliminated. He pointed out that "Boots" closed last summer and when it reopened, Dixon rejoined the cast, under the original contract, which Zlegfeld contended was recognition on the part of Dixon that th- contract was operative so long as the show played. Dixon countered with the claim that had the show continued through the summer, the contract would have held, but as It closed he was at liberty to sign with whom he pleased. Arbitration was agreed on where- upon Harris informed Zlegfeld he would tear up the Dixon contract. The actor replied he would hold Harris to the agreement. Finally Zlegfeld wrote Equity stating he had released Dixon. It appears Harris was not anxious to press the point, sines he has a number of actorj under run of the play contracts in which the Sep- tember to June clause is scratched. HOPKINS' ULTRA STOCK Charles Hopkins will open the theatre which bears his name with a play called "The Devil in the Cheese," by Tom Cushlng, author of "Laugh, Clown, Laugh." Hopkins Intends establishing a permanent company in the bouse to do a series of plays next season, the troupe to .be called "The Charles Hopkins Company." MISS MERSHON WITH OPERA In the reported principals for ths Municipal Opera company this sum- mer at St. Louis, Bernlce Mershon, prima donna contralto, was omitted in error. Miss Mershon is in SL Louis re- hearsing. The opera opens May SL It Is her third season with the or* ganlzatlon. 10% Cut for "Girl" A 10 per cent salary cut for ths cast of "The Olrl Friend" went into effect last week at the Vanderbllt, New York. The cut was accepted by all after an address by Lew Fields, producer, who assured the mob that with this shaving the musical could he kept In as long as It maintained Its pres- ent gross pace. weeks at the Lyceum. It could not get more than $3,000 weekly. Young Young Marrying A surprise freedom party was ten. dered Howard Young at the Beaux Arts Saturday night, attended by box office treasurers and agency ticket men. He will be married to Sidney Sharr June 1. Young, junior, is treasurer of the Bock theatre. His father Henry Young is one of the best known box office men on Rroad way, in charge at the Globe. REVISING "JUST LIFE" "Just Life" out two weeks and to have come into New York, closed Instead last week and will be held over until next aeason. The production sponsored by Walter Lindsay and Phillip Oppen- helm will undergo considerable vision. MIDDLETON'S COMEDY DRAMA George W. Mlddleton Is at work on a new comedy drama called "Up Rose Emily." It is based on a short story of similar title. Mlddleton bought the dramatic rights. He will retain the title and general IdeA In the script. "HAWTHORNE" AT BECK "Hawthorne of the U. S. A.", ths musical comedy which Sam Harris will produce next season with Oscar Shaw and Grace Moore, is now listed to open at the Beck. New York, Oct. t. Ray Cometock Back May 2f Ray Comstock ' (Comstock and fVst) Is due in return to New York tr,l,y (Wednesday), after touring the world.