Variety (May 1926)

Wednesday, May 26, 1926 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 45 lOUIE LEAVING; BLONDES' RULES CHICAGO—$65,000 IN 3 WEEKS En-oFa Departure Surprises—Weakest Spring in Years—'Home TownerV Around $15,000—Three More Houses May Close Chicago, May 26. With The Dybbuk" and "Hush Money" closing, the local legit cal- ender shortened up a few more notches until now It Is hard to fig- ure where the Bummer program Is going to involve more than four or five theatres. Both the Illinois and Blackstone close this week. 'Xoule the 14th" finishes the Illinois en- gagement while "The Divorcons" moves over to the Harris from the Blackstone. The Harris Is again dark this week because of the fail- ure of "Hush Money." "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" jumped Into full demand, racing ahead "Louie the 14th." although a stlffer scale brought "Louie" a bigger gross than "Blondes." There were turnaways for "Blondes," which figures to have grabbed around $66,- 000 In three weeks. "Out of the Night," "If I Was Rich" and "The Arabian" slightly bettered their respective grosses over the previous week, but not one of these three attractions have struck a mark that would encourage furtherance of their engagements if other shows were to be had. I^or this period of the spring sea- son the local situation la the weak- est in years, and unless a better- ment is quickly depicted there will be at least three more houses to close within a fortnight Under the existing conditions the big June conventions won't have much of a legit program from which to select their entertainment The houses that will keep open are headed for big money, according to the present surve-". Estimates for Last Week "Artists and Models" (Apollo, 8d week). Moving along moderately; nowhere near pace usually shown by attraction considered as summer show at this house; with closing of "Louie the 14th" should better Its present average of around $20,000. "Weak Sisters" (Adelphi. 2d week). To be held In for a stock presentation run; figures okay around $7,600. "The Arabian" (Studebaker, Sd week). Summer operating expenses both ends makes possible profit be- tween $8,000 and $9,000. "Green Beetle" (Central, 2d week). Not stronger than $8,000, but will keep going. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (Sel. wyn, 4th week). No let-up In ter- rific demand; again held better than $20,000, with matinee trade close to full capacity. "If I Was Rich" (LaSalle, 3d week). Hit off $7,000; while not satisfactory and under stop clause, considered encouraging enough to hold In attraction pending arrival of conventionlsts. "Out of the Night" (Cort $d week). Not stronger than $7,000. but figured profit for house, with company willing to nurse a cam- paign will make a run out of it; scarcity of attractions helps keep this one in. "Louie the 14th" (Illinois, 11th week). Surprise announcement to close this week; not getting full capacity demand needed, having tapered off to $26,000 or $26,000. "Hush Money" (Harris, 2d and final Week). This one never had a chance for real money; closed sud- denly Saturday night leaving house dark this week; "Divorcons" moves over to this house from Blackstone Sunday. Doubtful if "Money" drew better than $10,000 In two weeks. "Divorcons" (Blackstone, 1st week). Grossed little under $10,000, with decision to make summer run at Harris. "Home Towners" (Four Cohans, 3d week). Better than $2,000 gross Sunday night Increased gross over initial week; pace now between $14,000 and $15,000; figures for good monry and run. "Castles in the Air" (Olympic, 27th week). About $19,000; will surely remain until Aug. 1. (Copyright, me, by Variety, Ino.) D. Finestone, Long's Asst. Dave finestone, Shubert house manager, Is now assistant to Ralph Long, general manager of the Shu- berts. Finestone is also manager of the Shubert theatre, one post formerly occupied by Leonard Gal higher, who resigned from the Shu b^rt office recently. Herman Phillips, temporarily in charge of the Shubert, «ls back at the Hltz. Otto Metzger, who was In the Arm's foreign play department is now manager of Chanln's 40th Street sesqui com (HILLY SHOWS LEFT TOWN Big Centennial and Con- ventions—'Queen High 9 in Line for Any Trade NANCE 0'NEIL'S $40,000, WEEK IN MILWAUKEE L A. GROSSES Philadelphia, May 25. The arrival of cooler weather came none too soon as a possible relief to legit business, but the opening of the Sesqui and, at the same time, the arrival of the first big convention—the Shriners at the end of this week—should have an even greater bearing on the theat- rical situation. In fact it looks to everybody hereabouts as if the theatre men had muffed badly a possible oppor- tunity to garner the sheckels. Granted that conventions have never resulted in fche business expected of them, there is no gainsaying that the presence of people from all over the country is bound to have its effect at the box offices. It seems especially silly that sev- eral shows continued through May, taking some Indifferent grosses, and then closed on the very threshold of probable profit, one week before the big fireworks. Those back of "Queen High" seem to have the right idea. It is figured as an ideal type for a summer show and will be held In to see what the Sesqui brings forth. The Shubert has this week's only opening, "Gay Paree," conservative- ly figured for only three weeks, "Kosher Kitty Kelly" has caught on at the Wajnut and with much two-for-oheirig" all over town and many benefits, looks set ior a while. At present writing there is not a single show underlined, and yet it seems almost certain that several will develop In the near future. Estimates for Last Week 'The Poor Nut" (Broad, 3d week). College comedy no riot but got by. and is holding on to see what the Sesqui crowds will do. About $8,600. "Gay Paree" (Shub'ert, 1st week). Big opening, but show likely to run afoul of censors here.^ "Countess Marltza" big in final week. $25,000. "Ben-Hur" (Forrest, 0th week). Big picture has not held up as ex- pected. Down to $13,000 or little over. Hardly able to make a sum- mer stay. Nothing mentioned to follow. "Queen High" (Chestnut, 7th week). Now town's long stayer and doing nicely. Changes made in cast and numbers. Show will be held in to test next week's business. Under $15,000 last week. "Kosher Kitty Kelly" (Walnut. Sd week). With "Iwo-for-ones" and benefits, inexpensively geared musi- cal got over $12,000 and made real profit. May stick indefinitely. Garrlck closed Saturday, but has Raquel Meller Thursday and Friday of this week at $10 top. Advance sale fairly good. "No, No. Nanette," beat $14,000 in final week of second engagement. (Copyright, lStt, by Variety, Im.) Church-Drama Ass'n The invitation committee of the Church and Drama Association, representing the church, producers, playwrights, actors, motion pic- tures, educators and business, an- nounces an organization dinner at the Plaza Hotel, 7:30 p. m., June 10. This committee comprises Win- throp Ames, S. Parkes Cadman, Frank Gillmore, Will II. Hays, Otto H. Kahn, William T. Manning, John A. Marquis and Channlng Pollock. The association wants to help Little Theatres and aid amateur playwrights. Milwaukee. May 25. Cracking every existing record for attendance, with two extra matinees added and every perform- ance packed to capacity, the David- son last week rang up a $40,000 gross with Nance O'Nell as guest siar in "Stronger Than Love." The unusual gross is due to the fact that the week was turned over to the Milwaukee firemen who staged a benefit. Six firemen were killed in a fire recently. No road show at any scale has ever touched this record. Ethel Remey. new leading woman, opens May 31 in "Seventh Heaven." Ethel Wilson will be out of the cast for a couple weeks due to illness. Beresford Lovett after opening with Nance O'Nell In "Stronger Than Love," was forced out on Tuesday by pleurisy. Frank McCoy Jumped Into his role and played through the week. (Copyright. lftS, by Variety. Im.) Green Room's Election Paul Meyer was elected president (Prompter) of the Green Room Club at Its annual. « election. He succeeds S. Jay Kaufman. Mr. Meyer is the publisher of the 'The- atre Magazine." Rollo Lloyd was re-elected Call Boy, Gordon Whyte, Copyist and George Magowan, AngeL Board of Governors: Phil Bishop. Floyd Buckley. Her- bert. Corthell. Max Flgman, Samuel K. Jacobs, Fuller Melllsh, Sr.. Frank Peruglnl, Edward B. Pidgeon. A. J. Powers. Arthur Prevln, Samuel G. Rains, Louis Rein hard t Jerome Siegel, Wm. O. Speers, Chandos Sweet "Hollywood Scandals" Los Angeles, May 25. William A. Arms, formerly of vaudeville, is casting for the pro ductlon of a musical revue titled "Hollywood Scandals," which he ex pects to open In San Diego next month. Los Angeles, May 25. "Rose-Marie's" eighth and final week at the Biltmore led the town's legit attractions when the box olflce showed $18,000 for the six days, al- though a drop of $3,500 from the week before. "Chariot's Revue," In Its third week at the El Capltan, ran sec- ond at $15,500. Kolb and Dill again won Imme- diate favor hero with "A Pair of Fools" after their return from Chi- cago by doing $10,000 in their fir at week at the Mason, following the migration. Morrisaoy's Revuo hung up $7,600 for its fourth week at the Orange Grove, while Marjorle Rambcau in "They Knew What They Wanted" got $5,900 in her third week at the Majestic. "The Music Master" trailed the field in its opening week at the Morocco with $4,500. (Copyright, me. by Variety, lac.) SKOWS HARD HIT ffiYWS" Worst Slump Ever in Min- neapolis Mrs. Thowed's Divorce Cincinnati. May 25. Mrs. Arthur Thowed Is after a divorce from her hu band, a con- cert singer, whom «hu charged with brutality. 3 "ENEMY" EOAD SHOWS Three companies of "The Enemy" are listed to tour next season, the first opening at Richmond, Vs., Sept 20, while the second will open four days later In Scranton, Pa. The New York company will play the larger stands, opening at Bos- ton, Oct. 14. Florence Rlttenhouse heads this troupe. Greek Evens Leaves "Flame" Greek Evans Is out of "Song of the Flame" The principal male singing role In the operetta has been assigned to Paul Gregory, who sub- stituted for Guy Robertson when the latter was ill some weeks ago. Minneapolis, May 25. No such thing as business at local legit houses last week. They were hit even by a worst \vav» of depres- sion this town has known in several years. Realizing that it would be a home- less and expensive task to try to 4)uck the bad times which are upon them, one and all of them arc crying "quits" for the season. It will be the earliest finish to a Minneapolis theatrical sonson in years. In a rather light play, "Caroline," Margaret Anglin arrived here in the midst of the depression for an engagement of five performances at the Metropolitan. Her takings were negligible. "Buzz" Bainbridge, who made a big start with his season of classic drama at the Shubert, felt the ef- fects of the general slump the third week of Blanche Yurka's engage- ment as a guest star with the Bain- bridge Players, "Candida," taking a bad flop. He may wind up his sea- son this week with "A Doll's House" and small profit for four weeks of high-brow stuff. The final week of the McCall- Bridge Players at the Palace in "Oh, Henry" (musical comedy tab), Just about what the management ex- pected at a time such as this. A brief three weeks of stock bur- lesque at the Gayety was sufficient to convince Fox A Krause there Is no current public demand here now for Indoor entertainment. They closed for the summer. Wrestling night only salvation. Harry Hlrsch, manager of the Gayety, brought Jacob Ben-Ami and his company here for two perform- ances at the Gayety In "The Dyb- buk" and "Samson and Delilah." Takings below expectations. M (Copyright, less, by Tariaty. toe.) JS Of white kid urith slender heel of green and silver spider kid, and imported plaque of cloisonne. Natural that so beautiful a slipper should be the choice of so graceful a dancer as Madeline Cameron, who is starring with Oscar Shaw at the Palace next week. . . . Natural, too, that her charming person- ality should win admiration and applause, as do the I. Miller slippers she so consistently favors.. .MILLER 1554 BROAD WAV (Open wsXil q P.MJ When in Los Angeles, visit the I. Miller shop, 525 West 7th Street.