Variety (Nov 1926)

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vionmr LEGITIMATE WtdnMday, Novembw 17, leM SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENT PiflurM •■timaM mnd eomnMnt point to som« attraotion* Mng successful, while tha tamt gross accredited to others might suggest madiocrity or loss. Tha variance is axpiainad in tha differanca in liauaa aapaaitiaai with tha varying evarhaad. Alao tha aisa of caat« with consequent difference in necessary gross of profit. Variance in buainesa naceaaary for musical attraction as against dramatic play ia alao eonaldarad. Classification of attraction, house capacity and top price of the admission scale given below. Key to alaaaification: C (comedy); D (drama); R (revue); M (musical comedy); P (farce); O (operetta). "Abie's Irish Rose," Republic (235th week) (C-901-$2.75). First taste of crisp weather bettered busi- aesa along Broadway; week end trade better too. football crowds counting for first time this fall; "Able" continues better than if.m "Americana," Belmont (16th week) (R-515-15.50). Popular intimate revua eontlnuea to draw profit- able groaaea; rated around |12.- 000. ''A Proud Woman," Maxlne Elllult's (1st week) (CD-924-$3.30). Ed- gar Solwyn produced new play by Arthur Richman; opened to bril- liant audience Monday. ••An American Tragedy," Longacre (6th week) (D-l,019-$3.85i. Per- hapa not aa big as first indicated but still among important money plays on list; last week with extra matinea . (Armistice Day) about > 17,000. •Autumn Fire," Klaw (4th week) <D-830-93.30). Last week here; aaeking another house; business very bad, rated under $2,500; "This Was A Man" follows in next ^veek. •Broadway," Broadhurst (9th week) (CD-1,118-|3.85). Again hit 131.- MO or better, also playing extra matinee last week; easily strong- est demand in agencies and the smash of the season. •Castles in the Air," Selwyn (11th week) (M-1.067-14.40). Another two weeks after this, show then going on tour; business about 118,000 last week; "The Conatant Nymph" will be succeeding at- traction early in December. •*Counteaa Maritsa," Shubert (10th week) (0-1,395-15.50). Seems to have been aomewAat off of late but rated a musloal auccaaa and getting iMMTt draw: about U8,- 000. ••CHaa Croaa,** Globe (tth weak) (M-l,416-$5.50). Fred Stone mu- alcal set for long run; capacity all performances, average grooa estimated at $38,000. •Daisy Mayme," Playhouse (4th week) (CD-879-18.30). Only seems to have moderate chance; $8,000 last week; went into cut rates Monday. •First Love," Booth (2d week) (CP- 707-$3.30). Difference of opttilon among critics, though Fay Balntcr credited with clever performance; first week nearly $9,500; good fl'l^Ure for this house. •Gay Paree," Winter Garden (2d viek) (R.1.498-$5.50). Played minus night perform.ance first week; Tuesday premiere with tMraa matlnaea, and nlna per- formancea, aatlmatad |tS,000 or slightly mora. *Qatitllniian Frafar Wandaa,** Times Squaro (Sth week) (C-1.057-$3.85). Bag approximated $24,000 weekly, ratliig it real hit that ahould run out the mmoa; laat weak around $23,000. •Gertie," Bayes (1st week) (C-860- $3.30). Second offering this sea- son by Gustav Blum; written by new playwright, Tadema Bua- alere; opened Monday night •Honeymoon Lane," Knickerbocker (9th week) (M-l,042-$3.85). At the scale thia musical comedy getting splendid trade and grosses; election week the figure waa quoted at $24,000, which la oloia to capacity, and laat week almost aa good. ••If I Waa Rich," Eltinge (11th weak) (C-898-$8.S0). Final week; last week parties aided In sending gross to $6,000; production away in "box"; "We Americana" moves In from Harris. •lolanthe," Plymouth (30th week) (O-l,043-$3.30). One week to go then revival of "Pirates of Pen- zance"; this O. & S. revival has made ezoallant mark; flO^OOO lately. •Jifot Life,* Morosco (10th week) (D-8;).T-$3.30). Final week; drama . haa been getting between $6,000 and $7,000; will tour; ^*Up the Line" next week (Harvard priae play). •Katja," 44th Street (5th week) (M-, l,326-$4.40). Appeara to be largely aupported by cut ratea: for musi- eal comedy of Ita pretensions, buslnesa nothing to apeak of; $14,000. •Looaa Anklaar" Garrick (15th week) (C-537-$3.30). Moved hero from Biltmore laat week; strong ' at atart but eased off; estimated pace last week $7,500. •Looaa Ends," Rltx (3rd week) (D- f46-$3.S0). Another week. Eng- lish drama Hkcd abroad and out of town here at try-out; best it 47,000; l!fliaters • L'OUld follows In Nov. 29 •Lily Sue," Lyceum (Ist week) (D- 957-$3.30). David Belaaco'a second play of the aeason; a melodrama by Willard Mack; highly regarded out of town; opened Tueaday night. •Lulu Belle," Belasco (41st week) (D-l,000-$3.85). Ending its 10th month, engagement spanning the aummer; atiU playing to real trade, though not capacity; esti- mated $16,000 to $17,000. "Naughty Riquette," CosmopollUn (10th week) (M-1,500-$1.40). An- other two weeks and then to road, with a switch in houaeO possible; average $14,000; Ceclle Sorel, French star, due Thanksgiving week. "Old Bill, M. P.," Biltmore (2nd week) (C-944-$3.30). Opened cold with premiere Nov. 10; well liked; business chances problematic, with moderate groaaea indicatod; no agency call. •Ohf Kay," Imperial 2nd week) (M-l,446-$5.r>0). Got off to fine start, first night comment rating new musical a hit; claimed ca- paclty first week, with appcoKJi- mate figure above $40,000. "On Approval," Gaiety (5th week) (C-808-$3.30). Ought to rate among the successes, though not in the smash class; strong on lower floor, as expected; takings quoted above $12,000. "Pygmalion," Guild (1st week) (914- $3.80). Theatre Guild took off "Juarez and Maxlmili.'\n" and re- vived Shaw comedy Monday with atrong caat "Quaan High," Ambassador (11th week) (M-1.168-$4.40). Looks set for a real run; has been grossing from $22,000 to $24,000 weekly, which is real flgure against musi- cal opposition; Yale hod house Saturday night "Scandals," Apollo (23rd week) (R- l,168-$5.50). Now scaled in auch a manner that the normal waakly gross may reach $43,000, which flgure waa grossed laat week; claaa of aeaaon'a revuea. "Sex," Daly's (30th week (D-1,173- $3.30). Broadway may not . be paying attention, but lurid drama of last season still making money; $8,000 to $9,000 and mora la plenty for show and houao; ^ "Seed of the Brute," Little (3rd week) (D-&30-$3.30). I>rama that waa rated raw by flrat-nlghters: business fair but not what was expected; estimated at $7,000; movea to Comedy Monday. "Sunny," New Amsterdam (61st week) (M-1,702—$5.50). In Jump- ing to $SB,1Mt buatnaaa for long run favorite reflected better trade last week; announced to play until Jan. 15. "Sure Fire," Comedy (5th week) (C-682-$3.30). Final week; moved here from Waldorf laat waMt; fig- ured a small gro.ss show, with takings hardly better than $5,000: "Seed of tho Brute" wavia In from Little. "The Blonde Sinner," Frolic (19th week) (F-711-$3.30). Can go along indefinitely to moderate trade, principally from cut rates; last week around $6,000. "The Captive," Empire (8th week) (D-l,099-$3.30). Election week tak- ings really were $2B,600; last week, with added matinee, busl- neaa not much under that flgure; capacity. "Head or Tail," Waldorf (2d week) (D-l,142-$3.30). Taken off last Saturday, playing but five days; house dark and looking for an attraction; "Castles in the Air" may move In. "The Donovan Affair," Fulton (12th week) (D-913-$3.30). Mystery play drawing good buslnesa, with recent pace around $10,000; "Oh, Please," musical starring Beatrice Lillie, mentioned for thia houae. "The Girl Friend," Vanderbilt (37th week) (M-771-$3.86). Another three weeks, then road; $10,000; house probably dark a week or two; "Peggy" dpe In by Ctfriat- mas. ' "The Judge's Husband," 49th Street (8th week) (CD-707-$3.30). Wil- liam Hodge appears to have a draw all lito own; aatlmatcd at $9,000. "The Lsdder," Mansfield (5th Veek) (D-1.097-$3.30). Moving to Wal- dorf Monday; quoted at $5,000 or a bit over; Mo.scow Theatre Habima (Rus.sian), listed for next week, postponed until Nov. 29. "The Little Spitfire," Cort (14th week) (CD-1.046-$2.75). Quite a favorite for thoatrc parties, with weekly trade between $8,000 and $9,000; may stay until holidays. "The Noose," Hudson (5th week) (D-1.094-$3.30). Election week gross well over $14,000, and better than that claimed for la55t weok: though not with leader.s, this drama regarded a sure success. 'The Peart of Great Price," rnsino (3d week) (l)-l,447-$3.30). busi- ness so bad management decided to bring dramatic spec downtown to smaller tlieatro; was dying at Century; ''Vagabond King" nearly through; moved to make way for "Pearl." "The Play's the Thing.* Henry Miller (3(1 wr. U) (CO-O 10-if.•{ ). Gopd agency aalea for Molnur comedy, which waa rated around $14,500 for first full week; a cinch downstairs draw for a time. "The Ramblera," Lyric (9th week) (.M-l,400-$5.50). Wealth of com- edy haa established this mualcal comedy among the favorlta* and should hold to big money through winter; over $30,000. "The Shanghai Gesture," Chanln's 46th Street (37th week) (D-1,309- $3.85). Will probably bo ready lor road in a few weeka more; dramatic strength had kept it up in the money through fall; $14»000 now. "The Squall," 48th Street (2d week) (D-'J69-$3.30). Opened Nov. 11. with Indicationli that it waa not given thorough Uy-out; Dotlcoa fonflictlng. "Tha Vagabond King," Century (61st week) (O-2,890-$3.85). Though advertised for last two weeks, suddenly shifted from Casino to big capacity Century; had been ofT to around $12,000. "The Wild Rose," Martin Beck (5th week) CM-l,0t9-$S.M). Started at $18,000 and moved upw^ard to $19^000 or a bit more; manage- ment nearly convlhoad It will not dot at the scale trade a little over 50 per cent. "The Woman Diaputad," Forrest (8th w(H>k)(D-1.000-$3.30). Getting some business, but not what was expected; moderately good rating Indicated with trade $9,500. "They All Want Something," Wal- lack's (6th week) (C-770-$3.30). Claimed $4,000 and over, but show away to the bad; moves to the Edith Totten, a little theatre, Wallack's. May get "Autumn Fire ' from Klaw. "Twinkle, Twinkle,** Liberty (1st week) (M-l,234-$3.85). Louis O. Werba produced this musical comedy, which opened Tuesday night; Ona Munson joined cast. "Two Girls Wanted," John Golden (11th week) (C-800-$3.30). When moved here from Little business jumped considerably to over $7,000; moving again back to Lit- tle; "Ned McCob'a Daughter" opens here Monday. "Vanitiea," EaH Carroll (13th week) (R-998-$6.60). Obod box office draw, though not especially strong in agencies; reputation of revue ahould carry It through winter; estimated over $26,000. "We Americans," Sam H. Harris (5th week) (C-1,051; $3.30). Has climbed, to moderately good ■ grosses and flgurea to atick; will move to Eltlnga next Monday; picturized "What Priea Otory" (Fox) coming hero. "What Every Woman Knowo," Bijou (32d week) (C-605-$3.30). A fOw weeka more for Barrle re- ▼leal, which has mada Una run, spanning sunuBor; rated around $8,000 now. „ "Vallow," National (0th waek) (D- 1.164-$3.30). Such good drama that It has become established without plugging and figures to stick through winter; rated around $14,000. Special Attractiona and Rep. . "Caponsacchi." Second .Walter Hampden production will atick for a time and figurea to become part of Hampden'a devaloplQg repertory of new plays. Ruth Draper, appearing Sunday nights at Selwim and off matinee days in same house. Civic Repertory, 14th Street the- atre, offering "John Gabriel Bork- man," "Saturday Night," "The Master Builder" and "Slaters Three." "The Little Clay Cart" and "The Lion Tamer," Neighborhood Play- houae; latter plajr goes off for time belncr after Wednesday. Outside Timss Sq.»Little •^e Witch," produced by Cart Reed, with Alice Brady, opens at Greenwich Village tonight (Wednea- day): "Relgen," triangle: "Ntlt*d.* Princess; "Emperor Jones," May- fair; "Tumadot" opened Friday at Provlncetowa* ^ (Copydj^J^^^^ly. lae.) FOR 'CREOLES' Coast Show Bound for L. •'Dsaoan," 97,700 In 'Frinao— , "Poor Nut," OOAXM San Francisco, Nov. 10. Pauline Frederick, In "Lady Fred- erick," and "The Heaven Tappers," with an all-star cast, came in last night (Nov. 15). "Lady" replaced "The Butter and Egg Man," which had an unhappy fortnight at the Curran, not getting above an esti- mated $5,000 either week. "The Heaven Tappers," a new play, re- opens the Columbia. This house h;is been dark since the abrupt clos- ing of "Monkey Business" two weeks ago. "Creoles," the controversial "spice" show at the Wilkes, showed a tendency to build In ita second week, and pot around $12,000, but will not be held beyond the present week because of the sudden booking nt the 'Biltmore. Los Angelea Kolb and Dill succeed. "The Poor Nut," In lU third and next to lust week, registered about $6,000 at the Alcaxar. The seventh week of "Allaa tha Deacon." at the President, waa quotCd at about $7,700. faM^tt^Mitat.^^^itfMaiBSMiiiMiHil "LADY FAIR," $23,000 Now Musisal Gets Good •snd-Off in Boston Boston, NaT. If. Legit buainesa here last wsek didn't ahow any radleal ehaage from the week before. The musicals got the bi^lk of the trade, as has been the easa all aeaaon. "Artists and Models" and "Lady Fair" drew good breaks, with the former show doing tha beat baslBess of ansrthing In town. Armistice Night did not mean a thing. However, the Brown-Har- vard game waa responsible for the usual big demand on seats for Fri- day and Saturday nights. Musicals advanced the prlcea for that per- formance. Two n*'w shows came in here this week, one being "This Woman Buai- nesa," at Wilbur, and the other the Harry Lauder ahow at the Boston Opera House for. a week. Other at- tractions scheduled to open hero ar« "Cradle Snatchers" (Hollis), next Monday, and "Laff That Off' (Plymouth) on the same night. Estimatea for Last Week "Lady Fair," Shubert (2d week). For a new musical this one got away to a very fair start; $23,000. "Artists and Modela," Majestic (2d week). Said to havt done the best first weoi^'s business show ever got here; $30,000. "Wisdom Tooth," Hollis (final v/oek). Only fair while in town; last week "The Butter and Egg Man," Plymouth (final week). Was com- edy hit of town while here; $10,500. "Love in a Mist," Park (3d week). Not a big money maker but liked by enough patrons to hold it in for a while longer; $7,000. "Thia Woman Buainaas," Wilbur (1st week); $10,000. (Copyright, 1026, by Variety, ino.) MANTELL'S $15,000 Does Nicely at SI Top in Washw— <'Nan«Ha^ OW at |18^ Washington, Nov. 16. The local theatrical map got quite a Jolt last Friday when word came through that Leo Leavitt was out as house manager of Poll's after four years on the assignment. The story reported behind the change, which brings in Ted Barter, ia said to be that after the four years' period on a 52-week salary basis the Shuberts decided a refund waa in order for the paat aummer only. Nothing was said as to the preceding idle periods. This Leavitt refused to make, claiming hia agreement eallad for. the year round basis. Another surprise was the slim takings of the Louise Groody-Hal Skelly edition of "No, No, Nanette" at the National. Robert Mantell, in Shakespeare through expert selling, ran up close to $6,500 at $1 top for the second week. The new "Glamour," at the Be- lasco, received fair to good notices locallv but no money. Estimatea for Laat Week Auditorium—Mantell in Shakes- peare. About $15,000 on two weeks at $1 top.. Indicationa are this should put thia 6,000-seat house oh the stopping plaosa of sudh attrac- tions. Belasco — "Glamour^ (Lewis & Woods). ITsual for new yantures; trembling around $3,000. National->"No. No. Nanette" (Fra zee). Not so good at about HMiO. Poll's—Dark. This Wsok Belasco—"The Green Hat";' Na- tional. Ziegfeld'a "Folliea"; Poli'a, "Big Parade" (lUm). (Copyright, IM, by Variety, Ins.) $15,000 LA.'S TOP "Castles in Air" $1,000 Ahead of ' "Fanoiss'WBIondss'' Third Los Angeles, Nov. 16. The second week of "Castles in the Air" gave this musical the town's top gross with an estimated total of $15,000. This was only $1,000 in advance of De Haven's "Fancies,'* which went to about $14,000 at the Music Box. Among the non-musicals "Gen- tlemen Prefer Blondes" led the way at the Belasco, hitting around $13,- 000 In its second week. "The Fam- ily Upstairs" did In the neighborhood of $6,750 at the Morosco while "Rain" could only draw about $4,- 000 Into the Orange Grove. "Struttin* Sam," another musical, took something like $6,700 at the Majestic. (Copyright, 1926, by Variety, inc.) Canadian Tour Off The proposed Canadian tour of "The House, of Ussher," to have started this week, has been tem- porarily If itot permanently aban- doned. The show closed In New York a week ago and was to have reorganized for the Canadian jaunt last week. When the members of the cast re- ported for rehearsal they were in- formed by Clarence Derwent, spon- soring the production, that there had been a hitch in plnns nnd that they might be called later if available. PHOALEGnS mm UP, 'Student PrioiM' $19,000}: "Chajrtiey,' $19,( III I Philadelphia. Nov. 16. While the rest of the theatrical district familiarly known as "the road" has boon complaining of lu worst season in years, Philly is boasting of a condition almoat di- rectly opposite. Theatres hers ara sitting on top of the world, with nearly all the eight legit houses recording tidy profits to date. Last week, of the eight houses, only, one had any real complaint and that was the Forrest, which was to have been dark, owing to tha postponement of Dillingham's Bea- trice Lillie musical comedy, "Oh, Please," but which, on short notice^ got a single week's booking of tha French color film, "Cyrano de Ber« gerac," which the Stanley Company was anxious to give a local showing in a downtown house. A rather heavy advertising splurge was used, with business poor the first of tha week, but picking up moderately. Of the four <dramatlc shows, "Tha Last of Mrs. Cheyney" was easily the leader. The advance sale ia big. Another dramatic wallop was "Craig's Wife" at the Broad, its ledger again showing between $16,- 000 and $17,000, which, at a $2.50 top, is remarkable. At this scale absolute capacity would probably come under $20,000. Both "Craig's Wife" and "Mrs. Cheyney" (which has a $3.30 top in a house of con<^ slderably greater capacity), hava two weeks to go. Although not in a class with these two attractions, "One of the Fam- ily" scored nicely in ita second and last week at the Walnut. This two- week engagement waa the best the Walnut has had to date, and ih% Grant Mitchell show could probably have stayed another two weeks to profit, as it is an inexpensive pro- duction. The fourth non-musical is "Abie's Irish Rose," which main- tained its usual $16,000 pace in Its tenth week at the Adelphi. Incom- ing shows or heavy opposition ap- parently hava Ilttla effect on this one, which is getting a class of patronage different from that of most of the local attractions. With the Forrest temporarily housing a picture, the muaical com- edy fans had* tkrsa to choose tween, one a repeat engagement of an operetta, one a revue and the otiiar a Musical play" or opsfetta, rather tending toward the high- brow. The flrat named was the surprise of the lot. It waa "The Student Prince," third time here, but apparently as popular as ever, with the local Shubert management frankly amazed at the box offlce activity. There was hardly a seat at most performances, with a cou- ple of benefits not needed to stim- ulate trade. It is understood the house ia available for only four Weeks with a dramatic tryout booked to follow, but It looks now as if "The Prince" could stay a lot longer than that unless the present demand Is only a sporadic outbunst. The Chestnut reported another big week with "A Night in Paris," de- spite general panning by some of the critics. This house blazed the way for revues with the six big weeks of "Gay Paree," and looks set with this kind of entertainment. Last week the management claimed a gross of between $22,000 and $23.- 000, helped greatly by the footbalT crowds. The third musical. "Song of the Flame," started very disappoint- ingly at the Shubert with scarcely half a house Monday night. It bene- fited a great deaf by the lack of musical opposition across the street at the Forrest, and recorded a fine gross of nearty |S,SOO Armisttsa night, and better than that Satur- day night. As the show Is scaled at $3.50 top, this is by no means a capacity pace. The week's figure was about $24,000, not as good as it might be for an expensive show; with a high scale, but claimed satis- factory. This week has only two openinp.s, "The Patsy," at the Walnut, and "Oh, Please." the Beatrice Lillie show, on Friday at the Forrest. it3 third postponement. Next week Is bare as far as novelties are con- cerned with the next oonpestion listed for Nov. 29, When Otia Skinner brings "The Honor of the Family^; into the Broad. "Love-in-a-Mist' arrives at the Garrick. "TIp-Toe.s" returns to the Forrest, and "The Nightingale," new Shubert operetta, haa its premiere at the Shul>ert. The first three are In for two weeks only, "The Nightingale" probably for four. Other bookings on the- horlKon Include Mar^orle B;iml>eau nt the Walnut (Dor. 14). Helen Hayes in "What Kvery Woman Knows" at the Lyric (Chri.-^tfnas Kvp , according to pre.«(cnt plans), and Al Jolson at ilie Shnbi-rt Christ- (Continued on page ao» mm