Variety (Dec 1926)

VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, December |, 1925 LOOPS BANNER WEEK WITH 4 SHOWS DOING OVER $25,030 EACH 'B. & E. Man's' Flying Start to $15,000—Extra Per- formance Generally on Holiday—'Jazz Singer' Topped Non-Musicals With $20,000 in 8th Week ChiCftgO, Nov. 28. Powerful wai the legit call ThankBfrJVing dtty week with that stronger than in recent years. The Army-Navy crowds made it capac- ity at every theatre Friday and Sat- urday. Everything was above normal in the matter of receipts, but through tho wild dashes It appeared as if -The Gutter and Egg Man" and "Young Woodley" have both landed right. Last Week's Estimates "Yes, Yes, Yvette" (Four Cohans). Opened Sunday to highest premiere receipts tabbed at this house since taken over by Shuberts. "Sisters" (Olympic, 1st week). Another Sunday opening. "The Open Door" (Playhouse, 1st week). Third opening of week. "One Man's Woman" (Central, 7th week). Slowed up with CUt rates and got full prices; gross close to $13,000. "Cocoanuts" (Erlanger, 7th week). Sold out early for week- end, bringing best gross of engage- ment, close to $36,000. "Sweetheart Time" (Garrick, 11th and final week). House goes into movies with the exit of this one; $13,000 or little better. "Shelf" (LaSalle, 6th week). Won't remain for holidays since ar- rangement for return of "Abie's Irish Hose." "Shelf" did $12,000. "In This Room" (Princess, 3d week). Moderate until arrival of football crowds; claimed to have grossed $10,000. "Vagabond King" (Great North- ern. 13th week). Returned big re- ceipts of early weeks. $28,000. "G. V. Follies" (Apollo, 6th and final week). Went to highest re- ceipts of engagement. $27,000. "Butter and Egg Man" (Selwyn. 2d week). On eight performances did $15,000 at $2.50 top. Newspaper notices best any new comedy has received in long time. "Ja« Sinqer" (Harris, 9th week). Swept for $20,000. Definitely fixed to stay in until Dec. 24. "Sins of Sins" (Adelphi, 4th week). Low for conditions of gen- eral business, yet hit $S,000. "Runaway Road" (Studebaker, 5th week). Positively no draw and appears as it' big money both ends. Oder $11,000. "Poor Nut" (Cort. 14th week). Holding around $11,000 for recent weeks, but ascended to $12,000 with hcb> of big crowds. "Young Woodley" (Blackstone. 2d week). Drew $12,000 on eight per- formances with Drama League fea- tu'lr**: oremlere. LcMaire's "Affairs" (Woods. 20th. final week). Flash finish, $33."00. for long run. In St. Louis this week. One of town's strongest mil- slcnl successes. (Copyr : ght, 1926, by Variety, Inc.) 'DOVE' IN MINNEAPOLIS STOCK DISAPPOINTING Minneapolis, Nov. 2S. Adverse business conditions ag- gravated by bad weather eontinue 'o take their toll of Minneapolis •o\ offices. "The Dove" netted the Balnbrldgc Players a small profit at the Shu- bert. The Thanksgiving holiday helped to raise the gross to about $5,000, which is under normal for an Important stock offering here. After a spell of darkness and a return of "The Big Parade," the Metropolitan has its first legitimate attraction since "No, No, Nanette" i his Week. Bertha Kaliseh in "Magda" opened to a light house Sunday night. As a Bainbridge Players (stock) guest star, Florence Reed appeared iu this Sudertnann drama at the Shubert here two sea- sons ago, drawing capacity for a week and n half. The m cCall-Bridge Players (musi- cal comedy tab) topped $.",000 With n musical comedy version of "Way Down East." A wrestling match, 'jnu evening during the week in con- junction with "Cay Puree" (Mutual Wheel) contributed considerably to a $6,000 gross. PHILA/S BIG WEEK; 'ABIE,' 8 SHOWS, $18,000 Most Legit Attractions Gave 9 Performances Last Week —Biz Big Philadelphia, Nov. 28. All but two of the legit attrac- tions gave nine performances last week, with extra matinees Thanks- giving. The exceptions were "Abie's Irish Rose," at the Adelphi, which has its regular matinees Thursday, anyway, and "Oh Please," musical, trying out at the Forrest. "Abie's Irish Rose," with only eight performances, boosted its gross to $18,000, thanks to the Thanksgiving crowds at the Adel- phi. Of the musical attractions, "Oh Please," with eight shows only, but a titled scale Thanksgiving and Saturday, has a gross up in the thirties at the Forrest, while "The Song of the Flame," light downstairs Monday and Tuesday, did equally well at the Shubert with nine per- formances. Both sides of the fence are de- lighted with business this fall. The syndicate houses have been making money with shorter engagements. Following the highly successful four weeks' engagements of "Craig's Wife" and "Mrs. Cheyney," the Broad and Garrick will return to two-week bookings. The former has Otis Skinner Monday, and the lat- ter "Love in a Mist." On Dec. 13 the Garrick will have E. H. Sothern in a new Belasco production, but the Broad's attraction is not set. The Forrest has "Tip-Toes" (re- turn) this Monday, and then Zieg- .'eld's new Belle Baker show is re- ported, unofficially, as booked. The Walnut has Harry Lauder next week, and will then revert tem- porarily to musical comedy, with "Peggy" running from Dec. 13 until the holidays. Estimates for Last Week "Tip-Toes" (Forrest, 1st week). Return. Tryout here last fall. "Honor of the Family" (Broad, 1st week). Skinner engagement for two weeks only. "Craig's Wife" went to almost $19,000 last week, completing splendid engagement. "The Nightingale" (Shubert, 1st week). New operetta in for three weeks' try out. "Love in a Mist" (Garrick, 1st week). Two weeks only for this comedy. "Night in Paris" (Chestnut, 5th week). Started to slip, but holiday Crowds pulled it up. With extra performance, probably $24,000. No show announced to follow. "The Patsy" (Walnut, 3d week). This one has been clicking mildly at around $15,000 on week through extra performance. "Student Prince" (Lyric, 4th week). Surprise of town. Two De-, cember bookings for house canceled. "Abie's Irish Rose" (Adelphi. 13th weke). No cessation in demand. With only eight performances, "Abie" boosted its gross to $18,000 last Week. (Copyright, 1926, by Variety, Inc.) Barnum in Hospital George Barnum, forced to leave *Thc Noose" through an attack of sciatica, was removed from his aoom at the Lambs to the Harbor Hospital, New York, last Week. "BLONDES" LEADS L A. WITH $17,000 GROSS Los Angeles, Nov. 28. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," building steadily from a mild start at the Belasco, led the town last we< k with $17,000. "Blossom Time," prise repeat, on third return, did $10,000 | n n) s t week at Hilt more. Estimates for Last Week Music Box Revue, $13,000, repeat* ing previous week level, but off from host. Richard Bennett, playing his first week in "Creoles" at the Mason, gOt away to i nice start with $10,000. "Castles in the Air." at (he Bl Capital). $12,fi00, Morosco, "Ladies of the Evening," lirs; WoeU, dtvv* £7,<UM». Shows in Rehearsal "The Black Cockatoo" (Acme Productions, Inc.). "Peggy" (Lew Fields & Lyle Andrews). "Who Cares?" (George Tyler sY Basil Dean). "Beyond the Horizon" (Act- ors' Theatre). "Meek-Mose" (Jack Gold- berg). "That Certain Party" (Wil- liam B. Friedlander). "Betsy" (Florcnz Ziegfeld). "Hangman's House" (Brady & Wiman). "Sweet Lady" (Thomas i. "Fellow Workers" (Karl Kuhlman). "The Lace Petticoat" (Carle Carlton). "The Captured" (James A. Osborne). BARRYMORE PIECE'S $23,000 CAPITAL SCORE High Figure for Untried Legit Piece—Holiday Helped— "Blossom Time" Good Washington, Nov. 28. Ethel Barrymoro in her new play, "A Constant Wifo." did remarkable business at the National. It is sel- dom.'of late, that a legitimate star plays to such a hguro. Another surprise was the oft-re- peated "Blossom Time" at Poli's. Did a little above expectations and without tho extra matinee (Thanks- giving) rung up by tho National and Belasco. The latter had a re- turn of "Is Zat So." Estimates for Last Week Belasco—"Is Zat So" (Boothe- Shubert). Grosses mounted through- out holiday week getting in the vi- cinity of $8,000. National—Ethel Barrymore In "A Constant Wife" (Charles Frohman) Biggest gross rung up by individual star in many a moon. Extra matinee helped. $23,000. Poli's— 4 Blossom Time" (Shu- berts). In for about 'steenth visit and still getting around $17,000. Thursday (Thanksgiving) regular matinee day of house. This Week Belasco—Dark (E. H. Sothern In new Belasco play put back one week); National, Ina Claire In "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney"; Toll's, "Passing Show of 1926." (Copyright, 1926, by Vanity, Inc.) BOSTON'S BIG HOLIDAY Legits Hold Up After Three Sell- outs Thanksgiving Boston, Nov. 28. Business at all the legitimate the- atres here good last week. Tho best night before Thanksgiv- ing business for years was recorded and houses were sold out at both performances Thanksgiving Day. The good business held up until the end of the week, with the result that grosses were generally above nor- mal. Estimates for Last Week "Song of the Flame," Shubert (1st week). In filial week of "Lady Fair," musical, $26,500. "Cradle Snatchers," Hollls (2d week). One of non-musical hits of season, with gross first week $16,000. "Laff That Off," Plymouth (2d week). Started off rather slowly, below $10,000. "This Woman Business" Wilbur (last week) did $14,000 first week. "Artists and Models" wound up here with $27,000. "Beau Geste" (P. P.) at Tremont on fifth week out ahead in picture business here, with last week com- plete sellout a&Levery performance. Gross running & $13,000 at $1,60 and $1 top. "Don Juan" with Vitaphone, also on llfth week at Colonial, did $12,000 last week. (Copyright, 1926, by Variety, Inc.) MRS. N. QUATTR0CHI0CCHI Los Angeles, Nov. %%, Trilby Gwendolyn Clark, screen actress, married Nlcolo Quattrochl- oechl, screen actor, Friday, in Los Angeles. The bride at one time was a mem- ber of the "Greenwich Village Follies." Orange Grove, Rain" (4th Week), $5,500. (Copyright, 1926, by Variety, Inc.) Cast Changes Albert Andruss has replaced Frederick Tiuesdale in "Tin- Shelf" l Chicago), MACGREGOR'S PLAYS Edgar Mac(Jregor has returned after staging "Queen High" in Lon- don. He win shortly resume in- dividual producing. The latter will Include a French farce, "Lord and Master." and Another unnamed piny in which Bertha Kalich will be starred. INSI0F STUFF ON LEGIi Gene Buck decided to book with the Shuberts after an unpleasant inter- change with A. L. Erlanger, the cause arising from the latter having jumped to conclusions. It appears when Buck decided to produce on his own he talked bookings over with Erlanger who assured him the new Leon Errol show, "Touri Truly," would be taken care of. No definite bookings were arranged, however. Buck happened to meet Lee Shubert who asked .about the booking of the new production. Gene replied that that matter had not been set yet. The conversation was overheard and repeated to Erlanger probably in distorted form. Erlanger is then said to have called Buck on the phono and In a short conversation accused Gene of "crossing." Buck was unable to get Erlanger back on the wire but he wrote the veteran man- ager a most vitriolic letter. Leonard Hall, dramatic critic of "The News," Washington, hastens to -orrect any erroneous impression of the "apology" he extended to tho members of the "The Green Hat" when the piece played at the Belasco, Washington. Mr. Hall, as reported in this department last week, turned out a scathing indictment against the play in the usual course. On second thought, the critic printed a day or so thereafter in this the- atrical column he had made the notice to carbolicy and accordingly acknowledged It. Following the appearance in Variety of the Hall after-comment, tho critic wired: "Want you to know that apology was wholly uninspired by anyone. No one around here has sold out to the business oliice and always will the old flag of freedom wave on the 'Daily News' building." There Isn't much doubt but that Mr. Hall did exactly as he thought he snould do, marking him as an exceptional dramatic critic, one who can take a wallop from himself as well as to slip one to anybody else. Stoc kholders of a house now being constructed in Holly wood met a problem In getting an opening attraction. There are 200 or more shareholders and they recently held a meeting to decide on an at- traction. A man versed in theatricals was called in as an expert to discuss with them what he though^ would be the proper vehicle. The discussion lasted two hours when one of the women stockholders re- marked, "I understand there is a play in New York now running, which they call "Broadway." They tell me it is a big success. Let us put that on." The theatrical man informed the woman that the management of that show wanted a guarantee of $25,000 proilts for the run of the play on the coast. The woman retorted "The Impudence! Aren't we gambling just as well as they? Let us put on something of the Shakespeare repertoire. We won't have to guarantee anybody any profit." Community control of theatres order to drive out those who promote the theatre solely for commercialism and without thought to the in- tellectual welfare of tho community, was advocated by Stuart Walker in an address at Elmira College, Elmira, last week. Walker addressed the session of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Intercollegiate Dramatic Conference. "There is one thing possible to save tho theatre from becoming a machine-made thing," said the speaker. "And that is that every com- munity should control Its own theatre. Germany today Is the only place where that is done. Even during the war Germany produced Kngllsh masterpieces." With a blow-up of the Olsen and Johnson show, "Monkey Business," at the Columbia, San Francisco, it developed that Michael Corper, man* ager of the Majestic, Los Angeles, who had the show in that house for two weeks, lost about $10,150. The show played to $7,300 on its first week and $5,930 the second week, with Corper getting 65 per cent, or about $8,450. He paid the salaries of the cast for the first week toward the end of the second week, leaving outstanding debts of $7,450 to the cast It is said when the final week terminated. When on the following Mon- day night he failed to pay salaries, Theodore Hale, the Equity repre- sentative, ordered the show closed as far as his members were con- cerned, This show played 11 weeks in Los Angeles, out of which nine were profitable. During the Los Angeles run, Corper kept behind on payment of the salaries of Olscn and Johnson and William Demarest. When the show left Los Angeles, he owed Olsen and Johnson $2,000. Alter tho second day the show played in San Francisco, Corper, there with tho company, seeing business drop, left Olenn Morey as manager and re- turned to Los Angeles. Morey had around $50 to meet a salary liat of around $3,000, it Is said. Operating expenses the first week in San Francisco were about $11,000, as Corper had put in. as an added attraction to the show, Harry Shan- non's band, which cost $1,200 a week. Before leaving for Los Angeles, Corper drew $500 from the box office and left behind his I. O. U. At the same time he owed Olsen ana John- son about $2,500 salary. It had been $3,000, but Nat Phillips, business representative ftr O'sen and Johnson, on the Saturday prior to the clos- ing, demanded $500 from Pincus on the threat that the two actors would walk out of the show, and got It. Olsen and Johnson, fresh from vaude- ville, did not seem to understand the legit racket as Corper worked it. Prior to leaving Los Angeles for San Francisco, they had engaged Nat Phillips as their business representative. Corper seemed to feel that Olsen and Johnson had plenty of money and during the entire time the show was in San Francisco, primed Morey to work on Olsen and Johnson to get them to finance the show. Corper told Morey that he would give them everything, including the majority interest in the undertak- ing, but as the scenery and costumes had not been fully paid for, they refused to do so. The salaries owed by Corper, when the show closed In San Francisco, were Olsen and Johnson, $2,500; Harry Shannon band, $1,200; Murry and Levere, $300; Angelus Sisters, $300; Alice Knowlton, $160: Miss A. Curtis. $150; Mae Daly, $150; George Daly, $150; Clyde Hager, $100: Joo Griffith, $125; Chorus of 20 girls at $45 each for one week, $900; Or- chestra, $600; crew, $550; minor salaries, $275. For a while owing to differences over contract terms it looked as if Ziegleld's "Follies" would cut Cleveland out of Its route this season. A dispute arose between Kobert McLaughlin and Flo Ziegfeld over tho terms, and conditions covering extra musicians and stage hands. The matter was adjusted so that the "Follies" will play the stand next week. McLaughlin, acording to stories coming from Cleveland, has be< n playing the big musical shows of Erlanger, Dillingham ami Ziegfeld, un- der protest, claiming that they have been receiving better te rms than other producers, and compelling the house to pay the full stage hand bill, Instead of sharing with the company on the extra men above a specified number as is customary. He is also said to object to tho manner in which the cost of extra musicians is saddled upon him. The big musical shows of these three producers under the terms on which they play the Cleveland house are said to leave but small margin of profit for the theatre, no matter how big the gross. McLaughlin h is been sua \kipg !--]• seine time that the attractions get all the money and leave him holding th* bag. The situation is said to be due to the but that Ihe Ohio is merely booked by Erlanger and he has no in- terest in the profits. Holhrook Bllnn's "The Play's the Thing," by Franz Molnar. is the first Motnsr play written to sea production in America before receiving it abroad. Gilbert Miller bought the play last winter, turned it over to one adaptor who turned in a bad job and then gave it to P. G. Wode- houee, who reworked it as it stands now.