Variety (Feb 1927)

w 42 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wtdnetday, Ptbruary 8, IWf . ^ ■ SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMFNT Fiaur«t •ttimnUd and commtnt point to tomo •ttractlons boing ma^UMTpitv ar loM. Th« var anco it oxplainod in tha diffarancf in TouJ. cap^lcUi^ varying ovrh.ad. Ai.o tha alaa of e.at with conwquent diffaranpa In nactttary grosa af profit. Variarica M lliir^aM necessary for muaioal attraoUfn •§ agalnat dramatic •cU'iSlVtir'Jf^^^^^^^ Hou.. capacity and top pric. of th. •dmiVdon Vcalo given below. Key to classification: C (comedy); P (drVi^) > R (ra?MV) i M (musical comady); F (farca); O (operetta). •Abie'a Iriah Roaa/' Republic (246th week) (C-901-$2.75). Run leadar'a recent rejuvenation almost aenaa- tional; virtual capacity laat week, M Anna Nichols' wonder show i^^proaohes complation ot fifth ytar: $17,500. 'Amarteana," Belmont (27th w«ak) (R-615-$5.50). Final week; Intl mata revue good run to credit; groaaaa not big, but o. k. for thia . houaa; '*Off Kajr" next weak. ^'American Tragedy," Longacre (17th week) (D-l,019-|3.86). Using •ome out rataa, bvit atronff at box office, too. and flffUi^ to autlaat winter; $12,000. '^Better or Worse/' Mansfield (1st week) (C-1,100-$S.S0). Came in Monday, succeeding three weeks' revival of *'Ghosts," to poor busi- ness; new play by new author, independently presented. "Broadway/* Broadhurst (20th week) (CD-l,ll8-$4.40). Saaflon's outstanding dramatic success; . averaging higher weekly grosses . than any non-musical play in history of Broadway; $30,000. ''Brothara Karamazov" and "Pyg- malion," Guild (11th week) (D- 914-$S.30). Shaw revival played last week looks good for some - time to come; alternating with • flrst named play; $13,000. *Bye, Bye, Bonnie/' Ritz (4th week) (M-945-$3.85). One of newer musioali that should gat acroaa; does not require exceptional money; last week again at $14,000. '^Dlilaa«a,«' MubIo Box <«th weak) (M-945-$3.30). Among non- musical leaders, drawing virtual capaeity all parformancea; rated * well above $19,500. fC^iaa Croaa," Globe (17th week) (M-1.41<-$5.S0). Will run as long as Fred Stone (starred) cares to , participate; averaging $34,000 weakly and among musical leaders. '^Cauntaaa Maritza," 44th St. (21st weak) (O-l,326-$5.50). Last Iraek'a gross of about $25,000 best registered in past month; usually $22,000 weekly. •Gay Pares/' Winter Garden (13th week) (O-1.498-$5.50). Going along to fairly good business; - grosses around fSO.OOO; distUictly under leaders. ^Gentlemen Prefer BlondaSy** Times Square (19th week) (C-1.057- $3.85). With trade holding be- tween $15,000 and . $16,000 weekly, laugh show making money and should go into spring period. ^•Gartia," Bayea (12th week) (C- MO-lt.tO). Using cut-rate meth- ods, princlimlly two-for-one .tickets, which accounts for mod- arate tntde at $6,000 to $7,000; satisfactory beoausa of low cost .hook-up. ^•naymoon Lane/' Knickerbocker (20th week) (M-1.042-$3.85). One of four hit shows south of 42d street; getting $25,000 and over right alonp; selling out. ''Honor Be Damned," Morosco (2d week) (CD-893-$3 30). First night opinion somewhat divided. 4)ut management claims good businoHs after premiere promis- ing; opened Jan. 26. ^1 Told You So," Royale (4th week) M - l.WO - $4.40). Was "Piggy," title changed in second week: last week $18,500; does not indicate new musical has much chance; Will move to Chanin's 46th Street next Monday; Mrs. Patrick Camp- bell in "The Adventurous Ago" next week. •Lady Alone," Forrest (3d week) (D-1,000-13.30). Last week first full week: nearly $10,000; re- garded as fair; Alice Brady draw. ^Lulu Belle/' Belaaco (52d week) (D-1.000-$S.n). Completed year's circuit, anniversary performance actually dated for next Monday; estimated over $lS.06iO. York Exchange," 49th St. (fth week) (D-708-$3.30). Seems to hare some sort of draw, but certainly not among successes; at $10,000 little profit Indicated. IHNi, Kay," Imperial (13th week) (M-1.446-$5.50). One of big draws of season; caught on from start as A natural for musical and getting over $40,000 weekly, ^h, Pleaae/' Fulton (7th week) (M-1.918-$5.50). Finished up last week with rush; reported around $18,000 weekly; at that pace. Beatrice Llllie show profitable, 'aggy-Ann/' Vandorbilt (6th week) (M-997-$4.40). Intimate mualcal comedy success and looks set for aeason; agency call and not far from capacity; $18,000 or more. ^Pirates of Penzance.** Plymouth <9th week) (O-1.043-$3.30). Same company offers "lolanthe" Thurs- day evenings; O. & S. revivals holding up to corking trade; $16.- 000 or more. I^rt^ylnn Curve," Eltinge (2d week) <D-tlt*|l.tO). Titia chaiife4 to "The Leva Thief" Monday, but that can hardly do much good; first week under $5,000. "Queen High/' Ambassador (22d week) (M-1,168 - $4.40). Making nice run and figured strong enough to laat through aeason; average weekly grosses $21,000. "Rio Rita," Zlegfeld (Ist week) (M- l,760-$5.60). New Ziegfeld theatre opens tonight (Feb. 2) with scale $27.50 top; beautiful house offer- ing new musical comedy. "Road to Rome," Playhouse (1st week) (D-789-$3.30). Jane Cowl starred by W. A. Brady. Jr.. and Dwight D. Winman; exoeptloiial demand for first night tickets la face of other premieres. "Sam Abramovitch/' National (D- 1.161-$S.S0). Cloaed Saturday af- ter playing two weeks to little money; "Fog" listed next week. "Saturday'a Children," Booth (2d week) (D-707-$3.30). Looks like real hit; good notices followed by virtual capacity trade and turn-away Saturday; opened on Jan. 26. ^'Seandala," Apollo (t4th week) (R- l,168-$5.50). Probably be cleaning up when next season rolls around, heavy ticket demand ahowing no let-up; over $43,000 weekly. "Sex/' Daly'a (41st week) (D-1,173- $S.80). Making plenty of money at $11,000 weekly average; using cut rates, but drawing patronage from ail sides. "The Barker/' Biltmore (3d week) (CD - 1.000 - $3.85). With $16^000 quoted last week, new melodrama rated success; matinees not heavy and balcony can improve; excel- lent downstairs all week, however. "The Captive," Empire (19th week) (D-1.099-$3.85). Little doubt thia hit still cleaning up. with weekly average around $22,000; agenoy aales reported dropping. «*the Cenatant Nymph,''^ Cort (fth week) (D-1.044-$3.85). Ever since buy was off agencies have been selling more tickets; holding con- sistently between $14,000 and $15,- 000. satisfactory trade for drama; moved here from Selwyn Monday, latter house going to Vltaphone. "The Constant Wife," Maxine Elli- ott's (10th week) (Cp-»21-$t.85). Surer success than similarly titled show; rate around $1S,000; means "The Desert Song,** Casino (10th week) (C - 1.044 - $5.50). Another hit below 42d street; built up to $30,000 and holdtnir to that Since; virtual capacity. "The Dark,** Lyceum (1st week) (D-957-$3.30). Brady & Winman's second premiere of week, first LA. LEGITS DROP "Dove*s'' $16,000 Tope—Kolb A Dill Return and Get $10.000—"Trag- edy" and Miaa Kalich |13,000 Loa Angeles, Feb. 1. Last week was somewhat off In the le^it houses, the Beiasco lead- ing the Aeld through "Tha Dove" catching an estimated |lf,MO la Its second week. Hollywood's Music Box Revue wound iip to around $1S.OO0, while Bertha Kalich got about $9,000 in her opening week of "The Riddle Woman" at the Biltmore. "An American Tragedy" was a bit over $11,000, while the first week of "Alias, the Deacon," brought in $8,200 to the Hollywood Playhouse. "The Ghost Train" drew approxi- mately $8,000 to the Majsatio, but Kolb and Dill rolled into Ave flgurea on their return at the Maaon. "Easy Come. Easy Ck>" was Just $100 short of $6,000. and "Ona Man's Woman," io Its sixth week at the Orange Grove and on a two-for-one sale, was reported at $4,800. ■ (Copyright, 1027, by Variafty, Inc.) ''Abi<f iUliini, $11,000 Provldenea. Fik 1. On Its second appearance here, running five weeks its first visit, Anne Nichol's "Abie's Irish Rose." at the Provldenea ol^ara' hoiiia last week, di^ b>*twoiii \|ii«000 ind $12,000. (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, Inc.) "The Road to Rome' "Dark' opened Tuesday. "The Galloping Sheik," Cort. Taken off Saturday after playing three weeks; just cut rater; opened under name of "An Arabian Nightmare"; "The Constant Nymph" moved here Monday. "The Ladder/' Waldorf (16th week) (D-1.142-$S.S0). Continuing through month and may stay little longer; business reported somewhat better at $5,000. "The Little Spitfire." Klaw (25th week) (CD-830-$2.75). Final week; made rather good run to mod- erate money; averaged $8,500, which figure it got last week; moved here from Cort; Klaw gets "Sinner." 'Thf Nightingale," Jolson's (5th m^Y' (6-1.770-$5.50). Climbed last week and may yet catch on after slow start; estimated better- ing $S1.000. "The Noose," Hud.son (16th week) (D-l,094-$3.30). Dramatic strength carrying this one along; not big but profitable right along; average claimed around $14,000. <«The Play'a the Thing," Henry Miller (14th week) (CD-946-$3.85). Another success figured to finish out season: comedy of novelty; approximating $18,000. "The Ramblers," Lyric (20th week) M-1.400-$5.50). Should ride until warrn weather; consistent draw in agencies, with gross around $8t,000 and over consistently. "Twinkle, Twinkle," Liberty (12th week) (M-l,234-$4.40). Going along to very good business, song hit materially aiding box office; rated at $24,500 last week; seems to be growing stronger. "The Scarlet Lily," Comcdv (2d week) (D-682-$3.30). Opened Sat- urday; premiere set back two days because of cast chaiijjo forced at out of town Showing; critics panned it. "Trial Marriage," Wallnck's (1st week) (D-707-$8.30). "This Wo- man Business" finally expired Saturday and new drama of inde- pendent production booked in; opened Monday. "The Silver Cord" and ^*Ned Mc- Cobb's Daughter," John Golden (7th w^ek) (Cn-860-$3.30). Lat- ter attraction played last week and drew 6v«r $14,000; Guild house alternating th#> tiro plays (every other week). "The Squall," 48th St (ISth #aek) (D-960-$3.30). Playing nine per- formances week, extra matinee added becausa of feminlna a^ peal; getting over $13,000; gv^t pace for house of this slaa. ''Tommy,** dalsty fith waok) <C- 808-$3.30). Improvement noted again last week and management flirures show "over"; eatoHtad better than $9,000. but usual atOP limit for house ia $10,000. Tralawnay of the Welts," N^ilr'Am- sterdam (C-l,702-$3.85). All star revival of Pinero's play expected to keep big house going until new musical show with Mary Eaton and Paul WhiteuHui; opened Mon- day. "Two Girls Wanted," Little (22nd week) (C-530-$3.30). Looka set here for season; last week-end trade exceptionally strong, grosses of between $8,000 and $9,000 very good for small thsatirii. "Vanities," Earl Carroll (24th week) (R-998-$6.60). New ediUon of revue seema mora dependant on original numbers than Imported English skits: - esti|nated aroimd $25,000. - "Wild Man of Borneo," Bijou; Broadway opening postponed; "Beyond tha Horison" continuing here this week, next week the house gets "The Strawberry Blonde"; "Wild Man*^ Heads fix- ing. "Wooden Kimono," Martin Beck (6th w«ek) (D-l,089-$3.30). No big business but probably making money with aid pf cut rates; claimed averaging v^nit $12,000. "Yours Truly," Shubert (2nd week) (M-1,395-$5.5Q). With $7,000 pre- miere and $0.00 Saturday night. Gene Buck musical got $32,000 in seven performances, ratinv it big money show. Special Attractions and Rep. The Guitrys will conclude a six- week season In French at Chanin's 46th Street Saturday; foreign stars will spend a week each in Boston and Montreal, departing for ParIa at end of montik: "MiMrf^ this week* "The wandering Jew." with an English cast headed by Mathcson Lang, opened at Cosmopolitan Mon- day. "Rose-Marie," repeating *here at Century, panned as being road show; supported principally by cut rates; got $19,.500. Civic Repertory, 14th St.: "Twelfth Night," "Cradle Song." "Three Sis- ters" and "Ma.ster Builder." American Laboratory: "The Sea Worhah's Cloak," '"Tha Trumpet Shall Sound," "Tha Straw flat," "Twelfth Night." "Plnwheel." Neighborhood Play- house, will alternate with "The Dybbuk" after thia week. "Beyond the Horison." revival, held over this week; "The Straw- berry Blonde" will follow la next week. "Caponsacchi." Walter Hampden's. "The Night Hawk," revival, using two and three for one at Prollc. Outside Times Square—Little "La Finitax," intimate opera, now special matinees at Mairfalr, wHh "Hottom of the Cup" at night; ^ Grand Guignd Players, Grova St^- uu■■■ ■ m offering new bill-i-"A Plorentlne X. Tragedy," "The Morgue," "Butter- flies" and "Napoleon's Barber"; "Where's Your Husband" closed at Greenwich Village, with "Lally" due next week; "The Virgin Man," cut rates only, Princess: "The Devil in the Cheese," Charles Hopkins; "Great Adventure." Totten; "Abra- ham's Bosom," Provlncetown. (Coinsrrlfht, 1027, by VaHoi^, liM.) Names Draw in Capital; 'Borneo' llopfr-$2,000 Washington. Feb, 1. Names register at the box office. Tha" De Wolf Hopper-Ilsa Marvenga company In "The Student Prince" got considerably more than the first road line Up i^yed at same house (Poll's) last year. "On Approval" was lil<od at the National, getting a good week, while "The Wild Man of Borneo" died at the Beiasco. Eatihiatas f'^- Last Week Beiasco—"Wild Man of Borneo" (Philip Goodman). This new Con- nelly-MankiewIcs comedy failed to draw when critics said "no good" after opening. Under usual for new ones. About $2,000 at $2.50. National—"On Approval" (Dilling- ham). Liked and did good week. Closed to $11,500 at $2.50. Poll's—"Student ^i^ipce" (Shu- bert's). Did more traVon first visit when another company played the operetta. Resorted at $26,000. This Week Beiasco — "Potash and Perlmut- ter. Detectives"; National. "Sweet Lady (new musical comedy); Poll's "What Price Glory" (film). (Copyright, 1027, by Variety, inc.) ALL HOlSoVFRS KEEP FRISCO GROSSES LOW 'Spitfire' Closes Nice Engage- ment at $8,500 and 'Cradle SnatQtiers' Does Well San Francisco, Feb. 1. All holdovers this week with the consequent let-down. Plenty on the way up from IjOs Angeles to fol- low in. Wilkes —Final week of "The Cradle Snatchers" to $8,700. Headed for the northwest and then into the east Followed by tha Edward D. Smith ptodnctlon of "Castlaa hi the Air."- ■ Columbia—Dark this week. "Loose Ankles" opening on the 29th. Capitol-^The native (Hawaiian) production of "The Prince of Hawaii." Second week to about $f.OOO. Bill Cullen. making an at- teinpt to pull some real showman- ship and build up the gross, but it looks difficult. American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Matson Steamship Line and other angles worked for gross ticket buying and benefits. Then to top It olt the state department of labor made a pinch on two under age Hula dancers with the show. Alcazar—Second last week of "The Hometowners." A nice en- gagement closing thia week to $7,- 500. Nan in to ba "If I Was Rich." Frssldant—^'^e Little Spitfire" Jumped again, giving them $8,500 for the week. Leneta Lane is back with Henry Duffy, replacing (Miss) Dale Winter. Curran—"What Price Glory" (pic- ture) $12,000. 4 PITTSBURGH WEEKS Pittsburgh, Feb. 1. "Beau Geste" closed its engage- ment at the Nixon theatre last week with a total gross for the four weeks of slightly over $69,000. The pic- ture was a winner and is good for a return engagement. It played at $1.6S top. Harry Brown, manager of the Nixon, put over a campaign of advertising and exploitation for the picture that showed Its results in the box office. The Alvin, which is having the best season of its existence, grossed $32,115 with "A Night in Paris." Pittsburghers are eating up every- thing musical this season, and Manager John B. Reynolds, in his advertising, takes advantage of every opportunity. This is a mus- ical and revue year in Pittsburgh. Thurston closed a three weeks' engapernont at the Pitt with a total gross of $27,000 (Saturday esti- mated). His run this year was re- markable. Through tie-ups with local papers the magician obtained much advertising. He could have stayed two weeks more. (Cepyri ght, 1927, by Varie ty, I no.) iimixxsiroirs '"BLOOD xqwxt" ''Blood Money** Is tha title of the first drama or melodrama George Middleton has written in three years, when "The Bride' was played. During that time he has turned out comedies. No producer has been chosen by the author for his latest thriller. AFFAIRS' TO mOOO IN PHLLY LAST WEEK 'Maryland' Starts to $18,000 Week—'Vanities' Got $23,- 000-^ Shows In Next W'k ;$Df.v Philadelphia, Feh. 1. Phllly is all het up over the forthcoming appearance of a num- ber of Broadway celet)s who are to shine at the Treasurers' Club third annual "Midnight Frolic" at the Walnut Street Theatre Feb. 20. George M. Cohan has been an- nounced as nuupter of ceremonii Philadelphia, Fs*. A couple of the legit houses re- ported an easing oft in business last week, but aa a whole every- thing was still rosy. One or two attractions showed distinct signs of gathering speed. The much heralded "Lo Malre's Aftairs" breezed into the Forrest and clicked at near $SS,000 on tha week; excellent, but not capacity. The second and third string critics gave it great notices at the open- ing, but some of the regulars, in their "second thoughts," weren't so enthusiastic. "Affair" first week'* figure beat that of ilk> Rite's" flrat week. * "Vanities,** very well spotted down at the Chestnut, had the capacity opening that most all revues, and certainly all the sup- posedly daring ones, get here, be- cause people expect the censor to get in his work by Tuesday night. The Earl Carroll show also had) three or four rows of standees at the Wednesday matinee, and then didn't hit capacity until the end of the week. The notices commented on the good comedy, but most of them panned tha shoddy prbductioii and dingy costumes. There was much interest in the battle between the two operettas, one a Broadway hit, "The Vaga- bond King," and the other, "My Maryland," a tryout of which much is expected. "The King" came into the Shubert at a little higher scale fbr a run of eight weeks. There was nothing like capacity, except at the matinees and Satur- day night, but the demand was strong. If not phswamsnal. Noliaea were glowing. "My Maryland" didn't start with the rush that many expected, bnt that may be ascribed to the house, Lyric, and to the crush of openings. The notices were extravagant In their praise. Business picked up about the middle of the week. The balcony trade, which was expected to be very blcr. was one disappoint- ment, but this also improved. The gross was around $18,000. Engage- ment is Indefinite. This week had only a single opening, "Daisy Mayme," at the Broad (for three weeks). Next week has four again — "Collette," new musical, at the Forrest: "The Crime Wave" (new dramatic try- out), at the Walnut; "Night In Spain," revue tryout, at the Chest- nut; and "The Cradle Snatchers," at the Garrlck. "Collctte" is In for three weeks and will close the For- rest Peb. 26 for good and all. "Cradle Snatchers" has five or six weeks. "Night In Spain" indefinite, and **Crlme Wave** just a fortnights Feb. 21, "Pickwick." dramatization of Dickens novel, and also a try- out, comes to the Walnut, and Mrs. Flske in "Ghosts" to the Broad. Estimates for Last Week: "Daisy Mayme'* (Broad, 1st week), Oorge Kelly play, in for three weeks. "Money From Home" big disappointment. In last week after picking up In second week. Gross well under $7,000. "Vagabond King*' (Shubert, 2d week), operette, planned (or eight weeks, some dOubt on Iti abUlty to hold on so long. "Le Maire's Affaire" (Forrest. 2d week). Business excellent; $32,900 reported. "The Donovan Affair" (Garrick. 2d week). Season's only mystery show; got around $11,000; not ex- ceptional, but OI^ with this kind of a production. "Vanities" (Chestnut, 2d week). Carroll revue; in for two waaka only. Claimed $23,000. "What Every Woman Knows** (Walnut. 4th week). Remarkable engagement for this revival. $17,500 claimed. "My Maryland" (Lyric. 2d week). Didn't start off with rush expected, but storted to pick up about middle of week. Not quite $18,000. "The Girl Friend" (Adelphi, 2d week). This one got about sixth string critics and wasn't given chance, but also started to. gain about Thursday. $10,000. (Copyright. 1tZ7, by Variety, Inc.) "HEAVY BUT CLEAN'' "Spellbound" Is the title of ''a clean but heavy drama" by Walter ^ Blwood, which Is being produced by Mary Forrest. The piece is to open next Tues- day at the Klaw for a series ot special matinee performances. '1928'' uvirs vnowv Intimate Playhouse, art theatre located In the Bronx, is reopening Feb. 13 with revue entitled "1928." ^^^^^y Stayrpf is featured.