Variety (Feb 1927)

Wednesday, February 2, 1927 L EG^ TIM ATE VARIETY 43 GENE BUCK'S QIM OICKER. TOUR TRULY." (32,0110,7 SHOWS Newer Shows Leading «l Aftodeft—^'Selurdey's Children" and ''Road to Rome'' Alto Early Rated Swceasetr—Heavy Money Still Pouring Into Broadway Musieab 20 BELOW DIDN'T BOTHER Newer succeeses have the call in the agencies, where the demand for tickets is regarded aa the Broa.A- way' VltJnt sharps predict that at leaJ5l a portion of the leader i;rosa getters will start slipping. As the season approaches the peaHt Washington's Birthday, it is un- lllc^ly that there will bo much vari- ation in the general pace. After Feb. 22 a decline in the legitimate business is alwaya «xp«eted. Several new productions* of the past week arc already rated in the money. "Yours Truly" at Uie 8hu- bert has strong agency sales and fjot |S2,000 in the fliet seven per- formances (opened Tuesdaj^). "Rio Hita'* even prior to its prenalere at the new Ziegfeld tottlght (Wednes- day) developed an exceptional de- mand. "The Road to Rome," open- ing Monday at the Playhouse', was regarded as certain. Another stand-out of last week's list was "Saturday's Children," which looks like a cinch at the Booth. "Honor Be Damned'* at the Morosco started mildly, but finished the week very well and may last. "Praying Curve," changing its title to •*The Love Sheik." did not get 5r..000 at the Eltingre and will hardly stick. "Lady Alone" for Its first full week at the Fbrrest got $10,000, better than the notices indica:ted. •'The Scarlet I/ily," a Raturd^iy opening at the Comedy, was panned all around. $17,500 for "Able*' "Abie's Irish Rose'* again amazed Broadway with capacity business, for a gross of $17,600 for the 244th week; "Broadway," the - money leader of n4>n-musieato. kepi ta the remarkable pace of near $30,000; "The Captive," reported off In agencies but still virtual cai>acity at f38,000: "ChioacO" got nearly $20,000. also capacity; "The Play's the Thin&" artd "Constant Wife" held to similar trade at $18,000; "The Barker," reoognlie^ as a hit. got better than $16,000; "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," $16,000; "The Con- stant Nymph," nearly $10,000; "Ned IfcGobb'a naiwhter," $14,000; "Lulu Belle," over $13,000; "Pygmalion," $13,000; "The Squall," $13,600; "The Noose," $13,000; "Wooden Kimono," $12,000; ^'American Triagedy." $12,- 000; "Tommy." "Little Spitfire" and ••Two Girls Wanted," $8,500; "New York Exchange." $10,500; "The Ladder," $S,000. ; " ^ ''0$.iiiaJaaJaa ■ "Scandals" holds musical leader- ship to date at $43,000 and "Oh. Kay" second, at $40,000, but the new "Rio Rita" regarded as con- tend[er for top money honors; other bipT gross musicals are bunched wilh "Cris.s Cross." now around $34,000, and "The Ramblers," closely following "Yours Truly," at close to $32,000: "The De.sert Sonj?" snd "Oay Paree," $30,000: "Honey- moo|i Lane" over $25,000. with "Marltsa" and "Vanities" nearly as much, but with higher .'?c:ile; "Twinkle Twinkle" strong at $24.- 000; 'The Nightingale" picked up, bettering $21,000; "Queen High" over $20,000: "Oh, Plea.«e." $18,000; "Pepery Ann" slroncr at s;tinp fig- ure; "Pirates of J'enzance," also very good, at $16,000; "Bye. Bye. Koruiio." claimed snlisfnctory at $14,000; "I Ttdd Vou Sr.." lisht at $1.3.500; "Rose Marie." playing a repeat at the Century with cut- rate support. $19,500, but perform- ance not up to standard. Changes Shows closing and •*Amerlcana** leaves the which gets "Off Key AbramoN itch " .sto^tpcd at the Na- tional, dark tins week, biit lisU d to get "Fog" next week; "The Little Spitfire" will be f<)ll(»wod at the - Klaw tiy **S*tTtTTrr": thr fJuitrv* w+if loave Chanin's 4«th Stre^-t. "I Told You So" moving there from the Ttoyale, Which koI m •Th*^ A«lv< niu- votM Ajxf" 'Mr?: f>;';ri«k «';itn))b( 11) ; ■ Heyond the llurizon" lUiiy move from the Bijou, the house, however, »>fferlnBf "The Strawbeiiy nionde" ^♦•xt week; 'Where's Voiir Htis- ''«nd" i\uiL at llie CJre(n\vi«-h Nil- lage. whirli will liave •*I^lly": "The (ialloping iSUe^k ' closed at the Cort, which now holds "The Constant N5*mph." Cutting Down Buys Buys for three of the new shows coming indicates thare la a marlced tendency on the part of the brokers to cut the size of the allotments. For "Siiturday's Children'* the brokers are taking 150 a pight for four weeks, w^hile for "Lady Alone" at the Forrest and "For Better or Worse" at the Mansfield the brokers took only 12o each. For the all-star revival of "Tre- lawney of the Wells" they are taking 500 for the> run. TTp to Mon- day night the^e was nothing defi- nite set for either "The Road to Rome," with Jane Cowl, at the Playhouse, or fdr "Rio Rita,!' which opens the new Zic^feld. The buys for three shows ran out last week and were not renewed. They wet a "The Nightingale" at the Jolson, "Peggy Ann" at the Vanderbllt and "Gay Paree" at the AVinter Garden. Left is a total of 2d in the regu- lar list. ' Th*y are "Queen High" (Ambassador), "White's Scandals" (Attollo), "Lulu Belle" (Belasco), "The Barker" (Blltmore), •^'Satur- day's Children" (Booth), "Broad- way" (Broadhurst), "Desert Song" (Casino). "The Captive" (Bimpfre). "Lady Alone" (Forrest), "Countess Marltza" (44th St.), "Oh, Please' (FuHon), "CrIss-Cross" (Globe), "Play's the Thing" (Miller). "Honeymoon Lane" (Knicker- bocker), The Ramblers" (Lyric). "For Better or Worse" (Mansfield), "Constant Wife" (Elliott). "Chi- cago" (Music Box), *'Trelawney of the WelW" <Amsterdam). "Pirate's of Ponzance" (Plymouth), "I Told You So" (Itoyale), "Bye, Bye, Bon- nie' (Bits). "Tdnrs Truly" (Shu- bert). Cut Rates Have 28 In the cut rates were 28 shows Monday. Two were under "buys" by the bargain brokers. One was "The Scarlet Lily" at the Comedy, which they bought before it came into New York for the first two weeks of its engagement, and the other is for the Sam Bernard show, "I Told You So," beginning with ne^ct Monday, when the show moves to Chanin's 46th St., and for the four weeks there. It Was said that the cut rates contributed better than SO per cent, of the business of almost $20.oon which "rtoae-Marie" did at the Century last week, a surprise to the show s management. In the list of the 28 on .sale at bargain prices are "Repertory" (Am. Laboratory), "Wooden Ki- mono" (Beck). "Americana" (Bel- mont). "Beyond the Horizon" (Bijou), ••RoMO-Marie" (Century), "The Scarlet IJlv" (Comedy), "The Constant Nymph" (Cort). "Sex" (Daly's). "The Great Adventure" (Tolten). "Tho T.ov(^ Tlilef" (Rl- tinge), "Lady Alone" (Forrest), "New York Exchange" (49th St.). "The Night Hawk" (Frolic). "Tommy' (Gaiety), "The Noo.«4e" (Htldsbn). "The Nl^htlngnle"^ (Jol- son). -Thi- Little j^pilfire" (Klaw). "Two c;irls VV'antcd' (Liltle). 'An American Tragedy" (Longacre). "For Better or Worst " < .Mansfield). "La Fijiita" (Mayfalr). "Honor Be Djimned" (.M(»roM»o). "The Virgin -Man* (Princess). "In .Xbrahanr's IJosom" (l'i o\incr town). "I Told You Hi>" (Roy.ilo). "(jSonikmcn Pre- fer Blondes' (Times Sq ). l ii** Ladder" (Waldorf). "Trial Mar- riage" < Wullack's). $15,000 ffer ftlNet ^nell in Minn^ Two ttaaki Only fOOO Apart Minneapolis. Feb. 1. Twenty.below sero failed to keep the folks away from "The Green Hat" at the MetropoHtari. On the very night that thermometers regis- tered that figure, there was a near capacity house. Despite the low temperatures prevailing all week, the gross hit nearly $15,000. "Young Woodley," with Glenn Hunter, had a good opening Sunday night, in- dications pointing to a highly profit- able ,week. At the Shubert the cold weather did hurt. The Bainbridge Player.s* (.draniatic stock) production of "Alias the Deacon," highly praised by criiics.and winning much word- of-moiith commenclation, did not begin to get the returns warranted. Takingjii did not exceed $5,000. The ifcCail-Rrldva Players (mu- sii-al comedy tab), succeeded In hit- ting around their uaiial pace by getting $4,700 #ith "TPhe Love Test." A professional wrestling match helped ''Step Along" (Mutual Wheel burlesque) to reach the neighbor- fa Sod ef $6,000 at the Gayety. (Cepyriflht, lOfT. by Variety, Ine.) liOSTON'S TRADE GOOD; miAND NEW SHOW OPENS "Judy" Doing $13,000—Tre- mont Gets LeMaire's Musi- cal Next Week CHI INCLUDES MRS. HSKE WITH ITS LEADERS MRS. FEIGER ACQUITTED Charifed With Bisamy After Ojltf!|' ing Husband's Arrest llrs. Valerie Felger, 26, former actress, who said she lived at the Mung^ Hotel, was acquitted in the Tombs Court by the MiMlifltrate after Assistant District Attorney LOuls Wasser told the magistrate he thoughjt the woman was a "vic- tim o^ oircumatanoes." . Mrs. jFeiger was arrested last Wednesday on a charge of bigamy. According to Detective James Coy of headquarters, the w^muim^- feat husband was Gerald Mohseslan, real estate dealer of Florida. The police were unable to locate him. Mrs.. Felger ol&imeif her "busbMid deserted her over seven year.s ago, and that, believing he whs dead, she married John H. i«'eiger of 900 Grand Concourse, Bronx, last year. While at the Annonia Hotel two weeks ago, the couple had a quar- rel. Through pique the woman caused her husban41i' arreat in connection with the theft of $38,000 in diamonds from a jeweler at the Jewelers' Exchange on the Bow- ery. ' in the Vofliba Court last week the owner of the stolen gems failed to identify jTaiffr afpi ba iK«a 41a- charged. 'i' ■ '.' lira; Feiger. Hrha baa m' mm m- year-old son by her first husband, was formerly In stock, but lately has been employed as a sales- woman. ReTiM at Hotel PUia May Leslie la to atace a revue at the Hotel Plaza, New York, March 4-6 for the benefit of the Josephine Home of Crippled Children, under management of Irving Strouse. Dick Conreid, son of the former di- rect.or of the Metropolitan Opern. is directing the sketches. Music is by Nel.son Gerhut. .Mrs. IJIIian Osterwall (daughter of .S;itn Bernard). Ff>lix Foist, Mrs. J'aul LKidin and Mrs. Helen Bern- stein are included in the cast.- Boston, I'eb. 1. Husiiu'sM for logltiuiale at- lracli»>ns iii f*his « ity last wi ek was very good. Not one of the nhows in town showed a loss last week froin the business of the week before, and 1 in uu)st Instances gains were re- corded. The town is still very nuu 'j toj) heavy in the way of m'i-iral uKimc- tions. Last week ail l»ui onj of the shows in town was a musical. Tlie odd one was a comedy. Tliis wtfk the Park swung back into tho legiti- mate class again wiih a n w show, "The Triple Cross," shown lor Iho first time. This makes the ratio a little better. Next week the Trc- mont is due to retqrn to tho legiti- mate ranks, and this will mean tnat normal conditions will exist for the first time in several weeks. "Judy," the new musical which opened at the llollis a couple of weeks ago, is .showing surprising strength imdor tho ».;thor unusual conditions. Booked into a house that Is a stranger to musicals at a time when things w»'re not going too well here, and wlien the town was actually tlocwlod with musicals; It has picked up strength weekly and now looks so inocu like a reg- ular proposif.tn tint C)i:oen:e Smiln and Charles Purro'.l are t«> entoi the cast this coming woeK. J*atti Har- rold haa been featured Ap to thi< time. Last Week's Em mates "Queen High," Wilbur (0th week). About $18,000. Surprising strength for show liore such long time and against such competition. "Loose Ankles," Plymouth (3d week). tMose to $13,000. having non- musical field all to Itself. "Sunny," Colonial (4th wooU). Still leader for town, registering $S»,(K>0. About $S00 better than week before. "Judy" Hollls (8d week). Gong along surprisingly well. Did $13,000; gross on pav wHn business musical did first week. "Castles in the Air/' Shubert week). This musical started rather slowly, but picked up finished better than $i'i.300. "The Triple Cross," Pnrk week). Liooks like oxceplionally good bet for Park if It ha > anything at all. New one. In final w^iU "Michael Strogoff" (p!cture) did $8,000. "Old Ironsides," Tremont (flril week). After several w?ek« of this picture house ffoes back to legiti- mate next waik with "Lte Maire's Affairs " ''What Price Glory** (Fox). Majes- tic (3d week). Did $15.160 second week, up $1,000 over week before. Chieago Opara* Boston Opera House (let week). In tor. two weeks. (Capyriflht, 1t87, by Variety, Inc.) Buck Pays for Title arriving: Belmont, ': . "Ham Matthew settled his ment of Gene Rticl< Ott. lab producer. ha.«« claim for tide infringe- "Yours Truly" against for $1,000. Tiic title Ih restiicled only f«>r tlio iiin of the play, and does not iipply to the film rights. Ilcinijin Ilnl>ien repiv wented Ott ill tile .'■cii lenient. The t ;>b producer hnd prior claim tTuTT to of his lUlc prod I m connection • lions. witn one Alfred G. Wilkes. Pacific Coa.<^l thoatre owner and prodticer, who is often confused with hiK brutlier. Totot WHkea. itas made plans to start producing shortly in New York in astrociation With i.aura D Wilck. ■ ' He has put on "An Amerlean Tragedv" i»n ihf <'f);ist aiid follow- ing thiH. will produce nn original comedy. "Little Orchid Annie," by HadlT/y Waters and Cliarleiif'JPni- hjin. Aftei an indefinite engugeinfnt on Uie Const this will be brought to New York by the Wilkes and Wilck organ iiSHt ion. MICE REVUE CAST I.OS Angeles, l«'eb 1. The <gast of the Hollywood Music FioK. Kev.ue. which will star Fannie Bi live, hu ludes CharJcH Hr»W!H (l. Ilogrt' Davi««, Marie f'.ill;ilian. .*^j»ui A#h, Edythe Maye. KIsie T^e. Myrtle Pierce, X'111«^ n.'iiM<n, Miriam Byron, Don f',;in l.iy. Homer l>i l<iM- son.' CliurltH CuTtniM'^liani IJdly (2d off an<1 (l.^t MONEY MASTER' RESUMES Rehssrssis Stopped When Bond Net Pested^alf New Up ^Vagabond King* Jumps to $28,000—Lauder Gels$23»( i:i:i Ha u son, Oray. Dick Turner and Kddle "The Money .MaHtor" resumed re- hearsals yesterday <Tuesday) aftci- having been suspended the.previous day through Kquity demanding poslinj? of the ii.«ual bond covorin;; two weeks' salary. Pai-t of the se- cnrlty has been posted with the imdorst iiidiii .,' tiie .-idrlit ioJial 8Um will be up by tiic f>iid of tiio week. The show had been in rehearsal a week under direction of Oliver Moro.sco. The latter's connection is mcrcl.v In n (lii(<ctoria 1 cjpicity, with proUui (ion financed l)y the American Stage Producing Com- ) any. Tn<v Th<* lattor i.«^ a °:roM|i of Italian pmnioff r.s reported infei- osted in the Italian version of the play, IranMlated into Knglish fOr the 'urrenf y)toduclion. Tile .Moroscu JOntetjtri.'tt.a is not c<»ncornrMl In this one. but ha« an- nounced another, "Ain't Love Ornnd?' farce, by Willis Qoodhiie. Tyson*Umted's Branch The Tyj<on-riilted Theatre Tl f.fTl' c lia.H ojieficd .1 Ittau'li lio first time in the 32 year.s It been In operation. ! Tliey have taken over the «t»nd nf the new M.inser Hnf l at l-Jroad- ! way and .'iOth street and will hah^llc {theatre tickets there as well/as maf;;i/.inr.s and hooks. Thi.s i.s to iiQ the first of a, sericM . of )m and.* K. I ket liic has Ruth Donnelly m F.lms SHUBERTS STARRING ATWILL Kuiii Donnelly in iiiaK.ii;^ h« i mo- | iaoc I Alwiii tiav ix tioh picture d*»but at the F.^motm | |»y the .SliubcrtM as star of Players T.ontf Island mudio. sup- > 1 uiflilrr." fiorting Kd • Wynn in ' Kubber A t \* ill will al-o diif i Heels." J lion, to 1»h l.iunilied ro xi "Pen^- jn ialIX - riHUii it. Oleaeen in Coast "Znt Ser Los Angelas, Feb 1. rollowiiii* the run of "The l)o\e itl liiC IJeIu.«i<o 'i'i^'utre, "J.S /at Ho'/ ' will be produeM at the house. I will) .lames Oleason in liis ori-.^iiial ioIm CIP.aKori ha.v )>*'t-n appearing , in Hlock in <Jakl.<nd. Chic.j^o. \'\■\^. 1. Thiec ntw .>-lio\v.s CHMie to tuwn this week but they don't pronilae to Interfere with the' wild galloplns of the powerful hitft at the Adelphi, Harris and Plackstone. If .nny Im- pression is made it will coi^ie froni the limited engagement of Mrs. Fiske in '(Ghosts," at the Illinois. With any kind of a window sate for the balcony, tliey'll figure high gro.sses for two weeks with this one. The closing week of the "ii'olUes** and the limited one-week stay of Harry T.audcr at the Krlanper brought out receipts which, when added to those oomptled by "Shang- hai Ge.sture," "tMadle Snatchers" lUdd "The Lust of Mrs. Cheyney,** approached fbll capacity of tha hou.seis concerned. "Tem]>tations'* ofiiercd a spurt and "Vagabond King'* yanked out another sensa* (ional «ro.s.H during the high busi- ness dune elsewhere around town. The remarkable engagement of the Great Northern attraction Is being sligittly overlooked. Oreat business has been dona in this out-of-the- way theatre and close tabulation later on may prove that the "King" hblds the house record for the first 20 weeks of a stay which now looks favorable enough to hold iintU tha spring. It'.s the old saying In this town^ when there's something on the boards that is wanted, th* grosses Ko sky-high. VThtil stopped by tha <! tire department, Lauder was using upward of 100 extra chairs on the week-end performances at the Kr*» hinger. Both the Adelphi and Har- ris, after Tuesday night, were sold out fully 48 hours ahead. The ' Blackstune gets an early sellout downstairs but the balcony sales are j slow, yet far above the uaual aall ^ at this house. ^ There's qtilte a gap between tha topnotchers and the other shows. "12 MilcH Out" looks to be the most substantial of the recent arrivals. * • Woman disputed ' Is weak at thS ' Olympic, with Utkl# «(haMMk of bat* terment. * ' > :-■ Auto show week is counted uiNNl to help in some spots. This gath- ering In the la .St four years hasn't j helped theatre trade as bcforib There's plenty of senaib^j^MgcA ^ "Craig's Wife." with the Pulttset I rep, come« in Hunday. taking tha . , place of i;iitter and Egg Man." It looks as if they have crowded a lot of speci.il iii-hts into the lirst week ^1 of "CraiK'.s Wile" at the ieSelwyn, the ■• feature being the turnout Of tha lo*, cal drama league. | Estimstea for Last Weeic ''Howdy Kln9»» (liaBallev 1st week). Looked like plenty of , ' pap«'r ' for the Hunday openlnK. al- ways a necessity for openings of plays her# without 100 per ront rep '^^ "Ghosts" (Illinois, ist of limited x two weeks' engagement), f^fftires real <(>in, probably being the first ■ siiow in la.sL five weeks to interfere with the three topnotchers ambnc the non-musicals at tba J|atM^^^ stands. ' -'• **0n Approval" (Erlanger, 1st week). Opened last night to light advancH .suie; Lauder packed 'em la«t week; figured Just below $23,000. "Vagsbond King" ((?reat Xoi th- orn, I'l'd week). Hnjoying another Immense spurt, ellmbinif back to iKHind $L'8.000; phenom#»i»al. and !• bejuing everythluK in t<»wn for re- neulH; Mpeckil parties quite u fea- ture. "Women Disputed" fOlymp'c, 4th week). flasnt caught popular fancy ; otist ( hange brouffht added piibliclty; hovering around $8,noo. "Trial Divorce," (Playhouse, 4th week). Mention of closing ttoipor- .irily. withdr.iwn; busiio-ss very bad; doubtful if $2,000 was reached. Wes, Yes, Vvette" (Four Cohans, loth week). Hasn't Htnh k "ptinch" pace at anytime during engage- ment but every effort being made, thi-onuh revisioUM. to s<'t It ri??l't: liulds aiuund $17,000, spurMng high- er when general conditions reveal out of - town (I'-niatid. "One Man's Woman" ^Central, I6lh wcpU). Quite a wonder .show; cut-rat* M ure handled here in tom- plrln Ja.vliiun. giving honsc nightly {,noss ..> r< ach $tf,(K)9 on weeli. "SH^nghsi Gesturs" (Adelphi. dih wecK>. One of three riot di'nn: 'ic plaV vIo-M*'1M; .slill goi'l>? )K-!i-mell wilh advance .sale pjliuf; up, not much vari.iliori ficjni $'J3,000. "Cradle Snatchcrt" tllarri**. (.th week). .Approached $?1I.000 once more r iioosp f1vt» of btg||;es|t M ohiinued on page 40) iMiiiiii