Variety (Mar 1927)

Wednesday, March 16, 1927 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 39 BOX SCORE AT PRESENT AGAIN SEES GABRIEL ON TOP Based on 99 Outgoing Plays So Far—89 of Them Outright Failures—Stream of Lemons—Final Score May 30 Gabriel ("Sun") again tops the Metropolitan dramatic scribes In Variety's percentage score. Gabriel, last year's final winner, led the midseason score (December) and bas only been paced once this season—Percy Hammond ("Herald- Tribune") shoved Gabriel out of the pennant niche in the opening box score last fall. The current score is not the final but is simply based on shows which have opened and left Broad- way since Aug. 3 and up to March 12. No attraction currently play- ing has any standing as regards this compilation. Since Aug. 3 165 shows, exclusive of revivals and "matinee" attractions, have pre- miered. Of these 99 have closed or tried "the road." In this departing gToup of 99 there are 89 flops, six hits and four pieces rated as mod- contemporaries in the number of shows reviewed, 83. Alan Dale ("American") has also turned In some prolific theatre going in writ- ing on 78 of the departed 99. One reason the critics have missed many shows this season is that premieres have had a tendency to bunch on one night and the bad ones have closed before the first string Judges could get around to pass an opinion. Atkinson ("Times") Jumps into third place and Is one of three to break above .800. The following seven places will be seen to be within their own range of 73 points while there is a wide difference on the drop to the trailing position. Gabriel, Hammond and Winchell are "clean" of dodging an opinion on any of the shows while Ander- son ("Post), Mantle ("News"), Vreeland ("Telegram") and Coleman Abe Levey Services Funeral services for Abra- ham (Abe) Levey will be held at the Riverside Memorial chapel. New York, next Tues- day (March 22) at 11 a. m. He died shortly after arriv- ing at Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 27. Because of the collapse of the widow the remains were sealed and ceremonies post- poned. Burial at first was an- nounced to be held in Phila- delphia. 'Public or Police Whistle Only Sure Censor'-Walker NO WAY TO SUP LEGIT INTO FRISCO Town Booked Solid—1st Time in 20 Years—Hit and Run Capitol Included CRITICS' BOX SCORE Key to the abbreviations is: SR (shows W (wrong); O (no opinion expressed; Pet. (. SCORE MARCH 12, 1927 SR R. GABRIEL ("Sun") 52 44 WINCHELL ("Graphio") 41 34 ATKIN80N ("Times") 48 39 HAMMOND ("Herald-Tribune").. 45 35 WOOLLCOTT ("World") 54 40 ANDERSON ("Post") 52 38 MANTLE ("New.") 82 59 VREELAND ("Telegram") 49 35 COLEMAN ("Mirror") 45 32 DALE ("American") 78 55 08BORN ("Evening World") 68 32 VARIETY'S OWN SCORE SR R VARIETY (Combined)... 88 77 PULASKI (Ibee) 34 31 GREEN (Abel) 18 13 LAIT 11 6 reviewed); R (right); W. 8 7 7 10 11 13 22 13 12 20 23 W. 11 3 5 5 .812 .778 .741 .731 .720 .714 .711 Pet. .875 .912 .722 .545 era to successes. The 99 is the basis for this score. Ever since the first of the year the boys on the dailies haven't had to waste much time mulling over the merits or demerits of the '27 crop of plays. An unusual ship- ment of lemons has been streaming in. At that the flop high mark for the season lies during early Oc- tober when 11 successively opening shows (Sept. 30-Oct. 9) all gave up the ghost to quit in the "red." The carnage was also heavy Oct. 12 to 18 when six waltzed in and soon took the black bottom route. Cur- rently a number of the newcomers are dangling on the edge, some sponsoring intricate reasoning as to what Is holding them on ' the street." Bunched Premieres However, Gabriel has only missed eight out of 52 for a percentage of .846, very high, while Walter Win chell ("Graphic") is not far behind at .829. The latter leads the tab reviewers by over 100 points. Burns Mantle ("News") coming next In this respect but topping all his ("Mirror") have only been guilty once each. Osborn ("Eve. World") has the most number of "wrongs," 23, with Mantle owning 59 "rights." Lait Doubling Variety's combined total of .875 is not bad considering the home sheet men got away to a terrible start in August by fluffing seven out of the first 15 to come in. Pulaski's .912 is top for Variety's reviewing personnel although Lait will still claim he's the best picker because when he says they're good they stay a year—which he figures should give him two "rights" In- stead of one. Comparison on the number of shows that have opened this season and last reveals a difference in favor of '25-'26. Up to March 12. a year ago, 162 plays, musicals and otherwise, had come in while but 155 had entered up to last Satur day. The final score of the year (In eluding all plays) will be tabulated as of Decoration Day, the generally accepted date for the season close. San Francisco, March 15. San Francisco is "booked solid." That, according to someone on the inside, was the message relayed to Louis MacLoon when the Los Angeles producer sought time for his "The Tavern" and the Fanny Brice show. And It is the first time this has happened in 20 years. The Curran Is set with the "Vagabond King" to follow the current run of Richard Bennett in "The Dove." The "King" should be good for a run of six weeks. After that Homer Curran has Florence Reed In "The Shanghai Gesture" which, with the interest already aroused by the New York run, Is looked to for six weeks or After this comes Jolson considering Jolson spent most of his younger days here, he should run at least another four weeks. All Booked Ahead The Wilkes, for the first time In its history. Is tied up with Wilkes' own production of "The American Tragedy" and then has "The Noose" and another production, not yet named, to follow. The Columbia is sitting pretty with Lucille La Verne in for a run of, it Is expected, six weeks with "Sun Up" and this to be followed with a four weeks' stay of Ina Claire and after that, a repertoire season with Mr. and Mrs. Coburn. Even the Capitol, hitting and missing with movies of an assorted nature, looks as though It may be come prosperous with a run of the Mrs. Wallace Reed picture, "The Red Kimona," to be followed with the road show of the Eucharistic Convention In Chicago and the proposed production of the Tommy Van-Oklahoma Bob Albright show, "The Paint Pony." In the discussions over the New York legislative bill, now killed, it was pointed out by one leader that the decision against "The Captive" Indicated that the stage could be cleaned up under present laws. Mayor Walker In a speech at the dinner given Bam Bernard Sun- day night said that some producers ought to "stage thoir shows in a disserting room." He said there never would be censorship of the stage if he could help it. "We haven't a censor for larceny or the sewage disposal system and neither do we need one for the theatre. When an alleged entertainment be- comes a stench in the nostrils then we don't need a censor, Just a good loud blast of a police whistle." The Injunction proceedings de- signed to restrain the police and district attorney from interfering with the proposed resumed showing of "The Captive," this time under Horace Liveright's direction, was denied by Supreme Court Justice Jeremiah Mahoney last week. The court had reserved decision for some days, reading the script in the meantime. While he admitted its literary merit he believed it violated the statute against obscene and immoral plays. The topic of "The Captive" Is one of homosexual relations between two women and although there Is no situation or dialog that is of- fensive, the theme itself was re- garded as the most daring ever presented on the American stage. After the producer and actors In the play were arrested and arraign- ed, Gilbert Miller, at the behest of the Famous Players-Lasky office, withdrew the play from the boards. F. P.-L. own the Charles Frohman Company which produced "The Captive" and of which Gilbert Miller Is managing director. Appealing Decision Llverlght when securing the rights to the play with intentions to revive It, declared he would not do so unless it was given a clean bill of health by the courts. After learning of Justice Mahoney's de- cision, he stated he would appeal the decision. Indications are that the play will not be shown here next month as planned. OVERDRAWN COMMISH IN LEE LASH APPEAL Bad Bookkeeping Also Men- tioned Before Appeal Tax Board Washington, March 15. The Lee Lash Studios, makers of advertising curtains for vaude- ville and motion picture theatres, will not only have to pay a 25 per cent, penalty for not making an income tax return for the year 1920, but I. additli' will be required to pay p dellelency of close to 815.000 for that year and the preceding one, aecor ing to a ruling of the Board of Tax Appeals. The ontroversy carried to the board was an aftermath of the method of selling space on the cur- tains and the manner in which commission payments were made to salesmen. The studio claimed that when salesmen retired from Its employ leaving an overdrawn balance due the studio, because sufficient com- missions had been earned to meet same, that the company should be permitted to deduct such overdrawn accounts. This the board would not allow due to the fact that no evidence was shown to the effect an effort had been made to collect the same. Incidentally the studio was se- verely criticized over its methods of keeping books. Such were characterized as "confusing." The 25 per cent penalty was up- held in spite of the company that as no profits were made no re- turn was necessary. The board found that the stu- dio did in excess of $206,000 worth of business In the three years of 1919, 1920 and 1921, and at the same time secured contracts for an additional $315,000 to run In subsequent years. In 1919 the board held that com- missions actually paid totaled In excess of $38,000. while in 1920 same was above $61,000. Dowling's New Show With Wife and Waring's The new Eddie Dowling musical Play starring his wife, Ray Dooley, titled "East Side—West Side" goes into rehearsal In June for a sum- mer opening In New York. Dowling, in association with Charles Dillingham, is producing as well as authoring the book; music "by James F. Hanley. Both are the collaborators on "Honeymoon Lane" now at the Knickerbocker. The new show will follow "Honey- moon Lane" into that house. Dr. Rockwell has been engaged as principal comedian. Tom War- ing, the tenor of Waring's Pennsyl- vanlans. Is the tenor. Fred Waring ipd his Pennsylvania's will, bo the ' £urq the projection. 1 Jessel Breaks 52-Year House Record in Philly Philadelphia, March 15. Monday night, March 14, the George Jessel show, "Jazz Singer,' played to $2,644 at the Broad Street, breaking a record for that night in the house, which had ^d for 62 years. About May 1 Jessel will leave for the west coa-st, where he Is to make two pictures for the Warners. He will again tour In "The Jazz Singer for the major portion of next sea s o n . "Noose" on Coast Loa Angeles, March 15 "The Noose" will succeed "An American Tragedy" at Wilkes Vine Street theatre. The latter has two more weeks bsfore tolas to Si n ' . P <i! i. I :' WARREN LAWRENCE'S FIRST Warren Lawrence, production manager for Albert Lewis, will shortly branch out as an individual producer. His initial fling will be "Quick- sands," which he also authored. It Ames and Wife Back Under a Paris cable date line the dallies carried a story last week that Winthrop Ames had established a residence In the French eapitol with the idea of starting divorce pro- ceedings. The stories carried the further Information that the promi- nent producer planned marrying Wlnnlfred Lenihan, an actress after securing the decree. Ames returned Tuesday following a brief trip abroad. From the ship he wirelessed a message to friends, denying the divorce report and stating he was returning accom- panied by his wife. Ames sailed for London with the Idea of witnessing a performance of a Galesworthy play which he Is to produce next fall. HARRY ROSENTHAL AND HIS ORCHESTRA .. , M fbe Bath and T*nn!. Club, ratal Beach, NUGENT'S ODD CLAIM UP FOR ^ARBTTRATION Replaced in "Honeymooning" by Woman—Before Equity Against 2 Other Women The peculiar case of J. C. Nugent against Mary Klrkpntrlck and Rachel Crothers, wherein a male character was replaced by a woman, came up for arbitration at Equity Monday. The play in ques- tion is "Honeymooning on High." suddenly booked Into the BIJou and will open Thursday night, under the title of "Honeymooning." It was written by Hatcher Hughes, of Columbia University. Nugent's claim is founded on a run of the play contract. After the arbitrator was forced to leave the hearing due to pressure of another engagement, It was expected a set- tlement would be made between the principals. It seems that sev- eral directors followed one another during rehearsals, with Marlon Kerby taking over the Job event- ually. Miss Kerby Is a well known actress, though new to the field of direction. After the show opened at Stamford, Conn., where Nugent was given the notice, it dawned on him that the managers were pick- ing on him. There was a tilt and Nugent said he would give his two weeks' notice If that was satisfac- tory. Miss Klrkpatrlck said It was. Nugent prepared to go to Boston, the next stand, and did so. He had been Informed he would be replaced immediately and learned Miss Kerby was going Into his part, that of a colored attendant at a road house. Nugent thereupon demanded the conditions of his contract be fulfilled, Miss Klrkpatrick counter- ing by claiming Nugent had given verbal notice of quitting. It was reported this week that the show was to become co-opera- tive, although no notice to that ef- fect was registered with Equity. Try L. A. Sunday Recitals Ias Anceles, March 15. The Hollywood Play House will try out a plan of Sunday afternoon concert attractions starting March 20 with Kulh Draper. The success of several special matinees has s' * ngthened the opinion that Hol- lywood Is a good afternoon recital