Variety (Mar 1927)

Wednesday, March 16, 1927 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 41 ONE-WEEK RUNS GROW COMMON AMONG MANY FLOPS ON B'WAY More Dark Houses in Times Square Just Now Than Ever Before at This Season—Only 3 Legit Suc- cesses of New Ones Since Jan. 1 Little change in the number of dark theatres on Broadway, unprec- edented at this time of the year. Bouse managers have been combing the field for fresh attractions, but so far as likely successes are con- cerned the generai result la ex- pressed in the terms, "There just ain't." A glance ever the new produc- tions which have been offered since the first of the year shows that the crop of new plays has been ex- tremely poor. Only three in the en- tire lot got across, the others having gone by the boards for the most part. Recent entries are so bad that the production situation is "shot." Last week saw two new shows, which were yanked off after a sin- gle week. Houses appear willing to gamble in terms with new shows, but prefer to remain dark rather than book those which have no chance. 'Thou Desperate Pilot" opened Monday at the Bijou and closed there Saturday last. "The Heaven Tappers" started Tuesday at the Forrest, stopping after last Mon- day's performance, played because of a benefit. "Earth," at the 62nd Street, Is part of a repertory, with no more chance than a snowball. Next week's premiere card lists a group of attractions expected to register. Le Maire's "Affairs" will open the new Majestic; "Lucky" will succeed "Trelawney of the Wells" at the New Amsterdam; "The Spider" will follow "I Told Tou So" at Chanin's 46th Street; "The Cardboard Lover" (Jeanne Bagels) will come into th Empire; "The Crown Prince" will relight the Fonvst, and "Savages Under the Skin" will supplant "Lally" at the Greenwich Village. Reasons Only a handful of shows were able to hold to capacity trade last week. Business is away on*. Whether it be Lent, the weather or Income taxes is a matter of opin- ion. Usually after March 15, the federal tax payment date, Broad- Way perks up. But the New York state tax, dated for April 15 exacts almost as much from the populace as does Washington and that is to be considered as more pertinent to the box offices as Lent, which started late this year. "Rio Rita," with the front bal- cony seats lofted, went to $47,000 which is a new figure for the Zleg- feld, and the attendance last week continued at capacity; "Scandals" and "Oh, Kay," rode along bunched in second place at around (38,000 or less, neither being capacity early in the week; "The Desert Song" 1b a strong fourth at $30,000, with "Yours Truly," $28,000, "Gay Paree." "Honeyoon Lane" and "Crlss Cross" next, around $25,000; "The Ram- blers," $22,000; "Queen High," $17,- 000 and the same for "Peggy Ann;" "Maritza" slipped to $15,000, with "The Nightingale" estimated no higher; "Twinkle, Twinkle," about the same with "Vanities" slightly more; "Pirates of Penzance,' "Judy" and "Bye, Bye, Bonnie,' rated $10,000 to $11,000. Broadway at $3.85 The scale for "Broadway" went back to the original $3.85 top, giving it a gross of $26,000 to $27,000 for the last two weeks; "The Constant Wife," $19,000, and "The Play's the Thing," credited with $18,000; "The Road to Rome" stands high among the non-musicals and continues to capacity; "Crime," one of the few shows to jump, bettered $16,500 and Is in; "Saturday's Children." vir- tual capacity and close to $13,000; same figure for "Chicago;" "Pyg- malion" and "Ned McCobb's Daugh- ter," $12,000; "The Barker" slightly more than that; "Constant Nymph," $11,000; "Fog" betters $10,000 con- sistently and to profit; "Wooden Kimona," $9,500; "Tommy," the same; "The Squall," about $10,000; •'.'• "m^Nrtoso'-and-AmBrtean 4 SHOWS OUT "Sex," maybe the same; "Money From Home," not over $7,000; "What Anne Brought Home," $4,- 000; "Thou Desperate Pilot," and "Heaven Tappers" didn't get that much. In addition to the plays men- tioned as leaving are "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" leaves the Times Square, "Crime" moving over from the Eltinge, dark for a few weeks, and "Lulu Belle" closes at the Be- lasco which also will be dark for a time; "Set a' Thief," now at the Empire, will move to the Lyceum. Only One Small Buy But one new buy added to the list in the agencies this week. As one of the older ones ran out it kept the same total as last week, when there were 19 shows in the hands of the brokers. The new buy is for 120 seats a night for "Menace," at the 49th Street. The complete list contains White's "Scandals" (Apollo), "Lulu Belle" (Belasco), "Barker" (Biltmore), "Saturday's Children" (Booth), "Broadway" (Broadhurst), "Desert Song" (Casino), "Crime" (Eltinge), "Menace" (49th St.), "Money From Home" (Fulton), "Criss-Cross" (Globe) "Play's the Thing" (Miller), "Oh Kay" (Imperial), "Honeymoon Lane" (Knickerbocker), "Ramblers" (Lyric), "Constant Wife" (Elliott), "Chicago" (Music Box), "Trelawny of Wells" (Amsterdam), "Road to Rome" (Playhouse), "Yours Truly" (Shubert) and "Rio Rita" (Zieg- feld). In the cut rates there are 31 at- tractions listed as bargains, includ- ing Repertoire (Am. Laboratory), "Wooden Kimono" (Beck), "Lulu Belle" (Belasco), "Vanities" (Car roll), "Scarlet Lily" (Comedy) "Con stant Nymph" (Cort), "Bye Bye Bonnie" (Cosmopolitan), "Sex' (Daly's), "New Yorkers" (Totten) "Set a Thief (Empire), "Heaven Tappers" (Forrest), "I Told You So" (46th St.), "The Squall" (48th St.), "Night Hawk" (Frolic), "Money from Home" (Fulton), "Tommy (Gaiety), "Brothers Karamarov" (Guild), "Noose" (Hudson), "Night- ingale" (Jolson), "Sinner" (Klaw), "Twinkle Twinkle" (Liberty), "Two Girls Wanted" (Little), "American Tragedy" (Longacre), "Granite" (Mayfair), "Fog" (National), "Vir- gin Man" (Princess), "Judy" (Roy- ale), "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (Times Sq.), "Ladder" (Waldorf), "What Anne Brought Home" (Wal- laces) and "Gay Paree" (Winter Garden). Four shows will leave Broadway at the end of the week. In addi- tion one attraction closed Monday, playing only a week, while another was withdrawn Saturday with a similar record. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," at the Times Square by Edgar Selwyn, goes to the subway circuit after playing 25 weeks. Although it made a good and profitable run, the en- gagement was expected to last un- til summer. During the first months the takings were from $22,000 to $24,000. After the first of the year trade tapered off considerably un- til hitting around $15,000. "GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES Opened Sept. 27. Bouquets for June Walker, the play and the producer. Variety (Ibee) said: '"As a money-maker, 'Gentlemen Pre- fer Blondes' is a pushover." "Vanities" 20% Cot Keeps Show Going A notice of closing "Vanities," at the Earl Carroll, Monday of last week was withdrawn the next day after the cast agreed to take a 20 per cent salary cut. It was first reported the notice was in connection with Carroll's conviction of a year and a day at Atlanta, which rests upon appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court. A de- cision Is shortly expected. In taking the cut, it was agreed to continue "Vanities" another six weeks. The petition of Earl Carroll for a review of the decision sentencing him to Atlanta was formally pre- sented to the U. S. Supreme Court yesterday (Monday). Though the document, as well as that opposing the Carroll petition, have both been filed with the clerk, the action yesterday was the first to actually bring it up for consid- eration. With the court advancing all criminal cases, it is confldcntally believed here that the producer will know his fate on the coming Mon- day, upon which day it is the cus- tom of the highest tribunal to hand down its answers to such petitions. LONG BEACH'S TABS Long Beach, Cal., March 15. Hoyt's, formerly housing dra- matic stock, goes over to musical tabs this week. "Sputters" is the Initial offering. Principals Include John Smythe, Ruth King, Callahan and Sheehan, Trojan Five and Doris Woods. Sixteen girs figure in the chorus. The new policy calls for a weekly FOUR LOOP OPENINGS SUNDAY SLOWED UP TRADE FOR HITS "Cradle Snatchers" and "Shanghai Gesture" Feel Effect of Newcomers—"Yvette" Leaves and "One on Final Week—Lent Is Hurting "Lu'u Belle," presented by Da vid Belasco at the Belasco, will terminate a run of 63 weeks. It was the dramatic smash of last season, holding over through the summer and this season. It con- sistently bettered $21,000 for a long stretch and during fall picked up to tidy weekly figures. Lately the grosses nave been around $12,000 and not strong enough for the over- head. The show will not tour until next fail, most likely opening in Chicago Labor Day. "LULU BELLE" Opened Feb. 9, 1926. Enthusiastic reception from all except Vraeland (Tele- gram), who considered it be- low Belasco production stand- ards. Variety (Sime) said: "Mr. Belasco can count his net profit according to the scale for tw< "I Told You So," presented by William B. Frledlander, will close at Chanin's 46th Street Saturday, after. 10 weeks. It opened under the title of "Piggy" at the Royale, with the pace from $12,000 to $14,000, mediocre money for a show priced at $5.60. Scale was lowered and the show moved, cut rate guar- antees sending It to as high as $20,- 000 a d back to $16,000. "I TOLD YOU SO" (Pi9»y) Opened Jan. 12. Sam Bernard universally approved. Opinions on production as a whole di- vided. Variety (Ibee) said: "Won't get real money." "Trelawny of the Wells," all-star revival by George Tyler at the New Amsterdam, goes to the road after seven weeks. It opened to around $30,000 but eased off to about $20,- 000 last week. "TRELAWNY OF THE WELLS" (Revival) Opened Jan. 31. Glad hand unreservedly extended to John Drew and an all star cast. Production liked. Variety (Ibee) said: "De- serves support for four or six weeks it expects to stay. Un- likely to remain longer." "The Heaven Tappers," presented by Lee Shubert In association with Edwin Carewe, was taken off at the Forrest after Monday's night per- formance. Just one week. It was hopeless. "Thou Desperate Pilot," present- ed at the Morosco by Rachel Crothers and Mary Kirkpatrick, was taken off Saturday after one week. Prof. Phelps May Be New Haven's Play Censor New Haven, March 15. Civil and church societies here who do not want to see this city become a dumping (round for dirt plays are eonsldorlag offering Prof. William L. rtietpfl, of Tale, the post of picking frem the material. Intention la to safeguard the moral heattm «f the vowing boys Chicago, March 15. Four openings Sunday, two musi- cals, and two non-musicals, slowed up the paca-makers of the town, with none of the new shows draw- ing the grosses hoped for. "New York Exchange," plugged hard for the sensational trade, went strong at curtain time, again prov- ing the Olympic is a good late sale house, particularly for Sunday. 'The Donovan Affair," advertised as a mystery play, figured third in the gross figures of the new openings with much in doubt for its future in this town, which has turned a back to mystery plays. "Lucky Sambo" drew its own clientele at the LaSalle, but It was a surprise gross since the advance sale was remarkably light. Both "Cradle Snatchers" and "The Shanghai Gesture" went off to the lightest Sunday gross of their re- spective whole and sensational non- musical engagements. "Snatchers" went about $200 better than "Ges- ture," and in the last three weeks the former has kept ahead of the latter even on the week's gross about this same distance. The Adel- phl attraction continues to show tendencies to fall faster than the Harris record breaker. "One Man's Woman" la on its farewell week at the Central, and here's where a pile of money has been stored away for a profit. "Night-Hawk" is blocking an early departure via means of cut- rate books, but this doesn't mean much money for a house like the Blackstone. "Ned McCobb's Daugh- ter" Is having a lot of financial wor- ries at the Princess, but it gets an- other fortnight. It's not in the cards for profitable money for "Daughter," despite the high calibre of the attraction. "Oh, Pleaso" Is going to take ad- vantage of valuable plugging by at least one of the critics, and the en- gagement at the Erlanger will con- tinue. About $20,000 gross Is the encucragement for the prolonging of this engagement. There Isn't any doubt but what the Lenten season has hit the whole town with a sharp thud, as evi- denced by the drop in grosses for shows like "Shanghai Gesture" and "Cradle Snatchers." If the top- notehers have slipped from $4,000 to $6,000 since the start of Lent, the varied drops of the moderate gross nullers can be estimated accord- ingly. Estimates for Last Week "The Donovan Affair" (Selwyn, 1st week). Surprise gross opening around $2,000 in face of other open- ings but not counted to pick reg- ular coin. "Craig's Wife" finished about $13,000 gross, five weeks of profitable trade. "Katja" (Garrlck, 1st week). Fig- ured about $2,000 gross opening. Will stick at this house Instead of planned move to Four Cohans, now to be occupied by Helen Hayes' play. "New York Exchange" (Olympic, 1st week). Drew curious and prob- ably grossed $2,300 Sunday opening but talent says It will have to struggle hard for moderate money. "We Americans" missed $9,000 gross for exit week. "Lucky Sambo" (LaSalle. lBt week). Looked like capacity lower floor with about two rows empty In balcony for Sunday opening, sprinkling of paper. Figures $10,000 gross. "Ned McCobb's Daughter" (Prin- cess. 4th week). Announced to go out but sticks for another fortnight, with rumors that some sort of guar- antee holds it in. Doesn't approach profitable money in sales thus far. Around $5,000 last week. "A Night in Paris" (Apollo, 4th week). Drawing steady grosses of surprising proportions, with matinee pull still better than for any previ- ous revue at this house. "12 Miles Out" (Cort, 9th week). No substantial draw, yet clicks around $8,000 to $9,000 gross. O. K. both ends. "One Man's Woman" (Central, 22d and final week). Played out full string, gaining whale of profitable encasement by shrewd showman- ship. Down to $6,000, but profit still there. "Yes, Yes, Yvette" (16th and final week). $14,000. Inside plugging VITA, 3D W'K, $15,500, MET'S RECORD, WASH. Atwill Drew $7,000 on Own—« "Temptations'' Did $23,000 Wasnmgton, March 15. Funny week. Had most of them guessing. "Temptations," at Poll's, with the usual advance spread in publicity all stressing nudity brought a rather liberal opening response which skidded somewhat toward end of week. Made the grade to about $23,000 at $3 top. Roseray and Cappella, dancers, featurod with "Temptations," left Saturday and will sail for Franca this coming Saturday. Lionel Atwill In "The Adventurer," styled an imitation of "Road to Rome." brought $7,000 to the Belas- co. This rather good first week fig- ure Is credited to the star alone. Show got little from scribes. "Honeymooning on High" cam* Into the National from opening la Boston and got just about the usual for new ones at this house, an as- sured $6,000 to $7,000. Piece closed here for rewriting and rehearsals and is reported as opening en Broadway within week. (Copyright, 1927, by Variety, Inc.) 'Young Woodley' in Stock At $600, Unprofitable Minneapolis, March 16. Although the Metropolitan did well enough on a return engage- ment of "Bcn-Hur," business gen- erally Is much on the downgrade. "Ben-Hur" was back at the Met- ropolitan, where It did $42,000 «ur- ing its first two weeks' run. This time It pulled in close to $14,000. The Bafnbrldge Players (dramatic stock) put on "Young Woodley" at the Shubert within less than a month from the time that Glenn Hunter got $12,000 with the piece at the Metropolitan. The stock company's performance—and espe- cially John Dilson In the Glenn Hunter role—won high praise from the critics, but stock patrons did not take kindly to the play, which lacked sufficient action to suit them. At $600 a week royalty for the first stock production anywhere, the piece proved a poor investment, grossing only about $4,500. This week the Metropolitan has another road show picture. Fox's "What Price Glory," while Marie Gale la making her farewell ap- pearance of the season at the Shu- bert In "Rain," for which Burs Balnbridge says he Is paying the record sum of $1,100 In royalty. Business also has started skid- ding at the Palace, where the Mc- Call-Bridge Players (musical com- edy tab) have been recording consistently respectable grosses throughout the season. With • musical comedy version of "The Gold Diggers" they probably did not get more than $4,400. The Gayety (Mutual Wheel bur- lesque) is having a stretch of its poorest business In years. "The Tempters" grossed around $3,500. (Copyright. 1927. by Variety, Inc.) couldn't hold this one In. Tie-up with success of "No, No, Nanette," proved fiasco. Quick decision to exit with Helen Hayes starring play announced next. "Vagabond King" (Great North- ern, 38th week). Despite quoted figures of recent week avenge gross now holds between $19,000 and 120.- 060. Little rumbling of pYariT to ent gait phenomenal considering length of run. "Cradle Snatchers" (Harris, 12th week). In $18,000 gross class, which holds town record for non-musicals. Magnificent for any dramatic show here at end of 12th week. "Shanghai Gesture" (Adelphl, lt2h week). Slipped with alarming speed of late but still good for $16,000 or better, which is O. K.. but the punch sale Is gone. "Sweet Lady" (Illinois, 2d week). Needs much nursing to pick up reg- ular money but considerable heard a limit word-of-mouth plugging for dancing chorus, best chance attrac- tion has. Figured $14,000 gross. "Night Hawk" (liluckstone, 2d week). Avalanche of cut rates tossed Into discouraging situation midweek and started to show force week end. Cut rates, as used in this town, makes calculations of gro difficult. After opening night busi- ness extremely small, making gross of $8,000 fair. "Oh, Plesse" (Erlanger. 3d week). In two weeks grossed little better than $40,000, considered strong enough for engagement to be pro- longed w|fh extm neWsjmpet ad |flAi»fch*'rtrrt*"rnmii 1 ifr?ncd: 1 "