Variety (Nov 1927)

VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, November 2, 1927 INSIDE STUFF ON LEGIT The Shubert prewi department went further than it hM ever been known to go in :ittempting to modify a r«^cont newspaper criticism. It pertained to "The Love Call," which the Shu»>erts opened at the Majestic laat week. The notice in question concluded the first paragraph with tlM opinion that the show waa "pretty terrible.** After the first edition of the aft<rnoon p;i[»or carrying the review reached the street. C. P. Greneker telephoned the managing editor maJc- iny a Strong protest. The press agent did noft atop there, howavar, but to rapoHad t« h*va aaked tha editor to delete the opening paragraph from the later editions. This was rofuncd. The critic was informed of the Greneker demand by thC managing editor, but without instruction of any kind. Thto managing editor Is not alone in backing up his critic. On the night of the premiere, which cont luded at 11:20, the reviewer on a leading morning paper walked out 15 minutes before the final curtaia There la a definite deadline for revlewa and it to uaual for crltlea on morning dailies to skip any time after 11 o'clock. While writing hia notice the critic looked up and saw Greneker in the city room. The critic merely mentioned to the editor that he had left before the show On the opening night of "The Mulberry iBush," at the Republic, a colored lad held a tray of cigarettes In one bfiuid and a lighter in the otjhar. The smokes were gratis. jnPee cigarettes at intermissions has been a Theatre Guild stunt for years, without cost to the Guild as the weeds are cotitrlbuted by Dun- hill's who receive program credit in exchange. The Guild prints its own program. Tlia New York Theatre Program© Co., which supplies most houses, has refused to print the DunhlU credit, because of tobacco advertising. That explains why free cigarettes are not In other Broadway houses. •The Stairs," scheduled to open at the 49th Street next week, has had the booking switched to the Bijou because the stage of the first named house is built over solid rock. The action of the play requires t^ ptosMM to Mdeni Atotrt from botow stage level and it was found thf 49th Street could not be used unless extensive blasting olJcrations were undertaken. Another show, at the house last season, fUao required a stage trap door. It opened regardleaa luid floppo^ 'Immoral IMtbelto,^ wHtok oftMl 14 il^ WUm Mai^ to tlto.Rltg.. \ ^ «ViOoka like iSd MttrgoIiM hma a itio« littto tiMNitr* mi hto liaiida. It to the Mayfair, a 299 seater on 44th street just east of Broadway. The house operated last season but failure to comply with the build- ing rules as to exits caused a revocation of license. The builder has bMB ttnabto tor^fltura out a "Wmw- to 4at« to oattofr tHo avtHoVtltoi. Brilidi ReU (Contbiuad from pae* If) satory of $17,500 a ploturo and 10 percent of the groM! Speaking Generally Producers Distributing Company is still held up on "King of Kings." Only way It can bo handlod bore to to forgot about the censor and hire a big theatre for It But everywhere in London is doing such good buslnooo or waste lO much rent, P. D. C. can't And a iMto to houM tbo )>f M^ii* ftMai ^* Jack Buchanan camo Vaok from Nice, France, thto week, to atart In on his winter stage season. His stuff in "Confetti" has all been shot, and tho oompany to ochedulod to come homo end of next week with tho pietnre finished. CRinCAL BOX SCORE (Coatiii«oA firom page l> The British film "Nelson" la in the Stoll on Kingawajr thto wook, and In Joe Schenck'a apartment at the Savoy there's hanging a copy of the Romney portrait of tt&dy Hamilton. That's a Jiubtto soifM^ oiiiilagCrom Joe Juat Manchester Branch of the Exhibi- tors' Aasoctotlon has announeod theatre men are going Into distribu- tion to fight producer-distributor- exhibitor combines If la^er do not keep out Of' tho theatre field. It Is not only or mainly Famous operat- ing this way. The Gaumont-Brltish group is in deep all ends; Wardour Company, tted up with production through British International, has large theatre interests \t\ tho C. D. circuit, and Universal has one or 'two' hoitoMk'. Dramatization of a timely news event, and of particular Interest to tl\e Jewish ghetto, Is doing great trado for the Llpsin Variety theatre oYi the Bowery and Stanton street wheiBjl " W l i ittab agye WiJf* to ono of the dramatic highlights on the bilL Nina and Jacob Shakowits have tho Lipzin theatre under lease and featuro thoinoelveg tm 4ito Mwatio eiiMate tatoolp irlktoii. 4eato with Solomon Schwartxbard. Uiin mo^^ Petiura* Ruapian* doehrgo Iff; Cbhaa to having the tloM of hto life playing in "1%o Merry Malones" at the new Erlanger. One evening it was wai*m in the theatre. During dialog between Robinson Newbold and Cohan, Newbold as the billionaire tn the play was boasting of hia Ittfliieiieo and powers CeMhn remarked that If ho (Newbold) had such power maybe nso h^ taflVOBoe With Mr. Brtottger and have him turn off the heat, . Tho Actors' Theatre booked •'John" at the Klaw through Richard Herndon, who took over the house under lease la.st spring. Several days after the contract was signed the Actors Theatre was informed that tho Ktow haa been tnriMid eiver t^ tho^i^ It is understood the eiuito oflloe ii^ don. A new producing firm* Which bao been under a oorpMtloil title, is now using individnnl names in presentations. Those concerned are E. L. Barbour, Charles Conrad and Lester Bryant, tlie latter formerly of Chi- cago. All three names were used in offering "The Arabian** Monday ntoht at the Eltlnge. Tlieir previous try there, "Tenth Avenue," was presented by the Lexington Productions, Inc., in which the same trio Is Interested. Among the first nighters these days are the radio broadcasting "re- viewers." Only two or three nre tlms privileged like the WMCA and tlie Wh^AF stage commentators whose opinions are honest and not gov- erned by the adverttotaf phm* which the tooner etatloM «e Ift fov ai a commercial propOettleik "A Woman on Trial," featuring I*ola Negri, was produced ou the stage under tho Utto of *'Tho Morotoad Caee** by Irma de Kacsor^ It flopped out of town and never cam© to New York. This was Ernest Vajd.a's (UungoiMan author) first play to be produced in America. The Moreland Caae,** under the title of "The Wife Trap," achieved great Co"ntinental success. J V a m a h illed him se lf only as the^ trfineiatef, at the tteie, gtirfny- a fictitious name, Sidney Carrlck, as the American author. For the American production rights to "The Wife Trap." under the tlUo of "A "Woman on Trial," Vadja asked 150,000. It is understood Paramouht paid 118,000 tor tho picture 1st NatM's Statomem Bruce Johnson, foreign manager. First National, breaks through the agitation WHh a athtomenl First National "has always observed the very definite policy that it would be a very grave mistake for it to attempt to purdiaao the atr ea la the United Kingdom and has always maintained that such a policy was politically wrong." Which, though It to not intended, appihw tji mean the policy F. N. haa ofeoereod to politically wrongs Anyhow— He continuea, *^lth the full real- ization that the policy of purchas- ing theatres would be erroneous, and having due regard to the feel- ings of the British industry In this respect. First National has not only never attempted to purchase con- trol of ahy drottlta In the Ifnited Kingdom, but in addition has no such present policy or Intention." All of which is very consoling. Johhaon goea on to atato plans fbr production of British films, first news of which was given in Va- riety five weeks ago, and tells how these will be distributed throughout the world. This kind of policy, put Into practice as It is be<ng by F. N. (Orahahi Cutto'is already well into F. N.s British film, "Confetti"), does 100 per cent more to safeguard American film trade interests here than all the poet-luiich blah And babMtiv' la llM wor^ Ifoii'Thealrteaf rieM Movoi ajpo afoot all rouild to >ut movies Into schools here, a teaching method till now frowned on by the Education authorities, save In Bir- mingham. Tills month the London County Council loans Kingsway Hall to Brttiih Inatruet lo na l Film Company to thoto doeka thto fan after the othera. Wlnchell ("Graphic"), who fin- ished second in the final score last June, steps out as tho leader with not a miss In if chaaooa. It aaoaaa that Wlnchell never failed to peg the "bad boys" while always turn- ing in an opinion on the IS shows ho ofltotolly wltneosed. A, clean percentage of .1000 in the box score has been rare although at this time a year ago Atmmond was out front with a llko record on a basto of nlno shows. Dale ("American") has guessed wrong but twice out of 16 chances and la In lecond place at .871. Thto Is believed to be Dale's first score in which he has had not one "no opinion marked against him. It will be recalled that of the 11 ^tics listed the majority have evolved the reputation for Invariably giving a decision one way or the other. This explains WooUoott trailing the field at .444 because of having de- clined to rate four shows as either good or bad out of the nine of his leyto w a coMldered la ^ito taMi^ Qabrtol in Third Plaoo Just ahead of Woollcott is Os- born ("Evening World") who gets an even split at .500 on seven "righto*' out of 14. Osbom and Anderson ("Post") eacli have five "wrongs" at this time, Anderson being just 100 points above Osborn. in between is Mantle ("Newa*') who has the hlgheelauphor of'^WM six, for .571. Gabrtol ("Sun"), winner of the box aooffo for the paat two years. is in third place at .786 closely pur- sued by Coleman ("Mirror") and Hammond who are tied at .777. NoHhof ffimmend or Coleman have failed to give an opinion, as is true of Gabriel, the former two- some having duplicate scores. Vroeliikd to Ih eixth ptoco at .700 followed by Atkinson ("Times") who is but eight points back with .692. Dale, as usual, is the most jMl^o roviewor ha^rteit aM l» and Wftilijen on 10 shows. Variety aiMl Sidolights Variety's own score registers at 862, only good enough for third A large police dog owned by Billie Hurke, wife of Florenz Ziegfeld, hroko from its leiuh and mussle and pounced upon a small Pomeranian •on the beach in front of the Hiti-Corltoh at Atlantic City and broke the "I'om's" Lack. The crime became known In the West Sldo Municipal Court when judgment was ordered against the actre.^s for $h7.50. Tho *'90fll** WtM owned by Arthur Kttlnger. The latter brought action when he |i|ia|lfl#d tliat he had spent various sums of money, totaling 187.50. This covered an X-ray examination and various taxicab trips to and from Ventnor. The plaintiff also said that Miss Burke promised to pay whatever the expenses were, but later ignored his bill. Miss Burke did n^t appear la co'urt Aomehow all colored troupes have had a mania for the mldhlght show and have just abtfut played it off tho boards as far as Negro com- panies playing In New York's downtown theatres are concerned. The midnight show gag lost its novelty long ago. Ono off tho main reasono for the original start of colored midnight shows was the play they got fro'm white T>rofc.s.slonals. I'p in the Har- lem midnight shows more or less are still attractive, although not the tumaways the theatres desire. It appears that the Negro patrons be- ttove a midnight show would bo different from the usual performance and that there might be added acto by celobs thrown In. But i\ remalna tho eamo old bunk. When tho defunct "Footlights" played the Lyric lecently, most of the alendor takings came from Joe Lcl.lang's cut rate agency. U\it for the flrat tlmo alnco Loblang started opcr itlnrr. patrons denuinded their money (Continued on page 54) every second Saturday till March for a show of educational movies specially tied up with organized parties of Children from tho Iibndon elementary schools. Much of this is the outcome of the general attitude of exhibitors, who refuse td OAtor to tho kids, and shy at showing "interest" shorts on the ground they are "edu- cationaL" Equally they object to the use of fllma in schools, alleging it cuts away some of their business. But they can't have it both -ways, and so tho non-theatrical field now starts to show signs of blrt^ this side. Kinematograph i;ienters Society (Distributors Association) is send- ing a deputation to Sir Phillip Cun- liffe-Uster objecting, amongst other things, to the ro-lntroduction of the (lualificatlott "British controlled" for pro dH C ing ee mpa niew under the Film Uill. More and more the bill is be- coming ' politics.** Two films pre-Tlewod this week show further development In pro- duction here along promising lines. "Somehow Good," from the William de Morgan novel, with Fay Comp- ton and a likely young plrl, Doroths Boyd, Is a well directed picture, and plaoo If rated amongst tho news* paper men. However, that's 170 points better than this paper's start i last year when the boys muffed j soTflti out of tho first 11 plays to open. Variety Ls currently four up ' on that start with four "wrongs" • out of the complete list of 20 caught.** No individuals are listed because but ono reviewer has judged more than five shows that have closed to date. In the matter of "no opinions'* tho 11 critics of the dallies total eight, an increase of two over a year ago at thla date* The inde- cisive octette Is split between four men, the remaining seven scribes going clear on thia count. A sidelight on thia fairo review* Ing is that the critics are Jamming ^' what they think of the shows into their first writings, leaving tiie thoughts on technique^ construc- tion, dramatic signiflcance. etc., to ' the Sunday editions where they have .more space and, perhaps, ' llesuro. Thia is a more prominent factor than in former years. It is s an undoubted advantage to the reading public, and unquestionably to this department which has to - keep tabs on what Is meeting with the approval or disapproval of the various dramatic desks. * Another habit the daily men have seemingly picked up Is the tend- ency to sacrifice everytiung for a smart "crack.** Some are even Brit- ish In their fondneea for puns, it ' sometimes happening that these puns appear In several different re- views. As concema tho box score tho legitimate season came In with "Tenth Avenue" which premier^ Aug. 15. It marks tho beginning of the fifth year Variety has kept a box score on the New York dramatic critics, a series of sea- sons that In oold figures has shown that two-thirds of the playa fail yearly. As before, little theatre presenta- tkMMb special matinee shows and revivals are not included in the list of p^ays upon which the box score is based. Variety Is also keep- ing a box score on the film critics ;-. which, of course, haa nothing to do with this table. "The King's Highway," with Mathe- son Lang as a highwaymiui (eoa- tume stuff, of course) shows how very far production has traveled here since this actor made "Dick Turpin^*^ . After solron weeks' run at the Marble Arch, "The liattlo of the Somme" is replaced next week by Produced by British Internation- al. Original story by "Sapper." Directed by Arthur Maude. Pre- view, Astoria Theatre, Oct. 14. Running time, 100 minutes. Not a super, but a mighty good program picture. Arthur Maude cornea horo with American experi- ence, and It Is vi.siblo In hie first production this side. As showing the progress being made technically hero, Uie film Is interesting, and makes up in direc- tion, photography and settings What It lacks in story and casting. With the execution of Jameson Thomas, who plays the self-sacri- ficing heavy, tlie casting and act- iAff arO' mediocre.' "' - story is of a remittance man in .South Africa, drinking himself to death. Fails in love and starts to reform; finds the girl loves some- one else and is only sorry for him. The war (yes, again!) gives him his opportunity to save the girl's lover and sacrifice himself. Central role is finely played by .lanK'son Tlionias, wlio promises to bo as good a character actor as we've got. Malcolm Tod as the .«?aved lover is lumpy, and Henry Vibart as the remittance man's titled father looks like a cross be- tween a butler and a bishop. Eve Crey. the girl, pets by, but doesn't register like a world-beater. The film had a big receptloh here, both at the pre-vlew and from the press, and will book well. acting, scenarios, camera work and sots in future talks. The difference between being well connected and not apparently is, you get on the air if you are and yen got the air if you aren*t. So They Say Hannen Swaftcr addresses the Bumpers (British version of tho Ampas) next Wednesday. Bound to be an I-hat affair. **Chang** is being held in the Plasa for tho fourth week, taking an average of $4,800 a day. That's without looking at the box office re- ceifpta through the Magnascope, too* Board of Control of Lunacy Is ar- guing whether films or canaries provide most entertainment for In- nxates of tho psychopath. 'Bout tlnia^e board got tho bird. Frank Dltcham, for some tlmo sales manager for European Films (Univer.sal's British office), has been put on the board of the com- pany. F. B. O. of tills country (no con- nection with Am. FBO) is to mako its'second home production in con* junction with .Joe Brandt, of Co- lumbia. May be called "The I'rof- ligate" and star Owen Nares. F. B. O. releases Columbia product here. Anthony A.squftli, son of former Prime Minister Lord Oxford (Mar- got Asciuith's his mother), has been in the movie business quite a year, if not more. He is therefore broad- casting a series of six lectures on LLC, telling tho world all about "The Art of the Cinema." Ho will Tom Terr las is coming home to direct two eariy next year for a distributing company taking its first tlior into production on account of the Quota. Rex Ingram is reported coming here to direct for Briti.sh Interna- tional. Lord Beaverbrook tried to get him to make a film here nearly two years ago when the '•p:xprcs3" made a stunt of voting JJOO.OoO for the making of a real British film which never came through. Ingram was cre<lited with refusing to work - here on the ground he was an Irish- man. Nelson Lee's Monthly Nelson Lee, who writes vaudeville material, is to get out a humorous monthly. He will call it "Lee's 1.auRhology,** with a play made f deal with directors and their work,' the profession.