Variety (Feb 1928)

48 VARIETY LEG IT I M ATE Wednesday, February 22, 1028 SHOWS IN N. ¥. AND COMMENT Figures estimated and comment point to some attractions being successful; while the same gross accredited to others might suggest mediocrity or loss. The variance is explained in the difference in house capacities with the varying overhead. Also the size of cast, with eohsequent difference in necessary gross of profit,; Variance In business, necessary for musieat attraction as against dramatic play is also considered. Classification of attraction, house ipapacity and top price of the admission scale given beloW. Key to classification: C (comedy); D (drama); R (revue); M (musical comedy); F (farce);,0 (operetta). •A Connecticut Yankee," Vanderbljt (17th week) (M-882-$5.60). Holi- day matinee (Lincoln's Birthday) were fair, whllia business that nlerht away off and, last week not up to form; "Yankee" In nine pier- formances got over |25,000. "A Free Soul," Klaw (7th week) '(C-830-13.30). G«ttlrig $7,000 to 18,000; : wliile trade moderate show n6t expensive and profitable pace indicated.- "And So to Bed,** Bijou (17th week) (C-605-$3.30). Three mat- inees last week, sent takings to 19,000; very g-ood showing for play o£;typo. "Artists and Modelii,'' Winter Gar- den (t5th week) (R-l,492-$5.50). Shortly leaving and new "(Jreen- wlch Village Follies" In; current revue rated arpund $26,000 with cut rates aldiijff. "Atlas and Eva," Manflfleld (3d week) (CD-l,066-$3.30). Final w'eeK; shown very little; last week estimated at $3,000; house probably dark." "Behold the Bridegroom," Cort (9th week) (CD-1.043i$3;85). Will move to another house; started forlly well but dropped; better last week at $9,000; "The Wreckei-" next . ■ week. "Burlesque," Plymouth (2(lth week) <CD-l,041-$3,86). Sixth month comt>leted by big money maker and reason's first' hit;. nearly $19,000 In nine ^ows last week. "Cock Robin," 48th St (7th week) (CD-960-$3.30). Making money both wa,ys; Isist week quoted at 19,000; ndt exceptional but may Uist thorough spring. "Coquette," Maxlne Elliott's (16th week) (D-942-$3.85). One of sea< aon'9 outstanding dramas and ex- cellent money ' gettier; capacity again last week; with extra, mat- inee, gross $21,000. "Diversion," 49th St (7th week) (C- 704-$3.30). Management confident tit landing but apiteacs In and outer with most of call on lower -floot<; rated under $6,000. "Dracula^ Pulton (2l9t week) (D-. 9H'-$3i3e). .Eased ofE bit but did quite well at $11,600; no extra .matinee; thrlUer expected to stick well Into, spring. "Escape," Booth (18th week) (D- 704-r$3.30): Using donie cut ratto; last week about $9,600, profitable for show and house, iinder same management. "Eiccess Baggage,*^ Rttz (9th we.ek) (C-945-$8.30). Good agency call Indicates chance to go through balance of. season; novelty and liked. *Fiv« ©'Clock Girl" 44th St (20th week) (M-l,490-$5.50). Nine per- formances ' last week sent gross at-ound 140,000; ohe of leading musicals and good 'into etummer period.' "Funny Face," Alvin .(14th week) (M-l,400-$5.60), L^st week: with added performance, around $39, 000; .a smart draw. "Good News," Chanln's 4Bth St (2Bth week) (M-l,413-$B.5d). musical smash; indications are for year's ruii, perhaps' longer nine performances here last week $43,000. •*Happy,"mry's C3d St (lOthw Final w^ek; lightweight musical comedy llisted for tour; company on co-operative basis; "Still Shuf fllnV new, colored show, next "Hit the Deck," Belasco (44th week) ..y (M-l;00p-$6.60). . Final week; go- ing to road after excelli^nt run to big grosses; lately $21,000; "The Bachelor's Father", next week. "Interference,".Lyceum. (19th week) • (P - 957 -$4.40). Still commands . smart draw; trade principally on lower floor, but business proflt- , ablie; pace since moving from Empire, $12,000. "Jimmie's Women," Frolic (22d week) (C-C02-$3.30). Frankly cut rated, with grosses moderate but satisfactory; around $5,500. "Lovely Lady," Sam H. Harris (9th week) (M-l,051-$5.50). With Edna Leedom out of caist through ap- pendicitis, agency sales dropped, but house claimed" business as good; estimated at $20,000. "Manhattan Mary," Apollo (22d --=-week)—(M-l,168-$5.60)r--Held:-to: usual eight performances, playing matinde Monday ins^^ad of mid- week; estimated around $38,000, "Marco Millions," Guild (4th week) (C-914-$3.85). "The Doctor's Dil- emma" plnyed last week (11th week) with tnking.q eased oft like most others; $12,000. "Maya," Comedy (1st week) C-682- $3.30). Presented by Actor-Man- agers group; opened Tuesday, "My Maryland." Jolson's . (24th week) CO-1,777-$5.50). Two-for- one kept operetta from closing; cut rating Improvpd btJAlnr-sa al- most double; rated over $20,000. "Our Betters," Hehry Miller's (1st week) (C-946-$3.30). Revival pre- sented by Messmore Kendall and Gilbert Miller; Ina Cliire starred a,nd Constance ColUer featured; opened Monday. "Paris Bound," Music Box (9th week) (C-l,000-$3.85). Sella out with regularity and rated among smartest comedies of season;. with one extra matinee, $24,000 last . week; Porgy," Republic (20th week) (C- 896 - $3.30).. Nine performances last week, but gross not up to normal at $12,0Q0; however, col- ored cast drama novelty for Broadway; due for road. next month; Boston first Quicksand,'' Mas.que . (2d week> (GD-.70D^$3.30). Chances not good according to initial week's indica- • tions;..around $4,000 and ?nu.st; im^ 'f)rove' to stick. Rain or Shine," George M. Cohan (3d week) ' (M-l,lll-$5.50); NeW musical hit; first full week's tak- ings indicate smash,, gross .better- ing . $37,000, record;, tradiC for house. . ".Revels,'* Shubeirt (13th. weel^) (R- i;39I)-$4.'P). Another week; boolcetl for road; Broadway fehgagement heavy loss; though quoted some- what higher, average trade apound $15,000.; "Furies'^ to follow Mar. 5. Rio Rita," Lyric (56th week) . (M- l,395-$4.40).. Another thr.eQ weeks and tbtir; somewhat off but still profitable; $28,000; "Three Mus- keteers" booked to follow^ 'Rome," Biltmore (1st week) (C- l,000-$3.30). Presented by James W. Elliott; written by T. S. Strlb- llhg and David Wallace, based on former's , book. "Teeftailow"; opens tonight (Wednesday). .. "Rosalie," New Amsterdam (ith, week) (M-l,7()2-$6.'60). No extra, matinee' but business as strong as previous week, not far from $48,000.. . "Salvation," Empire C4th week) (D- 957-$3.85>. Final week; would have, expired before but .for agency buy; box pfftice sales small.*: 'house datk next week^ then •'Napdleon." "8h!; The Octopus;" Royal©: (1st week)' .(C-l.lt7-$3.30). ' Presented by Jack Welch; mystery play travesty; opened Tuesday. . "She's My Baby," Globe (8th week^ (M - l,4l6 - $5.60). .Another Week; ' gding "to Chi6ago; •' btislrtess ' claimed : iaround' $25,000, 'but not upv to expectations for- musical of kind. "Show Boat," Zlegfeld (9^ week) (M-l,760-$6.60). With .holiday matinee and mezzanine regularly priced at $6.50 nightly, musical leader got $57,748 list week; probably unprecedented In . legit grosses.. "Spring 3100," Little (2.d week) (D- 530-$3.3Qi). Some favorable notices on .mid-week premiere,, but bal- ance of comtnent against what Is really' travesty on crook . plaiys; bUsihesia light so , far. "Strange Interlude^'* John Golden (4th week) (D-900-$4.40). Start Ing at 6:30 daily and playing six perforpiances weekly because matinees cannot be played, one of Broadway's strangest offerings; capacity at over $11,000; grosses will be higher v^hen subscription • period-W. past. -L. . _ _ _ "Sunny Days," Imperial (3d week) . .(M-l,446-$5.50). Last.week first full week; new musical dt-awirig only comparatively fair business at $20,000 or bit over; capacity at scale over $37,000. "Take the Air,". Waldorf (14th week) (M-l,lll-$4.4p)i One of ■:. best liked of. popular mu,slc0j9; ; not exactly big, but business .con sVptcntly over $::0,000 and prbflt- able. "The. Clutch'ng ClaW," I^oirest (2d week) .(D-l,015-$3.30y. Started mildly; first week about $5,000; management hopeful, but must pick up considerably to make : grade, 'ITha Command to Love," Longacre ma week) (C-l,019-$4.40). Should . go well into spring; lower floor call from start, but still riiaklng some money; last week estimated . around $12,000. "The Golden Dawn," Hammorstein's (14th Wcpk) (O-l,265-$6,60), Defl-^ nite standing; ambltloug musical /pxpdjiptiiyo^ot^^e type: busi- ness eatimatPd afouhH"$2970Wla3l" week. "The Ladder."-Belmont (72d week) (D-517). Record oC this million- dollar flivver will prol)ably never oven b6 appronrhod; oil magnate disciple of re in carnation still givtatr tickotfl away froe, "The Madcap," Casino (4th week) (M-1.477-$4.40). Was moved . herc^ from Roy%Je Monday to keei> Casino lighted; show will be twd- . fot ortpd; only .slfpht business for mu.ii".il with avorape around SII.OOO. "The Merry Malones," Erlanger's (22d week) (M-l,600rl6.50). Not ajs: big as previously, but ap- paxiehtly bettering evoa bre^k, with ; .average .recent takings, $25,000. ' . ,. , "The Mystery ' Man," Bayes (6th week) (D-860-$3.30). With two- fdr-dnes'and oth6r sprtia of cut- rate distribution, getting by; ebstd little to operate; maybe $5,000.; "The Qptlmfsts," dentuir Boot (R- 42Z-$6;60). Tdken off Sfeturday aftef playing' but three weeks; revuie l;>atterned after London's . "Co-Optimists" could get little trade in roof house, called Casino do Paris. "The Queen's Husband," Playhouse (5th week) (C-879-$3.85). Satire expected to attract more atten- tion than It has; business be- tween $9,000 and $10,000; indi- cates moderate rating. - "The Racket," Ambassador (14th week) (C-l,067-$3.30). Another w6ek according to present planis; show due to open on-tour March 6; moderate money show; claimed over $10,000 average; less rie-r cently. "The Royal Family," Selwyn (9th week) (C-l,067-$3#86). Leader non-musical group; biggest gross to datei gotten last week, w.hen takings went to $27,000; nine per- formances. "The Shannons of Broadway," Mar- tin Beck (22d week) (C-1,198- $3.30). ' May go on tour with ar- : rival ;0.f spring, bi)t, hu made money both .ways, at,average of $10,000 and over. .. "The Silent House," Morosco (3d week), (D-893-$3.30). New mys- tery thriller appears to be In big . money;.'last week's .pace.'esti- mated :&t,"nearly $21,000.-. . : • "The Trial of Mary Dugaii,'' Na- tional (23d week) (D-l,164^||3.86). Stin favorite as melodrama; '; plenty of class patrons; with ex- '■ tra matln'eo last week bettered • $23;00();|- ■ ' . /:\ ■ "These Modern Women," Eltlnge (2d week) (C-892-$3.30). Status yet in doubt, but smart pl^y should build to profitable propor- tions; last week, first full week, around $,7,000. "Whispering Friends," Hudson (1st week) (C-l,094-$3.80). .Presented by :Oeorge M. Cohan,' irho ■ also A^rote it;-highly regarded in dose, by try-out dates; opened Mon- day. Outside Times Sq.—Littl»—Bpeeiai Sir Harry Lauder, .Knickerbocker (4 th week). Attendance con- sistently'good and date Indeftnitte,. "The Merchant of Vanlca," Broad- hurst' (6.th week). Another at- traction 'being: readied,' "Heria'p ' How," and will be Spotted here.'. "The ..Shanghai Gesture,** Century (2d week) (repeat data).. Four weeks booked. < "The Tamihg of the Shrvw,** Gfilr- rick (18th week). Extra maitlnee this , week; but a new'show .being prepared: ' '■ "The Passing of 'the ,thirtf Flpcir Back," revived at DQ,venfK>r:fc,. moved to Wallack'a Monday; rental 'arrangement. Civic Repertory, 14th Street Rep- ertory. American Repertory Theatra Rep-, ertory. "Dr. Knock" opens ■ Thursday (Feb. 23). "Hbboken Blues," New Play- wrights. Drew solid panning from critics. "Hot Pan," Provinceto-wrn. Opened last week, too^ with about same oTitical reaction. "Meek Mose," Princess, Colored cast show. "Parisiana," Edyth Totten. Inti- mate revue appears to have little chance. "The Ivory Door, Chietrles Hopkins. Cut-rated, but getting enough to ~ show B 'profitr ■ -^^..^ - -.-.^ "10 Nights in a Barroom," Triangle. "Sherlock Holmes," stock; Cosnio- poUtan. THM CAFE PADLOCKS HELP cm LEGITS: "VANmES" ^'Gobd News'' Opens Big—^Non-musicals Having Tough Time Reaching $10»00O^But Not "Con- stant Wife" and ''Cardboard Lover/' $20,500 and $17,000 "B'wayy" 2d Wk, Wash.; "Musketeers- Is Opening Washington, Feb,. 2i. . '■Broadway," at the B6la«co, on a second week equaled'the gross, of its first, close to' $11,000.. National closed, and Poll's held local opera. National went dark through can- cellation of Ziegfeld'a "Follies." Opening of "Three Musketeers" was moved back until tonight (Tues- day). Poll's is continuing for another week with the Washington Grand Opera Co., Edouard Albion, director general. $9,000 REPEAT ADVANCE ""'"^^"""^"^ ^^Mofitf6ffl7 Febr ?lr^^ Pt-lrtcess is the only local legit house playing. His Majesty's being dark for two successive weeks other than for a three-day college per- formance. "My Maryland" is estimated at around $26,000 at th$ Princess last week and advance bookings for "The Desert Song," returning for the sec- ond tln;ie in five weeks, total $9,06p. This sponsors hope for a big week tor the Schwab-Mandel operetta, If Lent doesn't dent everything Chicago, Feb. 21. Legit managers see hope in pub- licity about pc^dlocking. town's night eipbs. .At least they picked the ]|>adlQCklng as .the reason for .slight increases in wliidow sales , near cur- tain time. The night clbbs aire open for business but ghastly were the num- ber Of customers chiecked . and the logit managers, claim the folks have to go: somewhere, for entertainment. Ho .other reason ..for ^the Imjprove- mehjt unless It .vifias'a last n^niite rush before, Leht. . '. Musical tophotbhers 'are drawing real coin despite the competition.' VPeggy-Aain*' fell by the wayside but otherwise 'the< cluster of musi- cals are stepping along. • With VCriss-Crosq" extending its limited, en^ageorient thrbugh a real dem,ahd and With "'Vanities". ex- ceteidln'g ' previous business, observ- ers claiih the competitive musicals have helped ra-ther thart proved the town Is over .flooded.' "A Night in Spain'* ,1a mopping up, At the Four CohaQS. ."The Desert Song" will broba.bly go., for., another inonth to grab the' endurance record this sea- son in Chicago. ' ' <'Hit the Deck" will have to be called a Chicago disappointment jbecause it never got set right and probably would have gone-out-be- fore except lor the ngrosses drawn through the holiday season. The grief the owners of "Just Fancy'' shouldered in New York is being forgotten with the profitable experiences at the Olympic. "Good News" will cut . into the musical field trade for at least four or .five weeks.' It's a stiff scale at the Selwyn ($4.40 top every night) and this means , that .the real coin will have to come from the demand iat the '.sttands: - There hasn't' been « $4.40 wln'dbw' sale- o^U In - Chicago for . years. The . stands always either "make" or ''break", a $4;40 at.; tria^tlo^ and if "Good News" is cbn- templat,ihg. ..a late spring ;engage.- ;me'nt the dawback will ,be the scale, probably neces^ry' in the less than '600 lower floor capacity of the Sel- wyn and the small balcony with $3.86 for the first four vows. The Xiyman band was the reason the Sherman,.ho.tel. lobby .yrsia emptied early, with .the "gang , of personal irobters", payingr" dearly, for front jrow'se!ats for one of^ the most en- thusiastic Monday openings ' the town - has - checked <slnce "LieMaire's AXfairs/'' Insiders say VOood News'' is. a "favorite. son" engagement. "The Constant Wife" can at this .time be called the strongest dra- matic attraction ot the season In this' man's town. The present Harris e.hgagement will easily give Ethel Barrymore her triumph of all times in Chicago. All other dramatic shows are having and have had all season a dlflftcult time , passing the $10,000 erross tnark. . The erratic experience of "Broadway" Is probably scaring producers' of dramatic shows be- cause word now .comes that ^'bur- lesque" ! win be held oft until the new season, which meanis . "The Trial of, Maty Dugan" is. the only hit. on the horizon and this will come to the Adelphl. , With the' Woods ufid the Erlahger housing movies, the latter with the exit of "Criss-Cross" Feb. 25, the legit schedule dwindles and there are other house managers wonder ing what Will be the. late spring fare considering the punctured line up. of Broadway possibilities. It's ;been a .bad .-seasoip. In. Chlcfigo. Plenty of ooln has been made in spots, but the houses, that: made it 'at odd times can't hold on to It be* cause of scarcity, of attractions to fill the full seaison's slate. Last Week'f Estimates "Good News" (Selwyn, lat Week) —Stiff $4.40 scale with no Increase week-end performances causes full support to be drawn from specs and win probably Jump Into lead for several weeks at the stands. Opening gross was smash-for Mon day night. "Peggy-Ann" had four disastrous weeks, yet liked by minority. Irish Players (Blackstone, 1st week)i—Nothing Indicative of more than moderate trade and no ad- 'vanc« sals; "liimlted^to^ to "Behold the Dreamer" drew the full strength ot the average $10,000 gross. Could not bo called either a failure or success, with house get tlntr out O. K. "The Constant Wife" (Harris. 9th week).'—Outdistancing everything, encountering first competitive sales jat stands from "Cardboard Liover," .but nothing to worry about. De spite little slips early part of week hit $20.600. through the extra mat inee. No signs of a letup. "Cardboard Lover" (Adelphl, 4th week)..r—Hlghlf iatiataotory: ptk gagement Average $17,000 mark win send , this attraction westward, with prospects of a road cleanup. "Silver Qord" (Studebaker, 2* week).—House still In vogue with highbrow clientele, which Is' lltnlted, netting this time not more than $9,000, even, with extra-matinee. "Two Girls Wanted" ePrincess, 7th week in town).—Little variation from trade drawn at Cort from which house it w?i8 transferred but manages to keep above the stop clause, which , is profit. Average of $9,000 win hold It In. "Kongo" (Central. 7th week).-^ Hegardless. of how small' the audi- ences may check at times, weekly grosses of arpuifd $4,000 always pop , up. and they .make money at this house .on those figures. A lot of original Inside campaigning always at this house. "Hit the Deck" (Woods, 16th and final we«k).^-On6 of those engage- ments that puzzle . the New York managers... Never waa substantially set in but Rr,obably drew enough holiday profits to offset the back- ward trade of recent week's. Will' have to fight for exit gross of $17,^ 000. • : "Wooden Kimono" (Cbrt; 2d week).—^Maintaining this house's moderate gross, approaching $10,- ,000. which evidently Is O. K. both «nda... Landed : valuable newspaper laudations, which are being exten- sively used for plugging. "Vanities" (Illlriois. 6th week).— By far the most successful local, eneagement this organization ever had. .Outside of Mondays and Tuesdays figures a smash lower floor sellout and Is in '->od demand at hotels. Ea^flv hits 130,000 mark. "Niqht in Soain" (Four Cohans, ISth week).—Far exceeds most con- servative opening night predictions, land ti^rnlng out profits tor both at- traction, dind.. house.. . Sensational gro,8ses now flgurlhg In $30.0.00 'cWss.' ■■■■,'■ ' "Desert Sofiq" (Great Northern, 26th wedk);^ronMderIng length of 'eniragement $26,000 grosses remark- able and but. little variation, even In face of constai>tjly changrlng vMty- slcft.l play rompiftitlon. "Just ranev**. (Olympic. Tth week).—The perisonal plugfglhg is ddlnsr this one''thuch good and with snedal parties 1<» drawing. between $2" "00 and $22,000. "Crits ■ Cross" (Erlanger, 9th ,week).-^ulte .« contrast to the PhlindelnhlJi, trade. Plenty of ca- pacity permits $38,000 gross, maybe little smaller. LA. GROSSES Los . Angeles, Feb. 21. After a quick flop "The Connecti- cut Yankee" exited at the Mayan with a gross of $6:000 on 3d week. "The Desert Sbng,'^ at the Mason, around $24,000, major figure for the town. Fourth week. "Chauve-Souris" slo.wed up in Its fifth week, but still big at $18,000 in the Belasco. Shrine auditorium season of light opera continued consistent with a week of "The Chocolate Soldier," around -$14:000r - , =—, : Among the smaller scaled dra- matics, grosses were average. Duf- fy's El Capitan reported $6,000 for the third week of "Two Olrls Want- ed.'' "Kongo;" eighth week at the Orange Grove,'about $4,000 "Funny Little Thing" survived but two Wfeeks. at . the Morosco. Second week, ^4,600. Downtown Playhoupe with "The Triumphant Bachelor*' get $5,000, iwhile the Hollywood Playhouse with "Undertow," after eight weeks in town and a change of theatre, around $3,700. "Married Virgin," third week at the tiny Egan, took In $2,700. Minneapolis Grosses Minneapolis, Feb. 21. Legitimate houses held their own In the face ot phenomenal business done by the film theatres and the attendance of over 100,000 at the Shrlners' circus at the Auditorium. Wha.t was announced as the first 'Stock-"=^presentatlon---anywherfi -PA "Mister Antonio," with Robert Hy- man giving a splendid performance In the Otis Skinner role, drew $B,50a into the Shubert (Bainbridge dra- matic stock). Good. A tabloid musical comedy version of "The Show-OfT' grossed $5,300 for the McCaH-Brldge Players at the Palace. . ,^ a "Glris of the U. S. A." (United wheel), $4,500 at the Gayety. The Metropolitan dark and has nothing Immediately in sight March dnto for Tyler's aU-siar "Diplomacy Cftpcetod.