Variety (May 1928)

72 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, May 9, 1928 "RED ROBr IN NEW PHILLY HODSEUNCERTMAT^^W '♦Rio Rita" Tops Town With $40,000—"Abraham's Bosom" a Surprise, $7,000 3 Shows Out Shows in N. Y. and Comment .Philadelphia, May S. ■ . Real spring weather resulted in. the fl.i-st biff .week-end exodus to the seashor'e and held down, some erosscs. .'■ However, attendance was satis- factory, with "Rio Kita" easily lead- Inff.. Zi^gfeld musical comedy, a return .in this city, grossed abosut 140,000 in Its second and flnai week ftt the Eflanger,. a jump of $C,000. "Rita" could have reeled off another two weeks . easily with weather breaks; but Ziggy wanted to move it to Boston for another short return visit and then close it for the sum- mer. : "The Red Robe," which opened thei . Siiuberts! New Foh'est, at a 13.50 top, got about $26,000; .satis-, factory, but riothihg sensational, es- pecially a:s an extra matinee was given Friday. . This afternoon per- formance, inserted at the last min- ute; was a bloonier. -The new house ■was woll plugged aiid a, good per- . cehtage of the trade, was drawn by a desire to see the tiieatr.e. The eh'OAv won lukewarm notices and does not look strong enough for the summer going. Four weeks.should be the limit, but there will be a strong attempt to keep, the house open all summer. It is rumored an- •.other Shubert operetta," based pn the llife of Chopin, will follow. . "The Desert Song," in seventh week at the Shubett, felt the com- petition of "The Red Robe" and ••'Rio Rita" keenly, and dropped to $16,000J Last weeks were announcied in the Sunday ads, and although there is ia chance the , operetta may be moved down to the Chestnut* it looks as; If another three weeks ■would do.. For the first four weeks It averaged around. $25,000, but for ■ the last-three" the-average-has-been under $20,000. "Oh Kay" has been a diaappoint- inent in its return visit here. Ijast season at a tryout at the Shubert it . :was a capacity smash. Of the dramatic shows "Escape," at. the "Walnut, again led at $15,000, which showed that the. idea of hold- ing the Galsworthy'pfece in for a third week was wise. "Paris," in its twelfth and final week, grossed close to $13^,000 at the Lyric, which rounded up a splendid engagement which started at the Adelphi with grosses around $21,000 and never fell below $12,000. "The Road to Rome," In iLs eighth fend final week at tfie Adelphi, elumpcd to $9,000, and that figure was only attained by means of an- other special matinee of "Paolo and Francesca." Jane Cowl's vehicle would have been a cleari-up In five weeks herd; but has suffered hdavily plnee. Philip .Merivale's depai'ture from the cast, two weeks ago hurt. .The" real drarnatic surprise of the week was the sucgess of "In Abra had Friday matinee. With $3.50 top, this is ..good, but by «o means ' ca- pacity. "Abie's Irish Rose" (Garrick, one week only). Third visit here for Anne Nichols' record-breaker. "Uncle Tom's Cabin," film, lucky if it got $4,000 last week. "Porgy" in Monday. ■ "Oh Kay" (Chestnut, 3d Week). Return of. this musical: comedy not much of a success.. Just over $14,- 000 and "last weeks'.', announced. "Hit the Deck" .(Erlaijger, 1st week). Chicago company■ present- ing, show which . opened' here last spring. In for tlireij. weeks, accord- ing to the dope. "Rid Rita" led the town last Aveck with $40,000. "In Abraham's BogomV (William Penri, 1st week). ' Pulitzer prize winner, presented-, by. Jules Falk, musician, moved out .here because of last week's fine business at Broad and inability .to' get another downttiwn; house.- .. $7:,000'at-Broad. . "Congratulations?^ ,t (Adelphi, 1st week). New comedy . by Ramsey Wallace produced by. Lawrence Shubert Lawrence having try-oiit. ."Road to Rome" ' under tS.OOO, in eighth a:nd last' week here, despite special matinee Friday. Caponsacclii" (Lyric, 1st week). Walter Hampden in for fortnight. "Paris" ended splendid local stay with almost $13,000 in twelfth week. Another trio of attractio.ns are off Broadway's list, one or two more being likely additions on Saturday night. "Manhattan Mary," presented at the Apollo by George White, will close tills week after 33 weeks. The show was expected to last into June,, vacations of principals being the given reason for closing. Last weelr the gross dropped to $26,000 after holering around ;$29,000 week- ly, riurlng^ the winter It was among the leaders, at $40,000 and over. MANHATTAN MARY Opened Sept. 26. Winchell ("Graphic") said: "musical hit." ■ , ^ Variety believed . Ed Wynn was funny enough to carry "so- so tunes and wandering book. Figures estimated and comment point to some attractions being succeasful, while the same grosa 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 consequent difference in necessary gross of profit. Variance in business nece'ssary for musical attraction as against dramatic play is also considered. ■ Classificatiori of attraction^ house tap^city and top ppicea of the admission scale given beloW. J<ay to. classification; C (comedy); p (drama); R (revue); M '(musicalicomedy); F (farce); O (operetta). "The Queen's Husband," presented by Brady, Jr., and Wiman,will dose at the Playhou.ie-a.fter playing 16 weeks to moderately successful business. It averaged $11,000 for tlie first 10 weeks,' dropping there- after . with recent trade under $7,- 500. ■.. ' : : ■ - THE QUEEN'S HUSBAND Opened Jan. 25. Anderson ("Journal") said: "abDut two acts short of an evehingfui." Gabriel ("Sun") considered iti "sadly mixed dish." Bad no- tices outnumbered the niod- Variety (Ibee): "indications for about three months." Pfipf Neiglilidrhood House As lept at $l30 Top PhUadelpliia, .May 8. Possibilities- of ei V Subway Cir- cuit" fbr this city, although nat- urally in an abbreviated form, have ■Been';meiitibnta"Tirr^"gtK de- cision, made last week, to send "In Altraham's Bosom," which played l^t week at the Broad Street the- atre, out to the William Penn the- atre, at. 41st str.eet and Lancaster avenue In West Philadelphia. Jules Falk, presenting "In Abra- ha:m's Bosom," with a cast consider- ably changed from that which the Provlncetown theatre offered in New Tork, was forced to take the Penn as Vail nine doAvntown legiti- mate theatres were solidly booked, at least tWo Weeks ahead. His gross last week, $7,000, was such that he did not want to end the engagement at once. Keith's thea'tre and the . Casino, formerly Columbia l)urlesque house, and more recently the home of an unsuccessful stock company, were mentioned, but when the Stanley Company offered the pbnn, which ham's Bosom," booked for a single has had Mae Desniond and her stock week at the Broad. This Pulitzer for the last four Vears, Falk Imme- prize winner grossed almost $7,000, Ly^tely chose it. Which' spelled, real profit Fojlk From present indications there is wanted to keep the play in, but the „ ^„„„nA«t ^^■,n■nr^n. tvmt tVif» theatre was definitely booked with ^ ^^ry S^celldnt chance thaV the Eva Le Gallienne. He tried every long-herSLlded civic theatre may be other downtown hous^ and also | an actuality In' anothel- season or ""twelve Thousand;" presented at the Giarrick by an independerit group backed- by the Shuberts, was taken off SatuiMJay. For' a time it alternated with the miodern dress version of "The^ Taniing : of The ShreW," and for the past month or so was given regularly to. light ^radc. — "---^ - - —'» ~ — Keitli's and the Casino, now closed, but was unable to get any of them. Finally, It was decided to move "In Abraham's Bosom" out to tl^e Wil- llani Penn, Stanley Cqgipany house, so. A site on Market street, near the Schuylkill River, now occupied by .a tremendous gas tank, has been mentloRCd. The city authorities nam .-"enn, etaniey L;ompany nouse, , , ^ jivv,+«.,nni .#i«n«oini IiT-WesT Phllaffdilfla.^ ir i^^^^ have vaudeville, and' has been the backing, -but nothing definite has home of Ma© Desmond and her been achieved'. _ stock company for four .years. Not since the old days, when the The unprecedented number of ten National and Other houses Uptown, legit attractions are ofCer.ed the ^ec- ^^^^ offering road shows, has there ^"waltef HaSn is at the Lyric, been a' suggestion, 'of a. legitimate Eva Le Gallienne. is offftrinj^. rep at theatre in the outlying^ sections the i3road."Hit the Deck" (this Falk's experiment is being Watched tin-ie with the Chicago company) for this reason. He'has reduced his opens at the Erlanger. "Abie's Irish g^al©, to a $1.50 top. Rose" makes Its third visit to' • " L A. Grosses Los Angeles, May 8. "The Racket" led the town, gross- ing $11,000 in.its third Week at Be- lasco. ' One week at the Mason was all for "Lilies of the Fleldi" report- ing $6,500. "From Hell Came a Lady" at the Hollywood Playhouse was around $7,000. "Gossipy Sex," .Vine Street, 2d week, $6,300. ■. "Excess • Baggage' completed a moderate run at the downtown Playhouse with . $6,.400. "New Brooms" at El Capitan quoted $6,000 for fourth week. Henry Duffy lesseeship of the Morosco, now called the President, started off well with $4,400 on first four performances. Cleaned up version of "Sex" pre- sented by the Macloons at . the Ma- jestic not drawing well; $3,000 esti- miated. FRISCO GROSSES San-Francisco, May 8. Fine weather hurt the legits all over town. At the Curran "The Desert Song" started slipping after eight weeks,. though still showing profit. "Interference" wound up four dismal weeks at the Geary. Henry Duffy attractions did well, although intake somewhat off, in keeping with rest of town. Sixth week of "Appearances," with low overhead, managed to keep outside the "rod." Rieturn engagement of ; "The -Marrled-V-lpgin" at the- Green- Street falling to attract more than ordlna,ry interest. Estimates for Last Week Fidelity Nominations Philly, at the Garrick for a sin,gli^ wo(?k, and there is a new comedy ' by Ramsey Wallace. "Con.gratular tions," produced by LawTericc Shu- b(?rt Lawrence, at the Adelphi.. Next week brings the "Theatre j j^onday tho following weue pro Guild's "Porg5'" .to the Garrick- for . ^ • nominating commit two weeks, but there is no mention PO^ed Py or hint of other hookln.t?.. A safe tee as-omcers of the 1-idelity Actoi s 'ibot .should be now that there won't League, to be voted for .at the aiv- be more than throe houses opcn.by nual meeting in New York May 28: June 1. President, Holbrook Blinn; vice- Estimates of the Week presidents, George M. Cohan and EvA Le Gallienne (T5road. 1st I Louis Mann; secretary, Howard Curran—"The Desert Song." Starting to toboggan. Three more to go. Last w^ek close to $20,000. Geary — "Interference.". Despite high grade failed to .click,, and wound. up four weeks to tune Of $9,000.' "Excess Baggage" followed. President—"The Baby Cyclone;" Cohan comedy holding up well de- spite unseasonable weather. Third week bettered $5,400. . Alcazar —"Take My Advice." Eased off slightly, but at $5,00.0 sat- isfactory. Fifth week. .Capitol—"Appearances." Interest starting to. lag. Sixth week (2d downtown) .drew slightly better than $4,000. A profit.. Green Streiet—"The" Married Vir- gin.^ Still drawing a few of the curious. One act sketch, offeree! with regular bill. Is hot, and that is helping. Last week hardly better than $1,800. "A Connecticut Yankee,"^yfinder- bilt (2Sth week) (M-882: $6.50). ■ Mild weather last week furnished further reaction along Broadway, grosses dipping downward;. "Yan- kee" about $20,000, very big for this hOusOi "Blackbirds of 1928/' Liberty. (1st .week) (R-ls202:; $4.40). Presented by Lew Leslie; colored revue en-, trant makes, .two such attriactions side by side on. 42d street; opens tonight (May 9). "Bottled," Booth (Sth week) <C-704; $3.30), Appeaps dependent on cut rates with .gross-around $4,000;. fresh attraction listed later, In month. "Box Seats," Little (4th week) (C-530; $3.30). Reported In'finan- cial difficulty and'iiiust Improve to stick; estimated around $3",500 ' last week. ;• • ' •: '' "Burlesque," Plymouth (37th week) (GD-1,041; $3.8-5). Rated amonjf leading money' makers of season and ought t'6 last Into or through . sumrher; $1,5,000, with some cut rate aid. , . "Coquette," Maxlne Elliott (27th week) (D-942; . $3.85).' Dramatic hit; continued agency buy indi- cates tickets, still in high demand; Avhile . not capacity, grosses ex- ceptional; $lfi>000 last week. "Diamond Lil," ^ Royale (5th week) (C-1,117: $3.30).. Held up to ex- cellent takings lajst. week; mat- inees under prOvious week be- cause of weather but gross $16,000 - or. better. ^ "Dracula," Fulton (40th week) (D-914; $3.30). Matliiee trade here - hit hard like many others with runs; estimated about $8,000 last week and expected to last through June. ..'lExcftss Bagsag^/' RItz (20tlLweek)„ (0-915; $3.30). Off-last week, too; periiaps another month or so but still making profit; claimed around $10,000 last week. "Five O'clock Girl," Shubert (31st week) (M-1,395; $5.50). Musicals' not excluded in last.Week's slump ing trade; some dropped down to little more than even break; "Girl" got about $22,000. "Funny Face," Alvin (25th. week) (M-1.400; $5.60). Slipped as much as other run musicals; got about $22,000, which figures, claimed to be profitable. "Good News,". -Ghanin's 4Cth St, .(3Gth week) (M-1,413; $5.50). Eased off too, but not.as muth as otlicr musicals affectedi' last .week's gross rated over $31,000; "'figures to outlast most of field. "Greenwich Village Follies," Winter Garden <5th week) (Rrl,493; $5.50). Got-good start last week When oversea flyers attended; estimated bettering $40,000 and ought to go.through summer. "Here's Howe," Broadhut-st ' (2d. week) (M-1,118; $5.50). Got break from critics; business after $7,000 first -night ($U top) not excep- tional; got bit over $21,000 first Seven perform'ahccs. "Keep ShufflinV Eltinge (11th week) (M-892r $2.75). Removal to 42d street from Daly's life saver for colored show; approximately $10,000 appears to be satisfactory. "Lovely Lady," Sam H. Harris (20th week) - (M-1,051; . $5.50). Questionable if this one Will, last r- longer- than another- months esti- mated around $14i000 last week. "Manhattan Mary," Apollo .(33d week) (M-1,168; $6.50). , Final ^eek; new "Scandals" will be next attraction , here, due late Aext month; "Mary" off like others; .estimated at $25,000 last week. f'Marco Millions" and "Volpone," Guild (3d week) :(G-941; $3.85). "Marco'f slipiJed, too, last week, getting about $14,600; another two or three weeks to go, alternating with "■^''olpone," current. "My Maryland," Casino (35th week) 0-1,447-^.50). Probably used for theatre parties more than any other attraction this season; that and cut rates account for extend- ed .engagement; maybe $15,0.00. "Our Betters," Honry Miller (12th week) (C-946-$4..46). - Successful revival; English comedy making I Ailcon Huban, Allah. Dlneharc) Wil- "The°^Desert Song" (Shubert, Sth son Reynolds. Thomas E. Shea, week). Operetta lias fallen off Otis Skinner, Blanch© Talbot, .sharply and not hardly $16,000 last Charles Hopkins^ Mrs. Minnie Mad- week. Competition was heavy. dern-Flske, CJai'a lappman-Mann, "La.st . weeks" announced. Antoinette Walker, with. Log4s "The Red Robe" (New^Forro^t. k^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ - 2d week). In Its flrat Week at Monday meeting 53 Fid"l- ■i>hlllv'fl newest theatre, grossed ^.t me luonaay mLuuut, oo i lu.i ibout $26,00r (Dpencd Tucsday.^utU members were present,. FUND MEETING FRIDAY The annual meeting of the Actors' Fund of America Will be held at 2 o'Oloek May 11 in the Hudson the- I atre, New York, In addition to the election of oITlcers the reading of reports will be a feature. Daniel Frohman, who has been president; of the fund, is to bo re- turned without opposition as uaMl. lie has held the post since 1902. . JAMAICA BLDG. SUIT (jUs Pitou, booking agent for |-Erlangor,-- and.'-lSam^-.^Taylor-.Jia \-e started suit.for $3,500 against Mor- ris and Mary Tucker, arising out of a deal for the construction of a theatre in Jamaica, L. I. M.. Tucker built the house, later .taketi over by Hurtig &. "Seamen, offering to pay $4,500 for .the interest owned by the Plaintiffs. ^ Complaint charges. Tucker' paid $1,000 and failed to pay the balance. Abner J.' Rubi.en represents the plaintiffs!. ^mohey fronJ start; started drop- ping recently; $12^000 last week' i "Paris Bound," Music Box (20th week) (C-l,000-$3.36y. Ought to last through June ^nd possibly ihto July; last,week about $13,000- house slated to get "Paris," which has made great rep In Phila. run "Present Arms," Mansfield (3d week) (M-l;050-;$6.50). Looks set fot summer; first full week the tak- ings approximately $26,500; big- . gest money yet fOr house now called Lew Fields' MarSfield .the- atre-.. "Rain or Shine," Geo. M; Cohan .(14th week) .(M;-.li-371-$5.50). When nearly everything in town failed to sell out last Wednesday, capac- ity here; ^getting between $37,000 and $39,Q00 weekly. *'Ro«alie," New Amsterdam (18th week) (M - *,750 - $6.60).' Slipped somewhat in laSt two weeks, with . taldngs ,apDroiima,ting. $40,000 . tor ,each; still; ,. among top gross-: "Show Boat,"' Ziegfeld (20th week) M-i;75O.-$G.0O). Nothing in Bight that can challenge leadership of record grosses weekly. here | con- sistently over' $53,000. . "Strange Interlude," Golden (15th week) (D-900-$4.40). Again over $16i000 last week; hot afflfecfed by May slump and sure to go well into next season I six perform- ctri'Ccs 'Weekly* • ■■ "Take the Air,'' Earl Carroll (25th week) (M-998-$4.40). Expected to last until new "Vanities" is pre-* pared; risvue can hardly be readiei until Julyj "Take the Air" rated around $15i000; "The Bachelor Fithcr'^ (Belasco) (11th week)- (G-l,000-$3,85). Be- : lasco's comedy smash judging from capai(!lty> trade to date, ought to • riin out year; over $20,000 weekly; ■' '-. " - . - . .iiThe .Happy.>^H usband,!^nvpir.e^(i«t- week> (G-l,099:-$3.30). Presented by Gilbert Miller; Binie. Burke starred, with English supporting cast; opened Monday. "The High Hatters," Klaw (1st week) (C-73O-$3.30). Presented by Louis Isqulth; tried to get Into Eltinge by court proceedings last week; opens Thursday (May 10), "The Ladder," Cort (83d week) (D-V 1,094). Well, it's still here, and reported booked ,,for . summer; tickets also still gratis. "The Queen's H usband," Playhouse (loth week) (C-870-$3.85).. Final week; moderate money success; started around $11,0001 recently doWn to ,$7,000; house will prob- ably go dark. "The Royal Family," Selwyn (20tK week) - •(C-l,067-$3.85). Conceded outstanding comedy of season and may remain well info fall period; last week estimated over $20,000. "The Scarlet Fox," Masque (7th week) (D-70.0-$3.30). Melodrarna with good, lower floor call; bal- cony went Into cut rates last week; should last through June; around $8,()00. "The Shannons of Broadway," Mar- tin Beck (33d week) (C-1,198- $3.30), Coata little to operate now and house satisfied to make any- thing over operating expense; last week about $5,500. "The Silent House," Morosco (14th week) (D-893-$3.3«). Made grade as mystery play, but not as big as first expected; estimated around $12,000. ,^ "The-Skull," Eorrest (.3d wcp.k) (P; l,015-$3.30). Second week about same, with, better than $7,000 claimed; costs little to operate this mystery piece, atid may go through next month. "The Three Musketeers," Lyric .(9th week) (O-l,395-$6.60). Few newer musicals have held to capacity, and this is one; bettering $43,00U WGekly ■ "th« Trial of Mary Dugan,'' Na- tionai (34th week) (D-l,164-$3.85). Best of season's melodramas; stm making money, but agency ^cau dropped; estimated around $14,ouy last week. ■ ,<otv "Whispering Friends," Hudson (IZth week) (C-l,094-$3.30). Expected to last through month, meaning another three months; show has made money, but little.for house, last week $8,000 estimated. Outside Times Sq.—Little—Special Little Theatre Tournament, annual; Frolic theatre, thi.s week only. "The Waltz of the Dogs"; tnoved UP from A'illage to 48th Street Mon- I "The Outsider," . Anibassador, re vival; about $6,000. ^ , . "The Ivory Door," Charles HoPkms^ plAylng extra matinees dally ex cept Monday. "Him," Provincctown Plnybouse. "Tvvelve Thousand/'.Garrick; closea last Saturday. . ,, ^n\. "Ten Nights in. a Barroom, vvai lack's. "Marriage or "The Father, opening (May 10). on Approval," Totten.. er," revival; • Ii^^t"'! /°v at Belmont Thursday 3: n a- ■4