Variety (Jun 1928)

64 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, June 27, 1928 Shows in N. Y. and Comment Figures estimated and cQmment 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 consequent difference in necessary gross of prpfit. Variance in business necessary for musical attriaction as against dramatic play is also considered. Classification of attraction, house capacity and top prices of the admission scale given below. Key to classification: C (comedy); D (drama); R (revue); IVl,(nr»usic8ii comedy) ;F (farce); O (operetta). Shows in Rehearsal ♦*Doctor's Dilemma" (Dilem- ma, Inc.). "It Takes a Thief" (Morse- more Productions). "Power" (H. F. Whitbeck) "Bad Debts" (Shuberts). "Hold Everything" (Aarona & Freedley). : "Caravan" (Richard ' Hern- don), "A Connecticut Yankee," Varidcrbilt C35.th week) (M-382-$5.r)0); . Con- '., tinut^d cianlp . wc.'ither last Week . nave Broadway break; trade es- : pccially pTOod -from Wednosday on; ■•Yankee-.' up 6ver $20,000.,: • "Blackbirds," Liberty (Sth week) backer will ke6p It ur>. "The Royal Family," SelWyn (27th week) (-G-l,0i57-$3.S5). Went up^ ward couple of thousand last woek; favorite comedy has. al- ways been in big. money; over $17,000. Future "The Night Hostess," melodrarna, by ..Phillip Dunning, produced, for. next season by John Golden (K-l,202-$3.30); Pfxce improved | "The'Silent House," Shubert (21st I Edgemont Productions, with Sam Ttiore than $2,000 and on nine per- week) (D - 1,395 - $3.30). Moved "el Lewis-Shon; pres., , announced formh.nc.es Went to more than .$1-7,-| here from Morosco Monday; mys- I i.ndeflnito postponement, of "Free- tery play somewhat better, too; estimated a,i'pund $9,000 BROADWAY REVIEW PATIENCE Pluy-ArtB Qulld prosuntii a revival ofHhe Gllberl-SuUlvan operetta, staged by T. M.. Hushlnc, seta by Isaac BeneHch.' At the Ma.siiue theatre, June 25; $3.30 top. Palleni-e., .Mary Bokee BeBlrtald Uunthorne..Donald KIrkley. Archibald Grosvcnor..... .Edmund I..conard Solicitor.,.. hndy Cella wmr LOOKS LIKE CHI RUN Lady. Ja.ne. L,ady Ant^ela... I^ady Ella . .Colonel...;.,.-, Major. . Lieutenant., Chicago, June 2C; Marga?l[ QUner I Hot spells wlth^ intermittent rain Gertrude M. Gossmah ana gloomy weather lield Chicago'u ^. .Nancy Arnold I legit show business to about the same figures. Maidens, Gtiafde, etc. ... Eunice Schramm. .Burt R. Royce, Jr. .. iCarroU Robinson .William Lester I 000 for colored musical. "Burlesque," Plymouth. (44th week) (CD-.l,041-$3.85). In 11th month and niay complete. 52-week run with any sort of weather break m July; nearly $12,000. . "Coquette," MaxiriC: Elliot (34th wet'k) (D-912t$3.85).' Like other • .stand-out attractions, box office • materially behefited. la$t week- over $13,000. , •Diamond Li I," Roy ale (1.2th week) (C-i,117-$3.30). Weather has not beeh.favorible for midnight per- formance (Thursdays), but- trade jutnpbd back'to near ,$17,000. "Excess Baggage/' Ritz (27th week) (C-D15-$3,30). Final .weekv busi- ness lately hardly better than even break; approximately $6,500. "Good News," Chanin's 46th St. (43rd week) (M-l,413-$5.50). Ex- pected to outlast most of field and extend into new seasoh; well Baltimore amateurs, directed and managed by a Johns Hopkins prof., T. M,' Guishlng, who Was dramatic critic of the Baltimore "Sun;" He started the little theatre movement at the university six years ago, port," the "play written by Helen I haying graduated th<jre 10 years ago. Broderick (Crawford and Brod-' -A.nd he started something at that. "■^ .Skull/: ^Forrest ^^^^.y^'^V\eric^), knd. about Freevort, I.or^ei,,^^''^^^ (D-l,051-$3.30). Nearly $8,000 last 1 Tgiand " " I ^he Play-^Arts vehtures, week comnarintr favorably with /i^u' ^- j» i. • weeks in tbe home burg; It won't w.eeK, comparing lavoraoiy wiiu «y}^g ^P,pgjjpgj,j^»f ggj. music halve that here But Still no harm nflce ""^"^^ for tnis mystery renamed "The. Dagger and the done. A, rather creditable presen "The Three Musketeers" Lyric P^"^'^'" produced by Horace Live- tation. of a semi-classic. A whole (16th week) (O-l 395-$6 60) One right, 'is scheduled for its out. of lot better than the profesh revival :0.r ZiegfeTd's musical. big three; town premiere Sept. 2. Cast Is be-I pf it ^lot so long ago at the same like "Show Boat," capacity right ing engaged by the LiVeright pf- along; $44,000 and more weekly. • | fices. "Jarnegan," produced by. Paul Streger, will have Its' Initial pres- entation Aug, . 20 at; the Majestic, B'r6oklyn> N. Y. . "The Lawyer^S: .Dilemma," pro- duced by C. L.. Simpson, is Slated ■94i-$3.85). Drawing exceptional I for a New York opening at the Beir business for play of sort; agen-J moht,. July 9. . . . cies have it on buy basis; $15,- . "Bed and Bored/' comedy, re- a,uu cALv-iiu ii.uw ..v^rr , 500 again Ust weok. _ cently tried out and well regarded, I tirely professional. Yet some of suDDorted last week, when takings Special Atti'actipns--jLittle Thea^^ open at Mqixine Elliott's their ingeniousne.ss is refreshing, were around $30,000. _ , : . | *'«^^f//i^!i!^"5:Jr,^*y-„^^^^^ about Sept. 15. It Is under the di- | The girls are lovely. Not^a prettier rection of Patterson McNutt. Those in the cast re-engaged for the Broad Way showing are Minor Wat- son, Mailcolm Duncan and- Ruth Garland. li. Jones and. Morris Green "The. Trial of Mary Dugah,'' Harris (41st week) (D-1,051-$3.85)V Con- siderable improvement . claimed since moving on 42nd street from National; last week quoted nearly $13,000. "Volpone," Guild . (Stii week) (C- pf Baltimore, semi - prbfe-ssional organization; opened Monday. "Her Unborn Child," 48th Street: repeat date. <"Ten Nights in a Bar Room," Wal- lack's. "Grand Street Foilies," Booth (5th week) (R-704-$3.30), Switched Wednesday matinee over to Frl day for professiohalSj getting $1,400 then; very big at. scale, pace bettenping $16,000. , .. , „ m ^4. "Greenwich Vil'age Follies," Winter "Marriage on Approval," Totten. Garden (13 th week) (R-1,493- $5.50). Cut rates helped consider ably last week and gross clairned to have bettered $25,000; under normal for Garden attraction. ' "Here's Howe," Broadhurst (9th Los Angeles, June 26. week) (M - 1,118- $5.50). Final | Third and fihal week of "A Night .A. theatre With Jimmy Watts as the I spinster. This is at least respect- ful of the memories of the two .greatest operetta writers the world has ever owned, Gilbert and Sullivan.. They, always crieated niusic and lyrics, never just tunes and rhymes. The lyrics. In more than one syl- lable, which alone is worth a mon- ument. . . . Corine now these Maryland folks, I not children but, still pretty young, and do "Patience." Tliey aren't. en- chorus in New York. And everyone sings. There is no dancing in the show. Earl . Carroll is invading Zlegfeld's stage and offering huge salaries. Let him visit the Masque stage and do far better. In truth, the whole troupe, and it "Bixby Cyclpne" pulled put of the Blackstone to make ropm for "El- mer the Grreat," which looks good for a run. Ring Lardner and George M. Cohan got wonderful plugging from Ring's friends on the papers. "A Man With Red Hair," the other new arrival, is diie for a short stay; Crane Wilbiir's: name and good acting are ] saving graces. Business picked up. Good News" is still piling up dough for Schwab & Mandell. "Ex- cess Baggage" is faltdring a bit, with a week's gross oi around $12,- 000, but still a good draw. "Sunny Days," rating high arnong musicals, still in $24,000 groove. "Compan- ionate Marriage" stilck at $5,000 but with producer claiming film rights sold. Eittimates for Last Week "Elmer the Great" (Blackstone, 2nd> week). Due to an excellent pi-ess reception . from Lardner'a newspaper friends, due to a good script and gpPd abting this , play looks forward to a good run. . Busi- ness already good, both frpm stand- point of advance s.ale and nightly draw. ' "Good Nevvs" (Selwyn, 19th week).. Bugihess excellent, between $27,000 and-$28,000. "Excess Babbage" (Garrick, iSth week). .Business slightly off, but still coming. Probably good for an- other month or so. This week, $12,000; . Sunny Days" (Four Cobans, 7th week). Probably good for quite a lengthy rrin. With business sticking as it is, should run well into the L A. Grosses week; gross last weiek about $18,- in Spain" at the Biltmore grossed 000, not profitable for musical $25,000. "Good News," ih fifth week, (,£ Helen of Troy" will be pro- ' - ' ■ >no Ann _* -^r^-.r.^ "Desert I TWT have switched plans Whereby they ^sn't,n>uch of a troupe as a troupe, gun^n^e^.' Grossing around $24,000. have.ia«rao..a..hc.prod„c.io„^^^ - -• ■• " " "Tampico" untirnext season. The cattle raisers bring in new blood, cast was practically engaged two and spread It through the flocks, to | Weeks ago and due for rehearsal for ImTprovfe the breed. Here is die- a-summer tryout this Week. tioh, deportment, youth, earnestness A musical version of "The Private -^if not polish, Stardust and unc- Mary Bpkee, in the name part. "The .19th Hole" (ISrlanger, 8th week). Still hitting a $12,000 gross. "A Man With Red Hair?' (Adel- phi, 3rd week). Not good for long,, blit biz holding. This weesk; $9,50Q, "Rang Tang" <Wood3, 2nd week). Colored musical hpt gping so strong. Set for cut rates next week, with midnight shows on Saturday. Gross, $8,500. "Companionate Marriage" (Cort, 7th week). Hanging on at the dls- with high scale. Ipaced at $23,000 at Mayan, jjcocni, ^ t.vIa Anrirpw*: WAnrvl •'"^"■■•j' -".wn-cc, m .^n^: "Marriedand How," . Little (3rd. Song." second week at Majestic. ^^^^^^J^ ^^^^^^^^^ Beautiful, w^ek) (C-530-$3.30). Better than' was around $16,000. ., WagstalE ^,ril>Ple will write the g^riking of features that spell re indicated, but moderate money at: Among the dramas . "Trial of lyrics. ...... , l-finement and femininity, and with best; estimated at $4,500 for first Mary Dugan'.' and "Command to "Sorrell and Son" is being drama- a sopranp voice to tear your heart, ,5 qqo Appar full Week; cut rates factor. i Love" were $12,200 and $10,000. Ulzed for stage presentation next out. Great women^have played the ^PP^^^^^^^f^^^'^^^f^^^^ "Paris Bound," Music Box (19th respectively. "Queen's Husband.' season, by Patrick Kearney. Joseph role. They have all played it bet- entiy ■ ■ - - - ■ ^ 1B. Shea and S, W. Manheim will teJ^ ^tJ^.^n Miss Bokee; or ■ they 1 while \ i,r.r^^^r^^ T^^r.A„r^*\r.-^ . wouldn't havp bccn grcat.. But none sponsor production. : ^^^^ .^j^ more charmingly. She Richard Herndon has begun cast- U^ould be a find in musical comedy ing "Caravan'V which will be given And that male chorus. Greatest (5tTi week) (D.90i-$2.75). 'uplVke I thelT'flrT^^ wVeFVt thV"Honywood|lat^ sunamer production. George novelty on Broadway, Men! others, colored cast drama getting Music Box. Marion and Kate Mayhew, have, thus "Patience" Was written as a. satire $8,000; will stick as long as even "Toomy," eighth week at Presi- far been set for the cast. . . on the esthetic, poetic age in Which break is. bettered. dent, reported $4,100, while "New "Bad Debts," W Willard Mack, is M^ff^"^-Wilde was t^^ It deals "Present Arms," Mansfield (10th Brooms,'? Duffy's other super-stock, next on production list for the Shu-' triumph of the writer week) (Ct946-$4.40). Jumped tp fifth and final week at Vine Street, more thain $11,000 last week; big grossed $6,300. Imipr.ovement over low level of Japanese Players,, sponsored by previous week. - Sid Grauman, Charley Chaplin and ''Porgy," Republic (2d engagement) Joseph M. Schenck. took $3,600. for week) (M-l,050-$5.50). Came back] ^^^JV^its^^^}^-'^^^ -^ the | h^^'duV ^ul^^f'i^wn iuiyl?. Cast I ^Kr ^'^he^KSJiie?^ SS^^u^ includes Thurston Hall. Mildred rather than the roll, the spiritual FRISCO GROSSES somewhat last week; lower floor | El Capltan. reported $4,500, well patronized and attraction should make creditable record; $24,000. '.'^iiin. or Shine," George M. Cohan (21.st week) (M-l,371-$5;50). One of most popular of season's mu sicnls and should extencl well into McCoy. Stanley Harrison, Wallace rather than the. have-It-ual. Arid Gilbert, didn't write this paragraph. It must have been a wow In its time. Rather passe and has body grosses of $37,000 "Rosalie," New Amsterdam (25th week) (M-l,702-$6.60). Perked up last week; slipping, and cngage- mtent through summer doubted; $34,500 "Show Boat," Ziegfeld (27th week) , (M-l,750-$6.60). Odds on for bet , tering year's run,' with but six months completed; virtual ca paeity since start;, last week up to $53,000 again. ''Strange Interlude," John Golden : ((22nd Week) (D-900-$4.40).. Ju dith Anderson replaces Lynn Fon tdnne in lead next week; no ma- terial decrease in business ex- pected; over $16,000 in six. weekly perforniances since subscription period expired. "Skidding," Bijou (6th week) (C- ; 605-.$3.30); lilt, under $4,0.00; clainved profitable, however, be^ ca^jse of tubclest operisiting ex- pense; cut rated principally. "Say When," MoroSco (1st week) (M-893-$4.40). Presented by Elis- abeth Marbury and Carl Reed; musical version of "Love ih a Mist"; opened .last night (Tues- • day). "The Bachelor Fatlier," Bolasco . (18th week) .(C-l,000-$3..sr)); Sum- mer iiad; afl'ectod Saturday iDivti^ nees only, but damp, weather lUlt-d house' and groi^a bettered $20,000, as usual. "The Cyclone Lover," Frolic (4th week) (C - 6()2 - $2.75). . Bu.Minoss first days of this week will decide if engagement will he continued "^ffeF^Salut^ay; ■"uivder"^$2'75 0 0r^ "The Happy Husband," Empire (8th Week) (C-l,090-$4.40). Maybe an- other week or two; did not im- prove as much as bthersj bit over $8,000. «*The Ladder," Cort (90th week) (D-1,094). Seats still free, buf;, starting. Wednesday of next we6k. admission will be charged; revl sion of play still going oh and nobpdy knows hPW long magnate Erskine. Regina Brown and others. San Francisco, June 26. I ^ "^°'^^'"J>yJ^y^^^^'^- ^'^Sran, pro Only four: legits in town last ^uceu by H. F. Whitbeck, goes Into, But still a c-ood old wae-on week, and all fared well. Outstand-.| rehearsal this Week with William ^oZd;" wriLs such^^^^^ It^opens|jt dares to be intelligent. And, since brains don't change much, it still , goes. k sicnis ana snou a ^extern, well in^o ^-ith initial week of Henry Courtleigh heading cast. It opens I new season; clicking off. weekly j-^^f^yg ..The Wooden at the Apollo. Atlantic City, July 9 i ..Jf^^^.^'^^-.'^l.**''"'^."' ■ . Kiniona" at the President, where «'RAia+lon<" i.q nnw i%oin<r ronrH«r Kiniona" at the President, where I "Relationis" is now being readied •sellouts were in order. Early re- | by Edward Clark, who has opened Won't get money. But don't help Ruth Maunders. OUT OF TOWN REVIEW All the King's Horses Detroit, June 20. Charles iSUon Openshaw'S comedy pre- sented In stock under epohsorshlp of Wil- liam A, Brady; directed by Harold Iteaton w.'th personal supervl.ilon l)y Jea=lo Uon- atcUe; at. Bonstelle Playhouse, Deti'Olt, .Tune 18., , Richard Hardingliam,;., GJrale Ward Powers,,..... ,,,, ,Gertr.ude James Maid ... 1 ,. Helena Stanio Alice Evcrltt,. ........Grace George Jack Evcrltt Georse Blackwood Jill Everltt ...Jes.sle Uoyce Lnndls : Uoger. ElrlngtoriDonald McClelland Wilfred Kveritt Walter Sherwin Mrs. Maunders. Viola I.K;ach turns indicate from 10 to 14 weeks, ^jg offices in New York to cast kick the.American theatre down the Two departures. Ethel Barry-' ^1 „ . . .Ellen Maliar . hnd fLrraniyp rphparqn1«! Plnrlr ■nrr>_ road tO ishame either. It's -right more wound up four weeks at the S^ced thS show Jt th^^^ door to "Diamond Lil." There's Curran and "The I^cket'v. departed | f^iif ^d^'^^ sh^^^^ the ^^e Street| ^^j.^^j^^^^^^,.,^.p West's blonde hairs than in all of 'Patience," taking in the immortal writers and the mortal actors. But from the Geary, with business . the theatre. Hollywood final week holding strong, "Lady "The Lawyer's Dilemma" went Next Door" at Duffy's Alcazar" has I into rehear.sal last week under di started slipping, and will give Way to "Tommy" July 2. "A Night in rection of E. J. Blunkhall. It's due I "Dianiond Lil" will , probably, not be at the Belmont, New York, July 9 "revived." Anyway, not by ama- opening cold. Ciast includes Sta:nley t^'^''S- -^^^ it is an operetta, too. - James.- William Seliery, Roy Buckles' ^-^^^ M_q.ck_A«_."FranMe and pthers "Fancy Work," by .Wlllard . Mack. [ has been secured for pr'oduction by John Nicholas, to produce next seai son Spain" currertt at the Curran, advance sale gpod.^ "Command to Love" gpt uhdS' 7w5^^ ,Tune 25,. and alsp had a brisk ad vance. Estimates for Last Week . Curran—"The Contented Wife," Barrymore continued a draw and fourth and final week (her longest Sari Francisco run) held .. ardlind 6^*'*?'?'"to rehearsal next Tuesday. It $18,000, . opens at• the Biitmpre. New York. .Geary "The Racket." . Continued July 23. Edward Sargient Brown is to biiild slightly on fourth and last the produeer week. Around. $13,000. Johnny?'* ■Patience" is hot a synonym for An instance of testing an import- ed manuscript in stock. William A. Brady brought it ovch Only he knows whether Broadway will soo it. A light comedy with ho impor- tant dialog. It was a moderate hit in London, meaning nothing, over here. Mr. . Openshaw'S theme trans- figures -and modernizes the. tragic ege. His central character is endurance. It can be played with grouped through a rather Humpty 52 cards, but'«an't be played for I P^Pty exIstence^^^^^ 52 weeks. It is also said to be a virtue. And anybody can. tell yo.u "The Intruder^' by Paul Eldridgel how long virtue lists In New York. ' ■ ' Lait, President—"The Wooden Kimo- nty,'' Sellouts at every performanse Jipelled better than $5,800 on opener. Alcassar—"The Lady Next Door." Six weeks will wind up this com- edy, with Dale Winter featured. Started, slipping last week, cased to $4,50.0. No loss at that figure. Thusly: First act—"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall," Second act (after dinner)-"Huihpty Dumpty had a gi-eat fall." Third act (three Weeks later)—"AU the king's horses and all the king's rrieri coujdn't put Humpty Dumpty. ;. . ." : . But here is where the. poem and play differ. Wherea,3 the original But 1 in Boston Bij!?ton, June . 26 "Good Nowh," hoie for months, is the only legit in the city. At the -Ma-jestic--Mt-la==goin?r=aIxmg-on-an-|^^^^ arrangement which gives it time there as long as the business keeps out of the red figures. A hot wave may crack it right in two. Last week around $15,000. Colored Cftiitor Thomas La . Rue, said to be the only colored cantor in the world, I king coufdh't put'H has been booked for a concert tour together again, the ,'modern king of ^Europe, by Eddie Relkin. East can and does. At the curtain, this Side Yiddish showman. Cantor R6- modern Humpty is very much to into the. Capitol on. Spring; street Lsenblatt is at present appearing on U^^ther again. _ . four weeks ago with a Yiddish stock the other side. . u^^^l. have been better to lec ««f n ,--^«fWns over Ui-^^^ a 15-year-old cantor. KalemelC I ij^prove the play, Wcitz of Poland. Ho is to appear "All the King's H6r.gos" will stand in synagogues and the concert plat- inexpensive production. One "name" form here.. Wcitz. who has been in the cast, with balance average, by Mollie Cohen and Jack Berlin. I singing on the Continent arid the will suffice, . . i, is coming back to this house for a KngH-sh music h.alls is reported to In its present state and with its ' ' present thiivi act. the play 13 ]u3t "fairV COID TO YIDDISH STOCK Los Angeles, June 26. Boris Thomashcfskyi who went I company, is going put this Week. Thomashefsky made a bold but un- successful stand to Interest the Yiddish, element. Another Yiddish troupe, headed Lbe..Ju=pcodigy.: No. 4 "Baggage" South Mrs. Cherryman Asks Divorce I Campbell in Hospital Los Angeles, June 26. : New Orleans, June 25. Divorce ' action has been filed Col. T. C. Campbell, manager of against Rex Cherryman here. The. the Tulane, here, one of the coun stage actor is in New York, Mrs. 1 try's best known legit managers, is For Broadway consumption, too light, Sige. Esther L, Cherryman, wife and Number 4 southern company of I plaintiff, declined to discuss the "Excess Baggage" opened Monday matter other than to admit the at the Atlanta theatre, Atlanta, Ga, | charge is desertion. in a hospital at New Bedford, Mass,, undergoing treatment tor stomach disorders. He is reported recpverlng. Good Ole Summer Time The Wright Players at tlio Em- pire with "The Butter and Egg Man" underlined clpsed Saturday al- though they had the house for four weeks. The company was .fine but business W£i3 not^