Variety (Sep 1928)

50 VARIETY LEG ITIM A T E Wednesday, September 12, 1928 St. Louis Civic Opera in Red Despite Increased Attendance St. Liouia, Sept. 11. The Municipal Opera of St. Louis, jii.st closed,, suffered a flnanciai loss from $6,000 to $.7,500, in spite of the fact that the tenth season drew more people than had ever attended the twelve-weeks' annual season. Deficit is the second In the history of the Municipal Opera, the first red ink having been splattered during the firsl season;, when the loss made good by the guarantors was $11,000. Two reasons are given by the management for this, year's deficit, tlie rains which marked the first few weeks of the season and the $6,000 raise demanded and received by the union musicians. A total of $24,004.50 was refunded . to ticket purchasers because of the rainy nights. Only nine of the eighty- four evenings were really warni and clear. "The Student Prince" proved the most popular production of the sea- son, with an intake of $42,071.75. "Princess FlavJa/' on account of the Incliement weather that week, .was the poorest dra:wing card, with re- ceipts $a7,.140. The following table shows the attendance and receipts for the twelve weeks, with some of the off figui-es being due to rainy weeks: "Princess Flavia'^ 27,550 $17,140 "Merry Widow" ;iK,3ri5 2.",000 •'Vacnbond King" 44.003 31,078 "No, No, Nanette"..... .50,219 .10.701 "Rose Marie- 05,773 30,407 "Student Prince" o0,3.'!7 42,071 "bady In Krmlne" 37.838 23,400 "Sonc of the Flame" .... 47,740 33.4.38 "Countesa MarltJta" 32,242 21.3D1 '.'The Love 5ong" ....... 47,407 32,484 "Marv" 40.1)42 31.243 ••Alda- 42.547 20,270 As one means toward making up this season's deficit the Musicians' Mutual Benefit Association has pro- posed a benefit performance at the Municipal Theatre. The offer may be accepted—and it may not. Legit Shoiw$ Ballys West.44th .street, in.vicinity of Majestic and 13roadhurs3t the:atres, looks like a physical take-off on Madison Square Garden with, "Main, Entrance" and "Entrance", promiimently displayed above tho niarquees of both theatres. The Majestic heralds, the. Main Entrance to "The .Big. Fight" (Jack Dempsey-Estelle Taylor) and Entrance to "Ring- side" at the Broadhiirst ba,lly- hoos: the Gene Buck pug. play. Both houses adjoin each other, with the Dempsey-Taylo.r • opus slated for premiere next weeJc. 27 Boston Musicians Laid Off on Full Pay . Boston, Sept. 11. ■Under the. new agreement betw;een the musiciaris' union and the local legitimate theiatres, "Just a Minute" opened at the Tremont under a wage handicap. The new wage scale car- ties with it a stipulation requiring that three'local musicians must be engaged for every two brought in by visiting attractions. The new 6how. must pay its share on. 27 Bos- ton musicians who will not work with the show. "Just a Minute" has an all-girl band of its own. . There are IS girls in the at- traction orchestra which is made a part of the show. The girls enter the pit either from the aisles or the stage. Starting with two pian- ists the music sw.ells as the others arrive. Ordinarily a visiting musical sliow would not be so heavily involved by the new union rule, but there is no place for male musicians in the "Just a Minute" orchestra. In this case all of the men -will be paid even if walking the streets or playing elsewhere. R Y. Stage Hands Sign For 2 Years; Scale Up A ne.\K. contract for two years was entered into by the managers and International Theatrical. Association and New York 'i?heatrical Protective Union . No. 1, embracing some 1,200 stagehands. It . becomes effective under the retroactive basis from Sept. 1, .1928. The settlement, which has been under negotiation for three weeks, gives the union a $7.50 increase, with the "grips" tacking on an ad- ditional 75c for each show. The managers were represented by a committee headed by Ligon Johnson, the association's Counsel, including Ralph W. Long, chairman; Harry D. Kline, Leonard Ei Berg- man, David B. Finestone and J. J. Dillon. The New York local was repre- sented by its president, William E. Monroe, Joseph Magnolia, James Bass; George McLaughlin and Julius Donnenberg. Under the agreement stagehands will receive $6.75 a performance When the union submitted its first demand the request was $8. ■Property men, electricians and carpenters receive an advance of $7.50, giving the nien a new wage of $82.50 weekly and the assistants $72.50. The union's original demand was for $100 and $90, respectively. A working change was agreed upon, the men reporting at 9 a. m. instead of 8 a. m., as heretofore. L A; ion Los Angeles, Sept. 11. Los Angeles Repertoire theatre will take over the lease of the Figueroa Playhouse Nov. 15. Simeon Gest (brother of Morris Gest), L. E Beyheimcr and H. Ellis Reid are bacic of the project. They contem plate operating the theatre on the subscription basis. The opening at traction will be Ferenc, Molnar's play "The Guardsman, ' Nov. 20. JUNE O'DEA The Philadelphia "News," in re- viewing George Cohan's "Billie," said: "One of the real eyefuls of the evening is June O'Dea, as likely a little ba;ggage as one might want to clap an optic on. I am cbnvinced that I will remember her long after I have forgotten the other things in the play." Direction RALPH G. FARNUM 1560 BROADWAY 4 Shows Out Four shows leave the list this week, flops of recent entrance on Broad waiy. "Elmer Gantry," presented by Jbseph Shea, closes at the Play- house Saturday a,fter six weeks of slim trade. ELMER GANTRY Opened Aug. 9. Broun (Tele- gram) thought it "pretty good play." De Rohan (American) wro^e: "Broadway is not yet to bend its collective knee to the golden calves of sacrilege." Variety (Ibee) said: "No chance." "The Money Lender," presented by Ned Jakab at th« Ambassador, was withdrawn Saturday, playing two weeks. No business, and rather high salaries ate up the bankroll. THE MONEY LENDER Opened Aug. 27. Ignored by first stringers. Variety (Rush) said: "The- atrical baloney." Newark Union Troubles Newark, N. J., Sept. 11. Morris Schlessinger threatens to close the Broad Street theatre be- cause of demands by. stage hands. Notice to that effect wais given the crew last week. The local union demands an eight men crew mini- mum as against the former yellow card five men minimum. Schles- singer declares the union must con- cede the latter requirement or the house will go dark indefinitely. Last season_ the Broad played 18 one-set shows which could have been operated by three men. Schles- singer figures it cost him $4,000 in unnecessary wages. The Broad is further involved with the musicians' union, •which seeks to install an orchestra, al- though for sever{il years the house has played dramatic attractions Only. The Shiiberts here, also oper- ated by Schlessinger, is not In- volved. Both musical arid dramatic shows are. reported being booked into that house. FAY BAINTER IN "JEALOUSY" "Jealousy," the two-character play . which A. H. Woods brings to New York shortly, V4;ill have Fay Bainter starred and Guthrie McClIntic fea- tured. The latter staged the play this summer in Los Angeles, appearing oplJO.site his wife, Katheririe Cor- nell. CRAIG OPENING PUT BACK Opening of "Potiphar's Wife" at the New Craig theatre. New York, postponed from August to Septem- ber, has now been put off until Oc- tober, when the Craig theatre will be completed. Ca.stiiig Avill not commence until next Wepk. • • • ; ' ■ "Caravan," presented at the Klaw last week by Richard Herndon, will be taken off this week. It will have played two weeks. House dark until Oct. L CARAVAN Opened Aug. 30. "A wretched evening" was the opinion of Coleman (Mirror), only major scribe to catch the opening. "Coquette," presented for a run at Maxlne Elliott's by Jed Harris, will go to the road after this week, after having run_45 weeks, span "TRAPPED" CAST EDITED Chicago; Sept. 11. Before closing the Woods theatre, preparing to take to the. road, "Trapped," Sluibort melodrama, un- derwent .several pHangos in cast. Janet McLoa replaced Linda Wat- kins, while Frank Monroe was rc- piacod by .Bob Ingor.soU. JOLIET'S LEGITS Oliic'iiKo, Hopt. 11. Orphoum thoatro, (lioat States house at Joliet, 111., dark for two years, will play road show.s this winter. Only the first road editions will be u.sed a.s the .house is near Chicago. Contemplated companies include "Mary Dugan" and "Ciood XeVi'«;" COQUETTE Opened Nov. 8. Hammond (Herald Tribune) said: "Fine acting in a fine play." Ander- son (Post), wrote: "A rare and touching evening in the the- atre." Variety (Ibee) predicted: "Among the season's suc- cesses." ninff the summer. The show was one of the dramatic hits of last se.a .son, clicking off heavy grosses of $18,000 and more for months. 2 Ducked Premiere Charles B. Dillingham, with all the big premieres he has had, still ha.sn't the nerve to ait through one. He reserves a gallery seat—but can't stick tlirough. It happens that Fred- , erick Lonsdale, whose play, "The Pligh Road," opened Dil- lingham's season; is similarly disposed. Dill couldn't stand, the strain. . Neither could Lon. Dill breezed and walked west on 46th. Lon \ ,ditto, walked east, and they met on 45th, midway between" Broadway and 8th avenue. "What are you doing here?" demanded Dillingham. "Look- ing for a producer for my next play," said Lonsdale. "Sold," gasped Dillingham. Neither saw more than half of the first act. And both . could have stuck in safety; for it clicked. Kolb and Dill Lose On Misrepresentation . San Francisco, Sept. 11. Fred A. Glesea and W. A,. Rusco won in their suit for damages against Kolb and Dili (coast stage comics) when Judge James G. Quinn of Alameda county entered judgment in their favor for $2,460. At the same time the judge dis- missed the counter suit filed by Kolb and Dill. This was the suit for damages growing out of the substitution by Kolb and Dill of a non-musical show in place of a musical (as booked), ■which they did through elimination of the chorus In their production of "Queen High." Gicsea "bought" the show for Stockton as a musical, while Rusco bought It for his house. When the show arrived at Stockton without a chorus. House Manager Nick Turner dismissed the capacity audience and refunded all money, at the same time denouncing Kolb and Dill for misrepresenting the attraction. Rusco also canceled. The court ruled with the plaintiffs that a musical show is not. a musi- cal without a chorus. NO DIRT SHOW SALVAGE stock Revenue Ends—Resident Cos. Seek Melos and Clean Comedies Dirt shows are fast losing their grip as demand stock reieases. Check up at play brokers shows that the stocks are after light farces and heavy melodramas. The fiop insurance angle that had been emploj'ed by legit producers on the bad boys, figuring the stock revenue sufficient to take them out )f the red on venture is also off.' "Just a Minute'' Good Boston, Sept. 11. Morris and Greene's "Just a Min ute," musical, opening last night here, is fast and funny; shaping up like a winner. ^ It looks good for three w'eeks in town, before starfing for Broadway. Legit, Film Corps Falling Pff; Talker ^Television Now Albany, N. Y., Sept. 11. Talking movies and television are coming more and more in the lime- light each day with a considerable number of conapanles Incorporating in the state and venturing in such business, according to a. report is- sued by Robert Moses, Secretary of State, in whose department the cor- poration bureau is located. In the last month there have been incorporated at least 12 talkie con- cerns and four concerns in televi- sion. . At the same' time there is a. fall- ing off of general theatrical cor- poration, including theatres* legiti- niatet shows and movies. For the last eight months there has been an average of 15 new theatrical in- corporations each week. In the last month this number dropped con- siderably. Miss Burgess' Roles ; Los Angeles, Sept. 11. Dorothy Burgess, who will do ""The Squall" but here Sept. 24, is also quite apt to be given the title role in "Lulu Belle." Mi.ss Burgess will appear in both .shows at the Belasco theatre for Belasco and Butler. This same firm will also do Elmer Harris' new, play, "The Wise Vir-. gin," w'hi<;h figures to reach the Be- lasco sonie time in- November or De- cember, dependent upon what "The Royal Family" does after it arrives here from 'Frisco. Mrs. Garter's "Shanghai" Mrs. Leslie Carter, in "Shanghai Gesture," opens her road season Sept. 26.. The show will play the Erlanger time through the south. Al H. Woods is the producer. Woods last week signed up Con- •ad Cantzen, who originated the role of Linchi in New York, for the tour. $6,000 Stock Opening - Minneapolis, Sept. 11. Legitimate houses benefited last w-eek from the state fair crowds. "Broadway," "•ith Edith Taliaferro, opening the season of the Bain- brldge Players (dramatic stock) at the Shubert, and did around $6,000. This is one of the best opening w^eks the company has ever had in its 17 seasons. A tab musical comedy version of "Cradle Snatchers" brought $5,500 for the McCall-Bridge Players at the Palace. "The Burlesque Revue," Mutual Wheel attraction, grossed about $5,700 at the Gayety. Metropolitan was dark after "Night Hostess," but opened this week with "Dawn," film. ERSKINE A PLAYWBIGHT Norwalk, Sept. 11. John Erskine and Herbert Yost are both turning playwrights. The SilyemtiTie Gxiiid of Artists and Ac-- tors, located near this place and al- ways ready to try anything, will give the author's and actor's re- spective plays tryouts this Week. Professor Erskine has written a one-act play called "Hearts Endur- ing'.'; - and Grace l!?abell Colburn, poet and translator, and George Alison will play the leading roles. Herbert Yost'.s "Gates Ajar" is said to be a parody on neighbor Eu- gene O'Neill's "Strange Interlude." Burke Pymond, David Belasco ex- ecutive, i.s the latest commuter from New York to Silvermine. Dixie McCoy's Shows Los Angeles, Sept. 11. Dixie McCoy, heading a produc- ing company, .has signed long term lease on Hollywood Music Box and >vin open Sept. 25- With "Tarnishr". by Gilbert Emery, with Virginia Valll, Albert Gran and Barton Hep- burn heading cast. A. Leslie Pearce will direct.. "BED" OPENING OCT. 8 Los Angeles, Sept, 11. Felix Young's pi'oduction of '•The .Marriage^ Bed,I^^y^JgrnestJ\'vyea^ opens at the Figueroa. playhouse Oct. 8. Robert Milton has been borrowed from Paramount t() stage it. . • Cast includes Owen Moore, Alice Joyce, Frltzi Rldgeway, Doris Lloyd, George Barraud, James Bradhur, Jr., and Sylvia Bcechcr. MARIAN SPITZER EDITING Lo.s Angeles, Sept. 11. Marian SpiLzrr lias been m.'ulo slory editor of Movielnne produc- tions for Fox. Mi.><s Si)it'/er was oi'if^inally ■bmu;;^kt;JLm-e- .l) y^. Koxi_to. ..len d the^ feiniiiiiie an.^lc to the e.onii>any's l>ictiu"os. "HIS PEOPLE" IN LONDON ' Los Angeles, Sept. 11. Isadorc Llernstein's play, "Hi.s People." which Univer.'ial made into a picture three years ago, will be i produced in London 'next'mo-'ntlh*' " <, LEAD WITH OPPOSISH Providence, Sept. 11. Dwight Frye, recently co-featured with Charlotte Wynters in Chi in "A Man's a Man." has joined the Albee stock. Miss Wynters is lead- ing woman at the Modern, opposi.sh stock house. BOULEVARD'S LEGITS With Bernard Groh (Groh & No: blo). per-sonally managing, the Bou - levard. Jack.son lleights, i,s eliminat- ing its vaiiOftlm policy to plixy road attractions. It will makf^ a play for new .'^hows seoUin.ir nearby i)r<»- nilex.e_s to ].^r()a(l\v;iy. Road "Shannons" . ''Sliannons of Broadway" will bo sent on tour this season by Gloasoti and Boothe sans James Glea.son an-l Lucille Webster in the lends. Company is. now being organized and goes into rehearsal tho latter part of the week.