Variety (Oct 1928)

VARIETY L E Gl t I M ATE Wednesday, October 24, 1928 Shows in N. Y. and Comment succe Figures estimated and comment point to some ^•'"j; isfyl, while the sjime gross accredited to others m.ght suggest mediocrity or loss. The variance is explained in the difference in house capacities with the varying overhead. Also the_8ize of cast, with consequent difference in necessary gross of profit.^ in business necessary for musical attraction as agamst dramatic play is also, corisidered. Admission tax applies on tickets over $3. "A Connecticut Yankee," Vander- .bilt (52a week) (Mr88^-.$5.50).. Final wdek for "Yankee"; ''Tlu- Bevolt" next week; business supged badly on Broadway; gen- • eral coniplaints;, Indian, summer blamed. . : "Animal Crackers," 44th Stfcet (1st week) (M-1,323-$C.G0). Preaented •by Sani H. Harris;. Four- Karx brothers starred; opened Tuesday. •'Biilie," Krlaii^er (4th week) (M- l,520-$3.85). . Tepid weather prob- ably holding this one . back, aic- cepted idea of sub-normal condi- tions; Cohan's musical highly rated in ticket circles; over $25,000 Claimed. ; '■ "Blackbirds,'/ Jiltinge . (23th week) (R-892-$3.85). Moved from lib- erty last week, continuing sell^oyt pace; sctile increased' to balance lesser , first floor capacity; over . .$2b,0().0.. ."By Request," Hudson (C-1.094-$3): Suddenly went to Boston after withdrawing Saturday; played • four weeks. "Chee Chee," Mansfield (M-1,050- 5^5.50). ' Stopped suddenly Satur- day, playing four, weeks; good business at .start but riot conceded winner; reports of police scrutiny discounted; "Americana';; • next- wieelc. "Courage," Rltz (3d. week) (D-945- $3). Management conlident oi Sticking this brie over; hasn't done much to date; took healthy jump last week, bettering $8,000. .**Cross My Heart," Knickerbocker ((ith weelt) (M-l,4l2-?4.40). Agency buy expired and not re- newed; fairly good business first fourAveeks; last week $16,000 esti- mated. ""Diamond Lil," Royale (^9th week): ,(Cb-l,ll7-$3).. Around $11,000 last week; figure considered good flLt this stage of run; probably pick up again/ "Elmer the Great," Lyceum (5th week) (C-957-$3). Business noth7 , ing tb brag about; around $6,0.00, liridcr previous pace. "Exceedingly Small," Comledy (1st week) (C-682-$3)". Presented by Actors Theatre; written by Carp- line Fraricke; opened Monday, "Faust,'? Guild (3d week) (0-914- $3). Six .weeks will let this one out; around $14;000 claimed, by Virtue of subscriptions; "Major Barbara" to be revived next month; with "Wings .Oyer Eu- rope" latcf on. "Front Page," Tlmca Square (llth week) (e'-i,057-$3.85). Fast mov- ing drama, continues clean-up; a bit off last week but $23,000 estimated^ "Gang War," Sam H. Harris (10th , weclO (C-l,057-$3.85). Final week; moderate grosses for lim- ited period; about.$8,000 with less last week; "Luckoo Girl" moves in frorii Casino Monday^ "dentlemen of the Press," 48th Street ■ (9th week) (C-969-$3). Much better here than at Miller, but slipped with others last week;, claimed over $7,000, . "Girl Trouble," Belmont (1st week) C-515-$3). Presented by Richard Hefndon; written by Barry Con- nors; opeiis Thursday (Oct. 25): "Goin' Home," Masque (-10th week) , (CD-700-;$3). Final week "here; must find another house or clQSo; / good fihow gone wrong; "YoUng Love'' due next week.' "Good Boy," Hammorsteln'a (8th , week) (M-l,40Q-$0.60). , Took it - on chin, ,but other musicals, a.s : badly affected last wieck; slipped more than $6,000 for approximate • $2;»,ooo. ^Gods of the Lightning/' Little (1st week) .(D-530-$3). Presented by Hamilton McFadden; a drania re- ported to be exceptional; written by Maxwell Anderson and Harold Hickerson; opens tonight (Wed- ne.sday). "Good News," Ch.anln's 46th St.,1 .(60th week) (M-l.-U3-$5.50). Still riiaking coin; based off last week but rated over $20,000; expected to stick through November or bit longer. "Heavy Traffic," Henry Miller's (Sth . ■ w-cok) (CD-946-$3.85). Final week, moved hero from Empire last week; ti-ndo further .•^h.ading off; A. H. Woods; adapted from FiThch by Eugene Walter; highly ~ touted ; only two persons :in cast, Fay Balnter and John Halllday: opened Monday. "Jlist a . Minute,"' Ambassador (3d week) (M-i,200-$4.40). Booked Into wrong house; productl.6n cannot be properly set on trian- gular stage, which handicaps perr fbrmance; $12,000 not enough, for a musical, , "Little Accident," Morosco (3d week) (C-898-$3), Figures to make dis- tance to fairly good grosses; sec- ond week quoted a bit over $9,000. "Luckee Girl," Casino (6th week) (M-i.477-$4.40), Moves, to Harris Family Biz Picks Up; Treasure GirV $33,000 Philadelphia, Oct. 23. ' fheatire managers have th6lr fingers crossed. Last week showed some indications of an end to the terrific slump. Leader for the week was "Treas- ure Girl," new Gertrude Lawrence musical. With $3.85 top, $4.40 Sat- urday^ It reported a gross of about $33,000, ■ Big disappointment was "Animal Crackers," moving from .the Shu- bert up to the Erlariger, Smash hit in Its first three weeks, this Marx Brothers' shdw dropped: to around $24,000 last week after its move, something like $12,000 less than its high mark. Among the drama;tlcs, no isriiaohes but Friday and Saturday business pulled several up from the dold- rums. Last night saw three changes. "Congal" with Helen Menken, at the Adelphl; '^Mair ©ugan" at Keith's and "My Maryland" Into the Erlanger for a single week. Next week will see five openings, "Macbeth" at Broad for two weeks; Lyric," four LA. Grosses , Los Angeleg, Oct 23. "Tho Marriage Bed." produced by Felix Young, ' started, strong at Mayan, getting $13,500 , oh six per- formances including, a $5 opening. Title is decnied box office here- abouts. !': "The Squall" at the fourth week, clicked Dempsey's Show Did $15,000, Capacity $40,000 Bbston, Oct 23. Grosses ot the legit not very en- couraging last week. If It hadn't been for the business turned In by a couple of dramatics (thrillers), th© Belasco, I story would have been very sad, better than I The Jack iDempsey show, "The Biff $15 000. Majestic tilled $9,400 on Fight," flopped badly, and eveu the'19th week of "The Desert Sorig." "Americana," of which considerable Henry D,uffy's local attractions I was expected, did not come through and grosses were: "Shannons of 1 very strong, falling by about $3,000 Broadway," El Capitari, '$5,8()0, to touch $20,000. fourth week; "Be$t People," Holly- Thfe flop of the Deriipsey show was wood Playhouse, $5,700, second rather a-. shock. , Booked Into the \yeek; "Wooden Kimono," Presi- biggest hbusie in the'.towii handling' derit, eighth week, $4,200. These icglt, its topi could have given $40,- gro.sses based on $1.25 scale. 000, but the business^ was estimated "On Approval" hovered around at not much better than $15,000. $7,000 on second week at ,yine "Dracula." which finished up a Street Music Box with Tarriish U^ree weeks' engagement at tho was around $3,000 for fourth week, uolli^, Was one of the nearest ap- "Jazz of Patriotism" at tiny Egan ppoaches to a real hit the town has reported $1,100 ori wetik. "Ywing Love" Folds Fast; Chi Critics Did It "Royal Family" for ;S Mond^rhadi;^ ave;^^ I ^Sow" "^S^^iit) %.e£^S $16,000, but probably less last |..R^,»^Dow ^^^yat For- had and one of the big monety mak< ers that this house has seen. . It did $17,000 on the flnal week. "Take the Air'' on the fehal week at the, Wilbur slid off about, $1,000 last week, flgured as a normal slip because of the extra business the holiday brought to it the preceding week. Grossed oyer $17,000 last week, pretty fair business consider- ing the length of time it has been week; an in-between musical; "Hello Everybody" follows next . week, ■ "Machinal," Plymouth (8th week) (D-l,012-$3). . "Tepid feather Iri- terfered with steady increase In business; ovei" $12,500 last week and will grow again. "Mr. Moneypenny," Liberty (2d week) (D-l,202-$2.50). .Favorable / indications; opened Wednesday to fair business,; with, attendance picking ,up; downstairs draw ac- cording to agency sal6s. '<Night Hostess," Martin Beck (7th . week) (CD-1.18d-$3). No doubt about Phil Dunning's melodranrta being liked; while not among the "Olympia," Empire (2d week) (D- l,099-$4.40)i Distinctly mixed opinion about latest Molriar play; doubtful of lasting naoro than a few weeks; $8,000 to $9*000, In first seven performances. "Paris," Music Box (3d week) (C- 1,000^$4.40). Class draw, with business among the be&t of sea- son's new shows; last •week esti- mated over $23,000. "Possession," Booth (4th week) (CD-708-$3). While under stop limit should! stick for ,a time; must move because house book- ing, and goes to Henry Miller s Monday; paced at $8,000; "These Few Ashes" next week. "Rain or Shine," George M. Cohan (38th week) (M-l,37i-$5.50). Long Music In May' rest. '. Estimates for Last Weel< . "The 19th Hole" (Broad. 2d week) return only $7,500 last week, nothing like what It did before. Tyler's "Mdcbeth" Monday. "Treasure Girl" (Shubert . Zd week) Gertrude Lawrence musical easily, led town last week With $33,- 000. ■ Thurston (Garrlck, 2d week) Magician , playiing three weeks. Usual $1.50 top. After Theatre Guild. "Golden Dawn", (Chestnut 4th week) . Operettq, hot flop on return visit, but not as big as hoped. Last ' around $20,000 only. "Rain- bow" next Chicago, Oct. 23. "Rio Rita" out-rZiegf.elded recent Zie'gfeld attempts in this towri, last I here.' week. The momentum back of the; advance sale for the Illinois occu-^ "The Queen's Tastje," at the..,ghu- bert (new hiuslcaDi . is on the final ities .for "Young Love," Curiosity vious week by about $^oyu. for the hot lines in the Wbods new In; the next to tho^ final week ,at show was sidetracked by the news- the Plymouth the Madge Kennedy papers.' "Lovfe" diea this week-end, show, "Paris Bound/' did $10 000 last making four brieit stays for new at-' week. Its weekly gross h.Jis run tractions at the Woods since the along at about^th's^ figure, since it season started. "The Five O'clock opened here. Satisfactory for, this Girl " after uncertainties," will type of show under the prevailing open Sunday. conditions. , House raanagers 'Were frank in The Tremont, which has been admitting the ovations extended closed for a couple of weeks due to Gov»--Smith—Thursday and Friday the lack of any attraction, for the 1 J"^w^iw?- Sfok4nS"bfrllE^^^ showed: their 'effects at the 1 house,-^pencd Monday with "By Re- 1st week). Booking atr^ignt snow i^s narticulavly Fi'iday, usu- auest.'" Booked in for two Weeks into the large ^1^}^^ aUy 1 strong ^ross pull Cofonial seems fated for a couple of "^"gS Street FoUies" (W^^^ week dark weeks after "Americana." 2d we^k) cT^s revu" got gteat were normal, everything depending ^Shree to open next Monday-"Red ««ti^la hnt ^^oh «t the m^^^ upon the, advance strength of the j^te" at Shubert, "Connecticut "^^^^^^tJ^^^ 52de? $15 000^ af $3 respect! shows' "Good News" is ?^^b.ee' for Majestic and Helen over heads, top. ■• "Hello Yourself^ (Forrest 5th week). This collegiate musical holds long run record of season to date. Last week, ott to $24,000. "Music in Miay" next ' "Interference" (Lyric, 4th week) Excellent British melodrama, after juiriping. lip in second'week, oft last week to $10,000. "Royal Family" next : ' ■ :. "Congai" (Adelphl, 1st week) now out to establish a full yeiir's jj^yes. jn "Coquette" at Wilbur, run at the Selwyn, making it 16 Estimates for Last Week rent' aTll40° creafeTn^^^^^ "American" (Colonial, 3d week)- ^eSJd Jor localTegit?'"^'^ ^ fn^OAa^, wek. Not ui. to^ expec- The most substantial pl.iigglng tatlons./ Final week. ; for shows, viewed from a box office I "The Bachelor . Father" (HolUsi, value standpoint Is going to ''Com.- mand to Love," "Queen's Husband" and "Burlesque." Of these three, "Burlesque" needed attention the most. "Command to Love" can't run attractions took the slump _ HarrlW fifth try-out of season fatten the halcony business, yet the kipht along, slap hardest last week; estimated [ ■"^ Menken starred, in I lower floor is solid, and this play Is | gross here about $25,000; had been weeks. "Squealer" Ist week)-^Opens after "Dracula" turned in threfe weeks of very good husiness, with final week $17,000. "Paris Bound" (Plymouth, last ^eek—$10,000. Doing about same bettering $30,000 "Relations," Wallack's (10th week) (C-770-$3), Has stuck it out much longer than first Indicated; get- ting some cut-rate money, and still hopeful. . ■ "Rosalie," New Amsterdam (42d week) , (M-l,702-$6.60). Final week; goes to road, -with Phila. the first stand; has a long run to its credit and a goodly profit claimed; house dark unttl "Whoopee." , . >ry "Scandals," Apollo (17th week) (R- l,168-$6.60). Grosses have been held to high level via long agency buy; brokers reported stuck with pU'nty of tickets; $44,0.00 esti- mated. "Straight Thru the Door," 49th Street . (4th week) (C-708-$3). Business better than estimated; paced around $7,000, which Is satisfactory for show of the kind; personal draw of William Hodge credited. "Show Boat," Ziegfeld (44th wpek) (M-l,150-$6.60). Drew fresh pub- licity by entertaining Graf Zeppe- lin bunch; still the outstanding riiusical attraction on Broadway; over $50,000 weekly. "Skidding/' Bayes (23d week) (Cr 861-$3). Does riot demand riluch in gross to operate; mari'agernent claims some profit: husiness on &, cut rate basis, riiaybe over $4,000; "Strange Intierlude," John Golden (39th week) (D-900^$4.40). Busi- ness for the slx-performance- 'wcckly attraction not affected by the newer productions; Is set for season; $16,000. "The ■ Command .Performance," Klaw (4th week) (D-830-$3). Doubt about making the grade; last week's takings estimated, around $6,000. "The Common Sin," Forrest (2d week) (D-l,50-$3). Fair notice drawn by new moUer; also doubt- ful of hcing a money show; first Helen Menken starred- In | lower floor is soiia, ana viis piay is 1 ^y^o Silent House" (Majestic, 3d got drawing the ^strongest attention of ^eek)-Last week at this house. At any non-musical attraction In town pjyjnouth next Week. About $14,000. for acting. ^ | ojhe Queen's Taste" (Shubert, about $9,000 last week. "My Maryland" (Erlanger, one week only). Stop-gap booking fol- lowing week of "Animal Crackers" which ifeU to $26,000. "Rosalie" Monday. . The town did a total gross of ap- 1 ^^^ —^^y^ About $17,000 last week, tlons last week, iboul* ncSS | StiU being; worked j)n. proximately, $283,000 trade for this period. Estimates for Last Week. "Rio Rita" (Illinois, 2d week). Leads everything, thorough sma,sh. Nino performances, midweek mat- inee at $3.85, gave $43,0(«\ "Manhattan Mary" (Grand, 7th week). Three varied prices on lower floor. Around $32,000. "My Maryland" (Great Northern, Sth week). Moderated triflo, but $29,000. ^ "Mary Dugan" (Adelphl, 9th weekrrM -T.Vds - VsTeoy.'iLnoth^^ Gem of non-musicals; $23,- (CD-l,094-$3). Two weeks after this; ho flowers; cost enough al- ready; house wUl get "These Days" Nov. 12. "Tho New Moon," Imperial (6th week) (M - 1.400 - $6,60). Went through warm days last week with very little drop fpr. even the matinees; a real hit; $39,000, "The Three M usketeer-s," Lyric (33d clasa oi>eretta with a record of holding over into new season, spanning the summer; somewhat aiffected last week; $30,000. "The War^ Song," National (5th. week) (GD-l,164-$3). Numerous benefits figured to keep this one going Into December; business . fair; the climated pace $9,000. "This Thing Called Love," Bojlu (6th week); (C-606-$3.85). Moved here from. Maxine Elliott Mon- day; one of the newer shows that . have done well ehouigh down- stairs, but plenty oif room for im- provement; $8,000 last week. "Three Cheers," Globe (2d week) (M - 1,416 - $6,60), New musicail smash due to Will Rogers; first week, with $11 premiere, $44,000, "Ups-a-Daisy," Shubert (3d week) (M - 1,396 - $6.60). Doing fairly well, most business coming from agency support: balcony trade can improve; second week slightly off, $22,000. . "Vanities," Earl Carroll (12th week) (R - 968 - $7.7(>). Some perform- ances off, but on the whole has been, getting excellent money; pape figured around $34,000. "White Lilacs," Jolson's (7th week) "fflJnu1^=^$-77000;-^Posaesslon^-movea -weolc=.$6,DM,=cati^^^ over frdm Booth "Hold E^vcrything," Broadhurst (3d week) (M-l,llS-$r).r)0). ' I^okslike this n(?w nui.'^ioal is In money; In second' week, against weather hantlicaps, over $2r..r)00; full ca- psicilv .«aid to bo $3:;,000. •Jarnegan," Longacre (5th week) , (CD-l,019-$3 85). Rated having good chanco to go through sea- son; business holds to good fig- ures and profitable both ways; $14,000 estimated.. "Jealousy," , Maxine Elliott (1st "The Grey Fox," Playhouse (1st week) (C-879-$3). I>remlere post- poned from last week through. lead'.«! Illness; opened Monday "The High Road," Fulton (7th week) , (C - 913 - $3.S5). Agency .sales point to a run for EngU.sh comedy; class draw; was getting $18,000, and claimed more last week, "The K Guy,"Biltmore (C-li00O-$3) Taken off last Saturday; played one week; $2,500; "Tin Pan Al ley" next week week) (D-924-$3). Presented by' "The Ladder," Cort (lODth week) 000, with long run ahead, " G o o d N e w s " (Selwyn, 36th week). $23,000. Not to toe sneezed at for stage of run. "Command to Love" (Studebaker, 8th week)^ Splendid lower iBboi:, but balcony call spotty. High $16,000. Burlesque" (Harris, 6th .■w:eek). Present striength figurds around $16,000 or close .to it. "The Sileiit Houes" (8th and final week). Oiit this week, never satis- fying for longer stay. Around $10,- 000; and lower recently. "Queen's Husband" (Cort, 6th week). Getting valued publicity in right .spots; approaching $12,000. "Volponie'' (IBlackstone, last week, fifth week for "Theatre Guild en- gagement). Capacity pace con- tinues, with exact gross subtrac- tions for subscription, charges aigaihst gross of $23,000. "The Red Robe" (Majestic, 4th "Take the Air" (Wilbur, last Week)—Long and fairly good money 1 making run. Better than $17,000 "By, Request" (Tremont 1st week) 1 In for two weeks. Film Stars and Champ Fail to Excite Prov, Providence, Oct. 23i. Two picture stars and a tennis champ provided Interest for legiti- mate theatergoers this week in th« persons of Viola Dana, Marjorla Daw and William T. Tllden, 2nd* doing only fair biz as against ca- pacity for the moviei. , . - Miss Dana's reception at th« Modern where she' was appearing as a stock guest star was -warnv and the petite screen favorlt* clicked well. "What Every Woman Ivriows" used around $9,000. Okay. Miss Daw and Bill Tllden ap- peared In "Dracula" at the Opera Hou.se, bringing out a large portion of the elite who knew Tllden when he made Providence his home som* years ago. Poor at $5,000. JINX STOCK HOUSE Des Moines, Oct. 2S, After two weeks Don Dixon's D©* lineatlonS company, opening at the and final week). On its way, not Princess here, has suffered the same registering at $14,000 (nino per- fate as Paul Foley's company, forniances). "The Gang War" toLyhlch attemjpted to bpcn the hoas« follow. , , _ . , for summer stock. ^ "Young. Love" (Woods. 2d and 3,^,^^ companies felt the jinx that final week). Critics saw tb, length rtn +Wo house for stock of this one for the town, "-the ITive l*^" J^s. o'clock (^irl" next, Nice profit worked up vyjlth flr'srl secon^^'week presentation and another week to go. Around $5,0001 at low scale. American Opera ("FJrlanger, 4th and final w*ek). Spotty trade, never high. - - (Q^l,77.6-$5.50). ,. Thea tre parUeB |,. '!Broadway'l ( will probably keep this operetta going through fall; avorage .around $20,000. Special Attractions "Surt-Up," revived at Princeaa, re- named the Lucille Laveme. Civic Repertory, 14th Street; reper- tory. "Tho Light of Asia," Walter Hamp- den's (3d week); "When Crummies Play«d,*' Qarrlok (4th week). "Sunny Days,* Century; repeat; flnal Week. presentations "the paat- few years, week). I n-"d both closed after the first ot Boston's Benefit for Fund Boston, Oct 23. A special matinee performance of "The Silent House" • was given at I the Miijostic Theatre Friday after- noon for the benefit of the Actors' Fund.. Coburn's Revivals Charles Cobum haa taken over Daly's 63d Street New York, oh a year's lease. He will apot a series of revivals at the house. Cobum takes possession Nov. *• The house will be renamed the Co- burn theatre, with a revival of "Tho Yellow Jacket," featuring Mr.- ana Mrs. Cobum, as the first attracUon.