Variety (Apr 1929)

Wednesday, Aprft 10/1929 L E GIT IM A T E VARIETY 93 Good Easter Week with Extra Shows Followed by Record Hot Weadier Broadway got Its flret taate of ■uinmer-weather from Saturtlay to Monday end the'Jun6-llke tempera- tui«B Kot an Iminiedlate reaction In 'the ' legit box offlces. Business dropped sharply. Out-of-town eaet- ^•m cities also suffered. In one ispot It was' 96 decrees, as agalnist New 'Xorfc'B 8E and. the. gross of a hit ahow on tour dropped 40 per cent. The record warmth followed what was generally a money - getting ■Easter Week, Nearly every leader did a oKan-up^ several establishing new high levels for the season, throogh. extra, matinees. . -While tlie Baeter card of new of- ferings was plentiful, none ■. was really outstanding. Six of the nine arrival's' are in cut rates. The ex- ceptions are "Bird in Hand" <Booth), "Man's Estate" (Biltmore) and "Mrp, Bumpstead-Leigh," re- vival (Klaw). "Street Scene," out In front of all dramas for some time, went to a new gross at the Playhouse, in 12 ' performances over $27,200. A dally matinee was played, all perform- ances to standing room. On a par in demand, the agencies state. Is "Journey's End;" the new ^gllsh drama at the Miller, and ivithout an extra matinee the gross .lettered 120,000 (no standees per- 'mltted); "Holiday," with one added performance, got more than (22,000; ^Caprice" In nine times re^ieated 121,000 get; "Mima," about $17,000; "Kibitzer," over $16,000; "Let Us Be Oay" hit $16,600 iii 10 shows; "Little Accident," over $14,000; about the'same for "Age of'Inno- cence"; "Strange Interlude," $13,- BOO; "Courage," about $13,000; "Serena BIAlndlsh," over- $12i000; "Brothers," nearly $12,000; "Meet the Prince;* $9,600; "My Girl Friday," and "Most Immoral Lady," $8,000; added to the hits is "The Perfect Alibi," which in a 300 seater is selling out and last '^eek gave 12 performances (dally mat inee). . Of Inst week's new shows. "Bird In Hand" started late in. the week, hut- is regarded having a good chance. "Mystery Square," opening the same night, not so good. "Music In May" started mildly and • was estimated around $20,000, compara- tively light for a high-scaled musi- cal; "Man's EsUte" got $14,500, fairly good first week; "Mrs. Bump- sted-Lelgh" developed an agency call; "He -Walked in Her Sleep" has little chance; "Paola and Fran- cesca," a revival, in for two weeks, only; "Under the Gaslight," on the Bowery, doubtful. Musicals Among the musicals, "Follow Thru" went to a new gi-oss by vir tue of an added matinee, getting over $44,000; "Hold Everything,' with two extra capacity matinees, got $41,000, also a new gross mark; "Whoopee" remains the actual leader of the Ust, over $49,000 every week since opening; rated around $37,000 were "The New Moon," "Pleasure Bound" and "Fioretta," while "Three Cheers," which is closing this week, claimed capacity pace; "Show Boat," $33,-000; "Spring Is Here," $30,000; "The Red Robe," estimated over $20,000 about that mark for "Lady Fin gers"; "Hello, Daddy," claimed $19,000; "Blackbirds," though get- ting $17,600, is one of the season's stand-out musical successes, and continues to clean up. In addition to "Three Cheers," •ther shows leaving this week are "Good Boy," "Security" and "The Front Page"; "Paola and Fran cesca" quits too. while "S. S. Glen- calm," also revival, stopped Sat nrday. Due in next week are "The Ijove Duel," postponed from this week, at the Barrymore; "The Camel Through the Needle's Eye, Beck, and "Before 'Vou're 25, which succeeds "Security," at the Elliott. Agency Buys There have been few additions to the number of attractions handled on a buy basis by' the premium agencies. The list this week "Spring Is Here" (Alvin). "Mlina' (Belasco), "Bird In Hand" (Booth) "Hold Everything" (Broadhurst) "Fioretta" (Carroll), "Music In May" (Casino), "Follow Thru" (For ty-slxth St.), "Three Cheers' (Globe), "Strangte Interlude" (Gold •n), "Caprice" (Guild), "The Per feet Alibi" (Hopkins), "The New Moon" (Imperial), "Let Us Be Gay <Little), "Pleasure Bound" (Majes tic), "Journey's End" (Miller's) •^hoopee" (Now Amsterdam),"At ter Dark" (Rialto, Hoboken). "Tho Black Crook" (Lyric, Hotokcn) Cut Rates The bargain ticket office, whicli had a tough Monday, too, listed 19 shows, including mo.-jf of those which vopened—last—week:—-A'Good Boy" (Hammerstein'.s), "Lady Fin gers" (Liberty), "He Walked In He Sleep" iPrlnc^ss), "Hello Daddy ((Seo. M. Cohan), "Skidding (Bayes), '^a Trip To Scarborough ' (Provlncetown); "Little Accident' (Ambassador), "A ■ -MoKt Immoral Lady" (Cort), "My Girl Friday (Republic). ".She Got AVhat She Wanted" (Wallack's), "Whispering Gallery" (49th St.), "Brothers" (48th Stock** Bouncers Stock companies at the Rivera, Brooklyn, and at Paterson, N. J., have been paying oft their actors in I. O. U.'s and rubber checks. Nellie (3111, Viola Swayne, Lucille Fenton, Edward Colebrook and Eddie Wilson , all received bouncers. Several complained to Equity and had their checks made good. Since then both stocks have hired actors willing to waive the bond, and amateurs. 85 One-Set Shows Chicago, April 9. Earl Ross, operator of the dramatic stock, at the 'War- rington theatre. Oak Park, has established a record. - He. has run 86 consecutive .weeks of stock without a lay- off and every one of the 86 shows was produced with one set of scenery. Ross picked all the "one set shows," in the catalogue. NEW YORK CHATTER Two New Ones In $6,000 Ctase— "Swan" and "Mother" CloM liOS: Angeles, April 8. Legit business fell off a bit last week despite the supposed holiday occasion. "Strange Interlude" was again the town leader with $24,000, while "The Swan" finished an 11 weeks' run to $8,000. Estimates for Last Week Strange Interlude" (Biltmore) (Sth week). Romped to $24,000; oke for a spot where they don't like to sit sUll. long. "Silent House" (Belasco) (8d week). Going along at $10,000 pace. "The Swan" (MajesUc (llth and final week). Quit nice ran to $8,000. "Mr. Pirn Passes By" (Figueroa) (let week). Came in at $6,000 on Initial seven daya "Little Orphan Annie" (Mayan) (1st week). Claimed $6,000 for first four performances. "Royal Box" (Mason) (let week). With Walker Whiteside and first week, $6,600. "Bad Man" (President) (2d week). With several theatre parties biiying, $6,000. "Courage" (El Capitan) (4th week). Not bad at $6,000. "Mother's Millions" (Hollywood Playhouse) (9th and final week). Called it a run with $4,600. "Broadway (Vine Street) (3d wetk). Under $4,000 pretty low. 4NEWT0CH1 TOTAL $70,000 (Continued from page 44) day 'round the world cruise, dated for next winter. Keith's and Georgle Jessel have added an extra week to his original two-week booking—May 6 at River side, New York. George will open at the Palace, Chicago, April 27, Memorial, Boston, following. Wise Broadwayites know how to beat the rain. When wishing to go from 49th to 47th street it is pos- sible to walk through the hotel lob- bies from street to street without getting wet, Ruth Goodwin, who closed at the Madrid, has her teeth all strlghtened as directed by Paramount and Is getting along well with the vocal lessons preparatory to going to the Coast Dog parlor opened next to the Carroll theatre, selling pups to showgirls on the installment plan One remai-ked, "I only own your tall and ears, baby, but next week I'll pay for your 'torso." Mrs. Alice Johnson Lamar, char acter actress, who has been lectur- ing in advance of "Slmba," the Martin Johnson animal picture, is returning to her first love, trouping. The Chanlns boast the highest theatrical offlces in the world. They are spotted on the 62nd floor of the new Chanln building on 42nd street Harry KHne, manager of the Chanln houses, has a room with a real view. William Norton, manager of the Music Box, New York, was walking his dog near his home in Richmond Hill Sunday night when the hound started to run. Bill loping behind Suddenly Bill crossed his legs and fell. Broken-^one-'in his left hand At the premiere of Fay's "Under the Gaslight," Bowery Theatre, Lou Clayton, Eddie Jackson and Jimmy Dur.inte Jumped behind the bar, a<2 Joining the lobby, to help dlspens suds to the high hat crowd. Just a Billy Selwyn, youngest of Arch Selwyn's kids, is going? to work. He starts with the Columbia broadcast- ing system next week. Sonny, the other boy. Is returning from France, where he completed school. He re- sumes a job in the Paramount of- flces, New York. Hugh A. Frayne, New York or- ganizer for the American Federa- tion of Labor, has been seriously ill for some time. Several operations were performed for stomach trouble. Doubtful if he ever returns to active duty. William Collins is in charge of Frayne's office. Even rich kids get thrashed. A.s a llmou.slne tiirned in 49th street the other afternoon a father was ob- served boxing the ears of his young son, and as the car sped toward ..Sixth.avi>nue.lt.AnBea':.efl-tlie pay.ent L A. FALLS OFF 9 Post-Lenten Attractions Too Much For Philly; Under Week turned the lad oyer his knee for further punishment Chicago, April 9. Little to complain of Easter week, Barring Sunday night, when a rain- storm swept the town, weather all week was perfect The legits got a break. Four new shows arriving totaled around $70,000 for the week. Best money getter was "ConnecUcut Yankee," which scaled around $23 000. Critics treated It kindly, but lay opinions seemed to differ. Only William Gaxton and several others are here of the original company. "Jealousy," In for six weeks at the Woods, got off to a great start but failed to hold to capacity rest of the week. "Dracula," bringing the Blackstone bach to life, did not show strength. "Scandals" opened Sunday night to sellout, brokers crying for ducats. "Noah's Ark," arriving same night at the Woods, pulled excel- lently. Warner film got some of the smartest exploitation and pub llclty any picture has yet had here Of the set lineup "Jamegan" and "Diamond Lll" ran neck and neck at $18,000. Bennett opus moved to the tiny Selwyn where it will wind up when "Harlem" arrives AprU 28. "And So To Bed," another to shift homes, failed to better Itself at the Great Northern. It was moved In to keep house open until '^oom Boom ' arrives the 28th. "Royal Family" is holding on at the Harris unchanged In pace and will go in another fortnight Otis Skinner in "One Hundred Years Old" wHl take it oft on the 22d. ■•Ilosalie" off at the Illinois and appears to be fluctuating to an early exit. Next two weeks should tell. Week's Grosses Thurston (Erlanger, 1st week) Initial take about $13,000. Only in for two weeks. House goes dark "Diamond Ul" (Apollo, llth week'). Speaks well for Itself at this time. Originally not expected to go beyond eight weeks; $18,000 "Jealousy" (Adelphi, 1st week) Started nicely to de luxe opening but failed to hold pace. Society buys, already lined np, should help Got between $16,000 and $18,000. '•C»r.necticut Yankee" (Garrlck 1st W#>k). C:ame In strong and looks In the money for four weeks at least. Around $23,000 "Jarnegan" (Selwyn, 1st week 7th In town). Wound up at the Woods to $18,000, very satisfactory •Lilac Time," leaving the Twin couldn't cop more than $16,000. "Scarlet Woman" (Cort, 12th week). Goes out 20th. Nothing un derllned. Healthy mat biz helped $10,000. "Rosalie" (Illinois, llth week) Dropped a few grand but still oke at $32,000. "Royal Family" (Harris. 9th week). Couldn't hold previous week's pace. Down to four gr.anu to mediocre $16,000 "Dracula" (Blackstone, 1st week) On flr.st week gross can't last loiig Registered meager $16,000. "Scandals" (Grand, 1st week) Got off to a flying start Look -Ki*'a<-foii-W-hit6.at.$5m-6ca)ii Philadelphia. April 0. Easter week and the ending of Lent did not bring the expected boost in attendance. In fact, the three shows holding over from Holy Week actually fell off in business. The answer to that is that there were just four houses open Holy_ Week, as opposed to nine' last week. Easter Monday was the big dis- appointment of the whole week. Every show in town felt the. blight. Only one attraction, ."This Thing Called Love," at the Adelphi, had a Monday matinee, and that was nothing to write home about. After Monday business picked up steadily, with Wednesday attend- ance reported okay. Then a terrific hot spell which had a damaging effect on the week-end save for three offerings which rode through on their advance sales. One fiasco was "Manhattan Mary," return at the Shubert. Opened here last season and looked good for three weeks or more on a return, but the Easter Monday congestion and the heat wave conspired against that. Poor business and Ed Wynn's own inclination to wind up the long tour resulted in the decision, made at the last moment, to fold up Satur- day night. Beet of the musicals was "This Year of Grace," which started slowly at the Forrest, but built Upstairs was weak all along, but there was sell-out in the orchestra at. the end of the week. English revue likely to put the Forrest, staggering uncertainly, definitely on ..the map. Drawing class audience. Manage- ment claimed $21,000 gross, with al- most a certainty that that mark will be bettered this week. Blossom Time," back . for fifth local engagement, fared very well under the circumstances.' Will probably stay four weeks. Mask and Wig Qlub of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania dropped St) "That Ferguson Family (Ma.oque), "Conflict" (Fulton) "Harlem" .(Apollo), "Seouvlty". (Bi- llot), "Appearances" (Forrest), "Paolo and Francesca" (Forrest); •Mystery Square" (Longacre). "Grist" Postponed with the departure yestefday (Tuesday) of Guthrie M'cClintic for the Fox studios on the west coast where he will be stationed for 18 weeks under special production contract the new Martin Flavin play, "Grist to the Mill," will be in abeyance until his return in Oc tober. Rehearsals have now been set for the first' week in October with McCllntio in charge. LOuls Gensler is the producer. Gensler will precede the Flavin play around Sept. 1 by putting into rehearsal a new play by Elmer Rice, "See Naples and Die," with Rice directing. HAB7 TOUHG IN BOSTON Boston, April 9 Mary Young will appear Monday at Keith's St. James with "Her Un- born Child" in the role she played In the New York production. Local engagement is for two or three weeks. Miss Young is locally popular, the wife of John Craig. Keith's may decide to operate the St. James as a second run sound house. It seats 1,700. yj-MTglt HAfiBIS' COHEDT Elmer Harris has written comedy, as yet unnamed, which Is In rehearsal under the direction of Edgar MacGregor. Among cast are Mary Boland Jobyna Howland, Herbert Corthell and Hale Hamilton. BABRTHOBE SHOW OPENS Providence, April 9. Ethel Bariymore opened here lost night in "The Love Duel." Show is in bad shape and has a skeptical future from this point of view. Doctoring "Wishing" Los Angeles, Aprl^ 9 Thomas Whiteley has gone to San Francisco to rewrite and doc tor "The Wishing Well," Australian musical. Peter Gawthorne,-original author, retires from the cast and the pic ture before show opens In L, A. And So To Bed" (Great North- ern, 2d week, 6th in town). New abode proves nothing. Still where it started, around $11,000. Isadora Duncan Dancers (Ma- Jt-stlc, 'Jd, final week). Went out dimlv to n $26,000 total for two \\c<-ky. House dark until the 15th whpn ••This Year of Grace" makes lit tKiw for a fortnight One 'Dugan' Out After, this week but one company of the four company's of "Mary Dugan" which have" been touring, will remain opfin. '^emalKlhgwnrT.rtTO'KJra-TW^^ pany playing Cleveland. Paul Russell's Term Contract Paul Russell, juvenile lead with "Gay Paree," h.i!> ,i Shuhfrt throe year contract. The Edward .Small office handled the negotiations. scale from a $3.60 top to one of $3. Wisdom of this questionable con- sidering . society play this annual University, show gets. This yeai-'s Offering, "This Way Out," reported at around $27,000. at the Elrlangcr. Unless it takes a spurt show will h>ve\dlfflculty in getting $50,000 in Its two weeks. A couple of seasons ago the Mask and Wiggers did around $70,000 in a fortnight at the old Forrest "Blackbirds" did not stage any notable comeback . at the Garrlck, and the wisdom of bringing engage- ment to a close this week instead of May 1 was demonstrated. Of .the dramatics,' "Bachelor Father" and "This Thing Called Love" showed most strength. The former started disappointingly at the Broad, but built. "This Thing Called Love," with extra Monday matinee, could not touch its Holy Week figure. It may be that this comedy sensation of town at Adel- phi is past Its crest. This week win tell. ■Skidding." at the Walnut, drop- ped off again after picking up Holy Week. Didn't get more than $7,000, and goes out this Saturday. Re- turn of Helen Hayes In "Coquette" limited to three .weeks. Closing of "Manhattan Mary" and reopening of Keith's with Irene Bor- donl'S "Paris" keeps number of open houses In Phllly at nine. Paris" is in for two weeks only and advance Is not strong. Records of fifteen years disclose ho season with as many April open- ings as this year.' Bo far, the book- ings of the month total 28. An tin- usual feature of the situation is the number of highbrow offerings. Four Ibsen plays, six Shakespearean revivals, dramas by. Tchekov, An- dreyev and Barrie are Included In the list. Next iMonday finds the following bookingrs': Fritz Lieber's Shakes- pearean j>resentations at the Broad; 'Houseboat on the Styx" at the Er- langer; "Billle" (return) at the Gar- rick; "Night In Venice" at the For-w, rest and Blanche Yurka with twdr Ibsen plays at the Walnut. On the 22d, there will be Eva L« Galllenne with three plays at th« Broad; Alice Brady In "Most Im- moral Lady" at Keith's; "Whisper- ing (Sallery" at the Lyric; another Ibsen presentation by Blanche Yurka at the Walnut, and ••Hello Yourself (return) - at the Shubert- ' All ten of PhiUy's legit houses are booked Into May with Indica- tions that about half of them will ride through to June 1. ••Three Cheers" at the Erlanger Is one of the May bookings. ' Estimates for Last Week "Tht Bachelor Father" (Broad, 2d week). Final week. It started <I1h- appointlngly, but built up to near- capacity pace. Claimed better than $14,000. "Skidding" (Walnut 4th week). Final week. Little comedy spurted Holy Week and then slumped. Hardly $7,000. "Year of Grace" (Forrest. 2d week). Last week for English revue which, after slow start developed into strong downstairs draw. Claim- ed $21,000 and ought to beat that figure this week. "Night in Venice" next Monday. "Blossom Time" (Chestnut, 2d week). Operetta, back for fifth time, gained slowly and reported almost $13,000. In for month. "Paris" (Keith's, 1st week); Re- turn for Irene Bordonl, who was smash here last spring. Advance light. Two weeks only. "Blackbirds" (Garrlck, llth week). Final week; was smash tor seven weeks and then started to slip. Last week reported between $16,000 and $16,000. "Blllie" next week. "This Way Out" (Erlanger, 2d weeh). Mask and Wig Show now in final week. Under average last week with $27,000 at $3 top. Houseboat on Styx" next w*'"-. "Coquette" (Lyric, 2d week). Re- turn engagement for Helen Hayes. $9,600. Two weeks to go. "This Thing Called Love" (Adel- phi, 6th week). Comedy smash of season did not hold up to Holy Week pace even with extra matinee. Reported about $16,000. Probably good for two or three more weeks, Shubert dark and will not re- light until 22d when "Hello Your- self" comes in for return. "Manhat-. tan Mary" disappointing under $15,- 000. { Want Agent Split Two principal matters will come up before the convention of. the. Theatrical Stock Manage rs' As so- clatlon in the Lincoln Hotel, New York, June 17^ 18, 19, will be the ■s'tEgefian''d"o'conailIpns;'~ri'"ls report-" ed from 18 to 20 stocks clcsed this season owing to the I. A. T. S. E. status. The other matter will be the commission from booking agents' as the association believes thai the members are entitled to a part of the agents' bit