Variety (July 1929)

Wednesday, July 10, 1929 LEG IT I M ATE VARIETY BVay $ Dullest Wet^ Saw Grosses Melt; This Wecl No Better Broadway Is-In--the mldat ot tbe dullest period ot the year, tbe first lialf of July. Last week wltfi" the Fourth on Thursday, witnessed the lowest grosses for all the leaders to date. With the weather boiling the hoz offices wilted. On the night of the Fourth a number of attractions drew less than |200. Heat con- tinued and expectations for Satur- day night were blasted. Ticket brokers started early to dispose of premium tickets at any price, dumping Into cut rates as a last resort. Even then hundreds of tickets remained In the brokers' hands, unsold. This week not ex- l^ected any better. Despite the generally .bad going, two summer musicals debutted last week, both rated In the money, rshow Girl" at the Zlegfeld took top position of Broadway's list, grossing 146,000. "Sketch Book" at the Car- roll, . smaller house, had an Initial week of '|34,000. Both were excep- tions' to the Fourth of July matinee collapse, capacity being claimed for both, but neither, actually sold out on the week. "Bedfellows," another opening lost week, got scant atten- tion at the Waldorf. This week Is bare of premieres, **Great Day" being set back until July 30. Musicals "Whoopee,*' topped for the first time since opening, approximated $40,000; "Follow Thru," affected ma- terially for first time, got arouiid tae.OOO; "Night In Venice" esUmated at 121,000; "New Moon" about $23,- OOO; "Uttle Show" eased off to $20,000; "Hold Everything" slipped to $16,000; "Hot Chocolates" about $11,000; "Grand Street Follies" un- ■der $7,000; "Bomboola" much less. "Street -Scene" and "Journey's Knd" continue &s the best of dramas, the latter quoted at $18,000, off for first time with "Street 'Scene" approximately the qame; "Bird In .Hahd" $10,000; "Let Us Be Gay" oft to a claimed $11,000, with the balance away down; any figure goes for the others.' Next week two new shows carded, rB>^oadway Nights" at the 44th Str^t, and "Freddy" at the Ly- ceum. "Keep It Clean" dropped out at the Selwyn Saturday. Played two weeks. I^o listed closings this week but aevieral shoestrlngers aria liable to quit Joe E^li, assistant to Jack Gard- ner, usasting director oh the Fox lot, has been let out. Egll had been with Fox for five years. "aMiiiette'V$14^ L A. Thinks Based od Film Los Angeles, July 9. With eight legit houses operating last we'ek, top money went to "Coquette," at the Belasco. Initial week here was around $14,000. Draw on this one was Helen Hayes, with lots of the locals firm in the belief they made a play out of Mary Plckford's picture. . "J^Iousy," In Its fourth and final we^ at the Mason, did around $12,- 000, which Is loads .of profit for the Woods . family. . Maurice Swartz Yiddish ° Arts Players have a good advance sale for their two weeks' stay, which started July 7. "Serena Blandish" closed at the Majestic to around $6,000. "Love In a Mist" opened here Monday. ^President had good take-off week wUh Walker Whiteside's "Hindu" for about $6,600. "The Old Shoe" seems the best bet the little Egan has. had since "White Collai's." Near $1,500. Playhouse was the leader of the Hollywood trio of theatres .^ow open. Its attraction Is "The Big Pond," which got a good st#t-t at $6,800, and looks set for six weeks. For next to final week of "Dancing Mothers" the El Capltan got over the $5,000 barrier, and "The First Tear" Is set for July 14. "Top o' the Hill," with Helen Mencken, held a $6 premiere at the Mayan, July 8, Eatimatea for Laat Week Belaaco—"Coquette (1st week). Got 6ft smartly; around $14,000. i Egan—"The Old Shoe" (2d week). Best bet here In a long time; profit claimed at $1,500. El Capitan—^"Dancing Mothers" (6th week). Would have been poor week except for July 4 night crowd; $fi,100; run here creditable, figuring play was put on at the old Morosco two years ago. Hollywood Playhouse—^'"The Big Pond" (1st week). Started big and Roland McWade following strong; Initial week $6,600. Majestic—"Serena Blandish" (4th week). One of most dloappointing b. o. plays'since Horton took over house; about $6,000 and out. Maaon ^ "Jealousy" (4th and final): Milked town dry and vamped with $12,000. Mayan—"To-> o' the Hill" (let week). Opened Monday night with Helen Mencken. President—"The Hindu" (1st week). Opened Mond- y at $6 top with Invitation list fos picture pro- ducers; around $2,000 In cash for first performance. ^Vine Street—"Jonesy" (2d week). Dropped around $1,000 from pre- ceding week to hit $4,600, profit. Shows in Rehearsal "It'e a Vyise Child" (David Belasco) Belasco. "Nowadays" (Wm. A Brady) Playhouse. "Follow Thru" (Chicago) (Schwab & Mandel) Imperial. "Follow Thru" (Boston) (Schwab & Mandel) Chanln's. "Hero and There" (R, H. Bui-nstde)'.'Mecca Temple. "Almanacs" (J. M, Anderson) A;.& M. Studios. "Freddy" (Murray Phillips) Lyceum. "June Moon" (Sam H. Har- ris) Music Box. Plays on Broadway SHOW GIRL Fk) Joeon, Zlegfeld production. Ruby Keller- J and Clayton, Jacluon and Duxante featured. Adapted from tbe J. P. HcAvoy best eeller by Wm. Antbony HcQuIn, vbo •Isa etaced tbe book. Mnslo by Qeorse Oenbwln. Lyrics by Qua Kabn «nd Ira Oerabwln. Dancea atased by Bo^y Con- nolly. Ballets by Albertlna Raacb. Scenery by Joseph Urban. At Zlegfeld, New Tork, •pening July 2, $6.60 top. . Otber principals: Barbara Newberry, Ed- 41e Fay, Jr., Harriet Bocior, Frank Mc- Hogh, Calvin Thomas, Joseph Macauley, Wanda Stevenson, Noel Francis, Andy Jo- «blm, Howard Horgan, Althea Belnly, .Jiatthew Smith, Caryl Bergman, Sadie I>nfr, Austin Falrman (not In.order ot Im- portance or appearance). This splendidly Zlegfeld produced anusical comedy Is Just a good sum- mer show. It's far and away from a smash. While the summer, the refrigerated Zlegfeld theatre and the scarce new opposition niay earry It handily over July and Au- sust'even at $6.60, that $6.60 will bring "Show Girl" plenty of grief After Sept. 16. Main trouble appears to be music and the lack of 4t In a popular way. Flo Zlegfeld has given "Show Girl" .everything else, besides gambling on five main principals, new to mu- sical comedy and Broadway stage. But Zlegfeld didn't give his show a kick or a punch; It's-Just splendid In producing. George Gershwin composed the ■core. If there Is a pop selling hit In It^and that's guess work of course. It's "Do What You Do" and not "Liza," whether Al Jolson or '^uiyone else-Bingtrnlie qultmeonven' tlonal "Liza" ballad. 'iJrs.'Jo'lsffliii?"*^* himself to be ■ang "Do What Tou Do" (Cnd danced njza" while Al stood In the aisle the opening night to warble the cjiorus. nice of Al to see that his wife all of the breaks. He sort of apoIogIzM by sUb-roslng "If Can- tor can do it for . Carroll, I can do It here."'and he did; But Mrs. Jolson bad^'b««a doing very wj^ll, singing, talking and danc- ing loiig before Al hopped in. This Ruby Heeler girl; eased right Into the role bf Dixie Dugan. She looked and played It, In a natural pleasing manner without a strain at any time. Her '^Yeah" duolog with Frank McHugh aA^the reporter was most enjoyable. They had two or three sessions of that. But It was Mlsa Keeler singliig "Do What You Do" for the seconX time. Just about at the too quiet finale of the last act that recalled, after having heard it early in the show,, that not much music of likely tiopularlty had hap- MR^d In between. •^Giving Miss Keeler her real due for a surprising performance In a speaking role with lots of dialog, another from the sawdust of the nite clubs also whammed 'em. Jlm- mle Durante, the rough and ready Jester, who writes his own song material, words or music or both, and can write his own dialog almost as. well as William Anthony Mc- Gulre did for the whole show, with the same Jimmte standing all alone In his class as a singing comic. His class now seems to be Broadway. And another from that cabaret floor trio, Lou Clayton, kicked It all over with his dance, while doing his great , straight for the Schnozzle, and Eiddle Jackson Just paralyzed everyone the way he Juggled his lines, never mufClng a single word. And when Eddie stepped forward In his peppermint colored minstrel suit to lead a most sightly minstrel first part of girls, then Eddie really became.,the. Lothario he never would Eddie Foy, sJr., another on his first BroadwayXbutIng and copped, under the dtftldiultles of a hand- mqde gagging role as the cheer card salesman, Hevwas handlciapped through being obliged . to stick to the script, only allowed to slip In his "seal*^ bit. To these people fronKcabarets and .^Continued on page 47) CHID0WNT05 SHOWaALLLOW Chicago, July ,9, Running true to forecast, the Loop is settling down .to a process of elimination. With Just five shows treading wa- ter currently, next week 'win find one less. Never. In the history of this town has a slump been so pro- nounced for this time of the year "Pleasure Bound," turning into. Its first month at the Grand, got top money last week. Considering the revue the only thing resembling ~a hit In town. Its grosses are not sen satlonal. Firecracker festivities, along with Intermittent high temperatures and rain throughout the Week, Just about spelled ruin for the scattered hand- ful of shown. "Connecticut Yankee,'' reported to be selling to August 1, came down with a thud. Only other current musical, "Yankee" is sim- mering out now, though expected to hang on through Its low nut Of the three remaining dramatic shows "Dracula" took the lead by a narrow margin, while announcing Its last week at the Blackstone. The- atre Guild will follow. George Co- han wanted this house for his "Gambling," and when unable to get It preferred to stay away rather than take another house. - Dubious chances of "After Dark" remains the same. Kidding melo- drama Is down to a whispering .$6,- 000, with the producers almost de- ciding to pull it out of the Woods for another stand. Seems the Shu- berts gave the show notice when it failed to comply with a $6,600 stop clause, later making some sort of a compromise with the show stay ing on. "Nut Farm" not showing any speed at the Cort, with chances to stick around muci} longer proble- matical. Estimates for Laat Week "Pleaaure Bound" (Grand, 3rd week). Getting the only play In town and should survive with noth- ing left to buck it. Bumped a couple of grand from previous week to around $34,000. "Draciila" (Blackstone, 14th week) On the way out after piling up a profitable run. Near $9,000, "Nut Farm" (Cort, 9th week) Dropping with the rest, but appar- ently content to keep going. Mat biz still a tactor. Around $7,000. "After Dark" (Woods, 2nd week) Operating on a nut -of around $3,000 weekly; may stick a while longer or fold at any time, depending on how the backers feel about it. No better than $6,000. "Connecticut Yankee" (Garrick 14th week). Starting to slump, biit may weather It, Much off laat week with intake around $12,000. Frisco Grosses San Francisco, July 9. Fay Balnter reopened the Geary Monday In "Jealousy," the house having been dOrk after cutting the Coburns' "The Yellow Jacket" to one week's run. The Columbia, dark since "Strange Interlude," reopens this week with the Yiddish Theatre. ' Taylor Holmes Is drawing well at Duffy's President. Guy Bates Post will terminate his engagement at the Alcazar Saturday. Estimates for Laat Week Curran^''Let Us Be Gay." Had good opening but hot weather and holiday Interfered. Estimated $10,- 000. Alcazar — "The Mosquerader" (fifth week). $4,200. President — "The Sap." Second week built nicely to about $6,900. PhillyV Stock Ont of Red with a gross of $8,000 the Play of the Week companyvat the Gar- rick, the lone legit theatre .open, pulled out of the slump" that af- filcted Its first two weeks and made some money, "A Tailor Made Man" proved a draw and grossed close to $2,000 on the fourth extra mat. The outfit Is now about oiit of the red and on the way to profit. Shows in Na Y. and Comment Figures estimated and comment point to aome attracttona beino aucceeaful, while the same gross accredited to others might auggeat mediocrity or loaa. The variance ia fxplained in the difference In house capacitiaa with the varying overhead. Also the aire of eaat, with conaequeht difference in necessary groaa of profit. Variance in buainess necessary for muaieal attraction aa againat dramatid play ia alao considered. , " ' Claasification of attraction, house capacity and top pricea of the admission scale given below.. Key to classification: C (comedy)| D (drama); R (revue); M (musical comedy)) F (farce); O (operetta). Admission -(ax applies on tickets over $3 "Bomboola/i Royale (3d week) (R- l,118^$3). New colored show got tough weather break: gross esti- mated under $6,OU0; got closing notice Monday. Last week busi- ness very low along Broadway; heat and F.ourth sent people out of town; "Bed Fellows," Waldorf (2d week) (C-l,101-$3). Didn't get much encouragement from reviewers; one-set farce probably aimed for stock; cut rated. "Bird in Hand," Moi'osco (2stli week) (CD-906-$3.85). Slipped downward like others; about ^10,-' 000; lowest gross since opening but profitable, "Brothers," 48th St. (29th week) (CD-906-$3.85). First days last week were satisfactory; show switching Wednesday matinees over to Thursday jhollday) lost In weather gamble; same for others; $5,000 to $6,000. "Decision," 49th St. (7th week) (CD-708-$3). One of several low gross attractions not figured to last this long; less than $2,000 in dlcated. . "Follow Thru," Chanln's 46th St. (27th week) (M-l,413-$5.50) Claimed no attraction escaped last week's poor going; gross ap proximated $35,000, first real de cllne since opening. "Grand Street.Follies," Booth (11th week) (R-708-$4.40). Running considerably under lost season's edition; gets back through low operating cost and cast sharing plan; last week not much over $6,000. "Great Day," Cosmopolitan. Post- poned;, .going to Boston, and liot due In N. Y. until end of knonth, "Hold Everything," Broadhurst (39th week) (M-l,118-$5,60). Took slap over holiday; after making par- tial comeback from previous heat wave, .'slipped to $16,000, "Hot Chocolates," Hudson Uth week) (R-l,904-$3). Eased off under opening pace but colored revue regarded having good chance through summer; $11,000 to $12,000. "Journey's End," Henry Miller's (17th week) (C-946-$4.40). Off for first time when takings about 418,000, last week; drop moMly on Fourth and weakest Saturday night of season. "Let Ua Be Gay," Little (21st week) (C-530-$4.40), Stuck to usual 'Wednesday matinee and with lit- tle opposition - did very well; off on week, sllshtly over $11,000," profitable. "Keep It Clean," Selwyn, Stopped Saturday; two weeks, "My Girl Friday," Republic (21st week) (C-901-$3). Little better than even money; author In cast Is operating show during sum- mer; under $5,600, "Nice Women," Longacre (6th week) (C-l,019-$3). Plugging via billboards; business disappoint- ment, but stood up last week un- til Saturday; claimed pace shaded $5,000. "Night In Venice," Shubert (8th week) (Ril,395-$5.50). Strength on upper floors claimed but or- chestra not good; $21,000. "Show Girl," Zlegfeld (2d week) (M-l,622-$6.60). Topped Broad- way last week; 'ifew musical not complete sell-out but not far from it; approximated $40,000 first week, "Sketch Book," Earl Carroll (2d week) (R-S98-$6.60), Looks like this new musical in money too; first week's takings estimated about $34,000, "Street Scene," Playhouse (27th week) (C-879-$3,86). Brokers had to "eat"' plenty of tickets even for,hits last week; no exception here but gross over $17,000 or vir- tual capacity. "Needle's Eye," Guild (13th week) (D-914-$3). Cast changes prob> ably reduced operating cost; Iow> est mark at $6,500 last week but date still Indefinite. "The Jade Qod," Cort (9th week) (C-l,043-$3). Even break last week again and with better weather In position to make money. "The Little Shew," Music Box (lltb week) (R-l,000-$4.40). Slipped off to $20,000; lowest figure since opening, but making plenty toth "The. New Moon," Imperial (48d week) (O-l,446-$6,60). Lowest mark to date last week, under $23,000; one ot .season's stand- out attractions and elated well Into autumn. ■'Whoopee," New' Amsterdam (32d week) (M-a,T02-$6,60). UnUI "Show Girl'.'- arrived Broadway's leader; ' second best last '^eek when there was a drop but claim- ed $40,000.. "The. Perfect Alibi," Hopkins. Little theatre hit, but off lately. "After Dark," Rlolto, Hoboken. Re- vival. "Bare Facte," Triangle. - A Green- wich 'Village affair. Inade Sbitf-L^t ' The rain bit In "Sketch Book," with Will Mahoney getting a nightly shower bath, was an Eddie Cantor Idea. ■ Eddie did it in his first short talker for Paramount but It was never released, the stunt falling to record properly. Kellogg Gary, who died recently <rom an .accidental over-dose ot sleeping powder, at Antobes, France, was the son of the socially promi- nent Mrs, John Clary 'of Chicago and a nephew of Judge H, Gary. He had an independent fortune, supplying the principal backing and was co-producer for the Sacco-'Vanzettl play of last season, "Gods-of the Lightning." The deceased had planned to Inaugurate a series ot productions under his own name on Broadway this fall and had several plays tied up for that purpose. But 26, his first connection with theatricals was when at 20 he became associated with the MacGown, O'Neill and Jones group at the Green- wich Village theatre. New York. Later he was-interested in the produc- tion of C, K. Munro's com.edy, "Beali Strings."' Morris Gest furnished a $50,000 bond to Keith's when taking over the New York Hip for "The Passion Play." The bond was to guarantee the $6,500 weekly fixed rental for the time required to restore the theatre after Gest departed and the cost of the restoration. It required about a, week only to wash off the paint Ciest had decorated the Interior of the Hip to give it its churchly atmosphere. A little 'dll mixed in bnt mostly plain paint. • , Now the Hip Is running talkers .with an all-sound picture program. It takes the second run from the Broadway first-runs of the $2 special films, when available, holding them at the Hip for-a week at 60c top. With the Hlpls rent charged off for the year in 40 weeks, the summer season there may show a profit. ' I -,..Moreihan.A,flozen.Hearst reporters were assigned to cover the open- Ing of "Show Glrl"'it the'ziegfeld"theatr?Ta reviewers and dramatic editors from the American, Journal.-itnd Mirror, were society reporters Inside and outside the house, district men and photographers. " ' ■ Hazel Dawn is the mother of a son, the youngster arriving about thr«^L;_ months ago.' In private life she is Mrs. Charles Groehl, Thought.ahjaf y. m Would retire, but recently expressedJleslre to.return to the etage,^ ■.' ;