Variety (Dec 1929)

Si VARIETY L E G Itl M AT E Wednesday; December 18, 1929 Chi Shopping Frenzy Brings Lowest Grosses to Box Office Chicago, Dec. 17. Loop Icfflt business Is crawling aldng and waiting for the Yule shopping fever to break. Big show business last week was done, - Hansel and Gretel, pair of dolls in Mandel's Madison st, window, backed on the State st.^ side with a mechanical-seal circus, is draw- ing more customers than all the legit houses. With business already a.t a low ebb; prospects are even duller' for this week through shutdowns, and everybody waiting for the shopping storm to blow over. Dark list for the week Includes the Majestic, Ap- ppUo, Grand and Harris, 3hubert houses, Only theatre to stand up was the Blackstone,. but its $18,000 week Is no sensation eiither way^ as the subscribers aria, still filling the seats for "Strange Interlude." Fu- ture sales are strong, however. Among the musicals "Night In Venice" flopped with a thud at the Grand for Its thitd wieek with $16,- 000, which Is in the r6d. Hather than face another they closed the plant for this week. Piece, with 4ts heavy . overhead^ will then reopen Dec. 21 (Sunday) at the Majesties, while "Animal Crackers" will move In. Dec. 22 at the Grand. "Show Boat" Is still slipping and down to around $34,000. "Follow Thru" closed a- 20-week run at the Apollo witli a frali $ld,OO0, but made Schwab & Mandel plenty of moniey during Itis stay.- "Blackbirds" is sledding too, with $17,0.00 and a midnight show thrown Irt Saturday. Ethel. Barrymore. finished. a . 11- week riin at the Harris &t the low figure of $12,000, . but rest of en- gagement very profitable. She goes on the road. . "First Mrs. Fraser," the sun In Ervlne comedy, at the Princess, held up bra.vfely and Is kept for this week before going to- New York. "Infinite Shoeblaick". ■lOpens at Princess Dec. 23. Thig play, third on thd Dramatic Lieague list Js'booked for four. weeka sub- scription business.' V . Ruth Draper, at the Selwyri- for two weeks, did a nice $12,000.. Playhouse showed courage this week with the only opening In the city. "Illegal Practice," a new dls.^ guise for "Philadelphia," relighted Sunday aifter a week of darkness. . Plenty of activity tot next' week. "Blue Heaven," and untested com- edy by Hugh Stange will relight the - Garrick Bee. 2a; "Bird In Hand" goes in at the Harris Dec. 21; "Animal Crackers" at the Grand Dec. 22; "Infinite Shoeblack" at the Princess Dec. 23; "R. U. R." the Guild's next play, at the Stude- baoker Dec. 23; "June Moon" at the Selwyn Dec. 23 and "Street Scene" at. the Apolld Christmas night. • ^stitnates For Last Week "Blackbirds^' (Adelphl, 4th week) Around ° $17,000, .which Is not as good as expected despite the antici- pated Yule slump. First- Saturday midnight fiop but second one picked up. -"Brothers" (Erlanger, 7th week). Cut-rating its way to profits; about $11,000. "First Mrs. Fraser" (Princess, 6th week). More than breaking even at $11,000 despite expensive cast. Off subscription trade last w'eek, the box-olfice sold this com- edy, ' "Follow Thru" (Apollo, 20th and final week). A last gasp.at $19,000. but plenty of kale in the preceding weeks. Now on the road. House reopens Dec. 25. "Illegal Practice" (Playhouse, first week). Small expenses at this tiny Michigan boul holise and what was: not heavy enough for . Man- hattan may do business at this spot. "Love Duel" (Harris, 6th ^nd final week). At $12,000 Ethel Barry- more says good-bye to her fans. House relights Dec 21. "New Moon" (Great Northern, 15th week). AroUhd $23,000. Next week's outlook is good with heavy advance sales. "Night in Venice" (Grand, 3rd week). A skid to $16,000. • Sus- pended for this week, and the musi- cal reopens Dec. 21 at the Majestic. "Queen Bee" (Cort, 3rd week). Edged down to about $4,300 In this small house, but has party sales in prospect to keep it alive until brighter' weeks, "Show Boat" (Illinois, lith week). Coal and Light; Tom Weatherly, who re- cently presented "Claire Adams," since closed, .received permission from the Shuberts to use the Forrest, New York, for rehearsals, He received a bill for $130 but refused to pay because of the item listed sev- eral tons of coal for heating and the Juice for the lights. Weatherly claims he discov- ered the theatre is supplied, heat by the U. S. Steam Cor- poration. Jed Harris May Sta^e Rostande Czar Play Jed Harris has returned from abroad with a) new play up his sleeve. It is understood. ' Piece men.- tloned Is "The Last Czar," written in blank verse hy Maurice Rostande and now being shown In Paris. It deals with the late Russian, ruler.. About two years ago Harris picked up a piece called "Rasputin," but drop- ped it after holding an option on it for sonie time. Some significance as to Harris's come-back in tlte producing, field, may be attached to the sudden resignation of ■ Dick Mandy from Warner's press department. Manfey, regarded as one of Brbadway^s ace press agents, was .formerly with Harris, who lured him away from Joney & Green. Coincidence Is that Maney quit Warners the same day Harris arrived in New York. I. K. DAVIS INDICTED Grand Jury Finds Four Charges for Grand Larceny against Author Four indictments charging grand larceny have been voted * by the Grand Jury against Irving Kaye Davis, author and producer of ^•Vells" and "DIanne," legit plays; The Indictments will be handed up to Judge Koenig in Genex*al Ses- sions this week. Davis js out' un- der ball. Davis Is accused by -Mrs. Lillian B. Mason, of 3871 Sedgwick avenue, Bronx, with defrauding her out of $2,500 and also with passing a '•rubber" check for $1,200 on her, Mrs. Mason charges that early last year Davis Induced her to buy 25 shares of "Veils, Inc., stock, repre- senting the Shuberts and Adolph Zukor were Interested In the firm. The second complainant is Geprge Stevenson, of 19 West 35th street. He also claims the play- wright induced hina to buy 35 shares of the stock for $2,^00 and had him cash a check for $136. which, ac- cording to Stevenson, bounced back. 0 Carl Hunt, representing Lee Shu- bert and Lewis Swarts, for Mr. Zukor, appeared before ihe Grand Jury. Both denied their principals negotiated with Davis to produce "Veils" on the legitimate stage or In pictures. Backyard of Bohemia Christopher. Morley and Clean Throckmorton have snubbed Ho- boken, N. J., as a producing center and are taking over the Century, Brooklyn (formerly Shubert-Tel- ler). New lessees assunie tenancy Dec. 25, with the Hoboken revival of •'After Dark" as opener. Finest production In town is go- ing downstream^ Around $34,000, ''Strange Interlude" (Blackstone, 4h week). The usual $18,000 for six performances. Selling strong far into January. Finishes . subscrip- tions business this week. Bargain Xmas Qift For Two (2) Years, j^l5, Sent Anywhere Nothing beats "Variety?' for a steady present to show folks, friends OP relatives interested in the show^ business at home or abroad One Year's Subscription (Regular Price), $10 Two Years (Special Price), $15 HOLDS GOOD UNTIL NEW YEAR'S JACK POWELL ••Jazz in a Kitchenette" Appearing, nightly at County Fair, 54 Fast 9th,' a club for smart New Yorkers. "Evening. (Jraphic'': "Jack! Powell, black-faced boy, comes upon a pen- cil and a frying pan. drums; out more music than is contained in a good sized tuba." Direction LEDDY & SMITH NAMES FOR NITE CLUBS; FEEL NEED OF DRAW New York's smart night lilaces are again after nam^es.as entertain- ers, figuring thoy are necessary to draw' more so this- season than heretofore. First of t.he,nam§ at- tractions to appear is Irene Bordoni, who opened at the Club Richinan Monday night. She closed on tour in "Paris" at Cleveland Saturday. Helen.Morgan, who declared her- self 'through with night ciubs after charged by the government w-lth being a part owner of one, is slated to a^'pear at the Casanova about Jan. 10. Miss Morgan is. In "Sweet Adeliriei", her contract having a night place restriction. It Is sixid that Arthur Hammerstein has con- ceded her Casanova dale. The Liido has captured another name, Beatrice LtlUie returning there New Year's eve. Quick Notice Substitutes In Three R%ay Shows •. Margaret Perry; stepped .in,to the feminine lead of ''Strictly pishonor- able," at the Avon, New York, Mon- day, Muriel Kirkland being 111 with grippe. Miss Kirkland just managed to get through Saturday night's per- formance. She Is expected "back during the week. Miss Perry is the 16-year-old daughter of Antoinette Perry, who staged "Dishonorable." The young girl stepped into the show with little rehearsal, and the "World" gave her a front-page story. Brock Pemberton brought her before the curtain sit the finale, the audience giving her an ovation. Lynne Overman is temporarily In "Sons o' Guns," subbing for David Hutchinson, who. is out. with a sprained ankle. Overman Joined as a favor to Bobby Connolly and with- out rehearsal. Hutchinson Is ex- pected back next week. Helen Morgan was out of "Sweet Adeline" last week with broncliitls, Hortense .Ragland replacing her. Miss Morgan returned Monday. "Shoeblack'' Surprise; $13,750 in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Dec. 17. 'Infinite Shoeblack" at Alvln last week surprised with $13,750, good for this new attraction figured only to appeal to class patronage. Crit- ics went into ecstasies, and gross with top 12.50. • At Nixon, Theatre Guild rounded out fifth week with "Major Bar- bara;" Window sale negligible and poorest Guild figure yet, $16,000.. ,Biz spurted at Pitt" where George Sharp stock had Margaret Anglln as guest star in "What a Woman ^WaTtts;"=-^MatH=«5riye^laliF Bifr=^^~ MacGowan-Reed Venture Kenneth MacGowan and James Reed are the managerial auspices under which Mary Ellis and Basil Sydney will appear at the Biltmore. New York, Jan. 6, In "Childien of Darkness." Former reports had It the Shu- berts were behind venture. Only 3 PhiDy Theatres Open; No Oldest Stock in Films The : Afalden. Auditorium, Maiden, MiaSs., after 19 years of continuous stock, a world's record In the field, has heard tne call of the times, has launched into jpictutie programs and Is. doing good . business. Stanley James/character actor on the stock stage, for .many years, is managing the house . for Dr. Wilson sE. Hunt, a local surgeon. Dr. Hunt plans an expenditure .of upwards of $75,000 to. In- crease the seating capacity to 2,300. Even Cantor Slips in Boston in Tough Week . Boston, Dec. 17. Business here showing effects of a triple threat—the state Income tax collector sending but mandatory, letters for the final payment; Christmas, a week away, and the stock market not. giving any en- couragement to lavish spending. Even Eddie .Cantor In 'Whoopee" at the. Colonial could not hold up to his usual pace here, and the gross there slipped. ••Journe^r^s End," at the Wilbur, was perhaps the strongest attraction in town, close to capacity, and the second week pt "Meteor,;? Theatre Guild, also showed a fair gross. As a result cf the business turned over by •'Meteor" show was shifted from the HoUis to the Treniont for this week only, while the Guild's Wings Over Europe" opened at the Hollls. Shuberts have only one show run- ning, "Journey's End," , which winds up this week. But the entire string of houses will be reopened next week. ••Rope's End" will come Into the Wilbur,•••Strike Up the Band" Into the Shubert, "Naughty Mari- etta" at the Majestic. •'Hot.Choc- olates" comes to the Tremont. • Estimates for Last Week "Whoopee,"" Colonial (4th week). Did $34,000 last week; oft consider- ably. "Meteor," Tremont (1st week after 2 at Hollis). Did $18,000. "Wings Over Europe," Hollis (1st week). Opened Monday night. "Journey's End," Wilbur (last week). Did $18^000. FRISCO GROSSEiS ^an Francisco, Dec. IT. Legitimate houses' got a fair week, with "Journey's End" at the Geary topping all comjpetltors even in its second week. Drew better than $14,000. Mae West in "Diaimond LIl" at the Curran continued to slip badly, getting only $7,500, which Is pin money for this house at $3 top. Columbia held over ••Hunting Tigers in India" and added ••Graf Zeppelin" pictures, which kept gross about up to Its precieding week at $6,000. Henry Duffy's President, Char- lotte Greenwood in "She Couldn't Say No," going strong. Around $7,000. His Alcazar with •'The Boomerang" did a nosedive; $4",000. Green Street still had "The Flat Tirie," 14th week; little under $1,500. Laugh, Landlord, Laugh! Mt. Clemens, Mich., Dec. 17. ' Ferguson Bros., dramatic stock. Is operating here under a circuit court injunction while Xeon Krim, lessor of the Bijou, has withdrawn ushers and other theatre help. Matter Is of a legal .technicality in company's agreement with KrIm and pending settlement company, in on percentage, is holding all moneys. Business fair. : BOBBY CONNOLLY FOR PAR Bobby. Connolly, the stager, has entered into a three-year agreement with Paramount. Contract likely the usual optional kind. Connolly's first will be staging "Follow Thru," the Schwab & Man- del musical, for the screamer. Under 'the-agreement Cdnnolly Is ^not^pro- hibited from stage work. Philadelphia, Dec. 17. Just three of Phllly's nine Wit houses are open for business as thia week starts and hot one of the threB is offering a musical show, ThaV^ something of a record here even foS the -week before Christmas and » tip-off on conditions. ? To be sure thtee offerings ar* slated for'the end of the week bur! pose being to beat the Monday rush- get the first- stringers and the no- Uces. The thre? new playing are "Blind Window," Dayld Belfsco^ dramatic try-out which has turned out a disappointment and Is ^elne taken , off for revision when It closes at the Broad Saturday nitrht* ••Death Takes a Holiday," first mo- fesslonal players' sponsored play which has caught on aurprisinRlv well at the Adelphl and Is windhie up a month's stay, and •'•Major Bar- bara," fourth Theatre Guild offer- ing Jn for two weeks at the Garrick The three that beat the gun by opening late .Jn the week are •'Mile Modiste," fli-st of a series of five Victor Herbert revivals, opening at the Shubert-Keith on Friday;' ^'The' Sap from Syracuse," comedy ti-y- out, scheduled for Saturday at the Walnut, a,nd ."The Duchess of C^hi- cagfo," Kalman operetta, listed for the Shubert on the same night. Next Monday five more attrac- tions will compete for attention. They are} "Journey's End" (east- ern company), at the Lyric; "Thun- der in the Air," second Professional Players' offering, at the Adelphl; •'Waterloo Bridge," new Robert Sherwood piece, at the Broad; •'New Moon" (New York company), at the Forrest, and "Pleasure Bound," which played here last season, as "Well-, Well, Well" at the Chestnut Last week's trade for the dramatic offerings could have been a lot worsen in fact. In view of the fright- ful conditions here this fall, biz was quite good for the non-musicals. "Wings Over Europe," the Guild's third offering at the Garrick, led {ground $17,000 reported, thanks largely .to the subscription backing. ••Death Takes a Holiday," spon- soried by the newly-formed Profes- sional Players, was again the big surprise of the town,, getting $10,000 on the, week, and Ijesctlnir by a slight margin Its second week figure at the Adelphl. This offering, with Philip Merlvale as featured player, has so benefited by the campaign Waged Next door at the Lyric, William Hodge's mystery melodrama, "Homi- cide" also m^de a neat gain, al- though far from Important money. Second and last week Was up $1,500 over first week. David Belasco's •'Blind Window" had a strong open- ing (Tuesday night) at the Broad, but bad notices and unfavorable Word-of-mouth took their effect, and the total for the week Was not so forte. "Courage," which had shown signs of picking up during its first week at the Walnut, disappointed and just beat $5,000, while "Little Acci- dent" did less than that at Keith's. However, there were no record- breaking "lows" such as astonished the Rialto a few weeks ago. No. $2,000 or $3,000 grosses, and at least four of the six dramas reached re- spectable flgui-es. The two musicals continued to falter, with "Nina Rosa" in its fourth and final week at the Shu- bert reported under $16,000 and •'Top Speed" in its fifth and last week at the Chestnut about $1,000 less. The Forrest was dark. Estimates for Last Week "Blind Window"^(Broad, second week), Belasco tryout had a cork- ing opening, delayed until Tuesday, but show .wasn't there and business fell; Off after this week for re- vision. "W^aterloo Bridge" in on Monday. "Mile. Modiste"—(eKlth's). Opens Fright night to get ahead of rush. "Little Accident" under $5,000 in last week. ' "Major Barbara"—(Garrick. first week). Fourth Theatre Guild offer- ing in for fortnight, to be followed by Eddie Cantor in ••Whoopee." "Wings Over Europe" reported around $17,000 or a little less than last week. "Sap from Syracuse"—(Walnut). To oneh Saturday night, house be- ing da:rk until then. •'Cournge.". in- stead of gaining, off to $5,200 in final week. "Death Takes a Holiday"—(Adel- phl, fourth week). Surprised the wise boys by beating second week's gross by a few hundred dollars de- snite approach of Clivlstmas. A Utr tie over $10,000. "Thunder in the Air"-en^-MOHdrtv: "Biind^Windows" Pauses "Blind Windows" will not steer into the Hudson, New York, Dec. 23, as planned, but folded instead in Baltimore last Week for revision. David Belasco, producer, figured show not ready for New York and closed it for revision and recasting. "Duchep^ of Chieaao"—(Shubert). To onen Satiirdav night. Tioupp be- inef. dark until then. "Nina Rose' off to $16,000 . in fourth and last week. The Lyrir. dark all week, rponens Mondftv with ••Journey's End." Wil- liam Hod«re pot about $8,500 last week in •'Homicide." The Chestnut Is dark, reopening Monday with "Pleasure Bound. "Ton Speed." In fifth nnd last wcolc, slipped to leg.s than $15,000.