Variety (Mar 1930)

66 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, March 26, 1930 Legits Recovering From Income Tax Period-Trend Up Last Week Broadway's business curved up ward last week after having been off for a month. Better attendance followed the first Federal income tax payment date (March. 15), again indicating that to be a much more " Important factor than Lent. There are 18 dark theatres this week, but that is not alarming this ' season, with always an untenanted group. Significant is the shrinkage of musical attractions. There are but nine major musicals current, three having withdrawn last week and another pair will have passed by the end of next week. The seven sur- vivors figure to stick in light of the limited field. They are: "Simple Simon, "Sons o' Guns," "Flying High," "Fifty Million Frenchmen," "Strike Up the Band," "International, Revue" anrf' "Sketch Book." The first five should run into summer. The new show crop has been a poor one. At least four shows open- ing in the past two weeTts were yanked off promptly. Last week's quick flops were "The Royal Vlrglij,'! Booth, and "Mayfair," Belmont. "1 Want My Wife" will likely stop at the Liberty Saturday. "A Month in the Country," Guild, has the best chance. "Green Pastures" continues away out in front of the dramas, better- ing $26,500; "Strictly Dishonorable" still capacity, over $19,500; "Wise Child" around $19,000; "Apple Cart," $18,000; "Topaze," nearly $17,000; "Last Mile" credited with $IC,00O ! "Dishonored Lady," "Berke- ley Square" and "Rebound," $15,000; "Death Takes Holiday" and "Toung Sinners," $13,000; "Street Scene," $12,000; "Mrs. Fraser," $11,000; "June Moon" slightly better at $10,- 000; "Apron Strings," $8,000; "Infi- nite Shoeblack" slightly better; "Nancy's Private. Affair," $7,500; "Bird in Hand," "The Blue Ghost," "Mendel, Inc." "Broken Dishes," about $7,000; "Love, Honor and Be- tray," $6;000. Money Musicals There are five big-money musi- cals, with "Simple Simon" the gross leader last week at $47,000; "Sons o* Guhs," $46,000; "Fifty Million Frenchmen," $44,000; "Flying High," $43,600; "Strike Up the Band," $31,- 000; "International Revue" claimed Improvement to $28,000; "Wake Up. and Dream," about $24,000; ''Sketch Book," ' $23,000. "Bitter Sweet" closed strongly with a $28,000 finale week. On tour. " ' ' In addition to "Fatal Vil'gin" arid "Mayfair," other withdrawals this week are: "Ripples," which leaves' the New Amsterdam dark; "Penny Arcade" will be followed In at the Fulton by Maurice Chevalier; "It Never Rains," Bayes, the list's low gross show. , "Troyka" relights the Hudson next week an-d "House Afii'e" comes to --the^-Little,-"They Never Grow Up-'.' being one of the added possibilities. N. V. A. COLLECTIONS (Continued from page 3) wood to call meetings for the N. V. A. matter. Eddie Cantor, president of the N. V. A. Club, left New Tork Saturday for the film colony, whore he will shortly start production on the talker, "Whoopee," in which he stars. Mr. Cantor will attend the midnite benefit performances in Los Angeles and probably Hollywood. Actors Relieved It Is stated by Casey that no actor other than when requested to take part in an N. "V. A. stage benefit will be solicited for funds for the N. v. A. week. None will be asked to purchase tickets for a perform- ance or to advertise in any souve- nir progi-am that may be got up for any benefit. In former years the vaudeville actors engaged on the Keith Circuit were foi'ccd to buy tickets and advertise in the N. V. A. Iprogram by Albee's orders. That brought much resentment. This will be the first N. V. A. drive where collections will be taken up In all theatres of the V. M. A. • chain members. Gross receipts from the collection system In other years for the N. V. A. have varied from $450,000 to $600,- 000. This year, with the added weekly expense of the Sanatai-lum, from $5,000 to $6,000 weekly, besides the unpaid balance of construction and equipment overdue, $300,000, on that expensive Institution, a more extensive drive In the theatre way was approved by the chain manage- ments. It Is estimated by obsprvers of the Saranac Sanitarium, with its ca- pacity .for 120 invalid professionals; that before long an adclltlooa,l whig' will be..needed at a,further cost oi arpjtmd $256,000. BOSTON GROSSES HOLD DESPITE LENT BRAKE Boston, March 26. Cpn.sidering Lent and other things, business isn't at all bad here. Takings were rather spotty with "New Moon" leading at $28,000, about $1,000 less than the week be- fore and show on the sixth week. Only gross in town above the $20,- 000 mark. Nearest approach was another musical, "The Chocolate Soldier." with Charles Purcell fea- tured, $18,000 at the Majestic. The show was transferred at the end of the first week to the Lyric, formerly the B. F. Keith house, to ma'ke rooni for the John McCormack picture, "Song o' My Heart," at a $1.50 top. "Gambling" did $16,000, off $1,000 from the week before. Public got Cohan associated with a muslqal and were considerably surprised when they found It a drama. "Little Accident" continues to do fine business at the Plymouth, last week $14,000 in 10th week and therefore strong. Estimates for Last Week "Little Accident," Plymouth (10th week). While a veteran here, Is still going strong with $14,000 for "Gambling:'. (George M. Cohan). Tremont (3d week). $16,000. "The New Moon," Shubert (6th week). Leads the town again with $28,000. "The Chocolate Soldier" (1st week at the Lyric after one week at the Majestic). Did $18,000 at start. "Shakespeare," Hollis (1st week). Reopened after several weeks of darkness- with the company from the Memorial theatre at Stratford and with the house a sellout for the opening and an.advance sale of $12,- 000 for the week. Walter Hampden, Wilbur . <lst week). This followed In after two weeks of Fritz Lelber in Shake- spearean productions. Final week of Leiber recorded $9,000 gross, off $1,000 from first week. Copley, "D. C. M." This .company using another English show after having run through the season with exceptionally good grosses. Shows booked for the future' ate Fred Stone's "Rlppies" at the Colo- nial "April 28 and Ethel Bstrrymore in "The Love Duel" and "The King- dom of God," Wilbur on same date. Pittsb'g Solo Attraction "Modiste" Low, $17,000 Pittsburgh, March i'5. With Nixon dark, Alvin had sole legit attraction in town last week. It was "Mile. Modiste" and only moderate at $17,000. Bookings of Herbert revivals seem unhappV coming too close together. Thi.s one followed"Fortune Teller," "Naughty Marietta" Is current, "Merry Wid- ow" comes next and then "Babes in Toyland." Lent hurt, too. Nixon has "Hot Chocolates" this week, -with fortnight of "Strange Interlude" to follow. Latter al- ready a sell-out at $4.40, subsci-lp- tion and mall orders having cleaned up allotment. Sharp stock at Pitt only fair with "It Pays to Advertise." Frisco Grosses San Francisco, March "25. Not much in town for legitimate •theatregoers to choose from last week. Both the Curran and' the Geary were dark with nothing in" sight until next week. . Duffy's two houses prosperous. Alcazar with Mary Boland tn "Ladles of the jury," held .up well close to $5,000 and his President with Frank Craven In "Salt Water" initial Week about $6;000. Erlanger's Columbia with "The Perfect Alibi" In second week slip- ped considerably, hardly above $19.r QOO which Is six grand under open- ing week. Practically all trade downstairs, balcony nil. B'WAY CHATTER (Oontinued from page ^60) compromised by starting each name at their first ineal, but forgot it afterward, so the opposite signs now read only B and O. , Dorothy Hall did a perfect assist- ing giggle the other evening from a Broadway night club over the ra- dio. If- her name had not been men- tioned the giggle would have been recognized. Al Quadbach, owner of the Granada Cafe, Chicago, is on Broad- way. Quadbach may buy a road house around New Tork. He can get plenty, with or without a paddy lock. Nlghthawk taxis are now congre- gated on but a few side streets In Times Square any evening. Drivers say so many night places are closed they hav6 to hang around the few better speaks still open. Jim Jammftrs who have been play- ing the' clubs rather heavily seem to have proved Irksome tc the cliib owhers and free feeds are on the out for these birds. Chi Slump Drives 'Em Cut Rate; Chicago, March 25. Slump again. Four productions out of the city's 11 were cut-rating last week. "Scandal's" -had -a weak start, around $24,000 Its first week at the Grand. "Street Singer" managed a poor $15,000 its second week at the Apollo. "Nina Rosa" fell to $19,000 at the Great Northern. One'house, Shubert's Garrick, took on a run picture, "She's No Lady," moving from the Garrick to the Harris. Has not been cut-rated yet. Three of the slashed-ducat spots found revived business by cut-rat- ing. "Dear Old England," British comedy, which moved frbm the Princess to the Harris, rose $3,000 that way, but closed because Of New York booking, opening at the Ritz this week. C. Pr Bostwlck, owner-director. Is changing Its name to "Oh, I say!" or "Nip It in the Bud." "Your Uncle Dudley" cut- rdting, hit Well at the Playhouse, and "City Haul" went to $7,600 for nine performances at the Cort, af- ter doing only $2,500 on five shows the previous week. "Let Us Be Gay" started cut-rat- ing, but got little results the first week. Comedy off about $1,000. Otis Skinner's return with "Papa Juan," known here last year as 100 Years Olft," got a weak $9,000 at the Erlanger. Piece finishes here Saturday (29) and goes on the road. "Strange Interlude" closed at the Blackstone, with nothing booked Immediately to follow. Decision to Jerk "Interlude" was made late last week after the closing date had been announced as March 29. House re- funded $6,000 in advance sales. O'Neill opus moved to Pittsburgh. Shuberts' mu.sical revivals con- tinue to die at the Majestic. "For- tune Teller" closed a weak tw.o weeks, followed by "Babes in Toy- land," in for the usual fortnight. ' Estimates for Last Week "City Haul" — (Cort, 3rd week). Comedy mellcr being cut-rated, rose to $7.500 with party assistance. "Let Us Be Gay"—(Studcbaker, 9th week). Comedy down to $10,000, but expects better business with cut-rates, anticipating no removal before April 19. "Nina Rosa" — (Great Northern, 11th week). Musical felt the reac- tion, off to $19,000. "Scandals"—(Grand, 2nd week). At $4.40 top musical started below expectations, around $24,000. Agen- cies are a boon. "She's No Lady" — (Harris, 4th week). H. H. Frazee Jr.'s, new farce slumped to about $6,000, but Is not slashing. Moved this week from the Garrick to the Harris. "Dear Old England," to be retitled, did $10,000 Its fifth and final week in Chicago, playing last week of its engagement at the Harris at cut rates, which sent business up. Gogs to the Rltz, N. T., opening this week. "Papa Juan" — (Erlanger, 2nd week). Otis Skinner piece n.s.g. In Its second try here. Around $9,000. Leaves Saturday (29), house getting two weeks of Thurston, magician. "Strange Interlude" — Blackstone, 17th and final week). Around $12,- 000; jerked a week sooner than an- nounced. O'Neill play set a record at $4.40 top for a legit piece doing only six performances a week. Brought around $350,000 during the run, with balcony sales tremen- dous until the last four weeks. "Street Singer" — (Apollo, 3rd week). Musical's boxoffice sale dis- appointing, receiving its chief sup- port from the agencies. Around $15,000. • "Your Uncle Dudley" — (Play- house, 7th week). Successful cut- rating going on at this small Michi- gan boulevard spot Around $0,500. "Strictly Dishonoroble"-(Adclphl, 7th week). Comedy dropped to $13,- 000, but considered doing well in the general slump. Special Attractions Majestic — (Shubert) "Babes in Toyland" opened for two -weeks, succeeding "The Fortune Teller." Goodman—Civic rep artists in re- vival o£ "The. Rivals.". Philly's $21,000 for Shakespeare; "Wonderful Night" Low at Phildaelphla, March 25. The thumping:'Increase 'in trade that marked the second and final week of the Stratford-Upon-Avon Shakespearean Players at the Broad and the continued fine business turned In by "Th^ Little Show" at the Chestnut Street Opera House featured the week. The Shakespeare troupe, which started slowly arid only got by the first week with any sort of showing due to the two sell-out matinees, de- veloped Into a riot during the final six days due to word-of-niouth and critical comment. It was undoubt- edly one of the most phenomenal single weeks of• Shakespearean pre- sentations established here in recent years save only Barryniore's. "Ham- let:" Wednesday matinee and night and Saturday matinee and night went Clean," and the other four perform- ances had only a couple of rows out, although it must be added that the last five rows downstairs were sold at balcony prices to take care —r——r IN "SUEZ" BEST IN L A. Los Angeles, March 25. "East of Suez," in the Belasco for a run with Lenore Ulric starring, irave the town one class name draw and collected $16,000, For a short cast production this means plenty of profit to the management, which has both house and shpw. With only seven houses operat- ing, "Vine Street and President dis- played exceptional style. Others were in the easing off process. The 'Vine, where they're getting the only $2.50 top in Hollywood, jumped up about $1,500 from the opening stanza, to $3,000. Taylor Holmes also, helped matters a bit at the President, where for his second :W6«k there, was a tilt of about $400 te, $6^,500 for "His Uncle Dudley." May Rpbson seemed, tp have re- turned to the Hollywobd Playhouse too soon, as she has been here tw'lce before within a year. "Helena's Boys," her latest, got off to a rather popr start at $4,500. "New Moon" has two weeks more to go at the Majestic, with the Mac- Loons then bringing back "Desert Song" for a second try. Same cast used whidh Is plaiying In the cur- r6nf production. "Moorf* "manage'd to hit around $9,000 for its ninth week. Theatre parties were main sup- port for the Civic Repertory group presenting "The Romantic Young Lady" at the Hollywood Music Box. Take just about $2,200. Two openings are Madge Ken- nedy In "The Perfect Alibi" at the Blltmore and the Warlng's Penn- sylvanlans show at the Mason. Estimates fop Last Week Belasco—"East of Suez" (1st week). 'Miss Ulrlc brought out a class mob on the premiere With take being strong through week and agency buys four weeks ahead, which has been rather unusual I0-. .cajly.- Totaled $16,000. El Capitan—"Let Us Be Gay" (3d week). Trade about even with pre- ceding week $5,500. •■'Hollywood Playhouse—"Helena's Boys" (1st week). May Robson fol- lowing not as forceful as heretofore with start of this run figured poor at $4,500. Maiestic—"New Moon" • (9th yi&eii). Beginning to peter out and caniiol live up to the record it es- tablished In the East. Around $9,000. Music Box (Civic Repertory)— "The. Romantic Young Lady" (2d week). Clubs are the only lever they can use for trade here with the sharing basis plan for actors not bearing much fruit at $2,200. President—"Your Uncle Dudley" (2d week). Taylor Holmes can bring them to this downtown house in anything and to get around $6,500 at $1.25 too is a lot of money. Vine Street—"Rope's End" (2d week). Trade built over the first week and looks as though it will shoV plenty of profit to house. Jumped to $8,000. Radio Questionnaire The R-K-0 offices have issued a mimeographed questionnaire, dis- tributed among the office staff, ask- ing answers. The list inquires the personal opinion of the R-K-O radio hour and also any opinion heard or ex- pressed by the staff member's fam- ily. of the overfiow. The company rould undoubtedly have clicked smartly In a third week. "Little Shpw" Big "The Little Show" dropped only a couple of hundred dollars at the Chestnut in its second week and hit around $26,000. Four-week engage- ment should hit close to the $100,000 mark. Some of the other attractions got by nicely although not sensation- ally. "Candle Light," seventh of the plays sponsored by the Professional Players at the AdelphI, got around $7,000 in its first week, which spelled profit. It will go out Satur- day to make room for "Meet Lady Clara," with Florence Nash, eighth and last of the series. Ethel. Barrymore's second play "The Love Duel," like the. first, showed its greatest strength at the matinee.s, but was disappointing in its.wfeekly gross at the Lyric. No- tices were decidedly mixed. ■ "Strange Interlude" dropped an- other, ^lotch in its fourth week at the Garrick, Management is frankly worried and is emphasizing "last week's"' prominently in advertising copy. Not much doubt but- that Guild production will round out al-' lotted eight weeks, but it's a cer- tainty it will not move to another hou§e after that "Ritzy," coming In quietly and suddenly to Walnut, won fine no- tices and was liked. Wednesday matinee trade was excellent and comedy showed powers at picking up. "Follow Thru" started strongly, with aid of benefits and parties, but nose-dived at middle of week at the Forrest. Caliber of company gen- erally blamed for drop, but show should hold on for good run because of lack of musical opposition. "A Wonderful Night" closed a four weeks' stay at the Shubert with hardy more than $13,000 re- ported. First part of engagement was highly promising but the bot- tom fell out. "Bitter Sweet" at the Shubert and "Many a Slip" at the Broad were this week's two openings. Both are In for fortnight stays only. The English Importation papered heav- ily the first night and looks none too strong. "Many a Slip" had a $6,500 advance. Next Monday's new comers in- chJde "Bird in Hand" at the Lyric, "Meet Lady Clara" at .the Adelphi, and "Everything's Jake" at, the Walnut. On April 7 Eva Le GalU- enne's Civic Repertory comes into the Broad for two weeks, and Wal- ter Hampden is booked, also in rep- ertoire, at the Chestnut, probably for only, a week. The Shubert .will join Keith's in the "dark". category that week, being virtually ce':aln not to open until Easter Monday. Keith's .may not. reopen- atuS-H-tMs seaso'h. f ' ■' Other April bookings are very un- certain. Geoi-ge M. Cohan comes in, probably to the Broad, In both "Gambling" and "The Tavern." The Mask and Wig plays its annual two weeks at the Garrick, and there are reports of "Ripples" and a new Shu- bert musical offering showing up hereabouts. Later, "Let Ua Be Gay" is booked at the Broad or Garrick. That's about all, except for an in- teresting announcement (not official as yet) that the Sharp Stock Com- " pany of Pittsburgh Is expanding to include Philly, and that it will open here April 21, either at the Chestnut or at the Adelphi for a ten weeks' season. The possibility of the es- tablishment of the long-awaited Philadelphia Civic Theatre for. a try-out this spring at one of the regular houses is also of Interest. Estimates of the Week "Many a Slip"- (Broad; 1st week). Opened with a $6,500 advance, sur- prisingly good. Stratford-Upon- Avon Players got $21,000 in second week. Phenomenal. "Bitter Sweet" (Shubert, 1st week). Got critics and class first- night audience, but was forced to "paper" ■ heavily. "Wonderful Night" way down to $13,000 In final week; "Strange Interlude" (Garrick, 5th week). Guild offeiinij off another notch to $16,000 and management Is emphasizing "last weeks" to coax out the laggards. Sure to run al- lotted two months, however. "The Little Show" (Chestnut, 3d week). Held to fine figure, and again led the town easily with $26,000. Great business for this season here. "Ritzy" (Walnut, 2d week). Mild business, but plenty of praise from press and patrons and may build this week. Around $7,000. "Follow Thru" (Forrest, 2d week). Started strong,, but slipped middle of week with partial recovery Frir day and Saturday. Ought to hold for run, de.spite non-startling company. "Candle Light" (Adelphi, 2d week). Under auspices of profes- sional players. Got $7,000, and is sure to jump this week. Goes out Saturday with "Meet Lady Clara" following. "The Love Duel" (Lyri.c, 2d week"). Second Barrymore offeriiig got $14.- 500 In first week. Not what was fig- ured in' advance.