New Britain herald., 1927-10-29
THE OBSER VER- Makes Random Observations
 On the City ana Its People

Passaic. N. J, Utica, N. Y, Boston,
 Mass" Miami and Jacksonville. Fla.
 The rest of the cities claim only one or two new temples to their record.
 Of the S40,1S0,000 actually re- corded spent on 162 new buildings during the last two years and eight
 months, New York state claims to l have contributed $15,9 5,00U, or 42 per cent Of the total amount spent 1 by American Jewry. New York city alone spent $11.525,000 or 6S.1 per cent of the states expenditure; ]; Boroklyn. $2,S10,000 or 16.6 per
 cent; Long Island. $1,160,0 or 6.9 per cent; while the other II cities i in New York state which reported l new religious edifices, have spent
 only $1,420,000 or S.4 per cent of , the amount spent by the state.
 Next in importance comes the state of Pennsylvania, with an cx- penditure of $4,470,000 or Ill per pert of the national total. Of the amount spent by the state. Philadel- phia claimed $2,S75.000 or 64.3 per cent. Illinois follows a close third with an expenditure of $A,335. .000 or 10,1 per cent of the rational total. Almost the entire amount was spent .by Chicago Jews, only $250, ,0e0 or less than six per cent were spent outside of Chicago.
 California's investment of S3,0S5,- GOO (7.7 per cent of the national totaD is almost entirely divided be- tween San Francisco and Los An gelos. the former city claiming $l,- 625,000 and the latter $1,410.000. Among the states whose cXpendi- lures arc above the million mark are included Massachusetts with an eX- pcuditurc of $1,500,00O of which
 Boston claimed $1,040,Go0 Ohio .With an investment of $1,225,0QO of (which Cincinnati spent $500, ,0O0; New Jersey with an expenditure of .$I015.o00 of which Passaic spent $420,000, and Connecticut with an expenditure Of $t.005,00o ot which New Haven spent $5OQ,000.
 When the subject Of entertainment is discussed in cities where mo legiti- mate thcater is conducted, thoughts
 invariably turn 10 the movies or vaudeville. the favorite amuscmentS in smaller communities. Little at tentiOn is paid 10 shows" so called, better known as Legitimate" attrac- tiCns yet millions of dollars are spent annually throughout the country in support of entertainments in which the actors and actresses appear in person in inc presentation of dramas, musical comedies comedies and mystery plays,
 Business in the legitimate field this season is reported much better than laSt year. There is the usual number of failures which are pro- duced at great cost but which find their way into the stOrehouscs within a few weeks while the members .of the cast run into the booking offices in search of new assignments. The graveyard Ot the show business is necessarily large because the nor tality rate is high, II ie no novelty 10 see show on which many thousands of dollars have been expended fold up @ few days after il is first pre- scented. The producer swallows his disapp looks at the red figures in the lndger- and goes out seeking a vehicle with which 10 re- coup his losses. Many producers have failed consistently 10 hit the bulls eye Of public favor only to strike it rich eventually with a show that be- comes the talk of the town. Produc- ing is gamble with high stakes but the winnings are so large when a "hit' is made that it keeps men go- ing. No where else is the truth of the saying Hope springs eternal in the human breast more evident than in the show business
 persistcncy is not often met along Broadway. If an attraction fails to catch the theatergoers' fancy soon after it is launched, it is invaria bly, junkcd. But there is one instance of persstcucy which has the theatcr world talking. The Ladder has played dor 54 weeks on Boardway and it's backer a wealthy oil man, has dropped Q fortune. The receipts Iast week were estimated at less than S1.060.
 Compare this with box office re- ports front other houses. Receipts of $10,Q00 or more for last week are estimated for four productions in New York theatcrs. They arc: Five O'Clock Girl" $4o,o0o plus; 'Follies,' SA6,Qo0; "Good News,' $4o,00o, and "Iiio Rita" S40.000 plus. In addition to these there arc many which are