Variety (January 1950)

WedtteadAy9 J^Huaiy 25, 195Q Pi^ieSt xBcrriiifA'rB The following are the comparative figurea based on yARiETy't boicoffice-"estimates for last week (the 3ith week of the season) *and the corresponding week Of ^l^^ Tbia^ :Lasi" ;——i J.JtBQAD. W A Y .. Season Season. Number of shows current / 27 27 Total weeks played so far by all shows... . 662 >• 740 Total gross for all current shows last week $683,600 $674,000 Total seasbh's gtOss so far by all shows... $16,842,800 $17,575,800 Number of new production^ so far; .1 .... V ■ ; 33 V i 45 BOAD. j. : : (Excluding stock) Number of current touring shows reported .32 30 Total weeks played so far by all shows. .. 598 746 Total road, gross reported last week .... i ... $636,562 $600,900 Season's total road gross so. far .., J;;..;. $12,418;002 $15;i88,i00 Chicago, Jan. 24. Chi legit picture took on a health- ier hue and mail Orders took a big jump, perhaps the best since the first of the year. Convention trade took big blocks of seats with ‘■Kiss Me, Katev the favorite of out-of- toWners;- In the offing is “That Lady” Jan. 30 and Spike Jones Feb. 5. Also bn the agenda is “Madwoman of Chaillot” and the retuim of VBorSchtcapadeS,” J Estimates for Last Week . -‘BlossomT-Time^V -0reab^or-t^^ erh (1,500; $3.71h Perennial has tlie old faithfuls, With bright $14,- 000 gross. . ‘■Death of a Salesman/^ Erlah- ger (18th week) (1,334; $4.33). GU- Ing into last month with fine $17,-^ 800,. V. ■'.;■■■ “Detective Story,” Blackstone (l2th Week) (1,456; $4 46). Next to last Week showed nearly $16,706. “Goodbye, My Fahey,” Harris (4th week) (1,000; $3.71). Picking up from last week, With nifty $13*700; closes Saturday (28) un- less a new management . deal can be arranged. , “Kiss Me, KateT* ShUbert (18th week) (2,160; $6,19).: Anne Jeffreys starrer going along to fine business; almost $45,000. ^ “Light Up the Sky,” Studebaker (1,237; $3.71). Party groups gave comedy bright $11*000 for first Week* continuance is uncertain. garioff $5,200, Atlanta* In y n Borrowed Time’ , Atlanta, Jan. 2^^^ Boris Karloff,, starring in “On ! Borrowed; Time,” attracted $5,200 at the Penthouse theatre, Greek- type playhouse atop Ansley hotel, last Week. Richard Wilson, nine- i year-old Atlanta bby, played role i. Of J juvenile. ■'■.“ Norman Krasha's ‘‘Let Us Be 'Gayi” .starring Tom Drake, M-G player, opened Monday (23). It marked Penthouse’s 19th Consecu- tive week. Stage stars and per- sonalities have been heading casts of Penthouse productions. Week before Karioff’s; appearance, Kay Francis, oh her second engage- ment at Penthouse, grossed $5,500 in“The Last of Mrs. Cheyney.” Penthouse has 445 seats, all priced at $3, including tax* Origi- ' nal price was $2.40, but * there has ‘ been iio diminution of business since scale Was upped. 1NTW0N.Y, Rochester, Jan; 24, Broadway company of “Street- car Named Desire,’* with Uta Hagen and Anthony Quinn, roared l-down-the track last week for a total gross just a shade under $32,60Q. Irene M. Selznick produc- tion rang up a fast $13,100 in four performances Monday - Wednesday (16rl8) at the 1,452-seat Empire, Syracuse, and topped it with $18,- 960 in four more showings Thurso day-saturday (19-21) at 2,574r seat Auditorium here. : Saturday night here wa^ a fitting climax for the' Week,f egistering over $6,800 for the single performr ahee.," • 'Streetcar’ $24,100, BaltO ; - . Baltimore, Jam! 24J “A Streetcar Named Desire” mopped up in its second stanza at Ford’s last week, betteririg its first webk’S take of , $26,700 with a re- (21) and a City Centek stock pro- sounding $24,100. I ductlon went off Sunday night (22), Following the expected seasonalj pattern, legit grosses on Brbadway j last week registered another mark-: | ed improvement. Attendance was: better Monday night (16) than for ' the previous week, and the im- J provement continued ■ all week, I; spurting to virtual capacity for most shows by the weekend. Boxoffice pace is diie to increase ; a bit more this week, and, if it fol- j lows the pattern of previous sea- j son.s, should maintain a eohsist-; ently profitable level through Feb-; •ruary. - '' ■' ■:/ ' . '■.■' •■■■•;■ Two shows closed Saturday night; Mae West in a return engage- merit of “Diamond. Lil” is current but there were five openings tast y week, and four /more, iiicludihg; a ! and ‘‘Lend An .Ear,” “The Merry City ; Center revival, are due this! Widow” and “The ' Madw'oriian .of Chaillot’’are set tb follow. Minneapolis, Jah. 24, Turnihg’em a way, “Mister Rbb- erts-’ at $4,20 top in the 1,9.00-seat ^^yceum broke the allrtime house kecord for non-musicals, grossing a huge $39,112 for eight perform- ances, seven nights and a matinee. This Was despite winter’s worst weathok, with several blizzards, and temperatures running as low as 16 belbw zero. Show has three more nights and one matinee to go and *the remaining performances also are entirely soldout, assuring a total take for the 10 nights and two matinees of $59,000, all that the house could hold, “Detective Story” is inked for Feb. 1-5 as the A.T.S.- Theatre Guild’s second subscription season offekirigy while “Inside U.S.A.” comes In for a week Feb, 12; Philadelphia, Jan. 24. Postponement of “All You Need Is One Good Break” from last Fri- day at the Locu.st until tonight (24) has niade this an active session in Philly’s legit. Last night (23) found “Yes M’Lord” bowing in at the Walnut for two weeks with a fairly good advance, and Les Bailets de Paris opening a fortnight’s stay at the Shubert. Bookings continue to be substan-; tial with most of the legit houses occupied solidly through February. Next week’s lone opening is“Nbw I Lay Me Down to Sleep” at the Forrest (two weeks)* while week of Feh. 6 brings ‘‘Lend an Ear” to the' Shubert (three weeks), “Bar- retts of Wimpole Street” to the Walnut (two)* and “Birdcage,” a tryout but not a preem, to the Lo- cust, also for two stanzas. “The Consul” (preem) is due at the For- rest Feb. 13, y Estimates for Last Week —The MerryrWidOWj^For-re^st-(-Ut week. One closing is seheduled for Saturday (28); : / Estimates for Last J^eek ' Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama},■ CD ( ComedihDravia ), R (Revue ) * M. (Musical), O .(OpereU^ . other parenthetic figures refer: to seating capacity and top pricey ' including 20% amusement, tax. ' However, grosses are net; -Le., ' exclusive of tax. “Alive and Kicking,” Winter; Garden (list wk) (R-1,519; $6). Mu- sical opened Tuesday night (17) to j two favorable reviews, five unfa- vorable and one no-opinion; first six performances chalked up almost $24,000. “Caesar and Cleopatra,” Nation- al (5th wk) (CD-1,172; $6). Shaw revival has apparently caught oh, and looks set for a profitable run; $27,500. “Cluttkrhuck,” Biltmore (7th wk) (C-920; $4.80). Improved again, and looks like a payoff prospect; $16,500. V “Cocktail Party/' Miller (1st wk) (C-940; $4;80). British import pre- ; miered Saturday night (21) to six | good notices (ihcluding several rayes), one negative reaction and : one no-opinion: considerable box- i office activity since the opening. “Corn Is Green,” City Center (2d wk) (p-3,025; $3). Revival wound up its fortnight stand Sunday night (22); final eight peiTormances;; fiptched $20,060, gi ving it a total of $38,500 for the two-week run. “Dance Me a .Song,”! Roy ale fist wk) (Rrl,035; $6). Dwight Deere caught biz-getting noticed in [ Wiman musical started Friday, the press and got by the censoi's j night (20) to one approving review* ' with little ok, no trouble. Result five pans and two on-the-fence re- Was a very big take for ballet here, j actions; first four performahees in the neighborhood of $40,000.1 grossed: $9,300, plus $2,800 for a San Carlo Opera moved in Sunday : preview. ( 22 ). ■ ; Bostoilv Jan. 24* First real musical smash of the season is currently giving the Hub a heeded pickup. “Arms and the Girl” bowed Tuesday (17) at the Shubert and got rave notices with resulting SRO’s for nearly all per- formances. Meantime, “Brigadooh” jumped back to top gross on finale here ^and could haVe remained an- other two but for bookings, while “Happy Time” stayed on top as the solidest new legit so far this season: Estimates for Last Week “Arms and tbe Girl,” Shubert (1st week) (1,750; $4.80). Musical came in in firstclass .shape from Philly and got nothing but the highest praise, with only incidental complaints for its talkihcss. This, with the powerful marquee draw | and Theatre Guild auspices; gave j it a smash $31,600 on seven. ‘■Ballets de Paris*” Opera House (3,000; $4.80); Here for. a bhe- week stafld, this talked-of attkac- “Death of a Salesman,’’ Morosco ‘ loOth wk) (D-914; $4.80). Has edged back to capacity; $23,900. . , “Detective Story,” Hudson (44th, wk) (D-l,015; $4.80). Also Improved ' with the general trend; nearly $21,500. .1 *r 1 V onA I “Diamond L’il,” Plymouth (23d '2d,week)./.1.200:.! ,cd- 1,063; $4.80). Mae West, $3.60). Costume play _ witli re- up a profitable run ligious subject didn t find too mgny jg2 performahees Saturday night takers im town with a modest $4,-, ,21) and went on tour; final week (21), with An Old Beat Up Wo- "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," man now current. “Brigadopn,” Colonial (4th week) (1,500; $4.80). Final session jumped back to fine $28,800, to conclude a h ighl y profitable engage ment here. “Yosele the Nightingale” now here. “Design for a Stained Glass In Nine Shows at St. Louis St. Louis* Jan. 24.' Gross for “The Man Who Game! To Dinner/’ endihg Sunday night' (22) at the American, was slashed Ayhen Monty JWoolley asked that tlie Sunday matinee performance be cancelled. Actor said four shows in tWb days was /too great i a physical strain for him. Terrific j biz was done On nine performances, I with the Jiouse scaled to $3.66, ; getting approximately $26,000. j Regular eight performances ac-' ebunted for $22,200 of the total* j “P rivale Lives,” Noel Coward Cornedy that did sock biz here dur- ing a twQrWeek Stand in 1948, teed off another one-week engagement last night (Mon.)* vVeek) (1,766; $3:25). Revival got a satisfactory if not noteworthy $22,r | 000 in first Of two sessions with \ pppiilar scale. Good notices. “Madwoman of Chaillot/’ Shu- bert (2d week) (1,877: $3.90). Strong" $27,700 in second and final session. | Some squawks from ATS subscrib- ers but show’s rep and notices! cak- ried it alongi Ballets de Paris ill this week for two; “YoseSe* the Nighliugaie/’ Wal- nut (one week only) (1*340; $2;60). Mauriee SchWartz and h is Yiddish ! Art Theatre did a moderately good ' $11,206 in single sesrion here.“Yes ’ M’Lbrd” this; week. Ziegfeld (7th wk) (M-1,628; $6) New (2d Aveek) (I. 26 O;. $3.60). This one i eommissions cutting .the gross has been turning, Cheni away all ^ slightly; reached $47,000. w^k to^catch the ^ ^ at^^ile, ■ nf 1950,” Gen- which IS about $22,200. Mad-! j. ^ r. 2,964; $2.88). Skat- (CDrl,066; $6). Has been getting an operating profit; $22,060* ‘‘South Pacijllc/* Majestic (A2d \vk)/(M-l,659; $6). Always gets the limit of standees; better than $50,- 6O6 again* ; “Texas, L’il Darlln,” Hellinger <9th wk) (M-1,543; $6). Ro$e again with the trend; neat operating margin at $28,300. “That Lady,” Martin Beek (9ih wk) (D-1,214; $4.80. Katharine Coi'nell show Closes Saturday night (28); made ah Impkbvemeht • Ihst \veck to $16,806. ! “The Ehchanted,”. Lyceum (1st wk) (CD-990: $4.80). ■ Opened Wednesday night (18) to five good notices and three pahs; first five performances approached $13,600. “The! Man,“ Fulton List wk) (I> 966; $4.80). Chiller premiered Thiii'sday night (19) to three pro and five cbn reviews; got away to a lively start with over $8*000 for first five performahees, plus $4,300 i'br two previews. “Touch and Go,” Broadhiirst (15th \Vk) (R-1,160; $6), Improved a bit with the field: almost $28,560, “Velvet GloVe,” Booth (4th wk) (Pt 712: $4.80). Also had better takings with the trend; ih the blacfc/at $11,900. “Where’s Charley?” St. james (66th w’k) (M-1,509; $6). Back to virtual capacity; $36,000. Openings “As You Like It,” Cort fC-1,064: $6). Katfiarine Hepburn stars in Shakespeare revival by Theatre Guild, opening tomorrow night (Thur.)* Production cost is about $85,000; breaks even at about $20,000 and can gross $27,500. “Design for a Stained Glasi Window,” Mansfield (D -1,041; $4.80). Martha Scott stars ih play by Howard Richardson and William Berney, presented by OBS Produc- tion.s* opened Monday night (23) to all unfavorable notices. Produc- tibh cost is $75^000; has an operat- ing nut of $13,000 and capacity is about $26,000; show must vacate the house, next week to make way for a previous booking. “DevU’s Disciple,” City Center (C-3.025; $3). Maurice Evans, Dehnis King and Victor Jbry star in Bernard Shaw re viva 1, presented by N. Y. City Theatre Goi, opening tonight (Wed.). Production cost is $35,000, and . can gross about $32,- 500, 7 . ■•■'.•./■ “Happy Time,” Plymouth (C-1,- 063; $4.80)* Play by Samuel Taylor, adapted from rioyel by Robert Fontaine, presented by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein, IL opened last night (Tues:). Produc- tion cost $40,000; can get by at around $15,500, and has a capacity of over $28,000. Scheduled Dates “Mr, Barry’s Etchings,” Jan. 31, at 48t.h Street; “The Iimocents,” Feb. 1* at Playhouse; “Arms and the Girl,” Feb. 2, at 46th Street; “All You Need Is One Good Break.’* Feb. 9, Mansfield; “Bird Cage,” Feb. 22* Coronet. mOIER’ 55G, DETROIT; ‘YES, ’NEAT^ woman of Chaillot” here now. recovered a bit; ‘Etchings’ hisailpoints With ioG ill Cleyel?i^^^ Cleveland, Jah* 24* Brock Pemberton’s “Mr. Barry’s E tchings,” starring Lee Tracy, didn’t start its career! very prom- isingly in its tryout at the Hanna here last week. Busiriess sagged due to critics’ unflattekirig reviews. Take of $10,600 for eight perform- ances at $3.70 top was on the dis- couraging side, Lianna is going dark for next three weeks, because of lack of bookings. > mld’pl.MO.lA, 'Jelii’4G, 1)o«ne’lUSO Los Ahgclcs, Jan. 24. “Pklahohia!”7hoW goirig into Lts third' and firiai week at th6 BUt- more, did much better in its socpiid week than in its first stanza. Show is here fbi* the third time. “Honest John,” Buddy Ebsen’s Comedy at the Las Palmas, held up. well in its fourth and penultimate week. “Kitty Doone“ is okay at the small Circle Playhouse. Estimates for Last Week “Honest John,” Las Palmas (388; $3) (4th week)* Nccit $4,000; , “kitty Doolie/’ Circle Playhouse (.15.0; $2.46)* Good at $i,250. “Oklahoma” BiltmOre (1,038; $3,50) Smart $31,900, sharply up over last week’s $26,900. ing spectacle $24,800, “I Know My Love/’ Shubert (J2th wkl (CDlv391; $4.80). Lunt- / Fonlnnhe show goes along to bulg- 1 ing houses; $33*566, , j ‘'kiss Me* Kate,” Cehtuiy (55th ■ wk> (M-1,654; $6). Inched up a another'hefty gross last ;;wcek in “Private Lives.” at fouk x Stahds, . .' «V !pn j A|i Far ’’ Mansfield (58th . The elglH performances added up Q4ij $6)' intirriate revue * finaied Saturday night (21) after ! Indianapolis,, Jah. 24. Tailulah Bahkhcad rapped out to $28,600: Monday night (16) In Evansville, : ma., she tot $2800. Tuesday:: ^9“ night 1171 in Nashville .added $6.': Sn rfon ® meeK , appioacneo ”*.dst In the Btarsi" Music Box rtav rr,.at,r,ee and nieht (lft-19) in q2th wkl (M-1,012; $5.40). Mother day matinee and night (18-19) m Louisvllie ; kicked In. $8,600 more, and. Friday night and Saturday matinee and night (20-21) in a return date in, Indianapolis picked up a final $16,806* 12|G* Frisc® San Francisco, Jan. 24. Cornelia Otis Skinner chalked up a bd.sky $12,506 lor her one- woman show . at . the 1,775-seat Curran where; she played to a $3 top,.-.; Both legit hou.ses, Gurrart and Geary , remai n dark until “Phila- delphia Stor>’” witlkSarah Gburch- lU opens at the Geary Jan, 30 and j to Ballet Theatre Curran FebJ 6. moves into cohsistent capacity producUoii; reached $26*800/ “Member of the Wediilng,” EiUr pire (3d wk) (D-l;082; $4.66). Oc- car.lonally has a few empty seats in the second balcony, but has con- .si-titent standees, so/ grosses are capacity, With the advance sale stcadily building; appears .headed for click run; bettered capacity at $24,200. “Miss Liberty*” Imperial (28th wk) (M-1,400; $6.60). Climbed again With the prevailing upbeat; $33,700* “Mister koberiii/’ Alvin (lOlst wk) (;CD-L360; $4.80)* Also reacted the improved Obnditiohs; the i $31.000. I “Rat Race/’ Bairymore (5th wk) Detroit, Jan. 24. A heat $19,000 was earned by “Yes, MXord!’ at the Cass last- week. Both Detroit legltets air# On rk h6w. The Cass has nothing s(/beduled until Feb. 27 when “Madwoman of Chaillot” Is due. The fiye-Week closure Is one of the longest in recent Gass history^ The Shubert-Lafayette has beea cJosed more than It has been opeUi for a very poor season to date* wi th most grosses below par. MeariWhlTej the Civic Light Opera took ill a tremendous $55»t 000 with V “Chocolate Soldier,” featuring Allan Jones. It was thf second biggest gross of tbe 10* week seasoni^belng Surpassed only by “Show Boat/r Which opened Christmas week at better than $66,000. Current production is J'Desert Song,” with Edward Hoecker* Jack Goode/ and OlUe Franks.' ■ •■ T ;S.A.* kodenite $27,0(90 In 7 at PorC^nd, Orig. Portland; Ore., Jan* 24. Beatrice LUlie and Lew Parke? in“In8lde U.S.A.” pulled approxW niately, $27,000 In; five evening peiv formances and two matinees, at the 1 ,500-seat Mayfair theatre. House was scaled at |4*2Q. Sarah Churchill and Jeffrey Lynn in “The PhUadelphle Story‘s* here this week.