Variety (Dec 1934)

Tueedayt December ■ 11, 1934 ft IT IMA ft VARJETY 5S 'OieerStay^atSZSM^ Shows in Rehearsal Chicago, Dec. 10. Legit bujilness cohtlriuea good In the Liobp and now there are three •Bhowa goinp, following the opening o£ 'Ah, WUdei-nesa,' with George M, Gohari at the EJrlanger. This Is the first of the Theatre Guild produc- tions, opening tonight (3). Already ielllng Into the fourth Sveek and likely to be two Theatre Guild shows running at the sanie time, which will necessitate putting.'Pet- ticoat Fever* into the Harris. 'Fe-: ver' Is . the Theatre Guild's second slipw; with Donnls;, King and Ona Munson. , ,^ 'As Thousands Cheer' and .'Bp- mahce' hold pver and continue to good business. Best- general legit pace that town has seen in three , yeaxB. Example of that was the fine three weeks that the Audi-: torium done with 'Mldsumer Night's Dream?. Auditorium has.returned, to life this year. ■ ; - .. JEstimaiea- for This Week ■ : .'A« thousands Cheer', Grand (i.2 00;- $3-30) (6th week). Buslnei t^m^ at top pace ahd going-alongr steady takis at $26,000. 'Ah. WildernesB'j Erlanger (1,200; $3.30) (1st week). Will be ca- pacity on aiivance sale, which mieans over j27,000. for initial ses- sloh follo^vlng; opening tonight (Monday);' _ . 'Romanoe'i Blackstone (1,100 f $2.20) (3d we^k). :Bugenle. Leprito- vlch carrying the hotise, ajid, with good .notices, will stick awhile. - Running .arpund (8,600, fine, : BENNY, 7a iBostoh, Dec. 'lO. Lew Brown's "Calling All Stars' closed its third week In Boston Sat- - tirday (i8 )--'way : ahead. of. the Jack Benny 'Brings on the CSfrls,' which also closed, last week-end. 'Pursuit of Histppliiess' at the Hol- lis lis sUU holding forth; going. Into Its seventh "week. .. Walter Ham pden . op ens at Co- ' lorilal Dec.~I7 la repertolts^foirpne: week. 'Petrified Forest,' with l,eslle Howard (Gilbert Miller) Is slated for the Shubert Dec. 24. 'Point Ya- Ialn«,' fitarrinigr Xtint ahd Fontanne .<Noel .Coward)i comes , to the Co- lonial CKrlstmas night. D'Oyly Carte Operit CP. headed for Colpnial : With Gllbert-SulIiVans Jan. 14. ■ EatimatiQs for Last Week . 'Callina All Stars,' Shubert. poc- tored and nursed in its twp and a half weeks In Hub, nPw leaves for New York. Final stanza" of |18,000 good for . HoltZTBaker-Mayfalr- Marshall-Whiting review, ; _^Bring on. the Girls,' Plymouth. "Xeft town after two-week'irUri." See-: ond week a puny $7,000 for -Jack Benny and his furcuura. n • •'Pursuit of Happiness,' Hollis. : Drew a fair $3,800 in its isixth week. Scheduled to go Put after this week, l)ut If biz booms it will stay through pre-Ghrlstmas. perlodi ^Rain from Heaven,' Jane. Cowl ond John Halliday. Show opened at Plymouth Monday (10). Pittsburgh: Plsiyhoui^e, Semi-Pro, Gets Started Pittsburgh, Diec. 10. . With a, large list of doripris aiid an encpurdglng subserlptipn . sale re- ported already covering :flVstieaspW'(3 budget, Pittsburgh 'Playhpuse gets under ;way tonight (10) at Frlck Tree' $6,000,^ lullriheappllai Dep. 10. With critics panning *the plajr, 'Gireeii Bay Tree', final week of Drama Festival iat the Shubert wPund up to a fair approximate $6,000. ; Six-week season was highly profltabie. W- A. , Steffes now has 1 house, with ho .announcement of policy yet forthcpmlng. : . . . ■ Zlegfeld :'Follies' .comes Into the,| Metropolitan Dec. 16 for a wfeek. Mall, order advance salei./ls big. miEY FORGE' AROUND ■]\ Baltimore, Dec; 10; \/ 'Valley Forge* scooped up estl mated fairly; good, $10,000 at Ford's -last-^oek-at42.76-top. BaTp.nny h lz | was' extremely light; best biz roostr Ing oh' lower level: at top. .figures Though gross was somewhat nar rpwed down, by fact the play came In on only three days' notice and ran through a week, during which the burg was studded with • social bursts of size and .proifnlhencei Ford's, shrouds currently;' with nothing definitely set beyond D'Oyly Carte troupe for a week in Feb- ruary. Thought, however, that a show will be routed In for Christ mala week. 'Piper Paid', starring Edith Bar rett, premieres tonight (Monday) at the Independently operated • and bPoked Maryland. Top Is $1.50. Maryland also has the pre-Broad- way break-In of the. Harry Moses production, 'The Old: Maid', set for week of Dec. 31. Play Is dramatiza- tion: by Zoe Aklns of. an Edith Wharton novelette .. and will, star Judith Anderson and. Helen Men- ken. Guthrie Mc(i!llntlc win stage. Show win be most Important pre- miere the town has had to date this season. After a week here will go into the Empire, .N. Y. Annual Princeton University Trl "ingle-shPw^lll-oome^ln-foc^a^slngle. night, Dec. 27, at the Maryland. First time a Trla,ngle production has been spotted Jnto any house other than the uptown concert hall. Lyric, ■>■.■; ■'■■-:>:' 'Laburnuhi Grove' — Gilbert Miller and Shuberts. 'Gather Ye Rosebuds'—Max Gordon. . ■ \ / 'Point Valaine'—Noel Cow- ard. 'Old Love'—Crosby Galge. 'The Petrified Forest'—GH- bert Miller. - 'Baby Pompadour'—Dreifuss and Gernhardt. 'Mother Lode'—Bushar and Tuerk. '; ■ 'Old Maid'—Henry Moaeis. 'Fly Away Home'—Bamber- ger and Klawahs; ^Bright Star'-^Arthur Hop- kins. .. ■ 'Music Hath Charms'—Shu- berts. '' : 'Sky's the Limit'—Raymond ' Golden. 'Birthday'—Harmon ajid UU- ■ man. / 'Portrait of Gilbert'—Grisman and Oshrln. ^ : . 'Fools Rush In'—Leonard Slllmah. , Sluiiip Sets In, kt PHILLYINFOR BUSY WEEK ENGAGEMENTS Thomas Mitchell, 'Fly Away HPmc.' Leslie- Howard; Peggy Coriklln, Humphrey Bogart, Walter Vonne- gut, Esther WoodrufE Leejning, Ross I Hertz, Tom Fadden, Frank Milan. James Doody and Mllo Boulton, ' 'Petrified Forest.' Blanche Sweet, Chas. Dow Clark, Ross Hertz, Tom Fadden, Trls I Frank Milan, Robt. Boulton, Jas, [ Doody, Robt. Potterfield, Robt. Hud son, 'Petrified Forrest.' Lillian Gahagan, Lester Loner- -gaii,^-Lester—Lonergan—III, -Lenora^ Lonergan, Helen , Freeman, John roughton, W m. Fra^lfUri, CHfford Dempsey, Robt. Thome, Arvld Paulson, . Lydia Kane, 'Mother LPde,': Herbert Rawlinson, Jos. M, De Vllllard, 'Baby Pompadour.' Constance Carpenter, 'Music Hath Pickens sisters, 'Thumba Up.' Naoe Kondo, Carl Huntingdon, 'Petticoat Fever.* Cyrena Smith,, Bert Whitley, Janet Fox, Lee Brode,. Marvin Lawler, Olga Vernon, Bert Tbprne and. Strawbrldge dance :.group, 'Fools Bush In.' Betty Field, Georgette McKce, Lili Zehner and Montgomery Clift, 'Fly Away Home.'. ■ .; School theatre with a wee^t a en- gagemcnt of 'Art and Mra. Bottle.' .Cast la headed by Florence Henry, Robert Gill and Helen Wayne. : ~ . Idea of sponsors is : ,tp build a regular art center around the playr ; house,, with plans ialready made to _ build dLppnynunlty theatre if. pub - lie Interest la Indicated,'^ Group now has a cpuple of realdent actors on permanent payroll, In addition, to Helen Stout, director, and Frank Stout, scenic designer, and expects to add others in near future. Organization plans to ipresent five plays, at Intervals of a month, dur- ing the initial season; • ; Ulric in No. Caro. Charlotte, N. C, DiBC. 10. Lenore Ulrlc is in North Carolina , with her 'Pagan L?idy' road com- pany. She plays Charlotte today ■<■■ (10). ':■ :■ •■ '■■ • :'■'■ ,. Company has i.laycd.to fair busl- . ncKs In North Carolina.. Santa In Dutch Pblladelpbla. Dec. 10. Phiny went : back Into iJie dol- drums last week as far as legit was concerned. . ' Forrest was dark; the Garrlck' had an amateur outfit presenting Victor Herbert's "Red Mill'; both the Broad- and Erlanger bad hold- overs, and the Chestnut' ha4 Ruth Draper. Last - named was a very real disappointment, although..,the diseuse dId^ pick iip In attendance as the week went by. Opening was pitiful, and week's gross was not $6,000—pretty sad compared to the capacity trade Miss Draper did at the Broad and Walnut In her last engagements, here four and five years ago.;'. ;'. • Sam Nirdllnger decided to hold 'The Pursuit of Happiness' for one -mor6-^eek--at-the-Broad.-JrhatLwllL| give it a 16-week run, anjazlng In Phllly these days. Last week start- ed mildly, but with 'laat tlmea' an- nouncement picked. up healthily and achieved a $6,200 week. It will defi- nitely leave this Saturday as -an- other , booking, Edith Barrett In ^The Piper Pays, is in for next week. The Milky Way* is doing nicely at the Erlanger and will get the predicted four weeks or. more.' 'Slightly Delirious' ' la Just strug- gling along at the Walnut. - This week—^^-flnds considerably more activity. Eddie DowUng's -iHMHBba-JtfpMs-atT-the^Eo. a two-week- stay; .'Stevedore*. Is at the Oarrick for a like period, and •Petticoat Fevef,^ new play, \vlth Dennis King, has a fortnight at the Chestnut. ■ " . '■ ■ ' Miss Barrett's vehicle .Is alone next week, but Christmas week will find the usual renewed activity. D'Oyly Carte company starts a three weeks' run at the Forrest. 'Living Dangerously,' Shubert Im- portation from London; Is Inl at the Chestnut for a fortnight, arid 'One Sunday Afternoon* Is scheduled at the Broad. For New? Tear's week the Garrlck, which mil probably be , dark Christmas week, will have the Irish (Abbey Theatre) players, and 'Point Valaine,' new Coward play with the LuntSi comes to the Cheaf- nut on Jan. 7. 'Kill That Story', is ■ Secisonal pre-Christmas slump set in on Broadway last week. Natural for amAisementa to taper off after •Thanksglylng, but the drop appeara to be more rnarked than usual; : Sat- urday >vaa particularly disappoint- ing, probably partly blamablo on the first frigid spell of the winter. There were exceptions such aa 'The Great Waltz.' which got $42.- 000; 'Anything Goes,' credited with a thirty-twoer, ' and, among the straight shPws. 'Personal Appear- ance.' a , flf teener. 'The Children a , Hour' held Its piace, too. and by the I holidays should be' capiaclty, First full week of 'Revenge With Music' approximated 22; G's, which was promising at the New Amster- dam. Operetta is laying off two weeks because of an injury to a lead (Charles Wlnnlnger)! Last week's arrivals were lightweight except 'Post Road,' which has ia nioderate coin chance at; the' "Masque;:r 'So Many ;Paths' drew mixed notices; 'Tomorrow's Harvest' stopped after -.hree nights.—, ■ Incoming cards are loaded with attractions, 26 or more premieres being booked by the second 'week in January. Next Iweek (before Christmas) has five new shows list- ed, with at least 10 chalked , down for the holiday week, while week of Jan. 7. will have another six. . And added to this-week's four-show card, all available l«glt houses should be tenanted by them. Due next week: 'Romeo and Juliet* (Katharine GorneM), Martin Beck; 'Bright Star/ Plymouth; 'Ode to Liberty,' Lyceum;' 'Mother Lode,? Cort; 'Sky's the Limilt,' Fulton, Dec. 24: 'Rain From* Heaven,' 'Old LoVp,' 'Piper Paid,' 'Thumos Up," 'Music Hath Charms,* Walter Hamp- den,- 'iPools Rush; In,*. Ruth. Draper, 'Birthday,' ^ The D'Oyly Ciartes wind tip .at the Beck this' week, as do the Abbey Players, at the Golden. 'The First Legion' Is announced ias flnaling at the Blltmore.' 'Conversation Piece* folded at the 44th Street last Satur- day, a.t which time 'A Roman Ser yant' stopped at the Longacre. Estimates for Last Week 'A Roman Servant,' Longacre Wlthfl'-qW" s»tiirda-v; plaved week and one night, 'Anything Goes,' Alvln (4th week) (M-l,3BB-$4.40).' Sriiash'musical Pff on run; takings bettering 32; 000 weekly; brokers stuck with -W€dnesday-matlnee_pa.steboards.—_ Bright Star,' Plymouth. Post poned until next week. 'Calling All Stars,' Hollywood (1st week) . (R-l,700-$4.40). Presented by Lew Brown; revue reported capacity during Boston engagement; opens Thursday (13).- :• - 'Children's Hour,' EHlot (4tii w/jek) (D-929-$3.30). : Looks settled for long riin with word of mouth strengthening demand dally;around 1 $14,000. ..^ ••■ ■ 'bark Victory,' Little (6th week) (D-632-$3.30). Moved here from Plymouth Monday; operating cost lowered by salary slice; pace ap rproxl mating $5;0007———- 'Dodsworth,' Shubert ("SBth week) (resumed —engagement-^-—( D - 1, 386— $3.30). Eased off during start of pre-Chrlstmaa slack, but stnl turn- ing excellent .profit; around $16,000. 'Farmer Takes • Wife,' 46th St. (7th week). (C^l,375-$3.30)r- "In house not so large, business would look more substantial; steady around $12,600 and okay. 'Gold Eagle Guy,' Morosco (3rd week) (D-961-$3.30). . Despite gen- erally /avorable notices, ; business except for parties disappointing; first full week arpund $7,500. 'Kill That Story', Ambassador (14th week) (C-1,166-$2.7S). Final week; low comedy show made some profit through pass money; $3,000 or less. ■ 'Life Begins at S:W, Winter Gar^ -don :(16tb week) (R-1.498-$4 : 4n) . ninger; resumes Christmas night) got $22,000 first full week; prom- ising. ■ ■ : 'Say When', Imperial (6th week) (M-l,468-$3-85). Drew good grosses first five weeks; slipped last, week; . around' $20,000; should recover at holiday time. 'Sky's the Limit', Fulton. Post- poned until next week. ' ; . 'Small Miracle,' 48th St. (12th week) (D-969-$3.30). Moderate money meller approximating aver- . age $6,000 weekly; betters even- break, . ■ 'So Many Paths,' Rltz (2nd week) (C-918-$2.75). Drew mixed .notices, but has moderate money chance; better line later; ppened late ,last week. : ■ ' .. " - ' ■ ■-.. •The Distaff Side,' Booth (10th week) (C-91S-$2.75). English play has shaded off; among the good things and should ^ast through winter; $?i,ooo.. . - :. 'The First Legion,' Blltmore (11th week) (D-991-$2.7B). Final week again announced but engage- ment may again be; extended;"" quoted over $6,000 last "wreek. 'The Great Waltz,' Center (12th. week) (O-3,433-$3.30). Broadway's leader continues great pace, with takings around $42,000 last week; capacity at weekends. • ■ , > •The Night Remembers,' Play- house - (3rd week) (C-939-$3.30). Continued after some doubt fol- lowing debut; under $3,000; 'Fools Rush In' due Christmas. •The O'Flynn,' Broadway (1st week) (0-l,918r$3.8B). Presented by Russell Janney; latter par- ticipated In the writing with Frank Hauaer and Brlaii Hooker; opens Wednesday (12). „ v 'Tobacco Road,' Forrest (53rd week) (C-1,107-$3.30J. Celebrated year's run last week; change or leads made little difference In gross, with takings over $6,000. - ^ 'Tomorrow's Harvest,' 49th St. Tanked Friday night, after three nights. 'Within the Gates,' National (8th week) (D-l,l64-$3.30). O'Casey drama 'still getting atteriUon, but moderate business around $10,000; good 'Into Janualry. - Other Attractions 'Sailors of Cattaro,' Civic Rep <Uth St reet)! presented by T he atr*» Uriibn; written by Friedrlcn Wolf; opened Monday. • v , D'Oyly Carte Opera,- -Company, Martin Beck; winds up corking 15- , week engagement Saturday (16) ; l-Kathar lhe Cornell In . 'Juliet'N nex t Abbey Players, Golden; Dublin troupe finales this week also and tours. /■ ■ . , ■ 'Cradle Spng' first halfi "L-'AIglprf last half; Eva Le Qalliepne's Clvlo Repertory; Broadhurst; 'The -Pet- rifled FPrPst'rBUcceeds DiBfr. -24i- -~ L A. Legit Deep in Doldrums as Single _ Entry Bags Pittance Los Angeles, Dec. 10. Legit field was virtually a blank during the past week ahd als far as trade la concerned It might Just as well have been 100% dark. Only show In town, 'These Few ' Ashes,* at the Hollywood Playhouse; folded suddenly Saturday night (8) after 10 days' brutal business. Never ex- .ceeded $100 a performance and ran as low as $30-$40. Closing will leave entire Los An- geles area, with one legit attraction, when 'Her Master's Voice' premieres at the El Capltari.' : . (Continued from page 1) ing technical arid saying as since there is no Santa, the matter of billing a .'real' one was nullified. Bureau called it unfair tactics, and -statloh'^said-'ft-wpuld^^^ nouncing its 'Santa ph the. air as 'real' as long as, the newspapers kept accepting the Wording in ada. Papers continued printing the word, but atatlon requiesced to bureau's demands and the word went off program last Friday (7). But; just; , when that angle Was satisfactorily settled, WBAL, which has similar account for another dept. emporium, splashed out In newspaper spreads with billing of 'Santa (himself)' on WBAL. Since ads didn't appear , framed in that wordage till week-end. Business BUrieau has not as yet done any- thing-' on -this ■ new- 'violation'. - - the Erianger's next attraction after 'The Milky Way.' . , Estimates for Last Week 'Pursuit of Happiness* (Broad, 14th week)—Held for another week as expected, but out Saturday dcfi- riltely.: About $6,200 last week. -'Piper Pays' In - for single week of 17th. ' ■■"■■ ■^,r^'- Ruth Draper (Chestnut) —Very disappointing compared to her last visit four yeara ago. Down around $6,000, although showing steady pickup all week. 'Petticoat Fever,' try-out, this week. 'Milky Way* (Erlanger, 2nd week) —^Improved, nicely and will get at least, a four weeks' run and maybe more. Around $6,000. 'Red Mill' (Garrlck) —Amateur outfit; In operetta revival. 'Steve- dore,* current, in for two weeks' stay and" with a very big. subsidized advance." 'Slightly Delirious' (Walnut, 2nd week) — Mystery bow this one Is holding on, but It's Inexpensive. May go out any minute... . M'ost attractions on list dipped after Thanksgiving; no exception here; estimated around $34,000. ' 'Merrily We Roll Along', Music Box (11th week) (D-l,013-$3.86). Underestimated; takings around $18,000. which tops dramas; some- ^w.hat; affected^ after turlcey. day, :v _ 'Page Miss Gipry'V Mahsfield C3rd" week) (C-1.097-$3.30). Downstairs strength., with balcony not. heavy, unusual In - prieserit going; aroUnd $10,000, okay, ahd should climb with advent of Christmas. - 'Personal Appearance', Miller (9th week) (G-994-$3".36). Exception to rule last week; $15,000 gross, which is all comedy leader can get In eight performances. . 'Post Road', Masque (2nd week) (D-789-$3.30). Won generally favor- , able nPticfes arid got fair trade thereafter; estimated around 7,000, first six times. 'Revenge With Music', New Am- sterdam. Laying off for two weeks biecause of Injury to Charles Wlnr House for Minnies . Oakland, Cal.,.Dcc. 10. . Something new In the way of lit- tle theatre enterprises has ; been launched In Oakland by the Kosmo ThfiatTe "Guild. ' Plan' Is to "provide a clearing house In the way of pro- ductions for all dramatic groups in clubs and other organizations throughout the city. ■■ Patrons of the organization are directors and presidents of eastbay clubs, arid It'ls proposed to organize a scenic, costume and play clearing house for all drama groups. First offering was, 'Broomsticks, Anien,' presented In the Hotel .Oakland^ ballroom by the .Faucit Players. second wUl be 'The Rose Maiden,' a flfty-yoice : cantata, by the. Oak- ■ land Conservatory chorus, Ethel Jean Klbbe Is chairman.