Variety (Sep 1935)

Wedneeday, September 11, 1935 I. E G I T I M A ¥ E VARIETY 57 Hoad' Opens Chi Season to len Zooms to IIG on 23rd Week Chicago, Sept. 10. Back In the running acg. a legit ..season the loop last week sounded the Ijugle^for the big parade with two grosses whl6h totaled to a Bntaebing $23,000 for 'Tobacco Boad' "oh Its «tet uailop,:-and 'Thfte Men oh a Horise,' which Is showing a fine stretch-running flash In Its 24th Bt&nza at the cross-roads of the midwest. 'Horse' drew considerable strength ""from af pd-*<a-ftil Labor Bay wt'Sfrf -T-end-. grabbing -thii-ee-capa e ity- hougcg f^^na^t*-. on Labor Day eve. Labor Day mat- »'ortugue Inee, and Labor Day night. These three sessions gave the show enough backing to push the gross far up to $11,000, a gargantuan set of numbers -at this stage of the game. First week for 'Road' reached $12,000 on powerful notices, good word-of-mouth and sewing circle whispers. Sho\v, however, Is stili in the criliclble, and It will take at least two or thyee weeks to settle the question of its staying strength. . Estimates for Last Week . 'Three Men on a Horse,' Harris (J.000; 12.76) (24th week). Shot up Into the zoom box-ofllce playground laist week on a fat Labor Day week- end to $11,000, about $4,000 above its recfent normal pace. Now hold- ing its breath for t)ie next two weeks to find out what the future 111 be. 'Tobacco Road,' . Selwyh (1,000; $2i75 (2d. week). Henry Hull name counting oh the marquee, with the show getting good box-offlce -no- tices. Pounded out: a highly proflt- able $12,000 for its Initial session on an eight-performance grind. %m: m' PHmn CURRENT LEGIT FARE Philadelphia, Sept. 10. Philly has two houses offering leglt this week, with same number and no more skedded for activity Until Sept. 30, when the Forrest will light up with 'Old Maid' on sub- scription. This week's duo are the Chestnut with 'Night of January 16,' which opened last night and was ac^ c]a,imed a real hit, and the Broad, which- has the second week of 'Por- tuguese Gal,' was roasted h*!avlly last week. Biz was negligible after a'good Labor Day. opening, but sec- Von^ week- was-adhered •tOj__£nyway. ''*'*N1ignt bf""Janr I P sHbulfl get some real trade later in-the week. Next Monday the Broad gets 'Squaring the Circle,' another try- out, for a week. Chestnut, on the same date, has 'Taming of the Shrew' with the Lunts on AMS sub- scription. That house has 'Blos- som Time* on Sept. 30, and then, after two weeks, gets pic, 'Mid- summer Night's Dream* (WB) for three weeks. Funny angle Is that now Philly hasn't got a'single musical lined up, after having several mentioned two weeks aigo. Garrick will probably join In Oct. 7. Now being used as political headquarters. Future Plays 'Venus in Silk,' nee 'Bploved Rogue,' a Viennese Importation, due at the Adelphl theatre Oct. 12 under the Lawrence Schwab banner. Breakln In Fittsburgli and Balti- more. 'This Our House,' original by Joel Schenker on the lives of Bear trice Cencl and her father. John LefUer producing. James Light will direct. 'Let Freedom Ring,' by Albert Beln, t' be. produced by the author In iissoclatioh with Jack. Goldsmith. Based on Grace Lumpkin's hovel 'To Make My Bread.' 'Two on the Aisle' goes Into re- hearsal Sept. 15 under the direction of Victor Morley for Fred La Quorne. 'Ruscet Mantle,' by Lynn Biggs for Jerome Mayer and Murray Jay Queen; Starts rehearsing :ln Oct., opening^ in New York after a Nov. tryout out of town. *. other,' an adaptation from the German of Bert Brecht and Hans Eislor, being sponsored by the The- atre Union. Victor Wolfson will direct. Opens Oct. 15. * 'Tapestry in Gray,' by Martin FlaVlh to be produced by B. P. Schulberg and Marlon Qtrlng. Ellssa Land! to lead. .'Fleflh' to Frisco oilywood. Sept, 10. James Timony Is taking 'Common lesh' to Frisco for a run before taking It east. Original cast goes north. Current Road Shows ol- os- Week Sept. 9 'Anything Goes,' El Capital, ?y.wc«dv--—<- 'Af Hom« Abroad,' toh, 'Night of Jen. 16,' adelphi" 'Othello' and 'Macbeth' (Merivjile- ,Coop(f'r)j,:. " 'ym«»th-,- ;SoBt:onr,-. Sep't. 12^14^ ■■ ' " ' ' se iaalT^Broad,. Phila- delphia. 'Tobacco Road,' Selwyn, Chicago. 'Three Men on a Horse,' Capitol, Taklma, Wash, 10; Capitol, Walla Walla, Wash., 11; Memorial Aude, Spokane, Sept. 12-14. 'Three Men ph a Horse,' Harris, Chicago. 'Thumbs Up,' Seattle, Sept. 10. sed as a feeler as to- public legit pulse in Seattle at the Met. 'Three Men on a,Horse' did beautifully the -^•st-w«efcrr •-Thpmp/swi;rT.T6T.r says b.o, will be barometer as to whether or not the Met will have * il9t . oj. road, shows .this. „sifasrm. Show did so well It was held over two days. Estimates for Last-Week Metropoiittih (1,432';ljo-^2;30)— 'Three Men on Horse.! First stage show in town in a long while and some of the folks were hungry: some of oldsters thought this ope too snappy, but it caught; on for about $9,000 *o»r-i^> 'd(Ly£. ' SIot^ at ari , fin T i n boE Day hu rtr-but-slww' Summer Theatres (NEW PLAYS) 'American Sangbird/ Roadside theatre, Washingtori. 'Drought,^ Stony Creek Theatre, Stony Creek theatre. Conn. 'My Crime,' MlUbrook theatre, Mlllbrook, N. T. 'ABROAD' SOCK $21,000 IN HUB Boston, Sept. 10. 'At ome Abroad' is hitting a high pace, going into the second week at the Shubert after six near capacity shows in the o^iening week; Word-of-mouth around town on the Beatrice Lillle show Is favorable, but with reservation that flnish-up job by the producers will tell the Broadway story. Hub crlx gave It raves, almost unanlmouisly. Thumbs Up,' now going into Its third week at the Colonial, benefited Labor Day when the Shubert show failed to open that night on sched- ule. Biz sloped off after the holiday, while 'Abroad' took most of the trade. Gladys Cooper, Philip Merlvale, Kenneth MacKenna, and Alexandra Carlisle open at the Plymouth Thursday (12) for nine days In 'Othello' and 'Macbeth,' under the banner of Crosby Gaige. George Gershwin, will world pre mlere at the Colonial on Sept. 20. 'Jubilee,' the .Moss Hart-Cole Por- ter musical, starring Mary Boland, takes over the Shubert Sept. 19 foe a world premiere. ■Great Waltz,' road show, opens at the Opera House Oct. 3; 'Post Road,' with Mary .Young, opens the Copley season, Sept. 27, under man- agement of John Craig Productions. Estimates for Last Week 'At Home Abroad' (1st six shows), Shubert. Opening week was big, netting around $20,000 for the revue, which , is still undergoing shaping- up process. First legit show to get serious attention In Hub this sea- son. One more, week, 'Thumbs Up' (2d week). Colonial. Eddie. Dowling musical feeling ef- fects of opposition last week, Skid- ded to $11,000. One more stanza. BALTO'S VAGABONDS PLAN 7-WEEK SEASON 'MEN' $^,000, SEATTLE First Roadshow in Some Clicks on Test Date Time built from then on. ENGAGEMENTS Louis Calhern, 'Agatha Calling.'' Thomas Mitchell, 'As the Twig/ Henry Dariiell,. 'Kind Lady.' Richard Whorf, Hardie Albright; 'Taming of the Shrew.' . Kate May hew, Katherine Lowry, Horace MacMahon, Jack Byrne, Richard Gordon, Fi-ank Cohlon, Wil- liam Pike, Boyd • Crawford/ Catli- erlne Laughlln, Robert Portfield, Sam Roland, 'Deiar Mr. President.' Ruth Weston, 'There's Wisdom in Women.' Cecelia Lbftus, raftoii, 'Jumbo.' Montgomery Clift, li; 'Jubilee.' Frank Wilcox, Joanna Roos, Owen Davis, Jr., Dorothy Bernard, 'You and I.' Lakewood Players, Skowe- gan. Me. . John Griggs, Percy Moore, Ricli- ard Taber, Frankie Wheeler, James La Curto, Harry, Levian, John M. Kline, George Christie, Paul E. Burns, Eleanor Burns, Charles Wel- lesley, F. H. Day, Clyde Veaux, Roy Le May, Walter Wagner, Nick Den- nis, Clyde Franklin, Sydney Booth, Beth Franklyn, Jose Ferrer, Ray Devlin, Joy Hathaway, John Har- rington, Georgia Caine,- Lawrence Grossmith, Malcolm Duncan, Phyl- lis Welch, Joseph Sweeney, 'A Slight Case of Murder.' Roland Young, Mary Philips, Reed Brown, Jr., Cora Witherspooh, Han- ccy Castle, 'A Touch of Brimstone.' J. Harold Miirray, Nancy McCord, Joseph Macauley,. Audrey Christie, Florenz Ames, Roy Gordon, 'Venus in Silk.' George Greaza, Armlna Marshall, Charles Bryant, McKay Morris, Boyd Davis, Hunter Gardner, Leo. Curley, 'If This Be Treason.' Jessie Royce, 'The Old Maid.' Osgood Perkins, 'On Stage.' Frank M. Thomas, Jr., Francesca Brunihg, Russell Hardie, J. Ham- Hollywood, Sept. 10. 'Anything Goes,' at the Bl Capl- tan, Is Hollywood's biggest smash grosser of the. year. Nightly trade continues big, with second week getting away to a hangup start, helped substantially by the Labor . roKDv uaiE^n , v. - , i, holiday. It's the El CapLtah's eSSin-^l^'W^rtr^rf^-i^^^^ «.ures it for a Mary McQuade, Baltimpre, Sept. 10. Local organization; the Vaga- bonds, group of socially smart and artistic folk comprising - the oldest little thea,tre outfit In the country today, will inaugurate its 20th sea- son on Nov. 7 with the most ainbi- tlous layout the group ever lined up. In the past, plays presented Wore semi art-for-art's-sakers and very dated pop legit. This year outfit plans to take the professional the- atre by the horns for some real wrangling. ' Season will run 14 weeks, with each of seven plays slated to span a fortnight, though if some display unusual b.. o. powr ers, they, will be given a riin. Pieces lined up .are : 'Yellow Jack,' 'Green Bay Tree,' "Farnier Takes Wife,' 'Dangerous Corner,' • 'Private Lives' and 'Butter and Egg . Man.' Seventh play will be selected. Vagaboiids have their own house,- a 200-seater, and will scale it all over at $1.16; EA5T0N CIVIG STARTS Easton, Pa., Sept. 10. Sub.'Jcrijitlon campaign for season for Civic Little Theatre-lias been opened and lndication.s are it will be succes.<:ful. First ■ play, 'Her Master' ' to be given Oct., 14, Charita Bauer, Keenan Wynn, Virginia Dunning, John Drew Deverreaux, Martha Hodge, 'Remember the Day.' Effie Sliannon, George Curzon, Margaret Rawlinigs, 'Parnell.' Norma. Downey, Louise Kirtland, Mary Drayton, Peter Galvan, Alney Alba, Charlotte Gloer, Ara. Gerald, Alma Kruger, Madeline (3rey, Sylvia Leigh, Janet Pearsall, Mary Hon4, Gertrude Maitland, Llda Kane, 'Few Are Chosen.' Howard Cliamberlain, Jack Hard- ing, 'Achilles Had A Heel.' James Bell, Joshua Logan, Rob- ert Douglas, Dorothy Hyson, Diana Campbell, Lionel Hogartli, 'Most , of the Game.' Anna Cleveland, Peggy Bates, David Appelbe, Earl McDonald, Frank Frayne, Curtis Cooksey, Wil- lis Duncan, Frank Weir Kingston, Fred Thurston, William Dorbin, David Bern, John Winthrop, Tom Stevenson, 'Drought,' Stony Creek theatre, Stony Creek, Conn. William Harrlgan, Jack Roseleigh, Cyril Scott, Lee Baker, Myron Mc- Cormlck, Jeromen Cowan, George Tobias, Roland Drew, Harold Mof- fet, Edgai- Barrier, Nicholas Har- low, Ranney Compton, Leonard Penn, Jack Daniels, Roger Quinlan, Herschel Cropper, David Leonard, Bernard Kisner, Norman „Stuart, Carl Frank, Jack Davis, Guy Repp, Edward J. Ballahtin6, Dick Purcell,, Perry lylns, Jack Bohn, Milo Boul- toh, Ben Kranz, Arthur Marlowe, Warden Jennings, Philip Robinson, Paul Stein, George Smith, John Segar, Sanford Elckart. Clem Wll- enchlck, Jerry Sloan, George Ryan, Benedict MacQuarrlc. Richard Rose, Ann Dere, 'Paths of Glory, (Com- plete cast). Charles Waldron, Charles Dalton, Alice Jobn, Irving Morrow, David Vivian, Arthur Chatterton, Florehcie Reed, pLalph Richardson; Maurice Evans, 'Romeo and Juliet' (Kath- arinfe Cornt>ll rep company). Richard Bennett, .Burgess Mere- dith, Harold Johnsrud, Theodore Hecht, 'The Bridge.' Polly Walters, 'The Body Beauti- ful.' , , Lois Eckhart, Grade EArrie, Bert Lahr, Peggy Moselcy, Lyda Robert), Three Wlere Brothers, Cliff. Ed- wards, '.Scandals;' John Hale, Maureen Rio, 'Sketch Book,' Ralph Morgan, Walter Pldgeon, Arthur Pierson, George Anderson, Edmund Brp.cse, Clyde Fillmore, Sarah Padden, Robert Sh.aync, 11 New Shows, Due in Next Two Wks., WiD Reafly Start Broadway Season Shows in Rehearsal ife'— 'Sweet Mystery Herman Shumlln. '""TKo Be^^^ R o g u e '— Schwab and Mandel. 'Achillea Had ■ Heel'—WaN ter Hampden. 'Jumbo'—l^lllylloge. * ^Tai^ing -olf the Shrew'-r- —T-he atr o Gu lMh-—— '■— 'Scandals'—George White. 'Heroes re Born'^Jed Harris. 'Porgy and Bess'—Theatre Guild. 'A Dash of Bri m ston e'-HJohn Golden. 'Remember the Day'—Philip Dunning, 'If This Be TrfaSon'—Guild. 'Jubile«'-^Sam H. Harris and Max Gordon. 'The Bridge'—Guthrie MC- Clintic. 'Most of the Game'-:-Dwight D. Wlman. 'Paths lory'—Arthur Hopkins. •Blind Alley' ('Crack-Up')— James R. Ullman; . 'Dear Mr. PreBident'-Irving Cooper. .. 'Squari ircle'—Trl- Art. 'Few Lawlbr. Choton'—N. M. 'Goes' 19G Smash 2nd Wk, LA; Burly Perks, Strikes Out healthy stay, .'Life Begins at MInsky's ran afoul of labor trouble Friday, when the entire cast was called out in sym- pathy with the Burlesque Actors' association strike in New York. MInsky's looked headed for a good $12,000 on the week, after having slipped to around 60% of that take during the past few weeks. Estimates for Last Week 'Anything Goes' (El Capltan, 2d. week). Henry Duffy's first musical In a long time is bitting a strong: pace and second week saw a neat $19,000 piled Into the box office. Plenty healthy. 'Life Begins at^Plnky's' (MIns- ky's Music Hall, Stlvireek). After couple of weeks of slow biz, trade perked up strong just preceding Labor Day and, when house folded temporarily Friday, had close to $9,000 In the till. IValtz^'3 Advance Men; PoHock 5 Wks. Ahead 'Children's Hour,' week) (D-929-$3.30). John Pollock, formerly of the Keith and RKO press depaz.tments. Is in Boston readying the entry there of 'The Great Waltz,' which plays Us first road istand at the Boston Opera Hou.se. He wHl op- erate five weeks in advance. Two other agents will be ahead, one and two weeks in advance, re- spectively. reak In'Screaming Skull' Hollywood, Sept. 10. 'Screaming Skull,' by Neil Cook, Is the next tryout piece at Bliss- Hayden, little theatre. Opens Sept. 18, with Harry Hay - den, who stages, lining up the cast. Nolan, Verne Hlllle, Marcclla Swan- son, J, Arthur Young, John T. Doyle, 'Night of January l6.' Roy Hargrave, Jack Adler, Tony Klein, Katherine Warren, George Coulouritf, Ruth Fallows, Mabel Montgomery, Albert G, West, Edna Rim-K'y, 'Blind Alley.' Leslie AdaniB, Priestly Morrison, Doris Dalton, John B. Litel, Evelyn Varden, Ethel Wilson, Gerrle Wor- thing, Janet Fox, 'Heroes Are Born.'. Ralph .Sanford, Sam Mann and Frank Kingdon have replaced Dud lev Clement.M, Robert KI.Hcher and Harry ^hort,. Calvin Thomas; Doris Ritchie Ling in 'The Great Waltz.' Not less than ll new shows will airiye on Broadway within the two weeks :starting' next Monday (laj*"' aind the legit season of 11)35-36 will really be on. Premiere of twp or tJire* p)M>vy-9 hiw. been moved, ujy. to late next weeki relieving the debut card, of the week of Sept. 23. There will probably be five. arrivals next week, with six more during the following seven-day period. ^s'ew-~ show -crop is' expeet'cd to largely reverse the poor showing t)f~htsL stiauuu's early iJtai'L That Indication is based on the strongly favorable reports from out of town concerning 'At Home Abroad' and 'The Night of January 16,' both definitely carded for next week. So far there. have been only two ar- rivals. Third opens tonight, *A Slight Case of Murder* (48th Street) also being; touted, based on dress reliearsal showings. In addition to -At Home,' coming to the Winter Garden, and 'January 16' at the Ambassador, next week will probably see the entry of 'Heroes Are Born,' Broadhxirst; 'Dear Mr. President,' Mansfield and 'Few, Are Chosen,' 58th Street (for- merly Golden), Card for Sept. 23: 'A Touch of Brimstone,' Golden (formerly Royale); 'Paths of Glory,' Plymouth; 'If Thiis Be Treason,' Music Box; 'Remember the Day,' National; 'The Bridge,'■ Martin Beck; 'Squaring the Circle,' Ly- ceum. Continued cool weather was an- other break, for the holdovers last week, most shows registering the best grosses since spring. Legits behjefited by the bleak Labor Day and the fact that tViere was no competition from hew shows. 'The Great Waltz' ends its re- sumed engagement Saturday (14) at the Center, which, goes vaudfllra. . 'Moon Over Mulberry Street,* which nosed in at the Lyceum last week, did not Impress and will move or close after another week. Estimates for Last Week 'Anything Goes/ Alvin (43rd week) (M-l,326^$4.40). Aided by excellent Labor Day blz, musical standout moved upward; estimated around $19,000. Elliott (43 rd Best gross re- corded last week since spring; play- ed holiday afternoon (Labor Day) but no extra performance in top> ping $10,000. 'Moon Over Mulberry Street,' Ly« ceum (2hd week) (D-957-$3.30). Opened last mid-week; drew weak press and Indications are against .Jitickingv..■ , . -»Ord~ MaTd;^ Tirmpfre~T;(ffEh~weeRr" (CD-l,000-$3.30). Went up, too, for best figure since hot weather set In; In nine perforniances takings ciuoted close to % 5,000; final three weeks, 'Personal Appearance,' Henry Mil- ler (48th week) (C-944-$3.30). No extra matinee last week but at- tendance held up around $9,000 mark. 'Sketch Book,' Majestic (15th week) (R-1.770-$3.85). Moved here from Winter Garden Monday; busi' ness again up, with estimated pace over $15,000, Jast week; Garden will get 'At Home Abroad,' due next week. 'Slight Case of Murder,' 4Sth St< (Ist week) (C-969-$3.30). Pre3ente<l by Howard Lindsay; written by same and Damon Runyon; well re- garded at dress rehearsals; opens tonight (Wednesday), 'Smile at ,' Fulton (4th week) (R-913-$3.30). Got bre-ak early last week but average takings light and engagement In d6ubt; estimated at $6;000 la.st week. 'The Great Waltz,' Center (35th week) (resumed engagement) (O- 3,423-$3.30). Final week; lays off for road preparation and starts tour In Boiston Oct. 3; very good last week; quoted at $33,000. 'Three Men on a Horse,' Play- house (33rd week) (C-860-$3.30). Nine performances iast week; gross also went to best money of sum- mer; $14,000 for laugh leader. 'T-obacco, Road,' Forrest (92nd wefek) . (C-l,017-$1.65). Perked up smartly; -long run drama quoted over $8,500; big at scale, which will be retained* Other Attractions 'Awake and. Sing/ -Belasco (re- sumed engagement). Religlited Mon- day for slated three weeks; attract- ed attention last season; as did :WaIting For Lefty,* one-acter added to performance. 'Kind Lady/ Longacre (resumed engagement). Also relighted Mon- day; made fairly good stay of it at Booth last spring; In for a 11 ited date. Ashevulfs new try Charlotte, N. C, Siipt. 10, Student Theatre at Ashvllle, which has been trying out plays of new playwrights for the past few years, sending at least one, 'Tight Britches', to New York for a brief run, la.st wo(;k put a new piece on for two liight.'*. It was 'The Harp of Many Strlng.s', by IVfrs. Fred Heater, localite. Wil- bur Morgan, director of the player.s, jiunOlod the production.