Variety (Jan 1936)

Wednesday, January 8, 1936 i: E C I T I M A T E VARIETY 3 Shows Hit $20,000, N. Y. (Contlttued from page 57) idbel' Indicates the Bhpw will stick, ipltb JIO.OOO groBaed at the MUler. Other withdrawals: 'Remember the Day,' National; 'Blind Alley,' Morosco; 'Moon Over Mulberry Btreet,' 44th Street; 'Squaring the Circle,' 48th Street. Diie in next week: 1 Want a Policeman/ Lyceum ('Wlnterset* oyed back to the Beck) ; 'Russet ,' Masque; 'Granite,' Vahder Eotimates for Uast Week 'At Home Abroad,' Winter Garden (17th week) (R-l,493-$4.40"). Climbed back -to big money in holiday, going a:nd New Year's week takings ftpproxlmated $34,000, 'Blind Alley,' Morosco . Withdrawn last Saturday after playing .15 weeks In four different theatres; averaged |5,000 but showed some pi'oflt. .'Boy Meets Giri.' Cort (7th week) (e-l,059-$3.30). Played. three extra jna.tlhees during New Year's week and, in. 11 times, got $26,500; another high mark for laugh srhash. ' 'Children's Hour,' Elliot (60th week) (D-923r$3.30). Long run drama went to better than $9,000 during the final holiday week no extra performance. 'Dead End,' Belasco (llth wetek) (D-l,000-$3.30)i. Dramatic standout also went to new liigh and in nine times, plus New Year's Eve scalie lift, bettered $21,000. ■ 'First Lady,' . Music Box (7th week) (C-l,00O-$3.30). One extra matinee and holiday eve .-.cale increase accounted for comedy gross leader establishing still another new high at $24,500. 'Hell Freezes Over,' Ritz (2d week) (D-918-$3.30). May stay three weeks for picture rights; drew weak pres^ and takings last week approximated $4,000, 'Jubilee,' Imperial (13th. week) (M-l,468-$4.40). Eight times for musical sock, biit gross around $35,600; sells out ihost performances. 'Jumbo,' Hippodrome (8th week) (M-4,S27-$4.40), Probably got high est gross it will have during en gagement; added night performance Tuesday after broadcast a;t $5.60 top helped "to $88,000 on the week, 'Libel,' Henry Miller (4th Week) (D-944-$3,30). , Doing well enough but riot with leaders; no extra pei-formahce last week; ta;klng3 arbund $10,000, profitable. 'Mav Wine,' St. James. (6th week) (M-l,620-$3.86). Has not gotten Into stride as yet but liked by audiences; last week, without extra performance, around $14,600, 'Mid-West,' Booth (1st week) (D 704-$3.30). Presented by Milton Shubert; written by James Hagan; *orlgInially called 'Drought,' opened last night, 'Moon Over Mulberry Street,' 44th St. Closed Saturday after playing 18. weeks to small grosses; red. 'Mulatto,' Vanderbllt (12th week) (D-804-$2.75). Will move or close after this week; modest grosses, mostly from cut rates, with $6,000 last week about least gross; 'Gran ite' .next wisek, 'Night of Jan. -16,' Ambassador (17th week) (D-l>156-$2.75). "Turned In .another profitable week with excellent takings on holiday eve; week's takings . $11,000. '0 Evening Star,' Empire (1st week) (D-l,099-$3.30). Presented by Harry Moses; written by Zoe Aklns; favorably regarded in Philadelphia; opens tonight; 'Ghosts' moved to the Morosco, 'One Good Year,' Fulton (7th week) (C-913-$3.30); Cut rates hive been doing well with this two act farce; last week figured around $6i000, which means profit. 'Parnell,' Barrymore (9th week) (D-l,096-$3.3b). Improved as expecteil, with Friday night capacity and the gross again around $10,000 mark. 'Paradise Lost,' Longacre (5th week) (D-l,019-$3;30). Parties the principal source of revenue so far, but little at box o ce; around $6,000 estimated last week, Porgy and Bees,' Alvin (14th week (M-l,355-$3.30). Under $20,000 and. will go to road after one or two more weeks, :'' 'Pride and Prejudice,' Plymouth (10th week) (D-l,036-S3.3O). vMj»,tlnees last week especially strong; in nine performances the takings here also-bettered $20,000. , 'Remember the Day,* National Closed Saturday, aUer 15 weeks moderate takings for play which was touted as a good thing. 'Scandals,' New Amsterdam (3d week) (R-l,717-$4.40). Doing, busl ness, with flr.st full week $32,000. but could have gotten much more considering the $8.80 top holiday eve. 'Squaring the Circle,' 48.th St Closed Saturday after drawing lig.ht grosses for 13 . weeks; one-setter may have bettered even break. 'Tamihg of the Shrew/ Guild (loth ■week) (CD-.941-$J.30), New Year's ■Week about the same as Christmas week, with the gross quoted around $17,00.0 mark; goes out after another week; however. 'Tapestry, in Gray/ Shu'oert, (3d week) (C-1.32S-$3.3')), Fil-.^t full Week around $6,000; heavy drama ^i^u.st do better to stink. 'Tomorrow's a Holi Golden Drew weak press and withdrawn Saturday; one week. 'Three Men on a Horse/ Playhouse (50th week) (C-869-$3.30), Long run comedy did well; one extra matinee helped gross to $16,70p. 'Tobacco Road/ Forrest (110th week) (C-l,017-$1.65), Almost $10,000 last week, which is big. at scale; several added matinees counted, 'Tru'y Valiant/ 49th Street (1st week) (D-710-$3.30), Presented by Gustav Blum In associatioti with Ernest W. Mandeville; written by Irving Stohei; opens Thursday (9). 'Victoria Regiha/' Broadhurst (3d week) (CD-l,n8-r$3.30). Went to head of dramatic list in first full week, holiday eve biz helping gross over, the $28,000 mark. 'Winterset/ Beck (16th week) (D-l,214^$3.30). Moved back from the Lyceum Monday (6); went to good money last week when takings approximated $12;500..' Other Attract! 'Ghosts/ Morosco; engagement extended; moved here from the Empire, 'Let Freedom Ring/ , Civic Rep theatre; propaganda play in 14th street. 'HORSE' $34,000, 2 WKS. Comedy Has Fine Fortnight In St. Louis; Town New Dark St. Louis, Jan, 7. Three Men oh a Horse' concluded a two-week stand at the American theatre Saturday night (4) and approximated slightly better than $34,000 for the run. House Is dark until , next week. Next attraction has pot. been determined, although several are con-: sidered for the house. American has enjoyed eight weeks of good business since the winter season began. PhiOy s Holiday Biz Very Poor; 'Policeman' Oke $9,200; 'Star' $8, 'NIGHT' $15,000, S. F. Woods' Courtroomeller Gets Flying Start on Coast San Francisco, Jan. 8, Only house in town open is the Geary with 'Nightof Jan. 16' (A. H. Woods) and doing good business. Opened to a, flying start with half the big-time Judges In the city acting as "Jurors" and two shows New Year's Eve, Sagged a bit In mld-^ week aind then built again for a nice approximate $15,000. •Dodswbrth' Is due here at the Currah Jan: l6, to be followed by 'Old, Maid,' Nothing else is in sight, although hew tieup of the Curran here with the Blltmore In L, A, under the banner of Homer Curran may Impiroye the situation a little, later. TOBACCO' FINE |23,000 TWO WEEKS IN CINCY Cincinnati, Jan. 7. •The Cox chalked up one of Its most profitable engagements since becoming a legit house with an ap proximate $23,000 take on 'Tobacco Road' during a 12-day (engagement which closied Sunday (5), There were 17 performances. Final day was added; filling in a scheduled layoff prior to Monday (6) opening in Pittsburgh. Show was given a warm hand by Clncy cricks and escaped any protests. It's the troupe headed by Henty Hull. Dark this week, the Cox reopens Sunday (12) for a week of 'Boy Meets Girl' at $2.75 top. "Vanities' Oke $15,000, Detroit, Holds Over Detroit, Jan, 7. After a bang.«» $15,000 on its first session last week. Earl Carroll's 'Vanities' were held for another six days at the Cass. Last week's gross, upped considerably by a sellout show New Year's Eve, tops everything so far this season here, including .'Tobacco Road,' which enJoyed four Big sessions aided by threat of police censorship. For the past few years a profitahle New Year's week attraction here, 'Vanities' was given good exploitation, and Is tjie sort of light stuff liked in these parts. Show moves on Saturday (11), with the Cass housing Nick Londos' concert featuring Stavros Chiapls,. GreekAmerican tenor, on Sunday (12), and George M. Cohan's 'Dear Old Darling' corning in for the week o£ Jan. 13. "'Personal Appearance' is due to follow oh J'an. 20. Biesldes this duo, nothing Is In .sight for the rest* of the month at either the Cass' or Wilson, Detroit's other legit house. Faintly on the horizon are 'Anything Goes,' which comes here when and if Chicago wearies of it; 'Three Men on a Hoi'.se,' some time In. February; and 'Porgy and Bess' in the .spring. Estimate for Last Week 'Vanities' (Ca:33; l.-iOO; Traditional New Year's week, attraction here, Ekrl Carroll's show overdid itself last\week and brought in. around $15,000, swell, aided by New Year's Eve \. sellout performance. Held over show .started out pood this week, and should hit another neat clip, behind continued good exploitation. 'Dear Old Darling' due Monday (13). BIZ FINE; $36,000 FOR TOLLIES' Boston, Jan. 7. Legit , biz here was hefty .last week, with four shows In town and holiday prices posted at the b.o.'s for New Year's performances. .Folliies' at the Opera House opened bullish and scales were Juggled up: to $5.50 top for the holiday eve, swelling the take, "Three Menu on a Horse,' hypped by holiday trade, romped nicely through a ninth week and into its tenth. 'Horse' Is now lieglnnlng to break run records In this town. Show has stood up best here since 'Little Accident' (1929-30), with arun of 17 weeks, 'Rose Marie' did a marathon of 29 weeks (1926) and •Under Cover/ In 1914, seems Jo hold the local record of 34 weeks. Show grabbed off $4.40 oh the hpll Night* before the holiday 'MidWest' opened at the Shubert, and although, this .sober piece Is hardly attractrve as celebration fodder, that night was by far the best of the week, at $3.30, Left town Saturday for a Broadway opehlng tonight (7) at the Booth, 'Ceiling Zero' Is okay at the Copley and goes Into Its third week. Near-future bookings Include one week of Cornelia Otis. Skinner' at the Shubert, starting Jan, 20, followed by Walter Hampden in 'Cyrano,' . Colonial lights up after several da:rk weeks with Lunt and Fontanne In 'Taking of Shrew,' Jan, 20; Estimates Last Week 'Zlegfeld follies' (Opera House, $4,40, 1st week). Got good opening momentum, but adverse local reviews. Well-known that show was far from ready when It hit the Hub, but continued revision and cuts have Improved It noticeably. Will remain one more frame. Opener, boosted by high scales, garnered a counting for a good take of $14,600. advertising of pop price seats, at $3.30 top. 'Thres Men on Horse' (Plymouth, $2.76, 9th week). Very suitable for holiday crowd, which Jammed in Tuesday and Wednesday nights, accounting for a good take of $13,000. Hard-working publicity crew keeping the show alive. 'Mid-West' (Shubert. $2.20), Opened Tuesday night (31) for a' short, quiet istay; $6,000 gross was mild for th6 one-week stand, but play Impressed. i 'Road' $8,000, Mpls. Minneapolis, Jan. 7. Held over for a .second, week at the eleventh liour, when the federal court refused to Isstfe; a:VC!Sti-tflning order to prevent St. Paul officials from barring the attraction, tliere,' 'Tobacco Road,' af the Metropolitan, b.rfeezed through to a very profitable approximate $8,000 for 11 performances, including two .• Sunday nights, a. midnight New Year's eye show and a pair of matinees. For the. fortnight's run. the play's gross was estimated at $17,000, fine, the initial we-ek's takings being close to $9,000, ;great. for the pre-Christma's period, Two nights of the second week werer=-v£ry light because of the last minute decision to hold thn sho.w over, which gave little opportunity to adyOi'tise. ETH BARRYMORE PLAY FLABBY $5,500, BALTO Baltimore, Jan. 7. . Ethel Barrymore in 'Constant Wife' played to spotty biz at the Auditorium here last week, getting slightly under $5,500 at $2.75 top. Press notices, weren't wa-i'm, and biz waned as the engagement lengthened;. New Year's Eve performancewas best, take being about $1,200. Management cut the Sat. niatine© top to $1 and move motivated attention for the performance. 'Continental Varieties/ starring Lucienhe Boyer, was' ca.ncelled Sat urday, the day before it would have played two performances at the Maryland. Meager advance sale is announced as the reason for the withdrawal. "The only bright beacon In legit during the holiday week was the single performance of the Prince ton Triangle club's 'What a Relief last Thursday (2) at the Maryland These , annual one-nlt^rs always do excellently here, where many Tiger alumni reside. Newspaper ads are never taken; no need for 'em. 'Re lief* snagged a sparkling estimated $2,200 in Its single performance. Burg is blank currently, arid nothing is listed until the week of Jan 20 when Ford's, the UBO hou.se, which has been shuttered through December, relights with the pre miere of 'The Light Behind the Shadow,' starring Mady Christians This play will be first production under the guerdon of Ed ' Wynn which Is hot a musical as well as the first presentation fostered by the comic In which he will not be cast; Leonard B. McLaughlin, general manager and booker of the Indies, Auditorium and Maryland, is going to N. Y. late this week to scout around for shows. Estimates For Last Week 'Constant Wife/ Auditorium (1, 500; $2.75)— The Ethel Barrymore .starrer folded here to a rather weak $6,500, pretty poor figure for a holidsiv wggIc* ** 'What a Relief/ Maryland (1,700; $2,75) — Single performance <jX, the Princeton U annual musical made a merry go of it, scooping in «'»'«]) $2,200 with overflowing hou.se. 6 Loop Houses Gross $100, Waltz' $40,000; 'Goes' Big $23,000 Chicago, Jan. 7. Biggest week Chicago has since in the past six years greased through the loop during this last session to pour approximately $100, 000 into the box bfllces of the blx theatres open. It was aj-eally powerful take for a town which cvcry 'body had given up as washed up only six months ago. . Of that lOOG take Just $40,000 wa.-j garnered by 'Great Waltis' which Is smashing to a steady near-capacity play at the 4,000-sca:t Auditorium. Show is how selling three weeks In advance under the smart guidance of Fred Crowe and looks like the cinch big money-maker of the season here. Next in line, was .'Anything Goes' only musical comedy Ir. the loop, with Its happy $23,000 at the Grand. Running close to: fullrup every pe.r$2.75) f jrbrmance and turned In a walloping 1 take on New Year's Eve, when every house in toWn was a sftll-out. 'Old Maid' and 'Personal Appearance' account for another $25,000 between them for last week, with 'Appearance' on a stead.v build via fine word-of -mouth. 'Maid'-will make It three, good weeks on its American Theatre Society sDhHcrtn* tion play, thougli not particularly hot from tlie run-of-the-nilll pub lie viewpoint.. And finally there were the Ruth Draper . character sketches and 'Squaring the Circle' for another $1'^000 between them. Estimates for Last Week 'Anything Goes/ Gi-and (1,200; $3.30) (3d week). Only musical comedy in town and get-ting the mobs steadily; bang-up' $23,000 last week: Can. stick for plenty of ad ditlohal. weeks at current pace. 'Great Waltz/ Auditorium (3,700; $2.73) (2nd week). Big winner of the past decade in this town on gross (1/rures. Seating capacity giving, Show a chance for zooming mark.s. Illt $40,000 for the nine performances ending S.aturday (4) practically capacity, 'Old Maid/ Erlanger (1.200; $2.75) f 3d week). Doing fine biz. On ATS .subscriptions, but selling beyond that. Fine $13,000 again last week. J^ame as first. 'Personal Appearance/ Harris (1,000; $2.75) Cia week). Perking sharply following its pre-Xmas start and. with the holiday 'fipurt, snagged Itself a fine $12,000 last week. On a rapid bnlld. 'Squarina the Circle/ Blaekstone. (1,000; $2,20) (2nd week). Doing a Philadelphia. Jan, 7. Legit bookings are no loiiger comingin 'bunches .as they were during the .first two or three mouths of Philly's season, but .,they are still steadily being announced. It is not unlikely that the local records during the holiday .season will, have some oflect on halting the steady, flow of .newshows. Business around Xmas and new year's w'as Undeniably way under c.vpecxaiiohs!. One rc-asun advanced, by ' tlju managers' Is that the weather conditions for nearly a fortnight in this city were, unusually .bad. Then, too, the absence .of any good II ht inu,slcal fare was keenly felt. Of. the five shows In to\vn last Wee.k, only bne, 'My Maryland' at t-he. Fprrest, gave an extra matinee. It was figured that this operetta revival would get Its best biz ataftornoon performances but , the management was disappointed. Neither the Wednesday nor Thursday matinees brought much trade. •Then, out of a clear sky, the final. Saturday matinee, proved to be sensational, with standees and* tur aways. In fact, Saturday iv&S good all iai-ound town. That and the strong new year's eve attendance! helped, hold up some otherwise pretty, sad grosses! The Broad and Garrlck sold out solidly hew year's eve ind the Chestnut and Forrest weren't far bclilnd. The . Erlanger, which, had 'Black Pit,' propaganda play of ferejl by the New theatre, local leftist group, tried the experiment of a midnight show new year's but couldn't compete with the film houses.. One show that was highly satisfied with the week's record was 'I Want a Policeman/ comedy-, thriller tryout at the Broad. This one, produced by two Phlladelphians, had done well the last three days of the preceding week and kept up nicely with $9,200 for Its eight performances last week. Showing was so good that 'Policeman' waS held in this week, 'Personal Appeatance' completed a six week^B stay at the Garrlck Saturdaiy;' best record a regular New York show has had here In some time, although grosses were never sensational. Last week, with the new year's eve ricllout, figure was $8,000. 'O Evening Star,' which like T Want a Policeman' received generally good notices, disappointed In Its week-and-a-half stay at the Chestnut. Final matinee and New Year's Eve were best, but week's biz was only $8,600. 'My Maryland/ unlike some of the other operetta revivals, couldn't make the grade and a week and a half was enough for It at the, Forrest. Equally sad was ' lack Pit* at the Erlanger, which also had a ^1 50 settle* . This week's newcomer Is 'Ethan Frome,' Max Gordon's latest tryout, announced: for a single week at the Garrlck, but" understood set for two. It, too, has only a $2 "top. Next Monday, the 'Follies' come to the Forrest for two weeks at a $3 top, third Show of the year to try that high a scale. On Jan. 20, William Gillette's revival of 'Three Wise Fools' is to open at the Chestnut. On that date, a local light opera group will give Herbert's 'The Fortune Teller' at the Garrlck. Guild's 'Porgy and Boss' is announced for Feb. 3 and will probably come to the Forrest, Ha:mpdcn's 'Cyrano' will be along In a few weeks. Estimates for Last Week 'I Want a Policeman' (Broad, 2a week). Got $9,200 with strong theatre party trade. Held over. 'My Maryland' (Forrest, 2d week). Opened in middle of Xmas week. Weak and scrarhmed Saturday night, probably in red, 'Follies' next week, 'Personal Appearance' (Garrlck, 6th week), Nice l'>ng run, but no sensational trade at any time'$8,000 last week at $2 top with no extra, matinees. Max Gordon's 'ISthan Frome' thirft\vcek. 'Black Pit' (Erlanger). Local leftist group's ofCerlrij> fairly well treated by crlx. Special midnight New Year's Kvc show. Not much coin at $1.50 top; $5,000. Hold over, 'O Evening Star' (Chestnut, 2d week),— Another Xmas night opener that didn't gain In mc.otu] week as expected, and .'ut'Indicated by good notices. Biz off except -Vew Year's Eve and Saturday mat; $8,500 at $2.30 top. splendid balcony buHlne.ss,. bui needs more oi-chnstra seat .sale before getting into real money. However, on the right Hide with $6,000. . Ruth Draper, Sclwyn <]-'>9'>$2.20) (2nd week); Will make it two weeks for this protean a'-tresf, her . first vl.sit here in J]}x yn^m. Knal'clJf'd a beautiful $6,000 last weelf and should do as well, cur"renlly. Drew rave notIe<'K from all ilm dailies and on t-viigne c'juiment.