Variety (May 1936)

fwo WPA Cficks in Chi's Loop; 'Abroad' Quits on Hotcha (Chicago. May 26. i#liJIe other aliows are weakening _,It the ceming of summer, the two wSl projects. here have, jsnappea intdlllfe and have a couple of gerir iSne' clJcics on thelr/Tiands. Both i_J{L ^lackPitone -and -Great-Northern' "liStff-which had previously been «miggllng along with grosees of latfa or so weekly, have zoppied up to capacity business with 'Three ■wise Fools' and 'Chalk Dust.' Both shows have been holding over week ifter Wjeek, whereas previous WPA shows had been forced-to leave after fortnight. 'Wise Fools' has been fielllng out, not only to individual OilBteliasera, but to bulk organization Syys, Will eo six weeks to June 1, according to present indications, ftiid maybe longer. 'Dust' is getting eicellent. comment. . • *At Home Abroadi which started weik, finished with smash business at the Orand and moved to Detroit, where it will fold on Saturday (30). Around on Dearborn street, the : tepeat of 'Three.Men on a Horse' at ll.BO top lis only' fair, while 'Awake and Sing,' in Its third week a^ the final show on the American Theatre Siiclety snbscription season, , is ffal>by. . - EstimatAs for Last Waek 'At Home Abroad/ Grand (1,200; |l30)f Closed here after seven \neeks and moved to Detroit tp finale 'tke' season. Shov>- snapped up sud- ;'deply after first poor weeks and ■ ))tiBt to big money towards the fln- iflfa.. Great $23,000 last session.. . 'Awake, and Sing,' Selwyn (1,000; ISiW) (4th week). Not too good for, subscription show. Around $ 6,- 000 last week, fair. ., 'three Men on a Horee,' Harris <l,<li)0;.'|1.6()) (2d w-eek). Return of last season's smash is weak, despite clipped tariffs Approximately $5,000, bit of a disappointment. Closes this weeH. WPA fChalk Duet,* Great Northern. Holding over indef on great trade. Three Wise Fools,' Blackstone. Fifth holdover for this show and it will ride to June 1 at pace. ^ROAD* $9,600, WASH. Fi iz on . Return Engaaement, eans Another Holdovier Washlngtonj May 20. 'Tobacco .Road,' .scheduled to wind up the local legit season last week, is being helcl over, giving: the National another seven days before folding for the summer. This gives 'Road- a total of three weeks in the ■ Capital, show having returned after a . smash one-week stay last month and going down as the only repeat engagement of the season. Play pulled a good approximate $9,600 last week and is .going Oke this stanzji, too. Capital will have no in-town legit till the fall,. although the Roadside theatre, unusually successful semi- pro venture in a barn across the Mai'yland line, starts a 14-week season, principally melodramas; on June 15. StartiBd as a lark by ama- teurs In. 1934, cb'-operative outfit made the profit each year and is now recognized by first-string, critics as commercial entertainment. Steve Cochria,n, manager of the National theatre, who has run#Na- tional Theatre Players stock here for 10 straight years until this eea,- soxi: is stillrdiekerlng for a nearby Maryland rural theatre,., biit ho deal yet. SUMMER^EATRES Dead Won't Harm You Comedy melodrama lu Ihreo acts (single set) presented, at the Flushing Summer Theatre, Pllishlng, L. I.. May 18, '3il by Richard Fredericks and Murray Montr gomery; written by Haynes Trebor; staged by Bd«. CoUn Dawaon; $1.0S top. Richard KremerV. A If red Allegro «itollne ;,; Anne Johnston Edward DawWna Peter Humes Marilyn Stanton Marjorle Nash Catherine . Martin Katherlne D?an 'Bip' Joe GlUlor .Donald Ootley Rachael Kremer Beatrice Vrlce •Matilda Polly Peters Willlngham .............. iDuncan Baldwin James Stanton...> ..Walter Parnea iSpot that Richard Fredericks and .Murray Montgomery have picked ■ for their try at summer tryouts is the recreation room of the Temi)le Gates synagogue, conveniently located, from the transportation and population aingles, in the north shoriB area of Long Island. Every- thing'about their venture but the choice of the opening play seems propitious. With sc couple of excep- tions the cast out-talents the script hy a Wide margin. The theme of the . whodunit ifnay have some novelty about it but the author's treatment doesn't make for either Interest or entertainment. . A -millionaire with sadistic ten- oencles of maniacal pi-oportions and six months to live brings his enemies together at a Long Island house party. His object is to V taunt them to the point where one of them is .bound to bump him off, thereby having his revenge even unto death, It's all maneuvered with featas of pointless conversation and countless cliches. The bullet finds toe rich guy's heart with the second act's curtain. From then on it's up. to the writer of mysteiTr novels, who had been invited as one of the euests, to trace the killer. As the . diabolical millionaire, Aiired Allegro tips olt with his eye- brow malceup. They're turned, north »y east and north by west to proT ouce that Miphistopheles effect, ^oily Peters in the characterization 01 a habitual party dame who in- npuently gets herself into tliis 8cve\yy fracas proves the ace player tr, .} , group. Given the riglit nia- lerial, she should go places as a comedienne. She look.s parliculiuly eooa as a picture bet. Other tellin.c: perfonii.Tnfos arc turned in by .Donald OatJpy as the lacketeer politician and KaUierine ^-'oan as a looker whoso fatiior had S^*^*^ I'uined and driven to his death y the millionaire. Oat lev makes I'ayuirt of every comedy line ^'lorded him, while Miss Dean hv »ueer ability trumps up heyi)a oi' horror atmosphere. The direction passes muster. linterset' $llj Three Men Both In Detroit Detroit, May 26. Legit season started all over again here last week, with double the number of shows which played dur- ing the winter. Despite the hot weather and the call-to-the-oUt- doors, x>ne drew well, behind good exploitation. Last week's winner was 'Winterr set,' which snagged a good $11,000 into the Cass at $2.75 top for eight performances. Prl2e-winnlng play, closed Saturday night (23), and 'At Home Abroad' moved in Monday (25) for six days. Getting $3.30 top. 'Boy Aleets Girl' comes In May 31. • 'Three Men on a Horse' expected a summer run at the Wilson but got only $5,000 and has b^en ordered back to New York. Only legiter In .house this season. It was Opfen one week last fall for roadshowlng of 'Midsummer Night's Dream' (WB). 'Horse' failed to respond to ex- ploitation stunts In dally preSs, horse parade, etcl Other attractions here last week included 'Paradise Lost,' produced for the first time outside N. Y. by the local New Theatre Union in De- troit Institute of Arts. Play ran three' days over the week-end, at $1.10 top, arid got a good play. 'The Drunkard' also opened Its third season at the .Players Play- house, with Beer and Pretzels .at $1,65 top, and plans to run through- out the summer. Set a new record of 25 weeks last summer. Estimates for Last Week 'Winterset' (Cass; 1,40X); $2.75 top). Drew well, at $11,000 fov eight performances, considering , heat wave, etc. 'At Home Abroad' opened^ a six-day staind Monday (25) at $3.30 top, 'Boy Meets Girl' cOmes In May 31. 'Three Men on a Horse' (Wilson; 1,900; $1.65 top. Play, given wide ex- ploitation but planned stay for sum- mer off. Now making its third visit here-this .season. Got only $5,000. ther Attractl^ons runkard' (Player's Playhouse; $1.65 top). Running one-a-day, and attracting crowd, if for no other rea- son than beer and pretzels, which go with each admish. Set record of 25 weeks last summer and hopes to touch the same mark'this year. Several of cast dr wn from Broad- wa y. 'Paradise Lost' .(Art . In.sllt»4e-, $1.10 top). Fourth offering of the Xf\v Theau-e Union this season, .OdotV: play got good pat-nnase for its throo-day stand. Publicized \v<>ll. Humble in Charlotte C^iarlotlc, N. C, M;iy -C>- Directors' of llie Chnrlotte j.l.ttle Thfr'Uro liavf'; .signeil a new contra.ct with Tlujmas B. flumble as director. Little Theatre produce.s ci«:lit fnll-lf^ngth plays each .season, as well a 3 .several work-shop pro- grams* $93,000 Advice Sale For St. L. Muni Op. .St. Louis, ,May 26. With opening of 18th annual sea- son" of Municipal Opera in open air theatre -in Fjorest Park less thian twp weeks away, advance ticket sale has soared above $93,000„ Sea- son subscribers for the- Friday; Saturday and Sunday, night per- formances; are beh.g given the priv- ilege of attending first three show- l.jigs of id Boots,' which inaugu- rates season Friday night, Jime '.J, or last three prodiictiohs. The Zlegfeld musical, never before given at outdooi. theatre here, will be. presented for 10 nights; atnd all other productions will be limited to: seven performances.. Annual .dinner for SOO guarantors an^. invited giiests will be held June 3 at,Hotel Jeftefspn. Entertainment features .will be furni.shed by principals in; 'Kid Boots' cast, T.A.'Quits LA Very Much in Bag; Los Angeles, May . 26. 'Eersonal Appearance' folded at the Belasco Saturday (23) after three very ordinary weeks. Piece goes to the Geary, San Fraincisco, for a run, booked In by Louis Lurie, who is transferring 'The Greiat Zlegfeld' (MG) from that house to the' Curran. 'AppeaFance* company continues to woek on a cut, exacted from the members in Kansas City by Brock Pembertoni who ..assured them that full salary would be paid any week that take exceeded $8,500. Comedy has been hitting around $6,500 f6r the past few weeks. 'Three Men On a Horse' continues at a merry clip at the El Capitan and will - stick for eight weeks, one stanza longer than the dow.ntown run of the road show last summer. Comedy currently is in Its seventh week, with trad© holding unusually good. ^ ■■ Los Angeles Civic Light Opera is in its fourth and final week at the Philharmonic Auditorium, current and last production being 'Deisert Song,' which has been played here so many times in the past that tsLbulators have lost count. Estimates for Last Week 'Personal Appearance,* Belasco, (3rd-flnal week). (C.-l,095; $2.75). Trade up a'bit on 'final week' ad- vertising for around $6,800°. Not healthy. House dark for a wieek, then 'Bury the Dead.' 'Threp en on a Horse/ El Capi- tan, Hollywood, (6th-wk). (C-1,571; $1.65). Hilarious comedy now in the last two weeks of its Hollywood run, which will make a total of 15 weeks for the piece in this burg in two seasons. Sixth wieek of present run still healthy at $6,500. 'Maytime,'^ Philharmonic, (M- 2,700; $2.20). Inadequacy of pro- duction, and lack of anything ap- proaching box-ofiice names Is spell- ing plenty of grief for the Civic Opera venture; $10,000 poisonous for this old standby. WPA 'MystVTry" of the Boartfwalk Asylum,'—first play by Dr. Cecil Reynolds, Hollywood brain .special- ist, opening (26) at the Mayan for two weeks. Was done at Pasadena Playhoilse. 'Twilight of the Theatre,' modern Cseatm6nt of a European, story, dealing w:lth the efforts of a pro- ducer to rescue the stage. Opening (27) at the Mii.sart. 'Follow the Parade,' smash musi- cal revue at the Hollywood Play- house, rates as one of the best WPA productions in this area to date. Trade picking up con.stanlly. • 'A-Texas Steer,? continues at the Maspn Opera House,, where the old Charles H. lloyt satire is drawing well. Last Week of Season Finds 24 NEW FACES (Continued from page 52) late with "1 Was a Oyp in Egypt,' a lyric much too repetitious to.inean liiuch. They were a.t Leon and Eddie's during the winter, Tjui ofrcr nothing a.s' amusing here a.s 'Ants in the Pant.s.' Winnie and I5obby .lohnson aj-e best \vhen hoofing to •Slap My Face,' with .Str.fttrh John- son .ioining in other numher.s. .Jack and .June Klair have most of tlic speeialfy dance a.s.signirifnt One atop a rather shaky boardwalk is efffclive. 'J'liey are aiso iii .j we'ii- slaged 7iumb''r with SjianLsli evolu- lioDs'as the main id<'a. Aliss f'ofa and Kntherfuid in i Vfiu'd IV;tt.f;r Go Sim' handled well what may prove the b<2>f. rvrw, '.Vew Kace.s,' the theme nurnoer, and 'Che Me a Song I Can Whi.stle' are among llie more likable .'■vxau'.s. One of .Mlr^s ^ror'a's best eontributionv is as ti i-'irl out of step in a Iwllet <'laK.s, Ihce. Sock Grosses, Phis 7 WPAPlays Final week of tlie legit season pf 1935-36- finds- 2'i attractions on BroaLdway, nPt counting th& federal relief outfits, which slightly tops tlie list of last>;Season's finale. There are 10 attractions regularly tauririg, also . several^ Independents in vari- ous sections. . End of ijTune may see a sharp drop in the number of survivors. The. two di'amatic leaders, 'Idiot's De^ light' and ..'Victoria Regina,' are to lay off, latter suspending June 20 and the former slated tP lay off July 4.. One or two winter favorites will shortly close iEind, although there are a number of candidates to spah the three hot months. May ' has been so warm that weather may force lore withdrawals than indi- cated. - . 'Saint Joali' closed Saturday (23), ,with its record box office statement, $23,931, and standees attending most performances during the Week. 'De- light? just topped $24,000, and only the musical 'On Your Toes' bettered, the dramatic standouts, with ap- proximately $25,''000. . 'Regiria' was, well, "uip in the money, with more than $22,000. As for the others» they slid fur- ther down. Broadway got one break by having the hottest May 24 on record fall, on Sunday, teniperature being 86 degrees. However, it Is notable that no season's end had been accompanied by such great grosses as drawn by the straight show leaders^ ' 'Three Men On. a Horse' joined the.list of attractions which have recently dropped the ticket scales, Holdover is now at $2.20 top. . ' 'Nisw F'aces,' an intimate revue that was the last attraction, within, the season's regular limits, drew a fair press and may .be a sticker at the Vaifderbllt. , 'A Private Affair' got less than $2,000 at the Golden oh its first full week. 'The County Chairman/ P'layers Club' x-evival,, Is at the National for this week only.. Withdrawing Sun- day (31), are the revival of 'Cyrano de Bergerac,' finaling with a spe^ clal performance, while Saturday sees the exit of the revived 'Par- neir.at the 48th St. Next week 'Wint,erset' returns for a two-week date at the Beck With a $2.20 top. 'To My Husband,' try- ing but at Jackson Heights this Wfifik, is due Into the Belmont. There are seven WPA shows,, mpre or less legitere, current. Estimates for Last Week 'A Private Affair,' Masque (3rd week). (C-700; $2.75), Got less than $2,000 on the week, but continues; can break even at arouild $2,500; 'Boy Meets Girl,' Gort (28th week) (C-1,059; $3.30), Sure thing for summer; business still at excellent profit proportions, although slipped to $13,000' last week. 'Bury the Dead,^ Barrymore (6th week) (D-1,096; $2.20;. Unusual wai- playlet rated among better things on list; moderate coin around $6,000. but not costly to operate. 'Call It a Day,' Morosco (18th week) (0-981;. $3.30). Has been eas- ing off and third matinee. dr<>pped; around $12,000 is, real coin at this time; should span summer, too. • 'Children's Hour,' Eliot (80th week) (D-957; $1.65), Infinite Is the status of run drama, which has been mstking some money regardless of the picture Version; .$5,000. 'Dead End,' Belasco (31st week) (D-1,000; $3.30). Smash drama's late spring pace around $10,500; at pace turns goodly profit; summer stay looks set. 'End of Summer,' Guild (J5th week) (C-9i4; $3.30).. Will enter .summer list and may stay into August; around $12,000 and getting ^rnart draw. 'First Lady,' Mu.'dc Box ('27 th week) (C-IMO; $3.30). Wcek-to- week, but will probabl.V last until the. middle of June; Jast week's gross around $9,000; 'Idiot's. Delicjbt.' ,«huV>ert rjlth week) (CD-I,378;' ..'iO). ,Tu.st a )n,'it- ter of how many siande''s are per- mitted; gro.s.s of $24;000 tojts' all dramas; award of Pulitzer prize not adverti.-ed. 'Love On the Dole,' I>oneacre (inh Avoolc) (]J-l,0r)7; $2.7.')). With- drawal of Wend.v JDIler reduces opei-atlng nut; ' around $4,'100, or sliKhLly mofe, 'IVlay Wl ,' Hi. .lame.s f26th week) iM-l',-!!): (.:oinp,lcies a half. y( ar's-enfjaiif-rnent tliis week; mod- : crate mon^-.v jimsical IndeOnite; Irat'-d ai'oiind Sfl.rjOO, I 'Moon. Ovf-r Mulberry St.,' iZHih j weeK-). (i)-J,;!!'.■}; .^{.SO). I>ov. ;ir<)Hsr'r I operfJlins? on \ve<'l:-io-we •!<: oy.ti- I mated' around $:i.oO'>; aid lo be '•ven i;if';il<. |. ' ulattc' .Sinljassadiir f32n(l v.eek) Kitiirlh lierth :*o)' i!ii>:'>d-f a t ^Iranin. which )-e- ffntlv slai-led lurninK )>yi>l]\; arotmd S3.000 last 'xn-k. 'New Faces,' V a n d e j- )i i H d wcfk) (li-iio-i; $;}.:;0j. i<". press; opened late last week; ?harice for a summer stay. 'On. Your Toes,' .Imperial- (7th week) (M-1,468; ' $3.85). ^Ntmtber one musical currently, whlcii should find suminer going roflfable; around $25ioop. ,'6ne.Go6d Year,'49th Street (27th week) (CwOO; $3.30). One-of sev- eral small gross attractions operat- ing on'a narrow margin; $2,500 esti- mated. ■Pre-Honeymoon,' Lyceum (5th week) (C-967; $3.30). Annie Nichols setting comedy for a summer stay; using much outdoor paper in neigh- ijorhpods; around $4,5p() and im^* proving. 'Three en On • Horse,' Play- house (70th week) (C-869; $2.20)^ Around 5.0% Pf capacity lately, liut some profit and indefinite; another summer candidate; sbale dropped from $3.30 Ihis^ week. : , 'Tobacco Road,' Forrest (130th week) (C-1,017; $1.66). Run leader under earlier .(Spring pace, but stiU making some coin at gross of around, $6,600. 'Victoria Regina,' Broadhurst (23d week) (D-1,118; $3.30). Eai'ller pace- setting drama is very Hftl.e Under its great.' gross, marks and is top- ping $22,000 weekly right alpng. Other Attraction* 'The County Chairman/' National; Players Club i-evival; one Week. 'Cyano de Bergerac/, New Am- sterdam; AVill end surprisingly good revival Sunday (31), when a special p^rformiajice will be played. 'Ghosts/ Crolden; another wfeek or iso likely; arpund $6,000 and okay last week. . 'Parnell/ fpr Bpston, 'Elizabeth .Sleeps Out/ Cp'm^dy; npn-Equity company. % WPA .'Battle Hymn/ Daly's 63d Street (Experimental .Theatre); ppi^ned last Friday. 'Backwash/ Symphony; 4oe to mpve to the Majestic, Bi'ooklyn, next week. 'Cla«!s of '29/ Manhattan;: some 'business. '1935/: Biltmore; playlet nightly, to fair business. ' 'Macbeth/ Lafayette; colored players in Shakespeare; strpng. ' 'Dance of Death/ Adelphi; ppetry and dance. 'Ballad of Davey Crockett/ Majes- tic, Brooklyn. '3 MEN' MODERATE $5,000 IN PHILLY Philadelphia, May 26,. Nothing further new on the legit horizon and, with real summer we&ther .•jet^lirig down,, chances are there won't be miich liiore. Only hew' iterh Is that thei return pf 'The Old Maid,' annpunced fpr the Brpad last week by Sam Nlrd- llnger, is npw skedded fpr June 8 instead 6f June 15. This date is un- certain, however, with NIrdllnger reported as desirous of having tho show ln during the Convention week <22d) If possible. Helen Menken and Violet Homing are mentioned for the lead^. .Katharine Cornell's 'St. John' had a mail order advance sale Pf almost $1(),000 when seats w^t on' regular sale yesterday (Monday), Her week's engagement at the Forrest ought to be very big, although some trouble may be had (a.H with her 'Romop and Juliet' last fall) in sell- ins; rear orchestra seats at the $3 top. Local engagement starts next Monday (1). , Second 'Three Men on a Hor.se' company, opened last week at the Broad and most of. the reviewer.<* gave the production a new review. Some compared it unfavorably with the first company, but on the whole they were kind. First week'.s biz of the new outfit was reported at $r),000 which probably meant a moderate profit. 'MERRY WIDOW NO GO IN FRISCO, POOR $6,000 ,'an Kraneiseo.. May 26. Only legit attraollon goin^ In town did not penetrate the surface much last wef'k. Ijoh Angcjes * Ligii't Opera tried two weeks of 'S\('vvy [Widow' at thf Cnrran, v, Itii llel^-n (iahagan starred. I Town just w'ju'd n<<i lu for, it. "with the take for the \\e<'i; Ui'in'rt I around $t;.O0i;, This will proljably I Inintr about, the forsaking of thin lilje ■ ,sliOv\' l(jcally fur the future.