Variety (Jun 1936)

-^R^ednesday^ June 10,1936 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 57 Totidly Legidess a Day and! Worried by Future ' Y . V Chlcaeo, Juile 9. For one tlay .(Sunijay) Chicaso i'i^Wis bar^ of atiy iegU lii the loop. Day jnarkcd the Intetval between - the closing of 'Awake and Sing,' , ,vhl«h moved to Cleveland, aod the opening of the Katharine Corneli- ;: V*st. Joan* revival at the Grand l&at ; night (Monday) i . And after Miss Cornell departs - tlie town, following her fortnight at the Grand, the-loop may go conx- . Ijletely void of legit; a. situation , , tyhjch heia the town's legK managers . running around on their ears. Even r Jest aumtnerj which .was bad, was kept alive by the presence of 'Three j«en on a Horse,* which paraded strongly right through the hottest Ot the summer months. 'ScatJdals' Is promised as a. June 21 entry for a summer try at the Grand. . Two WPA groups are doing well for . that sort of . tiling. They, are getting big audiences, but no money, 'filnce all the deuls are cutrrated for party and • organisation trade; Both 'Chalk Dust' arid 'Thr*e Wise Pools' win go out. within a week or so,.not because they lack audi- ences, but because the WPA direc- tors feel that six or . seven weeks of aity show is sufficient, 'Triple-A . plowed Under' is set to replace , at " th§ Great Northern. ' Estimates for Last Week' 'Aw«k« and Sing,' Selwyn <1,000; : 13.76). Had five fair weeks, clos- ing last week at ;6,000. okay as the final of the American Tllieatre So.' olety'd subscription season. . ♦St. Jogn,' Grand (1,200; <3.30). Opened last night (Mondfey) tb tre- mendous iidvAnce sale and surefire "business. tTnauestionably Katha- : rin« Cornell is. the ranking legit V box-offlte attraction in ^is town t 'at Any time.. Sell-out a cinch for r the fortnight 'George White Scan- r dala'due Jn on Jilne 2:^. WPA ' 'Chalk Dust,' Great Northern. Into Biktb week and will probably Jgo Into a seventh before closing - down tor Trtple-A Plowed "Under." >Tliree Wise Fools,' Blackstbnor : 'Another week lor this run show also. ' ■ ■ M-GIRL' SOCK $i3MDnR0IT Detroit, June 9. Waning legit season here got an- other shot in the arm last week, and figures to last out another seven days, at least. Plugged to the hilt weeks In ad- ■^•vance, "Soy Meet? Girl' opened big ■ at the Cass Sunday evening (31) and stilled through nine performances on the first stanza, at a fine. 115,000 . clip. Take places the show among the top-coin fllghters here this sea- son, despite the fact that Its top price, 12.75, Is not the highest asked this year. Following so closely on the heels of *At Home Abroad,' which snagged a nifty )20,000 the week previous, • V(lth the summer slump in full swing evci-ywherc, and with the usual legit season here long past closing, .'Boy's' gross is all the moi-e spectacular. =E%timat« for Last Week . 'Boy 'Maets Girl' <Gass; 1,400; $a.tfi, ,tcij)i - ■Bxploltfed: cJrtensXyely weeks In advjince, comedy started V welly l>atting at a merry "?13,000 clip. . "Very good in-view of late season, etc. Sticks for at least a second , week and probably a third. House hasn't anything else booked, so the season fisui^cs to' close whenever • 'Boy washes up. . Current Road Sliows 'PARNELli' $7,500, HUB Fair Qrosser May End Boston Sea- son After Holdover Session Boston, June 9. /ParnelV at the Shubert appears to be closing the Hub legit season, and.'is doing fair, trade. 'Awake and Sing' :and 'May. Wine' haVe been mentioned, but nothing definite on eitheiv • • 'Parn'ell^ Crashed page one here afteip'-Denis King • quelled an audi- ence stampede at the Shubert Sat- urday (8) maitlnee. Fire In a venti- lator started a balcony .rush towards the exits and King, stopped his big Scene to woo tho ouatomers back to their seats. Estimate fOr Last Week 'Parnelt' (Shybert; ^2.76, 1st week). ' Getting a fair fUscy outside of the subscription list of the Thea- tre Guild-American Theatre Society. First frame around |7,500. One more week, W«ek of June 8 • 'Awake and Sinio,'. Hanna, Cleve- land. 'Boy Meets Girl,' Cass, Detroit. • 'Parnell,* Shxihert, Boston. ' 'Personal Appearance,' Geary, San Fi'anclsco. 'Saint Joan' (K. Cornell), Grand, Chicago. Three Men on ■ Horse,' El Capl- tan, Hollywood. 'Three Men on a Horse,' Broad, Philadelphia, Summer Theatres (NEW PLAYS) .■'Marriage Pound' Vanguard the- *.tte. Masonic Temple, Atlantic Clly. N. J. (12). 'Bury'(3,600 in LA. and Toinbed; loss'Again 6G ' •' Los Angeles, June 9. Contemporary theatre's widely heralded production (for COast) of 'Bury the Dead* failed to elicit any undue amount of interest at the b.o, here With the result that the soldiers who refused to stay dead were interred with appropriate honors after one week at the Be- lascot liack of names and inferior production Is blamed for the weak trade. El Capltan continues its excep- tional run of 'Three Men on a Horse' throughout the current week, with trade holding fairly sat- isfactory. , . . Estimates for Last Week Three Men. on a Horse,'Bl Capl- tan, Hollywood (8th week> (C-571; :$M6). Hit another $6^000 gross on the eighth stanaa,.and one more to go. Closes Saturday (13), with 'Call it a Day' debuttlng the following night 'Bury the Dead,* Belasco (D- 1,095; .?2.20).,. Mediocre presenta- tion by Conte'ml>orary theatre miti- gated against draw here and opus was pulled after a single week to around $3,600. very bad. House is dark temporarily, . WPA 'Follow the Parade,^ musical re- vue, Is currently in fourth and final, week at the Hollywood Playhouse, where'it is doing nifty cash trade. 'Chalk Dust,' school-maam drama, follows, starting Saturday (13). 'Seventh Heaven/ first of the stock ventures at the Mason Opera House, holding strong on second stanza, and no telling when it'll come out although 'Turn to the Bight' Is being readied. . "Noah,' all-negro fantasy, opens today (9) at the Mayan, supplant- ing 'Mystery of the Boardwalk Asy- lum' after two weeks. 'Enemy of the People' debuts to- morrow (10) at the Musart Was recently given a college perform- ance at the University of South- ern California. London Biz Mrs. Henderson Carries On Her Husband's Stock Co. Detroit, June' 9, Despite the death Of Richard R. Henderson, the Henderson StocJt Co. launched its 3$th season of Michigan resort productions, this week. Mrs. Fannie Asbury Hender- son, widow of the former ownej-. Is in charge. She will manage the 'Memory Tour' this season, tilled in honor of her husband, who died at the end of the 1935 tour, and in honor of hei- husband's father, W. J, Henderson, who joined the company a year af- ter its organization in 1898 and con- tinued as assistant manager until his death in 1928. No 'Doghouse* Tryout Proiwsed t^^'0-wek tryout of 'In the Doghouse' at the Broad St. the- tro, Plilladelphia, has been, called off in favor of regular fall production. Bruce MacFarlane will star In the play. Jack Cohn, new Indl* manager, is to b© the presenter. Continued from page 55) c ■ ■ ... has not succeeded. Cochran's own .show has clicked, but the argXiment is that It is an exception. .Other twice nightly efforts have ■ mai-.ly ■ succeeded in merely losing twice as much money, and there^s.pp.chance, to the relief of most professionals, of the policy becoming general." Only 100% capacity show in a; long time is the London* bptfrtc "sea- son at Govent Garden, now at Its peak:. This is unusual as^ .although, the opera, always does smash biz, it is uauariy'6hly'100% for Italian pro- ductions. This year it has hit on all cylinders all the way; • • " • • ' Approximate Grosses ' (At'th to the £.) 'After October,' Criterion " ('sth' wk). Small show, with practically no overhead; opened poorly, but picked up.'^ Now doing curound $6,000, which means fair profit. 'Ah Wilderness,' Ambassadors (3rd wlc). Despite picture having been. releas.e(l, this one is grossing fairly at around $3,600; with prac- tically no overhead, means a little profit Looks like lingering. 'Anthony and Anna,' Whitehall (29tb week). Dropped to $3,000 but being on a co-operative basis, is standing up. Can manage to linger for a while. ' 'Aren't Men Beasts,' Strand (2nd Wk). Never got started, and not likely to get going. Doing around $3,600, peanuts. 'Beta on the Boat Deck,' Lyric .(4th wk). Private venture by author Priestly and the /stars, Laurence Olivier and 'Ralph Richardson, all three' being on percentage: doing about $6,600, at which figure it can -linger. Talk Of transferring to an- other ho^ise, but may fold in a fort- night-to. make room for Gilbert Mil- ler's 'Kind Lady.' 'Bitter Harvest,' St Martin's (3rd wk)'. ,Nbt a chance around $2,500 and may bow out any day. 'Boy Meets Qirl,' Shaftesbury (1st wk). First of Gilbert MUler's new quartet which he is staging In the West-Bnd in the next few months.. Got raves , from the presis, with a few elcceptlohs and, despite' having Just .opened,, is oreatlr^ some com- ment. Is considered a .little too American, but bookings are healthy. Libraries likely to make k deal. 'Call It a> Day,' Glebe (Slst wk). Getting by fairly at around $8,000, with overhead neares $6,000; looks to be-oh Velvet for some time. 'Children To Blesa .You,' Duke of York's (l3th wk). Has been linger- ing along for a tew weeks, but is now exhausted. Could hot stand the strain of consistent loses. Never bettered .$3,000, and folding this week-end.. 'Dominant Sex,' Aldwych (74th wk). Has had (luite. a lengthy run, but never really made profit. Cast has been -under out for a consider- able time. Now doing $3,000, which means a less. Will vacate any day. Playing two-for-one. 'Dusty^ Ermine,' .Comedy (12th wk). Does not need much to get out of the red, as cast and theatre consume very little. Doing $3,000 but not losing. Will lliiger for quite a while yet. Two-for-one. 'Follovt/ the Sun,' Adelphi (21st wk). Doing 80% capacity, on a twice nightly basis. Some of the cast out, which means smaller overhead. At around $17,000 has chance of run- ning for qi7lte a while. '(3ireen Waters,' Vaudeville (1st wk). Mediocre, and no chance. Never exceeded $2,500, which means a quick exit due. 'Love From « Stranger,' Queen's <9th wk). In the money at around $6,000, with a $6,000 unit. Seems destined to stay for some time. 'Lady Precious Stream,' Savoy (79th Wk). Lingering along to no money, with consolation that there is llRle overhead. At $2,500, that's about the only redeeming feature. 'Night Miist Fall,' Duchess (52nd wk). Has had a very successful run, making quite a lot of profit for Emlyn Williams, author-actor. Clos- ing this week to $5,000, still very good. Show win tour tor a; few weeks, and then fold, as Williams has to make a picture. 'My Son's My Son,' .Playhouse (1st wk). Never meant anything from the opening, and puzzling why it Is sticking. But not likely to last long, as it is barely getting $2,000. 'Please, Teacher,' Hippodrome <35th wk). Has made quite a bit lor the theatre. Jack Waller and Bobby Howes. Dropped slightly during ,heat wave, but picking up again. ' Now doing $11,000, profit- able. Will fold soon, taking to the i-oad for a few weeks, to make room for the Jack Waller 'No, No Nanette' revival. 'Pride and Prejudice,' St. James' nSth wk). One of the few straight shows in the West-End in the money. Has not had a losing week, and not likely to for some time. Doing steady $9,000, and costs $6,000 to Kot out. 'Rise and Shine,' Drury LnnA, (4th wk). Cast has been on a 25% cut since a week aftf-r opening, with show doing barely $10,000, which means a less of $4,000 weekly. Management still has hope .that show will build and is not giving up. Jiooks doubtful. •Spread \\ Abroad,' SavUle (9th Reduced Rail Fares Haven't Helped Broadway Yet But Street Is Hopeful Bi'oadway is still hopeful that re- duced fares will help show busl- A^ss this summer, bu^. the first week that transportation cuts went in saw no reaction at the box offices. Pact was that the downward slide in 'grosses continued and several at- tractions were forced to call it a season, ., .. .Showmen look for Improvement next .week, since the first two weeks of .June draw a considerable per- centage of potential playgoers to the numerous college and school gradu- ations. Next week, too, offers the distribution of the soldiers' bonus and Louis-Schmeling fight. To date most of the tickets sold have, gone to out of towners so New York's theatres and night spots should benefit, as last year when the sports piled in for the Louis-Baer match. Show list has dropped under the 20 mark tor the first time since early last autumn. There are 18 attrac- tions current but mid-July will Another Record For K. Cornell $2$30niPliilly Philadelphia, June. 9. Chances of Phllly's legit activities extending Into the summer, or at least until the weelf of the Decno cratlc Convention (22nd) seem to, have been definitely nixed now after having done an 'on-agaln off-agaln' for several weeks. Try-out comedy, In the Dog House,' mentioned aeveral times for opening' here, now Is definitely out Sam Nlrdllnger, who had mentioned It for' the Broad, hasn't anything new in contemplation but will tr^ to hold the current occupant of the hoUs6, 'Three Men on a Horse,' until the politicos reach tcwn. It's not doing much .iiu,t about getting by. Xast week, with Katharine Cornell opposition. It took another approxlr mate $4,000. . Miss Cornell's 'St. Joan' set a season's record with a magnificent $28,200, at the Forrest.. That figure represented capacity from Wednea- day on. A few vacancieiS' -Montjlay and Tuesday, plus the, fact that rear of - orchestra was - filled - by balcony overflow were the only latJtors keeping the show from' absolute house capacity at $3 tOp. Engage- ment was surely a great valedictory foir the 1935-36 season. Roadshow film. 'Great Zleg/eld' (MG), wound up ah eight weeks' stay at the Chestnut Saturday, also, and neither that house nor the For- rest haye any bookings. Same soes for the GiUTick. wk). 1 Opened very big, with the papers raving. Dropped slightly, but is still in the money at close to $10,000 hefty profit, 'Seeing Stars,' Gaiety (30th wk). HnB been in the money since it opened, without a losing' week. Closing next week nd taking to the road for about a month. Then Leslie Henson takes a holiday for a month, with company going into re- hearsal for a new show at the Gaiety in. the fall. About $8,500. which still profitable. 'Storm in a Tea Cup,' Garrick (17th wk). Tran.sferred from the Haymarket to make room for the Ruth Draper season, but not likely to do much hero at two-for- onc. 'Sonata,' Cambridge (1st wk). Does not mean a thing, and did not from the start. Barely $2,000. 'Tonight at 8.30,' Phoenix (21st wk). As has benn the Noel Coward policy of recent years, show was put on for a limited period, which is not altered by the takings. Ap- proaching its close a.nd will fold June 28. Receipts have varied, highest being week of Feb. 15, when it took $15,150, and last week re- ceipts were $13,350. Lowest takings were $10,970. 'The Happy Hypocrite,' His Ma- jesty's (Sth wk). Fair biz at around $8,400, and a slight profit. Can linger at this rate, 'The Frog,' Princes (7th wk). Big- gest hit the hou.'je has had in years, and looks like going on for some time. Doing $12,500. which means prollt of about $3,600 weekly, . 'Three, Men On a Horse,' Wynd- ham's (iOth wk). Doing practically capacity nights, but matinees oft; even .so, la grossln«T $7,500 per week, whirh i.S pood profit. 'The Seagull,' New (2nd wk). De- spite sordidncss o£ this revival. John Giclgud is managing to at- tract them. Doing steady $9,000, with practically no overhead- Not likely to stay very long, however. probably find six or seven shows comprising the surviving group. As summery weather aided the out of door attractions, it natux-ally affected theatres. That was par- ticularly true on Friday and Satur- day last. Nearly every show weftt to a new low. Even so, some, of the best of the season's crop. Which are still on the boards, turned a tidy profit. Others took a loss so that some replace- ment Players could be worked in and shows be ready to open out of town in the fall without much re- hearsal required. DlHerence in- volved in present red operating and later rehearsal cost Is not figured to be'material. 'May Wine,' St. James; 'One Good Tear,' 49th Street and 'A Private Affair,' Masque, stopped. Repeat of 'Wlntersef Beck, ends this week, - too, and other closings are likely. A W,PA show called 'Backwash* may go commercial at the 48th St next week under the title of 'Kick Back.' Estimates for Last Week 'A Private Affair,' Masque. With- drawn Saturday: three weeks and thi:ee days to slim pickings. 'Boy Meet* Girl,' Cort (30th week) (C-l,069-$3.30). Has been affected, but la stUl In the money, with $12,500 grossed last week; one of the sure summer stayers. 'Bury the Dead,' Barrymore (8th week) (D-l,096-$2,20). Last weeks announced fOr anti-war playlet which drew high press and moderate business; some jproflt around $6,000. 'Call It a Day,' Morosco (20th week) (C-981-$3.30). Will last un- til July 4 and longer. If the leads remain: around $8,600 last week. 'Children's Hour,' SUiOt (82na . week) (D-967-$1.66), Attendance off but., date Indefinite; around $4,600, but Indicated better than even break. - 'Dead End,' Belasco (33rd week). (D-.l,OOO-$3.30). . Another hit sur» to stick through the' summer; dipped to $8,600, mostly because of > Saturday drop-off. 'End of Summer,' Guild (17th weelc) '(C-914-$3.30). Summer stay Is up to the.star (Ina Claire); burl* ness around $8,000 las't week, and okay at present stage. 'First Lady,' Music Box (29th week) (C-l,000-$3,30). L«at two weeks announced and run mav end any Saturday; . estimated aro-and $7,000 last week. 'Idiot's - Delight,' Shubert (13th week) (CD-1,378-$3.3P). Broadway's standout; with standees always ln< the gross close .to. $24,000; will suspend July 4. , 'Cove, on the Dole,' Longacre (16th webk) (D-l,057-$2.76). Another at- traction announcing final weeks and liable to fold any weekend; around $4,000. . . 'May Wine,' St James. Closed suddenly Saturday; played ,26 iveeks and rated a moderate success; spring advance was over $9,000, 'Mulatto,' Ambassador (34th week) (C-l,166-$3.30). Management figur- ing on staying through the summer; otC weak-end dropped the gross to around $2,600. 'New Faces,* Vanderbllt (4th week) (R-804-$3.30). Intimate' re- vue felt -the summery week-end; , paced around $4,500, but may im- prove with the list growing slim- mer. 'On Your Toes,' Imperial (9th week) (M-l,468-$3.85). Han musi- cal field virtually to itself and can't miss real coin; around $24,000 weekly, • 'One Good Year,' 49th Street Withdrawn Saturday; played 28 weeks, but continuously to • small money; made some operating profit 'Pre - Honeymoon,' .Lyceum 7th week) (C-967-$3.30). Sunny skies dented all Broadway attendance; this ■ comedy stood up fairly well during week; around $5,S0D. •To My Husband,' Belmont (2nd week) (C-51S-$3.30). Drew week press; initial takings lean and first week around $2,500, 'Three Men on a Horse,* Play- house (72nd week) (C-8«9-$2.20). Eased off under $7,000 but on sum-- mer basis expected to lasv well into the second summer. 'Tobacco Road,' Forrest (132nd week) (C-l,017-$1.65), Long run drama still Indefinite and may stick through another summer; around $5,000 last week. 'Victoria Regina,' Broadhurnt (25th week) (D-l,118-$3.30). Ending sixth month and contlnvies to clean up; around $21,000 last M'eek; will suspend on June 20. Repeat Pate* 'Winterset,' Beck; two-week re- peat date ends Saturday; got $8,000, which is satisfactory at $2.20 top. WPA 'W« Live and Laugh,' Adelphi; Yiddish revue moved in for thlti week, 'Battle Hymn,' Daly's, 63rd Street (Experimental). 'Macbeth,' Lafayette, Harlem; last two weeks-announced. 'Class of '29,' Manhattan: a9« nounced to close, but contlnuea.