Variety (Oct 1936)

Wednesday, October 21, 1936 L E C I I I MAI t VARIETY 63 M Hot Blue ;'• Boston,' Oct. 'Red, Hot and Blue' left town with plenty of blemishes but a swell b.o. record. Every performance was practically a sell-out during the 10- day stay here. Wofd-of-mouth indi- cates the stars drew 'em—but they didn't get their money 's, worth. 'Boy Meets Girl' remains at , the Plymouth for a third stanza; Leslie Howard opened Monday, night (19) with his version Of ? Hamlet/ and 'Call It a Day' unshuttered, at the Shubert the. same, night for two weeks. 'Hamlet' is here for one week only. 7 Nazirhova. opens tonight in -Hedda Gabler' at the Colonial for only five days. Much interest in the coming of Noel Coward's series of one-act plays tinder the. general title 'Tonight at 8:30.' Series opens at the Colonial next Monday (26). Three plays are to be presented Monday night, re- peated Tuesday; next three -Wednes- day arid' Thursday, and.' the 'final three Friday and Saturday.. Plays will be rescrambled for: the second week. : WPA opens 'It Can't Happen Here' Oct. 27 at the Repertory. Theatre, is How dark. Copley is also dark until .the regular Copley Players' season opens, probably in November. 'The Show . Is Oh,' new Lillie-Lahr musical, Will Open Nov. 5 at the Shu-; bert. • '. '••■'■' ~'\ Estimates for Last Week 'Red, : Hot and Blue'. ial, $3.30)—Although customer comment was largely negative, the b.o; ■■ told. a vastly different story in the last week of a 10-day shaping up here; $21,000, •big. : : 'Boy Meets?Girl' (Plymouth, $2.75) <2d week). Fair trade on week-ends, but skidding: in mid-week, around $9,500. 'First Lady* (Shubert; $2.75) (3d week). Closed, Saturday (17) after a satisfactory stay, . Final week about $13,000. 'Come Home to 'Roost' (Copley, $2.20) .(three days). Folded. Wednes- day. .(14JL.af.fer/a disappointing, week's tryout here. About" ;$1,200. for three days..'"' "SCANDALS'BIG • V Detroit, Oct. 20. Detroit's; belated legit season got under way Sunday night (18) with James Kirk wood's 'Mulatto' at the. Cass. Seven performances are carded, plus two rriati at $2.20 top nights. •"' Lady precious Stream' begins, a seven-day stand next Sunday (25) at the Cass, at $2.75 top, to be followed by 'First Lady,' Katharine Cornell will bring her new'show, 'Wingless Victory' in for a week starting Dec. 14, just. prior to Broadway opening on Dec. 22.; '\ .-• Local WPA theatre, dark for the past six weeks, returns next Mon day (26) at the Lafayette with 'It Can't Happen Here,' which will .be shOwri". simultaneouslyseveral other key 'cities. lolatto' $7,500, Newark Newark; Oct. 20. : . Independent production Of 'Mu- latto'. played the Shubert last, week to increasing, business. Fair start dropped on account of mixed reviews, but wordrofTmouth-: concerning the usual: theme brought business back and the week ended strong, with $7,500: Shubert is progressing stead- ily. With the public and many benefit nights are being .planned for' the winter season. Current attraction is 'Love oh the Dole.' "' . 1 Estimate .for. Last Week. ♦Mulatto,' Shubert (1,970; 50-$1.5Q). —Strong drama got to its own pub- lic and b. o.'spurted up to $7,500. San .Francisco, Oct, 20. Twelfth edition of George White's 'Scandals* did $25,000 at the Curran theatre here during its first stanza, which, is nice going. Good word-.of- rriouth is -helping advance sale. If the present ' pace keeps up., the sec- ond., and final week- should be even better. 'The Fool' opened fairly strong at the Columbia theatre, only to ' end the week with a very: poor , take of around $2,700. FTP is using the Oak- land, company for this engagement. Publicity dated the play by focusing attention on the fact that 'The Fool' is playing in the same house'where it had such a remarkable run over a dozen years, ago. ■■■ - Estimates for Last Week 'George. White's Scandals' (1st week ) (1,700; $3), Howard .brothers and Helen Morgan , are attracting plenty;' Of attention:: Show, only plays one.jriatinee a week; $25-000 during first stanza. WPA .... ' (1st-.week) (J.700; 50ci. isappointing at $2,700.. PANS HOLD 1KULATT0' TO OFF $7,500, CLEVE. Cleveland, Oct 20; 'Mulatto' stirred up lot of hpt controversies here but still left the b.o. rather cold. Instead, of hitting about- $12,000, as management hoped, drama drew Only $7,500 in six days. Critics. On the three dailies unani- mously panned 'Mulatto,' calling it third-rate. Low-priced balcony seats and matinees: filled but pans kept away buyers Of higher-priced seats. Sensational ballyhoo didn't help. James Kirkwood, star, blasted av/ay at. the reviewers after, every performance. Picked on William F. McDermbtt of the Plain Dealer as his chief .target, rapping . him a. la R'Cbard Bennett. Got an answer in that .paper's columns one day but the. show didn't profit even from that. . Morris Gest is here for.the opening today (20) of 'Lady Precious Stream,* penciled in for five days. '.Tobacco Road' with Taylor Holmes is set for Oct. 26; Nazimova in 'Hedda Gabler' Nov. 2 for three days; 'Call It a Day' Nov. Si; Jane Cowl in 'First Lady'- Nov, 16; 'Children's Hour'. Nov. 23; End of Summer' Dec. 17. ■ Estimate for Last Week 'Mulatto' •'■ (Hanna) (1,435; 50.-$2). Too heavy and tawdry for conven- tional natives. Mild $7,500. - icago,.bct. Single ehtry last, week,; -'Pride arid Pre j udice,'at the Harris, second ,play on. the American. -Theatre . Society seaspn, zoomed far into the forefront of legit' grosses, and indicates that it will, stay; several weeks beyond its two-week subscription.gallop. ..' , Play got great, notices from: the dailies . and. received best word-of- mouth oomment thus far this season.' Showing build-up power, as indi- cated by steadily climbing advance sales.-" ., •• Other two shows in town, 'Dead End? and 'Night of J»n. 16,' have set- tled down, to a steady grind, hover- ing around the $10,000 mark, and look to be here" for several weeks more. . . '-. Sunday night the Shuberts.brought another 'Naughty Marietta'- revival into the Grand. Booked for two weeks, but, like its predecessor, 'Blossom Time,' it may stay three or more. Next. Monday (26) -the Er- langer inaugurates its current legit season, with 'End of Summer' as its first legit play and third on the American Theatre Society, season. In November 'Call It a Day' will arrive at the Grand as the fourth ATS play* which , will make it something of a record for the 1 Society in quick pac- ing and booking; it has used three houses, to. present four plays in. the- space of two months. / WPA has gotten itself jammed up on a proposed Negro show, 'Hymn .to the Sun,'• when - that, show was banned by . the higher-ups; Now working on 'O Say Can You Sing? musical, and 'It Can't Happen Here.' Playwrights theatres brings in a new play, 'Call Me Ziggy,' on Tues- day (27). Estimates for Last Week •Dead End,' Studebaker (1,300; $2,7.5). (6fh week X. Settling down -for. a run, and making profits every week at $9,000 pace. 'NangWy Marietta,' Grand, (1.200; $2.20) (1st week), Opened here Sun- day (18) and hopes to. repeat fine profits of 'Blossom Time,' which did three, : money-making.. weeks earlier this season. 'Night of Jan. 16/ Selwyn (1,000; $2.75 )• (5th week). Matinees climb- ing and mean real coin, with the all- femme jury gag. Better than $9,500 last week, fine. Balfirhore, . I/ast week legit took riiore money out. Of Baltimore.than in any single week; in seven years, with two at- tractions doing excellent biz. "Great Waltz* snagged a sockO $25,- 000 in eight times at Ford's at $3:33 top. Gallery and balcony had gone clean before, the show opened; some lower, floor seats, were vacant on the first two evening performances; but from then on' it was capacity in the big house, and biz built to standee performances the last two days. - 'Stage Door,' with Margaret Sulla- van a big lure, took, an estimated $11,000 at the Maryland, at $2.75 top. Opened-strong; sagged a bit mid- week, but ' built towards the end. Authors'Kaufman and Berber worked over the play all week for its N, Y. riy Thurs. (22). enough legit grosses have been bigger and prospects brighter- thus far this season than in the last three or so, bookings are pretty slim for the coming weeks. Leonard B. Mc- Laughlin, Operator of the-ihdie Audi- torium and Maryland, hasn't a show definitely slated, at either site; is now iri-N/Y. digging up a few pieces Ford's is dark this .week, as is the towri t with -Blbssoih Time' due in Monday (26) for a session at $2.22 top. Following week. Arthur Hop kins' production of 'Plumes in the Dust/ Henry HUH vehicle, comes in for a-half-week of four performances, Estimates, for Last Week 'Great Waltz/ Ford's (L988; $3.33) Smackb' $25;Q00. Only empty; chairs during the we.ek's engagement were a scattering in, the rear Of the spa- cious lower floor during the first two performances, Standees last, half of run. '■ ••."' 'Stage Door, Maryland (1.700 $2.75). Estimated $11,000, very cl ite Horse Inn Seek Although there has been no rush of socks sO farj Broadway is grad- ually acquiring niew. money shows. At least four such attractions appear definitely i the ; success class/ last week peeing brie addition and the current premiere card probably : , un- covering another. Newest incomer /with/click-- rating is 'Tovarich/ which got. $12,300 in four performances at the; Plymouth, It is a possible contender for straight show -moriey honors, , since it can gross better than $21,000. Imported comedy drew the strongest press of the new season. Five other entrants. week were; 'And Stars. Rerriai , which, was trounced by the critics; it got $13,000 at the Guild, mostly sub- scription coin, and chances are not definite; 'Swing Your Lady,' Booth, got fair press and may do moderately (opened , Sunday ); 'Daughters of Atreus,' 44th Street; "The Laughing Woman/ GOlden; 'White; Man/ Na- tional, all unfavorable press'and. all doubtful.' 'White Horse Inn' went to a new high, gros.ing $53,500 in nine per- formances and leads the list by a wide margi ; 'Hamlet' got $15,800 at the Empire on its-first full week, not capacity, but; real money: 'Re* fleeted Glory' again around $14,500, while 'Tovarich' is the'fourth of the new Coin getters. This week's touted; arrival'' 'Stage Door' at the Music Box, Thursday (22) which; did very well out of town and commands an unusual advance sale. V ■ This week marks the completion of a year's run of 'Dead End' at the Belasco, last season's first dramatic smash beinjr indefinite. : ' Next week is- carded for- 'Red. Hot and Blue/ Alvih; 'Sweet River,' 51st Street (formerly Warner's Holly- wood); 'It Can't Happen Here/ Adel- phi. Latter ' Sinclair Lewis' best seller novel, and, although it comes sponsored by the\WPA at 55c top, there appears .to be considerable in- ter,^ in.,^jt f and other compa nies, due to open ih New' York "and" else- where simultaneously. '. ', . One slated closing this week is 'Love from a Stranger/ Fulton.which will get 'Three Men on a Horse/ now at the Playhouse. : Estimates for Last Week 'And Stars Remain/ Guild (2d week) ;(C-914-$3.30). Press was not friendly, arid chances beyond sub scrip tiort period (five ; weeks) not definite; around $13,000, mostly from subscriptions. -. " ■> i - 'Boy Meets Girl/ Cort (48th week) (C-l,059-$3.30). Holdover . smash going alorig to, substantial business" and netting weekly "profit; more than $10,000. '.'••;•" :' 'Daughters of Atreus/ 44th ;St (2d week) (CD-l,323-$3.30). Mid wee t Melodv'Wa y Off, Philadelphia; Qct. 20. With, three houses open for busi- ness instead of . two, Philly' legit trade was decidedly- ; swt4y4ast week. Dramatic offering. "Call It a. Day/ olaving the second and final week of its subscription ent;a';cment at the Chestnut, was rstjsfied with a robust $14,000, up over the first week. - Two. musicals; however,.didn't fare so ■/'well.-: Big try-out, 'Forbidden Melody;' at the Erlanger, took it On - , P'rWe7-and-Prejudice/- : Harris-Q.-^ 000; $2.75) (2d week). Honey of the legit season thus far. Box-office winner garnered better than $12,000 for opening sessioh^best start of the year. Building steadily and should top mark considerably as the cheap subscription seats wind up. -., ■ •''.' - Other Attractions .- San Carlo Opera, Auditorium. Dol- lar opera. still packing 'em, 'and it makes a great getaway on the season, for Fred Crow arid the mammoth house'.. ■■• ■;": \'*Call Me , igrgy,', Playwrights: Opens next Tuesday (27). '■/ ' WPA roken Dishes. Blackstohe, Long- est run of the WPA attempts here closed Saturday (17). and loop is now clear of WPA. shows: K. C SKED • kansa.s^ City, Oct.. 20. .Legjt season at the brnHeum gets under way Nov. 22 with. 'Boy Mp^ts Girl,' set for' a- week. '.ales, are: .'First Lady,' three, days, start*- ing Dec 14, 'Can It a Day/ Dec. 28. Dependent oh Chicago closings these plays will also 'be', set; 'Idiot's Delight/ 'Pride nd Prejudice;' 'Ethan Frome' and ' ight of Jan. 16/ i House will be,.m naged this season 1 by Senn Lawler. bookings after 'Hamlet' are no-t set; Beatrice Lillie-Bert Lahr musical is mentioned,, but. unlikely.. I Estiiuates! for! Last Week . j - 'CaH It a Day' (Chestnut, 2d week) —Fortnight's /engagement very -nice here for. Guild show on ATS sub- scription.' Last week's $14,000 . was better than first week. 'Children's Hour'- in now. \ Stays thrco weeks. 'Forbidden Melody' (Erlanger, 1st week)—New musical tookVa panning was way off. Scant $14,000 at $3 top. Stays this week, then house goes Vlaik a week before 'Eury the Dead/ ' . ; -;'. 'Blossom Time' (Forrest, 1st week) —Old favorite not so forts this time; f8,-S0P : , af-'$2 top had manr^ment try- ing various stunts, to bolster second week's biz. 'Hamlet' 1 with < Leslie Howard due in next.week. Duffy Moves 'Sigter' Down Go?st to h. A. got to first base after the first ni^ht, when th're <v'5 real . money in the hous Plenty of papering: late in the week-,, even Saturday, Show , is holds over this week, while strenu- ous reoair work is 'o.c;n? done., With a $3 fop. S14.000 . waS a long, long way from csnacity. . ■'.'' lossom. Tim?' .Forrest, also li nod. badly, \vii.b ; - ; the : mari- a'gemerif.-'dscM'iri'r- cn s.re^ialexnloitfl-: tioh late in ,tH» w-—!-... Fevivrl, at a S2 tODiX'OuJdn't ret,over $8,500. This wes!*^^find;- .only, .one rino irig;. 'Children's Wovr.' rt the Chestnut.. It's .in on -tv^-'-v^'-h-.hf, ATS sub-. scriptibp, rnd-- sir*. tb!vd oft- its HollywoocI- O'-:! 20, own'.. P.r^ r n ^,. ; T ; T r"t, M^ndav [ Ur>c);.tinted bv its bri " two-week brin.Psi LcpM." H'V-wrd.-s 'Hnrnlet ,to •ruu-'lii:'Lari---i''i.'anciscb,.V/hc'uo-it 'pla'yed the. Fbi ; r.r-t J*" the c'-^'t ot two- tj very- J3vv- {ir6'ss^s, Hc:: i -v-'Cufty: week run; / 'f^rt : 'dnte- the fb-«-' rh*-'' Ms Cbps't' '.ttrortn^j of I;ooust; n?\y. '-'"-'W fie N^.W; Lo- i 'Meet My S»sler" into- the. '£i Ca'pitan cist, ODenv. ' nlicv ; hia Sij , (18;, feudr t'.'i piece oop-oriferl . is f P.c*'- Vvill ac* stop-Crn until he .sona-1':- A'o-^e^pn-e?/. , : aoproxj- i readies a new play, "i-ntelv the srm.c ^st jf;s pnr-pv irt. 3iltmoie:relightS (28) with George ih?! show at the Garri '.y/hife's- 'Scandals/- -cur'reritiy. at :the One dollar top. ,: i Curran, San Francisco. Nov 2 bnnns A 1 ro-.j WPA ' Auction of v'Burv a .-the. " 'Vai»3cville Frolic' is openinr; 1o- EiianV'er...for a two-wepk t Na- tday f20> at^the Mason, replacing^ the ximova comes to- the Chestnut on . sioek-revival policy iri effect.for scv- Nov.-9 for one y/eek; Ro^^ers-Hart: era! rnontb& opening .accorded! a mild press, indicated chances not so good., . Dead End/ Belasco (52d week) (D-l,000-$3.30). 'Celebrates a year'3 run this week and may last this sea- son; up more last week and topped - $9,0Q0, " •Follies/ Winter Garden (resurhpd. eng.) (21st week) (R-l,493-$3.85). Business : strong, but. not capacity; should stick until first, of year . and maybe longer; - $27^000 last week. 'Hamlet/ Empire (2d week.): (D-l,096-$3.30).. . .'Exeellenf ;: attend- ance, but .'under capacity; first full week quoted at $15,800; upper floors .virtually capacity;.lower floor fairly, good. , •..';■,.;:..•-.'-.. .- Idiot's Delight/ Shubert (resumed eng.) (23 d week) (C-l,307-$3.30). Front runner:'of .'the. straight plays and. probably . will keep that pace throughout, the winter;, nearly $23,- ;.- . 000 agai this week. .'Iron Men/ Longacre (1st week) (D-l,019-$3.30). Presented by Nor-, man Bel Geddes;. written by. Francis Gallaigher;' opened Monday night; /Love from-'-a Strangrer/ Fulton. (4th. week) (D-913-$3.30K Final week; -$6,000 and disappointing; 'Three Men; on a Horse' mentioned ■ moving over from, the Playhouse. .-. 'Mimie Scheller/ Ritz (4th. week) (D-918-$3.30). Prison. play again . finished okay last * week; nearly. $4,500; moves, to Ambassador- next Monday,"'- , r ♦New Faces/ Vanderbilt (23d week) (R-804-$3.30). Approaching end of ^engagement; business . some- what irhpfoved, with takings around $6,000; probably better than even break ' "' ' ' ■ ' 'Nigfht Must Fall/ Barry more (4th week) (D-l,000-$3jo). Agency buy fOr eight weeltt. helping thrill pjay from London; approximating $11,000; profitable: 7 . 'On Yoor Toes/ Irriperial (28th week) (M-l,463-$3.85). Holding to good money, with pace quoted over $20,000; slated to move . to. the Ma- jestic soori. " ' * 'Pre Honeymoon/ ^Little . (26th Week) <C-532-$3.30). Seems to be spotted right now" and date indefi-, nite; paced around • $6,000/ which x - is profitable both'Ways, 'Reflected Glory," Morosco (5th ' week) (D-961-$3;30)i First indica- tions for' clicking' moderately still-, go; takings better than that rating, with $14,500 last week. 'St; Helena/. Lyceum ^.(3d week) (D*957>-$3.30); : Prohlematieal; busl- 'riess about: the same, with better than; $7,000, but needs more for evert break..- . . . . ..'', 'Seen, But Not Heard/ 48th St. (6th iveek) (D»r969r$3^0)v Moved here from Miller's, which gets The. Country. Wife' from London late: next month; .around $3;000; cut-rate deal on jemoval.; : . . /, 'Staee Door/ Music Box (1st week) : ,(C-1013-$3.30>:: Presented by Sam . H. Harris; written by George B; Kaufman and - Edna. Ferber; fine business , out of town; opens Thurs- day. (22). ; •' . .-V-v - • .-; . 'Swfnp 'Tflnr Lady/ Booth (1st .weekXJtC-704±$3^ postpone'rients and previews comedy.-, opened Sunday: (18) •. arid, laid off Tuesday; as required; fair press.: 'ten . Million Ghosts/ St> James (1st week) (t>-l,52O-$3.30). . Another postponed play; written by Sidney Kingsley : and-, presented by . same; opens Fridav (23). *. 'TJic Ln4i/irjiin<T'Woman.'-Golden (2d week) (C-1.)56-$3.30). Ojperied mild- ly; dj*ew "tepid press and chances not definite; ubder.'$5t000 .for first seven perf orm>W*es. • ; ' . : 'Three Meh on' a ftijrse.' Playhouse (91st week) (C-889-$2.20). Long run Taueh show, holding to nrofltable- pace, ..with pop scale a factor; $6,000 or better.' ' .' ^ 4 T"t>acPo Roai*/ Forrest (151st YPvl70T7"-«i:65i; : Has7 beeffi7 musical, 'Babes in Arms/ is skeddcr' for the Erlanger on Nov. 16, and 'YOu Canlt Take It. With You/, new Kaufman-Hart comedyi is set for the Chestnut on the same date; Forrest's 'Warrior's Husband/ Hollywood Playhouse, stays on until Oct. .23. Both: the Mayan arid . MusarU Fed-: eral Theatre Projects, are currently dark. week )■ — - _ ~ getting around $6,500 and better arid irit ,! '"at;nn*. are for. another season, . tovarich.'. Plymouth <2d. we?k) (CD-i ( 630i.$3.3O). Looks like a> class rtandout: drew 'excellent nress at Thursday premiere;: got $12,300 in four berformances; can top $21,000 weekly. .. -. *Vici Retina/ roadhu^st (re r sumcd en*»;y (34th - wee'?) (CO-l410i $3^0).- Wonder draw from last sea- son's crop ; continues, to clean: lip; last wfte v was im at $21,500. . . : .. 'White Hor>e Inn/ Center (4th week) (M-3.381-$3;85). Built steadily diirin'i th .second;full ^ck and sold ouf -Sntv'^ry 'ght: with an extra matinee (Columbus Day) gross went to 5553.500/ :• :•' ,. v ♦White M'"-' National (Irt week) (D-1.1F4-&M0). . Onened , Saturday night; drew weak-press arid in doubt; ' r ... ./-Revivals.. ■ D'byty. Garte. Oporiv €.>.. Beck; 'Prin^^ss Ida' last week; one of the G7 & S. oncrettas riot so Well known, but excellent attendance. '■■ WPA 'injunction Granted/ closed at the Biltmore. •Help Yourself/ Adciphi. ■ . . . ■■ •No.^h/ Lafayette; little money. ^Horse Eats Hat/ Elliott; light, •The Path of Flowers/ Daly's C3d Street; very , little. '