Variety (Sep 1937)

l^ednesday, ScptemLer 22, 1937 LEGITIMATE GROSSES VARIETY 57 Loop Legits Remain Bullish; 'RatV , $13,000 Just Noses 'CanYs 12Gs Chicago^ Sept. 21. Things are popping right along in legit here these days. Another new show entered the lists, and now ibh^e are three shows in town. And all doing well, thank you. 'The Women' started gabbing on Sunday night (19) at the Erlanger and looks • cinch as box-offlce magnetism. •Brother Rat' is settling down to a xm at the Selwyn, while *You Can't jfake It with You' shows no signs ol leaving town at all. , , - With the shows begmmng to pile Jn, there is a rising squawk of lack of available theatres. They're always looking for some kind'of alibi for legit around here. It it isn't the de- i)ression, it's theatres. Maybe some Say they'll run out of reasons. Estimates for Last Week r •Brother Eat,' Selwyn (l,000r$2.75) (5th week). Getting a steady trade, and with conventions In town, has good backing. Better than $13,000 again last week, in the money. The Women,* Ei-langer (1,300; $175) (1st week). Opened Sunday 719) and will jam 'em, from ihdica-> Uons, on its four-week schedule here. <You Cant T^ke li with Ton.' Har- ris (1.0Q0;'$2.75) (33d week). Taking everything in its stride and remark- able at present $12 ,400 pace. WPA HfoDMh,' Great Northern. Yid* dish folk pageant Qne-act series, Princess. Four <»tte-acters. The Stmw,' Blackstone. Eugene (^'Nieill oldie schedided for opening shortly. YOSEL AND HIS WIVES 'REGINA' MOPS UP Helen Hayes' Starrer Gets $27,500 in New Enfland New Haven, Sept, 21. Following a two-night sellout in Hartford which grossed $13,500, 'Vic- toria Regina* (Helen Hayes) com- pleted its second road engagement at Shubert here with three smash weekend performances estimated at close to $14,000. Show was originally set as season opener here, but tryout of 'Honor Bright* was hurried in ahead, with only mediocre results as a lid-lifter. 'Lady Has a Heart' ('Jean') cur- rently first half, with Marta Abba in Tovarlch' last half. (Continued from page 56) * ing to rave about. * It is a hash of g/erything that has ever been don9< ut it is genuinely entertaining (it originality is not looked for or exr pected) and, for the strata of public which it is aiming, should do okay a.t the b.o. L. Freiman gets program credit for writing the book. If he is get- tiny any royalties it is not for his writing, but rather for his ingenuity in pasting together previously used notions. Not that they make any sense as hooked up. They don't. But then, does it matter? There are laughs, tiiere are songs, there are dances and there are girls. .Skulnik is still an A-1 comic. He Is a gent who is not a natural come- dian. Started off in serious drama, })ut realized there 'is more coin in aughs, so studiously went out to fig- ure out what makes people laugh. He knqws the answer. He hasn't missed a show on Broadway or any- where else in years. He admits it, not that he has to; it's obvious fi*om the gags and business he picked up as he went along. Since he is also co-manager of the company it is distinctly to his credit ihAt he has picked a cast to back him up which is very strong; more so than actually was necessary. Thus, tor instance, there are three so- pranos in the show, Anna Toback, Fania Rubina and Goldie Eisman. Miss Toback is personable with a none-too-strong voice. Miss Rubina }ias a lovely, though small voice; she s more or less the top featured player, but has a completely vacuous personality which simply does not ^oss the foots. IVIiss Eisman is love- ly to look at and has a voice to boot, but is miscast. Leon Gold, excellent baritone, isn't any too well spotted nor has he the kind of material he can handle. He'll dp better as the show warms up. Marty Baratz, who's been uptown m vaude, is an A-1 dancer. But Second avenue being what it is, and Rumshinsky being a co-manager and a composier; doesn't care anything about.-dsihcing; he wants his music sung, so he can hear it . That makes • the curious situation of Baratz sing- ing a duet with an excellent singer Uke Gold and both automatically knocking one another oft. Baratz does get a chance to do a bit of a dance in the second act and socks clean with it. But that singing! There are a lot of other bit people jnd minor roles, best of whom is Sarah Skulnik, the star's missus. As for Rumshinsky's music, it is VP to his average, which is mighty good. There isn't a bar of it which is unreconizable and the cognoscenti |ftay even be able to tell you where V- stems from—but there are mighty lew around who can do it as well, and that goes for Romberg or who have you? Kaui. TowH Hall Bookings Advance list of events for October at Town Hall, N. Y„ calls for 35 concerts, seven lectures and three meetings. Highlight dates are Leo- nora Corona, soprano; Roland Hayes, tenor; Walter Gieseking, pianist, and wo appearances by Richard Tauber, *2i^opean concert and film tenor. Senes opens Sept. 28 and is man- ned by Kenneth Klein. 'Rat' Gives Wash. OK Start With Raves, $13,000 Washington, Sept. 21. Capital's only Jegit spot began sea- spa with bang last week with 'Brother Rat' at the National pulling around $13,000 at $2.20 top. Critics went overboard for comedy as per- fect opener, Current is pre-Broadway week of Gertrude Lawrence, whom they were still ap>plauding for 'Tonight at 8:30,' in 'Susan and Gqd.' Next week StiU blank and then it's first Ameri- can Theatre Spciety show, 'Madame. Bovary.' Week of Oct, 11 is open,' and on Oct. 18 it's 'Amphitryon 38,' Witii ATS subscriptions double same time last year, balcony being almost clean for six ATS shows, and house forced to close books on sea- son reservations to keep from tying up too many seats, spot looks all set. Theatre has been completely reno- vated with ne^fr seats on tjrch and first balcony floorjs, new carpets and modern- ventilating system, as step toward eventual air-conditioning. WPA Buffalo Gives Wagon' Good 9G on Four Shows Buffalo, Sept. 21. Buffalo turned out to give Guthrie McCUntic's production of 'The Star Wagon,^ second legit attraction of the season, a near-capacity gross of $9;40Q for four performances at the Erlanger. Figures represent best early sea- son legit business since 1929 and in- dicate town is reviving as good road stand. DEAD end; 8(rS; PACESBALTO SEASON Like Falling Leaves Hollywood, Sept. 9. Play In three acts 'by Giusfippe Giacosa. iPresented by the Federal Theatre, dlreuted by Max Pollock. Translated from the Ital- ian by Edith and Allan TIpileKvaff. Edited by BdNVln BJorkman and produced at the Hollywood Flayhouae. Giovanni Bbsanl........Joseph De Stefnnl Olulla,.., Mai-Kot Dune Tommy......... ....Philip Daikln Nennele,,....,.., Beatrice Newport SIgnora Laurl.. .,,Cecile BHiott Signora Irene Kay Trac«y >Inie. Lablanche..,. Martina Pawley Helmer Strile .< Kail Taggart An Old Artist -Maurice SchuUman Andrea Charles Mlll.ard Gaspare. Oiu.seppinh Gllombardo Lucia Lillian Arden Dressmaker'e Assistant .Sally Jones Marta... Adelaiile Melnotle A Groom .(Charles Kdler Massimo '....Donald Murr.ay Porters—Frank Kelton, Charles J^loyd and John Riley. WPA continues its improvement in the staging of legit drama here and 'Like Falling Leaves' is by far the best, in casting, direction and general production, to come out of the Federal theatre on the Coast in months. While not exciting drama, piece offers good entertainment for most any type of audience. Story concerns an Italian family, suddenly bereft of the ample purse it. formerly had, and its reactions as the members seek readjustment in a Swiss mountain cottage. Five lead players, through capable perform- ances, make the unfolding of the story a moving, interesting evening in the theatre. Losing their home in Milan, the family moves to a cottage in Swit- zerland, through Samaritan instincts of a cousin, played by Donald Mmt- ray, and start' the rebuilding of their lives. Play, liaid in the present time, depicts each member's struggle and the gradually succumbing of the son and stepmother to inner temptations for money. Joseph De Stefani, as the father, makes his part real, a man beaten, but gamely trying to regain, a foothold and the respect and love of his son iand daughter. Margot Duse, De Stefani's second wife and stepmother of the boy and girl, does a good job as the flighty, mercenary blonde who likes painting and moonlight trysts with artists. Philip Dakin does the weak, rich man's son ably, finally giving in to the lure of sinful pursuit, despite efforts of his sister to reclaim him. As the daughter, Beatrice Newport, torn by the unrest in her family to the point of suicide, manages to be convincing. Baltimore, Sept. 21. Baltimore's legit season got under way with a repeat engagement of 'Dead End' at the Maryland, this tim6 at a wisely scaled tariff of $1.S0 top and garnering $8,000 for the week. This week finds both of the town's legit houses occupied with pre- New York playing of the Krimsky's 'In Clover* .at the Iferyland and a return date of 'Brother Rat' at Fords. Advance for both reported healthy. Ford's, entirely refurbished and again under management of John Little, is annoimcing a full schedule <)f attractions running well into October. Maryland, independently operated and booked by Leonard McLaughlin, also reporting plenti- tude of attractions. Local press all steamed up. about possibilities for bullish season. Estimate for Last Week ^Dead End,' I^ryland (1,570; $1.50) —Pop priced scale and good reaction and support from newspapers helped maintain a fairly steady pace for this repeater to a satisfactory $7,900. lOMEN'$20,000 WOWS DETROIT Upbeat Grosses Has 'EmSinging Again; Legion Hosts Hurting; 4 Newcomers *Boid' Gets $7,800 On Fifth Newark Showing hi Newark, Sept 21. Istewark legit season opened sur- risingly strong at the Shubert with "•obacco Road,' back for the fourth time at this house and fifth time locally. With Taylor Holmes starred and two-for-ones used only three nights of the week, show did $7,800. Current attraction: 'Boy Meets Girl,* second engagement for house. Estimate for Last Weeic 'Tobacco Boad' Shubert (1,960; 50- $1,50). Beating its last engagement here in the spring by several hun- dred dollars, 'Tobacco' upset all pre- dictions and rang a splendid $7,800, Thursday night house was sold out and S R O sign put Up for first time in several seasons. Detroit, Sept, 21. 'The Women* turned in the biggest surprise of the season, for several seasons for that matter, here last week and coming home with a wal- loping $20,000 at the Cass, Other plays have done better in past, but not with such ease and minus ex- tensive bally on 'nameless' cast. Take was amassed from nine shows, at $2,75 top, and amazing part of it all was swiftness with which performances sold out. Ordinarily, an ace attraction here doesn't sell out, if at all, until at least an hour before curtain rising. But on Max Gordon's play s.r.o. sign had to be hung out as much as a half-day ahead on several performances. Contributing factor to amazing gross was upping of admish to $2.20 on play's two matinees, in contrast to usual $1.65 on $2.75 shiTWs, but that hardly tells the tale, Word-of- mouth on play's femme gabfest built fast on show, and men payees swarmed into'house to get a laugh at weaker sex. Estimate for Last Week The Women' (Cass; 1,400; $2.75 top). Set some sort of a record for 'nameless* cast and novelty play, at walloping $20,000 for nine perform- ances. No extensive bally, but s.r.o. himg out several times half-day be- fore scheduled performance. Could have stayed for three weeks easily. Current is 'Honor Bright' for week at $2.75 top. New Entrants in Hub Not Sbwmg Xan'tV 15G Gait Boston, Sept. 21, Local legit season' is really open now with two established hits, 'Vic- toria Regina' and 'Can't Take It With. You,' plus a new entry 'To Quito and Back,' starring Sylvia ..Sidney and Leslie Banks. 'Qulta,' under Theatre Guild auspices opened Mon- day (20) as. did 'Victoria.' Helen Hayes show, irr'for four weeks, had tremendous mail order and advance sale, due to intensive hinterland campaigning, 'Room Service* is skedded for the Copley, Oct. 4, indef run. Estimates for Last Week 'Blow Ye Winds' (Shubert) ($2.75) (2d wk)—Moved on after two-week tryout in better shape generally, but still running a bit long. Very fa- vorable comment on Henry Fonda's performance, and much satisfaction over the play as a whole. ,Yet, there has been little real rave heard on the streets, Dbpesters figure it for a moderate run on Broadway. Final week fair $7,000, Can't Take It With Ton' (Plym- outh) ($2.20) (2d wk) — Running along. at zippy gait. Second stanza well over $15,000. Show Eager Philly Gives Koom'27G's On 2 Weeks Stay Philadelphia, Sept. 21. Scarcity of legit bookings for the early season appears to be doubly unfortunate since Philly is show hungry. floom Service' pulled out of the Chestnut Saturday night with $27,- OOp grossed on its two weeks. Sec- or/d week's figure beat the first by hitting $14,300 and everybody was happy. Thursday matinee was close to a sell-out and even the Consti- tution Week parade on Saturday broke just in time to help the mat instead of hurting it. Cool weather prevailing all week was also a big help. Last night found two attractions bowing in. Chestput offered Char- lotte Greenwood in 'Leaning on Letty' and the Erlanger re-lighted with 'Tobacco Road,* playing its 5th local engagement. 'Letty' was orig- inally mentioned for only two weeks with a Max Gordon try-out to fol- low, but latter wasn't ready and Grieenwood vehicle now has four weeks available if biz warrants. Ad- vance wasn't anything terrific but first night's biz was good. Tobacco Road' is skedded for two weeks and will be followed by a single week of 'The Passing of the Third- Foor Back' revival with Walter Hampden. The Forrest seems to be. officially set to open its season on October 18 with 'Victoria Regina.' Mail order s.ale has been tremendous for the Helen Hayes show with every indi- cation pointing to three capacity weeks. The Chestnut's next booking is 'Between the Devil,* Shubert musi- cal try-out on the 18th also. It's listed now for two weeks. This would mean that no subscription play of the American Theatre So- ciety will be seen at this house un- til November—an unusually late start for this organization. Estimate for Last Week 'Room Service' (Chestnut) (2nd week) (1,646; $2.50). Went out with banners flying. $14,300 on 2nd and last week meant $27,000 on engage- ment and that spelt plenty of profit, 'Leaning on Letty' this week for pos- sible four-week run. 'HEAVEN' WEAK IN S, F,; 'ROOM' EXTENDING RUN San ]?L'ancisco, Sept, 21. Walter Huston's new starrer, 'Miles of Heaven,' looks like a turkey, the first week's take, at the Curran thea- tre b^ng very disappointing, David Hertz has written a play which is definitely Little theatre stuff. Beau- tifully acted and staged, 'Miles of Heaven' is limited in its appeal. Con- siderable re-writing has been. done by Hertz since its world preem in Santa Barbara several weeks ago, but it still drags. Set to open In Los Angeles,, following its engage- ment here, the run in the South is now up in the ^ir pending Walter Huston's decision on staying in the cast. Local company playing in 'Room Service' is surpassing units playing in this play in other parts of the country. Business has been so gratifying at the Geary theatre that the comedy will be held for a fifth week. Estimates for Last Week 'Room Service,' Geary (3d week) (1,700; $2.50). Fine $9,500 in third stanza, with two more to go before moving on to Los Angeles. 'The Miles of Heaven,' Curran (lat week) (1,500; $2.50). ' Arthur J. Beckhard's . new production, with Walter Huston, Nan Sunderland ahd Business on Broadway was on the upbeat last week, grosses equalling the figures of the previous week when a holiday (Labor Day) aided the box offices. Advance guard of the American Legion convention helped some, but this week indica- tions are that- the Legion crowds will hurt rather than aid attendance. Monday (20) night was an indica- tor. Times Square was so jammed with Legionnaires and their friends that all traffic was suspended. It was virtually impossible to reach theatres and thousands refused to at- tempt entering the district. As the New Year's eve jamming is to con- tinue another two or three days managers made up their minds that the convention was no dice for them. Many Legionnaires arrived with two dollar books, which called for sightseeing such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State building. Radio City and other magnets for out-of-towners. Also slips called for the purchase of cut-rate theatre tickets, but very few were sold. 'The visitors were intent on celebrating on the street, especially Broadway, and weather favored that pro- ceedvue. Otherwise the bars in the theatrical district did capacity busi- ness, Broadway awaits the season's first hit from among four attractions this week and two next week, the in- comers being the first Influx of pre- mieres. 'Virginia' the sole entrant up to Tuesday claimed a slight bet- terment at the Center with the gross quoted over '$27,000. Indications, however, are that the operetta must depend mostly on out-of-towners, not of the Legionnaire type. Due in next week are 'French Without Tears,' Miller and 'The Star Wagon,' Empire, Irish Players open- ing has been set back, while 'Honor Bright,' also slated, goes off for re- pairs. Estimates for Laiit Week . 'Babes in Arms,' Shubert (24th week) (M-l,385-$3.30). Looks set for another month or so; business picked up and the gross was around $16,000. 'Blow Ye Winds,' 46th St. (1st week) (C-l,375-$3,30). Presented by Arthur Hopkins; written by Valen- tine Davies; well regarded in Boston; opens Thursday (23), 'Brother Rat,' Biltmore (41st week) (C-991-$3.30). Business somewhat disappointing late last week but comedy turned in another profitable gross; topped $7,500. 'George and Margaret,* Morosco (1st week) (C-961-$3.30), Presented by John C. Wilson; written by Gerald Savory; imported from Lon- don; liked at Canadian showing; opens tonight (22). 'Having: Wonderful Time,' Lyceum (-31st week) (CD-1,000-$3.30). Fin- ished week strongly and may stay weU into fall period; takings last week bettered $7,500. 'Lady Has a Heart,' Longacre (CD- 1,019-$3.30). Presented by Watson Barratt and Rufus Phillips; adapted by Edward Barry Roberts from Hun- garian original of Ladis^laus Bus- Fekete; opens Saturday (25), 'On Location,* Ritz (1st week) (C- 918-$3.30). Presented by Samuel R. Golding (East Coast Studios); writ- ten by Kent Wiley; slated to open Friday (24). 'Room Service,' Cort (19th week) (G-l,059-$3,30). Attendance heavy aU last week and gross was virtual ca- pacity; around $17,000, which .a-aualed nine performance takings of previous week. 'The Show Is On,' Winter Garden (repeat engagement, 1st week) <R- l,671-$3.30). EeUghted Saturday (18) with furtiier cast changes over last seascn^s original. The Women,' Barrymore (39th week) (C-l,048-$3.30), Gross went up last week and at $16,000 topped the nine performance figure of pre- vious week. 'Tobacco Road,' Forrest (198th week) (C-l,107-$1.65). Business holds to very good figure for pop prices; last week run leader rated over $6,500. 'Virginia,' Center (4th week) (M- l,343-$3.30). Claimed some improve- ment with the gross quoted over $27,000; still doctoring the show. 'Yes, My Darling Daughter,' PJ ay- house (32nd week) (C-878-$3.30). One of the good things of l<»st sea.son holding over into new season; busi- ness profitable; around $7,500 last 'You Can't Take It With You,* Booth (41st week) (C-708-$3.30). Still just a matter of how many standees: strongest draw on list topped $15,000 last week. Revival 'King Richard II,' St, James; .sen- sational date of last winter repeating prior to long road tour. Barbara O'Neil, is not box office. Although there is still talk of giving the play a Broadway showing, recep- tion accorded here would warrant sending it to the storehouse. Author David Hertz has done a beautiful piece of writing, but play won't make any money. Lucky to take in $8,000, with one more week to go. Huston, a big favorite here, deserves credit for the biz.