Variety (Jan 1940)

Wednes day, January 3, 1940 Thirly.fourth VARIETY Annivetsary LEGIT 151 ^er' Sock 18G In Chicago Debut; 'Scanda]s:0K2i)G Chicago, Jan. 1. Houscf are all occupied this week,, .nd all four ran up profits, especla y San Who came. It Dinner' with Sn Webb, which smashed home . lerriflc opening session in the IraaUish Harris. On openmg indi- Sions. appears set for a good .run Sre despite so-so notices which cftuawked about miscasting. In their final weeks here currently ore 'My Dear Children' and 'Spring- time for -Honry.' both of which coined on their Jieadliner rep, the fli-rt with John Barrymore, the lat- fer with Edward Everett Horton. The Barrymore played upped some inore last week for one of .its biggest weeks. Horton comedy didn't mean so jnuch on moving to the Grand, though it continues to make money on its short operating nut. 'Scandal.V drew a w€ak press gen- erally but the references to the smut 'meant money; so, the show finished its initial stanza with a wal- loping take. 'Scandals' \V3S the only show locally operating two shows on New year's Eve. . •Easy Virtue' comes in next week to replace 'Children'; 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois' takes over the Grand from 'Henrv,' while the Auditorium re- verts "to le;it with 'Hot Mikado.' Estimates for Last Week llan Who Came to Dinner,' Harris (1st week) (1.000; $2.75). Turned in a capacity first week with turnaways at all performances. Caught on from the bell despite the lack of rave re- ports. Hit nearly $18,000. •My Dear Children,' Selwyn (33d week) (1,000; $2.75). One more week.. Climbed to excellent $14,000. 'Scandals,' Erlanger (1st week) (1,400; $3.30). Press notices meant money, and as the only musical in town, .scored a solid initial session at $20,000. 'Sprlnellme for Henry,' Grand (7lh week) tl.300: $2.75). Fir.=:t wcok in this house, having moved from the Erlanger. Held to $9,000. Prrr PLAYS SANTA TO WMIKADOM23,000 Pittsburgh, Jan. 1. Bill Robinson'? 'Hot Mikado' wm a Xmas week natural at the Nixon and pushed easily into smash class. Only second rnusical of .season though this town's invariably gone for the tune shows, particularly at holid.ny time. The Savoyard jive drew raves from the reviewers and rolled alone at pretty clo.sc to capacity all week long. Mats, in fact, drew standees. Nixon has 'Vagabond Hero' cur- rent, but opened to extremely lisht edvance sale. There's big mail order already for John Barrymore's 'My Dear Children.' which comes in Mon- day (8) on heels of long Chicago run, and lot of interest, too. in 'Three After Three,' which follows 'Chil- dren.' Esllmatc for Last Week 'Hot Mikado,' Nixon (2.100; $2.75). Clocked around $23,000, great. mONQUERED' KO'D IN BALTIMORE, $4^00 Baltimore, Jan. 1. Full week here for legit, with the indje Maryland housing Herman Shumlin's latest, "The Male Animal,' by James Thurber and Elliot Nu- gent, with latter also in the cast, and Ford's offering, as the third of a promised six-week subscription sea- son under the auspices of the Ameri- can Theatre Society-Theatre Guild, 'Outward Bound.' Slated to follow in the most generous schedule of re- cent seasons: 'Kiss the Boys Good- bye,' Jan. 8; Helen Hayes In 'Ladies and Gentlemen,' Jan. IS. and the Lunts in 'The Taming of the Shrew,' Jan. 22. All at Ford's. 'The Unconquered,' by Ayn Rand, with Eugenie Leontovich, Dean Jag- ger and Onslow Steveins heading the cast, presented at the Maryland last week by:. George Abbott, ran into dilTiculties from the start and stum- bled through with an equally un- eventful reaction at the.b.o. Estimate for Last week 'The Unconquered,' Maryland (1,- S32; $2.22). Expensively mounted, in multiple sets, but not up to scratch and off in business at $4,200. Closing here. Maney's Still Boss James Thurber, co-author with Elliott Nugent of "The Male Ani- mal,' which opens next week at the Coi t, N. Y., has done a num- ber of drawings to be placed in the dailies to publicize the show. The other night he was telling an acquaintance that he doesn't particularly mind doing it, even for nothing. 'But what burns me,' he ex- plained, 'is that for years I've wanted to write a play and have Dick Maney working for me. Now I 'have the play and Maney's the press agent. But here I am working for him—and for nothing, at that.' B way Leaders Plenty High; Dinner Paces Straight Plays, 26G; 'Hellz', 'Girls 33G Exceeds DuBarry $30j Legit-Starved St. Louis Shells Out 23G for W 'May'Scale Cut May See Other Tuners Dittoing Ticket scale for Max Gordon's 'Very Warm For May,' Alvin, N. Y., was revised downward, top, starting Monday (1) being $3.30. Show started with a top of $4.40. Musical opened to an adverse press, but the manager was not discouraged, point- ing out that his 'Roberta' and 'The Cat and the Fiddle' also did not please the critics; though both fared well on Broadway and played a sea- .<ion on the road. Same applied to 'The Great Waltz,' which earned back most of its production red, then went on tour and showed a nice profit. Propensity of producers to charge $4.40 top is believed to be a fal- lacious policy. Draw of musicals with such a scale is known to sharply decline after a certain period, but dropping the price is supposed to have an adverse affect on patronage. Understood, however, that one or two other m.usicals with a $4.40 top may follow Gordon's move, now that the middle point of the season, has pa.ssed. Gross for 'May' bounded upwards last week. After dropping to $7,700 tlie week before Christmas, it was credited with approximating $18,000 List week, which spanned Christmas to New Year's. Shortly after the show opened, Gordon entered into a sharing agreement with the cast, which has since played for small salaries plus percentages. St. Louis, Jan. 1. Legitlcss tor three wcek.s. natives 'urned out big tor 'Abe Lincoln, in niinol.s' ia.i;t week despite heavy snowfall. Raymond Massey copped sobs of new.spaper space, supple- mented by 100% raves by crix. Management moved up opening of Leave it To Me,' with Sophie Tucker, William Gaxton and Victor Moore to Sunday (31) to grab off New Year's Eve trade. Price for this performance hiked to $4.40, tops lor current season Estimate tor Last Week „ Lincoln In Illinois,' American ^\ ^^-^O^- Eight performances 'oppcd $23,000. best toke of current season here. CorneG-Lederer OK $13,600 in Seattle Seattle. Jan. 1. Katharine Cornell and Francis Lederer wore at the Metropolitan for three nights and two matinees in "No Time for Comedy' last week, winding up with a satisfactory take, A mat added to the original date was necessary, and it was capacity all the way, except first night (Christmas). Estimate for Last Week •No Time for Comedy,' Metropoli- tan (1,500; $2.88). Got capacity nearly all performances; $13,600 grcnt. John Barton-'Road' Fair $8,000 in Indpls. Indianapolis. Jan. 1. J-pnsla.nce Bennett, in 'Ea.sy Vir- lue, IS presently at the English thc- «re this week, doing three night rfTormances and matinee, starting tonight (Monday). Estimate for Last Week 11 "^"d," English (1,500: ♦'•bb). Six night performances and wo matinees brought out patrons for annual 'farewell engagement' of the nicotine drama, but weather was against it, blizzard holding down to- li }° SB.OOO. which, however, was profitable. This is. the John Barton company, the other touring 'Road' Toupo having Slim Timblin as load.. 'Leave' 20G in Cincy Cincinnati, Jan. 1. 'Leave It to Me,' which closed a week's engagement Saturday night (30) at the 2,500-scat Taft audi- torium, pulled less than $20,000 on eight performances at $3.30 top. Re- sult was far below expectations. Taft gets 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois' last part of this week at $3.30. top for I four night performances and two I matinees. Its advance sale is tiev^y I and points to Cincy's biggcsti leg'' lake so far this season. 'Chin Up' Fair 6G Montreal. Jan. 1. 'Chin Up.' musical which played six nights and two mats starting Monday (25) grossed fair $6,000 at $2 top. Started slow, but perked up later. Estimate for Last Week Chin Up, His Majesty's. (CT) (1,600; 50c.-$2 plus tax). Fair post- Xin.ns trade at $6,000. lamba $10,000 Leads Slow Hub; Dance,'Road 7G Boston, Jan. 1. Dull biz all around last week with four shows, 'Mamba's Daughters', 'Tonight We Dance", 'Tobacco Road' and 'John Henry.' Estimates for Last Week 'Mamba's Daughters', Shubert (1st wk) (1,590; $2.75). Not up to ex- pectations, but best in town. Gar- nered around $10,000. 'Tonlfbt We Dance', Wilbur (1st wk) (1,227; $2.75). Drew tepid press and mediocre patronage. Around $7,000. One more stanza. 'Tobacco Road', Plymouth (6th wk) (1,480; $1.65). Holding up okay, but slated to bow out Saturday (6). Around $7,000. •John Henry', Colonial (1st wk) (1,643; $3.30). Unenthusiastic press greeted this one, and drastic revi- sions being made during tryout here. Will be changed to two-act prodiic- tion, instead of three, when reaching Broadway. Garnered pale $6,500 One more stanza. EQUITY WOULD STOP ACTOR TIDAL WAVES Although Equity's agency commit- tee has come to no conclusion on revising the commission percentages to casters, who have been seeking an increase to 10%, it is working on other phases of the situation which are regarded as more important to the average actor. Principal prob- lem is to work out a way whereby producer's' offices are not swamped with applicants, which is a frequent occurrence. Jam of actors appears to come be- cause half a dozen agents send people to producers whether they have been instructed to do. so or not. Equity doubts, however, that it has the right to formulate casting rules for man- agers to follow, or to limit the num- ber of agents he may do business with. Producers sometimes retain one agent to select the cast, but in- variably the final selections are made difficult when a horde of people from other offices turn up. One production office that has been overrun with applicants is that of the Playwrights' Co. When cast- ing, for 'Two On an Island' started around 1,000 letters from applicants were received. A sign in that office was ordered by Elmer Rice, reading that he obviously could not inter- view that many ppople. Show calls for around 50 players, unusually large. A number of producers make it a rule to look over all applicants when casting their play^ and rarely assign the casting to any one agent. Equity- ites, however, have constantly com- plained over the crush of applicants' when casting is going on and want some regulatory measures adopted. LeGallienne Neat lOG In 2-Play Rep in Frisco San Francisco, Jan. 1. Eva LeGallienne drew about $10,- 000, fair biz, in one week at the Cur- ran here last week in which she ap- peared in -Hedda Gabler' and The Master Builder.' Featured with her was Earle Larimore. Christmas rush, b.o. film fare, and Earl Carr roll's 'Vanities' next door at the Geary combined to hold down the take, She was followed, beginning today (Monday) by Katharine Cornell in 'No Time for Conriedy,' with Francis Lederer. 'Vanities,' 'which opened slow Christmas night, has built rapidly due to kind notices and enthusiastic word-of-mouili. Run ends Satur- day 16). Broadway's leaders registered big gros.ses during the holid.iy week, some figures being new highs. In contrast was the disappointing crop of new presentations that came in during the past two weeks. Not one favorable notice was accorded these entrants. Reaction is that those at- tractions which are established have much better chances to survive the winter. Among the straight plays, 'The Man Who Came to Dinner' turned in the biggest cleanup, getting $26,000 with two extra showings (10 performances). Runners up were 'Life With Father,' Vvhich held to eight times but topped $20,000; 'Key Largo,' close to $20,000; 'Skylark,' which got $19,000, also in eight shows, and the long-staying 'Phila- delphia Story,' rated around $18,000 for the same number of perform- ances. Full-length 'Hamlet' was also credited with $18,000 while 'Margin for Error' did well with around $16,500, having one extra matinee. Three musicals drew capacity most performances with standees some times. Too Many Girls' and the revised 'Hellzapoppin' were about tied at $33,000, latter show doing a real comeback from the level of the previous week. Both shows played nine times, displacing 'DuBarry Was a Lady' as leader, for the time being at least. Latter was credited with better than $30,000 in its usual eight times. 'Streets of Paris' came back strongly, too, while 'Very Warm for May' leaped way up from the low of the pre- Christmas gross. 'Christmas Eve,' at the Miller, 'Kindred,' Elliott, and 'When We Are Married' proved last week's pre- miere disappointments. Usually, the earlier part of the season ushers in too many in-betweeners but this season started to high anticipation with several clicks in a row. Seems that flop crop has been transposed from September and October to the late fall and holiday period. 'Eve' stopped Saturday (30) and several others v^cre in doubt at press time. No new shows this week. Next week. 'The Male Animal' is due into the Cort ('Farm of Three Echoes' probably moving from there to the Golden) and 'John Henry' is slated into the 44th Street. 'Hamlet' winds up a five-week return date in the latter spot Saturday (6). Estimates for Last Week 'Billy Draws a Horse,' Playhouse (1st week) (C-865; $3.30).- Keen dis- appointment; although three mati- nees were given last week, gross negligible. 'Christmas Eve,' Miller. Drew 'ANGEL' OFF IN LA. AT $12,1 Los Angeles, Jan. 1. 'I Married An Angel,' now in sec- ond-final week at the Biltmore, went heavily in the red on initial six days, garnering around $12,000, whereas company nut runs around $16,000. Extra performance was added New Year's Eve (Sunday) for seven-day final week. 'She Couldn't Say No' (Charlotte Greenwood) continues at El Capitan, Hollywood, and 'The Vagabond King' stays for a spell at the Hollywood Playhoase. Estimates for Last Week 'I Married an Angel,' Biltmore <1,656; $3.30) (1st week). Combina- tion of Dennis King and Vlvlenne Segal failed to arouse expected in- terest locally and first week ended with dismal $12,000. 'She Couldn't Say No,' £1 Capitan, Hollywood (1,560; $2.50). (2d week). Holiday week trade helped for around $9,000, very good. The Vaeabond Kinc' Playhouse, Hollywood. (1,130; $1.65) (2d week). Federal Music Project presentation heading for profit with second stanza adding around $4,000, good. 'Kiss Boys' Satisfying $9,500 in Del Repeat Detroit, Jan. 1. Dipping into the town for the sec- ond time in a year, 'Kiss the Boys Goodbye,' got a repetition last week of its earlier good biz, 'The Man Who Killed Lincoln' came in last night 'Sunday) with price for holiday vaulted to $3.65 top but settling to regular run at $2.75. Estimate for Last Week •Kiss Boys Goodbye' (Cass) <1.500;. $1.65). A highly satisfactory S9.500 ! formances nightly and three mati in view of earlier visit. ] nce.s. uniformly bad press and was taken off Saturday after six performances, 'DuBarry Was a Lady,' 46tl) Street (4th week) (M-1,347; $4.40). New musical click again topped $30,000. 'Farm of Three Echoes,' CoTt (5th week) (CD-1,064; $3.30). Expected to move., to Golden after this week; grosses modest; estimated around $7,000; house gets 'The Male Animal' next week. 'Hellzapoppin,' Winter ' Garden (67th week). (R-1,519; $3.30). Again as big as anything on list; standees most performances; around $33,000; should stay well into second year; nine performances. •Key Largo,' Barrymore (5th week) (D-I,096; $3.30). One of few suc- cesses among winter arrivals; attend- ance excellent in holiday going, gross approached $20,000. •Kindred,' Elliott (1st week) (D- 931; $3.30). One of three plays which opened last week and got thumbs down from critics; little coin after debut. •Ladles and Gentlemen,' Beck (11th week) (C-1,214; $3.30). Picked up; draw of stv (Helen Hayes) a factor in moderately good engagement; $17,- 000 estimated. •Life With Father,' Empire (8th week) (C-1,082; $3.30). Getting limit in standees ;around $20,000; no extra matinee last week, but there was a tilt on Saturday night (30) because of New Year's. 'Man Who Came to Dinner,' Music Box (11th week) (C-1,012; $3.30). Gave 10 performances last week; which, with increase Saturday night, sent sma.sh comedy to its new high; over $26,000. 'Margin for Error,* Plymouth (9th week) (D-1,075; $3.30). Came back strongly, and with one extra per- formance the gross approximated $16,500. 'Mornings at Seven,' Lon.gacre' (5th week) (C-1,016; $3.30). Has been drawing moderately well and is ex- pected to make the grade; holiday helped and expected gross over $10,- 000. best figure to date. •See My Lawyer,' Adelphi . (14th week) (C-1.434; $1.10). Around $9,- 000 last week; while low scale regu- larly applies a $3.30 top went for the holiday eve. •Skylark,' Morosco (Uth week) (C-939; $3.30). Played eight per- formances, three being matinees, with plenty of standees; stays in big money with estimated $19,000. •Streets of Paris,' Broadhurst (28th week) (R-1,142; $4.40). More than made up. lost pace last week and approximated $18,000; tentatively booked for road In four weeks. 'The Little Foxes,' National (46th week) (D-1,162; $3.30). Dramatic holdover consistent money-maker; up last week with field, rated better than $12,000. •The Philadelphia Story,' Shubert (39th week) (C-1,402; $3.30). Former straight-show leader got its share of holiday trade and approximated $20,000. The World We Make,' Gui,3 (Olh week) (D-956; $3.30), Parties have helped so far; last week takings ap- proached $8,000, which provided some profit. Time of Tour Life,' Booth (10th week) (D-712; $3.30). Fairly well" supported; as with several other at- tractions, Christmas (Monday) show- ing was skipped and extra matinee in.serted; rated over $11,000. Tobacco Road,' Forrest (316th week) (C-1,195; $1.65). Among shows which played Sunday night (New Year's eve) with boosted scale; rated over $6,000 last week. Too Many Girls,' Imperial (lOth week) (M-1,450; $4.40). Musical standout played nine performances, with takings estimated better than $33,000; too with 'Hellz.' When We Are Married,' Lyceum (1st week) (C-1,005; $2.75). Among last week's entrants r^tcd as medi- ocre; little business after opening night. Yokel Boy,' Majestic (25th week) (R-1,715; $3.30). Also gave a Sun- day night performance; came back somewhat last week with estimated $16,000. 'Very Warm lor May,' Alvin (7th > week) (M-1,357; $3.30). Ticket top now reduced from $4.40, which would have helped earlier in en- gagement: better in holiday going; over $16,000 estimated. Added 'Hamlet,' 44th Street. Best gross for full-length version, aroUnd $18,- 000; 5th and final week; company jumps to Coast. 'Pins and Needles,' Windsor (109th week) (R-873; $1.65). An extra mati- nee helped to best figure since last year: also Saturday night tilt; $10,000, plenty for intimate revue. 'Steel,' Provincetown Playhouse. College players playing on hit and mi.ss schedule, •Folles Bergere,' Broadway. Vaude- ville revue at $1.65 top. 'Two per-