Variety (Dec 1940)

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yffeAne^vyt Pecember 25r 1940 P&RIETY ' Chicago, Dec. 24; Thiatres - felt the jpinch dl pre- XiTias sharply last, week, the first teal slump^off of the, season. The general pace of feusihess, howeyei', has been good enough. in the past couple of mbhths to ihdlcate that the grosses will zboim Up sharply after the holidays. • ;. .v-,.. Already the demand for New Year's Eve. ducats has reached new highs. Scalpfers are already asking *25 a pear for ,'Dubarry Was a Lady," which ioi away, excellently : In-the/Erlanger^Sunday. (22). ' Oiiiy "e^<?Q ??er last 'we e^^ 'Pins and Needles/ whldi rel)klilc4 the Studiebaker. after long darkness. Came in at $1 toi^ and ran into, flock of excellent notices, all- of which : irtay ihelp this one to stick around awhile;: • • ■ " Tygwalibh,' the wanderer, at the loop, having moved to the Erlariger from the .Selwyfl, will .^ove.. to-the .jiarris on Wednesd&y- (25), / - Estimates for Last, Week ^Here Today,' Selwyn (2d v/eek) (i 000; $2.7S). With subscription xoin hfeld to -$iO,006 despiite general b o. slide-off. Extra plugging on. account of the Ruth:'.Gordon 25th;; theatre anniversary Was of considerable b.o. '■aid,- / I- •Lllfe with Father,' Blackstone (42d Week) . (1.200;.; $2.75). .Dropped y:ofT according to the/season, but still a remarkable coin-getter at :$I3.000, , 'Me^t the People,' Grand' (I2th and . flhal week) 11,200.; $2.75). Finished here oh Saturday (21) and heads for New . York . opeiiing this week; ^Solueezied a run out of it and wound . up with: $9,0OO. . ; 'Pins and Needles,'Studebaker (1st . week) (1.306;. $1). At . $1; top and party business took $5,000 for first • week of seven performances. •Py^ihailttn,' Erlaniger . (4th loop, week) (1,300; $2.75). Closed at this theatre Saturday (21) lays oflf . until Wednesday (25). to open at the Harris; Managed; $8,500 last week. SMASH IN ST. LOUIS : ~ ■ V St. liiputo, Diec. 24. ; it took Kathai'lne Hei^urn In 'iPhil- adelphia Story' tb, 'perk up. the!. Iri; terest ^^h leiglt that drooped j sadly during the preThdiiday season. 'Story': ended a one-week stand' Saturday (210 at the- American .'theatre with the: banner b.p.. take of the current ■^ea gon. Eig htrperform an c ea g r o s s an estimated $25,000, with, the house- scaled to $3.36. . Piece cppiped rav6s .frpni local crlx ihd Miss . Hepburn bolstered caiisfe by'making ah address at ;« luncheon/: tossed , by the . Playr goers; of -^t. Lobls, Inc.,. ' the non- profit, organization?' that is: putting legit .back Oft,its feet locally. , : ; . ■'Tinie pj. Your Life,'/ with . Eiidie Dowling and Julie Haydeh.lri the'top roles, began a one-week engagement Sunday (22) with the house scaled to $2.;80, • No performance. will be presehted.tppight (Xmas eve). ; ' 'Ladies' 12G in Lunls lliGinMilw. Milwaukee, . Dec; 24. .Wlthi the house practically sold oiit two weeks before tliey opened here Monday night": (16), Alfred LUnt arid Lynn fontanne in '.there Shall ;^e.No Night' did a capacity, gross of approximately $11,500. in four - performances; at the Pab^t (Ind) ::at ; $3.30 . top. Gross was held down to some extent by subscription rates. ' Althoiigh. Jluth.. C^atterton ini 'Pygmalion' had been advertised at the ;,Davids6h. starting. Christmas' Dayr and-'Mornihgi at iS6ven' hafd, been announced for the Pabst at the ■: sarrie tirii'ei .both shows' .were pulled out at the. llth .hour, so Milwaukee Is left without', legit fare, for the holiday week,, ~ , mm Current Road Show$ (Week of Dec. 23). C ■^':''."''..'-. ''. ■ Detroit,. Dec'::2i.; ' Rurihing against the biggest .shot> ping .spree in Detroit's history, the Cass managed to ernetge last week with a fair, approximate $12,000 for the six days, eight performances, of Flora Robsoh in 'Ladies in Retire- ment,' Critics here liked it. . '■' The house went dark for three days, , reopening Christnias Day (Wed.) With 'Hellzapoppin', Which runs through the New Year's.. Ad-: Vance oh this has been terrific, A -year ago' the Cass, had for its New Year's offering the short-lived; 'Man Who Killed Lincoln.' ''.Es.tiDiaies;(or.';Laii.i.'Week''':''.'-': ■keyi-C XComedv), 6 (Dromd)VR (Reyue), M (Musical) y .f (.Fatce), O kOperettd) : . ';•.'' , ^lli. lii. FiiJii,': IVi^jestic • (R-1,715; $3.30).. Presiehted by Xeonard Sill- man;, dozen :or' more writers, arid composers credited with the sketches and; numbers; tried out in Boston where flock of , changes . were, mai^e; opeiis Friday: (27), ■ • ; 'Boys .ana .ulfTs TogemeF/'uroadr hurst (12th week) (R-I,.160; ^4.40). Pre-Chrlstiiias' going affected nearly all shows per usual; business dropped Uhder $20,000, but should ■; bounce ■baick..'" : ■. ; . .:-'■ 'Cabin lit the Sky,' Martin Beck (9th week): (MT-l,2i4;; $3.30:!. -Word, of. inbiith helping colored ;:musicaVs ,draw and iridicatibni a,re favor-able' for a run; down to around $15,000, but sure to Improve. 'Cue for Passion,' Royale' (1st week). (CD-1.017: $3.30). Opened lasti'.Thursday (19); drew- 'mixed notices with : fair business first four performances; chances better jnd>.• ■cate'd this-week.'• '.Delicate Story,' Miller (CD-940; ^3.30).' Closing Saturday (28), at which tinip it will' have. played three and one-half, weeks; !Eight O'Glock Tuesday' fbllowsoJan. 6, but house slated to get 'The Talley Method* later in irionth.- :'Georgc! Wasbin^ton Slept. Here,' Lyceum .(9th. Week) (C-i;004; $3.30), ms been doing fairly well, and sljated through winter;: off with field last Week, with- takings.. around $9,000. ,. ; •. - ■ 'Hellzapoppin.' .W i n t e ir Garden. .<118th week) . (R-l;671; .$3:30). Has been p.rbspering . right along and •A Wght of Loyie'^His Majesty's; Mbntreal. 'AfBentc and. Old Xace' (Boris Katloff )-rMaryland, • Baltimore (26- 28). .. .• '•■ ■ ■ ■' Ballet Russe de Monte Carloi—Au- ditprium; Chicago' (26-29). 'Crazy with the Heat' (Willie How- ardj Luella Gear)-^Shubert, Boston' (25-28). ' 'DuBarry "Was a Lady' (Bert Lahr) —Erlanger, Chicago, ?Fllght to the West' (Betty Field)— Wilbur, Boston.. 'Hard . Way'— Plyrnouth,. Boston (opens tomorrow—Thursday). 'Hellzapoppin'—Cass, Detroit (25- '28).-.. ; ; 'Here Today' (Ruth Gordon)—Sel- wyn; Chicago. 'Ladies In RetlreAient' (Flora Rob- ion )-^ox, Cincinnati. (25-28). : 'Lady In Waiting" (Gladys George) -^Hanna, Cleveland. 'Life with Father' (Lillian Gish)— Blackstone, Chicago. ' 'Life with Faither' (Dorothy Gish) •^Repertory, Boston. ', ■ 'Little Fixes'. (Tallulah Barikhead) ^urran, San Francisco. . 'Male Animai' (Elliott- Nugent)-- Royal Alexandra.,Toronto (26-28). 'Alan Who Came to Dinner' (Clif^ ton Webb)-^'Nixort. Pittsburgh. ..'Philadelphia.; Story* • (Katharine Hepburn) Municipal. Atiditorlum, ; Kansas City: (27-28).' V ' 'Pins and Needles* — Studebaker, . Chicago. ; .V-.--- ''.-. ; ■: 'Py'gma'llon''; (Ruth Chattertbh>r--. Harrisj Chicago (25^28). . / . ; 'Show-Oflf' (Joe E. Brown )^El Cap- -Itan, Los-Angeles. • - • '' - . . JSim, Sala BliniV: (I5antie)-.l;bcust, Philadelphia (24-28)'. ' 'Talley <Meihod' (Iha Claire, John • HaMiday)^McCarter,.Princeton (28). ■ 'There Shall, Be N<» Nlghl' (Alfred Lurit, Lynn Foritanne)—<3rand^ Chi- ■ cagp.:, . :..;..-; . :/ - 'Tlinii! of Your Life' (Eddie DpWl- Jng)—Ainerican,. Stv Loui.s. ■ V ■ , :- 'Tobacco Road'. (John' Bartort^-r ; .En.slish. Indianapblis (25-28). : . 'Ypkej Bpy'-^Ford's, Baltimore 26- . -28), . ■; ■■[:■ ,: 'Old Acquaintance,' starring Peggy Wood and Janfe Cowl, perked up in its second, tryoiit week here. 'Life With FatherA ih its lith w.eiek,, con- tinuied to be tpp moriey taker arid the; • frade'talk of the town.- ' Elmer Rice's . 'Flight to thfe West' ;bpened' Moriday. (23) for a single week.; 'Crazy' With the Heat,' mu- sical With Luella . Gear and "Willie -Howard. i?nveils .ChrLstriiaS. night, and '."ihe Hard Way.' farce by Allen. BoretZk is slated for the; fbllbwing night,- .■■ ; ';' ;;':' ;. Estimates for La^t Week 'Life-With Father,' Repertory (12th wic.) (965; $2.75)r-Still drawing big biz with help of;sustained .and ihtel- ligent publicity and exploitation.; around $13,OO0 -fot 12th stania. .; 'Old Acquaintance,' Plymouth (2d wk.) (lv480; $2,75)-^Uribppbsed dbwn- tbwri last week.- WordMjf-mouth bn —rr j-^-^'-^^--".^ — this one divided, with the boosters t° ^b^^^ck in the big rhpney raving vand the- knockers groaning.; L'^f H»tn S Final week encouraging $10,000. ^^^^ . added; dipped 'Hold On t6 .Tour Ha:ts; Shubert (15th week) (M-1,405; $4.40). Among top ranking musicals, but like most others slipped after Thankisgiving; profitable takings expected from this week on; under $20,000. •It Happens on Ice;' Center (llth week) (R-3,087; $2.75). Has tendency to drop during mid\yeek but busi- ness approaches capacity at week- ends; taking have been, profit- able; dropped to around $20,000 after averaging over $30,000; will come back. '.fohnny Belinda,' Lbhgacre (14th week) ,'(D-1,016; $3.30). One of the shows credited with being benefited by Sunday perfoTrixances; out of cut- rate agency;: around $5,000; should get share of holiday trade. ' ■ 'Life with Father,' Empire (58th week) (C-1,005; $3.30)." Champ of the holdovers was somewhat affected wilh the approach of Christmas,, but ;dreW; highly' profitable gross esti- mated, at better than $16,500. ! 'Loulsana Piii Abase,' Iriiperial (30th week) (M-1,450; $4:40). Went off more last week than at any time since opening; gross down around $25,000, which is still regarded big considering period, of run and the general going. 'Man Who Came to Dinner;' Mu.sic Box f62d week) (C-1.013; $3.30) Withdrawal of 'The Old Foolishness,* which opened Friday (20) and v/as ciosed iSaturday at the Windsbr, N. Y., was the brie.fest engagement of any productioni, pffereii by John :G.old<in. It was the first time that the manager arid Rachel Crothers, who was ;on the directional end, failed to' click. ."The distinctly 'unfavorable notices drawn by thie Paul. Vincent. Car- roll drarna led Gblden to close down so quickly; Shpw'si' share of. the tak- ings .during the hbliday perio'd'y/ould have -rediiced the production , red td -some extent, biit he decided to forego such earnings; Miss Crothers was not ijresent at the.premiere, being called but of town-by the illness of a ''sister. ' Gplden did not anticipate that 'Foolishness* would be a standout, but he felt the play should be preserited. Because the author could not Cbme to New York-from his Scotland, homci no changes, in the script .were made.' Revisions would have clarified a riiumber of pasisages that were, questioned.. over . $18,500;-theatre parties, at coh<-- cession again kept takings from'iio- irig higher: ■; -. ;-. ■. ;>:'■...;■ 'The OI<l FooUshneBS,* Windsor. Opened Friday ..(2ff)^', drew -adverse ■ notice^;and was taken off following night,.: ' ■ 'The Flyiiir Gierardos/ Playhouse (Ci-865;:$3.3a). .^resented by,|:dward; Choatie in association ,With W. .A.' Brady; written by Ktriybri'Nicholson and Charles RobirisQii; opens Sun- : cl ay .130). .: " . "^-^ — ~ 'Tobacco ' Road/.: Forrest (366th week ) (C-1,107; $1.10):, No. show has . ever, announced .'last weeks* ib long,: nor; has played such .k irun; has been getting ' arbimd .. $4;00p,. which is slightly, profitable;; rpad-coriipany is" the'^cbin getter, ■■^:--, •■■; .' ^-;' ..: ■. ;■ ;.;.;: .kEvrvALS.-..; ■■;';-■■•'• ■ .'Twe'lftli l^ight,' 'St..'Jameis. (4th . Week) (D-1,526; $3.30). Helen Hayes and Maurice Evaris, co-starred, are the draw; business mostly at thie bo- 0ffice; nearly.$20,000. .. 'Charley's Aunt,' Cort (10th Week) (C-'l,064- $3.30). Slated Into spring' period; old laufh ' winner' drawing mixed audiences, with pace, profit^; ablie right-albng; around $8,000 last :, week.'.'.,'■■ , :■■'.:■ :■['':" . ADDED ■ 'Ballet Russiu/ ;61st St.. < Warner's Hollywbpd). ; Has been laying off to evade pre-holiday slump;, resumes Thursday (26); ; arid . plays into January. .^ ^' - '^ Ruth and Paul Draper, ; Booth. " Characterizations and dances by solo, sister and brother artists; in for the holiday trade:: house will. get The CreaJn the Well' early , .next. month. Permissioh by- the-Equity council to the management of 'Morning's, at Seven' to lay'off the touring show an extra two days during the .pre-Christ- riias period' was given Without corisultirig the cast.. In assenting the Council apparently took for granted tlie assurance of George Somnes, representing the National Playgoers Guild, that the actors were willing to accept the extra layoff. However, the first the company^knew of the <c-ioi3- si matter was when they saw it in a copy of = ^ew Yprk^daily purcha^^^^^^ accomplished a''year's'^stg• two days later in St. Louis, where the show was playing that week. Added - . ^ . two days plus the intervening weekend, meant that the troupe, would have been idle and unpaid; fbr a period of 10 days out of town. . And,_ at the time >the Eqiiity permission was given. the ;.«=how had^only tentetive future bookings. Which have' since been cancelled.. ;lt winds up the tour as of the, St, Louis, engagement.. Aldrich &. Myers, prbducers of 'Cue For Passjon.' which opened at the Royale, :n.- Y.. Thursday (19). were aware that audiences might try to identify twb of the central cbai;acters in real life:: For' that reason^ a pro- gram note states they are imaliriary. Hei is supposed to be a novelist; but, with the idea of making his: status more vague, he is alluded to as a cr|tic. arid pok. His wife is, riot:;descrit|ed. as. a cplurpnist, but .as magazine publisher and protagOriist for,feminine.movements. :; .. .i-- . , While therfe is small Chance .of libel proce.e over the stage pla3^ Dictiare pebple' Whd ar.e^ e'TFing. 'Passion' are .figuring the; chance^ of such irivolverhent if and when th'fc.play reaches film form, . Sho.^ild .it .be-bought by jloUywobd, the;char?cters'in.question:will probably: be given back- grounds different than in the original script.. 'Animar 5G Iii Bufr. on Broadway arid may run through an- other season; around. $9,000 for an even break, but laugh show will come back: 'Meet the-People,' Mansfield (R^ 1.000: $3:30). Presented by Holly- wood Theatre Alliance; Opened on Coast orie year ago, cbming here from Chicago; debut tonight (25). ,'My Sister Eileen,' Biltmore (CD- 991; $3,30). Presented by ; Max Gordon;^ scriptied by. J.ierome Chodo-. rpv and Joseph A. Fields from; Ruth McKenney novel of same name; bi5en.<! "Thursday (26). 'Old Acquairitariijei'. Moro.<!cb (€• 939; $3.30). Presented by DWight Deere Winian; written, by John Van Driiteri; Well regarded but of- toWn; opened Monday (23) and :drew dis: tlriptl.v - favorable p'r.eiss. ■ .'Pal .Joey/ :-Barrymore ' (M-l,104i $4:40)'. Presented by. CJeprge Abbott; book by John O'Ha'ra; . score ■ hy Rogers; and-. Hatt;. highly rated; but of town; opens tbnight (25)^ ' •'Panama; Hattle.' - 46th St. " (eth week) (Ill-1,34T:. $4.40) 'JOEY' CLIMBS TO BIG $25,000 IN PHIlty . Philadelphia, D«:. 24. 'Pal Jbey'; climbed to near-sockp b)z in its second and final week at the Forrest, proving that ^sometimes Philly playgoers will patronize a try- out that' has not the benefit 6f big; marquee names. Word of mouth, plus enthusiastic foUowups by the . crix, turned the trick. Joey's gross '■ last week was: estimated at $25,000, very, very good for this season of the year. City has scanty theatrical fluit>.thls . week, with Dante, the maflcian, starting qi return engagemerit at the , Locust tonight (Tuesday). Magician played a good week. at .tfi* Locust earlier in the fall. RobitsGhet Sooght Oi L A Waige Cinnplaints Los Angeles, Dec. 24.;' v^Where Is Kurt Robitschek?' is an unfinished story in these parts, rang- ing from the Troupers' theatre in Hollywood to the offices of"the .State , Labor Comriiission. They both want to get in touch with Robitschek; who has disappeared from these diggings with various,claimants on his.trail, I city Attorney's department has ; issued misdeiiKanor warrants invit-, hng the producer back to- explain: ' Wage claim.s technically filed at $128 I with :the Labor Commission, and growing but of a Troupers theatre , ventiirp which fibpped. ements 'switch bf 'Flight to the West/. Ihb Elriier-Rice drama, latest of the Play- wfightff prtseritationSi::from; the Plyinbuth.tpHhe.Guild. further indicates a friendly business relationship: between the: authors': production group and the Theatre Guild. -The bobking chari^e was'occasioned .:by a nratter of sharing terriis;. wiih th^ ;piayvyrights ^tti-actim:getting ;?^ette than offered ;by the Shubertsi; who ioperate the. Plymouth. Gi^d tcanied with the Playwrights :iri the.liroductibn of;;butstand;rig shows;, the .last be- ing 'There Shall Be No .Night.* With the Lurtts. now on tour. • ■ ■ . - :.: Booking change is>/break fc)ft.:Separate Rooms/: whid^^ opening Tuesday in the Plymouth through.January. Show had been; skedded to. move to the ^ ■ • - - HUdsph; now iri6ntioned to get'A,Night:.of ;^<)ye^^^ Lee Shubert . Was nbt actually . socked' acGprding to the .Shiibert offi.ce during the excitement-that started wHeri som'e. people -seeing, a y^^vic^v that was hardly - xiff last , Week slightly under normal only; at Wednesday matinee .and gi-oss. for week quoted over $32,000. . 'Retreat to; PleasuTe,' Belasco (1st week) .(C-1,000; $3,30). Drew so-sO last Week businesi? mild; theatre parties figured in takings that ap-- proximated ; $6,000; 'Mr. and Mrs,- North* due here sopri.-. 'Separate Rooms;' Plvmduth i39th; Week) 1,107} . ; $3,30 ), • Remains j £dith Craig, 'Separate Room.s,', ' IVIarife' Louise . Dana, ,'The, ;Flying GcrardosA :■ ''■'' ■ Jane Hoffriian,. 'Crazy .-.With the Heat.'. '-'.;- -:";.;'■-.: .;■^. ;■'■;■. rThbmas Chalmeirs, 'Boudoir.' ■ Philip, bber-i Barbara Wboddell, 'Mr., and Mrs.. North.* .- Evelyn Varderi,. Morton L. Stevens, Hbrtbri Heath;, Mrs.- James fhomton, One .show.; 'l^ie Ladv .'Who Cam(S tb Stay.V James O'Rear, Philip Tonge, 'Eight* o'clock Tuesday,' :.: Olive Reeyes-Smith; 'Flash- and Dash, .three Trojans, .-'She Had; to Say .Yes/- '.'^ : •;■-■ ■;-. ;' . 'Wyrley .Birch,. Henry Herbert,. John, Quigg, .-Bruce Gbrdbri, ,Wil}iam iP'arke, Elizabeth Inglise, 'Arseriic and Old .Lact/.. • : '-;■; /,■;■:'■ -'-'■. ,Eleaha Ryerson. Frances Brandt, Douglas: IRowJandi Joseph ' Marksi of 'Retreat to Pleasure* at, the' Belasco, N. y.. recently expressed; dislike .'here instead' of moving 'a.V, planned I Willard Cary, fefic •: Walz,: Aiispri; «v6r .fiYTiP of the lines Angry patrons in. the lobby at intermis;sion had l and Wjll get benefit; of holiday at- I iSkipworth, '.Taylpr Holmes,- James over some oi mp luies.., .^^ .^.v .ir-, j .i.,>._.>i t,:^.; shoWman . was; tendance in pre.serit location;..moder-. 1 'irirct cir.n..4n -Hoai/^n •; ' . ' ate but profitable gro.sser; aroUnd $7,0,00 Pre hol d 1 ^"^^'^''^^-^h't^t^^ ' :Ricrt^e^boxom(Ss'hardK^ i their "^ay" and"Siulw burned ^when .they Jjlai?ed .^^^w^. a few days before Christmas, wal- I Shoved into the vestibule of the boxoff-ice so,that he could; not be reached, loped the tally of- 'Male Animal* at { a confused-cop present was about to make a riot call. but no arrests avctc the .Erlanger;: first, three-days last Jngje .■■''■•..."'■'" . .- •:■• ' ',. :' - "^v^L^ * ' "■ • / V I In the balcony, a group tried, tp ttet others; tp y^^^^ *"}jonf"° .«* anci and there'werlso^e.puncho.;^throwa: o^ m^n.exhihiting. a. cut-lip. ^'ihe Corn lin. Oreen/ National (4th week) <D-1,162;. $3.30);. Up. 'lo .thi: week is sea.<ipn*s only riew straight. r>'.n.y bit: c^'rin.ojl v -att'^nfl"r"<'":. "'••'>*'<. Beli, 'First Stop tO; HeaVen/ .Martha'. Sleeper, .Mary Morris; Myron; McCJortnick, Edward Trevor. Ralph,'rh(jo'flore.;(Miss Perry Wilxo , Virp.i ni n C'n m n:beH;;..Ha rry Br ait t<:b;i <r «. 'Tho Cy&'rn in the,; WHl' (c'i'TT^"'''