Variety (Feb 1941)

52 LEGITIMATE /W^dawday, February 26, 1941 Estimates for Last Week Key: C (Comedy), D:\Drama), R (RetMtc)". M . (Musical), F- (Fara>), O (Operetta)*, 'Arsenic and Old Lace.? Fullon (G<h week) C.CP-938:;S.T.30). Influx ,of visitors for. WasliinsUHv's BirtliT day boosted grosses, but this laiish show can't gross more, than'it is reg- isterins:/ they- are .standing up at all' performances:. $.l-7>00.0.-.. : ,:' 'Bovs aiid Girls Topelher.' Broad- hurit (21st .week)- iR-.l.lfiO: $3.30).. Got good share iof. wee'keiyd. rush and gross went to- oyer'$lfl,f>noV. ale re- duced fronv $4.40 starling .this week, which may. better. the-.attendance: whether gross will improve.'.' is ques- tionable, . ■' -•' . r 'Brooklyn Biarritz,'. Roy-ale = (C- 1,047: S3.30). Presented by -Marie Louise Elkiiis and Clarence Taylor; written by Beatrice' Alli.it and How- ard Robert Newman; opens■ .Thurs- day (271 ' ■ '.'-. / - 'Cabin in the'■ sity.' -'Martin'. Beck- (18lh week) (M-1.214; S3,:iOV...' Last two we?ks for colored musical; went to over $14,000 last -week, "in im- provement;- indefinite' -tour plaiiried; J . 'Claudia,' Booth (-2nd week) (CD-' 712; $3.30). Distinctly ma.Uiiee draW, but night.--business also excellent: and., new cotnedy looks set for . stay; quoted, over $13,000 last week. 'Crazy With the Heat/ 44th St! (4th week) (Rrl.325: $3.3Q): Best tak-. ings so far last week, when, gross was quoted around ..SlS.ObO:- strong Saturday materially, helped; earned operating pront.. - 'Flight .to the West/Guild (D-956; $3.30). Final and ninth week for show, which attracted attention but hardly enough attendance; around $6,000. 'George Washington Slept Here/ Lyceum (18th Week) (C-1.004; $3,30). Somewhat improved last week, when the takings were around $9,000; still turning some profit weekly. 'Hellzapoppin/ Winter Garden- (127th week) (R-1.671; $3.30). Cleariv up revue holding up to real money and end of long stayer riot yet in Bight; . $26,000; ; may ' get more this week, what with two performances Sunday. 'It Happens oh Ice/ Center (20th week) (R-3087; $2.75). Got biggest money in town last week; enormous business at Weekend; $36,000: also played matinee and night Sunday to great biz; leaves temporarily next week. 'Johnny Belinda,' Lopgacre (23d week) (D-1.01G; $3.30). Topped $9,000, which was best gross to date; NOW APPEARING AT EARL CARROLL'S THEATRI HOLLYWOOD, CAL. Mirt.t I.OU CLAYTON •-.'.'■ CO-STARRING IN RECORD BREAKING "HELLZ-A-POPPIN" ON TOCB ■• • Mgt.i WM. KENT 1776 B'way. New York ''Featured In GEORGE ABBOTT'S «PAL JOEY" Barrymore Theatre, New York .benefitted from holiday Influx arid also Sundays. ' 'Lady in the Dark/ Alvin .(5th week) (M-U357;- ; :$4'.40). Nib. attrac- tion ■ in higher demand than this . new play with music; j.ust a matter of standee's'.:' gross more than- $32|0d0. . TJfc With Father/ Empire (67th week) (GN1.005: $3.3.0)New hits, ■still- have, not affected, part of Mast season's standout '-laugh show, which 'topp>d.-:'$18'.0'po.-last;-'\v^ek'..,: : ' 'Louisiana Purchase/ Imperial (39th 'week) (C-1.450; $4.40). .::Soon entering. 10th - riiorith and copping •plenty of sugar: rated over $27,000^ which.was. an increase;.ought to ^tay: into summeft" - . - ; .'Man Who Came to Dinner," Music Box (71st week) ; (C-l,013; $3.30 >. Perked up further: registered- ca- pacity Friday and Saturday, with the gross Well over. '$12,500.'-.. . '>lHfet the People/'Mansfield (9th week) (R-1,000;.. $3;.3Q>. : . ..Claimed .its; best- -week- . since"- start: -.gross ap- proached $12,000 .level; has/not .fared as well . as '.expected, but, turning some operation profit,'■:. ' ■ : 'Mr. anij .Mrs. North/ Bclasco (6th week) (Crl.000; $3.30). Also regis- tered best - inark -stride ■ .opening. With takings approximating $12,01)0; should play well.into spring. 'My Sister Eileen,' Biitmore .(9th : week) (CD-991; $3,30). Going'along to capacity' plus, with gross upward of $16,500: Chicago company, started rather well arid should click there. • , 'Old Acquaintance/ Morosco (8th week) (C-939; $3.30). Got goodly, share of .visitor trade: business not exceptional, ■ bu.t substantial at around $11,000. 'Out of the Frying Pari/ Windsor (2d Week) (C-893; $3.30). Has not shown much of a draw so far, but some , improvement last w.eek; around \$5,000; said to better even break;' •: . .. . .. 'Pal Joey/ Barrymore (9th week) (M-l.104; $4.40). - . Set for run. with, business at capacity right along at. night; only slightly off at some'mat-, inees;'over $22,000. 'Panama Hattie/ 48th St. .(17th week) (M-l,347; $4.40). No letup in the standee draw of this musical smash, which continues to top $32,- 00.0 right along., 'Separate Rooms/ Plymouth (48th week) (C-1,107; $3.30). . Went Up quite a chunk arid about the best gross except Christmas; quoted at $10,500; stays here, 'The Doctor's Di- lemma* opening at the Shubert , next week.' ?Tanyard Street/ Little. Taken off last 'Saturday; played two weeks to. discouraging, attendance. . 'The Corn Is Green/ National (13th week) (D-ljl62; $3.30).-'... : , More standees than usual for first dra- matic hit this season sent takings to $20,500; no straight play getting as much. •The Talley Method/ Miller (CD- 940; $3.30). Presented by the Play- wrights written by S. N. Behrmari; opened Monday (24) after several postponements; fairly good press. . 'Tobacco Road/ Forrest (375th week) (C-1,107; $1.10). Picture ver- sion did not dent the champ stayer, which drew standees late in week and approached $7,000; plenty okay at scale. Revivals . Twelfth Night/ St. Jarries (13th week). (Drl,526; $4.40). Another week to go and then tours; went to $15,000; standees iri Friday and Sa.tr urday; 'Native Son' next attraction. : .'Charley's Aunt/ Cort (19th week) (C-l;064;'.$3.30); Went forward with the .field' last week; takings, ap- proached $10,000 level, which means another profitable gross:. for. old laugh show. U ••: !•'•'. 4 Added 'Ballet Theatre/ Majestic. Looks like earlier ballets hurt this one's chances; disappointing business, but tvto performances Sunday may help. 'FATHER', ALONE IN HUB, GARNERS FINE $15,000 Boston. Feb. 25. 'Life With Father* is finishing up its sensational run of 22 Aveeks here, without any opposition. Demand for seats, for the two final stanzas has been so strong that it's clearly indi- cated the play did riot Wear out its welcome and that a return. engager: ment is in order within a year. 'Father* ' garnered approximately $15,000 for the '21st week., Ruth and. Paul Draper come in for a single week March 3, arid 'Cabin in the Sky' is slated for two frames,, starting March 10. ; 0.therwlse the advance sl.ate; is bare.; ; Shows in Rehearsal Lillian Hellman drama—Her- man Shumlin. '.Open House' ('Bundled from Britain" )<—Al Lewis, SiegaL ■ 'GabrlelleV-Royland Leigh, 'Native Son'-r-Orson Wellef,: John Houseman;. ; . 'Your Loving Son'—Kennedy, Bloomingdale, Loew'i. 'They s Walk , Alone'—'B en Boyar. ' ■ • 9 9 Terrific $19,700 , Washington, Feb. 25. . 'Tobacco Road' pulled but of- the National theatre : Sunday ~ midnight (23) with approximately $19,700 iri the till for 11 performances at $1.65 top, and left even the most hard-bit- ten local showmen^ agog..-. Show, which has played seven, engagements here before, was booked for its 'farewell', appearance; : . . By opening curtain,: week was sold; out almost, solid. Three extra per- formances were tossed in via Friday. matinee . and- t'wrt ' shows Sunday. They promptly sold" out,, too. Show, with John Barton, played eight per- formances here . last year at^ same scale 'arid only, rolled up $12,000. Current, figure is all the more" amazr ing: when it Is considered that twp- of ■ the three extra shows were' mats: at $1.10 tops.. 1 Without the Sunday shows,, which may be tacked on the current Balto week's gross, the take here Was $16,000. " Current is 'The Man Who Came to Dinrier' .with Alexander Woollcott, booked in for Iwh weeks, arid looks like close to a sellout,, too. GLAIRE-MERIVAIE 136, HURT BY PHILLY CRIX 'Eileen', $11,000, Loob OK in Chi; DuBarry* $22,000; 'Father' $16^00 Week Great $31,700 v : A .-'.\. - PltUburgh, Feb. 23. 'Hellzapoppin 1 smashed; through again last week at. Nixon in second and final stanza of its local engage- ment, grabbing, estimated $31,700 In nine performances; That-was almost $3,000 better than show did on open-r er, diffeferices representing extra matinee which management was forced to insert Friday (21). ■ Touring version of Olsen-Johnsori hit could have stayed on here indefi- nitely, since there were thousands clamoring' for the little• ducata that weren't , there.: It's -likely that 'Hellz* will be brought, back lor- a re- turn engagement before the end of the season if route can .be rearranged. . At. moriient, Nixoii 1? set for flock of shows, first time all-yeaT house has been booked so far ahead: 'Male Animal' is current; then comes 'Night Must Fall/ 'Blossom Time," return of 'Man! Who Came ;to-Dinner,' Helen Hayes.-Maurice . Evans'. '■■ 'Twelfth Night/ and Ethel Water* in 'Cabin in the Sky/ ■ -.-; LUNTS' $30,000 IN S. F. BEST ON TOUR THUS FAR . Philadelphia, Feb. 25. Legit biz was good again last week, although one of the twb ; entries which promised: to do a whale of a trade suffered by adverse, criticism and' word-bf ^mouth: > 'The Male Animal/ in its second and filial week at the Locust,; where it played on ATS subscription series, hit very neat $14,500. 'The Mechau- ical Heart' (Talley Method'), play- ing a sudderilyrboQked single week at the Forrest, met unfavorable no" •tices and • word-of-mouth.. Ina Claire-Philip Meri'vaie starrer got so- so $13,000. Estimates for Last Week 'Mechanical Heart' Forrest (one week only) (1,800; $3.42). Names of Ina Claire and Merivale potent, 'but adverse notices and word-of-mouth counteracted and week's gross was $13,000—not much for this . top. Maurice Schwartz opening tonight (Tuesday) in.'Sender Blank" for two weeks. . 'Male Animal' Locust (2d week) (1,500; $2.85). Good trade for this one "on ATS subscription. Second week gave it $14,500. Ruth and Paul Draper here now. for single week. Name Concert Dates (Feb. 28-March 5) Nelson Eddy—Saenner theatre. Mp-. bile, (27); Mup.. aud> r New Orleans (1); Mun.' aud., Jackson, Miss. (3); Audi, Chattanooga (5). • Jose Iturbl—With Cincinnati ,symr phony,, Music Hall, Cincinnati (28-1). . Lotte Lehmann—Will iams- College, Williamstown, Mass. -(4);. Grace Moore—Mun. aud., Wor- cester, Mass.. (3); H. S;,' Fitchburg, Mass. (5). ' . ' ■ ' : Sergei Rachmaninoff—With Phil- harmonic-Symphony, Carnegie Hall, n. y. (27-28). Albert . Spalding—Palace . theatre, Hamilton, Orit. (27); Columbia Univ., N.^Y-. (1); H,'Si, Nashua, N. H. (3); Chapin aud,, South Had ley, Mass.- (4). \ ' v San Francisco,. Feb. 25. . All records on' the Lunts' current tour were broken: here last veek with approximately $30,000 in the coffers for their final nine perform- ances at the Currah In 'There Shall Be No Night/: Week before they did almost as much in eight shows. Only one to better the Lunte' take at the Curran was Helen Hayes in 'Victoria Regina/ who had $1 top in gallery, whereas same seats for 'Night* sold for 50 cents. 'Maid In the Ozarks' is holding up well at the Alcazar, where $5,500 was highly satisfactory for its fourth week at $1.65 top. . Current Road Shows (Feb. 26-March 8) Dante .S'/^G• in Columbus Columbus, Feb: 25. : After being dark for six weeks, the Harlmoh lheatr,e reopened last week ■with Dante iarid. the 'ShnvSala Bim' troupe. First: hocus' pocus at- hou.se since 1929 found pickings.slim, pu)K ing estimated $5,700 in. eight- per- formances \at $1.50. top.- : .'Doctor's Dilemma,' . ; with. Katha^ rlne Cornel], current (2+-"j-0 J. will) 'Mnn' W'ho CameHo Dif.Micr'.»Alcxan- def- Woollcott) set ' for week of March 10. - :'/■.;■• ----- Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo— Mun. ..aud.. New Orleatis (27-28); Leon . H. S., Tallahassee,. Fla. (1); City aud., Orlando, Fla. (3 V; Olym- nia, Miami (5); Aud., Daytona Bench, Fla. (6); Mun. aud., August. Ga. 17); Aycock aud., Greensboro, N. C. (8); 'Blossom Time*. (Everett Marshall) —Davidsoh, Milwaukee (26-1); Cox, Cincinnati (3-8). •Doctor's Dilemma* (Katharine Cornell, . Raymond Massey)—Cox, Cincinnati (2.6-1); Hanna, Cleveland (3-8); v 'DuBarry Waa a Lady' (Bert Lahr) —Graftd, Chicago (26-8). •Five Alarm WalU'—McCarter, Princeton (1); Maryland, Baltimore (3-8). 'Hellzapoppin'—Ryan aud., Nash- ville, Tenn. . (26); Erlanger,' Atlanta (27-1); Lanier aud., Montgomery, Ala. (3); Temple, Birmingham (4-5); Aud., Memphis (6-8). 'Life With Father' (Lillian Glsh)— Blackstone, Chicago . (26-8). 'Life With Father' (Dorothy Gish) —Repertory, Boston (26-1); Walnut, Phila. (3-8). 'Little Foxes' (Tallulah. Bankhead) —Carolina, Columbia^.S, C. (26); Cardliria, Charleston, ,S. C. (27); Muri. aud., Sayannah . (28):; Miller, Augusta, Ga. (1); Winthrop college, Rock Hill, S. Ci (3); Carolina, Char- lotte, N.;C-. ;(4);'.State, Raleigh. N, C. '•(5); Carolina, Durham,. N'. ;c. . (6); Carolina, Winston-Salem, N. C. (7); ; Acad. Music, Roanoke, Va. (8). Ltttlefleld Ballets-Page aud.; Dur- ham,:. N C. (27);: Women's college, Greensboro, : N. : C; (28-1); Aud./ Charleston, W. Va. (3).\ , 'Male Animal— Nixori, .Pittsburgh (26-1); Virginia, Wheelihg,; W. : VaV (3); Park,.Youristown; 6. (4); Colo- nial,, Akron; O. (5); Weiler,' Zanes- ville. O. (6); Aud., Louisville (7-8). 'Man Who Came to Dinner' (Clif- ton Webb)—Arcadia,. Wichita, Karis. (26y, Mun. aud., Kansas City, Mo. (27-1); H. S. a'ud., Omaha (3.); Shrine j aud.,' Des Molhes (4); Iowa, Cedar Rapids (5); Orpheum; Davenport .;■ (6); Parkway,. Madison, Wis. (7r8). ; 'Man Who Came to Dinner' (Alex-. ! ahder Woollcott)—^National,. Wash- ' ington (26-8)i 'My Sister Elleen'^-Harrjs, Chi- ':W>o (2fi-8). .. 'Nlcht Must Fall' (Florence Rced„ . Donglafis i MoiilgomeryO—Cass, Dc- ti-oit (20-1 j; Nixon, Pittsburgh (3-8). | Original Ballet Russe—Lyric, Bal- Chicago, Feb. 25. . Curreiit legit trade la nothing to complain about. New entry of last week, 'My Sister Eileen/ came up with a set of excellent notices, arid looks fair to: stick for t>ome time in the Harris. . Last night (Monday), the second of what Is hoped to be an operetta sea- son • got underway in the Grand; Show is 'Student-Prince' arid follow, a surprisingly good run of 'Blossom Time/ ■'■ . T*w.o -more . weeks for 'DuBarry Was a Lady/: which has been a money machine in the Erlanger. House will follow with Dante arid Sim Sahv Blm; 'Life With Father,' now iri its second year here, will stick until .'Junis 1. Estimates for Last Week .'Blossom Time/ Grarid (5th and final V/eek) (1,200; $2.75).. Went oft Saturday (22) sifter fine five-week stay, with business holding to good $8,000 for final. • /Student Prince* re- placed last night (Moriday). •DuBarry Was a> Lady/ Erlanger (9th week) .(1,300; $3.30). Has been doing remarkable business and only just beginning to slip. . Two. more weeks and then heads ; for toad. Cariie up with fat $22.000. last week.. •Life With. Father/ Blackstone (5.id week) (1,200; .$2.75). Week after week ^his troupes along steadily. Upon entering second year attend- ance jumped with gross; quoted a!: $16,300. • •■ ; -; -. .'My Sister Eileen/ Harris (1st week) (1,000; $2.75). :G6od word-of- njouth ori this brie should make it a sticker despite opening week at $11,000. : fPlns and Needles.' Studebaker (10th week) (1,200; $1); Just begin, riing to show cracki arid may go out in a month or so.. Tapering only Slightly, however, at $8,000.. ; CORNELL-MASSEY BIG $27^00 IN DET. PREEM . Detroit. Feb. 25. Always a heavy draw here,- wher • she prepped in the Bonstelle com- pany and has premiered many of her plays, Katharine Cornell played to capacity on the opehing_week of. G. B. Shaw's 'The Doctor's Dilemma/ The fact that critics were enthusi- astic for the cast, irioludlrig Raymond Massey, but less enthusiastic for the brittle Shaw piece failed to chill Detroit's partiality for the stars. Gross, was approximately $27,300 for the week at $3.30 top. . ' The. play moved out to play a split-week betweeri Columbus and. Cincinriati, and a weiek in Cleveland before a New York opening; 'Road' Trying Sundays In Balto; life,'$14,800 Baltimore. Feb. 25. ' Sixth visit.of 'Tobacco Road' is on tap at Ford's here this week, with 10 - shows planned for seven-day stop at $1.67 top. It will be first legiter at- tempting Sunday matinee and night performance since the repeal of the blue laws here some six years ago. Last week 'Tiirie of Your Life,' - in on heels of two. extra solid sessions of The Man Who Came to Dinner, felt some letup at the b.o., drawing a fairish figure estimated at $14,800 at $2.76 top. timore (26-27); Acad. Music, Phila.. (28-1); Palacio Belles Artes, Mexico. City (6-8). 'Pins and Needles'—Studebaker, Chicago (26-8). . . 'Pygmalion' (Ruth Chatterton)— Curran, Sari Francisco, (26-8). : Ruth and Paul Draper—Locust, Philadelphia -. (26-1); Plymouth, Bos- ton (3-8)1 . ... 'V. . San Carlo Opera—JLlberty aud., Al Paso, Texas (26);' Philharnioriic aud., Los Angeles( 28-8). • •Sim Sala Blm' (Dante)-—Hanna, Cleveland (26-1);' Royal Alexandra, Toronto (3-8). ' . 'Student Prince'—Grand; Chicago (26r8)i : " - : .""' : .- . : . -•- : 'There Shall Be No Night'. (Alfred :■ Lunt, Lynn Fohtanne)—Biltrtiore, Lbs Angeles (26-8). .' 'They Walk Alone' (Elsa Lanches- ter)—Shubert, New Haveri (6-8). 'Time of tour .Life' (Eddie JDoAvl- ing)--Mun; aud., Springfield, Mass. (26); Bushnell audi, Hartford (27); Shubert, New Haven . (28-1) ;: Play- house, Providence (3-4); Erie, Sche- nectady, N. Y. (5); Eriipire, Syra- cuse. (6); - Masonic aud., Rochester, N, Yi (7*8). • ' Tobacco ' Road' (John Barton)— Ford's, Baltimore (26-1); Lyric, Richmond, Va! (3-5); Colonial, Nor- folk, VaV (6-8), : Yiddish Public Theatre (Maurice Schwari)—Forrest, Phila. (26-8). .