Variety (Dec 1941)

52 LEGITIMATE Wednesdajr, December 31, 1941 'Banjo', $20,000 in 4 Shows, Looks New B way Click; Ice' Jumps, 26G; 'Junior' New Drama Topper, 19G Christmas week card of openings was none too promising. 'Banjo Eyes' was the standout and should be with the musical leaders. 'Junior Miss' went into leadership of the straight plays, nine performances counting. Biggest money jump- was registered by 'It Happens on Ice.' Estimates tor Last Week Keys C (Comedy), D (Droma), CD (Comedy-tyrama.'), R (Revue), M (Musiral), O (Operetta).- 'Angel Street,' Golden (3d week) (D-789; J3-30). With an extra mat- inee the count went to $12,000; while that is under capacity, it's strong business for one-setter in small house. 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' Fulton (50th week) (CD-938; $3.30). Until the war came this run show, nearing year's stay, was virtual capacity; picked up to $14,000, which is plenty okay; no added matinee. 'Banjo Eyes,' Hollywood (1st week) (M-1,563: $4.40). Drew good press with exuberant plaudits on re- turn of Eddie Cantor; opened Christ- mas night with indications that it will be with musical leaders; topped $20,000 in first four performances; can get $38,000 on week. "Best Foot Forward,' Barrymore (13th week) (M-1,104; $4.40). Gross topped $23,000 with help, of an added matinee; gross was affef ted previous weeks. 'Blithe Spirit,' Morosco (8th week) (CD-938; $3.30). StiU big; but dipped at middle of week; had been getting capacity trade; rated around $17,- 000 again; eight times. ■Brooklyn, U.S.A,' Forrest (1st week) (D-1,195; $3.30). Despite rather ' good press business disap- pointing: . first full week estimated around $5,000; much more expected; must improve to stay. •ClandU,' Booth (46th week) (CD- 712; $3.30). Picked up with aid of an extra performance, finished week strongly; rated around $8,500; in- definite. 'Candle In tfae Wind,* Shubert (10th week) (D-1,402; $3.30). Only played last two days last week with -business fairly good; had been off like most others; goes on tour after another week and should fare well, as indicated by previous out-of-town datoL J'^^''^ NlghV Belasoo (D^.OOO; $3;30). Opened Saturday (27) night: drew, mixed notices; chances 'should be indicated this week. 'Cnokoos on the Hearth,' Ambas- sador (15th week) (C-1,172: ^.30). One show which may stop at week's end unless material spurt comes; around $4,000. ■High Kickers,' Broadhurst (8th week^ (M-1,142; $4.40). Some Im- provement for musical which started promisingly: rated around $17,000. which is claimed to have provided a little profit; should do much better . this week. It Happens on lee,' Center (3d re- peat engagement) (24th week) (R- 3,027;'$l.e5). Biggest jump last week recorded here, gross going to $26,000, which topped previous week by $11,000; large house capacity able to handle holiday crowds and even big- ger intake due this week. In Time to Come," Mansfield (D- 1^50; $3.30). Presented by OttoJL,. Premlngcr; written by Howard Koch and John Huston; opened Sunday night (28). . Lyceum (6th week) (C-1,004; $3.30). Went into lead of straight plays last week, grossing close to $19,000; played an extra matinee.' 'Lady in the Dark,' Alvln (re- sumed) (38th week) (M-l,3e7; $4.40). Laid off first half last week, then resumed to strong business; had "THE MAN WHO GAME TO DINNER" "YOU'RE IN .THE ARMY NOW" ■ WARNER BROS. Urt. CLAYTON FOR SALE OR LEASE chapel PlaytioUM, Qullford, Conn. Nev^r In the red I Seats 4C0. New Bnitlanil'e out- atandlDff eucceasful oumnier theatre fer 'ten scaaonol One million people within 80 mlleal . Fool proof and proflta poaltlvol HARRY DURANT, Owner < OriLFOBp, CONM. been affected but should draw big gross again this week. '•Lady Comes Across,' 44th Street (M-1.463: $4.40). Presented by Charles R. Rogers, George Hale and Nelson Seabra; mild out of town; opens Friday. 'Land la Brifhl,' Music Box (D- 1,012; $3.85). Final and 10th week; started fairly well, but started slip- ping and particularly affected since war started; around $8,000; no im- provement 'Letters to Lucerne,' Cort (1st week) (CD-1,064; $3.30). Drew fair notices; classed with war plays and chances affected by war situation; maybe $5,000 in first seven times. 'Let's Face-It,' Imperial (9th week) (M-1,450; $4.40). One of the biggest grossers of season, with capacity right through week for count of around $34,000. Life With Father,' Empire (111th week) (CD-1,082; $3,303. As always around holidays attendance perked and last week takings went to $13,000 without an added performance. IWy Slater Eileen,' Biltmore (S3d week) (CD-091; $3.30). Also got fair share of Christmas trade, as shown by gross going to $9,000 in eight times. Panama Rattle,' 46th St. (M-1,347; $4.40). Final and 62d week; fine run made to big profits and consistently high grosses until recently; better last week; around $18,000. Pie In the Sky,' Playhouse (C-865; $3.30). "Vanked Saturday after play- ing one week; got nothing after opening. 'Spring Again,' Miller (7th week) (CD-940: $3.30). Will move to Play- house, 'AH in Favor' following here; business held up fairly well, aided by strong Saturday; $8,000. Sons o' Fan,' Winter Garden t4th week) (R-1,519: $4.40). Smash mu- sical of list; playing Sunday after- noon and night with gross approach- ing $39,500; highest level for any weekly takings- m years. 'Snnny Blver,' St. James (M-l,52b: $3.30). Final and fifth week; started lightly ' with conditions against It; dropped down t(^$5,500 last week. The Corn Is Qrcen,' Itoyale (SBth week) (C-1,047; $3.30)". Resumed after week's layoff; quoted around $8,500 and should do better this week; going on tour after another two weeks. The First Croons,' Longacre (D- 1,106; $3.30). Presented by T. Ed- ward Hambleton- written by Arnold Sungaard; first called 'Jorislund'; opens Ftiday (2). The Wookey,' Plymouth (D^,075; $3.30). Final and 17th week; one of the earliest openings this season started very well and averaged around $17,000 for time; particularly affected by war; down to around $6,000; 'Johnny On The Spot,' next week. Theatre,' Hudson (7th week) (CD- 1,094; $3.30). Goes to road after an- otjier week and shouId~3o better out of town; around $6,000 last week. 'Watch on the Rhine,' Martin Beck (3?th week) (D-1,120; $3.30). Held to' eight performances and improved smartly; $13,000. ___JRevlvaI IMaobeth.' National (6th week) (D- 1,162; $3.30). Jumped to around $18,000 and one of limited number of 'shows that improved; an extra mat- inee helped. »Y' $12,000, LA; FAGAN FOSTERS UVE' Hollywood, Dec. 30. Reopening of 'They Can't (jet You Down*^ musical at the Music Box Christmas night after a two-week siesta, and Myron Pagan's relighting of the long-dark Belasco (29) with ■To Live Again' provides three legit shows locally for the first time in several weeks. 'Springtime for Henry' dipped to light $6,500 for pre-Chrlstmas week, but bounced back to $12,000 for the holiday week. Looks like it will continue here for two more stanzas. 'Eileen'$6^00 in N.H. New Haven, Dec. 30. Break-in of number three com- pany of 'My Sister Eileen' at Shu- bert turned in okay estimated $6,200 on four weekend performances (25- 27) at $2.75 top. Show was well received. House Is hopping In and out of legit these days, in-between book- ings being Earl Carroll 'Vanities' unit Jan. 2-4 and a week of 'Citizen Kane' (7-13). Next legit skedded Is Cornelia Otis Skinner la 'Theatre,' set for Jan. 16-17. . 'Crocus' Tre-BW Try Wilts in Mo, $3,000 Baltimore, Dec. SO. The First Crocus,' presented by T. Edward Hambleton, made a pre- Broadway attempt to weather the Xmas blues at the Maryland last week and ran into a chill from the crix and the b.o. as well. Struggled hard to reach a cold estimate of $3,000 at a top of $2.22 for the 1,500 seats at hand. Nothing listed currently,, with 'Panama Hattie' slated for Ford's next week. 'LADYCOMES' NOWHERE IN HOB,9i/2G Boston, Dec. 30. It's boom town in the Hub this week. Tlie post-Christmas perk-up started the holiday night with the prcem of 'Johnny on a Spot,' fol- lowed by the debut of 'Portrait of a Lady' on Saturday night (27). Mask and Wig Club (U. of Pa.) also pre- sented its 'Out of This World' for one performance Saturday. Monday (29) brought In three entries: 'My Sister Eileen,' a revival of 'Porgy and Bess' and 'Dansation,' "Veloz and Yolanda's dance concert. Estimates for Last Week Xady Comes Across,' Shubert (2d week) (1,600; $3.30). Socked by the pre-Chrlstmas slump, the new musi- cal starring Jessie Matthews, Joe E: Lewis and Mlscha Auer sagged to pitiful $9,500. 'Johnny on a Spot,' Plymouth (4 performances) (1,480; $2.75). Got a fairly encouraging start, with little opposition and garnered $3,500. HELLZ; $20,000, FINE INPHILLY Philadelphia, Dec. 30. No cdmplaipts on holiday week's business. Hellzapoppin' bowed in Xmas night and bounded right into the top bracket, reporting U0,000 In .lour performances at the Forrest. . Estimate* for Laat Week 'HeUupoppin,' Forrest (4 per- formances) (1,800; $3.42).- Sensation from start Christmas night; $20,000. Will stay two extra weeks in ad- dition to three listed—^maybe longer. IHr. and Mrs. North,' Walnut (7 performances) (1,700; $2.50). Went along smoothly for okay $8,000. This is last week, 'White Cargo' with Ann CoriO' toUowing." Gilbert and Snllivan. Locust (1st week) (1,500; $2). Collected $6,200 after shaky start, but figures better this week. Helen. Hayes In 'Candle in the Wind' comes in Jan. 12. HeUz' Good $13,000 In Five Pitt Shows Pittsburgh, Dec. SO. Touring 'Hellzapoppin'. is squeez- ing practically full two weelcs into its 10-day return engagement at Nixon. Opened Xmas mght, after house had been dark first part of week, and will play total of 15 per- formances. Including five matinees and midnight show New Year's Eve. For the abbreviated week, on five showings, 'Hellz* got'estimated good $13,000 at $3.30 top, although pace wasn't quite up to that of last February, when ft did around $65,000 in two weeks. Nixon will have three musicals In a row foUowhig string of straight plays. 'Pal Joey' follows 'Hellz' on Jan. 12, and after that comes 'Panama Hattie.' 'Blossom'in Mpls. Minneapolis, Dec. 30. Playing two .nights and a matinee, starting the day after Christmas, 'Blossom Time' did right well at the 2,200-seat Lyceum where it was scaled at $2.75 top. Takings were approximately $5,500. House has 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' with Laura Hope Crews and Erich von Stroheim, underlined for Jan. 21-24. 'Rood' 7a in Cincy ' Cincinnati, Dec. 30. B.o. chawin' was kinda tough last week for Tobacco Road,' fetching estimated $7,000 in the Cox at $1.70 top. It was the show's eighth visit and ninth week for Ciricy. Last sea- son It grossed $12,000, second high to the play's $17,500 local record-in Its Initial engagement. This we^ the Coz has 'Claudia' at $2:7S top. Cbi B.O. Bounces from Xmas Slump; Turcbase'$22,000, Tapa $9,1 Corrent Road Shows (Dec. Sl-Jan. 10) 'Ail In Favor'—Playhouse, Wil- mington, Del. (9-iD). 'Arsenlo and Old Lace'—Cass, De- troit (31-10). •Bloasom Time*—Municipal Audi- torium, Kansas City,' Mo, (31-3); State Auditorium, Emporia, Kans. (5); Arcadia, WJchlta, Kans, (6); Memorial HaU, Salina, Kans. (7); Grand, Topeka, Kans. (8); Memorial Hall,'' Independence, Kans. (9); Con- vention Hall, Tulsa, Okla, (10), 'CUndU' (2d Co.) — Selwyn, Chi- cago (31-10). 'CUodb' (3d Co.) — Cox, Cincin- nati (31-3); Hartman, Columbus, O. (5-10). Gilbert and Snllivan — Locust, Philadelphia .(3I-S); Erlaiiger, Buf- falo, N. Y. (5-10).. 'Hellzapoppin' (N. -Y. Co.)—For- rest, Philadelphia (31-10). 'hellzapoppin' (2d Co.)—Nixon, Pittsburgh (31-3); National, Wash- ington (5-10). 'Johnny on the Spot'—Plymouth, Boston (31-3). 'Life with Father* (Cht Co.)— English, Indianapolis (31); Grand, St. Louis (l-IO). 'Life with Father' (Boston Co.)— Alabama, Birmingham . (31); Er- langer, AUanta (1-3); Bijou, Chat- Unooga .(5); Ryman Auditorium, NashvlUe (8); Municipal Audlto- Tium, Memphis (7-9); Robinson Auditorium, Little Rock (10). Irftnisiana Parobase' — Erlanger Chicago (31-10). 'Mr. and Mrk North' — Walnut, Philadelphia (31-3); Plymouth, Bos ton (5-10). • TUy Slater EUeen' (CSli. Co.)— Auditorium, Denver (31-1); Capitol, Salt Lake City (3); Phmey, Boise, Idaho (S); Metropolitan, Seattle (7-10). 'My Sister EUeen' (3d Co.)—WU- bur, Boston (31-10). 'Native So^•—Studebaker, Chica- go (31-10). •Pal Joey'—National, Washington (31-3); Nixon, Pittsburgh (S-IO). •Panama Battle' — Ford's, Baltl more (S-IO). Tapa' Is All'—Harris, Chicago (31-3). 'Porgy and Bess'—Shubert, Boston (31-10). 'Portrait of a Lady* (Ruth Oor- don)—Majestic, Boston (31-10). •Rivals' (Mary Bolarid) — Amer- ican, St. Louis (31-3); English, In- dianapolis (B-7); Pabst, Milwaukee (8-10). •Separate Booms'-Memorial Audi- torium, Louisville (31); English, In- dianapolis (1-3); Paramount, Toledo, O. (5); Temple, Saginaw, Mich. (8); Palace, Flint,,Mich; (7); Michigan, Lansing, Mlch.~ft)T Illchlgan, Ann Arhor, Mich. (9); Keith's, Grand Rapids, Mich. (10). •Springtime for Henry'-El Capl- tan, Hollywood (31-10). •Stadent Prinoe' — Grand Opera House, Chicago (31-10). -TSiey Cant Get Too Down'—Mu- sic Box, Hollywood (31-10). Tobaoco Bead'—Hartman, tolura- bus, O. (31-3); Hanna, Cleveland (5-10). To Live Again'—Belasco, Los An- geles (31-10). VeloB and Tolanda—Colonial Bos- ton (31-3); Metropolitan, Providence (5); Court Square, Springfield, Mass. (7) ; Bushnell Auditorium, Hartford (8) ; Erie, Schenectady, N. Y. (9-10) •White Cargo'—Playhouse, WU- mington (31-1); Walnut, Philadel- phia (9-10). ingTorlrait' After 'Portrait of a Lady* opened In Boston Saturday (27) Aldrlch and Myers, producers, together with Al- exander King and Chester Erskln, the authors, agreed to cut half an hour out of the running time. Sev- eral extraneous characters will also be dropped from the cast 'Portraif Is slated to arrlva on Broadway week of Jan, 12, house not yet definitely selected. ENGAGEMENTS Alexander Knox, Nicholas Conte, Helen Walker, William NUes, Ray- mond Greenleaf, Abraham Knox, E. G. Marshall, 'Jason.' Ben Smith, Sally Bates, 'Somalr*.' T 1. V , ^ Chicago, Dec. 30. Legit b.o. Jast week was a mixed affair, with the first days off due to Ere-Chrlstmas, while the latter part ounced back and Indicated a brll- liant holiday week currently. Six theatres are now operating in town, .with only the Blackstone dark. Estimates (or Last Week •Clandia,' ' Selwyn (15th week) (1,000; $2,75). With Christmas came back nicely and managed $11,000 Win be around for some time yet from all indications. •Lonlslana- Porohase,' Erianeer (nth week) (1,400; $3.85). Early part of the week was disastrous, but shot back strongly after the holiday and finished .up ahead of the previ- ous week at $22,000. 'Native Son,' Studebaker (7th week) (1,400; $2.20). Pressure con- tinued to be felt here and show is ruiming In low. gear at $5,500. 'Papa Is All,',Harris (1st week) (1,000; $2.75). Subscription held this show up nicely in first week: took $9,000. . •Student Prinoe,' Grand (1st week) (1,300; S2.76). Opened on Dec. 29 and met tough opposition from the newspaper raps. On first four per- formances $4,000. Take My Advice,' Great Northern (1^ week) (1,300; $1.65). This is third effort by- stock company. Opened on Friday (26) and in three performances took around $1,500. 'ARSENIC NICE $9,000 IN DET. HALF-WEEK Detroit, Dec. 30. Openlng-on Christmas for a two< and-a-haU week stretch, 'Arsenla and Old Lace' made an auspicious beginning in its first four days at the Cass. Comedy got estimated $9,000 at $2.75 top^ Laura Hope Crews-Erich von Stroheim company wlU. tuck In a special midnight New Year's Eve snow this week. M'OK 9G in Boff Buffalo, Dec. 30. •The Rivals,' showing at $3.30 top, filed up neat estimated $9,000 in tnree days at the Erlanger last week. Biz, which was sellout in lower bracket- ducats, was aided by Guild subscription list First legiter of the New Year here. wlU he the Shuberis' Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Co., booked for week of Jan. 6. La Antorcha de Cantinflas (Continued from page 60) comic, and Ramon Reachi, both of whom are producing this show. They have formed a combo that has every promise of attaining its goal, pres- entation of class revues for locals and tourists. Production, overhauled by Reachi, former performer (Ramon and Renlta, ballroom team) and New York nltery operator, Is swift, smooth and soothing. Capacity crowds have been- the rule since opening night 'Cantinflas,' top Mexican artist In wholesome fun making, mimicry and Bantomime: the - sightly, sprightly terrlel Abbott Dancers, we pleasing Tanner Sisters, and Daniel Herrera, doubling as comedy support to 'Canthiflas* and stage manager—do- ing a swell job at both assignments —carry this show, one of the most expensive reVUes presented in this city. 'Cantinflas* Is apparently going over bigger than ever. His dry cracks about Mexican topics and Solltlcs, a forte of his, are still sure- re, stopping the show frequently. The Abbotts had to do one encore when caught, clicking despite the 7,500-foot altitude, hard on all athletic newcomers, and - the de- cidedly slopey stage. They present a° smooth performance at all times. Valerie Thon, with the troupe, was accorded particularly big response. The other Americans on the bill, the Tanners (3), went over solidly with their warbling. The Mexican section of the com- Sany is likewise, okay. The chorus I above average, all lookers, fea- turing some natural Mexican blondes. However, ttieir costuming could be Improved upon. Four of the Mexican femme principals do a sightly number that particularly de- lights Americans, belles of 1900 strutthig in a -Cantinflas' version of Battery Place, N. Y. Also smash are the Hernandez Bros., trio of Co- lomblan singers. Reachi has a socko finale, 'Brazil,' which he wrote and directed. Show continues here Indefinitely. Thercf are to ba bi-monthly changes of performers and material. Under- stood that the Abbotts and Tannen are booked for four weeks. Gra}\arM.