Variety (Apr 1942)

52 LEGITIMATE WrdneBday, April 22, 1942 N. Y. Legit on Weekend Upswing; moon High $16,800, ?orgy,' 22G, Tun.' 35G, Tace It' 29G, All Big Business for Broadway legit was easing ofl further last week until I^iday, when there was an upturn, Saturday was big. Betterment ac- companied the more encouraging war news of Japan being bombed. Two new shows last week. Critics didn't like "Yesterday's Magic' nor 'Autumn HilV latter being yanked Satur- day (18). 'Estimates for Last Week Keys: C iComeay), D (.Drama), CD (.Comedy-Drama), R (Retme), M (Musical), O (Operetta). 'Anrel Street,' Golden (19th week) (D-789; $3.30). Turning excellent profit weekly; takings bettered $12,- 000 again, which is very good in this house in regulation eight times. 'Anlamn Hill,' Booth. Panned taken off Saturday (18) after seven performances. 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' Fulton (66th week) (CD-838; $3.30). Was oft early last week, when the gross dropped under $13,000; yet the run show made plenty. ■Banjo Eyes,' Hollywood (M-1,563; $4.40). Closed, after 16 very good weeks; illness of Eddie Cantor the reason; doubtful of resuming. ■Best Foot Forward,' Barrymore (29th week) (M-1,104; $4.40). Held up fairly well in the offish going and claimed to have gotten $18,000 or slightly more; closing of 'Banjo Eyes' should help. •Blithe Spirit,' Morosco (24th week) (CD-936;^$3.30). Won citation from Critics Circle as b.est play of foreign authorship, which may help; easbd to around $14,00(1 or . less. 'Cafe" Crown,' Cort (12th week) (CD-1,064; $3.30). Going along to moderate money and should last through season; quoted at $8,S00, which is an improvement over previ' ous week. 'Gnest In the Honse,' Plymouth (8th week) (CD-1,057; $3.30). An- other moderate^grosser which is said to be turning some profit weekly; around' $9,500; better claimed for Easter week. ■ It Happens on Ice,' Center. ..I^al and 74th week; has scored a surpris- ing run, with grosses leaping during holiday periods; around $18,000 last week; another ice revue due in June, with San Carlo Opera troupe going In for limited period-starting early May. 'Jason,' Hudson (13th week) (CD- 1,004; $3.30).- StlU expecting that comedy about critic and playwright win get better money, but to date business very light; $4,500. •Johnny Z x 4,' Longacre (4th week) (Q''l,016; $3.30). Best week's takings, yet, with gross around $6,500; operating tiut sliced, so there's chance of tnaking the grade after slow start 'Jnnlor Miss,' Lyceiun (22d week) (CD-1,004; $3.30). Cleaning up; rated best coinedy o^ the season and a cinch Into next season, when two road coinitahies will tour. 'Lady In Uie Dark,' Alvin (resumed) (S2d week) (M-1,387; $4.40). Has actually bettered year's run mark 'and should last through May; did very well last week, when %e gross was quoted around $21,000. 'Let's Face It,' Imperial (2Sth week) (M-1,450; $4.40). Highly fa- vored musical commands fine busi- ness, with last week's takings ap- proximating $29,000; only 'Sons o' Fun' getting more. 'Life With Father,' Empire (127th week) (C-1.082; $3.30). Ea$ed oft following the Easter upturn, but turned in very satisfactory gross, close to $12,500. 'My Sister Eileen.' Biltmore (69th week) (CD-891: $3.30). Another run show that is holding to good figures and expected to play through a sec- ond summer; rated well over $11,500. 'Sons o' Fun.' Winter Garden (20th week) (CD-I;B19; $4.40). Continues ■ to clean up; last week, with regula- THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER" "YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW" WARNER BROS. KgU LOV OJLATTON PUBLICITY MAN Theatre experience, seeks po- sition with a" summer theatre In New England area. Reply to S. W., o/o Variety, 154 West 46th It, New York.' tion eight times, gross estimated at around $35,000. 'Spring Again,' Playhouse (23d week) cCD-865; $3.30). Aimed to the middle of .June, ticket sale ex- tending that' long; picked up some- what and quoted at $8,400. ' 'The Moon Is Down,' Martin Beck (2d week) (D-1,214; $3.30). With business quoted at $16,800, Steinbeck drama, which didn't click with first- nighters, appears to be a money show; controversial followup com- ment sbould help advance sale. 'What Big Ears,' Windsor (C-873; $3.30). Presented by L. Daniel Blank and David Silberman; written by Joe Eisinger and Judson O'Donnell; opened Monday; razzing notices. 'Yesterday's Magic,' Guild (D-9S6; $3.30). Drew rather weak press, but quoted at fair $11,000; Theatre Guild subscriptions a factor; summer stay doubtful. REVIVALS 'forgy and Bess,' Majestic (13th week) (M-1,175; $2.75). BoxofiEice activity makes the Gershwin musi- cal melodrama seem like new show; highly successful and run looks sure; over $22,000 right along. 'A Kiss for Cinderella,' Musio. Box. Taken off Saturday after six weeks of modest business; around $6,000; house will get Michael Todd's 'Star and Garter. 'Nathan the Wise,' Belasco (2d week) (D-1,000; $2.20). Was slated to close last Saturday, but will stay this week and possibly next; $3,000 maybe; house gets -The Walking Gentleman' May 3. * ADDED 'Keep 'Em SminjDg' 44th St. (1,385; $2.20), Another vaudeville in legit house opens Thursday (23), with Victor Moore and Billy Gaxton head- lining. ■Priorities of 1942,' 46th St. (4th week) (1,347; $2.20). Doing so well that other vaudeville troupes are planned, one starting this week at 44th Street; last week around $23,000. 'Of V We Sing.' Concert (R-781; $1.65). Final and 6th week; litUe pop-price revue hasn't been able to climb from very mild business; $3,000. PHILLY NIFTY Philadelphia, AprU 21. Legit trade continued excellent here last week, with no complaints heard from any of the three nouses lighted and occupied, Estlm»teB for Last Week 'My Sister. Eileen.' Locust (2d week) (1,500; $2.85). Pulled up a notch to pass $13,000, plenty good. Now definitely set for four Instead of three weeks and may make five on word-of-mouth. 'Panama Hatile,' Forrest (1st week) (1,800; $3.42). Some dissatisfaction by crix over cast changes, but show got okay $21,500. Four weeks ex- pected, house having no bookings. 'Blossom Time,' Walnut (2d week) (1,700; $2.85). Got $0,500 In second and final week, giving operetta prof- itable engagement. 'Arsenic and Old lace' opened four weeks' stay (first two on ATS subscription) last night (Monday). Had advance of $22,000. 'CLAUDIA/ BIG LAST ATS PLAY IN BALTO Baltimore, April 21. 'Claudia' wound up the six-week ATS subscription season at Ford's last week, drawing a very substantial response which grew to capacity on weekend. Currently at Ford's is George Jessel's 'High Kickers.' Estimates for Last Week ClaudU,' Ford's (1,900; $2.78). Drew added crowds to hypo last sub- scription play of season to extra- soUd $17,750. The Merry Widow.' ■ Maryland (1,550; $2.77). Regular Baltimore Civic Opera Co. offering, with Michael Bartlett and Ruby Mercer as guest, stars, drew steady trade esti- mated at $11,000. 'Corn,' at f2J5 Top, Rims Up Big $21,500 in Det Detroit, April 21. Coming through with one of the Cass theatre's biggest weeks this sea- son, Ethel Barrymore, In The Corn Is Green,' rang up estimated $21,500. Gross was registered in eight per- formances at $2.75 top. It was fol- lowed In yesterday .(Monday) by 'Watch on the Rhine'. . Going into its sixth and final week at the Shubert-Lafayette, 'Sister Eileen' was continuing at a level pace at bargain rates, picking up an approximate $8,200 in fifth week. The house will continue with $1 top and 2Sc and 50c matinees for 'George Washington Slept Hero'. Latter com- pany, headed by Allen Kearns, comes in April 26 for two weeks. PHT NIXON'S BIG B.O. YEAR Pittsburgh, April 21. The ofl-again, on-agaln, gone again booking here at the Nixon of the Katharine Hepburn play. 'With- out Love,' is at last definitely on again with Theatre Guild's de- cision to keep the Philip Barry comedy out of N. Y. until next fall. Show comes here week of May 11. House is currently shuttered for only Its third dark week all year, and-reopens Monday (27) with Ethel Barrymore in The Com Is Green.' . Following that. In the order named will' come "High Kickers,' 'Without Love,' second re- turn of 'HeUzapoppin' this season, for two weeks, 'Blossom Time' and sec- ond engagements, respectively, of 'My Sister Eileen' and 'Claudia,' lat- ter going direct from here to Broad- way for a return stay. On money end, too, Nixon's enjoy- ing its greatest prosperity In years. In 29 weeks so far, house has grossed almost $475,000 and is expected to hit $600,000 mark at least before season ends. ' Ithlne' Grosses $22,000 'Watch On" the Rhine' grabbed es- timated $22,000 at Nixon last week to ring up top gross of the season for a subscription offering. Last of the local ATS-Theatre Guild series of six, Herman Shumlin production, at $2,75 top, started out at near ca- pacity and never let up. 'Rhine' originally had been men-' tloned for two weeks here and could have easily held over, particularly since Nixon Is currently ^rk. There haven't been such rave notices for a drama all season, town's three pa- pers going overboard for both play and cast, and It's a cinch to return again next season when tour is re- sumed.' Lamour's Bonds ^Continued from page 1= SA Pays Wdl in Chi Getting Fme W; 'AngeT Oby $11,000 'Arsenic' 17^ in Cleve. Cleveland, April 21. Near bull's-ey* grosa was hit - by road company of 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' with Erich Von Strohelm and Laura Hope Crews, during last stanza at Hanna. Only two out of seven performances at $2.60 top fell short of capacity figures, handing the com- edy of horrors an estimated $17,400. Legit biz on such encouraging up- turn, Katharine Hepburn's new play, •'Without Love,' Is postponing three other dates on Its midwest tour to permit It being routed Into -Hanna week of May 4. Current week dark, but 'Pursuit of Francis Lederer, 27, Happiness,' with Is slated for April 'father; J15,000, FULL OF UFE ON COAST HoUywood, AprU 21. ■Life With Father' la catching on for strong biz at the Music^ Box, tab- bing estimated $16,000 on second stanza. House reports strong advance sale, and management expects run to hold through the summer. Low oper- ating nut for both house and show provides hefty profit at current in- take. Biltmore, Los Angeles, may reopen the middle of May with local pro- duction of Eugene O'NelU 'All God's Chillun Got Wings.' Sets are now be- ing constructed and rehearsals are slated to start within the next 10 days. Horton's Henry' Fine $14,000 m Port Week PorUand, Ore., April 21. Edward Everett Horton's 'Spring- time for Henry' played • the Mayfair theatre last week (13-19) with two matinees and did hangup biz at $220 top. Estimated gross was $14,000. veioz and Yolanda played one night (20) in same house at $2.75 top, tossing approximately $2,800, okay. Chicago, April 21. There Is a smash in town, 'Good Night. Ladles,' a production that Came Into town from .the Coast and proceeded to blast out a terrific ini- tial week following some great money notices. Latter could nave been written by the press agent—all stressed the nudity, the sexiness and naughtiness of the show. After that, you couldn't keep the public away with trench mortars. ^ 'Blithe Spirit' and 'Angel Street,' both rated N. Y. hits, and doing al- right here, but nowhere near th« trade being paraded by the new- comer. Eaiimatea for Last Week 'Angel Street,' Harris (5th week) (1,000; $2.75). Melodrama holding well and managed $11,000 last week. Should stick through until the. hdt weather easily. •Blithe Spirit,' Selwyn (0th week) (1,000; $2.75). Running along smooth- ly but without excitement at $11,500. 'Good Night, Ladles,' Blackstone (1st week) (1,200; $2.75). Smash en- try came through with $13,500 on its Initial week. Due for run. dancers with the redskins opening at Indianapolis on April 19 and due in Washington foi;. May 6. Santa stars, tomaha' Two 'Sliip Metro studio. «-daiy visit on ' id contributes lathers. ,_ rls from the Jelsy Parker and Dorothy Schoemer, baton waver and boogie-woogie dancer respectively, start an extended bond selling tour this week. Studio promotion men wUl accompany the glamourites and cooperate with local bond selling committees in each area. Kay Kyser and his bandsmen are latest booked for outdoor concert in Washington on AprU 30, probably on U. S. Treasury steps. Previous ap pearances in this series have been by Glenn MiUer, Johnny Long and U. S. Army band. Duffus ■ has a corps of 10 ex- plolte'ers, all experienced in show promotion, who arrange details for these events ..nd direct the attrac- tions. All are given without cost to the Treasury Department. 'Lives' N.G. 4G in N. H. New Haven, April 21. RjLvivaFof 'Private Lives,' starring Ruth Chatterton, drew only so-so response at Shubert On four per- formances (16-18) at $220 top, esti- mated tcike was below $4,000. House has a one-night stand of (^rmen Amaya this week and a two- day stopover of Francis Lederer in 'Pursuit of Happiness' for AprU 24-25. Coast Group Pledges lOG Weekly Bond Buy HoUywood, April 21. .Purchase of $10,000 a.week in War Bonds, a total of more than half a million yearly, was pledged by Hol- lywood -agents, business managers and independent publicists as a unit of the newly organized Motion Pic- ture Committee of the War Savings Staff, working In coUaboratlon'with Treasury Department. .• John McCormick, chairman of the group, announced that the goal represented 10% of the unit's 1,100 officials and employes. Current Road Shows (April 22-Mav 2) 'Angel Street' (2d Co.)— Harris, Chi. (22-2). • Arsenic and Old Lace' (2d Co.)— Walnut, PhUa. (22-2). Blithe Spirit' (2d Co.)—Selwyn, Chi. (22-2). Blossom ' Time'—Shubert, Boston (22-2). Candle in the Wind'—Munic. Aud., New Orleans'(22); Music Hall, Hous- ton (24-25); Texas, San Antonio (27); Paramount, Austin (28); Ma- jestic, Ft. Worth (29); Melba, DaUas (30-1); Aud., Shreveport, La. (2). 'ClandU' (N. Y. Co.)—Wilhur, Bos- ton (22-2). 'Clandla' (2d Co.)—Shrine Mosque, Peoria, lU. (22); Palace, South Bend (23); Shrine, Ft. Wayne (24); Keith's, Grand Rapids (25); Cass, Detroit (27-2). 'Corn bTGreen'—Royal Alexandra, Toronto (22-25); Nixon, Pitt (27-2) 'Good Night Ladles'—Blackstone, Chi. (22-2). ( 'Hellzapoppitt' (2d Co.)—National, Wash. (22-25); Fords, Balto. (27-2). . 'High Kiokera'—Ford's, Balto. (22- 25); National;' Wash. (27-2). 'Life With Father" (2d Co.)— Geary, S. F. (22-2). 'Life With Father' (3d Co.)— Music Box, H'wood (22-2). 'Maqbeth'—American,^..St. L. (22- 25) ; Erlanger, Chi (27-2). 'My Sister Eileen' (2d Co.)—Cur- ran, S. F. (22-2). 'My Sister Eileen' (3d Co.)—Lo- cust, Phila. (22-2). 'Native Son' — Windsor, Bronx, N. V. (22-26); Flatbush, Brooklyn (28-2). 'Pal Joey'—Flatbush, B'klyn (22- 26) ; Windsor, Bronx, N. Y. (28-2). 'Panama Battle'-Forrest, Phila. (22-2). 'Parsoit of Happiness'—Masonic Aud., Springfield, Mass. (22); Bush- neU 'Aud., Hartford (23); Shubert, New Haven (24-25); Hanna, Cleve. (27-2).. 'Watch On the Bhine'—Cass, De- troit (22-25); American, St. L. (27-2). 'Walking Gentleman*-Playhouse, WUmington (24-25). 'Wlthont Love'—<:olonial, Boston (22-25); Bushnell Aud., ' Hartford (27-28); Metropolitan, Providence (29); Shubert, New Haven (30-2). iaVE.'$2(i800, BLAZESINHUB Boston, AprU 21. .'Without I/)ve,' Hepburn-Nugent starrer, ran -off with the top coin again last week, making It tough competition for 'High Kickers' and 'HeUzapoppin,' both closing Saturday (18). liOve' Is holding for a third frame. 'Claudia' and 'Blossom Time' came in Monday (20). 'Com Is Green' is slated for a four-week engagement at Colonial starting May 4. Estimates tor Last Week 'Wlthont Love,' Colonial (2d wk) (1,643; $3.30). Another sellout stanza, tallying smash $26,800. Show it playing better every day, but Broad- way will not see It untU fall. 'HeUzapoppin.' Majestic (6th wk) (1,667; •$3.30). Enjoyed healthy run here, but biz finally tapered off to danger point Final frame, around $15,000. 'High Kickers,' Shubert (2d wk) (1,590; $3.30). Never hit high gear during the two-week stand, and final stanza garnered tepid' $13,000, TATHER,' 18G 'EILEEN' IIG, BOTH GOOD IN SJ. San Francisco,- AprU 21. 'Life With Father,' with over $18,- 000 gross, Is still playing to capacity at the Geary, and 'My Sister Eileen,' on return engagement did nice biz of $9,000 last we«k. Estimates for Last Week 'Life With Father,' Geary (2d week) (1,480; $2.75). Should stay up to the capacity $18,000 level of last week for some time. 'My Sister Eileen,' Curran (2d week) (1,600; $1.65). Was here five weeks Ago and town stUI nuts about it. An extra Sunday performance boosted gross to $11,000. Hayes, J7,400,Wmds Up Worst Memphis Season Memphis, April 21. Helen Hayes set the top legit gross for the local season Friday and Sat- urday (17-18), when she lured esti- mated $7,400 to Ellis Auditorium with three performances of 'Candle in the Wind.' 'HeUzapoppin' lield the pre- vious high mark for the year with $6,QO0, also In three showings. Miss Hayes brought down cuitain' on" one of poorest roadshow seasons in town's history. Starting out with much promise and numerous datings,- drama calendar seemed to collap:.^ with Pearl Harbor^ . IWacbeth,' 12iG, Cincy Cincinnati, April 21. Season's originally scheduled closer was last week's 'Macbeth', with Maurice Evans and Judith An- derson, In for four days at the Taft Top was $2.75 and estimated gross was $12,500, good. In the first half of the weekj Macbeth' did approxi- mately $10,000 ar^the English theatre in Indianapolis. Coming through with b.o. winners on the last several road shows to play here, legit season has been given a belated breather via booking of - the Theatre GuUd's '.Without Love', with Katharine Hepburn, for a week's engagement, beginning May 18, In-the 2,500-scat TafL