Variety (Jul 1944)

B way Spotty ; 'Hals' Soars to Top, ToDies' 25G> Indians' Likely 11G First haljtjast \Viefc. Mtv: improve- ment an Broadway,' puisieals gcitog strong si(n6tvfS viSLtbi-s.- Also, aiding was fact It was byc.-week for "Ok. lah.mia.''' no ticket's being allotted the agencies. Sharp tapering dur- ing last half tor most grosses. Early this week the number of ■ holiday weekenders . was" oft', the. outdoors set tins the crowds. -Warning from the. Office, of Defense Transportation dnubtlesslv kept people out of the metropolis, and Mayor. La Guardta's radi ( > 'warning not to travel didn't holo eithei, , '•Huts OiT; to .Tee" joined the-btg-, «ione» shows and- is credited with betfei than S44.000, nothing" on Broad wav lopning that figure; with the possible exception of "Mexican *Hn-rid«." "Ice'' has three.extra per- i'.ir'm-'tiiees this week, and Monday's matinee was reported a sellout: hi advance.. Sudden-.^Closings are on way. two such being "Over 21." i which was aino'ns the comedies tig- j. ured' having a good change to stick through summer and "For Keeps'." "Three Is a Family" is flfialling this week, too, so is "Ramshackle Tnti "" ■ Estimates'fair Last Week : ; K-siis: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CO (Comedu-Dicintn), R (Revuei. M (1!(isicaii. O (Oparetui).. -;. "Ansel Street," Golden (134th week >. (D-789; $3,601. Management v.illlceep English: rhetl.er in town as l.mg as profitable: not making much V»w.,.l>ut that's expected; $3,500-esti- mai-*;' ,':'■ ..■■■ .."Carmen Jones." Broadway (31st week! (CD-I ,900: $3.1. One of sea- son's outsianders Continues to net excellent pi'QJlls weekly; $28,000. ••thicken Every Sunday,"' Ply- mouth .(13th weSki. (C-1.075: $3.60'. intention is to play into fall; moder- ate-gross laugher around $8,000. , - . ■ ■ "Follow the Girls." 44th Street Ciat'h week I .(M-1.46S; $4,80 i. . Looks .set for long run and night business at standee oruporlions; rated around. S3S.5I)0, : really big in this house. "For Keeps," Miller (CD-940; ^(Hr-Ftii-ai-a-BoVt-htel w ee k ;, m axije. $5,000 not nearly enough. "Hats Oft to Ice." Center (2d week) (R-:t.433: SIM ). Got oil' to fine start and Stock of matinees through holi- day will send new skating revue to fHiYcy figures: topped $44,000. quoted', tirsl full week. "H*len Goes to Troy," Akin (10th week i (6-1.357; $4.80 >. Hasn't, been doing as well as earlier .indicated; around even break: $22,000; „ •Mafooowslu' and the Colonel," Beck (Kith week! (C-1,214;S3.60 >. Business off far -several weeks but among best straight-play grossurs: Sgirred' around $18,000 last week: '••Kiss and Tell." Biltmore (COth week) (C-920:!$3,G0V No exception to rule for long-stayers: gross down to around'$7,000,; > . - "Lite With Father," Empire (243d ' week) (C-l.882: s:{.fH) >. Broadway's run leader said to be turning oper- ating" profit right along, estimated at around SI 1,000. "Mexican lluyride." Winter Gar- den .' C22d - week i (M : 1^23! $0 > . Jumnct' to great' start' ia'sf week and standee biz until: . weekend, with gross, claimed, again around. $44,000. "Oklahoma." St. '. James, HJ5th tveek f .cM-i'MO; '$4.8p'). There's still' a line at boxoffic*: nearly all the time tor the .sock musical favorite and the gross goes to $,"30,000 regularly;, only run show'not oil' last week. . "One Tom-ti of Venus." 46th Street (39th week' (M-1.319; $4.80). Ahead first pail of the week but, dropped m"st of, the- pickup thereafter: $;',l.- 500.' -".■,- '--',''.": . ."Oyer, 21," Music Box iC-l.OOl; -, $3.il0 '. Final aVfrl ."2i , tf(*~'*v(;e 5r* w5-s' expected to stick into' fail but dropped under $9,000- last week: Ruth Gofelon w.a n! s • vnca i ioi\ an.rt re- opens with .show-in Chicago late in. Augt-sl .": • - -" . ■ ■. v - ■'"Wck-Cp Girl," 48th Street (8th .neak) (D-90!); $:i.(i(l t. Expected hi span summer:.getting results trom. promotional activity; $8,500 claimed/ ••Hamshackle Inn.'' Royale (CD- 997; $3:001.. Final and 27thweek; has been-' slumping: down around '$3,000".-. "Ten Little Indians." Broadluirst < 1st week i ( D-1.118; ,S3.(i0). Drew mixed notices but must, were -favor.- oble; hikings eslim ited nearly $11,- 000. promising for first seven times, "The Itniisligiiis," Lvccutri-' <79tli weo 1 ; i (C-9H3: $3.00 '. ;■ VVas . slightly better first half of-week but tapered iateiv'as did most others;, around- $8,000: .last weeks announced. ".'■ "I'he Seaichinq Wind." Fulton (12th week' lC-948: «i4.20>. One of best slraiglil-))l:iv luoncn ■ getters; somewhat nil' , but ' expected to'.- re* cmrer during' motilli; .over $18,000 li'd'ca'ted. . ..;' "The Voire nf the Tintle."Morosco (C-893; $4.2l*» VtPiittontiig . at'ter pla.vtrig.' 2:1 ireeks : to . e'abacity; box- Oftiee open.: s.rongest straight play, candidate for -r.cx: se:iso"'s cntvtiuu- ance; f.V.ve.!age tiot tat' £vt.>>n' $i22,0(lt) wee': I . "Ttie Two. Mrs: X'airoMsl" Booth (D-712: $3.00 t. Also laying off after 48weeks; another shoSr likely to ex- tend . through tali: average - .over $14,000'. . - . ..-.- :. • "A Is a Family," Bejasco (C-1,007; $3):: Final and (ilst week: has done very well; slid under" $0,000 mark; wiii,play neighborhood houses and tours ill tall. ' "WalinoWer." Cort (24th ' week ' (D-1.0RI: $3.(10'. Slipped to $.">.O0O. hardly sn c\ en break. .. "Ziesfeld Follies," Imoerial (fiatli week I (R-J.427: $4.80 ). Another long stayer figured to go through-sumnhev: was ahead until Tate, last week; around $25 000 _NKIGIIBORHOOl> "Tomorrow the World," .Flatbush, Brookl it. . ' 'Mlecision." Queensboro. L, 1. "Arienie and Old Laee," Windsor. Bronx.. .' : ,'-.:".' ', ' : .-;■'-■:•.""-.."•'. 'Family* Average $8,500 in Boston ''' . Boston, July 4. ' After the biggest Monday night in eight,weeks,!"Three's a Family" fell back to its average .gross of $8,500 for the frame ended Saturday. Four weeks, added to: engagement while ail other ; Hub legit houses' . are shuttered. Cambridge, summer theatre did fair, despite a scorching u:eek. with $3,000 chalked tip for Claire Luce in '•■Anna Ghrtstk'." Julie r Haydon opened . Monday in VGttest Jii_jhc_ House.:' ■ . - - - - )- 'Norway'Wow in L A. '/Son;; busimrss Plays on Broadway T4*n Iii«ilnn« "Mmr*. Sl'iilwrt-'sitt'l AlB*it f'oui'vlil* pt-ijiliu'tion of titurlrtf luyjtrtjy In llitf* itets l». awnMt liy A«ith* t'hrlntl*. i 8(»e«l by <U Cnnrvlllf:-Mtllnj, Ho.wmiT Buy, Oj'Wifit HI HlTOi<Hutr*t-,..'N:' r,, ,tiin« .27, '445 »'.).*) |V>l>'.'(M,S(j opsnlnii tilstiti. At Jtftjtrt'rH............ J-'rrtil rj*fi>l l Vein ■ ClH>'"!'llilKii«... :, .. i'liitlp' JJ>liil)»)tl , Aiitlitmy Mai'tttmn. .'.'A.ti W'llHn tii tthy . ..'... . . (; .Vhri'-l;,Miy.i*. KriilH ttii-iit .j>ri' JihwjWk'-* .XV u <i r. IV SI I ^.N^il.'Flty.RCntl.l . Mtoftfn Hii rvey l'alitpk O'Citlnnr . ;('l»iiaiil' kfom'M'n . ;)|li.-lia>l WliiiliMl t\- Knutil**><-'miper ...). IMI tt',Mnlli>y . ,;.. N.li'iit>|ii> ,liw' "Kul-Mly,' Wtnvirw.V) . tlstmv.'1'l . Ilohhcsi II d ii' W.il ltl ill Transit Snags For Next Season Some road shows will have traits-, porlation difficulty next season, but whether touring ' outfits generally witl have more trouble making jumps than last season is not clearly indicated.- .. . : ,i " .The Illinois ■Central and Southern' Railroad has notified managers that il doesn't intend to carry productions and will provide no baggage cars. Showmen intend contacting the Of- fice of Defense Transportation to in- struct the-lines, to accommodate road shows. ..'.:■'•''.:.•',:-v-.'.": ■:'.'■'.■■';-■■• Part of the south and the Missis- sippi valley, extending from, but not including. Chicago, to. New Orleans will be affected if'the two roads do hot revise their regulations. St. 4VrOi4s—wi4l—pot—be-^tn 11 off berause, Ihere.are several lines,to that;stand,' while Texas territory will be okay, being serviced % the Santa Fe. If there is no additional transpor- tation curtailment, only a few at- tractions may be forced to cancel bookings. In one instance the man- ager will •send two men in- advance, one on 'house, and press, the other concenlrating on railroading. Show .will also carry substitute - scenery with the company in the form of dyed drops - to be used hi case,the regular production fails to arrive of is denied transportation... ,'"■'; Loc Anneles, July, ♦',-' Norway" made show tory ; at the Philharhionic itere l ist weok-b\ iinaling. with $130.- 300 gross for live three week run. Operetta's premiere showing out-: flanked ' "Lady in the. Dark."...which' played here last season tor a similar' run at the same house, by $300 and, more, surprising;' atf a'-lpwer price scale. Filial iyeek i'or "Norway" was marked by selling seats on every- thing but the stage and: the take hit $44,800, $1,500 over capacity. Wednes- day matinee smashed ajl daytime local records by cutting $4,415.62 at R2.70 top. Replacing "Norway:', this week is "Sally." Ken Mun-av's "Blackouts of 1944" at El Capital! drew $14.1)00 at ca- pacity for start of its third year. "The. Family Carnovsky" closed ; a tivo-week fun at the Biltmore with $10,000. and "Good Night Ladies" bowed, on stage Monday night to a typical, Hollywood , premiere audi- ence. - . . Owing to Gladys George's" illness. "Persoiial Apiiearanee" at the Mayan had to shutter, for four nights, but five performances on Sunday. Friday and' Saturday of last, week took in $4,900. "Night Must Fall" at the Mhsart was near capacity at $3,200 for the third stan/.a and 'growing sales point, to $3,300 for "trie present period. - . lit Deck'$4,200 In St. Loo Opener 'Abie'_ Fin ds C. Too Hot, 2d Wk. $7,200 Washington. July 4: ; "Abie's Irish Rose" ran into hot weather. (.for three days the tempera- ture: soared to,the.90's' and in eight performances of the second week grossed $7,200 at the National. The original four-week booking Will, be whittled to three, the play depart- ing on July 8. There may be several dark weeks before the E street house relights. "Kiss and Tell" is booked for a fort-' night's engagement on July 31 '. Other summer attractions are scheduled to (ill up the-month of August.' Regular season will ooen September 11 with Terence Rattigau's "While the Sun Shines." followed by Ruth Gordon in "Journey to a Star." Ilka Chase's play, "In Bed They Cry." is a late October booking. The association of nursery rhymes and homicide is a rather-paradoxical Actional:-.' contrivance, but Agatha Christie apparently knows her way around; In "Ten Little Indians'' Mrs. Christie is, perhaps, not at her best in murder mystery writing, but she certainly has imparted enough siis- penseful momeiits to insiue a suc- cessful Broadway run.- ■'-.;'' The Shuberts and Albert de Coiir- ville are associated in making this Broadway presentation, an adapta- tion from Mrs'. Christie's successful novel, "And Then There Were None,", a\ title under which the play has also enjoyed a commensurate London suc- cess. There is much that is absurd and obvious iii "Indians." but there is no denying its. dramatic moments, heightened by the fact that within the comparatively brief span of three acts no less than-eight murders are committed. And there would be 10 If the nursery .rhyme could have been fully realized, - ,.- ... This is a 'melodrama whose mur- ders follow the: pattern'laid down by the.verse of the nursery rhyme. "And Then There Wei e None." Ten per- sons are gathered together on an English isle and they are each ac- cused, through a suddenly blaring phonograph, of "murder!" There is- the religious fanatic who had driven a young girt to suicide because she had sinned: there was the dissolute playboy whose penchant for racing cars hid once resulted in the death of two children whom he had run down. And. so on. ; , Then follows the series of murders. Linked to them are 10 little Indian figures on the mantel, and as eacli guest dies -one of the figures disap- pears or falls ffoiri its resting place: At the play'.s conclusion, however, two, of the guests are .still alive as the murderer, in a cliiiiactic moment, n-e^eai s-rmnwlf-fl ndHSi4n-4.m which (Jestrpy th.i force: of . •■i:v tragedy, just as. there , are bit; hokum that vitiate the rich hum .. ^ in characterisation and dialog .v.:,- ; which the play is lilted.. The play's: chief appeal lie's.in performers, a uuitorml.y- taiehi;'; group, that imbues' the ..play .'•-ii i' more life and color than if inheff-iu'lv- contains. Some of the players"have- had Broadway experience.: aithiiu^ t nio.st have .had their •ictivities rv- strided to matetir Negro theatrieafi-, The leadT Hilda Mioses Sininiv is ,i real find, a light-skinned healft. Vl;h-- a vivid stage'preserttse. ari.it a ma'i Ability to 'dramatize. 'Her .coney,it of the harlot's role is hard n"H feallstic. rather than seirtnnehiij: with enough Warmth: to make it ,vd- pcalitig. . Moat ,o( .the . family- .;> .•- traits are almost as viViil,. especial!-, that of AH ni Clufdress as the rathe •, Alberta Perkins, the niolher; Beiiv- Hayn'es, the sister, and Fred 0':Vc,.!. the- brother-in-law, .Alice Childress' streetwalker role and Lionel.M-.nu- gus as a bartender are also tine - Harry Wiigstaff Grililiie's directio-i has much to do with the play's ;1 i,- and vitality .. Bra.i St. Louis. July 4. ' "Hit the Deck." Vincent Yoitoians musical, has been revived this week for seven nights in the Municipal Theatre • Assn.'s al fresco playhouse in Forest Park, and it got off to a flying .start last night (Monday*. Battny breezes .brought out an open-1 Ce let) rat ions of—-BnTnti iiun Day iijg night mob of 11.000, with gross | here hurt M d-ge Evans iii Shaw's estimated at $4,200. "Arms and the Man" for a so-so -Victor Herbert's. "Eileen" grabbed | S5,100. with Royal ..Alexandra- 11.525) plenty of posies from the crix and scaled at $1.50 top. . '. wound up its one-week stand Sat- Miss Evans holds over for "Mr. urday (Itwith swell $47:500. land Mrs. North." Madge Evans-'Arnis' $5,100 in Toronto Toronto, July 4. CeletiratioTs to leave the play's romantic pair free for the inevitable clinch. • ' At that there is/never any doubt that Michael Whalen and Claudia Morgan will be. Wared. Miss Morgan is very fetching in green: Whalen is a handsome lead. There's; the answer. This is a production featured' by its cast. Halliwell Hobbes underplays properly. Miss Morgan looks a'little less sylphlike than normally, but her performance is beyond reproach. .1. Pat O'Mal.ley. Anthony Kemble Cooper, Nicholas Joy, Estellc Win- wood and Harry Worth are among the notable supporting players who make this play the success that it should be. Whalen's performance is the play's weak spot. He's inclined to overact. ■,•''.. Albert de Courville's staging paced the perfprmatica. well, and the single setting by Howard Bay is,4lg to the tatter's usually line standal'd'/ " Knhn. . Anna I.ik-iimIh Continues Sellout 30G, Brides' 10 1 2 G Current Road Shows (July J-l.-.l "A Gnose for the.Gander," Black- stone. Chicago 7-11. Vt'allierine Was Great," Forrest, phiia.\ •. ' :, ;; •. •-.:,:;■ ■•-.- "Earlv to Bed." Shubeit, New Haven. 1:'. 14-l.i. ,"»fJo»d N'isht Ladies." Cass, De- troit. Mich; ';•■ "Gu»d Night ladies" (2d Co.'. Biltmore, Los Angeles..- ".ianie,". Mayfair, Portland. Ore.. ti-12>l:i: Metropolitan, Seattle, Wa,sii.. 14-i,) . - ' . "Kiss ami Tell" (2d Co.V. - Harris. Chicago,: v '.-'.' ■-•'.' * .- '•' '■ "Kiss and Tell Cid Co.i, Sliubert- Lai'ayctte. Detroit- '•Oklahoma' Vid\ Co.), Erlangef, Chicago. : ■ •'■-.''. ..;:.' ; .: "Three's a Family" (2d Co.), Co- tot'.'Utl, Boston. . "Toawirrou the World!' Geary. San Ff.MV'sc't). ■''■' .' ".'• -. .'• ■ - -Chicago. July 4. . Heat v/ave took its toll at Several boxolTice's last week. Only shows not.: suffering were ' Oklahoma," which continued to sell out .at the Erlanger to another' $30,000. arid "School for Brides." which hit $10,500 at the • little refrigerated Civic. "Uncle Harry." in a house, cooled only by wall fans, dropped to $7,500; "Kiss and Tell" skidded to $9,500 and business was off at the Civic Opera House for "New Moon." second of Hie slimmer operetta series, which took $20,000 ! ;' Estimates fur J.ast Week : "Kiss and Tell." Harris (60th week) (1.000;-$3'. Skidded to $9,500. 'New Mftoh;**. Civic Opera House (2r.i week) (3.000; $2.50f Business down but' nuking a little coin at $20,000. "Oklahoma." Erlanger (33rd week) (1.500: $4.20 i. Sellout S30.000.' . "Sciiool for Brides." Civic (50th week' (90(1: S3 >. Picked up to hit- $10,500, "Uncle Harry." Great Northern <9lh -week i- (l,40i): $3 V~ Dropped to $7,500. . <■■■•■. This American Negro Theatre pro- duction, put ori iii-the tiny non-air- conditiohed basement 1 of a Harlem library by a group of actors busy at regular non-theatflcal jobs during the day. has excited the admiration of N. Y. drama critics atid the interest of several Broadway producers. The- o r ig In a t foitr-nights-a-week- ru.n scheduled to dose July 1 has been extended to July J5, 'and there is talk of a Broadway production with the original cast next month. •As experimental theatre. In the intimacy of the Harlem basement, the production is first-rale.- The play is exciting melodrama, done with vigor and. force,' exuding vitality through ; Its performance.. But - as Broadway fare it won't do, the faults of plot and structure overbalancing its vivid chaijcterizations. The.story concerns a harlot, driven from homa by a. stern father, who- has the chance to redeem herself by marrying a clean-cut youngster, btit who throws away her Opportunity knowing that the experiment won't work. The plot is worked out in the melodramatic pattern of the girl's family taking: her back, not to re- habilitate her but, to enrich them- selves with thi money the boyfriend possesses, There » re ether olot fla ws i.'i .C.ini" i,v (ir«tolie inn ami -lioli' Wru lio.'vtc; tb-eti^fy, f' S;,- nni.'lss lhe:i ; } in j f f ia irin. : IVtluvr IWyii-lii-.. Jin ret -turban.; . WiyJlin 11'M.rse ..»... :. : BM-iiaKll llHl.ii.-.'- .Mill,!., liiVi'l Mi-,.. i 'Mi llioii, lriVer*.. Kii-if j.i#r<r»K. v ■ I'.ulli Ainia... Until . . . . : ,-.. - Cleveland. Jiiiiff 2'1 fnl^w nfiis (lini»t» ft«M».fie^l fV«nnl*,», l>i>t,,ll.;' ,i" ti*i-;'t(; : a('.:inij > ' t<,.'i?i! •i'• f?t-i.(?it*v. -.' \\' '. -iln t?i»< li, Ji(-,i 'lt)ul-ot% r»:»'i(^ifr . . .1't.i i\*l|V3. K.»'Vi*.r->:*'(it;,',- .. M;ti /. J.I f 'Mii»h,4ti nil . . \'.-i 5 *i » i, \l*',!f.pj- ttii',r-..|i;i>iic')ii»'i.it . .-. . I ,»<IHll'»l'l ll.lVv- . ' i.ffll.i Cft,llV..M. ti'i ■•(ill' Ai'tmljrt :. . .. l".M-jry. [*ill*li M , ».:» . I >...-...! 'i • 1'1-,,-U i-.H ■ Gretchen Damrosch Finletier, may have a successful play when "Brief Holiday" is staged oti Bniadway-riant." season by Jacques Tilery. Although much work remains to be don» ;>n the show,.'"particularly .the' first act, it's entertaining, - The theme- of the show is based an two' triaiigle.s. In order to present the ramifications of th« plot, Mrs. Fin letter was forced to inaka herttrst act long "aiul" hi—soma- p<}inli--diiU. When she attempts to spark the act, her attempts become . labored and difficult. These are points, however, which can be overcome,'.'; >v. The plot revolves about a middle- aged wife, played exceptionally well by Dorothy Paxtoti. who forms au emotional attachment for a Germau refugee who is brought to the sum-, met; cottage home of the family by her husband, an unimaginative hus- band who is. content to allow his vyife to solve all household problems. One problem is the family's wedded daughter who has grown tired of keeping house tor her husband, a Navy officer, and her child, in favor of a Washington syndicated column- ist.', '- ;.- .-•!.''-.-'. The plot, fealty fakM on Iif<* wtiett the daughter, planning to leava that, night with her lightweight journal- istic friend, discover-s her mother and. the refugee kissing. She is so; thoroughly shocked by liar mother, who has always been, most proper and exact, that she postpones lief desire to flee tha family lieartfi to. solve her mother's problems instead, Tt all wpi'hs u trti- thaiiks to the keen .insight '. of , the ■'.refugee', played superbly by Rolf Eugelhatdt. The contras'l. in characters and the double triangle in one family is an unusual combination and :the pro- dtielion has a sufficient load of humor to give it the,makings of i» "hit. The other characters include * jflultery Billie Burkeish grandinother, two younger meinbers of the house- '>roic!.' -s-idit.rtfiinirc ^cntt -sorr,~-tKr&»- iwi^V" PM inclinations, nij .a maid." • .:; '. ;.,'.. '-: .•.<„■;/'.-';,-,,: '; :.: : ;..; Wirkevs. Current *London Shows Loudon, July 4/ . "Last nf Summer," 'Pttoetltjc,; . ''''•Arsenic.'* Old Lane," St.ra.dif.. All Star Variety, Palladium. "Alice in Wonderland," Seala. "Blithe Spirit." Diichess, — "OanciiiK Yeais." Ade'lpiit. "G'nite Ladies." Whitefi.tiU, :;'■■' "Gypsy: Princess." Savilla.: '",'':-. "Ilow're They at Home." Apoll* "Ideal Husband."■'.Westmmst«f. .. . •"Mr».:',Cheyney,'' S.avaiy.': *'.-':' "I.ilae Domiiio." MajestyJ. "Lisbon Story." Hippbdram*. •"Love Kacket." Pritrftes.;. >'-■: "Meet Me, Victoria." Vic Pj'> -» •"Mr. Bolfry." Plaviiouie. "Old-C'llelsea." Winter G,niie \. •.; "Pink String." Duke of Yjvk's "Quaker Girl," Coliseum. . "Quiet Weekend," Wyridba'r.f .:• . "Soldier Xmas." Vatidevilte. "Something lxr Air." P»t»c«.- "Sweeter. Lower," A!»i'l)a js;k',- ■• ■'-' "I'ncle Harry,'' Garritk. ' :• "While Sun Shines," Gl.' i*.