Variety (Jul 1944)

40 LEGITIMATE P%HIETY Wednesday, July 12, 19 U Broadway Biz Wilts, But'Hats Off' Great $.50,000, Indians' $12,000, 'Helen' to Quit, 15G; Cellar Levels Broadway is slumping and grosses fast «;eek went to cellar' levels. Shows'-which' were doing compara- tively moderate business slipped to S.VOUO and- $9,000 and in some: in- stances were overestimated. Five closings, last Saturday .18.1 and more, to come - this. week. So 'much, over.-' all. was live .dive .in attendance that? even -•Olkahoma" might have, been affected were , it not. for the record advance sale. The.other sure thing. ''The Voice of the. Turtle." .is laying •.off. Fourth of July matinees were fairly good in face'of sunny weal her, but. the; night, trade was: way. down, even for. leaders, and since then a beat wave has set in. • . .. . , •-Hats Off to lee." the new skating show, scored great business: how- eve;, and. With extra matinees, grossed aii estimated $50,000, New- .liesjj Of the-.'show and its' Radio City location are-favorable factors. .'..'•' '•• Estimates for Last Week . Keys: 'C (Coined))); D Wramal. CO. i (.'(»i.icri.!.i-Di(iiini) i'?; R '.' .tflteiute) , H (itfiisicdti. O (Operetta). "Angel Street." Golden (135th week) (D-789: $3.60);' With, the list, .shrinking, this; drama may benefit after'.thi's'.wcek: rated around S5.000. ."Carmen Jones," Broad wav (32d v eek i (CD-1.900: $31. Dipped a bit under $45,000. which means a new low. colored musical operated profit- ably.: -'' •• '...'• "Chicken Every Sunday." Plv- mouth (Mlh week i: (C-1.075: $3.80». Slipped to $0,000 or less but intention is to continue through July.. "follow <he Girls," 441b Street 113th week) (M-1,463; $4.80), Newer than -most other musicals, but went oft as much as others; bit over-esti- mated; big Saturday placed gross at jieavlv $30,500. " "Hats Off to Ice." Center (3d week) iR-3.438: $1.98). While the field was •dropping sharply, new skating revue cleaned up and. with extra holiday matinees, quoted around $50,000: ex- tra, inatitjees ,on Thursdays added ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ this month and August, making four afternoons weekly!; "Helen. Goes to Troy," Alvln (O- 1,357: $4.80). In final and 12th week: never did reach weekly capacity. but quite strong hv early weeks; dived toward $.15,000. I'.lacolinwskv and the Colonel," Beck (17th week) (C-1,214.; $il.6()i. Played an extra matinee but esti- mated around $16,000: that Was about best figure for straight plays but con- siderably under previous pace. '•• ', "Kiss and Tell."'■ Billmore (67th week) (C-926: $3,60). Dowti.. lo. around $6,000 but is expected to pick up after another week and expected to Slav "Life With Father." Empire (244lh weelo (C-1,082: $3.60), Went off, but j much.better than most other straight plays:: bit over $10,000 claimed. "Mexican Havride," Winter. Gar-1 detr (23d week) (M-1.523; $61. Was affected, too, and slightly under $40:- 000: low- gross for .musical' that topped list ■ .-,,.' "Oklahoma," St. James (66th week) (M-1,520; $4.80), An extra matinee on the Fourth,sent gross over $33,000 but smash was saved by- advance sale. "One Touch of Venus," 46th Street (40th week) (M-1.319; $4.40). Has been with the leaders right from start: off last week to a round $29,000. "Pick-l'n Girl," 48th Street (9lh week i (D-909: $3:60). Rated around $6,000: one of few shows playing Sunday, night trade then.very good. "Ten Little Indians," Broadhurst (2d week) (D-l. 118; $3.60). Started last week as though aimed for real coin: tapered, count being around $12,000; fairly good. . "The noujrhgiils," Lyceum (80th w eek ) (C-993; $3.60). Around $7,000. new low, as with the others; last, weeks still advertised but may go through month;. : ':'.'.-; "The Searching Wind." Fulton flSth week) -te=948r-$4T20). Was among leading straight play grosser* but nosed down sharply last week; $13,500 estimated, a drop of 33%. "The Voice of the Turtle," Morosco (C-893: $4:20). Laying off until late August after playing 29 weeks; box- office open, j "The Two Mrs.' Carrolls," Booth I (p-712; . $3.60). Laying off after playing.nearly a year (,48 weeks); •boxoffice open. - :. . ' .';. ' ! '-Waliflower," Corl: Was an added j closing last week after, dropping to ! $5,000 or less:-played 2?,weeks. ■ ■ ' "Ziegfeld Follies," Imperial (66th j week-) lR-1.427: .$4.80K Slipped to around $21,000: lowest for longest- ! runintig "Follies.'' '. NEIGHBORHOOD Is a Family," Flatbush, Brook- lyn. '■ ■j-'- "Tomorrow the World," Windsor. I Bronx. ,-" .-;.'' . '; -j .'■-,-.' --""-.- '. - "Arsenic and Old Lace," Queens- boro, L. I. '■•'■: SWANSON-FORBES CRACK STRAWHAT TOP $11,200! Philadelphia, July 11. .'• The ; Bucks .- .County Playhouse | broke its existing records during, its occupation of the Bellevue-Stratford ballroom, here (ihis .is the. third sea- son.) with a sizzling. $11,200, last week for "A Goose for the Gander.-" X'fix weren't any too enthusiastic over hew Harold J, Kennedy comedy: but Gloria Swansou's name, plus that of Ralph Forbes, pin -the show's b.o. over with a bang."-■■'- " . ■'.-.• Bucks County . outfit would have done a line week under any circum- stances -but cancellation Friday afternoon of scheduled preen) of Michael -Todd's , "Catherine Was Great." on Friday night, with show held off uniil .last' night UUth) un- doubted', y helped the show at the Bellcvue. On' the other hand, torrid weather breaks were unfavorable in spite of cooling system in Bcllevue ballroom. Last . week's figure was three grand better than anything yet turned in this season. "Catherine Was Great" is listed for two weeks now. but is expected to stay three as advance sale was terrific. '•'■'.■''■,'--'. "Early to Bed." booked in for July 24. has been put off until the 31st to give "Catherine'' ah extra week, if deemed expedient. "Bed" will un- doubtedly stay. .Until (maybe after) regular Labor .Pay fall ■ opening. Bellevue's , show for the Bucks County Playhouse this week, is "The Male Animal."' with. Dean Jagger featured. Outfit gets Fred Stone in a revival of ''Lighlnin' " next week with Powers Bouraud. well known local air-wave commentator, known as the "night-owl." making his fool- light debut in a supporting role. Chi B.0.s Up; 'Kiss' 11G, 'Brides' lO^G,'Harry'5G,'0kla.'Tops at 30G 'Song of Norway' Sock $30,200, Frisco ; 'World' 9G San Francisco, Julv 11, "S&ng of Norway,"-at the Curran, pushed at record takes last week at $4 (op for 'estimated $30,200 ZOO gross. Next dooiv at the Geary.-^Tomor- row the World," after a slow start built to satisfactory $9,000. :.'■ Play Out of Town 'Abie' Hit by Wash. Heat, $6,500 in 3d i 'Washington, July .11. "Abie's Irish Rose", ran into a week of distressing heal and wound up its third week at the National with $6,500. "Ramshackle Inn" was booked in at 24 hours notice and caught the E street house without a set of tickets. Sale opened Saturday al $2 top. -' '"-''; Constance Bennett in "Without Love.'' the. Philip Barry play, ar- rives July 17. It will be followed by "Early to Bed." musical' comedy which will come in. at $3. top. on July 24. "Kiss and Tell" follows for two weeks on July HI. Other book- ings are in sight for August, which will- give Washington's only legiti- mate theatre a 52-week season. ■■;'-,'" Vnfliwiiio Whs 4»r«*ul Philadelphia. July 10. vMktme.l - rj'mltj i>i-,i,lni-l iun .of Viiprfui:!*,' (no tu'liiii-l in two Hyls .' Ivy . Alue W'h.sI ; xttfrs Muf; Whhi : siH&eU'fiy Koy 'WarKr.ny*'; set- JiiiSs*. IIowmi-o K«y; i-osujiiu'ft designed by Kmi**^ Sicfivopps a ort.^t >,)•>•; SVnPriol;. llliMii",! -»( Koi'VpsL* ..(li^alt-e. IMiilmletoliiii, Julv l.tfi ';4t:: J • '. ciist :ini-lu,i.'ji* >iiec,-:"N\v»i.~- Wh'unor. I 'i)ijn( p. Bv.Mlt, Kitim Kckt'ii. -MU-IU'tw .Miiiiree, .OlotiH.' PIimi-i-, Maiv -B»m. lij '.lost A'titilc.v.,- (ipiip Harry, a. Kay Boilrhoni't'jvtrt'iril Uoo,l- (Jol inl i). Ilnliei l .i.nns-. HLPK.-' Flank l'.asl".-. Albi-lt, .B.iyio', ; Hurry ^0(lln,."Owi J n A'oli. An- thony JAtrl'une. : ,)ohii. l''it»«lfriL'k.- Donald (Jitivon. K,«l,lit: Giovo, I.(HonHan»itton. tier- nar.t lli)iriu'an.-'f)'}iy(ot) Tjoiiioils. .willidmil. Malonp,' jotm. ^ari.iflli. .lolio. HtepHpiri Itii-li- ai ft Hp.,in-. . Rol)pi't- Slra o>H. M isha 'l',,nl;,'u, Wiltiain* (', -'rutts. Virlor Vion«y. t'liaile's HarC '.losefrli .\1.<on. I.lciii.r Viitrcllt..- ..\' - .Mila NiAini. Dllltn Mil-.. William -On-; win.' Ctliti les iiti.1.1 Allpn. Alli.-liaW Bey. mm ok m Yet many stars would be as "blind" as the doctor in "Three's A Family" were it not for the wonderful new INVISIBLE CONTACT LENSES Inner-Sight lenses are worn UNDER the lids with no tell- tale frames! Safe! Unbreak- able! Give even BETTER vision than ordinary eye- glasses. Convenient easy payments. Fjree trial fitting by eye specialist. Hours: 10:30 to 5:30, Mon.-Fri. . INNER-SIGHT LENSES, '. Inc. Contact Leiise.i 475 Fifth Ave. at 41st,, N. Y. C. Suite 1114 V Tel. LE. 2-3797 'Sally' Nabs 39G in L. A.; 'Ladies'Opens at 12?G Los Angeles. July 11. Desiiita typical outdoors-weather, local .shows did excellent-' business durihg the holiday, week, with most legits ^garnering- dividcncls because of an extra- July 4 performance. Topping the lakes - "Sally" opened Monday, night at. the Philharmonic Auditorium and logged a sweet $:',!).- 000 lor tlie- first week, owing chiefly to a carry-over on ticket sales from "Song of Norway." "Good Night La- dies" opened its' Coast run "at the j Biltmore.. tying in with the L. A: I Examiner's War Fund Drive, and grossed $12,500 for the initial stanza. Ken Murray's "Blackouts of 1944" went up to SI6.500 on the 107th week. "Personal Appearance" picked up at the Mayan, registering $9.700., and will n.ow ; extend another,week. Mu- sart's "Night Must Fall" rolled up to the fourth barrier with $3,300. .. ' 'Marietta' $3,500 On Opening St.X. Night —Victor . Herbert's .''Naughty Mari- etta." current oll'ering of the Munici- pal Theatre Assn. teed off a seven- night stand last night (Monday) in the Forest Park AI Fresco Playhouse and drew mob. of 10.500. Gross, was approximately $3509. Top-warbling i-oles are . handled by Rosema'rie Brahcato. Eric' Maltson. Mary Hopple and Edward Roeker. Mary Wickes. a grad of the St. Louis Little Theatre, bowed in the- open, air' theatre as a comedienne. Others in the cast are Leroi Operti. John Brooks MeCormaok. Trudey Brooks. Inez Gorman. Philip Kins- man. Earl MacVeigh, Jack Sheehan and Taylor Holmes. . »:. v' ' . '"Hit the Deck." Vincent Youman's musical, wound up its one week Sun- day-(9) with a profitable $4"6.003. .'■' :■' 'Road' 13G, Mont'l . . Montreal. July 11. ' Tobacco Road." playing the Gay- efy here. 1,565-seat vaucler other- wise shuttered for the summer, piled lip wh amnio $13,000 at $1.75 top plus lax despite torrid heat all lasl week lor seven nights and two. matinees. Show continues another week: - 'Family' 7 |/ 2 G, Boston Boston. Julv 11 What is left of. legit .in the Hub during- the dog days took a beating last week. ,*-..' "Three's a Family" slid along with $7,500 for the 10th week at the Co- lonial. 'Cambridge'S'umnjev- Theatre sweltered with Julie Haydeir in I "Guest in the House" at the-rate of ■$1800. Had biggest opening night in theatrels five-year history. . "Dark Eyes," with Lenore JJlric. opened last night. .' :.'" • ■■-' : i 'PRINCE' 20G. 1'VILLE Louisvtlie. • Juh 11. ■'■"SUideht Prince." Sigmuud Rom- . berg ojjei-etta. opened -the.- seventh ■ season of al fresco shows at Irociiiois . Amphitheatre kist week (3) to an ! estini.nled $2,500 hotise. Bstih'iatefl' j gross■ On the scven-dav stanza is IR20,ooo. " ; I Pfoduclior.s' are- handled by J. J.. I Shubcrt. - - : Current Road Shows (.lulu 12-221'.. • -.. "A Goose for the Gander"—Black-; slone. Chicago (12-22 I. "Catherine Was Great"—Forrest, Philadelphia (12-22.1. -, "Early to Bed"—Shubert, Nevy Haven (13-15). "Good Night, Ladies'—Cass. De- troit (12-151 "Good Nifrht. l.aUJes" (2d Co. 1.-- Ball lmore. Los Angeles (.12-22 l; | ".lanie"— Mayfair. Portland. 'Ore. (l,2-i3.i; Metropolitan. Seattle, Wash. 114-22 I.. "Kiss and Tell" (2d Co. 1—Harris. Chicago (12-22). ,■''.-.' "Kiss, and Telt". (3d Co. >.—Shubert Lafayette. Detroit ,i 12-22 i. "Oklahoma"' (2d Co.i,—Erlanser. Chicago < 12-22"). ■ "Rumshackle Inn"—Selwyn, Chi- cago (10-22). "Three Is a famiiy" (2d Co,l.- Colonial. Eostbn (12-221. ; "Toinci row the World" (2d Co.V,^- Geary. San Francisco 112-22 C "': "Withoui Love"—National, Wash-, inglon (Hi-22.1. There were a lot of surprised peo- ple here tonight at the world pre- miere of Michael Todd's production of Mae West's play, "Catherine Was Great," at the Forrest. Some came expecting, despite advance publicity announcements, a sprawling musical comedy; others were probably figur- ing 'oil an ultra-bawdy.-piece; merely transporting the "sex" Diamond Lil motive back to the'day? of the Rus- sian tsars in the middle of the 18th century. ' • : ':,■•'■••';'■',..;';. '-,: '.'■'('•' What was disclosed was an often exciting and almost always interest- ing historical drama, with plenty of comedy interludes mot to mention lines and a shrewd use of double enf eiidre):. ' Todd' has really shot the works in every department, and for sheef-.gorgeousness 'this city hasn't seen anything approaching it in a noii'Jmisical since the days of "Chu Chin Chow." '. : . .-. -' - An impoitant factor, too, is that Todd's production. aided and abetted by Howard Bay's glittering settings and the accompanying cos- tumes by Ernest Sclirapps and Mary Schenck. never err ii; the matter of taste. The. barbaric splendor of the aiicient Russian Empire, when Catherine reigned iupieme. is cap- tured in this 13-.scener (two acts, with a . brief prolost laid in a USO recreation room in this country, at the present time). , Even" though many of the characters will be Strange to the ordinary American playgoer, current interest in Russia, and thf fact that a great many ap- preciate what that country has gone through to rescue it iiom the feudal conditions that existed under the Rom. iiovs. will.add interest to the production. A factor that will ex- cite a lot of special interest, except lor those .in on vhe historical "know." is that Catherine, when she took tune .off between her amours —which were admittedly as many as Miss Vest suggests- ,-.-as. also a re? former and even considered free- ing of the serfs. Wha' Todd has before him now— and it's still a man-size job which he'll piobably be the first to admit —is a more complete cohesion be- tween Miss West's very apparent interest in, and fidelity to, her his- loricc'l theme and He- audience's quite natural desire to get their fill of Weslian wisecracks and sugges- tive remarks apropos of Catherine's love life; There isn't a doubt but what more of the .'attef will" be In- jected into "Catherine' -before the show gets through i's tryout here. Todd has been slivevv'd from the first when he postponed the opening from Friday to tonight (10). Vet- eran showmen were amazed when the cut lain fell at 11:05 p.m. (mark- ing a cut of nearly an hour since the iiist dress rehearsal) without sacri- ficing aiiy.of the beamy of produc- tion. H(. can still .inject: more com- edy: it:to the proceedings and at the sanie . time preserve. historical a ecu: a.cy,. Miss West plays. Ca'.iverine as she has wanted to play .her and as audi- ences have expected :-he would play bffi'V Her many chan'gos of costumes won ' gusp.s Irani the . iemines! ;' It-s hard In pick outsta'iders from ' the laTg'j cast liu-t O'.ru a huntlred), bttt special : word liiiist be said tor Joe Ashley as Prince Potemkin. Philip Huston as Gregory OrlolV, 'Ghtnles Gerr.-ir'd as Count. Paunin. Bcrni.rd Hoffman' as Pugachcll' and Hubert Long as Alexis Orlof. With the right kind.'Df revision and rewrite, this one will go down us i stage 'spectacle of first water. -"''■''-'• .' Water*. . ' . Chicago. Julv 11. Influx of holiday , visitors aided by a couple of conventions helped box- offlces lasi week. "Kiss and Tell" liit $11,000 at the Harris, and "School for Brides" increased its take to $10.- 500 at the Civic. Despite success tif local run,: "School for Bride*^ closes here July 29,.to open in Ne.w^ork the first week in August: probablv at file Royale theatre. - "Wildflower.'' third of summer series at the Civic Opera' House, opened slowly for about $4- 200 on .firs) three performances. "Uncle Harry" closed' Saturday (gi at the Great Northern to $5,000 and "Oklahoma" was,a .sellout again at the Erlanger to $30,000. Blackstone relights tonight (11) with Gloria ' Swanson in "A Goose for the Gander," and the Selwyn emerges from darkness.next Monday (17), when "Ramshackle Inn" opens with ZaSu Pitts. ..: Estimates for Last Week "Kiss and Tell," Harris (61st week) (1.000: $3). Gained $3,000 to reach SI 1,000. '-'.■;,.-"'.•'.'■' "New Moon," Civic Opera House (2d week) (3,(500: $2:50). Last six performances of second week took $18,000. ■■ ■ ' "Oklahoma," Erlanger (34th week)' (1.500; $4.20). Sellout $30,000. '; "School for Brides," Civic (Bth week) (900; $3). Best week yet with $10.500.h, '. ■;',,". : " "HiicTe Harry," Great Northern (10th week) (1,400; $31. Couldn't sur- vive the heat. Closed Saturday (8). to around' $5,000. "WildHowrr," 'Civic Opera House . (3.600: $2.50). Opened Friday (7), First three performances drew about $4,200. . :•-''•.-.->.:.■- . ':■:'.,' , 'LADIES'$11,000, ^KISS' $8,000 FOR OKAY DET. ... Detroit. July H.';',:;_ Hot weather has made little change on (he prolonged runs at the two, legitimate houses still in operation; "Good Night, Ladies" wound up its seventh week at approximately $11,000 to keep near same pace as in the sixth week. Comedy goes an- othor week before cast sea Hers for vacation. • "Kiss and Tell" al the Lafayelle also held to the same level hi its: third week, over $8.000"to nearly reach second week's figure. Llia Lee has taken over the vacalloniug . Violet Hciuing's role.,V 'Big Ltt^re Show 7 for L. A. Hollywood, July! I I. Assistance League Playhouse re- opens July 18 with "The Big Little Show.", produced by Jack Mosse.r and. booked for four weeks. . -Piece is an .intimate revile in. 26 scenes,With a cast of 20 headed by Frank Mitchell. Billy Nelson. Paby Parker. Aurora and Carlyle. Annette,. Ken Berry and Martar Bros. '_ [ s —:— .:■:- Patent Suit Vs. 'Wind' Patent infringement suit against Herman Shumlin, Kermit Bloomgar. den. Max B. and Lillian Hellman. general partners in "The Searching Wind" company, was filed by Abe Kurnit. an inventor of a ''portable trackage system." patented in JtM2, Suit is filediin N. Y. federal court. According to. the complaint, th* defendants are charged with infring- ing on his exclusive property by manufacturing and using stage seen, ery-shifting equipment, devices and apparatus embodying his inventions. The defendants, Kurnit alleges, are continuing 'the alleged'! ihfrrrigeiTnjflt by using the trackage systems in presenting "Searching Wind" at the Fulton theatre, N. V., although noti- fied of the unlawful acts, Action seeks an injunction, dam- ages and ah accounting of profits. 'DESERT SONG' 7G. TOLEDO . Toledo. July 11 "Desert Song," offered July, 1-9.'-as an outdoor musical for the second time in three seasons, coming only a few,months after the screen attrac- tion: ended the 10-day showing about $5,000 in the red, grossing $7,000. PLAY PUBLISHERS «... . of fh*i« and many othtr dittinguithtd playt EVE OF ST MARK • KITTY FOYLE • MRS MINIVER BEST FOOT FORWARD HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY TRELAWNY OF THE WEILS TOMORROW THE WORID lOST HORIZON • GREAT BIG DOORSTEP • Catolog on request THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING CO.