Variety (Dec 1944)

Wednesday, December 18, 1944 LEGnnHATB Chi Withstands IVeO^m . Chicaf 0, Dec. 12. Limited roL^ter of letit attractions on hand, but all are flourishing in the fHce of Christmas-buying flurries. "I'orgy and Bess.'' here for a •week, cleaned' up $38,000, with a. strong benefit sendglT, de.spite cancellation of Wedne.sday performance In favor of playing at wyunded vets' hospital here. "Oklaliomal" nioyes out Jan.-8 lo make way for Helen Haye.s' '"Har- riet," openinji'Jan. 8, continuing a $30,000 sellout, but"Voice of tlie Tur- tle," with no closing in View, is also R S'20,600 .'Jclldul. • Ten Jjillle Indians" continued at a good $16,000. willr"Star and Garter" and "Ki.-is and "fell" doing okay $21,- 500 and $11,000, respectively. ' Estrmalcs for Lattl Week "Kliis and Tell," Studcbaker , C83d wceki (1.400; $3). Still going strong with $11,000. "Oklahoma!" ErlangerO.'ilh week) a..')00: $4.20). Theatre Guild biggies from N. Y.—'Theresa Helbiirn, Rout ben Mamouli?n. Lawreiice Lansncr. etc.—came In Saturday t9) to cele- brate with Chi. L-Jifi: its .500th per- formance and to get a (Irst-hand look . at that weekly sellout take of $30,000. "Porjy and .Bess," Civic Opera House (3.600: $3). Onfe-week .stand grabbed oir a salisiactpry $38,000. "Star jind Garter," Blabk.stone (4th week) (1.200: .54.20-$4.80): Slipped a little, but pulled a gobd $21,500, any- way, with spven nights and one niati- iiec. "Ten : Mttle IndUpa," Harris (Sth week) (1.000: $3). Fifth stanza drew steady $16,000. "Voice of Uie Tiirlle/' Selwyn (lOth week) (1.000: $3.60). Advancie sales «till hefty for this $20,600 sellout. 'Kiss'NSG With S^G; Yule Shopping Hurts LA; . : Loi Angelet, Dm Christmas shopping' began heavy inroads in local legit last week,, with' one show foldlngi another getting its notice and even the standard long- runs feeling the pinch. Coming.back for its third stand within the year at the Blltmore, "Kiss and. Tell" .<!queaked out $B;500 on.the first week. "White .Cargo", folded last Wednes- day at the Mayan and "Petticoat Feyer" slid to $1,900 at the Musarl with the notice: going up; "Maid in the- Ozarks" sliced off a grand to hit $9,000 at the Belasco for its ninth week. Ken Murray's "Black- outs of 1944," although maintaining its solid $14,800 for the 128th week, -sees a dip in the offing for the cur- rent stanza. Actors Can't Escape Their Agents Even On Foxhole Circuit SS^k trtWiV Not So Happy 'Returns' At $11,800 in PhiUy; Neat . $13,000 for/Sophie; 2d Philadelphia, Doc. 12. While holiday shopping ; and exr pected pre-Xmas slump conditions pulled down,. Itgit b.o. attendance somewhat and especially, cut into ad-, vance- sale . of coming shows, last week's biz was generally - okay. "Glad to See You;" in its fourth and final . s«6sioii at the Shubert, dropped ' another notch or ' Ik) to a scant $20,300-^a long way below the first week's gross In the high 3V»; however, considering original bad impression made by show and ad- verse pressj there could be few com- plaints, Show's running time Is how okay but It Is still suffering, from 'EmH\ $5,000 in 4 At New Haven Bow Naw Haven, Dec. 12. "Tba Hasty Heart" drew appro.xi- Btataly tB,OM In lour $3-t«p per- formancas at the Shubert last weck- and (7:9). This was .only lair cash, but braak-in got optimistic noticc.<<. Currant week has Rosarid and An- tonio in Spanish dance recital lor one night, and "Sophie Halenczik, Anier- loan" for thj^aa days C14-16). House goes dark Xmas week, then resumes with pramilare ol "Hope for the Best'" (Franchot Tone) Dec. 28-30. BVay Spotty;'Arts IM 011st 5 With $24 Top at Debut Adano' Also fio^atieGinS'Glove'IGM^^ ■.■■'.■'.■■ ■ ■ ■, " ■.. • ■ • , Some shows on Bi-oadway slipped i week)- (M-1.387; $6). Held to. nearly .further Uist week due to irnmiaciice.| the. same takings being e&timated. Legilers playing overseas for Uoops lii following showij can be reached through addresses listed below: . rMO-fmiip Hhow >'o. 407, In a Fum- lly": cliHrlvH: Hutl^rwoilli, I.UHlla Qeiir, VuxInlH J>uni)liiK. Oiiortce- IlHvvJey Shiivv, Jrttttno SdmpMoii. Anit .MaHon. Antliuny-Rly- «r(i, liniitilloii- Mull, X:)rk -W.al^ia, J/orrnlDfl l.ewiH, Ifoiiey .M:ii-Kf>ux,Ic, AVllllnin 'l*lminafi plhir: APO Xo. JSV^;t. i/o I'OftihHMter, ann Friinfl54'0. rSO-<;Anip Show No. 371, "Junior ]JIh»": j'eani^on, .Jti;it» .lacKHini. (.'arol A?tiin]tiHr, Boil l^(:klniid> Or^lla Ahleit. Sherry Ueii- nett. Olirr-Jlall, JIniilPt While. John Irnyi*. Ai-thiii' C'LvtiiiiuiKli. KIchard V4h. Jtuuerl BHroi). JtiirUm Stun?. Kd. WmjUii: AVO No.. (Hear), cA> romniHiner. New y»il(. l-SO-riiin|» Shutv No. 4«'j. Stork Com- pHiiy ("Tli«1*hlln«lH|iltlft Story." "Fetll- :«MiHt Fiivor," r«r*toniil Apimmnce." 'Mdlt of. •lantiAry ieth")i .loan ' Hnrn- Ki-^y, .loitnihnn Manlt*. M:if[e Kfitney. Helen bHrun. .St. Joltii 'J'en'el, Loiilfie T^ara- boe, .Tiiinea i^ce, (ilrace C^ainey, JHnKt^ neii- uio, JTii^»joll. ' rhrkpv. Murkt }lui<'hlBOn, Ralph CulUnnn: AJ'O N*o. HtMS. .c/o Potil- inaaier, San F*iiini'lHi'o. . VSO-ramp Shoir No. 347. "l*orfy aod -II41HI1'': .Tohii Ghi Ih. Franoea Brock, BoUby Johnaon. William V«aaey,' Kloli;e . Ursanta,, AuUrfvy VniutM.iHiol. Oladyit Gnoile, St>l bry- ■on; (jeoi'Kft.Xlin-filiull. .Tn}ila)i Albrifrhr. Hoh- •rl AVooillnntl. Thoniaa'Moneley, Dave ■V'lea. rHlhei-lne Van Huron, Cumilne Brown, Judy Tmthnfr, Rll/.aholh S<oU: APO No. ItTftd, c/o PosliiiHSlOi'. Sho FniUflaf'b. Harriet'J27,50D,'King' $19,300 in Big Detroit . Detroit, Dec: 12. Big -{rbsscs Were'clicked up here again last week. Helen Hayes in "Harriet" garnere'd a choice S27.500 at the Cass in the second week: First week's flfiiire at the ?3 ton had been $2S,200. It was followed in Monday by "Rebecca" set for two weeks. Also imoroving was "The 'Waltz King" at Itie Lafayette which, at $2.50 top, climbed to $19,300 in its second week bcyoiid the original plan of three weeks. The TVilson sta.v.s dark until Dec. 15,. when "Porgy and.Bess" moves'ln Dodge Coin Continue'd from page 1 Jion. Opera house was operated by D. T. Nederlander, aiid during the depression he siarted suit for . re- straint of trade-after Stair and Shu- beii mlide a deal whereby road Jshows would play the Cass only. Nederlander was declared. In for a percentage of proflta and dropped the action. ' With business on the upbeat a year or so; ago. Shubert leased the Wil?6n, with SUir and Nederlander interested, but dropped $28,000 in tlx weeks and <)uit. ' Shubert took over": the Lafayette la:', season, with the others declared, in. The house doesn't compete with the Cass and is making money with -pop-prices. Nederlander is the manager. ' Paul Williams, general hianager of the \yilson, was In New York last week getting data on theatres which may be ,t)n the market^ also angling for attractions for the theatre. Tlie new play: at the Walnut— "Many Happy Raturni'—got univar- sally' thumbs-down notlcee. - New Clare Kunrimcr comedy picked up some trade on iti namei, however, especially Mary Aitor, but-had .to ba satisfied with |ll,80Q, of which a lot was advance tala. This week doesn't look any too hot but may pick up. "Sophie Halencelk, American" lur- prised' In Ita second and flhal stanza at tha Locust by puUing-^ a distinctly satisfactory |13,00u, which marked an upward jump and was generall}r con- sidered, good for show at this time. "Lady of .■?, after two postpone- ments, finally got 'opan at tha Forrest Saturday night with $9,700 or'a little more reported on single perform- ance; Crlx ware for mo^t part not kind, but all Emphasized -the looks of the girls, the work of Bobby MorrU and Sue Ryan, -the gorgeous back- grounds and the show's extra-dlrtv dirt. It will prppably. do; pretty well here in two All weeks remaining. ; Two showsqpanad last night (Mon- day), ''Sinf 0?f», iwaat Land," The- atre auUa musical, at the Sthubert, and Katherina Dunham's "Tropical Revue" (return) at Hta Locust. Ad- vance sal* wr .bpin waa olsappolnt- Ing with 1Mi3 Dunham's, however, holding out moirt promise. Two weeks for both. Next Monday , finds no openings but Shubart, Locust and Forrest will all be lighted during the traditionally poor tire-Xmas week. Line-up of hollaay shows Is now pretty deflnita^y established. There will, be two Xmas night openings— "Over 21" with (and by) Ruth Gor- don, in for 4v9 or six weeks at the Walnut, and "Oood Night, J>dles," which has an Indenriite stay listed at the Locust. - On Tuesday (M) Chejryl Crawford will preem hw big ravlvil of Shake- speare's seldom-glv^ *. Tempest" at the Shubert with Canada Lee and Zorina starred. Its In for two weeks. And on Thursday <M) Mika todd's new musical, Central Park, ia due lo'bqw in at the Forrest for two and a half weeks. January bookings are so far uncertain, with only Billy Rose's "Carmen Jones" (return) set for the Shubert on the 8th and the "International Ballet" skedded at the Forrest on the 32d (for two weeks, which is something unprecedented In ballet here). : 'Abie' 7G, Montr«al "Abie's Irish Montreal. Dec. 12. Apft," playing the As Lawrence 15G; 1.365-seater His Majesty's theatre, .scaled at $1.09 top,, did only fairish biz here on an estimated gross of $7,000. House, filled' with paper first ■half-week, selling'seats at a 40% re- duction. Big counter-attraction In the "Ice-Capade.s'' and' Christmas .shopping :a5sl£ned as reasons ' for slump; ."Rose" will, howeyet, run another week. SHUB£B!f9"WID0W' 980 The Shuberts' Coast company of ''Merry Widow" grossed an estimated $28,8Q0 in eight performances last week, including Dcs Moines, SiouiT Falls, Sioiix City, Omaha and Kansas City. Boston, Dec. 12. Week's openers here were •Ei ijind for Berriice," the lhree-ch;ir;i(.(er Gertrude Lawrence show, mul "Ti'dii)- ical Aevue," back In town for .u .sec- ond visit with some hew iiiiitoiial. "Errand" was . generally : thumbed- down in Hub press and ' KOt what gross it achieved on name draw. "Dear Ruth" remained SRO for ils second and final \veek, as did "Lad- ing Robiii'Only" oh its next-lo-la.st. '"Tropical Revue," avoiding Ihi.s time any censorship notoriety, .slid into a comfortable: gross at the Opera House, and "Sing Out, Sweet Land." finishing lip at the Colonial, trailed en fourth week. Local.Tributary theatre csemi-pro) did pramlera of O'Casey's "Purple Dual" hai-a last wack, but play was pretty ganarally slapped around by local drama erlx. . This waak finds, an opening Mon- day, Tuaaday and Wednesday niiihts. with ''Ifartv; Heart,'' "Glad to See You" and -On the Town". debuUng' in that •rdat. foUowlac weak "£ophie Halcn- CBik, Amanaan - bows at the Plym- MUB en Dm. as 'it Is "The Bait*^ at the Copley. Miir. openings i with of . two) are "Many Plymouth, "A iai, '•Brief and ' Slar lUbart tha Colonial oi.-i Jan I. and 'lallat International'' at the i^para House same night. BsMm««s for Laat Week : "Dear Bath," Wilbur (1,200; $3). Mleut entire w«ek. Just over esti- mated $l$iOOO. -"Hasty Heart." with iilea advance, opened here last night (U). . ': "Krrand for Bcrnlee,^' Plymouth (1,S00; $3.60). Play severely knocked by arltlcs but planty of compliments for Miss Lawrence. Name draw re- sponsible formpdarate$16,000.Final w*ak of threarcnaracter play current. . "LaSIhg.goam Only.'' Shubert (1,- 800; $4.J0-$4.M). 'Virtually no slack- ing oft on fifth week, with $32,000 aatlmatad.. nnal' week curi-ent. "Sing Out, tweet Laud," ColcAiial (1,BOO: .$4:M). Theatre Guild pro- duction slaekaning off on fourth and ^al week eonoluded Sat: (9). with $18,000 estimated. "On the Town" opens here tomorrow night (13). possible Happy aetjjiraf" at the Plymo Lady of at nf Colonial, Hoirdays" |l Am Wilbur, anc Tlmr «} Mubart. "The Tern- past'' folipws at ° ! 'falfat Ii "Tropl optoal Ravne," Opera House (>,W0; $1$0). One-week stand of Dunham show In return engagement found:nice business If not spectacu- lar, estimate running to S20:000. "Glad to Sea You" delayed, opens here Thursday (14). - 'Victory'Boffo $45,000 In Week at St. Louis St. Louis, Dec. 12. The Avmy Air Forces .show. "Winged Victory, wound up its one- week stand Saturday (9) in the Henry W.: Kiel auditorium with a sockeroo gross of approxiinatcly $40,000. 'Largest single-night reocipt.s, over $7,80(), was reilstered Friday (8). and tha SRd sign was out for the last two performances. . "Sleep NO More," with. Taylor Holmes, at Aniarlcan theatre, was presented nlhe times during its first stanza that wound up Saturday '9)^ and with house scaled to' $3.05 grabbed meagre $8,500. .. Crlx gigged the'piece plenty. Two rainstorms. at night and oppo.sish from "Winged 'Victory" didn't do "Sleep" any good. tamily/ Fair 5G, Denver Denver, Dec. 12. With a $2.B3 top, "Three Is a Fam- ily" did a fair $5,100 In three shows —two nights and a matinee—at TWu- nlclpal Alidltorluffli which has 3,271 seats, Arthur H. Oberfelder, who books the audltbrliuti shows, has rhore than the usual number of legits booked this winter and Is hoping to get more. Next few Include "Merry- Widow," Dec. 13-lfl; "Sons of Fun," Jan. 2-4; "Gypsy Baron," Jan^ 9-8. of: Christmas but in general tliore sceihod to'be a .sliRht bctterincnt. iil- 'iUoiij4h agency bu.sinc.ss cii.secl od 'aiid .sioics icporled exiensivc .■^alo:'; o; cosily gifis. ■■Seven Lively. Arts" opened aflor beihu touted plenty and in (Ive.per- foi'n-iuncps becanie.the top ;i;i o.s,<ei- on Uie list, aided bv a S24 tbp lirst ii;"ht. OveV S4.5.000 in' first live linus.- An- other clicker arrived the niyhl be- fore .\vhcn ".V ^ell lor Adaiio " pre- miered to press acelaiin. .m-tlin.u around Sl(i.O()() in (he lirjsl .live times | "Snufu." and reported a sellout. "Hand in 1094: $3.00) GloxTcf" drew mi.s'ed iiotlce:s biit fai bii.slne.ss. Estimates tor I.asl .-tVeek .Kei;s;. G (Cojiicdi/J. D (Drama). CD (Comedy-DThma).-: R. (Itcvitc). U.(Mimcai)..0. (Operetta): •■.\ Bell for Aduno," Cort 11st wcckJ iD-1.064; $4.'20j. Looks like new dramatic hit; grossed SIG.OOO in first.five times; can get heai:ly ; 22.- 000 on full week; •'Angel Street." Bi.iou (ISClh week). (D-614; $3.60). .Winding up .soon ard may go to. road after New Year's; down to around $5,000 or le.ss. hardly profitable at that level. "Aiina Lucasta,'.' Mansfield il'>th week) (D-1,033;-.$3.60). Went lip .slightlv, with sock colored cast drama rated at $20,400. "Bloomer Gin," Shubert (10th week) .(M-1,382; $5,40). .Living up: to first-night predictions when the preponderant opinion was thumbs lip: .$34,000. which is capacity plu.s. "Carmeii Jaiies," Broadway i,S4th ■.-■c.ekt : iM-1,900; $3). Jumped to $24,000. having started. Sunday per- formances which were big; may stay indefinitely. ■ ~ , "Catherine : Was. Great," Rovale (19lh week) (CD-998: $4.80). Picked up ■ somewhat last week and: wa.s quoted around $18,000; doinK all right. . > . "Chicken Bvery Sunday." Plym- outh (36lh we6k) (C-l.d75; $3.60). Off like most other stayers but. slated here indefinitely;; dipjped bit under $11,000, which is good enough at this period. ' ■ . "Dear Bu(h," Miller (C-940: $3.60): Presented by Joseph M. Hyinan and Bernard Hart; .written by Norman Krasna: rated as -very good out of town: opens tonight (13). . "Embeziled Heaven," National iD- 1.164; $3.60). Resumed Monday (U) after month'.s layoff due to Ethel Barrymore's illness; Guild subscr'ip- tion.s will help. "Follow the Girls," 44th Street (35th week) (M-1,462; $4.80). Hold-, ing'up like real thoroughbred; quoted well over $35,000, nOt mtich uncter capacity. "Maud In Glove," Playhouse (1st week) < D,-865; $3.60). Fair prospect for new thriller, which drew favoir- abje Sunday (10) comment; first week around $7,000. Harvey," 48th Street (8th week) fC-925:. $4.20). Comedy wow of the town'with advance sale extending to •AH many weeks for which tickets are. printed- $18,500. . "Hats on te Ice," Center (2511) week) (R-2,9a4; $1.98). Rink revue at Radio Gity cleaning up; gives nine performances weekly; dipped because of prc-Xmas but real coin: over $3.5.000. "I . Remember Mama," Music (8th week) (GD-979; $4.20). Resaj'd-: cd by many as best comedy drama on Bioadway; advance sale as .strons las IhM for "Harvey"; $21,500; capac- ■ it.v. , ■ "In Bed We Cry," Bela.sco (4th week) (0-1.077; $4.20). Slipped to i.arourid $8,000 but de.spite biz it is dated to play into January or'longer. "Jacobowsky . aind the Colonel." Beck (39lh . weak) (C-1,214: $3.60): About held its own; though (inder early pace, still making goodly money; $16,500. . > "Kiss aiid Tell," Biltmore (89lh week) (C-926; $3.60). Dipped and due to be succeeded by "Snafu" after New Year's; estlrhated under $8.000.. "Late George Apley,'^ Lyceum (3d week) (C-993; $4.20). Real class hit that looks In for long run; again arouhd:'$IB;000; all It can get at scale.' ■ ■ "Life With Father," Empire (266th week) :(C-1,0B2; $3.60). Has been off but still operating profitably; slightly over $10,QOO quoted. . "Mexican Hayrldc," Winter Gar- den (35th week) (M-1,423: $6). Some .shows improved last week after post Thanksgiving slide; this one quoted around $37,500;. moves- to Majestic next Monday (18>; "Laffing ROom Only" coming here Dec. 23. . "Oklahoma!" St. James (88th week) (M-1,529; $4.60). Popularity contests would find champ operetta around the top; sells put regularly plus .standees: $31,000." "One Taocb of Venns," 46th Sticcl (62d week) (M-1,319; $4.80). Off at matinees and rain hurt on Fridny (8), but still getting real money; $29,000 quotecl. "Sadie Thompson," Alvlh (4th around $30,000, with parties a factor. I "School for Brides," Ambassador. ' ilfllhweek) (C-1.117; S3.60). Slated (hroiish winter; oft" to around $10,000, . but will pick up .with'the others after . Christmas. I "Seven Lively Arts," Ziegfeld (R- •l.(i20; S61. Jumped to assured great. : sVdyl: topped $45,000 in first live times (preview included), which is nearly ,' capacity on week: quoted getting ] about $21,300 oh opening night, when . top u-as $24. Hudson (7th week) (C-l.- Better la.-;t week, which \ iiidic'ates this comedy's draw; $12,500; I \vill. move to ..Biltmore sopir to make . vvav for ■■The'Ha.siy Heart." I "Soldier's Wile," .rohn Golden (10th : woelo (CD-789: $3.60). Rated one of ■ the besl plays this sea.son. arid should be here .when warm weather comes;^ : improved to belter than $12,000: ".Sonj -of Norway," Imperial (leth ■ week I IO-1,427: S6 ). Doing even belter than originally quoted enor- mous Kro.sse.s; real count ?iven at S41.30P and more every week; just a • n)a!ter of standees. , I ."Ten l.llire Indians," BrOadhurst 1 (23d week) (D-1,160; $3.60). Slipped pp arOund $12,000 and may move to r inake way for sturdier draw; early ' sea.son sticcess is away out-in front. I "The Perfeel Marrlage.v Barrymore (7lh ■vveekV (CD-1.115; $3.60). Doing all rit;ht; with:aid of parties the gross u'?s im a bit, takings approximaiing $14,000. : . ,: "The Searching Wind," Fulton (35th week) fC-948: S4.20). Long stayer has been casing off, and la.st week's tak- injis fiitured at aroUnd $9,000; goes to the road Jan. 22: . "The Two Mrs. Carrolls," Booth (C5th week) (C-648; $4.20); La.st sea- s(>n clicker still, in the money, and exocctcd to span second . season; mi.s.sed, Friday and .Saturday per- lormances; J Elisabeth Bergner had ■bad throat: previous week, $12,000. "The Voice of the Turtle,*' Morosco (44tli week) (Ct896; $4.20). Standout from the start, with capacity all per- formances: takings around $22,000, standees aiding. ADDED . "Speow Scandals,"'President. Was stopped Saturday (9) after two per- formances. Ballet Internalianal, International. Finales in two weeks;seat sale on for "Sing Out, Sweet Land,"'new legit musical. REVIVAL "LiHle women," N. Y, City Center (0-2,693: $2.40). Revived for limited period by Eddie. DOwling; opened Tuesday (12). i GORDON-'OVER 21' ONLY $12,500 IN prn Pittsburgh, Dec. 12. Ruth-Gordon in."Over 21" ran into heavy Christmas shopping crowds last week and had to be content with only around $12,500 at Nixon. No- body lest dough at that'figure, but s'liow was figured to do belter than that considering its Broadway rep, the success of Chi run and the way the crix locally' went overboard for it. Played to $2.60 top. - . Nixon currently dark, due to can> tcllalion of "Dark Hammock," and will be until Xmas nifiht, when Ger- trude Lawrence comes in with "Er- rand for Bernice." Legit hoijse's January lineup now complete. "Bo-" nanza" starts month on the first, with ",Star in Your Window," "Hope for the Best." "Student Prince" and ".Star Time" following in that order. 'Hammock' Slugged By Crix in D. C, Gets 9!4G . Washington, Dec. 12. "Dark HSmrtiock," hew play by Mary Orr-Reginald Denham, slugged by crixi only managed to gross $9,500 In eight performances at the Nation- al theatre. 1 Ditto pans oh its Broiad- way preem.) Ruth Gordon in ''Over 21" cornea in this week (U) with a bealthy de- mand. Then, the Eva Le GalUenne- Joseph Schildkraut revival of "The Cherry Orchard," tmder American Theatre Society auspices. Franchot Tone in "Hope for the Best" prcihieres New Year's eve. If will be offered in Washington under the ac.is of Gilberl. Miller. 'LadiesM2a Mpls. Minneapolis, Dec. 12. ' "Good Night, Ladies," $3-topper at 2.300-seat Lyceum, did fair $12,000 In seven nights and. two matirtees last week. Balcony was well filled, but lower ..floor comparatively licht at mo.st performances. Al Roqen, co- owner, new In from Hollywood to make some cast and other'cbange;, and then went'east to orsanize ail' other company, which .will pUy sev- eral eastern stands before openhig In New York next month,: