Variety (Feb 1945)

46 LEGITIMATE Wt&m—Af, February 14, 1945 ?ark , RecordHigh, 4 Show'7 1 / 2 G I lst4, 'Hope' $11,800 in 6, 'Overtons 8G In 7, 'Jones' Up to Wfi in Windup Broadway was quite spotty last ■week, some shows Improving while others dropped at the boxoffice. Reasons included publicity given coal shortage, most frigid weather In more than 20 years (later moder- ated ), and the growing shortage of taxis. The most spectacular jump in business was for '"Carmen Jones, which went up $6;000 in its final week at the : Broadway, takings being $24,500. "Central Park" established new record normal gross—nearly $50,000. Several extra matinees Monday (12). Lincoln's Birthday, mav increase sonic grosses, but it snowed again on Tuesday. Three arrivals last week: Chances of "One Man Show" were indicated to be variable by a divided press, same going for .'.'Hope for the Best.! which got fairly good money, but "The Ovcrtons" appears to be dis- tinctly doubtful. Estimates for Las'. Week Kevs: C (.Comedy), D (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Rcuiie), M (Musical), O {Operetta). "A Bell for Adano," Cort (10th week) (D-1.064; $4.20). Great bell that rocks the. house at finale will ring for long while; $22,000, all it can get. "Anna Lucasla," Mansfield (24th week) (D-1.041; $160). Cleaning up, too; gross close to $20,500. stand- ees for colored cast drama. "Bloomer Girl," Shubert (19th week) (M-l,382; $5.40). One of the best grosser.? and doing plenty well with count of $33,500. "Dear Ruth," Miller (9th week) (C-940; $4.20). Readying a company for Chicago, after selling picture rights for enormous money. "Follow the Girls," 44th Street (44th week) (M-1,462; $4.80). Sturdy musical traveling at excellent clip, and aimed through the summer; $31,- 000 estimated. ' "Good Night, Ladles," Royale (4th week) (F-1.084; $3.60). May catch on. but to date not comparable with Chicago; got more than $10,000. which was promising improvement. "Hope for the Best," Fulton (1st week) (C-946; $3.60). Press not so good; business not comparable to tryout takings; first six times quoted' at $11,800. "Harvey," 48th Street (14th week) (C-923; $4.20). One of the 10 big hits of 'Season, all of 'em cleaning up; . around $19,000. "Hats Off to lee," Center (34yi week) (R-2,994; $1.98). Improved lately and likely to run well into spring: up to $28,500 last week. . "I Remember Mama," Music Box (17th week) (CD-979; $4.20). Com- edy drama of distinction and one of prize-play candidates; $21,500, all it oan get. "Jacobowsky and the Colonel," Beck (48th week) (C-1,214; $3$0). When this hit reaches the year mark It will take to the road; still doing .well enough; around $15,000. "Kiss and Tell," Bijou (88th week) (C-614; $3.60). Bit off but still mak- ing some money arid now slated into warm weather; $9,000. "Lading Room On\y," Winter Gar- den (7th week) (R-1,522; $6).- Start- ed as one of the best grossers on the list hut has plenty of competition: slipped last week to around $37,000. "Lady Says Yes," Broadhurst (5lh week) (M-l,160; $4.80). Bit better than previous week, gross being es- timated at better than $19,000: k , !! Late °« 0lr Ke Apley," Lyceum ■ (12th week) (C-993; $4.20). Varies M only on the upper shelf and the W boxes; otherwise, capacity and not far from $18,000. "Life With Father," Empire (271st week) (C-1,082; $3.60). Holds to fairly good money despite the load . of newer hits; quoted over $10,000: "Mexican Hayride," Majestic (54th week) (M-1,695; $6). Not much change in pace here, which has been offish; rated bit under $25,000, which may. be even break: "Oklahoma," StJ James (97th week) (M-1,529; $4.80). Next sea- son people will still be • hearing "People Will Say We're in Love," in the same theatre; same probably will be true for longer time; $31,000 every week. : "One Man Show," Barrymore (1st week) (C-1,086; $3.60). Drew sharply; divided press but a majority subscriptions out this week and count should-jump. ,, "Snafu." Biltmore (16th week) (C-926; $3.60). Very good on lower floor but curiously light upstairs; paced around $9,000, okay both ways. "Soldier's Wife," John Golden (18th week) (CD-789; $3.60). Perked up and the count was around $9,500: quite okay in limited capacity house, "Sour of Norway," Imperial (25lh week) (0-1.427; $6). Has been standing 'em up most performances since. opening six months ago and will be on the-summer card; $41,000. "ten Little Indians," Plymouth (32d week). (D-1,075; $3.60). An- other show that should be here in warm weather; meller getting over $12,500: "The Hastv Heart/' Hudson (6th week) (D-1,094; $3.60). Doing very well though not up to expected ca- pacity; rated well at aro.und $13,500. ''The Overtons," Booth (1st week) (CD-712; $3.60). After adverse no- tices business weak; rated around $8,000 in first seven times. "The Stranger,"-Playhouse (D-865: $3.60). Presented by Shepard Traube; written by Leslie Reade; melodrama opened Monday (12). "The Voice of the Turtle," Morosco (53d week) (C-986; $4.20). Missed both Saturday performances again: Florence Rice, who subbed for Betty Field, being Indisposed; latter back in cast; $19,000. "Trio," Belasco (7th week) (D- 1.977; $3.60). With theatre problems settled drama took some extra-space ads and is expected to make the grade: around $10,000. "Up In Central PaTk," Century 2d week) (0-1,713; $6). Newest clicker aimed for cleanup: ap- proached $50,000, new legit high in eight times. REVIVAL "The Tempest," Alvih (3d week) (D-1.331: $3.60). Doing so well that it will probably move when "Much Ado About Love" is ready; Shake spcar'e backgrounded with music over $24,500. MOON' $24,000 IN WEEK AT WASH Washington, Feb. 13. 'Dark'of the Moon' T in eight per- formances, under sponsorship of the American Theatre Society, grossed estimated $24,000 at the National theatre last week.. Play" was slugged by two critics; chiefly because of. the "rape" of a woman, ■ and the Wash- ington Times-Herald slugged it as the most daring thing ever put upon a stage. This scene was eliminated in the rewriting. Mae West will come in with Catherine Was Great" to a moun- tain of mail orders, and a brisk win- dow sale, is anticipated. Last time Miss West played here her play was stopped - after one performance at the Belasco. Drama was "The Con- stant Sinner." • Tallulah Bankhead will have a "society" opening when she arrives here with the new Philip Barry play, "Foolish Notion." Parties are- being organized in the Senate and House, where the Bankheads are well re- membered. Her uncle is now the U. S: Senator from Alabama. 'Kiss' Return $15,000 For Solid Indpli. Bis Indianapolis, Feb. 18. "Kiss and Tell," playing a rattan engagement at the English (1,900) Feb. 5-10, took, a solid $14,000 at a S3 top. Season here now lapses until "Harriet," Feb; 22-24, with house al- ready practically a sellout on mall orders alone. Rosalinda," added this week for March 8-10, Is 18th attraction booked for the English this season, giving it the longest string in 15 years. Most offerings have been well supported. 'Notion Great 24G, Hub Weatber Dents Chi; Indians' $15^00, Harriet' 21C Widow 35G, IX % 'Widow' Hit by Storm But Big 11G in N. H. New Haven, Feb. 13. "Merry Widow" battled blizzard here that cost boxofflce an estimated $1,000. Despite storm, three-day stand at Shubert (8-10) snared an estimated $11,000 plus, at $3.60 tops:- vcry big. Current weekend gets Mae West in "Catherine Was Great" (15-17). Break-in of "Much Ado About Love," previously set for Feb. 22-24. ■has been cancelled. Only other show booked is "Bill Comes Back" (March 8-10). . Boston. Feb, 13. Foolish Notion" and "The Clover Rinu"*opcned. last week in the Hub, the rormer under Guild Auspices at the Colonial and a complete sellout from the kickoff, the latter at the Pl.vmouth and pretty much of a washout as a biz getter despite the personal draw of Philip Merivale. . "Catherine Was Great" wound, up its third week in the big money and "Signature!" wound up its second week limping_but_game™All shows, were hit by the blizzard, which all but paralyzed the city for three days beginning Thursday (8), but as the two' money shows had large ad vances and a quick biz at the win dows. the storm didn't affect their grosses too severely. 'Foolish Notion" drew rave no- tices: "The Clover Ring" got hit pretty! hard and folded in Boston on Saturday night (lO) aftbr only seven performances. Haila Stoddard, pro- ducer, gagged. that she was calling thd.show "The Teething Ring," and plans further producing ventures. This week's opener . was "The Merry Widow,"' a return engage mcnt. following the big success, it had at the Shubert. Comes into the -Opera House.for three weeks.- Next is' "Dark of the Moon," Theatre Guild bill at the Shubert Feb.- 19; then "Much Ado About Love." at the Colonial Feb. 23; "The Deep Mrs. Sykes," Wilbur, Feb. 27; "Calico Wedding," Plymouth, March 5. and "A Place of Our Own;"' Wilbur, March.12. Estimates for Last Week "Catherine Was Great," Shubert ff.500: $3). Strong $19,000 on third week estimated in spite of blizzard. "Clover Ring," Plymouth 11,300; S3). Opened Tuesday (6) to luke- warm greeting in the press and did what biz it got on Merivali's name draw. Blizzard also hurt with esti- mated $4,500 in seven performances. Closed Feb. "10. "Foolish Notion," Colonial (1.590; $3.60). Tallulah Bankhead .show caught great notices; and with Guild- Theatre Society support was SRO all week, a blizzard notwithstanding; $24,000 estimated. Final week cur- rent. "Signature!", Wilbur (1,200: $3). Hurl by weather and cool notices' with blizzard counting.out the three final days for a slight $4,000, eight performances. HERBERrS 'KEEPS' BOOKED FOR BRAZII Hollywood. Feb. 13. i F. Hugh Herbert's comedy, "For Keeps." will be first of series of | plays going to Brazil, following suc- cess of John van Druten's "Voice of the. Turtle" there. Play is now being translated Into Portuguese for production in Rio de Janeiro. Herbert's "Kiss and Tell" will follow it. 'Doll's House' Neat $16,000 in St. Louis . St. Louis, Feb, 13. "A Doll's House, with Francis Lederer, Dale - Melbourne, H. B. : Warner, Jane Darwell and Lyle Tal- bot in. the top roles, closed a suc- cessful one-week stand at the American theatre Saturday (10). Nine performances wete presented and the approximate gross was $16,- 000. The 1,700-seat -house was scaled to $3.85. George Abbott's "Kiss and Tell" started an .eight-night stand at the American. Sunday (11). House is scaled to £3.05 and a. hefty advance has been made. WIND' SOCKO PHILLY %lory'40G, Pitt Pittsburgh. Feb. 13. Fact that screen version had a month's run here only a short time ago didn't hurt "Winged Victory" sUt'^e production more than slightly. r ^ , Army Air Force show played to of notice* were "enthusiastic;" ap'-. virtual capacity in the first week of proximated $7,500 in first four per formances. "On the Town," Adelphi (7th week) (M-1,536; $5.40). Among the fortnight's engagement at the Nixon, running up a gross of around $40,000. Top was $4.20 but- a big block of orchestra seats on opening top grossers arid'should clean tip: night went for $12 under sponsor- rated around $39,000 last week. . I ship of a civilian committee which "School for Brides," Ambassador (28th week) (C-1,117; $3.60). Faring well enough for stayer, rated around $9,000 last week, -■."■'>■ "Seven Lively Arts," Ziegfeld , (10th week) (R-1,626; $6). Led the list until "Central Park" arrived but Is in the "place" position with well over $45,000 quoted. "Sing Out Sweet Land," Interna- tional (7th week) (M-1,350; $4.80). Around $23,000 last week, fairly strone for this musical: parties and practically took oyer the precm. 'Ladies' 8G, Cincy ' Cincinnati, Feb. 13." "Good .Night, Ladies," limped to a sorry $8,000 last week in the 1,300- seat Cox at $3 top. Notices were .also sorry. Same show, but with a cast of names, tugged a hefty $16,000 here last season during Holy Week. Cox has "A Doll's House" this week at $3 too. Shows in Rehearsal "A Place of Onr Own"—John Golden. — ■ "lincle Sugar"—John H. Moses, Mark Hanna. "It's a Gift"—Goval. "Bill Conies Back"—John Golden. "The Ueep. Mrs. Sykes"—Stanley Gilkey,. Barbara Payiie. "Much Ado About Love"—Max Gordon. "Happily Ever , After" — Barney Klawalis, Vic Payne-Jennings. Philadelphia, Feb. 13. Paucity of . local legit offerings, which came about suddenly after 'nearly- five months when the four regular local playhouses were almost continuously booked and lighted, seems likely to abate during rest of this, .month and March although there are still some blank dates. With the Shubert relighting last night U2th) after a week's darkness with "One Touch of Venus," Philly has three legiters again this week, other pair being "Searching Wind" at the'Forrest and "Come Be My Love" at the Locust, both in their final weeks: Last-named didn't open until Thursday, thus getting only a nine-day stay. Next week- finds a new one at the Locust in "Calico Wedding," which, however, is not a local preem;- hav- ing a previous break-in in Wilming* ton, On the 26lh, the Walnut re- lights, after a solid month of dark- ness, with "Happily Ever After" a new comedy with the Gene Lock- harts, listed for two weeks, and on that date, loo, the Forrest (after being dark a week) gets "Winged Victory," big Moss Hart army show which reaches here way after film, but is definitely set for a four, weeks' stay with a $4.34 top. Only other staled booking is a return of "The Merry Widow" (Shuberts' revival), this time to the Shubert on March. 5. It was a noar-scllout at the Forrest last fall. The Mask and Wig Club's show (U. of P. outfit's annual musical) got wonderful breaks, both advance, critical and second-thought, but is reported as having the worst open- ing night a Wiggers' show.has had here in some time. This is no re- flection on show ("Hep to the Beat") but undoubtedly due to fact ihat last year club gave only three per- formances—out on the college campus—and that advance advertis- ing campaign was .also curtailed this time. Biz built steadily at the indie. Erlanger. however, and, figuring high scale ($4.50 top), "Hep" prob- ably netted club some profit. There is no tour this year. "The Searching Wind" won su- perior notices, a couple of them raves, in: its opening last Monday at the Fovrost and did a steady and highly satisfactory $22,000 on the week. "Come Be My Love," after its Thursday opening,, reaped a doubtful crop of notices, with at least two slams, one half-way and only one (the local tab) really fa- vorable. However, number of mar- quee names helped "Come Be My Love" get $5,000 in its four per- formances at the Locust with a sur- prisingly good advance sale listed for this—its final—week. Work of players, led by Walter Hampden; was given much greater praise than play itself. . ■ . "One Touch of Venus," which is 'in for three weeks at the Shubert following its last night's debut, re- ported one of. the biggest advances of the year outside of Rose's "Seven Lively Arts." "Venus" is first musi- cal show to come here this season with established Broadway rep. All the rest have been tryouts and four of- them started making their reps ■here. ■— Chicago. Feb. 13. What losses there were at the box- offices last week were blamed on a couple of days of' bad weather. Brownout hasn't affected the grosses as yet, company managers say. Cus- tomers flocked to the Civic Opera on the fourth and last week.of the New Opera's "Merry Widow," bringing closing receipts to $35,000. Cancella- tion of "La Vie Parisiennc" leaves the house dark until Feb. 26, when "Blossom Time" comes in for three weeks. "Over 21," scheduled to open Mon- day (5), did hot open until the fol- lowing night, due to scenery not ar- riving ori time. Ruth. Gordon, star of the show, is announcing her retire- ment from the stage at the end of . this engagement.. Estimates for Last:Week '.. "Chicken Every Sundav, Black- stone (3d week) (1,200: $3). Bud weather hurt take; slipped to $14,000. "Glass ; Menagerie," Civic (7th ■ week) (900:. $3.60). Advertising last weeks despite near-capacity receipts of $16,200. , "Harriet," Erlanger (4th week)' (1,- 500: $3.60). Next to last week drew very good $21,000. "Searching Wind" follows, opening on Feb. 20.. "Merry Widow," Civic Opera House (4th week) (3,600;.$3.60). Rush to boxoffice on last week. Show closed Sal. (10), pulled big $35,000. "Over 21," Studebaker (1st week) (1,400; $3). . Lost one performance due to accident. First seven per^ formances. garnered $9,000. "Ten Little Indians." Harris (14th week) (1,000: $3). Off a little, but not much. Got $15,500: "Voice of the Turtle," Selwyn (19lh weclO (1.000; $3). Sellout $20,600. Engagements Happy Felton, Helen Twclvetrees; "Night-shift." Michael Strong, Marjoiie Peter r son; "It's a Gift." Richard Widmark, Jayne Cotter,- Judy Holliday, Robert Allen, Vir- ginia Kaye; "Uncle Sugar." Jean Dixon, N e i 1 ' Hamilton, Richard Martin; "Deep Mrs. Sykes." Victor Jory, Judith Evelyn, John Clubly, Sara Floyd, Florida Friebus, Edwin Redding, Patsy O'Shea, WiV liam J. Kelly, Paul Porter, • Jr., Phoebe Foster; "Bill Comes Back." 'OKLAJ' 141G ADVANCE, 80G RETURNED, DEL ...-': Detroit, Feb. 13. Four days before "Oklahoma!" was scheduled to open here at the Cass, $80,000 in checks were bouncing back to disappointed theatregoers. It also docs not count in the would-be fans who got into the long boxoffice queues to discover that the four weeks had been sold out far in ad- vance of the opening. The advance sale put $141,000 in the coffers a week in advance of the "Oklahoma!" appearance here. Mail . orders were so heavy that 8,000. of them had to be returned with the checks, averaging $10 apiece. Receipts would have been higher for the four weeks except that ■ the first two weeks were reserved for Theatre Guild subscribers, which meant upward of 5,000 seats going ' with a 20?; markdown from the $4.20 top. Dipping back inlo town, Katherine Dunham's "Tropical Revue" garnered estimated $16,000 at the Cass last- week. It was taken o.ver by the La- fayette. With the entire four weeka sold out, "Oklahoma!" moved into tha Cass Monday. Henry Duffy's "Merry-Go-Roundr ers" sagged to $7,100 in its third week at the Lafayette, and was closed. "Tons of Fun" followed up its first week's $12,800 with $12,000 at the Wilson. It continues for an- other two. 'Othello'Finals With 30G for L.A. Stand Los Angeles, Feb. 13. Boxoffice coin registered little change last week from the lush mool'a. pulled in during the preceding seven days. "Othello" did another sellout at the Biltmore on the third and final stanza with $30,000. Show pulled $90,000 oh the three weeks and; it was estimated, over 40,000 would-be ticket buyers were turned away. Ken Murray'^"Blackouts of 1945" kept up its pace of $14,800 on the 137th week at El Capitan. "Maid in the Ozdrks" hit another $9,500 for the 18th session at the Bel- asco, and "Honey in the Hay"' at the Musart dropped slightly to $3,800 for its seventh stanza. . Landi-'Candida' OK $7,800, Toronto Toronto, Feb. 13. ... Elissa Landi in Shaw's "Candida" grossed a very satisfactory $7,800 at the Royal Alexandra with 1,525- seater scaled at a - light $2.40 top. Weather, was bad all week. Supporting Miss Landl were Bram Nossen. Richard HyHon, and A. P. Kaye. Directed by Alexander Klrk- land. G-S $9,600, K. C. Kansas •Citx, Feb. 13. The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co. drew okay notices from the crix here and-grossed an estimated $9,600 for four, performances in the 2,572-seat Music Hall of the Municipal Audi- torium last weekend (8-10). Top for the bills, which included 'The Mikado," "Trial By Jury," "H. M. S. Pinafore" and "Pirates of Penzance," was $3 for nights and $2.50 for a matinee. Veloz-Yolanda 10G, MpU. Minneapolis, Feb. 13. Veloz & Yolanda drew virtually capacity, $10,000. in two nights and a matinee at the 2,100-seat Lyceum. Top was $3. . "Ramshackle Inn" is current, with. "Merry Widow" and "Kiss and Tell" to follow. - 'Widow' 27G, Seattle Seattle, Feb. IS., "Merry Widow" at the Metropoli- tan in nine days grossed swell $27,000. The 1,500-seater was scaled from $3.25.