Variety (May 1945)

Wednesday, May 30, 1945 LEGITIMATE 53 'Ruth' Capacity $20,500 in Chicago, 'Jake' lS^G, 'Du Barry NG $15,000 . Chicago, May 29. • It's been from one extreme to the other this week. "Mme, du Barry," first in Shubert-Opera House pro- duced summer operetta series, fin- ished two-week stretch Sunday (27) with $15,000, same as opening week, which is the worst take in the 16- vear history of the 3,600-seater. ''Dear Ruth," on the other hand, was In its second capacity stanza, with $20,500, after that not-too-hefty $16,- 000 opener. "Life With Father," making its third bow here, opened with fair advance sales Tuesday (29), and "Countess Maritza," second Shubert- Opcia House songfest on the agenda, is thrice as good in the advance dept. as "du Barry," to cue fact that summer gimmick is finally catch- ing on. Latter opened big Monday (28). "Jacobowsky and the Colonel." which folds here June 9, despite biz' that's building steadily, hit $18,500 in second Theatre Guild , subscrip- tion week. "Voice of the. Turtle" still clicking merrily along with $19,000. Estimates for Last Week "'Dear Ruth," Harris (6th week) (1,000; $3.60). Still doing capacity $20,500. "Jacobowskv and the Colonel," Blackstone (2d week) (1.200; $3.00). Folds June 9. despite hefty takes. Got $18,500 this time. ■ '■.-£ "Mme. du Barry," Opera House (2d week) (3,600; $3.60). Only $15,- 000, with house scaled at $58,829— which is the lowest Opera Hou.se take since it opened in 1929. Did nine performances, as against last week's eight, when they also hit $15,000, to make matters worse. "Valce of the Turtle," Selwyn (34th week) (1;000: $3.60). Steady $19,000, just $1,600 off capacity. BERGNER HOT $14,500, CLOSES Pin SEASON Pittsburgh, May 2!). Elisabeth Bergner closed legit sea- ion here last week with satisfactory $14,500 in "Two Mrs. Carrolls" at Nixon. That's jitst about 13 grand more than the show originally .did here seven years ago when play was tried out by Elena Mirsmova, Earle Larimore and Frances Starr. Play, which came here at $3.60 (including tax) top. got off to very ordinary start but kept building on strength of notices hailing Miss Bergner (play itself was rapped). It was the first time she'd ever been «een here on the stage. Wind-up of aeason found Nixon with 32 weeks under; its belt and one of the best total grosses in a long time. ■ 'Harriet'-Hayes Socko $24,300 in Frisco San Francisco, May 29. Biz terrific at both legit houses in this money-loose town. Helen Hayes, in "Harriet," closing its run at the 1,550-seat, $3.60-top Geary theatre^ chalked up $24,300 for a six-day week with eight shows. Sellouts continue weeks ahead at the 1,776-seat Curran, where the San Francisco Civic Opera Co. grossed $31,300 with eight performances of "Desert Song" at $3.90 top. Season tickets cut the price lower for the same seats. 'Sing Out'Still Plenty Red After Tour Windop After winding up a tour which concluded to excellent takings, the Theatre Guild's musical. "Sing Out. Sweet Land," proved to be as much in the red as when it opened, a su.r- prise except to" the management. Explanation was that although it had good weeks on the road, the oper- ating profit just about balanced the loss registered for weeks When the grosses were disappointing, while transportation costs were high. Show cost around $130,000. some of which may be won back through the pic ture rights and a probable tour next season. "Sing" did best in Washington where in three weeks it got $83,000. Guild's 12,000 subscribers in the cap ital, plus 3,000 in Baltimore, were factors in the engagement. ' 'SOLDIER'S WIFE' 18G, HUB; 'LADIES' 14C Boston, May 29. Competition from Ringling circus should have hurt legit b.o. biz some- what the past week. However, "Good Night, Ladies" rolled along better in eighth week at the Shubert, and "Kiss and Tell," which closed Saturday (26) after six fine weeks, actually picked up at end in the Plymouth, "Soldier's Wife" has fine prospects at the Wilbur. In store for Boston are two world preems, "The Wind Is 90," opening at Colonial. June 1, and ' "Oh, Brother," starting at Plymouth June 4. Estimates for Last Week 'Kiss and Tell," Plymouth (1.4O0: $2.40). Excellent $13,000 for closing week. Within two years has run a total of 17 weeks here. "Good Night, Ladies." Shubert (1,500; $2.50). Ran up $14,000 plus. "Soldier's Wife," Wilbur (1,241; $3). Wow biz of $18,000 under Guild auspices. 'Snafu'lHWAt" $2 Top in Washington Washington, May 29. 'Snafu" in eight performances grossed $11,000 at the National the- atre last week. This was considered remarkable as the play came in at $2 top. A long line was attracted Thursday for the San Carlo Opera compaivy. in repertoire, and $6,500 was in the till at the end of the first dsiy's snlt\ "Marinka," founded on the legend of "Mayerling," comes in at $4 top on June 4. It features Joan Roberts and Jerry Wayne as the singing leads. There are some 75 people on the stage, with Hassard Short direct- ing, costuming by Mary Grant, and dances by Albertina Rasch. 'Catherine Great* 9V Z G In 3 Days, Columbus Columbus, 6., May 29. Final curtain on Mac West in "Catherine Was Great" t$9,500 for three days) folded 1944-45 season at Hartman, Columbus' lone legit the- atre. Past seven months saw the largest number of legit attractions booked at this house since 1931, with all doing steady to socko biz. Standout, was "Oklahoma!," which played seven days to $32,000. Most others did split weeks. TTwood Pinafore' Wow 30G, Philly Philadelphia, May 29. "Hollywood Pinafore" gave "Okla- homa!" plenty of opposition last week and left the Shubert Saturday night with everybody agreed that the big Max Gordon musical could have lingered here tfi heavy grosses lor a coupla more . weeks at least. It achieved a two weeks' mark of be- tween $62,000 and $65,000 in the face of one adverse and one very luke- warm notice; $30,000 last week. "Oklahoma!'s" only other • opposi- tion last week, was an also-ran. It was "Round Trip." straight comedy tryout which opened at the Locust on the 15th and completed a very pale and dismal 2nd week on Satur- day night with less than $4,000 grossed. The Theatre Guild's magic-maker continued on its serene way. and seat sale for July and August is an- nounced to start next Tuesday, with June already sold out. Management is emohasizing fact in press copy that show may not linger here after Labor Day because of Coast commit- ments, but the betting Jocallv is that it stavs well through the fall season if not right up or through the holi- days. Current pace is $37,600. only variation being a matter of standees and amounting to less than a hun- dred dollars. Shuberts have aoparently definite- ly decided to call it a season here except lor "Oklahoma!'. Walnut. Locust and Shubert will be shuttered within a few days unless there's a sudden change of. mind in New York —and that-doesn't seem likely. A cooling-system in anyone of these houses would almost certainly mean its staving open, especially in view of "Hollywood Pinafore's" big fare- well week. ■ Philly's .season has been extraordi- narily good on the musical end— both financially and artistically- mediocre on the dramatic end artis- tically but generally profitable and satisfactory oil both ends. B way Hotcha, More Shows Than Year Ago; 'Memphis Fine $22,000 In 1st S, Foxhole^ NG S3,SO0 m 4 'Widow' $42,800 In 3 Weeks at Toronto Toronto, May 29. Grossing a satisfactory $12,000 in its third week at the Royal Alexan- dra, despite heat wave, Ernest Raw- ley's , production of "The Merry Widow" garnered $42,800 during its »tay at the 1,525-seater and paid plenty on RawJey's gamble that To- ronto theatregoers want musicals. House was scaled at $2.50 top. Raw- ley's next venture in this line will be "The Vagabond King." Average Continued tram pace 1 Where the bandleader hasn't Ms own • subsidiary music publishing busi- ness, as many of them now have, the average music publisher is only too eager to accord a No. 1 plug to any tune authored by' a name musician. " It's axiomatic that Tin Pan Alley is a business of resourcefulness and ."angles," but it's now reached the Jtage where many a songsmith starts looking for a bandleader to "cui<in" • 'on the song, as partial insurance for getting a plug. • 'Doll's House' Good $4,000 in 2 at K. C. Kansas City. May 29. Curtain went down on the local legit season with two performances of "Doll's House" in the Music Hall of the Municipal Auditorium here last Tuesday and Wednesday nights (22-23). Take for the two shows was a good $4,000, show getting $13,000 on week of six performances, including Dav- enport and Dallas. Current Road Shows (Period Cocerinp May 26-June 9) "Blackouts af 1945"—El Capitan, Hollywood (28-9). "Carmen Jones"— Russ And-. San Diecso, (1-2): Phil. And , L, A. (4-9). "Dear Ruth"—Harris. Chi (28-9 >. "Dolt's House" — Majestic, Ft. Worth (28);.Mus: H., Houston (29- 30); Paramount, Austin (.31); Texas, San Antonio (1-2). "Good Nile Ladies" — Shubert, Boston (28-95. . • "Harriet"—Metro. Seattle (28-9). "Jacobowsky and the Colonel"— Blackstone, Chi (28-9). • "Kiss "and Tell" (2d Co.)—Ply- mouth, Bost. (28-2). "Life With Father" (2d Co.)— Erlanger. Chi (28-9V , . "Marinka" — Shubert. New Haven (31-2); Nati, Wash. (5-9). "Oh Brother"—Walnut, Philly <28- 2): Plymouth. Bost. (4-9). "Oklahoma!" (2d Co.) — Forrest, Philly (28-9). "Red, Hot and Blue" — Shubert- Lafayette. Detroit <4-9). - San Carlo Opera Co.—Nat l, Wash; (28-2), "Soldier's Wife" — Wilbur,. Bost. .28-9). . "Ten Little Indians" (2d Co) — And,. Denver (28-30); Capitol, Salt Lake City CO. "Two Mrs. Carrolls" — Cass, Det. (28-9), "Voice of Turtle" (2d Co.)—Sel- wyn, Chi (28-9). "Wind Is »•" — Colonial, Bost. (28-9). Concert Names Turn Down Summer Dates A surprising number of concert names have turned down outdoor engagements this summer. The at- litude is unusual in thai these al fresco bookings in the past have been much sought after, usually -be- ing two or three times more re- munerative than winter dates and drawing far greater crowds. A sum- mer date at Lewisohn Stadium. N.Y.. or Robin Hood Dell, Philadelphia, means a $2,500 to $3,500 check, as' against a winter concert date fee of $1,000 to $1,500. And al fresco audi- ences run to 10,000 and 15,000 as against a concert hail's 3,000. Un one Chicago concert two summers ago Lily Pons drew a I00,t)00 audi- ence.) -.- But the concert biz has been so good the past couple of seasons that names are content to pass up the lucrative summer dates, feeling they don't ncod the extra money and have (o give much of it up in taxes anyway. Heavy winter schedules have tired some out so that they want to rest. For instance, Rudolf Serkin and Robert Casadesus, both offered the plum opening night Lewisohn Sta- dium dale, turned it down. Neither artist plans any ' summer -engage- ments.' Zino Francescatti turned the Stadkim and other parks down. Jascha Heifetz, always a tremendous al fresco draw, turned down all summer bookings to go to Europe for GIs instead. The same brushoff to summer concerts has been given by several conductors lor similar reasons. . Russ Play Bows on Coast Pasadena, May 29. American premiere of the Russian drama, ••Immortal," dealing with the •adventures of a young Red .soldier, will be staged at. the Pasadena Com- munity Playhouse, May 30 to June 10. Carl Heins Roth will direct the play, authored by Alexei Arbuzov and Alexander Gladkov. .V.'-l. Ml ''.!,.' i> r'VI li'.'-- I I.'' 't.'< Broadway's business Is excellent considering the time of the season. There are more shows operating now than a year ago. Some did shade off but others improved. Weather may be a factor but that isn't domi- nant. "Life With Father" has topped "Abie's Irish Rose," as anticipated, and another set of leads takes over. Two entrants last week with "Memphis Bound" an indicated suc- cess on basis of business first five tiroes, nearly $22,000. "Foxhole in the Parlor" appears to have but mild chance despite a few good notices. Some shows slated to close are hope- ful of sticking. Estimates for . Last Week . \ Keys: C (Comedy), D (Dramu). CD (Comedy-Drama),. R (Revue). M (Musical), O (Operetta). "A Bell for Adane," Colt (25th week) (D-1,064; $4.20). Adaptation from prize-winning war novel clicked for more than $22,000 again last week. "Anna Lwcasta," Mansfield (39th week) (D-1,041; $3.60). In addition to cleaning up is helping Harlem's colored theatre movement consider- ably; $20,500. - "Bloomer Girl," Shubert (34lh week) (M-1,382; $5.40). One of the .season's favorite musicals and get- ling more than $33,000, which means capacity. ICaroasel," Majestic (6th week) (M-1,681; $6). Another musical fave starting at capacity pace, which should b* maintained well into hew season; Went up to $45,500; just a matter of parties, for it's a hit. "Common Ground," Golden (5th week) (C-789; $3.60). Further im- provement claimed last week but takings, around $7,000, under expec- tations. ' ■ . -Hark of the Moon," 46th Street (10th week) (.D-1,319; $4.20). Said to have paid off production cost and profit is now velvet; claimed $18,000. "Dear Ruth," Miller (24th week) (C-940; $4.20). Among the hits mak- ing great profit here and in Chicago; pace doesn't vary; over $18,500. "Follow the Girls," 44th Sireet (59th week) (M-1,362; $4.80). Getting very good money, and last week's pace not much different; $29,000. "Foxhole in the ' Rarlor," Booth (1st week) (D-712; $3.60). Opened last midweek: a few notices dis- tinctly favorable, others doubttul; takings first four times around $3,- 500. mostly on first night. "Foolish Notion," Beck (11th week) (CD-1.214; $4.20). Slipped to eround $15,500 but well on right s(de of ledger; another two weeks after- the current week. "Harvev," 48th Street (30lh week) (C-925; $4.20). Denver's (author's home) contribution to Broadway, which is really something; all it can get every week; $19,000. "Hats Off to Ice," Center (R-2.944; $1.98). Resumes this afternoon- (30); played 48 weeks before suspending early this month. "Hollywood Pinafore," Alvin (M-1. 357; $6). Presented by Max Gordon in association with Meyer Davis; Gilbert and Sullivan book revised by George S. Kaufman; opens to- morrow (31). "I Remember Mama," Music Box (32d week) (C-940; $4.20). Not a few in show bix thought this play would cop a major prize though it did get some others; nearly $22,000; capacity. "Kiss and Tell,"Bijou (114th week) (C-614; $3.60). Again around $8,000, which means profit for one-setter and house; still indefinite. "Kiss Them lor Me," Fulton (10th week) (C-946; $4.20). Improved considerably, and with some cutrate aid gross approximated $9,500. "Latrine Room Only," Winter Garden (22d week) (R-1,522; $6). Did fairly well last week, with tak- ings approximating $32,000; figured good summer draw. .v "Lat« George Apley," Lyceum (27th week) tC-993; $4.20). With l^eo G. Carroll giving one of season's best performances, class hit com- mands excellent money; off in gal- lery, but $16,000 and more. "Life With Father," Empire (286th week) (C-1,082; $3.60). Has topped longest comedy run, that of "Abie's Irish Rose," on Monday f28), when 2,328th lime was played; over $9,000. "Memphis Bonnd," Broadway «1st week) (M-1.900; $4.80). Opened last Thursday (24); mixed notices with some reviews highly favorable: got S22.000 in first five times, including a $4,000 preview: started this week with $8,300 Sunday. "Oklahoma!" St. James (113th week) (M-1,505; $4.80). New musical hits have failed to dent the capacity pace of loiig-runner, which collects around $31,000 weekly. \ "On the Town," Adelphi (22d week) (M-1,426; $5.40). One of sea- son's musical surprises; more than held its own and was close to $34,000. "Roona Trip," Biltmore (C-920: - $3.60). Presented by Clifford Hay- man; written by Mary Orr and Regi- nald Denham; opened last night (29) "School for Brides," Ambassador (43d week) (C-1,117; $3.60). May move to house with cooling system, with idea of summer try; cutrating; S7.500. - "Son* of Norway," imperial (30th week) (0-1,427; $6). Still in high demand; musical smash holds to vir- tual capacity right along; $41,000. "Ten Little Indians," Plymouth (47th week) (D-1,075; $3.60). Only a matter of how many two-for-ones come in: has scored, and last week a profitable $11,500. "The Glass Menagerie," Playhouse (8th week) (CD-865; $4.20). Stand- out of the spring arrivals due for long run; capacity $18,600. "The Hasty Heart," Hudson (21st week) (D-1,094; $3,60). Picked up fairly well and approximated $10,- 500: among season's .good things. "The Overtons." Forrest (16th week) (CD-1,060; $3.60). May move to house with cooling system: using cutrates and bettering even break; $9,000. , ■ "The Voice of the Turtle," Morosco (68th week) (C-939; $4.20). Picked up further; three-person play showed its class by getting around $21,000. "Up in , Central Park," Century (16th week) (0-1,713; $6). Around $47,000. almost all the top-grossing musical can do. VAUDE-REVUE "Blue Holiday," Belasco. Taken off Saturday; one week; $13,500 not enough; "Memphis Bound" moves here from Broadway June 16. REVIVALS "The Barrett* of Wiaanole Street." "Barrymore (9th wk) (D-1,096; $4,20). Went up to around $19,000; one moid week for top revival. "Othello," N. Y, City Center (1st week) (D-2,693; $2.40). Excellent business: -engagement extended to third week. NEIGHBORHOOD Abie's Irish Rose," Flatbush, Brooklyn.. "Her Cardboard Lover," Queens- boro. L. I. "Chicken Every Sunday," Windsor, Bronx. LAMBS MARK 3D YEAR OF SERVICEMEN HOSTING Last Thursday (24) the Lambs marked the completion of three years of weekly dinners and shows given to allied GIs . and sailors by the club's Service . Men's Morale Corps. The Thursday night affairs are unique in show circles, each din- ner having a sponsor or host who pays the check, which is slightly more than $300. So many sponsors have come forward to aid the corps' activities that there 'is a reserve fund on hand large "enough to fi- nance the dinners until July, 1946, one corporation having donated $10,- 000. The events will continue until then, at least, regardless whether V-.f Day comes prior to that time. Schedule calls for the men to' dine at 6:30, party thereafter ad- journing to the club's theatre up- stairs for the specialty shows, which terminate around 10:30. High-rank- ing officers of the Army and Navy are frequently present. Indians'OK $10,500 In 3d—Final Del Wk. Detroit, May 29. 'Ten Little Indians" wound up its third week at the Cass theatre only slightly off the pace for the first two weeks. Final week registered $10,500 with $21,000 brought in on' even splits for the first two weeks. It was followed in Mooftay by Elisa- beth Bergner in "Two Mrs. Carrolls," set for several weeks. Other two houses, the Wilson and Lafayette, are dark, although the latter is reported to be working on a setup of summer variety, using a regular line with headline acts brought in. 'Red Miff Heavy 42G, L.A., ♦Blackouts' 14'/ 2 G Los Angeles, May 29. Even though Santa Anita and a post-V-E Day letdown hit at some other phases of the entertainment industry, legit held up well here this past week. "The Red Mill" was good for heavy $42,000 for its first week at the Philharmonic Auditorium, with one more week to go. Ken Murray's "Blackouts of 1945" at El Capitan went through its I52d itsmxa with solid $14,800. "Honey in the Hay," at the Musart, climbed up