Variety (Jun 1945)

56 LEGITIMATE VRriety Wednesday. Jum* 13, 1945 B'way Perks; 'Park' 47G Shades 'Carousel' i 1 /^ for Leadership, Tinafore' 33V 2 G, 'Memphis' 22V 2 G Business on Broadway was dls- , trig s me money: around $8,0011 last tinctly uppish last week until Satiir- week day, when agencies reported busi ne'ss was sluggish.. From, now on weekends are expected to be weak: ish Record cool weather for June again favored theatre attendance, and there was an influx of buyers. That was -reflected in the grosses, several musicals recovering from the violent drop of the previous week. Hotels getting jammed with re- turnees' kin. ■ • , . , Three attractions moved into thea- tres with cooling systems, the timing being perfect as seasonable tempera- tures started the current week. "Up in Central Park." "Memphis Bound _ and_;;Kjss and .Tell/' yete, the switch shows." •■" ~" ,~* "Park" and "Carousel" are nee"R and. neck for top gross-honors, for- mer having recovered its boxoffice form. "Hollywood-Pinafore" is more • definitely a winner., getting far bet- ter business than the other "Pina- fore'.' version. .-. Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy). D (DramaY, CD iComedv-Drama). R (Rcx-uel , B( (Musical), O (Operetta^. "A Bell la ,-idano," Cort (27th week) (D-1.064: $4.20), Reflecting upward trend standees at all night performances last week; over $22,000. "Anna Lucasta." Mansfield (41st week) iD-1,041: $3.60 i. Colored cast Sons <>f Norway/' Imperial (32d I week i (0-1.427: $6). Went over $41.- |000. has not been far from that level since opening. —"Ten—Little Indians."- - -Plymouth (4911V week) (D-1.075: $3.60). About held Us own. wifrri takings around $9,500; may move: house being ear- marked for-"Marinka." .a musical. "The Glass Menagerie." Play- house (10th week) (CD-865: $4.20). .Smash drama sold out far in ad- vance and making plenty: over $18,500 every week. "The Hastv Heart." Hudson (23d weeki iD-1.094: $3.60). Picked up around $1,000 and is rated at. $10,000: not—among leaders -but --good -thing: indefinite until warm weather.. "The Overtoils." Forrest (18th week) : (CD-1.060: $4.60>.. Cast re- placements. With intention to play well into summer: rated over $8,500: may move to National: June Knight and Judith Evelyn replacing Arlcne Francis and Glenda Farrell. "The Voice of the Turtle." Morosco iTOlii week) (C-939:; $4.20), -Went to nearly $21,003.; great for long-run- ning, three-person olay: will lay off Ji ne 30 but. resumes later. "tip in Centra] park," Broadway (18th week I (0-1.903: $6). Came back strongly, registering takings of around $47,000: moved here from Century: takings first night in new 'Jones' Hits 44G in L. A.; 'Indians' Crabs IVAG I,os Angeles. June. 12. Sock gross was rung up by the Civic Light Opera at the Philhar- monic this week with the opening of "Carmen Jones." New York show ; pulled' $44,000 on its first stanza and I looms as all-lime, record smasher for the seasonal productions. "Ten Lit- I tic Indians" bowed into the Biltniore I to a so-so press but the ticket buyers seem to like it. with road production going for $11,500 cm. its Hi st stretell. Ken Murray^ "Blackouts Of 1945" raked in the usual capacity $14,800 at the El Capitan for the 154th frame. "Honev in ilie Hay" did $3:000 in the 23d week, at the Musart. 'Jake Fine $21,500 in Chi, 'Turtle' Sock $18,700,'Father'13G,'Ruth'20y 2 G DETROIT STRONG; BIG 17G FOR 'CARR0LLS' Detroit. June 12. Windup of. the season here — at least 'temporarily—finds grosses along the rialto still running ,strong. . ' Bettering its first : week's .figure.- "The Two Mrs. Carrolls" drew $17.- 000 in the second week at the Cass at a $3 top. Total for the two weeks was nearly $34,000, House goes dark to close out the regular run of production's. : , . .'. However, the Lafayette, 'which re- lit a. week ago with a?policy of vaudeville-musicals, grossed, close to $18,000 on the first week of Jack Lester's assemblage called "Red Hot and Blue." Policy followed is daily matinees at $1 with evenings at $1.50. A 15th performance is added with midnight show, on Saturdays. Plan is io use a change of acts, every two weeks. 'MARINKA' $18,000 IN D C; WAYNE OUT Washington, June 12.. "Marinka," which opened Tuesday night (5), grossed an estimated $18.- 000 in eight performances at the Na- tional- theatre, Show played - Wednes- day and. Thursday matinees to get in "eight performances. Jerry Wayne, unhappy in the role of the Crown Prince'will be replaced by Harry Slockwcll when the show plays Bos- ton. • Because of inability to get consecu- tive bookings, the JE. street play- house . will shut down -for three weeks after ''Marinka" completes its bookings. There is a. possibility that the National will have an air- coplilig;_svstem: jnslalle<l_befo|;e_ the' summer is well under way. drama one.of season's sock successes [berth quoted at $7,688." and up around $20,500 again "Bloomer Girl." Shubert (36th week) (M-1,352: $5.40), Like other musical standouts capacity business does.not vary and the pace is over S33.000. "Carousel," Majestic (8th week) (M-1.681: $6"). Moved into number one gross position two weeks ago. though "Park" nosed in . front last week: variation reflected by parties only': $46,500. "Common Ground," Golden (7th week) (C-789; $3.60). Slated well into summer with players on sum- mer salary basis: some improvement last week: around $7,500. •profitable. "Park of the Moon," 46th Street (12th.week) (D-1.319: $4.20). Unless forced to move may play through summer; some variation last week but profitable $18,000. "Dear Ruth." Miller (26th week) (C-940: $4.20). Giggle-rouser riding to capacity pace, which- has been true since opening: over $18,500. '•Follow the Girls," Broadhurs! (61st week) (M-1,179; $4.80). Claimed to be as good here as at 44th Street: last week .up, with gross around $29,000. "Foxhole in the Parlor," Booth (3d week) (D-712; $3.60). Bit better: around $3,500: must move or close as "The Wind Is 90" conies here next week. "Harvey," 48th Street (32d week). (C-925: $4.20). Cbmedy smash sells all tickets by mail order'or direct sale every five weeks, as do some other hits ("Oklahoma!", "Mama." etc.): $19,000; capacity. "Hats Off to Ice," Center (50th week) (R-2.944; $1.98). Much better as indicated, skating revue topping $27,000: slated through summer. "Hollywood Pinafore," Alvin (2d week) (M-1,357; $6). First full week indicates newest musical is in for run, with gross approaching $33,500 for first full week. "I Remember Mama," Music Box (34th week) (C-940: $4.20). Visitors flock to this smash as they do to tome others; around $22,000 every week. "Kiss VAUDE-REVUE "Conceit Varieties," Ziegfeld (1st week) (1.626: $4.2'). Needs $20,000 to break even between show and house: reported under, that figure first full week. NEIGHBORHOOD "Manilla's Daughters," FlalbUsh, Brooklyn. ■ "Rebecca." Windsor. Bronx. "Chicken Every Sunday." Queens- boio. Queens. -.'■-.. \ 'Jubilee' 3C Opening St. Louis, June 12. Cole Porter's musical. • "Jubilee." teed off the 27th consecutive season Of-al fresco entertainment in the Forest Park playhouse, sponsored by the Municipal Theatre Assn.. Thurs- day ill, and despite topcoat weather and threats of rain, a mob of 7.500 that laid an estimated $3,000 on the line; turned out for the first local presentation of the piece. Inside Stuff—Legit John Moses and Mark Hanna produced "Kiss Them For Me," which j recently moved from the Bclasco, N. Y., to the Fulton, but bowed out alter eight weeks, during which the show operated in the red. Frederic-Wake- man, who wrote "Shore Leave,'' from which the play was adapted by Capt. Luther Davis, organized a coterie of backers, who now own the show. Business picked up. and last week takings were around $10,000. top money for "Kiss Them" so far, cut rates helping. '"■■•/•'' -Moses and Hanna are said to have a percentage of the picture rights if sold, but only the- backers will participate if the play earns a profit. Kermit Bloomgardeii, former general manager for Herman Stiumliil, is still in charge. He has taken offices and will produce on hjs^own. Recent trip to Richmond. Va, by the "La(Ting Room Only"' (Winter Garden. N.V.) company, which gave a .Seventh War Loan performance, was eventful lor the players. Show was given on a Monday, usually the layoff night, as "Laffing" gives Sunday performances. Each member of the company was sent a Virginia ham and before boarding the train back neat press books with clippings from the Richmond press were presented. Cordial treatment by the committee for the event, headed by R. C. Cordon, vice-president of the Larus Tobacco Co., was appreciated. It had been, arranged for-the "Laffing" people to play golf and be entertained at a country club; but at Ole Olsen's suggestion, they visited five hospitals instead and entertained wounded men. 'OKLAHOMA!' CAPACITY $37,500 IN PHILLY ■Philadelphia. June 12. No Change in the local legit sit- uation and it's unlikely there will be until mid-August, when several tryouts are forecast. "Oklahoma:" got another capacity $37,500 (or a trifle oven in its sixth local week sit the Forrest, benefitting once again by^ the cool, unseasonable I schools lettin weather. Arrival of real summer | heat yesterday (11) might have made some .difference this session (7th) if house hadn't been a sellout in. advance. Seats are now on sale to July 28. inclusive, with August crop set to go out before the first of next month. Only seats which haven't been going as soon .as ad- vance sales start have been Wed- nesday matinees, but they've been sellouts finally, too, lacking only number of standees'. July 4 holiday also displays some hesitancy this far ahead, .but that's not surprising as this city goes to the shore, en masse, if weather is okay and transportation is obtainable. It's, a virtually sure thing, however, that this performance will wind up also a sellout. Hedgerow theatre, which opened its 23rd season in its Moyian-Rose Valley playhouse last Friday, is set to be the only strawhat show enter- tainment Philly will have this sum- mer. Policy will be. for this and next month anyway, performances Wednesday. Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights, with August setup still uncertain. No new plays are being considered right now. with "Girls in Uniform." . "Emperor Jones." "Thunder on the Left" and others of the old favorites to be repeated. Company's present direc- tion is in the hands of a "steering" committee of veterans consisting of Jasper Deeter. Miriam Phillips and Rose Schulman. First-named is, of course, chairman. Chicago. June 12. Grosses were belter all the way down the line last week, with one exception. "Countess Maritza." which got $16,500 at the Opera House, to cue a termination Sunday (10) of Shnbert-Opera House Corp.'s pro- jected operetta scries for this sum- mer. It Wxis only the second of the season. ' ' : Three Theatre Guild subscription weeks being over. "Jacobowsky and the Colonel" hit $21,500. and it could stay, but it's folding Saturday (16), with nothing in view to relight the Blackstone. "Dear Ruth" is still do- ing capacity $20,500, and "Life With Father" and "Voice of the Turtle" are creeping up there with $13,000 and $18,700. respectively. Estimates for Last Week "Countess Maritza," Opera House (2d week) (3.600; $3.60). Summer operetta season fizzled weakly, with $16,500 for this one. "Dear Ruth," Harris (8th-wee'k-V (1.000; $3.60). Slill capacity $20,500. "Jacobowsky and the Colonel," Blackstone (4th week) (1.200; $3.60). Guild's announcement, in" 'view of fuic $21,500 in fourth stanza, that it'll terminate its tour here Satur- day (16) is cueing a last-niinuic rush to the b.o. - ' ' "Life With Father." ErTanger (2d week) (1,500: $3). Upward is the trend here: $13,000 was fine. "Vcice of the Turtle," Selwyn (36th week) (1.000: $3.60). Matinees stronger here, as elsewhere, with out. Got $18,700. Solly Pernick. a former business agent of the stagehands' New York local, who surprisingly became company manager of the USO-Camp Shows "Oklahoma," is now reported still with that outfit in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. Delay in selecting a replacement for the job is the reason given. William T. Blair, who was named to replace Pernick. got as far as Cleveland, where his family resides, then returned to New York. Erwin Corey, who was the show's comic, in" the Joseph Bulolf part, has returned, no explanation.being given for him leaving the far-flung "Okla- Starr, who un- ,' Elizabeth McCabe. young legit actress, known overseas as the "one- girl replacement bureau." is back in.N.Y. after two years abroad. Actress, who spent a year in Iceland in the first legit unit sent there, then went to England and played with, a "CSO-Cainp Shows repertory company, for six months. About to return home she was asked to fill .in in another legitcr when an actress took sick. This happened three times, Mjss McCabe step- ping into the breach each time. Actress thus appeared in "Throe-Cornered Moon.? '"Ten Little Indians." "Junior Miss" and "Blithe Spirit" (Annabclla co.i . doing tour roles in nine months. Played France, Belgium and Holland in addition to-England. '.. ■ '.' "..''.'.'"' : week) (CV»2o' e &) BiU MoCed'wck'Soma!" Another actor may be chosen but meantime Jacl- here. where original run was scored: I ^.'-studied, is. playing the part. Improved-'last week to nearly $8,500. "Kiss Them for Me," Fulton (12th week) (C-946; $4.20). Also picked up: gross approached $10,000, okay for house and show. "Laffing Room Only," Winter Garden (24th week) (R-1.522: $6). Picked up smartly, recouping more . (ban the gross dropped- the previous veek: $33,500. - "Late George Aplev." Lyceum (29th week) (C-993: $4.20'. Picked up. neatly and still selling out On lower floor,' with . taking's quoted over $15,000. "Life With Father." Empire (288th week) (C-1.082; $3.601. Run leader ..improved too, last week and was credited with better than $9,000. "Memphis Bound," Belasco (3d week) (M-1.077: $4.80). Moved here from larger ' Broadway: business /airly goo,d. with colored musical rated around $22,500: "Oklahoma!," St. James (115th week) (M-1.505; $4.80). Other musi- cals getting more because of higher prices and larger lower floors, but this smash getting all house will hold; $31,000; Bob Kennedy replaced Han- ■ Stoc.kwcll. "On the Town." 44th Street (24lh week.) (M-1,362; $5.40). M down from Adelphi last week, an- other leading musical that improved: $34:000 in new spot. "School for Brides." Ambossadoi (45th week) (C-1,117; $3.01). Al- though takings are moderate, mak- 'Desert Song' Wham $31,400 in Frisco San~Fra7Siscd~J7The~127~ Second week of "Desert Song" continued a house-jammer al 1.776- seat Curran theatre ($3.90 top), the San Francisco Civic Opera Co. gross- ing $31,400. Next door. Geary theatre's Gladys George-Victor Kilian revival, of "Rain." with $3 top in 1.550-seat house, did tepid $11,500. 'WIND 90' NSG $7,000, 'BROTHER'11G, BOSTON Boston, June 12. Tinkering* with third act of "The Wind Is 90." Capt. Ralph Nelson's new play of an air force hero re- turned home alter death, have tight- ened loose ends for Broadway open- ing round June 21. Play not doing so well at Colonial'' because of macabre theme. Two-week run here sure because of faith, of producers and plavwright. On the other hand, Hub can'! get rid of "Good Night, Ladies" and doesn't waril to. Sexy opus, which still has sellout nights after 10 weeks, will move into Ply- mouth from Shubert. June 18. mak- ing room for opening of "Marinka." "Soldier's Wife" closed Saturday (9) after three weeks not because ot lack of biz but because cast is weary and contracts expired June 1. Will reopen in ■ August for trans-conti- nental tour. "Oil. Brother" going fairly well at Plymouth with Hugh Herbert and Arlecn Whelan as draws. "Snafu" opens at Colonial June 18. estimates for Last Week "The Wind Is 90," Colonial (1,500; $3). Somewhat disappointing $7,000, first week. "Good Nig-ht, Ladies," Shubert (1.500: $2,501. Sizzling $16,000. Last week. $16,000. "Soldier's Wife," Wilbur (1.241; $3). Satisfactory $15,000 for third and last week, against $19,000 week before. "Oh. Brother," Plymouth (1.400; $3). Not bad $11,000 in first week. A B-29 superfortress, landed at its base in Guam, after bombing Osaka, Japan, last Thursday (7) with only one of its four engines whirling/Skill of. the pilot. L. M. Pattisptl of Tucson, is credited with bringing in the plane.. There were four New Yorkers imthe crew', including Lieut. Edgar G. Speclor. nagivator,.whose father is treasurer of the 48th Street ("Har- ! vcy"). Two engines were knocked out by enemy lire, the third not oper- I .atin's because of a gas leak. It is the second'narrow; escape for Spector, whose younger brother is an Officer in the crew of a B-17 fortress-. ■",.'■ . Charles Wiley. of the USO-Camp Shows "Night of January 16" com- pany, now in France, has returned home because of illness. He was re- placed by Oscar Sterling, who stayed overseas for the part when his own show. '.'Blithe Spirit," finished its run and closed. Edna Peckham, Ster- ling's wife, also stayed, so-."January 16".company manager wrote back .'into the play for her a small part that had previously been cut out. Erin Moved I O'Brien Moore heads the company. Pepsi-Cola adorns some of the olios in "Memphis Bound" which com- mercial is explained by (lie fact that Francis S. Levien, attorney for the eola drink, is also legal adviser to and partner in all of John Wilclbcrg's theatrical enterprises. Current Road Shows .(Period Covering Jtnie 11-23) "Blackouts of 1945"—El Capitan. Hollywood (11-23). "Carmen Jones"—Phil. Aud., L. A. (11-23). - "Dear Ruth"—Harris. Chi (11-23). "Desert Song"—Curran, Frisco (11- 1.6). : ,. . "Good N i I e Ladies" — Shubert, Boston (1.1-16): Plymouth, Bust. (18-23). "Jacobowsky and the Colonel''— : Blackstone. Chi. (11-16). "Life With Father" (2d Co.) ~ Eiiangcr. Chi. (11-23). ' "Marinka"—Natl. Wash, (li-16); Shubert. Boston (18-23). "Oh Brother"—Plymouth, Bost.-- (11-16), .... "Oklahoma!" (2d Co.) — Forrest. Philly (11-23). / "Rain"—GOary, Frisco (11-23). "Red. Hot and Blue" (1st Co/>— Shubert-Latayette. Detroit (11-16). "Red, Hot and Blue" (2nd Co.) — Gr. Northern. Chi. (11-23). "Snafu"—Colonial. Bost. (18-231. "Ten Little Indians" (2d Co.). — Biltniore, L. A. (11-23). "Vcice of Turtle" (2d Co.) — Sel- wyn; Chi. (11-23). ' ■ "Wind Is 90" — Colonial. Bost: (11-16). Gala Reopening Due For Chi's Old Majestic Chicago. June 12. "Sometime in September—if we're lucky." was the verdict last week of local Shubert reps on when Chi's new Shubert Theatre; (formerly the Majestic) will open. Plasterers, as an example, should have been through with their end of the job three weeks ago. Occasion of reopening of the old "Home of Vaudeville in' the West" is expected to be quite a gala oc- casion, inasmuch as the new lessees are completely redecorating it, and plan bringing in a top N, Y. musical for the big bow." Despite shortage of material, renovations will extend from the sidewalk line to the back wall, and the 2.000-seatei. it's prom- ised, "will match in every way the Shubert in N. Y." Majcstjc was first 'opened Id vaude July 4, la04, and for 30 years -was the leading home in the west for two-a-day under Kohl & Castle, continuing the policy later, when K&C Were absorbed by the^Or- pheum Circuit. It went legit in the early '30s, remaining so until the Orpheum lease expired. After a stab at a grind film policy, it closed in 1934. 'HARRIET' 25G, SEATTLE Seattle. June 12. . Second week ot, Helen Hayes in "Harriet"' at the 1.500-seat Metro- politan slightly outgrossOd the in- itial stanza,, both .weeks being at capacity. Second week did $25,000 sans tax; the first $24,500. a reclicck. House is sealed from $3.50.