Variety (Sep 1945)

Wednesday* Seploiulier 26, J 94 5 LEGITIMATE 61 N. Y. lucasta Opens in Chi to 22G Advance; laifing 29^26, 'Jones' 28G Chicago, Sept 25. -t Thry're workinj* overtime hauling Ihe inoola for three smashes here, "'imia Lucasta,' witli the N. Y. cast, opened Monday (24) with a sensa- tional $22,000 advance; "Lrtflm? Room Only" got $29,500 in its flr-,t fctan^a. with $6 top opening night, und "Carmen Jones'- tucked away another great $28,000. "Dear Euth' hit $19,000 again, "Voice of the Turtle." was satislae- torily status quo with $17,500. and "Good Night, Ladies," skedded to close soon, hit fair $10,700, EstidWics for iMSi Week •■Carmen Jones,'' Erianger t4th tveck) tl,500; $420). Holdout is the word. Got $28,000 again, "Dear Ruth," Hairis (23d week) (1,000; $3 60). "Dear $19,000 ' is what ■they were calling It last wceki "Good Nifht, LBdies," BUclcstone (7tli week) (.1,200; $3). Tdssable $10,700. and due to close soon 'Win- tei's Tale" mked in Oct. 29 "LaffiiiK Room Only," Shubert (2,- 163; $4.80); $6 opening-night top-fU ' big'iiocial event in honor oC the old Majestic's lebnth as ihe new Shu- bert—cuod stiong ,$29,500 "Voice of the Turtle," ScKvyn 151st week) (1,000, $,5 00) Fine l|.17,- 500 lor this lons-teiitici COOL WEATHER AIDS L.A.; 'BLACKOUTS'WHAM 15ia . Los Angeles, Sept. 25. Nice, returns were registered last week at the three legit houses open here. DropoH ot the thermometer contributed to tlie grosses consider- ably, when the cooling breezes and fog moved in after the middle of the stanza. Ken Murray s •Blackouts ot 194.')' jumped .to $13,400 oil the lOOth frame at Kl Capital!. "Suds m Your Eye"' hiked up at the Belasco for a good. $9,100 in the -second stanza. ' Motel Wives" sailed alons; at a profitable clip to sanier $3,900 ioi the eighth week dt the Dlusart. Only opener slatetl for some time .was the bow of "Red Mill' at the BiUmore last night: ' mia.' J37,000 in D.C.; Tracy 'Path' Sale Wow ' , , ■ Washington, Sept.! 25; :\'"Okiithomn!'' in its last seven, cinv.s did, .$37,000, including- the Sundiiy night performance, giving it nine show.s. Polonaise arrived with .liin Kie- piiia-Maita Eggeit dll ^edt1 being sold betore the opening pertormance iVIoiiday .night. / . Spiiie, regard,, for Spencer Tracy'.-i puU.at the boxofiice was evicieneed when the scats vvcnt on .sale Thurs- day, one week beloie the opennig date The line stietched tiom E street'to halt way round the corner up iiith street, some with baoics in tiieir ariiii* and others with jiiirches. When the boxoflice men cleaned up. there were only second balcony tick- ets left, and few of the.sc. So. Rob- ert E. Sherwood's play. "The RUg,eed Path,'*; will be presented to 1 til I houses for the fortnight Bergner-'Carrolls' Strong 19^, Detroit Detroit, Sept 25 Elisabeth ■ Bergner m "The Two Mrs. GarroU-s" closed a week's run Saturday (22) at the Ca.ss with a strong $19,500 at $3.60 lop. "The Student Prince," perennial Romberg tavorite, opens Sunday (23) for a f.v.o-week stand at $3 top. ; The othei two legits, Latavette and MU.S1C Hall, have no showings. Karson-Cantor Tuner Into Rehearsal Oct. 15 "Nellie Bt\ ' niUMcal .ibout a , globe-trotting femme reporter, which Nat Karson will produce with Eddie Cantor supplying the financial back- ing, IS, going into rehearsal about Oct. 13, soon alter Cantor-s arrival in N. Y. Coinodiaiii howevei-, niaiii- taiiis ^ that lie's Icav'iiig pvocluctioii: entirely m Kar.sons . hands:, even staying, away from reheai',sal.s. ' be- cause the ham in me would start ^^ dominate the pioccedings and that'-, not good" Likely that 20lh-Fox mav come In OO' the financins!.. although no def- ■iiiiteword .yet, Mtisical liks .M^^^ Maxwell, Wiiliani Ga.vton and' Victor Mooie for the h.idi, uilh Moiiic Hjskin and Ed-!ai MaLGirgoi as co-directors Ri'kin niid Sig I-fei/ig ladapted book supplied by Jack Em- ttianuel, -with Jimmy Van Ilcuscn «nd John Buike supplyitfij the mii.sic 'Road* $10,400, Toronto Toionlo. Sep! 25 with a light i2 top, Tob.icfo Road" did a \Pij qood $10 400 Jt the Royal .Me.vandra (1,525 seats i. Figuie mailted the bigge.st ;,iO'vs ot the play's four appearances licie 'PRINCE' IIG, BUFFALO , Buflalo, Scot. 25 Student Puncp," opcniilii Eil.ingci '*git s,eason la.st hall ol the past Week, piled up .Miipiismg cpatilv KKJss S1],000, in lout pelfoimances •V $.j top. Current Road Shows fPenod Corel iiifii Sept 24-Oc(. 6) BaJlet Theatre — O p e r,»' HousCi Bost. (1-6). "Be«t»rs Are Coming to Town"— L> lie, Biidgepoit (5-6). "Blackouts of 1»45" — El Capitan, Hollywood (24-6) Bla*lcstone—Erianger. Buflalo 127- 29), Viigmia, Wheeling (1-3), Hait- maii, Colunibuii (.4t6), "Blossom Time" —Michigan. Ann Aibor (24), Palace, Flint (2.i), Teni- plCi Saginaw (26); Michigan. Jack- son i27), Keith's, Giand Rapids (28- 29); Bijou, Battle Creek U); State, Kalama/oo (2); Fischer. Dan\ille (3); Orpheum^ Springfield (4); Lin- coln, Decatur (5), Univ, LaJayette (6). I "Desert Sang" — And, Poitlsnd 124-2.5), Temple, TdCOJna (26), Metro, Seattle (27-6). "Foolish Notion" —Shubeit, Philly (24-29); Nixon, Pitts d-b). Gilbert &' Sullivan—Metrt), Provi- dence (3-4); Bushnell, Haittoid (5-(t). "Girl from Nantucliet" — Shubert, New Haveii' 14-6). "Good Xight, Ladies" — Black- stone, Chi. i24-b). "Ilasty Heart"—Aud.. Noithamp- fon (24); Court Sq., Springfield ,(2.5- 26); Mem. Aud., Woicester (27); Bushnell And.. Hartford (28-29); Shubert, Philly (l-6).v.: ,; ,^ ^; "('armtn .foncs" — Ei langer, . Chi. .124-6). "Dear Eiith"—Harris. Chi (24-6). "Dear Kuth" (2nd Co.) — Town Hall Toledo (24'26); Hartman. Co- lumbus (27-29); Amer., St. Louis (.1-6). "LalTing Room Onlv" — Shubert, Chi. (24-6). "Mr. Cooper's Left Hand"—Wilbur, Boston. (24-6). "Oklahoma!"—Fouls. Brflto i24-6) "Poloiiais*" — Nat 1. Wa,sh. (24-29). "Rebecca"—Geary, Frisco l24r6). "Kuffged Path"—Metro. Providence (28-2!)); Nat'l, Wash.;,(1-6),;;, ■■■■ San Cailo Opera Co.—H S Aud Lancaster (24), Rajah, Reading i25). Colonial, Ailentown (26); Lyric. B.ilto. 127-29) Constitution Hall Wash. CiO); H. S. Aud.. York (1).; Community,. Hershey (%y: Cochran, .Johnstown (3); Mosque, Pitts. (4-6). "School for Brides''—Mom, Aud.. I'lcnton i24), L.yiic, Alleiito^n (i.'ii, Conim Theatie, Heishey (26), R.i)ah, Reading (27), Playhouse. Wilming- ton (28-29); LynCk Richmond (1-4); Center, Norfolk (5-7). "Spring- In Braaiil"—Shubert, Bost, (1-h). " "Sliideiil I'linct"—C.ss, Del i24- C) "Temiiest"—Haiina. Clcve. 124-29);. Stlid^:bakcl^;^Clu..(i-6)^: ::: ; "Ten Little Indians" , (1st Co.>— Copley, Boston 124-6) "Ten Little Indians" (2nd Co )— Amer, St Louis (24-291. Hartman, Colurtibiis i'30-3). Town Hall, Toleoo I4--6); ■ ■■"The .4is.Kiissi.n'V''^;^Shiil>('M;.-. ■■ New, H.iven i2T-29) Plymouth, Bo^t il-6) , "The Bad Man"—Music H.. Hou.s- (on i!) Tc\a>. S.in Antonio (2) Para.i. Austin (;i);, \Vorih. f't.:,,W()rth, i41 Melb.1 Dallas i,')-6) "The Only GiM'—Russ .Aud San Dici<o (6-7) "ThercAc"—PlymoUrti Boston i24- JJ9J;L0Ci!ist SI. Philly 11-61 "The Winter's Tale"—Ni\on Pitt i24-2')i. Eilaniici Budalo (1-4), And,. Rochester (5-6)j "ruLMCio Koad"— P.uk Yoiings- town (24-25); Colonial Akion i2bi Mtm Hall. iJayton (27-29) Engli-h Induiiiapolfb (1-6), "Two Mr*. Carrol Is"—Cox, C'inn i24-2')); Gi-. Noithern. Clu iI-6) "Voice of the Turtle" — Selwyn, Chi (24-6) "Windy Hill"—Fouest, Philly (24- 6). 'Indians' $13,000 In Opening St. L, Season St. Louis, Sept. !25. The crucial baseball series be- tween the Cardinals and Cubs, plus a downpour of rain that lasted for 24 hours, took the edge oft tlie b.o. activity of the local te^ofif of the 1945- 46 legit season at thft American tht- atre, sole legiter here. Agatha Chris- tie s mystery comedy, "Ten Little Inditins;,' opened a two-week stand Sunday (16), and eight,performances of the first stanza grossed an esti- mated ,413.000. The house was scaled to M Biz for the setond session is ex- pected to use as the Playgoers of St. Louis, Inc., an organization whose members purchase choice seats for all pieces presented during the sea- son, has gained in memljership, and all indications point to a big season Crix to.sscd gobs of posies for my.s- lerioiis drama and east, which is headed by Lillian Foster. Philip Tonge. Hunter Gardner, Owen Coll, Catherine Lynn and Richard Bai i on TalMotion' Socko $27,000/Roote'24G, 'Ryan^ 20G in Philly Philadelphia, Sept. 2,5 M\ three attractions really went to tow n last week, with near capacity being the rule most of the time. Talli'l.ih Bankhead in ' Foolish Notion" got a socko $27,000 m the, large-capacity Shubert as first of the ATS subscription offerings Cnx liked Ls. Bankhead somewhat inoi e than the Philip Bauy play, and .so did customers, but the combo was top.s. , ^, However, the real news of the week was the terrific trade .at the Locust, where "Deep Are the Roots' was playing its second and final week. Without big mar(iuee, names, but at- tracting plenty of attention Irom controvei-.sial (racial) angle and rave notices, this one grossed smash $24,- 200 Third show in town was not too I'ar behind and that also spelled .sat- islactoi-y biz. "The Ryan Girl at the Forrest amas.sed .sum of i2l).- 000, I'l this case, 100% laudatory notices had assistance from names ot Edmund Lowe, and June , Hayoc ill drawing palrcns. Both. "Giri"'.and "Roots' could e.Tsily have held tor an extra week or .so.,, , This , week's only opening llast night, 24th) was • Wmdy Hill' at the Forrest. It had preemed in New Haven. Movie names connected le.specially Kay Francis, but also in- cliidini;, Roger Pryor, Patsy Ruth Miller, the author, and Ruth Chatter- ton, director and producer) aided advance, which looked promising. Show IS in tor two weeks. Next Monday, the Shubert sets "The IListy Heail,' a second ATS subscriptjon offering, for two weeks.- and the Locust gets "Thercse,' which IS only announcing one week, but miglit possibly, stay ]on.!;er. Heart niariagcmcnt is plugging John, Dall on film connection. There will be a: couple of tryouts '.he fC!llo\\'iilg week.: Season's first musical. "Girl Fron\ Nantucket. bow,s at' the Forre.st on Monday (8) and "State of the Union'- comes into the Walnut on Wedne.sday;!,10). An- otHcr musical, "Right This Way." prcems at the Shubert on Oct. 17: Thei'on ,Bainberger offers, hi.? "Caviar for the General" at the Locust on the 22nd and the musical "Spring in Bra/.ii' is booked at the Forrest on the 29th. B way Continues to Do Sock B.O.; TentraiPark'Up4Gto$43,000/Boy lived' Out, 'Carousel' Big $48,309 'Polonaise' Record $32,800, Baltimore Baltimore, Sept. 2.5. AiVall-tiine highfor new, show.s Was chalked up by "Polonaise" at Ford's ■here lii.st week with a sma.shoUotal: 01 i!'80fl \Ko 0) lecord-b cakin;; pi'oportions is tliie advance .sale built ,up by,:"!Oklal^oina!". in currently..for, a two-week run of 17 performances. House completely sold by cm tarn time Monday i24) night • Vic .Morley Arm Broken, Out of 'Blossom Time' Pilt-,lSuigh Sep' 2i , Victor cyfojl.e.v,, (iirect(jr^ .(^ t6iii;iiig,'eo!i')p!tijy, of ■".Blpssoiii Time.": who also plays the roje; /)f Count Si'H 11.111 toff,-Wa.S; ,but !oI thc. eii.st: all of ::la?t \vee,If' »t--ih^ Ni.von.tli'eati'e.'^on Hocpii.nt iif a frao,ttti"ed. .arm .sufT.ered. dLiiing the Tienton \V3im-up ."VJor- li V tell Into the oichcstra pit fjom the -itage while lehcai.sing'the'opei- otta' and had to, receive hospital at- teiitiofi.,, ..lie -wji.s .,esp^^^ the t I'aiip.e for i ts ivcxi si and. .Halt Pei'son.' stage inanagejr, doubled in b)".!.,s.s for .the local engagemeiit and filled Morley s part. ■ He got up in It aflet jiist a few houis o( ic- hear.sal: ■ •. , "Bloxspm Time'' "for (iie prc.-'ent i.s using two leading lauics, Manun Slfvens and Mary Lou Boyd altei- i5ai!ng,iH the role- o(rSritzi,v. ■ Btoadway continuedJts hot stiides last:week, business being at pealc tor many houses, with .sellouts lepoiled up and down the line. Weekend was particularly sock. Biz up.swing the past couple weeks is undoubtedly due to visitors, hotels being lammcd, with many people going to the sub- urbs and other towns tor acconimo- dations. Saturday saw tix agencies Willi racks cleaned for dav s shows by noon.V "Lrp In Central Park" did a four G s helicopt. to terrif $43 000 8ro.ss., ■ ■ . ■ Lull on new entries, only quiet factor ot last week, is being reme- died this seshj with Ave, shows (only one of them a mu.sical) entering the lists. '■■■ . Kcj/.t; C (Comcdi/), D (Drniiin), CD (Comedy-Drrtma), fl KReotie); MdWimcoDi O (Operetta). "\ Bell for Adano," Coit (12d week) (D-1,063, «4 20). Fiedric iVIarch and Paul O.sborn's dramatiza- tion of the .Tohn Her.sey prize-win- ning be.st seller continue to draw the customers,, war play racking up an-; other neat $17,500 on the week. ' "A Boy Wiio Lived Twice," Bilt- nioie (2d week) iD-920 S'JbOi Psychic thriller, couldn t with.stand critical thumbs-down, and bowed out Satuiday (22) aftei \f) pel forma nces Claimed around $4,000. "Anna Lucasta," Mansfield (56th week) fD-1,041: $3.60) Long-iun Negro family drama maintaining its nimble gait, despite duoiicate cast, the original B way company leaving to open Monday (24) in Chicago. Quoted a trifle under previous week, $19 000. "Bloomer - Girl,'" Shubfcrt (."il.st week) m-\m, .$5 40) Claimed sellout every performance, for one of the leaders in town. Bustle-bound musical romped off to a merry $33,- 000 plus for the week. "Carib Sonir," Adelphi CM-1.434: $4.80). Presented by George Stan- ton, with book by William Archibald, music by Baldwin Bergerson, Opens tomorrow (Thurs.).. ■ ' . ■ "Carousel," Majestic (2:kl week) (lVI-1.681; $6). iy[,u.sical: version of j "Liliom" .standing otif above .all 1 others, with a capacity take of $48.- ;iOO on , the week. "Dark or Ihe Moon." 48th Street (27lh week) (D-1,329; $4 20) Moun- tain ; ballad folk-tale ambling along with somewhat hobbled stride; esti- mated imdcr ,$10,000, Adding Sun- day mat and eve peifoimances slart- ing Oct. 7. "Dear Kuth," Miller (Alit week) ('C-9.30r .*4.20). Hit comedy now has a thud cotintei part, a version readied tor the Coast. Meantime. N. Y. tak- ings satislactory at $17,000. "Deep Are the Rools," Fulton <D-94b SiifaO) Pipsented by Keimit BlooiTigaiaen and George Heller, written by Arnaud d U.sseau ,,and. .J.lines Gow Opens tonrght (26).-—: "Follow Ihe Girls," Broadhurst i76th week) (M-1 179, $480) Visi- tors invasion a great help to this lon^-lciniei Up steadily each week the past tortnight, with last week- quoted at a little undei $30,000, e.\tra-fine. "JHarvev," 48th Street (47th ueek) (C^925- $4 20) Pulit.!cr pri<;e-winnci and .solid hit never fluctuate.s. No standees allowed; so take is always the same $19 iOO "Hals Off to Ice," Center t03d week) (R-2 944 tl98) Veteian ice- .siiow went off a little from previous wetks gioss to 'lil 000 but cmincnt- I.y, aati.sfactory for thi.$ low-priced attraction. "I Remember Mama," Music Box ! i-iOlh wc(ki (CD-940; $420) Noi- wogian immigrantrfamily drama pj-ised the miUioii-dOllar bo\o(lice I niaik la-.t wtek Also had itself a ' very good week, with gioss ovei «21 000. •'Lale Geoige Apicy," Lyceum (39tli \\(ck) iC-99,3; $4 20) Riding .strongly into the new .season, with gr(>ss ,up over previous;, week, Kaiif- man-Marqiiand period play looks wood (01 wintei 0\er $13,W0 last woiik.. ■ • ■ "Life With Father," Bitou ( md wetU) iC-b30 VibO) Olde'-t show 111 town has fit snugly into newm- lime habitat.. Claimed-holding to re-, vivified pace; at about $9,300.^ "Live , Life Again,'' Bela.sGO (D- 1 077 SibO) Pipsented by S -S , l<wicllbei)». wiiltcn by Dan Totheioh Opens .Satin'day ,129). ' ■: "■Wari(ika,«,,,:wihtcr • Garden-' - itoi-h week) lO-l )22 $480). Claimed sell- out o\er the ■^^eekend, with gros"?- hitting S28,000 Muaical moves to- B,iii\iTiOie nc.\t week Hi, with Gairifii t,i\en over to film.s "Oklahoma!", St .Linies (HOth w eek ) I M-1 !i22. $4 80) SlandLcs a id scllout.s; $30,000 -on ti)e week. ■ "On the Town," Beck (39th we<;k I iM'1.2I4: ,.$4.80). Vet mu.sical went eteaiV Tliui.'.sda.y tlii-oiigh Saturday., aiid very good before that; Grcis-s i-eached $31,600 for the week. ■Song of Norway." Imperial (571h week) IO'1,427; ib). Still one ot the tow n's mam draw.s. about $38,000.: "Ifie GU)i4 Menaeferie," Playhouse (2.->th week) (CD-865; $4.20;. Cntici,' Circle winner doing its usual ca- pacity, $19,000. "The Rjan Girl," Plymouth (D- 1,075, $3.60). Presented by the Messrs. Shubert and Albert dc Cour- viUe, written by Edmund Goulding. . Opened IVfonday (.24). "The Voice of the Tuirtle," Morosco (77th week) iC-939; $3.60). Maia- thon comedy still drawing 'em m, the week's gross topping previou.s .session by $500. Receipts over $19,- 000. "The Wind Is Ninety," Booth i^Hth week) (D-712; $3.60). Drama; eased out Sat. (22) after 108 performances,, to moderate draw. Around $6,000. "Up in Central Parkv" Broadway (i4th v/eek) lM-1,900; $6) Mouey- mnit musical -had a teiTific week, bouncmg up an estimated tour G s over previous session, tor gross of aiound $43,000. "You Touebed MEe," Booth (C-IU; 5.4 20). Piesented by Guthrie Mc- Clintic, written by Teniies.see Wil- liams and Donald Windham. Opened last night f25). Hub Hotcba; 17G For 'Carib/ Gwenn 19iG, 'Hierese' SRO $21,000 Boston, Sept. 25. Legit biz has been wow in Hub this past week. Caub Song" at the Shu- beit lolied up $17iOOO-for-the-tH'ira week of its extended run, and '•You ';iouched Me," starring, Edmund Gwenn at the Wilbur, ^old out .start- ing last Tuesday with an eight-pei- fonnance b.o. take of $19,5(10. "Ten Little Indians" at the Cop- ley, which garnered $11,500 the first week took $12,500 the second week. The Theatre Guild's "Theiese" at the Plymouth did a capacity $21.00^ and now proceeds a third week witll* out the Guild aegis. Onl y "The Tempest," here for the second time within a year, .sagged at the Boston Opera Hou.se. with a gro.ss ot $19,500. The San Carlo Opera Co; finished there the week 'otfore with $26,000. Advance sales for a new play. "Mr. Cooper's Left Hand," opening at the Wilbur tonight (25), are .'lair. ■•■ • . m WITHOUT WORDS' FAT $24,800, FRISCO San Francisco, Sept. 25. The Theodore Baclienheimcr-James A. Dooiittle offering of "Song With- out Words" rolled up a fat $24,800 at %i 60 top in the 1,776-seat Curran. Next dooi, I'iiiO-seat Geaiy, at $3 top. drew a weak $9,600 tor Leo Car- rillo s "The Bad Man. ' Wy Hiir $10,000 In 4 at New Haven New Haven, Sept. 25, 'Windy Hill' blew into the Shu- belt last weekend (20-22) tor four shov^s at $3 top. E!>liin<,ted gross of close to $10,000 meant sub.slantial biz. Play has been polished coniiid- erably .since Montclair stock tryout MI- Aug.; also cast changes; Result is tiiif entertainment for road, on strength of name.s, but not yet firoadway fare. , Kay Francis, .star- ring., has final say on New York date It, a.s, and when. Another break-in holds the board.s this week (27-29), "The AstasMn" berng on tap for four shows. "Girl Fiom N.intucket" gets its bapli>im here next week (Oct. 4-B); A full w eefc of "Oklahomal" follows *Z'-Vi). Two moie Irvoufs, "Secret Room" (18-20) and 'Day Befoie Spiing" (2i-27), uiU laise the new ^how ante to eight out ot 10 attractions lor the new iseason.; 'Blossom Time' Okay .$21,500 in Pitt Repeat Pittsburgh, Sept 2^ ' Blo-,s<)nT Time' still hasn't woin itself out. Old operetta, even with one ot tjie poorest casts that s c\>cr plaved here; opened legit season at \i\oii List week, and despite '■ome bad weather breaks gobbled up okay S2t 'iOO at $3 (including tax) lop. Show has' hit Pittsburgh so many times, even the, historians have, lo.st cbunt; ^ ■ ■ Got ofl to a poor start on account of opening night downpour but started to pick up oy Wednesday mat anddid very nice biz all the rest of the way., Nixon currently has its (list ^ubscr^ptlon'J^>lay, "Th¥ Winter's Talc,' and f«llow.s that with the ond, TalluMi Bankhead iti "Foolish ydmm,"