Variety (Dec 1945)

Wcdncaday, December 19, 1945 LEGITIMATE 45 Chi Snow Makes It Tough Sledding For B.O.; 'Joy' NG $4,080, Does a FoMeroo Chicago, Dec. 18; ' Loisa snow here, and it's tough sledding in the legit dept. Three shows—"Foolish Notion," "Desert Song" and "Two Mrs. Carrolls"— moved out Saturday (15), and one, "A Joy Forever," which drew some pretty sour notices, closed for re- nail's pre-Brpadway. Latter, starring . Guv Kibbee ,got only $4,000. ••'Carrolls" cast lays over in Chi a week, reopening in Eyansvillc, Ind., Christmas, day, and is then skedded for the southwest one-nighter cir- cuit, winding up at the Los Angeles Biltmore .Tan. 14. It's, the first time in iicr career Elisabeth Bergner, the star; has done one-nightcrs. "No- tion" also skedded for the road, as is "Desert Song," pre-N. Y. "St. Lahore's Pharmacy" opens Sunday (23), "Hasty Heart" the 23d, Ballet Theatre and Sotija Henie ice show Christmas day. and "Spring in , Brazil" Dec; 28. Others incoming are • "Passing Show," Jan. 7; Ethel Barry- inoic in "Joyous Season." Jan. 14, and- "Dark of the Moon," Jan. 21.' Due but undated are "Late George Aplev." "Suds in-Your Eye," "Deep Are-the Roots," and "State of the Union.' 1 Latter two will have road companies, • •■■ Estimates for Last Week "A Joy Forever," Blackstone (1.360; $3.60). Blevins Davis and Archie Thompson, who also produced ■■■Rhapsody," another flopperoo, took another boating on this one, orig- inally inked in for two weeks but fanked after $4,000 in the .. first, olded for a rewrite job, and then skedded for Broadway. "Anna Lucasta," Civic (12th week) ^00; $3.60). Lowest to date; $16,500. "Carmen Jones," Erlanget (16th week) (1.400: $4.80). Down here also, to. $21,000. "Passing Show" due . Jan. ' 7. - "• "Hear Ruth," Harris (35th Week) (1.000: $3.60). Held up pretty well w ith $12,000. "Foolish Notion," Studebaker (4th week) (1.246; $3.60). Off the The- atre Guild-American Theatre Society standard, final week for this one was the best yet: $23,800. "Lairing Room Only," Shubcrt on h week) (2.163; $4.80). Okay $35,- (ino (or the Olsen & Johnson clam- iiievoo. "The Desert Song," Opera House (4th week) (3.642: $3.60). Moved out Saturday (15). N. Y.-bound, with $39,000. "The Two Mrs. Carrolls," Great Northern tilth week) (1,425; $4.20). Puny $11,900 in last stanza here. Fortheomine road tour winds up in L. A. Jan. 14. "The Voice of the Turtle," Selwyn («3d week ) (1,000; $3.60). Moves out Jan. 12, after 67 weeks—which means it's third on the list lor Chi's rec- ord runs. Champs remain "Good Night, Ladies" (100 weeks) and •Kiss and Tell" (89 weeks). Cot small $11,000 this time. 4 — 'LUTE SONG' GOOD $12,000 IN N.H. BOW New Haven, Dec. 18. "Lute Song" precm at Shubert last weekend (13-15) drew lukewarm notices which held biz down some- what. On four shows at $4.20 top, 'gross approximated $12,000, good bu^ not capacity. This week brings break-in of "Born Yesterday" (Jean Arthur) for last half (20-22). with good advance sale. . Next week gets another try- out, the Geraldine Fitzgerald-John Howard whodunit, "Portrait in Blr-ek" (27-29). House takes on Blackstone for Dec. 80-31. then reverts to straight stuff with bow of Gladys George in "You Twinkle Only Once" (Jan. 3-5). 'Kasty Heart' Fair $13,000 in St. Loo St. Louis, Dec. 18. Biz at the two legit houses, Ameri- can and Garrick; is dipping, with the temperature r,nd an extremely heavy 24-hour snowstorm and Xmas-spcnd- MW R'plurge rontribuliiig factors. John Patrick's comedy. "The Hasty Heart," with John Dall in the top role, wound up its one-week slard at the Ameri- can theatre Saturday (15) with only fair $13,000 in eight performances. House was scaled to $3.05. "Suds in Your Eye" opened a two- work stand at the American Sunday ,<I6). The house is scaled to $3.05. Ma>d in the Ozarks," the Arkansrs mountain comedy-drama besnn its fourth week at the Garrick Sunday «"'). Dmpcd to $8,000, for nine per- formances. 'Only Girl' 7G, K. C. Kansas City, Dec. 18. ! The Only Girl," with cast heat'ed «-rh* ■ Sherwood.- drew a fair , "'.(WO. lor six performances in 1>e Music Hall of the Municipal Audi- , „ um here last weekend. 1 ■ % House, seating 2,572, was scaled to Brazil' Good At $24,000 in Balto Baltimore, Dec. 18. "Spring in Brazil," at Ford's here last week drew mild reviews but good: b.o. figured at $24,000 and due entirely to personal draught of. Mil- ton Berle. Show closed here for two weeks of repairs after which a Chi- cago run is plotted. Another pre-Broadway try, "Of All People," by Ralph Spcnce, presented by Walter Batchelor and Monte Proser with Bert Wheeier : and Wal- ler Catlett featured, is in currently, with "Dark of the moon" set to fol- low for Christmas week as the sec- ond of five plays promised under American Theatre Society-Guild sub- scription. ' ■ / > '-.' .'. Gentleman' 10G Philadelphia, Dec. 18.- Legit biz was. generally speaking, certainly above average for this pre- hoiiday shopping period but it didn't measure up to figures promised by inflated November and early De- cember grosses. Week's only opening—"Would-Be Gentleman"-^—created the biggest controversy. Big Michael Todd comedy at the Shubert got one rave, one very' good, one straddling and one virulent pan from four local crix. Gross for the week was re- ported at $10,000, definitely not enough for this expensive show, which won huzzahs and laurel wreaths from more than half its commentators. City's leader last week was "Nellie" BIy," which, despite adverse notices at start, collected a moderately good $26,600 in its second and final ses- sion at the Forrest. Show is admit- tedly much improved but with plenty of room for more buildup. "The Late George Apley" was given fine notices and added raves in Sunday followtrps, but has been falling under expected pace at the Walnut although last week's $13,- 500 was probably okay for both show and house. "Apley" has an- other week to run. It's claimed by some that fact th:>t first-string crix went elsewhere (Ethel Barrymore's "Joyous Season") instead of cover- ing the Max Gordon production hurt its chances here. "Season" got $14,800 in its second and final week at the Locust. Barry- more vehicle was first booked for two weeks; later was skedded for an extra session, then had that extra stanza dropped. Biz was okay but not up to management's expectations, figuring notices and star's name. Bookings are now solidly piled up. with one exception for next six weeks. Tonight (18) Michael Myer- bcrg's "Lute Song" starts what is officially announced as a four-week engagement at the Locust. Xmas week shows have been split, with "Of All People" now deciding to bow in at the Walnut on Xmas riicht (25) with the Guild revival of "Winter's Tale" and "Marinka" still set for the 24th at the Locust and Shubert respectively. All three shows stay only two weeks. There'll be nothing on- the 31st. but on Jan. 7 two openings are set: "Born Yesterday." with Jean Ar- thur, at thx> Locust, and "The Magni- ficent Yankee," with Louis Calhern and Dorothy Gish. at the Walnut. On Wednesday (9). .new musical, "The Duchess Misbehaves/' with Audrey Christie is listed at the Shu- bert; Nothing definite for the 14th but on the 21st. Walter Huston in "The Aople of His Eve" is booked at the Walnut) and "A Gift for the Bride" probably at the Locust. Shows in Rehearsal "By Appointment Only" — Dave Wolper. "Show Hoal>'— Kern, Hammcrstcin Production. "Antigone and the Tyrant"— Katharine Cornell and Gilbert Miller. "The Makttiijcent Yankee"—Ar- thur HOpkins. "Apple of His Kye'—Jed Harris. "Georgia' Boy" — Jack Kirkland and Hiilla Studriard, "Portrait in Black"—Lcland Hay- wave!. "You Twinkle Only Once"—Mar- tin Blaine, ■. "T; e Duchess Misbehaves"—A. P. W:::.m;:p. . . "TIorKe of llic Brave"—Lee Sabin- soii. "Little Women"- Frank McCoy. 'Tale'22G, Wash. Washington, Dec. 18. "The Winter's Tale" did $22,000 in eight performances at the National last week. Colleges and high schools kept the balconies filled, with the Shakespeare-lovers filling the or- chestra. They will do $44,000 on the two weeks at the National. • Ethel Barrymore in the new Philip Barry play, "The Joyous Season," has a healthy mail order, Arthur Hopkins is also presenting "The Magnificent Yankee," a new play by Emmet Lavery about Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, and there is a good demand for this attraction. Tyg'SRO* In Hub Opening Boston, Dec! 18. With solid product along the rialto biz remains very stout notwithstand- ing offish takes in the film houses. "Pygmalion," a wow from opening for b.o, appeal, went clean for entire fortnight engagement first couple of days,: while "Dunnigan's Daughter," Guild auspices, with two good no- tices against three so-so, nonetheless appeared to be catching on and first week was smacko.. "Billion Dollar Baby" suffered in final .week at the Shubert, and "Murder Without Crime," opening at the Copley, was no go .aside from controversies de- veloping between producer and star. "Oklahorn/i!" closed its 10-week en- gagement at same s.r.o. level. "Nellie Ely" begins a three-week engagement tonight (18) at the Shu- bert. Other opening is chiefly notable for the fact it returns Harvard Uni- versity to the boards in the first Hasty Pudding show since the war. They're doing "Proof of the Pudding" for three engagements. Four openers on Christmas day: "Born Yesterday" at the Wilbur; "The Late George Apley," at the Colonial; "Voice of the Turtle," at the Plymouth, and "Desert Song." at the Opera House. Others ahead are "Georgia Boy," at the Copley, Dec. 29: "You Twinkle Only Once," at the Wilbur, Jan. 7; "The Lute Song," at the Shubert, Jan, 14; "Crescendo," at the Wilbur, Jan. 12, and "The Fin^ ishing Touch," Jan. 21, at a theatre to be announced. Estimates for Last Week "Billion Dollar Babv," Shubert (1,500;. $4.85). Lost plenty of ground on finale here, drowning to estimated $22,000 to close. Weather, shopping and greater interest in other attrac- tions deemed responsible. This was the fourth week of engagement; "Nellie BIy" begins here tonight (18). "Dunnigan's Daughter," Wilbur (1,400; $3.60). Theatre Guild auspices guarantee about half the house for week, but play seems to be catching on as a lively presentation of con- temporary problem, and went to great estimated $20,000 on first week, remarkable. Final week current. "Murder Without Crime," Conley (1.200; $3). Socked pretty hard in press as an overacted and corny melo, and never made a show at esti- mated $2,500. Closed here Sat. (15). House dark until 29th. "Oklahoma!", Colonial (1,500: $4.20). Crossed the finish line as most consistent winner ever known here, witii weekly gross never vary- ing from $30,100 for,entiie 10 weeks rain or shine. House dark until Christmas day. "Pygmalion," Plymouth (1.450; $3.60). First play in years to draw first-string critics awry from new piay opening across the street. Got sock notices and went clean in a couple of days. Entire engagement sold out at about $20,000 in seven times Thursday matinee was can- celled, Gertie Laurence was ill. 'Dream Gnf Cinch After B'way Preem, Nothing Melancholy About 'Hamlet,' At B.O., 15y 2 G in 1st 4; Trench' 11G 'PHARMACY' $14,000 IN MONTREAL PREEM Montreal. Dec. 18. "St.' Lazare's Pharmacy," Eddie Dowlirig and Lours J. Singer produc- tion which"preemcd here Dec. 4.and got brushoff from press, did a $14,000 gross from opening to Saturday night (15). Play, whose opening was de- ferred from Dec. 2 to Dec. 4 on ac- count of Miriam Hopkins' reported illness, has had engagement extended here and will close tomorrow (Wed., Dec. 19) instead of last Saturday (15) as previously planned. 'Prince' Cops Great 24G As LA. Boff Holds Up Los Angeles. DcCi 18. There's always someone to cry when the holidays roll around, but business seems to he stimulated here, I rather than dropping oil' ;it the legit' ! sppis. "Student Prirco" rambled |through '.Is seeord week at the Bilt- ; more with a glorious $24,000 and will i hold for a third frame. Ken Mur- ' ray's "Blackouts of l!Mo" did the .usual capacity $tsj40u for "flic 180th | week at El Capifan. I "Maid in the O/nrks" w.-s down a i bit ' for thf> fourth static at the ■ Eo'rsco, co''ect ! ni £6.000, but no one ,-'"'ed much. MKsart did a nifty hw.800 for the 19th .stretch of "Motel I Wives.'' ;\ ; Very few Broadway shows have escaped the pre-holiday lull; even some of the standouts have empty seats although boxoffice statements show capacity. Brokers may have held tickets too long or their cus- tomers failed to show up. Because of the seasonal slump the true rating of some incomers may not be had until after New Year's. ;. However, there -is little doubt about the clicking chances of two out of three new shows last week. "Dream Girl" looks like a cinch, it having opened Friday (14). Night before, "Hamlet" bowed in and was hailed.. Earlier, "Brighten the Cor- ner" drew skeptical notices with two exceptions. "The French Touch" fared better than indicated. Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy), U (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), M (Musical), O (Operetta). "Anna Lucasifa," Mansfield (68th week) (D-1,041; $3.60). Dipped an- other couple of Gs but with takings approximating $15,000 colored-cast drama fared plenty well. "Are You With It?", Century (6th week) (M-1,713; $4.80). Because its one of the new musical clicks busi- ness hardly affected and the pace of $41,000-plus was maintained. "Billion Dollar Baby," Alvin (M- 1,357; $6). Presented by Paul Feigay and Oliver Smith; book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green; music by Morton Gould; very good out of town; sole opening this week; starts Friday (21). "Bloomer Girl," Shubert (64th week) (M-1,382; $5.40). Run musical among the favorites, although off in recent weeks; last week-SMv drop to $24,000 but should come Back. "Brighten Oie Corner," Lyceum (1st week) (C-993; $4.20). One of newcomers whose chances are riot definite but press mostly unfavor- able; with good first-night takihss, first five times approximated $6,000. "Carousel," Majestic (35th week) (M-1.695; $6). Advance sale con- tinues unabated and takings not af- fected, with count over $49,000; leads all. "Day Before Spring," National (4th week) (M-1,164; $6). Another new musical winner; not too st'ong at matinees but capacity nights: $30,000. "Dear Ruth," Miller (53d week) (C-940; $4.20). Approximately $15,- 000; has been bettering that mark for a year and should bounce back. "Deep Are the Roots," Fulton (11th week) (D-968; $4.20). Claimed to be unaffected last week, with takings over $19,000: exceptional. "Dream Gfrl." Coronet (1st week) (C-1,160: $4.20). Opened Friday (14); fine press with one exception: exnected to be. a standout. "Follow the Girls," Broad! -urst (88th week) (M-1,160: $4.80). Up to last three weeks attendance great for run musical: off a "a in last week at approximately $24,000 but will come back with rdvent of holidays. "Ha<vey." 48th Street (59th week) (C-925; $4.20). No deviation for holdover smash, which clicks at. $19.- 300 everv week; road company soon due on Coast. "Hamlet." Columbus Circle (1st week) (1,173: $4.80). Onered last Thursday (13) and hailed by nt-ess 1 indications are tor a click; $15,J00 first, four performances. "Hats Off to lee." Ce"ter (75th week) (R-2,994; $1.98). Rink revre somet/.mes soes up though ether at- tractions slip; auoted over $24,500; 'around >3Gs better, than W .vec\ "I Remembc Main's," Music Box (62nd week) (CD-979; $4.20). Bit off but one of the strongest of slraight- plnv draws: $20,000 estimated. "Life With Father," Bh"ou (315th week) (C-014: $3.60). Run leader dropped to around $7,500 but prob- ably bettered even break and ox- pctcd to bounce un at holiday time "Oklahom?!". St.. James (14V week) (M-1.509: $4.80). May he feme variation in number of sf^roVcs but wrs can-citv la?t week: $31,000. "On t'-c Town," Beck (SJ.st week) r!VT-l 914- S4.80). Showed to proun'H $2?.000. 'ow mark so far: but. musi- cal, which passes year's mark next week, sure to improve. "PoInr>aise" Ade'nv,; riniv, W eeV) (0-1,436; $4,20). Particularly af- fected in past three weeks or s'i; down under $12,000; staying for holi- day trade, then to road Jan. 12. "S«ng of Norwa.v," Imperial (69th .week) (0-1:427; $6). Like most lon<»- run musicals business has bern af- fected, but with takings around $34.- C00 last week, there was goodly profit. "State of the Union," Hudson (5th week) (CD-1,084; $4.80). Another newcr standouts not affected, ;nd takings went to $24,000 and more. "Strange Fruit," Royale (3d week) (D-99R; $4.?0). Using extra-snace ads; disappointment so far and 1'ttle call in agencies; rated around $10?- 000. "The Frcuch Touch," Cort (2d week (""•-' OM- f-A.ro). f-nr\y--- nev,'comer_ willn ut ejency strength: first v.'Ci:,- h ;v.-cvo% on ted around $14,000; slid "Antigone and the Tyrant" reported for house late next month. ', "The Glass Menagerie," Playhouse (37th week) (CD-865; $4.20). Busi- ness here continues unabated, and statement shows capacity; $18,500. "The Mermaids Singing," Empire (3d week) (C-1,082; $4.80). Went off' because there was one less party than previously; takings rated slight- ly over $16,000. "The Rugged Path," Plymouth (5th week) (D-1.063; $4.80). Eased off slightly: attendance at ntir'"" 1 ;': matinee not capacity: big gross, how- ever, nearly $24,000; reported that engagement may not continue much longer, with Spencer Tracy wanting an out. "The Voice of the Turtle," Morosco (89th week) (C-930; $3.60). Dipped to around $16,500, lowest figure since season's start, but three-person play virtually sure to climb back towards capacity. "Theresc," BiUmore (10th week) (D-920; $4.20). Not certain how much longer engagement will last after holidays; dipped to around $10,500; money-maker to date. "Up in- Central Park," Broadway (46th week) (M-1,900; $6). Slipped further last week, when count was estimated around $25,000; will start playing Sunday performances. "You Touched Me," Booth tilth week) (C-712; $4.20). Rated around $8,000 last week; laying off week; only show on- list not lighted. REVIVAL "The Red Mill," Ziegfeld (9th week) (M. 1,626; $4.80). Bit off early last week and at midweek matinee; still, gross was great; around $36,000. RAINER-'GHT FAIR $6,800, INDIANAPOLIS : Indianapolis, Dec. 18. Luise Rainer in "A Gift for the Bride" took a fair $6,800 here at the English (1,500) in four performances*^ Dec. 10-12 at $3.60 top. Star got bet- ter notices than play. English resumes with "The Hasty Heart" Thursday (20) for a solid ruff through mid-January, with "Rose Marie" and "Countess Maritza" Christmas week, "Suds in Your Eye" Dec. 31-Jan. 2, "Rebecca" Jan. 3-5, "Oklahoma!"- Jan. 8-12, followed by ; "Voice of Turtle" Jan. 17-19. Con- cert booking for Jan. 7 prevented full week for "Oklahoma!", and-sell- . out in advance of opening is in sight, with mail orders piling high. Tick-up Girl' Neat $10,500 in Toronto Toronto, Dec. 18. ' Despite Xmas shopping competi-. tion, two stage attractions here did better-than-expected business. In its first admitted winning week on tour, "Pick-up Girl" did an outstanding $10,500, thanks to a new and whirl- wind exploitation campaign thought up by Ernie Rawley and Sam Strat- um. This brought in not only the sensation-seekers but the high school and welfare groups at whom the hot juvenile delinquency campaign was aimed. Result at the Royal Alex- andra (1,525) was that $10,500 gross, which exceeded expectations held at earlier part of the week. House was scaled at $2.50 top. Canadian road-show version of "H;;sty Heart," with Paul Anderson and Lorraine Bale, did a s itisfactory $7,500 at Shea's Victoria, with 1,896- scaier scaled at $2 top. ' Hollywood, Dec. 18. Casting' problems for the forth- coming Broadway legit play, "Many Mansions," will be discussed here this week by Louis Bromfield "and Laszlo Vadnay, co-authors, and Stan- ley Bergcrman. Piece is s'ated for February stag- ing, with Alexander Ince and Ar- thur Hopkins producing and George Cukor directing. 'Ruth' 2JG, Frisro San Francisco, Dec. 18. "Night in Havana." all-Latin revue, completed its first week at the Cur- ran, the $2-top, 1.776-scat house. Good reviews greeted this south of (he border revue. Last week, saw Romberg's rcvivrl. "Rl^-ssom Time," draw a colorless S17.000. "Dear Ruth," wh ; eh seems to be gaining in popularity with Frisco, i udiences, is now in its fourth week 2t $3 too. 1.550-seat. Geary. Last week showed a pickup to a good $21,000. 'Angel SI.' 3G. Denver Denver. Dec. 18. "Anael Street" got a kick in the nrnts from n^riilmas shopping and did a neor $3,000 for two nights and a matinee at l*e 3,270-seat audito- rium with a $3 top.