Variety (Jul 1946)

44 LEGITIMATE Wednesday, July 3, 1946 Heat Wave Crimps Broadway Biz; See B.0.S Off Further Tins Week; Top Oicks Hold Up;'Baby,'lama'Out Summer's first heat wave sent Broadway grosses tumbling and, as anticipated, some doubtful hold- overs were taken off, with more certain to follow. Takings this week, because of the Fourth: of July, will probably slip further, and that goes for next week, too. Only the top clicks were unaffected but Friday and Saturday (28-29) were lethal to many boxoffices. "Billion Dollar Baby," another musical, stopped Saturday, as did "I Remember Mania." which, however scored fair run. "O Mistress Mine" suspended temporarily, being dated to resume Aug. 28. Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy), D (.Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), 8 (Reuue), M (Musical). O (Operetta). "Anna Lucasta," Mansfield (97th week) (D-1,041; $3.60). Slipped un- der $9,000 but plans call for con- tinuance through summer. "Annie Get Your Gun," Imperial (7th week) (M-1,427; $6.60). One of very, few attractions unaffected, with the "gross well over $45,000; stan- dees.. "Around the World," Adelphl (5th week) (M-1,434; $6), After climbing was a heat victim; takings dropping 5Gs to $27,500. "Billion Dollar Baby," Alvin. Closed Saturday (29) after 28 weeks; started big but slipped top much to stick. "Born Yesterday," Lyceum (22d week) (C-993; $4.80)."Standout laugh play sells out all times and getting all house will hold; over $21,000. "Call Me Mister," National (ilth week) (R-1,142; $6). Musical hit that vies with any musical in agency ticket demand; around $32,600, which means capacitv. "Carousel," Majestic (63rd week) (M-1,667; $6). Eased off .somewhat, which is natural for long-run musi- cal, but nearly $39,000, plenty good; gross quoted at $3,134,212 in 500 times. "Dear Ruth," Miller (81st week) (C-940; $4.20). Nearly ready to exit and now in last three weeks; down to around $8,000 but has been fine moneymaker. "Deep Are the Boots," Fulton (40th week) (D-968; $3.80). Dropped to around $9,000 and doubtful if stay- ing much longer; however, is well on right side of ledger. "Dream Girl/' Coronet (29th week) (CD-7,037; $4.80). Dipped to $10,000 and some doubt now about spanning summer although rated as having good 6hance. "Harvey," 48th Street (87th week) (C-925; $4.20). Maintained its great pace while most other stayers slipped; quoted bettering $19,000 mark again last week. "Icetlme." Center' (2d week) (R- 2,994: $2.40). Excellent business re ported for new skating revue, which was estimated over,. $48,000 quoted first full week. "Lite With Father," Bijou (343d week) (C-614; $3.60). Fared com paratively better than some other stayers; run leader rated around $8,000. "6 Mistress Mine," Empire (CD 1,082: $4.80). Laying off for two months after playing 22 weeks cinch well into next season. "Oklahoma!" St. James (175th week) (M-1,509; $4.80). Musical leader held up to virtually $30,000 total gross of original and road com- pany nearly $10,305,000 up to this week: half of that was registered in N. Y. "On Whitman Avenue," Cort (8th week) (D-1064; $3.60). Perked up last month but heat affected attend- ance; rated around $8,000 last week "Song of Norway," Bioadwa (94th week) (O-1.900: $4.80). Hardly better than even break of late but sticking until favorable out-of-town • spot is available; socked $3,500 and down to $21,500. "State of the Union," Hudson (33rd week) . (CD-1,057: $4.80). Topping the straight-Dlay. division arid should hold that spot well into next season $25,800 quoted. "St. Lonls Woman," Beck (14th week) (M-1,214; $6), Another musi cal that slipped further last week, when takings dived to $14,000. "Swan Song" Booth (7th week) (CD-712; $4.20). Claimed to have picked up a bit but takings are not profitable to date; around $6,000. "The Glass Menaferle," Royale (65th week) (CD-1,025; $4.20). Moved here from Playhous; Mon- day (1), when Laurette Taylor re- joined cast; dropped under $7,500. "The Voice of the Turtle," Mo- rosco: (117th Week) (C-939; $3.60). Slipped more than expected last week but intention is to play through summer and into autumn; $9,000. "Three to Make Ready," Broad- hurst (17th week) (R-1.160; $4.80). Eased off of late, with $21,000 esti- mated last week, but figures to come back. REVIVALS Show Boat," Ziegfeld (25th week); (M-1,628; $6). Getting strong support from visitors, and while somewhat off still getting big money; $41,000. "The Red Mill," 46th Street (37th week) (M-1.319; $4.80). Not much affected and continues to goodly op- erating profit,, with last week around $28,000. NEIGHBORHOOD "Good Night, Ladles," Windsor, Bronx; moved< from Brooklyn. "The Late George Apley," Flat- bush, Brooklyn. Mr. Winkle's Holiday" (Aqua- retta) Flushing Meadows: variable business, with transportation a problem. SAMUEL FRENCH SINCE 18:10 Play, Brokers and Authors' Representatives 25 Wert 45th Strert. New York 811 Went Uh Street, horn Ancele* JUST OUT OF ARMY DIRECTOR AND ACTING TEACHER Available •ox 333, Variety, 154 W. 46th St. Now York 19. N, Y. leat Stifles Chi; ?ark'Cops40G, 'State' Chicago, July 2. Hot weather and the rush of Chicagoans to midwest vacation spots contributed to the general nosedive of legit grosses last week. "Anna Lucasta," going into its 41st week at the Civic theatre, took the sharpest drop, registering a weak ! 19,800. Mike Todd's "Up in Central :?ark" remains on top with $40,000 but took a cut from- last week's $42,000. "State of the Union,".still doing terrific at $26,800, took a $600 cut. "Laura" in its fourth week regis- tered" good $16,500. Estimates for Last Week Anna Lucasta," Civic (40th week) (900; $3.60). Down to a weak $9,800. Laora," Harris (3rd week) (1,000; $3.60). Slipped but still a good $1.6.500. "State of the Union," Blackstone (10th week) (1,360; $4.20). A drop short of capacity with $26,800-. "Up In Central Park," Shubert (11th week) (2,163; $4.80). Hefty $40,000. 'Gypsy'Lures 42G, St Loo; 'Rosalie' Starts Heftily St. Louis. July 2. "Rosalie," one of the biggest coin grabbers in the repertory of the Municipal Theatre Assn.'s history, began- the fourth week's stand last night (Monday) in the alfresco play- house in Forest Park; Overflow opening night mob totaled 10,100, largest of the season. The gross was approximately $4,500. Evelyn Wyckoff, who clicked in "Mary" several weeks ago, is repeat- ing in the title role, with Lee Dixon and Penny Edwards in support. A specialty featuring musical director Edwin McArthur as piano soloist, praying the last movement of Gersh- win's -Concerto in F," won the mob. "Gypsy Love," which wound up its one-week engagement Sunday (30), was beset by threatening weather almost throughout the stand and the' b.o. suffered accordingly. The piece attracted 70.000 customers and an estimated gross of $42,000. 'Bloomer Girl' 52G in 1st At LA.;'Okla.'38G Los Angeles, July 2. Los Angeles was plenty boffola last week when three houses took in total of $107,000. Figure was given biggest hypo ' by the Philharmonic Auditorium attraction, "Bloomer Girl," which grossed $52,000 for the first stanza. Figure for the .New York import into the Civic' Light Opera season tops previous record, made by "Rose-Mane," last year, by $2,200: "Girl" selling at $4.80 top looks likely to . repeat mark this week. "Oklahoma!", which just closed its eighth s.r.o. week at the Biltmore, picked up another,$38,000 peak at that downtown house. Ken Mur- ray's "Blackouts of 1946" went into its fifth year at. El Capitan and re- peated $17,000 for 210th stretch. On the other side of the ledger, however, are the three other legit houses. "All Women Are—" folded at the Belasco after 10 days of run- ning with only about $4,000' across the counter. "Lady Godiva's Horse" finished .its first week at the Musart with a sad $2,000. "Tobacco Road" had around $7,500, which pays off, however, for the sixth week at the Mayan. Inside Stuff-Legit Billy Rose, whose advertorials (paid ads in the N; Y. dailies) may be syndicated shortly, got particular attention on the following "theatrical will": Until a few days ago I never bothered drawing up a last will and testa- ment. . . . And so, after the manner of the famous will which left the fields to smajl boys' and the stars to lovers, I tacked on the following codicils: To legitimate theatres:—I leave cooling systems that won't go out when the audience comes in—also some fruit for those fresh fruit drinks. To young actors and actresses:—I leave secretaries who will remember their names and addresses, and producers who will pick up on unfamiliar script and audition for them. To Shakespearean actors:—! leave a giant echo-chamber, where they may always hear themselves chanting the Bard's iambic pentameter. To show girls:—I leave a line of dialogue—and a set of theatrical offices without a divan. To chorus girls:—I leave Tommy Manvllle and a good lawyer. To understudies:—I leave the plagues of Egypt, to wish upon the leads an hour befpre curtain time. . . To playwrights:—I leave shows which will somehow open on the second night, and by-pass that four-letter word opening night audience. To critics:—1 leave successful careers as playwrights. To George Jean Nathan:—I leave William Saroyari and to William Saro- yan I leave William Saroyan. To theatrical agents:—I leave an agent who will take ten percent of their ten percent. To press agents:—I leave the front cover of "Life" and an introduction to Richard Maney, To young lyricists and composers:—I leave the wastcbaskets of Larry Hart and Jerome Kern. To Oscar Hammersteln II:—I leave a dozen of those fountain pens that write forever. And finally, to The Drama, the fabulous invalid they're always writing obituaries about:—I leave the hope that It never gets any sicker than it was in Anno Domini 1946, when Shakespeare and Sophocles averaged better than fifty, thousand a week at a Fifty-ninth street -theatre. Former Cosmopolitan, N. Y., renamed the Columbus Circle last season when Mike Todd presented Maurice Evans' GI "Hamlet" there, will be occupied by the American Repertory Theatre next season. One year's rental was agreed upon with George De Cuevas, whose lease on the spot extends for around three more years. Todd was supposed to have bought in on that leasehold; in fact, he was said to have bought the property, but there was no cash transaction and he lost all interest in the Circle when "Hamlet" exited. De Cuevas took the former film house over and with a coterie essayed to establish the International Ballet on a permanent basis, House was rensjned the International and reconverted for. stage purpose, but the project failed and flnaled around $900,000 in the red. American Rep, headed by Cheryl Crawford, Eva Le Gallienne and Mar- garet Webster, will, not open until Nov. 3, when "Henry VIII" will be re- vived. Backstage space is ample enough to store the settings for the several productions on ARTs schedule for the coming season. Rep outfit is reputed to have raised a $300,000 bankroll, but is still selling stock. 'TURTLE'STURDY 22G IN 2D WASH. WEEK Washington, July 2, With the mercury doing its best to beat former records, "Voice of the Turtle," with the Boston cast, continued to hold its own at the Na tional here with a sturdy $22,000 second week; Although lobby is air conditioned, auditorium is not, but tickets are still going under the wickets at fast pace. "Turtle" stays for two more weeks as skedded, when cast noes on a fortnight's vacation. "Dear Ruth," with the Broadway cast, opens here July 29, with the gap between it and "Turtle" still to be filled. 'Choc. Soldier'Melts Toronto, July 2 Record heat wave plus long holi day weekend (Dominion Day on Monday paralleling the. U. S. Fourth of July) severely dented Ernest Rawley's revival of "The Chocolate Soldier" when musical piece grossed only $12,200 at the Royal Alexan- dra, with 1,525-seater scaled at light $2:50 top. Sam Byrd, author, actor and manager, has been awarded a $2,500 fellow- ship by the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, he being among 157 beneficiaries. It was an award based on.his work as a novelist, not for theatre activities. Byrd was a lieutenant in the Navy, being beachmaster during the Normandy and Okinawa landings. His books were "Hurry Home to My Heart" and "Small Town South." In 1940 Byrd presented "John Henry," by Roark Bradford, with Paul Robeson starred, which failed at the 44th Street, N. Y. Principal backer was Douglas Leigh, Broadway animated electric sign specialist, both hav- ing graduated from the University of Florida. Byrd's first managerial- venture was "White Man," a drama that had a mild engagement. He played the juvenile lead in "Tobacco Road" during most of the Broadway engagement. 'Girls Takes Over Philadelphia Philadelphia, July 2. "Follow the Girls" opened last night (1) at the Forrest, where it is figured the two-year N. Y. hit may span- the hot-weather months. Man- agement has given musical complete change of costuming and sets and has put on a special campaign here stressing Gertrude Nieseh. If July and August weather breaks prove too bad, Forrest will prob- ably close for a couple of weeks prior to regular season's opening Labor Day. That date, incidentally, also finds Locust, which is not air- cooled, opening with "The Voice of the Turtle" for what. should be an extended run. It's reported the Shubert will get an air-conditioning job before next summer. That would give the For- rest a chance to overhaul its own system which is none too complete or up-to-date. Oscar Serlin is giving the Broadway "Life • With-Father" players a vacation with pay'for the seventh straight summer, which is something of a record for one play. Same gesture goes for. the office staff, including Harry For wood, general press agent, who has already scooted out of town. Readings for the road "Father" have started, tour starting in Washing- ton Aug. 19. Howard Lindsay and Russel Crousc, who wrote the laugh show, are still on the Coast supervising the picture version. They will re- main there to rehearse a road "State of The Union," due to open at San Diego next month. 100G FOR 3 PITT OPENERS Pittsburgh, July 2. Despite bad weather, necessitating cancellation of two performances and attendance held down by cold on several others, opening trio of out- door operettas at Pitt Stadium drew around $100,000. . ■'■ Advance sale is strong. Current Road Shows , (Period Covering July 1-13). '■"Anna Lucasta" — Civic, Chi. (1-13). "Blackouts of 1946" — El Capitan, Hollywood (1-13), "Bloomer Girl" — Philharmonic, L. A. (1-13). "Come On Up"—Cass, Det, (1-6); Selwyri, Chi. (8-13). "Follow the Girls"—Forrest, Phila (1-13), "Laura"—Harris, Chi, (1-6). "Merry Wives of Windsor" — Geary, L. A. (1-13). "Obsession"—Met.. Seattle (1-6) Lyric, Vancouver, B. C. (8-13). ; "Oklahoma!" — Biltmore, L. A, (1-13). '-.. "Pursuit of Happiness"—Shubert Lafayette, Det. (1-13). "State of the Union"—Blackstone Chi. (1-13). "Up In Central Park" — Shubert, Chi. (1-13). "Voice of the Turtle"—Aud., Pasa dena (1); .Aud., Fresno (3); Aud, ■,.' (Continued' 6ti' pag> '40) Before Jimmy. Durante scrammed New York for the Coast last week he saw Orson Welles in "Around The World." While at dinner before the show, friends suggested to Schnoz that a floral offering sent to the star would be the courteous thing to do. Schnozzola compromised by sending $4.40 worth of cactus plant with a note that he'd see Welles at the stage- door. Latter pulled several gags about Durante during the performance. Durante was called back to Hollywood sooner than expected to start work, on Metro's "It Happened in Brooklyn." He is expected east in the fall for two radio programs. Business for "Swan Song," which has been playing on Broadway for nearly two months, has been disappointing but authors Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur still have confidence in the drama. They are rewrit- ing the script, especially the first act. "Song" continuance should enhance the picture rights value, and authors plan to secure a name player if they decide to tour the show in the fall. It was originally called "Crescendo" when tried out last season. H. Sc McA. rewrote the play and are said to have the major financial interest in it. / Play Out of Town The fortune Teller San Francisco, July 1. Edwin Lester production (Sun l'Yanolsco MRl'l Opera Assn.) of Victor Herbert oper- etta. Book by Henry Myers: new lyrics by Robert Wright and-George Forrest: features Helcne Ullss. John Tyres. Gene Lockhnrt. Waller Called. Jack Goode. Dale Mel- bourne, Val Vrilentlnoff, Lou Kesler.; staged by Wright and Forrest: muslcul adaptation and arrangements- by Arthur Kay;, tlancc direction, Alda Drondbenl: costumes de- signed by Miles White: lighting and tech- nical direction, Adrian Awan; vocals staged by Lou KeMer. Opened at Curran, ' San Francisco, July 1, '4l>. . , ■ Despite a streetcar strike, the Curran theatre, was jammed tonight (1) by an audience that cheered a brilliant production of 'The. For- tune Teller," promising to equal the success of "Song of Norway," an- other Frisco-originated production. 'Through the permission granted by Ella Herbert Bartlett. Victor Her bert's daughter, to producer Edwin Lester, general mamVger of the San Francisco Civic Light Opera Assn., "Fortune Teller" emerges as a color .ful, synthesis of. Victor Herbert's music; easily justifying the reported $135,000 outlay, of which $75,000 was for costumes. The two acts and eight scenes of the production, which combine scores of "Fortune Teller" arid "The Serenade," and features melodies from five of Herbert's operettas, was replete with superb stagecraft . and sparkling perform- ances by the cast of 100. Helene Bliss and John Tyres turn in excellent jobs as leads, and com- edy by Gene Lockhart and Walter Catlett is decidedly above averace of light opera. Jack Goode, Dale Melbourne and Lou .Kesler. are strong support, arid Val Valentinoff turns in a sensational dance. Gay sets and saucy costuming give the whole performance freshness; which makes it distinctly modern in. appeal, definitely removing it from the revival class. Miles White's cos- tuming is superb, .and book by Henry. Myers and new lyrics by Robert Wright and George- Forrest, as well as sets by Boris Aronson, all con- spire to give the wellknown tunes a newness wfcich had the opening- nighters humming when leaving the theatre. Staging by Wright and Forrest is effective, and lighting and technical direction by A^Jrj^n Awan excellent.