Variety (Jul 1946)

60 LEGITIMATB Wednesday, July 24, 1946 B way Simmers in Summer Doldrums; 'Ozarks' Surprise 11G; Leaders Hold To Big Coin; 'Menagerie' Leaving Variance in grosses last week was a matter of a couple of hundred dol- lars. from the previous week al- though some favorites fared better. Fine weather through the week, un- til Saturday's high heat, saw box- offices having difficulty selling gal- lery tickets. A visitor influx indi- cated by the hotels has hardly increased .takings. There are two closings but other weaklings are liable to fold any Saturday, though some will try to stick through August. "Maid in the Ozarks" fared much better than expected after hitting the nadir in notices. Perhaps the patronage came from those curious to sec whether the hillbilly play was as substandard as reported. "Dear Ruth" exits Saturday (27) and "The Glass Menagerie" has one week more. Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy), D< (.Drama'), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), M (Afusical), O (Operetta). "Anna Lucasta," Mansfield MOOth week). (D-1,041; $3.60). Slated to continue well into fall period with a pickup anticipated before end of summer; $8,000. . - • "Annie Get Your Gun," Imperial (10th week) (M-1,427: $6.60). Run- ning true to form; figured to sell out' for an indefinite period; betters $45,000 every week. .': . "Around the World," Adelphi (8th week* (M-1,434; $6). Orson Welles kids about the crimped attendance, telling.audiences it seems there arc more people on stage than out front; around $21,000 which is not good enough for musical. "Born Yesterday," Lyceum (25th week) (C-993; $4.80). Gallery is only part of house that is slow in selling'out and the gross approxi- mates $21,000. "Call Me Mister," National (14th week) (R-1,142; $6). Carbon copy of revue, slated for Chicago in fall, original pointed through new sea- son: $32,500 is capacity. "Carousel," Majestic (66th week) (M-1,667; $6). Picked up, count be- ing around $37,500. Regarded as very good in midst.of second sum- mer. "Dear Ruth," Miller (C-940; $4.20). Final and 85th week; had been con- sistently profitable until start of summer; around $5,000. "Deep Are the Rools," Fulton (43d week) (D-968; $3.60). Drama was not expected to hold over; ■ around $7,500 and evidently netting some profit. ■ "Harvey," 48th Street (90th week) (C-925; $4.20). A few seats not oc- cupied now and then but the quoted gross : is oyer $19,000; virtual ca- pacity. "Icetlme," Center (5th week) (R- 2,994; $2.40). Has its own draw from Radio City crowds and standees at most performances; around $47,000. "Life With Father," Bijou (346th week) (C-614; $3.60). : Road com- pajiy with Edwin Maxwell and Betty Alden as leads starts rehearsal this week; around $6,300. "Maid In the Oiarks," Belasco (1st week) (C-1,077; $3.60). Played nine With deepest regrets and the most tearful apologies to VARIETY, we ruefully announce that MAID IN THE OZARKS grossed $12,114.84 last week at the Belasco the- atre in the most sensational publicity campaign in the history of legitimate theatre show business. The man responsible for the publicity, promotion, production and execution of all ideas was JULES PFEIFFER JULES PFEIFFER JULES PFEIFFER .sr Assisted by JAMES M. McKECHNIE OPEN FOR ANY PROPOSITION FOR LEGITIMATE PLAYS. MOTION PICTURES. RADIO, TELEVISION, RODEO, CIRCUSES, ETC. Nobody's barred The betting ain't hard Contact JULES PFEIFFER tfcra CONSOLIDATED RADIO ARTISTS 30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA PHONE COL 5-3580 MAID " OZARK* performances and the gross claimed to have topped $11,000, which is real coin for low-cost show. "Oklahoma," St. James (178th week) (M-1,509; $4.80). Excellence of performance one reason for con- tinued virtual sellout business; around $30,000. "On Whitman Avenue," Cort (Uth week) (D-1,064; -$3.60). Another drama that was not expected to stick; approaches an even break; $7,500. "Sons;' of Norway," Broadway (97th week) (0-1,900; $4.80). Last weeks advertised and may go to Bosr ton prior to Chicago; $19,000 esti- mated; Ballot Theatre booked here Oct.. 1. "State of the Union." Hudson (36th week) (CD-1.057; $4.80), Just as strong now as in mid-season, with average of 20 standees (the limit) at all performances; well over $24,- 500. "Swan Sons," Booth (10th week) (CD-712; $4.20). Dipped under $5,000 but claimed to have gotten another $1,000 last week with cutrate tickets. "The Glass Menagerie," Roy ale (69th week) (CD-1,025; $3.60). Goes off after another week; takings esti- mated Jess than $9,000. ,"Volce of the Turtle," Morosco (120th week) (C-939: $3.60). Slightly better, at $10,000. which is probably profitable for three-person play at this time. "Three to Make Ready," Broad- hurst (20th week) (R-1,160; $4.80). Aimed into new .season but another musical mentioned for this spot in fall; around $20,000. REVIVALS ''Show Boat," Ziegfeld (28th week) (M-1,628; $6). With gross around $34,000, high cost musical around even break, but should improve. "The Red Mill," 46th Street (40th week) (M-1,319; $4.80). Getting around $25,000 but run revival also expected to pick up. NEIGHBORHOOD ."Are You With It," Flatbush, Brooklyn. "Suds in Your Eye," Windsor. Bronx. LAYING OFF "Dream Girl," Coronet (CD-1,037- $4.80). Played 29 weeks; due to re- light next month. 'O Mistress Mine," Empire (CD- 1,082; $4.80). Played 22 weeks; due to relight next month. Chi Biz Steady ; ?ark'36G Topper • Chicago, July 23. Chicagoans took advantage of air- conditioning in the only three legit houses remaining open to escape the terrific heat of last week, with b.o. take remaining at a steady keel in- stead of taking the anticipated dip. "Slate of the Union," only legiter do- ing anywhere near top biz, registered near-capacity $26,000. Estimates for Last Week "Come On Up," Selwyn (2d week) (1,000; $3.60). Holding its own with good $15,000. "State of the Union," Blackstone (13th week) (1,360; $4.20). Near-ca- pacity $26,000. "Up in Central Park," Shubert (14th week) (2,163; $4.80). Up to fair $36,000. L.A. Gross at Peak With 135G; 'Girl' Ends 205G Los Angeles, July 23. Gross figure for the four attrac- tions on the boards here last week reached " $135,000. . Highest score again went to "Bloomer Girl," which finaled with $50,000 on the fourth stanza at the Philharmonic and an unprecedented, $205,000 for the stand here. "Oklahoma!" encored $38,000 for the 11th stretch at the Biltmore with s.r.o. still the order of the day. 'Two Hearts in Three-Quarter Time" picked up nicely at the Greek theatre and cornered $30,000 for the second and final week, taking $57,- 500 for the fortnight. Ken Murray's "Blackouts of. 1946" stayed in at $17,000 for the 213th frame at El Capitan. Hays Abroad VIHeus «lrel> London. July 17. flroftt Newport TheHir* Cormnlliaa (In ftsan. with AH* Oounrll) pre»ontnllon of play In fmfc act by Jeun-l*aui Sarlt'o; t»«nH- luloil by Marjorl* CJubMn nn<1 John SwJii- .iteAtl. Directed by Teler Brook. Al Aria Thenlr* Club, I,oiulon. tlnvrlB Alt>c- OulnnpHi AttPiitlrthl Doimht, PkMinanc* Ineti RefUrU l^linirinh Kslelli*. Holly Ann Ditvlca After running two years in Paris, this sex-ridden play by a former Current Road Shows (Period Cowering July 22-Alig. 3) "Anna Lucasta,"—Civic, Chi. (22- 3). ' "Blackouts of 1946"—El Capitan, Hollywood (22-3). "Bloomer Girl"— Curran, Frisco (22-3). "Come On Up"—Selwyn, Chi (22-3). "Dear Ruth"—Natl.. Wash (29-3). "Deep are the Roots" — Shubert- Lafayette, Det. (29-3). "■ "Fortune Teller" —Philharmonic, L: A. (29-3). ■ "Green Goddess" — Royal Alex, Toronto (29-3). "Harvey"—Erlanger. Buff. (22-27); Town Hall, Toledo (29-3). "Mary Had a Little" — Geavy, Frisco (22-3). "Meet the Wife"—Nat'l, Wash. (22-27). "Merry Wives of Windsor"—May- fair, Portland (22-24); Aud., Oak- land (26); Aud.. Sacramento (27); Biltmore, L. A. (29-3). "Obsession"—Aud., Denver (22- 23); Music Halli K. City (25-27); Er- langer, Chi. (29r3). "Oklahoma!"— Biltmore. L. A. (22- 27); Aud.. Portland (29-3). "Pursuit of Happiness" — Cox, Cine. (29-3). "SUte of the Union"—Blackstone, Chi. (22-3). "Up In Central Park"—Shubert, Chi. (22-3). "Voice of the Turtle"—L. Met., Seattle (22-3). "Voice of the Turtle"—Cass. Det. (22-3). Summer Slock "Alice Sil-by-the-FIre" — Play- house, Dennis, Mass. (22-28). ''Alice Sit-by-lhe-FIre" — Play- house. Suftern, N. Y. (23-28). "Americana"—Playhouse, Kennc- bunkport, Me. (22-26). "Amphytrlon 38"—Hilltop, Luth- erville. Md. (23-27). "Angel Street"—Chapel, Gt. Neck, L. I. (23-27). * "Angel Street"—Playhouse, Peter- borough,. N. H. (24-31). "Arsenic and Old Lace"—Play- house, Marion, Mass. (22-27). "Arsenic and Old Lace" — Play- house, Stamford, Conn. ■ (22-29). "Autumn Crocus" — Playhouse, Branford, Conn. (23-28). "Berkeley Square" — Playhouse, Yardley, Pa. (22-27). "Blithe Spirit"—John Drew, East Hampton, L.I. (22-27). "Blithe Spirit"—Playhouse, Wind- ham, N. H. (23-27). "Candida" — Playhouse, Beverly, Mass. (22-27). "Caprice"—Playhouse, Cape May, N.J. (22-27). "Goodbye Again"—Casino, New- port, R. I. (22-27). "Guest In the House"—Playhouse, Mt. Gretna, Pa. (25-31). "Guest in the House"—Playhouse, Cragsmbor, N. Y. (22-27). "Kiss and Tell"—Playhouse, Ben- nington, Vt. (22^27). "Kiss and Tell".—Playhouse, Weston, Vt. (26-28). "New Moon"—Playhouse, Mill- burn, N. J. (22-29). "Over 21" —Playhouse, Keene, 'Fortune' 33G, Frisco; 'Mary Had' $15,500 San Francisco, July 23. "Mary Had a Little." an Al Rosen show starring Edmund Lowe and Mary Brian, which opened at the 1,550-seat Geary Monday (15), showed a first week gross of $15,500, after being firmly trounced by local critics. "The Fortune Teller,'^ third in the series of Civic Light Opera produc- tions, concluded its third and final week at the 1,770-scat Curran, chalk- ing up gross of $33,000, same as last week. "Bloomer Girl" moved into the Curran Monday (22). | N.H. (23-28). "Penny Wise"—Playhouse, Booth- bay, Me. (24-27). "Separate Rooms" — Playhouse, Litchfield, Conn. (23-27). . "The Constant Wife"—Playhouse, Greenwich, Connl (22-28). "The First Year" — Playhouse, Lake Pleasant, N.Y. (26-29). "The Hasty Heart"—Playhouse, Cohasset, N.Y. (22-27). . "The Lost Colony"—Waterside, Roanoke Is., N. C. (22-29). "The Milky Way" — Oldtown, Smithtown, L. L (23-28). "The Perfect Alibi"—Playhouse, East Hampton, L.I. (23-27). "The Philadelphia Story"—Bolton Landing, N.Y. (23-27), "The Royal Family"—Crest, Long Beach, L.I. (23-29). "The Vinegar Tree"—Playhouse, Sayville, L.I. (23-28). "Tonight Or Never"—Playhouse, New Hope, Pa. (22-27). "Wallflower"—Playhouse, Worces- ter, Mass. (22-28), "Welcome Home"—Playhouse, Mil- ford, Pa. (23-25). "What A Life 1 '—Casino, Holyoke, Mass. (22-27). member of the French Resistant, tries itself out at the onlytheaire in London which honored Bernard Shaw's 90th birthday ("Don j^ m Hell" extract from "Man and Superman" runs concurrently here \ "Vicious Circle," set in a supposed hotel in Hell attempts to describe the Jste. of three people launched into eternity after a murderous and sadistic career on earth. One is a man who tortured his wife menially and was subsequently shot for cowardice as an alleged pacifist. Another is a woman who' has corrupted a wife away from her husband. Third is a woman who killed her unwanted baby. What will happen to. them in Hell, repre- sented as a circular.room with no windows and no way out, is Ihe query. The author declares that (hey will all be involved with each other in a hopeless, triple love affair and ex- hibits them on the stage in continu- ous states of mental anguish, with a good deal of amorous sidelight. Woman and man roll on the floor in a public exhibition of sex emo- tion, and the Other Woman gleefully looks on with the understanding, that she will always be there as an observer. And that is Hell. The play, in a single act ot 75 minutes, is cleverly staged by 21- year-old Peter Brook, and brilliantly acted. Alec TSuinness (from the Old Vie), Beatrix Lehmann and Betty Ann Davies go through the mental and physical contortions with gal- lantry. But in the end all the au- thor seems to say is that sinners will be punished and there is no escape. The writing is oh a high intellect- ual plane. But it's unlikely to .draw an audience beyond the intellectual confines of the Arts Theatre. Club. Hell, frankly, is not good enough. ■• Eoet. Big Ben London, July 19: f'liiii-IeH R. C'orhrfin lircHCmiilion of n,-\v ■. llgli'l ii|>i'v:i in lw» nrlM ..JO prtMics) l,y A. I\ I If. '..-I I: iniiali' !>>■ Yivlnii Kllis. IHwli-il liy WVmlv .Tiiye. At Adrlnhl Ihrnlrc, I.«>•■— ilnn. July 17, '411. Ci'.'ir,* Crt'f'll. . f":irtil<* Lynn* .lunipOi- .lity ' 'Xtlil'vu'lle I'niiiii MiMii-y 11■ ,|io Trcftir .hint-* NVil I'llilkH Cmii'ki' llltilllll'Ml Miillil MjiiTiiwfiil Vvimiiio ltiiltln.«.>ii Him. Cl-nij»e Hinm 1 ..' Kl'ly PjiIiiht Col. Mt*"(imu'lilt' l.om-o l.iMi'i* I. I,:i\viiiIit Kl'iC I'm'l Mlns SylVfuIPl-.- l.i'/.lidh AVolili ItonJ:imlu' CrM'it ,...l>:ivlil Duvii's AMci-iniin iUiny limn Ymijiii; Ituriiuilil: i'.. . Klsie Ky:in l\y : !•»>• A<I:iiiim Mi. Juries. M l" llorhrri ]l:iiimv»rlli C. B. Cochran's 125th production was a front page sensation such as London has not seen since "Caval- cade" or the greatest days of Ihe London Pavilion. There was a big- ger show in the stalls than on the stage. Princess Elizabeth. Duchess of Kent;, the Prime Minister and Field Marshal Lord Montgomery were there backed up by half the British- Cabinet. Headlines were added when, at curtain fall, author Sir Alan Her- bert. M.P. announced that Charles B. Cochran was not in the house. A (Continued on page 62) last Waltz' 42G, St. Loo; 'East Wind' Current St. Louis," July 23. Sigmund Romberg's "East Wnid" teed off at Forest Park last night 122), starring Wilma Spence, Edward Roecker and Earl Cbbert. Cooling breezes after a week of tepid weather lured out an opening night mob of 10.000 for estimated gross of $4,200. Despite the weather, "The Last Waltz," presented twice before since , 1932, wound up its seven-night en- gagement Sunday (21), with gross of $42,000. Crix blow hot and ':old on the piece. • La Bankhead Terrif 18G Repeat in Toronto 'Lives' Toronto, July 23. Topping her opening here three weeks ago in "Private Lives." Tal- lulah Bankhead, with Donald Cook, . : smashed through in repeat engage- ment to a terrific gross of $18,000, with Royal Alexandra (1.525) scaled at $3 top. Despite unusual beat- wave, every performance was a vir- tual sell-out. .Current is Jose Ferrer, with Nance O'Neil, In "Richard III," with a $6,000 advance in the till at $2.40 top. ■ ANGELS The backers of Broadway ihowt. Names, addresses, amounts they in- vested In previous plays. The first complete research in this field. Indis- pensable to producers. DR. S. A. DANITS oproMFTRisr Dopondable Ey« Examinations ALSO CONTACT LENSES 7 Wmt Mmllmn Ht.. (hlcnsn Kninklln 2(Hlt .