Variety (Jul 1946)

52 LEGITIMATE PAtsieTt Wednesday, July 31, 1944; B'way Bit Up With Flops Even Claiming Profit; ferine Qffl Leads Parade; 'Annie 45G; Welles World' Closing Broadway biz was somewhat bet- ter last week. Two sizable conven- tions doubtless figured in most shows registering improved grosses, but it may be the start of generally upped attendance. Those that are getting by in some fashion by means of cut-rates continued at about the same money levels. Some are known to be operating in the red. continu- ing because of the persistence of their managements. There are 21 attractions on the list, which is more than the volume of summer busi- ness warrants. Summer's freak attraction, "Maid In the Ozarks," attributable to "To- bacco Road" which soon will . re- assemble • Tor the road, again regis- tered profitable business. Attendance for Orson Welles' "Around the World" failed to improve and it dos.-s Saturday (3). Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (.Revue), M (Musical), O (Operetta). "Anna LucasU," Mansfield (101st week) (D-1,041; $3.60). Completing its second year and goes into the new season. Slightly better, with $8,500 estimated. "Annie Get Tour Gun," Imperial (11th week) (M-1,427; $6.60); Among the ' toppers that are keeping the agencies going until new clicks come to town; over $45,000, with standees. "Around the World." Adelphi. Final and 10th week; started with promise then slipped and operated in red; $21,C00 not nearly enough for musi- cal. "Born Yesterday," Lyceum (26th week) (C-993; $4.80). Could not get more than the statement shows, with the count close to $21,000. "Call Me Mister," National (15th week) (R-1,142; $6). Looks good for capacity attendance until the new season's musicals arrive which is. some time off; $32,500. "Carousel," Majestic (67th week) (M-1.667; $6). Picked up to around $39,000; excellent money for long- playing musical; only , a few shows getting more. "Deep Are the Roots," Fulton (44th week) (D-968; $3.60). Slightly better last week at around $8,000; mixed-cast drama nets some' profit at that level. "Harvey," 48th Street (91st week) (C-925; $4.20). Is turning 'em away, which is another test of the corn- edy's rating out of town; over $19,000. "kcetlme," Center (6th week) (R 2,994; $2.40). By virtue of its caRaci ty, skating; revue is getting top money at pop price scale; quoted at $48,600; plays 10 performances week' iy. "Life With Father," Bijou (347th week) (C-614; $3.60). Road company rehearsing; another will be trucked .to small communities for first time; went up a bit to $7,000. "Maid in the Oxarks," Belasco (2d week) (C-1,077; $3.60). Management claims another highly profitable week; $12,000; various scales used, somewhat like those In picture houses. "Oklahoma!," St. James (179th week) (M-1,509; $4.80). There were 29. standees at Thursday's (25) matt nee and 14. that evening; close to $30,000. "On Whitman Avenue,'' Cort (12th week) (D-1,064; $3.60). Some cast changes; ■ tolerance drama rated around $8,000 and about an even break claimed. "Song of Norway," Broadway (98th week) (0-1,900; $4.80). Tickets on sale until Aug. 31, which may be exit date for the road; rated around $20,000. "State of the Union," Hudson (37th week) (CD-1,057; $4.80). No empty seats yet for topical comedy smash which topped $24,500 again. "Swan Song," Booth (11th week) (CD-712; $4.20). Takings approach $G.000 but cannot make an operating profit at that level; "The Glass Menagerie," Royale (CD-1,025; $3.60). Final and. 70th week. Slated for road in October; under $9,000 estimated. "Front Page" revival slated here instead of Fulton. "Voice of the Turtle," Morosco (121st week) (C-939; $3.60). Picked up to around $11,000 which favors chances of run comedy into new season. , "Three to Make Ready," Broad- hurst (20th week) (R-1,160; $4.80) Improved here too with gross esti- mated around $22,500; ticket sale reported into October. REVIVALS "Show Boat," Ziegfeld (29th week) (M-:l,628; $6). Large per centage of patronage comes. from visitors; business picked up mate rially; quoted around $37,000. "The Red Mill," 46th Street (41st week) (M-1,319; $4.80). Also picked up and the count was around $26,000; slated well into fall period, NEIGHBORHOOD "Are Ton With HI," Windsor, Bronx. _ "Dear Ruth," Flatbush, Brooklyn LAYING OFF "Dream Girl," Coronet (CD-1.037; $4.80). Slated to relight Sept. 2. "O Mistress Mine," Empire (CD 1,082; $4.80). Dated to resume Aug. 28. . THEATRICAL FABRICS (V COSTUMES DRAPERIES STAGE CURTAINS Mohorom tuopHoa every Fabric ntod lor loading Broadway production! and Hollywood ttwDo*. I . TAt Horn* ol Stnrm" 130 W«»t 44th Strott, Now York WNGlOGinD.C. Washington, July 30. Mary Boland, in a revival of "Meet the Wife," rang up a dismal $10,000 for her week here at the National, despite the well-nigh sensational news that Washington's only legit is now air-conditioned. With news of the National's new cooling plant ballyhooed in all the town's drama columns, and the memory of its one-night stanza here for a "Command Performance" still lingering on after two years, "Dcar^ 129) should have a good run. 'Lives' Hot 19G; 'Again' 5G, Hub Boston, July 30. Tallulah Bankhead's "Private Lives" off to great first week at the Colonial last Monday (22) to touch $19,000, plenty solid for midsummer run here. Coward comedy reopened the Colonial after a month's layoff following "Goose for the Gander," an unusual situation. Second week of Bankhead starrer current and no date for closing set so far. Show hasn't too much of a nut and can stay here until takes drop well be- low $10,000. ' "Goodbye Again," citronella cir- cuited did excellent $5,000 for the Boston Summer Theatre at Mutual Hall, and "Burlesque," for the Cam- bridge house across the river, did so well for. fhe same Huntington-Falk management, that it comes back to the intown house for a second week. Result is awitcheroo, "Goodbye Again" going to Cambridge. Prospects for regular legit season continue to come in, first off being "Life With Father" at the Colonial Aug. 26, fifth visit, for this perennial. "Miss Jones" follows at the Colonial Sept. 9, then "Park Avenue" Sept. 26 and "Henry VIII" Oct. 7, both at the Colonial. Inside Stuff-Legit Kermit Bloomgarden, co-producer of "Deep Are The Roots," gave a lacture on play producing to a class at the American Theatre Wing's p ro . fessional school for ex-GIs last week but It's questionable whether the talk was encouraging to possible incipient' managers. He mentioned figures indicating that it may cost as much as $60,000, it not more, to produce a play. That total appears to have surprised the class, individuals wondering how they could raise that amount of coin. Wing is not accepting registrations for the fall period at this time but is advising applicants to secure certificates, of eligibility from the Veterans ....„ „ ... - . . Administration in New York as soon as possible. GIs are entitled to the Ruth," which opened Monday night ' School's courses gratis, the government paying the fee, while the Winn 1901 vhnnlrt have a good run. i— ,v. . i- -in..... „j ""'8 Union Steady 26G, 'Park'QK36G,Chi Chicago, July 30. Chi legit addicts who have been clamoring for more plays got their wish Monday (29) with the opening of "Obsession" at the Erlanger. Advance for the Basil Rathbone- Eugenie Leontovich vehicle has' been very good, as has that of "Harvey," coming to the Harris Monday (5) with Joe E. .Brown in the lead. Legit grosses have kept at a steady >ace, with cool weather and tourists ceeping the b.o. from taking a sum- mer dip. "Up in Central Park" con- tinues to head the list with good $36,000. Estimates for Last Week "Come On Up," Selwyn (3rd week) (1,000; $3.60). Despite the critics, play is doing fair $14,000. "Slate of the Union," Blackstone (14th week) (1.360; $4.20). Steady near-capacity with $26,000. "Up In Central Park," Shubert (15th week) (2,183; $4.80). Leveling off to a good $38,000. Due to leave soon. 'OBSESSION' $12,000 IN FOUR, KANSAS CITY Kansas City, July 30. "Obsession." Theater Guild presen- tation with Basil Rathbone and Eu- genie Leontovich, rang up $12,000 in fpur performances July 25-27 at the Music Hall here, considered excel- lent for midsummer biz by A & N Presentations, which brought in the show. Top of $3.66 prevailed, with $3.05 for Saturday, mat. Next on schedule is "Up in Cen- tral Park," set for a week beginning Aug. 28. Actually opening the new season, show will do 10 perform- ances, maximum ever played in the Music Hall by a road musical. absorbs the administrative costs. They are warned that unless clearance credentials are obtained in advance, delays in attending to such paper work . may prevent them from entering the school. A theatre known as Daly's 63rd St., mostly dark since erected 35 years ago, will be razed. It was considered for the Wing's school but the idea was skipped because the interior was delapldated. The Chanins who' formerly built and operated theatres and who own the adjoining Century apartment building, purchased Daly's with-the idea of protecting residents in the apartments. Only real success in the theatre was "Shuffle Along," colored musical .comedy presented'in 1921. "A Flag Is Born," musical play "with script by Ben Hecht and music by Kurt Weill, due in September, is believed to mark first time on Broadway that a benefit production has been put on for more than one evening, for run. Jules Leventhal is heading a group of producers acting as produc- tion advisory committee, the author, composer and producers offering services gratis. Play is announced for Century, N. Y„ Sept. 5, although it's likely the booking will be changed, as house is only available two weeks. Play, is being presented under auspices of American League for Free Palestine, with proceeds going to 'transportation of European Jews into Palestine, Story concerns three Polish Jews who try to enter the Holy Land. Show will be done on a lavish scale, director Luther Alder having put out a call for 150 extras for soldier roles. Broadway and Coast "names" are being approached for cast leads. Latest revisions of British Equity contracts received here disclose that legit actors on this side have much more advantageous terms than those overseas. Not only are pay minimums lower for them but manager has virtual control over players during the life of contracts. There are some curious rules covering rehearsal coin, which isn't an allowance but merely an advance on salary to be earned. British actors refund such money weekly to the manager and the latter may, withhold all salary should the actor quit before all of the rehearsal loan is liquidated. American actors receive $25 weekly after the fifth day of rehearsals, such payments being a definite managerial obligation. Concerts at the Lewisohn Stadium, N. Y., were rained out four suc- cessive nights last week, involving a serious financial loss for the limited 'season. Sigmund Romberg who planed from the Coast, had his Stadium appearance cancelled twice because of the weather. Musician flew back west and his representative received the agreed compensation, despite reports that the fee was delayed in payment. Season at the Stadium has been' extended one day, to Aug. 11, and Rom- berg has offered to return form, a concert Aug. 10 on gratis basis, paying his own expenses east. Soloists likewise will donate their services for that concert. . Junior Equityites are circulating a petition asking the council to replace Frank Fay on a committee assigned to consider changes in present require- ments by juniors in order that they, may attain senior rating. Rules stipu- late that a new member, must play 50 weeks before being eligible to seniority and shall have been in legit at least two years. Juniors think the regulations are too stringent and ask that the requirements be softened 1 . Committee has not made its report, although appointed last season. Just why junior players objected to Fay wasn't explained but he may have voiced an opinion against revising the rules, CHICAGO ( E. Lake St LOS ANGELES So. L. A. St. SAMUEL FRENCH SINCE 1S3V Play, Broken and Authors' Representatives n Went 48th Stmt, New York 811 West lib Street, Lm An««lea DR. S. A. DANITS onoMtmsr ipsadablo Eya EaoalMrioas ALSO CONTACT LENSES 1 West Madlm St.. Cblcaio Ankles LA. With 444G After 12 Weeks Los Angeles, July 30; "Oklahoma!" flnaled out of the Biltmore after 12 weeks and did SRO $38,000 on the final frame. Total haul for the Theatre Guild production was $444,000 for the three month stand. "Fortune Tel- ler" moved into the Philarmonic for first of three-week stand and clicked with heftv $41,000. "Firefly" took ud fortnight stand at the Greek theatre and took in close to $38,000 for the initial frame. Ken Murray's "Blackouts of 1946" repeated $17,000 on the 2 141 h stanza at El Capitan. 'East Wind'Blows OK 43G. SL Loo; Tilsen' Now on Tap St. Louis, July 30. The Prince of Pilsen," presented four times previously in the Munici- pal Theatre Assn's alfresco playhouse, in Forest Park, has been reprised for the current attraction, and the piece, with three' new faces in lead roles, teed off a seven-night stand last night (Mon.). The newcomers are Richard Manning, Met Opera tenor; Sid Marion, and Eric Brother- son, comedians. Sigmund Romberg's "East Wind," last presented here in 1940, is still a coin maker. Piece wound up its third one-week stand Sunday (28), with $43,000 gross. Crix were liberal with praise for Edward Roeker, Wilma Spence, Ross Wyse,. Jr., Gean Greenwell, Lisa Maslova and June Blair. Strawhat Reviews Seattle to Set Up Own Ballet Rep Company Seattle, July 30. A repertory ballet company is be- ing organized for Seattle by Lee Foley, dance director of the Cornish School and formerly with the Metro- politan Opera ballet. Group will be organized at Cornish, and suph tra- ditional ballets as "Les Sylphides" and "Giselle," as well as. new bal- lets developed by the company, will be presented. Edith . Bowen, pianist, is now working on the music for a ballet, "Bal Masque," for which Foley has done the choreography, and Mai colm. Roberts has already done some of the sets' for the new offering, . 'Desert Song/ $28,000, Tops L'ville Season Louisville, July 30. Sigmund Romberg's "Desert Song," with Walter Cassel and Andzia Ku- zak as leads, proved big draw at Iro- quois Amphitheatre. Third week of six-week summer season, July 23-28 turned in biggest gross since summer shows started here—$28,000. Open- ing performance Tuesday (23) drew $4,000, and biz balance of the week was capacity. Bill for fourth week, starting to- night (30). is "Rosalie," with Evelyn Wyckoff, Earl Oxford, Helen Ray- mond and William Sully in leads. Continued from page M Welcome Home mind, and while It sometimes sug- gests one of their least successful film efforts; "Room 'Service," it shows a certain flair for the pre- posterous nonsense on which the zanies built their routines and repu- tations. Performed by a cast which never quite gets into the proper mood of frenzied hysteria, "Welcome Home" emerges in its Milford tryout as a pretty jumbled affair, not too fresh in idea, occasionally funny but more often elementary in its stabs at comedy. Plot doesn't invite critical judgment, being just a peg for gags, and the boy-and-glrl love story, as in so many Marx vehicles, is weak. Charles Polacheck, who directed, is amusing as a schemlng desk clerk, and Robert Wagoner carries off most of the other zany honors as a fatuous real-estate agent. Jack Wil- lis is fair enough as the romantic lead, a vet who comes back from the wars to find his summev hotel about to be sold from under him. music and lyrics, adds to his yeo- man work by playing at one of the two pianos for this production. Story concerns an ad agency and its attempts to put over a chewing- gum campaign with a glamour femthe as "Choozie Chewing Gum Girl of 1946." Book and dialog are along familiar* lines, with an occa- sional bright bit to enliven the af- fair. The music is pleasant but somewhat reminiscent and deriva- tive. "Soft In My Footstep," "It's A Funny Kind of Spring" and "Not For Long" have merit. But the show as a whole has little com- mercial appeal. Bron. 'Richard nriOG, Toronto Toronto, July 30. Jose Ferrer, with large supporting company' headed 'by Nance O'Neil, grossed just under $10,000 in "Rich- ard III," with Royal Alexandra (1,- 525) scaled at $2.40 top.' Ferrer per- formance, plus Robert Henderson's direction and the Ernest Rawley pro- duction values, drew critical raves from local press, with business a vir- tual sellout until heat wave nicked the weekend take. Piece has been held over for second week. Ferrer follows in "Green Goddess' week of Aug. 9. It's Your Move Dean (Ji.uiinrin iirodnrliun of. mu.ilcnl conwly In two aria (in menes). Koul<, miinlc and lyrics l,y Jerry Slevena; chvre- oKi'ai'liy. Alan Bunks: hl*Iw. Floi-enr-a i.u- mont. Stated by Paul Benard. Don Briody: muMlrnl dlrwllon. Jorrv Slevena. Wllh (llorla McOhce. Don Brloily. Slavs Minimi, Mary Aniie Cohnn. Jnhnny Pimt). A ernft Uilur, Paul Bon.irrt. (Iporgf Rriward*. At Fmvhici-lowi: I'layhouae, N. T., July 1!3, ' IU. A very young, eager group of Greenwich Village legit aspirants, with writing, producing and acting ambitions, is staging this mild, amateurish production. It's In. the blood—producer Dean Goodman being Marlene Dietrich's ex-son-in- law (Maria Manton's ex); femme lead Gloria McGhee being Gabriel Heatter's daughter-in-law, and Mary Anne Cohan being daughter of. Jackie Saunders, of tha silent Alms. The kids' best bets are their attractiveness and willingness: Jerry Stevens, who wrote book, Current Road Shows (Period Covering July 29-Aug. 10) "Anna LueasU"—Civic, Chi. (29- 10). "Blackouts' of 1»4«"—El Capitan, Hollywood (29-10). "Bloomer Glrl"-rCurran, Frisco (29-10). "Cora* On U»"—Selwyn, Chi. (29-10). "Dear Ruth"—Natl., Wash (29-10). "Deep are the Boots"—Shubert- Lafayette, Det. (29-3). "Fortune Teller" — Philharmonic, L; A. (29-10). "Green Goddess 1 * — Royal Alex, Toronto' (29-3). "Harvey" —Town Hall, Toledo (29-3); Harris, Chi. (5-10). "Mary Had a Little"—Geary, Frisco (29-10). "Merry Wives of Windsor"—Bilt- more, L. A. (29-10). "Obsession"—Erlanger, Chi. (29- 10). "Oklahoma,"—Audi, Portland (29- 10). " "Pursuit of Happiness" — Cox, Cine. (29-3). , "State of the Union"—Blackstone, Chi. (29-10); "Up In Central Park"—Shubert, Chi. (29-10). "Voice of the Turtle" — Met., Seattle (29-3); Temple, Tacttma (5-6; Capitol, Yakima (7); Fox, Spokane (8); Wilma, Missoula (9); Fox, Butle (10). ' "Voice ol the^nrtle"-TCass, Det. (29-10). -