Variety (Sep 1946)

50 LEGITIMATE Wednesday, Septein1>eir 18, 1946 Top Shows Do Top Biz on Broadway Despite Dropped Ads Via Truck Strike; TIag'Wham35a'Heart'2IG,'Page'17G Trucking strike, preventing the delivery of newsprint, hela aown the New York dailies to a minimum last week; only the News carried show ads. But that didn't prevent most of ,the better shows from. more, than holding their own td fine grosses. Some of those in low brackets slipped and are on the way out, as expected. Ore stopped sud- denly Saturday (14), it being On ■Whitman Avenue." Two new entries this Week are the Coast-made ^'Gypsy Lady'! and "Hidden Hori- zon." One arrival maybe next week, and that'll be all for September. Attendance to the new attractions is surprisingly strong. "A Flag Is Born," with an approximate $35,0UU, -was not much under actual capacity, while the revivals, "Yours I? My Heart" and "Front Page," look like money shows. Estimates for Last Week <'A Flaf Is Born," Alvin (2d week) (D-1,331; $4.80). Propaganda play getting real coin and may move to another house before exiting;, tak:- ings approached $35,000 first full week. ■ «'Anna Xucasta," Mansfield (108th week) (D-U041; $3.60). Slipped last •week to $11,500, Okay, after going, down under $7,500 a week or two during the summer; may stay until Christmas. "Annie Get Your Gun," Imperial (18th week) (M-1,427; $6^60). Al- ways a couple of hundred bucks over $45,000, depending on number of standees; standout musical ear trant last season should span new hurst (28th week) (R-1,160; $4.80). Comeback of revue after summer slumps surprising; well over $30,000; "Park Avenue'' listed to follow next month, so Shuberts will have to spot "Three" elsewhere. "Youi-s Is Mv Heart," Shubert (2d week) (M-1,382; $6). Despite the weak Dress, first full week grossed $27,000, good at scale; advance sale the factor. . REVIVALS "Show Boat," Ziegfeld (36th week) (M-1,623; $6). Judging from pace revival should play into win- ter or beyond; gross apprpjcimated $41,000. „ , "The Front Page," Royale i;id week) (C-1,084; $4.20). First full week's business indicates that this one will do all right; it got $17,000. "The Bed Mill," 46th Street (46th week) (M-1,319; $4.80).. Figures to play to Thanksgiving at least and maybe the midyear holidays; tak- ings improved to over $29,000. 'Bloomer' $4230. 'Union'in Chi Chicago. Sept. 17. "Oklahoma" and "Lute Song" opened at the Erlanger and Stude Blackstone's Magic Boflfs Pitt, for 16G Pittsburgh, Sept. 17. Legit season, which got away to such a good start with "Glass Menagerie," continued on the beam last week at Nixon when Blackstone came into town with his ^ magic show and took away terrif $16,000. Figure was all the more amazing in view of- the $2 top. Threat o£_ a power" strike held down the opening but slcight-of-hander shot into high next night and stayed that way right down the stretch, winding up with better than $5,000 on the closing day; Saturday (14). Big advance sale for "Follow the Girls," which opened two-week eiv gagement last night (Mon), and managempnt is already confldeiit of, best year here in long time. 'HEEL' FAIR $11,000 IN WASHINGTON TRYOUT Washington, Sept. 17. Tagged a flop from its. very openr ing here, "Magnificent Heel," Brock Pemberton production, nevertheless, chalked up $11,000 for its week at the National. Show drew an almost unprece- dented chorus, of pans from . the local drama desks. At that, the day was partially saved by the drawing power of show's stars, Peggy Woods and Bert Lytell, plus the persistent word-of'-mojith rumor that authoress Constance O'Hara had a certain prominent national columnist in mind when she wrote tUe name part. • National has three pre-Broadway tryouts skedded for the next three weeks. Vinton Freedley's 'The Temporary Mrs. Smith," .starring Francine Larrimore and featuring Mischa Auer, opened Monday (16) Agents Upped to $190 for Broadway, $210 for Road; Mgrs. Increased To $133 and $166-200 in ATAM Pacts baker, respectively, Monday (16), night, v Mae West's "Come On Up' Shows in Rehearsal "The Fatal Weakness" — Theatre Guild. "Sweet-Bye and Bye"—Nat Karson. "The Iceman Cometh" — Theatre Guild. "Loco"—Jed Harris. "Hear That Trumpet" — Arthur Hopkins. "Happy Birthday" r-r-Rodgers and Hammerstein. "Present Laughter"—John C. Wil-. son. . "The Bees and The Flowers"-^r- Mort Singer and John Shubert, "Lyslstrata" (colored, revival) — Max J, Jelin and James Light. "The Unborn Child" (road)—J. J. Levcnthal and Frank McCoy, PhiUy Takes Hot, 'Follow Girls' 31G season. , „, "Born Yesterday," Lyceum (33d week) (C-993; $4.80). Road show company opens this week; $21,000, capacity. "Call Me Mister," National (22d Week) (R-1,142; $6). Holds to capaci- ty plus, and weekly takings are close to $33,000 every week; fine for new managers, Melvyn Douglas and Herman Levin. "Carousel," Majestic (74th week) (M-1,667; $6). Was overestimated but count of more than $43,000 last week is really something for musical playing nearly a year and a half. "Deep Are the Roots," Fulton <41st week) (D-968; $3.60). Around $10^000 last Week, a drop but still some profitable; new Lillian Hell- man play due here during autumn. "Dream Girl/' Coronet (31st week) (CD-1,037; $4.20). Went to $19,500; excellent for play that dropped under $10,000 before laying ■off. ■ • "Gypsy Lady," Century (D-1,670; $4.80). Presented by Edwin Lester; score from five Victor Herbert operettas; book by Henry Myers; lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest; well regarded on Coast; opened last night (17). "Hidden Horizen,". Plymouth (D- 1,063; $4.20). Presented by the Shu- berts and Albert de Courville; adapted by Agatha Christie from her novel of same title; opens to- morrow (19). "Harvey,'^ 48th .Street (98th weeiv) . (C-925; $4.20). Bettering $19,000, ca- pacity for laugh show that will cele- brate two-year run next month. "Icetime," Center (13th week) (R- 2,994; $2.40). Pace of Skating revue has even surprised its presenters, running way ahead of predecessors; down from high mark of Labor Day week but nearlv $46,000; great. "Life With Father," Bijou (354th week) (C-614; $3.60). Went up a bit to around $10,000, and run leader makes some money at that level. "Maid in the Ozarks," Belasco (9th week) (C-1,077: .$3.60). Will tour af- ter another week; freak play mak- ina eoodly nroflt but there's more coiii for it on the outside; eased to $9,000: colored cast "Lysistrata" fol- lows. . "O Mistress Mine," Empire (25th week) (CD-1,082; $4.80). One of the bie four in agency ticket demand, others being "State of Union," "An- nie" and "Born Yesterday"; $24,500 ■ quoted. "Oklahoma," St. James (186th week) (M-1,509; $4.80). Musical won- der's gross last week; was not much under S31.000; nothing ever dents the capacity-plus pace. "On Whitman Avenue," Cort. (19th Week) (D-1,062; $3,60). Taken off Saturday after; a surprising 19 • -weeks; modest grosser didn't win its investment back. "State of the ITnion," Hudson (44th week) (CD-1,057; '$4.80). Still gets all house will hold, with tak- ings close to $25,000; that figure pos- . jsible because of ■ standees. "Swan Song," Booth (18th week) (CD-712; $4.20). There will doubt- less be another attraction in this V spot next month; has been sticking , around a long time but the original red is still that way. in fact more so, "The Voice of the Turtle," Moroso (128th week) (0-939; $3.60). Just a bit off last week, when count ap- proximated $14,000: fine considering Ipneth Of sta.y. and au'ite profitable. ) 1'Threc,. to -Mak« .Ready,'? Broad* bringing to six the number of plays currently in town. All look like longtermers with grosses and ad- vances very good. "Bloomer Girl" heads the list with a husky $42,300. "Harvey'' is in second place with a capacity $24,300 and a heavy ad- vance of $56,000. "Dream, Girl" catching on. doing a neat $18,000 for its first full week. "State of the Union" slipped a bit again last week but still going strong with a healthy $22,000. r Estimate's tor Last Week "Bloomer Girl," Shubert (3rd week) (2,163; $4.80). Slight drop but still very good $42,300. "Dream Girl," Selwyn (2nd week) (1.000; $4.20). First full week of this Show grossed $18,000. Harvey;" : Harris (5th week) (1,000; $4.20). Turning them away with a capacity $24,300. "State of the Union," Blackstone (20th week) (l,3fi0; $4.20). Down a bit again but still strong $22,000. bows in the following week (23); with Clifton Webb, in Noel Cow- ard's "Present Laughter" due on the 30th. , BALLET RUSSE $52,000 1N11SH0WSINN.Y. Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo flnalled an 11-day booking at the N. Y. City Center on Sunday (15) with a quoteii gross of about $52,000, last week's takings being slightly more than $34,000. Elated with the high gross, the Monte Carloites started off on tour, content to let two other major ballet outflts fight it out day-and-date on Broadway late this month. Col. De Basile's Ballet Russe opens at the Metropolitan opera house Sept. 29, being dated there until Oct. 23, and the Ballet Theatre starts a five-week engagement at the Broad- way theatre the following evening. Opening night at the Met will be $9 top. 'Jones' Torrid 15G In 4 Shows at New Haven New Haven, Sept. 17. "Carmen Jones" hit town last weekend (12-14) as the Shubert's new season third attraction in point, of numbers and first in point of b.o. At $4.20 top on four shows. SRO boosted the take to a torrid esti- mated $15,000; House has lined,up a solid sched- ule into mid-November, with sever- al premieres on the list. Current is break-in of "Park Avenue" for last half (19-21). Next week splits, with "Bal Negre" Current Road Shows (Period Couering Sept. 16-28) Amer. Kep. Co. — McCarter, Princeton (20-21); Shubert, Philly. (23-28). , .„ "Bat Negre" — Shubert, PhiUy (16-21); Shubert, New Haven (23- 25); Met., Providence (26); Lyric, Bridgeport (27-28). "Blackouts of 1946"—El Capitan, Hollywood (16-28). "Blackstone" — Royal Alexandra, Toronto (16-28). "Bloomer Girl" — Shubert, Chi. (16-28). "Born Yesterday"—Lyric, B'port (20-21); Bushnell, Hartford (23-25); Shubert, New Haven (26-28). "Carmen Jones"—Capitol, Quebec (20-21); His .Majesty's, Mont'l (23- 28).' ■ ■ . "Come on Up"-T-Shubert, Bost. (16-21); Nat'l, Wash. (23-28). "Cordelia"—Forest, Phila. (16-21); Capitol, Wilkes Barre (23); Aud., Scranton (24); Lyric, Allentown (25); Rajah, Reading (26); Baste, Harrisburg (27); Aud., Trenton (28). "Cyrano De Bergerae"-^ass, De- troit (16-28). "Dear Euth" — Plymouth. Bost. (16-28). "Dream Girl"—Selwyn, Chi. (16- 28). "Follow the Girls"—Nixon, Pitts- burgh (16-28). "Harvey"—Harris, Chi. (16-28). "Hasty Heart"—Geary, Frisco (16- '28). ■ ■ "I Remember Mama"—Krlanger, Buff. (26-28). "Lady Windermere's Fan"—Cur- ran, Frisco (16-21); Biltmore, L. A. (23-28) "Life With Father"—Hartman, Co- lumbus (19-21); English, Ind'napls. (23-28). "Lute Sons" — Studebaker, Chi. (16-28). "Mary Had a Llttle"-^American, St. Louis (16-21); Davidson, Mil- waukee (22-25). "Mr. Peebles and Mr. Hooker"— Playhouse, Wilmington (20-2J); Wal- nut St., Philly (23-28). "Obsession"—Colonial, Bost. (16- 21); Hanna, Cleve. (23-28). "Oklahoma"—Erlanger, Chi. (16- 28). "Park Avenue" — Shubert, New Haven (19-21); Colonial, Bost. (23- 28). "Present Laugrhter" — Playhouse, Wilmington (26-28). "Sons. ol Nor-way">^Opera House; Bost. (16-28). State of (The Union"—Biltmore, (Katherine Dunham) in for first half (23-25), followed by L. A. (16-21); Curran, Frisco (23-28) Yesterday" for three days "Born Yesterday" for three (26-28). October opens with Elisa beth Bergner in "Duchegs of Malfi" in a four-day stand (2-5). Sunday band-vaude, folio-wing an okay Tony Pastor session on Sept. 8, nicks up again with Ella Fitzger- ald (22). 'Father' llG, Toronto Toronto, Sept; 17. ; still holding'up well in its sixth annual, Toronto visit, "Life With Father," with Edwin Maxwell and Betty Alden, grossed a very satis- factory $11,200 at the Royal Alex- andra, with 1,525-seater scaled at $2.50 top. , , ., , ; , , , ., -Blackstone, State, of the Union' Chi. (16-28). "Temporary Mrs. Smith"—Na- tional, Washington, D. C. (16-21 )• Ford's, BaltO. (23-28). "The Duchess ol MalH"—Metro- politan, Providence (20-21); Ply- mouth, Bost. (23-28). "The Glass Mcnagerie"-^English, Indianapolis (19-21); American, St. Louis (23-28). "Tobacco Road"--Erlanger, Buffalo (19-21); Shubert, Lafayette, Det. (23- 28). . ■ "Up in Central Park'—H'wood Bowl, H'wood (23-28). "Voice of the Turtle"—Locust, Philly (16-28). "Voice of the Turtle"—Cox, Cin- cinnati (IS^^Sh ' ■ ' ! ■; ■, -, I 1 • Philadelphia, Sept. 17. Although there is still consider- able squawking on the part of crix and stage columnists about caliber of current season's opening attrac- tions—with more revivals and re- turn engagements than new shows skedded—there can be no kick on biz in Philly's four regular legit houses as shown in first two weeks of 1946-47 season. Last week's easy leader was "Fol- low the Girls" wnioh beat the first week of its return to the Forrest after that theatre's fire in July, by a sound margin to register a re- sounding $31,000 in its farewell week in Philly. Gertrude Niesen musical played five weeks here in all and except for forced interruption might have swung through the hot weeks. It didn't have a losing stanza; Management of "The Voice of the Turtle" was plenty tickled with the $19,500 pulled in the second week fov this John Van Druten comedy at the Locust. Rave notices plus all- out favorable word-of-mouth has al- ready overcome absence of marquee name and show can virtually name its own ticket for length of stay, but it's understood that engagement will be limited to eight weeks be- cause of backlog of tryoUts in Octo- ber and November. "Bal Negre," season's first pream, drew good notices from all four flMt-line crix, with a couple of raves included. This very specialized dance revue entertainment offered by Katherine Dunham had its open- ing postponed from Thursday to Friday, but reported about $7,000 in three performances given at Shubert. Even "Tobacco Road" which was none too hot in its first session at the Walnut upped to $10,500 in its second and final week and there was nothing to complain about there. Last night's (16) only open.ng was "Cordelia" with ZaSu Pitts which came in to the Forrest for a single week. Walnut is dark this week with "Bal Negre" and "Turtle" as hold-overs. Next Monday, the American Repertory theatre offers "Henry VIII" at the Shubert and then on Friday will switch tc Barrie's "What Every Woman Knows." Latter revival is a local preem. Also bowing in next Mon- day are "'The Student Prince," al the Forrest for three weeks, and "Mr. Peebles and Mr, Hooker'' at the Walnut for either one or two. Mae West's "Come On Up" is listed for the Walnut October 7 and Max Gordon's- "Park Avenue" comes to the Shubert on the same date—both for two . week stays. On the 14tn, "Sweet Bye and Bye," another tuner-try-out is skedded at the For- rest, and "Blossom Time" comes to the Shubert on the 21st. "Song of Norway" (Forrest, Oct. 28) and "Ballet theatre (Shubert, Nov. 4) are other official bookings, with Walnut and Locust still to be announced for late October and earl.v November, * Broadway showmen, through the League of New York Theatres, have granted the agents and managers liberal salary increases, and while the Assn; of Theatrical Agents and Managers has the privilege of'i)ut- ting the offered new scale to arbi- tration, it's unlikely that it will^ as the boosts are virtually as much as asked for. What remains to be set- tled is the managerial stipulation for "new blood" in ATAM, which is not subject to arbitration. Anna Rosenberg, as mediator, suggested a formula whereby that wrinkle may be ironed out, but until final settle- ment ■ of the problem the pay in- creases may be held up. Mrs. Rosen* berg's handling of the situation in- cidentally, brought compliments from both factions. ATAM-ers are to get approxi- mately 18%% more coin. Press agents' minimum on Broadway will be $190 weekly as against $165. On the road they will get at least $210, or $45 over the; present rate. Com- pany managers will receive $133 in New York, a boost from $110. Oh tour the scale will be $166 for musicals. Union asked for $200 in N. Y. and $250 out of town for dramas. Some advance men are now on the job at salaries topping the latter figure. 'Norway' Big 23G At Boston Opening; 'Obsession' Nice 12G Boston, Sept. 17. "Song of Norway" at the Opera House and "Obsession" at the Col- onial stepped into the bestseller brackets from the tceoff here last week to keep the new season in high gear. "Barnaby and Mr. O'Mallev" will be added to the list toinorro'w night (18) at the Wilbur. Prospects continue to pour in to make the li-st strongest in years.- "Duchess of Malfi" is next at the Shubert on Sept. 23, with "Park Avenue" same night at the Colonial; "Born Yesterday," Wilbur Sept. 30; "Happy Birthday," Shubert Oct. 3; American Repertory Theatre, Colon- ial Oct. 7; "Present Laughter," Ply- mouth, Oct. 14: Moss Hart's "World of Christopher Blake." Plymouth Oct. 28; "Toplit.sky," Shubert, Oct. 30; "Fatal Weakness," Colonial Nov. 4; and "YearJ,Ago," Copley, Nov. 11. Estimates tor Last Week "Come On Up," Shubert (1,500; $3.60). Second week very nice esti- mated $17,000, picking up a little following exodus of Veterans of For- eign Wars. Third week current and final. "Dear Kuth," Plymouth (1,300; $3). Remained at nice level on fourth week with excellent $11,000, better than last. Fifth week current; "Obsession," Colonial (1,500; $3). Strong personal draw for Rathbone and Leontoviteh, plus excellent no- tices, plus post-Labor-Day theatre impetus, added up to a strong esti- mated $12,000 on first week. Second and final current. "Song of Norway," Opera House (3.200: $3.60). Opened strong with estimated $23,000, and growing. Seats are on -sale through Oct. 5 with plenty of takers. Show got good though somewhat patronizing no- tices. The Opera House has had con- siderable work done on it during the summer with entirely new seats, (and a few more of them) and a- bigger pit through the removal of the stage apron. ■ 'Lady Windermere' Strong 27G, Frisco San Francisco, Sept. 17. "Lady Windermere's Fan," now in its third week at the Curran as the last in the Theatre Guild's series, starring Cornelia Otis Skinner and Henry Daniell, turned in a strong $27,000 for its Second week. "Hasty Heart," starring Erin O'Brien-Moore and Dean Harrens, now in its third week at the Geary, did fair, $ll^Pp l0$t week. ., n ■ - 'PARK' BOWS TO 104G THANKS TO WEATHER Los Angeles, Sept. 17. ^Quintet of attractions pulled in nifty coin last week, warm weather keeping the two freshair offerings in the ehips. Initial stanza of Mike Todd's "Up In Central Park," got plenty of boost from tepid nights to clip ofl! a sweet $104,000, well in the black. Half-price tickets featured radio plugs for "Park." Management claimed the show could gross $200,- 000 weekly, if selling out in the 22,- . OOO seat Hollywood Bowl, so the fir.st week approximated slightly over 50% of capacity. At the Greek: theatre, "East, Wind" came from behind bad press no- tices to grab $31,000 and close two weeks with $60,500 in the poke, El Capitan resumM its normal gross figure of $17,000 for the 221.st frame of Ken Murray's "Blackouts, of 1940," "State of the Union" re- peated fair $19,000 for the fourth inning at the Biltmore. Musarts sepia version of "The Bat" caught $1,700 in four. days, i ■ j