Variety (Oct 1948)

Total Broadway bosses The following are the comparative figures based on Vabiety's Iwxofllce esUinates, for last week and the corrvspuidiBf week of last season: Last This Seasoa Season Number of shows current 27 18 Total weeks played so far by all shows 375 353 Total gross for all current shows last week. 1^540,000 $474,685 Total season's gross so far for all shows, . ; $7,683^00 ^,022,785 Number of new productions so far 14 'Bi^aAwD K, 'Shoes' 36G Pace Chi; 'Roberts' BM W IDG Chicago, Oct.' 12. ■ — • Although all other local amHse^ mehts took a slump last ■week, legit continued in fine fettle, with >t|ie two new shows doing well. Matinee business was slightly off for "Brigadoon,'' but musical did very well regardless. "Winslow Boy," under Theatre Guild sub-1 D„„f jvi ooi Bcription, also had an excellent ^"^t- week. As for the perennials, "Blackouts of 19«''-^EI Capitan "High Buttion Shoes," "Mister [ L. A. (11-23). Boberts" and "Streetcar Named l "Born Yesterday" —' Locust ' Desire" continued to bring in top ; philly (11-23). t 11 'Anne' Wef ^€00 ForCirdesnKiycee Carrent Road Sbows (Oct. 11-23) "Annie Get ¥oiir Gim^'—Axnerl- can, St. Louis (11-23). "As the Girls Go"—Opera Hse. Kansas City, Oct. 12." "Annie Get Your Gun" for Six >days in the Music Hall did a re- spectable foUo^'up of , last year's ,soc* date here. This year's play ]was strong, though no sellout, and , built steadily through the week, I Saturday's matinee and night be- . ing virtually SRO. Figure for the , ■ — I six nights (at $4.27 top) was a ._. - , _, --^ re?f"fal^V5°^6oo^-ir« Medea' Up to $23,000, money, with Mary, '-JVfartinname figured responsible ::for" fair share of biz. A & N Presentations, which J handles ;legits . and musicals here, . has made 'arrangements to bring 'back "Oklahoma!" this season, ' first time on recent record here '(-that a ' major road company has j played town twice same season, t Company was here lor six per- 1 formance (four days) in Septem- [ber and grossed. S34,000. great. On ' that basis a return engagement is B'way CoDtinaes to Soar; 'Edward' $28,400, Trivate lives-TaBolu 26CL 'Love life Hot; 3 Opemngs Next Wk. Damibe' Blue 15G, LA Los Angeles, Oct. 12. Biz downbeat continued last, „„^_,4i.:„„ „„iu_„ <. week vnth only Judith Anderson in ".P^? everything selling out "Medea" escaping its effects. Lat- ter palled upward nicely for the second of its three frames. New- comer, "The Blue Danube." came in to sonr notices and bad word- of-month that forced refund of a percentage of its advance. Two newcomers , tWs week. „ , - - I 'Black John"-rekindles the long figured a good bet, and company (^ark Belasco tomorrow (13) and will come back early in May. The "Eurvdice" bows at the Coronet spiung booking agam will be four ■ pfi^g^y days with six performances, for 'the 0fth time show has played ' here. Iioxoffice, "Heiress" and "Silver Whistle" commence Oct. 25, and "Com- niand Decision'' reopens the Studr Abaker Nov. 8. Eitimates for Last Week "BrigadoMi" Shubert (1st week) I "Bravo"—Shubert, N. Haven (21- i 23). I "Briffadoon"—Shubert, Chi (H- I 23). I "Bnrlcsqne"Aud., Sacramento I (11); Lobero, S. Barbara (12); Aud., ! S. Diego (14-15); Aud., Pasadena 'Whistle'$12,0(10, 'Chaiteton' lOG, (2.100; $4.94). Very bright $35,000 | ue); Biltmore, L.A. (18-23) for first week. | "Carousel"—Curran, Frisco (11- "Hifli ButtoK Shoes." Great 13); Aud., Oakland (14-16); Capital Northern (21st week) (1,500; $6.18). Salt Lake City (18-19); Aud., Den- Still sparking tlie rest of the at- yer (21-23). tractions, ,boff $36,000. "Command DerifiUn" Aim! "Milter Boberta," Erlanger (5th i^ommana uecisMn — Aud. week) (1,334; $4.33). Terrific $28,700. '^ptreetcar Named Desire," Har-; pyjj- ,.jg_23) wL»lf'^^nr^l^iii/d'^iecH^^broueht i "Desert Song"—Mayfair, Port, oiith la.'st night HI), ' Minnie and ro^inc *21 200 ^ I (11-15); Temple. Tacoma (16); Met. ■ Mr. Williams' follows tonight at "Wiisiw Bi»y." Selwyn (1st Seattle (18-23). .the Wilbur, and "As the Girls Go" week) (1,000; $3.71). Fine $19,000 under Guild subscription. . :;''fioSt6ii;-pet:ivl2;j>: ., Three new shows in town this ,__ „„_ Worcester ill); Aud., Northampton I week light every house for the first '. L,, ^£1 (12); Court Sq., Springfield (13); time in plenty of seasons with all i Shubert, N. Haven (15-16); Shubert; j seven legit houses occiipied. "Light Estimates tor Last Week .. Blaekouts of 1948." El Capitan (329tfc wk> (1,142; $2.40). Down to $16,500. "Lend An Ear," Las Palmas (17tH wk) (388; $3>. Slipped mildly to $6,900. •TWedea." Biltmore (2d wk) (1,- 636; $3.60). Word-of-mouth buUd- ing this one despite general trend of business.'Steffikd week nice $23,- 000. "Separate Rooms," New Beaux I Arts (2Ist wk) (560; $3). About ! $2,800. "The Btae Danube." PhUfaar- monic Aud (1st wk) (2.670; $3.60). I Bad reviews and equally bad wordr ' of-mouth ofiEset enthusiasm of BKl- iza Korjusv fan& - First: frame pale Up the Sky ' teed off at the Plym- j "Escape Me Never"—Royal Alex ,' debuts at the Opera Hou.se tomor MONTE CARLO BALLET TERR]F51^!NN.Y. V Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, in Its third and final week at the Metropolitan Opera House, N. Y., grossed a terrific $51,500 lor eight performances, in a startling $7,000 lump from : the.; previous; week. Stronger bi2 at the matinees and lammed: standees the final two, nights account for increase. Company did $155,000 for 27 {lerformances in the little over bree weeks of its Met stay, con- •idered remarkable at a $3 top. Fact that this was Ballet Russe's loth season, and celebrated/ a.s a gala event with company aug- mented by a host of :guest stars, Including Agnes de Mille. Alicia Markova. Mia Slavenska, Anton Dolin;: Joe- Torres and Leonide "Massine, hypoed attendance. Also the drop from the usual; Met $4.80 tariff to a .$3 top. 'Heiress' Slow 13G in Pitt Despite Good Notices Pittsburgh, Oct. 12 Nixon ran into a slowdown last week with "The Heiress" after a ■ensational month divided between ''Streetcar Named Desire'' and "Brigadoon," Fred Finklehoffe- Jed Harris Broadway hit got ex- cellent notices but hit the general ; deflation that was expected after ■ensational business of previous four weeks, and barely got: $13.000.. Playing at $3 top ($3.90 includ- ing federal and city taxes) "Heir- ess" started' slowly and even a glowing press couldn't stimulate fnterest. Show . remained sluggish down the stretch, picking up only on Saturday when the first healthy ■ house :Of the week saved, its face. . Nixon currently has "John Loves Mary," # which ends its tour here Saturday night (16), and then gets "Silver Whistle," under subscrip- tion auspices, with Money" foUovring. Toronto (18-23); : f'Flnian's: Rainbow" ^ Forrest. ' Philly (11-161; Shubert, Bost. (18- 23). '^For Love or Money"-^Aud., La Crosse (11); Parkway; Madison (121; Davidson. Mil. (13-16); Hanna. Cleve. (18-23). "Goodbye My Fancy"—Grand, London, Ont. (21-23). "Happy Birthday"—Lobero. S. Barbara 122-23). "Harvey" — Colonial, Bost. (11- 23) ■' "Hieh Button Shoes"-Gt. North- ern. Chi. (11-23). • ■ . "John Loves Mary"-v-Nixon, Pitt. ..(n-1.6),;-. ':.. .-v-r.-:';..-;. "Life With Mother" — Walnut Phillv (11-16) "Light Up the Sky"—Plymouth Bost. '11-23). "Man and Superman"—ErlanJeT. Buff. 111-14); Aud, Roeh. (15-16); Plymoutli, Bost (18-23). "Medea"—Biltmore. L.A. (11-16), Aud . S Diego (18); Aud., Pasadena (19); White, Fresno (21-22); Aud. S. .lose '23) "Minnie & Mr. WIlHama"—Wil- bur, Bost 112-23). "My Romance"—Shubert, Bost. (11-16). "Mr. Roberts" — Erlanger, Chi (11-23) "Oklahoma!" r-^ Lyric. AUentown (11-13), Rajah, Heading (14-16), Plaj house, Wil. (18-23). "Oklahoma!"'—Poche, New Or- leans (11-16); Aud., Shreveport (18- 19); Aud . Denver (21-23). "Set My People Free"—Majestic Bost. (11-16), Forrest, Philly (18- 23 row night. ! ■ The two openers last week were "Charleston. 1822" at the Majtstic, and "My Romance" at the Shubert. ''Charleston." third Guild show of the season here, wasn't liked very much; '^My Romance'' got a nice boost: "Charleston'' is .gomg back to its original title, "Set My Peo- ple Free." this week. , ,«iiladelphia, Oct.. 12.-■- Indications are strong lor: some ; veiy . fine l^t biz In three of j philly's regtilaT: lejgit; httuises that are open this #eek. AU three of 1 the: attractions, opiehing last vfeek, . . »^ . , 'did very well, and all are .figured Directly ahead are "Finian s to top their last week's figures cur- Rainbow" ^et for the Opera" House ■ rently. Oct. 18, and "Bravo!" at the Wil-"Finian's Rainbow," a return bur, Oct. 25. [ Visitor; is itsing a . $4.55. regular Estimates for Last Week . . ' scale in its two-week engagement "Charleston. 1822," Majestic .1,- a* ""e Forrest, with $5 20 Saturday 500; S3 60'. (l.st week). This Guild ™8ht. It s the first, show of tliis attraction proved no great attrac- f.ffson which hasJned that scale tioii for biz. getting by mostly on Brigadoon Where s Charted' the Guild-ATS list for an esti- and the rest using a SJ.90 scale for mated $10,000, mild. Final week weekdays w-ith S4.i5 Saturday, cun-ent There have been plenty of empty -^iy.^ ■ J „ -i-i r. Tir-it; ork seats for "-Finian" on its CBr' o^^c^^ik^ -J^"""*'","; rent return despite glowing press, (1,200; $3 60) 3d week). This one but show is way aheld of its com- never did take here, third and final week getting a disappointing $11,000 "Harvey," Colonial (1.500. $3 60) (3d v^eck). World Series hurt this petitors: on gross figures and .should go further ahead. Last week did $34,500 Another sma.sh hit in town is 'Life With Mother," which re Bia along Broadway was better I last week than the week previous, ! when everything was a bit oSi Grosses weire up as much as $2,000 or $3,000; Bow of three promising plays kindled interest, while Mon- day's (4) Jewish New Year was re-', sponsible for a boff night, practi-:' Mon« day's intake offset a slight midweek sag, while the week overall ended v okay. • The three shows that bowed— ^ "Private Lives," (Tallulah Bank- . head), ''Summer and Smoke" and-1 "Love Life"—drew strong grosses:- despite a surprisingly divided press :; on each. ''Edward^ My Son." in its ' first full:, week, was playing to : standees-each performance. This week's sole : entrant was Monday's (11> "Where's Chiarley." Three openings are set for nest week—"The Leading Lady" Mon- day (18). '.'My Romance" Tuesday (19) and "Life With Mother" Wed- nesday (20). Kcj/j; C (Comedy), D (Cnmia), CD (Comedv-Drama), A (Heini*},' M (MMifcoI), J (Operetta). "Annie Get Your Gun," Imperial (126th wk) (M-1,472; $6.50). Long- , run' musical celebrated: its 1;000. performance Thursday (7i -with an SRO house that ni^t and Jumped'. to about $40,000. ItoFK Yesterday," Lyceum (140th wkl (C-993; $4.80>. Vet comedy still bowling along nicely. With $14,000 plenty good. "Edward, My Sea." Beck (2d wk> (D-2,214: $4.S0) In its fiirst foU week, new British drama had. :Standees for every perfonnancei, clocking oS $28,400. "Harvey," 48th St. (20Tth wk) (C- 902; $4,80). Longrun comedy has been rejuvenated by injection of- Joe E. Brown into lead. Upped- $1,500 last week to neat $14,000. "High Button Shoes." Sbobert v (53d wk* (M-1,387; $6). Mosicali which was a year old Saturday (9), had a happy birthday in a $1,000 boxofffce rise to $37,000 for the: week. Moves Oct. 18 to the Broad- way to make viray .for IMy Ro- ,:mance." ■ "Howdy, Mr. Ice," Center (16th wk) (R-2,a64; $2.88). Skate extrav- aganza bettered last week to: the : merry tune of $44,000. "Inside CS-A.," Majestic •{24th wk) (R-1.659; $6). One OL the shows , that gained siiarply last: Week, up- ping $;j.000 to alout $48,000. "Love Life." 46th Street (Ist, wk) (M-1.3I9: $6). New Cheryl Cr.uvford musical opened Thursday (7) to mixed notices but standee attendance. In five: performances, including a preview, show did $26,300. "Maffdalena." Ziegfeld (3d wk) (0-1,628; $6 60). Musical spectacJe> had its first theatre party Thursday,-; (7). which helped keep attendance up Gross a little ab«ve last w«ek,-' $:ja,ooo. Make Miiw Manbatian," Broad- big draw a little, shaving the third ceived just as enthusia.stic notices hurst (39th wk) (R-LIOO; $6>. In- wcek to an est>"inatcd S24 oOO, from the first-string erix here as it which is still sock and close to had in Detroit last spring. "Bom capacity. Yesterday." anotlier return vwitor, "My Kom<-tnee," Shubert (1,750, ran third last week when it bowed $4.iiO> (Ki ^^.t)c. N( w score tor tni,<: m for what was advertised as a old fave drew good notices and strictly limited run at the Lofust, did aa cttimalLd Si5 000 on five but with its opposition close to ca- performances, which is okay for a Pacity figures, "Yesterday" is World .Senei. weelt Second week building a steady b.o. advance, current and will probiibly do bet- Estimates for Last Week ter "Finian's Bainbow," Forrest (1st "The Leading Lady," Copley J^*^'JtVlli soti^'- (1.000; 83.60'. " Thi.s oe* didn t '"^..T wHii m-.k Show Boat"—Colonial, Akron catch on too well in the uptown ' 'Johil' IOK2G, Detroit Detroit, Oct. 12, ■ ■ "John Loves Mary" closed a two-week stanza at the Cass thea-., tre with an estimated $10,500. i Basil Rathbone in "The Heiress" l moves into the Cass Monday for' a two-week run. ' Following this production, which i features Beatrice Straight and Pa- tricia Collinge, the-Cass will pre (18-19); Davidson, Mil. (20-23) "Silver Whistle"—Royal Alex Toronto (11-16); Nixon, Pitt. (18-23): "Streetcar Named Deslre"v-Har- ris. Chi. (11-23). "The Bine,. Danube"—Philhar- monic Aud., L.A. (11-16); Curran, Frisco (18-23). "The Heiress"—Cass, Det. (11 23) "The Leadinc Lady"—Copley Bo.ston (11-16). Webster Shakespeare Co^ Palmer, N. London (11-12); Edward. ' Bushnell, Hartford Geneseo (18); Uni- i versify. Alfred (19); Skidmore, Sar. Springs (20); University, Middle- bury (21); St. Michaels, Burlington 122-23). ■ "WiRsiow Boy" — Selwyn, Chi; (11-23). Ie!?it lioa-.>. nor did it get much of a lift in the press, suiting S9.000 IS weak. too Re- '*Lif*..:with: Mother,*'■Walhut: (1st' week) :(1,'34<),; $3.90). Rave notices, here, too, and fine biz throughout:; with $24,000. v... . . .. "Bom Yesterday" Locust (1st The Silver Wlmtie,' Plymouth ^eek) (1.580; $3 90). Return visi- (1.200. $3 601 i2d week) Although tor got $15,300. this Guild ofTenng didn't get too. much help from, the erix,, the show proved to : have some drawing power and got a fairly good $12,- 000 on its second and final week ' here. Lederer-Blair-lttoney' Alrav at 1 % in St Inn town's standouts'ccm- VIMJf at l>m lU ox.. MHI tinues to capacity, with standees; timate revue perked; David Bums returned to cast; '$27,000. "Mister Roberts," Alvin (34th wkJ (CD-I ,357; $4.80). Gross rarely varies for tbi.s hit, with standees at all times; take around $35,000. "Private Lives," Plymouth (1st wk) (C-1.0e3; $4.80) iJcviU.-il Rtt- tin;; all: it can hold, despite mixed notices. Capacity attendance, and Monday's (4) $7.20 top, accounted lor .?26,339. "Respectful Prestitnte." and 'Hop# Is the Tiling," Cort (35th wk)) (D-1,064; $4.20). Double-bill upped somewhat last week to near- ly ■$13000." "Small Wonder," Coronet (4th wkl (R-998; $6). Intimate revue, .somewhat underestimated tlie week previous, improved last week to almost $27,000. and looks to stick. . "Streetcar Named Desire," Bar- rymore (45th wk) (D-1,064; $4.80). F-tr r nvp Kingston (13 For Love or r ^^^fg,. St. Louis, Oct. 12. I ■ ''For l^ve-dir Money." .■.with- Fran-: J cis Lederei' and Janet Blair in the naa 1 on * * in 111 »i iw ^"P "P * boxoffice .NNIASH 144(^ IN N H ^^^y 'ts one-week stand end- iniMMU lt2M m n. 11. Saturday (9) at the American MOSS HART'S 'UGHT W Mesipe lOG, Seattle . : ;: :: Seattle, : :Oct;: : 12.' , Bert sLahr: in "Burlesque'' hit a ...<-.» ».u.i».^c: v^aoo .r.,. k-- flot spot here at the MetropoUtan. , .sent the Thtfatre Guild production where the week's take was only Decision of "Carouset" $10,000. ^ ^"^^ It's a return engagement fdr De- • The 1,500-seater wa» (calftd from tioit and will run 10 days. ($3.75. New Haven. Oct. 12. Premiere of the Moss Hart comedy, "Light Up The; Sky," did vei-y healthy biz despite mixed com- ment from the word-of-mouth angle. In for five performances on a four-day sLmd (6-9) at the Shu- bert (1.600 capacity), attendance built to weekend SRO for an esti- mated $14..lOO at $3.60: top. 'I'his week house get.s "Command for a last half (14-lfij: theatre. With the 1,700-seat house scaled to $318, the estimacted gross for eight performances was $13.- 600 ITie cnx were divided with their reviews, A good advance has been re- ported for the two weeker of "An- nie Get Your Gun." which teed off at the American last night (Mon- around $27,500. "Summer and Smoke,'? Music Box (1st wk) (D-1,012; $4.80). Ten- nessee Williams' name drawing 'em despite mixed reviews. Five performances grossed $15,185. "The PUy's the Thine." Booth f2Ist wk) fCD-712; $4.80). Molnar revival also felt the week's uptake, going to $14,000. "Where's Charley?" St. James (M-1,.509; $6). Musical version of "Charley'.s Aunt," with book by George Abbott, music by Frank Loesser. Opened Monday (11;. day).' Musical .is scaled to $5.08. t. :VV.:.iV'':^..:/ ' ::" '",■■: ■ 'Fatlitl^ Hmrrlsbarr.'Feeoff. ;'; ' Charles Chaplin is directing re-' Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 12. Next week bnnRs another preem. \ vival of "Bain." in which June ' The Harrisburg Community The- the new Kanfman-Ferber "BravOj" I Have* star for Circfe Players aire tees oil its 23rd season Oct With Max Gordon producing. I in U>s Angeles. • 26 with "Life With Father."