Variety (Dec 1948)

Total Broadway Grosses The follQWing are the cdmparative figures based on Vasiptv's boxoftice estimates, for last week and the corresponding weeic of last season: This Last Season Season Number of shows current .■ 28 27 Total weeks played so far by, all shows 592 658 Total gross for alt currertt shows last week.. $585,000 . $557,500 Total season's gross so far for all shows $14,154,100 $13,952,400 Number of new productions so far 31 30 Seasonal Lull Wallops Chi B.O., But'Roberts'2(iG,'Briga(k)on'$26,500 Chicago, Dec. 21. ■t '■ ' ■ Yuletide activities are being felt in final shopping week before Xmas, with b.o. taking slight dip. ftowever advance sales for New Year's Eve are near sellout for "Streetcar Named Desire" and "Mr Roberts," with "Medea" and "Bri'gadoon" also getting nice play LECilTlMATE 51 o£ "The Heiress," which opened a one-weeker Sunday \(19) at the American. St. Louis, Dec. 21. , ClickiWjg With',.natives and c "Man and Superman,'' George Ber- VT^""vr,!ir r>Ttv niiprrrn rln^p'd , Shaw's comedy, wound up a New York City Opera^^^^^^ one-week stand at the K^etC's iri9%erfS^ theatre Saturday (18). Sp^iday season^^ ^HeiressHT^^I^UOO-s^ rKakflro'o^^' ff ^ m^-^^^S,|ros^ed app-^ ^21^0^ for leeiter Selwyn theatre and is i Basil Rathbone, Beatrice Straight in for indefinite stay. "High But- and Patricia Collinge head the cast tori Shoes" vacates Great Northern theatre after lengthy 31-week stay, Xmas day, with "Man and Super- man" opening on "Shoes'" : heels Dec^ 26. "Brigadoon" has likeli- hood of slaying beyond original Jan. 8 closing date, depending on biz the next few weeks. "Com- mand Decision" pulls out of Studebaker Dec. 25. Estimates for Last Week "Brigadoon," Shubert (llthj week) (2,100; $4.94). Visitors and i conventioneers hypoing pre-Xmas week: slump. Still profitable $26,500. "Command Decision," Stude- baker (6th week) (1,237; $4.33). Just under $11,000. "Hieh Button Shoes," Great Northern (31st week) (1,500; $6.18). In last week and still holding steadily. Nice $26,000. "Heiress," Selwyn (7th week) (1,000; $3.71). Closed Dec. 18, with fine $15,500 last week. "Medea," Blackstone (4th week) 11,358; $4.40). Raves aiding holi- day slump. Fine $17,000. "Mister Roberts,". Erlanger (14th week) (1,334; $4.33). ' Still near capacity, despite seasonal trends; topped $26,000. . New York City Opera, Civic Opera House (2nd week) (3,800; $4.94). Closed Sunday (19). Chalked up $60,200 in nine last performances, $142,900 during 19 olTerings. "Streetcar Named Desire," Har- ris (12th week) (1,000; $4.33). Also holding well, with good matinee play; not quite $17,000. "'$K«air;|B'way Biz Bratal See Upturn M*fe ^J'T Weekend; Snowstorm Wallops B.O.; a s^oy^oTVisr^ver^Sw *A ^ oic J'QPH Q97 i^nn week at the Alontclair theatre, con- jfllilie Ll\jf CUWarQ Jl\U$UI)DUU ; eluding her three-week engage- ment in "Diamond Lil." Show lays Business was brutal last week I wk) (C-1,082; $4.80); A few empty off this week lor recasting and re-' on Broadway, with poor weather i seats at the midweek matinee, but / hearsal, reopening Saturday night' aggravating the traditional pre-' otherwise theatre parties helped ; (25) in Philadelphia with a new - Christmas slump. Only one show, \ sell out all performances; $23,900- physical production, , "Edward, My Son," went clean at | "Light Up the Sky," Royale (5th' More than $8,000 in mail orders Performances In some cases ■ wk) (C-l,()35; $4.80). New Moss 1 were reportedly on hand last week i results tended to be rumous a.s , Hart click continued strong in the tor the Philly engagement, on the P""sses tell far below operatmg | ,.ough going, having empty seats basis of only a single ad in the : 'evels. at matinees, but got $24,800. .local dailies. It's expected that; Conditions were expected (o im- "Love Life," 46th St. (11th wk) I the three-week stay there will open ; P™ve somewhat this week, but the (M-1,319; $6). Cheryl Crawford with an advance of about $15,000, . heavy snowstorm Sunday H9> hit musical felt the down-draft, slip- including mail orders from ads in ! attendance again, and prospects ping to Over $29,000. 1 the weekend dailies and boxoffice , are dubious for the next few days. , "Madwoman of Chaillot," Belasco , sales. , I Weather and other conditions per- id.i o77- $4 80) Alfred de Liaere With no advertising at all so , "I'^^'^^kA^^t n?^;h?^*9d^"*'/hi'",,,r'f ' J''. ' present Maurice Valency's ■ far. there's a reported mail order r„T Jl.-'„ ^^JlJfiV^i ? ^ iui, adaptation of Jean Giradoux play; , engagement, to follow Philadcl- ' f"'iHS rhri=imt vJ u,u nl ' "Pens Monday night (27). ,phia. Only ballyhoo lor Miss . Haa'"; onal ^^^^^^^ "Make Mine Manhattan," Broad- West's appearance has a lobby dis- ■ . S^fF^,^y "'^ ami , ^urst (49th wk) (R-1,160; $6). Jo- play. On.the strength of this out-| ^^°?ptj^";;?if/|jj°»g^i;^ seph Hyman revue .is getting Bert follows precedent. Three shows closed ; of-town. boxoffice showing; pro- I ducer Al Rosen may bring the shov . directly to Broadway, after the Bal I timore : date. . That would involve cancelling tentative bookings on "'^ht (.W. "Bravo," at the Lyceum; the road through next May. '"^^^ t1""" " ♦ho $1,500 Guarantee Mae west s, contract lor tne two openings are "Make Way for ■ Centci" (2d wk) (0-3,025, $3). Opera «!?=r^'io» f CI son^" gives her a Lucia," tonight (Wed.) at the Corl twm-bill revival eased a bit in the guarantee of $1,500 a week against - - - - - 10% off the top if the gross reaches $20,000. She's gotten the percen- vv.v". w<v,^.wvc , oiiuwuisj I cAv',. if ,1,^ u..i.\^f.cc r,nit,.,.r, LahT. as star and several cast ducer Al Rosen may bring the show ""sincss paiitrn (,h.,nge<;, plus new material for the : tour; dropped to about $13,200. Saturday I VMake Way for Lucia," COrt (CD- , L064; $4.80), Theatre Guild pre- The Play's the Thing," at the i gentation of John van Druten dram^ I Booth, and the twin-bill "Respect- i atization: of stories by E. F. Ben- I ful Prostitute"- "Hope Is the ! son, dpeii.s: tOnight (Wed.).^, ' tThing,". at the Cort. This week's \ "Medium" and'^telephone," City m PICKS UP AGAIN ASLA.RUNNEAKSEND . : Los Angeles, DeC; 21. "Final weeks" sign hanging in front of Las Palmas upped the "Lend an Ear" take last week, in- dication that the show was closing its local run apparently slightly offsetting the Usual pre-Yule slump. "Blackouts," however, con- tinued to dip. Town comes to life again Christ- mas night when "Show Boat" opens at the Philharmonic and Kate' Gets Plenty Kisses in Philly, 41G;'5th Ave.'176 Philadelphia, Dec. 21. The pre^holiday blues have kept two of the city's four legit houses dark this week: and another (For- rest) tenantless until Saturday (Xmas) night. ' Last-named ■gets Mae West's revival of "Diamond Lil" for two . weeks; The other three houses have, openings skedded Monday (27)V "The Play's the Thing;" with Louis Calhern, comes Into the Locust, the Playwrights' production of Garson Kanin's new comedy, "Smile of the World," is listed for the Walnut, and "High Button Shoes", ^Chicago ' company) is set for the^ Shubert; Last week's biz was terrific for "Kiss Me, Kate" and poor for the rest. Estimates for Last Week "Kiss Me, Kate" Shubert (3rd week) (1,877; $4.55) in 2nd full session (musical originally opened on a Thursday), this smash hit rer. ported near $41,000. "AlongT:. 5th Avenue" Forrest (3rd week) (1,766; $4.,W) Idea of holding musical for extra week didn't work out. Weak $17,000 al- though show reported in much betr ter shape. ' "Oh, Mr. Meadowbrook," Walnut (2hd week) (1,340; $3.25). This one never got started, with praise by cnx of star, Ernest Truex, not enough to offset pans of show. Under $3,000. "O, Mistress Mine," Locu.st (2nd week) (1,580; $3.25). Notices okay and "Jenny Kissed Me," tomorrow ' general deciihti,: being particularly night (Thurs;) . at the; flud-son. ! hit the day 'of the big storm, Suri- tfl>rp fiBiii-P PvprO wppV cn f-.v Six premieres are listed for next ' day (19); nearly $18,000. tage hguie every week so tai. ^^^^^ ^ follows- "Oh, Mr ■ "Mister Roberts," Alvin f44th J* capitalized at i Mead'owbrook," Sunday night (26) ' wk) iCD-1.357; $4.80). Smash play $35,000, with .Rosen the. sole gen-1 at the Golden; "The Victors." the i by Thomas Heggen, and.Joshua Lo- eral partner and 22 limited part- same night at New Stages; "Mad- ners. Latter include Albert H.' woman of Chaillot," Monday night 'f^'u*',^'''^"^',^'-'^^.,'" ^''^ 1'27) at the Belasco; "Don't Listen, of the Montclair theatre, $700; Eva | Ladies." Tucsdav night (28) al the Lewis, his wife, $350; Arthur Klar, , Booth; "Rape of Lucretia." Wed- souvenir booklet publisher, $2,100; ' nesday night (29) at the Ziegfeld, about $34,000. James Scheuer, also associated .^^a 'itr;^? a/ia . .xroti.!'. TK„>.c/iii,.i "Mv RnmaiK I in the Montclair theatrCi $350; ! Charles Tobias, songwriter, $700; Clarice Rosen, the producer's wife, $700; Harry Ames, talent agent, $700; Lee Posner, pressagent and amusement editor of II ProgressO,' $700; .Tanet Cohen, author's agent; g'ain iailed to go cltean fdt the first tiitie,' haviiig a. few empty seats at' the WediiesdSydS) matihee and getting less standee trade, : but bounded back MohdaiyVriight :i20); about $34,000. , , • . and""'''Kiss Me," Kate,'' Thursday I "My Romance," Adelphi (9th wk) night (30) at the Century, Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy), D (Dramo), CD ■ (Cotnediz-Droma), R (Revue) , M, (Musical)., O (Operetta); "Anne of 1,000 Days," Shubert $525; Dorothy Brooks; Wife of the I (2d wk) (D-l,387; $4.80). New Max- show's aceountaht; $700; Andrew I well Anderson play getting away to Geoly, of Eaves costumes,. $4,900; Anne Q. Colton. wife of theatrical attorney Edward Colton, $1,050; Eunice Healey, actress-producer, $1,400; Jackie Kelk, aCtor, $3.50; Herbert J. Freezer, manufacturer and theatre investor, $6,125. Hub Hobbled; 'Jenny' NG 3G, lucia' $6,500 Boston, Dec. 21. (0-1,434; $4.80). Shubert operetta also suffered in the general slide; also suffered in the general slider $19,500. "Oh, Mr; Meadowbrook/' Golden (C-1,057; $4.80);. John Yofke pre- sents play by Ronald Telfer-Pau* line Jamerson, opens Sunday night (26). Private Lives," Plymouth (11th ^?^.}^ WiDter" rekindles the i for this one, but biz never mounted to much; Off in final stanza to less Coronet; Estimates for Last Week „3!*<''">"ts of 1948," El Capitan '?3fth wk) (1,142; $2.40). Down to $15 500 but still in the black. . 1. fJli'" Las Palmas (27th wk) (388; $3). Up a notch to al- most $6,500 .with announcement mat run ends Jan. 8. Eastern notices reprinted here also helped ?ome. strong start: in face .of . general _ . slump, first full week bringing wk> (Ca'662; $4.'80). "Ak $27,000. . on the jaw, but-still got ample "Annie Get Your Gun" Imperial profit at $17,800. (136th wk) (M-1,472; $6.60). Hold- "Red Gloves," Mansfield (2d wk) over musicals, were among the i (D-1, 041; $4.80). Charles Boyer t.icaitc: iiivu-oiui, <py,,i,.u. I shows that fclt the adverse condi-i name, plus theatre parties proving Partnership agreement author-! """L^?*"'' severely; plummeted to I a help against the general slump; izes a 33V6% overcall and does not' ^j,,. ^„ „ wi„t». <-,r , "'l^^^^ $25 500. , prohibit transfer or substitution of I „ ' *'l ^.^i ?m i *7^/nr ... X?*".i"*;?' \ f.ji limited nartnershins den (5th wk) (M-1,519 $7,20). , "Hope Is the Thing," Cort 45th limiteg partnersnips. > ^^^^^^ ^.j^^.^ ^^^^.^.^j. ^ feWiwk) (D-1,064; $4.20). Final week empty seats at several perform- | held up fairly Well in. face Of pre? ance-s, but mopped up at $52,800. vailing conditions, closeid Saturday: "Bom Yesterday," Miller (150th (ig)- about $9,000. ■ wk) (C-940; $4;80), Garson Kanin's "Silver Whistle," feiltmore (4th laff standout was also hit by the wk) (C-920; $4.80). Theatre Guild slump, sliding to $9,500. • , subscriptions were a moderating "Brayoi" Lyceum (6th wk) (CD- factor for this neW comedy; nearly 993; $4.80). Edna Ferber-Georgc S. , $18,000, ■ v Kaufman play tossed in the towel "Small Wonder;'* Coronet (litli Saturday night (18) alter 44 per* wk) {R-998; $(S). Tntihiate musical formances; loss involved about has slipped recently, and Is how $100,000; . final week registered trying Suhday perfomances; slated mild $'11,000, ;: ; j,to !vacate ;the>^ In February;. "Don't Listen, Ladies,' . Booth uiider $10 000; (G-712; $4.80). ;Lee Ephraim and | ; "streetcar ' N a ni e d Desire,** Slowest leeit week since the sea- i Shuberts present Guy Bolton- iflarrymore (55th wk) (D-1,064; hlowest legit weeK since tne sea- stepf,en Powys adaptation of Sacha ;son began u'as registered last ' f^^^e, opens Tuesday (28). I week, only four houses being | "Edward, My Son," Beck (12th i lighted and none of them doing ! (D-1,214; $4.80), Henry Shcr- I real bi?. Theatre Guild^ show, ^ gk's London import was the only ."Make Way for Lucia, W'as ^how to go clean at every perform- Box"(Tllh"wk)TD-l,oi27?4.80)'.'SUd , po .tely thumbed dovvn and did biz I ance, aided by the huge advance i again, but slated to continue in- , only on account ot subscription , gale; nearly $28,000. i definitely lust under $9 000 backlog. Others just about got by. ' "Goodbye, My Fancy," Morosco ; ..jhe Play's the Thing,"" Booth I Season resumes in high this loth wk) (CD-931; $4.80). Made- , ,3is(; ^jj) ("C-712; $4.80). Revival 1 week with four new entries. Black-i leine Carroll draw helped offset I doseci Saturday night (18); got I ."itone returning to the Colonial, the general down-trend; topped | mild Sfi nnn 'Along Filth Avenue" debuting at j $22,000 $4;80); Failed to go clean at all per^ formances for the second consecu-: tive week; but plenty of profit at $25,000. "Summer and Smoke," Music than '$8,000. the Shubert, "The Skin of Our I "Harvey," 48th St. (217th wk) "The Victors," New Stages (D- 299; $3). New Stages presents Omaha's Brandeis Mulls Part-Time Legit Dates „ , . Omaha, Dec. 21. Brandeis theatre, after 15 years ot straight pictures may revert to at least part stage programs. J. J. hchinbach, RKO division manager irom Chicago was here recently and admitted that the company was toying with the idea of bring- mg in .some stage attractions. The fn.?5r was a legitimate theatre ipraSyears 'Allegro' Smash $35,000 In Week at Pittsburgh Pittsburgh. Dec. 21. Reopening Nixon after a fort- night shutdown,"A)legro" was a smash hit last week, getting almost $35,000 at $4 .55 top;. Theatre Guild musical played here under Guild-ATS auspices, which held gross down at least couple of grand on account of reduced prices for subscription tickets. Show was practically a sellout even before curtain went up, and there were virtually no seats ■ left by openipg jday. . "Allegro" had originally been booked for t^vo weeks but producers were afraid of pre-Xmas period here and cut the engagement in half, Nixon currently has "Desert gets "Finian's; Rainbow _ Teeth ' in for two weeks at the (C-921; $4.20). Two-lor-ones were Thornton Wilder adaptation of play Copley, and "The Shop at Sly a help agam.st the slump condi- by Jean-Paul Sartre, opens Sunday Corner" bowing Chri.stmas night' tmns, but the Mary Chase comedy , „ight ,26). at the Wilbur ■ "o^^"" r?"' ^ I "Where's Charley," St. James , Estimates for Last Week ' ,6 d"'^vk)"fMT9oSr$6).^°notrr ; ^ p^e'L w;}ir=thl'rough co'nl i "Finian's Rainbow," Shubert, holdover musical that felt the pre- 'j"ufJiP.''l"Z.Y.?'U? .^Jj^ '""^^ i (9tH week) (1;750; $4:80); Final; vailing decline;, dropped to $28,700. I week held to an estimated $17,500, i "Kowdy, Mr. Ice," Center (26th , and show moved out. "Along Fifth wk) (R-2,964; ,$2.88). Spectacle will Avenue" opens tonight (Tues.),. 1 give two performances a day, Mon- I "Heartbreak House," Copley (1st, day (27) included, starting Satur- ; week) 11,200, $2 251. Fifth Boston ! day (25> and extending through I Repertory Co trv was a return en- ; Jan. 2; eight performances last ditions; nearly. $34,000. 'SHOW BOAT' NG 15G IN 4TH WEEK, FRISCO San Francisco, Dec. 21. Frisco's only legit, "Show Boat." u***' ''^^ been bringiftg in j sone " klis S,,',^*"*? •'"^ on a very skimpy | Monday (27) for"two weeks and viQrPh,. u.*' seasojv only three | then Frank Fay in "Harvey" .Tan. thiv: "^"S"' to town, and so far i lo Joe E. Brown company played i'' >ear two have been in and two i here three weks last year and sold "'ure. itre,. booHe.d, ... I eut entire engagement. , gagement of the only show this week brought mild $29,000. I niitfit has nut on (h,it oaid off Re- "Inside U.S.A., Majestic (34th , , - , ,,„, , ,, , turn however "eAs^^^^^^^ only so-1 wk) (R-1,659; $6). Holdover musi- which shuttered Sun (19 chalked lo «^000 legLSiereo oniy so ^^^^ ^^^^ downbeat; ebbed I "P ,a Poor $15,000 for its fourth so *d,uuu. I below $22 000 week at the Curran (1.776; $2.G0). Loy'''""J\ n'^nn''Tj;r«iSo i "J«n"y M* " ""dson "The Curran will remain dark , (2d week) 1,200; $3.60) This one (d.j 057; $4 80). Michael Ellis and ""^'1 Sunday (26), when George I has been largely recast here but j^n^gg j^^^^^ association with I It s still h.iving Its b.o. troubles Alexander H. Cohen and Clarence 1 the .second week estimated at ^ ghapiro, present play by Jean . nearly $3,000. , Kerr: opens tomorrow. : night I "Make Way for Lucia," Colonial (Thur,). I (1st week) (1,500; $3,60). Guild has "Lend an Ear," National (1st wk) I had: its hps and downs here this .(R-1,172; $6), New intimate revue I season, and this contribution is dis- P^preemed Thursday night (16) to White will preem his vaude-revue with a $2,50 top, "Dante" opens the same night (26) at the Geary (1,550; $2.50) for two weeks. ■■:.:Bttbmeje.is--'New'''P<>st' ■ ■;: - •■■'t^"'- fietrbit;' ■Dec:, '21;'" ■ Formerly with Columbia ^ Con- tinctly not one of its ups. Didn't t favorable reviews; off to promising certs. C. Eastman Boomer joined fare Well at the hands of the crix. .start; first four performances got James A., Davidson Management, or at the boxoffice. E.stimated! $14,200, Inc., as executive in charge :of $6,500 on subscriptions chiefly. ( "Life With Mother," Empire (9th ■ sales.