Variety (Mar 1949)

March 30« 1949 Total Broadway Grosses Tfio lollowina are the commraUve fimres based on Vamety's ^^fflce estimates, for last week and the corresponding week of tot «eoson: Season «r..tnh(>r of shows Current 27 Ki wPPks Played so far by all shows 987 J± «ross for all current shows last week Total gi"" . _„ f.- f„- a,i shows... .s: $622,700 Last Season 28 1,075 670,000 I ill season's gross so far for all shows... .$23,582,200 $23,352,500 NumVer of new productions so far 57 55 Qo 6.0. in Upward Trend But Show Activity Is Lowest in 3 Seasons ' Chicago, March 29. - With only two legit offerings left <« town activity is thinnest regis- M here in past three seasons. PMt summers found most houses ffitered, but present spring lay- out of "Mister Roberts" and "Fin- fan's Rainbow" hits a new low, irSra standpoint of companies in town However, upward trend Is definitely noticeable in b.o. re- Estimates for I-ast Week ••nrsert Sone," Blackstone (3d wek) a 358? $4.40-$3.80). Closed Saturday (26) with healthy play in 1«i week Stout $24,000. «nnlan's Kainbow." Shubert (8th week).(2,100; $H*2x„^P "^^'^ week with fine $37,600. "Mister Roberts." Erlanger (28th week) (1,334; $4.33). Healthy pace witli increase registering excellent $28,500.^ WS GARNERS $34,900 FOR 21) WEEK, CLEVE. Cleveland, March 29. "Brigadoon" nabbed $34,900 in tecond week at Hanna at $4.95 top, totaling $68,000 for the 13-day run. First stania caught $31,100. "Streetcar Named Desire," with Uta Hagen, is current ofEering; idso set for two weeks, 'Heiress'Light $12,400 In Buffalo-Roch. Week Rochester, N. Y., March 29. "The Heiress" had a light week between Buffalo and here ending Saturday night (26), getting a totil of $12,400 for eight perform- ances. Drama got nearly $7i'700 in five performances Monday-through- Thursday (21-24) at the Erlanger, Buffalo, and added $4,700 in three showings Friday and ; Saturday -(25=26) at the" local" Auditorium. Basil Bathbone starrer opened last night (28) for a three-week stand at the Colonial, Boston, which will wind up its tour. ^ 'Magnolia AHey' Light $4,000 in 4, New Haven New Haven, March 29. Preem of "Magnolia Alley" failed to catch on substantially and drew only a light gross. At $3.60 top, Shubert stand of four per- lormances (24^26) pulled a low SWre, estimated at ju'st'under $4,t "Medea" is next legit attraction, *ie April 7-9. 'Harvey'17G, Cincy Cincinnati, March 29. Hprvey," with Frank Fay bow- on the show's third visit here, Wossed a near $17,000, plenty Frisco (28-9) Ballet Russe Terrif 38G LEGITIMATE SI 'Cheek' SeHout $6,700; 'Crown' Bright 8iG, LA. Los Angeles, March 29. . Local legit gets back On a.fuU^ scale bdsis this week as two new- comers give the town a total of five holiisie^ alight. The Lunts in "I Know My ■ Love" rekindled the Biltmore last night (28) and the long-dark Coronet relights tottior- row night (30) with the American premiere of the J'renejS^ hit "CallT g\l\&.". :. . ■■ V.:;' ,„■■■;■■■ ■ Estimates for fcast Week' "Blackouts of 1949/* El Capitan (353d wk) (1,142; $2.40); Seldom any change here.: Virtual capacity 817,000 as usual. "Cafe Crawii,?' El Patio (2d wk) (790; $3). Glittering $8;50Q i0r first full week. About 8Q%- cap great for this house. "Tongue in Cheeki" Las Palmas (1st wB (388; $3.60). Absolute ca- pacity $6,'70() f or the; first /six per- performances> Opening night all I.. CKi Ci.~J<. i seats (except press) at $6 contrib- in dpUt WeeK OtandS uted record $2,016. Capacity gross 'allows*- about $2,000, operating profit.::,:; Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, in its first week, on tour following its month's New. York engagement, racked up a terrific gross of over $38,000 in split standS: last week. Troupe opened Monday (21). in Hartford with the surefire "ham 'n' eggs" repertoire of "Swan Lake," "Scheherazade" and "Nutcracker," and grossed $7,614.50. Tuesday night (22) gross, also in Hartford, with a. different bill, was $5,978. In Schenectady, Wednesday (23), troupe grossed about $5,000. There was no performance Thursday; In Syracuse Friday (25), SRO gross] was $4,100. Troupe was booked for Saturday night (26) Tacilic'$40,410, 'OklafSZm V6V2G,Hub Broadway B.O. Up Last Week; W lOa Detective'$14J0 in 4,'Sun'2G. 'Charley'Hot $37,800. Ice $19,100 ■ Boston; March 29i. No legit attractions in last week save the Metropolitan opera, jioi ^cLu^uar ...g,..., an^"sun'^ I''South Pacific''contiuucs to sct tho day matinee' in Cleveland, and ad-1 ""b >ts ear as the most fought- vance sales caused an added book- attraction ever to hit the city. Plenty willmg to pay upwards of $50 for a paii-, 'but tickets are en- ing Sunday night, for. gross over $16,000 on the three dates. Current Road Shows (March 28-ApriI 9). "Allegro" — Lyceum, Mpls. (28- 2); Davidson, Mil. (4-9). ^c"'!:'-Jr'?r' began^.oshape"u;;,"but'"w^^^^^ tirely unobtain^le "Ivy Green," meantime, under- going a thorough rewrite here and has been gaining in b.o. interest. Estimates for Last Week "Ivy Green," Plymouth (2d week) (1,200; $3.60). Gained a little on its second and final week, as the show Atlanta (28-2); Aud., Savannah (4 5); Aud., Columbia (6-7); Aud., Au- gusta (8-9). "Blackouts of 1949"—El Capitan, L. A. (28-9). . "Born Yesterday" — LaCrosse, Lacrosse (31); Aud., St. Paul (1,- 2); Lyceum, Mpls. (3-6); Parkway, Madison (8-9). "Brigadoon"Royal Alex., Tor. (28-2); Aud., Roeh. (4-9). "Cat and Canary?' — Forrest, Philly (4-9). ."Favorite Stranger" — Nixon, Pitt. (28-2). _ "Fmian's Rainbow" — Shiubert, Chi (28-9). "Harvey" (Fay Co.) —- Hartman, Col. (28-30); Murat, Indpls. (1-2); Amer., St. Louis (3-9). "Hatvey" (Brown Co.) — Aud., Asheville (28-30); Carolina, Char- lotte (1-2); Nat'l, Greensboro (4-5); Carolina, Durham (6-7); State, Ra- leigh (8-9). "Hellzapoppln' "—Geary, Frisco (28-9). '•Heiress"— Colonial, Bost. (28- 'S).: - V "High Button Sheiks",—Amer., St. Louis (21-2); Music Hall, K. C. (4- 9). "I Know My LoveV -^ Biltmore, L. A. <28-9). "Inside U. S. A." ^ Community, Hershey (28-2); Ford's, Balto (4-9), "Ivy Green"—Locust, Philly (28- 2). "Magnolia Alley" -^ Plymouth, Best. (28-9). "Man and Superman"—Curran, drew the limit at unsatisfactory $6,500. Metropolitan Gpera Co., Opera House (1st week) (3,000, $8.80). First five performances were SRO which, at .scale, brought in a wow $70,795. Pinal week of eight per- formances should exceed $117,000 for a total take during the session close to $188,000. ., ■ ■ . "Oklahoma!" Colonial (4th week) I has Withdrawn from ■ sale (1,500; $4.20). Moved out after four staunch weeks, taking a sock $27.- 500 on finale of its fifth local visit. "South Pacific," Shubert (2d week) (1,750; $5.20). Stands as all- time house record at the Shubert with a staggering $40,470, with VIP's screaming for tickets to no avail. Impression conveyed last week that producers were lifting seats was erroneous. Fact is all seats were bought at the b.o. by producers for publisher.s, record- ing personnel and N. Y. VIP's, with only three pairs used by producers themselves, who are prevented by law from standing. Final week is current. 91'?; $4.80). Play by Herman Wouk, presented by Jed Harris;' opens to- : morrow night (Thurs.). "TWO Blind Mice," Coft (4th wk) (1,064; $4,80)^ Had four theatre parties and receipts spUrted to :$1,9,100.'-. ■J^- "Where's Charley?" St Jimes (20th wk) (M-l,50i9; $6); Publicity splurge about Ray Bolger's bashea beezer may have needled thie el- ready speedy pace; $37,800. Thieiiiil USA' 331/2G Philadelphia, March 29. It has been a long time since Philly has been so acutely short on legit, either current or an- (RT47T"$6rs3"toi"°""«''' Down to two (K-1,47/, $b).-bagged to jj^yggg jjjjg ^gg^ prospects are that the city will have only one legit offering next week and no more than that the week df April 11. "Cat and the Canary" revival, due Monday (4) at the Forrest for two weeks, will experiment with a low' ($2.60) scale. ,■ , . ' Estimates for trasf iyeek : VWhat a Guy" Forrest (Ist wk) (1,766; $3.90). Yiddish musical with Menasha Skiiliiik Opened Wednes- day night (23) aiid got ariv'ofcay $10,000 in five pierfoirnahiiieS; iibw' in final week with "Cat apd the. Canary" following. !. , , f'Biggest Ilteif in To«rii^' 1^^^ (2d wk) 11,340; $3.25). Management decided at last minute tO.|i6Id thW' comedy tryout in f6i^ ';a'V jseCond week; fair $12,000. "liiside ' U.SIA." Shubert (2nd wk) (l,877f $5.20). In final week, revue picked up to $33,500 but that; General (.was way under capacity at the high, scale used by this return visitor. Legit attendance was generally better on Broadway last week.. At most shows the improvement be-^' gan Monday night (21) and con- tinued all week, with the custom- ary sellouts: at most houses Satur^. day night (26). The current week brings two openings, but thereafter the num- ber of incoming shows will slacken. There were no closings last week and none is thus, far listed for this week. Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy); D (.Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R, (Reime), M (Musical), O (Operetta). Other parenthetic iigures refer to seating capacity arid top price, including 20% amusement tax. However, estimates are net; i.e., exclusive of tax. ' "All for LOve," Hellinger (9th) wk) (R-1,543; $4.80). Gets fair business upstairs, particularly weekendSj^eased" k trifle- to" $8,500. "Along Fifth Avenue," Imperial (11th wk) -— -- — - $23,500. "Anne of 1,000 Days," Shubert (16th wk) (D-1,387; $4.80). .lumped about $1,600 to strong $29,600. "As the Girls Go," Winter Gar- den (19th wk) (M-1,519; $7.20). Hopped back to the head of the list with over $47,300. "At War With the Army," Booth (3d wk) (C-712; $4.80). Improve- ment here was encouraging; almost broke even at nearly $10,000. "Big Knife," National (5th wk) (D-1,172; $4.80). Eased a bit to $21,700. "Biggest Thief in Town," Mans- field (C-1,041; $4.80). Play by Dal- ton Trumbo, presented by Lee Sabinson; opens tonight (Wed.). "Born Yesterday," Miller (164th wk) (C-940; $4.80). Ebbed a bit, but well over the margin at $11,500. "Death of a Salesman," Morosco (7th wk) (D-931; $4.80). conditions mean nothing here, with the standee limit ^t all per- formances; theatre party Commis- sions cut the take to $23,400. "Detective Story," Hudson (1st wk) (D-1,057; $4.80). Opened Wednesday night (23) to smash b.o. notices; can better $23,000 a week with standees; management 40: side 'STREETCAR'$30,300, ^^^^ 1^^^ Detroit, March 29. "A Streetcar Named Desire" locations and boxes representing set a new straight play record of about $1,000 a week; first five per- | $30,300 at the Cass in final week of Mod, .on nine performance's last week in the 1,300-seat Cox theatre. *op was $3.69. npad shows recess Cincy until week of April 25 when "Streetcar Named Desire" bows. 'Allegro' $16,600, St. Paul „ St. Paul, March 29. Allegro," playing a short week « the Auditorium here last week, f'*«setl $16,600 for six perform- ?"<!«^-.^®'^t that the musical made «!»unbroken jump from San Fran-, - , - «sco cost three days* playing time. I Cedar HodgersrHammeifsteln show is at "*jj.,Lyceum, Minneap'olis, this "Medea"^^—Rajah, Reading (28); Lyric, Allentown (29); Aud., Tren- ton (30); Playhouse, Wll. (31-2); Aud., Htfd (4); Acad., North'ton (5); Court, Spgfld. (6). , . ^ , "Mr. Adams"-^Shub.-Laf., Det. (4-9). "Mr. Roberts" —Erlanger, Chi (28-9). , „ I "O Mistress Mine" — Mem. Hall, I Dayton (27-28); Murat, Indpls. (29-1 30); Aud.. Bloomlngton (31); Mos- que, Peoria (1). . paign (2); Orpheum, Davenport (4): Palace. Rockford (5); Iowa, Rapids (6); KRNT, Des 'Adam' 8G, Frisco San Francisco, March 29. ^'Mr. Adamj" with Robert Hutton, Elizabeth Eraser and Frank Albert- son, showed a nice $8,000 gross for its second and final week at the Curran (1,776 seats) at $3.60. Olsen and Johnson brought back their "Hellzapoppln of 1949" to the Geary for a three week run Friday (25). "Man and Superman," with Maurice Evans, opened at the Curran Monday (28). Longhair Shorts Moities (7-8); Om^ha, Omaha (9), "bklahoiha!" (No. 1 Co.)—Ford's Balto (28-2); Royal Alex., Toronto ■(4-9):' "OkiahOma!" (No. 2 CO.) — Em- pire, Alljany (28-2); Binghamton, iSing'ton (4-5); Strand, Ithaca (6e 7); Strand, Elmira (8-9). ■ » "Show Boat" — Opera House, Rniij"""" ^"eaire jsocieiy-ineaire Newark (28-2); Court, Spgfld. (4- s«b.scription at Ford's here 5); Aud., Wore. (6-7); Lync, Bdgpt. i*'*! Week. Win<1jn<< iin .n.lfh r,ii<> {3.9) "Siutli P^ciiac''--- Shubert, Bost ,'MEDEA' $25,400, BAITO Baltimore, March 29. hit a smash figure as A„,„j""v of. five • plays under ivmerican Theatre Society-Theatre I subscription at Ford's here i». 1.-! X' winding up -with one of ' ^^^^s to date, at $25,- *e third "Oklahoma!" "«ide U. S. A. is current, . : with ' set to follow. (21-2), "Streetcar Hanna, Cleve. Cetra-Soria, specializing in im- ports of Italian Operatic reper- toire, is joining the lohg-playlng list this month, with Columbia Records' aid. "La FOrza del Des- —= . - -- I tino" and "Rigoletto" excerpts are Orpheum, Cham-' (j^g) Lp issues. Next will probably " ^ be Mozart's "Requiem." . :., . Jen- nie Tourel singing three perforfn- ances of "Carmen" at Holland Fes- tival, in Am.sterdam, in June , . . Marie Powers* Evelyn Keller and Leo Coleman, leads in the Broadr way production of "The Medium," will do it again for N. Y. City Opera Co. preSehtatiori iit City Center April 7. Jarmila Novotna to sing six ^er'- formances with San Francisco Opera Co. in the fall . . . Anatole Ghnjoy to lecture oh "BalletO' mania" at Carl Fischer Hall, Y.i • April 4 . . . Stella Roman to be guest star at Florence music festi- val, in May, in "Don Carlos." Named (28-9). Desire" — formances $14,300. "Edward, My Son," Beck (26th wk) (D-1,214; $4.80). Recovered a bit for. a hefty $25,900. "Goodbye, My Fancy,'' Fulton (19th wk) (CD-966; $4.80). Moved up with the field; $22,000. "High Button Shoes," Broadway (77th wk) (M-1,900; $6). Climbed a bit to over $31,300. "Howdy, Mr. Ice," Center (40th Wk) (R-2,964; $2.88). Also edged up with the trend; $31,000. "Kiss Me Kate," Century (13th wk) (M-1,654; $6). With all the the- atre party bookings over, the weekly gross should stay practi- cally constant, b a s e d on the standee-limit; over $47;100.' t "Lend an Ear,*' Broadhurst (15th wk) (R-1,160; $6). Rose again to virtual capacity; $32,000. "Life With Mother," Empire (23d Wk) (C-1,082; $4.80); Second edition of the Day family saga about held its own at almost $16,r 500. "Light Up the Sky," Royale (19th Wk) (C^l,035; $4.80). Inched up a notch to $16,700. "Love Life." 46th St. (25th wk) (M-1,319; $6). Management began using two-for-ones and business responded with a jump of over $5,- 000 to $26,100. "Madwoman Of Chaillot," Belas- co (12th wk) (C-1,077; $4,80). Reg- istered nice $20,900. "Mister Roberts," Alvin (58th wk) (CD-I ,357; $4.80). Still going, clean at all performances, usually with standees; up a trifle to nearly $35,000. "Private Lives," Plymouth (25th wk) (C-1,062; $4.80). Revival is rolling along lo hefty profits; $16,- 200. "Silver Whistle," Biltmore (18th wk) (C-920; $4.80). Bettered recent weeks; $18,500. "Streetcar Named Desire,*' Barrymore (69th wk) (C-920; $4.80). Continues to draw fine attendance; $23,300. "Sun and I," New Stages (1st wk) (C-299; $3). First seven per- formances, including the Sunday night (20) preem, got under $2,000. "They K n e w W h a t They Wanted," Music Box (6th wk) (C- 1,012; $4.80). Slight .-improvement and still getting by; $11,500. "The Traitor," 48th Street (D- a three-week stay. Cass will re- main dark until "Allegro" opens April 11. "O Mistress Mine" took in_ $14,- , 200 during week's run at Shubert- Lafayette. "Mr. Adam" will begin lOrday engagement there Thursday (31). 'Shoes' Okay $33,000 In First St. Louis Week St. Louis, March 29. "High Button Shoes," despite divided reviews: by . the. crix, wound up its first of a; two-week iitand at the American Saturday (26) with a good b.o.- score.- Eight performances, with the 1,700-seat house scaled to $4.88, grossed al- most $33,000. Frank Fay in "Harvey" follows the windup of ."Shoes," Lints 32G, K. C. Kansas City, March 29. The LuntSi for their first time ' here in nine years, did smash biz , in seven performances of "I Know I My Love" March 22-25 in the Mu- I sic Hall. Sock,$32,000 resulted from complete sellout Friday night, near capacity other three eves and: strong matinees. A & N Presentations has ''High Button Shoes',' next, for a week, beginning April .4,. 'Okla.!'33iG in N. C. Raleigh, N. C, March 29. Original company of "Okla- homa!" rang up a total grots of over $33,500 in engagements week at the State, Winston-ialemj Carolinai Durham, and Carolina here. Production is playing this week > at Ford's, Baltimore. 'Born' $17,200, Scattttt Seattle, March 3W, ' "Bom Yesterday'' got real dougn at the Metropolitan last week. Scaled from $3.79 at this l,S00f seater, "Born'' grossed around $17,200.