Variety (Apr 1949)

Total Broadway Grosses TJie followina are the comparative figures based on Variety's ^xoifiee esUrmtes, Jot last weeh and the corresponding teceJc o/ luit season'. Thl» Last ■ 'SeasonSeason Number of shows current '. 28 26 Total weeks played so far by all shows 1,102 1,181 Total gfoss for all current shows last week.. , $695,000 $607,000 Total season's gross so far for all shows.. .$26,115,600 $25,816^500 Number of new productions so .far ,.. . 62 58 LEGITnMATB S9 Qu Ups; 'Aliegro' 26G, 'Adam' 13G, 'Roberts' $25,500, 'Fmian' $27,800 Chicago, April 26. 4 fieneral upward trend here, with legit getting its share. Even "Mr Adam? despite crix nix, opened profitably in first week, with Al- fecro'^' also in first stanza, count- fnl on a healthy Chi appearance of at least eight weeks. San Carlo Ooera Co. at Civic Opera House, which opened Sat. (23), and Barnes Bros, circus, teeing off Fri. (22), have helped relieve lull. Meanwhile, "Mr. Roberts" con- tinues to garner hefty biz in 32d week, apparently unaffected by bad leather, holidays or lack of con- ventions. "Finian's Rainbow," in 12th week, is climbing back into profitable column. Estimates for Last Week "Allegro," Great Northern (1st week) (1,500; $4.94). Theatre Guild sponsorship for first three weeks; okay $26,000. "Finian's Rainbow," Shubert (12th week) (2,100; $4.94). Fine weather boosted this one to good $27,800. "Mr. Adam," Blackstone (1st week) (1,358; $3.80). Despite nixes in dailies, okay $13,000. "Mr. Roberts," Erlanger (32d week) (1,334; $4.33). Continues at amazing near-capacity level with $25,500. _ „ ^- ■ San Carlo Opera Co., Civic Opera House (3,800; $3.71). Opened Sat. (23) with sock $45,000 in ad- ' vances. ■ • • Current Road Shows FAY-'HARVEY' SMASH 30iG IN TWIN CITIES Minnieapolis, April 26. Frank Fay in "Harvey," at $3.60 top ill the 1,900-seat Lyceum, pulled a smash $24,500 for five nights and two matinees. Engage- meht ended with a Sunday matinee, evening performance having been foregone to permit comp9ny to reaiih Omaha for a Monday night opening. Same show last season, with Joe E. Brown, drew terrific $31,000 for six nights and two matinees. Critics raved over Fay's performance. In St. P&ul at 2,400-seat Audi- torium at same top, Fay's"Harvey" trossed a fine $6,000 in two nights, akings for the Twin City full week thus skyrocketed to a huge $30,500. No. 2 'Okla!' Neat $25,000 in Madison Madison, Wis., April 26. No. 2 company of "Oklahoma!" pulled down about $25,000 in a week's stand at the Parkway here, closing Saturday night (23). Musical is making a return visit to St. Louis this week. (April 25-May 7) "Allegro" — Gt. Northern, Chi. ,(25-7).- : -'Annie Get Your Gun"—Poche, N. Orleans (25); And., Jackson (26-27); Aud., Shieveport (28-29); Aud., Ft. Worth (30-2); Music Hall, Houston (3-5); Texas, S. Antonio (6-8). • "Blackouts of 1949"t-E1 Capitan;; L. A. (25-7). "Born Yesterday" — Erlanger, Buff. (25-30); Royal Alex., Toronto •|:j:2-'7):';/.^ J: V'\: i "Brigadoon"—Cass, Det. (23-30); ' Murat, Indpls. (2-7). ! "Cat and Canary"—-Ford's, Balto. . (25-30). "Finlan't Rainbow" —,• Shubert, Chi. (25-7). "Gayden" Plymouth, Bost. (25-7). • "Great Walti" — Curran, Frisco (25-7). "Harvey" (Fay Co.) ^ Omaha, Omaha (2!)-27); StUart, Lincoln (28); Music Hall, K. C. (29); Aud., Salinas (30); Virginia, Wheeling 13); Weller, Zanesville (6-7). "Harvey" (Brown Co.) — Nixon, Pitt. (25-30); Broadway, Denver (2-7). "High Button Shoes" — David- son. Mil. (25-30); Hanna, Cleve. (2-7). "I Know My Love" — Geary, Frisco (25-7). /'inside U. S. A."—Hanna, Cleve; (25-30); Aud., Cinpy (2-7). "Man and Superman" Met., Seattle (26); Temple, Tacoma (27); Capitol, Yakima (28); Lyceum, Mpls. (2-4); Aud., St. Paul (5); Aud., Madison (7). "Medea"—Shubert, Bost. (25-30). "Mr. Adam" — Blackstone, Chi, (25-7).^' ■ ■ . "Mr. Roberts" Erlanger, Chi. '(25-7). : "Mrs. Gibbons' Boys"—Wilbur, Bost. (25-30). "O Mistress Mine"—Music Hall, Houston (25); Aud., Lake Charles (26); Poche, N. Orleans (27-30); Aud., Jackson (2); Aud., Memphis (3-4); Teiilple, Birmingham (5-6); Aud., Montgomery (7). , "Oklahoma!" (No. 1 Co.)—-Keith, Portland (25-30); Aud, Worcester (2-4); Aud., Hartford (i5-7). "Oklahoma^' (No. 2 Co.)—Amer- ican, St. Louis (25730); Aud., Kala- mazoo (2-4); Quincy, Ft; Wayne (5-7). "Present Laughter" — Forrest, Philly (25-30); Aud., Hartford (2r3); Acad., Northampton (4); Shubert, 'Laughter'-Horton OK $14,000, Philly Philadelphia, April 26. Unless the unexpected happens —and very quicklywi.philly will be entirely without legit fare after the fall of ■ the curtain on "Present Laughter" at the Forrest Saturday night (30). And that won't be for a period of just a week or two either but, with one likely exception, for the rest of the '48-49 season. The Irving Berlin-Robert E. Sherwood musical, "Miss Liberty," is officially skedded. now at the Forrest for the end of June; preem of this musical has been mentioned for as late as the 30th but latter date would give show only a week here before announced New York bow July 4. Middle June (either 13th or 16th) figured likely. "Present Laughter'' (Edward Everett Horton) got generally good notices on its bow at the Forrest last Monday and wound up its first week with nearly $14,000; adverse weather hitting some performances. Word-of-mouth has been favorable and eo<vard comedy revival should build this week. Show has a $3.90 tOp;v . Philly's only other show last week was "Anna Lucasta," present- ed by a Yiddish company at the Walnut for: its second and final week. Gross was a pretty dismal $6,000 in this—its first full session, show having made bow here on Thursday matinee. (14) and having given \three matinees during, first week. Holiday Business Boosts Bmy, But Less Than Hoped; 'Girls 'Story' $23,500, 'Shoes 36G, 'Army 12G The traditional holiday spurt helped business on Broadway last week, but less than anticipated for the middle-bracket and borderline entries.) . As usual, the rise, meant nothing to . the top hits,- which go clean at all performances, but gave a slight boost to the stronger, but not-quite-capacity .shows. Attendance stM-ted potently for all productions early in the week, | $15,500. wk) (C-1,041; $3.60). Opened Mon- day (18) and closed Saturday night (23) after eight performances; about $4,000. "Mister Roberts." Alvin (62d wk) (CD-1,357; $4.80). Went clean all times; with an increase in ; the standee volume; about $34,800. "Private Lives," Plymouth (29th wk) (C-1,062; $4.80). Nice profit ai $25,300 In Prov. Providence, April 26. Original company of "Okla- homa!" collected a gross of $25^- 300 last week at the Metropolitan theatre here. Theatre Guild production moved this week to Portland, Me. Evans-'Superman' lOG For 4 in Portland, Ore. Portland, Ore., April 26. ~ "Man and Superman," with Maurice Evans, coined a solid $10,- OOO at the 1,500-seat Mayfair. ^ouse was scaled at $3.60 and played four performances in three days. The Lunts are next, in "I Know My Love." N. Haven (5-7). "Show Boat" — Hartman, Col. (25-30). "Streetcar Named Desire"—Cox, Cincy (25-3); Par, Toledo (.5-7). 'Gayden' $3,500, N. Haven New Haven, April 26. j "Gayden" preem at Shubert last i weekend (21-23) was sparsely at-, tended. In for four shows at $3.60 1 top, approximate gross of $3,500 meant a dip into the red. Current week has Ballet Russe! (26-27) and Margaret Websterls ■ Shakespeare troupe for Fri.-Sat. I 120-30). Only other legit booking >s "Present Laughter" (Edward Everett Horton), due May 5-7. •Crown' $39,700 in 5 L.A. Weeks; 'Tongue' $5,400 Los Angeles, April 26. Local legit failed to make, its expected post - Easter comeback last week, two of the three houses alight reporting takes only slightly above the profit level. "Cafe Crown" finaled Saturday .night (23) with a fine $39,700 for five weeks and three days, take repre- senting an estimated $6,000 profit for the Dale Wasserman-Michael Scott production although final frame was light. Sole newcomer was -'Icecapades of 1949," not strictly a legiter, which blazed to a capacity $42,000 for its first three nights at Pah Pacific. Nothing due in for the next two weeks. ■ Estimates for Last Week "Blackouts of 1949," El Capitan (3.57th wk) (1,142; $2.40). As usual, $17,000. "Cafe Crefwn," El Patio (6th wk) (790; $3). Below hopes at $4,- ; 500, but still profitable. Stand's j total $39,700. "Icecapades of 194 9," Pan I Pacific Aud (1st wkV (6,150; $3.60). I Capacity $42,000 for first three 1 nights. "Tongue In Cheek," Las Palmas (5th wk) (388; $3:60) Failed to go I above $5,400, permitting a slight 1 operating profit. 'Medea'Sofid22G To Set Hub Pace; 'Gibbons NG 5G Boston, April 26. "Mrs. Gibbons' Boys" was the only entry on the Rialto last week. Farce got thoroughly thumbed- down by the crix. Show had the First Night Club to help out but never: got a play at the b.o. despite some marquee draw. Other two in town, "Medea" and "The Happiest Years," found the former doing big on second week, the second going into the red. Only opener this week is "Gayden" at the Plymouth, with nothing much ahead. Estimates for Last Week "Medea," Shubert (2d week) (1,- 750; $3.60)v As the only solid legit item in town, this one remained well on top with a great $22,000. Final week current. "Mrs. Gibbons' Boys," Wilbur (1st week) (1,200; $3). First week did well to touch estimated $5,000 considering its notices. Second week current. ' "The Happiest Years," Plymouth (2d week) (1,200; $3). Sagged on last week here to over $4^800, after a $5,500 first week; " BROWN-'HARVEY'NSG $10,000 IN BALTO Baltimore, April 26. Two theatres were opened last week to legit here and both failed to ring the bell. Return of "Har- vey," with Joe E. Brown, to Ford's didn't find too many buyers after the sellout trade attracted by same play with Frank Fay for two weeks earlier this season. Comedy drew modest $10,000. I "Anna Lucasta," at the Mary- land, former indie legit stand more recently utilized for burlesque, didn't excite the populace with $6,000! Will try an additional stanza. Same play in Yiddish, given a matinee and evening per- formance at Ford's, Sunday (24), failed to hit pay dirt. "The Cat and the Canary" is current at Ford's. 'Streetcar' Wow $29,200 In Final St. L. Week St. Louis, April 26. With the vanishing of opposish from observance, of Holy Week and Passover, biz boomed at the Amer- ican theatre, where "Streetcar Named Desire" wound up its second and final week Saturday (23). Gross for the second session of eight performances was an estimated $29,200, bringing total for two-week stand to $52,000. The 1,700-seat house was scaled to $3.66, "Oklahoma" returned to the American last night for its fourth vi.sit, for a one-weeker. - It last played here for two weeks last November. House is scaled to $4.27 for "Oklahoma." but was spotty Friday and Satur day (22-23), when out-of-town visitors began leaving. The down- pour Friday afternoon and night was figured to have speeded the tourist departure. . An added closing last week was ''Magnolia Alley." This week's single opening is "Happiest Years," which may fold : Saturday (30). Next week brings the return of '■Medea" and the premieres of "Bruno and Sidney'' . and "Mrs. Gibbons' Boys/' One other pre- miere and a second return engage- ment are the only remaining en- tries this season. Estimates for Last Week Kej/s: C (Corned}/)*, D iDrama^, CD (Cotnedy-Dranio), R (Reuue), M (Musicol ). O (Operetta). ■Other parenthetic figures refer to -seating eftpacttjy and fpp price, including 20% amusement tax. Howexjcr, estimates are net; i.e., exclu.sive of tax. "All for Love," Hellingeif (13th wk) (R-1,543; $4.80). About doubled the previous week's take, but still operating deep in the: red at $11,500. "Alone. Fifth Avenue," Imperial (15th wk) (R-1,472; $6). Shared in the general upturn, but the rise: leveled oft' late in the week; about $20,000. "Anne of a Thousand Days," Shubert (20th wk) (D-1,387; $4.80). Also profited 'on the early-week splurge; nice going at about $28,r 200. "As the Girls Go," Winter Gar- den (23d wk) (M-1,519; $7.20). Had a' -great early-week:: pace; but slipped a bit' at the Friday night showing, so ended up slightly back Of the week's leader; $50,200. "At War With the Army," Booth (7th wk) (C-712; $4.80). Profited on the general spurt, with its best gross to date; comfortably in the black at about $12,000. "Big Knife," National (0th wk) (D-1,172; $4.80). Has slipped late- ly; around $12,000. "Born Yesterday," Miller (168th wk) (C-940; $4.80). Climbed to okay $12,000. "Death of a Salesman," Morosco' (11th wk) (D-931; $4.80). One of the three presentations that gets the same amount every week; all the house will bold;, over $24,400. "Detective Story," Hudson (5th wk) (D^l,057; $4.80). Went clean at all performances, but party com^ missions limited the take to almost $23,500, best gross so far. "Edward, My Son," Beck (30th Wk) (D-1,214; $4.80). Likewise im- proved going to $25,700; Dennis King and Brooke Byron succeeded i Robert Morley and Leueen Mc- Grath in leading parts this week. "Goodbye, My Fancy," Pulton (23d wk) <CD-966; $4:80). Hopped nimbly to almost $21,000. "Happiest Years," Lyceum {D-990; $4.80). Play by Thomas Coley and William Roerick, pre- sented by Gertrude Macy; opened Monday night (25); generally poor notices. "High Button Shoes," Broadway (81st wk) (M-1,900; $6). Took a handsome leap; almost $36,000. "Howdy, Mr. Ice," Center (44th wk) (R-2,964; $2.88). Closed Satur- day night (23) after 406 perform- ances; final week's 12 performances yanked powerful $58,700, topping the list. . "Kiss Me, Kate," Century (17th wk) (M<-1,654; $6). Same as usual, everything possible at better than $47,100. "Lend an Ear," Broadhurst (19th wk) (R-1,160; $6). One of the en- tries that's been approximating capacity trade; hopped to $32,400. . "Life With Mother," Empire (27th wk) (C-1,082; $4.80). Zoomed satisfactorily to $17,300. "Light Up the Sky," Royale (23d wk) (C-1,035; $4.80). Also got a: nice hypo, possibly helped by two-for ones; $15,200. "Love Life," 46th St. (29th wk) (M-1,139; $6). Joined the uptrend, with Nanette Fabray adding b.o. punch; $22,200. "Madwoman of Challlot,"\Belas- co (16th wk) (C-1,077; $4.80). An- ' other rising number, now appart ! ently a bet to pay off the briginal 1 inve.stment; $22,500. i "Magnolia Alley," Mansfield (1st' week. Silver Whistle," Biltmore (22d wk) (C-920; $4.80). Also jumped with the trend; bettered $17,600. "South Pacific," Majestic (3d wk) (M-1,659; $6). Has settled down to absolute top takings at the scale; likely to remain the leading money- getter , at the eight^performance rate; almost $50,600 again. "Streetcar Named Desire,'* Barr- rymore (73d wk) (C-920; $4.80). Speeded up with the general pace; $24''300.' ■ "The" Traitor," 48th St. (4th wk) (D-917; $4:80). This is becoming the freak show of the season; still not drawing the public, despite al- most unanimously- favorable re- views and followup plugs from cer. tain dailies;:, improved with the ^ general trend, but; still disappoint- ing at $9,500. "Two Blind Mice," Cort i8th wk) (G-1,064; $4.80). Has been skid- ding; around $9,000. "Where's Charley?" St. .Tames (24th wk) (M-1,509; $6). BoUnced back to capacity and now looks probable to span the summer; Ray Bolger and "Amy" proving « powerful draw; $37,800. LUNTS-WE' GRAB BIG $29,000 IN SPLITS : Sacramento, April 26. ' ■ Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne continued to pile up big grosses last week in their tryout tour in the Theatre Guild's production of "I Know My Love." Couple drew a total of $29,000 in short stands at the Auditorium, Pasadena; the White, Fresno, and the local audi- torium. Show opened Monday night 125) at the Geary, San Francisco. 'U.S.A.' Up to $33,200 For Final Pitt Week Pittsburgh, April 26. "Inside U.S.A." improved .con- siderably in second and final stanza at the Nixon, getting around $33,200; but wound up engagement in the red as a result of indifferent take during Holy Week. It did about $58,000 for the stay and that's not enough for this show, which is -expensively set up.; Beatrice Lillie-Jack Haley revue had the stiffest scale of the legit season, $5.20 ($4 plus 20% Federal •and 10% city tax), and this is believed to have been against it. Tune shows such as "Brigadoon," "Finian's Rainbow" a and "High Button Shoes" played at $4.55. Nixon currently has Joe E. Brown in "Harvey," a return for wide-mouthed comic; and third time show has been here (Frank Fay was around during the winter).: Ballet Russe 42G In 2 Weieks at Toronto Toronto, April 26. Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo grossed a phenomenal $42,000 in fortnight's engagement at the Royal Alexandra (1,525), with house scaled at $3.30 top. With $22,000 ' on second stanza, and certain ballets sold out, To- ronto engagement saw highest gross of any ballet company ever playing this city. 'Shoes' $39,700^H% Des Moines, April 26.: Touring company of "High But- ton Shoes" grossed & fine $39,700 last week in stands at the Omaha theatre, Omaha, and the KRNT the^ atre here. The take was almost evenly split between the two four-performance dates. '■■.■ 'BRIGADOON' 35G, DETBOIT Detroit, April 26. Capacity audiences helped "Brigadoon" gross $35,000 at the Cass last week. The play remains for another