Variety (June 1949)

LEGITIMATE 61 Total Legit Grosses Til* followinij are comparative figures based on Variety’* boxoffice estiviotes. for last week (the first week of the season) end the correspondiny week of last season: BROADWAY Number of shows current Total weeks played so far by all shows Total gross for all current shows last week Total season’s gross so far for all shows Number of new productions so far ......... ROAD Number of current touring shows reported . Total road gross reported last week $317,400 Season’s total road gross so far $317,400 Prods. Baffled Continued from pafe 50 Only 2 Shows Left in Chi;/U^J^.’ Fine $40,600, ‘Roberts Fair 18G Chicago. June 7. -f, With the closing of "Present T^aughter” and "Respectful tute’’ Saturday (4). there two productions in town immediate prospects for , Prosti- are only with no relief. •T.juighter,’’ although most of the critics gave it a passable okay, couldn’t overcome the post-Memo- rial Day doldrums. “Prostie" was hindered by reluctance of papers to devote space to it, plus minor irritants that city officials and their cohorts provided. Final notice went up Wed. »1 ) but Friday’s final-day notice was pulled out of the papers and cast was told to stand by. However. Friday night It was decided to stick to original closing date. "Inside U.S.A.” and "Mr. Rob- erts’’ did well last week and pre- sumably share the summer visitor and convention trade. Estimates for Last Week "Inside U.S.A. ", Shubert <3d week) <2.100; $4.94). Continues to climb with excellent $40,000. "Mr. Roberts," Krlanger '.38th week) (1,334; $4.33). Off a bit more to $18,000. "Present Laughter," Black.stone (1st week) <1.3.38; $3.80). Closed Saturday <4) with minor $10,000, "Respectful Prostitute" and "Hope Is the Thing With Feathers." Harris '3d week) '1.000; $4.33). Mild $10,000 with final week. Closed Sat. '4). 'Shoes’ 13G, Toronto Toronto. June 7. engagement. “High On return Button Shoes” ran into heat wave and grossed a very bad $13,000 at Royal Alexandra, with 1.525-^'ater j offices, it would be virtually scaled at $3.00 top. Fact that Eddie licease revocations, the number of licen.sed brokers may be sharply reduced. But there’s no assurance that licenses will not be obtained by new applicants. That would swell the number of agencies again and presumably lead to the same abuses as before. For although one of the basic cau.ses of the sit- . nation is the excessive number of ! brokers, there appears to be .some | (luestion w’hether the city has the j right to refuse a license to a repu- i table applicant to engage in legiti- mate business. Favors Conaolidated Distrib Murtagh is believed to favor the establishement of a consolidated distribution setup to handle tickets for all shows. Howard S. Cullman, chairman of the N. Y. Port of t Authority and a prolific theatre in- vestor. has publicly urged the same i thing. But it has been argued that a joint ticket bureau, with branch offices in various parts of the city, would drastically increasp di.stribu-^ tion costs, since it w’ould still be ' necessary to maintain a boxoffice at each theatre. Moreover, with , a staff of employees at the various B way Hits Seasonal Skids Again; ‘Shoes $26,900, Ice $40200 for 11, ‘Girls $34,900, ‘Mother Out at $9200 Foy was out of engagement with flu till Wednesday night perform- ance al.so hurt. 'Marty Barrett subbed.) Troupe closes at His Majesty’s, Montreal, current week, and impossible to control scalping by individuals. One of the things most puz/ling to producers is how they can pro- tect the legitimate brokers from the unfair competition of scalpers. tr 1 4 .1 For instance, there’s obviously no to curb the activities by brokers weeks, followed the Geary, San Los Aug. 15 for four by five weeks at Francisco. "Finian’s Rainbow.’’ current at Royal Alexandra. Toronto, had a fair advance sale of nearly $20,000. LUNTS-'LOVE’ $20,700 IN PROFITABLE M’W’KEE Milwaukee. June 7. Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. winding up their sea.son in "1 Know My Love," got a profitable $20,700 in six performances through Satur- day night (4) at the 1.496-seat Dav- id.son theatre here. Couple play two more performances last night and tonight 'Mon.-Tues.). after which they go to their farm at Genesee Depot, Wis., for the summer. Acting team reopen.s the Theatre Guild production next September In New Haven, preparatory to a Broadway imn. ‘STREETCAR’OKAY AT $24,700 IN MPLS. Minneapolis. June 7. Considering temperatures in the 90s much of the week, the fact that the theatre isn’t air-conditioned or cooled, the season’s lateness and the apparent dow nw ard economic I trend, the $24,700 gross of "Street- I car Named Desire” for six nights and two matinees at $4.20 top in I the l,900-.seat Lyceum was okay. I Balcony sold out most perfor- ' mances. ! Play and ea.st garnered rave j notices. Booking brought cur- 1 tain dow'n on local season. Keaton in ‘Three Men’ For Stockbridge Loft Stockbridge, Mass.. June 7. The Berkshire Playhouse will open its 18th sea.son June 20 with Bu.ster Keaton guest-starred in "Three Mqp on a Horse.” Director William Miles, in an- nouncing the 1949 premiere of the Massachusetts summer stock spot, said that the Playhou.se School will be directed this year by Maria Hei .shman-Horsch. ‘Finian’ Red $22,500 In Week at Cleve. Cleveland. June 7. "Finian’s Rainbow” ran into cloudy weather at the Hanna last week, suffering a heavy loss on the $22,.300 gross at $4.95 top in the 1.435-seat house. Musical had rough going all the way. Show is playing the Royal Alex- andra. Toronto, this week. Hanna has shuttered until fall. Current Road Shows (June 8-18) "Allegro" — Gt. Northern, Chi. (6-111. "Blackouts of 1949"—El Capilan, L. A. '6-18‘. "Born Yesterday" — Colonial. Bost. <6-11). “Brlgadoon" — Philharmonic, I.. A. 'fi-18». "Finian’s Rainbow" — Royal Alexandra. Toronto <6-18). "Harvey"— Biltmore. L. A '6-18». "High Button Shoes”— Majesty’s. Monl’l <6-11 1 . "I Know My Love"— Davidson. Milwaukee '6-11 >. "Inside U. S. A."—.Shubert. (’hi. '0-18'. "IVIlss Liberty"— Forre.sl. Pliill.v '13-18». "Mr. Roberts" — Erlanger. Chi. ' 6 - 181 . “Oklahoma:"— Warner. All. City • 6 - 11 ). "Streetcar Named Desire"— KR.NT. Des Moines '6-7<; Music Hall. K. C. (8-111; B’wav, Denver '13-14'; Lobero, S. Barbara (17-18'. Malden Bridge Playhouse Set Malden Bridge. N.Y.. June 7 The Malden Bridge Playhouse will again have summer .stock, an •April statement to the contrary having been cancelled by the an- nouncement (hat an organization from the Cleveland Playhouse will operate it for nine weeks begin- ning July 6. CJroup. to be known as the Valley Players, is headed by Robert Reymour and .Stuart G. I.ancaster They leased the up- stairs spot from Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wood 'Eunice Osborne, di- rector of the Playhouse company for the past f..ur seasons'. Mr. and Mrs. Wood, in an earlier announcement, .said that operation of the Playhouse would be discon- tinued until the theatre was en- larged. Limited capacity made it almost impossible to break even. The plan was to expand capacity to 4.30 for 1950. It is .said this will go forward in the fall. ' outside the state. So it’s tough to j keep out-of-.state speculators from .catering to New York patrons, tak- i ing orders by phone and deliver- , ing tickets and receiving checks ' by mail. Al.so. there’s a que.stion of con- , trolling boxoffice men in Broad- ! way houses. Although most thea- tre contracts provide for "joint control” of tickets, the Shuberts almost invariably control the dis- tribution at their houses. And Lee Shubert tevstified before Mur- tagh last week that he leaves such matters mainly to subordinates and that the management has only partial supervi.sion of boxoffice men. Several things about the situa- tion are clear, however. One is that praeti'ally everyone involved is angry over the course of events. The producers, who feel that they are getting a public black eye for abuses for which they aren’t re- sponsible and that the known cor- ruption in ticket distribution is siphoning off subst.*mtial revenue that the theatre itself needs, are determined to clean up the mud- dle. Al.so sore at the clamor and criticism are general managers, company managers and house managers, who claim that the pre.sent turmoil smears the inno- cent and guilty alike and that no permanent good will come of it all. Boxoffice men and brokers are likewise resentful at the wholesale criticism they’re get- ting. How'ever, one goo<l aspect of the situation is that, not merely fi-oin Murtagh’s disclosures but al.so from the agitation his probe has .nrou.sed. considerable information is being gathered about a setup that has long been un.sati.sfactory to virtually everyone concerned, including the public. Some of those involved in the matter hope that all this study and controversy will bring about some long-needed reforms. ‘BLACKOUTS’ $16,900, ‘WALH’ 48G, L. A. Los Angeles. June 7. Legit should perk up locally this week with three new offerings taking to the boards after the Memorial Day doldrums, followed by an election day slowdown, had kept boxoffices becalmed. Opening ye.sterday '6' were "Brigad(H)n,” at the Philharmonic; "Harvey." with Frank Fay. who ha.sn’t been seen here before in that fantasy, at the Biltmore, and "Anna Lucasta," delayed for five days, opens today '7' at the Coronet. ’’Blackouts” nudged slightly up- ward; "The Great Waltz” held .steady and "Cabalgata,” slipped , ^vhVn it wYll. badly an its third and final week at the Biltmore. Estimates for I,ast Week “Blackouts of 1949," El Capitnn t363d wk' (1.142; $2.42>. Up over the past two weeks, to $16,900. "Cabalgata," Biltimore, '3d wk) (1.636; $4.20'. Final week slid buck to $13,000. This gave S. Ilurok's Spanish revue $38,000 for three- week .stand; about half the capacity of the house. "'rhe Great Walti,” Philharmonic And.. '4th wk) <2,670; $4 80'. Hand- some profit at $48,000. • ♦ The seasonal boxoffice deelin« continued last week on Braadway. ' After the bullish holiday busine.s.<<i on the Monday matinee <30) there was a sharp reaction. Receipts im- proved the latter part of the week, but generally not enough to make up the earlier droop. From indications, trade will continue to subside until early August. Expec- tations are that a number of the weaker shows will be forced to fold during the next two or three weeks. (inly closing Saturday night <4) was "life With Mother.” As of the moment, no shutterings have been announced for this week or next, I but “Anne of the Thou.snnd Days" and "Madwoman of Challlot” are .Silieduled to recess June 25 to Aug. 22. "Diamond Lil" has still not re- opened, and there is no certainty ‘OklaJ’ OK $25,000 In White Plains Week White Plains. N.Y.. June, 7. Playing itf? next-to-final stand ot the tour, tlie original company of "Oklahoma!” pulled a satisfactory gross'^ of almost $25,000 at (he Wcstche.ster County Center here last week. Top was $3.60 week nights and $4.20 Friday and Satur- day nights. 1 It was the first full-week hook- ! ing in the huge theatre’s history. Another experimental angle was i play ing a town so close <20 miles' 1(0 Broadway. Large proportion of the audience appeared to have seen the Rodgers - Hammersicin musical before, one patron claim- ing it was his 20th time. From a financial angle, the hook- ing was a success, hut there was some criticism of the aecouslies of the 4.219-seat auditorium, plus dissatisfaction w'ith the stage level in relation to the low’cr floor, and the seating arrangement of the balcony. As a result, it’s still ques- tionable whether other louring shows w'ill be brought here next sea.son. ' With this week’s engagement, closing Saturday night 'll) at the Warner. Atlantic (Tity, this .sole remaining U. S. edition of "Gkla- homa” will finally fold. How’cver. it will resume, after six weeks and is slated to tour all next season. One Window ('onliiiurd from iisiKe ^9 New Troupe Near San .Antonio San .Antonio .lune 7. The I.eon Valley Players has been organized in that community near here. Group’s first production was "Mere Comes Cliarley. ” Fay-‘Harvey’ Good $20,000 in Frisco .San Francisco. June 7. "Harvey," with Frank F'ay. shut- tered Saturday i4< after hitting ». nice $20000 f(»r its third and final wfck at the C'urran <1.776; $3.60'. Spike Jones brought his "Depre- ciation Revue” into the Curran Monday <6' with a $3.60 top. Jone.^ preemed his rcMie here at the Cur- ran two ye.U’s ago. "(’ahalgala.” Spanish revue, opens at the 1,.3.30-seat Geary to- night '7i under the S. Ilurok and I). Cordoba banner. Party Agents Elect Larric hv Larric has been re-elected president of the .Assn, of Theatre Benefit .Agents. Lencrre Tobin was re-elected first \ ice-president. EsUier l.ittauer sec- ond V p., Annette Schein. secre- tary; Anne Hersehkowilz. treasurer • succeeding Naomi Nash', and Betty Singer, publicity director. ‘Born’ 7G, Boston Boston. June 7. "Born Yesterday” remains the only legit in town at this point, (loing a good estimated $7.0(H) at $1.80 top in the l.SOO-.seat Colonial. Onlv other legit activity is in the Shubert theatre, currently get- ting a complete refurbishing job. and went away w ithout reaching the b.o.. while others arriving at the theatre saw the line and left with- out trying to get tickets. During the suspension (on sal- ary' of Jack Pearl, the acting treasurer of the Majestic i.s. Wil- liam RenaUlo. with Maurice de- Vries and Fred Gasdia continuing as assistants. Although there are thus still three men available, the Shu belts have not opened the .sec- ond ticket window because of a "shortage of manpower.” If an- other man were to be hired for the job his salary would have to he paid by the show’s producers, Rodgers L Hammerstein and Hay- ward A Logan. Howexer. the latter 'are already paying three extra ein- plo.Nces to handle mail orders. < Let- ter to the editor, printed in .Sunday ' .3 I drama section of N. Y. Times, stated that only a single window i.s being used at the ('entury thea- tre. .N. Y.. where "Kiss Me. Kate." is doing sellout business, i .M the office of \. Y. I’ominis- sioncr of investigations .lohn .VI, Murtagh last week, Lee Shubert explained that although he had suspended Pearl for refusing to answer the commissioner’s ques- tions union regulations prevent him tiom withholding the theatre treasurer’s salary or firing him. except for dishonesty or habitual drunkenne.ss. Renaldo. deVries and Gasdia are to be que.stioncd by the comini.ssioner this week. Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy), D 'Dnimfl', CD ' Comedi/Dromn ), R < Revue), M (Musical), O (0/>eretta>, Other parenthetic fiqures refer to seating capacity and top price, including 2()'’p nniusenirnt tax. However, estimates arc net; i.e.. exclusive of ta,v. ".Along Fifth Avenue.” Imperial '21st wk) (R-1.472; .$6). Revue has been losing steadily recently, hut look a brutal beating last week; about $16,000. “Anne of the Thousand Days.’* Shubert (26th wk> 'R-l.;t78; $4 }!()). Ea.sed off a hit more with the field; about $20,000. “.A.s the Girls Go." Winter Gar- den '29th wk) 'M-1.519; $7 21)). Al.so dipped with the Ireml; $34,900. "At War with the Army." Booth • 14lh wki '(’-712; $4 80'. Ke- \<rsed the general current; $9..300, "Born Yesterday,” Miller <174lh wk' (C-940; $4.80). Longrun laff entry held alniut even; $9..300. "Death of a Salesman," Mo'^osco (17lh wk) 'D-931; $4.80'. General conditions don’t affect attendance at this solid smash; all the house will hold at $24,400 again. "Detective Story." Hudson <llth wk' ID-1.0.37; $4.80). Meloiirama click has been approximating ca- pacity; about $23..3()0. "(ioodbye. My Fancy," Fulton t2Hth wk) (CD-966: $4.80). Felt the general off-l)cat; $14,400. "High Button Shoes," Broadw'av <87th wk) iM-I.9()(); $3). Holdover click look a nice hop. presumably from the lowered .seale; $26,900. “Howdy, Mr. Ice of 19.30," (’en- ter (2d wk) 'R-2.964; $2.88». Newr eilition of the skating show is off to a strong start; played II 'two extra) performances last week; $40,200. "Kiss Me. Kate." Century <23(1 wk) <M-1,6.34; $6). Goes clean every lime; .same $47,100. "Lend an Ear.” Broadhursl '2.3)0 wk' (U-1.16(); $6). Netting plenty of profit steadily; $27.2(K). "Life With Mother." Empire (33d wk» <1.082; $4.80). Closed Satunlay night <4) after a di.sappointing run of 262 performances; finaled at $9.2(M). "Madwoman of Chaillot," Bela.sco '22d wk' •C-1.077; $4 80'. Slipped last week to $16,400. “Mister Robert," Alvin <68th wk) 'CD-1.357: $4.80). Holdover smash remains one of tlu‘ string b.o. draws: bettered $33,700. "South Pacific," Majestic <9th wk) <M-1,659; $6). One of the hot- test tickets on record; large turn- away at every performance; an- otlxM' $.30,600. the absolute limit. “.Streetcar Named Desire,” Barry- more <79th wk) <C-92(); $4.80». Ha* felt the general trend lately, hut set to continue through the sum- mer and fall; $19,300. "Two Blind .Mice," Cort <14th w-k» <C-1.064; $4.80). Felt the dow nbeat conditions last week; un- der $9,000. "Where’s Charley?" St James '34th wk' <M-1..309; $6'. Lost one performance because of Ray Bolger’s illness: but \irtual capac- ity at $32..300 for .seven per- formances. ‘Kri^adoon’ Passable $28,000 in Denver Denver, June 7 "Brigadoon’’ grossed a pa.ssable $28.0(H) in seven peiiormances last week in the 3.4()0-.seal-iocal .Audi- torium. It began an engagement last night <Mon.) at the Philharmonie auditorium. Los Angeles, and next goes to San Francisco.