Variety (December 1950)

We<liie$day, December 13, 1950 ^ te K aii PsSiit^fY 75 Total Legit Grosses The following are the comparative figures based on Variety's boxoffiee estimates for last week (the 28th week of the season) and the corresponding week of last season: This Season 24 544 $589,400 Last Season 29 511 $612,900 BROADWAY S^imber 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 by all shows..$12,744,000 $13,065,900 Number of new productions so far, 30 20 ROAD (Excluding Stock, Ice Shows and Outdoor) Number of current touring shows reported 22 21 Total w eeks played so, far by all show s...; 478 430 Total rpad gross reported last week,,,... $448,500 $399,100 Season’s total road gross so far ..,....,.; $10,823,700 $9,199,200 But ‘South Padfic’ at SRO $ 51 J )0 Chicago, Dec. 12. Snow and sleet hit Chicago starting Wednesday, turning into a blizzard Thursday night. With the exception of “South Pacific” Ollier two attractioris were hit badly. . “1 Know My Love,’' with the Lunts, opened very strong yester- day (11) for a five-week run, Sadler's Wells Ballet has a tw'o- Week SRO sign up before it starts Dec. 18. “Rose Tattoo” deibuts at the Erlanger Dec. 29 and will go into an extended engagement if it catches on. EsUntates for Last Week Angel in the Pawnshop,” Sel- wyn i5tii wk) ($3.80; 1,000). Weather dropped this to $11,100. “Diamond Lil,” Blackstone (l2th wk) i$4; 1,358).' South loop loca- tion was hurt also by the elements,, with $15,000 garnered. “South Pacific,” Shubert (4th \\'k) ($5: 2,100). Musical registered fina.sh .$51,200. . , ‘Sheba’ $14,800, Frisco Sah Francisco, Dec. 12. “Come Back, Little Sheba,” with Shirley Booth and Sidney Black- mer, is town’s sole legit, with “If i You Please,” the Frank Fay opus, ' having shuttered after six per- formances at the CuiTah. “Sheba” which preemed last Monday (4) at the I,550-5eat Geary, garnered kudos from all crix, but chalked up only $14,800. House is scaled to $3.60. Shows in Rehearsal Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), M (Musical), O (Operetta), “Apple Of His Eye” (C) (Road) — Thomas Hammond, prod.*; Jerome Mayer, dir. “Captain Brassbound’s Com^er- sion” (O^N. Y. City Theatre Co., prod.; Morton Da Costa, dir. “Darkness At Noon” (D)---Play- WTight’s Co., prod.; Sidney Kings- ley, dir. “Enemy of the People” (D) — Lars Nordenson, prod.; Robert Lewis, dir. ' “Four Tw'elves Are 48” (C) — Aldrich & Myers^ Otto Preminger, Julius Fleischmahn; prod.; Pre- minger, dir. “House of Bernardo Alba” (D)— ANT A, - Stew art Chaney, Boris Tumarin, Lily Turner, prods.; Tumarin, dir, “King Lear” (D) — Robert L. Joseph and Alexander H. Cohen prod.; John Housieman, dir. “Rose Tattoo” (D) — Cheryl Crawford, prod.; Daniel Mann. dir. “Twentieth Century” (D) ~ ANTA, prod., Jose Ferrer, diir. “Where’s Charley” (MG) (Road) ■—Cy Feuer-Ernest Martin, prods. in Seasonal Trend; ‘Death’ 241/26, Hub Boston. Dec. 12. T-egit fare this Stanza consists of “Out of This World,” in its third sock week at the Shubert, and “Death of a Salesman,” strong at the Colonial. ()nly legit skedded between now and Christmas is “Second Threshold,” bowing into the Plymouth.Dec. 18. Estimates for Last Week “Death of a Salesman,” Colonial (Isi wk)* (1,500; $3.60). Near ca- pacity. but gross held dowm by G 11 i 1 d subscriptions. Healthy $24,500. “Out of This World,” Shubert (1.750; $4.80); $6 weekends;) (2d wk). Complete sellout last w'eek and this; over $41,800. HEPBDRN-lIKE’27G AS BARD RULES W UL Los Angeles, Dec. 12. Shakespeare dominated the local scene last w'eek, but only Katha- rine Hepburn proved a draw. First W'eek of “As You Like It” at the Biltriiore registered the only good business in town. Estimates for Last Week “As You Like It,” Biltmore (1st wk) ($4.20; 1,636). Slim gallery biz kept it from SRO figures, but week’s $27,000 was very pleasant. “The Man,” Las Palmas (1st w'k) ($3.60; 388). Unenthusiastic notices greeted. advent of the Gladys George-John Dali starrer Tuesday (5). First five, days only so-so $2 300 “Twelfth Night,” Century (1st wk) ($3.60; 380), Dour $1,000 for first three nights, disastrous for a production that cost $25,000. Notices didn’t help, hut it may hold. Lunt-‘Love’ Fine $30,700 In Second Detroit Week Detroit. Dec. 12. The second week of “I Know My Loxe” did a fine $30,700 at the (’;i.ss. First week was held to $2().800 by Theatre Guild sub- scription. Current are “C«aptain Carvello,” with Katharine Cornell and Cedric Hardwicke, at the Cass for a week, and “Brigadoon,” scheduled ior a fortnight at the Shubert. ‘Okla/ $32,400 in Series Of Midwestern Stands Burlington, la., Dec. 12 , Oklahoina,” the Richard Rod^ gers-Oscar Hammerstein, 2d, per- eninal, put on a pre-Christmas mop-up in a series of short stands la.st W'eek, winding up at the Me- morial auditorium here Saturday with a gross of almost $o2,400. Previous dates w’ere Sun- day-Tuesday (3-5), at the Shrine Mosque, Peoria, and Wednesday- riuirsdtiy (6-7) at the Orpheum, Springfield, 111. The Theatre Guild production didn’t play a perform- ance Friday, night (8). rhe current W'eek is being split b(‘hveen Des Moines, Omaha, Colo- rado Springs and Pueblo. ‘Roberts' $15,200, Proy. Providence, Dec. 12. M touring “Mister Roberts,” wiih Tod-Andrew's in the title part, had tough pre-Christmas sailing gro.s.sing only a mild $15^^00 at the Victory here. ihoma.s Heggen-Joshua Logan playing the Court Square, ‘ h'Mngfield, Mas.s., this week. ‘Consul’Light $14,500 In Full New Haven Week New Haven, Dec. 12. Despite a fine critical reception ' and good w ord-of-mouth, “The Consul” failed to'hit a sturdy pace I al the Shubert last W'eek (4-9). Pre- Xmas .slump, plus the general w'ar . news uncertainty, held the eight- ' performance, $4.20 top stand to a ^ light $14,500, w'hich meant a slight ' dip into the red. 1 Current attraction Is preem of “Second Threshold” (13-16), only booking until “The innocents” comes in Dee. 29-31, Philadelphia, Dec. 12. There w ill be exactly one legit house lit here on Xmas day, which breaks all modem records for booking scarcity at Holiday time. The sole active legiter will be the Shubert and its attraction will be a repeat—-“The Consul,” which preemed in the same theatre a year ago. On Tuesday night (26), the For- rest will re-light after tw'o dark weeks with the w'orld preem of Sidney Kingsley’s new drama, “Darkness at Noon” and on Thurs- day (29) the Walnut, W'hich has only had tw o attractions (four W’eeks in all) this season, is sked- ded to get Maurice Schw'artz and his Yiddish Art Theatre in “River- side Drive,” bi-lingual play in for nine days. The Locust, after a month’s inactivity, opens again Jan. 1 w'ith the tryout of “4 Times 12 Is 48.” The Erlanger, indie, has no bookings in sight. Estimates for Last Week “Bless You All,’’ Forrest (3d wk) (1,760; $4.55). Tryout revue continued to travel on high in third and final local stanza. $37,700 quoted. House dark until Dec. 26 w'hen “Darkness at Noon** has preem, D’Oyly Carte Opera Co., Shu- bert (1,870; $4,55). Very disappoint- ing $16,500 in second w'eek and company has cancelled intended foui'th week, winding up three weeks’ stand this Saturday (16). House dark next week with “The Consul” (return) listed for Xmas day. Colgate U. in 1st Arena Production With ‘Earnest’ Hamilton, N. Y., Dec. 12. The Masque and Triangle, under- graduate dramatic organization of Colgate U., offered their first theatre - in - the - round production here with Oscar Wilde’s “Trie Im- portance of Being Earnest,” Dec. 8j 9, and lO, Male roles were done by stu- dents, women’s parts by faculty wives or ladies in the nearby com- munity. Two of the cast w;ere professionals. Stephen Daley (John Worthing) has played in summer stock with Barter Theatre and sung club dates in New York, Mrs. Natalie Hall Row'e (Lady Bracknell) sang leads with the American Opera Co., with St. Louis Many, and in London. Production w'as directed by Rus- sell Speirs, of the Colgate faculty. Organization plans several “round” production in the spring, includ- ing “Twelfth Night.” SNOWSTORM, COLD NIPS ST. L ‘BRIGADOON’; 13G St. Louis, Dec. 12. Heavy snowstorm and freezing temperature hurt the one-week stand of “Brigadoon” that wound up at the American Saturday (9). The house was scaled to $4.27 and the gross for eight performances W'as approximately $13.00(). The show had opened the 1950 muny al fresco operetta season w'ith a 10-hight stand. :Hou.se is shuttered until Jan. 7, when Mae West in “Diamond Lil” is skedded for a week’s engage- ment. The house also was- dark for two w'eeks prior to the “Briga- doon” Visit ‘Blossom' $1<2,400, Tor. Toronto, Dec. 12. Considering the bad w'ar new'S, : plus Xmas shopping, “Blossom Time” did a better than expected $12,400 at $r top at the Royal Alexandra (1,525) here. ! This is $1,000 better than last •season's engagement. ‘Streelcar’ 12G, Pitt Pittsburgh, pec. 12. Although “A Streetcar Named Desire” got off to a painfully slow' start last week at Nixon, it wound up big and grabbed an okay $12,- 000, at a $2.50 top (tax excluded). Show had been booked in for a fortnight but. in view of conditions locally, that wais cut in half. Nixon is currently dark until Xmas Night, when the D’Oyly Carte Co. come.s in. ^Innocents’ 12G, Cincy Cincinnati^ Dec. 12. Adverse weather was reflected, in the fairish $12,000 draw of Sylvia Sidney in “The Innocents” last week in the 1,300-seat Cox the- atre at a $3.69 top. “Red, White and Blue” revue, tied in w'ith American Legion posts’ sponsorship, is show'ing this W’eek in the indie 2.500-seat Taft at a $3.60 top. Despite an expected seasonal riump last W'eek, gro'sses on Broad- way generally held about even with the previous week. Business W'as somew'hat spotty, however, with some moderate draws regis- tering small gains and others slip- ping a bit In the case of some of the newer entries, theatre parties were a factor in profitable totals. As usual, the solid sellouts were Unaffected one w'ay or the other. The total gross for all 24 shows last week was $589,400, . or 76.31 % of ca*,yacity. The previous w’eek’s total for 25 shows was $595,500, or 75,5% of capacity. There were no closings last week, but at least two, “Goldien State” and “The Relapse,” are thus far slated for this W'eek. Tw'O other current productions laying off next week are “South Pacific” and “Pardon Our French.” Estimates for Last Week / Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue ), M (Musical), O (Opera). Other parenthetic figures refer, respectively, to top price, number of seats and capacity gross, Price includes 20% amusement tax, hut grosses are net: i.e., exclusive of tax. “Affairs of Stat^,” Music Box (12th wk) (C-$4,80; 1,012; $26,484). Had the limit of standees, again, but party commissions held down the gross to $26,400 (previous week, $26,500). “Bell, Book and Candle,” Barry- more (4th wk) (C-$4.80; 1,066; $28,060). ^ Topped cabacity,' but party commissions held the gross to $27,600 (previous w'eek, $27,- 400). “Black Chiffon,” 48th Street (8th wk) (D-$4.80; 925; $22,165). About $15,000 (previous week, $16,500). “Call Me Madam,” Imperial (9th wk) (M-$7.20; 1,400; $51,847). Over $52,500 again. “Cocktail Party,” Miller (47th wk) (C-$4.80; 940; $21,600). Reached $10,500 (previous week, $10,300). “Country Girl,” Lyceum (5 th W'k) (D-$4.80; 995; $22,845). Over $21,400 (previous week, almost $21,600). “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” Ziegfeld (53d wk) (M-$6; 1;628; $48,244). Almost $44,300 (previous week, $4-*,000). “Golden State,” Fulton (2d wk) (C-$4.80; 995; $24,666). Nearly $8,’700 (previous week, $10,500); closing Saturday night (16). “Guys and Dolls,” 46th Street (3d wk) (M-$6.60; 1,319; $39,500). Almost $40,100 (previous week, $40,700). “Happy Time,’* Plymouth (46th wk) (.C-$4.80; 1.063; $29,019). Nearly $24,200 (previous week, $23,800). “Hilda Crane/* Coronet (6th wk) (D-$4.80; 1,027; $26,800). About $17,300 (previous week, $15,500). “Kiss Me* Kate,” Shubert (lOOth^ wk) (M-$6; 1.361; $40,8.57). Over $29,900 (previous week. $31,400). “Lady’s Not for Burning,” Royale (5th W'k) (C-S4.80; 1,035; $27,100).. Almost $26,600 (previous week, $25,600). “Member of the Wedding,” Em- pire (48th W'k) (D-$4.80; 1,082; $24,000). Nearly $14,000 (previous week. $15,000). “Mister Roberts,” Alvin (142d wk) (CD-$4.80; 1,360; $34,276). About $13,900 (previous week, $14,200). ’ “Pardon Our Erendi,” Broad- way 10th wk) (R-$6; 1,900; $55,800). About $24,300 (previous week, $26,900); laying off Saturday (17) and re.suming W'ith the Sunday matinee, Dec. 25. “Peep Show,” Winter Garden (23d wk) (R-$7.20; 1,519; $53,400). Reached $37,700 (pr^ivioiis week. $34.300h “Peter Pah,” St. James (33d wk) (M-$4.80; 1,571; $34,500). About $23,200 (previous week. $24,000). “Relapse,” Morosco (3d wk) (C- ■ $4.80; 914; $24,300). Almost $14,- 400 (previous week, $13,500); clos- ing Saturday night (16), and after laying off pre-Christmas week, reopen Dec. 25 in Boston. “Ring Roirnd the Moon,” Beck (3d wk) (C-$4,80; 1,214; $28,000). Tipped .$24,000, with parties a pos- sible factor (previous w'eek, $20,800). . “Season in the Sun.” Gdrt (11th wk)' (C-$4.80; 1.056; $24,967). About ,$23,600 (previous week. $23,500). “South Pacific,” Maiestic (86th vvkl 1 $50*180). As iisii.nL all the house will hold; over $50,800. Stock . “Arms and the Man,” Arena 8th W'k) (G-$3; 500; $10,600). About $4,100 (previous week, $4,300), “Tower Beyond ’Tragedy,” ANTA Playhouse (2d wk) (D-$4.80; 924; $23jl68). Eight-performance week registered about $15,000, including $2,000 for the final Showing at the , membership scale of $3 top (pre- vious week, at membei'ship $3 top, $17,000); house is currently play- ing late-afternoon performances of “Cellar and the'Well.” Openings “Bless You All,” Hellinger (R- $7.20; 1,543; $55,000), Revue with songs by Harold Rome, sketches by Arnold Auerbach, starring Jules Munshin, Mary McCartj and Pearl Bailey, presented by Herman Levin & Oliver Smith; production v/as financed at $200,000, cost about $190,000 (excluding approxi- mate break-even on the tryout and bonds of $24,000) and will break even at around $35,000; opens to- morrow night (Thurs ). “Cellar and the Well,” ANTA Playhouse (D-$3; 924; $19,700). Play by Phillip Pruneau, present- ed by George Freedley and Roger L. Stevens, under the sponsorship of the American National Theatre & Academy; production was budg- eted at $15,000, cost about $9,000 (excluding $3,000 in bonds) and can break even at around $10,000; opened Sunday night (3) to six unfavorable notices TAtkinson, Times; Barnes, Herald Tribune; Chapmani News; McClain, Jour- nal-American; Pollock, Compass; Watts, Post) and one non-commit- tal (Hawkins, World - Telegram & Sun). “Let’s Make an Opera,” Golden (M-$4.80; 769; $19,000). Audience- participation musical, with score by Benjamin Britten and libretto by Eric Crozier, presented by Peter Lawrence and Show-of-the- Month Club: financed at $60,000, cost about $54,000 (excluding $15,- 000 tryout loss and $6,800 in bonds) and will break even at around $i4,r 500; opens tonight (Wed.). Future Dates “Out of This World,” Century, Dec. 21 (trying out). “Twentieth Century,” ANTA Playhouse, Dec. 24 (rehearsing). “King Lear,” National Dec. 25 (rehearsing). “Captain Carvalla,” unSDecified theatre, Dec, 26 (trying out). “Captain Brassbound’s Conver- sion,” City Center, Dec. 27 (re- hearsing). “Enemy of the People,” unspeci- fied theatre. Dec. 28 (rehearsing). “Second Threshold,” unspecified theetre. Jan. 12 (trying out). “House of Berharda Alba,** ANTA Playhouse, Jan. 7 (rehears- ing), . “Darkness at Noon,’* Alvin, week of Jan. 11 (rehearsing), “Royal Family,” City Center, Jan. 10. “Four Times Twelve Are' 48,** unspecified theatre, week of Jan, 15 (rehearsing). “Angel in the Pawnshop,’* un- speojfied theatre, week of Jan. 21. “Mary Rose,” ANTA Playhouse, Feb. 25. ‘BORN’$12,400 IN FINJOE OF 3-WEEK D.C. STAY Washington, Dee> 12. “Born Yesterday” did a $12,400 final week fit the Gayety theatre last M'eek, for a total take of $45,- 800 during its three-week stand in Washington. The oldie had never played D. G. before. “The Consul” opened last night (11) to a strong^ fidvancc, which indicated that its single week booking might be the biggest since the house reopened for the fall sea.son, Gayety; goes dark next week and then reopens Dec; 26 with Edward Arnold in a revival, of the oldie, “Apple of His Eye.” Cornell-‘CarvaI|o’ Fair $12,300 in Six at Buffalo Buffalo, Dec. 12. Katharine Coniell, co-starring with Cedric Hardwicke in Denis Cannon’s London drama, “Captain (Carvallo,” pulled a moderate gross of over $12,300 in six performances at the Erlanger here.. After breaking the production in here, the actre ss - manager moved to the Cass* Detroit, for the current week. I