Variety (December 1950)

44 LEGITIMATB Wednesday^ Deceiiil>er 27, 1950 Bnt Biz Upturn Due This Week; Contrary to managerial expecta- About $18,200 (previous week, tions, attendance on Broadway Gdn- $21,000). tinued its seasonarslump right up «seasoii in the Sun,” Gort (13th through Saturday (231. It had^ been wk) (C-$4.80; 1,056; $24,967). About expected that tliero jould be^an Ugl.SOO ( $23,000). '‘Soolh Pacific,” Majestic (88th ^tfcrn and -lift Christmas week to a healthier: taSt veek. , „ AXTmA level. Receipts failed to make a ■ ”T6wer Beyond Tragedy,» .A1J.TA comeback, howiever, being partlcii- ; Playhouse. f4th. wk) (Dr$4.80; 924; lai’iv weak at matinees. Business $19,900). Nearly $10,200 for seven was also off at shows giving per-; performances; closed Thursday formances Sunday (24) and was’ night (21) after 29 performances, disappointing again Monday night i Stock (25), but was due to slarl recover-j- «Arms and the Man/' Arena ing last night (Tues ). i ClOth wk) (C-$3; 500; $10,600). The total gross for air 22 shows . Nearly $4,300 (previous week, last week was $495,000, or 70(o !$3^800). of capacily. The previous w:eek’si Openings show's was $590,800,1 “Captain Brassbound's Convcr- or 70.0o'f. ^ i slon ” City Center (C-$2.88-$3; 1 * —^ : 3,025; $32,000). Shaw revival, co- limitod - engagement lower Be- j starring Edna Best and John Arch- yond Tragedy. No are , presented by N. Y. City Theatre due this week, but .Mister Roberts . budgeted at, $35,000;, cost winds up 3an. 6 after a Rreat run ; about $40,000 (includes two weeks’ ol almost three yeais. Theie are i 18-Week U. S. Tour in ’51 Pitched to Beecham Orch four openings this \yeek. Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), M f Musical J , 0 (Opera K Other parentheHc figures refer, respectively, to top price, number of seats and capacity gross, includes 209o amusement tax, hut grosses arc vet: i,e,, exclusive of tax. “Affairs of State,” Music Box n4th W'k) fC-$4.80; 1,012; $26,484). About $26,300 (previous W'eek, $26,500). ■ “Bell, Book and Candle,” Barry- more (6th wk) (C-$4.80; 1,066; $28,060). Hit the limit again, with parly commissions limiting the take to over $27,700 (previous week, $27,500). “Black Chiffon” 48th Street (10th w}^) (D-$4.80; 925; $22,165), Around $11,000 (previous W'eek, $11,300). “Bless You All,” Hellinger (2d W'k) (R-$7.20; 1,543; $55,000). Near- ly $48,700 for first full week (pre- vious week, first five performances grossed $34,600, Including $6,500 for a preview). “Call Me Madam,” Imperial (11th w'k) (M-$7.20; 1,400; $51,847). All the house will hold again, $52,500. “Cocktail Party,” Miller (49th Wk) (C-$4.80; 940; $21,600). About $6,500 (previous week, $6,800). “Country Girl,” Lyceum (7th wk) (D-$4.80; 995; $22,845). A 1 m o s t $20,600 (previous wek, $20,700). “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” Ziegfeld (55th wk) (M-$6; 1,628; $48,244). About $33,709 (previous week, $39,300). “Guys and Dolls,” 46th Street (5th wk) (M-$6.60; 1,319; $41,750). Hit the limit again, $42,200 (previ- ous W'eek, $40,600). “Happy Time,” Plymouth (48th wk) (C;$4.80; 1,063; $29,019). Al- most $18,500 (previous week, $20,- 000 ). ^ “Hilda Crane,” Coronet (8th Wk) (D-$4.80; 1,027.; $26,800). About $10„500 (previous week, $14,700), ' “Kiss Me, Kate,” Shubert (102d 1,361; $40,8573. Almost $22,800 (previous week, $25,100). “Lady’s Not For Burning,” Roy- ale (7th wk) (C-$4.80; 1,035; $27,- 100). Almost $24,700 (previous week, $25,900). “Member of. the Wedding,” Em- pire (50th wk) (D-^$4.80; 1,082; $24,- 196). Nearly $9,400 (previous week, $ 10 , 000 ). . . ’ .“Mister Roberts,” Alvin (144th wk) (CD-$4.80; 1,360; $34,276). Nearly $10,500 (previous week, $ 11 , 000 ). . ’ ^ “Out of this; World,’^ Century ast vjt) (M-$6; 1,645; $49,000). Opened Thursday night (21) to five favorable notices (Chapman, News; Coleman, Mirror; McClain, Journal- American; Pollock. Com- ^^vo unfavor- able (Atkinson, Times; Guernsey, Herald Tribune) and one “take it or leave it” (Hawkins, World-tele- gram-Sun); first five perform- ances got the standee limit at $33,- 500. incliidiiig One previous for $6,400, . “Pardon Our French,” Broad- way 800 proximately $5,000 in bonds); opens tonight (Wed.). “Enemy of the People,” Broad- hurst (D-$4.80; 1,160; $32,000). Arthur Miller adaptation of the Ib- sen play, co-stars Fredric March and Florence Eldridge, presented p • _ j hy Lars Nordenson; production fi- - ’ nanced at $80,000, cost about $50,- 000 (excluding $25,000 in bonds) and can break even at around $17,- 500; opens tomorrow night (Thurs.). “King Lear,” National (D-$4.80; 1,172; $29,534). Shakespeare re- vival, starring Louis Calhern, pre- sented by Robert L. Joseph and Alexander H. Cohen; production financed at $65,000 (plus $6,500 overcall), cost about $83,000, plus $17,000 in bonds, and can bKak even at around $20,000; opened Monday night (25), to three pro notices (Atkinson. Chapman, Pol- lock), three con (Barnes, Coleman, Hawkins) and two undecided (Mc- Clain, Watts). “Twentieth Century,” ANTA Playhouse (C-$3; 924; $22,730). Re- vival of Ben Hecht-Charles Mac- Arthur comedy based on play by Charles B. Milholland, co-stars Gloria Swanson and Jose Ferrer; production budgeted, at $15,000^ cost about $15,000 plus $4,000 in bonds, and will break even at around $10,000; opened Sunday night (24), unanimously enthusiastic reviews.. Future Schedule “Second Threshold/' Morosco, Jan. 2 (trying out). “House of Bamarda Alba,” ANTA Playhouse, Jan. 7( rehears- ing). “Darkness at Noon,” Alvin, week of Jan. 11 (trying out). “Royal Family/' City Center, Jan. 10. “Four Twelves Are 48,” unspec- ified theatre, week of Jan. 15 (re- hearsing). “Angel in the Pawnshop,” Booth Jan. 18 (trying out). “Richard II,*' City Center, Jan. 24. “Green Bay tree/' Golden, Feb. 1. “Mary Rose,” ANTA Playhouse, Feb. 25. “Romeo and Juliet,” unspecified theatre, week of March 5 (rehears- ing). ‘Oklahoma’ GtOod $28,100 In Seven*Show Split Cheyenne, Wyo., Dec. 26. _ Not even , the traditional pre- Christma.s slump could quite stop “Oklahoma” last week as the Rodgers - Hammerstein perennial compiled a gross of $28,100 in seven performances. The Theatre Guild musical played Monday through Thursday (18-21) at the Uptown, Salt Lake City, and a matinee and evening show at the Lincoln here Saturday (23). Show is splitting this week be- tween Denver and Wichita. ,8uu in Riverside, Cal., Dec. 26. In three performances last week, I 1’900; $55,- I $16,800 gross ih the Theatre Guild ««« Was. laying off last week. I revival of You Like It ” Garden 1 Shakespeare. comedy played Mon- AlmosL $55,677). ! day night (18) at the^RLs mZ (previous week, loriuni, San Diego; Tuesday night -Peter f zo... i the\Civic Auditorium, P wk) (M -$4 80 1 r^dena. and Wednesday night ( 20 ) <u 9 i mo z '' Al-: at the Auditorium here, most $21,GOO (previous week, $20,- ■ After laying off the latter half ‘TliiiE- Ri'tnn<i ihaa TvtAA ♦* T» 1 ' a v'^'®®^^’ tlic show resumed The Royal Philharmonic Or- chestra of England, which recent ly completed its first tour of the U. S', has been approached for a second, and much longer, tour next fall, Orch, only privately- supported symph in England, with Sir Thomas Beecham as conductor and chief angel, finished a nine- week tour of the U. S. Dec. 15, which carried it as far .west as Ghica.go.‘ Group had 51 dates, all but one of which were sellouts, Columbia Artists Mgt., which booked the tour through its Judsoni O’Neill & Judd division, has ap- proached Beecham for a return visit in ’51, this time W'ith plans for an extended tour of 18 weeks, taking the orch ; to the Coast. Beecham, who has sailed for Eu- rope, is mulling the proposition. On its recent nine-week tour the orch is estimated to have grossed $250,000. Symph was sold on guar- anteed fees to local maniagers at an average $5,000 per date, with some exceptions in small cities and halls. Total Gros^ The following are the comparative figures based on Variety's boxotfice estimates for last weeh {the 30 th week of the season) and the corresponding week of last season: This Last Broadway Season season Number of shows current 22 22 Total weeks played so far by all shows: 593 559 Total gross for all current shows last week $495,000 $478,900 Total season’s gross '$0 far by all shows. . $13,829,800.* $14,099,000 Number of new productions so far ..... 33l 22 ROAD , {Excluding Stock, Ice Shows and Outdeor) Number of current touring shows reported. 18 21 Total weeks played so. far by all shows., ., 514 475 Total road gross reported last week -• $291>3Q0 $3()4,80() Season’s total road gross so far........ . .$11,490,400 $9,946,500 Lull; Lunts Philadelphia, Dec. 26. The D’Oyly Carte Opera Co. wound up its four-week local stand at the Shubert, with biz slipping again after a marked improvement in the third stanza. Getaway week’s biz was just over $19,000. Local engagement can hardly be called ! a success and on strength of dis- appointing biz here and in Balti- more the Savoyards may end more, they will cut short their tour and will probably return to Britain in late February instead of April, possibly, winding up travels in To- ronto, although there is some talk of a New York visit just before sailing. “The Consul,” which preemed at the Shubert last season, started a two weeks’ return visit at the same house last night (Mon.)., Advance | sale has been only fair. Tonight (26), Sidney Kingsley’s new play, “Darkness at Noon,” will have its preem at the Forrest. It’s in for two weeks with Claude Rains as star. ‘ ■Brigadoon’ Pair $17,500 In Second Detroit Week Detroit, Dec. 26. i Second week of “Brigadoon” put j a fair $17,500 into the Shubert's | till. Current presentation is “Mis- ter Roberts,” in for a; week. The Cass is scheduled to reopen after a holiday hiatus on New Year’s i Day with the D’Oyly Carte Opera | Co., booked for a week. “Carousel” opened the Detroit Civic Light Opera’s eighth season last night (25) at Masonic Temple, Featured ate Jack Kiltj’, Iva With- ers, Dorothea MacFarland, Marion Ross and Dusty Worrall. Group’s j operetta series will run 10 weeks. ’Sheba’ $11,200 for Seven In 5-Day Seattle Stay Seattle, Dec. 26. Engagement bob-tailed to five days owing to a rail jump, “Come Back, Little Sheba,” with Shirley Booth and Sidney Blackmer in the leads, did a meager $11,200 in seven performances. Next legit attraction, Jan. 21-27, is Katharine Hepburn, in “As You Like It.” ‘Kate’ Moderate $23,500 In 7-Show Split-Week Memphis, Dec. 26. Touring edition of “Kiss Me, Kate” drew a mild gross of nearly $23,500 last week in seven per- formances spread over two stands. The Cole Porter musical played Monday and Tuesday nights (18- 19) at the Robinson auditorium, Little Rock, and Thursday-Satur-: day (21-23) at the Auditorium here. Show opened last night (Mon.) at the State Fair Park Auditorium, Dallas, for a 10-day stand. Threshold’$10, ‘Death’ 15G, Hub Boston; Dec, 26. | Two newcomers to the Hub legit scene are “Where’s Charley?,” i which bowed in Christmas night at; the Shubert with solid advance sales reported, and “Blossom Time,” in for a two-week stint at the Opera House. “Second Threshold,” at the Plymouth, and “Death of j a Salesman,” at the Colonial, fared so-so last week. Estimates for Last Week “Death qf a Salesman” (Colonial) (3d Wk) (1,500; $3.60). Off to about J $15,000, but should rebound this! stanza, I “Second Threshold” (Plymouth), (1st wk) (1,200; $3.60): Very un- exciting at just under $10,000. Final week current. Chicago, Dec. 26. Normally the worst week in Chi legit, last week’s take was temper- ed considerably by three hits. First stanza of two-week engagement of Sadler’s Wells was a bofT grosser, high above last year. Second week of “I Know My Love’’ was very strong too and of course, the SRO sign still stands on “South Pacific.” “Rose Tattoo” debuts Friday (29) and “Red, White and Blue” conies in Jan. 1 and “Ti-Coq,” the Frido- lin play, arrives Jan. 1.7. Estimates For Last Week VAngel in the Pawnshop,’' Harris (7th week) $3.80; 1,000). Dull $8,000* “Diamond. Lil,'^ Blackstone (14th week) ($4; 1,358). Weak $10,000 for pre-holiday stanza. “I Know My Love/'Selwyh (2nd week) ($4.40; 1,000). Fine $21,900. No Christmas performance, in keeping with Lunt tradition. . " Sadler’s Wells Ballet, Opera Hou.se (1st week) Sensation $116,000 showings. “South Pacific,” week) ($5; 2,100), again. ($4,94; 3,600), for first nine Shubert (6th SRO $51,300 ’Carvallo’Folds in Cleve.; Final Week Poor $13,000 Cleveland, Dec. 26. Katharine Cornell folded her “Captain Carvallo” here Saturday (23), after landing an indifferent $13,000 in eight performances at the Hanna at a $3.70 top. Total production loss is reported to be over $40,000, but Miss Cor- nell and co-producer Guthrie Mc- Clintic, felt the play was too thin and shaky for Broadway, expect to recoup in selling stock and perhaps film rights. Take It Easy Second Avc. Theatre production of mu- sical comedy in two acts (five scenes),- with book by S. R. S. Bader,, music by Joseph Rumshinsky. lyrics by Molly I’icon. Stars Miss PlCon. Directed by Jacob Kal- Ich. Dances by Ruth Watson. At Second Aye., N. Y., Dec. 23. *50. Mr. Kreecher .Irving Jacobson Annie .................... Fanya . Rubina Sarah Molly .Picon Rebecca ................. .Natalie Comef Rachel ....... ......;...., Rayla Ostrow * Yossel Dave Lubritzky Uncle Elye ............. Gustav Berger Harry Leon Licbgold SosSel Esta Snltzman Stella Anne Winter* Steve Mae Schocnfeld Los Angeles, Dec. 26. , Absence of competition helped: “Twelfth Night” boost its business j last week. Century theatre occu- pant was the only legit offering in town for Christmas week and it grabbed off $3,300^an increase of about $ljl00 ovet the previous frame. Figure is still on the wrong sido of the ledger, however, and Shake- spearean revival probably won’t last more than another week. ‘innocents’ 9G, Mont’l Montrqdl, Dec. 26. / ‘The Inhocents,” starring Sylvia Sidney, eked , out a mere $9,000 last week at His Maje.sty’s, with the 1,579-seater scaled to a $3,38 top. Wayne & Shuster’s production of “Mother. Goose,” with Eric Christmas in lead is currently playing the house. This is the first panto to play Mohtreal in several years, and response to date is good. ‘Streetcar’ $11,200, Tor. Toronto, Dec. 26. After setting up a house record of $28,000 at a .$3.50 top at the Royal Alexandra (1,525) last sea- son, “Streetcar Named Desire’’ brbdied to a bad $11,200 at a $3 top. This was attributed to Xmas shopping, plus critical opinions that the current production, played for laughs, wa.s, not the deep, pene- trating version seen here on the previous ‘ jn Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), M (Musical), O (Opera). •Tour Twelves Arc 48” (C)— Aldrich Myers, Otto Pleminger, Julius Flerschmahn, prods; Premin- ger, dir. . “House of Bernarda Alba” (D)— ANTA-Stewart Chaney, Boris Tu- mann, Lily Turner, prods.; Tuma- nrt, dir. “Romeo and Juliet” (D)—Dwight Deere Wiman, prod.; Peter Glcn- Ville, dir. Molly Picon is back on Second avenue with a new musical, “Take It Easy,” and all is well on New : York’s lower East Side. If it isn't the best of the Picon-Joseph Rum- shinsky-Jacob Kalich offerings, it’s a pretty good one, and Miss Picon —who never takes it easy—works like a little Trojan in this one. She sings, dances, does Irnpersonations, conducts the audience in a modi- fied community-sing, and spreads the magic Picon personality for all its worth. And that’s plenty, A drunk scene she does early in the shovy is a special standout. The pint-size Ethel Merman this time IS an actress whose job is to prevent her philandering father from divorcing her pious mother, so as to. insure her own (Miss Picon’s) romantic, future. Job in- volves impersonating a male, in order to break up papa’s romance gold-digging nitery. hostes.s, which gives Miss Picon opportuni- ty to strut in white tie and tail.s, ^ do a cakewalk and taps, and even ; do an ajl-too-brief Charles Chaplin i takeoff. Some of her songs «are sock, and the lyi4cs (which, shef contributed for all the tunes) are romantic, timely or amusing. She’s supported by a good cast, irying Jacobson is genuinely funny her wa3’Ward father, and Esta Saltzman amusing as a lovelorn rustic. Rumshinsky’s melodies are derivative and familiar-sounding, but they fall in a sure, appealing pattern. Best tunes are the title song and “That’s How It Was.” Leon Liebgold, who is a manly hero, ^ngs his songs agreeably. Fanya Rubina, Natalie Comer and Ostrow have an appealing gibbath eve song number, and Mae Schocnfeld and Jacobson offer an amusing parody of pop U. S. tunes in ‘Yiddish, titled “Do You Remember.” Other cast-members, and a sing- ing and dancing chorus, are okay support. Kalich’s direction is smooth, as usual. Bron.