Variety (April 1953)

/ April 1? ^53 IJEGITIMATE 0,i B.O. Bearing Up Despite Lent; ‘Madam’ $34,500, ‘Murder’ $13,800 g«m B’way Takes LenteirHeader Again; tinneapolis, March 31. 1 they garnered the most tfl • '9 iMH f)AA ■ IITI •/! *1 1 sw G n r « tammo J17,oOO nrst Wk. on build, L, 1 ti.1* ' * Chicago, March 31. ±- Phi legit theatres still are bear- . C In verv well in spite of all the l0g ^ P Lenten. excuses. There are attractions, at present, £"l y £ more are set for;'next Current Road Shows (March 30 -April 11) Minneapolis, March 31. Although they garnered the most lavish critics’ praise of any attrac- tion this season, Jose Greco and his Spanish dancers wound up with only $0,200 for their five nights and one matinee at $3.60 top in the 1,859-seat Lyceum. Lent and tough Shipstad-Johnson “Ice Follies” op- Torgy’ usual Lent • t : ons a t present, (March 30 -April 11) position might have been factors. tw,, T „ „ „ „ #mlv four auractiuuo, « * , fa. wa firct inr*ai an- Anticipating the traditional IiO*y (Victor Moore, Leo G. Carroll, hut three more are setfornext Affairs of State (Otto Kruger, «= was the troupes first local ap- Week slumPf Broadway generally Beulah Bondi). Almost $9,100 week. with th J e S, ° r tn f nnth C °Onlv S aila i^ c I , rene J5f. rv ?y* P Greco olaved a Sundav matinee hit the skids last vveek - Condi " (previous week, $10,900). in th ? r f moves on ^rfel ° ol- n°) nald Woods) -SeHvyn, Chi. (1- G nigh fj 2 ) in cLlnnati prim- flne show moves on, x xi;. , to onenins In Minneannli* Tnewliv rated from the previous week s so- (I^,C-$6.60; 1,160; $39,602) (Vivi- fies,” which closed ,5?ih onened Cal1 Me Madam—Shubert, Chi. nigh ? (24) g Two-Derformance »oss so levels ’ with two of the threc enna Se ^ al * Harold Lang). Near- i'Male Animal,” jhigi opened (30 _ 11)# was* 4 ooo rfvtaS th 2Elinsnn current two-for-one entries even ly $24,300 (previous week. $25,300); 23 at the Blackstone, wao c c _ shubert Phillv (30- S S H 2 feeling the downbeat. The drop closing April 18. to tour. Greeted by warm notices from all - . y six night, two-matinee j n 01 , e case was m ore than $7,000 Picnic, Music Box (5th wk) (CD- So dailies. .. w* / T r xv weeK. below the previous week. Only SG-S4.80; 1,012; $27,000). Almost ♦‘Affairs of State” comes into the f , f l„harine Cor- shows to go clean at all perfprm- $25,500 (previous week. $26,200). e i^vn April 1. “Mrs. McThing ne JJ’5,°k e rt Flcmyng,*.John Emei^) - ih-f A AAA ances last week were “Seven Year Porgy and Bess, Ziefffeld (3d wk) 5&own at the Erlanger April -Curran S F. <30-4); Civic! Aud.. T 0 tnO*«» Q1Q Uilll Itch" and "Wonderful Town.” . <0-$_6: 1.628; . *48.244). Nearly drpeted by warm — IV) ' ' „;~ir «*~ »*&**«-, in one case was more than $7,000 Picnic, Music Box (5th wk) (CD- So dailies. .. w* / T r xv weeK. below the previous week. Only SG-S4.80; 1,012; $27,000). Almost ♦‘Affairs of State” comes into the f , f l„harine Cor- shows to go clean at all perfprm- $25,500 (previous week. $26,200). e i^vn April 1. “Mrs. McThing ne JJ’5,°kert Ja 5 in . Ell J e ^ . • di-t a AAA ances last week were “Seven Year Porgy and Bess, Ziefffeld (3d wk) Se *!X down at the Erlanger April —Curran, s /.£* Civ g £ ud -j fVimiVfl \|Q Uilfl Itch” and “Wonderful Town.” (0-$6: 1,628; $48,244). Nearly S? ett Tnse Greco has a week at the f2. a ?„v^ osc Mayfair, Portland \^{||J|0| 3 • • tfUlK Trade is due to be poor most of $39,900, excluding 20% retained Jr if House, beginning April 7. (8-13). * vwm.v* this week . Adcled to the inevita - by non-profit instead of being re- ^Ei,rn Williams also has a week Deep Blue Sea (Margaret Sulla- t ■ ble Holy Week slowdown, Pass- mitted to Government (previous + thp Great Northern April 13. van)—Nixon, Pitt. (6-11), over discouraged attendance Mon- wfeek, $38,100). primates for Last Week Dial M for Murder (Richard f USlul lllll. flllD da y» ni S ht <?<» a ^ d was expected Seven par Itch, Fulton (19th Es . »)r ^ViuhArt (loth Greene)—Harris, Chi. (30-6). 4 UUU to have an almost equally negative "k) (C-$6-$4.80; 1.063: $24,400) Call Me M a damt Shjlbert (10tn xiarris, ^ni. v^u o^* effect last night (Tues.). A sharp (Tom Ewell). Almost $24,700 wk) 2,100) (Sto^ oinitn). Dickens Reamngs (Emlyn Wil- Boston, March 31. uptown is figured likely starting (previous week, $24,700). Keeping toward the black ink with liams)---Biltmore f L. A. (30-4); Cur- Newcomer, “I Am a Camera,” Friday night (3) ahd trade should South Pacific, M^iestic (206th peat $34,500. ran, S. F. (6-11). at the Wilbur, wa^ the big noise be brisk all next week. After that, wk) (MC-$6; 1.659; $50,186) Dial M For Murder, Harris (9th Evening with Shakespeare (Mar- here last week, with “Fourposter,” the general trend will probably be (Martha Wright, George Britton). 40* 1.000) (Richard Greene), garet Webster, Eva LeGallienne, in finale of a three-week stand at steadily downward through next Nearly $32,300 (previous week, Also weathering the doldrums well Faye Emerson, Basil Rathbone, the Shubert, and “Stalag 17,” in July. $32,600). with $13,800. John Lund, Viveca Lindfors)— its fourth frame at the Colonial, Last week’s only closing was Time «>f the Cuckoo, Empire Camera’ $19,900, ‘Poster’ 10G, Hub "wlXrVollies Selwyn (4th wk) Colonial, Boston (6-11). trailing. " “New'Faces?’ Which ' r "is~ touring~ (24th wk) (CD-$6-$4.80; 1.082; $25,- nno) Not as weU as pre- Fourposter (Jessica Tandy, Hume “An Evening with Will Shake- Scheduled shutterings include 056) (Shirley Booth). Over $14,- ( ^5«»k2 dueto lack of parties. Cronyn)—Parsons, Hartford (6-8); speare” with John Lund, Basil "John Brown’s Body,” April 11, 700 (previous week $14,600). with M6 000. Shubert, New Haven (9-11). Rathbone. Eva Le Gallienne, .Faye and "Pal Joey," April 18rbut sev- Time Out for Glnaer, Lyceum flncpn IZa) Wim 3UU,UVU, . ! , . . ,r._i \ mr.> T-I ' nr i ... . . V ' . " _ V J* “r* 11 u > uut iintL Jut on. not. 4onoiel Last week’s only closing was Empire “New Faces,” which is touring. (24tli- wk) (CD-$6-$4.80; L082; ^25,- Closed (28) with $16,000 Shubert, New Haven (9-11). Time Out for Ginger, Lyceum wk) < views uuys ana uons—American, st. siatea 10 open tne same night at a FRtimatM fnr i met w**ir ± " n. av am aaa L - (30-4); Music Hall, K. C. (5-8); currently unannounced theatre. „ tsw “ at * s for , , * ,^5“ , 080) Over $40,500 (previous week. /I J| $07 OlWl Forum, Wichita (9-12). Estimates for Last Week m ?n C d $46.3 0 °). nmP »hZI .JnlU. I Am A Camera (Julie Harris)— Fourposter, Shubert (3d wk) 52, [Comedy-Dramxi ), R (Revue ), Wonderful Town. Winter Gar- VUUlvil q/Ul jt/Wy Wilbur, Boston (30-11). ($4.20; 1,700) (Cronyn-Tandy). Fi- MC (Musical Comedy), MD (Mu- den (5th wk) (MC-$7.20; 1-510; ^ Maid in the Ozarks—^Erlanger,- naled with near $10,000. House is steal Drama), O (Opera). -555.200) (Rosalind Russell). Cver 9 A A AAA A FI philly (30-4) dark Other parenthetic designations $54,100, with the gross limited by Morv NMXIII Male Animal (Buddy Ebsen, Mar- .I Am a Camera, Wilbur <lst wk) refer, respectively, to top prices; party commissions (previous week; lflaljf Vt/jUUVj U«1 « tha Scott, Charles Lang)—Black- ($4.20; 1,200) (Julie Harris). Nifty number ^ seats, capacity gro^s and $53,600L - " stone, Chi. (30-11). $19,900. stars. Price .includes 20% amuse- OPENING THIS WEEK San Francisco, March 31. Masquerade — Court Square Stalag 17, Colonial (4th wk) ment tax, bui grosses are net: i.e., .Horses In Midstream, Royale “Gigi,” with Audrey Hepburn, Springfield, Mass. (9-11). 1 ($4.20; 1,500). Dipped to mild $8,- exclusive of tax. nifti4,T 7 Jr,« t ui will telight the Alcazar April 14. Men of Distinction — Locust, 300. Final week is current. Camino Real, National (2d wk) va«) Gifbert Miller^and^Donald •'The Constant Wife” will remain Philly (9-11). . __ (D-$4.80-$6; 1,172; $30,000). First h5 at the Curran until Saturday (4), Mrs. McThing (Helen Hayes)— to be followed Monday (6) by Em- Cass, Detroit (30-4); Erlanger, Chi. v^lr nflll* lvn Williams and his Charles Dick- (6-11). lfUIIo ulILIi lyn Williams and his Charles Dick- (6-11). ens readings. Geary will offer New Faces—Shubert, Boston (6- “Point Of No Return” with Henry 11). ■’7* Hardwicke, Diana Lynn, Lili Dar- vas). Gilbert Miller and Donal4 (D-$4.80-$6, 1,172; $30,000i. First oenslager production of play by full week, on Theatre Guild sub- Andrew Rosenthal; opens tomor- senptmn alrriost $17,800 (previous row nigh t <Thurs.). week, $13,900 for four regular per- Fonda, April 7. Estimates for Last Week Constant Wife, Curran (2d wk) Oklahoma—National, Wash. (30* 11 ). <r T*lrA li.* 11 r Cf Va<ii» formances and one preview), lane 11 111)) 01. LOUIS Children’s Hour, Coronet (15th St Louis March 31 wk) lD -$4 80; 1,027; $28,378). Near- “Guys and Dolls” has wheeled twofers (previous Okla.’ Bi Constant Wife, cSS*T5d wk) Pgis ^90 (CorneHa Otis SMnner) and final fr^e and ^ $14,700) (C-$4.20; 1,775) (Katharine Cornell, (30_4) ’ Shubert » natives are still mobbing the b.o. . cq i k n nm 0t n^r <?;9?"Rnn Robert Fleming, John Emery). Up Wa ^ k ‘ (6 -{^ h t c hllh prt Wash for ducats. Gross for third frame W2?^nm $21,8 °° to a strong $27,900 (previous week, ^estfeaiv^tn) Wh * endin 8 Sunday (29) was a sock (p ^Dial tor' Mmdlr' Plymouth ^ 2 - 000) -- Point of No Return (Henry Fon- (22d wk) (D-$4.80; -1,062; $30,377) ‘Horses’ $6,li,D.C. wk)°(^$3j60^1,147) r §a^e a c^)p?^ dat-Muste HaS, K*-C. (30-T); ■ [f^^ous^^wfek^O 400^ ^ ,2 °® ^io 10 ^ * dw“ a 8 ^ $29^00 paddy Ann. Gamer. Hsrrv Cnrey* 1?. (o ii/« fnHiim ttw* thp ddp-wppIt frawp of ^previous weeK, <pou/iuU/. after 10 years ( drew a socle $29,300 ?£W, t0 ?& ' 80r7preV ‘ OUS Brldes-Shubert, He- BoMth^l MS&sstrW* ^ Bo«^ Reato 7 co1 ^ wnTfiJm qifiSS tn «nnri (nrp- South Pacific (Janet Blair, Webb p e ne Lockhart in You Cant a ] most $17,600 for seven perform- At the Shubert, “Horses In Mid- « win 3,000 Tilton) — Memorial Aud., Louis- Take It With You” copped P audits ances (pr evious week, $18,100). stream,” struggling to get into vious week, a nice $3,500. m (3^4). Taft Aud., Cincy (6- from tlie crix and P^ece wound-up Fifth Season, Cort (10th wk) shape for a auick New York ODen- 11) a one-week frame at the Empress (C -$4.80; 1,056; $25,639) (Menasha ing this week attracted only $0- VJMIF Mil D SI A I A* Stalag 17—Colonial, Boston (30- Sun ^ a X« ( - 2 n 9 L^ ith $ 11 » 000 at the Skulnik, Richard Whorf). Nearly 100 worth of paying customers for UllII lTULI/ 4). playhouse, Wilmington (6-11). usual $2.50 top. $25,100 (previous week, $25,200). the second and last week of its lo- CriHI7ADT7 <CA\U <^7 4CA Tobacco Road — Davidson, Mil- Fourposter, Golden (75th wk) C al run. “Pink Elephant” came alnWAKlZ- SON $7,450 (phil Silvers) _ Ly . BaUet Theatre $33,400 ^ (Sy ot$ iat ° th e Shubert last nlght (Mon - ) - P, St was ^dismal °one 'for “^htte &-Matstic Boston F ° r S f ? fa ^ W ®* |I:?00)° D <PreVipUS WCek ' ‘PACIFIC’ SOCK $42 400 Los Angeles legit, with two pres- C S J * Ballet Theatre racked up a sock * Guyg and d 0 ij s 45th St. (123d - * ni/iriL OULU «p £ *L«,WU entations exiting after n.s.g. busi- , $33,400 for seven performances m wW (M C-$6.60; 1,319; $43,904). IN THARI PQTftN W VA ness. Emlyn Williams began a a split stanza last week. These in- Drew $32,700 (previous week, $33,- III uHAIiLLdI vll. IT* ffi. week nf Dirk*»nK rpAriin’c*« at thp /«■ 1 * • f«r* j\ ■ eluded a Sunday matinee (2Z) in 20O) 01 Melody Wins Permanent St. Louis; DesMpines, Monday; Hazel _Flassr._ Hellinger (7th wk) 4outh^ pTo'lfiYr 1 atm® dolne bie Jr.). Slipped to $9,800 (previous week, $11,100). One Moment, Please), Marines UUC ITAVUICUH^ JL AVOOVi f AUfUlAlVO j /a f f V Memorial Theatre (8th wk) (R- W MILD $14,300, L.A.; SCHWARTZ-W $7,450 School for Brides—Shubert, De- troit (6-11). Shakespeare Readings—Colonial, Antfolpc Top Banana (Phil Silvers)-Ly- « i-IVir i Sidney, Romney Brent). Over Past J& was ^dismal °one 'for “^htte &-Matstic Boston FW S f ? m ?P ht W ®* |S;S88).° n <PreV,PUS WCek ‘ ‘PACIFIC’ SOCK $42 400 Los Angeles legit, with two pres- C S J * Ballet Theatre racked up a sock * Guyg and ©oils, 46th St. (123d - * OULIV «p £ *L«,WU entations exiting after n.s.g. busi- , $33,400 for seven performances m wW (M C-$6.60; 1,319; $43,904). IN rHADIliQTnN W VA ness. Emlyn Williams began a a split stanza last week. These in- Drew $32,700 (previous week, $33,- III UMaIiLLdI vll. IT* ffi. week of Dickens readings at the <M 1 J 9 117*-^ eluded a Sunday matinee (22) in 2 00). rharTpcinn wvn Mareh Biltmore Monday (30). Melody WlHS I ClUlSiDCDt St. Louis; Des Moines, Mopday; Hazel Flagg, Hellinger (7th wk) ‘^outh Pacif^’^ stin 1 doing 3 big Maurice Schwartz’ “Take Now , , «i , r. • davenport, Tuesday; Burlington, (MC-$7.20; 1,527; $53,000) (Helen business in small towns ^pulled b a Thy Son" folded Sunday night (29) RoOSt at ToFOIltO Fair & ^^Mliwu^Friday-Satur- Gallagher? Thomas Mitchell, Benay whacking *42^00 last week at the and he opens with “It s 'Hard to ' lwwl „ , day, and Milwaukee, rnaay saxur yenuta, j 0 hn Howard). Over $47,- 3 5i7. sea t MuniciDal Auditorium Be a Jew” Thursday. „ Toronto, March 31. day. Troupe hit capacity in several 700 ( previous wee k, $48,800). here This is a mie-nighter' for Estimates for Last Week With a five-year lease and five* spots. . John Brown’s Body, Century mos t shows ..9^’ Biltmore (2d wk) (1,636; year renewal option, first theatri- After a Sunday (29) in Chicago, ( ^ th wk ) (D-$6-$4.80; 1,645; $43,- Rodgers-Hammerstein musical, $4.20). Slow $14,300 for second cal venture to secure that long- troupe is again doing a week of qqq) (Tyrone Power, Judith Ander- w ffh Janet Blair and Webb Tilton Jnd final week, for a poor overall sought, coveted contract of per- split stands. * SO n f Raymond Massey). Nearly CO starred, is at the Memorial Au- tak® °f $36,940. manent setup at the Canadian Na- $26,300 (previous week, $30,000); (fitorium, Louisville, all this week. Take Now Thy Son, Civic Play- tional Exhibition is “Melody Fair.” Surprise in Chi closing April 11. . house) (2d wk) (376; $3.60). Took Producers Leighton K. Brill and Chicago, March 31.. King and I, St. James (105 th CONCHA ILv* • . la dul1 $2,750 second webk, with g en Kamsler plus a group of To- What was originally down in the 1 wk) (MD-$7.20; 1,571; $51,717) (Yul iUCl fllllC IZUjOUU, UGl. f about 60% capacity. Total for two ronto social te P stockbrokers, saw booking sheet as a train wait be- Brynner) Over $43,900 (previous - , el t aaa — ’*•“ 5^ wSsisr ssa SSht ffrss Cargo $11,000 siasarattreffs jrssssNsssrasWi a «.*»»». ■" “ ”* ‘Melody’ Wins Pernianenl raJ 5 > sr' ! SCri*W. n .„. „«.» .aS,**S,F’.»,! , r.A,, •Take Now wi , r. • davenport, Tuesday; Burlington, (M C-$7.20; 1,527; $53 000) (Helen business insmall towns pulled b a y night (29) RoOSt at TorODtO Fair «fj ^I d &liw a a u^ a FridVsS Gallagher? Thomas Mitchell, Benay whacking $42400 laJ rviek at the t s 'Hard to ,1VWW ‘ . , day, and Milwauxee, rnaay jjatur y enu t a> j 0 hn Howard). Over $47,- 3 5i7_ se at MuniciDal Auditorium Toronto, March 31. day. Troupe hit capacity in several 700 (previous week, $48,800). h ’ er e. This is a P one-nighter' for Week With a five-year lease and five* spots. . „ . John Brown’s Body, Century mos t shows wk) (1,636; year renewal option, first theatri- After a Sunday (29) in Chicago, (Qth wk) (D-$6-$4.80; 1,645; $43,- Rodgers-Hammerstein musical, for second cal venture to secure that long- troupe is again doing a week of O 0 O ) (Tyrone Power, Judith Ander- w itli Janet Blair and Webb Tilton son, Raymond Massey). Nearly cos tarred, is at the Memorial Au- $26,300 (previous week, $30,000); (fitorium, Louisville, all this week, closing April 11. . ‘Anri!’ Sil Pitt ^0? las? 1 summCT 0 fo?12 0 weeks 4 of profitable bal°let engagements S! P lilt wi.acirtoio 0+ *3 Rfl fnn $?eauel to Johll C . ^ i./ 1 n.i ComblnatiAr* «T r * j L* * lenguiy unueieuvei let Theatre had a sunaay ana Mcir notices w n t c°^?? f Le u t / nd r? ad this announcement was made over M onday open before going into Mid-Summer, Vanderbilt (10th the fi stance Ben a n P ft 0 , ? « J° r A £>n; the weekend by Hiram McCaUum, Minneapolis tonight (31). Gilbert wk) (D-$4.80; 720; $18,500) (Mark C ass. stance Bennett in “ A«r » the weekend by Hiram mc •» overcome I ISS a i,t^ I L' general manager of CNF. snagged the troupe and did two Stevens, Geraldine Page). About “White Cargo” grossed a poor SRO performances Sunday, the $9,000 (previous week, $11,000). $11,000 at the Shubert. which re- matinee doing $7,700 and the eve- Misalliance, Barrymore (6th wk) fights April 5 with “School for , Cornelia Otis Skinner in “Paris of h.o. returns necessitated a move, was another SRO. 90 is current, and “The Deep according to trade talk. The Seat- Advance for thi Sea” and two weeks of “Sta- ing capacity will be upped from of •lose Greco, whj wind 7 , w iu ch follow ma y possibly previous 1,640 to 1,900; the season 7, has l eached $3C nothina P I the . Nix . on . Since there’s extended from 12 to 14 weeks. . , I2HL n * sight with the de- OOl 100 (previous week, $10,900). (> cirm WAtlX U1C VIC “oeS ( ® f J New Faces” and "Pal '' oeJ, t o go straight to Chicago. ‘Paris’ $10,500, Cleve. • iAUllVp V UA 1 VTTUAVIO VTAVUU n , , . , -- , A 4 aicuucu xxuxn xxi v««w—w. m • n i*. week, $11,000). ...... Cincinnati, March 31. — Toint 28G ID Sflllt M y 3 Angels, Morosco (3d wk) A^airs of State grossed a IUIUI £*0\i HI Dpm (C-$6-$4.80; 912; $26,000). Nearly sorry$8,500 1astweekinthel,30p- ^nlr’ CA ^AA Naitf HaVAn Omaha, March 31. $21,800 (previous week, $21,900). seat Cox Theatre at $3.69 top. 0tto rinK ^0,0Uv, licw IldYCU Henry Fonda’s “Point of No Re- New Faces, Royale (46th wk) Kruger replaced George Brent , j »»*» r BB» ft-. jPaJSt'.Mwjwy* ir’jarwTWs srajpft.'ttfi aw caupltt 7C w* gut — A ; io cn fnirr chnws xneaire nere. me last uL v th . e Lenten slowdown matinee. At $3,60 top, four snows ^ at $4.20. S HOST'S® ^ Dm lSllSesfplay puUed ^gh t! Playing the nSiu Pitts- “Evening with Will Shakespeare” $13 ^0, for total of $28,000 on the wur gh, tins week. (17-18). ' * • weeK * week. 000 investment; is touriiig under bacco Road” troupe in the indie with four management of Walter P. Chrys- Emery Auditorium, 2.175-seater, [ay pulled ler. Jr. which got a slender $4,800 on eight (00 on the On Borrowed Time, 48th St. performances. Top was $3.69 qn (7th wk) (CD-$4.80; 925; $22,297)1 sprinkling of two-for-one paper.