Variety (October 1954)

'^Tednesday, 'October 1954 tmffir Current Road Shows LEGITIMATE 71 Following are the comparative figures based” on Variety’s box- office reports for last week (the 18th week of the season) and. the corresponding week of last season: BROADWAY '(I y Chicago, Oct. 5. Except for ‘‘Time Out for Gin- ger,” which closed strongly,, local legit biz fell off . last week. ‘‘Pic- nic" is folding next Saturday (9) at the Erlanger after four weeks, first three on Theatre Guild subscrip- tion. Additions to the upcoming dock- et are ‘‘Fifth Season," due Nov. 22 at : the Selwyft, and ‘‘King of Hearts," set for Dec. 27 at the Harr ris. New arrival next week is ‘‘Mrs. Patterson” at the Harris for a seven-week pre-Broadvvay troyout. Estimates for Last Week . Picnic, Erlanger (3d wk) ($4.40; 1.300) (Ralph Meeker). Topped $17,600 on Guild subscription (pre- vious week, $19,000); folds here next Saturday (9) to end its tour. Time Out for Ginger, Harris (38th wk) ($4.15; 1,000) (Melvyn Douglas). Nearly $14,200 (previous week, $12,000); exited last Satur- day (2) to resume tour; Wonderful Town, Shubert :(13th wk) ($4.60; 2,100) (Carol Chan- Pining). Almost $29,000 (previous week, $30,400). Itch’ $19,000 Finales 9-Week Frisco San Francisco, Oct. 5. Closing out a sock nine-week run, Eddie Bracken in the touring edition of ‘‘Seven Year Itch" drew lively trade here last. week. Comedy was originally booked for a four- week stand, but extended as at- tendance held up at a profitable level. \ Only two legits have tppped the nine-week figure for initial runs here, ‘‘Voice of the: Turtle” having held on for 13 weeks in its first local appearance and ‘‘State of the Onion" continuing for an unin- terrupted 10 semesters. Various Other shows have topped the nine- week mark in two or more en- gagements, including “Oklahoma" (23 weeks* total), “Life with Father" (19 weeks), and “Harvey" and “Kiss arid Tell" (16 weeks each). Estimate for Last Week Seven Year Itch, Geary (C) (9th wk; $3.85; 1,550) (Eddie Bracken). Pinaled with a profitable $19,000 (previous week, $21,000); drew a total Of $200,147 for the engage- ment; moyed-on to play northwest cities and then work eastward; local legit scene is dark. Jory Not-So-Hot $6,000 In ‘Angels’ in Montreal Montreal, Oct. 5. “My 3 Angels," starring Victor Jory, drew under $6,000 last Week at Her Majesty’s Theatre here. The Jewish New Year holiday period, other local entertainment crimped: biz. The. 1,704-seater was scaled to. $3.38. “Dial M For Murder" is current, With Donald \yoods, and “Okla- homa” follows. ‘King’ Hot$51,300, St. £. St.. Louis, Oct. 5. Hypoed by favorable reviews, “Sabrina Fair," with June Lock- hart, wound up the first week of a fortnight’s stand at the Empress Theatre with a big $18;000 at $2.50 top. It’s the season opener at the stock spoL Second eight performances of “King and I" at: the Henry W. Kiel , auditoriuni drew $511900, : bridging the total gross to $100,300 for the two-week engagement ending Sat- urday night (2). Musical was booked into the municipal house by the American Theatre management. ‘Moon’ $14,800, Cleve. Cleveland, Get. 5, . “Moon Is Blue;" Hanna’s fall legit starter, caught an unexpect- edly hearty $14,800 last week on two-for-ones. '* Comedy, with Jerome Cowan featured, was presumably helped b.v the influx of out-tOwner$ here for the World Series. j Philadelphia, Oct, 5. Unseasonable heat apparently af- fected business at the nbri-aircon- ditioned Locust and. Walnut last week. The refrigerated Forrest, with “South Pacific” as the draw, played to SRO all week. Critics did. handsprings for the. Rodgers- Hammerstein tuner. Forrest had been sold out far in advance of the opener. ' Departure of “Fragile Fox’’ and “Reclining Figure" last Saturday night (2) left Philly with “South Pacific" as the lone offering. “Rain- maker" is next skedded item, due next Monday (11) at the Walnut. Estimates for Last Week South Pacific, Forrest (MD) (1st wk) ($4.80; 1,760) (Iva. Withers, Webb Tilton). Show looks set with top business for six weeks, possibly more; solid $43,200 on the opener. Fragile Fox,‘ Locust (D) (2d wk}, ($4.20; . 1,580) (Dane Clark, Don Taylor); Heaviest Theatre Guild- American Theatre Society sub- scriptions in recent years helped get $12,000; previous stanza regis- tered over $13,000, but Was Under- quoted. Reclining Figure, Walnut (C) (2d wk) ($4.20; 1,340). Word-of-mouth helped, but the weather was not conducive to play-going; moderate $13,100, ‘Blondes’ Up to $13,500 For 2d Week in Pitt Pittsburgh, Oct. 5. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" picked up in its second and final week at the Nixon, doing around $13,500, as., against $10,000 the Opening stanza. Musical, playing a twofer engagement, concentrated most of the take' the last two days, with two evening performances in lieu of regular matinees. The. fi- nale on Saturday (2) was a sellout. Jean Arthur in “Saint Joan’’ is current as the opening subscription offering, with Jerome Cowan in “Moon Is. Blue” due next Monday (11) for two weeks, also as a twofer item,. Nothing is set after that for a fortnight, until “Fifth Season" arrives Nov. 8. Los Angeles, Oct. 5. Hal Zeiger will present a second company of “Sands of the Negev" at the Civic Playhouse Here early in November. Original U. S. production of the Shimon Wincelberg translation of Yigal Mossensohn’s Israeli play opens Oct 18 at the President, N., Y. (Oct, 4 - 16) Caine Mutiny Court Martial (Paul Douglas, Wendell Corey, Steve Brodie)—Palace/. Milwaukee (4); Union, Madison, Wis, (5-6); Orpheum, Davenport (8); Coliseum, Ottumwa, la. (9); Orpheum, Spring- field, 111. (11); McCormick Gym- nasium, Normal, 111. (12); Shrine Aud., Ft. Wayne (13);. Murat, In- dianapolis (14-16). Dial M For Murder (Donald Woods)—-Her Majesty’s, Montreal (4-9). Fanny. (Ezio Pinza, Walter Slezak) (tryout)—Shubert, Boston (4-9);. Shubert, Phila. (11-16). (Re- viewed in Variety^ Sept; 22, ’54). Fragile Fox (Don Taylor, Dane Clark) (tryout)—-Cox; Cincy 4-9) (Reviewed in Variety, Sept. 22, ’54). . Gentlemen Prefer Blondes — Shubert, Detroit (4-16). ' Getting Gertie’s Garter— Majes- tic, Boston (4-16). King and I: (Yul Brynner, Patri- cia Morrison)-—Kiel AUd., St. L. (4-6); State Fair, Dallas (8-16). Moon Is Blue (Jerome Cowan)— Hanna, Cleve. (4-9); Nixon, Pitt (11-16). Mrs. Patterson (Eartha Kitt) (tryout)—Cass, Detroit. (4-9); Har- ris, Chi (11-16) Reviewed in Variety, Sept. 29, ’54). : My 3 Angels (Victor dory).— Royal Alexandra, Toronto (4-9). Naughty .Natalie— Lyceum, Min- neapolis- (li-16). Oklahoma— State, New Bedford (4-5); State, Portia rid (6-7); Opera House, Bangor (8-9); Her Majesty’s; Montreal (11-16). Peter Pan (Mary Martin) (tryout) ; —Philharmonic Aud., L. A. (4-9) (Reviewed in Variety, July 21, 54; Aug. 26, ’54). ? Picnic v (Ralph Meeker)—Erlan- ger, Chi- (4-16). Quadrille (Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontaine, Edna Best, Brian Aherne) (tryout)—Colonial, Boston (14-16). Rainmaker (Geraldine Page) (tryout) — Playhouse, Wilmington (7-8); Walnut St., Phila. ( 11-16). Saint Joan (Jean Arthur)-— Nixon, Pitt (4-9); Cass, Detroit (11- 16) Reviewed in Variety, Sept. 22, ’54). Seven Year Itch (Eddie Bracken) — Metropolitan, Seattle (5-12); Aud., Portland (13-16). South Pacific (lva Withers, Webb Tilton)—Forrest, Phila. (4-16). Tender Trap (Robert; Preston, Kim Hunter, Ronny Graham) (try- out)—Wilbur, Boston (4-9) (Re- viewed in Variety, Sept. 29, ’54). . Time Out for Ginger (Melvyri Douglas—Colsium, Sioux Falls (4); Douglas-—Colisium, Sioux Falls (4); torium, St. Paul (6-7); Derifield High School Aud-, Duluth (.8-9): Iowa, Cedar Rapids (11); KRNT, Des Moines (12), Paramount, Omaha (13-14); Playhouse, K. C. (15-16). i Traveling Lady. (Kim Stanley)—r McCarter, Princeton (8-9); Cbx, Cincy (11-16). What Every Woman Knows (Helen Hayes)—Huntington, Hart- ford, L, A. (4-16), Wonderful Town (Carol Chan- ning)—Shubert, Chi (4-16). MARTIN $56,800 IN L.A. Los Angeles, Oct. 5. Despite the expected downbeat from the Jewish Holiday period, all three local legiters recorded good business last week. The two holdovers actually moved up a bit. “Peter Pan" is ift its final stretch this week, to finish off, the best season in the history of the Civic Light Opera Assn. Estimates- for Last Week Peter Pan, Philharmonic Aud (7th wk). ($5.50; 2,670) (Mary Mar- tin). Up to $56,800 for the next-to- last frame. That’s Life, Las Palmas (15th wk) ($3.60; 490); Arourid $4,700. What Every Woman Knows, Huntington . Hartford list wk) ($3,85; 1,032) (Helen Hayes), Ca- pacity $26,000. Opening night’s $5.50 for all seats overcame the excessive press list required for the premiere of the new legit house. ‘Toes’ Agile 441G in 9 For New Haven Preem New Haven, Oct. 5. Breakin of the “On Your Toes" revival at Shubert here turned in a neat $44,500 top. Show played a Sept. 25 preview and then a full week ending Saturday (2) for a to- tal of nine performances. House is dark for next three weeks, then gets the American preem of .“The Living Robm." star- ring Barbara Bel Geddes. Oct. 27- 30. Another 'trj^out urifolds the fol- lowing week with “On With The Show,” musical starring Irra Petina. i f <r * v mi haa /r\ i X i Business on Broadway took a dip last week for all but the Smash entries. Receipts . Monday and Tuesday (27-28). were clipped by the Jewish holiday, while the World Series opening Wedriesday (29) at the Polo Grounds, N.Y„ apparently affected the matinee trade. Sellouts last week were “Can- Can," “Dear Charles,” “Kismet,” ‘■Pajama Game" and “Teahouse of the August Moon/’ with “Caine Mutiny Court Martial’’ just miss- ing; Last week’s sole opening was, “The Boy Friend,” which bowed Thursday (30). Only preem this week is “Re- clining Figure," debuting tomor- row night (Thurs.). There were no; closings last week. Estimates fbr. Last Week Scott McKay). Another sellout, over $34,100. OPENING THIS WEEK Reclining Figure, Lyceum (C) ($5.75-$4.60; 995; $23,389). Play by Harry Kurnitz, produced by Martin .Gabel & Henry M. Mar- . golis; financed at $75,000, Cost about $50,000 to produce, includ- ing bonds and approximate $5,0.00 tryout loss,. can break even at around $12,000 gross; opens tomor- row night (Thurs.). . OFF-BROAD WAV SHOWS (Figures denote opening dates) Clandestine Marriage, Province- town (9-29-54). Way of the World, Cherry Lane (10-2-54). World of Shoiom Aleichem, Barbizon-Plaza (5-1-53). Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), MC (Musical-Comedy), MD (Musi- cal-Drama), O (Opera), OP (Op- eretta). Other parenthetic: designations refer, respectively, to weeks played, number of performances through last Saturday, top prices,- number of seats, capacity gross and stars.. Price includes . 10% Federal and 5%. City tax: but grasses are net: tie., exclusive of tax. All Summer Long, Coronet (D) 2d wk; 12, $5.75-$4 60; 1/027; $30,000). Over $12,500 (previous week, $12,300 for first four per- formances and one preview). Anniversary Waltz, Broadhurst (C) 26th wk; 203; $4;60; 1;160; $28,000) (Macdonald Carey;. Kitty Carlisle). tinder $17,200 (previous Week, $21,100). Boy Friend, Royale (MC), (1st wk; 4; $6.90; 1,172; $38,000). Opened last Thursday (30) to unan- imously favorable reviews; grossed nearly $21,700 for-first four per- formances and one preview. By the Bekutiful Sea/: Majestic (MC) (26th wk; 204; $6.90; 1,510; $58,000) (Shirley Booth). Neatly $30,800 (previous week, $33,400); moved last Monday (4) to the Inv perial, where can remain until Dec. 25, but must then, vacate for “Silk Stockings," due Dec. 30. (Caine Mutiny Court. Martial, Plymouth (D) (37th wk; 292; '$5,75- $4.60; $33,331) Lloyd Nolan, John Hodiak, Barry Sullivan), Almost $33,300 (previous week, $33,500). Can-Can, Sihubert (MO (74th wk; 588; $6.90; 1,361; $50,160). Sellout, just $50,400 (previous week, $50,400). Dear Charles, Morosco (C) (3d wk; 21; $6.90-$5.75-$4.60; $25,850) (Tallulah Bankhead). Another sell- out, almost $29,900 (previous week, $29,900). Fifth Season, Cort (G) (79th wk; 627; $4.60; 1,056; $25,227) (Chester Morris, Joseph Buloff). Almost $6,400 (previous week, $10,200); closes Oct. 23, to tour. Home Is the Hero, Booth (D) (2d wk; 13;/ $5.75-$4.60; 766; $22,- 0Q.0) (Walter Macken, Peggy Ann Garner). Almost $9,800 (previous week, $9,200 for first five perform- ances). King of Hearts, Lyceum (C) 27th wk; 210; $5.75-$4.60; 995; $23,389) (Donald Cook, Jackie Cooper). Al- most $11,700 (previous week, $13- 400); moved last Monday. (4) to the National. Kismet, Ziegfeld (OP) (44th wk; 348; $6.90; 1,528; $57,908) Alfred Drake). Sellout, over $57,900 (previous week, $57,900). Midsummer Night’s Dteam, Met Opera House (M) (2d wk; 14; $6; 3,612; $93,553) Robert Helpmann; Moira ’Shearer, Stariley Holloway), Had standees, but failed to get. ca- pacity *at, $89,600. (Previous week, $70,500 for. first six performances), Oh Men; Oh Women, Miller (C) (42d wk; 342; $5.75-$4.60; 920; $23,- 248) (Lloyd Bridges). Almost $7,- 800 (previous week. $11,200). Pajama Game, St. James (MC) (21st Wk; 164;. $6.90; 1,571; $51,- 717) (John Rditt, Janice Paige, Ed- die Foy Jr,) Sellout again, over I $51,700. Seven Year Itch, Fulton (C> (98tli wk; 781; $5.75-$4.60; 1,063; $24,000.) (Elliott Nugent). Nearly $20,700 (previous week, $21,300). Solid Gold Cadillac, Music Box (C) (48th wk; 381; $5.75-$4.60; 1,077? $27,811). Just under $20,900 (previous week, $23,100). ‘ Tea and Sympathy, Barrymore (D) (53d wk; 421; $5.75-$4.60; 1.060; $28,300) (Joan Fontaine). Nearly $22,100 (previous week, $24,700). Teahouse of the August Moon, Beck (C) (51st wk; 412; $6.22-$4.60; 1,214; $33,608) (Burgess Meredith, Boston, Oct. 5. Biz continued strong , here last : Week with “Fanny“ in second week at the' Shubert, setting another house record, “Tender. Trap," whieh , opened at the Majestic to cautious notices, caught oft with slick trade for the initial frame. “Getting Gertie’s Garter," held up okay in its second stanza at the Majestic, On the horizon is a Week’s ertr of the Ballet. Russe De Monte Carlo at the: Opera House, :ti.ui? Oct. 11 and the Lunts and Edna Best and, Brian Aherne i “Quadrille," bowing Oct. 14 at the Colonial. Estimates for Last Week; Fanny, Shubert (2d wk) (MD) $6.25; 1,700) (Ezio Pinza, Walter Slezak). Topped initial week with a new house record at $50,079, final week is current. Getting Gertie’s Garter/Majestic (C) (2d wk) ($3.30; 1,500). Holding to near $13,500 again, on twofers; continues.. . . ^ Tender Trap, Majestic (1st. wk) (C) ($3.85; 1,200) (Robert Preston, Kim Hunter, Ronny Graham). Picked up the latter nart of the week to reggister $18,700 for the debut stanza; .final week is current. JEAN’S ‘JOAN’ OKAY 21G IN HOLDOVER WEEK, D. C. Washington, Oct. 5. Second and final stanza of Jean Arthur in Shaw’s “Saint Joan" drew nearly $21,000 last week at the National Theatre, That was almost $2,000 better than the initial semester; but far from sensational. Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, opening a one-week 6tand ,last night (Mon.), had over $1.5,000 advance; Eartha-Tatterson’ 20G For 2d Week, Detroit , Detroit, Oct. 5. “Mrs. Patterson," Leonard Sill- man . production, starring Eartha Kilt, eased off’ to $20,000 in its second canto at the 1.482-seat Cass last week. Top is $3.85 vveeknights, $4.40 Saturday eyes. Authors Charles Sebree and Greer Johnson , have speeded the slow second act. Also, Avon Long lias replaced . Alonzo Bosa'ii as the devil, who appears in the dream sequences.; The .2,050-seat Shubert. relighted Sunday <3) for the' first time this season with “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," in for a,fortnight. Two shows Will, be given Saturday nights, with, no matinees sched- uled, Top is $3.85, but the. show is on twofers. ‘Dial’ $5,500, Toronto Toronto, Oct. 5., With a bad $5,500 gross,, it was slow death for “Dial M for Mur- der," last week at the Royal Alex- andra here. Charles Harrow pro- duction, starring Donald Woods, had a $3,50 top at the 1,525-seat house. For no apparent,reason, and despite favorable reviews, the pub- lic refused to go for the killer-, thriller. “My 3 Angels," with Victor Jory starred* is current.