Variety (October 1954)

VeAtftJiy, October 13, lfji Following arc the comparative figures based on Variety’s box- office reports for last week (the 19th week of the season) and the corresponding week of last season:, BROADWAY Chicago, Oct. 12. Biz at the Loop’s brace of en- tries picked up slightly last week, with exit announcements figured a factor. Mail orders and small party bookings have perked for “Wonderful Town,” which departs . Nov. 20. There are two openings th|s week. Estimates for Last Week Picnic, Erlanger (4th wk) ($4.40; 1,300) (Ralph Meeker). Approached $19,200. (previous week, $17,600); closed its tour here Saturday <(9). Wonderful Town, Shubert (14th wk) ($4.60; 2,100) (Carol Channihg). Almost $31,900 (previous week, $29,000); ■ exits town NOv. 20. ^ Opening This Week Mrs. Patterson, Harris ($5; 1,000) (Eartha Kitt). Opens tonight (Tues.) for :a seven-week pre- Broadway tryout, with first three weeks under Guild subscription. Pardon Ojir Antenna, SelWyn ($4.50; 1,000)" (Ole Olsen & Chic Johnson). Opens next Saturday (16) for ah indefinite pre-Broad- way run. EARTHA $16,000 3D WK., 'BLONDES’ 20G, DETROIT Detroit, Oct. 12. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” grossed a relatively good $20,000 in the first week of a fortnight’s engagement at the 2,050-seat Cass. Top is $3.85, although tickets are selling for about one-third off. The $3.85 tickets, instead of being on twofers, are going at $2.30, while the $3.30 tickets are sold for $ 2 ... Final of three Weeks in Detroit grossed a slim $16,000 for “Mrs. Patterson,” Eartha Kitt starter at the 1,492-seat Cass. Top was $3.85 weeknights, $4.40 Saturday eves. Play now is at the Harris,.Chicago, for seven weeks, prior to scheduled Dec.. 1 opening on Broadway. . Current at the Cass is “Saint Joan”, starring Jean Arthur, in for two weeks. Top is $3.85. Shubert has booked Jose Greco for two Weeks beginning Oct. 25, and “Tea and Sympathy,” -starring Deborah Kerr, for a fortnight starting Nov. 28. 'King’ $27,000 in Last 5, 'Sabrina’ $18,000, St Loo St. Louis, Oct. 12. The last five of 21 performances of “King and I,” in the opera house of the Henry W. Kiel (municipal) auditorium grabbed an approxi- mate gross of $27,000 to bring the total fqr the stand to $128,000. Show was presented under the sponsorship of the American the- atre. House opens its niidtoWn theatre Oct. 25 with: a two' week stand of “The Moon Is Blue.” It will be the third, time the piece has been pre- sented here. “Sabrina Fair,” the opening piece of the season at the Empress theatre, wound up its. two Week frame Sunday (10) with a gross estimated at $18,000, equalling opening frame’s take. “Dulcy,” With June Lockhart and John 'O’Hare, opens a one-week stand Jonlght (Tues ), m . . Bus-Truck ‘Oklahoma’ $24,200 in 3 Stands Bangor, Me., Oct. 12. Oklahoma” grossed a total of $24,200 last week In a series of three stands. Bus-truck touring production played Monday-Tuesday (4-5) at the State, New Bedford, Mass.; Wednesday-Thursday (6-7) at the State, Portland, and Friday- Saturday (8-9) at the Opera House here. Show is at Her Majesty’s, Mon- treal, all this week. 'Moon’ 17G, Cleve. Cleveland, Oct. 12. “Moon Is Blue,’’ with Jerome Cowan, hypoed a sellout second stanza for an excellent $17,000 at the Hanna last week. ' Two-for-one ducats at $3.75 top and double night shows Fridays and Saturdays turned the trick, pulling $14,800 the first round. Los Angeles, Oct. 12. Only two houses are ‘alight this week after the closing of “Peter Pan” at SRO to give the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Assn, the best season its .17 year history. Total gross reached $1,- 362,000. No openings are slated for the next fortnight; Estimates for Last Week Peter Pan, Philharmonic Aud (8th yik) ($5.50; 2,670) (Mary Mar- tin). Up to $57,800 on the fadeout to give it $453,000 for the eight weeks. That’s Life, Las Palmas (16th wk) ($3.60; 400). Another $4,800. What Every Woman Knows, Huntington Hartford (2d wk) ($3.85; 1,032) (Helen Hayes), pacity $25,000. Ca- Pittsburgh, Oct. 12. Jean Arthur in “Saint Joan” did $15;500 at the Nixbn last week, a little disappointing considering the star’s name and fact that this was virtually the opening of the legit season and the first subscription play. Notices for the most part were excellent, even with reserva- tions for the title-performance, but the Shaw revival never got going until practically the Windup. Nixon currently has Jerome Co,wan in “The Moon Is Blue,” playing to twofers and booked in for two weeks, and then house has nothing -definitely lined up until “The Fifth Season” arrives Nov. 8. Tour Folds Abruptly Toronto, Oct. 12. . After a disastrous $5,200 gross- last week, “My 3 Angels” folded here Saturday (9).. Royal Alex- andra Theatre, 1,525-seater, was scaled at $3.50 top for the stand. Victor Jory starrer got rave re- views, but customers just didn’t go for the Sam and Bella Spewack adaptation of the French farce by Albert Husson. Tour lasted only two weeks, ‘Ginger’ Hits $19,500 lit Four-Stand Week Duluth, Oct. 12. “Time Out For Ginger,” playing four different locations, grossed around $19„500 last week. Approxi- mate takes were $4,000 for one per- formance at the Coliseum, Sioux City Falls, S. D., Monday (4); $3,500 for one at the Orpheum, Sioux City, la., Tuesday (5); $5,500 for three at the Auditorium, St. Paul, Wednesday-Thursday (6-7), and $6,- 500 for three at Denfield High Aud here Frlday-Saturday (8-9). Melvyn Douglas starrer la .also splitting the current frame. *Lady’ Gets $4,400 in 3 In Princeton Breakin Princeton; ’ Oct. 12. •preem of “Traveling Lady” at the McCarter Theatre drew around $4,400 for three performances last Friday-Saturday (8-9), Horton Foote play is continuing its tryout this week at the Cox The- atre, Cincinnati. i • 9 Boston, Oct. 12, Although still being revised in preparation for its Broadway run, “Fanny” wound its three-week stand at the Shubert a complete sellout. Production has now moved to Philadelphia for more polishing. ’'Tender Trap” ended its second and final week at the Wilbur with a terrific gross for this moderate seater. “Getting Gertie's Garter” Was okay in the third week and holds at the ; Majestic. Ballet. Russe de Monte Carlo opened last' night (Mon.) at the Opera House. “Quadrille,” sparked by the Lunts, Edna Best ana Brian Aherne, opens Thursday (14) at the Colonial for two and a half weeks, with heavy advance re- ported. Estimats for Last Week Fanny, Shubert (3d wk) (MD) ($6.25; 1,700) (Ezio Pinza, Walter Slezak). Topped last week’s record- breaking gross, winding with an- other new mark, $50,151. House is dark until "On With the Show” bows Nov. 6. Getting Gertie’s Garter, Majes- tic (3d Wk) ($3.30; 1,500). Slipping, but okay at $10,000 on twofers; continues; | Tender Trap, Wilbur (2d wk) (C) ($3,85, 1,200) (Robert^ Preston, Kim Hunter, Ronny Graham), Tryout finaled a two-week stand with a house record, $23,316; theatre Went dark. 'RAINMAKER’ $9,300 FOR 4 IN WILMINGTON Wilmington, Oct. 12. Tryout bow of “The Rainmaker” at the 1,223-seat Playhouse here lgst. week drew almost $9,300 for four performances. Engagement ran from Thursday (7) through Saturday (9). Next booking at the theatre is “Wedding Breakfast,” due Oct, 28- 30. Scheduled N.Y. Openings {Theatre indibated if set) On Your Toes, 46th St. (10-11). Fragile Fox, Belascb (10-12). Tender Trap, Longacre (10-13). Sing'tto Lullaby, Phoenix- (10-14). I Feel Wonderful, de Lys. (10-18). In Splendid Error, Greenwich Mews (10-18). Sands in Negev, President (10- 19). [ Peter Pan, W. Garden (10-20). | Stone for Danny Fisher, Down- town Nat’l (10^21). Slightly Delinquent, Black Friars (10-25). Dybbuk, 4th St. (10r28). Traveling Lady, Playhouse (iO- 27). Rainmaker, Cort (10r28). Quadrille, Coronet (11-3). Fanny, Majestic (11-4). Wedding Breakfast, 48th St. (11-16). ' LiVihg/Room, Miller (11.17). Hot Rock (11-22). Sandhog, Phoenix (11-23). Kilgo Run (week 11-29). Mrs. Patterson, National (12-1). On With the Show, Hellinger ( 12 - 2 ). Shoemaker’s Children (Week of 12-3.) Flowering Peach (Week of 12-6). Witness For Prosecution (12-8). Portrait nf a Lady, ANTA Play- house (12-9). Lunatics)ahd Lovers, Broadhurst (12-13). Festival (12-15). Running Mate (12-15). Between Friends (12-16). Black-Eyed Susan (12-16). Stars In a Person’s Backyard (week of 12-19). Anastasia (12-22). What Every Woman Knows, City Center (12-22). House of Flowers, Alvin (12-23). Film Flam (12.24). Painted Days (week 12-27). Silk Stockings, Imperial (12-30). Grand Prise (Week of 1-10) Plain A Fancy (1-20). Desperate Hour* (1-26). < Biz on Broadway was up a mi down last week, but for the most part the variation in grpSses from the previous session's tallies was slight. Substantial dips were reg- istered by only two shows, both musicals, > “Home Is the Hero” closes next Saturday (16), making it the first entry, of the hew season to throw in the towel. There are four preems this week. “On Your Toes’’ bowed Monday (11), followed by “Fragile Fox 1 ’ ; last night. (Tues.) and “Tender Trap” tonight (Wed ) “Sing Me No Lullaby” bows to- morrow (Thurs.) at the “8ff-Broad- way” Phoenix Theatre. Sole newcomer last Week was “Reclining Figure,” which debuted Thursday, (7). Estimates for Last Week 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 grosses tire net: i.e., exclusive of tax. \ All Summer Long, Coronet (D) (3d wk; 20, $5.75-$4.60; 1,027; $30,000). Oyer $12,300 (previous week, $12,500);’moves Nov. 1 to the Booth. Anniversary Waltz, Broadhurst (C) (27th Wk; 211; $4.60; 998; $28,000) (Macdonald Carey, Kitty Carlisle). Under $16,800 (previous week, $17,200). Boy Friend, Royale (MG) (2d wk; 12; $6.90; 1,172; $38,200). Capacity at $33,200 (previous week, $21,700 for first four performances and one preview). By the Beautiful Sea, Imperial (MC) (27th wk; 212; $6.90; 1,400; $50,300) (Shirley Booth). Over $28,100 (previous week, $30,800); moved last Monday (4) to the Im- perial, where can remain until Dec. 25, but must then vacate for “Silk Stockings,” due Dec. 30. Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Plymouth (D) (38th wk; 300; $5.75- $4.60; $33,331) Lloyd Nolan, John Ifodiak, Barry Sullivan). Just $33,000 (previous week, $33,300). Can-Can, Shubert (MC) (75th wk 596; $6,90; 1,361; $50,160). Sellout, just, $50,600 (previous week, $50,400). Dear Charles,. Morosco (C) v (4th wk; 29; $6.90-$5.75-$4.60; $29,850) (Tallulah Bankhead). Another sell- out, almost $29,900 (previous Week, $29,900). Fifth Season, Cort (C) (80th wk; 635; $4.60; 1,056; $25,227) (Chester Morns, Joseph Buloff). Over $10,300 (previous week, almost $10,500, was underquoted at $6,- 400); closes Oct. 23, to tour. Home Is the Hero, Booth (D). (3d Wk; 21; $5.75-$4;60; 766; $22,- 000) (Walter Macken, Peggy Ann Garner). Over $10,000 (previous week, $9,800); closes next Saturday (16). King of Hearts, National (C) (28th wk; 218; $5;75-$4.60; 1,172; $31,300) (Donald Cook, -Jackie Cooper), Over $15,400 on twofers (previous week, $11,700); moved last Mon- day (4) to the National. Kismet, Ziegfeld (OP) (45th wk; 356; $6.90; 1,528; $57,908) (Alfred Drake). Almost $55,800 (previous Week, $57,900). Midsummer Night’s Dream, 'Met Opera House (M) (3d wk; 22; $6; 3,612; $93,553) Robert' Helpmann, Moira Shearer, Stanley Holloway). Had standees, but failed to get ca- pacity at $89,400 '(previous week, $89,600); only unsold tickets were those marked obstructed or side view. Closes next Sunday (17) and is splitting current week between here and th*e Academy of Music, Philadelphia, where it plays Tues- day-Thursday (12-14). Oh Men, Oh Women, Miller (C) (43d wk; 350; $5.75-$4.60; 920; $23,- 248) (Lloyd Bridges). Over $10,- 400, with some twofers. (previ- ous week, *$7,800). Pajama Game, St. James (MC) (22d wk; 172; $6.90: 1,571; $51,- 717) (John Raitt, Janice Paige, Ed- die Foy Jr.) Sellout again, over $51,700. Reclining Figure, Lyceum (C) (lsh wk); 4; $5.75-$4.60; 995; $23,- 389); Opened last Thursday-47) to three favorable notices • (Atkin- son, Times; Chapman, News; Cole> man, Mirror), three pan* (Kerr, Herald Tribune; McClain, Journal- LEGITIMATE 65 American; Watts, Post) and one in- decisive review (Hawkins, World- Telegram); grossed over $10,400 for first four performances. Seven Year itch, Fulton (C) (99th wk; 789; $5.75-$4.60; 1,063; $24,000) (Elliott Nugent). Nearly $21,000 (previous week, $20,700). Solid Gold Cadillac, Music Box (C) (49th Wk; 389: $5.75-$4.60; 1,077; $27,811). Almost $21,700 (previous week, $20,900). Tea and Sympathy, Barrymore SPY (54th wk; 429; $5.75-$4.60; 1,- 060: $28,300) (Joan Fontaine), Near- ly $21,300 (previous week, $22,100). Teahouse of the August Moon, Beck (C) <52d wk; 420; $6.22-$4.60; 1,214; $33,608) (Burgess Meredith, Scott McKay), Another sellout, over $34,100. OPENING THIS WEEK Fragile Fox, Belasco <D) ($5.75; $4.60; 1,077; $28;300) (Dane Clark, Don Taylor). Play by Norman Brooks, presented by Paul Vrooni, i%association with Barnard Straits; production financed at $70,000, cost about. $52,000 to bring in, including approximately $12,000 tryout loss but excluding bonds, and can break even at around $15,000 gross; opened last night (Tues.). On Yojur Toes, 46th St. (MC) ($8.05-$6.90; 1,319) (Vera Zorina, Bobby Van). Musical with score by Richard Rodgers,: lyrics by Lorenz Hart, book by Rodgers & Hart and George Abbott, presented by: Abbott; production financed at $175,000, cost about $165,000 to bring, in, including approximately $6,000 tryout loss (there are no bonds),, and can break even at around $30;000 gross; opened Mon- day , night (11) 'to unanimously negative reviews. Sing Me No Lullaby, Phoenix (D) ($3.45; 1,150; $20,000), Play by Robert Ardrey, presented by T. Edward Hambleton and Norri Houghton as the first in their sec** ond season of five stock produc- tions on a total budget of $125,000, excluding bonds, and can break even at around $13,000 gross; opens tomorrow night (Thurs.). Tender Trap, Longacre (C) ($5.75; $4.60; 1.048; $2fi,817) (Rob- ert Preston, Kim Hunter, Ronny Graham). Play by Max Shulman, Robert Paul Smith, presented by Clinton Wilder; production fi- nanced at $75,000, cost about $50,- 000 to bring in, including approxi- mately $7i000 tryout profit, but ex- cluding bonds, and can break even at around $14,500 gross; opens to- night (Wed,). OFF-BROADWAY SHOWS (Figures denote opening dates) Clandestine Marriage, Province- town (9-29-54).... Way of the World, Cherry Lane (10-2-54). World of Sholom Aleichem, Barbizon-Plaza (5-4-53). 'FOX’ NOT SO FRAGILE AT $13,700 IN CINCY Cincinnati, Oct. 12. “Fragile Fox,” with Dane Clark and Don Taylor, opened Cincy’s legit x season last week to a, good $13,700 in the 1,300-seat Cox, at $3.30 top. Theatre Guild-Amer- ican Theatre Society subscription was a factor. Horton Foote’s “The Traveling Lady,” with Kim Stanley, at same $3,30 top, is current at the Cox. House shuts next week and re- opens Oct. 25 for a week with Jean Arthur in “Saint Joan”, at $3.90 top. Solo ‘S.P.’ 446, Phila.; 2 Openings This Week . Philadelphia, Oct. 12. “South Pacific” had the field to itself all Week and clocked up vir- tual SRO for entire semester, with standees upping take. . Fresh spurt of legit activity this week found “The Rainmaker” re- lighting the Walnut last evening (Mon.) for a two-week tryout, and “Fanny” arriving at the Shubert tonight (Tues.) for a three-week tuneup. Shubert tuner is sold out in ad- vance. jSame goes for the four- performance stand of the Old Vic’s “Midsummer 'Night’s Dream,” at the Academy of Music. Estimate for Last Week South Pacific, Forrest (MD) (2d wk) ($4.80; 1,760) (Iva Withers, Webb Tilton). Age cannot wither the appeal of this one; smash $44,000. '