Variety (October 1954)

Wednesday, October 20, 1954 P&RIE& LEGITIMATE 139 Following are the comparative figures based on Variety’s box- office reports for last week (the 20th week of the season) and the corresponding week of last season: BROADWAY This 1953-54 Season Season Number of shows current ,. v,23 19 Total weeks played so far by ail shows 332 296 Total gross for all shows last week $669,700. $558,300 Season's total gross so far $9,143,000 $8,661,100 ' Number of new productions so far li ’ 12 ROAD/ Excluding stock Number of current shows reported 21 24 Total weeks played so far by all shows 242 240 Total gross for all shows last Week ‘ $476,500 $449,800 Season’s total gross so far $6,392,800 $5,574,700 r Chicago, Oct. 19. Loop biz continued to improve last week. A good gain was regis- tered by “Wonderful Town,” and “Mrs. Patterson” opened strong with Theatre Guild subscription support. The future bookings include Nov; 8, “Saint Joan,” Great North- ern, on subscription;' Nov. 15,- “Fifth Season, Erlahger, indefi-. riite run; Nov. 23, “King and I,” Shubert,* on subscription, indefi- nite. run; Dec: 6, "Oh Men, Oh Women,” Harris, subscription, ■indefinite run. Estimates for Last Week Mrs. Patterson, Harris (1st wk) ($5; 1,000) (Eartha Kitt). Nearly $24,600 for first seven perform- ances and one preview; opened Oct. 12 to tWo pans (Kogan, Sun-Times; Dettmer, American) and two qual- ified pans (CdsSidy, Tribune; Har- ris, Daily News); Pardon Our Antenna, Sehvyn ($4.50; 1,000) (Ole Olsen, Chic Johnson). Opened Saturday (16)/ to unanimous pans; grossed, around $3,800 for first, performance. Wonderful Town, Shubert (15th wk) ($4.60; 2,100) (Carol Cbannirtg). Over $33,400 (previous week,.. $31,- 900); moves out Nov. 20 to re- sume tour. Boston, Oct. 19. As exppcted, the Ballet Russd de Mofite Carlo, in spite of program- ming snafus,, pulled a hefty gross on its single stanza at the Opera House last' week. “Quadrille,” which jopeiied last Thursday (14) at the Colonial, also went clean, with the house reportedly sold out for. tile remaining two weeks, of its tryout. Estimates for Last Week Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Opera House (single- wk) ($4.00; 3.000). Mammoth $53,000; house is dai’k Getting. Gertie's Garter, Majestic (4th wk) $3.30; 1,500).. Not too bad at near $9,000 - oil twofers; con- tinues. , . . Quadrille, Colonial (ist wk) ($4.95; 1,576) (Alfred Lunt. Lynn Fontanne, 'Edna Best, Brian Aherne). Opened Thursday (14) and nabbed nearly $19,000 for four performances; tryout is in for two Weeks more. Shows in Rehearsal Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CD .(Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), MC (Musical Comedy), MD (Musi- cal Drama)\0 (Opera), OP ( Op- eretta ). Bad Seed (D)—Playwrights Co.,- prod.; Reginald Denham, dir;; Nancy Kelly, star. • Black-Eyed Susan (C)—Gordon w. Pollock-JAmes Go.odman-Everett Hart, prods.; Gregory Ratoff, dir,; Vincent Price, star. Flowering Peach (D)—Producers Theatre,. Inc., prod.; Clifford Odets, dh'-:. Menasha Skulnik,. star! Living Room (D):—Gilbert Miller & Donald Albery, prods.; Hugh Hunt, dir.; Barbara Bel Geddes, slm\ • On With the Show (Mh-Eiiza- bo.h Mieie, prod.; Charles W. CMristenberry Jr. & Byrle Cass, Irra Petitta, star, ortrait of a Lady (D)—Lyn Ails- \ * nromas Noyes-*-Producers The- ‘ -. 'orods.; Jose Quintero, dir.; 'ni.'.'er Jones, star. ''’f-ing Breakfast (C-D)—Ker- !). oonigarden, prod.; Herman hhumli dir,; ‘Hut’ 5G, Balto Baltimore, Oct, 19.- Hurricane Hazel hit Don: Swann’s winter stock^operation here at the Hilltop-Parkway, forcing the can- cellation of the Friday (15) per- formance of “The Little Hut” with John Newland. The first week in a proposed 27-we’ek . season gar- nered a fairish $5,000. Current bill is “The Stronger Sex” with Charles (Buddy) Rogers. “Time Of The Cuckoo” with The Continental (Renzo Cezano) is set to follow. ‘GINGER’ OVER $17,400 IN 4 MIDWEST STANDS Kansas. City, Oct- 19. “Time Out for- Ginger,” with Melvyn Douglas as star, grossed a total of over $17,400 in sfeven per- formances spread over four stands last week. The Rdnald Alexander comedy drew nearly $3,900 in a one-nighter Monday (11) at the Iowa, Cedar Rapids; added almost $3,300 in a single show Tuesday night (12) at the KRNT Theatre, Des Moines; picked up nearly $4,300 in two showings Wednesddy- Thursday (13**i4), arid got a . final $6,000 in three performances at the KMBC Playhouse here Friday-Sat- urday (15-16). After- an added matinee and evening hCre Sunday (17), the re- ceipts for which Will be included With the current Week’s total, the show will divide the balance of the semester between Topeka, Wichita and Denver. Lockhart-‘Dulcy’ 16fG For Week in St Louis , St. Louis, Oct. 19.,. One-week stand of “Dulcy,”-with June Lockhart and John O’Hare in the top roles, Wound up at the Ansell Bros. Empress Sunday (17) with * a $16,500 b,o. score. - The piece was scaled to. $2,50. Ft was the third successive week that Miss Lockhart has been, in this house this season. ' “The Show Off,” with Joe E. BroWn, Frances Helm and Ann, Dere heading the cast, tees off a two-week frame, tonight . (Tues). The American. Theatre, other lo- cal legit house, op>ehs its season next Tuesday (25) With “The Moon Is Blue,” the piece remaining for a fortnight. It will be the third time the. play has been presented here." ‘Okla.’ 23G, Mont’i Montreal, Oct. 19. Bus-truck production of “Okla- homa” grossed nearly $23,000 at a $3.38 top at the 1,704-seat Her Majesty's Theatre here. Jose Greco dancers opened last night (Mon;) for. a week's stand, and the touring edition of /‘Caine Mu- tiny Court Martial” is due the week of Nov. 15. Greco 14G» ^Toronto Toronto, Oct. 19. Engagement of Jose Greco and his Spanish Dancers was heavily hit by Hurricane Hazel, with biz sad on last two. days and west end of city cut off by washed-out bridges. Earlier biz was okay but week’s gross was $14,000, with Royal Alexandra, 1,525-seater, scaled at $3.50 top with tax. Previous engagement grossed $18,000. ‘Moon’ Hangs Low at 91G For 3d Pittsburgh Visit Pittsburgh, Oct.. 10. Third time back for “Moon ; Is Blue” is the only possible reason for the so-so business it did in first of two weeks kt the Nixon. No- tices for the production headed by Jerome Cowan Were excellent, as good as the show got on its first visit, and twofers ate figured an okay factor, too. But attraction wound up at around $9,500, and advance for current and closing session is only soso. However, it's generally believed that the driving rain Friday night • (15) when the town Was virtually flooded by the edges of Hurricane - Hazel knocked “Moon” for a loop, since the show had- two evening performances scheduled, at 7 and 9:30, and ex- pected to do well on the pair. However,, nobody ventured into the Golden Triangle and there was ho business at all. So With any kind of a break in weather'this Week; comedy should pick up at least a little. .Nixon will likely be dark for a fortnight,, lighting Nov. 8 With “Fifth 1 Season” and maybe shuttering for another stanza preceding “Wonderful Town” Nov.-22 for two weeks. Philadelphia, Oct. 19. Despite official warnings to the public to stay at home because lof Hurricane Hazel, there was SRO biz at “Fanny” last Friday night (15), same as the* rest of the week. Theatre Guild subscription and heavy mail order had sold out the musical tryout before the. opening curtain. , “South Pacific,” still getting all the house will hold, has extended its engagement at the Forrest, an additional two weeks, through Nov. 20. Geraldine Page had the critics throwing, their hat siritb tlie air in “The Rainmaker,” and -the show also profited from word-of-mouth. In prospect are: Nov. 1, “Fifth: Season,” Shubert, one week, and “Getting Gertie’s. Garter,” Locust, on twofers,' three. weeks;. Nov. 2. “Wprid Of'Sholem Aleichem,” Wal- put, three weeks; N.ov. 22, “Silk Stockings,” tryout, Shubert, four weeks; Mask & Wig Club!s “Tem- pest in a Teapot,” Locust, one Week, and .“Lunatics and Lovers,” tryout, Walnut, two weeks; Nov. 24, “House 'Of Flowers,” tryout, Forrest, two weeks, and Nov.. 2p “Black Eyed Susan,” tryout, Lo- cust, one week. Estimates for Last Week South Pacific, Forrest, (MD) (3d wk) ($4.80; 1,760) (Iva Withers, Webb Tilton), Still a scalper’s holi- day, with, run being extended each time boxoffice starts to go clean; Over $43,500, Rainmaker, Walnut, (C) (lst.jvk) (1,340; $4 ; 20) (Geraldine Page). Favorable , reviews helped to fair $10,000; current week is the finale for this tryout. Fanny, Shubert, (MD) '(lst wk) ($6; 1,870) (Ezio Pinza. Walter Sle- zak). Good, if hot rave reviews, and ! favorable audience reaction greeted new tuner; drew, standees over $46,600; repairs still being made during the final fortnight. , DET.; . Detroit, Get. 19. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” grossed $21,000" in its second and last week at the . 2',050-seat Cass. Top was $2.30, a markdown from the posted price of $3.85; Theatre is dark currently, with Jose Greco scheduled for two weeks beginning Oct. 25. “Saint Joan,” starring Jean Ar- thur, grossed $16,000 in thie first week .of a 'fortnight's stay at the 1,482-seat Cass. Portland, Oct. 19.. Eddie Bracken in “Seven .Year Itch” grabbed a neat $20,000 in five evening performances and one matinee at the Civic Auditorium here lari Tuesday-Saturday (12-16). The 4,000 .sealer was scaled at $4.80. . “Itch” started slowly, but gained with each performance. William Duggan is presenting , Melvyn Douglas in “Time Out For i Ginger” next Biz on Broadway ' jumped last week. Boosts were registered by all shows except the already-solid. smashes. Threat of hurricane Hazel last, Friday. (15) faifed to clip the b. o. seriously. Four .openings last week in- cluded “On Your Toes,” “Fragile Fox,” “Tendei* Trap” and “Sing Me No. Lullaby.’* Sole opener this week is “Peter Pah,” which preems tonight (Wed.). .Initial flop of. the current sea- son,. “Home Is the .Hero,” folded last Saturday (16). Estimates for Last Week Keys: C VComedy), D (Drama) , CD ■ ( Comedy-Drama) , R "'(Revue /» MC (Musical-Comedy), MD"< Musi- cal-Drama), O (Opera), OP (Op- eretta): Other parenthetic desigiiafidus refer, respectively, to. weeks played, number of . perforhiances through last. Saturday, top prices, number of seats, Capacity gross and stars: Price includes 10% Federal and 5% City tax, but grosses are ‘net: i.e., exclusive of "lax.. All Summer Long, Coronet (D) (4th Wk; 28, $5,75-$4.60; 1,027;, $30,000. Over $15,400 (previous week, $12,300); -moves Nov. 1 to the Booth. Anniversary Waltz, Broadhurst (C). 28th wk; 219; $4.60; 998; $28,O0O) (Macdonald Carey, Kitiy Carlisle). Nearly $24,100. (previous week, $16,800. Boy Friend, Royale.fMC) (3d wk; 20; $6.90; 1,172; $38,200). Capacity at $37,600, with take cut by theatre party commissions (previous week, $38,200). By the Beautiful Sea; Imperial (MC) (28th wk; :220; $6,90; 1,400; $50,300)' (Shirley: Booth). Nearly $32,900 (previous week, $28,100). Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Plymouth (D) (39th wk; 308; $5.75- $4.60; $33,331) Lloyd Nolan, John. Hodiak, Barry Sullivan). Almost $33,200 (previous week, $33,000). Can-Can, Shubert (MC) (76th wk; 604; $6.90; 1,361; $50,160). Sellout, just $50,400 (previous Week, $50,600). Dear Charles, Morosco (C) (5th wk;r 37;* $6.90-$5.75-$4.60; $29,850) (Tallulah Bankhead). Another sell- out, over $29,900 (previous week, $29;900). • - Fifth Season, Cort (C) (81st wk; 643; $&60? 1,056; $^5,227) (Chester Morris, Joseph. Buloffh Over $12,600 (previous week, $10,300); closes. Oct; 23, to tour. Fragile Fox, Belasco (D) (1st wk; 7; $5.75; $4.60; 1,077; $28,300) (Dane Clark, Don Taylw). Opened Oct. 12 to two affirmative reviews (Hawkins World-Telegram; Mc- Clain, Journal-American) and five negatives (Atkinson, Times; Chap- man, NewS; Coleman, Mirror; Kerr, Herald Tribune; Watts, Post); grossed almost $11,000 for first selfen performances. Home Is the Hero, Booth (D) (4th Wk; 29; $5775-$4.60; 766; $22,- 000) (Walter Macken, Peggy Ann Garner). Almost $12,600 (previous week, $10,000); closed last Satur- day (16) at an approximate loss of $30,000 on a $40,000 investment. King if Hearts, National (C) (29th wk;. 226; $5.75-$4.60; 1,172; $3l;30 : 0) (Donald Cook, Jackie Cooper). Over $16,7000 on twofers (previous week, $15,400). Kismet, Ziegfeld (OP) (46th wk; 364; $6.90; 1,528;- $57,908) (Alfred Drake); Capacity at over. $57,900 (previous^ week, $55*800). Midsummer Night’s Dream, . Mel Opera .House (M) (4th wk; 29; $6; 3(612; $93,553) Robert Helpmann, Moira Shearer, Stanley Holloway). Had standees; but failed to get ca- pacity at $77,900 (previous week, $89,400); only unsold tickets .. were those marked obstructed or side, view. Closed to tour last Sunday (17), with Tuesday-Thursday (12- 14) performances omitted to p]ay the Academy of Music, Phila- delphia. Profit on limited engage- ment was approximately $136,000. Oh Men, Oh Women, Miller (C) (44th wk; 358; $5,75-$4.6.0; 920; $23,248) (Lloyd Bridges). Over $12,200, with some twofers (previ- ous week, $10,400); closes Nov. 13 to tour. On Your Toes, 46th St. (MC) (1st wk; . 8; . $8.05-$6.90; 1,319; $48,547). (Vera Zorina, Bobby Van). Nearly $43,7.00 for first eight per- formances. .Pajama Game, St. James (MC) (23d wk; 180; $6.90; 1,571; $51,- 717) (John Raitt, Janice Paige* Ed- die Foy Jr.). New high for show, • $52,117 (previous Week $51,700). i Rec’ininsr Figure, T.jceurn. ( C) J (2d wk); 12; $5.75-$4.60; 995; $23,- 389)/ Nearly $17,500 (previoiis week, $10,400. for first four performances. Seven Year Itch; Fulton .(C) (100th wk; 797; $5.75-$4.60; 1,063; $24,000) (Elliott Nugent).; Nearly $23,600 (previous vveek, $21,000).. Solid Gold Cadillac, Music Box <C) (50th. wk; 3D7; $5:75-$4.60; 1,077; $27,811). Just under $23,600 (previous \yeek, $21,700). Tea and ‘ Sympathy, Barrymore (D) (55th - wk; 437; $5.75-$4,60; 1,- 060; $28,300) . (Joan Fontaine). Nearly $24,200 (previous‘ week, $21,300). Teahouse of the August Moon; Beck (C) (53d wk; 428: $6.22-$4.60; 1.214; $33,608) (Burgess Meredith, Scott. McKay). Another sellout, over $34,1001 Tende/ Trap, . Longacre (C) 1st wlc; 5; ($5.75; $4.60; 1,048; $26,- 817) (Robert Preston, Kim Hunter, Ronny Graham). '' Opened last Wednesday (13) to three favorable reviews (Coleman, Mirror; Chap- man, News; Watts, Post), three dissents (Atkinson, Times; Kerr, Herald-Tribune; McClain, Journal- American) and one two-opinion re- view (Hawkins, World-Telegram); grossed over\$l7,800 for first five performances. . Miscellaneous Sing Me No LuiJaby, Phoenix (D) (1st. wk; 6; $3.45; 1,150; $20,000), Opened last Thursday (1.4) to one favorable notice (Atkinson. Times) and six pans; grossed nearly $9,300 • for first six performances. OPENING THIS WEEK Peter Pan, Winter Garden (MD) ($6.90; 1,510; $57,500) (Mary Mar- tin); Musical based on the James M. Barrie fantasy, with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, music by Mark Cliarlop, additional music and lyr- ics by Jule Styne, Batty Comden and Adolph Green, presented by Richard Halliday, produced by Ed- win Lester; BroadWav production financed at $125,000. including bonds, and can break at around ,$37,500 gross; ppeni to- night (Wed.) for an announced 16- week run. OFF-BROADWAY SHOWS '(Figures denote •opening dates.) Clandestine Marriage, Province- ton (9-29-54).. I Feel Wonderful, de Lys (10- 18-54). Sands of the President (10-19-54). Way. of the World, Cherry Lane (10-2-54). ‘ World of Sliolom Aleichem, Barbizon-Plaza (5-1-53). Los Angeles, Oct. 19. Business Continued strong f.6r both legit houses alight last week; with Helen Hayes racking up an- other capacity week in her third session with “What. Every Woman Knows” at the Huntington Hart- ford Theatre., Tally of‘$24,600 rep-; resents just about; every seat in- the house for every performance, minus a small secondary press list. Tally jumps. this session a a re- sult of the extra. performance' last night (Mon.). Only other offering was “That’s Life;” \yhicli moved up to $4,700 in its 17th week- at the 400-seat Las Palnjas. It finales Sunday (24). “TRAVELING’ LIGHT 10G Cincinnati, Oct; 19. Horton Foote’s* new . drama, “Traveling Lady,” grossed a poor $10,000 last week in a tryout at the l,3Qp-seat Cox at a $3.50 top. Reception by 'local critics-Was un- favorable. It was Cincy’s second road show of the new season. Theatre is ! currently dark, but has “Saint Joan” next week'. ‘Natalie’ $8,100, Mpls. Minneapolis, Oct, *19. Despite Critics’ lambastings,” “Naughty Natalie,” at the 1.860*; seat Lyceum, grossed an okay $8,100 for nine performances last week. Show was scaled at $3.90 top, but sold twofer*