Variety (December 1954)

Wednesday, Decenilier 15, 1954 LEGITIMATE 65 Philly Still Zippy; Anastasia’ $15,000, ‘SI’ 53'/ 2 G, House’ 32G, ‘Susan’ 15G Philadelphia, Dec. 14. Despite the expected pre-Christ- n>as slump, legit continued at re- cord December attendance. Two productions extended runs. “House of Flowers,” at the Erlanger, added a fifth week through Dec. 25. “Black-Eyed Susan,” at the Locust, tacked on a fourth sesh at reduced nrices and holds through Dec. 25. P Cole Porter tuner, “Silk Stock- ings ” continues at capacity. “Caine Mutiny Court Martial” return didn't match SRO status of initial production here, but was still plenty strong. Future bookings include Dec. 27, “Grand Prize,” Locust, tryout, two weeks, and Blackstone the Magi- cian, Erlanger, one week; Jan. 3, “Tea and Sympathy,” Forrest, sub- scription, three weeks; “Plain and Fancy.” Shubert. two weeks, try- out; Jan. 11, “Desperate Hours,” Locust, tryout, two weeks; Jan. 24, Jose Greco, Forrest, one week; Jan. 31, “Bus Stop,” Walnut, tryout, two weeks. Estimates for Last Week Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Academy of Music <D) <$4.50; 3,- 004) (Paul Douglas, Wendell Corey, Steve Brodie). Return booking for the Paul Gregory production; three performances Thursday - Saturday »9-ll) drew around $16,000. House of Flowers, Erlanger <M) <3d wk) ($5.40; 1,880). Despite com- petish and the outlying location, the tuner tryout is finding audi- ences; nearly $32,000. South Pacific, Forrest (MD) (11th wk) <$4.80; 1,760) (Iva With- ers, Allen Gerrard). Marking time for holiday business; getting slaughtered in the multiple-show rush; sagged below $12,000. Black-Eyed Susan, Locust (C) (2d wk) ($4.20- 1,580) Vincent Price). Still undergoing revisions, and suffering from competition; tryout drew almost $15,000. Silk Stockings, Shubert (MD) ($6, 1,870) (Don Ameche, Hilde- garde Neff). Addition of fifth week finally made tickets available to this one; still a prairie fire at nearly $53,500. Anastasia, Walnut (D) ($4.20; 1,- 340) (Viveca Lindfors, Eugenie I.eontovich). Notices on the favor- able side; Guild sucscription helped; nearly $15,000. ‘Caine’ $7,200, Reading Reading, Pa., Dec. 14. A near capacity crowd of 1,900 persons attended a one-nighter of "Court Martial” last Wednesday <8) at the Rajah Theatre here to gross $7,200. The tickets were tab- bed at $2.60 to $5. Another Gregory production, “Three for Tonight” with Marge and Gower Champion, Harry Bel- atonte and the Walter Schumann chorus will be presented Jan. 19, and a touring company of “Guys and Dolls” is scheduled for Jan. 6 under the booking of Manny Davis, of Allentown. ‘GARTER’ SNAPS $4,200; CUT TOUR IN WASH. Washington, Dec. 14. “Getting Gertie’s Garter,” slated to do a fortnight at the Shubert theatre, folded last Saturday night (11), following a first week’s run that drew only $4,200. Twofers failed to help. Show is slated to resume tour in two weeks. National Theatre, dark last week, reopened last night <Mon.) for a three-week run "Wonderful Town,” with Carol Channing. The Shubert remains dark until Dec. 27, when it relights with a local production of “Glad Tidings,” starring Constance Bennett. Also scheduled for the Shubert are “Southwest Corner” with Eva Le Gallienne, Jan. 10, one week; Ruth Draper, Jan. 17, one week, and Jose Greco, Jan. 24, one week. ‘Angels’ $9,000 2d Week; St. L. Dark Till Xmas St. Louis, Dec. 14. With the local legit field to itself “My 3 Angels’ would up the second of a two-week stock run at the Empress Theatre with a $9,000 gross, a repeat of the first session. The house joins the other legiter, the American Theatre, in closing for the next two weeks. The Empress relights Dec. 28 with a one-week, stanza of “Room Service.” B’way Moaning Pre-Xmas Blues; 'Seed* $23,900 (6), Eartha $32,200 ‘Friend’ $38,400, ‘Kismet’ $52,200 Current Road Shows (Dec. 13-25) ‘Okla’-on-Wheels Gets 27G in Two-Way Split Dayton, Dec. 14. Bus-and-truck company of “Ok- lahoma” pulled over $27,000 last week in eight performances split between Marshall College, Hunt- ington, W. Va., and the Victory here. Musical gave two perform- ances at the former location Mon- day-Tuesday (6-7) and six perform- ances here Wednesday-Saturday (8-11). Show is on a two-way split again this week. Gabor (Eva) Slow $7,000 3d Week of L* A. Tryout Los Angeles, Dec. 14. Only one legiter was alight last frame and business was far below hopes. , Aoo ailors Dcl *ghL” tryout at the 1. )32-seat Huntington Hartford Theatre, slumped to $7,000 for its . ird frame. Script revisions go >n this week in an effort to make • He Eva Gabor starrer acceptable on Broadway. ‘Itch’ $27,000 in Split Toledo, Dec. 14. Seven Year Itch,” starring f udie Bracken, played the Para- here last Friday-Saturday * 11-12), getting over $15,300 for the three performances. Show took in over $11,700 ear- l* er ^ the week in tw’o stands split between the Keith, Grand Rapids, and the Palace, South Bend. Anastasia (tryout) (Viveca Lind- fors, Eugenie Leontovitch) — Wal- nut St., Philly (13-18); Plymouth, Boston (20-25) (Review-ed in Variety, Dec. 8, *54). Black-Eyed Susan (tryout) (Vin- cent Price)—Locust St., Philly <13- 18) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 17, ’54). Caine Mutiny Court Martial! (Paul Douglas, Wendell Corey, | Steve Brodie) — War Memorial Aud.. Trenton (13); Mosque, Rich- mond (14); Univ. Aud., Charlottes- ville, Va. (15); Muny Aud., Norfolk (16-18). Dark Is Light Enough (tryout) (Katharine Cornell, Tyrone Power) — Cass, Detroit (13-18); Hanna, Cleveland (20-25) (Reviewed in Variety, Dec. 1, ’54). Festival (tryout) (Paul Henried) —Colonial, Boston (25). Fifth Season (Chester Morris, Joseph Buloff)—Erlanger, Chi (13- 25). Flowering Peach (tryout) <Men- asha Skulnik) — Colonial. Boston (13-18) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 17, ’54). Getting Gertie’s Garter — Shu- bert. Wash. (13-18); Erlanger, Buffalo <20-25). Grand Prise (tryout) — Parsons, Hartford (23-25). House of Flowers • (tryout) — Erlanger, Philly (13-25) (Reviewed in Variety, Dec. 1, ’54). King and I (Yul Brynner, Patri- cia Morison)—Shubert, Chi (13-25). Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rob- ert Helpmann, Moira Shearer, Stanley Holloway) — Maple Leaf Gardens. Toronto (14-16); Forum, Montreal (18). Models in Season — Shubert, Boston (25). Moon Is Blue (Jerome Cowan)— Cox, Cincy (13-25). Oh Men, Oh Women (Ralph Bellamy)—Harris, Chi (13-25). Oklahoma —Indiana, Terra Haute (13-15); Palace, Gary (16-18>; Shu- bert. Detroit (20-25). Pajama Tops (Diana Barrymore) —Blackstone, Chi (13-25). Plain and Fancy (tryout)—Shu- bert, New Haven (13-18); Shubert, Boston (20-25) (Reviewed in Variety this week). ' Portrait of a Lady (Jennifer Jones) (tryout)—Ford’s, Balto (13- 18) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 17, ’54). Sailor’s Delight (Eva Gabor) (tryout) — Hartford, L.A. (13-18) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov, ’54). Seven Year Itch (Eddie Bracken) —Colonial. Akron (13-14); Shea’s.) Erie (15-16); Aud., Rochester <17- 18). Silk Stockings (Ilildegarde Neff, Don Ameche) (tryout) — Shubert, Philly (13-25) (Reviewed in Variety, Dec. 1. ’54). South Pacific (Iva Withers. Alan Gerrard) — Forrest, Philly (13-25). Southwest Corner (tryout) (Eva Le Gallienne) — Shubert,' New Haven (23-25). Tea and Sympathy (Deborah Kerr)—Nixon. Pitt (13-18). Teahouse of the August Moon (Burgess Meredith. Scott McKay) — Hartman, Columbus (13-18); American, St. Louis (20-25). Three for Tonight (Marge and Gower Champion, Harry Belafonte) (tryout) — Muny Aud., Beaumont, Texas (13); Texas A. &i M. Gym, College Station (14); Aud., Austin (15); Aud., San Antonio (16); Aud., Corpus ChriSti (17); Music Ilall, Houston (18) (Reviewed in Vaude section of Variety, Nov. 3, ’54). Time Out for Ginger (Melvyn Douglas)—Curran, S. F. <13-25). Wonderful Town (Carol Chan- ning)—National, Wash. (13-25). ‘Season’ $17,900 Beflamy $16,900, ‘King’ $49,700, Chi Chicago, Dec. 14. The four Loop legit shows were somewhat affected by the expected pre-Xmas slump last w-eek. Ebb was slight, however. Both “King and I” and “Fifth Season” are building a hefty advance for Janu- ary. There are no definite bookings at the moment for the first two months of the new year. Estimates for Last Week Fifth Season, Erlanger (4th wk) ($4; 1,300) (Chester Morris, Joseph Buloff). Almost $17,900 (previous week, $19,600). King and I, Shubert (3d wk) ($5; 2,100) (Yul Brynner, Patricia Morison). Nearly $49,700 (previous w'eek, $51,400). Oh Men, Oh Women, Harris (1st wk) ($5; 1,000) (Ralph Bellamy). Topped $16,900 for first full week, with the favorable notices and the Bellamy and Peggy Cass names a b.o. help. Pajama Tops, Blackstone (2d wk) ($4.40; 1.358) (Diana Barrymore). Edged $15,800 on twofers. Witness’ $16, ‘Peach’ 18i/ 2 G, Hub Boston, Dec. 14. There were but two legits alight here last week, and both fared okay. “Flowering Peach,” nabbed fairly good notices and did mod- erately in its first week at the Co- lonial, while “Witness for the Prosecution,” in its finale at the Plymouth, picked up slightly. Ballets Espagnols, which bowed into the Shubert last night (Mon.) for a single w'eek, is the lone new- comer this frame. A late entry for the Christmas night sweepstakes is “Models in Season,” slated for a three weeks at the Majestic, on two-for-ones. Estimates for Last Week Flowering Peach, Colonial (1st wk) ($3.85; 1,590) (Menasha Skul- nik). Pulled nice $18,500 for first week; final week is current. Witness for the Prosecution, Plymouth (2d wk) ($3.85; 1,200). Final week topped the first to nab over $16,800. Pre-Christmas slump finally hit Broadway last week. Except for the solid smashes, nearly all shows were affected. Most registered dips, but a few held even. B.o. is ex- pected to remain sluggish until the annual Christmas-New Year’s week surge. Only opening last week was “Bad Seed.” Preems this stanza are “Lunatics and Lovers,” w-hich bowed Monday (13) and “Witness for the Prosecution,” which debuts tomorrow night (Thurs.). There were no closings last week. 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 scats, capacity gross and stars. Price includes 10% Federal and 5% City tax, but grosses are net: i.c., cxclttsiue of tax. Anniversary Waltz, Booth (O (36th wk; 283; $4.60; 766; $20,000) (Macdonald Carey, Kitty Carlisle). Almost $17,600 (previous week, $23,300 at larger Broadhurst). Bad Seed, 46th St. (D) (1st wk; 5; $5.75-$4.60; 1,319; $37,000) (Nancy Kelly), Opened last Wed- nesday (8) to unanimously favor- able reviews; grossed over 823,900 for first five performances and one preview. Boy Friend, Royale (MC) (11th wk; 84; $6.90; 1,172; $38,200). Over capacity again, topping $38,400. Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Plymouth (D) (47th wk; 372; $5.75- $4.60; $33,331) (Lloyd Nolan, John currently subbing for Tom Ewell who returns as star Dec. 27. Solid Gold Cadillac, Music Box (C) (58th wk; 461; $5.75-$4.60; 1,- 077; $27,811). Just under $17,700 (previous week. $20,100); lays off for a week beginning next Mon- day (20). Tea and Sympathy, Barrymore (D) (63rd wk; 501; $5.75-$4.60; 1.- 214; $28,300) (Joan Fontaine). Al- most $15,400 (previous week, $17,- 900). Teahouse of the August Moon, Beck (C) «61st wk; 492; $6.22-$4.60; 1.214; $33,608) (David Wayne, John Forsythe). Over capacity again; topped $34,000. Tender Trap, Longacre <C) <9th wk; 69; $5.75-$4.60; 1,048; $26,317) (Robert Preston, Kim Hunter, Ron- ny Graham). Almost $21,400 (pre- vious week, $23,900). Wedding Breakfast, 48th St. <C) (4th wk; 25; $5.75-$4.60; 925; $23,- 720>. Nearly S13.200 again. MISCELLANEOUS Sandhog, Phoenix (M) (3rd wk; 24; $4.60-$3.45; 1,150; $24,067). Al- most $15,000 again. OPENING THIS WEEK Lunatics and Lovers, Broadhurst (C) ($5.75-$4.60; 1,160; $29,500). Play by Sidney Kingsley, present- ed by May Kirshner; production financed at $100,000, cost about $65,000 to bring in, including ap- proximately $2,000 tryout loss, but excluding bonds, and can break even at around $17,000 gross; opened Monday (13) night to three favorable reviews (Chapman, News; Coleman, Mirror; Hawkins, World- Telegram), three negative opinions • Atkinson, Times; Kerr, Herald Tribune; McClain, Journal-Ameri- can) and one yes-no (Watts, Post), Witness for the Prosecution, Mil- Hodiak Barry Sullivan) Nearly j ,er ' D) <*5.75-$4.60; 920; $23,248). $23 200 (previous week $26 000) * l Play by A & atha Christie, presented CanV.» Shubert (M0^84th by Cllbert Miller and Petfr Saun - wk' 668' $6 90' 1361* $50 160) Al-[ ders ’ P roduc t'° n financed at $75,- mo^t S45 MO (Drelfious week 148 - °° 0 ’ cost about * 55000 "> brln * in most $45,500 ,i previous »eik, $«.- (broke about even „„ tryou „ ex _ Dear Charlea. Morosco <C> '13th ™ d „5 ab ' V .* n OFF BROADWAY SHOWS JENNIFER LIMP $7,800 FIRST WEEK IN BALTO Baltimore, Dec. 14. First stanza of Jennifer Jones in “Portrait of a Lady” grossed a poor $7,800 at Ford’s here last week. Unfavorable reviews drew a plethora of refunds, despite an okay advance sale. Current second week will be limited to seven performances to allow sufficient time to- hang the heavy production for its New York preem next Tuesday (21). (Tallulah Bankhead). Over $19,- 200 (previous week, $23,800). Fanny, Majestic (MD) (6th wk; 44; $7.50; 1,510; $65,300) (Ezio Pinza, Walter Slezak). Over ca- pacity again; topped $65,900. Kismet, Ziegfeld (OP) (54th wk; 428; $6.90; 1,528; $57,908) (Alfred Drake). Almost $52,200 (previous week, $53,000). Mrs. Patterson, National (D) (2d wk; 14; $6.90-$5.75; 1,172; $36,000) (Eartha Kitt). Over $32,200 (pre- vious week, $27,300 for first six performances and one preview). Pajama Game, St. James (MC) (31st wk; 244; $6.90; 1,571; $51,717) (John Raitt, Janis Paige, Eddie Foy Jr.). Capacity as always, over $52,100. Peter Pan, Winter Garden (MD) (8th wk; 61; $6.90; 1,510; $57,500) (Mary Martin). Nearly $49,200 (previous week, $52,300). Quadrille, Coronet <C> <6th wk; 46; $6.90-$5.75-$4.60; 1,027; $30.- 000) (Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne. Edna Best, Brian Aherne). Over capacity again; topped $30,700 (previous week, $30,600). Rainmaker, Cort <C> (7th wk; 52; $5.75-$4.60; 1,056; $29,000) <Ger- nldine Page). Nearly $17,800 (pre- vious week, $19,300). Reclining Figure, Lyceum <C) (10th wk; 76; $5.75-$4.60; 995; $23,- 389>. Almost $14,500 (previous week. $16,000; moves Dec. 27 to the Holiday, with “Anastasia” opening here temporarily Jan. 3, to be followed by “Grand Prize” Jan. 26. Seven Year Itch, Fulton <C) (108th wk; 861; $5.75-$4.60; 1.063; $24,000). Over $17,100 (previous week, $19,200). George Keane is (Figures denote opening dates) Doll's House, Finch Coll. (11-12). Dybhuk, 4th St. (10-26-54); closes Jan. 3. Importance Being Earnest, Prov- ineetoun (11-9). Stone For Danny Fisher. Down- town National (10-21-54). Twelfth Night, Jan Hus (11-9-54). Way of the World, Cherry Lane • 9-29-54). Deborah $34,080, Dark’ 23G, Det. Detroit, Dec. 14. This town was really jumping with a pair of strong grossers last week. “Dark Is Light Enough,’* starring Katharine Cornell and Tyrone Power, book in nearly $23,- 000 in initial frame of a fortnight’s tryout at the 1,482-seat Cass. House is scaled at a $4.40 top. Touring edition of “Tea and Sympathy,” starring Deborah Kerr, wound up its two-week run at the 2,050-seat Shubert with over $34,- 000, a hike of $6,500 over the pre- vious stanza. Tix were scaled at a $4.40 top. Total Legit Grosses Following are the comparative figures based on Variety’s box- office reports for last week (the 28th week of the season) and the corresponding week of last season: BROADWAY This 1953-54 Season Season Number of show's current 21 23 Total weeks played so far by all shows., 522 493 Total gross for all shows last week.... $616,200 $642,700 Season’s total gross, so far $14,396,200 $13,837,500 'Number of new productions 24 29 ROAD Excluding stock Number of current shows reported ... 21 17 Total weeks played so far by all shows. 433 377 Total gross for all shows last week ... $456,000 $363,500 Season’s total gro^s so far $10,564,400 $8,607,400 ‘Town’ Still Coasting; $23,800 in Wilmington Wilmington, Dec. 14. “Wonderful Town,” which has I been doing considerably less than wonderful business on tour re- cently, had slim pickings here last week, getting only a bit over $23,- 800 tn eight performances at a $5.50 top at the 1,223-seat Play- house. Carol Chahning starrer opened last night (Mon.) at the National, Washington, for a three-week stand. ‘Ginger’ $16,000, Frisco San Francisco, Dec. 14. Off to a good start with the critics, “Time Out for Ginger” nevertheless suffered from 4he rainy weather and the Christmas shopping season. It racked up a good but not sensational first week gross of $16,000 at the 1,758-seal Curran at $3.85 top.