Variety (January 26, 1955)

Wednteday, January 26, 1955 LEGITIMATE 59 Chi Steady; 'King’ Healthy $45, Bellamy OK $21,300, 'Season $16,700 Chicago, Jan. 25. Loop legit receipts remained healthy last week. Opening next Monday (31) are “Caine Mutiny Court Martial,” with Lloyd Nolan, John ilodiak and Barry Sullivan, at the Blackstone on Theatre Guild subscription, and Ruth Draper for tuo weeks at the Selwyn. Estimates for Last "Week Fifth Season, Erlanger (10th wk) i$4; 1.300) (Chester Morris, Joseph Buloff). Over $16,700 (previous week, $15,700). King and I, Shubert (9th wk) i$3; 2.100) <Yul Brynner, Patricia Morison). Over $45,800 (previous week. $45,600). Oh Men, Oh Women, Harris (7th wk) i$5; 1,000) (Ralph Bellamy). Nearly $21,300 (previous week, $21,400). Prize’ Hot $21,300, ’Silk’ $49,600, Hub Boston, Jan. 25. Biz at the three legits continued strong here last week with “Silk Stockings” and “The Grand Prize” doing virtual capacity. “Tonight in Samarkand” picked up nicely over initialer. Ruth Draper bowed into the Wilbur last night (Mon.) for one week and "Wayward Saint” moves into the Colonial next Thursday '27) for two-and-a-half weeks. Due in Jan. 31 is “Dear Charles,” star- ring Tallulah Bankhead, for a single week’s engagement at the Shubert. Estimates for Last Week Grand Prize, Wilbur (2d wk) $3.85; 1,200) (Jund Lockhart, John Newland). This one caught on and finaled with almost $21,300. Silk Stockings, Shubert '3d wk) '$6.25-$4.95; 1,700) (Don Ameche, Hildegarde Neff). Continues at capacity, almost $49,600; final week is current. Tonight in Samarkand, Colonial '2d wk) ($4.40-$3.85; 1,590) (Louis Jourdan). Final week picked up to good $21,500. ‘TEAHOUSE’ SRO $36,500, ‘TAILOR’ 2G, FOLDS, L. A. Los Angeles, Jan. 25. Second frame of "Teahouse of the August Moon” at the Biltmore drew capacity biz last week, al- though receipts will be higher this week, due to Theatre Guild sub- scriptions applying only to first two days. Otherwise, local legit is slow. “Oftce Upon a Tailor” closed last Saturday night (22) wdth a sub- stantial loss for its little more than two weeks. Estimates for Last Week Teahouse of the August Moon, Biltmore (C) (2d wk) '$4.40; 1,636) (Burgess Meredith). Over $36,500. Be My Guest, Civic Playhouse (C) (5th wk) ($3; 400) (Leo Fuchs). Nearly $4,000. Finian’s Rainbow, Hollywood Repertory (4th wk) ($3.30; 276) (Charles Davis). Over $1,500. Once Upon a Tailor, Las Palmas (3d wk) ($360; 390). Finaled with over $2,000. ‘S.P.’ Back to New Haven, Racks Up $33,000 Week New Haven, Jan. 25. “South Pacific” played its first return date last week at Shubert. where it originally tried out six years ago. Biz, with a top of $4.50. built to capacity the end of the week, for a good $33,000 gross. National company of “Pajama Game” opens here next Saturday (29) to a virtual advance sellout. Unusual situation prevails as tuner road troupe preems within only eight months of original breakin at the same house. Nine performances set through Feb. 5. CHANNING NICE $38,200 FOR 2D WEEK IN DET. Detroit, Jan. 25. “Wonderful Town,” starring Carol Channing, did a healthy $38,200 in its second and last week at the 2.050-seat Shubert. Top was $4.40. Theatre now is dark, re- opening Feb. 1 with “Silk Stock- ings,” the Hildegarde Neff-Don Ameche starrer, in for a two-week pre-Broadway tuneup. The 1,482-seat Cass, which hasn’t opened its doors in 1955, still has no prospects. ‘Sunshine’ 13G, Toronto; Deborah’s 30G Advance Toronto, Jan. 25. On an advance sale of some $30.- 000, Deborah Kerr in “Tea and Sympathy" has already broken the 1,525-seat Royal Alexandra house record of $29,786 set this season by Katharine Cornell and Tyrone I Power in “The Dark Is Light Enough.” Noted, however, that the Christopher Fry play had a $4 top, while the Robert Anderson drama’s high is $4.50. “Tea” is expected to gross $36,000 on the week. On its second week holdover. Mavor Moore's “Sunshine Town” did a good $13,000 on latter week buildup, at $3.50 top. Camera 7G, St L. St. Louis, Jan. 25. With the local legit field to itself for the third successive week, the Ansell Bros. Empress drew a fair $7,000 on “I Am a Camera." John van Druten play was originally seen at the American Theatre in 1952, with Julie Harris as star. The American relighted last night (Mon.) with a one-week ses- sion of Ballets Espagnols. Current London Shows London, Jan. 25. (Figure* denote premiere dates) Airs Shoestring, Royal Ct. (4 22 53). All For Mary, Duke York <9-&-54>. Beatrice Lillie, Globe (11-24-54). Bell, Book, Candle, Phoenix (10-5-54). Book of Month, Cambridge (10-21-54). Both Ends Meet. Apollo (6-9-54). Boy Friend, Wyndham’a (12-1-53). Can-Can, Coliseum (10-14-54). Crazy Gang, Vic. Pal. (12-16-54). Dry Rot, Whitehall (8-31-54). Class Clock, Aldwyrh (1-3-55). Hippo Dancing, Lyric (4 7-54). Intimacy At «:M, Criterion (4-29 54). Joyce Grenfell. St. Mart. (6-2-54). Jt)n9 end I, Drury Lane (10-8-53). Matchmaker, Haymarket (11-4-54). Mousetrap, Ambat. (11-25-52). Night of Ball, New Theatre (1-12-55). Old Vie Rep, Old Vic (9-9 54). Relations Apart, Garrick. (8-3-54). Richard II, Old Vic (1-18-55). Rules of Game, Arts (1-13-55). Salad Days, Vaudeville (8-5-54). Separate Tables. St. James's (9 22 54). Sholom Aleichem, Embassy (1-11-55). Simon A Laure, Strand (11-24-54). Spider's Web. Savoy (12-14-54). Talk of Town, Adelphi (11-17-54). w# « n ' Her MeJ. (4 22 34). Wedding in Peris, Hipp. (4-3-54). Witness Prosecution, W. Card. (10-28-53). SCHEDULED OPENINGS Blame Adorn, New Lind. (1-31-55). Vicious Circle, New Water (2-1-55). u .. closed last week Hedda Gabler, Westm'ster (11 29 54). Manor of Northstoad, Duchess (4 28 54). |**rty Spirit, Ptccadtllv (9 23-54). Wren's Nsst, Richmond (1-17-55). ‘Guys’ 12G in 4, Pitt Pittsburgh, Jan. 25. Four-performance stand of “Guys And Dolls” last Thursday-Saturday (20-22) at the Nixon w’as a pleasant surprise, as the touring Manny Davis production drew' almost $12,- 000. Second-string critics gave it their stamp of approval with some genuine b.o. notices and, despite the fact that it’s been here twice before for runs and at a consider- ably higher top, the show caught on immediately. Scale was $3 (plus taxes) first two nights and $3.50 Saturday. Current Road Shows (Jan. 24- Feb. 5) Cain# Mutiny Court Martial—Blackstone, Chi <31-3). Calna Mutiny Court Martial (2d Co.)— Temple, Birmingham (31 -l>s Aud., Chat- tanooga (2); Detroit U. Aud. (4)i Aud., Mt. Pleasant. Mich. (5). Dark Is Light Enough (tryout)—Nation- al, Wash. (24-5). Dasr Charlos—Shubert, Boston (31-5). Dasporato Hours (tryout)—Locust St., Philly <24 5). Fifth Soason—Erlanger, Chi (24-5). Guys A Dolls—Erlanger, Buffalo <24 29); Colonial. Dayton (31-5). King and I—Shubert. Chi (24 5). Moon Is Bluo—Curran. S. F. (24-5). Oh Mon, Oh Women—Harris, Chi <24-5). Pajama Game — Shubert, New Haven (29-5). Pajama Tops—Erlanger, Philly (24-29); Erlanger, Buffalo (31-5). Ruth Draper—Wilbur, Boston (24-29); Selwyn. Chi <31-5). Savon Yoar Itch—Cox. Cincy (24-29); Ryman Aud.. Nashville (31-1); Temple, Birmingham (2); Tower, Atlanta (3-5). Silk Stokings (tryout)—Shubert, Boston (24-29): Shubert. Detroit (1-5). South Pacific—Masonic Temple, Scran- ton (24-27); Binghamton, Binghamton, N. Y. <28-29); Aud., Rochester (31-5). Southwest Corner (tryout) — Hanna. Cleveland (24-29). Tea and Sympathy—Royal Alexandria. Toronto <24-29); Taft, Cincy (31-5). Teahouse of tho August Moon—Bilt- more. L. A. (24-5). Tender Trap—Walnut St., Philly (24-5). Throe For Tonight—Loew s State. Syra- cuse (24); Kleinhan’s. Buffalo (25); City Aud., Rochester (26); Massey. Toronto <27>; Syria Mosque. Pitt. <28>; Detroit U., Det. (30); Paramount, Toledo (31); Music Hall, Cleve. (1). Tonight in Samarkand (tryout)—Forrest. Philly <24 5). Wayward Saint (tryout)—Colonial, Bos ton <27-5). Wonderful Town—Shubert, Philly (24 5). Ruth Draper $15,000, D.C.; Cornell, Power 66G Sale Washington, Jan. 25. The Ruth Draper one-woman show drew' better than $15,000 at the Shubert Theatre last week, at a $3 top. Critics were enthusiastic about the star. Shubert is dark this week, but reopens next Monday (31) with the Jose Greco dance troupe. National Theatre relighted last night <Mon.i with “Dark Is Light Enough” and an amazing advance sale of $66,000 for the fortnight, an all-time advance record for the house. The Katharine Cornell- Tyrone Pow er starrer will be a vir- tual sellout for its entire engage- ment. Of the advance. $17,600 came from Theatre Guild subscrip- tion. B’way Builds; ‘Festival’ $13,100 (6), Saroyan $39,300, ‘Anastasia’ $21,100, ‘Seed’ $34,500, ‘Bleecker St.’ $35,500 ‘Tea’ SRO $43,846 ‘Fancy’ OK $43,100, ‘Hours’ 15G, Philly Philadelphia, Jan. 25. “Tea and Sympathy” broke the Forrest Theatre record for straight dramatic shows last week for a second consecutive stanza. All- time high for the bouse was set bv Rosalind Russell in the musical “Wonderful Town,” with $45,800. “Plain and Fancy” wound up its sellout run at the Shubert, and the arrival of “Pajama Tops” found all five Philly legiters in action again, with “Three for To- night” an added starter in a two- performance stand at the Academy of Music, under Philadelphia Forum auspices. "The Tender Trap.” at the Wal- nut, and “Wonderful Town,” at the Shubert, were arrivals last night (Mon.) and “Tonight in Sa- markand” opens tonight <Tues.) at the Forrest. Coming up Feb. 7, are “Dear Charles,” Forrest, two weeks, and Feb. 14, “Bus Stop,” Walnut, tryout, two weeks. Estimates for Last Week Pajama Tops, Erlanger <C) ($3.60; 1.890) (Diana Barrymore). Bad press greeted this one and word of mouth no help; nearly $15,400 on twofers. Tea and Sympathy, Forrest (D) (3d wk) ($4.80; 1,760) (Deborah Kerr). Good drama coupled with star's boxoffice draw got standees at every performance; straight play record at $43,846; previous week’s mark was $39,410. Desperate Hours, Locust <D) (2d wk) ($4.20; 1,580) (Karl Malden, Nancy Coleman). Crime thriller finding its own audience; almost $15,000. Plain and Fancy, Shubert <M) (3d wk). Musical story about Pennsylvania’s Amish sect has been standout hit since opening night; over $43,100 for the finale. Southwest Corner, Walnut (C) (2d wk) ($4.20; 1.340) (Eva Le- Gallienne). Competition hurt John Cecil Holm’s quiet study of Ver- mont farm folk; over $8,000. Three for Tonight, Academy of Music <R) ($4.80; 3,004) (Marge and Gower Champion). Paul Gregory production aided by ready-made Philadelphia Forum audience and strong notices; over $19,000 on two performances. Current Stock Bills (Jan. 24-Feb. 6) All My Sons—Alley Houston <25 30). Faathared Fauna (tryout), by Charles Robinson A Jean Dalrymple—Theatre ’55, Dallas (31-5). I Am a Camara—Sombrero, Phoenix (31-5). Candlelight—Globe. Ottawa <24 29). Inherit tha Wind (tryout), by Jerome Lawrence A Robert E. Lee—Theatre ’55, Dallas (24-29). Sabrina Fair—Fred Miller, Milwaukee (25-6); Arena, Rochester (1-6). Stalag 17—Sombrero Playhouse, Phoe- nix (24-29). Broadway continued to climb last week. Substantial hikes were registered by practically all shows, with smashes remaining firm. 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 retta ). Other parenthetic designations refer, respectively, to trecks played, number of performances through last Saturday, top prices, number of seats, capacity gross and stars. Price includes 10 r o Federal and 5% City tax. but grosses are net: i.e., exclusive of tax. Anastasia, Lvceum (D) <4th wk; 29; $5.75-34.60; 955; $23.3891 <Vi- veca Lindfors, Eugenie Leon- j tovieh). Over $21,100 (previous week, $19,100*. Anniversary Waltz, Booth (C> '(42nd wk; 331; $4 60; 766; $20,000* i (Macdonald Carey. Kitty Carlisle*. Just under $20,600 (previous week, $18,400'; Marjorie Lord replaces : Miss Carlisle as femme lead next | Friday (28*. • Bad Seed, 4Gth St. <D) (7th wk; 53; $5.75-$4.60; 1.319; $37,000* (Nancy Kelly). Nearly $31,500 (previous week. $33,100). Bov Friend, Rovale 'MC* (17th wk; 131; $6 90; 1.172; $38,200*. Had a clean statement at $38,300 (pre- vious week, $38,200*. Can-Can, Shubert <MC> (90th wk; 716; $6.90; 1.361: $50,160*. Al- most $46,400 (previous w-eek. $42,- 200 *. Dear Charles. Morosco (C* < 191 h wk; 146; $6.90-$5.75-$4.60; 935; $29,850* (Tallulah Bankhead). Al- most $17,900 (previous week. $7,800 for five performances*; closes next Saturday (29*. to tour. Fanny, Majestic (MD* (12th wk; 92; $7.50; 1.510; $65,300) (Ezio Pinza. Walter Slezak*. Over capa- city again, topped $66,000 (previ- ous week, $65,900*. Festival, Longacre <C> (1st wk; 6; $5.75-$4.60; 1,048; $26,317* (Paul Henreid, Betty Field*. Opened Jan. 18 to one favorable review (Hawkins, World-Telegram* and six negative notices; almost $13,100 for first six performances; financed at $75,000, cost about $70,000. in- cluding approximately $15,000 tryout loss, but excluding bonds, and can break even at around $18,000 gross. Flowering Peach, Belasco <D) (4th wk; 31; $5.75-$4 60; 1,077; $28,- 300) (Menasha Skulnik*. Nearly $23,400 (previous week, $23,100). House of Flowers, Alvin (MC) (4th wk; 28; $6.90; 1.150; $47,000*. Over capacity at almost $45,100, with take cut by theatre party com- missions (previous week, $44,800). Kismet, Ziegfeld (OP) (60th wk; 476; $6.90; 1,528; $57,908* (William Johnson, Elaine Malbin). Over $49,500 (previous week, $44,300). Lunatics A Lovers, Broadhurst (C) (6th wk; 48; $5.75-$4.60; 1,160; $29,500). Over capacity, nearly $31,800 (previous week, $31,400). Mrs. Patterson, National <D) (8th wk; 62; $6.90-$5.75; 1,172; $36,000) (Eartha Kitt*. Over $22,100 (pre- vious week. $18,500). Pajama Game, St. James (MC) (37th wk; 292; $6.90; 1,571; $51,717) (John Raitt, Janis Paige, Eddie Foy Jr.). Capacity as always, $52,100. Peter Pan, Winter Garden (MD) (14th wk; 109; $6.90; 1,510; $57,500) (Mary Martin*. Almost $47,600 (previous week, $43,400); closes Feb. 26. Quadrille, Coronet (C) (12th wk; 93; $6.90-$5.75-$4.60; 1,027; $30,000) (Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne, Edna Best, Brian Aherne*. Nearly $29.- 300 (previous week, $25,400 for seven performances). Rainmaker, Cort (O (13th wk; 100; $5.75-$4.60; 1.056; $29,000* (Geraldine Page). Almost $16,400 (previous week. $16,000); b.o. prices have been reduced to an orch top of $3.45 and balcony low of $1.15 every night, with matinees scaled at $2 90-$1.15. Initial response to new prices has t'een favorable. Saint of Bleecker Street, Broad- wav (MD) <4th wk; 23; $6.90-$6 00; 1.900; $54,000). Nearly $35,500 (previous week, $33,700'. Seven Year Itch, Fulton (C) »114th wk; 909; $5.75-84.60; 1.063; $24,000* (Tom Ewell). Over $19,000 (previous week, $17,100*. Solid Gold CadU’ae, Music Box <C> (63rd wk; 501; $5.75-$4.60; 1.077; $27,811*. Over $16,900 (pre- vious week, $14,100); cioses Feb. 12. to tour. Tea and Sympathy, Banymore (D> (68th wk; 541; $5.75-$4.60; 1.214; $28,300* (Joan Fontaine). Almost $i7.700 (previous week, $14,800); star exits caM March 5, whi'e show has to vacate the thea- tre Feb. 5 for the incoming “Des- perate Hours.” Teahouse of the August Moon, Beck (C) (67th wk; 540; $6.22-$4.60; 1.214; $33,608* (David Wayne, John Forsythe*. Over caoacilv as always, topped $34,000; Eli Wallach re- place's Wayne Feb. 14. Time of Your I ife, City Center (CD) (1st wk; 8; $3; 3,090; $50,160) (Franchot Tone). Opened last Wed- nesday (19* to unanimously affirma- tive reviews; nearly $39,300 for first eieht performance 0 '. Wedding B»*eak f as<, 48th St. <C) (10th wk; 73; $5.75-84.60; 925; $23,720*. Almost $10,200 on twofers ip- vious week. 10 000*. Witness far the Prosecution, Mil- ler (D* (6th wk; 44; $5.75-$4.60; r o 0; $”3,248*. Over o-oacitv. topped $23,500, with theatre party com- missions cutting into take (previ- ous week, $23,400). Miscellaneous Doctor’s Dilemma, D hoenix (C) (2nd wk; 16; $4.60-83.45; 1,150; $24,067). Almost $14,000 (previous week, $13,000 for first eight per- formances). OPENING THIS WEEK Grand Prize. Plymouth <C) ($4.60; 1.107; $29,500) (Juno Lock- hart. John Newland). Ronald Alex- ander comedy presented by Shep- ard Traube; production financed at $60 000, cost about $38,000 to bring in. including slight tryout lo^s but excluding bonds, and can break even at around $15,000 gross; opens tonight (Wed.). PFain and Fancy, Hellinger <MC) ($6.90; 1.527; $55,916). Musical with book by Joseph Stein and Will Glickman, lyrics by Arnold Horwitt and music by Albert Hague, presented bv Richard Koll- mar & James Gardiner (in associ- ation with Yvette Schumer); pro- duction financed at $200,000. cost about $190,000 to bring in, with a virtual breakeven on the tryout but excluding bonds, and can break even at around $31,000 gross: opens tomorrow night (Thurs.). Total Legit Grosses Following are the comparative figures based on Variety’s box- office reports for last week (the 34th week of the season) and the corresponding week of last season; BROADWAY This Season 26 680 $785,300 $18,697,500 38 Number of shows current Total weeks played so far by all shows. Total gross for all shows last week.... Season's total gross so far Number of new productions ROAD Excluding stock Number of current shows reported ... 21 Total weeks played so far by all shows. 555 Total gro«s for all shows last week.... $500,600 Season’s total gross so far $13 206.200 1953-54 Season 23 638 $683,300 $17,717,800 41 21 471 $481,000 $10,745,400 OFF BROADWAY SHOWS (Figures denote opening dates ) Dybbuk, 4th St. (10-26-54). Importance Being Earnest, Prov- in^etown (11-9), In Splendid Error, Greenwich News (10-26-54); closes next Sun- day. Merchant of Venice, Club Thea- tre (1-17-55). Troublemakers, President (12-30- 54); closes Feb. 20. Twelfth Night, Jan Hus (11-9-54); closes Feb. 13. Cornell-Power $28,500 For ‘Dark’ Balto Week Baltimore, Jan. 25. Katharine Cornell and Tyrone Power in “The Dark Is Light Enough” drew a strong $28,500 at Ford’s last week as the season's fourth offering on Guild-ATS sub- scription. House is currently dark, hut will relight Feb. 7 with the Manny Davis edition of “Guys And Dolls.” Bracken ?4G. Dayton Dayton, Jan. 25. “Seven Year Itch” look in a sock $24,000 at the Victory last week. Eddie Bracken starrer is current at the Cox, Cincinnati.