Variety (October 1955)

72 LEGITIMATE PfiklETY Wednesday, October 19, 1955 B way Bullish; ‘Rock’ $19,900 in 6, Joyce 16G, ‘Tiger 32%G, ‘Anne IV/fi, ‘View’ $28,600, ‘Plain 52G, ‘Tree 8WG Broadway biz continued brisk last week, despite the heavy Fri- day-Saturday (14-15) downpour. Several new entries pulled near¬ capacity grosses, while holdovers from last season stacked up strongly. There were two closings last week. Both shows, “Day By the Sea” and “Wooden Dish” were re¬ cent preems. Openings last week were “Joyce Grenfell Bequest the Pleasure,” “Will Success Spoil Bock Hunter?” and “Carefree Tree” at the off-Broadway Phoenix Theatre. Current frame offers two preems, “A Boomful of Boses,” which bowed Monday (17) and “No Time For Sergeants,” which debuts tomorrow night (Thurs.). 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 weeks played, number of performances through last Saturday, top prices, number of seals, capacity gross and stars, Price includes 10% Federal and 5 % City .tax, but grosses are net. f.c., exclusive of tax. Boy Friend, Boyale (MC) (55th wlc; 435; $6.90; 1,050; $38,200). Nearly $34,100 (previous week, $28,000); closes Nov. 26 to tour. Bus Stop, Music Box (CD) (33d wk; 262; $5.75-$4.60; 1,010; $27,- 811). Almost $27,800 (previous week, $27,000). Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Morosco (D) (30lh wk; 236; $6.90-$5.75; 946; $31,000) (Barbara Bel Geddes, Burl Ives). Over capacity again, topped $31,600 (previous week, $31,600). Damm Yankees, 46th St.( MC) (24th wk; 188; $8.05-$7.50; 1.297; $50,573) (Gwen Verdon). Over capacity again, topped $50,800 (previous week, $50,855). Diary of Anne Frank, Cort (D> (2d wk); 13; $5.75-$4.60; 1,098; $28,571) (Joseph Schildkraut). Over $27,500 (previous week, $18,400 for first five performances and one preview). D’Oyly Carte, Shubert (OP) (3d wk; 23; $5.75; 1,453; $42,000). Over $34,000 (previous week, $31,000>. Fanny, Majestic (MD) (50th wk; 396; $7.50; 1,655; $62,968) (Ezio Pinza, Walter Slezak). Over capac¬ ity again at almost $63,800, despite the absence of both stars because of illness (previous week, $63,700). Inherit the Wind, National (D) (24th wk; 189; $5.75-$4.60; 1,162; $31,300) (Melvyn Douglas). Just $30,900 (previous week, $30,000). Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure, Bijou (R) (1st wk; £ $5.75; 588; $18,660». Nearly $16, 000 for first eight performances. Pajama Game, St. James (MC). ‘DEADFALL’ $7,300, D.C. nine performances, including the Oct. 1 (Sat) premiere). Miscellaneous Carefree Tree, Phoenix (D) (1st wk; 8; $3.45; 1,150; $24,067). Opened Sept, 17 to unanimously unfavorable reviews (Atkinson, Times; Coleman, Mirror; Hawkins, World-Telegram; McHarry, News; Kerr, Herald Tribune; McClain, Journal-American; Watts, Post); around $8,500 for first eight per¬ formers. Closed Last Week Day by the Sea, ANTA Theatre (D) (3d wk; 24; $5.75-$4.60; 1,185; $34,262) (Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, Dennis King). Over $8,- 800 (previous week, $10,700); closed last Saturday (15) at an approxime $125,000 loss on the play’s Coast and N. Y. bookings. Wooden Dish, Booth (D) (2d wk; 12; $5.75-$4.60; 766; $22,004) (Louis Calhern). Nearly $6,500 (previous week, $10,700 for first four performances and two pre¬ views); closed last Saturday (15) at approximate $70,000 loss on a $75,000 investment. Opening This Week Roomful of Roses, Playhouse (D> ($5.75-$4.60; 994; $25,500) (Patricia Neal). Play by Edith Som¬ mer, presented by Guthrie McClin- tic & Stanley Gilkey; production financed at $60,000, including 20% overcall, and can break even at around $13,500; opened last Mon¬ day (17) to three favorable re¬ views (Atkinson, Times; McClain, Journal-American; Watts, Post) and four unfavorible (Chapman. News; Coleman, Mirror; Kerr, Herald Tribune; Levinson, World- Telegram). No Time for Sergeants, Alvin (C) ($5.75-$4.60; 1,331; $38,500. Comedy by Ira Levin, adapted ] from Mac Hyman’s novel, pre¬ sented by Maurice Evans and Emmett Rogers; production -fi¬ nanced at $100,000, cost about that to bring in, including a slight try¬ out profit, but excluding bonds; can break even at around $19,000. Opens tomorrow (Thurs.). ‘FANCY’OK $41,300, S.F.; ‘BUS’ROLLS TO $19,300 San Francisco, Oct. 18. “Plain and Fancy” got mixed, re¬ views but did good business at the Curran last week, Second frame of “Bus Stop” at the Geary was okay. “Tender Trap” is due next Tues¬ day (25) at the Alcazar for a two- weeker. Estimates for Last Week Plain and Fancy, Curran (1st wk) ($4.90; 1,752) (Alexis Smith, Craig Stevens). Good $41,300; continues through Nov. 19. Bus Stop, Geary (2d wk) ($4.40; 1,550). Okay $19,300; pulls out Oct. 29 to continue tour. ‘Heavenly $27,200, ‘Rain 20G in 7, ‘Chalk’ 10G, Phila. Philadelphia, Oct. 18. Mixed critical reception greeted both stage newcomers here last week, “Chalk Garden” at the Wal¬ nut, and “Hatful of. Rain” at the Forrest. Latter fared better at the boxoffice, with Shelley Winters' name a factor. Business continued strong for “Heavenly Twins,” which wound up its two-week stand Saturday night at the Locust. Estimates for Last Week Hatful of Rain, Forrest (D) (1st wk) ($4.20; 1,760) (Shelley Winters, Ben Gazzara). Reviewers favored the show two-to-one; audience re¬ ception not solid; good $20,000 for seven performances. Heavenly Twins, Locust (2d wk) (C) ($4.20; 1,580) (Jean Pierre Au- mont, Faye Emerson). French fan¬ tasy caught public' fancy; sock $27,200. Chalk Garden, Walnut (1st wk) (D) ($4.20; 1,340). New Irish ac¬ tress Siobhan McKenna received general acclaim, but the literary meller failed to catch on; so-so $ 10 , 000 . OFF-BROADWAY (Figures denote opening dates) Cherry Orchard, 4th St. (10-18). La Ronde, Circle in Square (2- 27-55). Macbeth, Rooftop (10-7); closed last. Sunday (16). Out Of This World, Actor’s Playhouse (10-12-55). ‘ Mornings at Seven, Cherry Lane (6-22-55); closes next Sunday (23), Shaw Festival, Greenwich Mews (7-21-55); closed last Sunday (16). Spring’s Awakening, Prov. (10-9); closes next Saturday (22). Threepenny Opera, de Lys (9-20). Typewriter, Tempo (7-27-55). ‘ANASTASIA’BIG $29,300, Helen Gallagher). Nearly $52,100 (previous’ week, $51,000). | Plain and Fancy, Winter Garden (MC) (38th wk; 300; $6.90; 1,494; $55,672). Over $52,000 (previous week. $46,500). Silk Stockings, Imperial (MC) (34t.h wk; 268; $7.50; 1,427; $57,- 800) (Hildegarde Neff, Don Ame- che). Nearly $58,200 (previous week, $56,400. Teahouse of the August Moon, Beck (C) (105th wk; 945; $6.22- $4.60; 1,214; $33,608) (Eli Wallach. John Beal). Over $33,500 (previous week, $31,500). Tiger at the Gates, Plymouth (D) (2d wk; 16; $5.75; 1,062; $34,000) (Michael Redgrave). Nearly $32.- 500 (previous week, $28,900 for first eight performances); moves Nov. 21 to the Fulton. View From the Bridge, Coronet (D) (3d wk; 20; $6.90-$5.75-$4.60; 998; $30,000) (Van Heflin). Over $28,600, with theatre parties cut¬ ting into the take (previous week. $28,900). Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter, Belasco (C) (1st wk; 4; $5.75; 1,073; $31,582). Opened last Thursday (13) to one favorable review (Chap¬ man, News; three unfavorable (Coleman, Mirror; Hawkins. World- Telegram; Kerr; Herald Tribune) and three yes-no (Atkinson, Times; McClain. Journal-American; Watts. Post); nearly $19,900 for first foul- performances and two previews. Witness for the Prosecution, Mil¬ ler (D) (44th wk; 348; $5.75-$4.60: 946; $23,248). ” ‘ - Washington, Oct. 18. “Anastasia,” in its second and final week, did solid biz at the Na¬ tional Theatre, climbing hand¬ somely over its initial stanza via good reviews and word of mouth. “The Vamp” is scheduled to open tonight (Tues.) for three weeks at the same house, with a handsome $33,000 advance. Hurt by bad reviews, “Deadfall.” starring Joanne Dru and John Ire land, drew poorly for its single week at the Shubert Theatre. Fact that it was here for only one week didn’t help, since plays normally build their second stanza.in the city. The Shubert is dark this week, but relights next Monday (24). with a fortnight run of “Hat¬ ful of Rain.” Estimates for Last Week Anastasia, National. (2d- wk) (1,677; $4.40WDolIy lJaasji ^Ugehi^ Leontovich,'- John ’Emery). Hand-1 some $29,300 for final stanza and might have done a profitable third week; moved out to resume tour. Deadfall, Shubert (1,542; $3.85) (Joanne Dru. John Ireland). Slim $7,300 for the tryout. vious week, $23,300). ‘Hours’ Okay $17,000, L. A. But Hurt By Picture Los Angeles, Oct. 18. Sole standard legiter in town, Desperate Hours” tallied a good $17,000 for its initial stanza at the ■ Carthay Circle Theatre. Gross ^ ear y $23,400 (pre- j represents an operating profit. Touring Shows (Oct. 17-30) Anastasia (Eugenic Leontovich, Dolly Haas. John Emery)—V/ilbur, Boston (17-29). Anniversary Waltr—Harris, Chi (17-29. Bus Stop (2d Co.)—Geary, S. F. (17-29). Can-Can—Shubert. Chi (17-29). Canadian Players—Plattsburg (N. Y.) S. T. College Aud. (17); Smith College Aud„ Northampton, Mass. (18); Norwich U. Aud., Northfield, Vt. (19); Dana Hall Aud., Wellesley, Mass. (20); U. of New Hampshire College Aud., Dui'hain (*1); Phillips Academy Aud., Andover, Mass. (22); Corning (N.Y.) Glass Center (24); Alfred (N. Y.) U. Aud. (25): Kleinhans Aud., Buffalo (26); Harpur College Aud., Endicott, N. Y. (28); Aud., Rochester (29). Chalk Garden (tryout) (Gladys Cooper, Siobhan McKenna)—Walnut, Philly (17-22; (Reviewed in VARIETY, Sept. 25 '55). Comedie Francaise—Capitol, Ottawa (17- 18); Royal Alexandra. Toronto (19-22). Desperate 4Jours (William Gargan, Nancy Coleman, Richard Jacckel)— Carthay Circle, L. A. (17-22). Don Juan in Hell (Ricardo Montalban, Mary Astor, Reginald Denny, Kurt Kazs- nar)—American, St. L. (17-22); Victoria, K. C. (23-24); U. of Iowa, Iowa City (25); Tabor, Denver (27); High School Aud., Colorado Springs (28); Tabor, Denver, (29). Hatful ef Rain (tryout) (Shelley Win¬ ters, Ben Gazzara)—Forrest, Philly (17-22); Shubert, Wash. (24-29) (Reviewed in VARIETY. Oct. 12, '55). Heavenly Twins (tryout) . Faye Emer¬ son, Jean Pierre Aumont)—Colonial, Bos¬ ton (17-29) (Reviewed in VARIETY, Sept. 21. '55). Janus (tryout) (Margaret Sullavan, Rob¬ ert Preston. Claude Dauphin)—Playhouse, Wilmington (19-22); Forrest, Philly (24-29). King and I (Patricia Morison)—Ford's Balto (17-29).. Kismet—Nixon, Pitt (17-22); Hartman, Columbus (24-29). Lark (tryout) (Julie Harris)—Plymouth, Boston (28-29). Little Hut (Veronica Lake)—Shubert, Det. (17-29). Matchmaker (tryout) (Ruth Gordon, Eileen Herlie, Eddie Mayehoff)—Locust, Philly (27-29). Pajama Game. (2d Co.) (Fran Warren. Larry Douglas. Buster West)—Stale Fair Aud., Dallas (17-23); American, St. L. (25-29). Pipe Dream (tryout) (Helen Traubel, Bill Johnson)—Shubert, New Haven (24-29). Plain and Fancy (2d Co.) (Alexis Smith, Cijaig Steverts)—Curran. S. F. (17-29). • Reuben Reuben (tryout) (Eddie Albert.) —Shubert, Boston (17-22) (Reviewed in VARIETY, Oct. 12, '55). Seven Year Itch (Eddie Bracken)— Auditorium, Hershey, Pa. (24-26); McCar¬ ter. Princeton (27-29). Solid Gold Cadillac — Blackstonc, Chi. (17-29). Tea and Sympathy (Maria Riva, Alan Baxter)—Erlanger, Buffalo (20-22); U. of Vermont. Burlington (24); Her Majesty’s, Montreal (25-29). Teahouse of the August Moon (2d Co.) (Burgess Meredith, Scott McKay)—Erlan¬ ger, Chi (17-29). Teahouse of the August Moon (3d Co.) (Larry Parks)—Hanna, Cleve. (17-29). Tender Trap (Lloyd Bridges, Russell Nype, K. T. Stevens. Janet Riley)—Moore Seattle (17-22); Alcazar. S. F. (24-29). Vamp (tryout) (Carol Channlng)—Na¬ tional. Wash. (17-29) (Reviewed in VA- RIETY, Sept. 28, '55, under Its original title, "Delilah”). Opening of the film version two (previous week, $15,400 for first Equity Show (Oct. 17-30) Boy Meets Girl—Lenox Hill Playhouse, .N.Y. (19-23). Hub Still Hopping; ‘Sergeants’ 30G, ‘King’ 50G, ‘Reuben’ 25G and Folding -- ‘Don Juan’ Lean $9,800 On 6 in Mpls.-St. Paul Minneapolis, Oct. 18. “Don Juan in Hell,” starring Ricardo Montalban, Mary Astor, Reginald Denny and Kurt Kasznar grossed a light $7,100 in four days and a matinee at $3.30 top in the 1,800-seat Lyceum here last week. It was the third local visit for the. Shaw piece, the two previous hav¬ ing been at the Lyceum and the Northrop Auditorium on the U. of Minnesota campus with another cast. . Before opening here Wednesday (12), “Juan” played one-nighters at the 3,500-seat St. Paul Audi¬ torium, where it pulled $1,800 at the same scale as here, and at Appleton. Wis., where there was a flat guarantee. , , , Next on the local legit schedule is “Bus Stop,” Nov. 7-12, as the season’s first subscription offering and the third of the season's book¬ ings to date. ‘Cadillac’ M ‘Can-Can’ 37G. Chi Chicago, Oct. 18. The Loop’s trio of legiters logged in generally strong grosses last week. “Solid Gold Cadillac” had an okay first frame despite a unan¬ imous critical cuffing. “Can Can” perked with theatre parties. “Tea¬ house of the August Moon” regis¬ tered its fifth consecutive sold out week. “Pajama Game” is due Nov. 15 at the Shubert for a run, replacing “Can Can,” which resumes its tour Nov. 12. “Bus Stop'” is slated for Nov. 21 at the Selwyn for five weeks, on subscription, and “Kis¬ met” lights Dec. 5 at the Great Northern for a run, also on sub¬ scription. Estimates for Last Week Can Can, Shubert (11th wk) ($5.95; 2,100). Over $37,000 (pre¬ vious week, $35,200); departs Nov. 12. Solid' Gold Cadillac, Blackstone (1st wk) ($4.50; 1,450). Almost $19,- 800 for first eight performances. Teahouse of August Moon, Erl¬ anger (5th wk) ($5; 1,335) (Burgess Meredith, Scott McKay). Capacity again at nearly $35,500 (previous week, $35,470). Opening This Week Anniversary Waltz, Harris ($5; 1,000). Opened last night (Mon.) for a. run, on subscription. Panned unanimously by the critics. ‘PAJAMA’WOW $145,000 FOR 15 SHOWS, DALLAS Dallas, Oct. 18. “Pajama Game” took in a smash $145,000 for its first 15 perform¬ ances at the State Fair Auditorium. The musical, which opened here Oct. 7, remains through next Sun¬ day (23). From here the Fran Warrenr" Larry Douglas-Buster West starrer moves to the American Theatre, St. Louis, opening next Tuesday. ‘Teahouse’ Hot $34,200, First Week in Cleve. Cleveland, Oct. 18. “Teahouse of the August Moon,” with Larry Parks as star, drew a virtual-capacity $34,200 last week at the Hanna here. Top was $4.50 for the 1,515-seat house. The comedy continues this week in next, then resumes tour. ‘Kismet’ Modest $23,000 Kor 1st Week in Pitt Pittsburgh, Oct. 18. First week of “Kismet” at 1,700- seat Nixon was a big disappoint¬ ment. Musical did a slow $23,000 at $4.80 top, but looks to better that figure for the current and final session. The operetta drew fine boxoffice notices and had the advance rep of its long Broadway run. Nixon will be dark next week and relights Oct. 31 with “An¬ astasia,” followed by “Teahouse of the August Moon” for three weeks, both on subscription. Boston, Oct. 18. The ailing “Reuben Reuben ” which got a frosty opening at the Shubert last week, will shutter this Saturday (22), cutting the scheduled tliree-weeker to a fort¬ night and cancelling plans for Broadway. Two shows were to have opened last night (Mon.) “Heavenly Twins” at the Colonial and “Ana¬ stasia” at the Wilbur, each for two weeks. Both were delayted en route here by flooded rail facili¬ ties, and the premieres were set back to tonight (Tues.). Two exited town Saturday (15), “No Time for Sergeants,” which did okay at the Colonial in its fortnight stand, and “King and I,” which racked up a heavy gross at the Opera House. Both $hese productions ran into railroad trouble getting out of town. Estimates for Last Week Reuben Reuben, Shubert (1st wk) ($4.95; 1,734) (Eddie Albert). Opened to the worst notices printed in the Hub in years; drew $25,000 and is folding this Sat¬ urday (22), a week early. No Time for Sergeants, Colonial (2d wk) ,$3.85; 1,590). Pulled a hefty $30,000 and left for New York. King and I, Opera House (2d wk) ($3.85; 3.000) (Patricia Morison). Amazed with better than $50,000, a sellout, taking out around $90,- 000 in fortnight’s run, 'DELILAH' (‘VAMP’) 40G FOR 7 IN NEW HAVEN New Haven, Oct. 18. Seven-performance stand of “Delilah” (retitled “The Vamp” for its upcoming Broadway presen¬ tation), drew a lively $40,000 gross last Tuesday-Saturday (11-15) at the Shubert here, at $6 top. Current is rehearsal week for “Pipe Dream,” which plays a pre¬ view Saturday night (22) and a full eight performances next week to an advance sellout. After a dark week, the Shubert gets the touring “Tea and Sympathy,” costarring Maria Riva and Alan Baxter, Nov. 10-12; “Child of Fortune,” Nov. 17-19; “Quiet Place,” Nov. 23-26, and “Boy Friend,” Nov. 28-Dec. 3. ‘Waltz’ Bouncy $22,900 For Second Week in Det. Detroit, Oct. 18. Second and final week Of . “Anni¬ versary Waltz,” starring Leif Erick¬ son, grossed an okay $22,900 last week at the 1,482-seat Cass. Top was $4 weekend eves and $3 other nights. Theatre now goes dark un¬ til Nov. 21 when “Anastasia” ar¬ rives for a fortnight. “Little Hut,” starring Veronica Lake, opened Sunday (16) at the 2,050-seat Shubert for a two-week engagement. ‘Trap’ Slim $3,400 in 2 For Portland Quickie Portland, Oct. 18. “Tender Trap.” with Lloyd Bridges, K. T. Stevens, and Russell Nype, drew a skimpy $3,400 in two evening performances at the Civic Auditorium here l^st Wednesday- Thursday (12-13). The 4,000-seater was scaled at $4.50. “Trap” was the third in a four series play promotion by Hugh Beckett. “King of Hearts” will show at a later date. For some reason none of the L.A. produc¬ tions on the series pulled well. Despite the short gross for “Trap,” the audience enjoyed the show, in contrast to the first three lightweight offerings. Veronica’s ‘Hut’ 8G, Indnls. Indianapolis, Oct. 18. “Little Hut,” starring Veronica Lake, pulled a dismal $8,000 in eight performances at the Murat here last week, with $3.50 top and cut-price gimmick, Show was panned by all revievv- ers and failed to develop word-of- mouth. Marceau 23 G, N.Y. Wind French mime Marcel Marceau finished a fortnight’s run at the Barrymore Theatre, N. Y., last Sunday (16) with a capacity take of over $23,200 for the final frame. The Barrymore stand was an ex¬ tension of a two-week booking at the “off-Broadway” Phoenix Thea¬ tre.