Variety (July 1958)

Wednesday, Xjily 23^ 1958 Smaller the Cast, Bigger the Risk . Since “Two for the Seesaw” is a two-character play, there have been a number of angles about its: exploitation. One is the bumper crop of offers for publicity tieups involving free Articles of .services for the cast. .. ■ ; A recent bid from the Golden Door-restaurant at Idlewild Air¬ port, N.Y., was to provide a befbre-the-perfonnance dinner for the tworplayers, Daria Andrews and Anna Bancroft, and fly them by helicopter there and back to the Booth Theatre, N.Y. The eatery agreed to have the actors insured. . Producer Fred Coe turned down the; offer, however, as even a slight mishap might delay or even force the cancellation of that night’s performance, and a serious accident could close the produc¬ tion. in the latter case adequate insurance compensation would be out of the question. Barns Fair; ‘Sgts.’ $26,(1), L’ville; LEGITIMATE 'This cont ? nues td. be a disappoint¬ ing season for summer stock. With a few notable eXcept r onv business was oiff again last week. The prevailing feeling among • barn operators and road theatre managers is that the. slim attend¬ ance is due to other factors besides unfavorable weather. The ominous .international situation, coming on top'of the continued general busi¬ ness recession* is figured to be at least partly responsible. Estimates for Last Week Parenthetical designations for stock are the same as for the road, except that (TS>. indicates Tour¬ ing Show and (LP) indicates Local Production DENNIS, MASS. . Cape Playhouse <$4.40; 700; $16;- 000). Remarkable Mr; Pennypackcr (C-TS) (single Wk) (Burgess Mere¬ dith). Nearly $10,400. Previous week: Uulcy IDody. Goodman), $11,000. Current: The Third Best Sport (Celeste Holm). .' NYACK, N. Y. Tappan Zee Playhouse ($4.40; 600; $16,POOL Fallen Angels 'C-TS) 1 (sirigle wk) (Hermione Gingqld, Carol Bruce), about $10,200. .Pre¬ vious week: Tonight at .8:30 (Faye Emerson), $8,800. Current: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. LOUISVILLE Louisville Amphitheatre ($3.75); 8,520; $58,000). No Time for Ser¬ geants (C-TS) (sirigle wk'. Almost $26,000. Current: Pajama Game. ..' ST. LOUIS Municipal Opera ($3; 11.937; $95,000). On the Town, (MC-LP) (single wk).. About $40,000 for six performances, with one raioout arid threatening weather . every night. Previous week: Lady in the . Dark (Dolores Gray), $51,000; Cur¬ rent: Rosalinda. : CORNING, N. Y; .Corning. Summer Theatre ($5; 611; $10,500). Teahouse of the August Moon (C-LP) (single wk).:. Almost $5,600. Previous week: Happiest Millionaire, $3,800. Cur¬ rent: No Time for Sergeants. NEW HOPE, PA. Bucks County Playhouse ($2.50; 432; $7,818), Middle of the Night (D-LP) (1st wk), ‘ about S5.900. Previous week: Season in the. Sun, $5,400. Current: Middle of the Night. " STRATFORD, CONN. Shakespeare Festival ($5; 1.453; .$45,000). Hamlet - Midsummer Night’s Dream-Winter’s Tale (Rep-* LP) (5th wk), over $36,700. Previ¬ ous week; repertory, $38,500. Cur- r rent: same. PHILADELPHIA Playhouse in the Park ($3; 1,436; $26,000). Devil’s Disciple (C.-LP) (single wk), nearly $14,200. Pre¬ vious week: Uncle Willie (Menasha Skulnik), $19*400. Current: Visit to . • Small Planet (Arthur Treacher). CHICAGO Hinsdale Summer Theatre ($3.50; 838; $15,000). Matchmaker (C-TS) (1st wk> (Lyle Talbot). Nearly $10,- 300 in seven performances. Pre¬ vious. Week: Fourposter, . $6,800. Current: Matchmaker. DALLAS State Fair Music HaU ($3.75; 4,120; $73,500). Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (MC-LP) (2d wk) (Marie Wilson,' Vaughn Monroe), nearly $34,400. Previous week: . same, show*; $31,600. Current: Guys and Dolls (Johnnie Ray, Janis Paige). . DETROIT Northland Playhouse ($3.50; 1.600; $35,000). Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (D-TS) (single wk) . (Diana Barrymore), - almost $12,600* with excellent reviews. Show previous¬ ly grossed $20,400 at a $2.20 top at tlie. ,2,500-seat Packard Music' Hall, Warren, O.. and two weeks of $11,- 500 : and $14,200, respectively; at the Avalon, Houston. KANSAS CITY Starlight Theatre ($4; 7.600; $70;- 000). Tom Sawyer (MC-LP); (single wk). New. musical version of the Mark Twain classic drew, nearly $65,000, best of dhe season so far. Previous Week: Kiss Me, Kate (Julius La Rosa).; $56,000; Current: Carousel (Jan. Clayton).. WESTPORT, CONN. Country Playhouse <$4.40; 761; $17,500). He Who Gets Slapped (C-TS) (single wk) (Alfred Drake),! about $10,600. Previous week: Remarkable Mr. Pennypackcr (Bur¬ gess Meredith), $10,800. Current: Time for Elizabeth (Qroucho Marx). IVORYTON, CONN; Ivoryton Playhouse <$4.40; .650; i $17,000). Time for Elizabeth (C-TS) (single wk) (Groucho Marx). Nearly $16,000. Previous; week: Mid-Sum¬ mer (James Mason), $7,500. Cur¬ rent: Kind Sir (Anne Sheridan). WALLINGFORD, CONN,; ' Oakdale Musical Theatre ($4.20; 2,150; $41,000). New Girl in Town (MC-TS) ( 1 st wk) /Joan Blondell), nearly $19,000. Previ oris week: Tender Trap (Larry Parks, Betty Garrett). $16,000. Current: New. Girl in Town. . SARATOGA, N. Y. : ' ; Spa Theatre ($3.85; 587; $13,000). Middle of the Night (D-T$) (sirigle wk) (Sam ; Levenel* about $7,300. Previous week; Separate Tables (Basil, Rathbone, Geraldine Page),. $8,300. Current: Happiest Million¬ aire (Victor Jory); INDIANAPOLIS Avondaie.PIayhouse ($2.50; 1,000; $12,000). My Three AngeU.(C-LP) (sirigle wk) (Pat O’Brien). About $10,000 in six performances. Pre¬ vious week: Separate Tables (Rose¬ mary DeCamp); $7,800 in five per¬ formances. Current: Uncle Harry (Jackie Coogari). Starlight Musicals ($3; 3,050; $36,000. Plain arid Fancy (MC-LP) (single wk). About $17,000 in four performances (two rairiouts). Pre¬ vious week: Oklahoma, $22,000 in five. Current: Hit. the Deck. British Shows . (Figures denote opening dates) LONDON Ah, Quell* Folie* Wint. Gard. (6-28-58). Aliy Other. Biz, Westminster (4-10-58). As You Llk* It, Open Air (7-14-38). At Drop of Hat, Fortune CI-24-57>. Bells Rinsing, Coliseum <11-14-57). Breath of Spring, Cambridge 0-26-58). . .. Boy Friend, Wynaham * (i;-l-S3). ~ Double Cross, Duchess-(7r7-58). : \. Duel of Angels, Apollo (4-24-58). , Expresso Bongo, Saville (4-23-58). Five Finger Exercise, Comedy (7-16-58). Flowering Cherry,. Haymarket (11-21-57). For Adults Only,, Strand (6-25-58). . Irm* La Douce, Lyric (7-17-58). Joshua Tree, Duke of York* (7-9-58). Living for Pleasure;. Garrick (7-10-58). Mousetrap, Ambassador* (11-2532). . My Fair Lady, Drury Lane (4-30-58). Noon .Has No Shadows, Arts (7,18-58)^ Not In the Book, Criterion (4-2-58). Forty, New (5-28-58). Plalsirs Do Paris* Wales (4-20-57). Private Prosecutor* RoyalCourt (7-21-58). Repb of Bolt, Picadilly (12-12-57), - Roar Like a Dova, Phoenix (9-25-57). Salad Days, Vaudeville (8-5-54). Simple Spyman,. Whitehall (3-19-58). Spooking of Murder, St. Mart. (6-4-58).. . Three Way Switch, Aldwych (7-8-58). Touch of Sun, Princes (1-31-58). Trial Mary Dugan, Savoy (7-2-58). Tunnel of Love, Majesty’s (12-3-57). . Variation on Theme, Globe (5-S-5S). Where’s Charley, Palace (2-20-58). You Can Have Body, Vic. Pal. (6-2-58). SCHEDULED OPENINGS . . Dear Augustine, Royal Ct. (7;28-58). Merry Widow, Coliseum (7-31-58). Touring Shows (July 21-Aup. 3) Grand' Hotel (tryout)—Philharmonic AucL, L A. (21-2) (Reviewed in VARIETY, July 9, ’58). My Fair . Lady (2d Co.)—Shubert,: Chi (21 and continue* . indefinitely). ^£2*4- 'B way Spotty; Only 11 Shows Now; SiaSiClSSI; Darling 44^G, Hayes-Healy 20J^G, Theatre last Week. It w r as the ' “ . • - third offering of the season. 1Y 11 (!»()/» 1AA t j AAA Bellamy wl, Andrews $ZPK) variety show. i . -— ■■ ... V >.V — — ; ' Broadway was uneven last week. 1 estimated $17,000. Has been over- mn iimt riv/i nriri in v a Receipts climbed for some entries quoted recently. liKAWI) Kill I.lli IN LA and dropped for others. The decline Look Back in Anger, (Golden (D) ■ ' ' 1 au 111 in the number of active shows con- (42d wk; 335 p) ($5175; 8Q0; $25,- *1 AHY-AFF TA CQf Pill tinued with two closing;. and a (152). Over $13,100 on twofers. LM1 Ufl 1U vOU) ylll layoff reducing the count this week Previous week, $11,800 on twofers. Business was spotty on the road to 1L . ' Look Homeward, Angel, Barry- last week. Receipts Ji^ld up oil the f There were only two sellouts.^.’^h wk; 268 p) '$6.90; Coast, due primarily to the power- “Music Man” and “My Fair Lftdy.” j 1.Q76; ^$40 716) (Miriam Hopkins), house Civic Light Opera subscrip- " f Inmost $23,700. Previous week, tion setup in Los Angeles. The . Estimates for Last Reek j$28,000. . touring edition of “My Fair Lady” /Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama),• Man^Majestic (MC) '31st took another sharp dip ill Chicago,, CD (Comedy-Drama), R < Rerue),;; wh; 244 p) ‘$8.05; 1,626; $C8.6o3) however; . MC:'(Mwtical^C<ymcdy\ MT>. ] ^dBert .. Preston). Over $69,300. i v The numbers of tourers is. still {crtl-braiiiaO (OperaY, OP (Op- Prei’iOris.Aveek, $69400. ■ T e , a hn?f)ai^ ies - <ie 6ta ( l atteT i OMr parenthetic, d-sipmiioirs \ $68 210).' Steady at MMoi. :■ °"V. V’’ * # t . „ r - . refer, respectively, to weeks played, j Romanoff and Juliet, Plymouth Estimates for Last Week number of performances tbrou.oh | (C> (41st wk; 324 p) <r5.75-S6.25; Parenthetic, designations for out- last Saturday, top prices itchere ’j 1,062; $36,625)' Over $17,200 bn of-town shows are the sanie as for two prices are given, the higher is I twofers. Previous week, S15.000 on Broadway, except that hyphenated for Friday-Saturday nights and the twofers. T with show classification indicates lower for weeknights ), number Say Darling ANTA (MC) <I6th tryout and RS indicates road show: of seats, capacity gross and stars, ‘$7.50; 1,185; - du.460) Also, prices on touring shows in- Price: includes 10Co Federal and ■ a ^ n 5;* Nearly _ $44.500, elude. 10% Federal Tax and . local \ 5% City tax, but grosses , are net grosses are net; t.e., exclusive of Dark At the Top of the Stairs, (25th wk: 196 p) ($6.90; 1.155; toxes. Music Box (D) (33d wk: 260 n) <537,500) (Ralph Bellamy). Almost . ■ (S5.75 - $6.90: 1.010; $33,0Q0). $36,-100. Previous week, $37,100. LOS ANGELES Around $16,000. Previous week. Two for the Seasaw, Booth 'CD) At the phin^rmrini*. A,,^ (27th wk; 212 p) ($6.90: 780; $31,- (MD-Ti (2d wk) ($6:40-$5.90; 2,670; ~ ' . . . • ^ ~ 700) (Dana Andrews). Nearly $28,- $73,500) (Paul MuriD. Nearly $73,- . I AHflAn lllle ’n’ 900 - Previous week. $30,000. 000. Previous week, $71,500. Con- URIKUUII V1II9II r I (Hid -West S?de Story, Winter Garden Unuesth^ghAug. 9. then plays ^ ^ wk: om«u>5 ; 1.404; -- “Dear Delinquent” folded jiilv 5 ous week. $41,500. CHICAGO -and “Grab Me a Gondola” a week Who Was That Lady, Beck ,t.D> My Fair Lady, Shubert (MC-TS). !•?ter. wlifle the shutters go down 60 ‘'S 6 * 9 ^j?? 0; ' (37th wk) ($7; 2,100; $72,979). Just cn “The Bells are Ringing” next 900 ’ y Pe fj£, r £ PrpS.ri oyer $58,000. Previous week, $62,- weekend. “Bells.” in w hich Julie ^ 20 * 500 - Previous • 700. Wilson took over the femme lead wee k, $W.5uo. . I;- • • • •' -- ' • gently fronvJanetBlair, must be B lne Demm. Playhouse ‘D) <21st if I Iwted among the.failures. .as it. still wfc i 64 p) ($5:75-S6.90; 996; $31,- Herman AOgan Leaving has-some-, way-to go to recover Its 1 500) Almost $ 11,700 on twofers. » /tl-n m* /.. ordinal investment. • i Previous week, $10,900. Closed As Lhl him-limes tribe The long-running hits st!ll in-,last Saturday (16) at art approxi- Herman Kogan Leaving As Chi Sun-Times Critic Chicago, July 22. elude “The Mousetrap.” now’ in its | mate $16,000 deficit on $80.C sixth vear. “The Bov Friend.” iTr 1 noctmnnt That inelndps i Herman Kogan, (Title-editor for its .fifth, year arid “Salad Days.” from the sale of the film rights, the Chicago Sun-Times since 1951, lust com Dieting its fourth year. Oh Captain, Alvin (MC) ‘24th leaves tlie morning gazette Sept, 1 “At the Drop of a Hat,” the two- wk; 191 p) l$8.35-$9.20; 1.331; $60.- to take an exec post with Ency- man revue at the Fortune, is still 000). Over $28,200 with Dorothy clopaedia Britannica. It’s not big after more than 18-months. It’s Lamour J° in ^g the mosical last kriown'vet who will replace hint eventually due for Broadway under 1 PreSLui w ^ 1 a S .bobk arid drama critic krid." arts A^arider H. Cohon’s ■nariage- five^riormaocea. leridri^wmld ”ieem ’to^be^xSennri : This half-yrarly review, embraces • jjg g *ntirfr $300 WW > investmeiIr SS ° f Syse, who for several years has all regular West .End situating been second-stringer and. assist- hut does not include the Arts The- ReRg Ringing, Shubert «MC) ant. atre Club the Royal Court Theatre (86th wk . ^4 p) f$ 8 . 0 5; 1,453; $58r Kogan’s new . job follows direct- or the Old Vie. In all these loca- ioi) (.Judy Holliday). Nearly $42.- Iy bv no coincidence, the publica : tions shows ate. brought in only 300 . Previous week, $43,800. Laid tion of his book, “The Great EB,” for limited engagements, off following the evening per- 3 historv of the Britannica com- ..■•During- the previous half-year, 'formance last Saturday ‘19) and pany which.' he was commissioned' from July 1 through Dec. 31, 1957, resumes Aug. 9. to write. At EB he will become there were 20 neiy shows _in Lori- _ ~ “ P1 director of company relations, a don, iricluding eight hihs, five OfF-Broadway Shows new post whose purview is civic, C Blood Wedding, Actors Play- consumer, -employee and public 1 ‘bet house 13-31-58). relations. }?' , Boy Friend, Cherry Lane >1-25- Kogan joined the Sun-Times In^ ^ ,: Rp ^ i 58i. 1942 as a reporter, after a number ■.*•**»■»««£;®?y Lettuce children of Darkness. Circle in of yeii-s tvith^4he Chicago tribune ; I the Square (2-28-58). and City News Bureau. In col- M'jhonaire” and • Fiowermg Cher-. ^comic Strip, Barbizon Plaza laboration with Lloyd Wendt, as- sistant Sunday editor of the Trib, The failures were “Silver Wed-. he has authored five historical arid biographical.books,^^an of ^^ U g^st'“ TOe ^ricer^ni le, them on Chicago subjects. Lat- » 58) net titipri a pictorial entries were' The Egg. _ Bells , 00 T ;. Comic Strip, Barbizon Plaza (5 14-58). - Crucible, Martinique (3-11-581. Guests of Nation, Marqiiee < 6-26- [ner with the. Family,”; “The Rape ] - 4 -of the Belt” and “The Rappy Man.” j ‘m- TMal ^.^ayboy w«fn World, Tara ( 5 - History.” is being issued, by Dut- ni* ' 8-58) ton in November. -'--i V'»mt#. deLys '9-25- .. the Belt” and “The Happy Man." ,}| y ss e s. Rooftop (6-5-58). London Legit Half-Year : . ' :- , 58>; closed last Sunday «20i. .(Jan. 1 to June 30, 1958.) ■ ■ ■ Key to parenthetical designations: (C) Comedy; (D) Drama; (CD) ^oTrSS™i,n < , R „k Revue: « 1C > M “ 5kal ComK *- As,wisk denotes London Council Studying Cat on a Hot Thu Roof <D) School (MC) $ 70,000 Grant tO Sadlfif S Touch of the Sun fD)* The Kidderi (D) London, July 15. The Potting Shed (D) Seth (D) The London County Council is Where’s Charley (MC)* The Iceman Cometh (D) recommended by its General Pur- Simple Spymen (C)* Brass Butterfly (C) pose Committee to make an annual Breath of SptJng tC)*;. Something to Hide (D) grant of $70,000 to the Sadler’s Not in the Book (C)^ Simply Heavenly (MC) Wells Trust, which is so hard up Any Other Business (D)* Verdict (D) that its very existence is threr*t- Duel of Angels (D)+ The Big Tickle (C) end. If okayed the grant will be Th , . F riartvm V )* MC) * OPENED BEFORE JAN. 1 AND "lade immediately. Any further STH.I. RUNNING JONE 3. X You Too Can Have a Body (C) v view’s of an independent inquiry Status Not Yet Determined (5) Dear Dehnquent (C) Committee. Expresso Bongo (MC)+ The Mousetrap (D). Such a committee would look Variations bn a Theme (G)* At the Drop of a Hat (R) into four points: whether the Trust Speaking of Murder (D)* . . . Flowering Cherry (D) would be capable of achieving -a For Adults Only (R)* Tunnel of Love^(C) . ^. satisfactory standard of perform- Ah, Quelle Folie (R)* .. Grab. Me a Gondola (MC) ance arid production; that admis- Failures (14) Roar Like. a^Doye (C) sion prices should insure opera be- Roseland (D) KaP® of thfi. Belt .(C) ing within the pockets of those de- Keep Your Hair On (MC) Salad Days (MC) siring .it; that there should be suf- Lady at the Wheel (MC) The Boy Friend (MC) ficient demand for opera, and that Hunter’s Moon (D). Status Not Yet Determined (1) the organization would be run as Touch'it Light. (C) I Bells ar«.Ringing (MC). - - economically- as possible. -schoriKMC) $70,000 Grant to Sadler’s The Kidderi (D) London, July 15. Seth (D) The London County Council is The Iceman Cometh (D) recommended by its General Pur- Brass Butterfly <C) pose Committee to make an annual Something to Hide (D) grant of $70,000 to the Sadler’s Simply Heavenly (MC) Wells Trust, which is so hard up Verdict (D) that its very existence is threrit- The Big Tickle (C) end. If okayed the grant will be OPENED BEFORE JAN. 1 AND marie immediately. Any further STILL RUNNING JDNE 30 : c ?n f ? ass(stance u.ould be eon- [ sidefed only after hearing the STILL RUNNING JUNE 30 Hits (10) Dear Delinquent (C) The Mousetrap (D) At the Drop of a Hat (R) Flowering Cherry (D) Tunnel of Love .(C) . Grab Me a Gondola (MC) Roar Like, a Dove (C) Rape of the Belt (C) Salad Days (MC) The Boy Friend (MC) Status Nut Yet Determined (1) Bells;ar«.Ringing (MC):■- views of an independent inquiry committee. Such a committee would look into four points: whether the Trust would be capable of achieving a satisfactory standard of perform¬ ance arid production; that admis¬ sion prices should insure opera be¬ ing within the pockets of those de¬ siring it; that there should be suf¬ ficient demand for opera, and that the organization would be run as economically- as possible.