Variety (March 1959)

Wednesday, March 4, 1959 LEGITIMATE S* . Road Spotty; “Raism $37,100, Chi; Harris &/$, Mpls.; Dark 20G, Del; ‘Abner’$1,200, St. L; ‘Juno’ 27G, Hub The road was uneven last week. Philadelphia continued to jump for the third successive stanza, with capacity business for the tryouts of “First Impressions’ and “Sweet Bird of Youth.’ Chicago rang the bell with “Music Man” and the tryout of “Raisin in the Sun.” The bus-and-truck company of “Li’l Abner” played to good busi¬ ness in St. Louis, while “Warm Peninsula” was big in Minneapolis and “My Fair Lady” strong in Detroit. Estimates for Last Week Parenthetic designations for out- of-town shows are the same as for Broadway, except that hyphenated T with show classification indicates tryout and RS indicates road show. Also, prices on touring shows in¬ clude 10% Federal Tax. and local tax, if any, hut as on Broadway grosses are net; i.e. exclusive of taxes. Engagements are for single week unless otherwise noted. BOSTON Gay Felons, Wilbur (C-T) ($4,40- $4.95; 1,241; $32,699) (Denise Darcel, Jacques Francois, George Tobias). Opened Feb. 23 to three affirmative reviews (Doyle, Ameri¬ can; Hughes, Herald; Maloney, Traveler) and three yes-no (Kelly, Globe; Maddocks; Monitor; Norton, Record); Almost $14,500. Previous week, $15,800 at the Warren, At¬ lantic City. Juno, Shubert (MD-T) (4th wk) ($4.95-$6.25; 1,717; $52,000) (Shirley Booth, Melvyn Douglas). Nearly $27,000. Previous week, $43,200. CHICAGO Girls in 509, Civic (C-RS) (1st wk) ($4.95-$5.50; 910; $28,500) (Peggy Wood, Imogene Coca). Opened Feb. 24 to two favorable reviews (Cassidy, Tribune; Dettmer, American) and two pans (Harris, Daily News; Syse, Sun-Times); almost $17,200 for seven perform¬ ances and one preview. Previous week, $21,100 at the Shubert, Detroit. Music Man, Shubert (MC-RS) (3d wk) $5.50-$6.60; 2,100; $71,458). Almost $67,500 with Guild sub¬ scription. Previous week, $68,900. Raisin in the Sun, Blackstone (D-T) (3d wk) ($4.40-$4.95; 1,450; $39,250) (Sidney Poitier). Nearly $37,100. Previous week, $26,800. Two for the Seesaw, Todd (CD- RS) (10th wk) ($5.50; 1,090; $34,- 461) (Ruth/Roman, Jeffrey Lynn). Almost $17,600. Previous week, $ 17 , 100 . CINCINNATI Look Back in Anger, Shubert (D-RS) ($4.55-$5.10; 2,000; $60,000) (Donald Hamm, Pippa Scott). Al¬ most $14,200. Previous week, $26,- 100 at the State, Minneapolis. DETROIT Dark at the Ton of the Stairs, Shubert (D-RS) (1st wk) ($4; 2.050; $31,000. Over $20,000 with Guild subscription. Previous week, $17,200 at the Hanna, Cleveland. My Fair Lady, Riviera (MC-RS) (3d wk) ($5; 2,700; $100,000) (Mi¬ chael Evans-, Diane Todd). Nearly $69,200, Previous week, $67,800. MINNEAPOLIS Warm' Peninsula, State (CD-T) ($4.30; 2,200) (Julie Harris). Over $43,500. Previous week, $42,100 for eight-performance split. NEW HAVEN Lovely Star, Good Night, Shubert (CD-T) . ($4.80; 1,650; . $$6,000) (Donald .Cobk, Glenda Farrell). Opened last* Wednesday (25) to two inconclusive reviews (Johnson, Journal Courier; unsigned, Regis¬ ter); almost $9,100 for five perfor¬ mances. PHILADELPHIA First Impressions, Forrest (MC- Ti (3d wk) ($6-$6,60; 1,763; $62,511) (Polly Bergen, Farley Granger, Hermione Gingoldh Almost $58,- 900 with Guild subscription. Previ¬ ous week', $61,540.- Sweet Bird of Youth, Locust (D-T) (3d wk> ($4.50-$5; 1,410; $45,500) (Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Sidney Blackmer). Over $46,- 100. Previous week, $46,100. ST. LOUIS LiT Abner, American (MC-RS, bus - and - truck). Over $38,200. Previous week, $21,500 for seven performances at the Shubert, Cin¬ cinnati, and $4,700 for a one-niter at the Municipal Auditorium, Char¬ leston, W. Va, SPLIT WEEK Romanoff and Juliet (C-RS) (Bert Lahr). Totalled $22,700 for six performances, as folows: Tow¬ er, Atlanta, - Monday-Wednesday (23-25), three, $10,400; Ovens Au¬ ditorium, Charlotte, Thursday-Fri- day (26-27), two, $9,300; Center, Norfolk, Saturday (28), one, $3,000. Previous week, $25,300 for eight- performance split. ATLANTA PERKS WITH GRECO, PHILLY SYMPH Atlanta, March 3. Longhair musical fans, in which this area abounds, got a double dose last w 7 eek when Jose Greco and company filled Tower (1,800 seats) Thursday (12) and was fol¬ lowed Sunday (15) by Philadelphia Symphony, conducted by Eugene Ormandy, played to 6,999 custom¬ ers Tcapacity) at William A. Alex¬ ander Memorial Coliseum on Georgia Institute of Technology campus. Greco, booked into Tower by Famous Artists (Ralph Bridges), has become a prime favorite in Atlanta. Philadelphia Orch- Ormandy, an attraction on At¬ lanta’s Music Club’s annual sellout All Star Series, Marvin McDonald, manager, has been here so many times, Atlantans look upon it as a local organization. All Star book¬ ings normally show at 5,500-seat Municipal Auditorium, but Tech Coliseum provides a better show¬ case (with more seats) for a per¬ formance of this nature. Non¬ season ticket holders paid $4 top to hear it. Claudel’s ‘Satin Slipper’ Set for Catholic Univ. Washington, March 3. The American premiere of an experimental French play, “The Satin Slipper,” by Paul Claudel, will be presented by the Catholic Univ. Theatre here March 6-21, under the direction of the Rev. Gilbert V. Hartke. The play, written in 1924, was first produced in Occupied France at the Comedie Francaise in 1943. Claudel, playwright, poet and mys¬ tic, was French Ambassador to the U.S. for many years. Leo Brady has adapted the play. Grants tolO Directors The Ford Foundation last week awarded grants of $10,000 each to 10 America^ legit directors to “help stimulate their creative development,” The recipients, com¬ prising stagers in the professional and non-pro fields, were among 132 nominated.!,^ Foundation re¬ quest by 367 people active in the theatres. Those selected include William Ball, stager of the current off- Broadway production of “Ivanov”; Rachmael ben Avram, director at the Company of the Golden Hand, Berkley, Cal.; Herbert Blau, di¬ rector of several plays at the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop; Angus L. Bowmer, director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, Ore., and'James H. Clancy, director in the theatre of the State U. of Iowa, Iowa City. Also, Mrs. Zelda Fichandler, producing director of the Arena Stage, Washington; John Reich, head of the Goodman Memorial Theatre, Chicago; Alan Schneider, Broadway stager; Mack Seism, di¬ rector of the Mummers, Oklahoma City, Okla., community theatre, and Mrs. Nina Vance, managing direc¬ tor of the Alley Theatre, Houston. Observation of directorial tech¬ niques in the U.S. and abroad and the employment of more profes¬ sional performers at various thea¬ tres are among the varied provi¬ sions of the individual grants. Producers on Spot Continued from page 57 tained by Broadway producers as added b.o. revenue. Actors Equity last week asked the League of N. Y. Theatres for a “determination of monies accru¬ ing” from the tax deduction. That move followed an editorial in Equity, the union’s official publica¬ tion, which rapped the Broadway producers for failing to pass along the remission to the public. Lotito has stated that the decision of New York managements to retain the tax saving was not officially sanctioned by the League. On another front, Equity and the American Guild of Musical Artists sent a joint telegram last Thurs¬ day (26) to President Eisenhower protesting his ap-omtment of 15 public trustees for the National Cultural Center to be erected in Washington. The complaint'states that of those appointed, “none is an active participant in the per¬ forming arts.” The telegram, signed by Angus Duncan and Hy Faine, re¬ spective executive secretaries of Equity and AGMA, claimed both unions represented a total of 15,- 000'members. SCHEDULED N.Y. OPENINGS (Theatres Set) BROADWAY " Juno, Winter Garden (3-9-59). Sweet Bird, Beck (3-10-59). Raisin in Sun, Barrymore (wk. 3-11-59). Lute Sor. 9 , City Center (3-12-59). First Impressions, Alvin (3-19-59). Desert incident. Golden (3-24-59). Triple Plev, Playhouse (4-15-59). Destry Rides Again, Imperial (4-23-59). Gypsy, Broadway -(5-14-59). OFF-BROADWAY Royal Gambit, Sullivan St. (3-4-59). Geranium Hat, Qrpheum (3-17-59). Ole, Greenwich Mews,. (3-18-59). Our Town, Circle In Square (.°- 9 3-59). Come Ptay With Me, York (4-7-59). Season of Choice, Barblzon (4-8-59). Off-Broadway Shows (Figures denote opening dates) Boy Friend, Cherry Lane (1-25- 58). Buffalo Skinner, Theatre Mar¬ quee (2-19-59). Clearing in the Woods, Sheridan Square (2-12-59). Crucible, Martinique (3-11-58). Enemy of the People, Actors Playhouse ,(2-4-59). Fashion, Royal (1-20-59). Golem, St. Mark’s (2-25-59). Hamlet of Stepney Green, Cricket (11-13-58). Heloise, Gate (9-24-58). Ivanov, Renata (10-7-58); closes March 15. Man Who Never Pied. Jan Hus (11-21-58). Many Loves, Living Theatre (1- 13-59). „ „ On the Town, Carnegie Hall . Playhouse (1-15-59). *• j QUare Fellow, Circle in Square j (11-27-58); closes March 15>. | She Shall Have Music, 41st St. ■ (1-22-59). I Threepenny Opera, deLys (9-20- 55). I Tis a Pity She’s a Whore, Play¬ ers (12-5-58). Trip to Bountiful, Theatre East (2-26-59). Widowers’ Houses, Downtown (3-2-59). Closed Electra & Harlequinade, Allen (2-13-59); closed last Saturday (28). Touring Stows (March 1-15) Bells Are Ringing (Judy Holliday)— National, Wash. (10-14). Dark at the Top of thy Stairs—Shubert, Pet. (2-7); Royal Alexandra. Toronto Dear Liar (tryout) (Katharine Cornell, Brian Aherne)—Sombrero, Phoenix (3-8); Univ. Aud., Tucson, Ariz., (10-13); Four Arts, Palm Beach (14-16). Desert Incident Orycut)—Shubert, New Haven (4-7); Walnut. Philly (10-14). Destry Aides Again (tryout) (Andy Grif¬ fith. Dolores Gray)—Shubert, Philly (9-14). First Impressions (tryout) (Polly Bergen, Farley Graneer, Hermione Gin*»nld)— s '-t- rest, Philly (3-14) (Reviewed in VARIETY, Feb. 4, *59). . Garden District (Diana Barrymore)— Warren, A.C. (11-14). Gay Felons (lr.voul) (Denise Darcel, Jacques Francois, George Tobias)—Ford's, Balto. (2-7); Locust, PhiUv (9-14) (Reviewed in VARIETY. Fch 18, ’59). Girls in 509 r ■*"r*v Wood, Imogene Coca)—Civic, Chi (2-14). Good Will Ambassador (tryotit) 'Dennis King,- Cyril Cu$-ck. Martyn Green)— Olympia, Dublin (2-14). Li'l Abner (bus-and-truck)—Pershing Municipal Aud.. Lincoln. Neb. (2); Or- pheum, Sioux City, la. (3): U. of Kansas. Lawrence (4): Topeka (Kan.) H.S. (5); Arcadia, Wichifi (^-7); Municipal Aud.. Oklahoma City (9); Municipal Aud.,. Tulsti (10-11); Rob'nson Aud., Little Rock, Ark. (12-1?): Shrine Mosque Aud., Springfield, Mo. (14). Look Back In Anger (Donald Herron, Pippa Scott)—American, St. L. (2-7); Citv Aud., Topeka O’*: City Ajtfi.. Independ¬ ence, Kan. (10): Mu-ir HalL K.C. (11-12); Arcadia, Wichita (13-14). Lovely Star, Good Nioht (tryout) (Don¬ ald Cook, Glenda Farrell)—Shubert, Pos¬ ton (2-14). Music Man (2d Co.)—Shubert, Chi (2-14). My Fair Lady (2d Co.)—Riviera, Det. (2-14). Raisin In the Sun (tryout) (Sidney Poitier)—Blackstone. Chi (2-7, moves to N.Y.) (Reviewed in VARIETY, Jan. 28, ’53). Romanoff and Juliet (Bert Lahr)—Mu¬ nicipal, Charleston, W. Va. (2); Virginia, Wheeling - (3); Community, Hershey (4); Bushnell Aud.. Hartford (5-6); Stanley, Utica <9-10); Procter’s Schenectady (11); Aud.. Rochester (12-14). Triplo Flay (tryout) .(Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy)—Royal Poinciana, Palm Beach (2-7); Coconut Grove (Fla.) Play¬ house (9-14). Two for tha Seesaw (2d\ Co.) (Ruth Roman, Jeffrey I.ynn)—Todd..Chi t2-14). Warm Peninsula (trvout) Hnlie Harris) —Pahst, Milwaukee (3-7); Erlanger, Chi (9-14) (Reviewed in VARIETY, Nov. 5, ’58). B’way Up; ‘Jamaica’ 44G, “Poet’ 28%G, IHajority’ $53,900, ‘Darting’ $26,2(10, ‘J.B.’ 33*$, ‘Beaux’ lO^G, late’ 3'$ Broadway improved substantial¬ ly last week for most shows, al¬ though a few entries were still .shakey. Twofers are Helping some productions, while others are plan¬ ning to join the cutrate list. Busi¬ ness is due to decline this week. Sellouts last week included “Flow¬ er Drum Song,” “La Flume de Ma Tante,” “Majority of One,” “Mar¬ riage-Go-Round,” “Music Man,” “My Fair Lady” and “Redhead.” 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 (where^ two prices are given, the higher is for Friddy-Saturday nights and the lower for weeknights), number of seats, capacity gross and stars. Price inchid jn s 10% Federal and 5% City tax, but grosses are net; i.e., exclusive of taxes. . Bells Are Ringing, Alvin (MC) (115th wk; 916 p) ($8.05; 1,453; $59,000) (Judy Holliday). Nearly $45,100 on twofers. Previous week, $41,100 on-twofers. Exit next Sat¬ urday (7) to tour. Cold Wind and the Warm, Mc- rosco (D) (12th wk; 96 p) ($6.90; 946; $35,300) (Eli Wallach, Maureen Stapleton). Over $14,400. Previous week, $15,900. Goes on twofers this week. Disenchanted, Coronet (D) (13th wk; 101 p) ($6.90; 1,101; $36,131) • (Jason Robards Jr., Rosemary Har- I ris). Almost $23,200 on twofers. I Previous week, $19,500 on twofers. Flower Dram Song, St. James : (MC) (13th wk; 104 p) ($8.05; 1,615; $62,632). Over $62,600 again. Gazebo, Lyceum <C) (12th wk; 90 p) ($6.90; 995; $29,600) (Walter Slezak, Jayne Meadows). Nearly $23,900. Previous week, $19,900. God and Kate Murphy, 54th St. (D) (1st wk; 4 p) ($5.75-$6.90; 1,037; $41,286) (Fay Compton). Opened last Thursday (26) to two affirma¬ tive notices (Atkinson, Times; Chapman, News) and five negative (Aston, World-Telegram; Coleman, Mirror; Kerr, Herald Tribune; Mc¬ Clain, Journal-American; Watts, j Post). Almost $3,500 for first four • performances. Has to vacate thea- i tre next Saturday '7). Jamaica, Imperial (MC) (64th wk; ; 507 p) ($8.35; 1,427; $64,000) (Lena : Horne, Ricardo Montalban). Over \ $44,000 on twofers. Previous week, ‘ $38,300 on twofers. -J.B., ANTA <D) (12th wk; 02 p) ($6.95; 1.185; $46,745) (Christopher Plummer, Raymond Massey). Over $33,500. Previous week, $33,100. La Plume de Ma Tante, Royale (R) (16th wk; 127 p) ($7.50; 1,050; $41,800) (Robert Dhery). Almost $42,600. Previous week. same. Look Homeward Angel, Barry¬ more (D) <6Sth wk: 524 p) ($6.90; 1,076; $41.191) (Miriam Hopkins, Ed Begley). Over $17,900 on two-: fers. Previous week. $17,000 on: twofers. Moves next Monday (9) to j the 54th St. Majority of One, Shubert (C) (2d ! wk; 16 p) (S6.9Q; 1.453; $51,000)! (Cedric Hardwicke. Gertrude Berg). Over $53,900. Previous week, $45,800. Make a Million. Playhouse (C) 1 (1.9th wk; 143 p) ($6.90; 994; $36.-1 700) (Sam Levene). Almost $16,700. j Previous week, underquoted, was! about $16,300. lies to vacate thea- • tre April 11. ; Marriage - Gn - Round, Plymouth (C) (18th wk; 141 p) ($6.90; 1.062; , $42,700) (Charles Boyer, Claudette J Colbert). Over $43,000. Previous \ week. $42,700. Muric Man. Majestic (MO (63d 1 wk; 500 p) ($8.05; 1,626: $70,300). ! Over $71,100. Previous week, $70,-. 200. ' My Fair L3dv, Helhneer (MC) (155th wk: 1.235 o) ($8.05; 1,551; ; $69,200) (Edward Mulha^e. Pamela . Charles). Almost $70,100. Previous! we^k, same. Once Mere With Feeling, Na-' tional (C) 09th wk: 151 pMS6.90; ’ 1,162; $43,800) ( Joseph Cotton, j Arlene Francis). Nearly $27,900. ! Previous week. $25 500. \ Pleasure ef H 5 ** C^mnany, Long- acre (C) (19'h w’- 1<*9 p) ($6.90; ■ 1.101; S37.600) (Cvril Richard,i Cornelia Ot ; s Sk'^ocr, Charlie! Rue.«loc, Wa r *er Abel). Almost $36,000. Prr-OM.S week, $34,800 with tv:o'p'".'t : es. ; Pr*- iD) (5th { wk; 39 p) i$3.00-$7.50; 1,010; $38,-; 500) (Claire Bloom, Rod Steiger, Oscar Homolka, Akim Tamiroff). Nearly $33,700. Previous week, $32,700. Redhead, 46th St. (MC) (4th.wk; 28 p) ($9.20; 123?; $62,410) (Gwen Verdon). Almost $62,100. Previous week, same. Requiem for a Nun, Golden (D) (5th wk; 35 p) ($6.00; 600; $30,000) (Ruth Ford, Zachary Scott). Over $13,100. Previous week, $16,000. Has to vacate theatre March 21. Rivalry, Bijou (D) (3d wk: 25 p) $6.90; 599; $22,500) (Richard Boone, Nancy Kelly, Martin Gabel). Almost $16,100. Previous week, $13,400. Sunrise at Campobello, Cort (D) (57th wk; 452 pi ($6.90; 1,155; $38,- 300) (Ralph Bellamy). Nearly $28,- 700. Previous week, $26,600. Tall Story, Belasco (C) (5th wk; 36 p) ($6.90; 1,087;’$37,127) (Hans Conned, Marc Connelly, Marian Winters). Almost $22,300. Previous week, $22,500. Third Best Sport, Ambassador (C) 9th wk; 71 p) ($6.90; 1,155; $43,800) (Celeste Holm). Nearly $15,400. Previous week, $14,900. Goes cn twofers this week. Touch of the Poet, Hayes (D) (22d wk; 172 p) ($7.59; 1,139; $43,- 887) (Helen Hayes, Eric Portman, Kim Star ley, Betty Field). Almost $28,500. Previous week, $28,000. -Two for the $ee*aw. Booth (CD) (59th wk; 468 p) ($6.90; 780; $32,- 300) (Dana Andrews, Anne Ban¬ croft). Over $26,400. Previous week, $22,000. West Side Story, Winter Garden (MD) (75th wk; 505 p) ($8.05; 1,404; $64,213). Over $46,200. Previous week, $38,300. Moved last Monday (2) to the Broadway Theatre and goes on twofers. this week. World of Sizzle Wong, Broad- hurs?t (D) (20th wk; 159 p) ($6.90; 1,214; $47,400). Nearly $44,700. Previous week, $41,400. Miscellaneous Beaux Stratagem, Phoenix .(C) (1st wk; 8 p) ($4.60; 1,150; $29,382) (June Havoc). Opened Feb. 24 to six nods (Aston, World-Telegram; Chapman, News; Coleman, Mirror; Kerr, Herald Tribune; McClain, Journal - American; Watts, Post) and one thumb-down (Atkinson, Times); almost $10,500 for first eight performances. Say Darling Center (MC) (1st wk; 8 p) ($3.80; 3.030; $61,812) (Orsen Bean, Mindy Carson, David Atkinson, Robe 1 ’! Morse, Betsy von Furstenberg). Opened limited two- week run last Wednesday (25) to five favorable reviews (Aston, World-Telegram; Chapman, News; Coleman, Mirror; McClain, Jour- nal-American; Watts. Post) and two unfavorable (Atkinson, Times; Crist, Herald Tribune); over $26,- 200 for first e.’pht performances. Closed Last Week Goldilocks, Lunt-Fo::tanne (MC) (20th wk; 161 pi (C9.90; 1,402; $69,- 852) (Don Ameche, Elaine Stritch). Over $33,200. Previous week, $32,- 100. Closed last Saturday <28) at a loss of approximately $290,000 on a $360,000 investment. Opening This Week Look After Lulu,- Miller’s. (C) $6.90; 946; $31,600) ^Rqddy Mc- Dowall, Tammy Grimes, George Baker). Playwrights Co. & Gilbert Miller, Lance Hamilton & Charles Russell presentation of play by Noel Coward, based on Georges Feydeau’s “Occupe-toi d’Amelie”; opened last night (TuCs.)? grossed over $9,200 for four previews last week. Weinstein-Feldman Get Westport (Conn.) Theatre The Westport (Conn.) Country Playhouse has been leased’ for the forthcoming summer by Henry Weinstein and Laurence Feldman. The former is an associate with the Theatre Guild and the latter is an attorney. Guild execs Law¬ rence Langer and his wife, Armina Marshall, together with their son, Philip Langner, who’s also with the Guild, are owners of the thea¬ tre, which they’ve operated for 28 years. The Langner family will retain a supervisory interest in the Play¬ house, which is scheduled to launch its season June 19. The Guild is planning three tryouts during the Westport semester. Two, thus far set, are Bi’l Gunn’s “Marcus in the High Grass” and .Lawrence Langner’s “Petticoat Government.” ,