Broadway blijft op de eerste plaats een commerciële theaterplek. Het tijdschrift Variety houdt vanaf 1931 een lijst bij van producties die hun geld terugverdienden. Vaak blijkt het aantal voorstellingen nauwelijks maatgevend. Een goed voorbeeld hiervan is Sunset Boulevard: ondangs lange speelperiodes in Londen, New York en Toronto staat deze show bekend als één van de grootste flops uit de Broadway geschiedenis. Ik hoop maar dat Joop goed gebudgeteerd heeft!
Hieronder deel 1, van 1931 tot 1970. Alleen producties met een cast album worden opgenomen in de lijst:
6/3/1931 THE BANDWAGON RCA Victor HIT
5/19/1932 SHOW BOAT (Rev) Brunswick FLOP
10/10/1935 PORGY AND BESS RCA Victor FLOP
10/29/1936 RED HOT AND BLUE Liberty Music Shop HIT
2/9/1939 STARS IN YOUR EYES Liberty Music Shop HIT
10/25/1940 CABIN IN THE SKY Liberty Music Shop HIT
10/30/1940 PANAMA HATTIE Decca HIT
1/23/1941 LADY IN THE DARK RCA Victor HIT
1/22/1942 PORGY AND BESS (Rev) Decca HIT
7/4/1942 THIS IS THE ARMY Decca HIT
3/31/1943 OKLAHOMA! Decca HIT
10/7/1943 ONE TOUCH OF VENUS Decca HIT
11/17/1943 A CONNECTICUT YANKEE (Rev) Decca HIT
12/2/1943 CARMEN JONES Decca HIT
1/28/1944 MEXICAN HAYRIDE Decca HIT
8/21/1944 SONG OF NORWAY Decca HIT
10/5/1944 BLOOMER GIRL Decca HIT
12/27/1944 SING OUT SWEET LAND Decca HIT
1/27/1945 UP IN CENTRAL PARK Decca HIT
4/19/1945 CAROUSEL Decca HIT
10/6/1945 POLONAISE RCA Victor FLOP
10/16/1945 THE RED MIL (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
1/5/1946 SHOW BOAT (Rev) Columbia HIT
2/6/1946 LUTE SONG Decca FLOP
3/30/1946 ST. LOUIS WOMAN Capitol FLOP
4/18/1946 CALL ME MISTER Decca HIT
5/16/1946 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Decca HIT
1/9/1947 STREET SCENE Columbia FLOP
1/10/1947 FINIAN’S RAINBOW Columbia HIT
1/21/1947 SWEETHEARTS (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
3/13/1947 BRIGADOON RCA Victor HIT
10/9/1947 HIGH BUTTON SHOES RCA Victor HIT
10/10/1947 ALLEGRO RCA Victor FLOP
1/29/1948 LOOK MA, I’M DANCIN’ Decca HIT
4/30/1947 INSIDE USA RCA Victor HIT
12/30/1948 KISS ME, KATE Columbia HIT
4/7/1949 SOUTH PACIFIC Columbia HIT
7/15/1949 MISS LIBERTY Columbia FLOP
10/30/1949 LOST IN THE STARS Decca FLOP
11/25/1949 TEXAS LI’L DARLIN’ Decca FLOP
12/8/1949 GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES Columbia HIT
2/2/1950 ARMS AND THE GIRL Decca FLOP
3/15/1950 THE CONSUL Decca HIT
4/24/1950 PETER PAN (Bernstein) Columbia FLOP
10/12/1950 CALL ME MADAM RCA Victor & Decca HIT
11/24/1950 GUYS AND DOLLS Decca HIT
12/21/1950 OUT OF THIS WORLD Columbia FLOP
3/29/1951 THE KING AND I Decca HIT
4/18/1951 MAKE A WISH RCA Victor FLOP
4/19/1951 A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN Columbia FLOP
5/14/1951 FLAHOOLEY Capitol FLOP
6/21/1951 SEVENTEEN RCA Victor FLOP
7/19/1951 TWO ON THE AISLE Decca FLOP
10/8/1951 MUSIC IN THE AIR (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
11/1/1951 TOP BANANA Capitol HIT
11/12/1951 PAINT YOUR WAGON RCA Victor FLOP
1/2/1952 PAL JOEY Capitol HIT
3/21/1952 THREE WISHES FOR JAMIE Capitol FLOP
5/5/1952 OF THEE I SONG (Rev) Capitol FLOP
5/16/1952 NEW FACES OF 1952 RCA Victor HIT
6/25/1952 WISH YOU WERE HERE RCA Victor HIT
12/15/1952 TWO’S COMPANY RCA Victor FLOP
2/11/1953 HAZEL FLAGG RCA Victor FLOP
2/25/1953 WONDERFUL TOWN Decca HIT
5/7/1953 CAN-CAN Capitol HIT
5/28/1953 ME AND JULIET RCA Victor HIT
12/3/1953 KISMET Columbia HIT
3/5/1954 THE GIRL IN PINK TIGHTS Columbia FLOP
4/8/1954 BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA Capitol FLOP
4/20/1954 THE GOLDEN APPLE RCA Victor FLOP
5/13/1954 THE PAJAMA GAME Columbia HIT
9/30/1954 THE BOY FRIEND RCA Victor HIT
10/11/1954 ON YOUR TOES (Rev) Decca FLOP
10/20/1954 PETER PAN (Styne, Charlop) RCA Victor HIT
11/4/1954 FANNY RCA Victor HIT
12/27/1954 THE SAINT OF BLEEKER STREET RCA Victor FLOP
12/30/1954 HOUSE OF FLOWERS Columbia FLOP
1/27/1955 PLAIN AND FANCY Capitol HIT
2/24/1955 SILK STOCKINGS RCA Victor HIT
4/18/1955 ANKLES AWEIGH Decca FLOP
5/5/1955 DAMN YANKEES! RCA Victor HIT
5/26/1955 SEVENTH HEAVEN Decca FLOP
11/30/1955 PIPE DREAM RCA Victor FLOP
3/15/1956 MY FAIR LADY Columbia HIT
3/22/1956 MR. WONDERFUL Decca FLOP
5/3/1956 THE MOST HAPPY FELLA Columbia HIT
6/14/1956 NEW FACES OF 1956 RCA Victor FLOP
11/15/1956 LI’L ABNER Columbia HIT
11/29/1956 BELLS ARE RINGING Columbia HIT
12/1/1956 CANDIDE Columbia FLOP
12/6/1956 HAPPY HUNTING RCA Victor FLOP
5/14/1957 NEW GIRL IN TOWN RCA Victor HIT
8/20/1957 SIMPLY HEAVENLY Columbia FLOP
9/26/1957 WEST SIDE STORY Columbia HIT
10/31/1957 JAMAICA RCA Victor HIT
12/19/1957 THE MUSIC MAN Capitol HIT
2/4/1958 OH, CAPTAIN! Columbia FLOP
4/3/1958 SAY, DARLING RCA Victor FLOP
10/11/1958 GOLDILOCKS Columbia FLOP
12/1/1958 FLOWER DRUM SONG Columbia HIT
12/22/1958 WHOOP-UP MgM FLOP
12/23/1958 A PARTY WITH COMDEN AND GREEN Capitol HIT
2/5/1959 REDHEAD RCA Victor HIT
3/9/1959 JUNO Columbia FLOP
3/19/1959 FIRST IMPRESSIONS Columbia HIT
4/23/1959 DESTRY RIDES AGAIN Decca FLOP
5/12/1959 THE NERVOUS SET Columbia FLOP
5/21/1959 GYPSY Columbia HIT
10/22/1959 TAKE ME ALONG RCA Victor FLOP
11/16/1959 THE SOUND OF MUSIC Columbia HIT
11/23/1959 FIORELLO Capitol HIT
11/25/1959 ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Kapp HIT
12/7/1959 SARATOGA RCA Victor FLOP
3/8/1960 GREENWILLOW RCA Victor FLOP
4/16/1960 BYE BYE BIRDIE Columbia HIT
4/28/1960 CHRISTINE Columbia FLOP
5/23/1960 FINIAN’S RAINBOW (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
9/29/1960 IRMA LA DOUCE Columbia HIT
10/17/1960 TENDERLOIN Capitol FLOP
11/3/1960 THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN Capitol HIT
12/3/1960 CAMELOT Columbia HIT
12/16/1960 WILDCAT RCA Victor FLOP
12/26/1960 DO RE MI RCA Victor FLOP
1/12/1961 SHOW GIRL Roulette HIT
4/3/1961 THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD Columbia FLOP
4/13/1961 CARNIVAL! MgM HIT
5/18/1961 DONNYBROOK Kapp FLOP
10/3/1961 SAIL AWAY Capitol FLOP
10/10/1961 MILK AND HONEY RCA Victor FLOP
10/12/1961 LET IT RIDE RCA Victor FLOP
10/14/1961 HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS… RCA Victor HIT
10/23/1961 KWAMINA Capitol FLOP
11/2/1961 KEAN Columbia FLOP
11/18/1961 THE GAY LIFE Capitol FLOP
12/27/1961 SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING Columbia FLOP
1/27/1962 A FAMILY AFFAIR United Artsits FLOP
3/15/1962 NO STRINGS Capitol HIT
3/19/1962 ALL AMERICAN Columbia FLOP
3/22/1962 I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE Columbia FLOP
5/8/1962 A FUNNY THING HAPPENED…FORUM Capitol HIT
5/19/1962 BRAVO GIOVANNI Columbia FLOP
10/3/1962 STOP THE WORLD, I WANT TO GET OFF London HIT
10/20/1962 MR. PRESIDENT Columbia FLOP
11/17/1962 LITTLE ME RCA Victor FLOP
1/6/1963 OLIVER! RCA Victor HIT
3/18/1963 TOVARICH Capitol FLOP
4/23/1963 SHE LOVES ME MgM FLOP
10/3/1963 HERE’S LOVE Columbia FLOP
10/17/1963 JENNIE RCA Victor FLOP
10/24/1963 110 IN THE SHADE RCA Victor HIT
12/8/1963 THE GIRL WHO CAME TO SUPPER Columbia FLOP
1/16/1964 HELLO DOLLY! RCA Victor HIT
2/27/1964 WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN Columbia FLOP
3/26/1964 FUNNY GIRL Capitol HIT
4/4/1964 ANYONE CAN WHISTLE Columbia FLOP
4/17/1964 HIGH SPIRITS Abc FLOP
5/26/1964 FADE OUT-FADE IN Abc FLOP
9/22/1964 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF RCA Victor HIT
10/20/1964 GOLDEN BOY Capitol FLOP
10/27/1964 BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS Capitol FLOP
11/23/1964 BAJOUR Columbia FLOP
12/15/1964 I HAD A BALL Mercury FLOP
2/16/1965 BAKER STREET MgM FLOP
3/18/1965 DO I HEAR A WALTZ? Columbia FLOP
4/25/1965 HALF A SIXPENCE RCA Victor HIT
5/11/1965 FLORA, THE RED MENACE RCA Victor FLOP
5/16/1965 THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT… RCA Victor HIT
10/17/1965 ON A CLEAR DAY… RCA Victor FLOP
11/13/1965 SKYSCRAPER Capitol FLOP
11/22/1965 MAN OF LA MANCHA Kapp HIT
11/29/1965 ANYA United Artists FLOP
1/29/1966 SWEET CHARITY Columbia HIT
3/7/1966 WAIT A MINIM! London HIT
3/29/1966 IT’S A BIRD! IT’S … SUPERMAN Columbia FLOP
5/24/1966 MAME Columbia HIT
9/21/1966 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
10/18/1966 THE APPLE TREE Columbia FLOP
11/20/1966 CABARET Columbia HIT
11/26/1966 WALKING HAPPY Capitol FLOP
12/5/1966 I DO! I DO! RCA Victor HIT
4/11/1967 ILLYA DARLING United Artists FLOP
4/26/1967 HALLELUJAH, BABY! Columbia FLOP
10/23/1967 HENRY, SWEET HENRY Abc FLOP
12/7/1967 HOW NOW DOW JONES RCA Victor FLOP
1/18/1968 THE HAPPY TIME RCA Victor FLOP
1/27/1968 DARLING OF THE DAY RCA Victor FLOP
2/4/1968 GOLDEN RAINBOW Calendar FLOP
4/10/1968 GEORGE M! Columbia FLOP
4/29/1968 HAIR RCA Victor HIT
5/2/1968 NEW FACES OF 1968 Warner Bros FLOP
10/23/1968 MAGGIE FLYNN RCA Victor FLOP
11/17/1968 ZORBA Capitol FLOP
12/1/1968 PROMISES PROMISES United Artists HIT
1/22/1969 CELEBRATION Capitol FLOP
2/3/1969 CANTERBURY TALES Capitol FLOP
2/6/1969 DEAR WORLD Columbia FLOP
3/16/1969 1776 (SEVENTEEN SEVENTY SIX) Columbia HIT
10/23/1969 JIMMY RCA Victor FLOP
12/18/1969 COCO Paramount FLOP
3/15/1970 PURLIE Ampex FLOP
3/26/1970 MINNIE’S BOYS Project 3 FLOP
3/30/1970 APPLAUSE Abc HIT
4/8/1970 CRY FOR US ALL Project 3 FLOP
4/14/1970 THE BOY FRIEND (Rev) Decca FLOP
4/26/1970 COMPANY Columbia HIT
10/19/1970 THE ROTHSCHILDS Columbia FLOP
11/10/1970 TWO BY TWO Columbia FLOP
12/18/1970 THE ME NOBODY KNOWS Atlantic HIT
1/19/1971 NO NO NANETTE (Rev) Columbia FLOP
4/4/1971 FOLLIES Capitol FLOP
4/15/1970 70, GIRLS, 70 Columbia FLOP