Variety (Jan 1949)

56 UBGITIMATB Vedneaday, January 26, 194,9 Playwr^its' Plugging 'On Stage Short in Its KeyrCity 'Anne' Ads Ads> in key-city dailies for* "Anne of the Thousand Days," at the Shubert, N. Y., are currently devoting most of their space to plug the new March of Time ftlm; "On Stage," which features the Maxwell Anderson drama. Play-: Wrights' Co. is spending an aver- age of about $300 a,week for the display space, using papers in two , different towns weekly. Schedule Is similar to that used for all of the firm's shows, but this is the first time the space has been, used for an outside presentation. William Fields, Playwrights' pressagent, has also sent out sev- eral publicity releases to his na- tional list of editors, and these have been widely used, clipping (Service returns indicate. In addi- tion, the March of Time mention In thfe ads has aroused unusual in terest and comment. Thus far, the • ads are being used in about 40 cities east of the Mississippi. In all cases the local release-, date of the film is announced and Readers are . urged to see it. . •; MOT decision to devote an is- sue to "Anna" was originally sparked by Fields, after the idea was suggested by the latter's ap- prentice, Arthur Kantor. The stagehands' (lATSE) and pres- sagents' (ATPAM) unions gave full cooperation and, after some hag- gling with Actors Equity, the proj- ect was undertaken, though on a modified scale using only a few actors. Fields worked closely with MOT on the early preparation of the picture, and it was at his sugges- Lederer^ Elsom Star In 'Ghosts' Revival Hollywood. Jan. 25, Francis Lederer and Isobel El- som will star in a modernized ver- sion of Henrik Ibsen's "Ghosts," which rekindles El Patio theatre Monday (31). Long-shuttered house, recently was taken over by a New York syndicate fronted by Ted Zittel on a 10-year lease. • Eugene Bryden Is producing and directing the play which viiW be presented by James Terry and Monroe Manning. Local reaction will determine whether production Will be toured toward Broadway. Irish Actors Form Equity Dublin, Jan. 21. Following bow-outs by authors and musicians from Writers, Art- ists, Actors, Musiciansi Assn. (WAAMA), actors are getting to- gether again to form Irish Actors' Equity, modeled on Equity in U. S. and Great Britain. Initial membership is around 200 mark with ex-Abbeyite Denis O'Dea named first prexy. Dermot K . Doolan, general secretary of WAAMA, remains as secretary to Irish Ecluity. 24 Eastern Pa. Colleges To Hold Theatre Conf ah; Off-6'way Activity Keen Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Jan. 25. Theatre conference of represen- tatives: of 24 colleges of eastern Pennsylvania will be held March \ r^ntly'heVVVom thTcoast'Vtry 13-14 at Wilkes College Object ] persuade the star to sign for is to stir mtcrest m the theatre as \ „gxt season and presumably do the M. Carroll Wanted For Guild'Venice Madeleine Carroll, star of "Good' bye, My Fancy," at the Morosco, N. Y;, is being propositioned by the Theatre Guild for a revival next season of "The Merchant of Venr ice." She'll probably decide this week whether to take the offer; continue another season with "Fancy," either in Ne.w York or on the road, or to accept one 'of sev- eral film bids. Actress' contract for "Fancy" ex- pires June 15. Michael Kanin, co- producer of the show and husband of authoress _Fay Kanin, is cur Hub Contoues to Lead PhiDy in L^t Pull; Newspapers Held Strong Factor 1^ B)r H0BE JAOttlUSON 'Ascehdancy of iSpston pVer pjiii > adelphia as a theatre town is con' tihuing this season. Althou^" PhUly has greater liiietrbpolltaS area population than the MassachuJ setts city, it gets slimmer leBit bookings and plays fewer theatre ■weeks.- ;■. Nearly all producers prefer to play Boston rather than Philadti, phia, possibly more than ever However, because of the shortage of availabife theatres suitable for pre - Broadway engagements, the fields" might mean pix Wfis left im- i two towns have had the same num. explained, bat it does include radio | ber of^ tryout shpws so far this sea- and video, Davidson books such artists as Jeanette Mac Donald, Helen Trau- bel and Eleanor Steber. He said that, starting in Octpber, she wpuld be bppked fpr a limited number of recitals. M. Truman Under Davidson Mgt. for Concerts, AM, TV Washington, Jan. 25. Margaret Truman hits the road again next fall as concert snprano. White Hpuse annpunced Sunday (23) she had inked a deal with Jeanette MacDpnald, Helen Trau- concert and allied fields," for the 1949-50 season. Whether "allied a community asset, to encourage experiment in the theatre and help new playwrights to get their scripts produced and to foster the ex- screen version of the comedy, which Kanin Productions will prob- ably film. However, Miss Carroll reportedly hasn't decided whether clety of Wilkes College will .give A performarice of T. S. Eliot's "Murder in the Cathedral." ; tion that Clarence Derwent, Equity | Rosamond Gilder and Richard president, be given a spot and also 1 Beckhard will attend as represen- be asked to make an introductory | tatives of the American National talk at the trade screening. How-, Theatre & Academy. Confab is be- ever, the Playwrights' p.a. knew, j^g chairmaned by Marvin Walter, nothing about the film's ending, I drama director at Wilkes College, including the scene pf the actors 1 change of ideas. As part of the 1 g^e wants to continue on the Stage meeting, the Cue n Curtain so-] „ext season or return tp film wprk. reading the next-mprning reviews, until he attended the screening. Pfeiffer Calls Shuberts Trust'; Sues on'Maid'Nix For $1,942,665 Damages Chicago, Jan; 25. Jules Pfeiffer, former legit pro- ducer and nitery operator current- ly in a court hassle with American Guild of Variety Artists and Equity pertaining to his proposed night . spot, Bow-wowery, filed suit for $1,942,665 in Chi Federal district court Thursday. (20) against Lee and J. J. Shubert and others. Pfeif- fer charges violation of the Sher- .man and Chiyton anti-trust acts and alleges the Shuberts and their asso- ciates control 95% of the nation's legit houses. Because .of thisvso- called monopoly he was unable to boolJ*his "Maid of the Ozarks" in 50 cities and could only obtain sec- ond-run houses in 45 cities, lie claims. From November, '43; to June, f45, Pfeiffer claims he rented Great Northern theatre here for $1,975 a month, having spent $23,000 to renovate it, with provision, accoi-d- Ing to him^ that the Shuberts were Psychiatry Satire ' ■ . .: . Louisville, Jan. 25.■ "Beside Myself," satire of plays and films about psychiatry; will be 1 presented Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at the | Louisville playhouse-,, under the i direction of Boyd Martin. 1 Play was authored by Mildred I Summit If the Guild goes ahead .with its revival of "Merchant" it will be the first presentation of the Shakes- peare work on Broadway since Donald Wolfit did it here two sea- sons ago. At that time the play aroused some criticism because of the Shylock stereotype angle. There was a similar reaction some years ago when Helen Hayes did the show at several matinees in Chicago, during her "Victoria Re- gina" tour. Partly as a conse- quence, the star decided to drop tentative plans to appear in the play the fpllpwing seaspn on Broad- way. ;. .■ . Par Scripter's Play to Precm Cincinnati, Jan. 25. Steve Fisher^ Paramount scenarr 1st, has written a play, "Winter Kill," which will be presented some time during' March by the Cincinr nati Civic theatre. Author is expected here for the production. Northwest Conference Due Eugene, Ore., Jan. 25. Northwest drama Conference and regional meeting pf the American Educational Theatre Assn. will be held here Feb. 10-12. Organ- ization's annual convention also took place here last Dec. 28-30. AETA membership .has grown froni 420 to about 1,500 in the last two years. Western Reserve Univ. In Huddles With Legit Trio For Broadway Tryouts Western Reserve Univ. theatre is dickering with several New York producers and directprs with the idea of doing tryout productions of prospective Broadway plays,, Con- inhs have been held with Harold- Clurman, Hume Cronyn and Rob- ert Whitehead. If arrangements aren't concluded for a show this spring the idea will be tried next fall. Understood Whitehead, who co- produced "Medea" on Broadway last season, lias several scripts he's interested in dping experimentally. Crpnyn, a Brpadway. and Holly- wood actor, is considering a cam- Boston Rep Is Folding Despite'Richard Iir Hit; Lt)st $30,000 This Season Boston, Jan. 25. With the closing Saturday ■ night (26) of its production of "Richard III," with Richard Whorf, the Bos- ton Repertory will fold its first sea- son after 12 uneven weeks. There's only an outside prospect of the venture being resumed next, sea- son. According to Gerald . Savory, president and co-managing direc- tor, the undertaking would require a budget of $100,000. Group lost over $30,000 this season. The Rep will have no financial interest in the Broadway presenta- tion of "Richard," which Herman Levin has arranged' to sponsor. However, Whorf and director Rich- ard Barr will have a slice of the $20,000 production. Besides play- ing the title part, Whorf made the adaptation and designed the scen- ery and costumes. Same cast as appeared in the Rep productipn will play it pn Brpadway, including Philip Bour- neuf, Frances Reid, Polly Rowles and Grace Goppin. There will be a week of rehearsals before the New York preem at the Booth the- atre. ■ son—22 each. For economic rea- sons, Boston, Pliilly and New Haven are now virtually the only bookings used for tuneup -dates. Thus far in 1948-49, there have been 36 road bookings in Bostoii, - including the Repertory and Frank- lin . Trask's s to ck company at Brattle Hall, Cambridge, now in its fourth season. During the same period, Philly has had 32 touring - shows, with no professional local company. In playing time, Boston has aft even greater edgCj because the town is good for longer runs than- Philly. The total weeks played by all shows in Bpstpn sp far this sea- spn cpmes tp 97, while the total fpr Philly during the same span is only 65. In general, Philly is a two- week engagement for most shows, while Boston is frequently good for' three weeks' or, occasionally , an ex- tended run. Edee On Business In total business Boston has an edge, too. All shows playing the Bay city so far this season have pulled a total gross of . approxi- mately $lj500,000; while receipts fpr all Philly engagements for the like period have been about $1,250,- 000. Boston has seven available legit houses-^the Colonial, Copley, Ma- (Continued on page 61) : JAP IIKADO' HIT ENDS; MENOnrS THIEF' NEXT Wildcat Booking Set by Rep Troupe When Frowned On By UBO, ANTA Re Tour Repertory group, . which has played strawhat seasons the last three summers near Knoxville, is wildcat-booking a spring tour of eastern cities with "Personal Ap- pearance," "The Vinegar Tree" : and "The Silver Chord." All-Equity outfit is bankrolled by Mrs. Rue Malone, former opera singer and an' aunt of one of the leading mem- Tokyo, Jan. 18. ^ ^ Nagato Opera Co.'s production' "ers of the troupe ■ ^ . , ,„ \ pus .tryout of Elaine Ryan's "Now Stanford Tryout i Lay Me Down to Sleep." Clurman San Francisco, Jan. 25. [ has a number of scripts in mind "Build Np Fence Arpund Me," . for such presentation, to pick plays and he was to take ' new comedy by Alexander Green-1 Barclay Leatham, head of the all losses and the Shuberts were jale, will be tried out during Feb-1 college ' theatre, was recently in to get half the profits. Pfeiffer j ruary by the Stanford Univ. thea-1 New York to confer with the trio further states the Shuberts con- tre. I at the American National Theatre -spired to prevent booking of plays 1- -There's -reportedly- Holly-Wood j&-Academy_office. In the hou.se during that period, interest in the script, forcing him to sell his lease to 1 ____ them for $10,000. Immediately I thereafter, he claims, legit house j ran a series of hit shows, , with I Ju°ne''T(^,'''%?°'beinr l&etVo" '*° new quarters in an old ^Strawhat theatre "at'Virginia ' Ope^-a Strawhat Setup Looiiis Houston's Alley Moves ■ -ri tr- • • -n 1 Houston, Jen. 25. *or Virginia Beach] Nina Vance's Ally Theatre is Norfolk, Jan moving to new quarters in an old i Strawhat theatre at warehpuse pff Main street, which Beacli Is a ppssibility this summer! I indefinite at^^iolf ^wpuw'^h^rtt Trp^^ ''^^"S renovated tP prpvide an: NegPtiations are in prpgress"for "the S1G6 060 around , grena-type auditorium seating 238, lease pf a 2,000-seat theatre by Ed- * ' ■ 'plus rehearsal space -and office, inund Hewitt and Dean Gpodman 'Heiress' 16G, Frisco Chi Shubert rep, Sam Gcrson, stated his organization never had any such agreement with Pfeifter concerning . the Great Northern theatre. Gerson pointed out that during Pftiff^er's tenure at the legit house, ShuWrts did not own, con- trol or operate the theatre, as it was then under receivership. House, at present, is owned by Great Nprthern Amusement Cp., San Francisco, Jan. 25; from which the Shuberts lease the' I'The Heiress" opened last Mon- theatre, according to Gerspn. (day (17) under the Theatre Guila Besides naming the Shuberts,at the Geary (1,500; $3.60) the suit includes United Bppking tl tnTlZ^el Zl'SvX'^^^^l Office, Marcus Heiman, Augustus fafr |?oss of over $16 000 Pitou, Elias WeinstPck, Select Op-, "Aellegro," the fifth and final erating Corp.. ■ all of New Yprk, Theatre Guild presentatipn fpr the and Select Lake City Operating| season, opens Wednesday (26) at Co., of Chicago. Ithe Curran (1,776; $4.80). I Company is called the Gateway Repertory Guild and its members are former American. Academy of Dramatic Arts students who have played smalj parts on Broadway; and summers at their Tennessee : theatre. Leads are Roberta Sher- i'itt,. Jene, Jones, Joe Meibes and Thonias Legated Johii. Richairds fa ^ ptdducer-directpr. The wildcat boipking procedure was adppted after UBO refused to bppk the putflt and ANTA advised the members against attempting the tPur. C. Fpster Bell, a fprnier Circus advance nian, was hired to arrange bopkings indepehdently and tp publicize the shows.- A uhii !_setting_ will be used, _for_ all three BredoHTSavoy Opera Co,,, GiIbert plays, and. the entire producfioii is & Sullivan cpmpany frpm the estimated tp qosl $15,000. It can Coast, disbanded here last week,(tour for about $8,000 a week. AH after a fairly successful three-j members of the trpupe will receive week run at Chi Opera Hpuse. 'equal, pver-scale salaries. clpsed Saturday (15). with] ifs hpped tp ppen the tour late plans, until Barry in March, ppssibly in Richmond or of "The Mikado," the first ever staged for Japanese audiences, closed this week at the Hlbiya Hall, Tokyo, nearly a year after its pre- miere at the same theatre. Com- pany gave, approximately 60 per- formances. in 10 Nipponese cities during its tour, a longer run than most operas in Japan- enjby. ' Nagato troupe will open in Tp.-. kyp next mpnth with Jap preem of Gian-Carlo Menotti's ''The Old Maid and the Thief." Breden-Savoy Opera Co. Is Disbanded in Chi -Cbicagp, Jan^25. : Renovation will cost $8,000 and Pair have alsp announced the for-i to set up a "Drunkard rent.will be $300 a', month for the mation of the National Repertpry " " first y?ar,. with : pptipn. for four Theatre in Washington, tp present ! more years at $350 a month. 1 plays this spring on a non^segrega- I First show , in the new spot will. tion policy, be "The Children's Hour." Hewitt is an ex-Broadway actor. Goodman is associated with Harald Bromley and Edith Rich in the cur- rent tour of "O Mistress Mine," with Sylvia Sidney and John Loder Breden, head of grpup, announced dissolution to Equity office, Breden plans remaining in Chi " " company, similar tp his prpduction pn the Coast. "Drunkard" will be fea- tured at Midland hotel. Miriam Doyle on 'Story' Shows in Rehearsal "Anybody Holden. "Blood Weddlnff Home" _ Miriam Doyle, former prbductibn assistant to the late Rp<ivland Steb? bins, has been engaged by Sidnejf Kingsley' fpr a similar assignhient on his "Detective Story," which Phyllis I Russel Crouse and Howard Lindsay I will produce shortly, with the New Stages. ' I author directing. Norfolk. Joanna Roos Heading European Theatre Tour Conducted theatre tour of Eu- rope this summer is being organ- ized by JoaBna Roos, Broadway 3ctrcss It will extend from June 15 to Sept. 15 and cpver the prin- cipal drama festivals in Englanu and pn the Cpntineftt, including Salzburg, Edinburgh, Paris, Swit- zerland,, Prague, Lpndon and Strat- ford-on-Avon. on s —iicw oiaKes i"uv..„i uiictiiiiK 1 Doris Hwmphtey lecturing "I Know My Love" -Theatre I They were associated several ^f^fhefUncert ^^^^^^^^^^ "Twn RiinH ius„..» A u -.y ^^ssons ago when Stebbins and the Feb '7 Klchard Korn, symP"