Variety (Aug 1932)

Tnenlay, Aiigast;23, 1932" L E C I T I M /CT E^ VAlUETr 99 B way ^ck to 6 Shows, Grosses Up^ Sept Start^s Gain in Promise A score of showe are now In re- hearsal, most of them aimed for Broadway.. Included are several jilays In the country show sho^s where some likely material has been recently developed. Four openings Jh the rural spots this week wlH. be watched. Meantime Broadway's list of at- tractlbnB shranlc again to six in all. That ci^ine about through the can- cellation Qt two premieres which were carded for this week and the quick demise of 'Domino' at the Playhouse. Latter, accredited with being a Farlslari sure thing and with favorable reports from out of town, drew unfavorable notices. It faded in Ave days, being the new aeason's first-flop. No openings this week. Three are scheduled for next week, while the incoming card for Labor Day looko ihuch better than Indicated earlier, six new productions being duo then. . They are 'Ballyhoo pf 1932'; 44th Street (postponed from this week); •Here Today,* Barrymore; 'Flying Colors,' / Imperial; .'Best Tears,' Bijou; . 'Smiling Fiaces,'' Shubert; •Man Who Reclaimed His Head,' BroadhUrst.. Next Aveek's premieres: 'Folies Bergere,' Harris; 'Satan,' Forrest (postponed from this week) and •Varnish,' a co-operative show, house indefinite. Business held up ,fairly well last week, with two musicals bettering the marks of the previous week. Estimatot For Last VVeek 'Another Lanpuage,' Booth <18th week) (C-708-t3.30). >iIolds to profr Itable business; diirrent comedy leader will have little optl^sitlon for a month; $9,000 to $10,000. . ■'Ballyhoo of 1932,' 44th Street. Postponed until Sept. 5; show back for further xehearsrfl; plays New- ark next week. ' 'Bridar Wise,' Cort (13th week) (C-l,043-$3.30). Co-operative com- edy getting aroUirtl $3,^500 has been abe to go through sumnier because of sharing plan; house making a JJttle profit. - 'Cat . and Fiddle,' Cohan (46th •week) .(M-l,400-j^.30V. Attendance improved here Hast ( week; gross around $12,000; goes' to road next ihbnth with 'The Du Barry* probable successor, 'Domino,' Playhouse. Withdrawn last Saturday afte^ playing, five days; ianndunced for road later after revision and recasting: 'Of Thee I Sing,' Music Box (35th week) (M-l,01^ri5:50), Improved again last week when the gross ap- proximated $27,000; looks like a cinch to the first of the year; moves 0<it. 3 larger house at reduced prices. 'Satan,' Forrest. Postponed until next Week. TIDIJLE,"C¥NARA'HIT FRISCO FOR $24,500 San Francisco, Aug. 22. . Town's two legits are copping pretty fair money for the week, al- though symphony concerts, horse shows, dog races and other attrac- tions patronized by carriage trade •re getting the big play. , 'Cat and the Fiddle* and 'Cynara' only things on the boards. Former at the.CuiTan Is still healthy in its third week around $J6,000. Con- tinues. 'Cynara' out of Geiary after two weeks, final take being about 19.500. ■ ' 'Fiddle* now has' 'Frisco to itself iintil Aug. 28, when. 'G-2' opens at the Alcazar at $1 top, with Emil . Bondeson and George Bole impre- sarios of house formerly operated by Duffy. Engagements Eddie Foy, Sarah Jane. 'Humply Dumpty.* ^ Ruth (Gordon, Sally Bates, Donald MacDonald, Charlotte Granville, Chas. D. Brown. Paul McGrath, Ggoffrey Bryant, 'Here Today* (re- Vised cast). ■/^ Emily Ross, Suzanne Freeman^ Henry Sherwood, Clyde Veaux, Disappearing Men.' . . ^Ross Alexander, Robert Vivian, •The Stork.' - Dorothy Hall, James Bell, John Litel, Clare Woodbury, Granville Bates, Joseph Crehan, Robert Bar- ^t, Byron Shores, Percy Kilbride, Desmond Gallagher, 'Lily Turner' (complete cast), .i Sydney Greenstifeet, 'Good Earth.' Hel6n Ford, 'The Other One.' ■ Art Jarrett, Arthur Page, 'For- ward March.* Fissure Guarantee Plus Sharing Beats 75-25 The Buddy DeSylva-Lawrence Schwab musical, 'Humpty Dumpty,* will probably go into the Apollo on an odd sharing^ arrangement with both a guarantee and a percentage over a certain mark. If the attrac- tion does business, the management figures It'll be a more advantageous sharing arrangement than even a 75-26 split. Musical is geared to break af un der $20,000. BilSe Burke Returning to Make Home in West After Sept Trip East Hollywood, Aug. 22. Blllle Burke, widow of Flo. Zieg- feld, will return to New York In the la,tter part of September at the time her attorney, Louis B; Levy, arrives from Europe.; She will take the body of late producer with her. After funeral servicies s}ie will put her affairs In shape, as she Intends re- turning to California late in the fall to make her permanent home here. It is expected Radio will take up its option after preview of 'Bill of Divorcement.'. Miss Burke stated to 'Variety' that A. C. Blumenthal •would continue to handle her affairs in East, and look out for 'Shb'w Boat' when it goes on the road. Also, .that there is a like- lihood of another 'Follies' being pro- duced, but that she had no Intention of appearing In it. : !Her daughter, Patricia, wIM go East, tut will return in time to. enter one of the universities here this fall. Oitatva Parley (Continued from page 11) that the effect of the. foreign film tax will not deter ! the Importation of American films, because they will be necessary anyway to complete the year's program for every thea- tre and, .-moreover, the film ex- changes will not foot the extra bill because It will be impossible to col- lect the new tax iat time of entry Into Canada.' Further^ owners of Indepertdent theatres, . who have been proclaiming the fact that they are British subjects, will be as- ssed Just as much proportionately as the big chain company which Is controlled from New York, If the specia.1 levy becomes law. There will undoubtedly be a big outcry by Canadian Independent ex- hibitors before the measure is brought down in the House of Com- mons this fall. . To Help British-Madet The Conference Committee consid- ered that the foreign film tax would provide Increased encouragement for British pictures In addition to de- vising an additional source of rev- enue for the governments. The clause in the adopted report covet- ing the point Is as follows: . 'It has been suggested th^^ ^id might be. given - to the distribution of Commonwealth films and, at the same time, revenue might be de- rived by the imposition, In addition to the footage customs duties now in force, of a special levy on the value of all foreijgn lilms displayed, this levy being based on the value' of such films for renting purpose while Commonwealth' films are ex- empted from the levy. We appre- ciate that, in practice, the collection of the levy could not be made at the moment .bf entry because the actual value on which It should be assessed might not be ascertainable until renting contracts are made.' There would be ho question of jurisdiction as between Federal and Provincial Governments in this spe- cial levy as would be the case in a revision of censorship fees which are under the authority of the Provinces. - , For Free 'Samples' Another consideration for British films was offered by the Committee in the recommendation that 'Those Dominions which levy a duty on films should consider the possibility of admitting a single positive of each. Commonwealth film without payment of duty, under bond for exportation within 30 days, in order to afford exhibitors an'opportunity Shows in Rehearsal 'The stork la Dead' (A. H. Woods), Apollo. 'Vanities' (Earl. Carroll), Broadway. 'Passing Show' (Shuberts), Shubert, 'Of vTheo I Sing' (road) (Sam H. Harris), Music Box. 'Humpty Dumpty' (Schwab and De Sylva), Fulton. 'Lilly Turner' (Abbott and Dunning), Plymouth. 'Black Water' ('Difference in Men*) (Carroll), Manhattan. 'Clear All Wires' ( Nine Day Wonder) (Shumlln), , Times Square, 'Here Today' (Sam H. Har- ris), ROyale. .'Smiling Faces' (Shuberts) Harris. , ^Nora' (Peg^y Fears), Vanr dierbilt; 'Forgotten Man' (Shuberts) ^ Bijou. 'Man Who Reclaimed His Head' (Hammerstein and Web- er), Broadhurst, 'Another Language' (road) (Arthur Beckhard), Booth. 'Laugh Parade' (road) (Ed Wy^nn), Imperial. 'The Good Earth' (Theatre Guild), Guild, 'Flying' Colors,' 'Folies Ber- gere,' 'Beat Years' now in try- out spots.' 'REUNION' TOPS , BUT SHOW QUITS Los Angeles, Aug, 22. Hot weather, and with Olympics crowds gone.. gave the three legits open a headache, with the b. o.*s doing a slide, 'Hang Up Your Hat,' Intimate musical comedy, opened at the Musia Box. Wednesday and got about-1i2,()00 for first four perform- ances. Orchestra, stage hands bonded at last minute.. with chorus on short pay and principals and business staff In on percentage, 'Reunion In Vienna*'dipped to $7,- 200, about three grand under pre- vious: week, and closed Saturday (20). Hot weather was too much. 'In the Best of Families,' at Holly- wood Playhouse, got $2,600, about nUt money. Closed suddenly Sun- day (21), Chance of keeping up three theatre parties a week after fourth week seemed remote, and they gave up the .attempt. . Estimates for. Last Week 'Hang up Your Hat,' Music Box (1st week) (MC-965-$1.65). Esti- mated $2,000 for first five perform- ances, which takes care of orches- tra, stage hands and chorus, leaving principals and business staff. In on percentage, to be paid off in old pro- grams. ' 'in the Beat of Families,' Holly- wood Playhouse (4th week) (C-1,- 160-$1.60). Just about bitting the nut at $2,600. 'Reunion in Vienna/ Belasco .(4th week) (C-l,103-$2.60). Dropped to $7,200, barely out of the red. and quit. of viewing the film •without the pay- ment of duty upon those films which prove unsuitable for display.* In general terms, the committee expressed gratification In the .'sub- stantial progress that has been made In the exhibition of Common- wealth films' due to their improved quality and 'in some parts of the Commonwealth progress is ascribed to the quota system which requires that a stipulated proportion of such films be exhibited.* (Seneral reference Is made to the need for continued development of film facilities throughout the Em- pire. The report reads: 'The end to be sought is not merely the der veiopment of cinematograph film productidn In the United Kingdom alone, but Its development In all parts of the Commonwealth.' The committee took a rap at for- eign control of theatres and film distribution In the following: 'The quality of Commonwealth films. ]fias shown a marked improvement . In recent years and their competitive value has been strengthened accord-. ingly; but it has been suggested that prior developments and finanr cial arritngements give an advan- tage to other productions, and en- couragement is required to ensure the development of the film Industry throughout the Commonwealth.' The chairman of the Conference dommlttee dealing with films was Sir Atul C. ChatterJee of India while the sub-commltttee which istudled the" film question was Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates of New Zealand., On Unions Demand Work Pleibe ^ As Price of Concessions in Pay 2d Season for Religious Play on % and $2 Top Chicj^go, Aug. 22, Rehearsals start about Labor Day for a second season of 'Joseph and His Brethren,' religious play pro- duced by Charles Lum for the Trin- ity Guild. Productloh carries 20 actors, 15 changes of scene and a full electrical switchboard system and play. halls, auditoriums and schools. ' Success of the piece last year war- ranted a second season. Playing on strict guiaranteeis under sponsorship, show plays two nights , and a mat- inee minimum and usually at $2 top. Occasionally in minor towns it settles for $1.50 top. Principals this year will include Charles Grace, Charles Lum, Grant Forman, Edward Storm, A. C. Bax- ter, Rowena Scott and Harriett (Gardner, Company travels by'rail- road. Summer Co. Scatters Westport, Aug, 20. Lawrence. Langner's Country Playhouse calls it a. season Labor Day. The company will not go to New York.: 'Chrysalis* owned by Theresa Helburn la set for produc- tloh In October, Max Gordon Is Interested In the Mollere revival 'Thes, School for Lovers.* Osgood Perkins and June Walker, leads, go Into Guild production 'The Pure in Heart,' and Elizabeth Rls- don troupes In .'Mourning Becomes Electra.' *l^h Bank' for Road 'Left Bank,f which-ran out the season at the LlttlOi wlU be toured by Gteorge E, WIntz by arrangement with Elmer Bice, who made the original presentation. Show will be recast. Show Is reported being considered for Inclusion in the Theatre Guild- Shubert-Erlanger subs crip 11 o n bookings out of town. ' First Tent Closing Chicago, Aug, 22. Chase and Lester repertory, com- pany Is the first tent show to close this season. Early closing of the show, 30 years old and standard in the sticks, was due to illness of three principals rather than bad business, it is said. Too many headaches casting, for the remaining weeks. <LANOUAO£V SET BACK Chicago, Aug. 22. 'Another I^anguage', has been set back at the Harris from Sept, 4 to 11.' Other twin house, Selwyn, is schedulec' to get 'The World Be- tween' Sept. 18. This is the play by Fritz Blocki. formerly of the Chl^ cago 'American.' Other loop bookings are: 'Cyn- ara.* Grrand Opera House, Aug. 25; 'Passing Show,' Apollo, Sept. 11; 'Reunion in Vienna,' Erlanger, Oct. 24, Not dated or set as to house are 'Of Thee I Sing,' 'Autumn Crocus,' 'Whistling In the iOark* anid Walter Hampden's 'Cyrano de Bergerac' Phoenix Stock Quits ' Phoenix, Aug. 22. Delmas-Lawless Players, only legit company here, for ijeveral mohthsi have closed shop and cast has gone to Hollywood, Principals included Don Wilson, Lorraine LaVal. Hanley Stafford. Bernice Bennett and iJddle Cart- wright. Wo Marriage* (Continued from page i) reason seems to bob up every now and then in radio contracts. It seems to represent a new Idea among radio folks that the artist has more sex appeal if unmarried. Hollywood used to have the same slant, but has pretty generally aban- doned It, In Chicago a girl crooner married to one of the members of a male duo keeps up an elaborate pretense even among friends of being single. Un- derstanding Is that a 'no marriage* proviso was slipped Into her con- tract a year ago. Chicago, Aug. 22. Stagehands aiid.. musicians will resist pay cuts and refuse mana- gerial plpas for concessions. That Is clearly indicated locally. A com- mittee of legit sho'wmen met Fri- day (19) to discuss their problems and the posibility of a united front , in a union tiff; While legit managers complain that the unions are hampering the return of prosperity to the legit theatre, the boys from the fly-loft and the trench take the view that, 'no concessions without guaranties' is the only basis upon which they will consider any drastic changes. Trading Stand In other words, what. •w;ill the managers promise them in' return for" ft'.yorB, Stagehands are par- ticularly Mlssourian as a result of an experience in June, They acr ceptol a salary cut for the suihmer on thfl understanding that a num- ber of legit houses were to operate thrbagh July and August. Aftor a couple of weeks every- thing, folded and for the first time in theatrical history there''wasn't a show running. Stag:ehands feel they made a useless sacrifice. If managers can or. will guaran- tee .\ 30-week working season it is understood the unions will be wlll- ing^.to listen. Otherwise they feel that for Intermittent employment the ihanagers should pay. Other side of the argument from the showmen is that the unions have set up such' arbitrary and auto- cratic rules that Chicago, once an important, show centre, is .beiner converted into a one-week stand. Aim at Kedzie Stock Chicago, Aug. 22. : Kedzie is reported in negotiations with Roberson-GIfford, the imiires* arloq who sponsored a season of 76« cent dramatic stock at the west side house two years ago.. .Since then Chicago ha^ been with a stock com- pany. A, W. Both, .owner, of the Kedzie^ states nothing is beyohd the conver- sation point. Meanwhile Robersony Gilford have a tei^t show playing; in Minnesota. Guild Role for Kelly Paul Kelly has been engaged by the Theatre Guild for one of the lead parts in Jack La:wson*s play, 'The pure in Heart.' due to.go. Into rehearSeil for thi. A^vln theatre; In about two weeks, ; Kelly will get $700 plus a percent-*, age of the gross for the engage- ment. Egah East for Job Hollywood, Aug,' 22. Ray Egan, lyricist, on his way to New York to Join Harry Tier- hey, with whom he is collaborating on a musical score for fall pro- duction. Said to be for the Shuberts. LIFE INSURANCE HAS STOOD THE TEST! Many people today are worried about the safety of their Invost- mients, 'This is not the case with those carrying LIFE IN- SURANCE. Our. experienced ofilce staff is equipped to extend SERVICE, and available at all times to of- fer expert advice, and show you the proper form of- INSUR- ANCE to carry. Do business with a firm with over twenty, years' experience. JOHN J. KEM INSURANCE 551 Fifth Ave., N. Y. C. Phones: Murray Hill 2-7838-78S9