Variety (Jan 1933)

Tuesday, January 31, 1933 LEGITIMATE VAKIETr LIMIT Co-Op 'Vanities' Cast and Trahan Go to Mat Over Disputes on Road ^ Trahan baa filed an Bqulty claim for his share of the profits from the co-op road tour of Earl Carroll's 1931 'VMltles,' now play- ing one-niters in the south. He claims be was forced out of the show, which Is on co-op, Irt Amarlllo, Tex., ^Jast week, following trouble with other members of the cast. When reporting: lor work the next night in Wichita Falls, he had to buy a pair of tickets at the box of- fice and enter through the front of tbe bouse, he avers. . The AmarllTo Jam occurred when Mitchell and Durant refused to go on upion Trahan Insisting to work in a scene from which he (Trahan) had been removed; The town fiherllt advised the team that the audience had paid to see the show, 80 they had better go on. They took the sherlfTs advice, but when Trahan made his entrance the cur- tain was rung down. Trahan al- leges the stage manager, Harry Long did It. When he arrived at the theatre at the next stand, Witchla Falls, Trahan declares, he found the stage door locked. He and his pai'tner, Tukona Cameron, went around to the front, bought two tickets and reached tbe stage from the audi- torium In order to show Jim Carroll, the producer's brother and manager of the show, that they were pre- pared to go on. The troupe went co-op aft$r Its recent Chicago run, during which the cast accepted a 25% salary cut. Trahan claims he loaned Carroll his salary for two weeks prior to the Amarlllo date to help keep the show going. Trahan returned to New York after the WItchita Falls turn- down to file an Equity complaint. He opens for Loew Feb. ? at the Capitol, New York. HOW ONE NIGHT OFF WORKS WITH 'ENGLISH' Plan of presenting 'Pardon My English' five nights weekly at the Majestic, New York, ran to sched- ule. Thursday nights arc out be- cause of the show's star, Jack Pearl, who has an hour on the Lucky Strike radio program. An extra matinee was given Thursday after- noon, grossing $2,000 at $2.20 top. Capacity at the night price of $3.30 top is about $3,800, with Friday night's house running about $1,000 under that figure. It was first agreed by the radio advertiser to pay the show the dif- ference between the extra matinee's takings and the possible capacity night figure. That was clianged when the ticket scale was revised downward. Originally the show was to come In at $5.50 and $4.40 was also considered. Understood the weekly amount paid the show for the ml.ssed evening performance is $750. This Is to be sent weekly by Lord and Thomas, advertising for the clggi^,4Qoncern. Georgid' Civot who replaced Jack Buchanan when 'English' was try- ing out. Is leaving the cast. He will be replaced by Joseph Santley. JESSEL'S JIGSAW REVUE Beckhardt Vice Gribble Arthur Beckhardt has taken over the staging assignment on Arch Sel- wyn's Tallulah Bankhead show, 'Forsaking All Others.' Harry Wag- staff Gribble, who started the stag- ing, couldn't get along with the cast and asked for a release. Beckhardt has a play of his own about ready to produce, but will put on Selwyn's play first. Wants to Blend Hit Bits of 3 Shows in One Road Musical George Jessel is negotiating with Max Gordon and Lee Sbubert to ac- quire some of the best scenes from the two Sbubert revues, 'Americana' and 'Ballyhoo,' and Gordon's 'Flying Colors,' to combine them Into a three-in-one revue for the road, especially with a view toward Chi- cago. Jessel is talking thla combo road show for himself and Norma Talmadge at the helm. Clifton Webb-and Ted Healy are also being figured for the combina- tion musical. Traveling Road Shows' Is New Cooking Sclipol Union Classification Chicago, Jan. 30. With show business at Its present low ebb stagehands union has grate- fully found an added source of em- ployment from the traveling 'cook- ing schools' that are becoming in- creasingly numerous through the middle west. Union classifies the schools as traveling road shows and from three to four road men are carried. Elaborate stage equipment, props, lobby displays, and special projec- tion paraphernalia are carried by the schools, along with lecturers, etc. Regular theatres are frequently rented, although auditoriums and ballrooms are also used. Purpose, naturally, is to attract housewives and stimulate grocery sales. Kroger Grocery and Baking Com- pany of Cincinnati has one of the most pretentious traveling road troupes as an exploitation stunt to help some 6,000 retail stores it con- trols In 17 states. Charles Schoen- berger framed the program which includes Mrs. Helen Schrelber head- ing the troupe plus a special motion picture made with Alois HavriUa, the radio announcer. Three days are played in each town. Tink' for Garden? 'Strike Me Pink,' the Brown and Henderson musical show to be headed by Jimmy Durante, may land at the Winter Garden. Warners declare they Intend to continue the Garden for pictures. If not the Garden, the Imperial seems liltely. Fixing Fears Play 'A Story of Love,' with Dorothy Hall, presented at the Broad, Phlla., last week, was called In for script revision. Show is one of several on Peggy Fears' production list. 'Love' Is slated to go back into rehearsals this week and may reach the boards again witbln a fort- night. *Whirlpoor Withdrawn, Claimi^ Exceed Bond '^'hirlpool' which opened at the Hollls, Boston, last week, closed suddenly and was brought back to New York. It was presented by Richard Herndon, Gross on the week approximated $800. Understood Eugene Bristol Rod- ney, who wrote the drama, forced the sudden withdrawal. Claims filed with Equity were Incomplete. Some of the players received partial sal- aries with others demanding pay- ment In full or nothing. Protective bond filed with Equity, said to call for less than $1,000. Copley's Musical Rep Boston, Jan. 30. Copley announces reopening next ^londay night with musical com- edy and operetta repertory com- pany. First Is 'Prince of Pll.sen,' and Lee Morrison i.5 iindrrstood to be behind, with society backing. Prices range from $1.50 to 50 cents evenings, $1 to 50 cents mats. Pierre pe Rceder directs orchestra; in the 'Pilsen' cast will be Miriam Winslow, smart set dancer fav; We.sley Boynston, Alice Wellman, Evelyn Dorn, Melba Ryder Llnd rrcn, Ed- ward Hale and George Vivian. omc SHOWS TEET Challenging Lessons of 'The Play's the Thing*—^Actors on Percentage and Only One Set, but Couldn't Sur- vive—Empty Auditoriums at $2 Might Be Filled at Lower Prioes, Some Show- men Think MATINEES VS. NIGHT Chicago, Jan. 30. Hazards of wildcatting dramatic attractions and other lessons in present day road conditipns can be gleaned from the sorrowful two months' history of 'The Play'a the Thing' which expired ingloriousiy last week at the Blackstone theatre here. Between Thanksgiving week when it opened until its ctranding the piece traveled around 4,000 miles and had only one profitable week. Show was scaled at $2.20 and it wa£ abundantly proved that the price was too high. Especially in the big barn-like auditoriums was this manifest. A gross of $300 was (Continued on page 60) Selwyn Wants P.C. Splh for Coast Hollywood, Jan. 30. Because of Metro's proposed plans to produce around six new legits 3L, year in Hollywood, Edgar Selwyn is trying to induce the Dramatists' Guild to amend its present rules so that the stager will receive 50% o* the play's selling price after a run of only three weeks in either Hollywood or Los Angeles. Present ruling allows the producer to share only on shows ijotting a three weeks' run In New York or Chicago, or 76 consecutive performances elsewhere. Selwyn who will act in an ad- visory capacity on the studio's legit- imate points out that inclusion of this section in the three weeks'I'ule will stimulate legit production here. Plenty of playwrights are already here, he points out, and producers would be willing to take a chance on new plays when shown right under the eyes of studio heads. Metro is understood to be look- ing for a theatre, with several spots in Los Angeles and Hollywood un- der consideration. Harry Cohn of Columbia Is said to have offered to finance the idea, despite it being a Metro enterprise, but the latter turned thumbs down. Laura Hope Crews will be In charge of staging if tbe plan materializes. Plays starring Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer and other Metro names are in mind for production thi.s year. Lower B way Scales Pep Up Grosses, Takings Jump from $1,000 to $5,000 Sentiment Over Role Beth Merrill has rejected the lead in 'Painted Veil.' Pat Kearney's play which Carrol Sax is preparing. She was re- hearsing the same role for David Belasco at the time of his death, rehearsing it for some time and drawing salary. For sentimental reasons, says Miss Merrill, she'll take any other i>art in any other play, but not that one. Grace Moore Gambles Widi Cast as Marry' Picks Up, Now Indef. 'The Dubarry* is holding over at the Cohan nnd a spurt in business may keep It there indefinitely. In- creased attendance Is partially the result of a downward revision of prices, with last week's gross around $13,000. Grace Moore is credited with holding the company together, can- celling her salary guarantee and accepting percentage like the other principals. Songbird was loaned by the Met for the operetta, the leave of absence spanning the season. 'Dubarry' has a working arrange ment with the house. Latter re ceives the first $9,000, that taking care of the theatre's share, stage and orchestra labor and the en- semble. All above that flgui-e is shared by the cast. Liberty, Lincoh, Sound Lincoln, Jan. 30. Dob Livingston, veteran exhib, is wiring the Liberty here for sound, which will bring that old legit stand into the picture field. Stock company, there for 16 weeks, is currently doing a farewell. With the Livingston coming in, there will be six first run picture houses in town. Edith Ransom Dies of Poison, Called Suicide Seattle, Jan. 30. Edith Ransom, the original Ton- deleyo of •Wiite Cargo', died Jan. 26 at the Harborview hospital here, two days aftei taking an overdose of peraldehyde, a powerful sleeping drug. A coroner's Jury brought in a verdict of self-destruction. Her la.<3t appearance on the stage here was three years ago when she played in a revival of the play by the Bainbridge Players. Since then she has lived a precarious exist- ence. She filed a $1,000,000 damage suit against one of the Pariflc coast steamship companies, charging she had been 'shanghaied' from Hono- lulu. She al.so sued three local news- papers for large amounts, charging libel. Actress was 32 years old. Pasadena Players Plan One-Nighters on Coast Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 30. California Theatre Guild, financed hy locnl money, plans to stage six pl.iys at the Pasadena Community I'l.'iyhon.sc, on six successive nights, with a tour of the coast to follow. Victor Jory and other members of the Community Players are inter- ns totl. Six pl.'iys scheduled are 'Mourn- ing Becomes Electra,' 'Counsellor at Law,' 'Animal Kingdom,' 'Criminal at Blossom,' 'Devil Passes' and •I>ouder Please.' Be.sides Pasadena, the troupe will play .San Diego, .S.inta Barbara. San Francisco and other dates. Givot Quits 'English' George Glvot Is going out of the Juve role In 'Pardon My English.' Joseph Santley is succeeding. Glvot had followed Jack Buchanan in on short notice when the English star decided to bow out. MILLER SPEEDS 'SPELL' Gilbert Miller has bought the American rlght.s to 'The Spell' by J.ily Hatvany, and will ru:«i it into production as his next play. .<^anford Grecnberger agented. Broadway's downward revision of the ticket prices for legit shows pro- gressed further and last week nearly all attractions modified the scale in some form, with prompt and favor- able box ofnce reaction. All show buisness now seems to realize that cheaper rates comprise a tonic for patronage. 'Take a Chance' at the Apollo is now the only musical at $4.40 top, but that only applies in the eve- nings. Without publicity the Wednesday motlnee was cut to $2.20 top and the show sold out. Saturday's matinee was reduced to $2.76 top and the show's gross on the week advanced to $27,000. 'The Late Christopher Bean* at Henry Miller's tossed in an exti'a matinee and for the afternoons the scale was cut to $2.20 top, with the gallery at 77 cents. Favorable b. o. sales and an Increase on the week of $1,000. Grosses Move Up 'Music In the Air' waited until the buy expired Saturday (28) and an- nounced a $3.30 top for night shows starting Monday. Top was $4.40 for 12 weeks. Matinee prices were re- duced to $2.76 top. 'Pardon My English' a new musical at the Ma- jestic dropped to $2.20 top for matinees immediately after opening ($3.30 top at night). The favorable effect of lower prices is indisputable in the cases of shows not deflnltefy stand-outs and those on their way out. 'Gay Divorce' at the Sbubert improved further and approximated $15,000, •The Dubarry' at the Cohan leaped $3,000 to $13,000. -Walk a Little Faster' advanced ianother $2,000 to $17,000 a betterment of $5,000 in two weeks that the lower pi'lces have been In effect. 'Another Language,' longest run show on the list had been announced to close, but early this week plana called for continuance through winter. That show sliced the rates in half, nights being $1.65 top and matinees at $1.10—capacity. Show is low cost In operation and $7,000 okay. Among the other comedies 'When Ladies Meet' Improved fur- ther. The better dramas are main- taining a $3.30 top, which figured on the theory that there always will be exceptions to the rule. 'Design' Sole High Scale Newest of the outstanding attrac- tions is 'Design for Living' at the Barrymore, the only $4.40 drama on the boards. It is a natural draw and will maintain the gait for some time. Whether It can maintain actual capacity throughout the en- gagement is to be seen. Dinner at Eight,' at the Music Box, is another dramatic smash with the top at $3.85. No plans to reduce the scale, but some time ago the balcony prices were revised downward. Some shows have been able to re- duce operating costs to pre-war levels. One show which recently grossed $3,250 made a profit of $700. House formerly demanded a $10,000 stop limit. In this case the theatre may not be making money, but is getting some revenue which diminishes the fixed charge, red if the house was dark. Another show with flock of actors has a payroll of less than $3,500 weekly, whereas two years ago salaries would have topped $5,000. Three Dropped by 'Tales' Hollywood, Jan. ."50. There were three let-outs frqtn Frank Fay's 'Tattle Tales,' during thf week Til- •• • ! . • . - .li e r,. Kior- ence Kubinsun and Guy iiubertson. 'Only Girl* for Frisco Hollywood. Jan. 30. Victor Herbert's 'The Only Girl' goes Into rehearsal here shortly for presentation at the Geary, i^in Francl.sco, with a Los Anijeles date to follow If clicking. Herhert L. Helrtecker is producing, and will di- rect the miiHic. with John Cameron staf-'Ing the hook. Mu.tilcal i.s peKKed at $1.50 top in tho hope of getting an extended run in 'Frisco. Charlotte L:iK.slng ,-irrlve.s here on completion of her engagement with the Chicago Light Opeia Co. for the lead. Others cast are Guy Voger, Roland Woodruff, Dic't Powell, Wyndham St.inding, Marienne Ma- bee, Mary Imuran, Pat Sh.mnon, Eve Cunningham and Margaret Rilling.