Variety (Sep 1933)

76 VARIETY LECITIMATE Tuesdajt S«pteiiil»er 5, 1953 7 M Opera Pods Set Already; 3 of Tbem ia Tmies Sqnare Area No less than seveii popular priced grand opera troupes are mentioned for early in the new season, two and possibly three being slated for the Times Square zone. First to get going will be the outfit at the Hip- podrome where the pop opera policy clicked last spring, spreading to other points. Most of the ventures were successful, while few of the outdoor operatic presentations kept out of the red. Next operatic preisentation along the Hipp lines will be staged In the Mecca Auditorium, dated to .open Sept. 14 and billed to continue through the following week. Top price will be $1.65, Mecca opera will be the Fides, an Italian outfit, with Cesaro Sodero of the Metro- politan directing and conducting. There is a possibility of grand opera at Madison Square Garden, depend- ent on the reception of ^he concerts to be held there late this week. Also reported pointing to pop opera are the. Academy of Music, two theatres in the Bronx and one in Jamaica, Hipp will open Thursday (7) with a top of $1.10, as against the former top of 99 cents. Management stated It had refused to make any deals with ticket brokers. Jt was reported there were orders for ^8,000 tickets in advance but subscribers had been notified that all sales would be made directly through the boxoffice. Explanation was that the Hipp was not certain It could operate at the $1.10 scale because of expenses attendant to the importing of a number of Italian and German singers. Top price may be lifted to $1.65. Hipr is starting with a 14-week schedule.. £d Hurley Suing Hipp Opera; Seeks Quarter Of $12,000 Net Profit Ed Hurley, press agent, has filed suit against the C. &. C. Corpora- tion, operating the Chicago Grand Opera at the Hippodrome, New York, asking for one-fQurth of the profits earned' during the operas 11-week season. Hurley estimates the profits dur- ing, that period at. about $12,000 and claims an oral contract which wo^ld have given him one-fourth, as. an .equal partner of William C. Carroll, Cecil. Mayberry and Alfredo Salmaggl, who are all sued individ- ually as partners of the concern. Hurley claims that he was hired to. be press agent for a vaudeville act consisting of ex-Opera singers at the Hippodrome when it was playing vaude and. pictures. Ftom that he got the idea of installing popular priced opera at the theatre which, he says, was about to give up, haying flopped with vaude. He says he approached Carroll and Mayberry, contacted Salmaggi and got the three together for the first time. Deal was made, opera installed and Hurley says he was named general press representa- tive with an equal hunk of the pro- ceeds. But, he says, he was never paid one cent, except for some petty cash -vciil4^ he drew In advance on several occasions. Godfrey Jaffe is attorney for Hurley. McGuire to Do Sketch For the New *Follies' Hollywood, Sept. 4. William Anthony McGuire will write a sketch for the revived 'Zieg- feld Follies.' which Lee Shubert will produce. McGuire Is- currently scripting 'The Greab-Zelgfeld' for Universal. 'Double Door' Under Way H. C. Potter and George Halght start casting Immediately on their first production venture for the season,', T>ouble Door', by Elizabeth McFadden Piece will" be staged by Potter, who has staged a number of plays on Broadway and has operated the Hampton Players, summer stock .at Wilderness' Break-In Pittsburgh Sept. 25 Pittsburgh, Sept 4. Legit season getting away to a late start this year, with Nixon staying dark until Sept 25, Open ing show will be Eugene ONeiU's 'Ah Wilderness,' -\^hich tries out her^' for a week before moving on to New York. It's to be the first production here in the American Theater Society series. Nixon, with legit field all to Itself last year, will run without compe- tition again. This Is the latest legit Inaugural in years. GAUO'S LOW-SCALE OPERA FOR CHICAGO Chicago, Sept. 4, Town gets Its first season of opera since the closing of the Chi- cago Civlcj when the San Ca,rlo Opera troupe arives at the Audi- torium for a run on Sept. 18. Open- ing with 'Carmen.' Fortune Gallo has taken' the click of low-scale opera for granted Southampton, 'for the past seven and will operate here at a $1.10 top years. Halght Is co-author of land running as low as two-bits for 'Goodbye, Again.' I the cheapest seats. Inside Stuf—Legit A rift among Denver's social registrites is the aftermath of this season's dramatic activity In Central City's opera house, where 'The Merry Widow' was revived. Result is that Delos Chappell and his wife, professionally known as Edna James, are on the outside looking in on a project they originated. Both are wealthy and are of Denver's social elite, dividing their time between there and -New York. The couple backed the revival of 'Camille* at the ghost city last sum- mer, the University of Denver being in, because owning the theatre property. Chappell engaged Robert Edmond Jones to supply the set- tings and costumes. Denver socialites went for the project and bought chairs at $100 each. The Chappells returned from Europe this spring and learned that some of their Denver associates had banded togetlier and engaged Jones for five years, not only to supervise production but to direct the shows. That took Chappell out of the picture, managerlally. During.a rehearsal of 'Widow' it is said that Chappell -vtras requested to leave the theatre. He then found out that he had been dropped from the committee, al- though Miss James had a small part In the revival. Jones Is best known on Broadway as a scenic specialist any directional activity being mostly concerned with the former Provincetown Playhouse group in Greenwich Village. Chappell expended about $7,500 on 'Camille'. The revival made money at Central City and he was reimbursed. He brought the production to Broadway intact with Liillian Gish l^st season, that venture going into the red, show being taken off after a few weeks. Indications are that the authors section of the legit code rather puts It over on the managers. In return for the conce'ssion giving the man- agers a share in the picture rights for shows which run less than three weeks, the authors are to receive not less than $600 advance, that money not to apply against the regular royalties unless the show runs more than three weeks. Recognized authors are known to receiVe more than the newly established minimum advance, but that does not apply to newcomers. The rule will probably cut down the number of shoe- stringers, which was supposed to be its real object. However, it may jam up producers' In regard to foreign rights. Mini- mum Basic Agreement stipulates that the author shall receive not less than the first advance ($600) for' the foreign rights. Managers declare that it is impossible to receive that much from some Continental coun- tries. Producer has 60 days after the premiere of a play 'to take up the foreign rightd option. Heretofore there has been a way to solve the matter. Actual first advance was limited to $50, the author getting an additional $400 or $500 within a day or so of' the initial payment. The authors first advance rule in the code is not iron clad any more than other clau&es because the NRA provides for code changes by agree- ment in the committee where the government assents. If .the rules do not work out satisfactorily, the managers and authors could agree on an amendment. Plays on Broadway THE BLUE WIDOW Comedjr In three acts preeented at the Horoaoo Aug. 30^ by a aubatdlary of the Select Theatres Corporation (new Shubert company; actual ' proprietorship not pro- gramed); written by Marianne Brown Waters; Qucenle Smith starred; staecd by Harold Winston. Cynthia Talbot Helen Flint Doris Darrow Roberta Beatty Ellen Clare Stratton Dotsy Martin Eleanor King Nicky Martin ...Harold Conklln Jay Berton Don Beddoe Bcntly Keith Sam Wren Tony Talbot Albert Van Dekker Willie Hendricks ..,.Queenie Smith Horace Jonoa Ralph Locke This Is the fifth show presented on Broadway In the pre-Labor day period. Two dropped out promptly, but none Is worth while, Including the mipst recent entry, 'The Blue Widow,' once called 'Poor Little Thing,' billed as a comedy. •Widow* is a one-setter, one rea- son for its existence, but the Shu- berts guessed wrong if they thought It had a chance. Gabby, repetitious and virtually laughless, it offers nothing new In story or situation. But the p.lay does give quite a plug for Bermuda and Its fiora. Wil- lie Hendricks (a girl) stayed there a year with a playwright whom she was supposed .to be wedded. She Is subsequently the guest of Cynthia Tablet at-Darlen, Conn., latter hav- ing fallen for Willie's phoney grief over the late lamented author. Willie goes to work on the male population of the Talbot menage and there is" plenty of material be- cause of Cynthia's penchant for having a succession of week-end- ers. Being a wispy girl, the boys fall for her stories of her passion for flowers, especially those of Bermuda. Seems she was detected plucking blooms in somebody else's garden ■ down ther& and It always belongs to a different famous aur thor, according to whom she tells the story. The heroine flits blithely from one sap to another, but after cop- ping the rich old admirer of a vis- iting actress, Willie makes the mis- take of going for Cynthia's husband Tony. L«atter is in the mood, feeling that his mate has given him too little attention. It happens that the wife is a writer, too, author of suc- cessful novels. So Willie nearly breaks up the Talbot home. But when she discovers that Tony Isn't so well...off at the moment she switches back to tlie A. K. with coin and gray locks. 'Widow' gives. Queenie Smith, formerly of musical comedy, a straight part and the play, such as it is, is all hers. Miss Smith seemed to act the curious Willie as in- tended by Marianne Brown Waters, a newcomer. Interpolated are two songs—'Couldn't You Fall for Me,' by Mglx Rich and Jack Alexander, and 'You're Everywhere,' by Man- ning Sherwin and Stanley Adams. Neither is much, but well handled by Miss Smith. Some of the supporting players are capable, but In toto the acting seemed faulty, which probably isn't chargeable to the actors. Just an- other early casualty. Ihee. I Raquello plays the Italian duke with an Hungarian accent, but otherwlsa is acceptable enough. Nancy Sheri- dan is satisfactory as the girl, and CItUre Carleton pleasing as the sis. ter. Direction throughout is weak* As seems to be the habit this sea- son. It's a one-set affair, with no names and practically no produc- tion layout, so that it can hang on fairly easily to little money. But more than that little seems unlikely, Kmf. PLAYS ABROAD Trenton Legit Shows' Last-Minute Collapse Trenton, Sept. 4. With the Palace all set to relight on Labor Day after being closed two years, with 'Goodbye Again' and with a flock of last season's New York successes scheduled to follow, the whole idea collapsed at the last minute for lack of funds to cai-ry on. Newspapers carried advertising on the legit attractions for several days, Dlfi-.cp.rds were displayed In all store windows that had enough room left alongside the NRA emblems and Trenton was all set for the bow oC legit here. The proj- ect had even reached the rehearsal stage, money invested In house staff, renovations to theatre, etc. And then the Whole thing wont up. The State, also closed two years, Is scheduled to open next Monday, with legit. Ralph Clonlnger, former Salt Lake stock producer, who has been In Southern California for the last six months preparing to produce a 130 people Mormon spectacle, 'Corianthon', is being credited in coast circles with being legit's greatest distance stayer. Since March 20, last, Clon- lnger has deferred launching his production, although since early June the spectacle has been fully rehearsed. Back of the early production delays was the matter of sufficient finances to insure a three-week sojourn at the Mason Opera House in L. A., despite the fact that thousands of admission tickets had been sold by members of the Mormon church for the venture. Agreement with the church was that none of the money collected from the sale of tickets would Tie turned over to Clonlnger until the spectacle was pro- duced, so that at no time could the producer figure on this b. o. Falling to raise the cash to cover advance rental for the theatre and Cor salaries and incidentals before b. o. receipts were available, Clon- lnger has been postponing his opening from day to day and week to week, with no thought of folding, and confident that his production start is just around the corner. Dave Chasen, Joe Cook's side-kick, has asked for a pulmoter to be kept back stage at the Winter Garden during the run of 'Hold Your Horses' as the result of a first night Incident when the show opened in Boston last week.^ One of the Cook gadgets has Chasen strapped in a chair, suspended over a tank of water by ropes. Two oth^r stooges let go the ropes to scramble for loose change, Chasen going into the tank. The ropes were fouled and when he was finally yanked up, Chasen was nearly drowned. 'Horses' Is due in. next week. Reported several cast changes are contemplated. With the film version of 'One Sunday Afternoon' current at the Broad- way Paramount while the original stage version is still at the 48th St., the latter is going In for larger display space to match the picture house ads. The legit figures that the film will be no b. .o. deterrent and may stimulate interest in the dramatic version. The early fllmlzatlon by Par of the play came about through an unexpected prolongation of the legit's Broadway popularity after a slow start, and despite the banking holi- days. Thereafter it built into one of the few showia to survive the summer. COME EASY Comedy in three acta by Felicia Metcalfe presented at the Belosco theatre, N. Y., Aug. 29. Staged by Milton Roberts; sots by I^hiUlQ Gelb. Mrs. Ward '.Helen L,oweU Sammy Ward David Morris Mr. Daye .George Henry Trader Pamela Ward Claire Carloton Toble Drake Bruce Evans Marcla Ward Nancy Sheridan Count Rlccardo Dl Lueca.. .Edw. Raquello Miss Victoria Ward ...Alice Fischer Rita Davis Joan Cllve Clyde Massey Quy Standing, Jr. Pretty weak play, with not much about it of substance. It has a fairly funny basic idea and with some work might make a talker. So it'll probably hang around Broad- way long enough to earn picture rights. That is about the best that can be expected. Elizabeth Mlelc, the producer. Is a hard tryer. She's made several at- tempts and has a half dozen more plays up her sleeve. Some day she may hit. But. not this time. 'Come Easy' is one of those fam- ily pbrtcalts that so many producers have been trying since 'Another Language' clicked. It's about the unstable Ward family. Mother Ward is tired, lets the I'est of the flock do as they please, doesn't get mixed up in anything much,. Fam- ily's on the rocks because too much gambling, but no one seems to care. Marcla, one of the daughters, shows up with an Italian count. Other relatives decide he's a fake, try to break the thing up, almost prove that he's not only a fake but a forger. But it straightens out, he's actually the goods, and true love wins out, at the same time reuniting the family and replenishing the family pocketbook. Pretty flimsy, not funny enough, and not too well drawn, as is. Helen Lowell as Mrs. Ward gives her usual good performance^ and David Mor- ris is colorful as the youngest Ward boy. Morris seems badly in need of direction, but given that, ought to bo a bet for pictures. He has the makings of b.o. appeal. Edward Is Life Worth Living? London, Aug. 26. Comedy in three acts by Lennox Robin- son, presented by Sydney W. Carroll at the Amba^dors theatre. Aug. 22, Tjizzle Twohig.... Christine Hayden Helena .Joyce Chancellor Christine Lambert ...Meriel Moore Eddie Twohig.. Josoph Ltnnano Mr. John Twohig Harry Hutchinson Hector do la Mare Paul Farrell Constance Constantla Esme Blddlo Mrs. Annie Twohig Ann Clcry Peter Hurley A. O'ltourko- Michael. Rex Mackey John Hegarty Fred Johnston William Slattery Richard Turner Tom Mooney , Arthur CHlsholroo Another Irish farce from the au-^ thor of 'The Whiteheaded Boy' and a dozen or more plays, all originally produced at the Abbey theatre, Dublin. Looks like a splendid Idea i.ot fully developed. Legit repertory troupe comes to a small village in Ireland and, after a week or so of Ibsen, Tchekov and Strindberg the town is off Its nut. The butcher, after seeing a per- formianco of Strlndberg's 'The Father,' hurls a hatchet at friend wife; several natives attempt sui- side, and even the local Congress- man votes against his own party after witnessing 'The Enemy of the People.' Everything becomes nor- rhal once more, when the repertory troupe is cancelled and a circus re- places. Generally' well played, with one or two Splendid performances. The organization, as is, might be worth taking to New York for a chance. Irish plays seldom remain long in London. ■ They must be ex« ceptlonal to click. Jolo. THE ACE London, Aug. 2S. War drama in three acts, from the Qcc- man oC Herman Rossmann by Miles Mallo* son. Presented by Stanley Scott at tho Lyric theatre. Aug. 24. Play produced by Miles MallcBon. Soldat Bolle Ernest Jay Feldwebcl SchuUz Dennis Wyndham Soldat MuUer Robert Spealgbt Rlttmelater Kurt von Hagen, Raymond Massey Captain Ridley; R.F.O...Franklyn Bellamy Lieutenant Hensch Grifflth Jonea Lieutenant Roeder W. Cronin Wilson Aimee Ketty Qalllan Fahnrich Scbmidtchen Brie Berry Lieutenant Baron von During, Bruno Barn^ba Unter-Omzer Keller Wilfrid Lawson Lemmle Esme Percy This Is a German attempt to do a 'Journey's End' from the Teu- tonic standpoint, with the prin- cipals air fighters, instead of trench soldiers. The piece was done In Vienna with Conrad Veldt in the title role, but was banned In Berlin out of deference to the memory of Rlch- thofen, the native ace pilot. Ray- mond Massey has the part here. HIa work Is excellent, albeit the role grows a bit • monotonous. Once he shows his complex—the haunting dread that he will funk the meet- ing with his English ace opponent, every repetition becomes more and more tiresome. It is a psychological study, revealed early in the first act. There are a number' of excellent character studies by a fine cast. It remains to be seen whether lightning will live up to its reputa- tion of never striking twice In the same spot. JolOi Pitt, Alvin Headed for Vaudfilm, Report Pittsburgh, Sept. 4. Conflicting reports circulating about future of Pitt and Alvin the- atres, both legit sites here for years. It's known that Pitt will open in a few weeks under management of George Shaffer, West Virginia the- atre operator, but what the policy will be Is a secret. Shaffer orig- inally announce he would play stock, but now It's rumored he's - buying pictures and" will make a stab at vaudfilm. Pitt since dropping legit several years ago has housed repertory companies chiefly. Understood AlvIn, which has been closed more than a year, may be turned over tc the Harris Amuse- ment Co., with Johnny Harris talc- ing- active hand in management. Nothing definite yet on this but when and If, vaudfilm Will likely be the attraction.