Variety (Sep 1936)

Vejnesday> Septeiriber 2, 1936 LC GITIM A ¥ E VARJETit 49 lALLUSMACKOS U. FOR FINE Los Angeles, Sept. 1. . i^lulah Bankhead me^ns dollars at the boxoflice hereabouts, as is evidenced by the capacity mobs <^aniorlng for admission to the Bel- asco theatre, where she is currently In the iourth week of the Lee Shu- jj€rt*Homer Gurran production of ^leflected Glory.' Cdinedy could stay lor. at least an- other couple weeks, but folds Satur- day night (5) and heads straight to N. v., where it. is. due to open Sept 21 ■ ■ •Parnell,' produced for the Coast by Henry Duffy, wovmd up six profit able weeks at the £1 Capitan Satup' day (2) and made way for The Dis' iaff Side.' Estimates for Last Week Hefleoted Glory,' Belasco (Los An- geles) (3d week) (C-1,095; $2.75). gi^de upped on third .stanza, with matinees particularly strong, so t^at take hit $12,000 which is plenty nifty. Heavy advance but must close Satur- day (5) night. Tarnell,' £1 Capitan (Hollywood) (6tt»-flnal week) (C-1,571;, $1.65). Otto. Kruger draw continued strong to the finish and opus could have re- mained another couple of weeks, but • for fllni engagement of the featured player. Final stanza drew neat $7,000, which is not to foe passed up lightly. WPA The Black Crook/ Mayan. Musi- cal extravaganza, with Frankie Bailey, 'girl with the million dollar legs,' portraying her original role, debutted Saturday (29) and looks good for a smash run. 'Arabian Nights Fantasy,' Greek theatre,. GriffiUi Park, opens today (1) wiUi cast of 100 and concert or- chestra, for six nights only. ^The VHiole Town's Talking,' Mason, Emerson-Loos comedy con- tinues for second week at 10-20-3Q . tariff, to fair returns. *WUd Birds,' Mitjart Engagement GaUo FoUing bland Spot; 1200,000 Take on Jones Beach Season Fortune Gallo's open-air produc- tions at Jones Beach, L. I., and Ran- dalls Island, wind up this wieek. Lat- teir spot folds this week, one week earlier than contemplated, as weather ■breaks have been against it, though Gallo says he'll try again next year. Eight-week run at Zachs Bays is headed for approximately $200,000, average week's b. o. being around $22,000. . Long Island resort will have larger seating capacity next year. Grand- stands wiU be built higher, and cen- ter dock will be covered over to provide more seats. Capacity will be 15,000, or 5,000 more than now. Revival of 'Chu Chin Chow' is men- tioned as an opener next year. ■Naughty Marietta' is the current closing offering at Jones Beach. 'Blossom Time,' which opened last Saturday (29) at Randalls Island, folds that venture. LOOP SEASON OPENS SEPT. 13 Chicago, Sept. 1 Official opening of Chicago's legit season has been deferred for a full week due to the postponement of the 'Night of Jan. 16' getaway at the Selwo'n from- Sept 6 to Sept. 20. Show needs that fortnight for a couple of stands on its way out from the east. Thus the first show to open in town will be 'Dead End' at the Studebaker on Sept. 13. 'Lady Precious Stream' has been set for the Harris, opening Sept. 28. And on Sept. 27 or 28 'Ziegfeld Follies' is expected into the Grand. Erlanger will hold off legit efforts until October at least, due to the present run of 'Romeo and Juliet,* (MG). George White's 'Scandals' continues ~j i. o ■ -XI- <m,- . at the Grand, withdrawing its closing ends Sept. 6, . with 'The Devil Passes' notice on a perk-up of business and slated to follow . _ — ... ON BROADWAY SPRING DANCE '_Conie<ly in three acts (four scenes) by , Phillip Barry; presented by Jed Harris at .aroimd Hmpire. N. Y., Auff, 2B, '30; based on origitial play by Eleanor Oolden and Elolse Barragon; stased by producer; . sets, Stewart Chancy, $3.30 top. Mlldi-od...; Mary Wlckea Walter Beckett..' Philip Ober Miss Ritchie... Marie Bruce • John Hatton Jack Warreh The tipplncot ; Jos6 Ferrer Doc Boyd ; Tom Neal Buck Buchanan Brobko Bowman Mady Piatt. Mary Loffan 'ranoeB Fenn Peggy O'Domiell Alex Benson Louine Piatt Knte McKIm Ruth Matte.qon ■ga"y-freBcott Martha Ho<lBe sam Thatcher.. Richard Kendrlck will stick until Sept 12 or 19 at the present rate, hopping directly from here to Kansas City for an eight-day stand at the Municipal Arena there. Estimates for Last Week 'Scandals,' Grand (1,200; $3.30) (10th we6k). Will make it a run of 11 or 12 weeks. Around $18,000 again last week, which means profit all brother arrives, armed with a gim. Next comes popple father with a check for $25,000 to buy off the book and finally comes the son's sweet- heart With the author and the mad-cap girl it is love at first sight. As the scene shifts to the industrialist's home there is a £<iquence in which the girl gets the author intoxicated and he mistakenly makes love to her father's secretary, who is also his girl friend. Wakes up to find himself married to the girl. To- gether, they go abroad on tickets Supplied by the father, who is glad to. have them both out of the way. Inevitably, they return and decide to write a book together. It is to be upon the subject of socialism and communism, a subject which has been taken to heart by the son, much to the rich man's consterna- tion. Rich man is conniving to cause strikes in the plants of rivals so that he can force them to the wall and buy them. To acquire proper atmosphere, the young writers bring into the home the two communists, a boy and girl. They rant and' rave and bring out the fact that the son is one of their comrades and that, despite his sanctimonious posings as a cultured person, the elder is actually an old rake. One of the play's main troubles is that the principal love, situation is disposed of entirely too early and too easily. The otlier love situa tions are too weak. However, there is life and action in the introduction of the commu nists, two parts, which afford capa- ble performers a good chance. This chance, incidentally, is well handled by Clarice Roma and Julian Madi son, Truda Marson, as the madcap daughter turned author, does a very intriguing job, and Wallace Greg' ory warms lip well to his role as the author. Edward N. Qualen is particularly good as the industrial ist-father, and Wallace Priridell, as the rich man's son, handles a Very difficult role in a manner which shows acting promise. Two sets built imder direction of Edmund Glover are up to any stage standard, and Bard's direction proW' ess is reflected in the fact that with an inexperienced cast, he holds the attention of the-audience. Idiots Ddight,' 'Regina' Reoiien To Capacity Biz on Broadway Smniner Theatres 190 New Plays (ContiDued from page 48) Ambassador, apd Frank Fenton, week of Sept 28. 'The Laughing Woman,' in associa- tion with Shuberts, by Gordon Daviot, with Helen Menken and •Tonio Selwart. 'The Mourning Angel,' by Irving Ramsdell and Talbott Jennings; about Michaelangelo"; held over from last season. JOHN C. WILSON 'Bovina,' drama by John Beaiis, to be staged by Noel Coward; due in December. 'Tonight at 8f30,' one act plays by Coward, starring him and Gertrude Lawrence; done last season in Lfyj- don; due to open Nov. 24. AL WOODS First night Monday (31) of the re- sumed engagements of 'Victoria Regina', Broadhurst and 'Idiot's De- light, Shubert, indicated that both smashes will continue until the £rst of the year, at least. There -were standees in for^'Regina' and 'Delight' sold out except for a few scattered seats. D6mand for both shows was heavy in the agencies and grosses should approximate the figure of the wind-up weeks before summer lay- offs. 'Spring Danc'e, first straight show entrant of the new' season, drew mildly at the Empire. In the first six performances teikings -were under $5,000 and the weekly igait would have approximated $6,000. The D'Oyly Cartes in.'The Mikado', Beck^ claimed a material "Improvement ' There are only 11 hew productions listed for September et .this time, but only nine pliays in rehearjal early thiis week. Premiere list:-week of Sept 14: 'Arrest That Woman', National; .'Seen -But No.t Heard', •Arrest that Woman,' m^drama . by Maxine Alton, cast including Golden or Mdler; 'So ^oudly We Doris Nolan; staging Ira Hards; dw il'ii^'o!?*^^,^"*^ 'As You Were, at National, Septf 16. 148th Steeet; ^Timber Hou^'. Long; •Cassandra,' satire on m^dlcjne, t>y acre; Sept 14: Reflectea Glory Bernard Schubert Morosco; '28: 'Minnie Scheller', Ritz; 'Stock Mad', Ahibassador; 'White Horse Inii', Center; 'X^ove From a Stranger', Fulton; 'Lend Me Yotur Ears', house to b6 named. „ . . . . ^,„, k:««,.ot,i,,t ftf Saturday (12) the 'jPollies* is due '•?.A'?f,!!!!: J?i°E^P''y °' to resume at the Winter Garden and 'Censored/ satire on theatre censor ship by Conrad Seller; done last sea^ son by WPA on Coast JOHN WELCH, JB, HEYDAY Lord Byron, by Jillsort- Grant ALEX TOKEL •Love from a Stranger,' melodrama by Frank Vosper, from Agatha Christie story; done in England last season; staged by Auriol Lee; due at Fulton, Oct 28. ST. LOO OPERA ENDS RECORD SEASON Jed Harris opens the new theat- rical seasoni with a mild, innocuous and completely out-of-tune little girls ate when they're collegie girls. Spring Dance' has been kicking wound a long time. Eleanor Golden and Eloise Barra igon finished it wjy back in 1926. Last year, Phillip Barry, who should have known better, got it out, dusted it off, and rewote it It would have been kinder all around to have left it on the shelf. Barry has a gift for smart dialr -. In several of his earlier plays—'Holi- day,' 'Paris Bound'—he showed that quite distinctly. Flashes of that show Up in this piece, too. As; when he nas a girl saying 'Men are the second strongest sex in the world.' But he ^oesn t follow through any more—at l-ast not in this play. For he also nas one character paying 'If m.v on wanted to go to Princeton I'd fix 'J™—I'd send him to .Princeto .' Ana that, too, is supposed to be a guffaw. As. perhaps, it might well nave been in 1927, when it was a bit easier to lauwh at what goes under ine general head of 'sophistication.' Story is a very simple one. It's a girls dormitrr- in a college town ^d a girl is in love with a body. boy has ideas and ideals and ambitions. When it looks like the fi'rt is going to lose him, her room- pwtes lassoo him for her. Wedding bells. ' Hoked up heavily it will probably make a good film. But as adult fare m the legitimate theatre it has no place. Jed Harris, who staced it as well as nroduced it. hasn't done at all badly with it everything considered. J-a.st)nE is uniformlv good, except for the lead. Louise Piatt just is mis- cast. Other girls and boys are okay With Jose Ferrer. Mary Wickes. Mary Logan. Ruth Matteron, Richard Kendrick and Peggy O'Donnell best and in just about that order. Two sets are adequate. Knuf. WPA 'Broken Dishes,' Blackstone. Real customer-puller of the WPA season Little'coin but capacity nearly every night. „ , . 'Macbeth,' Great Northern. Colored import from Harlem opened last night (Monday) for a 12-day ride. •Triple A,' Civic. Out-of-the-way location hurting, but managing to build somewhat after a poor start. OUT OF TOWN (MILLBROOK THEATRE) Play in three acts by Francle Faragoh; directed l>y Edward Massey; settings, Eleanor Farrlngton. At Mllbrook theatre, Milbrook, N. T., week Aug. 24, '30, .Sue Ann,.Eleanor Powers Bert Mervln Williams Ro.se Bergman Vlrelnin Gately Nick.. Robert Cald.well Rex Hammond James Todd Peter. Arthur Howard Norma Mathews Bdmonla Nolley Morrlo Barron Ross Matthew Allen Powers. .'William Watkins Bradford Perkins Charles Howard Fanla LllUe Brayton Qreta Royce Sard Sherburne Terry Ada CaVell THE LADY DANCES Hollywood, Aug. 26. Comedy In three nets (four scenes) by Robert Riley Crutcher. Directed by Ben Bard. At Ben Bard's Little theatre. Los Angeles, Auc. 18, '36. „ Cast: Truda Maraoii, Wallace Oregory, Edward N. Qualen, Wallace O??: lee Wyatt, June L, Rhijiock. Gladys Schoener, Clarice Roma. JiW^an Madison iind Cosmo Sardo. Treating the subjects of socialism and communism in a rather light vein, 'The Lady Dances,' a comedy by Robert Riley Crutcher, possesses qualities which, when boiled down, may hold the essence of Broadway or screen production. Script is obviously in need of trimming, and suffers, from a cast , of inexperienced players. There is 'room for a more steady climb to " the climax and a little more pep at that point • . Crutcher introduces as his princi- pal characters a young author, a madcap girl and her industrialist father. He fills out the cast with a college student son, his sweetheart, the father's blonde secretary, the sweetheart's mother and two young and enthusiastic communists, one a more than ordinarily pretty girl and the other a more than ordinarily dumb lad, whose chief aversion is to work. . t. Story opens with the author be- sieged by newspaper reporters in his apartment. He has written a novel \-hich is obviously the bio- graphical record of the mad-cap girl's adventures. He mistakenly used the girl's name instead of the flctionistic cognomen at one point in the book and he fears repercus- sions, f. . . Girl herself arrives in the apart- ment and is mistaken by the author for a reporter. She learns plenty about herself. Then, after she has disclosed her identity, her young A panoramic history of Greenwich Village life that covers a period from 1919 to the present time is this new play by Francis Edwards Faragoh, who has devoted his time to picture scripts in the last few years. Play utilizes flashback technique, starting in the present skipping back some years, and returning to the present at intervals. Method of production is somewhat hard to follow and play loses much of its cohesive value by too much backing and filling. Earlier portion of the play—pictur- ing the Village life of 1919—is by far the best and recaptures atmos- phere and characters of that sector's heyday. On the whole, however, play fails to add up to anything im- portant and peters out badly in the final stanza. Story centers around Rex and Su»' Ann, a couple of Villagers since early post-war days. In 1919 Sue Ann ar- rives from the country, wide-eyed and fascinated by the tales she has heard about the glamorous spot. She meets Rex in the rooming house where she settles and, later, they join a group of artists, writers and intellectuals who form the Village crowd of that time. Sue Ann loves Rex, who is always talking about the book he is going to write, hut she finally realizes that he Will never settle down. So she marries Bert, a steadier soul. Rex becomes involved with Terry, a thrill seeker, who has a child by him. Sue Ann takes care of the baby after Terpr commits . suicide and after a series of complications Rex and Sue Ann are maneuvered into each other's arms. Theme of the confusing plot seems to be that two people destined for each other will get together despite all ob- stacles. Cast and direction are not up to the demands of the play and some of Faragoh's evocative scenes and characterization are lost th^ouph in- eot performances, James Todd and Eleanor Powers top the cast as Rex and Sue Ann, with Miss Powers scorinc in most of her scenes. Mer- vin Williams as Bert and Ada Cavcll as Terry are other leads in a sizable company. Dubious bet for Broadway and too censorable for pictures. Mack. ' St. Louis, Sept. 1. .Several alj time records were established by the mimicipal opera, which brought its 18th season to a close in the Al Fresco Theatre in Forest Park Sunday night. <30). Largest attendance during any one, season was himg up for the current run of 87 performances, 748,054 per; sons passing through the turnstiles and paying approximately $415,000. Previous high attendance was estab-. lished in 1933, when 713,815 persons attended 82 performances. For the first time in the history of the local outdoor opera not a single performance was postponed because of .rain. Three performances were interrupted briefly by showers, this year, but were completed. 'Glamorous Night^ London Drury Lane operetta having its American premiere here as the closing show of the season, established the second best mark for all-time attendance, for one week, number of persons at- tending being exceeded only by 'Roberta' in 1935. "Night' finished with a take of approximately $45,- 650. Decline in demand for $1.50 and $2,00 seats/and an increase in lower price ducats was noted this season. Falling off in sale of higher orice. seats was caused by a pro- longed and intense heat spell, which drove regular purchasers of these chairs out of the city. Current season income will meet all operating expenses and provide funds for partial amortization of im- provements made in 1935 and '36, and which are spread over a five- year period. Opera thus, maintains its record of finishing on the black side of the ledger since it began op- eration. IHEN' FINALLY FOLDS IN S. F. ON 9TH WEEK Sian Francisco, Sept. 1. 'Three Men on a Horse' has seen its ninth and last week here at the Alcazar, going out with a poor $5,000 for the final stanza. Show would have closed the eighth week but for manager Henry Duffy's desire to keep something inside his house until the arrival of Tarnell.' Latter opened last night (31). Poor attendance at the last week of 'Horse' permitted Dufly to re- decorate the house at the same time. Estimates for Last Week 'Three Men on a Horse' Alcazar (fith week) (1,269; $1.50)—Show was milked. Last week was z. blow, with biz dv/indling to less than $5,000. WPA The Farmc-'" Wife,' a revival of 'Florodora' -is due at the Majestic during the week. In addition, the month may see three WPA Shows. The Hippodrome, alternating'be« tween sports events and pop grand opera, drew near capacity crowds over the weekend fdr >the . latter at 99c top. Oiitdodr operetta at Jones Beach and Randall's Island (muni-^ cipal stadium) wind up this week. Estimates For Last Week. •Boy Meets (Sirl/. Cort (42nd.w?ek) (C-l,059-$3.30);' Grossed $U.600 last week; best figure in several weeks; maniagement^ expects to run another season. •Dead End,' Belasco (45th week) "•' (D-l,000-$3.30). Business moved up somewhat last week with takings bettering $9,000; holdover drama in sight of year's run. adiot's Delight,' Shubert (resumed eng.) (16th week) (C-l,387-$3.30). Resumed Monday (31) after summer layoff; played 15 weeks originally., •Mulatto,' Ambassador (46th week) (D-l,156-^.30). Going to road aftelr another two.-weeks; gaited around $2,500 but should do better on the road; house will get 'Stork Mad.' New Faces,' Vanderbilt (16th week) (R-8e4-$3.30). Intimate revue approximated $4,500 again; probably even break, but date indef. 'On Tonr Toes,' Imperial (19th week) (M-l,468-$3.85). StiU going strong, -with leader averaging $21j> 000; chances of long run will be indi" -cated when new'musicals' arrive.' •Pre-Honeyjnoon,' Lycetim (19th week) (C-670*$2JJ0). Aflne • Nichols comedy operating at profit with takings of around:$4,500: will move to another house; -'St Helena' due here Oct. 6. . •Spring D^e,^ Einpire (2nd w$ek> .(C-l,099-$3.30). Got In-between pre^s and that sort of starting budi-' ness; paced around $6,000 weekly, al- though takings in six performanc^ea were under that 'Three Men «n a Horse,' Playhouse (84th -week). (C-869r$2.20). Slated to stick well into autumn; bettered $6,- 500, which was August weekly average^ / 'Tobacco Bead,' Porrort (144J3i week) (D-l,017-$1.65). They don't know where the audiences comfe from; last week's $6,400 surprising for long run drama; anything pos* sible; maybe another season,. •Victoria Begliia/ Broadhurst (re- sumed eng.) (27th week) (C-1,118- $3,30). Resumed Monday (31) after two month layoff; played 25 ■weeks in original engagement; advance sale for present .date topped 'Delight' BEVTVALS D'Oyly Carte opera troupe, Martin Beck; English Gilbert and Sullivan exponents playing The Pirates of Penzance' and 'Trial by Jury' this week; business not up to initial ap- pearances here, but should improve.; •Life and Loves of Dorian Gray/ Comedy; cut-rater, WPA Injnhction Granted,' BiltmOre; labor drama doing fair. •Help Yourself/ Addphi; sHm takinfs, ' , , ' •Torpentlne/ Lafayette; final week; 'Noah' next Negro Theatre attrac- tion. order to make room for a vaudeville .program under the same Federal ausDices, Nice $3,500 for the total.. Marionette Varieties/ Federal "Thcj atre <3rd week) (200; 25c)—WortTol Columbia mouth keeping this one alive, D;4 (4th week) (1,700; 50c)—(joqd final |^ good $325 last week, which is nici week when exit was announced in Looks to stay awhile. '