Variety (Nov 1937)

f Wednesday, Novembcir 24, 1937 LEGITIMATE VARIETY S3 Permanent National Theatre Out of WPA Aim of 2 Bais Before Congress; Other Terms Two bills before C]|o.ngress aim; to establish a National •■ Theatre. tinder > ^Government' patronage!. ' Measures have aroused ■ consit^e^rable. "interest on- Broadway; particularly among plAyer^, since the chance of engage- ments would be iricreased should either bill be enacted.' One pro- posal was written by Gongressmaff James M. Coffey of Waishington; the other by Congressman- William I. Sirovich of New York. . '■' Both bills appear to have been inspired by the activities of the WPA • rejief theatre, known as the Federal Theatre Project Sirovich favors establishment of « bureau of fine atts, the head of which would be in the President's cabinet. Coffey's Ijiill proposes to lift the FTP out of the WPA setup so there would be no doubt as to its permanency. One ■weakness seen is the limited salary eet for~the commissioner of such a project. Doubtful if an efficient ex- ecutive couUd be attracted unless the compensation were measurably in- creased. Coffey contends that the FTP has Indicated the potentialities of a flourishing culture throughout the country. Argument for a Govern- mentally-backed theatre is that such a project would provide entertain- ment for all classes and not be re- stricted because of high admission prices, as in the larger .cities. He proposes to lift the entire The- atre Project out of relief and trans- fer it as is to the planned national theatre, but to expand it, taking over the other so-called cultural fields now included in WPA. Bill names the theatre, dance, music, literature, graphic and plastic arte, architec- ture and decoration, all with their allied arts, to be included in the bureau. Coffey bill fixes the salary of the proposed commissioner at $5,000 yearly. Head would be appointed by the President fdr two years, al- though the term could be extended. Commissioner would have six aides, Regions would be established, each with an administrator (at $4,000 per year) and four aides. Provision is jnade to enlarge the FTP, which was cut down 25% last summer. Coffey's proposed bureau would also raise salaries not less than 20% over those now paid. No maximum' nor minimiun is set and the least playeTS would receive would be $29 per week, as against the present $23.85 in the FTP. Num- ber of people who would be engaged would increase the present comple- ment not less than 20% .and could double the numlier. No .relief status would figure. Congressman figures that the FTP has 'decentralized' the theatre in that plays are given not only in the sev- eral key cities.'*' Plan fostered by Sirovich was introduced by him- twic'e before. Last spring the con- gressman addressed the American • Theatre Council, convention in New York, spiritedly .speaking on behalf of the WPA theatre projiect, and de- . daring 'we must establish a national theatre.* Year or so ago a national theat?:"e bill- passed Congress and received the White House sighature. • Since then nothing has been heard of the movement. Measure, however, does not call for federal financing. Plan was to build a theatre in Washing- ton, D. C, and operate from there, but there was a stipulation that called for economic operation. Names of socialites iii the capital, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore *nd Chicago were mentioned as be- ing interested in the idea. Claimed that $1,000,000 would be subscribed for the establishment of the theatre, but Wiiether the coin was ever raised Was never revealed. Public. me'eti^g to arouse support for Cpngressman. Coffey's bill was held Monday (22) night at the Union Memorial Methodist Church. N. Y. 'By Popular Pemand' .Richard Rqdgers,- who cpm- posed the tunes fpr .'I'd Rc^ther Be Right,' Alvin, I^. Y., had the , right to reserve four tickets, nightly for ';the "show.: Requests . i Vr the ducats became so he.avy^„ he decided on a European , tr^p. and. sails tonight (24). "Lorenz Hart, who penned the lyrics, ducked .for. .Italy last week, giving the saiiie reason. Bioxofficc..' steff, in reporting the gross to ,San^ H.. Harris, show's producer, , ,orie night, j apologized because the number of standeeis at that performance had dropped. Actors Considering Prop- ping Double-Pay. Ruler^tp Permit Plan;SiAiil^ij': t6< London's -f^ 1 Subscription P^rformanccis for Tryouts . —vManagers Claitai, I ;Pfes^. erit Stand Nullifies N. Y. Statute Legalizing Shoiy^s COMMITTEE TO REPORT CASTING NKES W ROAD PLANS Plans for the road company ot 'Having Wonderful Time,' which was nearing the rehearsal stage, has been ■ set back. Reason appears.to be cast- ing difficulty. Decision to delay came after a number of players were' given readings. Leads have been changed several times in the original troupe, but none of those formerly in the show is available. Management, however, claims the road plans are still on the fire. First company of 'Time' is now. in its 40th week at the Lyceum, N,' Y,, with tickets on sale up to New Yeat's Eve. Equity! is now favorably cpnsider* iihg' Su|iday legit pei-formances, with certain limitations, but not at.^he be- hest of managers. Association's coun- cil appdihted a committee to report on the' feasibility of. Sundays along the lines 6f London's/for the" benefit of its members who may be laying off. ' In London there are several groups specializing on Sunday night shows, admissions to such performances be- ing by subscription. Alohg such lines the British authorities consider the presentations to be 'private' show- ings. Little or no interference over the text of plays is given, and some being played which would probably not pass the censor if offered for the public performances. London Sunday system calls, for the tryout of new plays and, while the presentations are supposed to be private, critics are generally inyited and reviews appear in the dailies. If the Equity idea becomes an actu- (' (Continued on page 60) TMAT Pickets 5 B'Way Houses As Blow at N. {. Managers: Gull Grisman Targets* AFL Angles That'*. One Way Weather, was raw and ' wet '. ., when the, Theatrical Managers, ; Agtentpl and Treasurers- Union ^^ stated'piclcetlni five Bpo:^dway( theatres Saturday (20). Most ..i.of . the . placard bearers' were Mbbjcofflco men out of jobs. At 1 the Forrest theatre ('Tobacco Ropd')'the pickets were told by the stage, crew that they could- \ ha^e drinks gratis in the ad- ^ joining hotel bar. Stagehands left an open lab in the.bar for the benefit of the . chilled''picketers. FILL 19,000 ADVANCES; NEW'RIGHT'RECORD Another: new record for advance mail ticket selling'is credited to ll'd Rather Be Right,' Alvin, N. Y. Stated that 19,000 orders Have already-; been filled) out-of-town orders being taken care of up to Jan. 10. Monday's (22) first mail brought more than 550 or- ders from out of town and the sec- ond delivery iriduded another 150. There are 2,200 such applications on file for February performances. Early this \yeek an added staff of five ticket sellers was assigned to the orders and new racks for tickets or- dered. B.o. staff was working Sun- days even before the show opened. 32iid ANNIVERSARY NUMBER of To Be Published Late In December Special Exploitation Advantagea USUAL ADVERTISING RATES PREVAIL Reservations and Copy May Be Sent to Any Variety Office NEW YORK HOLLYWOOD CHICAGO LONDON 154 W. 46th St. 1708 No. Vine St. . 54 W. Randolph St. 8 St. Martin's PI. . Board of the Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers last week ■ordered the ■picketing of. six Bxor,d- way . theatres ,i.n .•■retaliation to the managers' refusal to recognize the unioh. -Houses picketed' werip those • ^in which Theatre Guild attractions are playing and those operated by Bam • H. Grisman. Lntter ■ however, <lenicd'he had any " objection to his front of the house joining TMAT and claimed' scvejfai arc members. Union oh the oihcr] hand, declared' the manager had,stated he would not en- gage members of the orr;anization. . , TMAT immediale;iy raised , the initiation fee after advising the box office staffs, company managers and , agents that they. could apply ior membership up -Ho noon Saturday <20) upon fUing application .and p^y- Ing $36. After that hour the initia- tion went to $150. At one o'clock the picketing started. Houses affected ..were tlie Shftbert and Broadhurst, which have the Guild's 'Amphitryon 38' and the new *Madame Bovaty,*' and the Belasco, Hudson and Windsor, which have 'Golden Boy,' 'Too Many Heroes' and 'Work is for Horses,' latter having opening last Saturday (20) night. Pickets were on half-hour shifts and when men were relieved, they re- placed others at'the various houses affected. Monday the Guild was in- cluded, 'The Ghost of Yankee Doodle' having opened there. Complaint Against Galld Union's complaint against the Guild is that organization's practice of placing,its own girls in. boxoffices when ■ its shows are operating. Re- sult is that the regular ticket staff is tossied out during such engagej? ments. Guild contends that its sub- scription system is such that only Its people can handle tickets properly. (Continued on page 54) 'Mulatto' Management Pays Claini Vs. B'port Mgr. to Fill Next Date Players and new management of 'Mulatto,' which recently' opened in Bridgeport, Conn., faced perplex- ing situation when the house was attached by a Worcester, Mass., creditor who had a claim against the • house manager, reputed to be one Ben Levene. Attachment was tound to. include the prodviction and ward- robe of the cast. Although it was figured that the ■nclusion of the show property could have been voided in court, the show had no alternative but to pay out some $200 in order to fill the next engagement. Show ni"n.''.''e'k ment was reported getting the n:n from the players, who rofi<'^''''^d . their, salaries with the undcrslT.'"'!- ing they would participate in pr-^fif.<5, Mixed cast drama was ori-^'-n'rlly presented by Martin Jones. It went to the road twice last season p.nd finally came a cropper in Philp.c^el- phia, where the mayor ruled it Iti- proper. Present venture v/as put out by Hurst Amyx, actor, and Lillian Heath, non-pro. Stager's Radio Gadc^et* 'Something for Nothing,' plr>y by Sid Schwartz and Harry J. Essex,- which opens Nov.. 25 at Providence, Is centered on a typical radio con- test. Production will use a tr,?n- scription of Martin Block's vWe. He is currently on the^ radio via 'Make Believe Ballroom''^ program over WNEW, N. Y. Other radio gadget* are inclp^ed in plot.' Schwartz was publicity dit'ector at WNEW untjl a few months a.co and has been connected with radio in various capacities, including acting; for more than eight years.