Variety (Jan 1938)

>V«dnesda3^ v Jaiiuary 5,1938 Thirfy-seeond Apmvermry IjBGltlMATE Broadway: real ized at -ftiidseasbn- ot 1^36-37 thait legit ^cpuiA ?i:|ppot't jnpre' bit)!.. Late' January • fcjid a list Vot 23' shbWs/among .th?irt grbssersi; plus four h Show- ~, irien' th6ught, that<. 15:. iripre Viihows: ;V/ere needed ahd 'that- as attendaiice: Svas up -iQ^/o ovfit thb previous sea^. •son; ;j!re^ York bbujd maintain; 20 '•■hits. . it prpvied ^ ir>Ud; wet w 'ihg; many, "at ■ hbitip . vlfhb Iriormaily: . VacaiiPnad'i the $outh. End oJE-the. • ■ Reason estirtiates.■ were th^itduring : j9i3(5-37 Brpadway'had' ^r^wn a totals : *ake of $14,6p6;pop. r, Eari Match •.there-were.2T^^^^^^ ^pf ;yvhich\'grbSse!d:,$20,PP0-ai^ jfirst -vi^ebk ,o£-:;the\nibnth,\ .IT- ■ got $15,000.; it a^aih'. W'a'f.': iipt that .laugh.: j)iay's h(:>^l^^^^^ the-edge./ At- ■• teiTipls to^ speed fttodiictibh W^^^ not isucpesSfuiv hoS^bver,^^^^^^ ai dear.thi bi , product. was 'Cleariy"^ i '■■ -y. By-• Ap.i^ii.■ 13 the-, checkup •shbwbd that, only five out pf. 30 nbw -pVpdUb- ■ tiPns during.the; winter c^^ ^qii.a.i-ter-ot^thb^^ C^^ seasPn .riioved more, slowly • thaiv any' on/.rebbrd. - Up.. to . the bnd ^^bf October only '13 . , productions had arrived as Bgainst 26 during, the sirriilai; period ol lfi36. / -Hpyyevervi^ qiialily was inietter rind, the' sbarcity: of hew shPws . : £reiatly aided .the Kbfdoversiv ihost; PI, • which' ; : stitl./runnihg.' November was much .inbre ;pirblific in jrhcomes~.. .. X.ist. d£ : 184:. new. plays ■ Was compiled. ; .';but:it'is. db.iibtfwl' i mipi'e than. half >/WiU' rbach;.presentation;; ^ ;., ,; •. . . ; 'X ;',:■.',•;-" .-Censorship-:Att0inpt\ . AfTail"s wJthin, the stage .Unibns^^ came'turbidphtidUririg-lhe^^^^^^^ ticularly .; .-Equity and. the ■ -Assp^. ■ xi^ted Actors'and Artistes bf-America' ■;(Fp^u< : A's.).S^^^^^ .weijt. fpr ;the. ;, . WPA theatre-'.prbjebt.::■ ■ Aii ..attempt. .at .bne-man: censorship... roused show^ busiriess tP- a hi.gh. pitch; : Sp-balled:; ;Punnigaft biir:pas$e'd both■ houses of; the Ne.w. YPrlc; 1^ before 'its',, , inteht was • recpgnizbd.^' ..R^^ was.. ; ■ tl.^at,- jpr .'ppssibly -the. firs^^^ in . ..the history.' bf. the; tjSie'atre,; all. its yaripus: factions.; and iinions : weie ■ tinite.d'^' for . ^slriglb eause.,'' EVer> • /posed the -meas^ p6vernPr,^ : -Lehman .vetoed;;: 0.iviy'd rssenter; tp:! the protest i^^as: the ;Kriig^ .bf Go- - lumbusi indicating the; source of the' .;,.•^)^^:•'^:^;y;•^■■,^■'. .'■■.■;.■;.•■••;■; ; ■ Year; w i tnessed .one of . >'the most -■: "fnrtJyr-fiji l-rii'Ji^Tr-;! : . wh^ii /. Eterrial '.^-JloadV ■ l^bl'Ss^d .' «(' .. tive'-^ ;•:;.■ ■.'^attan-. ' ©perai; JJoUsCif nTiprb. thn/...^(50p,60»0; : ; :.the -red. . Ill the.v.sp^^u^^^ it was certaJiV ■,: 1.hat It'nolb er ■ ,ex'p'eiisi v.e shp,w.buId ^ibtVTecaplure.-its;-CPS HPf se ■ ■Ibh;'at the Center; Radio City, going : intothe :bag for about $160,000:- •, Th|s-seaspn> fir^t pfferirig, *yii^^^ " -•: ' .also at the.-Center,.::clbsed in a time withsa los$ of .?250;P00,..leaving ;; :the. vfuturbSbf;>cpstly-^prbdiActibi^ : :,; dptibt.^-: ■.' ...-■'■•■; i ■' - 'Eternal Rbiid' Vvas geiared entirely , too" high, , AVVthP)'s- and bthei's \vere' : -down for' :i:byaitibis of ■ 15%. .which' . they ^^re -iaaid never ,tp have 'been ; .paid. It was possible'- fpif th^ ' • r. ■ - .liiiidiis: spectacle tb g It had : / weeldy Vperating , hut of ^31,00^0. :but:ihe Vgross :;reached: that fimpiml only once.. Expfchse.'?:were' ..;. ^(itv'and V-'was: the';;;.-ticl«!t ;" iile;; ; jEquity niade - ^ cPnces.sibn, by .per- Xfiitting- Siuiday' perfprniances san.s double- pay; .b>:it ho ■aino.unt ::o£ -effort " could save/the :spec.v -^ ' . Equily, Affairs : . Agitatipn' ib! Eqiiity 'Stai'ted :at . the ; !tiirn of the year. .Ybung^^^^^ grPiip^.once 'called the Actbi"?*! ;Fbriun,:,was S,uPt ,- posed to have, dissolved, but ppppsi^ ..iiPn tbvthe .admini'stration contiri'iied, ■ •, Jlis^ - the sam.e. First;} mpve' pf ,thb' .group;..; for ise^ibt elbctiph^;; and ': '^ ''. that: Way - ■ ei ihTii nate" :'retri,butioii' .; frPrri •: the.- -administrati • ■ Council ' rixed ^the - suggestiPri- ,22 ^1^ 2; . TKch; ,-jt^ did;..an; '.abpul-^face '■■ahd ..iHiied ;thjB. -sec.r.et baTibt -wpuid- apply, at the • ennual felectipn. ; ■ -'•,■ ' Tlaere.. .were:;threb" .{ic^ in,.the ;field,'but ohly-twb nonijnated a ca : . didatb ;fpr .■ president. .• . -Op'ppsition ' ticket;concentrated' ;.'. thb.-,.eie.ctibh ;;Jbi^ cbunbil, While i party had;' .■ bphncil;;.cah<|idates ;ari^ . vj/; ; :;.Bl.urTkall a^ainst;Frahk Gillmpre^fb^^^ - leader..-.: Gillmore,;, ^Paiirl , , Dullzeji . :and other offibers'ai.nd cpiincit ,; elates,- piv the' .regulair .ticket we/e. , ...«ilccted by the .secret ballot .method. ;IIpWe.ver, .Ave bf 'the .Tegulaiv ticket's ■ \to\i ncit ■■■ candidates' had been - en- v; ;doxsed by 4he oppo-sition, .whp. could .;npt .land ,any' of .its iib'minees iri. lliat- .; 'body/. .^. ^,•;•;;:■; ; •;.; Chbn^s : In'; the .i^oUr^A'i^' setiip,: ^ .ineariwbile., called for tiiilmiore' i tb reJjnqui.sh' hi§.diities as E,quity-head, biit la retain .the -title., ' lie- Was made cthe executive-directpr ,of ' the, Tpur AX: With ''jPaul ; D taking oyer ,'Gillmbjre's^ Equity , assig;nments. Giilmbre ' Was taken .•illi. ' ?aile4, .fpr the jppast.and.,returheiJ:iri good heaith several weeks:.later, to, fape the, re.^ig- natipri, 6t Dullzfell.-; Latter Tesigived and also fell ill ;but at; t Cbubcfl; : iia.ter reeohsidered;: . Last mbhth Gillmore turned;>in h : resighatibn intencling, tor sever him- self;' fiom Equity .cpmpiletelyi giving as;'reasohs his healths the pressure' of duties arid his; new Fpui: A's; alssigti.-- 'msnt.'; ,'the., move; treated: a sltuatibn Within.y Eciuity's ./Straihed council whibh •preva;il,ed ;upbn G least be honoraryvpVesident to he assented;- •Couricir.t^^^ clPse vbtiB, .:pf: 14'tb-iSjveiect^^^ Meredith as. first: vice' president; s^ cbedihg the lateyOsaood Perkins' and, iri that pbsti lyieredith is..'presiding 'a^i cbuncil nrteetihgs ^and. will have the chaijr;al gehej^al meetihgs..>^ v^^^^ .. - Meredith was. endorsed by 'th;e; bpr^^ pbsitiont when he- rah; fpr ebunqil aiid is distinctly connected admihistratioh " g.irPlip which .- ^^^^ g&rded, as havibg, the bdge bn, issiies .which'will :arise;. Hi;will serve ,until this May, at': wbich ti^^^^ the anr nual meeting, .a/president w loted;.: fpr;' tP ;fi'U.'. Gillmbi'e-si .unex- pired pterin;; which has two'years . to run. .Other Vhldnfi;; ' Tn; another ■ dIrection- ■ there.; was iiniph;. ^activity ,of . a; lesser .rating. Theatrical ; jMahaigersi Agents .and Treasurers; IXhion;; .becjame active; gfter, . being dormant ..eight ,,,years. Cbmpahy' rnaiiagers and agents- wh.b had ' di-^ while: -boxoffice,; people ;■ rushed. ,.^b.- jbih.; 'With; rhany . ticket sellers in• legif; theatres; ;.out. of Work because.! of thei deereased number of such, houses, /it!; W'as . thbught. the., -unrbh would help; Its- plan .has been; to cbm;e i.n\ under -;'the . lATSE:,' (stage .hands, /.internaitipnal ;;itnioh) ' ahd, .thrbugh si/ch backing. gai,ri r.ecpgni- tioh; from' riVahagers.' ; Qiie; ,of the bb; jective? i.s to. establish a .hiinimUm- of :$75 vveekly for treasurers and $5Q fbr ,ag?;l«!tanfsi.-;'•'; ■'•. -•'.'-' '- .::':. - .X . , TfMAT .statted piclceting theati'es, .seyeh br ;eight ..houses being- nianied fpr. the .protest racti Several; are; pperated .'by Sarn H. .Griismari, ,whp was rep;uted at 'first ;tb: have tbi'd his; irpnt-^pf-the-hpuse staffs .not to .join. 4he--uni pn4^ He; Jitate(4»..h OlViLey!^^^ ;he hacl. no, objection to the union and, after vUrgin^;:.the ..men; tb; join,;, the\ ;picketis;. .were., withdi"aNvi},.,, They ;cbri-; , tinued tb walk in'front of theatres iiii ■which . Theatre Guild attractions ''piayed,, because'girls engage Guild invaiMably Replaced the. i-egu-' lar ; box pffice staffs,; ■when, that grpup'v f'tti'actipns ''ft'ere: booked ' v .: ^Managers' . answer. ;.to, ;the TlilAT was that managers (cPrnpariy; and -.hou^e),.: age.o;.t,s;.a,hd.:.^^^^^^ ecutives -and should hot be Uh^ -Guild, however,; stated it had ho; ob \iection to its b.b.: people;; jpinihg.: TMAT's vprbblem rappear.s ,tP, be that th e re a re , not e nou gh jobs, for; r|l ost pf--its.;iTiembersi ; •.' ;-'-. \ While that activity was going: oh the .press agents'-of Broadway shbws fbrined : the New . York . Theatrical .Press Agents; associatipUi rPfld-^a^^ ; hbt' bei ng- el 1 i gi ble.. Th at grou p d i d. 'not welcome, 'the ideas \ of joinihg the TMAT and the matter is . still being, • argued.; NYTpA ■ adbpted a mihin-iunV of $100 weeltly and $150 ,fpi:, ;excl.usiv'e services.: . P.a.'s. boh-' tend the. TMAT; does hot represent : the . craft-. but;: ;cdnsidered ;; ;p}^ tp- jpih if. they eoUld have aiitbho- nrty—same . idea .'going for TMAT if;,: jPih.ihg. lATSE'.. ' Mj(hager.s . re- vised ..to enter. into ah: agreeripient \vith ; the union and ; the New York press; ;iiigenIs ;;are /.Walclvin^^ menls.^.' NYTPA thought. the mana- gers xs^Puld give itsimembcr^ a work- ing; ^ agi-eemonti;;; but IhC: ;iATSE' jammed, that by warning, the> Lcagxie of'. New; York Theatres .that .the TJViAT . .shbuld : be recognized as. the collective bargaihing '.•bibd'y.- ' .That questiPh. is''now.bdfore lielatipiis: Labor.:Board;..^ ;/-v: ■ '': :..'.^ . Theaire :Convenlibn ' In May the ■ Amerieah ; Theatre Co'uncili .KuppPsed to. cbi'i.si.sl -of - all theatre ;grbuRs aiid unions, !heid its Orst; convepti.on. .Si?ehkers. sti^.ssed the claiiri that .Holly.Wopd w the matter with shbw bu'sihei^s.:. Us failui'e .-;;to support ■ ;BrpadWay by- ;\vithdrawing financial backing after difTering with tbb t)ratnatists Guild b.yer the Jnew cpntrbct ,wa.<5 brpught 'biit ,aghin fliid agai'h. -. Many, stigge.s- ;tipn.s fbr: the -v/clf^re bf the^ .theajLro; .wcjre; tnadeV one'ma in idea being - that Jbq'iiabbling' Oeaije iietvvee'h.'.the.. oui? groups. : ;piilyyfa(:tio;h cbol,tp.;th'e; ATC \yas the>;t).ramati.sts ;G^^ ; During the .tbnventipn the , critics '' were at^abk^^ and they answered back,'. pjie.. .s.oyihg: the .only type;; of critic .harmful to the theatre is pne whb.'prals'es every\6hbw,, ;HpllywoGd actor and ■ authpl'^grabbing^;W^ the chi^f ,;cprnplahit, however. ;; . Yet during tills, fail.,theVe Av'a,s^ trend back. to . Brbadwiiy bf; .a coh- slderable nuinbei-; of pilayers wh^ de- si.red :to returri tb the.; .stage, atr least' tempp'rarily, V Reported, ;,tob,-;th^ flock ot authprs were-centering;.t^ attention in;;writing plays; for "legit usage.:'; There seeniedvto: be little: dpubt but that the lack bf coast coin was resjpbbsible: for;; the ,currehtly baclt wa rd: sbason, but th ere were h p ■ concrete indications that; the picture' bnd ,;bad chohged . its- , mihd about layihg off B--padwayV ' ',;'; , Battle of Haihlets la.st 'sea,sph,,wbiv. by John'. Gielgud,; had; the latter mbving frprh;; the Ernplrie tp.l^ James,;. where • -grosses Avere;; even higher. ' . That; siu'prise success . was. topped later; by' Maurice; fivahs:;; in reviving ;:'Kihg;:Richar.d-..^n^^^^^ .siame Ih^atrp , "where, reiaphed : ■tpppcd;v$21-y6o6; ■ webk.i^ This; ?easpri ,' Shakesp.eate 'is again; figuring. *R|chardv- , :w^^^^ had; nol beeh -' seen' here. - f brpught; back th;i.s-:fail- for a:, limited' 'Stay.'- 'biit. .brib ;ipf;;;the; ihpst costly re- vivals,; .that, bf ;'Ahtphy and ■ Cleo- patra' flbpped-■ fast ':ahd lost ;'niearly; ilbO.OOP. Modern; dress. :*JUliu.s ^C^esjar' lpf .(he. Mercu^ wa^ ;a'suiNpr«e hit.,;^^.''; ■-•:■•■ ;;• •■'.;" -v -,' • ; Season -Iljiicapitulatibh ,,; ■'.'■ There Were ipo plays/-npt bpuntihg ,reyiyalsi...prbduccd, .during the vl9,36- 37 .seasbn,,; .'as; against- 99 .the previous;. i.ea.5on, and vlio tWP ,sea^^ Hits iVumbered 14,; but there ..were eiiht moderate successes for a tota I • of 22 :shows;;;ih the :money. Holly-. wood; bpUght the-: rights to 17 plays and .also; purchased eight from the season of. 1935-36/ .■'.-'^ " Rpbert Coleman, of thfe N. Y. MU;rbr, won Variettv's 'c box- scbre with .a pei"ceh'vage.;bt .914; Gilr ; bert Gabriel, ,\yho Wbii three or four times but .is no vlbnger a . reVieSyer- s'inde the New York A hierican sus- pehdedj.'fihiished seconST-with a -.per- centage of :898;^ Jphn;Masbh Brpwh.; of. ;the ' Flogti .whb copped several times ■ was.-third; With .887; •- Brooks Atkin.soh, Times/ ..847 '■ and John Ahd.brsoiv,; iJPurrial, .828 foliowing, •prpVing that ■ most ,critics swere more, ■.aceuraterrfi~^pre'dtc.tibbs." ""'.:■:~'^;"'^r^ ; Their 'Citcle' Awarded V.the ■ best play prize tP -High Tor* by Maxwell Ande.r^ . whose .♦Wihter;set';,wbh the. season previpus. Pulitzer aw>rd^^ to the comedy smash .'You . Can't Tbke it With ; You,' by . George ; S. Kaufman, and JAoss .Hart. , ^FeV^e.r r,ur.^1-surnmbr theatres were bpeh .tlran V at ;any • time sir^^ vogue started.: ..JJeW -pla'ys.tT^^^^ 51, as .against a high of 135 several ■surhrners^:-'ipreviPus. Scouts com- plained that little material nor talent :Was. Uncbvered;;., Abput 60 strawhats had- Equity;' r^^ stock, pthevs were .seini-pro or dra- , matic school and college enterprtse.s. Out of the tryputs. I9i pJays were rated hayihg; some chance pn Broad- way, but while several have opened, hbne clicked; which .is;not -uhusuaU . Washington's, order; of -a .30% cUt- ih the 'W PA ] Theatre Project started; a war;.; Prpfies.'jibhais^ that amateut;s;; be;. .weeded piit, /all sfaige ;u nion.s; fbj;m i ng a _ cpmrrilttee , in' a n- . attempt ;io protect members on the- relief theatre payroll. If ^yas■ de- cided; ;hpweyei',,thbj^e per. hot having; relief rajin.g had tp go. Non- rciief quota of . lO^'o , Was ' halved;: ■.Charjges: -of .. radicals^^^i . WPA were flung;and dchiiid;^^:^^;^ .1,709; dismissi^^;l^btibe.s! i;ssued ;;among the 5,700: oh the ffidcraT :lhcalr,e;prb'-; ject rolls;;;jh New .York,,, as i again.st,; lv2^0";let-GMts' ilimoiig ,thtt^^,p29 the entirb cpuntr.y. '•'.., ;-■■'.:.:"•-'. \•";.;--;-;,.?. : Soroe...lbballtieS; in .var'IpUfi part.'? of; the ;count);.y w.erp; droijped by the prPjc.ct .biit some -bf - those dismissed ;were' reihiitated, othci;£-;fihdihg V^il-. Ular jobs, •^'Enrly 'tills ;ScaSbn there' \yere ■ irhahy. changes;, in the. executive end.,of the iprqject; i^ieW: heads .being; . bivought; ih frbni but'of to.Wn;' ; ;'; ,,. ■{■y:--: ...;:; '•. An<i-.4jien Moyes ; ' British: yc'lors-Ioh.g-1^^^^ ;cPvintry .<:turted applyijig Sor: cili/.chr; .ship a's a •prbtoeti;ve measijr'c;;whch the :;Dicksteih ' *t;cjuRioh . bill agaih .cropped ;. up. Equi 1 y■ • favbr-cd• the 'measure;.' As'onie ...i:e.spbbt.<;.; ; V^hc alien .nclors; do appear here, it; was; argued, thc.v .vhoiildv be r;equifed tp ■retiirn • lijiniedjia.tbly; after 'the flr.st' cnga(.{ehient. Biit■ .the .pick.steih/^h was defeated agai •'Federal;tax; de- .'pavtbicni, - vh.'irf'td ■ ticket agencies had.;.()pt ..'paid ^^uff.i cient ticket 'iidnniS'' i^;|;^Si,g;ni;|ica|t|.9;^ I By Hotel prrison -' For;.play Wrights an<l- 'play ';Wril- ing, l&sy ■ ' /. ;;; - jjighiflcaht; .year. There ;ycre. , a:/humbor ; of devblpp'- ..npnts tha''.;.prPmi.se tb have import tant consvquences.. ';:;■;' .■'.. ■; .;..;:■':. : It might;;be termed a year in;which the. jplbywrights'. got down; to earth. More; thah for several, se^^Sons,, they bt'tehder' to the bii.sihess of writing .plays..; Thbr.^e.Was'a.l>ir^^^ ■ cropof hew;'wpi-ks by. esta blished authors, miihy bf^ whoin hadn't writ-, ten for the stage in yeaiVv More signifibaht,'. .perhjip.<.,^^^^ f;) 2 unprecedented .:;;Vannor iji which the authprs began tb>:jho;vi/ bphcern in the business: ittd of thieir/.AVQrk arid the skill ithey; showed ih .dbiiig .so.; ;T'.iey tpbk se-'eral hithcrtb uriti ied; steps to prote /" their vinlejretsts.;: Arid, theyy-at l:;;.st; nbved toward , actual ;;.s;plutiori Pf thir prpbleni br helpirig . th^^ isihg, but unrecognized plnywright. ' ;Urged .by their .DraiTja^ Which saw condltibris; in - legit niore :pjbrhisiri;g -than. ior tnany ;seasons,;, a number of; leadirig-.pjay:wjJiht£;]^^^ ir,teni;ivcly , to;, .wbrfc . iOT i :stage; Notable; ' that connection was the sibris ta.xes and many ;.w heavy; assessments'. " Case> are :yet to he settled. : Agents ; :a,iso; >iirested • brbkeis. lor; f a il u rie tp' st a hip t icketg \v:ith\the ptice rc<ieived. ;Som€.;plead; ed guilty and Were . fined $50' f or eaph; ,«;uch ticket; offered in eyidericCv: Tines; ranged frbm; $;ipo tb $250 per: agency,: with Pther -ck-jes tb/be;!!!?.-:; posed bfi-V- Government alsb clairned gratuities paid by. agencies; to box ofTibe: trea.iurers is really excess and under the Taw the; gpvernriieht i.s en-.; titled to half. . Such coin i.s : called. :'iC.e' ■ ' vShpw, business, .,NVirabe^ of treasurers: Were al.sp- hapdcd heavy asscssihents ; and haye . applied; ^br ;':^batemeht;/ -,;■;■ ■ ■ '• : dpiieetipn-^^bf—4p.e^.^ori- stppped wheri the , gpverniTient; der manded: 30c; bf such mpney, c ing its Vight tb lO'io bf th of the average ticket, which, is ;$3,30. ;;Ariiericah Legion convcntipri was u bust fpt'theatres;'but';bai\s a;id ,hp- -rtcLs: clean edi.up..vAi'--'cqaIln£- Pi.ihf.-: atres gained- much , impetus- ,. - -'/"•■..;'V ObilB C -.;;-•■■;■ ■.; ;'.■;'' Richard BoleslaW.skyy -former legit istager.- latterly;a Vfilrh director,, died in HPllywPod, Jan. -17; He came tb America With ' the ; Moscow Art. Theatre, . ': [■ " -■.'''-- '; ' .-.,; ; i'Sainuei .Shipmari; 54, died Feb. 8 in. lileW York.; He cbi.iabpratcd.iri a number of BrbadWay hits, w^rjting. or. bbl ialabratiiig.' in :atf le^ ■■■ Ed Davidow; 67, legit pasting agent, ^ied^iri New"VGrk,;Teb,:;i4 tion' he formerly bPpked .Sunday nights at ' the; Winter .dar.den.; ; . Leonard Bloomberg, 58, ^ died In Philadelphia. March 10. He repre- sented the Shuberts there for ;many years..' '' '■" •'' ; .';.; ;•: .-,.' ' •; . John; brinkWater; ;54. died .ih Lon- don, March 25. .He authored 'Abra- hiaitn. Lincblri; apd other Arnerioah succP.sJi .'■,'.'■,.■ . William Ginctte,; 82. died at his home;, in CphriecticiJt. April 29. , lie created |Sherlock Hohnes' and, in - addition ; tp ; /creating , many other .rple.«:, wa^s a wealthy authoi; ; ' - •: >:. ; - Henry. ;;Paz;)an, 8.3, died iri;- Miami ;iBcac:j, Miiy 6. He wa."?; a. cp.stunier ,.Irom the: jdiiy^: oC ■ the ^Blaclc' ;Crook'; to thev^Fpllics.'; ' .-■ , •''' '.■'-.. Harry L. Cort. 48. son .of- the; late John Cprt,; died- May 4.. jie figihed ;ih prodiK'ihg'.'Sht^ffi^ started a -Negro rev up >yav;e. ;:'. .. ,'•■','Sir;•'jpinps' My;;Barri^^ ;7-7,:; d;i<!d ;;jh: ; London June 19, ;;• : ;. -',; ■,' ;•.;;; .;,;: .; ,; , p.sgpbd PPrldn.s.-.4'5;..,^jed .Middenly in. Wa.'ihi.rigton, Sept, /21,;;.lluee;hours after; opening ,in a new;; play. ;. Was. fi):st vrise-presidcht'.vbf Eiquity; and a popular Br bad way p I ayen . .;;;Ra,y;Heridcrf;pn, ,48, one of the best known . pix.Sfi:. agerils,-;w.n.s':,kill« in, a piivnc acbidertt hea.r-Athen.Sj'Oct.,^1^ :;;.Edwaj'd Bcloijco,; C3<.brpther; of the |alb;I)avid:,Bcla.scb, died i,n:San F ci.'^cpi. Oct. 10;; He producled oii the GPa."5t and :nia,riy-. Brb.ndway .playei-.s he' engaged \ehtercd 'piQture.s, '- . . .; ; ■ Wihthrop Ajnos,;C6, clied'JKpV. .1 in Boston. He w^K fpi'riierJy brie of; the mb$t prblnirieril Broadway legit pro- ducers. .;..'.. ThPmas M. Love, 67, died ih Phlla; delpiiia, Nby. 10..! .;H'e , wa,s. formerly general Vrrlarioger,of.,U fl.i-ril bf 'N.ixpn atjdVZiriiVnerii.nri.' , . ■ Miis, Les^ 13; died in Cali fornia Nov, 13; ■'; ;.;-'.•' percentage;! of,, thbse Whp had been,' .;; hired; av/ay ,frbm, legit by Hollywodd ;, ofters.A Eithe^ -, ;; ; .'^'abation; .fi-Prii;^ ;; filrii seriptiiie! With - the . interitiph ; ; ,of a :pei:man,ent r.etiuri 'tb; BrbadW^iy,',... si re.spectiible. nuriiber ; of ;.!iuch .narii ; \ driimalists again :b,e^ .;j',or,'- ] ;i,he.stage. ;;'■'... ■ ;,,;-,.; .;.,;;;:-...;'•-, ',;:'-'Recjj|liii'ed' t'o;' Broadwa-y.-- ; Anipng thpse who hadn't'been r'ep- ; A reseritt; ; .,; flrpad'vvMyfor b)i;e;- biX;;,. I ore ;seas.ih ,;. the fbllpWlng.'.; cbrii.- pieted ac';ilea.st o.ne'play (seyeval cam'e .. forward; with tWp . br more piebes ); or; .weve ,intensively, at iwbrk: Owen ; Dbvis,;' S. HJ -Behi:mariv ^vlarc Con-. ; r nelly;: Ke;rrnari: J. MahkieWic^^ Jo.seph iilariki,c>v.' VRachel; Grbth'bts,. 'Cinre ;, Kumme > lirying Capsar, Melvi'n . Levy; Helen .Jer iriie, Cliifford ,C).delfi, :Jules Eckert'Goodman, Lbuis .Weitzr: ; ^ enkbrh,., A., iJ. Thoitias, 'Bbn .flccht,, .Sidnfey Howard; Sranci.s E. Farajjiph;;; .: Ri€a ■yVeiih^n, Rpbert ;E.: .$her\vb(/d- ''•'-,• Philip Dunnirig. Lynn Riggs, Arthur ;; .RijChman. EdWin / Justus Mayer. Rellai ar d Samuejt SpeWack,. Edward. :Childfi .;; Cj rperiter>. ;;,Mbfrie. .Ryskihd,,;. .and; . PhiJip ;Barry; ; v';- ;;;,;;--:;;, '■■ .^:';-;-';.;:: Froiri^ that list three hits- have .al^- .,- .. read; cor.. (Behrman'.s 'Amphitrybn. 08,^. Miss Gi-bther^* 'Susari and; God,' .i and Odets' .'Golden Boy').; Alsov it' ' must; be conceded, have ; conie .sey,- . ' • eral flops. : 'While.;.'not-, all of;, t.hb$.e listed abb.ve hiid plays, prbjduced. durr . .. ihg...lC37j a'riuriiber.'hayciWbrks beirig^:^^ ^ readied '/for rehearsal as the 'year ended; arid;still, others ;h.aye ;':plays ;>" ncaring bpmpletibn. •' As furthpr evidence'lhat;the^d^ atists- ;W» re once % more thinkin;g .;; ;- chiefly of; the .stage,in, their writing,; : 1 thpr than .Wor-kirig wi,tli one eye qxi.; HpliyWobd.adaptatiph of their plays,vit-; .was Jncreasirigly' 'noted ;;thbt Bi"^^^^^ < ;way: prbductioris Were .being' fpu.nd!^ urifsuitable^ ;for picture material, ..Tp wdch .an extent had; that; conditibn; -,;;. deyelbpbd that as the;year; clo.sed: riot; a sin,gle p lay proiucied iii the fall of ; 1637 had been. bbuglhiinjyvTlIm" ;p.ariie.s,; althpbgh; the list cbnlained ':.'.;. six out"ight hitis and moderate. ;.sUc* . V -cesseSi'■;'•'■■ ;^;/;'':.;,.";,', •;■ ,■,; •;. ;.' ■■ .' /Far.frorii; being.such a cbridltiori, the: Dramatists Gtiild /gen- •; erally; took the attitude; -that ..there ; .;. 'ws§^'T'~jffest«^^ than nbrmally arid that picture ;sai.es!.;;' would surely .foUpW ; in due time..; - .; Even without film buy.s, hp.weyeis it':; ;! wais figured the;:higher perccht^age-; i;,f; .suCces.s'e.s more,vthani WaJ^farited .any •; pb.sjfible, lassVof .HollyWood money. ;; ;; Dramatists ;Guild has .steaijfasfly" ; refused to cbnsider feyisibri bf. its. : ba.sic ; contract ;with , ,the . ,Bir.pad riianaggrs.^ripw in; eff^ ;; seiasbn'ari'd:. a -.halfr; Despite -cbri.slari oppbsiUPri /frorri;; HPlly Wpod • a ii'i.r !; - tcrriiittbnt .. ;critici..^m frpnl cj^rtaih^ ; ^ legit' prbdticerS, the Guild .appears ;/;,; welt;satiisfled with the;pact's work- -■■ ing, both .as regards legit produclioni .; and picture saies, - '\;':^-".- :,' - In that ;:coririectipri; the sljiteri*nt; pf'Sidriey Hp.ward; as; retiring, pi'esl- dent; at the :annUai meeting; last Np-^ . vcmber, cpntairied \ ample eviden'c.e of thb /.Guild'sv.stand. ;Pointing but: that there; had been fewer arbitra^ '; tioris,.;; better cpllectibh of royalties',, better arrangements -fbi" , bptipris,^ mbre; ,profitable dijgppsition of subr sidiary rights .(including ; hi;iher, prices and . greater total amount f rorn. picture, sa'les- than; ever . before) , , andno ;,lesseriiriig'. of financing, for legit prp?luct;ibri, Howard flatly ;de-; ■ dared. "The cpritract. has stPod .the'; test of enforceriient.' ■'- - ''''■•;;-i DrWmatiKt8 C>lays Service 1 ; One bf . the hibst ; significant :dc- yelppmierit.s- of- the .'year'. was.'the;.fbr- ■ rhiatipn: ; pt ..'Ihb',, ;;Dramatists " Plays .;, - Service;;, , •■ coppcratiye vverrture ;• bf . Suthijfs;; biijehts' ah ihahagers./with '; the idea vbf spreading interesi.jri tiie theatre :and of ' bbtainihg .the. ;gi:.ea;t-; ;.- c;si ;pp<;sib'ie'; royalty: i eturri from the;;;. little;,th.catre.j. stihbpi and;;bbllcgLe;;aiid ^;. ■ .sto'ck ; right's.. ;.tp plays, rthe. ; S€/vice^■^^.':.^ airiis .to cut but the middleman. V -v PUbljsHei-v : ;Whilb the prb,ic(;t i.s. -'.si iil'" ' iri; its; ;infaricyi-;.;hUndre<ls'; or;'i)er^ '.' ;lpi:manpes •; of member.; dl^')ri^nt;.iA^^f•'' ;; play.s.havc ;be^rt arranged tind royil- ; tic.s cbllecled. J. '";.--; ; ■;;;,•-:.;'-. ; Under the.^ter^ms of ^tlie '^igreb- merits the author' get^ -40the - ;;mariager;.40*i arid the ,;Sery;ice ,2t)' {>; for ,.;adrrijhi;sti''ative ; expenses.,. -AUtr ' five : years -the; riiariager;'(;eases ;to; ■ share in; the returri;.';Such air 'ar.^;;' rangemeht^ vit-. is hoped. Will" pro\e ; ;mpre;.'advantagBo.us;''t^^ playWrfgiit-^ ■ > thari';deaiihg ; thi?b,ugh a .comitierciH '. .publisher; ,, wHb 'fver:u'!ently' ;; buys. I -;;; ;,' vCpri1;inued bn-page';2pc