Variety (Jul 1938)

so VARIETY IJBGlTIMAm Wednesday, July 6, 1938 Eqiuty Supervises 83 Barnyards, fQ Increase Over Last Season SALARY SUCE FEARH) BY N. Y. FTP IN FALL TKei-i are now 8i summer stocks Wilder Equity's -etfulalioiis, which ciU f jr salary guarantees,and other Asateguards, Increase is around 60% over la<t season, when the .number regislcretl under Equity rules vas elighlly over M. Charlei Manlia, of Equity, has been sent to the road to police the various troupes in thei slicks. Jack Mahler, operator of the Yankers, N. Y.; strawhat, pulled an ,'Our Town,' during performance of 'Having Wonderful Time,' last week. At intermission,/ he had; curtain raised to show how scene changes were made. Backstage personnel and stagehands took a bow. Surry Players, Surry, Me., have substituted John Van - Dr,uten's 'The DistafC Side' lor 'George and Mar- garet' on their schedule.- Play is skedded for Aujg. 16-2.0. mitments would prevent her appear- ance at Cape Playhouse.: . Understood' she was considering cither 'Doll's House' or 'Anna Ghristie.' ■ . bgunquif. Me., June 28. Linda Lee Hill will play the lead in tryout of Fred Ballard's, comedy, 'TI\e Lady From Broadway,' . at Ogunquit Playhouse, July 18. Walter Hartwig will produce Edward Child Carpeh tcr's . new . one, 'Sjio w. Train;' for tryout here,, week of August 29. Donald Cook and Dorothy Burgess arc peiiciled in for leads.- DEAD BILLING EXIT PLAN SET Skpwhegan. Me., July 3. Lakewood theatre, which opened this- week (4)-with 'Room'Service,' to foliow with 'Tonight at 8:30' ('Still Life,' ;'Fumed Oak,^ 'Hands Across the. Sear), Tpvarich,; Arthur Byron In liet's. Never Change,' new^ .Owen Davis playt July 25; 'Bachelor Born,' .'Brother. Rat,' with Frahkie 'Iliomas, Aug. 15, and Byron'in 'StoprOver,' Aug. 22: Week ot-Aug. 8 is stili open. Sarataisa't It We^ks Saratoga Springs! .j;uly 3. A 10-week season of summer-stock Is set for the theatre' of the Simon Baruch Laboratory Building, on the State's 140,000,000 Satatoga Reserva- Ition. 'Room Service" led off last week 'with Don Beddoe and Harold Win- Eton, associate of Frank Capra, in the production of 'Lost Horizon' and 'Mr. Deeds Goes 'to Town,' is impresa rios. Other pieces' to be staged are; 'Mary, Mary, Qiiite Contrary,' with Laurette Taylor; 'Night of January IB,' with Fay Wray; 'Music Master,' with Al ' Shean in David Warfield's famous Tole; 'It Cari't'Happen to a Dog,' starring George Jessel, and a jiew play by Philo Higley, 'Torhorrow's Sunday.': Miss Wray and possibly James Dunn are due to handle'the leadjk Winston is directing the com- pany. Associated with hini and Bed- doe Is Hope Lawder. This is tJie first tir-e in years that the promotion of summer stock, has been attempted in Saratoga. It. also marks the first regular presentation of plays On the State Spa grounds. The conipanyi called the Spa Play- ers, includes Adrienne Eirle, Harold McGce, Hugh Cameron, Harold Wal- liridg:e, Robert William!:, Ruth Hughes Aaron, national table tennis champion,, making her footlight debut, and Henrictfa Norman. Method by which dead billing on the f ironts of Broadway legit, theatres will be removed without controversy over the cost may be iapplied next season. : If. the plan wOrks out this neglected ; and objectionable end of house ; management will. be cleaned up. Idea is to provide for removal in the sharing contract between the theatre and the show.,-' . , Understood that several managers have ' been again, advised that the presence of painteid sipis announcing shows, which have gone to Iiml>o^ is harmful to the theatre.. So far, re- sults have been negligible and the billing of half a dozen flops, among others, still confuses transients. It's also reminder to- show people of the ragged end of the past, season, '. Commissioner Paul Moss has sent letters io theatrical licensees, point- ing to the confusion and annoyance to the putilic resulting from closed shows bieing billed, and asking for the, prornpt removal'of same. With the ori :nal "wage cut for WPA actors greatly modified,;. most ; of those in New York who were up in arms over Ihe slice appear to be mollified, though pessimistic. They express fear that while the order to cut was .virtually withdrawn, an- other slice may come in the fall.-No indication of such an intention on Washington's part ' has l>een noted, particularly; in light of public utter- ances by WPA administrators. ,- Protests to Washington over the revised cutting ^are said to '. have ceased, :aIso the radio programs over WNYC, N. Y:, . which sought public suppiort to- the protests.: Actual, re- duction of the $103.84 monthly top security wage is H-TO, according to WPA figures. Stated that the origi- nal intention to cUt was withdrawn, because-of the higher cost of living in New York than in other; points. Understood, however, that the new $98.''0 monthly will apply to all othir linits in the federal thratre setup, as well as the Other arts projects. - While New York was the principal source of the protests to Wash ingtoh, Los Angeles was a close rurinerup in getting support. Nabnassctt's 3 Tryouls Westford, Mass., July 5. Donald Wetmore, director of Nab- nassett theatre hers. Is plannin.? three tryouts. His selection will be made from six scripts now under consideration. 'Work for the Giants,* by Eliza- beth McCorjhick (new writer), is a ,comedy about Hollywood and Paul Bunyan; *T.N.T:,' comedy - by Leona Dairymple and . Kenneth Robinson, was adapted from 'Uncle's, in the Headlines,' by Miss Dairy mple; 'An Apple for Eye,' dealing with subur-- banitcs; 'Burachois,' comedy by Wet- more, about i.solated Nova Scotians and a stranded English avialrix with left wing ideas; 'Govfernor' Risin.?.' political -farce, by George A.; Hsh-' don, Jr., and Charles Blake; and 'Be- cause We're Here,' comedy about Wall street brokers, by Harry Irvine, are the new pieces. July 18. Au.:;. 15, and Sept. 5 arc-the tentative dates lor the premieres. Others on the Nabna.s.sctt slate are •Ten Nights in a Barroom.' 'Nighl of January 10,' 'The Barker,' 'Ju.st Mar- ried,* 'Smilin' ThrouKh,' -Ghost Train' and 'Ned McCobb's Daughter." Sea- son opened June 20 with 'Her Hus- band's Wife,* followed by 'SUidtling.' Joseph Lawren is mnnaser of Nab- nassett, -Red Howard, business man- ager, aiid Kenneth Robinson, p,a. Crawford Out ■Dennis, Mass.. July 5r Negotiations to have Joan Craw- ford do a guest starrer here; tell through last week when she niiliried Raymond Moore that, picture'com-. Strawhaf Bookmgs Catharine Doucet, Morgan Farley, Ruth March, Lawrence Fletcher, Vincent J. Donohue, John Connery. 'George and "Margaret' Nantucket Playhouse, Nantucket Island. Percy Helton, Seth Arnold, Erwin Rand, Madeline Grey, Judie Farrish, Frank McNeills, - 'Bachelor Father,' Ivory ton Playhouse. Ivory ton, Conn. Fay Wray, Ma'ry Morris, Donald MacDonald, 'George and Margaret,' South Shore Players, Cohasset, Mass. Sylvia Sidney, 'Pygmalion,' Cape Playhouse, Dennis,Mass. , Josephine Dunn, George Black- wood, 'Personal Appearance,' Morris County Playhouse^ Parsippany, N. J. Julie Bennell, Thelma Schuee,.Sey- mour Gross, 'Caprice,' Stony Brook, Conn. Helen Vinson. 'Once Is Enough.' Theatre-by-the-Sea, Matanuck, R. I. ■Jame.'! Truex, Marie Kenney, Elaine Ellis. Helen Goodhue, Albert Burghe. W'Hiarh Phinney, 'Old Au- tumn,' Bockridge Memorial Theatre, Carmel, N. Y. ' Kate Mayhew, Margaret Swnpe, Paul .Huber, Fred Lawrence, Eric Wal7.. E.irle Mitchell; - 'Friday al Four,' Barter Playhouse, Abingdon, Va. Elizabeth narrower. Stanley Rich- ards, Sybil Redmond, Rita Brown, Ray Colcord, George Humphrey, Robroy Farquhar, Carl A. Low, iVlarlhanne Seelcy, Richard Gentry, Betty Ta.vlor. Gerald Witt, Lynn Carroll, Simon Gersoh, Christine Chandler. Joseph Milry, Roberta Wicks. Robert. Carlyle, Paint Shop theatre. Somerset, Pa. (resident). Robert Perry, Nancy Duncan. Frank Lyon. Grace Carney. Ray- mond Crocnlcat. Ch'arles Berre,.Dcl Hager. 'Uo Pops the Devil,' Guy Pal- I niei'tori. Players. Fitchburg, Mass. Curtis Cooksey. Isbbcf Rose, Starr ! West, Louise Buck, Alice John, i Teddv Jones. Will Henry. 'Squaring I the Circle.' Starlight .theatre, Pawl- hvi. N. Y. I Diana Forest. Nanette Vallon. Syd- . ni?y Rigg.s. Mabel Kroman, Barbara .Roijers, Hal Conklin. Owen Elliot, .loel Ashley, Elizabeth Keen.; Byron Shore. Dayton Liimmis, 'Man from : Cairo,' Mahopac theatre. Lake Ma- : hboaO; N.. Y. Elhel B:irrvmore. 'The Constant ■ Wife.' Westchester Playhouse. Mt. Ivisco. N. v.. ; V ' Kilty Carlisle, -Derek Fairman. .T. i .\rthur Young. David Orrick, June I Blo.-isom. Frances Brandt, William I O.ivid, 'Ni-^ht of January IB.' Red I Bnrn Ihciatre. Locust Valley. L. I. : ! Sylvia ■ Field, Gordon - Richards, :\lan Halie, Ernistine DeBccker, Har- 'd Moiletl.; Frances Brandt, John -■M^ironoy. David Selva. Robert Lind- I s:iy. 'Accctit on Youth." Rod Barn. • Locust Valley. L. L TICKET GROUP Sirawhat Renews MR: JIM Chicago, July 5,; Kiiiwdy-ili-iilm In thr»n •ixl* li/ Mmi-uM n..<cll. ■ ProilmeU by tin >'edpr»i "I'lu'lilre- l'ruj«-l i>< Itie Wk" A uniler .w»i vliilui». ut Hurry Minium. l)liT<-l'<l l»y K<l»nrrt V»ll. h'rIilnKil by Cllvre RIckabuUBh.; At-Uic Uel- wy,n;.,Chlct*g,v, July 4, Sl«w - Myrlle Blitilen ^•^(r» ,. .Muriel Br^miipr Jidin Klrkliind..........,.. .Ueofise U.iydiii JInl P»Bo..i... : :Don Koehler Sluts. .-.. ,., ,C*«rle!< Krnm .lukn DleiT'' .DHn Seymour .S'ocI AilRiim.. into, fluyerltlsa Carl Richnrda.......Charlw N. hum In addition to striving for ticket tax changes, the newly formed As.so- ci'ated Theatre Ticket Agencies, N. Y,. proposes to clean up certa'm. prac- tices that haye worked to their gen- eral disadvantage. Said one. of the.:best known brok- ers ih A'TTA: 'We. can.'correct many abuses in the ticket business our- selves without a code siich as the managers have framed. We want to be able to go home at night without worrying about having our thrpaits cut.' That comment reters'to methods used by agencies, which aim to grab oft the best locations by Undercover methods. "This week, the membership com- mittee will meet to consider appli- cations of agencies," which haven't attended organization meetings.. First, stated that 18, agencies were in ATTA although those known to have joined, ,are . slightly less. They are: Arrow, Sam Beckhardt. Broadway, Louis Cohn, Phil Furst, Grand Cen- tral, Joey - Gold,. Mackay's Mutual, Tom Naughton, Leo Newman, Park (absorbed, the Library). Sul>ei:. Su- preme:, .Sussman and Tyson jc. Co. Latter is not to be contused with the Tyson.Co. (Sullivan-Kay), which is among the three largest agencies. It has not yet joined nor has McBride's and Postal:Leblang's. Tuesday . (5) Equity's council set July 19 for consideration of the man- agers' code of fair practices which is the ticket control plan. Managers' conimitteei; will sit in. Local division of the.Federal The- atre Project has done many fine things, but it has to stumble once in awhile. This is an unbelievably weak entry. Federal Theatre Project has given this piece plenty of lOve and affection in the way of excellent production, direction and acting. But the piece-itself simply lacks enter- tainmeht quality. It's a play of inane.bucolic mys- ticism, trying to tell a story of a poor young rancher. Who dreams. 'big th'ou5»ts*. and who wants to, be a writer. He discovers a cave and just wh^h he is about to be ievicted from the ranch the Government iiomes to- hitin with proposition to write the story of his discovery of the cave. Arnong the characters is an epilep- tic', evidently an integral factor in the mysticism. Down in the cave he wants to see 'something alive,'.so he catches a frog aitd crushes it in his hand. At the dinner table; Mr. Jim gives up a prayer to the Lord in his own 'big thoughts' style. Second act runs exactly 16 min- ute's. " It takes place in the cave where Mr, Jim talks 'big thoughts' about rocks that look like an organ and about scenes that no man : has ever seen before.. He - woridiers why 'God made all this wonderful beauty.' . Hariy Miijtunni's regime is recog- nized for the: care and efficient de- votion lavished on every piece. This show is no different. .The perform- ers do their best. Don Kpehler makes what he can of the- title char- acter; Seymour gets the most out of a fat Dart as the Mex. ' . . But the piece itself simply fails to come of¥. Gold. GOD SAVE THE KING ■ProvincetQwn, Mass., July 2. I>r(^m:i in thve iacta Cflv* arenen) UyiOllv* llurniy; |»n*iM*n(eil by. .Mr. and Mr?. Ned MrK6« hlxliiner. .StaK«d by Arthur HRnn;<. S^iM. SUiii<*y ' RMrsli. At WhMrf thCHire, Pt'ovlnretown, Mak^., ,June 27. Mui-iiii. . ; .Milton Parnona Dunn.. .Drnja- DryttL'n WUty Baruch. .WlUIam rhRinhfru -Kins Churljis RHymond H)t<:keU Sir John Kniimny....... Mn>i»l Ince 'f.Hd>' RnniHiiy......' Jane BHnrroft Mi-:!. Ketcl^iMld >'|-«nklin.......Kny ^SU'mcal Tont A MILUON DOLLARS Comntly-^rfima hi tliree firtH (i:'ii-i'nMn i,^ John Wllllnm. frwlucwl ami lili.r-iK) ST Jtaryvcme Jonea Bt StnrllRhl llienin-, f'»u7 ItlK, N. Y., wcok of June 37. , Jiihn lf»nt<>n', . ..Smir Wm Waxel Kentpn.................. I ,y,ila Pntn Clem Andrews.....................win iien^: .Kathr1n« Xjcwin. i l^^tilicl ('yrutf JicGri-'eor, ...i... .... .miVii^ Uofttr^v I'^illtb MctircKor. .l.uniisf- Iti^k .Mi-K. Oslettinri)* ., ..mIho j„<Z llonalfl Chime : .'iViliiv iunt,. Snily .Nolun.................V wniii,- 'cnnnd llarrUon..I>i>n-4|<| mack ."^tevwiB -...i..;.... .!.!<• Tt' Spflvln . IHirlnoil. .- .W.'iiif.r Vviermn..,. UinM,- Uini, 'A Million Dollars'sounds big. but: the play hardly lives up to lis title. While the play possesses some rip. pling. dialog, it's still' too anemic to stand a comiheircial test. • The' tale is "of John Fenton, a busi. ness man. but a farmer at heart, and his'two wives, one at a time. Re- turning to the farm life, he marries Kaithrinc. a-country .girl;. Kate, however, has a yen for city life. Reluctantly and discontentedly, John returns to < business, but the marital discord is great and eventu- ally culminates in Kate - running away with a sophisticated-diiniTny. John- then weds Edith. Playing form he figures that wife No. 2 will ;also want, the big town stuff, but he miscalculates, as Edith turns out to l>e a farming fiends The :pair eventu. all.v see the same way; and. the o>;ty ends with John plowing in (he fields while Edith sets the'hehs and manip. ulates the churn. Cast wasn't oar-: ticularly - distinctive, although Starr West,; Will Henr.v and Lydia Pertra turn in acceptable performances. . LAtiTUpE OF LOVE iiidSeftcld, Conn.; July 2. .r(imc<ly by Arthur Itlcliucku .Hmr J(>i<i« KloiTt Mart>on»ltl: (Mr^teJ. UMwrt .^^lllon; {iriLtlnffa,. i<Vancbift B;ii'lir. ,Al Ih*^ UiikcOsId ' thenh-A, lTl(lc*'U*.'M,. Conn.. Jiin*^ 17.' .Ca.il: Teuton Ortifr.' Jobfi i;«>'r»ril. J(n« FtTrer. " Alec R«rlh*r. Jfcwtl.''U 'ItoiiiiHoii, John Adntr; Ral)^ Hulmos. UuH.Tniiil Iv;^n,. Annn' Kraklne. Vtn Kni:on. •M:n-K;m'r.',(*ur. li.-*'. Flora M»cL'>or»r»l(l, France."* Keoijit, Ji,nia". ^etf. Arlhur lioyi. ('•iirliiir Bumble. I MnHfl. Tu V l'*u«>ti(ieii -... Strawkt Theatres (.MEW PLAirS) 'Climbing,' Barn playhouse. New London, N. H., July .7. 'It, Wouldn't B«t Crickel.' Fool- guard Hall, iflartford. Conh.. July 7. "Tlie Criminal,* Grecp Mansioiis, Warrensburg, N. Y.. July 9. 'Murder at Thela Mu,' Kccne Play- house, Keene,N. H., July 8. •All tool's Ni.;ht,!. Paint Shop Theatre,. Somerset, Pa,, July 12. . ' 'March Was Me,' Southampton, L. I., July 13. 'Ringside Seal,' Playliou.se, Wood- stock, N.y., July 14. ■ -'Transition,' Maverick theatre. Woodstock, N. Y.. July 14. 'M.v Slurs,' Little theutre. Moun- tain'Lakes, N. J., July 15. ■I Can't Help It,' Red Bai n theatre. Locust Valley, L. I.. July t». 'Princess,' Ltd.," Coachhou.se thea- tre. O'conomowoc. Wis., July 19. 'The Howard Millets,' Paint Shop theatre. Somerset. Pa.. July 19. 'Made In Heaven,' Paint Shop thea- tre. Somerset. Pa.. July "iR. 'Sincerely Yours,' Playhouse. Wood- stock, N. Y., Aug. 4; .Mli-kcy .... ..Muriel .Starr Alexaniler Krunk w ^larKHr^t Draper .... ( Kenneth BHrtlelt ' I WHllKce l*R\T<ler Current Road Shows Week ot July i 'Pins and Needles,' Grand Opera ■House.. Chicago. ' .' . , .'On- Borrowed Time,' AUditoriuni, Sant» Barbara. Cat (.'">-i)i. . 'Mr. Jim," Sclwyn, Chic; . "Cod Save the King,* a slightly Ac- tionized paraphrase of Wally Simp^ son-King Edward, may be the lore- runner of a series of plays to be pat- terned on this history-making ro- hiance. Olive Murray has stuck to facts aired in the American press; t>efoie and. after the abdication and has in- jected some interesting, but plaus- ible, interpretation. Piece has possi- bilities. . . I . It's too fresh a piece of history, hence too hot for films. The con- ventional tagline on film title.s, 'any similarity to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental,' would hardly hold water here. Even the opening of. Edward's radio farewell is used to close the play, and one line ut- tered by the chief character is a direct quote from this. Author delineates the character of King Charles, hero of the piece, as an utterly charming person, too con- siderate of the uiider-privileged sub- jects 6( his empire to afford Goring Burhble, prime minister, • many days of relaxation, from the international uolitical point of view. Mrs. Reginald Franklin, the married woman with whom Kii^-;. Charles becomes in- fatuated, is intelligent, amusing, and somewhat' seU-s%crlficing. She . re- .gfttds. Bumble^s.meddling in the af- fair as aii> attempt to push an ovbr- liberal. monarch off the throne. BclicViiig Bumble is seizing this op- portunity to.further his own polit- ical ends, .she resists to the end the King's determination to marry her. Such scenes as the chats, between King and prime minister. King and Mrs. Franklin, King, and Queen Mother are highiights of the t>lay. and well written. A good handful of lHu.gh-line.s could be woven into the story, and would gjv.e.it a needed lift, although the main theme i.s. obvi- ously, serious, and inteh.sely human. The basic storv is ramatic enough to stand on its own, feet, but a pro- vocative flilip'would add zest. Mechanical and casting limitations: don't nermjt a top-flight tiroductibn here, but capable playwriting con- sistently shines through these bar- riers. ; Ending the.play wUh the flrsi line pT the radio farewell is a praisc- Avorth.v-touch: casting of a jii'iDping dosr. \yho ruins his two .scenes, is the worst.productiOn blunder. Fox. ■ An unconvincing expo.se of the similarity of . marriage iii Norway, and life with a mistress in Paris. There's, no other point to it, though . one is needed if it is to reach Broad- way.- Jose Ferrer is the goat of the tale. H'd flees from his mistress. Margaret Curtis, and starts ' his-'pursuit ol. sprightly: Uta Hagen on his voyage to another latitude 'to cleanse his soul.' Knowing: more; ot life.' than he, .Miss Curtis sticks .arjMihd :.while ,' he gets 'engaged' to Miss Hagen.-' who reveals her laick of innocence by in- .sis'ting'on sleeping with him in a hotel. Disillusioned, he turns, her down and: the former'•appears to. ;take up whcr^ she left off in. Paris. High spots in-the piece are Fer- rer's reactitjh to the workout Mis* Hagen gives him on Norway ski trails and her attempt to get him to l>ed with her. Miss Hajgen does the best job in the play. Ferrer is mis-' cast. John Adair makes the comedy hit as a drunk. We, the Wnioughbys Stockbridge, Mass.; July 2. Fan'e by Myer K:uilii iinj I,l;iM-y. IiiKi-anV. "Ti-eMenieil l»y the .lUrkHliire IM:i)'h'ioM'. I>r 'n'rr.aneenieiil with .lului Otihlen. Sliirrlnif DKnnia Cook. .,Sfu^e,l hy VVIlliiini Mile;^ .selllniT by ('li.trlr.1 Jli»lilrit. At the llerk- Nhlrc .IMayhou.'tv, til(H.kbrli(t;e. .M;tsd.. w^-ek June *Jt. Kilnu Wllliingliliv. Mlnnu l-lilllitM .Mrs. r>oOb!t Kll.-n IIM ■ l>n.\-ier WLllongliUy .Ji'intiiii* l.ydoil .<.iin , lIuK^- I1«rk Al-.. WIll.iUKhliv ..Ihiiiiil.l Cook I'ruily WllliiuKhliy .\1:iiy Wirkfl 'I'lUn I'rm-kPi- '^.U,,>>hi> AL-wtP tin II Pttihrn.v I'lelen Krwil:. lliMn-y i-'ini-li I>'vvl:« .Mttrllll .Mall W'illouchby -.CIiai-U'..i Keune As has been Director Mile.s' cust torn to present at least one new play each season at this popular strawhfit stand, he chose io inaugurate his lllh session with'a swift farce comedy, 'We, The Willoughbys.' Rights to the play belong to John Golden, who has been here all week supervising the. deliverance ot his latest stage child. . Producer augmented Miles' resident company, with Donald Cook, Minna Phillips, Jimmie Lydon' and Charles Keane. -With proper cutting, tightening up of character studies and speedinif up of slower moments, such as the open- ing scene of the 11 rst act, the jiro- ducer may have another 'You Can't Take U With You,' or a George Ab- bott-fast comedy. While the story by two unknown playwrights hasn't the ■' philosophy or varied character inter- ests, .the Willoughby family in 'it* own ,way is as zaney a s6t ot peppls a.s those portrayed iii Ihe Moss-.KauI- man opus. , Story of the play has to dO with the return of Donald Cook to h*: home in Vermont on the vei ^e of it* sale: Budding but unsucce.-;sfiil Neiv York juvenile, dis.^usted by Hie h*™*' ship.s of a .Broadway Itigil having tilTed with his playwrignl swcolheart,. arrivc.s broke and fu"' determined t() return'to Iho !>iinP'^ farm life. . ' - He finds his stage earner In-"'.f" atToeled the b:ilaiu;e of hi< (•'"'>"'> that hi.s mother has likoli. tu - tContinued on page 51 >