Variety (Oct 1938)

Wednesday, October 26, 1938 LEGnrniiATB VAKIETY Outsider s 'Help on WPA Project Belittled by Equity House Organ Fur Flies When Mgrs^ Brokers Huddle on Ticket Code; Gordon Vs. Pemberton, Beck Vs. Mayer Grace Huffman, who claims to rep- resent a group or union of unem- ployed actors and some in the New York WPA theatre project, is the subject of an article in Equity's house publication, although her name Is not mentioned. Equity mem- bers have been approached, it is stated, with offers from her to ob- tain certain advantages that she claims the association cannot secure, but article states, 'neither she or any such individual, nor any other or- ganization, can do as much as Equity has done and is doing for its mem- bers on the project.' Just what Miss Huffman's purpose Is seems to be a 'delicate' subject around WPA headquarters. Equity quotes a letter from Rudolph S, Reese, in charge of labor relations in the project, which was a reply to a communication sent by the asso- ciation after investigating Miss Huff- man's activities: 'It seems almost superfluous to say that the admin- istration considers Equity better qualified to represent actors and ac- tresses than any other organization with which we have had dealings with to date.' Article concludes with: 'S6 now ~ the members of the association may know how Equity feels about this woman and her claims, and how the project feels about Equity. You are officially instructed to have nothing to do with her, or her organization, or with any similar organization, and to look to Equity for any solution of your .problems as they may arise.' It was intimated that those who joined Miss Hitman's group would be required to pay dues. She claims there are no dues, although dona- tions are welcomed. Miss Huffman, in a letter addressed 'Dear members of the theatrical pro- fession,' says the article is 'utterly stupid, if not altogether malicious,' and goes on to say, 'I shall continue to assist professionals in need to the fullest extent of my ability.' im CHORIUS' Chorus Equity is distinctly on the upswing this season as the result of the increased number of musical pro- ductions. Stated that before the end of September there were more mem- bers working that during all the 1937- 38 period. More than 500 chorines are now engaged in legit stage 9t- tractions. There has been a heavy increase in the nimiber of members who are in good standing, total being around 1,000, as against 600 last season, de- spite the fact that the organization's jurisdiction in the night club and presentation field was given to the American Federation of Actors, the vaude union. Philadelphia, Oct. 25. Transcontinental tour by Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fortanne has been definitely decided on. It will get under way Dec. 6 and run til June 10, when they will arrive back in New York in time to present a six or eight-week repertoire to World's Fair trade. Five plays will be presented on the tour, which will be the first of Its type for the Lunts. They will be 'Amphitryon 38,' 'Seagull,* 'Idiot's DeUght,' 'Taming of the Shrew,' and 'Reunion in Vienna.' Show's won't be given, in repertoire but will de- pend on town and size of house played. Some towns will be played both on the way out to the Coast and on the way back, different play be- ing given on the two visits. Until the company reaches Chi- cago, however, it will give only 'Amphitryon' and the 'Gull,' which it was the Lunts original intention to present all year. Object of changing to the other three plays after Chi- cago on Dec. 6 is because of the size of many of the midwest and western auditoriiuns where the company will give one-nighters. It is felt that 'Amphitryon* and 'Gull' are 'too quiet' for these huge places; that a louder, noisier play clicks better. MIDGET MATRE DEA SPREADS TO SALT LAKE Salt Lake City, Oct. 25. Patterned after Pittsburgh's Kil- buck Little Theatre, Playbox, billed as the 'only midget legilamate play- house this side of the Rockies,* will present three plays before an audi- ence limited to 50. Standees will be taboo. Playbox conceived by Robert Hyde Wilson, ex-University of Utah actor, who is director, and Robert Freed, youthful scion of a wealthy finance corporation family. Theatre wUl be located in the former home of one of the west's richest mining tycoons, David Keith, situated in an exclusive residential neighborhood. Initialer, 'End of Summer,* by S. N. Behrman, will be presented Dec. 8-10. Season tickets for the three productions selling for $3.50. No sin- gle tickets will be peddled'for indi- vidual plays. ALBANY LOOKS DEAD FOR UfilT Albany, Oct. 25. Another failure to revive the legit theatre here—^this time at Fabian's 2,300-seat Harmanus Blei^cker Hall— may meaii the final -elimination from the stage-show map of this city. The end. of a seven weeks' season of stock-with-names followed closely upon the .announcement that the Capitol,; which. vainly tried to pro- mote road shows, stock and other footlight tsrpes of entertainment, would be converted into a sports arena. The Hall, once Albany's leading legit house, but out of that picture for 15 years, opened Labor Day with Madge Evans in 'Stage Door.^' The setup brought show here Intact from Fabian's 'Maplewood, N. J., theatre. O. £. Wee & Frank McCoy operated for five weeks and then quit; Paul Blaufox was producer for final two weeks, with Robert Henderson as director. Venture was well publicized. Stars were from pictures, radio and legit —Douglass Montgomery and Erin Obrien-Moore, Lanny Ross, Jane Cowl, Margaret Anglin, Violet Hem- ing and Esther Ralston. Prices were low, $1.10 top at night and 55c for matinees. Some observers thought that the stock policy was laimched too early in the season and was dogged by unfavorable weather. Others opined that the nut was too high at $5,000 weekly. Some claim that Albany has become a straight picture town. The Hall returns to double fea- ture films. No Albany theatre now has a stage show. Night clubs are the only spots for flesh entertain- ment. Albany, N. Y., Oct. 25. Lou R. Golding, district manager of Fabian theatres, said discontinu- ance of policy at Bleecker Hall did not preclude the booking of occa- sional road shows. Golding stated that 'our losses were too consider- .able* to warrant retention of the legit setup. Patronage diminished rather than increased each week. Yiddish Stock Reopens Manhattan in Cleve. Cleveland, Oct. 25. Yiddish stock, dormant in Cleve- land for the last year, is rejuvena- ting the old Manhattan theatre, which has been leased by Oscar Ostrofl and his troupe of 12 from New York. Rose Wallerstein and Mbrris Brown head company, which is breaking ice with 'Eternal Bride' and 'Rabbi's Family.' Ostroff stag- ing them for three-day stands, but if business is good will go into a full-week schedule. Close Figuring Marc Connelly and Bela Blau sent out a call for eight singers to be used in the former's 'Land of the Living,* the studio atop the Belasco, New York, being used for the auditions. Stairs leading to the studio constitute a breath-taking climb, so the managers decided that appli- cants should be given time to become composed. After studying the situation, they decided each singer be given eight minutes a^ter mak- ing the climb before being asked to warble. MEMORIES OF MAYim l«iy)AT7li By Epcs W. Sargent May Irwin, 76, dean of comedi- ennes and in her day imtouched and untouchable by any of her imitators, died in her Apartment In the Park Crescent, New York, Oct^22, of bron- chial pneumonia. She had retiu^ed only a few days before from her summer home in Clayton, N. Y. She retired from the stage some years ago. With her sister, the late Flo Irwin, she made her stage debut in 1875 at the Adelphi theatre, Buffalo. The sisters toured for two years in what was then known as variety, doing a double singing act, including what amounted to the more modern 'coon shout' in the lighter Negro melodies, such as 'Don't You Hear Dem Bells?'. Her infectious humor and rollidcing good nature made the turn an im- mediate hit, and after a couple of years on the road the sisters found an engagement with Tony Paster at his old Metropolitan theatre. They were tremendously successful both in New York and on the road in the spring and autunm tours with which Pastor prefaced and concluded his year's work. The sisters worked In a niunber of musicals, and then the team split, so that May might go into the Augustin Daly company, then the blue ribbon employment of the American stage. She held her own in such company as John Drew, Ada Rehan. Otis Skin- (Continued.on page 50) Chain Nut Store Plenty Cocoanuts From Invalid/ Affieging libel Federal Nut Co., which operates a chain of eating places in New York under the name of 'Chock Full o'Nuts,' has filed suit for $15,000 against Sam H. Harris, Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, alleging libel in their show, Tlie Fabulous Invalid,' current at the Broadhurst, New York. Action is based on sev- eral lines in a scene delivered by James Moore, who is also named. Scene complained of i$ an office, managers of a grind film house seek- ing a reduction in rent, Bank repre- sentative points out that the theatre Is a landmark (supposedly on 42nd street) and the showmen reply that there are other landmarks, mention- ing the flea circus, hamburger joints and 'Chock Full o'Nuts.* MONITOR PASSES UP PLAY ASSAILING FAITH 'Case History,* written by a medi- cal doctor, which opened at the Ly- ceum, New York, Friday (21), was passed by the Christian Science Mon- itor. Subject matter of the drama is controversial, with Science healing assailed during much of the perform- ance. However,, just before the finale a physician in the play declares that Science healing is definitely effective in the treatment of certain mental types, and a practioqer, who had been dismissed, is summoned to treat a melancholy dipsomaniac. ^ . Monitor is usually on the second night press list for Broadway pre- mieres, but first-night tickets were sent for the 'History' debut. Seats I were occupied, but whether by the I paper's reviewer was not known. Most representative managerial assemblage, since the ticket code was devised gathered at the offices of the League of New York Theatres Fri- day (21) to discuss the control sys- tem with 18 of the more important ticket brokers. Complaints from the agency men and allegations, one of which was not pertinent to the sub- ject^ against the managers enlivened the Session. While there were no expressions made by the managers against the code, some were critical of the manner in which it is func- tioning. Brokers declared they are losiitg patrons because imable to fill orders from other agencies, and smaller agency men charged a comer in tickets for the hit revue 'Hellzapop- pin,' 46th Street, N. Y., which is partly owned by the Shuberts and Harry Kaufman, latter being a part- ner in the Tyson & Co. agency. Brokers present stated they only got a total of 90 tickets nightly, few being center locations. Kaufman declared the lesser broker^ are al- lotted the same number of tickets for Shubert successes as for their flops. Whether the system to control ticket speculation will work out had evoked some doubt among showmen because of the price fixing features. Pointed out that the Government has expended many millions in an attempt to control commodity prices and has not yet succeeded in doing so. People who do not care what-they pay are said to be getting good lo- cations from unaccredited, or outlaw agencies. League's enforcement com- mittee reports that its several In- vestigators have secured evidence of violations both by theatres and agencies, but so far charges have not been disposed of. Some house man- agements not in the League are known to be doing business with the accredited agencies, but there is a disposition to bring them within the membership instead of using the cracking down process. It appears that one of the toughest problems is to check up on how tickets for hits get into the hands of brokers not signatory to the code. Gordon vs. Pemberton One of the brushes involving managers came when Max Gordon arose and said he had been told by William McBride that Brock Pem- berton, who Wrote most of the code, owed the broker money. Later it was opined that Gordon's remarks may have been inspired over pique that Pemberton produced Clare Boothe's 'Kiss the Boys Goodbye,' a sock show, and that he felt he was entitled to it because of having put on same author's 'The Women.' Pemberton explained that the McBride claim arose originally dur- ing an NRA code session, but de- clared the broker loaned him money as stated. About 15 years ago the manager had an expiring option on the musical version of 'Good Graci- ous Annabelle,' for which he ad- vanced $1,000. At the time, Mc- Bride's and other agencies were dis- posed to back shows. Pemberton told the broker that he did not care to invest further in 'Annabelle' rights, but if McBride cared to he would be declared in, if and when the show was produced. McBride referred - him to M. J, (Mike) Meehan, a stock broker, agreeing to put up $500 if the Wall Streeter invested the same amount. Claimed there were no notes given in the transaction, which went through, but the show was not put on by Pemberton, who declares there was no mention of it being a loan. When extended option expired. Flo Ziegfeld put the show on for Billie Burke. It was not a success. Beck vs. Mayer Another managerial brush came when Lester Mayer, who operates the Empire theatre, said that if unac- credited brokers were securing tick- ets he was disposed to consider en- tering into a buy for- 'Herod and M'ariamne' (Katharine Cornell), which comes to his theatre next month. That brought Martin Beck to his feet, latter declaring that the code must be enforced and that the League's agreement with Equity on that point could not be set aside. It was then brought out that all was not. regular concerning tickets for the repeat date of 'Victoria Regina,* playing his theatre. There had been an agreement between the show management and Beck that balcony tickets should not be allotted the agencies. Stated that such tickets were being sold by any number of agencies, but it was not explained how the pasteboards reached the br-cdcers. Defense was that diggers had brought the tickets at the box- office. Pemberton further figured in the discussion when a broker brought up a warning from the manager con-^ cerning 'Kiss the Boys.' On the re- verse side of ad matter for 'Kiss' dis« tributed the agencies is notice to the effect 'that failure to display it prom- inently would be taken into consid- eration when allotting further tickets for the hit Chatge was made that the manager implied, the brokers shoidd discrimi- nate against other managers, which is provided against in the code.,, Pemberton said that if a broker were" not- interested enough to display the ads, he wouldn't be concerned with selling many tickets. An equal rep- resentation with other producers was all he asked, showman feeling that because of his code activities, the agency people might be inclined to be lukewarm about 'Kiss the Boys.* However, the demand for the show is so heavy that nothing is calculated to interfere with heavy attendance. 'Hamlet,' ^Incon' Problems At least two shows of recent ar- rival appear, to be problem cases for the league. 'Hamlet's*- producer, Maurice Evans, is not in the league, nor is Boris Said, who operates the St. James, where it. is spotted. Some brokers are 'taking orders* for the show, but claim they do not promise to obtain the tic]|cets; they are careful not to say they cannot handle the attraction because ot legal reaction on the part of the house and show management. 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois' was jpro- duced at the Flymtouth by the Play- wrights, who are not in the league, but the house management is. Be- cause of latter, accredited brokers arc handling tickets for the new dra- matic hit; It is matters like this that the lea'Tue has not made an issue of, but which seem inconsistent to brokers. The Associated Theatre Ticket Agencies claims that league mem- bers are.-the chief violators of the code, also that , outlaw agencies are flourishing aiid charging $8.80 each for tickets priced ^3.30 at the box- office, despite the fact that the code has been in operation upward of a month. They said they would like a showdo-wn on whether the man- agers should nol police themselves, before policing the agencies. Agency men say that they would be able to operate more effectively if permitted one Interchange be- tween agencies, which would permit a premium of $1.50 instead of the 75c. maximum set forth in the code. Such interchanges would apply only to shows in strong demand. As an alternate proposition, they sur^gest raising the premium limit to $1.10. One broker explained the situation when trying to fill an order. He made 12 telephone calls costing 60e before locating the desired tickets, making it impossible to show a profit on the sale, despite fact that agencies are permitted to charge 25c ner ticket lor deliveries. Understood the government re»?ards the delivery coin to be part of the selling price andj demands tax upon such money. 'N^ER KNOW GIRLS FEEL ECONOMY PINCH Some changes in the ensemble por- tion of 'Vou Never Know,* Winter Garden, N. Y., have been ordered. Four show girls are being dropped, with other chorines given the choice of taking a cut, or bein^ replaced. Some of the girfs in 'Know' are paid $50 weekly, tmion minimum be- ing $35. Closing notice went up Monday (25). Disposed to aid the girls who con- templated leaving the show, stage manager posted a call for auditiomi by Earl Carroll at the Majestic, showman being east to line up talent for his Hollywood night club. PROSPERin YR. HINTS' FIVE-PLAY TOUR DEFINITE