Variety (Jul 1939)

48 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesdaj, July 5, 1939 Still Hope For FTP (Continued from PBge 47) puted professional ' management. Placing. Hallie Flanagan as national director was queried because of her background as drama teacher at Vassar college. Equity, ttough in the van through the existence of the project, could-not assume its direction because being a union. Opposlah Biased Opposition in the House Is now clearly understood. The committee which ruled out FTP heard only what it wanted to hear during, hear- ings. Never during those sessions was anyone In authority in the pro- ject asked to appear, although they stood ready to do so. Equity, like- wise, expressed willingness to lay the actual facts before the legis- lators. Just one disgruntled WPAer was invited, he being Charles Mor- gan, a stage manager, Morgan told the committee that every show put on by WPA was com- munistic and apparently his word was taken. This member of Equity also appeared before the Dies com- mittee investigating un-American ac- tivities and made similar statements. But Senators Wagner, Pepper and Downey knew differently and their proposed amendment was the result. It is from those legislators who are known to be- friendly to the theatre that succor is looked for. •Supper* Soared House ■ If there was any one presen tation that soured the House on FTP it was •Sing for Your Supper.' The revue, which stopped in New York along with 'Lite and Death of An Ameri- can' and 'Pinocchio,' also some 40 odd neighborhood shows, plus the circus, was in preparation in one way or another for 18 months. The amount it cost was highlighted, and unfavorable stories connected with the show appeared in the-press time after time. If the WPA heads in New York knew the production was a mistake, so much attention had been given the revue that it could hardly be scrapped. The FTP in the metropolis started cleaning house, but too late. DiS' missal notices were sent to 1,300, In addition to slashes in the administra' tive end. There are 300 in the latter division, which was being reduced 50%, which would have made a total cut of around 2,000, out of 3,400 cm- rently on the rolls. These let-outs were supposed to leave the lists by July 15, but the extension for Ilqul' dation purposes Is understood to in- clude them, too. It and when the FTP secures fur- ther federal aid, the chances are that it will be a,, more compact and economical management. In the meantime, the settings and props will be moved from the various shops operated by the project to government warehouses. There Is no problem about theatre leases, all being stated to have expired Jane 30, the end of the fiscal year. WPA at Fair Among the more recent Incidents that appears to have riled the repre- sentatives In Washington was the FTP activities at the World's Fair, where $225,000 was spent to buUd a small theatre for performances and exhibits of the project's activities.' Four condensed plays were to have been shown there, but the legislators thought it was wasted expenditure. There Is no doubt that the WPA the- atre was. not productive and the law makers favor more concrete results, such as roa d con struction and build- ings. The FTP, however, decbired Its right to relief Iiecause of the cul- tural value of its. activities, and the reason why the Fair project was en- tered Into was to show vi sitor s from spots where .there are no FTP shows just what has been accomplished. Mrs. Flanagan did manage to get an audience with the House com- mittee- last February." She said that $25,000,000 had been appropr iated during the first two years of FTP and that total receipts during that time totaled $1,482,000. At the peak, 12,700 were employed by the project ttiroughout the country, nearly 5,000 having been dropped, some being absorbed by other projects, or re- turned to the commercial stage. The FTP started in 1935 and In ad- dition' to he presentations in the theatre district, maintained a classi- cal repertory company, which ap- peared in schools and colleges, a vaudeville division, circus, marion- ettes, Gilbert and Sullivan unit, Yid- dish, Negro and commimlty drama units. Latter Included veteran ac- tors who coached amateur groups. Elmer Bie« When the government took over. tor In New York. For a time his management was effective and he changed the routine some, such as sending troupes to the CCC camps. He resigned after a row over 'Ethiopia,' a 'living newspaper' play, which' had Mussolini and Selassies as characters. It was during Rice's re- gime that it was first charged that the project had radical tendencies, another ol the 'newspaper' plays criticized being Triple A Ploughed Under.' Andther was a children's play called The Revolt of the Beavers.' Plays liable to rouse controversy, however, were later not considered, and one, 'The Cradle Will Rock,' was ordered off on the eve of pres- entation. Perhaps most'spectacular effort of the FTP was the presenta- tion of Sinclair Lewis' 'It Can't Happen Here,' shown simultaneously In 21 spots. Stated that 2,960,429 persons witnessed 4,522 performances of all types in New York, 368,723 of which attended regular presenta- tions. Actors, stagehands and others re- ceived <aa monthly, which was classi- fied as security wage, considerably more than the pay in works projects. 'When the project first started the theatre people got around $104 a month, but that was reduced when the federal appropriation was lowered. Shutting down of the three shows In New York's theatrical district was accompanied by a statement from George Kondbl f, di rector, who said the ending of FTP' was a gigantic catastrophe. At the final perform' ances audiences were told why the shows, were ending, so abruptly. At the Ritz, where 'Pinocchio' ended a run, the congressional action was de nounced. The cast mournfully chanted: 'So let the bells proclaim our grief, that this small life was all too brief.' Crew thereupon dis- mantled the sets In view of the audience. Writers' Project la Donbt With the Federal Theatre defi nltely tossed on the scrap-heap, the fate of the Writers' Project Is still in doubt. Under last week's 1939-40 Relief Appropriation Act, the art projects must be at least 25% financed by local contribution. Ac tlvities involved' are the Federal Writers Project, Federal Music Proj ect. Federal Arts Project and the Historical Records Survey.. Authors League of America and the Drama' tists. Guild, some of whose members are affected, are trying to solve the problem. Figured it will be virtually im- possible to raise the 25% share in small towns and rural sections, but that there's hope in the major cities if the setup can be adjusted. Matter is believed to depend on the terms under which the new Appropriations Act specifies the 25% local coin must be used. It It's to be on an over-all basis of the entire cost of the project, it may be worked out and the proj- ect saved, though in a greatly cur- taUed form. But it ifs ruled tiiat the 25% must go for wages only, there is figured little chance of rais- ing the coin; In that case, the project will fold outright. Although the Authors League and Dramatist Guild' are concerned in the situation, their members are In a decided minority on the project rolls. Authors and dramatists- nor- mally work on special creations on speculation on their own time and according to no set schedule, rather than on contractual jobs at a fixed salary for 3 regular employer.' As a consequence, authors and drama- tists have remained at a minimum on the'project Most of the writers on the project are unemployed news- paper men who formerly worked at re>!ular employment. Ttierefore, the Newspaper Guild is more deeply concerned with the situation. New Belief Seneht : Washington, July 4. Attempts to find suitable work tor jobless theatrical pebple are being made by officials of the new Federal Works Agency and subordinate Work Projects Administration fol- lowing end of the four-year run of government sponsored drama, which has cost around $40,000,000 since the opening In October, 1935. AH reliefers stay on the payroll through September, without working, while supervisory personnel hangs on dur- ing July. On the heels of Congressional adoption of conference report on the 1940 relief bill, instructions, went forth 'from Works Progress Ad- ministrator F. C. Harrington to close .^he theatrical, activities iSaturday (1), the opening of the new government fiscal year. Conferences were im- mediately started by Mrs. Florence Kerr, deputy administrator in charge of the wbite-coUar projects, to see what can be done about devising a program that will afford appropriate employment for the actor.s, front house people and stagehands. The theatre project \vas roundly blasted during the final innings. Be- fore the Senate accepted the modi- fled Wagner-Pepper-Downey amend- ment, Senator Robert R. Reynolds of North Carolina, chest-beating Democratic red-baiter,, yelped loudly about the allegedly Communistic leanings of heads of the ITP. Final action on the conference report was slowed down by a similar harangue, which Included sharp denunciation of Mrs. Hallie Flannagan by youth- ful Senator Rush Holt of West Vir- ginia. Few good words were spoken tor the project, although several solons suggested Congress should not punish 7,000 jobless actors for the sins of the program heads. Powerless to do anything except submit, President Roosevelt joined the chorus of protests against ring- ing down the curtain. In singing the bill, just before the financial dead- line, the Chief Exec utive declared that abolition of FTP 'singles out a special group of professional people for a denial of work in their own profession.' He termed the bill's provisions 'discrimination of the worst type,' nothig that a clause aimed ^t any particular relief under- taking is a dangerous 'entering wedge.' Senators Als* Prejudiced In trying to overcome the ani- mosity of the House, Col. Harrington and Mrs. Flanagan suggested Con- gress might consider the receipts via the boxoffice as a 'sponsor contri- bution' toward the cost of the drama project While they listened at length, the Senators were almost as prejudiced as the House Appropria- tions Committee, the record of secret hearings showed. Several members of the upper chamber fired antagonistic questions at the WPA people and made caustic comments on the argu- ments of the Broadway delegation which begged for continuance of the program. 'While Reynolds was careful during bis long, rambling talk . to e xcuse Mrs. Flanagan, the head of the FTP received a searing, tongue-lashlnf Friday-night (30) from Senator Holt. References to the former Vassar professor's own scripts heightened an attack on'her asserted sympathy to- ward : Communists. Noting she had made three trips' to Russia, the young West Virginian did everything except accuse her directly of agitating over- throw of the (lovemment. He called attention to the flattering, reviews of her plays in left-wing publications, read bits of her dialog, and declared the Reds are greatly pleased at the aid given their cause by the theatre activities of the relief program. Prin- cipal denimclatlon was based on Mrs. Flanagan's dramatization of an article In New Masses. Flay was put on at Vassar while she was serving as professor, carrying the title 'Can You Hear Their Voices.' niere was only casual mention of FTP In the House when the confer- ence report was- brou^t In. Leader of the movement to terminate the work. Representative Clifton A. Woodrum of Virginia, denied any special hostility for theatre people, but declared Congress must wipe out waste such as that accompanying ihe project. Although some of the pro- ductions were 'splendid,' he com- plaineid once more about 'unreason- able costs, ridiculous length of time for rehearsals, and inexperience- and amateurishness of the people in- volved.' The 'subversive tendencies' of the productions also were damned. Knowing there was no chance of upsetting the conferees' action, the drama defenders in the House did little except maintain their records. Representative Emmanuel Celler, of New York, repeated his previous re-, marks about Vorthwhileness, the ar- tistic advantage to the nation of the arts projects,' and Representative William L Sirovich, another Tam- manyite, emphasized that the United States Is the only country which fails to subsidize drama and taxes the commercial amusements. Latest financial statement showed New 'York operations consumed more than half of the $9,900,000 spent for 11 months of the past fiscal year, with C^alifornla .>aking about one-sixth. In no other state did the outlay top $100,000. The New York total was $5,048,903, and Catifomla's $1,703,300. For New York City, the break-down showed $4,771,177. Los Angeles' fig- ure was $1,419,833. On the credit side .of. the ledger were adinissions of Inside Stuff-Legit Joey Deutsch, a ticket broker, was on the witness stand during one ot the final sessions of the Lillian Saxon Schrein case, she having later been convicted of forgery and grand larceny from Martin Beck, New York showman. Trial Introduced a number ot scandalous allegations, but the ticket man's testimony was of a more humorous nature. He was queried about racing bets he placed for the defendant and-said the wagers he knew about were mostly $100 across the board. Deutsch said the first bet he remembered handling for Mrs. Schrein was on a winner which paid the limit and the bookie was nicked tor $15,000. It appears she used half a dozen bookmakers or more, so there was no telling how much she really bet Deutsch explained that when he was connected with the Supreme agency, next door to Beck's theatre, it was convenient for them to have him place the wagers. He told ot Beck placing small bets through him and also that the manager gave him tips on 'sure things,'-but when ha telephoned the bookie about the results, dlscovei;ed that the race was over. District attorney asked the witness whether Beck usually gave him tips atter the results were known. Deutsch answered, 'Almost every time.' Jed Harris was in New York last week to settle his income tax affairs, then returned to Hollywood. He verified the report of being through with .legit producing, at least for the coming season. Harris said the costs and taxes left little profit last iseasoh when he had 'Our Town,' which won the Pulitzer prize, and a revival,of 'The Doll's House.' He plans to make pictures independently and has entered Into a releasing arrangement Showman quit Broadway at least once before, after he netted a- fortune from 'Broadway,' .'Front Page,' 'The Coquette' and 'The Royal Family.' He went to Londoil where he proposed buying a house and spending the rest ot his days 'browsitig among the literati.' Then came the Wall Street crash. He returned after learning, that he had been virtually wiped out Some cuts have been made in the performance ot 'The Streets of Paris,' Broadhurst, N. Y., principally with the idea ot getting the curtain down before 11:30 p.m., after which the crew must be paid overtime. Second night the curtain dropped before the finale was over, one minute before the deadline, and, although the audience applauded tor some time, it was not raised. Back stage It was said that it was the result of strict orders from the Shubert office. Over'timef pay in that instance wo\ild have been around $75. Audience with second night press left- the house wondering what it was all about Nellie (Mrs. Frank) Harris has dropped Robert Morley and Harold Young as co-defendants in her action against Gilbert Miller, Norman Marshall, Leslie Stokes, Sewell Stokes and Random House, Inc., and added Heron' Productions, Inc., as a defendant She claims 'Oscar Wilde,' the play, is a plagiarism ot her husband Frank Harris' book, 'Oscar Wilde, His Life and Confessions,' written in 1916. An injunction, accounting of profits and damages is sought. Morley starred li\ the play; Young staged. 'My Dear Children' and 'One.for the Money,' both pencilled into. Pitts- burgh for the fall but current^ in Chicago, snared some swell advance breaks in the Smoky City lastVeek through the unintentional courtesy of Paramount Studio Invited the Smoketown critics to Waukegan, 111., for world premiere of Jack Benny's 'Man About Town' and on the way, reviewers stopped off in Chi for a day, caught the John Barrymore and Nancy Hamilton entertainments and returned home to write columns of praise for both shows. While 'From Vienna,' the Refugee Artists' revue at the Music Box, N.Y., has been pruned, it has not as yet added the new material looked for. This Is explained, however, by the fact the troupe is linguistically handi- capped as yet and while stlU tutoring themselves In English they must painstakingly translate and rehearse any of their native scripts before put- ting them on. They hav« plenty of material, but it must first be properly prepared for U. S. consumption. His New York World's Fair Aquacade having passed the 1,000,000 ad- mission mark in six weeks, Billy Rose'has found that only five other stage attractions in Broadway history played to 1,000,000 or mora people— 'Abie's Irish Rose,' 'Llghtnin', Tobacco Road,' 'Great WalU' and The Miracle:' At this pace Rose believes his aquatic show-should clock 4,000,000. cus- tomers. Clarence Gray, legit company manager, steamed up over the Louisi- Galento fight wagered $300 to $3 that the champ would not be knocked out in the first round. When the contender shook Louis in the Initial sesh. Gray nearly passed out He's saving the $3 In an envelope, enclosed, too, being a typed vow: 'I will never lay lOO-I on anything so long, as I live.' $679,644 from July 1, 1938, to May 1, 1939. 2 Go Commercial Los Angeles, July 4. Two-a-Day,' foriner Federal the- atre vaude show, moved into the Orpheum, vaude house here, for one week, with options for a second un- der private financing. 'Mikado In Swing,' with a cast of 125 former Federial theatre players, is rehearsing at El Capitan theatre, slated to open July 10. Phllly's Finale PhiUdelphIa, July 4. Federal Theatre Project called It quits Friday X30) night as its 'Pre- lude to Swing" neared the end ot a third highly-successtul week at the Walnut There was considerable doubt whether the Friday perform- ance could be given because of the demand that sets and props be In the federal warehouse before mid- night Reports first that the Wal- nut would be closed, then that it would be open, were broadcast by all the city's radio stations. First broadcast was made on re- ceipt of word from Washington in the morning. Inasmuch as there was a heavy advance sale, however, project officials got in touch with Hallie Flanagan, national FTP direc- tor, who, late in the afternoon, wired an okay to go ahedd. A full house resulted. With the WPA approprlaUon bill not yet through at the time of the intermission, Henry Murdock, drama crick of the Philly I^edger, and other speakers exhorted the- audi- ence to wire their congressmen. Last week Joseph Becker, operator ot the Walnut which the FTP used on a 50-50 basis, wired each congressman an offer to defray aU expenses for a trip to PhUIy to see 'Prelude.' Dwight Wiman Denies Any 'Angrel' Plagiarism Dwight Weere Wiman has filed an answer In the N. Y. federal court to the suit of Leo Sarkadi against him, charging the plagiarism of his play, 'The Angel,' in 'I Married an Angel.' Wiman, aftei- a general denial, claims that the plaintiff's work was in the public domain for 10 years, or since-November, 1929, when it was copyrighted. He asks a dismissal. The plaintiff seeks an injunction against the stage or film version, an ac- counting of profits, aii Injunction, and damages. 130,000 PASADENA FIRE Pasadena, July 4. Fire in Pasadena Community Play- house store rooms destroyed antique furniture and art objects used as stage props. Damage was $15,000 to the props and $15,000 more to the building..