Variety (Dec 1939)

Wednesday, Decemlier 6, 1939 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 51 nCKET CODE'S SHARP TEETH Legit NoncoiHmital About N.Y. Fair s 2d Year; New Regime More Friendly Last season at this time there was growing interest along Broadway in the possibilities of the then coming World's Fair, but currently there are comparatively few compientaries one way or another on the outlook for Fhow. business when the Fair re- sumes late next May. Those man- agers who were clipped during the first month of the exposition, when grosses dived towards the vanishing point, are hardly enthusiastic, while other."!, who benefited during Octo- ber, the Fair's final month, appear unable to express definite opinions. As for the second season of the Fair, under a new controlling regime, which took over during the final months, there is a change of front. Instead of the 'hard to get,' stand- oirish altitude of last winter, there is a cordial atmosphere that is -bound to win back the friendly co-opera- tion that show business gave, before the big show opened. Reversal of form was first registered in the Fair's altitude towards the press and the department of public relations has already won back the newspaper people, who resented the treatment originally accorded them. Manaeers Fooled One means of support which Will, be absent, however, is advertising in the guide book. Managers of shows who were hopeful of drawing Fair visitors, and who took space in the pamphlet, can hardly be expected to be fooled again. Some of the at- linclions represented went oft the boards soon after the.Fair started. Cost ot space averaged around $350 rnd some showmen also went for tpace in out-of-town publication.s through tourist connections. Show business was not the only field that w:is affected, for it is recalled that (Continued on page 52) IRVING BERLIN ANGLES FOR MOORE, GAXTON Depending on the future fate of 'Leave Jt to Me,' Irving Berlin would like to snag Victor Moore and Wil- liam Gaxton from that show, cur- rently in Chicago, for his new mu- sical. Meantime, Hildegarde alone is set for the Berlin production, 'Loiiisianna Purchase.' Another forthcoming musical, Harry Kaufman's (Shubcrts) 'Keep Off the Grass,' is fraught with 'if possibilities. Jimmy Durante and The Hartmans are set for it, but Kaufman also has his eye on other lalent, currently in other shows, which may or may not last. Grip Got More Than 3 Actors, So R«p Co. FoMs Minneapolis, Dec. 5. Auser Bros.' repertory company, jiltemplins t j put over a season of old-lime mcllers at Alvin here, gave up the ghost after six weeks because of high operating costs. It was re- vealed that a single stagehand was receiving as much as was paid to three of the actors. Occasionally, management ex- plained, actors skipped pay entirely, the enterprise being conducted some- what along co-operative lines. Stage- hands got $60 a week and extras. ALCAZAR, FRISCO, HAS DATE WITH WRECKERS San Francisco, Dec. 5. Alcazar theatre, which recently went dark, has been sold and will be torn down next month to make way for a parking lot. : House was built in 1911 by the old theatrical Arm of Belasco & Mayer. Later it was the home of Henry Duffy and his stock company, and last year it was occupied by the local Federal Theatre Project ' Alcazar's boards were trod by many of the country's best known stars. E IIGENGIESTOQUIT No Penalties Agreed Upon, But 'Enforcement Author- ity' and Impartial Trial Board Can Impose Severe Fines—Managers Can Be Put Out of Biz If Sus- pended NO APPEALS Butterfly McQueen 1st Colored Pro to Achieve Equity Life Membership First colored professional to be- come a life member of Equity is Butterfly McQueen, currently ap- pearing In 'Swingin' the Dream, Center, N. Y., who was in a couple of George Abbott shows, manager casting her 'for luck.' She walked into the association's offices and put $180 on the line, requirement f<?r life membership being payment of 10 years' dues in advance. Formerly Equity did not proselyte for colored members and attractions such as colored revues I'ShuHle Along' and others) operated outside ot Equity regulations. With the coming of "Tlie Green Pastures,' Equity was asked by leading colored players for recognition artd since then all colored pros In B'way shows are required to join. 'Dream' is completely Equilyite and so is 'Hot Mikado,' while the forthcoming 'John Henry' has all colored players with one exception. Latter attraction's chorus, through the chorus branch, received higher pay at the Music Hall, World's Fair, than the chorines in the Aquacade. Although Equity conditions apply on Broadway and the road, colored shows in Harlem are outside of Equity requirements. With 'teeth' in the revised ticket code agreed on by the League of New York Theatres and Equity, ticket control is expected to be lightened up along Broadway im- mediately. It is anticipated that a number of agencies will either sus- pend or combine and, with such de- velopment, the number of tickets sold at excess rates should decline. Some brokers, including several who signed the code originally, say they cannot 'afford' to sign the revised code, since one infraction and a heavy fine would force them out of business anyhow. Whether they can survive outside the code by doing hit and run theatre trade, and de- pending on other attractions, is a guess. Code is confined to legit shows. The code was up for final con- sideration by the managers Friday (1), but was finally okayed on Mon- day. Stated that while there were a limited number of showmen pres- ent Friday, enough proxies were on hand to adopt the code. Tuesday Equity finally okayed the code and extended the basic agree- ment one year. An unusual, if not unique, proposal has been outlined by some brokers. They say they would be willing to observe the code to the letter in re- gards to tickets regularly allotted to them, but should have extra privi- leges with any others that they may obtain without code restrictions. Such an idea is hardly po.ssible of receiving consideration by the League or Equity, since the intent of the code is to hold down premiums to 75c for the lower floor and 50c up- stairs. One radical regulation concerning balcony tickets had been written into the code, but stricken out at the sug- (Continued on page 52) Failure of H wood-B way Pact Said to Be Fomenting Breach In Ranks of Dramatists Guild CANTOR ANGELS NEGRO MUSICAL ON COAST Hollywood, Dec. .S. Eddie Cantor is reported putting up $50,000 for production costs of an all-Negro stage musical, with cast to be lined up by Clarence Muse. Plan is to open the show in Los Angeles and move to New York. Among the possible members of the cast are Paul Robeson, Bill Robinson, Eddie (Rochester) Anderson and Ethel Waters. 'Madam's' Postponement Puzzles Legit Circles; Pic Stymies Hardwicke Show circles vMre somewhat puz- zled over the action of the . Play- wrights' Co. in announcing Sir Ced- ric Hardwick to follow George M, Cohan into 'Madam Will You Walk,! then postponing the play vintil next summer when it developed the British star could not secure a re- lease from picture commitments. It was stated that Hardwicke was the original selection for the play and that two other English players were considered, one being Claude Rains. Explained by the Playwrights' that the lead in 'Madam' is subject to two interpretations. . Part may be played by an intellectual type, or by an actor of unusual charm such as Co- han. Latter preferred to withdraw, although the Playwrights' sought to convince him that his characteriza- tion was a deBnitely acceptable per- formance. Immediately upon his re- turn to the city after a two weeks try-out of 'Madam,' Cohan revived plans for the presentation of 'Mu- sical Comedy Man,' which he set aside for 'Madam' and which is said to be biographical. Cast of 'Madam' expressed dis- appointment over the postponement and asked Equity if there was any redress. It was pointed out, how- ever, that the case is merely one where pictures have Interfered with.the stage. Dramatists Guild meeting held re- cently at the Adelphi theatre, N. Y, was rather sparsely attended, but » proposal, which was soft-pedalled, may have important repercussions in the authors' organization. From the floor there came a suggestion that the associate membership might op- erate to better advantage if such writers had their own organization, rather than continue under the pres- ent setup. Associate rhembers do not have the privilege of voting. Owen Davis is said to have inter- posed with an observation that the proposal sounded like a good idea. Elmer Rice, the new head of the Guild, was unprepared for such a development during a session de- siifned to better the craftsmanship of younger authors. He tabbed the idea as being at variance with Guild purposes. Later it was intimated that Davis, who was instrumental in placating the Guildites and produ- cers when they were at odds three years ago, might become leader of the lesser known playwrights, but sucl reports were discounted. There is little doubt that the as- sociate members are dissatisfied with the new agreement adopted by the Guild. They contend that the new, or amended, pact was supposedly : designed to again attract Hollywood coin as backing for legit production, but with the film companies dis- pleased with the agreement there is slim prospect that such results will be obtained. Younger writers com- plain that they still cannot get their scripts produced because of this, with only one Coast company— Warners—being active at present Mfrs. Nix Agreemciit Second development was the re> (usal of the managers to okay the amended agreement. No action was taken Friday (1) when the League (Continued on page 52) PLAY TELECASTS APPEAR BALKED De Kobra's Dramatizations Maurice de Kobra, French author, who recently came to the United States, is currently working in New York on a dramatization of' 'Sere- nade to the Hangman,' novel which he wrote about nine years ago. Another of his books which he diamatized since coming here sev- eral months ago, 'The Widow With' Pink Gloves.' is to be produced on Broadway. He has also completed an original play, 'All Change For Happiness.', dealing with the end of ■' i world. Legit in 1939 in forthcoming 34th ANNIVERSARY NUMBER of '^^lETY To he Published Late in December USUAL ADVERTISING RATES PREVAIL ADVERTISING COPY MAY BE SENT TO ANY VARIETY OITICE NEW YORK 154 West 46th Sl HOLLYWOOD CHICAGO 1708 No. Vine St. 54 W. Randolph St. LONDON 8 St. Martins PI. Telecasting of stage plays from the Broadway boards appears to be indefinitely off, although prior to the season's start such broadcasts were anticipated and expected to be a valuable promotional stunt. Report on a new scale ot pay for television work by actors, submitted to Equity last week, made no mention of legit telecasts. If and when plays are televised from the stage the regulations and added pay will be determined by a three-way advisory board, made up of people from Equity, Screen Ac- tors Guild and American Federation of Radio Artists. Equity still has a rule calling for a full week's pay for a single telecast, but such a prohibi- tory requirement will deflnitely be dropped. If casts or portions thereof are ! used ■ in television studios and re- I quired to rehearse along the lines of I present telecasts, the rate of re- muneration will probably exceed ' that to be established on a per hour ' basis. If the telecasts are made from i theatres and players are not required I to devote any additional time, the ! rate will likely be the same as for radio under similar conditions. For I latter, players receive one eighth of 3" week's additional pay. Equity continues to retain juris- diction of television as originally {claimed and there will be no change j in the situation for at least six I month,<-. At the end of that period Equity".s rijihl to the sphere will be conceded by (he other stage unions, {01 u mcons to divide jurisdiction witli the others-will be determined. Telecasts of plays from the NBC studio «'mploy Icgitcrs alm.ist e^:- clusively.