Variety (Aug 1940)

Wednesday, August 14, 1^146 LEGITIMATE 43 ifcrf Charges Philadelphia, Aug. 13. AIM Tempietoii at Robin Hood peii last Thursday (8) drew a rec- prd-breaKihg crowd ^ ipf 12,503,^or - a 11-yeat tops. Mob was jsp. great it y/a^s necessary to start the concert 15 min- utfes earlier; than usual at 8:15 p.m. Pxevious ali-time attendanqe record at the Dell was set last month, July 18, by Matiari Anderson, Negro con- tralto^ -with a crowd of 12,247. Earlier , this sefason, 0.scar L^vartt, leading in ani all-Gersbwin show, pulled .isome 10,000 iand a .Lily Pohs- Andrc kostelanetz cbiiibp i accoiiwted lor 9,000; ■ , Dell is; nprmaljy . packed .with.€,000.. • r.;':'.^ ■;■ .■■ ■■:. ' ^.■ T6ihpleton flew in Jrom California, acco'^'Pa"'®'* ^^y^^ father and by Mrs. Juliette Vaiani,-of Beverly a; Templieton ifan, who said shie 'just had to fly east to hear Alec play the , Gri^g Concerto with' the marvelenjis phiiiadelphia Orchestra.V . . : .Gphcert came the night before th^ b^U seaspn called it .quits, ione week,, short of the scheduled eight-week seast>h; July rains causedVnumerous cahcellations iand ph other, occasions, ; threats' ■ Of :stoi:rnsl kept" thousands away with the result thiat tftfe Dell is abbut $2O,0OO> in the red. Qyer- .cast afternoons with. threats. of; rairi - depleted audiences for Kirsten ?lag- stad, who 'drew, undier " those .condi-^ tiphs only 2i300 paid ftdrriissibns, and only l.aOO. for - 'Madame - Buttei-fljr' when it was flirtally sungy: Main losses were suJTeriEd frpin 'C^^ and *^Aida;V operas presented du the June cold spell, setting the Dell bacic some $10,000. . Samuel R.' Roseribaum, Dell chief< .speaking during the intermissipn at the Tempieton concert, suggested that city bie prevailed upon to con^ . tribute to; supppirt of the Dell con- certs. - 'We cannot go on otherwise,', he. isaid: 'And it jiist s that the bell ought to be oiji of the musts of philadelpliia,' Decision to cancel ,the eighth week .was .hpuoced the week. previous to give subscribers a:. chance to . clean up their coupon books. SMn^ in . Continued, from page *i that way , about the "^Boyi^iia Qirls Together:—Ed 'Jupiter Laughs' ~ Barney Klawans. , : ^Bangtails—Boyar Associates/ 'Two Maihy Girls' (road)-^ George Abbiptt. Strawiiat Tryouts Financial troubles, .Which forcied the closing of . his County theatrfe, Suffern, N.: Y, strawhati .a couple of' weeks ago, cpritinue ,to jplague W.alr ter: Armitage. Papers,tlied at the of- fice of the iRPcklahd Cbuhty cl6rki in New City, N. Y;, included a nve- chanic's. lien of, $l;i91 against the; BowWerFatmiS .Theatre, .Inc.,; and the County: .Theatre, Inc., for ser^ .vices and materials allegedly fvir- nished between . June 12 and July 2; Bowlder Fairms is one of the^ County thest'tire's ' corporatcs. Lien and the j affidavit accompanying it were in .j the name of the Tuxedo Park Assn;,! Tuxedo Building Co., of Tuxedo, ! N, :. Y.j. Vincent ^ MacalusO, ' - I president, • Although Armitage is still' talking i^boUt reopening, the spot, his. one-j .week bond with, .. Actprs Equity-, has - been exhausted and .no fuirther cpiri,; posted. Besides, the , bond, salaries ; for a second week are ins default and ' ia third week's riebearsal: mpn^y is ; also unpaid. . . ' ' : . j When the seaspn started Armitage, ■] who bought the spQt this spring j froni Robert Cutler, was reported to I have a bankroll: of: about $25,000, ] and later the , figure mentioned .was i upped to $45,000. However, expenses I were 'terrific, with heavy . . paid j -for 'alteratiohSi new equiprnferit, elab- ! orate sets, name, players, , well a night club and restauriant, neither^' •■.■ ■; : t'rhla:Wcek)' .v-- ' iXiptned Monday. (12)., unless other- wise noted) •lite eWorld; Walks In;' ;by Jdhn Campbell.' Crosby and' John. Golden, at Ridgeway; White Plains, N. Y-. 'Dbllars and Mprse^^ Sense,' by ^ Philip and France^ Fox Dunning, at j ©f vi^ictt elicited. Lakewpbd, . Skowhegan, Me. ; . ^ ' 'Ghost for Sale,' by Geprge Jeans, 8t Carhbridge, Mass. . •Very. Liberal Arts/ by- M Roy Bpltph;' at Coach ; House,, pcohorno- woc. Wis. ' - The Astonished OstricV i)y Archie Meiizies, Lombero, Barbara, Cal. 'Not In Our Idiwrehce, at Newport (R. :Li;dC?isino (opened: last night—"Tuesday ), j 'Man in the Moon.' by John Triggs,.! at Montpwese- playhouse, Branford, | Conn, (opened last - night—.'Tuesday; 'Romantic Mr. Dickens,' by Henry j :H. and Marguerite .Harper, at-Spring 'Lake (N. J;) . Cbmrnunity thea,tre (opens tpnigbt---We.dnesday). . . 'Jelf Conies, Home,', by John Simon Rodell, at Parrish Merhorial Hall, SouthamptPni L. I.: (opens tonight- Wednesday, postponed irom last . ■wppfc^ •" ■ . London, July 30. • TS • . ■ -.T n Farre .In three- »Ot}i,-by Venion Sylvi.iii* 'Somehow We Llv«,'\ by H. B.e,,enttd liy 0'Bn'*n » r^.._r„„ Witte, at Theatre-iri-tlie Dale. Mar ' —- - - ■ -■ ' ; Clinton, Conn., Augv 13: Natalie. Hall's hoheympon plans. I were stymied when .'After the Ball;' I musical in which she is appearing at. Santa ' Clintpn Pliayhouse,, \yais held over for-a second: week.- Stars/ -by- Reginald i Actresis v was married Saturday. ' (10) at Clinton Congregational . Church tb Edward C. Rowe, head of ' the Borden Co.'s? legal department. I and had planned to leave for her home in Mai longer, feels Soviet.; Tbeatre Arts Committee had been asked to name. its off icers because that prgahizatipn had been charged with being a. firont for the Comniunr I ists, Adelaide. Bean, former who is. the TAc; ^executive .secirietary, statedto Vabiety" that the identities, .would be. revealed this Week. /But TAG ; people evidently; ruled other-, wise and a lietter was sent to Lam- bert£6n, .who also asked for the same iriform.jation, to the effect that his re quest was 'iindeirhocratic.' That . is precisely the ; sam^ : argUihent .lised by some of those whp. were named in the charges and by. others in show business wftp, are frankly Red. . $6 far as'pies' is concerned, there ; are ^opinions criticising his .inethpds by people in mother liiSlds. but it is genietally conceded. th&t hisv.coibmit' tee had brought out some impoxitant Fifth Column data and it is under .stood thait biies investigatoi's are in clbse cbritact . with the :F^^ reaiu of Inyestigatibii. ■ -: V Miss. Bean Answers Lambertson Dear ^Cpnsressmcn Lamberfsbn; ; 1 regret .that I ;Was: unable: to ' : ■ . answer your letters before to- ' . . dayi but as I believe niy secre- • ta.ry has alrieady informed you, I . haye been'for nearly a ihoiith on \ vacation fronj this. officiB,. ■ . >. In corinection: with your clear-.; .My undemocratic request that I - furnish you with a: list. of. our ■ ■ officci-s,. executive committee o^ . '," governing council tod present" rnembership, I should, like. id. say , . first that/your acUons,. ip»a!5t aiid- pi'esent, "make such, a request open tp suspicion. '• Your unwar- . ranted attacks :on individuals, ■■ and through them on; unions, iii • the entertainment, field make it ■ apparent that far from being . genuinely : . concerned With. re-. ■ storing the Federal Theatre Prp- : jiect ybu a're anxious only to.: : weaken the progressive demiahd . 'by. theatre'people for sue era] rislief. It was for that rea- .spn alone that you loosely and; . falsely imputed 'red' connections to iheatre; vaJriety,, and radio . wbtkersj ipr that reason aloiie. ; that you eVer concerned yourself with the. entertainment field, and more specifically, with the Thea- tre Art.< Committee, (Consequently; , Congressman ' ■Lambertsbn. I tan find rip: justi-. fication. for turnin? over to you our vmembiership lists, . As for the names of our. executiveis, the various divisons of the Thea- tre ' Arts ■ Gontimittee are . cur- rentiy .in their 'annual process of electing new chairmen and hew. officers: as soon as these elec^ lions are complete,, the nairies of •such officers will be opien, as ihey. have traditiorially been, to the public. ; Bway Picks % $I5|)(l Under ExpiNitatip^^ '8:36' BIG $23,000 IN li. FOR BRII RELIEF Estimates for: Last Week: : key: G (c<medi/>, b (dramw)! .R (revue), M' (tnustcai), F (/arcejl (operetta). , . : .•-Los .'Angfel«^-;Aug..'1'3/i Biltmbre opens .'iU; 1940-41 season Monday, (19) with twb wieeks' en- gagement of Floi-a Robsoh in 'LadJes in Retirembnt.': CompiaTiy jumped here : direct" from New York, and filled in last hialf .61 last week, with, a date at.Long Beach and two diays. at iSian Diego. Bulk of biz last weeL: .went , to El Ciapitan, Holly wood; w here flock pf film nanies i.s presenting Noel Gb- Ward'^ 'Tonight at 8:30; fbr British war . reliefi . Booking ■ is for three weeks;with a new/bill of three plays, each week. First six days, with a Saturday nSatiniee, brought $23,000, virtually iall the house can hold. ' .'Meet the People' wind.<! up its long tbnancy. at the Hollywood Pliyhouse (17). and mpye.s following- day to Music ;Boiji . theatrev which has been leased by the Hollywood Theatre AUiahce;; sponsors of the revue.. Last week's take ran <:lose to the $5,000 mark, ■ despite fact that piece has been rtmning for several wCeks with a brand new cast ;and new slcjts. but with absolutely no mention; made to the public. it Play Abroad Women Foberi E. Sherwood is summering at East . Hampton. L. I,; S. N, •p^hir- man at Nantucket; Maxwell Ander- son at his New City (N, Y.) home, i»nd Elmer Bice has; tiaken a house at the same spot, . All are due back in town in a Couple of weeks to start readying A nderspn's 'Journey, to Jeni.'salem.' the Playwrights' first, fall productjpii, ble Dale,Conn. ; (.opens , tonight--— Wednesday). '■.• 'Once /U.poDi a Time,' by Achmed Abdullah and' Hubert Osborne.' at Barter- theatre, Abirigdbn; .Va.. (opens tomorrow-r'Thursday ): ; ' V 'pirecied by'RlchaVU . Bird. Al'.Su-and .Ihe- atre, Lonrton' (Open -: (Next Week) Aup.. 19, -unless olherwise .■'.■'■'.:-■■•..;-■■■ • noted)'.'.:;■; , j-:-';"-';'^-.- : *Joiinny Belinda.^ by Elmer -Harris, .at iGarderi Pier. Atlantic City..': ■ •Sife • . tirossin^,'' --by Cbur.tehay .Savaige. ait Coach House,' pconomo- wob. Wis. . : 'MAny lUppy Returns.^-by S; K. Lauren, at Spring Lake (N.^ J^) :Gpm-: .Imuriity theatre (bpen? ■ Aug. 21). ■ Mr8, Fdatheirstohe. ■Mincfarlane- ■,-. W-ilmei' Popflay.... Alfreil Handle..... -Kraiilde:','. .V .; .■;■:„ Albort Bdtrh. .. ... S.vdriey, Butch.: mi's-T'r'ollhw.'i.;. .■ Thelma B.indlfi.... Elizabeth l'6p<j;iy,. Major Gaunt.-...... JPic.r-re. . . Olg'n,;. ;...... ;. ; .Spp.eln I. (-'oh.ifa bif. . Military. I'dlocmun •. . Ethel ;C'ol( tKIic* , .■..)iin>e.'j-..H>»yt;pr ,. Iloh^rlson - H-'ir* . Airre«l Urayliin' . . .Judy. Ki'lly ■ . ..lohn Valentine :'. .Norittah I'.lerfr- , ■. .■ Uarbarii r>iike. .; .Ruth >l()1<lan.l,' ;f."onstance~ liOi-jn" - .. .-Lloyd I'earson i .AVilfred Itii.bbftKe .- .. r';il2ii))elh Kent. Krcilp'rlrk Mfir.nnt . . '. ^.Stanley Dfirrlli: Aui^usla ' Rowland,; to -tour with Ruth: Gordon in 'Here Today.' ; She.'.s the wife of Harry Essex, company manager 6l 'Ladies in Retirement.' ■: .-.■ Chicago, Aug. 13. .'•. : .Going into second ttalf of. August; operators of the town's two shows are still, cheerful. Business is . hold- ing up despite- heat, despite com- petition from other amusement fields. 'Hold On to Your Hats,' with its run increased for an extra .two weeks, could stay even longer. , 'Life with Father,' off the beaten theatrical path, also has 'em treking to its door after six months.. It spurted $3,000 l^st .week. Estimates for Laiit Week 'Hold On to Toiir Hats,' Grand (4th week) (1,360; $3.^5). Hot in town, but gross held up Well. Got profit- able fl9,50p, only slightly less than ■■week ■ b(Bf.o.re. . ■, 'Life with Father.' Blacksfone (25th week) (1,200: $2,75). Citiiibnry con- siders this a 'm.stu.' Got over $14,000. 0 . 'DuBarry Was a. Lady,' 46th St. (36th weekj (M,l,375; $4.40). Wedne.-s-, day matinee.was the big draw of the week all along the. H'ne:^ overcast .sky ' helped most shows sell out; some- what better here; rated over $16,500; figure used previouis ■ week due to typographical , error. V 'HellBApepplb'/ Winter ■ Garden ; (99th week) (R-1,671; $3,30). Best thing On BirbadWay. fbir coin with the exception of the f rontrruinning. 'Louisiania Purchase'; jumped over $3,000 to $24,000. 'Htghcr and Higher,' Shubert n 3th week) (M'1,405; $4.40). Resumed engagement started well ,then fadbd ■. off and the fkrsi week's, take for the spiring musical unde^ expectatibnis;. estimiated at $15^000; 'Llf* with Falher/ Empire (40th week) (Gt1,095; $3.30)., Picked up with bettier theatire Weather, and no doubt about;sock comedy lasting far into.:next sbason;: more .than :$16,000,. which was nearly: $1,000 bver.previ-^; ous week. ... ; 'Louisia-iuk Purchase,* : Irinipenal (tlth week) (M-i;450; $4:40). Hopped back to capacity pace; with the, .gross again close to ,thej*33,01!QJlevel».:, musical topper should stay, well into the'new-'season. ■ 'Man Who Ciiime to Dinner/ Music Bbx (43d week) (C-1.012: $3.30Jt. ImV provenient for. the . lorimer straight show leader; too;; laugh provoker, bettered $10,000 . and is slated into the fall perif>d also. , 'iSeparate BooBiii*' Plynoouth Tzoth: week) ;(C-1,075; $3.30). Spaririing the summer as first expected; getting .modest grosses, 'but. making some profit li^t along; gross approached .$6^000; widely, cut-rated. Tollaeeo Kond/ Forrest (275th week) (C-l,107r $1-10). Final arid 258th Wfpek announced; but rriay bold over as last week's attendance spurtr ed arid the gross was:. quoted at: $5,200. ■:-.-- :-^ ■.■. ;^.;;.:■'■ •.■vSUSPENDED- 'keepOa ihi GrM.' No ci,ate .lor show resuming; management atill claims the revue will eventually re- light. ■■ 'There .Siball Be No. Night.' Sus- pended at the Alvin last week; dated to relight SSept '9 for two moriithi prior to touring. .' , " 1lMil*dK5iCiiiA.C. Atlantic City,; Aug, 13. 'Tobacco Road,', with John Barton- grossed approximalely $5,.^60:at Gar- den pier theatre here ' last week, which is very good for; a legit- show in this town. It ,was on par with ?Piris and; Needle,': which - set pre- vious local record; this season, - . ' Eddie bowling's, 'Little Dog Laughed' . opens tonight . (,'ruesday) for tryoUt week's engagement. , Current Road Shows (Week oi Aug. 12) Artists^ ' Produeer-Cooperativc, a year-roiind repertory company, ,be- ing readied , by Margaret ■ Hatfield' fPr. opening Washington in the tall.' :.''^' "■; ■ ■.■^•;-' ROSALIE'OPENS WEL IN Sr,|(K^fB^ / / • Srt;,. Louis, Aug. 13^' .Ziegfeld's .'Rosalie' returned with a star-studded, .cast -for . ariother week's engaginn^rit last night (Mori-. day) In the Forest Park Alfresco . Pl.jiyhouse. Cooling rains dirppped mercury' and an opening night mob. brought estimated $3,500, good, Lee Dixon, ion a two weeks leave from 'Higher arid Higher;' clicks in the role of Billy^Delroy. that - he played here two years ago. "Go-starred WJth Dixon are Hope Manning, songbird, who clicked in. 'Kriickerbpcker Holiday' ' sieveral weeks ago,: and i. Robert K. Shafer. In support are. William Lynn; Vera Marshe, Helen Raymorid, Al Down- ing, Bob Lawrence, Helen Marshall, Frederic Persaon, joiileph Macauley; Miss Marshe. Miss. Rayinond, Doug- Leavitt and Downing are .sock, in the bomedy roles; Vivien Fay; bal- lerina, .was brought from Hollywood where She had role in |Dance, Girl, / Dance.* ' 'Eaist Wind,' with Sterlirijg Hollo- way,' Nartcy McCbrd and Walter Cassel in top roles, ended 'we^k stand Sunday (11) with a gross bf approximately $30,000, below averr age;;. Goofy weather, with, one per-, formance Firiday (8) presented dur- ng a light rain and rain oh two other, nights, alniost.to curtain time, damp- agements : Reniy Horion. Wifb of Anthony- Butti'.ta-'; prejis; agent for 'The Lo.s't Golonv;' at: Roanake Island, N;.. G;, I -This-is the fifth consecutive farce has had^i-ee jJc^ulptured-wrks;pur^ ! at ^h^ Strand in wHieh Alfred Dray.: chjised by. the New York,^«etroDol.r itbn and Robertson Hare;: have been tan Museum, although she s :be^h I starred. It arrived .in the WesV End .cculpting only a; few, month.?. During j alter;' suburban toUr of. several thie. winter'Buttltta i..«: a concert p.ai.. ' weeks.: -Seldom .has 'a- show ',been .- ■:/ • ..• :• -;' ' ' 'v; gireeted with almost' : cpntingbus. ' ■,, ' . . .: , '\t --^-^-^l^ .^i ^i,^ ^ughter,- Offeredrat::popular. prices; - y'r^inia Godfrey^: daughter pf-the it.^omises financia'l success. ■ l;ilfi.v;Sam . Godfrey, -production, as- . S^oW runs'almost three hoiir.s. and si.stant .at the Spa theatre, Saratbgai tine .nurnerbus;ccimplicatio.n;S .and ..tup.r -N. -Y^ porting-characters could Hot. prob- ablv be coirioressed into lesser time. t -. ., —•• ■ ••■ ! 'hold Oh lo Your Ha.tii' Ml Jplspn, , Miartha Raye)—-Grand Opera iloiise, Chicago, : 'Kiss (He Boys Goodbye—Flatbush, Brooklyn.' >■■../""■■■'• 'Ladles in Retirement' (Flora Rob^ :son)-fMunjcipal Aiiditorium, Long i Beach Cal; n5); -Rasa' Auditorium, I San Diego (16-17); ' • I ^ ^Llfe : With Father' - Blackstbhe;^! S"tM^/^vitj;:' !■ Chicago,-'■■. -;■-■'-: .■• -v '..- - -- - .•: ; ■'Meet,-; the People'—Geary; v,San. '; ■ Franci.sco, •'•• .'■;■. '■; :: -.'■'• . . . /Meet: the' t'top\e^:^T\;a:-^ho\iieyyid\- lywobd;' — , 'Fins and Needle^—Adams, New ark;:;.; ■■ :■ ■ •:;;;".;•, ' ■;';■■.,• '■ . 'Sallbr< Beware'^Ring.«ide, Lprig ■ .Beach,.:L;-i:;■.:;.:.;' '■V.;^. ' : :'Skyiark' - (Gertrude Lawrence)-- ; (TUrrari, San Fraricl.vco. . .'Springtime fbir . Henry' S;F, StiB OK for tewt; ably be coiripressed O'Cohnell. Sammy White The piece' starts off' with reafronably ;Marjorie Lord,: John ': Call, .: Ann , Probable farce complications, but^s Thomas, .Jack 'Leslie,::vjoseph ^De. !-|t^^Progr^ssg.^especia the la^ /Santis/ Fred : Ardeth.v ;^mily. ^^i ^^^\^^. oi \^o partners, apparently : Lyle Bettger, .Jariies^ Fuller. Eqwin r business together- for a 'humbdr of ..Walter, -William. Foran, Jack ; Lam- j years, not being .: acquainted witli ..^:; . playwright :- bert, Percy Helton,-Robert Mulligan,.; efich other's wives. Cutting of half clwldren b pjere. ^ ^lay^rigni 'Bangtails' ' .. an.hour should be^beneficial. Jolo. ;, ^c^^^^ the^ U.S. .. . . Maurice..--..MaeterUiick', • author of The BlViebird.'-'has agreed to; write, ia, ribw "play^which Clure TTeevMajor u-ill adapt from the Frencli', direct &rcl produce on. Broad way and the toad in the-fall. . It will be anpt'heir V , , : San Frarrcispo, Aug, 13.; According to Eddie. Coplc, 'who has , bben bringing shows -to San .Frisyi- ( E(lw 1 rfi ' Cisco Since the igay Ws, the pi' burg ,■ Everett..Horton.^-JBrighton. Brightpn ^ tver wasi if ypu've got a show. Must ' BeSch, N. Y. , ,: , be. something . in;::it ;as cbmpany : he '■ - 'The Little- Pojf LauKhed'--Garden ,' currently represents. -'Skylark;' did .Pier; Atlantic City •.ri3-17 >. . . ■ '..aijproximalely. $20,000 on its first !■ 'Tobacco' Roiad* (Johni Barton,)--r-' .week, at the Cur here; Wo'iind up ' Wind.sbr Bronx N Y . . .|,it.« second with ,,C5timatie!d $19,000; 1, .-'Tonight ;at;t(:3(i' :mniue,Bm^Qs; ^'^j^^ ^FrWdie;-:';I3ai:tlioloinc>A',; ;;;G^^ Sxf door at .the GeWy, 'Meet tht ; Bennett. ; Glady? .Copper. .Douglas -jpg^pje. .jg : r^jiijng nicel^ at; around ' Fairbanks. Jr;. Basil Riithbcme)- El; per week, ' Currently Capitan, Holly wood; - :, I fourth "wPek;