Variety (Sep 1941)

Wednesday, September 8, 1941 LEGITIMATE 67 DEFENSE COIN UPS ROAD $480,000 Season Sets B.O. Record At Many AI Fresco in SL Louis St Louis, Sept. t. Windup on Sunday. (31) of 12- week al fresco season sponsored by the Municipal Theatre Assn. saw all previous attendance records of the outfit—for a single night's perform- ance, a week's run and an antire season — shattered. The seasonal gross of approximately $480,000 also topped any previous season during the 23 years the entertainment has been presented in the Forest Park theatre. It was the American preem of ^Balalaika,* last show presented, that carried off two of the blue ribbons. The biggest mob to attend a single performance of the Muny shows, 11,232, swarmed all over the outdoor theatre on the last night This mob topped the previous high, 11,161 that turned out for 'Desert Song' .on Aug. 16, and the totel for last week, 74,700, surpassed the previous banner mark of 73,423 registered by 'Irene' last July. 'Balalaika' copped an esti- mated $47,000, which tied 'Irene* for the best weekly take of season. The season's attendance, 811,433, exceeded by 36,477 the previous largest season attendance hung up In 1936. The profit that resulted from the season just ended will wipe out deficits incurred during the 1939 and 1940 seasons, and members of the terping and warbling choruses, all natives, will receive a one-week salary bonus. The Municipal Thea- tre Assn. made a verbal agreemeht with Equity whereby the 96 mem- bers of the chorus will be bonused If the season showed a profit Only one of the 88 performances was shelved because of rain, with 'New Orleans' world premiered here for the season kickoff, running ■ nine of the 10 nights. The runs of the others were limited to seven nights: 'New Orleans' is destined for a Broadway presentation this fall by Max Gordon^ The weekly take average was ap- proximately $40,000, big, with aver- age weekly nut ranging from $35,000 to $38,000. Richard 'Dick' Berger, production manager for the Municipal Theatre Assn., received a new two-year con- tract last week. Berger' came here from New York five years ago as assistant to Laurence Schwab and succeeded the latter two years later when Schwab took a fling at film production in Hollywood. Berger had finished a three-year stretch when he was handed the new pact. While the management personnel for next season has not been an- nounced, it is likely that Watson Barratt, scenic designer, will be in- vited back. f500 Stands in Way Of Lyceum, Mpk, As '41-42 Legit Theatre Minneapolis, Sept 2. A matter of $500 may determine whether this city is to have a home for legitimate road attractions this fall. City has widened street in front of Lyceum theatre, which houses the roadshows, and canopy now extends Into street in violation cf a city ordinance. Authorities have ordered owners cf the showhouse to remove the canopy; they've refused. It would cost about $500, according to esti- mater, to install a new canopy to comply with ordinances, but the owners say they'll tear the theatre down rather than do this. In order to avert razing of the showhouse, and thus leave the city without a theatre for roadshows, the county commissioners recently agreed to accept $75,000 as a compro- mise for $150,000 in unpaid real es- tate taxes for the past 10 years. Owners claimed total revenue of only $58,000 from the property for the last five years, while taxes for the period amounted to $75,000. Whyte Stage-Manages New Abbott Musical Jerry Whyte is stage manager for 'Best Foot Forward,' with Robert Griffith assistant, Charles Harris, company manager and Phyllis Perl- man, p.a. Archie Bleyer will con- duct the orchestra. Don Walker and Hans Spialek are doing orchestra- tions and arrangements. Edison Rice Is stage manager for Abbott's 'Pal Joey,' with Davey Jones, assisting, Sidney Harris, com- pany manager and C. P. Greneker, (Shuberts) handling publicity. Beal and Craig Pkrepare Coast Barn Theatre Hollywood, Sept. 2. New strawhatter, to be established in a recently acquired old barn in San Fernando Valley, Is being or- ganized by John Beal, as director and actor, and his wife, Helen Craig, as co-owner and actress. New stock company starts in Oc- tober with monthly productions of Broadway plays. You can wear a straw hat in the valley all the year round; TMA Makes Special Proviso for Mok As P.A. of Rose Show BiUy Rosf has engaged Michael Mok, his press agent for the Dia- mond Horseshoe, N.Y., and the Aquacade, at the N.Y. World's Fair, to handle the publicity for his forth- coming production of 'Clash by Night' new Clifford Odets play. Employment of Mok was made pos- sible by a special waiver of the rules in the Theatrical Managers and Agents union contract with the League of New York Theatres. Ad- mission of Mok to the union was the first such since the contract with the League was signed two years ago. Under the TMA-League agree- ment the union promised to pro- vide for 'new blood' by the admis- sion of not more than five press agents and five company managers a year. However, each such admis- sion must be experienced in the field, have some 'unique' qualifica- tion and not be replacing some regu- lar TMA member of the job. Only producers who are members of the League are eligible to appeal for the admission of such a candidate. Rose, not a member of the League, joined the organization so he could make such an appeal in the case of Mok, whom he wanted to handle'his legit show publicity as well as that for his nitery and other activities. It was conceded by the TMA mem- bers that Mok was experienced l>e- cause of his theatrical interviews while on the N.Y. Post as well as by his p.a. work at the Diamond Horseshoe and Aquacade, to fill the requirements. And although If Mok were not admitted, the 'Clash' job would have to go to some regular TMA member. It was decided not to enforce that proviso strictly. Radio Actor Preps Own Prod, on Coast Hollywood, Sept 2. Barton Yarbarough, the Cliff Bar- ber in 'One Man's Family' on the radio. Is readying a stage production of his own play, These Tender Mercies,' for a local break-in In November. In addition to producing, Yar- barough will play the male lead. PREFER WAStl., IHefty Legit ScNule Expected BIILTO TRYOUTS Economic Boom Responsible for First Choices — Many Industrial Towns to See Shows, Where Formerly Theatres. Had Been Dark NEW D. C. THEATRE? Current economic boom in Wash- ington and Baltimore Is being re- flected by the booking of early-sea- son tryouts there in preference to such regular tryout cities as Boston and Philadelphia. That is despite the fact that there is no air-cooling in the Baltimore and Washington houses, while several theatres In Boston and Philadelphia are so equipped. As' the tryouts in ques- tion are opening before the arrival of cool weather, it is obvious that the prospective profltable business Is re- sponsible for the bookings. Whole matter of local booms from defense spending Is figured likely to have a continued effect on foad bookings. There is already talk of opening another legit house in Washington, where the Increased population has filled hotels and cre- ated a serious housing shortage. Baltimore is booming almost as much. Washington now has only one legit theatre, the UBO-booked Na- tional, which played "The Wookey' last week and is showing Two Story House' this week. Baltimore has two houses, the UBO-booked Ford's and the indie Maryland. Former has The Wook- ey" this week, while the Maryland had 'Village Green' last week and "The More the Merrier* this week. Philadelphia, with the large, air- cooled Forrest and the Locust, and Boston, with the-air-cooled Plymouth and Colonial, have not yet been used for tryouts, though both towns normally get plenty of break-in en- gagements. Other Towns Number of industrial towns, al> ready feeling the result of defense spending, are seeking bookings for their usually-dark legit houses. They include such spots as Bridgeport Hartford and New Haven, Conn.; Albany and Schenectady, N. Y., and such midwest cities as Toledo, Akron, Youngstown. Dayton, Gary, Bloomington, besides manufacturing towns like Trenton, N. J., and Read- ing, Pa. Regular legit stands such as Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cleve- land apparently anticipate a bounty season. Factor In St. Louis is the reopen- ing next Jan. 1 of the long-dark (Continued on page 60J Kaufman's 1st Solo Production in Debut Hartford, Sept. 2. George S. Kaufman preems his first production, 'Mr. Big,' at the Bushnell Memorial here Saturday night (6). Authored by Arthur Sheekman and Margaret Shane, comedy marks the first time Kaufman is producing on his own. Others were coopera- tive. He's also staging. Renew Partnership Richard Skinner, manager of the Country playhouse, Westpdrt. Conn., this summer for Lawrence Langner and Armina Marshall, will resume his producing partnership with Day Tuttle. However, the pair have no Im- mediate script prospects. AET KLEIN MAPS MUSICAL Arthur Klein is planning the pro- duction of a new musical 'Life of the Party,'- with Consuelo Flowerton slated for a lead. HuRhie Barrett will conduct the orchestra. For PhiDy, Best in Many Years FUek The word fUck,' defined in show business m a press .'agent has cropped up numerous times of late In relation to its deriva- tion. In the Roman era, the war- riors, not having automobiles, airplanes, radios, telephones, or telegraph, had to communicate with each other just the same. These communications were carried on through the use of couriers. To the Roman a cour- ier was generally his personal •ervant—or 'flack'—whom he could trust and this flack' in that way handled all the con- fidential messages and infor- mation from one to the other. Thus, he was a sort of purveyor and disseminator of news In matters of consequence to his leaders. Thus was the word flack' bom. A.C. Mgr. Exits, Leaving Joison Holding Pay Bag Atlantic City, Sept. 2. Benjamin Jaoobson, leasee of the Garden Plar theatre, was listed of- ficially as KlMlng Sunday (31) leaving a trail of bills, at least one worthless oheck and, according to police, with approximately $1,400 that was to have been paid the cast of the musical comedy, 'Hold On to Your Hats,' for the four days end- ing Saturday (30). Al Joison, star of the show, dug into personal funds to the amount of $3,000 to pay the 70 members of the show's traveling company when Jacobson's absence was noted Friday night (29). Joison had at first refused to go on Saturday night (30) when he dis- covered an attachment obtained against the Saturday night's receipts at the boxoiTice by one of Jacobson's creditors. The attachment later was voluntarily relinquished in order not to give the resort unpleasant pub- licity on the eve of its biggest holi- day weekend, Jacobson left an I.O.U. at box- office, but check to publicity man bounced. Case has been assigned to Detectives Ferd Moore and Lou Arn- heim. Jacobson signed a lease with the City of Atlantic City at start of sum- mer for presentation of stage shows at the pier. He called the corpora- tion 'The New Garden Pier Theatre, Inc.' It was a closed corporation, with Jacobson's wife as the other officer. He. came here from Phila- delphia, where he was associated with the Shubert enterprises. St. Loo Names P. M. Gash St Louis. Sept. 2. Percy M. Gash, World War I vet who was wounded in action ' in France, last week was named man- ager of the city's $7,000,000 municipal auditorium. Post pays $6,000 per an- num. He has been in charge of ad- vertising, publicity and promotion for the American IJegion in addition to activities in behalf of under- privileged boys. Gash succeeds James E. Darst who resigned several weeks ago. A change in administration due to the election last April, which re- sulted in a Republican city victory, caused the switch. Julius Karty, former manager of the Shubert- Rialto (legit) theatre, assistant man- ager, is likely to remain in his pres- ent post Philadelphia, Sept 1. Historic old Walnut Street thea- tre, out of regular legit ranks for a number of seasons until leased , last winter by Oscar Serlin for an indie engagement of 'Life With Father,' will be taken over by the Shuberts and join the Forrest and the Locust as Philly's United Booking Office houses this season. No official an- nouncement has been made, but deal is understood to have been com- pleted. Most number of bookings and lighted weeks since '20s are pre- dicted. Usual announcement of season's plans made last week by I,awrenc« • Shubert He listed bookings for For- rest and Locust and commented on overfiow conditions, especially with shows like 'Separate Rooms' and ^eUzapoppin' figured for' extended runs. Statement went on to say that something would be done to take care of unprecedented number of shows and that a further statement •would be made Oct. 1. Insiders who had already heard of the Walnut deal, which has been on the fire for some time, were not surprised. Included in the list of bookings announced by Shubert were the projected Theatre Guild revivals to be given in addition to their regu- lar subscription season. Walnut is figured as likely local home for these, with 'Ah Wilderness,' with Harry Carey, as probable initlaler. 'John Gabriel Borkmann,' with Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester and Eva Le Gallienne; 'He Who Crets Slapped,* with (maybe) Raymond Massey; The Rivals,' with Mary Boland; The Doctor's Dilemma' (Katharine ComeU); 'R.UJt' and 'Desire Under the Elms' are others mentioned. The Forrest seems to be lined up solidly with musicals after the single week of the opener, 'Doctor's Dilemma,' opening next Monday (6). Locust stage is not good for heavy productions. That's where the Wal- nut, with Its big stage and okay ca- pacity (1,400, same as Locust) fits in picture. Following 'Doctor's Dilemma,' For- rest gets George Abbott musical. 'Best Foot Forward' (15th) and then 'Louisiana Purchase' on 20th. New 'Zlegfeld FoUies,' 'Hellzapoppin' and 'Panama Hattie' are listed to follow in that order. Next non-musical mentioned for house . is Theatre Guild's 'Hope for a Harvest' with Fredric March, but that won't be until December. Locust starts with 'Johnny Be- linda' Sept IS, and follows after two weeks with 'Separate Rooms,' Run of this unpredictable farce makes other bookings uncertain. 'Corn Is Green' listed next with Maurice Evans' revival of 'Macbeth' follow- ing. 'Claudia,' 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' 'My Sister Eileen' and To- bacco Road' are other definite Lo- cust bookings. 'Let's Face It,' new 'Vinton Freed- ley show; 'High Kickers,' George Jessel opus, Cornelia Otis Skinner In Somerset Maugham's 'Theatre' and 'Women Aren't Angels,' with Reg- inald Denny and Bobby Clark, are on the schedule, houses not men- tioned. WIcblia Frept for Season Wichita, Kas, Sept 2, Legitimate season will open hers Oct. 15 with presentation of 'Veloz and Yolanda, dancers, at Arcadia theatre. Next stage show will be 'Barber of Seville,' produced by Charles L. Wagner, at Forum, Oct 31. W. M. Floto sponsors shows lo- cally. 'Arsenic' Personnel Herman Bernstein will manage the 'Arsenic and Old Lace' road company again this season. Hugh Rennle 'will be stage manager, with Barbara Burton assistant and under- study. John Montague. will be-ad- vance man, Carl Fisher is general manager for Lindsay-Crouse, as well as- for George Abbott