Variety (Sep 1942)

ITednesday, September 16, 1942 LEGITIMATE 49 COMING One-Act Play Contest Strictly For U5. Solders A soldiers playwrlghtlng contest has been arranged throu^ CoL H. Clay Supplee by John Golden, ob- jective being to secure one-act plays which would be suitable for presen- tation in Army camps. Prizes in cash will be paid by the manager, who will guarantee the publication of the winning scripts In book form. There will be nine judges, consist- ing of authors and managers. Five awards will be made. Contest is open to all non-com- missioned men. Playlets shall not be for less than 15 minutes of play- ing time, nor more than 40 minutes. Contestants should use judgment as to the availability of stages in their particular camps, ami whether the. scenery, costumes and properties their plots call for can be easily pro- curable. Scripts are to be submitted to the Special Service Officer, 2d Service Command, U. S. Army, room 1200, 165 Broadway, N. Y., the dead- line being Dec. 21, noon. Those named to pass on the scripts: George Abbott, Guy Bolton, Rachel Crothers, Rose Franlcen, Frederick Lonsdale, Kenyon Nichol- son, Samson Raptiaelson. Austin Strong, with Golden ex officio. The cash prizes: $100, Ist; $80, 2d; $60, 3d: $40, 4th, and $20, 5th. Authors of the winning scripts shall receive royalties from the pub- lication of a- book made up of the Ave plays, plus royalties for the rights it performed by little theatre or other civilian groups. It's stip- ulated that there shall be no royal- ties when performed in camps, posts or stations. Arrangements for civil- ian use are to be handled by Bar- rett Clark, of the Dramatists Guild Play Service. Sgt Michael WardeU, of the publication section. Special Service Office, is releasing details of the contest simultaneously to all camps and posts in The Yank,' Army publication. Almost An Angel A stew, who said he was a sea- man with the merchant marine, passed the Miller, N. Y., Thurs- day (10), at intermission when 'Janie' premiered. Seeing so many people in black and white, he wanted to know whether it was a funeral. Said he had a coupTe of hundred bucks in his kick and offered to buy several first-nighters a drink. Peering at the crowd again, he loudly Invited the whole house to have a drink. No takers. Merchant marine people are often not paid for months, ar- rive with their pockets fuU of coin and are promptly taken. ISrSHOWTOB'WAYlST TO ASK SALARY CUTS PROV. LEGIT EFFORTS FLOPPING THUS FAR Providence, Sept 15. Playhouse's efforts to bring 'up- lifting drama' to Providence theatre- goers, with outstanding stars and fcitured players, is proving to t»e pretty mu:h of a thankless task insofar as patronage is concerned. Most disappointing was last week's 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois,' with reports that biz was a good 60% off the average week's teke of $4,500. House has gone to considerable pains to make the productions ."i coinpielt! as possible, but draw has been small. Among productions stcged were 'Watch On the Rhine,' 'Claudia,' 'George Washington Slept Here,' 'Johnny Belinda.' Springfield Graduates From One-Night Class Springfield, Mass., Sept. 15. The most promising legit season the city has had in years U in sight The Playgoers of Springfleld, for the first time in three years, wUl be able to book more than one-night dates, according to Executive Secretary Milton Hale. The season opens Sept. 21-23 with My Sister Eileen' with Betty Fur- ness. Other dates include: The Merry Widow' with irfuriel Angelusi, Oct. 20-21; Gilbert and Sullivan operettas by the Boston Opera com- pany Nov. 2-4; The Firefly,' Nov. 17-18; 'Junior Miss,' Dec. 15-16; 'Spring Again' with Grace George, Jan. 13; and 'The Corn Is Green' With Ethel Barrymore, May 12. Court Square theatre is no-w avail- able for extended engagements pro- vided notice is given sufficiently in advance. First drama of the new season, 'I Killed the Count,* Cort, N. Y., is also the first show to petition Equity for salary cut Play drew doubtful no- tices and business since the premiere has been scanty. By the end of a week. Equity's Cuts Board was asked to agree to the concession. Under- stood the management asked for a 50% cut, but that did not meet ap- proval of the cast. Slice was agreed upon early this week, it is reported, with Equity stipulating that the show play at least two weeks more. Managerial end of the picture rights money, if 'Count' is accepted by Hollywood, will be protected tlpon the comple- tion of three weeks at the Cort. Show was produced by Frank Car- rington and Agnes Morgan, with the Shuberts said to be inetrested. Revealed that the cast of 'Guest in the House,' a moderate success at the Plymouth last season, l>eneftted from a cut salary agreement One of the stipulations of that arrange- ment declared the players in on film rights, which were sold at the re- puted price of $80,000. Cast's portioh was on a pro rata basis of their con- tracted salaries and individual shares were as high as $300. Drama was produced by Paul and Stephen Ames, Wall Streeters who wanted to close the play quiclUy after rub- bering at the notices. Brothers have not announced further production plans for the new season. Mflw. Protects Itself For Legit Via Stock Milwaukee, Sept 15. Faced by the prospect of limited legit fare due to the transportation situation, the Pabst theatre (Ind.) is putting ear muffs on what was planned last spring as a strawhat venture and will open its stock sea- son Sept. 29 with The Play's the Tiijng,' featuring Francis Lederer. Arthur Sircom, director of the Dermis, Mass., summer theatre, will produce here. Helen Jerome's new play 'Char- lotte Corday' is scheduled for the second week, with Somerset Maugham's 'Our Betters,' - to follow, then George Bernard Shaw's 'You Never Can Tell,' with Romey Brent and Karen Morley in the leading roles. Adequate financing for the first four weeks has already been assured by a subscription drive sponsored by the Society of Allied Arts, with legit fans throughout Wisconsin con- tributing, and if general patronage justifies it the season will be pro- longed indefinitely. 'Eileen' Teei Off St L. St Louis, Sept. 15. The 1942-43 legit season here tees off Sunday (27) with a one-week sti<nd of 'My Sister Eileen,' which played 'a successful two-week en- gagement last season at the Amer- ican. The house will be scaled at $1.50. Only one other piece ha.s been broked for the burg's sole legiter thus far. That is John Steinbeck's The Moon Is Down,' skedded for the week of Oct 5. PII8T N SIGHT B.O. Entries to B'way Were Formerly Rare Before Late or Mid-Autunm— Half-Dozen Clicks Al ready in Sight This Year OPTIMISTIC TRYOUTS Broadway is due for a distinct change of pace during the first part of the fall period. Granted that favorable out of town reports on new shows are accurate, it may be a runaway season. Usually the early crop of productions has t>een on the drab side, or in-betweeners, and 'a succession of flops has not been in- frequent. Indications at this time are that good things are on the way to town in more generous quantity than for many seasons. Heretofore, real clickers have not arrived until the middle or late autumn. This year, at least a half dozen early incomers are named as candidates for popularity, including one which has already opened. The opinion is not only that of local re- viewers, but observers who have made trips to tryout stands to look over the new product. Likely new winners are on the gay side^ authors aiming for laughs. 'Vickie,' which will bring pro- ducer Frank Mandel t>ack to Broad- way, is regarded as a pushover—a liit if not a smash—it being slated to bow in at the Plymouth next week. 'Strip For Action,' a Lindsay and Crouse concoction with the authors teamed with Oscar Serlin on the managerial end, needs some fixing. It is a two-acter, first part being alright and it's figured the authors can bring the balance up to par. It's due at the National Sept 24, but may stay out another week for re- vision. The Pirate,' with the Lunts, opened in Madison, Wis., Monday (14) and drew Cliicago critics for the premiere. During rehearsals the S. N. Behrman comedy was touted as a cinch. Plas^wrights and Theatre Guild planned in advance to keep it out of town until late October, when it is due at the Beck. By that time the show is expected to have its production nut out of the way. Of the first two musicals, 'Count Me In,' produced by the Shul)erts, Olsen Ic Johnson and half a dozen others, opened to mixed notices in Boston-tBt week. Broadwayites who saw the performance say it will be okay after some fixing. It goes into the Barrymore, N. Y., in couple of weeks. 'Beat the Band," George Abbott's musical, opens in New Haven Thursday (17) then goes to Boston before arriving at the 46th Street 'Janie,' third new show of the yotmg Broadway season, opened last Thursday (10) at the Miller and drew a fairly favorable pr^. Second night attendance was satisfactory, while on Saturday the management claimed capacity for both perform- ances. 'I KUIed the Count' which opened the previous week at the Cort, has been getting weak grosses and is in doubt Previously Saro- yan's short plays couldn't make the grade at the Belasco. Holding 'Count' in Hub Boston, Sept 15. Opening last Thursday night to standees, the Olsen-Johnson-Shu- bert's musical, 'Count Me In,' at the Shubert, is doing a powerful busi- ness ($3.30 top) and has started the season off with plenty of momentum. The show, originally slated for 10 days only, will remain an additional week, moving into the Majestic next Monday (21) as 'Beat the Band' comes into the Shubert. Serlin Apolc^iizes for LeventhaTs loon' on Road; Will Cancel Lease Switched Virtue Brock Pemberton, who pre- s^ted 'Janie' at the MiUer, N.Y.. last week, inserted extra apace ads in the dailies. Manager's own comment in the copy, how- ever, attracted more attention, ending with: 'It is so clean and pure I sometimes wonder whether I produced it' (com- pared to 'Kiss the Boys Goodbye' and 'Strictly Dishonorable'). 'Janie' opened Thursday (10) and claimed capacity by Satur- day. Saroyan Unlikely To Get Critic's Job To Replace Watts Chances of William Saroyan get- ting the critic's berth at the N.Y. Herald-TVibune are not so good, ac- cording to inside reports. Howard Barnes continues to cover first nights and films, but it is believed the dual assignment will prove too arduous. It's expected the Trib will select a drama reviewer in another week or two. Saroyan attended an opening re- cently and, between acts, Joe Pihod- na, Trib's drama newsman, told him that the paper might want a critic and, as he (Saroyan) wasn't doing anything, what about it. The con- versation was in the form of ban ter, but the next day Saroyan sent the Trib a sample of how he would write a Sunday or daily column, who he would talk about and who he'd pass up. Article was written humorously, supposedly, and in the Saroyan style, but it wasn't a re- view. Richard Watts, Jr., Trib's critic, who is on leave of absence, has t>een apfminted press attache to the Aii.erican Legation, Dublin, Ireland, where he will also represent the Office of War Information and pub- lish a weekly to cotmter German propaganda. NEW SHOE RESTRlCnONS WONT HIT SHOW BIZ Washington, Sept 15. Costume theatrical productions will not be hampered by the War Production Board's clamping down on footwear manufacture as a move to save shoe leather. Footwsar which is part of historical or other costumes for theatrical productions is specifically exempt from the re- strictions imposed on the making of slippers, shoes and boots. The manufacture, however, of the special women's and children's style types known as 'Militaire' and 'Ma- jorette' boots worn by the high-step- ping, baton-twirling girl drum ma- jors is definitely outlawed after Oct 31. Preminger Bnys 'Cross' For Legit Adaptation otto Preminger purchased 'Sev- enth Cross,' Book of the Month Club selection for October, for immediate legit production. Book, by Anna Seghers, will be dramatized by Viola Brothers Shdre. The producer-actor now on the Coast, will head east as soon as the dramatization is complete, probably within three weeks, to start the pro- duction rolling. Book was almost sold to films when the legit deal was consummated, with the film bids run- ning up to $50,000. Maxim Lieber,- literary agent and Sarah Rollitts. of the Salkow Agency, handled the deal Pittsburgh, Sept 15. Coming into Pittsburgh a day ahead of the 'Strip for Action' troupe to catch 'Moon Is Down,' which was winding up a week's en- gagement at Nixon, Oscar Serlin told newspapermen here he was so dissatisfied with the production of John Steint>eck's play as it stands now that he was withdrawing the rights as soon as [wssible from Jules Leventhal. Although Serlin ex- plained that he bad nothing to do with the present shape of 'Moon,* he said his name was still associated with the enterprise and that was reason enough for him pulling it off the road. When the Steinbeck drama flo^ied in New York, Serlin agreed to lease the show to Leventhal, providing the latter secured the proper cast re- placements, but in last few weds so many changes in the company have been made that only one or two people who were in it at the be- ginning of Leventhal's sponsorship remain. Serlin told newspapermen he could hardly believe what he saw on stage of Nixon here and apolo- gized to the critics, one and all, for the show. Originally Leventhal only planned to tour 'Moon' over his N. Y. subway circuit during the summer, but bis was so good that UBO agreed to giva 'Moon' several regular season book- ings. Serlin said he'd have to have Steinbeck's permission to withdraw the rights, but said he felt the author would agree when be (Serlin) told him what condition the play was in at present. Reviewers here all com- mented on the second-rate company. . 'ARSENIC Wni GET LA^ FRISCO REPEATS 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' which played to extra chairs at the CurTan,'^ San Francisco, last week, its second of four weeks there, goes back for a fortnight repeat at the Biltmore, Los Angeles, starting Sept. 28. After that date 'Arsenic' will double back to Frisco for a two-wedi booking at the Geary, starting Oct. 12. Small stands on the C^oast will follow, then repeat appearances in St. Louis and Chicago, show having three weeks alloted it in the latter stand. Geary will be occupied by 'Claudia' until 'Arsenic* returns. That comedy, too, has been cleaning up in Frisco, qtotted next door to the larger Curran. 'Claudia' was originally booked for four weeks, date being extended to eight weeks. Current London Shows London, Sept 19. 'AO's Fair,' WhitehaU. 'BlHtac SplrU.' St. James's. 'Daneing Tears,' Adelphi. 'Doet«r'i Dllemnu,' Haymarket. D'Oyly Carte Opera, Princess 'FUrepslb.' Apolk>. 'Fine and Dandy,' SaviUe. 'FoU Swing,' Palace. 'Gangway,' Palladium. 'Get a iMt ft This,' Hippodrome. Inil BaUct, His Majesty's 'Lifeline,' Duchess. Xlgbt and Shade,' Ambassador. IHaebcth,' Piccadilly. 'Belle of New York,' Coliseum. 'Man Who Came (« Dlmier,'Savoy. 'Men !■ Shadows,' Vaudeville. 'Momlog Star,' Globe. 'Mordcr Wlthont Crime,' Comedy. 'Night of the Garter,' Strand. 'No Orchids for Blandish,' Wales. 'Qnlet Week-End,' Wyndham's. 'Bcbeeea,' Lyric. • 'Boee-Marle,' StoU's. RosaiaD Ballet, Cambridge. Sadler's Wells Ballet. New. 'SaH of Earth,' Vaudeville. 'Sky High.' Phoenix. 'WUd Bose.' Prince. 'Warn That Man,' Garrick. ■Watch an the Bblne,' Aldwych.