Variety (Dec 1942)

Wednesday, December ft 1942 UHriety LEGITIMATE 49 'Sons Enters 2d Year, Marking 5th Straight on B way for Olsen-Johnson ■Sons O' Fun' engagement at the Winter Garden. N. Y., sUrted its second year last night (1). the an- niversary of the Olsen and Johnson revue being hoop-laed also by the cUim that it marlied the start of the fifth consecutive year on Broadway for the comedians. O. fie J. were around the Main Stem for nearly three years with 'Hellzapoppin,' which immediately preceded 'Sons.' The record is not one of consecutive appearances, since the pair has knocked off at times for a film, etc. Just how many times O. fit J. ca- pered on and off in the two revues isn't even known to themselves. They played in "Hellz' for two years and nine months, or approximately 1,150 times, and around 430 times in 'Sons,' for an estimated total of 1,580 appearances. Present engage- ment is indefinite. The comics withdrew from 'Hellz' early in the summer of 1941 and spent about three months on the Coast to make the 'Hellz' picture. Jay C. Flippen and Happy Felton replaced at the Garden, and when 'Sons' came in 'Hellz' moved to the Majestic, then to the road. Olsen tops Johnson in the number of ap- pearances in 'Fun,' for last summer the latter ducked Sundays, but he's now back in those performances. Jhn Barton 1st The approximate records for long stays by name players on Broadway indicate that O. fit J. are runners-up in that department but the figures do not indicate the number of per- formances missed through illness. As for the actual length of time played in the same show on Broadway, there are several players who went through the entire five-year run of 'Abie's Irish Rose,' which played 2,- 327 times. For name people, Jim Barton seems to have the record in Tobacco Road,' but neither were his 1,890 ap- pearances consecutive in that drama, which was played 3,180 times. Bar- ton quit 'Road' three times and then returned to the lead. Frank Ba^on was credited with playing through- out the run of 1.291 performances of 'Lightnin',' never missing a perform- ance during the N. Y. run. Other long stickers: Frank Craven, who starred in 'The First Year,* which played 760 times on Broadway, and Laurette Taylor in 'Peg O' My Heart,' which spanned 692 showings. Fay Ba inter was in 'East Is West,' given 680 times; Jeanne Eagles. 'Rain.' 648; Lenore Ulric, 'Kiki,' 600; MarUyn Miller, 'Sally,' 570; David Warfleld, The Music Master,' 540; Helen Hayes, 'Victoria Regina,' 517. Stont Party Backstage Stunt party for O. fic J. was given backstage at the Garden at midnight Saturday (28), the comedians sit- ting out front and the supporting players tossing off a revue called 'Sons of Slander.' One skit was supposed to be a cavalcade of the funsters' lives, and was admittedly on the limberger side. A prize gig- gle-getter was a skit showing Olsen transacting big business in his dress- ing room, where he holds forth to all comers at all hours. Another act was called 'Chic's Day Off,' kidding Johnson for his Sundays at his farm in Carmel, N. Y. Scene in 'Lee Shubcrt's office,' called 'Frenzied Finance,' also tickled the actors. Characters included 'Shubert,' 'Harry Kaufman' and 'O. fit J.' They discussed the ceiling on earnings and what to do about it. Suggested that the actors be paid more money, with 'Kaufman' ask- ing how that could be done. 'Shu- bert' replied: 'Don't ask me, I never did that.' There were also three skits labeled 'Old Hokum Bucket,' given in as many sections, with stagehands playing parts. ARDREY DOING BOOK FOR ABBOn MUSICAL Robert Ardrey is writing the book for 'The Umpire's Daughter,' mu- sical version of . the William Roos baseball comedy, The Life of Reilly,' for production by George Abbott next spring. Johnny Green and George Marion, Jr., who did the score and lyrics for Abbotfs cur- rent 'Beat the Band,' at the ,46th Street theatre, N. Y., wUl have the same assignments on the new show. Abbott will direct, and Betty Anne Nyman, a lead in Abbott's 'Best Foot Forward' last season, is slated for a principal part. Legit version of 'Life of Reilly' was presented for five performances on Broadway last spring. Ardrey has withdrawn his re- cently-completed untitled drama, for which Herman Shumlin had tentative plans. After working two years on the script, he was dis- satisfied with it, so decided to shelve it. He may rewrite it again later, or use some of the material in a future play. Since coming east about a month ago on the comple- tion of a scripting assignment for RKO, Ardrey has been writing a s'hbrt play for the Writers War Board for soldier performance in the training camps. Notable 'Corpses* Duluth, Dec. 1. Instead of having unknowns file up from the basement as curtain caU to "Arsenic and Old Lace," as the 13 victims of the Brewster sisters, Tony Jochim, director of the Duluth Play- house, tried a new angle. He persuaded town's leading citi- zens to turn up as the victims. As a result, Duluthianj dis- covered, among the Brewster 'corpses,' Mayor E. H. Hatch, Municipal Judge Richard M. Funck, Dr. W. A, Coventry, past president ol Minnesota Medical society, and other leading civic lights. PA SHORTAGE GROWS IN ATAM Margalo GiDmore Raps Buffalo's Legit 'Apathy/ Bat Tather' Biz Good Buffalo, Dec. 1. In a backstage interview with Ardis Smith, reviewer for the Buf- falo Evening News, Margalo Gill- more, leading lady of 'Life With Father* at the Erlanger, sounded off against the alleged apathy of the local populace to the legit theatre. First time a player has seen fit to take an on-record swipe at the payee since Richard Bennett in his palmy days. Among other things. Miss Gillmore characterized matinee attendance as pathetic' The week's gross for 'Father' turned out to be considerably above average, about $15,000 at $2.75 top, after a sluggish start There appears to be an approach- ing shortage of press agents in the Association of Theatrical Agents and Managers. ATAM states that there is a higher percentage of its mem- bership employed now than at any time since the union was formed, but reports of a shortage of house and company managers are not correct However, because there are more op- portunities this season than in some time, ATAM has dropped its en- trance costs by 50%. Understood applicants for membership may put less than half the fee on the line, with the balance due when on the job. Quite a number of members are on the job with USO-Camp Shows." The larger units sent to training camps and naval bases have men in advance and back. Approxi- mately 41 ATAM-ers have been en- gaged by USO, such jobs being wel- comed, though the salaries are under those regularly paid, because of the assured number of weeks work. Men in advance get $100, while company managers are paid $85 weekly, some getting more. Not all the men ahead and back with USO outfits are members of the union. Originally ATAM had an agreement with the camp show out- fit to use its members only. Some time after Pearl Harbor, however, that arrangement was altered at ATAM's sanction, later explaining it wanted to cooperate in these times, while USO desired to have some lee- way in engaging executives with its attractions. Broadway Managers Urged to Relax Curbs on Amateur Versions of Plays As Aid to the Professional Theatre CISSIELOFTUS HONORED BY FAMOUS REGIMENT ' Toronto, Dec. 1. Forty-two roses, representing the period in which ^e has been hon- orary sergeant of the Queen's Own Rifles, one of Canada's most famous regiments, were presented to Cissie Loftus, co-star with Walter Hamp- den in 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' when Miss Loftus was guest of honor at a special banquet in the sergeants' mess. The only other woman who has been made an honorary member of this great regiment is Dowager Queen Mary. Forty-two years ago. Miss Loftus, then an outstanding musical comedy star, was Inducted into the QOR's after she had given a series of en- tertainments here for troops in training about to embark for the Boer War. Zaso's ImproYed Play Laid to Phil DeDBmg's Rewrite; Big m SL Loo Indicated salvaging of a play that opened adversely on the road is re- ported to have been accomplished in an unusual way. Show is 'Her First Murder,' with Zasu Pitts, and judg- ing from the business drawn in St Louis, where takings approached $14,000, it appears to have a good chance. St Loo critics gave it good notices. 'Murder' will be shown in Chicago before bowing on Broad- way. •Murder", written by Robert Pres- nell, was panned when it opened in New Haven the middle of October and about the same reception was accorded the play in succeeding stands. Meantime, \ the script was being rewritten by Philip Dunning. Dunning's completed new version, shown in St Louis, is credited with the promising result 'Murder* has been produced by Victor Payne-Jennings and Marion Gering, and. it is^ said that the United Booking Office Is flnancially interested. Leo Edwards' 2 Shows Leo Edwards has • completed the score for 'You'll See Stars' (for- merly called 'Star Bound') which opens in New York the latter part of December, and is now working on a new show to be cslled 'Auto- matically Your.s." This is based on the Alice and Isaac Clement's 'Chil- dren's Hour.' the Horn St Hardart radio program now in its 12th year on NBC. Beside."; urilinp the music for 'Automatically.' Edw.nrds will su- pervi.<;e the production. Bl<-inche i "^lerrlll will do the lyrics and Ches- ter Hale will stage the dance.';. "Show Business At War" THEME OF THE 37th ANNIVERSARY NUMBER of To Be Published Late In December USUAL ADVERTISING RATES PREVAIL Special Exploitation Advantages Reservations and Copy May Be Sent to Any Variety Office NEW YORK HOLLYWOOD CHICAGO LONDON 154 W. 46th St. 1708 No. Vine St 54 W. Bandolpb St 6 St Mortm's PL Convention of the National The- atre Conference representative of little and amateur groups, held at the Piccadilly hotel, N. Y., last Fri- day and Saturday, may be produc- tive of better service to theatrical movements In remote stands. Atten- tion was drawn to the NTC this season because "The Eve of St. Mark,' one of Broadway's dramatic stand- outs was written for the NTC; 74 college and little theatre groups have already played it. First show- ing was at the University of Indiana, which presented 'Kve' the same night It opened at the Cort. N. Y. Managers were advised that there should be fewer restrictions on re- leasing rights in the sticks. Stated that a good deal of the material' used is of embryo authorship and so mediocre In performance that audi- ences seek surcease in Alms rather than the theatre. Pointed out that current plays, or those of fairly re- cent origin, should be released to little theatres and others spotted in places where there is little or no chance of visits by road shows. Thus the professional theatre would be popularized, it's held. Besides that It is known that the royalties from amateur performances amount to important money in the cases of popular plays, but that was hardly touched upon at the convention. There are 80 so-called important stage groups in NTC but the total number of outfits that go in for dramatics now and then supply fan- tastic figures. Stated there are 256,- 000 amateur groups while the num> ber of directors is put at 116,000. In- cluded are anything from volunteer firemen organizations to labor unions that do plays occasionally. There are 30,000 high schools in the country where plays are given, while the number of colleges with such activities is estimated at 1,000. In addition there are 1,600 litUe and community theatre units. N. Y. has several agencies which qieclalize in amateur ri^ts, inclu- sive of one branch in the Dramatists Guild. Fact that NTC was handling 'St Mark' provoked a query as to whether it was entering the agency field, but a minor dispute on the point was smoothed over before the two-day session ended. Amateur theatricals have never gotten the nod from unions but such activities are modest in operating scape and there Isn't enough coin derived to pay scale wages. NTC headquarter* are at Western Reserve University, Cleveland. Dr. Lee Norvelle of Indiana, credited with securing 'St. Mark' for the Con- ference, was elected president. HalUe Flanagan, formerly head of the WPA Theatre Project; Arthur Cloethingh and Gordon Gilfen, also on college stafis, were named for the executive committee. Cai>t James Malone of the Army Morale Branch, urged NTC to help supply playlets and plays to armed forces, particu- larly those abroad. Good Prospects Ton Sour for New Haien New Haven, Dec. 1.' What started out in September as an active legit season has bogged down markedly at the Shubert • here. Following several break-ins ('Beat the Band.' Mr. Sycamore,' 'Skin of Our Teeth"> and a list of road attractions, house suddenly went blank and gives little indica- tion of emerging from hibernation till after the first of the year. Tentative bookings on "Three Sis- ters' and 'Russian People' fell through when shows could not be readied for available dates. This, together with shortage of road shows currently in this neck of the woods, adds up to prospects of a bleak December. It is anticipated that January will see a pickup. Mean- while, house is operating with'vaude and pic fill-ins, plus regular Sunday name band-vaude policy. 'Father' Aide Strieken Buffalo, Dec. 1. Ray Barnett, electrician with Life With Father' (Waram-GilU more), was stricken with appendi- citis while the company was in Buf- falo. He's at General hospital recover- ing from operation.