Variety (Dec 1944)

Wedncsilay, Dcceulier IS, 1944 LEGITIMATI 48 One Lively Art Unbilled by My Rcise: Tickle Water That Mks Fans' Fancy By JACK rutASKI Cliarapagn* premiere of "Seven Lively Arts" at the virtually new Zicgfcld theatre, N. Y., Thursday ^9) drew a MetropoUtad opera crowd, but with plenty of regular Broadway first nightiers present who kicked in 24 smackers each. The long-hairs were in the minority. Re- called that when Zieggy opened the house with "Rio Hlla" in February, 1927, nearly every miale on the first . floor dug out his soup and fish, ex- ceptions being a couple of tlie work- ing press. At the "Arts" debut, how- »ver| Sbout lialf of. the guys down- itairs were in civvies—another war •ftermath. On the aisle, fairly down front, lat Billy Rose, the revue's producer, and his wife, Eleanor Holm, former backstroke swim champ, while be- tween them was Billie Burke Zieg^ feld. It was rather a courteous ges- line by the "mighty mite manager." At inlormission most of the audience went to the richly appointed lounge or the inezzanine to sip his bubbling Wine of undetermined vintage. Mike Todd, a Billy Rose rival, went across the .street for a soft drink. Night before the opening there was a paid preview of "Arts" but without Beatrice Lillie, so that per- formance, which grossed $6,264 at $6 top (regular scale), was about one- half the show that was performed the following evening. Preview was Biven Without an intermission. It had been announced that anyone not wishing to see the show without Miiis Lillie could get his money back but no one was reported doing «9, it being a benefit affair. Rose luul her dressing room jammed with flowers as a squarer, at the pre- miere. It had been claimed that Miss Lil- lie was ill with a tliroat irritation ^ but it's more reliably stated that the Briti.>>h comedienne had a peeve against Rose, .so declined to appear. Understood that, she wanted to sing some of her own numbers, with the manager insisting she stick to Cole Porter's scorch Anyhow, Miss Lil- lie has one of her own ditties in "Arts," It being a lyric about a dame concert warbler who isn't really a concert singer. Ifs done •bio. ' . The Critics First highters buzzed over the razz accorded Burton Rascoe,' critic for ithe World-Telegram, N. Y. In a Mpss Hart sketch with distinctly lurid language, there are ii-onic ref- erences to the critics, Rascoe being mentioned several limes, one rejoin- der being that when his name comes up, "it's just the same as forget- ting," a crack Uiat seemed to amuse even Roy Howard, publisher of the Telly, who was down front. George Joan Nathan is kidded in the skit, too. Critics didn't think it was so funny but there was only mild ref- erence to it in the notices. Rqscoe neatly parried the punch, for his review of "Arts" started with: "The next two decades, I suS' pect, are goin^ to be known as the Billy nose era in the theatre. In sheer .splendor and magnificence— If 'The Seven Lively Arts' sets a Billy Rose standard—it will be an era as far ahead of the Zicgfeld era Bs the latter was ahead of. era of The Florodora Girl'.'' He thereupon went into ecstasies over the show and ifs four stai-s. Most of the no- tices, in fact, were of the rave type, Late last week Rose wrote to sev- eral leading ticket agencies tellhig them.that what he said about bro kers handling tickets for , "Arts' doesn't go. Advance ad copy had ■et forth in varying terms his ideas about all tickets being sold to the public at the boxoffice. Manager advised the brokers that they could obtain tickets by order, after tele- phonic verification. Some agency people said they weren't interested unless Rose made regular allotments but so many theatre parties have been sold that any such ticket ar rangements will be delayed. There's a report that the counter- Vfeights backstage at the Ziegfeld had disappeared during Locw's ten ancy of the house. The loss was not discovered until the show was ready to come in. Rose reached Harry .Brandt, who was able to supply the neeessary several tons metal weights »om the Apollo, on 42d street, . which Brandt operates, and whfch 5 "i^w In grind picture^ aa was the Zlegreld .before being recapttired by "OBe# ^^j,"^" fan wnn $vr,m wedtty. Spook Show Scared Into Quick Fade By Its Own Horrors "Spook Scandalis." a blend of hor- ror plays and variety show which a group of energetic yoiuig actors from Mike Todd shows put on last Friday (8) midnight at the President theatre, N. Y., for a run, folded after the opening performance when Todd and the actors concerned decided the show wasnt so good. Todd, who had agreed to finance the project for two weeks while it established itself, paid the company two weeks' pay, and asked everybody, including the N.' Y. critics, to forget aboiit the affair. Project of Jerry Sylvon, bit player in "Mexican Hayride," who, accord- ing to the program, conceived, j^o- duced and dii'ected "Scandals" as well as acting in one of the skits, the presentation consisted of tturee play- lets in the Grand Guignol horror tradition, sorne soiigs and dainces, and a miniature ballet. Actors from "Hayride," "Catherine Was Great", and the recent "Pick-Up Girl" took part in the proceedings. Sergio De- Karlo conti'ibuted the music; Al Henderson, Arthur Gondra and Sylvon the skits; ' Paul Haakon, Marta NIta and Raiil Reyes the dances, Haakon, Henderson and Miss Nita appeared in the show. The Veteran BVay Producer ARTHUR HOPKINS •Ivet; Treotaeal, Idltoriel P««twe af mm 39th Anniversary iSumber Or the MaMpllclty of Angels In Recant Legit Produellen ' Bil, It'« Wonderful steady customer of a Broad- way ticket broker telephoned one day last week seeking two tickets for "Harvey" (48th Street, N. Y.), He said he want- ' «d to see the show "anytime be- tween now and June 15." Which is a tipoff oh biz by the hits. Such a six-month spread may not apply to other attractions but there are at least a dozen shows for which tickets ■ are in high demand. 'WINGED YICTORr 20M RECORD CHI ADVANCE Chicago, Dec. 12. "Winged Victory" opens at the Civic. Opera Hoase (3,600-seater) to night (12), claiming close to f200,000 in the till. Take would top advance sales of any legit attraction ever to play here, nearest competitor beiiig Gertrude Lawrence's "Lady in the Dark" two years ago, which got $155,000. • That like "Victory," was also a Moss Hart ishow. Morris Agcy. Takes Oyer MelcHior Concerts Contract 6l Lauritz Melchior. Met ropolitan Opera lead tenor, has been taken over by William Morris agency's concert division, to bring both concert and personal manage- ment of. the artist under one roof. W. Colston Leigh had been Mel- chior's concert manager for a year, while James Davidson, heading the Morris concert office, has been Mel- chlor's business . representative for some time. Switch was an amicable arrangement, tenor desiring to cut down on concert work for Leigh be- cause of recent film. work. Melchior finished "Thrill of Ro- mance" for Metro this fall, and op- tion has been picked up for another film, tenor to -start work for Joseph: Pasternak next April 1 at conclusion of his Met commitments.. Is now planning to devote .summers to film work, replacing former opera or concert work In South America and Europe. Layotf PayFor Child Actors Rebecca Brownstein, of Equity's legal department, has won her con- tention that child actors partici- pate, as beneficiaries under New York's , imemployment . insurance statute. Miss Brownstein got thumbed down on her argument in- thie loWer courts, and even in the appellate division, but the court of appeals; highest stale tribunal, de- cided in her favor. State: argued that professional children's claims should be- disal- lowed on the grounds that their appearances in plays was. part-time employment because they are re- quired to attend school. The decision means that the youngsters are en- titled to claim as much as ^20 per week for 20 \veeks during the year, if not having engagements. One such claim which was pending amounts to $360. Ruling does. ndt include extras, or kids who have no lines. CHiriRO BANSAUPT Dimitri Ghutro, ballet master and opera instructor, last, week (7) filed a voluntary petition in bank- ruptcy in XJ. S. District Court, listing liabilities of $5,847 and no assets. Among his unsecured credit«>rs, he listed the Mosque, Newark, foi $00 aa tental ot the theatre, and Bfar- garta Maauikenycy, $l,SOeL od • pradiictiDD dad. Cost of Renoyadng QM Theatre Crimps Albert Johnson Show Albert Johnson, • scenic designer, turned. producer, who became Im-. patient because he couldn't get as- surances of a. Broadway booking for his "Bonanza" and consequently leased an old theatre on Third ave- nue at 31st street, appears to have gotten himself Jammed up on the idea of .using a house so far from the theatre district. He was advised that the onetime legit spot, which has been in grind pictures for years, could be renovated for $30,000, then discovered the cost would be nearer $75,000. That caused him to change his mind about going to the east side. After the show started rehearsals, Emily Cooper, an elderly actress, died of a heart,attack, and there was other actor trouble. Rusty Lane, the director, going in and out of the cast. Johnson has booked the play in Pittsburgh, Jan. 1, with Buflalo to follow, hut where it goes there- after isn't set. Idea was to open "Bonanza" on the east side at Christmas, Johnson doesn't know when or if the play will reach Broadway but there are other producers reported with the same'dilemma. Frederica Slemons, incidentally, has replaced Miss Cooper. Qidck 'Hammock' Date in N. Y. Nips Sked d Nixon Theatre, Pittsburgh Hexed by Frank Fay LESTER GOTTLIEB Waxei Whinulcel In 39th Anniversary Edition on "Harvey^s Brother" Tim Whetan's B'way Play With RKO Coin m It RKO writer-director Tini .Whelan has a new play, "Dinner for Three," of his bwn authorship, which he Is readying. He'll also direct and pro- duce it. RKO has a small stake In it Not yet cast but Whelan has in mind John Hoysradt, Joyce Mat- thews and Harry Ellerbe. Would be for after the first of the year. Honest^ Nick Holde They now call him "Honest" Nick Holde. General manager of "bne Touch of Venus" (46th Street) and other Broadway attractions loped along the main stem one day last week and .dis- cerned two bank-wrapped bundles of money. Holde went into the. baiik and told of his find, saying that If the loser could identify the denomination of the moola and the amount, he'd slip it to the person.," Soon afterwards a youth contacted the showman, giving the correct amount lost, which was $150. He bad drawn out the coin for a am^ truck- ing cmcem and. In givliig it back, Holde probaUy. saved the Ud from being flicd. It Would Have Been An Awkward Title If'Adano' Could Only Get a Kazop Not a few. first nighters wondered where Leland Hayward got the big, clear-toned bell which rings in his maiden production, "A Bell For Adano," which opened at the Cort, N. Y, last Wednesday (6). It re- mained for Eddie. Dimond, the stage manager, to dig it up. He remem- | bered that this type of bell was used in "Fioretta," an operetta fliv pro- duced.in-1929 by Earl Carroll. Dimond knew that some of the props, including the bell, had been disposed of at an antique shop but the only , clue he had to its location was that it was owned by an elderly chap known as "Uncle Harry." After calling on a flock of antique dealers, ha located the right place. Dimond got thie bell after much palaver, a truck being necessary to haul it: For that accomplishment he was pre- sented with a wristwatch "that does everything but talk" by Hayward and Fredric March, "Adano" star. It's Diniotid's lucky season. He turned- down the stage managership of "Harvey" (48th Street) and con- nected with another hit in "Adano." The show was' directed by H. C, (Hank) Potter, who came oh from the Coast for the assignment. He was. formerly teamed with George Haight, pair developing on Broad- way after summer stock activities at Southampton, L. 1. Before graduat- ing to HoUywopd they plroduced "Double Door" and "Kind Lady," both shows doing well enough. Most of the types in "Adano" are from the Italian stage. One dialec- tician candidate for a small part said he Wanted goodly money be- cause he was paid $700 a week on the radio by the Office of War Infor- mation.. He was told to come back sometime if he was willing to take $75 per week for-the stage job. ' ' Pittsburgh, Dec. 12. Nixon theatre v^as suddenly left without a booking this week when 'Dark Hammock" cancelled last Wednesday morning (6).. Reason was that a house suddenly opened up on Broadway for "Hammock"- and producers decided ,to cancel two weeks of out-of-town dates. Marks the first time since season opened late in Atigust that local legit house has been dark, and it'll give spot two successive dark sessions, since nothing is set for week, before Christmas (18); . Management of Nixon has been in a slate of constant flux re bookings for last couple' of weeks.' House had been told to look for "Hasty Heiart" Xmas week and "Chicken Every Siniday" tojillaw. then "Hasty'! was switched to Baltimore instead, and "Chicken" decided to stay In New York. Later Katnerine Dun- ham Was listed for New Year's but that, too. was inked out. Bookings seem to be straightened out now. For Xmas Week, Nixon will get Gertrude Lawrence's "Errand for Bernice" and Albert Johnson's pro- duction of ''Bonanza" opens with a midnight performance New Year's Eve. Tentatively set after that are "Glad to See You," for two weeks, and "Carmen Jones," Jan. 22, for one.. Leigh L«ctures For 292 Carnegie Sun. Dates, No Hmt of Attractions W. Colston Leigh, lecture and. con- cert manager, has signed up all Sun- day nights at Carnegie Hall, New. York, for ■ next season (1945-49),_^ with the exception of eight dates already taken by Sol Hurok. Leigh has also taken options on every Sunday night during future, seasons, total number of dates thus booked or optioned being 292. ThiS' is most number of dates the famed cultural institution has ever been signed for by one manager. It's also the first time the lecture* bureau head has signed up C^rne^, and: trade is wondering what he plans to do with same, there being some mystery about nature of at- tractions skedded. It's known how- ever, that Leigh plans using the dates himself rather than sub-letting hall. It's also rumored Leigh plans taking the hall for weekday even- ings next season and thereafter. It the Sunday night programs prove succcs.sful. $9,000,000 IN BONDS SOLD FOR WASTA' A special performance'of "Anna Lucasta" will be given at the Mans- field, N. Y., Sunday (17) as a part of the Sixth War Loan drive. Purchase of tickets is by bond only. Through an arrangement with John Wildberg, who produced the drama, the Arnold Constable de- partment store is selling bonds for the performance. Front-row tickets go to. buyers of $1,000,000 bonds, and UP to yesterday (12) five such se- curities were sold. By midweek the total in bonds for "Anna" topped $9,000,000. It is the only show figuring in this drive but heretofore special bond matinees were played on Broadway. Lyceum Doorman Drops Assault Rap Case ' against Vic Bernard, Para- mount News electrician, who recent- ly beat up Andrew Fttzsimmons, elderly backstage doorman of the Lyceum, N, Y., was disposed of in Magistrate's court, :N. Y., last vfatk. Fitzsinmions, who has complained of Violent headaches since the fracas, did not wish to prosecute. Court refused to dismiss the de- fendant but did agree to change the diarge pi assault to that of disor- derly condvct. Bernard was fined $25 or 10 days.In JaD. He paid. SOME STAGEHANDS OUTHAM THE HAMS There are players who won't tour except - under compulsion, and that goes for some stagehands. Excessive demands made by a backstage da- partment head was mentioned by a showman who thinks the deckhand travesty in "Seven Lively Arts" (Ziegfeld) isn't so exaggerated. After listening to i stage elec- trician say how much over the scale, plus expenses, he wanted to go to the road, the general manager of a Broadway producer said: "111 take the job myself." The stagehand was then working in another show and claimed to he too busy to visit the showman's office, so the latter had to call on the electrician, whose show ,has since closed. .He asked for $160 weekly, which is 50% over the scale, plus $7 per day expenses,'or $189 in all. Most producers allow road crew- men expense moftey, usually;. $8 daily, making their weekly pay $121. Expense money concession Is. usual this season because of the added cost of living, the men claiming they could not get by. at the regular scale. Such allowances do not require an o.k. frorv the War Z,abor Board, be- cause they're not regarded as pay boosts. Heming for Coast'Spirit' Los Angeles, Dec IX Howard Yottng and Rus»^ X^*"^ readying a Coast production «i "Blithe Spirit." lignfed Violet Bem- ing for the role originally played by Peggjr Wood.- Player is du« team New York this week to Join rdtesnnls.