Variety (Aug 1945)

W<'«1n<>«<1s>y<r August 29, 19i5 UGITIMATE 49 Todd Attorney Unearths Precedent To Back Claim on 'Harvey Share Iiist.inoe of a nmnager losing fos- f session of <i thc.Ui'p dining the lun ' of a lilt '•n'"'^ "Hdivey," at the 48Ui Street, is uiiprecediMited, which is why Broadway is keenly inter- ested in the contest between Mike Todd who 's operating the liouse, an<J Pl'ock Peinberloii, show's pro- ducei Todd's lease c\piics Nov 30, but he coiilends •Itaivey' should be le- jarUed as a lomt venture becavise he booked the show luto the ♦8th ■ Street and there were talks between tlicin 'about niovinj; the show t'lsc wl'ove- Uiuisual case will probably be li i<'d late next month, Todd fihiig toiinttulaini afianist Pembeilons apphcilion foi an uijunctjon The joint-ventuie contention is jn<ide toi the flist tune in Uioxv busine's, but Arthui F Diiscoll, of OBiion. Diiscoll & Ratteiv, atlor- liej"' 'oi Todd, discoveied a legal piecodent in suppoit of his claim Case Was not theatrical, but also in- volved a lease, court rulingm favor of a plamtitf who argued that he \\.)s <>nti(led to continued paiticipa- tfori' iiV the profits of a hotel deal. . Fi'ankliir Waldheim. attorney, for JVmborion, , smd ; the louit-venture coiiicnlion was evidently, an idea 1(1 di.uv .t ltd hei 1 uig' over the oi'i.yinaV coniplaint. : CiOU.i't .did not Issue an iiijuiiotioii ■ !i,tH>ii(st Todd . from withdrawihg: ad- \jiue licket s.ilc money on deposit, liidiialed thai .Justice Ir\ing Levy of the N Y Supieme Couit was le- hiotant. Ml establishing a precedent aboiii the handling of such ctjin. ; wiiii'h I'einberloil: contended ' wa.s :-a. . trust. fund.. Iiv' .show circles it is: ;. figured that , the, court may decline ; to interfere siiice tlici'e-.w^i.suio, lbs.? siLstained bv, cither aide. . . ■ HI Ashton Stevens Back To Bag After I»ng Vacation Chicago, Aug 28 A f 1 e 1' - an absence . ot several. montlLSi .Ashton Stevens, \'et drama cutic of the Chicago Heiald-Ameu- can, IS back on the rob, teemg off the new sea.son with his reviewing ol VCarmen Jones." which opened the Erlanger Saturday night (2.')). Stevens resuTiied his daily column yesterday. -■ (27;):, / .with:; first. Suiiday ieatuie scheduled loi Sept. 2 is^,ue Stevens took a^ longer, vacation this year than: tistial,. feeling the need - of an extended rest, and-spent most of his . lime at. Winona: Minn.. .While away his duties w^ere taken over bv Copeland C. Burg, one, of the jja- pei's ediloiial and rewrite men About a Mother . .Opening mail orders is. not al- ways cut and diied ^tiiff box- office people will avei Not m- frequently they get laughs fiom the messages atcompanvtng le- nTittance.s', as in.stanced by one .such order received for 'Anna Lucasta"'(Mansfield. N. Y.l from, a male, patron residing out of town. The fellow was contused, mAre thafi just around the edgesy . for hiV stor.y reads: "Make thent (tickets) as good as possible, foi I'm taking my motherv and she. IS older than I am ■' Ticket Diet Gives Brokers Indigestion On 'Ninety; 'Moon' OLIVER MOROSCO KILLED IN HOLLYWOOD ACCIDENT Hollywood, Aug 28 Oliver Morojsco; 69, one.Ttime top stage pioducer and thealiical man- ager, was killed Saturday in an acci- dent, almost SIX nionth,s after a .simi- lar accident which' kept him in the ho.spital for several weeks, Morosco was struck by a stieet cai as he was crossing Hollywood boulevard. , , At : the .time.: of : his de'a.th the one- tihie theatre owner and producer of .■juch hits as ' The Bird ol Paradise. So Long Ltdy " Peg o' Mv lleait B'way Theatre Shortage Poses Added Problem for 11 New Shows Readying ♦, • There :are 11 lunv .rhUsicals In, the Ipiocess ot pioduction and altlioughi ] i>0t in, tlie ,rehearsal stage, -pbstumes,'^ have been ordered and- settings af« being designed When an* whcia those shows will arrive on Broad- way. IS anyone s guess ev?n' if half of the flock are set back waiting for I a definite booking. Nearly all the Ticket Broker Plans H'wood Legit House Hollywood, Aug. 28. ■ New leSit . road :show .theatre' in Hollywood .w'ill be . built by .George. GittlesQn. chief ot Gittleson Bros., pioneei ticket broker mm,'which has j cut rent musicals aie doing so well piopeilv in the centet of the film i Oiat it . doesn t >eem likely that capital capable ot accommoddting a ihey can be leplaced duiing fall tlieatie sealing 1 800 , , , i The Wintei Gaiden has definitely Hollywood has been \Mlhout such a jj^^^^ loas'ed theatre sluec El Gapitan ceased t>lay ing New York; road shows several years ago. leaving the field: entirely to the Biltnibte iri: : downtd\vn Xuqs, Angeles Gittltson liguies the Hoi to United Artists: I Blithe Spiut' film due to start (here on Oct 1) which eliminates that spot from Icgit. "Manuka," CUMent at the Garden, will move and lywood .sectoi is able to suppoit big ,Bair^moie Royale and National tid\ehng'slious on its ov\n '''"^^ mentioneu as oosMbilities but CoL Frank McCarthy, " Former Advance Agent, Now AssL Sec'y of State tration:. a,; graduate ..frotTi show, .bu.si- nesSi. is. now in .'ttiV impbrtant ..Wasli mgton - post. nd :'.'Cail£(:r,y Cottaise" had: oiily: eight | '.: Sonie ticltet, brofcets:,are inijn'n. but, others- are steaniing over alleged , . "oideis' 1o sell tickets loi > The I "^'"'"'"""^ Wind Is Xmelv ' Booth and 'Daikl Moiosco began Ins theati ical ca- of the Moon • 4fith Stieet Both .ue i it-ci as an aciobat in his tathei s .Shubeit -hows and both aie le-' l»"tiP«' -"nd m 1892 .tailed his noii-] knoun on BioacuM^ polled opeialing m the led footlij-^ht uoik a a-sisl.mt manigei Bundles ol tickets foj the duo die 'reported luinded .('o tlve.agentiies with i'nsti"Uclions to .dispose of Ihent. (ir "eat 'em!" Se^'erai :bi'«kcrs are. said to have taken: a. los.s last week qiv unsold tukets foi the two shous ., F,orei,ng.:;0.f agency sales is iii direcl Atidlbiioii, of , tlie ticket .cocle,;-rpgula- mentioiieu as po.ssibilitips but all hiive : been booked: with other:' altrficlions, ;fatter: house: ' being:.: announced to get ' Slightly Per- fect ' one of the forthcoming musicals Understood the Barry- noie IS du.lly booked, same going loi I'le National Straight play.s for .both spots , will have :to click "fast iii orcierVtO;:stick.'!,'..;' ; :. Tnne iv .ome speculation o\er ho Hoilywdod: reverting to legit vas! With., the . ' appointinent. of ;:C:o):- cents in his-pocket..,Yet at the«height i Frank McCarthy "as as.sistant secre- of Jus career he was leputed lo be a ot slate m charge of adminis- -j^;; ^'^^^^ The'house is siutable I lor musicals but the" 'Warners are „ ,,, ! "isiiig it: if.or: Jtliii's ■U','Rhafew^^^ McCarthy wasn (. well..: n.j..^^",,. ^. Jj^ . but was ill -ad- vaiice' ' of CeofKe ,. Abbott. : .shows'': (■•BrdtheT.': Rat") tor two ,yeiii%Sv::a'iTC; ■ .w-a.s»UigWy,.i'egaixle;d.'by Q.ut-^ : shWmefi.'-.ai'so .■hew'Sliapennei'i; : ' ■, '■ ''Cb'liV'McGarthy ■ '■^<':\ General Gt'd'rge C.';Mar'shall.and had . an office iiV tjie: capital. He accOm- ! oil the Sail Jose theiitre. He then ■wa;; pre.ss agent. for :the Grand,, Opera lions ,.hein.g so fi'am.cd tliat :brokers; Uiiddstood that Iho advance-sale J would h.ne no itason to complain ' House in San Fianci'co and the Ma- 1 ve^tic in Los Angeles In 1908 he took I over the Majotic thcatie and subse- quently SIX othci California houses^ I,beconiihg :a prbducini? manager in ' IIOI He piooucod d<ti\tly through i9.2Yy a'nd.'.was :«.wi}6.i': Pf the; I Blue' cui^ienl) The Inteinational iloimeily Cosmopolitan) at Colum- bus Ciulc i.s almost oeitain to be in demand, and another possibility is i he New Am,s;terdam, wnich formerly- hodsed ..ma:ior m.usicals but has beeni., in, films: for years..,Ultimate building b\' radio outfits mav release a couple: panied: Gen: Marshall to all impnf- ] "t,:lal^ge :.capacity theatres^ but that- iinitant lonfeienus duun^ and dttei could not happen in 1945-46 the %\ai including Cdsablanca di..d I Costume plants aie nmning to money on hand is now intact, same as beloie the coiitio\eisy stalled . It: being reported - that .1 odd took no .profit ,rri>m the .481!i :Street- for tlie last month . or , .so, deppsit being limited as to withdrawal.s.' rodri tcels that he didnt get.a sipiaic (leal and should ha\e been intormed of Pemberlolv's mtenlion to sign with the landloid (Leblang esliilet Pembeiton declares that I'odd tailed to infin-m him as to . whether he could get another thea- ... tre and fett: he. had' 'o protect him- - .sell. He said that had I'odd con- tacted hini the extension may have been st^ inied The opponcnt^ had no duecl con- tact with each other chiring most of the summer. They met at the League ol New York Theatres last week, houever. and shook hands but tilt legal proceedings will be pushed. Some.: chinige , in : Contract provisions may result, from the case and the possibility ot a producer bonding a house owner is discussed. they ■«'ere stuck with unreturnablc tickets.That.was an old excuse for i high' prices:cluring the ::llmes 'Wheir : "buys" were in vogue. Repprteri j that other managers -upon hearing ((Ijoiit:. flYtv..,jjitt'enipt::. lofjorce:. the agency:,pales ,i:egis.lercd a- coinplainl with the co<ie enforcnment authonly. Code IS on a vear-to-year basis and I Moi cwco theatres in Los Angeles ana ::Ni::w::York:::"' ,.:''.': '■;;-:-.■■ '>■-;■ ': ',', -., . Hia i.'? sur\-ived by his- ^^•idd^^f. Mrs.. ' Doiollu Moinsco and-« son, 01i\ei l\Ioiosco, Jr . "A typifral. Moro.sco..;casV' w^s-lii- varraftfy in:,tlie7lJttiing';br'01iy<<)l' Mo- ro.sco atli'ac.tioiis.:-a M'ne'- that is now iieai^egendary. After'orie • i HI : j . :->> i- -1 Ts i succe,-=.slul carcei's as a produccr. Mo-! expiies next Monday (3) Laboi Day i , , ^ i ti- i ^ :„^~>-i..:. . V ,i V' , - ,', ro.sco suddenly taded. It was known SO fai agencies have not been asked , to sign the code for the new season ^^^^ .vent;iiring. outside of show business, iinlueltily 'liire'd by a, "blu^; sky," .stock scheme. ;.....',: : lVIbrB,sco .■;,-v^.as ,-c,H!irged.: -with - nia 11 fraud and was ac<ltiitted. but as-^oci- Among the seasons entiants into ales v\ei e senlenc. d to Atlanta p-ui- - ■ tenliary: Testimony indical,ed that: Potsdam McCailhy got his degiee from the Unuqrsitv ot Viigirtia also :frprn4he.:yirgisiia. Military being a. native, of Richmond.,. \':' " He ■ iA'aS '-;larg6ly '- instrumental," in arraiiging for the Katherine Corhcll-- Brian Aberrie ,ioxhale tour ii,i:'''''riie cKpacity; with operators wondering, where the malenals are coming from. Not nr'.y i.s there a shortage:. in mii'lerials but also labor, not a few , warkfir.^ . ha\'in[j gone on: vacation .de.spite : the operators' cohimilmeiits lo producers. People in costume : Bdiiets of Wmipole Sticd last ^eal ' olanls have rccc'ved additional pay Although the Amcncan Theatie as the result of a delayed ruling by .show; direct the War Labor Board, which ex- Wmg .spon.sored the .-.ri^w, v<"v".| contact was maintained betwet n I plains then desire, to take time off Miss Cornell and Gen. Marshall through: McCarthy;: ABRAHAM-ASHBY NEW TEAM OF MGRS. Burr Quits Rose INDPLS. LEGIT HOUSES SET FOR BUSY SEASON the managerial field this season will be Saul Abraham and ■ Geor.i>e Ashbv. Thev have secured the .script ot a laugh show presently Called 'Tell It To .lonesv. author being Sgl newcomei'. , rtuidiidin,- ,.iui,iiic;ii.> | general manager lor Jones and i Green, is currently an executive in i USO-Camp Shows. Ashby being on i the stalT Of the Mansfield. N. Y, : i Title niay be changed to .' Screw- i balls. Us that kind of a story. i Indianapolis, Aug. 28. : The lid will.be lifted on the local It'Rit xea.son Sept. 2i. when : "Ten Little Indians opens four-day stand, at the- .Engli.shi Ho'usi>: reports that Swanion Tecs Off Clcve. Season Sept. 17 , -Cleveland. Aug. 28. . more attractions are on the books | Gloria S\^-anson in "Goose ,Foi iiovv than at this time last seaspn, ! the Gander," is leeiiigoff the llahiia'.-! vyiiich was ■!»• biggest in l.'i years. , ' j fall sea,son Scpl. 1"?. and , live other Siriiie\ Pat,e and Cecil Byi lie will ' altidc'101.s an aliiuh boi'^tri b\ open tluii lilts at the Muiat with ' Milt Ki.mt/ hou--e manamr 'Uncle Toms Cabin Oct 18-21. The) Weeks lillod in so lai aie o.ot 24 paMiicis, who made a successful i Veu Zoi ma Canada Lee and Ai nold debut last s(a-.on also hd\e carded j Mo^s in Temptst Oct 1 '0\tr- ■Vitloi Boige 'Vclo/ and Yolanda ' tons' Oct U lallulali B ink'ic id m r.mlDi.ijxi and Lai 1V Adlei Giade 'Fooli'-h Notion^ 0( I 2<) lla~-y -Fields and Charles' Lywagher Heart;': Nov. 26."A :Winl:er's-Tal'c'■ ' diiclion .,0.1', "Martha,''; to-, dale, with'-'|. ;ofh('r. !vttractions peiidiiig. The Murat, ,:\yil'i be put lo:giTatcr: use this:sea.son: Hum at any tune ^ince the Shubetls | ^^^^^ Au'elc- \u-, 28 ^•^^ _ Lf-lci Matthews Caimen d'An- . — ~— '— — —" 1 loiMO and .Shtivv-O^ei-l-wfHe-inked for:fea-tured I'ole.s in the .singe nni- mvestors were mulcted: out p£ :$2,i 500.000. Despite vast, ihtercst-s:that we re his:, iVTorosco was on the Acj.or.s Fond list, receiving fina-ncial aiid for Stephen Van Gluik a i veS.'S, and it is leported that the Abiaham, forineih , Motion Pictuie Rclitt Fund als. con- tributed. It l-s a quosli6n.,::w.hcther hiS;"Peg o' My Heai't." which brought fame to Laurotte:;Taylor. Or "Bird of I'ar- adi.^'C.'' .■which did likeW.lse:,fo.r. Le;- nore Ulric. wii.s- the, mo.st 'svicce.'-'.sful. Both' scbi-'cd loiig ,runs dh'Bri)ia.djv:a.y.'.: and there wci'e. n.Hmurqi.i.s r!)ad:'c;on[i,r' (Continued on page 50) Eugene Bun executive a-sistant to BiUv Rose has lesigned anrt-will leave the Rase oig^ni/ation in two weeks. Reason is destiibcd bv Bun as Ins imwillingne.ss to remain inactive, dl- though with:pay. while Rose takes I ."",:"," ZT^:^^^^^^ NEW LEGIT THEATRE Grant by the WLB of increased pay and a reduction m working hours was anticipated by co.stume plant- owners who put inon'ey aside fcir that purpose. B.y lowering the num- ber :<,)f working. Iiours per week, the: workers will have a chance for over- lime wages Not only aie the co.s- tmners working on legiteis but also night club door , shows ami outfits foi USO-Cmp Shows DUE FOR WASHINGTON Washington, Aug. 28. When restrictions of the War Pro* Coast to Get 'Nose' Los Angele-- Aug 28 Norman Rainey s new legit com-,, . , .. -u y-i .4--i odj "Cupid Thumbs Its Nose, w,ll;' uction Board aie ended by Oct 1 be staged here by Jack Pre.sent and ! Wa-l""gto" .wilt have a new leg.ti- Haiiy Zevin who have sta. ted pre- mate Iheatie Broadway managers nonj . > have been quietly looking over the (ic-ld- and- new con.struction is about: iiminarv casting... Play will open on the Coast later "taken for an pastei ii toui and Montgomery Refusal to Modernize 'Irene' Slated for Arbiters' Verdict 'Song' Topper Trio Inked Schenectady Tryout SchtnecHdv, Aug 28, The El le will lee off its season Sept. 6 w,ith a liyoul of "The Boy Who Lned. first play to premiere m Schenectady since a comedy oi the-latc;Don Marciuis vvas presented Ht the , Mohawk Drama Festival about SIX. vears ;igo. "Boy, :which 1^.^llllfs Jianne Cagnoy, Claire Wmd.sor and Vaugban Gla/.ier.: is due, at the Bioadhuist N Y, the follovv ing week Fal laii Theatres hrive booked the play foi thue days ■Displilo'over the : rew:i:iting of ; ■■Irene,;\ Which:iS:to be the:basis ftir.j '"Alice "Blue . Gowmi. '. is slated to. be : ■ad.iUsted' ::by' Arbilrat ion being held:j by' aShCnt ■pf;.,:thC/ Dhuiiiijjsts. Guildi;: :igb(iif; ■; S'i(;i^'' Hirigiiiatcd by Jamis Moiilgbiiicry- and it. is alleged :.that; lie.ret'iiscd .1.0 n'ui<ici'iiize the .story; al- [. ihdugli he'tiKi'ecd to dp sO: last lyiarchy j ;ii,xpCctjuit-,'pK)dticei's, wbo ..(■nlei'Cd.f into~a---ctitilract- with:- Monigi,m!cry ' Wilt !:asi5''Xhc arbif i:;il()r>i .foi' an a:ward ; that';., t ifIwj'^ ■ A h:0iV,aidhor'; %in8,^ : llie new niusica), not a levlval Uiuki- ^lood that RKO v.i\\ be the piincipal b.»i kci Irene was pioduced m the fall ol 1919 dt the Vandcibilt, NY whne -it.,raiV,^t\yo yea:i'S.. ■ -'-,-'''":,;,;■:?.,■', Leases .Vlrt. rhtatrc, Ballo Thi Al liual Thcdtic Coip . N Y hi-s ]«d-ta the "\laijj..nd Iheatie BaJtimoie, foi legil ~liows sical The besot 1 Song ' lo be pio ^ ^ . ^ ^ , _ duccd by Russell LevMS and Howaid|sciipt up to date oi pel mil anothe Young-,:,:., ■ :. Show wilt: open Sept; ::lfi in Saii Diego, followed b.vVbonkings al.niig the West Coast aiid in (Ja.iificla. a.nci winding ,..tip., in. Chicairo, :iale -iiv Oo- tt-rii:c"i%:1;« dp so;:Nb similiir case has :: ai'iseii-sinc^K Ihe -€3ufld.'vvas:'foi:mCid:: : i Ilari-^'^'i.criicy'/ who coinpoSed the v origiiial Kcm-e wilh'^^^^^^ iate :.loscph ■ IVlcCihihy^- ji>is,'Wnttch -seven: new ' Shows in Rehearsal —ii,Spring ill -Biaiil"—ShiibeM-v Monte Pioscr and MilUm Bcik "Tobacco Road" (r«art)--,-H:airy Oshnii. , - ,,: ' ",thei-tse''-—Bai-ney ■ Klawalis ,; and Victor Paync-.Ienmngs. • Polonaise"—Hoi ace .Schmidlapp ind H. iiv Blooniheld "Deep Ale The Roots"~Kei mit lober. PITT PLAYHOUSE SKED -,; :'. " ' ; ;.-Pit,lsbu)'}ih, Airg! :ili;', - Pittsburgh TTayho.iise,;und,e,r:dircc-' U6i.i,:df .Robert Ciill for Ibird'.straight vear will open new m.i-oii on S(pt ■ 12>wJlH: ''Siriidl ■ ivt i riicl«''I d^ Krasria. lirui'dor in<;lodr.aiiiai;; .ria.yhou.'-'e c.\:lcn(lii:i:ii schedule :.Toi' 194'5-4b lo 10 plavs as ataiiisl v^\<n in foi mci vcai'- . nd v\ill do a new pioduction tvcij month only ^ongs letaintd being I Bloomgardcn and Gcoi ge Hellci I ntimbcr., ,-,..„:„ -.- . ,, , [•"Irene" iiivd ''AfFce- ..Blue :.Gowii,.:' j Piuduceis claim that Montgom<i,ys dtti ude may .nipau the lights ot ' : olher.s cdncCrhe'dl I ;Tioi>neyi;\v-i:do^ o'f-McCarthy- jind : -liis sonV/ id^o,-: the' ;IhVv managers', j ': Moiii.iiOj-iit:ry is .'t|uoted .s,ayi,ng: -fhal, :| '[ they would liav:e lo use-'the original I .'sprii5t:(iv (:!sc The Rvan Gn 1"--Shubci Is ¥A- mund Goulding >.nri .Mheit De (oui- .yiUe:'-: .;■■-'.', .,'■■: ',- -/ .''; -!':-:'.:.--': '.^' -, "You Touched Me"--(juthrie Mc- Clintic - :: "A Bov Who I.tveil rwi<e''^Hall Shellon l-'orevfi Is Now"—Gf 1 ti iidc Md(v Emily"—Lee Shubnt dnd Albert to bei'in. It may be in the vicinity of Dupont Circle, in the northwest -cdion where the bettei-clas.s legit customers come from. The National has prospeied since llu Munsey Trust Co bought the property .It hasn t had a losing week -. .-^ince its operation. The Shuberts nave been looking tor their ow-n.the- ■itio in this city giving up the Belas- LO foi the Stage Dooi Canteen, and have propositioned Loew.s for the Columbia house on F stieet But the Columbia is an economical opciation and makes plenty ot moula for ,T;ocw's!, -' :-'-: ■',:.'■■'' ' . In .the firiit ,World Waf 'Washing- loji liatt 'four 'theatres, the- Shubert-, , fj.11 lick Polls the Bclasco and the National Because of building le- ^tiKtions and materials beiiig fio/tp, IhT T'TjtTimm"-h-as-had"a"inbnofi<Jt3rfo"r- rjldviii; le'ptimate attiaclions Gil- 01 it Mi 11(1 piopositioncd the Stage DviorXanteen to release the Bela.scp,'■ oriciliig- to: build another, spot vvhcl'e,' it '■'.edidd' .Wltertain k;rvieenicni:,vBjit' till U S Tieasury turned down the piopositton cold altci Milton Shu- beit had tiiod lo make the Belasco something other than a .stoiag6 I \VHreho'lis&' -v,' ■'■ '""'Sy'.-,'. '-"'::. ; ;>'.■ '. Chaih s Cas-, nave a Lu..stite and De Couiville Lew DuFoi aic to produce ' Alice" | "LaiighinB Room Only" (lo.d)- Vihich Ihcy a«-scrl was planned as d|Shuberts NEW BLACKOUTS' POLICY ' Hollywood, Aug 28 , Ken AUiiray is abolishing Satur- day matinees of his "Blackouts of I'M") ' now in lis fourth >cai at El C oitan theatre I ''^1 w policy, effective Sept 7, calH 1(11 two complete Saturday night 'piifoimance.s, starling at 7 and 9 4.')