Variety (Aug 1945)

50 LEGITIMATE Wednesday, August 29, lOjS Plays Out of Town Phibdclphu Any 27 I ..^'■>Ii)i!inhit»'.'!AV;(fl\er. ■ !)l-uii)K'l iuir ■iil' cUiiit'tiA. 1", ■t /'iii 'j*''ls.'aiKl I'lUir'Mcf iH-'s'.b.v ;Veni ;i,n<l i WUUh IiV -. Null KitVIIt ;, VllfiUMne-';. -.liHtil-i' 11 4% I .. .UuiiH liI .MrCU-riiiinl; ........ Itonnie .\iil in, i '.Vrjilllill llllslifll ^..iV..'..biiit^ur wiiiiv.' ,■.^>ll,^' Kiii-i.s. ,,', V.''. .K1 in u b e t ii I mnv .■.•.:.liui!-ct.' cviI'Tiiiv .■. .-..'fciiii'i-.i .'],irt.li>r-(.}ui' ■■■•Vii.' Aihiilii. jSMy-.'HUlwrt;. ■.I'mMi.:;.:..,:.:-. :-jyr". .'<.,:} , <.■■.■■ ■.;K>in»r|.M'.;..^;' White as the piecocioii,s joiiiis biolli- (1 Robcil C.ii Iptoii dS Moiid s llll- Joi'tuiiate leading mini;, and Suzjjniio .lacicson as "nuiriia" Kiye as,-gOb;! support as tHo play allpvvs ihenli. Biil , III. I s lint niuc'i Willuim Nod S.uil- tei s siiifjle set i-- aitistic an/l eflec- ■ Local riwt-nighters and, ci'ix wei'e loininsf in the hope that this u k not i piopheliu o£ 1945-46 st,me l^ie This yeai's onehei ui Philh looks very doiibttiiloI either Broadway or Hollywood chances Johnnie W.ilUei loimei scieeti playei ts-ilent d<i\s of "0\ei the Hill ), is the pioduLei ot "Make Yourself at Home," \\\\\^\\ opened a two-v\eek ens-agement to- msht at the Locust Stieet theatio with the presence ol S.illv Eileis film player in the lead as its most tangible: asset. • - Here ,is' one" case ':wliere there is no need or chance ot saving that show may be improved with cutting and sharpening Vera Malhcus comedv had a running lime of a scant 90 rminute'! on the openmg and V ith only one intei mission (two acts ^\^th two scenes each all ni the same settmgi, final curtain fell about ^0-22 Idea had been spread here prior to sho\i''s Openmg that Mak' Yoiiisolf at Home" dealt with Hollywood during current apartment shoitage, but that proved on the ixnay side Comedy is laid in New Yolk al- though quite a tew ol the chaiacteis Bie mo\ le people Miss Eilers plays the lole ot Mona Gilbeit. film celeb who decides to | take a Hvei on a stage appeal ance . and chooses a script against the bet- ter ludginenl ot hei manager (and would-be husband). She aUives in New Yoik with rnama, a precocious brother, a maid and the manager, and the last-n 4med gets hei into the iswankv apartment which she has previously suo-lct to a supposedly - reputable business man. He:happens to be living thcie with his iindei- "T;over iswreetie—a southern gal with one of those thick "you-all" dialects, and the two love-birds naturally ob- ject to the interruption, especially the man The show is a contiplele flop, with everybody realising that lact even before notices come out The manager again proposes mar- riage and since Mona s film career i seems also washed up. she accept.s and: decides- to i-etire trom her ca- (eei in favor oi a faim life Every- body's set to go west, much to the ]0V of the harassed sub-tenant when a piece of unexpected publicily— ■ Mana's young brother socking a ftrst^lme critic in a nightclub after the show—causes her studio to re- new option and at end she has an- othei potential stage vehicle and the whole merry-go-round starts over. : ::MiSs Eilers-looks very smart in- deed (except for last enseinbleli but her acting is nothing to rave over. If anything, .she under-plays several temperamental scene.s which might have made for better comedy. Hoxr- ever: she s still the news of the oc- casion and whatever chance the comedy has. which is dim. must rest on hei shouldeis Ccitainly lo-writ- ing 01- even re-stagrng won't help much even though Walkci's direc- tion is sometimes clumsy. • : Best performances in supportI'lg cast: without question IS that of Plulip Huston as Vic Arnold, the ; agent-manager. He's both amusing and sympathetic in his more serious inoments.. ; Bonnie NqUin collected :■ . quite a tew laugh.s with her broad .Georgia (Alabama. Carolina?^ ac- cent and wears a couple of very re- vealing negligees Donald McClel- ■land IS. bcoa.dly > amusing as her : sweety-pie -whose main requirement is^to swear at;''alt the interi'uptibijs .. to his! illegal: honeymoon. Williaiti ; Valetine as the author (who claims .the play he wrote was nothing like the one which (lopped). Donald llcvils- IvUloro . ■ New Haven: Aug. 2.1. , Willi'i.iVv ■c^iii'H '.priv»iuV'tli»ti of I'iViiM.Ml.v; .i.n' ii'tV' ;i.^'t:.^ c«is ■'.■^(■■en('Ki:V.l).v.. fO,ii^t»tit'. ANiIcv i'irlinVs itii-'iiC'^:!' C.nssiii'l. . Sif,ti;:OL(-Ilntif^t:!: eri y ' k'MI Irri;'. ■M('>w^^.|:^l -Hii.v.V Olniilfil' HI' imilt'i t iTif'jn i'.f', .Vi'Av' .Xun.-'.lit, '' . : ,1 illll».V,:::Kl|i'riU ...... ;.. .: .:.'!'un.v.. '(''(It*!!: , ... . . . .tit'illKl* :Ktl.\lt'l' ....!.;, .:. iijel.l'i ■Ivclli's- .... .:.J*!fin ;t.'|p\'it'l;i.<"l . ..: rtsi rcy yol.lHM'ii, t'inio.sl - C^'>^S'ii't ..; :'. ., ./liiliii krij'si.l ■.'.r.iUn ■(UtMlV'Knll.'rs' ;.\li(|.:llllll r.l* i;i\SKS . , .■ . /.:i.ii'X 0'Mn,'lli'\ . ; . .Vsiilcn - tiiiwy'' ; 11.11: l-:iTi'ti; 'l'iiin.'SMin-..;...... Jtni.-U,. .:.... Miss -.Vifry.e-.,..: .■„.;■,;«,■■..• .,M 1 n: .H'H be! 'i 1 i» nUv .y I r.: Di-;.'. AiiVli i'ii..... . •.. ■A." ()«vH. i.sti'ry;';.-; ■Bitiilift',;. Ji... Itisi)(:i.'.i,i'ir ■H'l.'iiu.ibii;.-.i. ,\1 n Hill i:'.'.; ....:. ..-i, . .l-'iuvUi'S'-. i;ui'iu\y .-..'. oiOsiU ' lioptN to bicak up Uie af- Mii When this tack tails she is about to tii poison when a "stomal h spetuilisl' (Flank Lvoii I. whose liomc tlu' (ouplo had loiited letuins li'om Iiulin. not knowing his-house, luul- betMV-Wlti'd..:: ;- Alti'i some dinusing iiiMPitaintios the preliminaries of another run- .i\< <iv anaii die voiUed uo oiil\ to be inlerrlipted by the.rpturir'ol 11.V? husband, still accompanied by the ooettss Theie's confuMon aplenty. l)ut it s laughable and it takes skill- tiil diiodion to keep things mOvuig on an oven keel Thats what Frank Lvon did-.: Acting IS <,upeib with Miss Hol- manil carrying oil the honors. Higli- li^ht ol the peiloimaiuc is i haii- ■oiillmg: rasslin' match between the. Mi.s-os Piiie and D\oiak but its Miss Holniann's conti ibution w hicli lOdllv keeps the play togethei Lnrfc. oi.ivi K Monosco Olh'er Moiosco. ()9. was killed by a stieet cai m Hollywood, Aug 25 Details m legit section. Oliver Morosco This new comedv will leqiiiie a ladieal dose ot jet piopulsion be- tween now and its Gotham debut It hdsn I much ol a chance at the bo\- OO-ICO,." ■ ;'. A dneigent plot development thai i oscillates between lact and fantasy | is not pjiticuldih convincing, ni en- tertainiiig. in. 'either category in its t, 01 (sent stote Dc\ lis G.iloio i on- lains an inteiesting basic thought but its wateiloo comes in amplify- ing that thought to amusement pio- porlions.' -.' :''.:,■. , .'.' -■'■'"■' ;.' .;''■'■ • The: cbiTied,y's potentialities center aioiind a two-week piobationaiy peuod which Cecil Brock, liteiaiy agent and prize rake, wangles out of a de\il who has been sent to claim hi-i soul: when Brock IS conked by a buciding no\eli.-t whom he attempts to seduce. Brock sells the devil the Idea ol letting him hang on to mor- tality tor a couple ot weeks. Ill re- turn lor which lie promises to bring i the devil the -soul ot the young girh.i The deal is made on conditions that | the devil accompany him in mortal loini Theie follows a hodge-podge of muidei mjsleiv philosophy na- nete and lust that becomes bogged down in its own maze. Script never quite ?xtricates'ilself:in time for the' final cuitain Wheiem Block gets bumped ofl a second time Einest Cossart comes back to legit in a role that i.s properly: teatured on the plavbill but not in the manu- sci ipt Pla>ing the soul-seekmg devil, he conveys the impression that niay- oe Hades isn t such a de\ il of .i pl.ue after: all' hi comparison with 20th century morals. As n matter of fact, hes glad to get bdck to it lollowing a couple of weeks ajs a rejuvenated mortal. Cossart gives a good inter- pretation of the part as it is wiittcn, even when handicapped by trite lines and situations. As the central chaiadti howevei his sympathetic po-vib lit p.. aie di'-sipated bv wavei- ing scrivoning which never binds him to a consistent thread. Tonv Eden carries the ingenue role convincingly aifd impresses favov- Elbly With a soft-spoken appeal that presages delinite promise. Com- pletely at ease a.s the embryo writer.' ahe ofleis phvsical attractiveness aKo Geoiae Baxlci plays Biock m good stvle and same applies to Rex O'Malley. an understudy devil who appears:when the first devil calls lor -help, .limmy Elliott registers oppo- site-Mi.s-S Eden in the other halt of the luvenile love interest Minor parts are handled .capably by Mal- colm Lee Beggs, detective inspector; Harry Sothern. specialist in Satan- ism: Betty Kellcy, number one fem- i me foreign -correspondent: .lean Cleveland successful sciibbU r « As a maiden effort.: William Calin j has done an okay production lob on 'Devils" Single setting ot a literaly agents oflice in a Fifth avenue sky- sciapci IS coloiliil and m good taste. Same goes foi lemme appaiel Cast IS generally well chosen. , . Bone.' S Cantiniipd froin- page 4!l ss panips Among hi.- pioductioiis weie Jack Ldlt s top plavs Help Wanted and'''0ne ot U.-. Morosco, first produced, "Abies Iri.«.h Rose',' in Lo.s Angeles, but per- 'illitfed' the cpmSdy to ■rt^t'ert to Anne -Nichols; -wlio' presented it axi Bl'oad- w'ay. vvhere :it e..^ta.bl.islicd a ret;i:ird: lun and earned the authoiess mil- lions , One of his ventui e* that ended on the vMOng side ot the ledgei was known as • IWorosco Town.", for w iich he bought land m California, idea being to produce pictures and plays at le.ss than halt the usual cost. He'' w-(?iit. inio 'baiiUruptcy iii New Yorlc soon atteryyardS; (:l926-)rltabilt^^ ties being $1,033,000 and assets $200: , "IVibrosco started.'prodiicing in Nevy York in 1917, having built the Mo- tosco theatie ("The Voice ot the iiTurtle ' IS current there), first pres- entation being 'Canaiy Cottage" (Tuxie Fiigan7a, Chailos Ruggles) He was unusual among .showmen, clicking: with straight plays 'as well as musical.i, Wliich . included "So Long Lettv (Charlotte Greenwood!. Among file, .many successes- was: •ioiftbardi! ..Ltd," {'Leo CarriUo)., Hi.«! last fling at Broadway was called 'The Moining Alter the Night Be- tore" U927) Perhaps the longest legal battle m theatie annals concerned "Bud," which started m 1912 sind ended in 19.30 m lavor of Morosco and Rich- ard Walton Tiilly. who write the hit, Mrs. Grace A. Fendler-alleged pla- giarism', but tlie : mother of W. R. Hearst testified: that: Tully wrote, the hi st draft. oJ the play m . her Call- loiiiid hacienda Tully was a pio- tege of Mis, Heaist, who put hiin through college. Mofo.sGO and the late Franklyn Un- deiwood his geneial manager, had olhces atop the Moiosco theatre.; During prohibition both were; well .■■■upplied with hquor and were prodi- »a\ m its dispen.sation. The booze was kept under an office trap door covered with a rug.. li'RANZ WKRFFX Fiaii? Welfel 54 aulhoi, com- poser and poet died in Beveily Hills Aug 2() following a heait I attack I Weifel whose giealest tome was 'Song of Beiiiddette ' film veision |Ol which won .Acadeniv awaid had )ust completed a new novel Stai Of The Unboiii" on Fiiday ' ('241 He was bom in Pi'Ague and edu- ' cated in Euiope, v^'hole he stalled caieei as educaloi Duiint, Woi Id War 1' Ive served in the German :, aririy:' He: began .'WM-ilJiig, poetry in Vienna altei wai s end His fiist radio show oiclicsltj foi eight ye^ri until the fall of 1942, when he re tiled due to ill health, and had also batoned othei ladio shows hieUidinjs the National Faini and Home Hour Composed many songs jncludma 'Youi Eyes Have Told Me'So," and •Isle o( Golden Dieams Suivived by widow, a biothei and sistei. success was ' f orty Days of Miisa :Dai!li'; in'1934.- : 11c- came to America in 1940. Lately he had sufleied fiom heait I trouble, butwas believed to he im-? Ipioving when last attack occuued I He is suivived by widow, niothei -1 and a daughter, PHILIP L. PONtE ■ Phihp L. Ponc0, 59. songwriter, music piibli.sher and talent agent, died in New Haven Aug 2,1 He had letiied aeveial yeais ago because of illness.;:'" For a time he had been connected with the artists' bureau of National Broadcasting and had managed the late Tom "Fats" Wallei and other ai lists He also conducted a music; publishing, company in New Haven. He wrote many songs, including ■Garmencita,' 'Sugar Rose. 'I'd Ratner Cry Over You. •Last Rose of Summer Was the Sweetest Rose ot Air and 'Lady ot My Cigaiette''; ' Surviving are two daughters, now married, but who had been known 111 radio as the Ponce Sisters.: HARRY RKDMONO Hdliv Redmond one ot llie pio,: neei film cxhi'bs m the St Louis aiea. died «t Hotel Jeffeisori, St. Louis altei a liiigei ing illnes.s' Redmond enteied the exhibition' field in 1910 when he took o\ei the Lyiic, Fast St Louis fioni Joe Er- bei who opened a vaude house. Latei Redmond auquiied the Majes- tic in East St Louis and several - yeais ago leased it to the Publix' Gieat States Theatics Inc DON NORIVIAX Don Crosnoe. 38. known pi'ufeS- sionallv in ladio as Don >,o nun idled in Chicago, Aug 2.=), aitei a I heal t attdck Ho had bioadcasl "Your Date With Don Noiman over Sta- I tion WGN and latei was on the Blue netwoik with the 'Don Noiman Show ' He letuincd to Chiuigo last week, from California, \vhei-e he'had'' been a network announcer lor nilie : months: ,: . - Survived by-his widow. , MARRIAGES Devikd Ram to Svetoslav Roerich. Bombdv India Aug 23 Blide is Indian fihr. actress. : ''-.■ Helen Smith to Col: John Hoover: Hol'ywood Aug 19 Bnde i ^cieeii .a'ctre<s. . Lyda Sue to .John Metcalf. New Yoik, Ann 23 Bi.de is a dancci NAT B. BROWNii; Nat B. Browne, who had been in the theatre industry 2.^ years in Wa.ihington, died , Aug, '2'? in- that city. : Browne, born in California, came to Washington to work for the Ford Motor Co He latei joined the Cran- dall Theatie otgani/ation and sub- sequently became executive secre- tary to John J. Fayette, zone man- ager of Warner Theatres. He was past secretary and a member ot Va- iiely Club, secietaiy of the Motion Pictuie Theatie Owneis of the Dis- tiict of Columbia and secretaiy of the Wai Activities Committee ot Distiict of Columbia Suivived by thiee sisleis and a brother. PAVI. yi. l^R^KE Paul W Diake, 52, showman, died Aug 18 in Akion O For lout years he was with Ringling Bros.-Bariiura & Bailey Circus until he joined the Army in 191B. He later operated his own carnival for 1,t years and did outdoor promotional work on special- events During the wai he woiked in a distiicl defense plant His mothei and two sisleis suivive. M\X St'HFf'K Max -Scheck. 63, toriner dance di- rector ot Broadway intisical-S. died Aug. 2f) in Newark. N. J. He-liad: retired some years ago: . Best known : among productions staged bv hiin are "Show Boat," "Hit the Deck' and ' Lady Be Good " John G, Buss,: 88. pioneer motion- picture scenic aitisl died Aug 21 at his home in Los Angeles. He began In <-»i»iiiemm«>i'Hll4>ii' of -MV -Wfilovnl >.rloiiil mihI -|-li«^nfrli.|i|- Mi>nfor - PAUL ARMSTRONG BKiN. J. PUZ7A SECRETARY A^Mishitif. to rriMtiMMM- or I'luvwi iviii Y."»'.'-i-'1i*.'l.V. r*-' "Sli'll.l>>!'."a!>!l(M','' .t,V|>is,t,'' ('(itjf.'KK. ■ >)ia|, PXlii'i'i*lVi-,iv'; ..HIilisi'. ^'Ive ,ye ii 'tort-,v''(ti(':iit ■ .Uii'i Birx-60r-Var'«ly~-1iM-'Wr-wnr-sr \ ■ Nfl*'..'Va!-K-'.City • ' ■ ■ Jp ^ 1'iifHiilifnlly Yoiirj$ Worcester, Aug. 25. »',(I,V. t>y. ■ f'y'ii'l- Kri'vU^llll, .■■•IfV ■ ;t>.b-tM'lt'il l>\ '■•'.^.'i'jh'iU ■r<.V'.v-ii: ,:VH''l.i"iM- .■('fij'i-;-..^i.. v.. MlliiMi 'vl^Jii'iK'.';, At' \y.Ot'r*'iiU'iV AlfiK?''*.;' '.^ kil v\:n.i'i1': .ifii*\v ,^CI^!lU^t'll;■l,ll^^llt'jiJ^n .'.; fti-(,iiv? ['.i',i^'lir<iVv . -.. i l''rtt Ilk .]*,\fini PMYEB ox LEE Seripis - Music - Lyrics Speeialty Material AI Mill HI —I l< g-'XHM HSci- lo.'i I'.. N. V. Holes an ouginal venliue bv Guy Pilmcitons slock pljveis a comedy Ih.e .aiitlror spoil- plans to send to Bi-oadway. It's■ the best, production 'of the Ideal troupe:tliis saason—but not loi the mam stem ni ils prosont 101 m II has laughs and well-timed punch lines The siory lags at times and plot js quite incoherent:, but there, are bcaucnup belly- laughs vyhieh iiiHke Worcester aiidiehces bvertetik the te.clliiicalities. ■' Story levolvis about a devoted wile (Elsbeth Ilolmann) who tne-i giving lui blcs iiig on an illicit lun- avviv.y afl'air between her husband [ iBiucc Bughlon) and a gvpsv- , BasqiK! adventuress 'G e r a 1 d i n e Dvoidkl who dabbles in poeliy ot a soit. The v'lte, through hei "gen- BIRTHS Mr. 9 lid Mrs.; Leoii, LobnldolT. spn. Now Yolk Aug 22 Fathei is pto- ducpi at the Radio City Music Hall N Y, .;: :Mr. and JWrs/Doh DeFore: son, Los Angeles Aug 2,1 Mothei is the loi • mei Mdiinn Holmes, smgei; fathoi is ^cieeh del 01 Ml, and Mrs Jack Miunc ^on, Hollywood Aug 21 Molhei i^ the foirnei Qui Tullei. balleiuid, lather IS a Hollyvood agent —Ml--and Mi -Noah- Boiiv- -Ji ;; son Lo-, Angeles Aug 24 Fdthei i; screen-.aKtoi'i'--:- ■-r.;^''-' Ml and Mis Owen Tvice daugh- tci, Santa Baibaia, Aug 2'1 Fatlier IS SCI ten actoi Ml and Mis Don McBain duiL'h- toi IfolKwooJ Aug 22 Fulhei is coowiuM ot Pdim Spiingv (C'ai ) Bioddiasting Co ■ ,Lt:- and .\iis. Sieve Rodnok. Jr.. dau.ghteri P.ittsl>urgh. Aug.: l,i,;F(ither.' .I^it3,tmged a thej*ire;'for ,Jiis\fatlic>r bfc- forc going :n!o t.'io service. Ml diid Mi> Iidncis Jones son, Npw Yoik Idsi week Father is in li 0 di t depi ot Wai neis Ml and Mis Maik Goodson, son \ew Yoik Aug 20 Fjllhei is pio- dueei diueoi with Mildled Fenton olhce and also dueels "Treasuiy Salutes airer.- - PhKKY NORMAN Perry Norman, 81, veteran legit actor.:.died Aug. 27. New York. Bom 111 Kngland. he made his fii<.t appearance m this Country, in: 1924 111 'Best People' and lalei in "Old English" suppoiling Geoige Arliss I In 1929 he pla>ed in 'Journey's I'.nd and a yeai later m 'Fjist Ni!,ht" Subscqueiitiv he acted in 'I he Bcttei Olo' and 'Ciimiilal at i Large.',;,,',., :';;' :>.-':;,-„ ':: ■ -'..,■' .:,,;- ' Seivices will be held at Waltei B 1 Cooke s Chapel 117 West 72nd I stieet todav <Wed) at 12 noon un- dci auspices ol the Actois Fund. I.OU BIGKLOW louBigtlow (il cx-niusical_juve- rijrle. cfu^i'Trr CliTcago.^iast week: of a liflg(ii-ingskin . atn'ictiori..:' He was liivenile lead foi Nat M Wills musi- tdls and once teamed in a vaude act with Jack Cuitis Attei his niai- iidge he kit th6 stage, plugged >ot ^> lot Jeiome Remick Foi a tinv tie w I- with Chicago blanch of W i! 1 i ani ■. Mprr i,s-- Ag 'e ncy, . ■; fti:- la tqr yeaI's, he 'was,,'a,.- stock -brokfer,' " '.; ' ,,-^pe:. :Bi:gelow^ - former ."Variety"- inugg iand. now chief of the radio wilting sldd of ihe J Wallei Thomp- son ad agencv is his only son. Widow also suivives Btiiidl m Jamaica, N. Y last Thursday (23). his career with VUagraph, one ot Hollywood s earliest lllra studios.,; and retired 15 years ago. Mrs. Golding: Bright. »t>. widow ot the dramatic agent and novelist un- der pen name of George .Egerton, died in Sussex, Eng. Aug 12. Mother, 65 ot Gaiy Gi'ay, mglit club comic and foimei ciicus clown, died in Piltsbuigh last week after a two-day illness Mother of Henry Schnutl, veteran Piltsbuigh district exhibitoi, "died at hei home in that citv Seven olhei childien suivive C'hailes W, Goodman. 19 stags managei at the Palace theatei. Will- iDughby O, died at his home m that city last week . George Lalz, 79 father of Cpl. Gepige Montgnmorv him ac tot died Aug 24 on his Montana lanch. Ewirig JPowpll. 78 lathei of Dick Powell, died Aug -2'liu Los Angple'' Fdthci, 78 ot Dick Powell scieeii slai, died in Holhv\ood Aug 21 WALTER h. BLXt'irsS Waltei E Blauluss piaiusl and composer, died in Chicago, Aug 24 altei a heait attack He conducted the "Bieakfast Club" WCAU,Phila. House Band, Set Into Steel Pier, AX. ; Philadelphia, ,Aug:. 28.:;: I, :/EIHott ;Lawren.ee's orchestra gp'B5 - l in to the Sleet .Pier, Atlantic City, . Laboi Day week WCAU house band, heard over CBS netwotk. jeceiitly acquired a neiiv lemnie vocalist, Roslyn Patton. e\-Wdve Ldwicnce's orchestia is also pen- cilled in foi a iA/7 conceit it tf"* Academy of Music, Sept 2i Liltd IS a repeat promotion by Bob H>V"i' WtP .spieler, and Nat Segal e-x-side- uian now opeiating the Duuii Cafe.