Variety (May 1946)

68 LEGITIMATE Wednesday, May 1, 1946 Inside Stuff-Legit Echoc? of the failure of the N. Y. drnma critics to name a best play this season continue to be heard. Robert Garland in the Journal-American last Saturday (27> dubbed the Critics Circle, "a waste of Scotch and time," and the present setup of reviewers "just one of those cxhibltionistic theatrical things." Garland agrees with Broadway that there is a best play even in •'a worst season." Journal critic wrote in answer to a query from Meyer Davis who asked why the Circle continued to exist if it could not name a standout attraction each season. Garland is not now a member but was among those Who organized the Circle. That was when he covered first nights for the World- Telegram but after he left that daily and went into "my own personal depression," he resigned. When appointed J-A critic he was automatically re-elected, but sent his second resignation. Garland says that the original idea of the Circle was an informal club such as London's Critics Circle, to "sort of doublecross the Pulitzer people" who had made some curious annual prize .selections. He sees no reason., why . the Circle gave a. "collective brushpff" to the current hits, "State of the Union" and "Born Yesterday." out, but a strong protest from that town resulted in the date being played as per contract. Although the booking is subject to change, it is-tentatively planned to send "Windy City" to the Great Northern, Chicago, house having been vacated by "On the Town." "Windy" was .shifted out of Philadelphia to Boston over the weekend and the Loop date is possible after two weeks in Detroit starting Monday (6). Should the musical go to Chi, there is likely to be some confusion be- cause of "Windy Hill." a straight, play doing well enough at the Harris there. Latter show has been touring for months. Title similarity may also conflict when and if both' attractions reach Broadway. "Windy City" title was chosen because the book's locale is Chicago. Former Broadway producer Crosby Gaige has expanded his literary pursuits to include an autobiography tentatively called "Nine or Ten Lives." Book will be two-thirds about his theatrical experiences and the balance miscellaneous activities. Gaige is contributing to a scries on food articles appearing in the Atlantic Monthly under the general title of of "Accent on Living" and a similar piece appears in the May Red Book. When a manager Gaige made a hobby of cooking and he's now devoting most of his time to writing about the art. One of his works is "Gaigc's Macaroni Manual" and he is rewriting a volume on French cookery. He is also collaborating with Harvey Stevenson on a book anent outdoor cookery, and he has one on Latin-American kitchen products. He also has contrived two books on cocktail recipes, one having a subtitle of "And Ladles Home Companion." Understood that his pop price cocktail book has sold 1,000,000 copies. Gaige, who is also in the food dehydration field, started in show business by entering the office of Elisabeth Marbury after graduating from Columbia University. He was a silent partner of Edgar and Arch Selvvyn for many years, then produced on his own. Closing of "On the Town" in Chicago last Saturday (27) was a surprise, but business there was disappointing., despite a favorable press, and the advance sale scanty. Musical didn't do so well in Cleveland and Detroit either, but strike conditions were blamed in the latter stand. It drew excellent grosses in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but it was a red tour. "Town" originated at the Adelphi, N. Y., being the first musical to score In that spot. It was moved to the Beck last summer and commanded big takings there too. When it was announced to tour, attendance picked up smartly and the management attempted to scratch Baltimore, first stand =+ : : :— APPLE HILL CAMP Children S-12, July A Auiutt.. 38 nl. N. W. Bet ton. Char mini *\4 farmstead ii Mttlni far thli eramKlva cam*. Cmphatli «■ par* tlclpatlan, taur1»»y, iparUmanihlp; iwlMm,lni, craft*, dramatic!, ■trntalR camplnj. - Fat $250. Writ* for boaalat. Applt Hill. E. PepKf«M, Ma*i. ANNE FRANCIS' M-G DEAL Anne Francis, who played in the legit version of "Lady in the Dark' and appeared on network dramatic shows, reported to Metro's studio^ Monday (29) on a term contract. Miss Francis is now 16 and studio buildup is planned. . Sarah Rollitts (Salkow agency) set her deal. "KATHRYN LEE ... is cen- ter of interest among the personalities . . . Miss Lee has beauty, vivacity, a will to dance and considerable skill. She brings down the house. . . ." — C. J. Bulliett, >45 Chicago Daily News "And . .. tliere is the charm~ ing dancing .of. one of the freshest and most captivating young ballerinas of recent times—KATHRYN LEE." —Ed. H. Schloss, *46 Philadelphia Record KATHRYN PRIMA BALLERINA Massinc/s Ballet "Highlights," Season 1945 "ARE YOU WITH IT," Season 1946 "KATHRYN LEE, IB-year old from Ballas, Texas, was new to Montrealers but she will be long remembered, for she is a dancer by the grace of God. Already equipped with a dazzling technique, she dances with a natural grace and fluidity of move- ment. Her solo, 'Dragonfly,' to Mendelssohn's 'Spinning Song,' was brilliantly done.' —S. J., Montreal The Herald, '45 Mai. FRED K. STEELE 9 Rockefeller Mem. N. Yi C. In former years the late George M. Cohan frequented the Friars club rather than the Lambs but it was the latter which sponsored the dedication of a bronze plaque, placed on the wall of the Oak Room, Plaza hotel, Y., last Wednesday (24). Cohan liked to use a table next to the bar in the northwest end of the room and hosted intimates mnny evenings for years. Inscription reads: "Here in this corner.. .the Lambs have placed this tablet in honor of the most brilliant and versatile gentleman in the theatre of his day, George M. Cohan." Leo Frecclman, legit press agent, was among those handling the promo- tion of the English film, "Henry V," which is attracting much attention at the Esquire, a Boston 1.000-seater. He was engaged by United Artists to classify the picture as a "photograph play" in newspaper, collegiate and school circles with the aid of June Greenwall, his associate. Result was that after the film critics covered "Henry," several plays reviewers did likewise in their Sunday columns. Freedman, back in New York, is now agenting "State of the Union," having succeeded Dick Maney. "Maid In the Ozarks," which opened in Montreal Monday (22), has been playing to profitable grosses in large as well as small cities this season, itinerary including Baltimore, Worcester, Newark, Springfield, Wilmington, etc. Show is slated to open at .Chelsea hotel, Atlantic City, June 29, for a summer's run. Show's production and operating cost is so low as to vir- tually insure a profit. Show, being operated by Jules Pfeiffer, is being booked by CRA Artists Ltd., legit division of Consolidated Radio Artists, Dave Schooler, former vaudevillian who has resigned as production manager for USO-Camp Shows, plans an intimate. revive for Broadway late in summer, tentative title being "Give Us This Day." He also is con- sidering a straight play for fall. It will not be his first time as a legit producer, Scholer having presented "Brittle Heaven" at the Vanderbilt in 1934. House is slated for shows next season, after being used for several years as a broadcasting studio. As aftermath of an altercation with Aaron Helwitz, treasurer of the Imperial, N. Y,, Norman Light, the house manager, has resigned. But he's a nephew of Lee and J. J. Shubert and they will keep him on their staff either in the same berth or another house, However, George Oshrin was switched in to replace him after it was stated that Light was "on vacation," before the expected "Annie Get Your Gun" opening. Latter's premiere has been set back by stage difficulties. William Harrigan, originally reported dropping out of the touring "Dear Ruth" company because of serious illness, had only a sprained back, caused by tripping on a stair in Akron. Actor worked three weeks more with the bad back, then was ordered to take a month's rest by medicos. Back is now okay, and Harrigan may go to Coast for an RKO pix bid, since "Ruth 1 tour will be over shortly. Langners to Coast On Strawhat Talent Hunt ~ Stamford, April 30. Lawrence Languor and his wife Armlna Marshall leave tomorrow (Wednesday) for the Coast where, while transacting other business in connection with the Theatre Guild they will scout for talent to present at the. Playhouse, Westport. Conn., this summer. John C. Wilson, who will be co- director with the Langners at the Westport barn theatre, leaves for Coast later in the month, also on tal- ent hunt, Last Coast, trip this triumvirate made for the same reason in 1941 brought forth the engagement of Tyrone Power and Annabella in "Liliom." SI Habits Continued from page 1 theatres, according to the surveys. The film entertainment costs much less and they like it better, the ex- warriors declare. Many of the boys say that they got the "movie habit" in the Army or Navy when they had Jhe chance, to see more pictures than ever before and became ad- dicts. Local managers say the ex-Gls' preference Is for action pictures and musicals, with comedies also having a good following. Action pictures now are getting a record play in the territory, It's asserted, and the trade of the returned service men helps to account for this. LEGIT HIT WRITERS Have you ■ lull ocrlpt you »Uh pre- ■laredt New production enterprise eonnldtrlnf Krlpt* for (nil production. Send nam*, baeksroiiud, type of pl») to Box 2B45, Variety, 131 Went «lh Stmt, New York 1», >". Y. PLAYWRIGHTS SECRETARY li-tocrotary to well kaewa IrootV way playwright, ovotmo* vctoraa, M«kt rapleyMtot. Oood knowl- •do* of script* oad currtat theatre, ■ox 100. Variety, 1M Watt 44th Straat, Now York City. RATHBONE, LEONTOYICH CO-STARRING IN LEGIT Hollywood, April 30, Basil Rathbone and Eugenie Leon- tovich will co-star in "Obsession," psychological drama by the French playwright, Louis Verneuil. Homer Curran will produce the two-char- acter show in association with Rus- sell Lewis and Howard Young. Jane Hinton has written .the Eng- lish adaptation, and Ouida Rathbone is collaborating with both authors on the final English script. Play will break in San Francisco, before. Its Chicago and New York runs. Annual Strawhat Award Set by Newport Casino Acting award for summer stock work is being inaugurated by New- port (R. I.) Casino theatre, with first award, in nature of a gold loving cup, going to actor Robin Craven for season of 1943. Craven Is now on tour in the Theatre Guild's '"The Merry Wives of Windsor." Runner- up, Joseph Leon, is also on tour, with a USO-Camp Shows unit in the Pacific. Casino, operated by Sara Stamm, will open 1946 season of 11 weeks on June 24, with Hudson Faussett as stage director. 'Spring's' All-Out Radio Drive to Boost Chi Biz Chicago, April 30. Producer, playwrights and cast of "Day Before Spring" went to town on local "celebrity Interview" radio shows here last week, knocking over a record (for opening week of a show in the Loop) of eight dates, in which they plugged the show like mad. It needed it, In view of the puny $13,500 it wound up with. Among those making pitches were producer John C. Wilson, writers Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, and thesps Irene Manning, John Archer, Bill Johnson and Tom r_ t Photo by Bemtclinelder Height VA Inches—Wingspread 9% Inches GARDNER and GARDNER, Rox 33, Wichita, Kansas Please ship me........B-29 Ornamental Ash Trays at $7.95 each t <^ol$L"?6?£h □ Check □ C. O. D. Name. Address. City.... State.