Variety (May 1946)

Wednesday, May 15, 1946 LEGITIMATE 65 'Suppressed 9 Rascoe Out as W-T Critic; Several Drama Changes Due Next Year Several changes among the drama " critic personnel on the staffs of N. Y. newspapers are due for the season 1046-47, one to be a replacement for Burton Rascoe, who resigned from the World-Telegram last week. Kascoe was' well regarded as a literary commentator but .when he started covering first nights during the war, . so many of his; reviews were contrary to the merit or de- merit of plays that his opinions were discounted. Not Infrequently his notice would be the only one favor- able to a flop, which inspired a wag- gish pressagent to rate Rascoe's nod as "the kiss of death." Understood that Lee B. Wood, Tely editor, would have named a new re- viewer, last season but for the fact that-Rascoe was reputed to have had a contract. Last week the critic at- tended the premiere "Henry IV," Part One, but instead of a notice on the following day (Tues.) it was announced in the dally that a review of the first and second parts of the Shakespearean work would appear Wednesday. The combined notice on that, day was byllned by William iBlli) Hawkins, of the Tely's drama department. Reported that Wood .telephoned the critic's home early Tuesday to say. that Rascoe's notice, which lat- ter had turned in, would not be printed. He was told that the re- viewer was ill and and would not be able to cover the second part of "Henry" that night. Understood that the copy turned in severely cas- . tigated the play and Ol Vic's British players who enacted it. - 'Pass' Passed Previous week Rascoe witnessed "This, Too, Shall Pass," and that no- tice was also tossed into the waste- basket. A notice on the drama ap- peared under the byline of Barclay Hudson, a Tely stock byline, that re- view also being b'y Hawkins, whose father, W. W. Hawkins, is chairman of the executive board of the Scripps-Howard chain of news- papers.! Rascoe is quoted saying he had resigned because a number of his reviews had been "suppressed" by the editor, insisting that although lie severely criticized some plays, that was within his province.' However, he was torch-bearer for some weak- lings, as indicated when he wrote not one but two or three raves about conceded flopperoos. Rascoe ran last in Vahiett's annual critics' box- score for the past two years: Because it is the end of the sea- son a new reviewer will not - be selected by the Tely at this time, al- though Richard Lockridge, former critic for-the Sun, has been men- tioned. . The Post may also have a new' critic, but none is likely until fall, if then. Vernon Rice has been cov- ering first nights for the afternoon tab since the death of Wilella Waldorf last winter. Richard Watts, Jr., reviewer fer Go mag- azine, is a Post possibility. He suc- ceeded the late Percy Hammond on the Herald-Tribune but withdrew during the war. Howard Barnes took over and is reviewing both films and plays. After All These Years Basil Rathbone and Eugenie Leontovich will do revival of Louis Verneull's legiter, "Jeal- ousy," on Coast, with Reginald Denham going west to stage It. Drama was originally produced in N. Y. by Al Woods. Presentation will mark a re- union for Rathbone and Den- ham, the two having been, fel- low members of a Shakespear- ean troupe in London in 1913. City Investing Denies Chi Deal Report from Chicago that the City Investing Co. of N. Y. had bid for the Blackstohe theatre, proved to be incorrect, Robert W. Dpwling, City prez, In saying the company was not interested in acquiring that pro- perty, added that his realty-theatre operating coterie may "go to Chicago some day but not on any deal In- volving the Blackstohe; we have a better idea,", indicating the purchase or building of other theatres is likely. Blackstone, operated by the Shub- erts, is located south of the Loop, current attraction being "State of The Union" booked in for an in- definite period. Despite its location the house has scored long runs with Life With Father" and "Ladies Night." Theatre is due to be sold at auction on May 28. and it was intimated that when the Shuberts learned about a bid other than their own having been made, they jumped to conclusions' that City was after the property. City is a contender with the Shuberts for Broadway theatres. If it absorbed out-of-town legiters, an independent booking ouflt might eventuate. Wasserman in Damp Debut in Jersey Stock Morris town, N. J., May 14. Premiere of Jack Wasserman'6 season at Jersey theatre, here, Wed- nesday (8) with Somerset Maug- ham's "The Circle,", was auspicious in one sense, and chilly in another. Sprinkler system broke down dur- ing performance, dfluging aotors, scenery, costumes and dressing rooms. Florence Reed, playing lead, claimed a $200 dress was completely ruined, Wasserman figuring $800 damage in all. Mishap only temporarily held up performance, show, resuming an hour after the break. Groupsters' LA. Reunion Hollywood, May 14. John Garfield will return to the legit stage for the first time in six years when "Awake and Sing," by Clifford Odets, is revived by Actors Laboratory, Hollywood. He will Play the role originally played by Luther Adler. Others • from the original Group Theatre cast iiv the Actors Lab pro- duction will be Morris Carnovsky, J. Edward Brbmberg and Phoebe Brand. Blackstone Goes for 50 G Chicago;. May 14, The Shuberts and two Chi Theatre treasurers—Harry Rossnagle and George Rochford—won out over a N.Y. bidder last week, following an earlier-thah-schcduled auction of the Blackstone theatre. They got it for $50,221, the bid having forced up $10,000 higher than that approved by the county board recently, due to the competition. Sale was held earlier than the scheduled date (May 28, announced two weeks ago) to allow Samuel B. Epstein, counsel for Select Operat- ing Co., N.Y., Shubert subsidiary, and Lee Samuels, counsel for N.Y. party to return to N.Y. When Epstein sought confirmation of the sale to the Shuberts, Rossna- gle and Rochford two weeks ago, Samuels appeared before Jucjge Robert E. Crowe in superior court to ask postponement on the grounds that his client would pay $10,000 more. Epstein last week matched Samuels' bid. Wheii Samuels tried to obtain a continuance, apparently to discuss the question of hoisting the bid with his client, Epstein told the court that the judge had no alternative but to confirm sale to the Shuberts, et al„ as his clients were the sole bidders at the original bidding. Dorothy Sarnoff to Sing At Covent Garden, London Los Angeles, May 14. Dorothy Sarnoff, currently singing in "The Vagabond King" for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, was inked, for 20 opera appearances at Covent Garden, London. . Star leaves for England on com- pletion of her "Vagabond'' chore. Rules (or Coal Transport Snark Equity's council, anticipating the possibility. of further transportation curtailment because of the still un- settled coal strike, lighting restric- tions in various municipalities and the railroad . trainmen's walkout schedule for' next Saturday (18), adopted measures whereby the bur- den of managers may be lightened during crisis conditions. In advising showmen of its moves, Equity stated that the resolution adopted last week was done with the Idea of helping "both the producers and Equityites through a trying pe- riod." If out-of-town shows are unable to give performances because of local or state ordinances, the producer can. end the season without notice, not being obligated for further pay. If the company is returned to N.Y., the manager has the right to hold the cast intact without financial ob- ligation, this provision having been made because of scrambled condi- tions in Chicago, when lighting serv- ice was curtailed and actors wanted to go home until the date was re- sumed or a jump to another stand, was due. However, if the producer decides to hold .the company outside of N.Y. during a temporary layoff, he must pay each actor $5 daily for a period of not more than 10 days, after which full salaries are payable. On Broadway last week there were declines in grosses. The somewhat improved outlook-of the coal situa- tion has been discounted by : the threat of a railroad strike.- With trunk lines having already slashed train schedules, chances of business as the season approaches the sum- mer period are growing more un- certain; Buyers Getting Winded In Chi Title Confusion Chicago, May 14. Indications are there'll be a lot of surprised customers here for the next week and a half who'll be buying tickets to see Kay Francis and wind up seeing a Dick Kollmar musical. And vice versa. Miss Francis is appearing in "Windy Hill" at the Harris, and "Windy City," the musical, opens at the Great Northern Thursday (16). Former closes May 25, but in the interval confused ticket buyers are legion, according to cashiers and speculators. 'Sheila' In Double Play Hollywood, May 14. Harry Pop'kin, head of the newly formed. Cardinal Pictures Corp., will make a legit play as well as a pic- ture out of "Sheila." Robert St. Clair, author of the novel, will write the play, slated for fall presentation in N. Y. To Be or Not To Be in Bard's Parade Is $6 Question; Kudosed Old Vic No SRO 'Go West'Was Right! Thrilling reception accorded the Old Vic company at the Cen- tury, N. Y., must have dis- pelled the ; doubt in Laurence Olivier's mind whether he would not have done better by taking the group to Moscow. Russia had also extended the Old Vic • players an invitation. Before first night's show, Olivier was heard to remark, : "I know we made a great mis- take by not going to Moscow The Russians would have given us a great. reception." Turnout of. most of the top personalities . for the preem and the way they applauded the performance, must have made him change his mind. Negro Groups Protest Pitt Uncle Tom' Musical , As Indecent, Insulting' Pittsburgh, May 14. Three-day engagement of Ameri- can Civic Opera Company's musical production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at Syria Mosque this week was pro- tested by local Negro groups on the grounds that it's "indecent and un- fit for public consumption." James Reid, news editor of Pittsburgh Courier, lodged the complaint with Mayor David L. Lawrence on the basis that the show "is a burlesque of the original story with white per- sons using grotesque black make- up." Jack C. Anderson, an official of the United Theatrical Booking Exchange, which is bringing 'Tom" to town, countered Reid's protest with the claim that "it's one of the cleanest entertainments , and best - liked 'Cabin* productions to appear on any American stage." Mayor Lawrence, decided to have the opening performance viewed by a competent authority, who will de- termine the status of the show's sub- sequent performances. COAST 'HARVEY' SETS SPLIT-TIME RECORD Last week's takings of the road "Harvey" with Joe E. Brown were quoted over $42,000,. said to be a record for a straight play in split time on the Coast. Three performances at San Diego Sunday and Monday t5-6) grossed $14,000; following' night at Long Beach, takings were $6,700, and count was, $9,400 for two showings in Pasadena last Wednesday (8). Show traveled ,pn Thursday, .then got $5.80p^at Fresno oi\ Friday (10). Jump tq*San v -Jose Saturday (11) could not be made in time for the matinee, night takings being quoted over $6,000. Coast "Harvey" Jays off for six weeks starting June 8. It resumes at Buffalo July 22, plays a full week in Toledo (Brown's home town), then goes to the .Harris, Chicago, Aug. 5 for an indefinite stay. Dick Kollmar Bows Out of It' Richard (Dick) Kollmar, who has been- following an arduous schedule of activities between musical show production and morning and even- ing radio programs, is reported with- drawing from "Are You With It," one of the legiters. James (Jimmy) W. Gardiner, co- producer of "It," is said to have already taken over the show which recently moved from the Century to-the Shubert, N. Y. Business slip- ped lately and the players agreed to a salary cut in anticipation of holding over during summer. Kollmar also produced "Windy City" which opened out of town last month. Show is currently in Chicago where it is due to open Thursday (16) after layoff rehearsals of.one- and- a-half weeks, required by the revision of the musical's book. ■ Unable to supervise "Windy" by remote, control, Kollmar has been sticking with it but planes in weekly for "Boston Blackie" the evening radio show. Morning broadcast "Dorothy and Dick" is being handled by his wife Dorothy Kilgallen with the aid of guest artists. "Windy" management asked Equi- ty' for a salary concession on the ground that, because the show was jumped from Phila. to Boston and then Chicago, an additional outlay and operating loss of $46,000 was sustained. Equity declined the re- quest to skip salaries. Production budgeted for $180,000 raised by 60 backers who Invested $3,000 each, Harry Brandt teaming with Kollmar in that operation. Last week additional coin was sought. Show is being staged by Edward Reveaux, a Yale drama school pro- fessor, said to have overstayed his leave of absence. Gardiner, who is . 26, hails from Houston, Tex., being of a wealthy oil family: He started as an actor in "Early to Bed" and "Allah Be Praised," then turned to the man- agerial end. He plans to produce a musical called "Westchester Countess" next season. Original Ballet Russe Due in N. America in Fall The Original Ballet Russe, di- rected by Col. Wassily de Basil, which has been playing in South and Central America the past four sea- sons, is returning to North America in the fall, having been booked for about 20 weeks in the U. S. and Canada. Group is now in Cuba for per- formances May 16 to 20. Then it leaves for Rio de Janeiro for two weeks, with other S; A. bookings to be set before summer layoff. Accorded wide, press attention, the Old Vic troupe from London Imme- diately established a new record for Shakespeare on Broadway, but the attraction did not sell out through . the initial, week in the 1,670-scat Century/ Gross was quoted over $52,000, but takings could have been more. Not only did the house prove too vast for straight plays, but audi- ences frequently could not hear'the lines, uttered rapidly by the British players. It appears to have been a mistake to give two first nights of "Henry. IV," Parts One and Two, on suc- ceeding evenings and it is evident that a $6 top is too rich for Shakes- pearean addicts. As that price ap- plied to the first floor entirely after the premieres, the rear rows were hard to dispose of. Both the first nights were $12 top and although the first premiere was capacity the sec- ond failed to sell out, chopping be- ing resorted to. Agencies were ad- vised that $12 tickets were available for_ half the price, but because of the* tax such tickets were offered at $7, instead of a dollar, less. In • London the first. part of "Henry" was the more popular, whereas here it was quickly noticed that the second part was better liked, the bawdy Boar's Head tav- ern scene provoking much comment. Theatre, Inc., which planed the Vic complement over, now finds that it cannot change the' schedule, which has more performances Of the first part of "Henry" than of the second, whereas it should be the reverse, sponsors figuring capacity for the second but not being so confident about the first. First week's schedule was tanta- mount to 11 performances because of the doubled tap oh two evenings and an extra matinee last Thursday (9). That performance was for profes- sionals appearing in other shows and unable to attend regularly, it being a sort of afterthought With scant notice for the added aftern, ion, that performance didn't go clean either, but takings were better than antici- pated from the advance sale. Old Vic drew a, generally enthusi- astic press, but some reviewers in- dicated they could do without Shakespeare and a couple of notices were not so good. One critic thought that some of the Bard's plays have been done, as well Over here, if not better. However, Sunday (12) com- ment was laudatory In the leading dailies and Ralph Richardson, who did Falstaff, was given the edge over Laurence Olivier who had dual parts in the first two attractions. - That opinion may be reversed in subse- quent appearances In other plays. Richardson lost his voice for three performances last week and couldn't play Falstaff. Third $12 opening was held Mon- day (13) when Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" was added to the repertory.* It will alternate with "Henry" dur- ing the week. Fourth double-rate debut will come next Monday' (20) When the combination "Oedipus'.' and "The Critic" wilt constitute the bill. Except for the latter dual perform- ance the other three plays will al- ternate more or less during the six weeks' engagement. Boxoffice lines are slow in moving because patrons are confused over dates and the plays they wish to see. Brokers say Old Vic anything but a hot ticket and some agencies didn't have a solitary request from customers. There were 100 unsold $12 tickets for "Henry," Part II, even with the aid of the agencies. Hartman to Go Legit Hollywood, May 14. Don Hartman, currently produc- ing "Down to Earth" at Columbia, will shift his activities to Broadway on completion of his film chore, to stage two shows. First legit venture.'will bo "A Lady Waits for Love," authored by Jules Randolph. It will be followed by a musical, based on his own book and lyrics. Title is "Love Song," Paul McKim, son of the late Rob ert McKim, film heavy of the silent days, has joined the Wayne Babb Players, Dallas:' McKim comes here from the Pasadena Playhouse, Hoi lywood. Despite Its Good Press, London 'Town' Slow B.O. London, May 14. Despite good notices here, Jed Harris' production "Our Town" has failed to catch on and is expected to shutter shortly. Meantime, Har- ris has returned to the United States, where his father is seriously ill. Producer may return to London, however, to stage other productions. Marc Connelly is doing the narrator role in "Our Town." Worcester Festival Set Worcester, May 14. Fourth annual- strawhat season will be presented by Worcester Drama Festival, under direction of Guy Palmerton, when" outfit opens with "When Ladies Meet," Saturday, May. 25. Following with "Male Animal," group is skedded for a. 16-week, season.