Variety (Sep 1946)

Wednesday, September 25, 1946 LBGITIMATB 57 Critics Due In for Iceman' Theatre GuUf} is setting aside tickets for ioiit^of'^towii reviewers scheduled to attend the premiere of "The Iceman Cometh" at the Beck Oct. 9. From the Coast will come Wood Soanes, of the Oakland Tribune, he being assigned to the jaunt'because Eugene O'Neill lived in that California city for seven years, during which time the neiv drama was written among other plays, including O'Neill's "Moon For The Misbegotten," due this season also, Omar Ranney, o£ the Cleveland News, will be among the aisle sit- ters, going back immediately after the performance by plane to his home toivn, where his notice will be written, Sidney Harris, of the Chicago News, will cover "Iceman" for that daily, also 28 foreign ■ newspapers serviced by the News. Claudia Cassidy, Chicago Tribune, is due to sit in, while from Boston those slated to attend! are Elinor Hughes, Herald; Elliot Norton, Post, and Cy Durgin» Globe, all send- ing stories or notices, by wire. In addition, Associated Press will give "Iceman" exceptional cover- age, with news stories of the premiere, photos, a review of the open- ing and a condensation Of the drama, using several quotes. Random House has given AP permission to use the quotes/book of "Iceman'* to go on sale the day of the opening. As a rule books of plays are not printed for several months after opening. All IMeroices Ironed Out Between Leape of N. Y. Theatres, ATAM All differences between the League bf New York Theatres and the Assn. of Theatrical Agents and Managers appear'to have been finally ironed out. It's now up to attorneys for the factions to phrase the wording of the changes to the basic agree- ment, namely, about "new blood" in the union's membership and upped pay. It has been agreed that provision for ATAM to admit new company and house managers be reinserted in the pact, after it had been in- operative for more than, a year. Five newcomers will be eligible to join each year, as heretofore,: but ATAM will have the final say whether candidates propo.scd by producers are to be admitted or not to its man- agerial group. There is a new-blood provision for ATAM'S press agent group, the so-called, apprentice sys- tem. ' Compliments have again been ex- tended to Anna Rosenberg, who served as mediator.for both factions. Her suggestions were not binding, but the union decided to accept the salary boosts without going to arbi- tration, and she quickly solved the new-blood problem that threatened to stymie the new deal between showmen and their company execu- tives. Mrs. Rosenberg's fee is under- stood to have been $2,500, which would make it a considerable con- cession by her. Mediator moderated her usual ■ fee ' because a union (ATAM) was involved, it sharing the cost" with the League. Last Friday (20), wlien the fac- tions came to agreement over the new-blootl clause, the League want- ed the right to name five new mem- bers in view of the bye 1944-45 season, but ATAM couldn't see it that way and okayed only one can- didate. Between 1942. and '44, League nominated 11 candidates, but only five were admitted in the two- year period. New salary scales were set forth in Variety last week, but salaries for company managers on tour were unquoted. Those with musicals will get a minimum of $200 weekly; managers of straight plays now get $166. New scales are retroactive to last Labor Day. Beavers Into 'Oklahoma' Los Angeles, Sept. 24. Dick Beavers, radio singer dis- covered by actress Queenie Smith, was signed by Theatre Guild and will be shifted to the Chicago com- pany of "Oklahoma." ■ Following his release from the Army, Beavers played a few bits at Republic but was never permitted to sing, although he was signed for his voice. ■ HOCKEY SKED STYMIES TODD'S XF ARENA TOUR Opening of the hockey season in October is causing a hitch in sched- uling Milce Todd's enlarged version of "Up In Central Park" in spots controlled by the Arena Managers Assn. Todd has been dickering with AMA execs to book the show at con- ehlSiQU of its western . schedule, "Park" is current at the Hollywood Bowl. With show available for mid- October, AMA schedule is up in the air, as games already scheduled will cut up any route AMA can offer that one-or two-day layoffs because are ffot feasable because of expensive expense involved in paying cast, and AMA has hockey set virtually week in its arenas. Problem is still being worked upon and until all aspects: of sit- uation are mulled over, no route is being laid out. Interstate Cancels Fair Dallas, Sept. 24. "The Hasty Heart" and "Life With Father," both scheduled to play the Melba here and elsewhere on the Interstate Theatres dircuit, have been cancelled. No reason given. . . Groom Greaza Replacement Walter N. Greaza is resigning as Equity's assistant exec secretary and Angus Duncan is being groomed to replace him. Paul DullzelL is the exec sec, Greaza feels that the Equity job ties him down too much, considering a weekend radio stint and stage appearances. Duncan, whose father, Augustin Duncan, is Equity's vicepresident, rejoined tho staff after being discharged from the Army about a year ago. Equity has had difficulty strength- e n i n g its office staff, ■ positions there requiring specialized theatrical background. It seems that every time a Lambs clubber is proposi- tioned to join, they refuse unless having the privilege of acting should a stage engagement arise. Assistant to DuUzell is regarded as a full- time job. ANN CORIO'S HG, 10% DEAL TO PLAY lAID' Ann Corio, former hurley stripper who turned legit several seasons ago, signed a run of the play con- tract to star in "Maid in the Ozarks,'' the hillbilly freak tl-.at winds up an 11-week date at the Belasco Sunday (29). Show surprised first nighters and critics by spanning the summer on Broadway. Accord- ing to Jules Pfeiffer, proprietor of "Maid", Miss , Corio ' will receive $1,500 weekly against 10% of the gross. She will replace Gloria Humphries, who is withdrawing from the cast. , "Maid" will play a four-day date at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, with Miss Corio starting Tuesday (1). Ticket scale: there will be.$1.65 top, large.'capacity spot making it possible for the show to get around .$3,000 per performance; : Peter Lind Hayes Will Head Carrington Revue Comic Peter Lind Hayes, featured on the Dinah Shore radio show over Columbia Broadcasting System this year, is scheduled as star of a revue headed for Broadway. Elaine Car- rington, one of radio's top morning serial scripters, has .written the book and is now dickering with several people to score the music. She will produce. ' Show, according to Mrs. Carring- ton, will also feature Hayes' wife, Mary Healy. Details will be com- pleted on the Coa.st in, October, ac- cording to Mrs. Carrington. Negro Canada Lee Due as White Man In Duchess of Malfi' Colored actor Canada Lee, who starred in "On Whitman Avenue" through the summer, reverses the burnt-cork tradition by replacing McKay Morris in "The Duchess of Malfi," starring Elisabeth: Bergner. Drama opened in Providence last Friday (20). (Lee is due to go into the show tomorrow (ThurS.) in Boston, not being prepared to open in Pro v.). Idea of using a Negro in a white actor's part was first regarded as a press stunt. It appears now that the transition is possible by way of special makeup: devised by a Fifth avenue beauty shop. The establish- ment mixes a compound to hide-, facial blemishes and it's claimed the stuff turns the trick for Lee. It's' the second time that Morris has quit in recent months, first walking without notice from "Can- dida", lor. which he was brought up on charges before Equity's coun- cil. Upon quitting "Malfi", after re- heax'sing several weeks, Paul Czin- her, : the show's producer, gave him a release, although he could have required the actor to pay him the equivalent of two weeks' salary. Curious angle of Morris being cast for "Malfi" is that J. J. Leventhal is guaranteeing the "Malfi" cast's salaries, and he also financed "Can- dida" (with Frank McCoy). Equity sent Leventhal and McCoy $480, which represents Morris' two- week "Candida" salary, plus a re- placement player's expenses, imme- diately after the council ruled the money was due the managers. The coin is ^repayable to Equity from Morris' salary which he is expected to earn sometime this season. Actor said that he must have at least four months' rest because of nervous ex- haustion, and he sent a message to Equity thanking the council for its consideration. That evidently rer referred to a deferred suspension, as the result of the "Candida" incident. Whether the suspension becomes ac- tual depends on Morris' professional deportment. Czinner is credited with experi- menting with a colored actor in the show. It appears that the showman remembered reading an article in Reader's Digest in which the beauty shop's formula lor correcting pig- mentation peculiarities was de- scribed. Producers Are Proceeding Warily With Spotty Broadway Newcomers Mull 'Mr. Adam' as Legiter Pat Frank's "Mr. Adam," the novel about the only American male who escaped sterilization when an atom bomb hit the USA, is being read for possible Broadway presentation by Howard Lindsay, while several film people have expressed interest in the book. Picture difficulties are foreseen in the subject, however. . Book sold 30,tfOO copies first week,, alttfpugh its reviews in New York were blanketed by the truck strike, which kept such luxuries out of the diminutive papers^ ^ Sidney Sanders is agenting the boo'k. ' TAUBER ILLNESS HITS 'HEART' BIZ HARD Business of "Yours Is My Heart", Broadway musical, was badly dented late last week whien Richard Tauber failed to appear in the "Land of Smiles" musical, in which he trouped through Europe for many years. German tenor was out ol Friday night's performance of both shows Saturday (20-21) with a strange ail- ment. His vocal'chords were not im- paired but an obstruction in the windpipe prevented . him from breathing naturally. John Hendrich, a Dutch warbler who sang the part abroad, stepped into the cast -but when it was announced from the stage that Tauber, who is nearly 60, would not appear there was a exo- dus to the boxofficc for refunds. The gro.ss dropped over $9,000 from the previous week's business. Fenime lead in "Heart" is being sung by Stella Andreva, of the Met Opera. She is the wife of M. T- Stark, millionaire merchant known in the dress business as "the rib- bon king". He is said to have put around $20,000 in the show. Court Cites Spa Mgr. Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Sept. 24. Saratoga County Judge Richard :Sherhian' at a special term of court here declared Jewel Steven, man- ager of the Spa theatre this sum- mer, in contempt of court for fail- ing to appear in supplementary pro- ceedings on application of James D. Connor. Mi.<;s Steven was fined the amount of the .iudgment, approx:imately $360, with costs. Amount must be paid within 30 days of the service pf the order, and may ' be applied against the judgment. PITT PLAYHOUSE TEST Pittsburgh, Sept. 24. Brand new play, "The Pink Cameo," by Dana Jonathan, will be tried but this season by Director Fred Burleigh, at .Pittsburgh Play-: house. ■ It's the first time local community theatre has done an untested work in seven years. :. Critics Agree To Name 'Best' Play New YorkrDrama Critics Circle, from which the Daily News' John Chapman walked last year because the group refused to name a "best play" of the season, has had a change of heart, and at Monday's (23) annuar meeting agreed to make an annual selection "without regard to any absolute critical standard." Mandatory agreement was passed over objections ot faction that felt awards should be omitted when season produced no above-average plays, group deciding to pick best play Of thfe crop annually regardless of "top" merit. Group once before also refused to pick a 'best' play, last year marking second time. Group also took in seven new or returning critics, to bring its number up to 24. Circle now includes critics from the trade pres.s, monthly magazines, etc., as well as N. Y. dailies, to raise question in minds of .-iome members as to whether group isn't now getting too unwieldy and away from its original aims. Re-elected to membership were Brooks Atkinson, Times, recently returned from war correspondent work, and Robert Garland, Journal- American, who asked to be read- mitted after puUing out some time ago. Newcomers to group include Vernon Rice, Post; William Haw- kins, World-Telegram; Otis L. Guernsey, Cue magazine; Richard Cooke, Wall Street Journal; Kappo Phelan, Commonweal. Group set up new machinery for annual ballot on "best" play, based on plan proposed by Joseph T. Shipley, New Leader. Reviewers will note their choices anonymously. Plays named will then be discussed, with vote then taken, and play with simple majority declared the winner. In case of no voting majority, mem- bers will then rate all plays in the order of their importance, and a winner selected on basis of grading. Circle re-elected officers for an- other year, as follows: John Mason Brown, president; Ward Morehou.se, veepee; Rosamond Gilder, secretary; Tom Wenning, trea.surer. Colored'Claudia'Set For Another Tour Lecture division of National Con- cert & Artists Corp. has booked its Negro Drama Group for a fall tour of the south and midwest, for the unit's second seaison; as a special at- traction with NCAC. Group thus far has been booked to do Rose Franken's "Claudia" for .six weeks, starting Oct. 15 at North Carolina College for NegroeSj in Durham, :n. c. ,■ Group is booked by NCAC like a drama attraction, although clubs on the lecture circuit also take it as part of their .series. Unit does one- nigbters in college and school audi- toriums, film houses, etc., to both Negro and white audiences. Group of four women and throe men is managed by Powell Lind.say, Negro playwright, who directed the show. Leads are Tommie Moore, who has acted in films on the Coast, and Har- rel Tillman, film . actor; and band vocalist. Last season the unit did two tours, fir.st in "Night Must Fall," then in"Claudia." . *■ Biroadway is waiting for the first real hit of 1946-47. So far there has been no standout among the try- outs, four of which were withdrawn for repairs or the junk heap. September entries were sparse in number, and while one or two may eventually balance up. in the black : there has been no sock addition to the legit list. October should usher in better attractions but there seems to be a tendency ot managers to proceed cautiously, especially with shows they are confident have merit, evidently heeding the \yarning that: sbowshops on the main stem are hard to get. Ticket agency men and others ask:: how many times will playgoers see "Annie Get Your Gun," "Born Yes- terday," "Call Me Mister," "State of the Union" or "O Mi.stress Mine" and, for that matter, some of the more familiar favorites, tickets for which are not so scarce, such a,s' "Harvey," "Voice of the Turtle," "Carousel," "Oklahoma" and "Three To Make Ready." Of course, other shows are prospering, too, but there is an idea in show circles that new clicks are needed to create fiesh in- terest in the theatre. "A Flag Is Born," Palestine propaganda, is the most exceptional new play but its: appeal is mai'nly secular. There is steadily mounting in- terest in "The Iceman Cometh." The ■ boxoffice at the Beck was opened- Monday (23) two and one-half weeks prior to the premiere. New Eugene O'Neill play is reported to be grim drama in professional circles but 16% weeks tickets are on sale, and there are six ticketsellers handling mail orders, it being indicated that $50,000 from that source alone will be in the till before "Iceman" bows in. ' "Park Avenue" High expectations attended the out-ol-town, showing of "Park Ave- : nue" last week but reports from • New Haven after the debut were disappointing, even from showmen financially interested. The flock of writing talent connected with "Ave- nue," however, is expected to whip the musical into much better shape, but it will require a longer period than first anticipated. Show may not be brought to Broadway for another month or six weeks. It was booked for the Broadhurst, and the "Ave- nue" delay partly eased the problem of what to do about "Three "To Make Ready," which has jumped to ca- pacity in that house. Among try- outs doubtful of coming in now is "The Temporary Mrs. Smith." Only one opening ("The Bees and the Flowers," Cort) this week and one is carded for next, ako the Ballet Theatre opens at the Broadway. There will be eight premieres within 10 days thereafter; "Hear That. Trumpet," Playhouse; "Cyrano de Bergerac," Alvin; "Ice- Man"; "Mr. Peebles and Mr. Hooker," Music Box; "Lysistrata" (colored), Belasco; "Lady Windermere's Fan," Cort (second booking this season); "Duchess ol Malfi," Barrymore, and : "Loco," Biltmore. October arrivals will include "Happy Birthday" (Helen Hayes) and "Present Laugh- ter" (Clifton Webb), sO the coming month therefore figures to bring in more than one bell-^ringer. Heads K.C. Group Kansas City, Sept. 24. Jon Yo.st has been appointed di- rector of the local Resident theatre. BETTY HELD AGAIN ILL, HAVOC IN 'DREAM GIRU Betty Field whose appearance in "Dream Girl" was : concededly her top Broadway performance but who was forced out Of the play several times because of illness, again be- came ill over the weekend and the show suspended. It will relight at the Coronet, N. Y., Saturday (28) night, when June Havoc will take over. Miss Havoc had been engaged to replace in"Girl" starting Oct. 7, un-. usual display ads announcing it some weeks ago prior to show's re-; sumption after a layoff. Business has been excellent since the play relighted. v^i..;;::-;'.' ■ Coiuliicts No. Car. Course Irish playwright Lennox Robinsoh, who clippered to N. Y. last Thurs- day (19) for his first U. S. visit in over 10 years, left Monday (23) for Chapel Hill, N. C. He's to give a graduate course in Anglo-Irish drama at Univ. of North Carolina until December.