Variety (Jan 1949)

48 I.KGITIMATE ^^ednesday, January 19, 1949 Le^ s damour b Captnred In March of Time's 'On Stage' %«l Inside SbilT-Le^ Reviews of last week's two Broadway openings, "The Smile of the World" arid "Along Fiftli Avenue " provided several striking differences lAussieilSlftf*^ In 6-8 Months in 2 KeyS' (.pinj^n among the critics. Seven of the eight first-stringers who i Final arrangements have been j covered "Smile" panned it (Robert Garland, ol the Jourhaf-Anierican ■ made for purchase of Australian j was a spectacular exception), but two contrasting grotjhds for cnticism frights to "Song of Noi*way." Dor- , were expreissed by Brooks Atkinson, of the Times, and John Chapman Tii/>(>nn Hnanc Now Qtnrl' '■ '>^'^y Stewart, N. Y. rep for J. ,C.' „£ the News. Said the former, "All message and no drama makes 'The' lUtsUU UpCllS new OWXtli ■ Williamson Theatres, is leaving for, smile of the World' a dull play," whereas Chapman wrote of the play W'ilL C D^^l ^T<»i1a' ' Coast this weekend to finalize "i think it would be more exciting iiE it contained more soap box and Un DCOtrDeai lUriie jdeal on the show's wardrobe with jess soap opera," Tucson Tan 18 'Ech\in Lester, of the Los Angeles jn the case of "Avenue," the eight first-stringers were divided three R^fTorc BrafifPft anri Waitpr Civic Opera Co., show's owners, favorable and four unfavorable, with one "no opinion." Robert Coleman nOj,*.'? I3><IL>VCl,l auu " ""i^V , au„,,, ,„o<. mlffitfoH with .n»W AOS- ' t\,„ 1\ari,...n«. ni^^io yatrkia o i-nvo urVtilo HniirnT-.^ -t ' By ARTHUR BRONSON + "On Stage," the March of Time's new short on the legitimate stage,; ■previewed in N. V. Kist week, is an j interesting, entertaining two-reeler i that will admirably fulfill its pur-| pose—-to acrjuaint the hinterland j and filmsoers abroad with the. \ ^rnter ■ Show was outfitted with new cos- of the Mirror, gave the revue a rave, while Howard Barnes, of the glamour .-nd allure of the Broad- at the ^ tumes recently, towards end of its Herald Tribune, panned it most severely. Ward Morehouse, of the ; Tomole or Music and Art with IL""- Stewart wiU be on the gun, didn't cover either show, being in Atlantic City to complete the as the first ; ;^„Ji,„ way theatre* Although hailed cnh laai viOfiif h?v at thp i tumcs recently, towards end. of its Herald Tribiine; panned it most severely; Ward Mi of Music and Art with j ^^^^^ Stewart will be on the sun, didn't Cover either show. being in Atlantic City - . ivnirm Srntt and John' Real i ^oast tv/o Or three Weeks. : manuscript of a book. Herrick Brown subbed as critic. major documentary on the theatre, I ""^ in •'Voice of the Turtle '' "Brigadoon" was also bought by its people and problems, film isn't, pmHucers clan to ooerate local- I Williamson about four months ago. | Actor producer Jack Buchanan, prior to sailing for Britain Saturday precisely that. It's not a deep,! ,y ^^"^"^int/r continue their Although some casting will be done j^g) „„ j^e Caronia, said it's quite likely that he'll continue to corn- on both shows from N. Y., this j^^jg jjgf^gg^ jje^ York and London, dividing his time between the won't happen for some time, due to | theatre and his television interests. Co-pi-oducer *ith Lee iEphraim the success of two other U. S. mu-, ^j^e shott-lived Broadway version of Sacha Guitry's "Don't Listen sical importations to Aussie, . Annie ! La[dies,'' Jie'U replace, the ailing Frandis Lister in the London piioducw Get Your Gup'; and Oklahoma!.. tion of ?'L&dies" next lijonday (a4y^^i^^ JamSfc^: : onrt "urie.!.rtnnn wiH BMCfianan pii the ^^^G Siisan Slater Bassett, whom he wed last week in Salisbury, Conn. Others 'Heart' Budget Set at $21500 "Forward the Heart," which opens Monday night (24) at the 48th Street, N. Y., will cost about Norway" and "Brigadoon" will likely be Down Under in about six to eight months, following "Annie" and. "Oklahoma!" One will be done in Melbourne, the other in Sydney, as "Annie" and "Oklahoma!" take J ^1 Producers plati ito operate' local; , , , .. ^ ^ ,f 1 ly each winter, and continue their searchinfi study of the present-day ^^j^mer theatre at the Lobero in plight of Icgit, its manifold prob-! ^^^^^ Barbara (Cal.). leins or their remedy—nor was it ■ . ■ ; . ^ v.:.' intended to be. But it does give j ah insight into the workings of the I N. Y. theatre, and highspotting i its varied angles in a brisk, lively j style, it does help propagandize' legit. It's an excellent public rela- tions break for the industry, while from the point of view of the film exhibitor it Ik 18 minutes of good entertainment. Film uses two current Broadr way plays/ "Anne of a. Thousand Days'' and''Red Gloves,'' as basis. , , , . . for its survey of the legit scene, I $27,500 to produce. That does not personaTizing the story by telling; include coin for union bohds, which much of it through the activity ofihas been supplied by Jules J. Lev^ a bit player in "Anne" in getting i enthal in return for a share of the lob. Pic describes the difficul-I the production. Show will be able ties in finding a stage job (it also ; to break even at around $9,000- has a few inferential digs at drama ! $10,000. schools), as it follow^ the bit i piay is being presented by The- pJayer through her first reading atre Enterprises, which operates a for "Anne," the rehearsals, open-, dramatic and musical school in ing night, and the moment when | New York. Anthony J. Parella the reviews arrive and the feeling j heads the firm, in association .with that the play is "in." The girl's [ Leon J. Bronesky, an upstate busi- deli?hted remark, "I'll be working ness man and occasional Broadway this season," has poignant impact, investor. But pic is much more than a bit | Production was budgeted for player's story. There are shots of | $25,000, and among the backers, .the hit streets of N. Y.'s Forties;, each of wkom has been required conferences of the Playwrights', to pay a m% overall, are Brone- Co. and Leland Hayward; rehearsal i sky, $5,000; Arthur Earle, assistant scenes of "Anne" and "Gloves." i stage manager of the show, $500; One enterprising bit shows a re-'Lewis Harmon, pressagent, $500; hearsal scene In "Gloves" that! parella, ,$7,500; Peter Frye, who I okay, segues into the same scene on; is directing, $2,000; attorney Je-, Grosses of Ballet Russe this sea- stage, with sets and stage dress, i rome B. jGolden, who has been in-: son have been astonishing. Corn- All the various steps in launching terested in the script for the last a production are shown—the set'couple of years, $1,450, and Paul designer in conference on his job; I Vroom, general manager of the press department getting its pub-1 production, $500. licity out; stagehands wheeling' ■ • sets In; , opening night lobby crowds; the autograph hounds; a aboard; were Ephraim, Ivy St. Hellier, Adele Dixon and Austin Trevor^ last three cast member^ of Broadway's "Ladies." „ 1 J ' Legit season at Nixon theatre in Pittsburgh, which started out so to the Aussie road or New Z ealand, promisingly first of September, is being shot full of holes as a result of I' mounting road casualties. Both Louis Calhern in "Play's tKe Thing"' and Paul Kelly in "Command Decision". had been tentatively set for Februaiy dates under subscription (auspictss o^^^^^^ folding of both these shows recently aftei*' quite disap^ leaves Nixon bookings for the month; pretty wtiU riddled. Dbubt|ul if any replacements will be available in the meantinie, ihcrease . number of dark weeks house is facing bet^yeen now aiid spring, Ballet Shows Marked Uptrend Phenomenon in show busines.s^ in view of dropping biz in legit, films and nightclubs—i.s boxoffice showing of ballet this season. Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, sole major company touring a full season this year; reports uptrend in biz as much as 30% over last season. Company is now taking bookings for March, 1950, and of its 1949-50 season has 19 weeks already set, with only six weeks left to .fill. < . Ballet Russe isn't the only terp troupe to do well. The Paris Opera Ballet was SRO in Chicago and New York last fall, and the Mia Slavenska troupe is currently doing Five small ads in last week's Variety announcing, "At liberty, Samuel J. Flugelman,". were a private gag between producer-publicist Alex- ander H. Cohen and legit press agent Samuel J. Friedman, who were recently associated in the production of "Jenny Kissed Me," at the ■Hudson, R Y.. They were spotted ill the :film,:radio, music, vaude and legit sections of the paper. Cohen secretly : lhserted the copy to rib Friedman, who is sometimeS'facetiously referred to by the Flugelman tab. However, the producer couldn't contain himself and phoned the p.a. to get his reaction before the latter had seen the ads. So the wheeze didn't pay off as hoped. ; entic dashing olf to his paper to scribble his review. In addition to Charles Boyer, Rex Harrison, Joyce Redman and other actors. ' the film gives gtimpscs of Theresa Helburn and Lawrence Langner, Howard Lind- say and llussol Grouse, the Play- wright.s' quintet. Clarence Der- wcvnt, Equity prez, and Angus Dun^ Burleigh Loses Out On Mass. Strawhat Setup After 14-Year Tenure pany, in 14 days in Chicago (17 per- formances), grossed over $133,000. In Portland, Ore., with tvjo per- formances in one day, it: took in about $9,600, as against $7,000 in two days (two performances) a I year ago. Detroit b.o. was $27,300 for three days (four performances). Memphis clocked off $4,500 for one performance Jan. 3. In Los An- geles, in the pre-Xmas theatre lull "Leslie Paul, secretary in the office of legit press agent Bill Doll, is believed to be the only Broadway actress thus employed: Her last stage assignment was understudy to Margaret Phillips and ■ bit. player ■ in ■■ "Summer and Smoke," at the Music Box, N. Y. She played several strawhat engagements last summer on leave from the Doll dffiice. She ■ uses lunch hours to make the rounds of producers. Legit Bits of Dec. 11-ia, troupe did $45,000 in , _ seven days, or $12,500 more than'^a"- Skmner is handling rest last year. In San Antonio, Dec. 25,' ofv the 10-lectnre series himself. William McDermott> critic for Armina Marshall, W e s t p 0 r t, | revival, and will continue until Conn., strawhat co-founder and 1 early February . . .David Tebet is a producer will be euest lecturer ^^^^ Partner with Wlllard Keefe in proaucer, wui oe guest lecturer i^g^g^g^jj^jj^g j^ove" and *eb. 1 on Richard bkinner s sum- |"Oh, Mr. MeadowbroOk" . . . Robert mer theatre management course at 1 Lewis will direct Cheryl Crawford's American Theatre Wing's profes- production of the Marc Blitzstcin sional training program Designer ™a^v.«^^^^^^^^ S. Syrjala was guest yesterday (18) next season Carl Benson, who and actress Viola Roache spoke on recently withdrew from the cast of Boston, Jan. 18. ^ ..'"ff). ^!"1V.P !'^^w''^",ersjin"\hrwor7tlheaVr7Teek"^^^ ] I year, one performance grossed $4,- ' i SOO. Only bad stop was New Or the Cleveland Plain DealeFt in sneaked in on the selectman of Go, ha.sset this week, wangled a lease ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ can, temporary exec-sec, have j °" t*)f C^^^s^et Town H^^^ somethmg to say, as has Richard ' ""^ted Frederick Burleigh from a gugar Bowl competition, yet on ?™i>'l^vay shows-. . . BrOck Pern. F. Walsh, prez of International ^^rawhatler he s been runnmg with troupe's last day, Sunday (2), it ^as had another setback Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- ^"^cess since 1934. 1^,.^^^;^ j.g j„ pei-forman^.^'l'i.^f« «^ay for an extended ' As a • result Burleigh's South Top at all ^miis^'"''''''^*^^''''''''^' ' '"est . • • iSi" AlOng J-hTR I Shore Players will not, be (yper^ .^M.i,M^*"''--^-^^^ at the Broadhiirst, in^ lating at Cohasiset this suasM**" gpu'end isn t all gravy, company j dudes Eddie Lewis, general man- iThe local strawhaM««w*'^'" ''.'"lt,'^" "''f'"^'^ complain, since costs art 1 gger; B. D. Kranz, prddtictiori stage ii'nen—^-'--- sought the I up over last year, with a 17% rail-! manager; Samuel Lift, stage ttian- - c- ot the name of the South. Shore | road ticket rise;/production costs ager; Ted Cappy, assistant stage Diamond Lil," with Mae West, will direct productiohs this sea- son for the community theatre iii Daytona Beach, Fia ;. FraBjfe Car^ rington's Paper Mill playhouse, town last week to catch the pew S^'m' h^t rpii«M°rA.Hf^i"« fn^ Rmariwav <.hnw«. RrAoIr P.m. "'gbt <o^ but relights_ April 18 for ployees. Directors H. C. Potter and ,led Harri.s put their charges throiit^h their paces. The N. Y. 'I'lmcs^^JJiTOks Atkinson is re- Baruv 3',K«i.!S<»j^tfecivifc','"ji*.4io|iP-, vealed writing "his Teview-iin-aB*-," ■hand..'' An excellent running comment Players Assn., but Burleigh, feelr ing that confusion would result, has refused clearance. arv gives a smart : touch to this I short. Produced by Richard de 1 Meantime, Burleigh, under whose with James Shute as I management the South Shore Play BocheiTiont, assistant; directed by Jack Glenn, scripted by Fred Peldkamp and photographed by Richard Maidler, film is well up in MOT's tradition. It's also a tribute to the persever- ance of the Playwrights' publicity chief. Bill Fields^ who re-activated j . j the short were abandoned because 1 location ers have given pre-Broadway pro- (wages, materials) are up, baggage car situation a problem, etc. Fact that Ballet Russe is the only major troupe touring this season, as against two troupes last year, doesn't explain the b.o. uptrend, manager . . . Stage Managers' Club another season... "ANTA Album" will be presented March 8 at the Ziegfeld, N. Y. During his current stay on the Coast • as conductor of the "Ford Theatre" radio series, Cv Feuer, co-producer of "Where's Charley?" at the St. .lames, N. Y., will try to line up a composer and will loss "a ■cockt_ailparly_ Sunday iJjicist for the legit musical he ducUons to the current hit "Lend ■ officials say, pointing to the fact (23) at Sawdust Trail, N. Y. Mem bers of the club will inspect the baGk.stage setup for "Love Life," at the 46lh Street, N. Y., Jan. 27 June Lockhart on a quick hop an tear" and "Uncle Harry," and .that they always played towns three i f.^fj" ^^^tbe • "s,?"!'^^^!^ has presented Sinclair Lewis,' to four months ahead of the other om?e last week to- about $40 Thornton Wilder and Peter Arno company, so that there was no com- ' ^^-^^ in their legit debuts, has announced [petition. no plans for 1949. He's currently, xhe country, say these execs Hasskrd .'Short, 7w.h'o has been ill with : ' brpnchlal .:pn0ufnonia, tiiT^'derafteroiig\nai"'pTans"FoT-i,^"rvo^ New England for a new getting ballet-'mYnded." There's arfwedJ . ctrmina"Cans\no°('l^^^ tremendous a m o u n t of ballet i year-old first coUsin of Rita Hay' and Ernest Martin have skedded for next season. It will have a book by Elliot Paul. of the costs involved. Setup was I - ■ :-,■■•■: ■ - ■ rearranged; eight actors were used! niao Ttallof flv instead of full companies; lATSE KaCC-BiaS iSallet J5y made eoncessions; the Playwrights' Co. eontributed $500. to the cost. An excellent trade_ message and_a good film short'are the result." " JANE DARWELL TO GUEST IN STANFORD U. COMEDY San Francisco, Jan. 18. .lane Darwell has been imported from Hollywood by the Stanford Players (Stanford Univ.) to star in « new comedy, "Build No Fence Around Me." by Alexander Green- dale. The play will preem Wednes^ day, Feb. 2, and will run for one Week at the Little Theatre Memori- •1 Hall in Palo Alto. Eugene CNeill's "The Hairy iipe," another Stanford Players roduction, directed by R. Ri irown, will have a four-night xun egtnning Jan. 26. worth), went on for leading dancer Kathryn Lee in "As the Girls Go" several times last week. The Shuberts, who recently pur- scliools today, in small towns as well as N. -Y, "Their, pupils save, their coin for a visit of the ballet', Blitzstein, Robbms; preferring It to legit. Ballet Russe's 1 b.o. draw this year is also ex- chased the Belasco, N. Y., have dis- A ballet on race discrimination, I plained in part by the fact that the ', solved the Belasco Theatre Corp . . with libretto by Marc Blitzstein .country-wants-cla.ssical-as against-i Sammy Lambert, co-producer with and Jerome Bobbins, featuring the [abstract or modern ballet, and i Anthony B. FarrcU of the incom- ing"All for Love," has dissolved former's music and latter's choreo-1 Ballet Russe's repertoire includes graphy, will be given its .woi-ld such classics as "Swan Lake" premiere by the N. Y. City Ballet | "Scheherazade," "Sylphides," "Nut- Co. at the City Center, N. Y., to- cracker," "Giselle" and','Coppelia." morrow (20). Ballet is titled "The |But even Ballet Russe officials ad- . ; mit they can't explain the 30% b.o. started working on it uptrend this year; year ago, got stuck and Guests.' Duo over a dropped it, only to resume recent- ly, when Blitzstein finished work: on his musical version of "Little Foxes." Using modern ballet cos- tumes, and done in abstract style, ballet will run 20 minutes. STOCK FOR PHOENIX ' Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 18. Sombrero theatre will opeh iiere the end of the month as ah Equity stock company with a guest-star policy. Ann Lee, who Ethel Bartlett and Rae Robert-! ^^^^2." with the Lunts son, two-piano team, started sec-''» ^ Mistress Mine" and operated ond half of their 80-city concert | a strawhat last summer in El Paso, tour yesterday (18) at North Bay,! is managing the project. Ontario. They're barnstoring this' Theatre is a converted barn on season, via auto-trailer. ' : 1 the outskirts of town. the production partnership for' "Hold It," his mvisical flop of last season, for which Farrell was sole backer. . Florence Rapport back in New York after spending the holidays in Chicago with her hus- band. Bob Rapport, general man- ager of Maurice Evans' revival of "Man and Superman";.. Light- house Players of the N. Y. Assn. for the Blind will give a per- formance of Zoe Akins "The Old Maid" Jan. 26-28 . . . Dan Reed has joined the Barter Theatre's touring "Hamlet" production in the role of Polonius, succeeding Leo Chalzelv who has been ordered to bed for several months. Robert Brecn, ex^ ecutive-secretary of the American National Theatre & Academy, is I again playing the title part in the Chicago Arthur Dresser, producer M Jerry Lester's "Raze the Root," which opened at Great Northern Sunday (16), is Sonja Henie's Coast attorney . . . Barry Bredcn, pro- ducer of Gilbert and Sullivan Operas at Opera House here, mul- ling plans for Chi "Drunkard' similar to his California produc- tion . . . Tom O'Connell, from Bos- ton, is new manager of Studebaker here; Clarence : Gray, formerly manager of Studebaker, moves to Selwyn, filling vacancy left by resignation-.of-Dave.Kind-. . . Pau! Trehitsch here flacking for Dante at Studebaker . . . Jim Keefe, pub- licist, handling "Raze the Roof during its'Chi stay. Rice Switches to Novel As 'Children' Is Bypassed Elmer Rice has abandoned pro- duction plans for his play, "Not for Children," and is working on a novel, his first. No details of the new work are disclosed. "Children," which the author re- wrote from the unproduced version of about 10 years ago, was slated as the final Playwrights' Co. produc- tion of the season, but Rice was un- able to cast it