Variety (Mar 1949)

48 LEGITIMATB Wednesday, March 30, 1^9 FDR Memorial Theatre Won't Meet D. C. Move to Fix Up Belasco Plan for a Franklin D. Roosevelt- memorial theatre in Washington^ will not affect efforts to secure Congressional passage of. Rep. Smanuel Celler's proposal for the Government to pay for renovation of th« Belasco theatre there as a lefllt house. According to Louis M Simon, Actors Equity executive- secretary, the union regards the Belasco project as temporary, while the Roosevelt memorial Idea would necessarily take several years to complete: Indications from Congressional aources in Washington are that the Celler resolution may have a chance during the current session. There's also hope that the pro- nosed $1,000,000 rider to the, Ad- Hilnistration's $100,000,000 educa- tioii bill may also he accepted. However, the general belief is that the Javits-Ives bill calling for the formation of a national theatre has little chance. _ _ If the Celler measure is adopted, the Belasco theatre might be ready for use as a legit house by early • next fall. Under the proposed terms the Government would lease It for a term of five years. After that it would probably revert to the Treasury, which plans to: re- place It with a modem office build- ing. The Roosevelt mehiorial theatre Idea, originally suggested by Leo- p61d Lever, of the New York Univ. faculty, was enthusiastically en- dorsed at the quarterly meeting Friday (25) of Equity, and steps to oarry it out will be considered Immediately by the union's coun- cil. Present intention is to form a national committee, for which President Truman will be sought •8 honorary ; chairman and Con- gressional leaders of both parties as members, to raise funds, Idea Is to limit contributions to $1, with unions and other organizations as- listing in the drive. It's figured ■ that $3,000,000 or more may be raised in this fashion, over a period of a year or so. After that the committee will probably ' have an architectural competition for plans, fqtlowing which actual construction would be started. At that rate, the theatre might not be ■ ready for operation for three or . four years. By that time the deal - for the Belasco theatre ^ in Wash- , Ington would be about concluded. Adler's British Revue Hollywood, March 29. Larry Adler leaves next week for England to star in "Tune In," new tevue being whipped together by Hyman Zahl for an April 18 opening in Birmingham. It will tour the British provinces hefore essaying a London stand, Adler will be surrounded by standard British turns. Harmonicist has an eight-week guarantee. Commons Moves Nearer Censorship Repeal Via Bill of Edward Percy London, March 29. House of Commons last week took another step toward abolish- ing censorship of stage plays by the Lord Chamberlain and. impose the same conditions now applica- ble to "other forms of literature." One of the provisions of the new setup virould be a $200 fine of a theatre manager who "knowingly stages a play" containing a char- acter depicting a living person or one who died within the preced ing 10 years. Debate on the measure brought some lively exchanges between its prop<>nents and the government, E. P. Smith, a playwright under the name of Edward Percy (co- author of "Ladies in Retirement"), is sponsor of the repeal bill. He was supported by Benn W. Levy, another author-M.P. Mentioning such names as George Bernard Shaw and Nell Gwynne, they argued that censorship by the Lord Chamberlain is anomalous and anachronistic, and that it pro- tects the public not from impro- priety but from the. Impact of ideas. The house voted 76 to 37 to give the bill a second reading. Who's Got Margaret? ^ Columbus, March 29. Two musical organizations here have been bargaining fu- riously to sign Margaret Tru- man for an extra concert next ■^season and the negotiations got so involved that Samuel T. Wilson, Dispatch music critic, led off an article on the mlxup with "Who's got Mar- garet Truman?" . Women's Music Club throught it had lost the battle for her services when Miss Truman's New York management wired the club that "other arrange- ments" had been made for her first appearance here. The Co- lumbus Philharmonic, which also had been trying to sign the White House soprano, be- gan to look like the winner. However, communications are either very bad or snarled completely between N.: Y, and here, for L. A. Pixley, presi- dent of the Philharmonic, claims he hasn't been in- formed of any decision as yet. "Margaret, Margaret, who's got Margaret?" intoned „Wil- son. •■ LinderLeasii^ Deer Lake Spot ; Other Strawhats Ue Sbitf-Le^ According to those who have read the script, the new Garson Kanl« play, "The Sky Is Falling," again Contains characters more or lew identifiable as the author-director and his actress-playwright wife Ruth Gordon. Star part, which may he played by Buth Chatterton when thd show Is presented next fall, is said to resemble Eleanor ("Cissy") P.t terson, late owner of the Washington Times-Herald. The roles said to represent Kanin and Miss Gordon are subordinate. ™ ! In Kanin's recent' "The Smile of the World," the part of the Su.' preme Court justice's wife was generally figured to have represented Miss Gordon, while the liberal young law clerk was identified as the author. In Miss.Gordon's "The Leading Lady" earlier this season, the title role (which she played) was figured based to some extent on the actress' own life, with the devoted young playwright patterned some- what after Kanin, the critic fairly closely resembling the late Alexander Woollcott and other characters identifiable as real people involved in her career. Miss Gordon's "Years Ago" was admittedly a dramatization of the authoress' actual girlhood, and her "Over 21" was obviously based »t least in major part on hers and Kanin's wartime experiences. In the case of Kanlin's still-current "Bom Yesterday," at the Miller, N. Y., the analogy is seen as slight, but still apparent, with the author as the liberal mag writer and Miss Gordon as the far-from-dumb girl. N. Y. Legislature will adjourn, probably today (Wed.), with the Mc- Gowan bill for the Identification of "obstructed or partial view" re- served seat tickets in theatres and other places of amusement, enter- tainment and recreation, embalmed in the Senate General Laws com- mittee. The measure, sponsored by Assemblyman Francis X. McGowan Manhattan Democrat, passed the Lower House. However, the office of Sett, George- H. Pierce, chairman of the General Laws> committee in that chamber, indicated over the weekend that it would not be reported favorably."",' "League of New York Theatres and the Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatre Ass'n were among those who voiced objection to the bill, Orrin Judd, representing the MMPTA, talked with Assemblyman McI" Gowan and with Senator Pierce about it, giving reasons enactment was not desirable/ The proposal would affect the sale of seats to an eb- structed or partial view of "stage, screen, ring or arena." It might have hit Madison Square Garden, among others. "Partial or obstructed view'* would have to be stamped across the face of tickets to such seats. D. C. Acitatton Washington, March 29. Some slim hope that the old Belasco theatre might be restored for legit has grown up here asr the result of a meeting last week to bring live theatre back to D,C. A committee of 20 was chosen to agi- tate among members of Congress and to try to: whoop up Washing- ton sentiment for bringing plays back alive. 'Specifically, the committee will | work for, the resolution which has | been kitroduced in the House by , Rep. Emanuel Celler (D., N.Y.). i This resolution would have the I Government restore the old Belas- co and turn it over to private management. Treasury owns the property and plans to demolish it and erect an annex to the main Treasury building. Under the Cel- ler proposal, the Government would have to put up about $250,- pOO to restore the house, and the Treasury would be unable to build Its annex. Hence, the prospects are not considered better than longshot. Committee natmed at the meet- ing last week includes show biz figures^ drama critics, some people prominent in civic activities, etc. Chairman is Melvin Hildreth, lo- cal attorney. Democratic National Committeeman for the District of Columbia, who was overall chair- Sian of the President Truman In- ugural Committee. RUTHHUSSEYTOFILLIN FOR CARROLL IN 'FANCY' Ruth Hussey will take over the star part in "Goodbye, My Fancy," at the Fulton, N. Y., during Madel- eine Carroll's vacation this sum- mer. She was signed Monday (28) on the Coast by Michael Kanin. co- producer of the comedy with Rich ard Aldrich and Richard Myers. It will be the actress' first Broadway appearance since "State of the /Union," in which she costarred with Ralph Bellamy. Miss Carroll will vacate the play after the performance of June 18 and, after a vacation - in England and on the Continent, will return in mid-September, probably start- ing a road stand in Boston. She's under contract through- January, and may remain for the balance of next season. ' ■•■ Deer Lake, Pa., March 29. 1 Jack Linder, N. Y., indie vaude booker and occasional legit prodi^ cer, has signed a three-year lease on summer theatre here for. a rea- son to tee off May 30. Associated with Linder will be Manny Davis, AUentown, Pa., theatre owner. Harry Fields will be production manager. Linder will install an Equity company and employ a guest star policy for the 12-week season: He also plans to preview his revival ot "The Auctioneer," former David Warfield starrer, with fllmster Akim Tamiroff in^title role, during the season prior to Broadway pro- duction. Linder and Davis are angling for several other houses in the Pennsy and New Jersey areas with th^ idea of setting up a circuit of ro- tary stock. The legit ventures are extra curricular for Linder, who will still maintain his vaude book-, ing office in N. Y. -^^^ Strawhat — New Hope, Pa., March 29; New summer theatre, under can- Ralph Bellamy, the title player in "Detective Story " at the Hudson theatre, N. Y., received extensive technical coaching on his character- ization from a New York city detective. Actor spent several months with the sleuth, going on assignments with him at all hours and, on several occasions, even sleeping at the latter's apartment. The detective, named Mac Hochman,'has lent Bellamy his billy as a prop in the play, Horace MacMahon, the lieutenant of detectives in the show, is mak- ing a drastic switch in the part, having played various sorts of hood- lums in more than 60 Hollywood films. He explains that the principal change in characterization for the law enforcement role is in having his hat brim turned up« whereas he always wore it turned down when he portrayed thugs. Stunt display ad in this^ week's New York dailies for "The Big Knife," at the National, N. Y,, was turned down by the N. Y. News, but ac- cepted by the Times, Herald Tribune and Mirror. No explanation was offered by the News for nixing the copy,'but apparently it was because the text of the ad was all run together, without capital letters, punctua- tion or spacing'between the words. Copy couldn't be edited, as it was: in mat form. Referring to a gag line in the show, the text (in edited form) read, "If you want to aee what a woman with -six martinis in her can do to a picture star's career, don't miss John Garfield in 'The Big Knife,' at the National." ^-- John Chapman, drama critic of the N. Y. Daily News, has recently increased his habit of dropping in for periodic visits to current shows and doing what amounts to foUowup pieces on them for the paper's daily or Sunday editions. In referring to "Where's Charley?" last Sun- day (27) he made a "confession" that he had failed to do the musical justice in his original-review, Incldentallyr-Brooks Atkinson used-hit- last Sunday column to give a rave followup to ^Xife with Mother," which he recently revisited and some of the other critics occasionally I do repeat pieces on current shows. Broadway showmen believe it would IMirhborhood's Summer £ ^* JiTeighbbrhood Playhouse fflt the Theatre, of which uoMid Oenslager is president, will clvt another summer session this yaar, Jttlir 11 through Aug. 20. Coum Un^ to beginners, and ' p IMM at aetors or directors in <^H*iit, oommtmlty and little the- Dramatists Guild Off To OK Start as Angel Dramatists Guild has gotten off to a promising atari with its legit investment pool. It has a $1,500 piece, representing 1%, of' "De- tective Story," new Sidney Kings- ley play which is an apparent smash at the Hudson, N. Y. Its second venture is: a $4,.500 slice (also 1%) of "South Pacific," the highly-regarded musical by Rich- ard Rodgers and Oscar Hammer- stein, 2d, due April 7 at the Ma- jestic. Third Investment, of un- determined amount as vet, will be in "Miss Liberty," the Robert E. Sherwood-Irving Berlin ; musical slated for a July premiere. Investments for the Guild pool are selected by a committee, the members of which are remaining anonymous so they can avoid re- sentment of fellow-authors whose shows they decide- not to recom- mend for backing. vas, offering arena-style produc tion of musicals, will be opened' help legit if other critics did more such foUowups. June 25 at Lambertville, N; J.,' across the Delaware river from here, by St. John Terrell. Schedule calls for presentation of 11 shows, with Wilbur Evans, and Susanna Foster thus far set as stars. Spot will - -- - - - - . -- Music Circus, Terrell was the founder and first season manager of the Bucks County playhpus.e;.h,ere. Musical director of his tent ■'theatre pro- ductions will be Robert .' Zeller. . Putnam Playhouse Starts July 5 Mahopac, N. Y., March 29. The Putnam county playhouse Communist. I have never been a member of the party." Bowling Green Strawhat Bowling Green^ O., March 29. Bowling Green State, Univ. is planning to operate a strawhat theatre June 13-August 14 at Huron, O., on the shore of Lake Erie, under direction of Prof. Frederick G. Walsh, associate di- rector of the Univer.sity Theatre. Milton Baron, who for months has been prepping a revival of tlie hit George M. Cohan leglter, "45 Minutes From Broadway;" holds not only exclusive rights to the stage version, but to a film version, if »ny . ... „o ^y^. is to be made. That was made clear last week in a letter to Baron from be called the lambertville P^"' 0'B"en, of O'Brien, Driscoll, Raftery & Lawler, counsel for the Cohan estate. Letter was sent by O'Brien at Baron's request to clear up varied presis reports of plans by a number of people to do fiiiri and l*iit versions of "Broadway.'^ Baron'said ths^e reports hi«fe been caustog him. to do "considerable and unnecessai^ «xpiainingi*' ; Patricia Burke, British actress who was denied a visa to attend last weekend's cultural peace conference at the Waldorf-Astoria, N, Y., re- ceived page one publicity in London, with her picture, by the follow* ing statement: "When I applied for my U. S. Visa a month ago I knew announces its forthcoming second 1 nothing about the peace conference. I just wanted to see two shows, season of critics' choices, a straw-1 Then someone asked if I Would like to attend the. congress. I accepted- hat season of nine plays, to open i at once because I am a fervent believer in peace. But I am not a July.5." .,„,,, I , . ■. r . . ,. The management has set up a production -service, with offices in Manhattan, whereby members of iviannaiian wnereov memners ot "^^J^ Crown," currently playing at the El Patio, Los Angeles, re- ri^r«ourmaTbremnlov?d d«rine i Cfwed unanimously good notices, to start talk of taking it back for an- hi SrTs^^euTs^ h^summer' l« '^^^ ^Ff l^^'^'^^'J'^'^, "ll?" K Fatricia Englund and Clarke Gordon. H. S. (Hy) Kraft, 'Crowns author, is reported dickering for a film sale and a video prc^ductipni "Crpwn" preemed in New York Jan. 28, '42. Defer Salt Lake Aud S;>'i^ Lake City, March 29. Tlie ' ongrdeferred con.struction , of a civ •• auditorium, badly needed , for thea'ii'ical and concert u.se, was , again put off indefinilelv. j T. T. Taylor, head of the group I agitating for the project, withdrew Ol wlU present Kenyon his plea for tlie building In favor ion's "Jime Night" on AprU of «nd 8. a necessary water-purification plant. may be converted br built are attected. For picture houses, le- gitimate theatres and the like, there is a two-year period of grace where a certificate of compliance is already held, and eveii at the expiration of that, only limited , changes will be required. New N.Y. State BIdg. Code , 1 Albany, March 29. Westbqro's April 19 Opening The new State Standard Build-; Westboro, Mass., March 29. I ing Code for Places of Public Bpd Barn theatre opens its Assembly, which becomes effective strawhat season with "Present May 1 in all sections of the state Laughter," April 19, Producer outside New York City, fixes mini-' Robert Daggett anticipates a 26- raum requirements for summer week season as compared to 23 theatres. These are defined as: 1 weeks last summer, "Theatres having a season not ex- Company plans to put on, in ad- ceeding 12 weeks in duration and dition tp the usual stock, three whose capacity does not exceed new plays and several, musicals. 600." I , ■- Unlike other structures covered I Strawhat Notes • by the code, summerHheatres now i Leon Michel will operate the ... .... - in existence as well as those which ' Nutmeg playhouse, Brookfield Cen- 'Guild sponsorship. ter, Conn., this summer, ^1* Richard Hughes as scene designer and W. F. Holcombe as production manager .. Guy Palnicrton wi" open his Worcester (Mass.) plW house May 27^for a 15-week season and the Lake Whalom playhouse, Fitchburg, on "June 20,, 'ioU Loves Mary" Will be the opening bill at the Hilltop theatre, at Emer- son Farms, Green Spring vaiiey, near Baltimore, the week of May ^ ., Contrary to reports, Bohw''' Cutler's County theatre, SuffeW. N. Y., is still available lor lease. ■ The Summer Stock Managers ASsn. will hold its annual spring meetms April 20 at the Astor hotel, N. X -' Helen Hayes will try out the new William McCleery play,, JiJ". Housekeeping," in several straw hats before bringing it to,-"™?,, way in the fall under Theatre