Variety (July 1949)

ITrdacMlay, Jnly IS, 1949 LBGITIMATB 4# LEGIT’S CHILL DESPITE HEAT lATSE to Oppose Licensing 6.0. Men; Murtagh May Cut Brokers By Half Possible reform of the theatre^ — — ticket distribution setup in New | ^ , m t i r* • York may boil down to the ques, UUimi. WelCh (lOllIC tion of whether boxoffice em ^ ® Into B’way ‘Streetcar’ ployees are licensed. Legislation to that end is being drafted by New York City officials, but whether it Is actually enacted is subject to various uncertain factors. It will be fought by the Treasurer & Ticket Sellers Union and its parent organization, the International Alliance of Stage Employees (stagehands). But whether the city administration pushes the measure strenuously may depend on the mayoralty situation at that time Los Angeles, July 12. Anthony Quinn and Mary Welch will both go into the Broadway production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” after Irene Seiznick’s national company, now at the Biltmore here, plays San Francisco. Change will be made in September. Ralph Meeker will take over Quinn’s place in the national company. By KOBE MORRISON Increasing concern is being felt in legit circles because of spotty business conditions, on both Broadway and the road. Even allowing for Ihe seasonal boxoffice slump, various disquieting factors are seen, with little prospect for a strong recovery in the fall. Although a handful of shows are doing powerfully at the b.o., the overall Broadway level is below that of last season, which was relatively weak. The fact that hotel bookings in New York are report 5 More Broadway Theatres Seen Lea^d for TV; Would Leave Only 26 N. Y. Houses (or Legit ‘U.S.A.’ Closing in Chi, '♦ Five more Broadway legit IheaIres are reportedly about to l>« lea.sed for use as television studios. That is in addition to the six Due to Resume in Fall i ‘■In.side U. S. A." will probably close Saturday night (16) at the Shubert. Chicago, but will likely resume its tour in the fall, working its way to the Coast and possl I and four others being used for video. It would leave a total of only ' 26 theatres available for legit in New York. Latest houses reiuirted likely to switch to tele are the National, Broadway and the Century. Lea.se edly lighter than at this time in | Playing one or two return dates ^ of the Belasco as a radio spot was , ^ ' Jorja Curtwright, film actress Proposal to hcen.se b.o. men, of been signed by Mrs. Seiznick fered recently by membei*s of the replace Miss Welch. Committee of Theatrical Produ . cers, drew immediate support from N. y. Commissioner of Investigation John M. Murtagh, whose probe of ticket scalping on Broadway precipitated agitation for reform of the ticket setup. According to the commissioner. licensing of the theatre treasurers would enable the city to exercise much more supervision over ticket sales and largely eliminate scalping. He is convinced that, without control of the boxoffice. no permanent solution of the problem is possible. Murtagh points out that, under a 17IIG Advance For ‘Salesman’; Tix Into Jan. Tn^^e face of declining boxoffice conditions generallv, business at licensing system there could be su1 c i .w. •• *• p«rvislon of ticket di..tributiofl I from both the theatre and broker i almokt-as Ireavy-g^ pace as w'hen age end. Treasurers could be required to make a regular accounting of ticket distribution, so producers, theatre owners and managers, as well as the city, would know where tickets were going. He would favor having such re(Continued on page 51) 8 More Agencies Cited by Murtagh T.icenses of eight more ticket agencies were recommended for revocation yesterday iTues.) by John M. Murtagh, N. Y. C. commissioner of investigation. Those cited include Jefferson D. Davis, Jr., secretary of the recently organized N. Y. Theatre 'Ticket Brokers. Inc. This brings to a total of 17 the agencies recommended for license revocation so far. The eight additional brokers named by the commissioner include, besides D|ivis, Oscar Alexander, Joseph Davascio. Louis Keltz, Nicholas Sklar (operating Eddie’s Theatre Ticket Agency), the melodrama opened in New, York last February. Not only has the show turned away standee ap i plicants at every performance since the opening, but the advance ! sale as of last week was $170,000, I compared to $225,000 just after the ! preem. Moreover, the original ad' vance included heavy theatre parties, whereas the present amount consists entirely of individual cash orders. Situation is considered vir, tually unprecedented for a tragedy, j With the enlarged boxoffice. tickets are now on sale through next January for the Arthur Miller play. A few locations are still I available for week after next. Al.so. since producer Kermit Bloomgarden withholds seats for every fifth ! week from the brokers, they can 1 be purchased at the window or via mail orders. 1948 indicates that tourist trade is oft. On the other hand, the number of people taking guided tours of Radio City, presumably an accuiale barometer of out-of-towners in New York, has been the highest on record. Grosses on the road have generally been even spottier than on Broad waji*. as the Lenten lull tended to continue into the summer period with little improvement during the post-Ea.ster weeks. Even more than in New York, uneven business on the road tends to be ruin(Mis, as the loss from one bad stand can wipe out the accumulated profit from many successful weeks. Despite a belief in some quarters ' that a reduction of boxoffice prices I would stimulate attendancer-'there is considerable evidence that the ticket scale is a minor factor. For instance, it has been observed that in most Broadway shows the lowContinued on page 52) in the east betore folding for good. Arthur Schwartz revue has repaid its entire $2J5.0(M) investment and has earned a profit, but the latter coin will be held in reserve for next fall’s tour. $5 Fine on Absentees Proposed to Increase ATPAM Member Meets In an effort to increase attendance at general membership meetings, the Assn, of Theatrical Pres.sEleanor Miller (Apex Theatre Serv • agents & Managers proposes to levy Ice), President Travel Agency and Joy’s Ticket Agency. All are relatively small outfits. According to Murtagh, Davis conducts his business from his home and on the street. He is accused of not keeping proper records and a $5 fine on all absentees. Only tho.se with an acceptable excu.se would be exempt. Such a system is followed by various otiier show business unions, including the stagehands and scenic artists. ATPAM membership will decide I Equity Dues Due For $6 Increase Annual dues of Actors Equity are due for an increase from $18 to $24. Boost is expected to be , voted by the council al its regular meeting next 'Tuesday (19). Subject will be a special order of business. Raise, which has been under I consideration for some time, was i formally recommended by Paul | Dullzell, treasurer, in his report to the recent annual membership meeting. He pointed that although i the union has a surplus of nearly i $8.59,000, expenses have been rising. particularly since Equity now j I gives its members much more pro [ jtection and service than formerly. | ! He also noted that many members. transfers from affiliate unions, pay only half dues, or $9 a year, to Equity, though they re : ceive full benefits from the or I ganization. Todd Slated To Cash in Heavily When Girls’ Went .Abrupt closing of ‘‘,4s the Girls Go” last Saturday night (9) was a I tough break for Michael Todd. MuI sical had only recently earned back ' its initial cost, so the producer wus^ set to cash in heavily, since the show's unusual financing setup gives him almost all of the profits. As it is, the production is around $4U,00()-$50,0()0 ahead, including union bonds. Although Bobby Clark wanted to ' continue with the show despite doctor’s orders. 'Todd insisted that the star have the required checku)>, and accompanied him Sunday nigiit I (10) to Harkne.ss Pavilion. N. Y., "Cabalgata.” Spanish revue where he will be under observation which opened Thursday (7) at the ^ until his illness is diagnosed and Broadway, N, Y., is understood to treatment prescribed. After that, have involved a total production j if Clark’s condition warrants, Todd <^ost of $300,000. However, that set Monday (11) and a tele deal for the Mansfield is about to be clinched. In addition, approaches have been made by TV firms for the Alvin, Hudson and Lyceum, but the owners of the latter three houses are reportedly not interested in disposing of the properties. 'The Shuberts, owners of the National, Broadway and Century, already have the Avon. Longacre, Kitz, Maxine Elliott and Adelphi under lease to radio and television companies. They are understood to be willing to turn over their other hou.ses outside the core of the theatre section, particularly the less desirable properties. However, they intend to retain the better locations, particularly their eight in 44th and 45th streets, west of Broadway. The National, now dark, has been available for radio or TV for .some I time. I The Broadway would be lei go after the current run of ‘‘Cabalgata.” On the other hand. “Kiss : Continued on page 52) Cost For ‘Cabalgata’ hopes to reopen the musical. With that in mind, he’s keeping the co.stumes and .settings in the Winter Garden theatre. N. Y. He's working out terms with the Shuberts, who operate the house. When it was decided that Clark should go to the hospital, some of Todd’s associates wanted to try to get a replacement and keep the show running, Groucho Marx, Victor Moore and Bert Lahr were figure includes several sets of costumes and scenery since the .show originally premiered seven year* ago in Madrid. The original investment, all put up by producerchoreographer Daniel Cordoba, is said to have been earned back several times during the tour of Spain, Latin-America and the Coast. Capacity gross for the show is about $37,000 at a $3.60 top. and mentioned as pos.sibilities for the I i*?® ** around assignment. However, 'Todd thinks "Girls” is essentially Clark’s show. Also, as this is the fourth production he’s done with the comic, he didn’t want to replace him. of failing to pay the Federal tax on whether to adopt .such a policy on ticket sales. The other brokers at its next meeting, Oct. 20. cited are charged with various of I The union’s board of governors #04**’ overcharging and has also adopted a re.solution call filing to maintain proper records, jng for a vote by secret ballot, One of the eight, inactive in recent ' rather than by voice or show of months, has volunteered to sur hands, when there is decision in render his license. in an interim report on his investigation into theatre ticket Scalping. Murtagh listed nine •gencies he had previously cited volving wage scales, working conditions, bonds, charges again.st members, disputes between members. or between members and employers. or ratification of basic J license revocation. They in ' agreements with employers. This elude John Ahearn (revoked). Phil propo.sal will also be decided at the nosen (licen.se surrendered). Louis Oct. 20 membership .session, (revnCJ^r^^/^'’ Tannenbaum Number of new committee apjVrnKe / ’ ‘•'evoked). Ben pointments have been made by the ‘^••••-'union’s new president. Frank L. rendered). Sam Strum (surren union s new president depoH» V„:i /r'*’". Smith. The various chairmen are The ' Rav Broeder. finance; Morris Ja that 1 cobs, bargaining; Hal Olver ron llilin “P*'®' stitution* Jacobs, welfare; Wolfe Kaufman, publicity; Ben Kornn^Satfnn recommend education; Mack Hilliard, h*!# * '^® Reen.ses of about u , P* ®li the agencies. However, i tk ' , he would not conclude \ jne investigation without wavs and means. tail a wiiiiiiui a “de *L fundamental studv of of practices and methods null J Poxoffice. AH evils corn office'" h ®®» he emphasized. box STHAUS’ LONDON STINT ' Vienna. July 12. Oscar Straus is back in Bad Isihl. . He directed two concerts in l.on , don and disked for Decca. ‘HAMLET’ MAY SHOW IN PARIS BEFORE HOMING The American production of “Hamlet.” currently appearing before Army of Occupation audience.s expense reduced to about $29,000. in Germany after an engagement 'There was approximately $81,000 at Elsinore, will probably give sev advance, of which around $.58,000 eral performances in Paris before in tifitets mu.st be refunded or exreturning to the U. S. Dates are I changed. The original cost of the being worked out by the Army, ■ f=how was $340,000, the financing which is handling the company’s having been on a loan ba.sis. European tour. ! ' The production was a popular, as well as critical succe.ss at Elsinore. .setting a precedent by making a profit for the Danish National Open Air Festival Assn., which spon.sored the engagement. No other “Hamlet” import had ever broken even on the date. Troupe, headed by Robert Breen. Walter Abel. Aline MacMahon. Clarence Derwent and Ruth Ford, was lavishly entertained in Denmark and has been royally treated by Ihe Army, according to letters received by friends in New York. $19,000. The theatre terms arc reportedly 30% of the first $20,000 gross and 25% over that. Six of the first-string critics covered the opening for the New York dailies, h rt "‘’'' I*” ’ ;wng°er'’s'’‘' ,nS"*. "Sine, ’TrUk' along wilh a general boxofflee de cline on Broadway, the musical i was still in the black, and it was expected to get through the summer satisfactorily with the running ‘ANYTHING GOES’ EYES REVIVAL FOR B’WAY ‘Okla.!’ Reopens Cleve.’s Hanna Cleveland, July 12. Hanna theato-e manager Milton Kiantz has booked "Oklahoma!” to open legit hou.se Sept. 12. Hollywood. July 12. ‘‘.4nylhing Goes ” is being readied here for a Broadway revival by Gene .Mann, Greek theatre (Griffith Park) musical prodiu-er. He plans the show for New York in the fall, first taking it on four. Gertrude Niesen has been asked der a new plict provision for choby .Mann to take the top role, but rus members who have been given she hasn’t committed herself, understudy assignments in sevMann produced it at the Greek eral musicals. Ruth Richmond, theatre last year, using new gags CE’s exec-secretary, said there was and business to freshen it. They’ll the usual difficulty in interpreting also be incorporated in his Broad a new clause but all disputes have way revival. , been amicably settled. Chorus Equity Irous Out ‘Liberty’ Snarl On Pre-Dated Pacts Chorus Equity and the producers of "Mi.ss Liberty” have quickly ironed out a disagreement stemming from the use of pre-dated contracts for some of the musical’s chorus members. .Management amended the contracts after CE pointed out that the pre-dating practice would tend to void the union’s protective clauses covering the probationary period of rehearsals. Producers explained that the dating of the original pacts was a technical error. CE has also haa some difficulty recently in getting added pay un