Variety (December 1950)

w^lnegday, Peceiiiber :27T 1950 US!RIEfr 47 Met'Fledermaus B.O. Continued from page 1 for or her in a picture uoing into production. Lit- f “o \l?c l<fng grooming, both ar- Nticaily and publicity-wise, of es 'with Sunday’s being an- nUi '!■' special (New Year’s Eve) wnt Because Of the demand, the Met opened sale of the .next i.vn nerformances (Jan. 4- and JJ) ■ time, last Friday (22). ahead of TliO Jjni, 4 one is a subscription something of a field-day as the drunken jailer, in a low- comedy role from which he got a maximum of laujghs. Ormandy maide his pit presence felt, presenting the em l*chanting Strauss melodies with verve and lilt, for one of the pro- (duction’s finer sides. Gerard’s costumes and sets were superior, although the secohd-act ballroom setting made the stage small and performance; the Jan. 13 pwform- ] choreography in “Tra- Continued from page 2 clutteredr Tudor’s pretentious if>e <uioliier special non-subscrip- ballet was empty and ? on A’oni Both dates have heavy unexciting, as disappointing as his ilc. Mready.; ,; ; ( Z;. ' •Fledcrmaus” is likely to get viata ana raust. from 15 to 20 performances this — " ' ' ■ so.'isoiv at the .Met, for an all-time record at the house, and made still more unusual by the fact that it js an operetta or musical comedy, rather than grand opera. "‘Don Car'd ” which will be next in amount of performances, will urobabiv have about 10 this sea- son About 10 ‘Tlederihaus” showings will be for subscribers ( Who take about 70% of the house) ; bahmee w ill be open performances. Gala Preem revenue to pay for the skyrocketr ing cost of rearmament, As it ap- pears now, part of this will be han- dled by additional levies on per- sonal inconies:—which would espe- cially hit the big film executives and stars; and by additional ex more emphasis toward stories. It became more and more clear that a star name could help a good story to added grosses, but that nothing would help a bad story. More true than ever today, that fact hasn’t been lost sight of by studio production execs. It should have an important bearing on the growth of the young players* whose careers will be born in. the next few years. They’ll "be given the best yarns that studios can provide them with in an effort to combine star and story for best b.o. results, rather than depending on one or the other. Past Y(ear Revolutionary Past year particularly has been revolutionary in the matter of stars. It has seen the passing or virtual passing of a whole group of onetime important names,. They Were players in the middle cate- gory both money-wise and popular- ity-wise. With even the top names —-such as Clark Gable arid GaHTy Cooper among this aging group fail- ing to insure biz, the lesser ones were not wanted at all. Thus the old men’* and “old women’’ that exhibs Were squawking about, a couple years ago finally moved a lot closer to oblivion in 1950. Fall- ing grosses—and the lack of indie IDA RINGLING NORTH i of the act of McCall an^PVfHliams, Mrs, Ida Ringling North, 76, j later teamed up with his>ife, younger sister of the seven Ring- 1 Anna Block, as Block and Williams, ling brothers who made history in '. the early days of the film the circus, died Dec. 21 following ; industry, Wiliams left the stage a istroke iii Sarasota, Fla. Mrs. and North made her home in the i holding every post of office mari- Florida city since the death of her j shipper, salesman and branch Wednesday’s (20) preem was a gala event, almost as piromineiit as opening night at the Met (“Don Carlo.” Nov 6). House was packed with society and its con- (oniitant of mink, and in addition was unusually strongly repre- sented liy legit, pix and radioites. Production’s Broadway tinge drew I lie in, an d performance was en- ihusiastically received by the audi-: ence. ' But, artistically, the production was a disappointment, doubly so in view of the preliminary high prospects. This was to be an un- usual occasion; first official . Met ‘‘Fledermaus’’ since 1905, with Philadelphia Orchestra maestro Eugene Ormandy in his operatic debut as its conductor. Further, it was a Broadway-slanted work, with new libretto by Garson Kanin, who was staging the work in fiis first operatic venture; hew lyrics by Howard Dietz; sets and costumes by Rolf Gerard (who designed “That .Lady” and “Anthony & Cleo- patra” last season for Broadway); and Broadway-nitery comic jack Gilford in his opera bow, in the iibn-singing, third-act role of jailer Fro.sch >the fir.st Broadway comic to appear in regular Met repertory). Ballerina Nana Gdllner was talking her first speaking role as Ida and Anthony Tudor had created new choreography for the ballroom scene to the music of Strauss* “Hoses. Frorh the South’* waltz. “Flederinaus,’’ as stated before, is more operetta than opera, and as much at home in legit as long- hair (witness its success as “Rosa- linda’’ on Broadway in 1942). But here the elements didn’t fuse, Broadway and opera running head- long into each other and producing a stodgy work that lacked wit and charm. Production, played altogether as I slapstick, had little distinction or style. Kanin’s book and especially Dietz’s lyrics were excellent fun, \\ ith many cute colloquialisms and double entendres. But Kanin’s staging was heavy-handed, and the second-act ballroom scqne, which should be sock, was generally heavy 6nd slow. Two bad miscastings also 1 urt. Accentuate the Positive . A performance sung in English should have had an all-English mcci east, thoroughly intelligible, oei Svanholm’s Swedish accent in t'lG iinportaht Eisensteih role made him mostly unintelligible, while j^iuba Welitch’s Bulgarian accept in her Rosalinda role was hardly Physically, she didn’t look llie part either, vvhile her singing 'vas routine, And except for Patrice Mu nse 1, as the - maid Adele, and Rk‘ hard Tucker, as Alfred, the SIngihg generally disappointed. Uise Stevens, playing the male role of Prince Orlofsky, was a hand- soine sight, and acted the snobbish I'oie perfectly, but she wasn‘t up to par vocally. Nor was there any par- ticular need to affect an accent, Which marred an understanding of ker. lines, ^ \ Miss Munsel, however, was a sen- saiion, \yith a pert acting perform- «hco and a stunning vocal job as ambitious maid. Her “Look MO over once, look me over twice’’ file show for many ihinutes, and her third- act , . , . , j .production, in which they miglit cises, which may include a manu- jiave found jobs when the majors facturer’s excise and possibly even didn’t want them—made it a year a tilting of the admissions tax. This, is what the excess profits tax bill provides for pictures: 1. The Big Five companies, be- ing forced to divest their theatre interests under the antitrust de- cree, wefe Worried about a tax base from which their normal and ex- cess profits would be figured. The. bill, as approved in the House- Senate compromise, Includes this picture reorganization in the sec- tion dealing with “growth C(prpora- fions.’* Thus, the successor com- panies will be permitted to share- on the basis of their worth-the base provided by the corporate earnings of the parent companies. 2. Companies may use any three years of the 1946-49 inclusive pe- riod for their base. Since 1949 was a recession year for many film companies, they will be able to figure normal earnings without in- clusion of 1949. Original sugges- tion by prexy Eric Johnston, of the Motion Picture Assn, of America, that corporations be permitted, as an alternative base, to figure 150% of earnings during the 1936-39 . pe- riod, was killed. .3. Iced coin held in foreign coun- tries will be credited as earnings in the years when tl^e dollars be- come available and will be figured as normal, instead of excess, profits and hence exempt from the excess profits levy. 4. The bill provides that the nor- mal and excess profits taxes of any corporation may not exceed 62% of the earnings of the corporation. Of reckoning Whether the inidustry will be able to deyelop from the new crop of hopefuls any marquee draws equal to the gigantic lures of the past is another question. No matter how much pressure is put behind a campaign, there’s no assurance that a player will catch the public fancy. In addition, there’s good reason to think that greater sophis- tication has somewhat reduced the hero-worshipping potential of the average .person, and so Hollywood may never again expect to spawn the cinematic demigods of the past. husband, Henry Whitestone North i in 1926. The only daughter in the big Ringling family, offspring of a German immigrant who settled at Prairie du Chien, Wise., Mi’S. North concentrated on a music career while her brothers began, a series of battles and mergers with other circuses in the late 1800’s. Upon the death .6f John Ring- ling, last surviving founder of Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Mrs. North and her son John Ringling North were named trustees and administrators of the Ringling estates. Included in the immense holdings were her son’s interest in the circus; the multi-million dollar Ringling Mu- seum of Art and the adjoining mansion built by John and Mabel Ringling, which were later turned over to the State of Florida for operation. With her son, John Ringling North, Mrs. North con- trolled 51% of the circus stock, which permitted them to win con- trol over a rival faction in a series of legal disputes. Two sons, John and Hchry Ringling and a daugh- ter survive. chief, with a number of pioneer companieSv Later he Continued in show busi- ness as a theatre manager. He also handled roadshows and Was a cir- cus advance man and bill poster. DANS'TANLEY David Steiner, 58; known pro- fessionally as Dan Stanley, died in New York Dec. 15. Wellknown oh vaude circuits as part of the dance team of Stanley and Birns with many dates at the Palace, and throughout the continent, His wife, two daughters, a son^ two brothers and a Sister survive. JACOB B. MAZUR / Jacob B. Mazur, 68, Musical di- rector, died in Chicago, Dec. 2J: For 25 years he was musical director for Chi Shubert theatres and for the last 11 years musical conductor at the Douglas Park Yiddish Theatre. Survived by wife, son and two daughters. H’wood Stars Continued from page 1 young players has taken place in MARRIAGES Shirley Temple to Charles Black, Del Monte, Calif., Dec. 16. She is a film actress. Ruth Roman to Mortimer Hall, Las Vegas, Dec. 17. Bride is a screen actress; he’s manager of KLAC and KLAC-TV. Florence Greene to Edward W. Cohen, New -York, Dec,, 24. Bride is television producer and personal representative. Muriel Becket to George Corn- stock, Los Angeles, Dec. 18. Bride operates the Metropolitan theatre in Seattle. Betty Farrington to Robert Dachau, Dallas, on Dec. 2. He’s a projectionist at KEYL, San An- tonio. Terry Chenier to Tom Maloney, San Antonio, recently. He’s film editor for KEYL, there. Jean Simmons to Stewart Grang- er, Tucson, Dec. 20. Both are screen players. Mrs. Christine' Maria De Bal- vanjos Hapsburg to Gyorgy Sandor, Waterbup^, Dec. 20. He’s a Hun- garian pianist. MIKE CONNOLLY Mike Connolly, 63, retired talent agent, died Dec. 19 in Los Angeles after an illness of four years brought on by asthma and a heart condition. Starting 50 years ago as an usher in the Alhambra thea- tre, N. Y., Connolly became a song plugger, a reporter and a drama reporter before he shifted; to the film business as casting director for William R. Hearst’s Cosmo- politan Productions in 1917. Among the players he induced to switch from stage to screen 1 were Claudette Colbert, Franchot Tone, Pat O’Brien, Gladys George, Donald Woods and Ross Alexander. For a time in 1933 Connolly worked on Variety, but is not re- lated to the Mike Connolly who writes a column for Daily Variety In 1934 he returned to the agency business with Jenie Jacobs as a partner and four years later be- came business representative of the Screen Actors Guild. He was associated with the Freddie Fralick agency in 1946 when he had to re- tire because of illness. His wife, Marion, a son, George, and a daughter, Mrs. Susan Walker, survive. RIDGELY TORRENCE Ridgely Torrence, 75, poet and playwright, die.d Dec. 25 in New York. Survived; by wife. WILLIAM GRANT William Grant, 52, manager of the Monogram film exchange in Portland, Ore., died Dec. 18 that city after a heart attack. in Mrs. Alice W. Conners, 83, moth- er of James L. Conners, Albany, N. Y., correspondent for Variety, died suddenly in that city* Dec. 14* She was the widow of Michael F. Conners, one-time Albany County coroner and business' man. Three sons arid' a daughter survive. Mother, 79, of H, Leslie and Ralph Atlass, Chicago radio execs, died Dec. 24 in Chicago. H. Leslie Atlass is Chicago CBS veepee and general manager of WBBM; Ralph Atlass is president o^ WIND. Father of John E. Dugan, Jr., 20th-Fox salesman in St. Louis, died at his home in Wooster, O., Dec. 11. CHARLES W. HODGD0N Charles W. Hodgdon, 73, pioneer exhibitor and* president of the Princess Amus, Go., died in Wake- field, Mass., Dec. 19. Long identified with the enter- tainment business, he began his Dale Wilson, 56, theatre opera- tor, died on Dec. 6 at Elgin. Tex. He was owner and operator there of the El-Tex theatre. ^ *1.' * 1 1 career in 1902 as Boston represen- tative of the M. R. Sheedy circuit, David, Saaieguemines, riance, i. - . ♦—. — rs-u the hopes of making stars of them. Dec. 21. Bride is a film actress; Tipoff to the change that’s cur- rently taking place is seen in the activities of both talent and public- ity departriients of the majors. The new-faces scouts are no longer lie- ing stringently restricted to hiring people for specific roles. Yo'ung. Broadwayites and others are once again being gandered as meat for studio contract lists and potential buildup. Pep Publicity Depts. Publicity departments, thus given something to work with, are once again under orders to . take the likeliest from among the pactees and give him or lij^r the fiiU treat- ment. As a matter of fact, a new crop of publicity men as well as stars may be in the offing. Some New York execs are known to be plainly vexed at the lack of imag- ination and vitality of. their Coast flackeries in selling new names to the public. This return to star emphasis is obviously the result of tlie drubbing the boxoffice has taken in recent ihonths. There’s been much head-scratching in that time to determine the cause of public apathy toward films. Lack of strong new stars has not been missed as a possible reason, partic- ularly inasmuch as the^ mazda names were synonymous with many of the industry’s best years. It's natural, therefore, to think of de- veloping new marquee giants in ati effort to recapture past glory. With the increasing failure after ‘^P'^u iinpcrsonatioiv number was a i the wnr of stars to insure b.o. siic- virtuoso bit. Gilford had ^ cess* for a pic, Hollywood turned he’s a French film director. Harriette Scheiner to Arthur Pine, New York, Dec. 24. He’s a theatrical publicist, BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. John Roerick, daughter, in Rockville Centre, N. Y., Dec. 13. FatheT is assistant eastern story editor of Paramount. Mr. arid Mrs. Bernard Kalban, son, Rockville Center, L. I., Dec. 21. Father is ad-pub head at Ethel Smith Music. ^ Mr. and Mrs. Johri Russell, son, Hollywood, DeCi 14. Father is a screen player. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pierce, daughter* Chicago, Dec. 16. Father is WNBQ transmitter engineer. Mr and Mrs. John Natale, daugh- ter, Chicago, Dec. 18. Father is a Chi NBC-TV technical director later entering the booking field with the Boston Banner Film Rent- al agency. In 1910 he opened a theatre in Wakefield, later extend- ing operations to Malden, Middle- boro, Worcester and New Hamp- shire in partnership with the late Frank J. Howard. One of the founders of the Independent Ex- hibitors, he had served the organ- ization in many capacities, and at time of his death was a member of the board of directors. For the past few years lie had been associated with his son * David; in the operation of twp the- atres in Wakefield, one in Middle- boro and had only recently taken over the Stoneham theatre. . Survived by wife and son. , Mrs. Amelia Rabinowitz, 75, mother of Bill Ross, Broadway- stiige manager and Equity Council member, died in New York Dec. 26. Bly Brown, 52, former stage and .screen actress, died Dec. 19 in Los Angeles. Father, 76, of Phil and Ned Mil- ler, Chi miisic contactment, died in Chicago, Dec. 16. Bergman-Rossellini Continued from, page 1 GEORGE MAYO George Mayo, 59, vet vauder, died in .Hollywood Dec. 21 of a heart ailment while visi t i ng a sister. Mayo did a comedy single Mr and Mrs Jeff Corev, daugh- l for years arid doubled with the texv Hollywood Dec; 18. rat)xerZis: late , lightweight fight champ. a screen player. Mr. and Mrs. Laurence A. Peters, son, Pasadena, pec. 18, Father is counsel for Pox West Coast The- atres. Mr. arid Mrs. Randy Honeywell, i son, Pittsbutghi Dec. 15. Mother is Marilyn McCabe, radio singer. Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Naccarato, son, Pittsburgh, Dec. 6. Father’s with Atlas Theatre Supply Co. Mr. and, Mrs, James Riley, son, j Chapel, N. Y. Lawrence* Mass., Dec. 20. Father is an erigineer at WLAW, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Kramer, son, Dec. 25, Hollywood. Father is indie film producer; mother is Ann Pearce, film actress. Benriy Leonard, played Vaudeville. Mayo also appeared in “Man- hattan Mary’' arid played with USO-Camp Shows for four years in Europ.e during the past war. Survived by a son; two daugh- ters, arid a si.ster Lillian Watson, who did a vaude single for many years. Body is being sent to New York for burial. Services will be held Thursday (28) at the River- HARRY C* WILLIAMS Harry C. Williams* 75, veteran syndicate to put up all> the francs necessary to make a film with Miss Bergman there in return for giv- ing the group French rights. He reportedly hasn’t been successful in setting up the deal as yet, but it is anticipated that he’ll probably be able to make the arrangements eventually. His original plan was to start in February: ; Breen’s refusal of a seal to any Bergman-Rossellini effort resiulls, of course, from, the bad public re- action generated last year when the actress left her former, Jnis- bahd and daughter in Hollywood to go to Italy with the prodUGer, Ingi’id to Dub 'Stromholi’ Rome, Deo. 26. Ingrid Bergniari will speak the lines of her own role in the Italian version of “Stromboli,’’ currently being dubbed to.ready tlie filnv for the local m«Trket, Roberto Rossel- lini, husband of the star and di- rector of the RKO film, will direct the dubbing. \ Role played by Miss Bergman m the pic is that-of a Lithuanian dis- placed person, so the accent is practically a necessity. Upon completion of the dubbing, vaudevillian and showman, died in . Pittsburgh Dec. 15. Originally half' the Rossellinis leave for Pans.