Variety (December 1952)

December 17* 1952 LEGITUIATIB 61 Literati Tallu Over 100,000 _ , r trade concedes that the show biz books this year, weal iJinst th^diversified competi- « ag ?* n f he mes in preceding sea- bo* has militated against many 80 better sellers than they beeoming het^ Hedda Hopper’s deserve to. Hat” . g . an ex _ 4 ' L,1 iS? of the relative disappoint- ^ because it is a readable book. S er Jhipday reports a 25,000-copy D ? U aith orders still coming in) fvhich while very good is less have been tallied m floss competitive year. Doubleday syndicate, ^ incidentally, has sold “Hat” to several dailies. Tallulah Bankhead’s “Tallulah: My Autobiography” (Harper) is Sd and shoulders on top of the field- it’s current No. .1 bestseller, whether of show biz or other vintage!^ It has gone over 100 000 copies in the trade book edition, and more than justifies Harper’s derring-do with what was consid- ered a‘‘crazy” deal when the pub- lisher guaranteed Tallu $30,000. Fancy Way of Sayin' It Broadway p.a. Dick Maney re- lavs a new word which New York- er writer Phil Wrenn has un- earthed: egrasiaphobia. . Means ‘‘a morbid dread of work —something which afflicts Brcted- wayites, writers and contiguous characters. New Albany Reviewer . Harold Henderson, reporter on the Albany (N. Y.) Knickerbocker News for five years, Jias bden as- signed to reviewing motion pic- tures and plays. He succeeds Cliff Bradt, who has received an. edi- torial assignment. Henderson worked on papers in Beaumont, Tex., and Wichita, Kan., before joining the Gannett daily. Dick Joseph’s Tourist Bit Esquire travel editor Richard Joseph, prolific author of travel books for Doubleday, is taking 15- 18 VIPs on a 77-day world tour starting Jan. 17, sailing from San Francisco on the SS President Wil- son and making the globe-girdle by ship and air. Under auspices of the Bankers & Merchants Travel Service, the $5,850-per-head deluxe tourists will have semi-official State Dept, blessing, will meet the local press, airline and kindred representatives around the world, 6ince many will be writing for their hometown papers, Club journals and the like. Joseph’s pitch comes from the fact that “writei* meet the most interesting people,” and his gen- eral worldwide savvy, as a travel veteran, gives hun extraordinary entree. His wife’s illness most likely will prevent her making the trip; she- recently underwent hos- pitalization for minor surgery, but a less hectic vacation has been deemed advisable for Mr$. Joseph. Hamilton Salute Doubleday saluted Rtiss Hamil- ton, account exec for the publisher m Franklin Spier ad agency for many years, on occasion of his leaving to establish his own busi- ness in Greenfield, Mass. It in- cluded a gag photo of Hamilton in ?,J a |i ric ad for Nicholas diMinno’s .. a D °llar is Better Than i ne * tome ribbing the advertis- ing-rad 10 -tele field. bas been w *th Spier or zi years and was Doubleday ad manager from 1945-47. strike was in progress would be retained, but added that manage- ment would accept applications for employment. Centennial, Editions Doubleday is launching a new series, Centennial Editions, com- prising new editions of important books republished on the 100th anni of their original appearance and illustrated by a w.k. artist. One tome will be released each year. First, Charles Dickens’ “Bleak House,” will be issued next spring. Donald Friede will be edi- tor and write the intros. Ken McCormick, editor-in-chief of Doubleday, is on a trip to the Coast (L.A., up to Seattle) seeing authors and looking in on the firm’s Frisco office. With Howard Cady, its Coast editor, having re- signed to become editor of Little, Brown, Mary Lou Mueller, who had been working with Cady, has' taken over the western office. ~ Bante’ Candid Shots Books has just issued SrS™ photography with . Hi- BarrU F \t S1 v first tome by George doefa iJ-Y. Photographer who bi? S a T, g00( * deal of work in show tevV i Bap o r ' back » 75 c volume has accomno Barns , with most of the accompanying pi x his. Sf 2 .*a 6 Comwr Ua Guild Concedes month Ce l n £ defeat in ^s five- S«hua daily Plant Dec in P ^ keting at * he begun i S' t_ The walkout had bers dpmL!? i vben 15 local mqm- c ontra c t ,,a idcd * a decent union fished 0 ? t «l s J5 ike ’ the Guild pub- sponsored \ G r t?-\ y ne ,wspaper and A temoor,* daily radio'broadcast, sued Ort function is- t0 three m-J 11 ?- tlr \ g Guild Pickets ffireement" by mutual in g was ended 1 J? f efor ? u the Picket- Albert wiL? ltogether ‘ ager of Yh? v 0V £’ general man- said emninYL A Na S} ua ne wspaper, mployees hired while the Pearl Harbor Report Hassle Board of Control of the U. S. Naval Institute at Annapolis, which meets today (Wed.), will dis- cuss action regarding American Weekly’s publication of an article, “I Led the Air Attack on Pearl Harbor,” by Capt. Mitsuo Fuchida. Commander J. K. Taussig, Jr., sec- retary-treasurer, told Variety that the Institute feels that AW’s piece violates the copyright” of the In- stitute’s mag. Proceedings, which published the Japanese officer’s account of the Pearl Harbor raid in September. Proceedings had granted exclusive rights to reprint Capt. Fuchida’s article to Parade magazine, which ran sections of the article, along with an interview it got with Fuchida, and pictures it took of hini as a missionary. Proceedings had demanded AW “withdraw any material whose pub- lication would infringe its copy- right” and added it would hold AW “fully accountable for any in- fringement.” Parade also wrote AW, hinting legal action. It’s con- tended by Parade and the Institute that AW’s piece was merely a^'re- write” of the Proceedings account, without its permission. AW view is that it had cabled Fuchida for per- mission to use his byline over an account prepared ,from public domain and “other sources.” How- ever, the Parade claim is that the only authorized source in this country is the Proceedings piece. Wilmington Playhouse Deal Pulling Plays In, Hypoing Boxoffice Wilmington, Dec. 16. The Playhouse, which is making a strong effort to establish itself as a preferred tryout and touring spot, has had a very successful rec- ord so far this season. For its first six bookings it has averaged P3.5% attendance, with an. average gross of $8,904 for the split-week stand. Unique angle of the deal offered by the Playhouse is that it gives intensive publicity via local tele- vision, radio, daily and Sunday pa- pers, disk jockeys, etc., plus a com- plete advertising program at no cost to the show. The ad coverage includes a week of TV. spot com- mercials, at least 12 radio spot commercials, plus lengthy plugs on 50-60 local radio programs through giveaways of passes to the show, newspaper teaser campaigns and display ads, direct mail to a list of 7,000 theatregoers, heralds in the incoming mailbox of each of duPont’s 7,000 employees, sign cards in the 28 elevators of the company’s buildings and cards on the tables of the Hotel duPont’s two dining rooms. Except for “Climate of Eden,” which proved not to have boxoffice draw elsewhere during Its tryout or in a brief Broadway run, and “Good Nite, Ladies,” which failed to appeal to local taste, every show so far this season has pulled over 85% capacity, three getting over 90%. A one-nighter of a concert- style “Carmen” pulled a capacity- plus $6,490. “Time Out for Ginger,” had 95.6% attendance for a $10,915 gross in four performances. “The Shrike” had 90.5% attendance for $14,578 gross in five performances. “Time of the Cuckoo” ha’d 85.7% attendance and $9,965 gross in four performances. “Ladies” got only 67.5% attendance and $8,555 gross in six performances, and “Climate” merely 60.3% attendance and $6,- 490 gross in four. . Scots Attack U. S. Comics U. S* comics are attacked by the Educational Institute of Scotland in a special report. It says there is “too much fighting and killing, and human life is cheap.” If right triumphs in the end, it’s because it is identified with might, says the report, which comments on a ten- dency for the hero as well as villain to take the law into his own hands. “Allied to this is a pseudo- scientific glorification of force with which are associated supermen, death rays; comet ships, Martian characters and out-of-this-world events.” Report deprecates the .horrific, nightmarish fantasies in comics, and also expresses alarm about the influence of American slang. CHATTER Jack Shurman upped to news- stand promotion director for Es- quire, Inc. Martha Shaeffer has been named press editor of Seventeen maga- zine. She succeeds Tess Williams. Frances Goldywn wrote an arti- cle on “Hans .Christian Andersen” for the Woman’s Home Companion. Frank Jeter, Jr., sometime Variety mugg in Greensboro, N. C., named managing editor of Rock Hill (S. C.) Evening Herald. Random House publishing *the Neil Paterson novelette, “Man on the Tightrope,” Jan. Ip. Film ver- sion of the tome was recently com- pleted by 20th-Fox, based upon Robert Sherwood’s adaptation. Oscar Lewis checked in at El Rancho Vegas, Las Vegas, from Frisco for Doubleday assignment on Nevada gambling, tneming mainly whether such biz could be operated successfully in any other si&to Herman G. Weinberg, writer of subtitles for various film imports, was named U. S. correspondent for Cinema, an Italian pic mag. He already holds similar posts with Cahiers du Cinema (Paris), Bianco e Nero (Rome) and Filmkunst (Vi- enna). Winter trade tomes on Prentice- Hall’s lineup include “Radio and •Television Announcing,” by Lyle D. Barnhart, who has worked for CBS and NBC; “Play Direction by John E. Dietrich, and “How # I Learned the Secrets of Success m Advertising,” by G. Lynn .Sumner. 5-Day Rule Continued from page 58 among stars and agents, that star guarantees and percentage terms for the citronella circuit have reached a ceiling. In fact, there are signs that a general modifica- tion is already in progress. Under the circumstances, then, the new rule may not actually boost star terms, but is more like- ly • to discourage top names from accepting cowshed commitments. There has already been a notable lessening in the number of top names available* over the last two summers. The barnyard Belascos therefore see the five-day rule either drasti- cally hiking star terms or, more probably, cutting the supply of box- office names to a mere handful. They fear this will seriously crimp patronage and thereby slice or even wipe out the operating margin, and as an inescapable consequence, force the curtailment of barn pro- duction and perhaps the closing of some spots now just about getting by. Such a result'would seriously cut actor employment, it’s claimed. The haymow Haywards appear to differ on a Supplementary Equity rule permitting stars and others to play consecutive-week engagements without additional rehearsal? .for each, provided the company is em- ployed under the “summer unit contract.” Most managers dislike it, but a few who operate large-capac- ity spots appear to object only mildly. They are the ones who went along on the booking of “packages” last summer after the general SMA rule boycotting them. With relatively big - grossing houses, they art committed to a star policy. And although they try to keep operating costs from run- ning away, they’re able to afford the higher outlay for package shows on modified Equity produc- tion contract terms (with $100-a- week minimum ancLno apprentices or local supers). Small Barn Crisis The smaller barns, however, op- erating on a slim margin, cannot support package shows, particularly if they will henceforth be on tour- ing production soales. Neither can they afford higher terms for stars playing alternate weeks. So they view the new rules as a hardship at best and ruinous at worst. A few smaller-capacity spots which have been able to retain public support without guest stars or package shows will presumably not be directly affected by the new rules. For example, the Berkshire Playhouse, operated by Williams Miles at Stockbridge, Mass., uses a high-calibre resident company, with only occasional semi-name guests. Although he has only about $5,000- $6,000 capacity, Miles has made a consistent profit over the years with his resident players in his own productions (which naturally rehearse a full week). A managerial fear that general application of package booking, with companies on Equity produc- tion-contract terms, might open the door for craft union organization of the strawhat field appears to be unwarranted. Despite its surface cooperation with the Theatrical Fact Committee setup (in which all legit unions are represented), Equity has. consistently refused to help the stagehands, musicians, or even the pressagents and managers union, to take over the mosquito circuit. Without Equity, the other unions apparently has no better chance to move in than ever. Equity council members general- ly "dismiss the arguments against the five-day rule as unwarranted and hysterical. As one member ex- presses it, the star situation has been getting more and more out of hand in recent years, with the silo producers squealing about in- flated fees but doing nothing to correct the situation. There’s little prospect of the union reversing its stand on the matter, as it did sev- eral years ago, it’s said. Council members, while conced- ing that the five-day rule may hurt some barns for a while, believe that in the long run it will put the whole strawhat field on a sounder basis. They have reached this view, they explain, on the basis of care- ful consideration of the union's stock committee, which held long discussions with virtually all lead- ing stock producers. Broadway's Nostalgia Columnist Louis Sobol take* oriothtr trip Down Memory Lane an lnt«r«»ting bylina piece In the forthcoming 47th Anniversary Number of Pfi&IETY Toronto Melody Fair Will Shift to Another Site; Brill-Kamsler Prep Tabs - Toronto, Dec. 16. Because midtown Dufferin Park gets evening harness racing next ' summer, Melody Fair, theatre-in- the-round, must move .to another site. The 1,640-seat tent setup grossed just under $260,000 this season on 13 weeks of Broadway musicals at $3.40 top. Planing in from the Coast last week for a five-day stay here were Leighton K. Brill r Melody Fair pro- ducer, and Ben Kamsler, general manager, to line up one of four spots they have been offered for next season’s tent operations. Duo, financed by a trio of Toron- to brokers, headed by.R. S. (Mon- ty) Lampard, have, completed a deal whereby Melody Fair will in- troduce the. Toronto setup in Mon- treal next summer, with site se- lected, plus further financial back- ing by a ^Montreal group. Negotia- tions are also underway for in- cluding Calgary in the projected trans-Canada chain of theatre-in- the-round tent musicals under the Brill-Kamsler attractions shuffle setup. Apart from activities in Canada, Brill qn.d. J^amsler have reputedly signed with Dave Greenbaum to produce tab versions of Broadway hit musicals at the Flamingo Hotel, " as Vegas, commencing March 19. Hour-shows will be presented twice nightly, with three shows Satur- day nights. On lineup with Asso- ciated Booking Agency, Brill-Kams- er team also plains to book the tabs into other Coast cities. Equity Revise Continued from page 57 Chorus Equity exec-sec Ben Irving, attorney, Rebecca Brownstein and chairmen of any committees con- cerned with matters at stake. Maze of Groups The revised committee setup in the union follows the recommenda- tion of a “committee on commit- tees” formed some time ago to study the maze of active and mori- bund special groups, some tem- porary and some permanent, named by the council to deal with numer- ous problems. Some of the fairly active committees have been en- larged and revitalized with new ap- pointees from council, while others, some of which had never filed re- ports and had held no meetings in years, were eliminated. Under the new setup, every member of the council has been assigned to at least one committee, and will be expected to participate actively in its affairs. Henceforth, every issue not immediately de- cided by the council will be as- signed to one of the standing com- mittees for study and a recom- mendation. Any council members unable or unwilling to serve on committees, or who fail to attend council sessions regularly (without a valid excuse, such as being on tour or having a conflicting com mitment, like Bellamy's vid-pic se ries) will be asksd to resign, so a replacement may be appointed. The five standing committees will include inter-union, manage ment-union relations, member- ship welfare, house affairs and miscellaneous. The members of the committee-on-committees that worked out the plan included Frederick O’Neal, Mildred Dun- nock, Rusty Lane, John Effrat George Britton, with executives Duncan of Equity and Irving, o: Chorus Equity cx-officio. TIic World W© Make (LENOX HILL, N. Y.) Equity Library Theatre is pre- senting Sidney Kingsley’s “The World We Make,” a sincere, some- what pat and untidy exhibit of love among the lowly, at the Lenox Hill Playhouse. It isn’t much of a con- tender for legit revival. As an actors’ showcase,-it has its pitfalls, not always avoided in this produc- tion. Heavy, demands qf the leading role are only, partially met by Gerry Jedd, who portrays hysteria with outward embellishments rather than, inner strength. As the young girl .who escapes from a mental hospital, she is best in her quieter moments, when she is befriended by a laundry worker, but in her mad scenes, she is out of control and downright embar- rassing. Jack Klugman, as male .lead, seems to be an actor of consider- ably more range and experience, turning in a sensitive, moving per- formance as the strong, lonely man who shelters and later falls in love with the insecure heroine. Director Ray Boyle brings out all the vitality and punch of’the scene in the laundry, where the heroine seeks work, , but he is ham- pered in the latter, half of the play by the cramped quarters designer William Roberts has provided for the hero’s cheap apartment. Mur- ray Perlman, Ella Playwin and Walter Witcover contribute to the laundry scene. The neighbors come close to caricature in the scripting, and the actors, unrestained by. director Boyle, finish the job—-Katharine Calee, Sanford Bickart and Vir- ginia Mattis as the fretful but lov- able Polis family, 1 and Jerry Stiller as a happy-go-lucky Italian dog- lover. Jay Barney, as Dr. Schiller, and Elizabeth Wilson, as the heroine’s high-strung mother, are definite assets, and Frederic Warriner, as the heroine’s gruff father, again demonstrates topnotch character acting, Vene. Scheduled B’way Openings “Grey Eyed People,” Beck, to- night (Wed.). “Children’s Hour,” Coronet, to- morrow (Thurs.). “Fifth Season,” Cort, Jan. 13. “Be Your Age,” 48th Street, Jan. 14. “Love of Four Colonels,” Shu- bert, Jan. 15. Arthur Miller play. Beck, Jan. 17. “Bat,” no theatre set, week of Jan. 19, “Mid-Summer,” no theatre set, Jan.. 22. “Hazel Flagg,” Hellinger, Feb. 5, “Josephine,” no theatre . set, week of Feb. 9. “Wonderful Town,”- Century, , Feb. 25.