Variety (April 1953)

UEGITIMATE VMtmrf Wednesday, April 22, 1953 Royalties, Star Wages Ain’t No Hay By JESSE GROSS ' ^ . Except for a possible^pajrth Pf musicals, strawhat theatre preseu- tations this summer will par those of past years. As usual, stars, tryouts of orig- inal works and stock prefcms of re- cent Broadway entries will high- light the season, a checkup of the silo circuit shows. Beefs from barn operators are grooved along familiar lines in their continuing squawks that op- erating costs are excessively high, salaries demanded by stars exorbi- tant, and royalties on '« e 1 rta J" ?}*** beyond their financial budgets Also on the complaint list is the new Actors Equity ruling as con- cerns the production of tuners. Unity of the summer theatre managers is being tested via the Equity stand on musicals as con- strued by the union’s ruling on touring unit attractions. This Per- mits a show to travel either under a jobbing contract or a summer theatre contract, former stipu- lates that a presentation tour with a maximum of three performers, allowing the bam producers to pad out the cast with their resi- dent companies. Latter calls for the offering to travel under the auspices of one producer and to be made up of 80% Equity members^ Rustic operators claim it would be impossible to book three-per- former package musicals, since their resident groups, for the most part, don’t fall into the song-and- dance category. They also feel that the showcasing of a tuner, put out under a lone production ban- would cost too much, and Hub Coupon Clipping Ad. Lifts ‘Okla.’ Advance 5G Boston, April 21. A one-shot ad with* remittance return coupon attached,- and car- ried In all local dailies, resulted in a flood of advance mail orders to- taling more than $5,000 for “Okla- homa,” which opened Monday (20) at the Colonial for its eighth- time around. Ad also plugged new cost tume and scenery angle of the musical, with result the warhorse figures to have a profitable stand here in spite Of the interest en- gendered by the forthcoming “Me and Juliet” and the Teturn of ‘South Pacific,” which preemed here four years ago. Ad was dreamed up by vet tub- thumper George Alabama Florida and the Colonial’s manager, Saul Kaplan, who figured the coupon clipping gag might overcome the ducat-buying procrastination of many potential customers. ner, (Continued on page 59) ANTA Monterey Fest Offers “Wife’ Premiere Los Angeles, April 21. “Imperial Wife,” new play by Helen S. Fowke, of Chester, Nova Scotia, will be premiered Friday (24) at the ANTA Monterey Drama Festival. Script won the Drama- tists’ Alliance Maxwell Anderson Award for 1952/ “Wife,” a comedy about the pri- vate affairs of Napoleon and Josephine, will be presented by El Camino Players of Redwood City. It will be introduced and com- mented upon by Dr. Margery Bailey, Stanford U. Shakespearian authority. Ward Morehouses Socko Autobiog By ABEL GREEN McGraw-Hill’s jacket description of Ward Morehouse’s “Just the Other Day” (subcaptioned “From Yellow Pines to. Broadway”) calls it “the warm, personal reminis* censes of a roving drama critic.” It is all that, and more. Fpr with CALL ME MADAM (As of April 11, ’53) Original investment, including $25,000 overcall $250,000 Production cost * 291,758 Profit on Broadway (Oct. 12, ’50, to May 3, ’52) 573,412 Additional production cost for tour *.,. 51,583 Profit' on tour (May 5, ’52, to date) 231,274 Distributed profit to date ♦ 766,875 Balance available 39,811 (Note: Show closed last Saturday ni*ht (18) in Chicago. Profit in- cludes the show’s 40% share of the $250,000 sale of the film rights to 20th-Fox. Still to come are the show’s 25% share of the profits (-from Jack Hylton's London production, plus income from stock rights, sale of costumes, etc.,, which may bring the ultimate net on the musical to around $1,000,000. Profit distribution setup gives 35% to RCA Victor, the backer, and 21% to producer Leland Hayward, 15% to composer-lyricist Irving Berlin, 10% to original star Ethel Merman, 7V6% each to librettists Howard Lindsay ahd Russel Crouse, and 4% to director George Abbott. Touring M In 56G Profit Right of Htfd. Critic To ‘Hiss’ or Be ‘Muzzled’ Mulled by Conn. Solons Hartford, April 21. Judiciary Committee of the State Legislature is currently studying a bill that will evolve the feud between- the Hartford Cour- ant and the New* Parsons, and set-i tie once and for all the rights of a Conn, legit theatre to exclude critics from its - premises. Public hearing was held by the committee last Wednesday (15) on a bill to “prevent unjust exclusion of law-abiding citizens from places of public entertainment and amusement.” Proposed bill stems from recent banning of Courant critic T. H. Parker by the New Parsons on grounds that his reviews and col- umning were “savage.” Hearing on the bill turned into a debate on ‘‘freedom of the people to know” versus “keeping culture in Con- necticut.” _ • Courant publisher John R. Reit- emeyer said theatre’s barring of the critic “is not just a local af- fair,” but “another symptom of a world-wide conspiracy to muzzle the press.” To* Norman' Bernstein, attorney for the theatre, the bill is too dis- criminatory and would mean a “stifling of the theatre.” Counsellor said: “Theatre re- quires the utmost care and atten- tion to keep it alive here. A critic must be understanding and sym- pathetic.” Bill is a duplicate of the One passed in N. Y. State, accord- ing to O. D. Smith, counsel for the Courant. California has a similar law on the books preventing thea- tres from barring critics. The attorney declared, “Com- mon law well defines that such (Continued oh page 60) ’Summer’ Tryout Set For Michigan U. Drama Fest Ann Arbor, April 21. “In the Summer House,” by Jane Bowles, will be tried out for * week beginning May 19 at the Michigan U, drama festival here, With Miriam Hopkins and Mildred Dunnock as leads. The season will open May 11 with Katharine Cor S ell in “Constant Wife,” costarring obert Flemyng and John Emery. Schedule also includes “Old Ac quantance,” with Ruth Chatterton. May 26; “Nina,” with Edward Ever- { tt Horton and Marta Linden, June , and “Hasty Heart,” with John lallj June 7. writer of the veteran Broadway scrivener (first the N. Y. Tribune, later as drama editor and critic of the now defunct N. Y. Sun, and now as drama columnist on the N. Y. World-Telegram & Sun) has limned an extraordinarily readable chronicle which is a tribute to his Shepard Traube’s production of sk Bl as a reporter. “Bell, Book and Candle,” which re- He’s a craftsman in the news- cently wound up a two-season tour paper vineyards in the best tradt* in Philadephia, earned a profit of tion. He projects the cardinal ob* slightly over $56,000 on its $25,000 jective of a good newspaperman— investment. That was split evenly to be an interesting, pungent re- three ways between the backers, porter—in a manner which ex- Traube and original producer, plains that not for nought did his Irene M. Selznick and her .backets, revered executive editor on the With the closing statement last Sun, Keats week there was a distribution of was the chore of Junketing $21,000 in. profits, leaving a bal- twice to Britain as a war corre- ance of $1,599 reserve for possible spondent; or as a globetrotting re- outstanding contingencies. Re- porter on J; hose hectic funds payable to the company on aeronautical itineraries. prepaid insurance premiums, plus Morehouse’s own rotund per- other minor income is expected to sonality, his lingering Dixie drawl, increase the assets, which will be and his general attitude of repose distributed as soon as the opera- when seen in certain perspectives tion is wound up. belie the’itching feet and want-to- Traube’s presentation Qf the SO lever. He took lus off-Broad show, originally costarring Rosa- wa y coverage to farflung Broad- lind Russell and Dennis Price, JW Jourii^folder stopoffs opened its tour Dec. 21, 1951, in clear around the globe. Wilmington. Joan Bennett and From the 1 stripling days of the Zachary Scott took over the star- Savannah Press and Atlanta Jour- ring assignments about a year ago nal (he- worked for free on the THE CRUCIBLE (As of March 28, ’53) Capital received from backers * $75,000 Production cost / 69,930 Tryout loss (four performances in Wilmington) 3,485 Total gross for last four weeks 89,974 Operating profit for last four weeks. 9,182 Total operating profit to date 24,488 Bonds and deposits........ 18,238 Balance available for sinking fund 7,835 (Note: Arthur Miller gets the standard minimum author royalty of 5, 7 Vi and 10% of Hie gross, on a sliding scale, until the production cost is recouped, after which hp’ll get straight 10%. Director Jed , Harris gets 3V6% royalty, plus 10% of the profits. Backers aqd pro- its warmth, the peripatetic type-.' ducer Kermit Bloomgarden share the other 90% of the net. The show breaks even at around $18,000 gross. It opened Jan. 22, ’53, at the Martin Beck, N. Y.) former for over three months be fore being payrolled at $9 a week, leaving for the Journal and a $17.50 weekly stipend) until his Prohibition era service, first with (Continued on page 59) and continued until the windup last March 14. Mrs. Selznick’s original Broad- way production of the John van Druten comedy, with Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer as stars, played 233 performances. It was financed at $75,000, and has thus far earned -about $150,000' profit, including its share of the touring company net. A. London production of the play, starring • the Harrisons, is J of “Courtin’ Time” on Broadway COHEN, HYLTON TIE SEEN IN BRIT.‘COURTIN’TIME’ Alexander H. Cohen, co-producer slated for next season, and there will probably be additional re- turn from the stock rights and possibly film rights. Balanchine Bows Out Of two seasons ago, may be partnered with Jack Hylton in the London presentation of the William Roos Jack Lawrence-Don Walker musi cal next fall. He arranged the deal during his recent trip to England and the Continent. n | £ A Cl!-! Billie-Worth, iemme lead in the rrOKOneV Upera dtlM original Broadway edition, is be Milan Anril 14 ^ sought to repeat the assign- Miian, April ment in the West End produc . George Balanchine, Broadway t ion, and British comic Arthur dance director and N.Y. City Bal- Askey is in line to play the male let’s artistic director, has decided lead done he re by Joe E. Brown, to pass up his assignment to stage Mi ss Worth is currently playing Prokofiev s opera, . War And the Ethel Merman part in Hylton’s Peace, * for the Florence Music London production of “Call ‘Me Festival next month. Disapproval Madam.” of the book treatment of the Tol- YT . . „ ^ . . , stoy novel,* as well as the music. ^ s * a * rs /, B a tnck is reported as reasons for the Siven a bowout tryout tour in England, is under- . , . 'going rewrite as a prospect for Balanchine who was here to London production in the fall by ata f e . a ..S I( J ntev ! rd ; °g era ,, a ? d ^ 1S Linnit & Dunfee and presentation ballet, Baiser de la Fee, foi La on Broadway during the winter by ^ er ^ re Kf h £ r en M h ^ S Cohen * However, Cohen's more im- stay aboard, and be back in N.Y. mediate schedule calls for the New XJnv n? en n ng +° f York production, in partnership the N.Y. City Ballet at City Center with Rainh Aiswantr nf “ah .quiyi. May 5. Scheduled B’way Openings Pink Elephant> Playhouse, to- night (Wed.). Men of Distinction, 48th St, April 30. Can-Can, Shubert, May 7. Masquerade, Alvin, May 8. Evening with Shakespeare, un- specified theatre, May 11. Me and Juliet, Majestic, May 28. with Ralph Alswang, of “All Sum mer Long,” Robert Anderson’s dramatization of the Donald Wet zel novel, “A Wreath and a Curse.” KIEPURAS' CONCERT NIGHT Jan Kiepura and wife Martha Eggerth, last on-Broadway in “The Merry Widow” (’44-’45), will pre sent “A Night of Opera and Oper etta” at Town Hall, N. Y., May i.6 They’ll sing selections from the various composers whose .works theyVe done. ' THE CHILDREN’S HOUR (As of March 28/ ’53) Capital received from backers $50,000 Production cost 38,073 Total gross for last four weeks 55,560 Operating profit for last four weeks 2,878 Total operating profit to date 8,580 Bonds and deposits 10,226 Cash reserve 10,000 Balance available for distribution 281 (Note: Lillian Heilman gets 5% royalty on the first $12,000 gross, plus 10% on the balance, as author, and a straight 2 Vz% as director. The Kermit Bloomgarden revival can'break even at around $13,000 gross. It opened Dec. 18, ’52, at the Coronet, N. Y.) Princeton Barn Relights In ’54; Kenwith Eyes Mass. The Princeton (N.J.) Summer theatre, which will be shuttered this summer, will tjndergo a refur- bishing job and is slated to relight as a summer theatre operation next year. Theatre’s facelifting will include the installation of ah air conditioning unit. Herbert Ken- with, past producer at the barn, will continue in that capacity when it resumes presentations in ’54. Kenwith, meanwhile, is scouting around for a strawhat theatre in Massachusetts for this summer. If he finds one and it proves success- ful, he’ll operate both his new ven- ture and the Princeton showcase next year. Prep 2d Sacandaga Season Sacandaga, N.Y., April 21. Eddie Rich will open his second season as producer at the Sacan- daga, a Summer Theatre June 29, with a 10-week skein. Guest stars will be featured, as was the caste last year. Rich, in the spring of 1952, remodeled and enlarged the theatre, used for vaudeville and pictures in the era of Sacandaga Park as a resort, but long dark. Rich operated a New Jersey strawhatter for several years and held an interest in “Bell, Book and Candle,” which toured the country last year. Abravanel Preps Utah Summer Music Season Maurice Abravanel, conductor of the Utah Symphony whose last Broadway baton stint was With “Regina,” is in N.Y. this week prepping casts and shows for his summer stage festival at Univer- sity Stadium, Salt Lake City, One musical or operetta and one grapd opera will be given, with nine per- formances all told July 6-20. “Aida"” or “Traviata” will be the operas, with “Annie Get Your Gun” or “Gypsy Baron” likeliest lighter fare. Abravanel recently finished his sixth season with the Salt Lake symph, offering an oratorio, Leroy Robertson’s “From The Book of Mormon,” in five post-season per- formances, as extra ^fillip. Orch, with a $138,000 budget, finished in the black this season. Sked this year also included 13 full-hour broadcasts over KSL, sponsored by the Kennicutt Copper Co. In addition to his Utah summer fest, Abravanel will guest at Grant I Park, Chi, during August.. 240G in Toronto Till, Although Met Opera Run There One Month Away Toronto, April 21. On mail orders announced last week, /the Metropolitan Opera’s five - night Toronto engagement, over a month away, already has a 70% sale. It has some $240,000 in the kitty, with b.o., and tix agencies sale to open Thursday (23). At $10 top with tax, the masked 10,000-seater arrangement in Maple Leaf Gardens, normally seating 16,500 for sports events, can gross $390,000. The ‘window sale is ex- pected to reach 90% the first day, on the basis of terrific mail-order response. Five-night engagement here is underwritten by the Rotary Club of Toronto, with all net proceeds to club’s local philanthropies. “Car- men” and-“Rigoletto” are sold out on mail orders; only sticky sale is on the lesser-known “La Forza del Destino” which opens series Mon- day night, May 25. Subsequent sked is “Carmen” (26); “Tosca” (27); “Lohengrin” (28); “Rigoletto” (29); “Samson and Delilah” (30). On that advance mail-order sale of 80,000 seats for $240,000, Met manager Rudolph Bing, here to check the Gardens setup, said that “this is an envious feat, and we have never experienced anything like it in the previous history 6f a Metropolitan out-of-town engage- ment. Usually, in a city the size of Toronto, (1,133,358 pop.) it takes six or seven years for opera to take root.” Sara Stamm Prepping Two Barn Operations Sara Stamm is gearing her two summer theatre operations for late June openings. The Newport (K. I.) Casino Theatre is slated to begin an 11-week season June 29, while the Somerset (Mass.) Playhouse is scheduled to preem June 22 for a 12-weqk run. Current personnel lineup at the former-operation in- cludes Ramsey Burch as resident director, William Robinson as stage manager and Prof. Francis M. Ma- hard, Jr., professor of scenic de- sign* at Emerson College, Boston, as scenic designer. Somerset personnel, set so far, are Charles Beilin as chief produc- tion manager. Both barns will have resident companies of six members each and will book stars.