Variety (July 1953)

fitiCftYIMATB Pressageht Wolfe Kaufman has optioned, for production this season, “Mr. Byculla,” Jo Eislnger’s dramatization of a melodramatic novel by Eric Llnklater . . . Arthur Schwartz and Alan Jay Lcrncr have postponed until next season their proposed production o.f their own musical comedy version of “L’il Abner,”, the A1 CaPP comic strip . . . Patricia Barry is signed for the femme lead, opposite Leon Ames, in “The Paradise Question,’ Richard Maibaum Walter Hart comedy to Jae produced next fall by Elaine Perry* after a stra what ' toil V. ■ .. /:■/>; ; ’ Albert H. Fisher, rather than Huntington Hartford, 2d, will be tiie producer of “Daphne,” .new Thaddeus C; SUski; play. Meanwhile*. Hartford is writing a new dramatization; of .‘‘Jane. Eyre,” “to be titled . ‘‘Shadow of the Past,! to star his Wife, Marjorie Steele Bruce Becker and Robert Ellis, who already hold the legit; rights to Marcel Pagnol's “The Bakery. Wile ” have also optioned' Jacques Do vat's “Tonight in Samarcand/' hut haven’t set an adaptor . “The Winner,” by Elmer. Rice* has been added to the Playwrights Go. schedule for production in December. . charles; Isenberg, formerly with the William Morris and Flora Roberts agencies, has ; opened his own office to handle play and literary scripts . /. Bill Penn takes over today (WedJ as the juvenile in “Fifth Season,” succeeding Dick Kallman, who withdrew fog iiitery engagements as a singer . . Eddie Blum is handling legit In the William Morris office during Charlie Baker’s vacation . . . Paul Ross, ed i t dr-.p ubl ish er of th e PI a yci’s Guide, sails next Wednesday (2l)i on the Queen Mary for. a twonion t h visit to England and France. . “Shirley BaMard, a film and TV actress, will make her legit bow as Miss Morris,: the:. secretary, and . understudy . to femme lead Louise King in the touring edition of “Seven Year itch” . ; .Charles Conaway and Raymond Lcicht are “auditioning” backers for their proposed production of “Packaged ; in Paris,” a musical comedy by George Marion and Harry Revel, budgeted at $160,000, with provision for.. 20% overcall . . John .van Drutcn sailed over the weekend for London to sit in on final castings and then stage the London production of “King and I.” “Daphne,” a. comedy by Thaddcus C. Suskl,. is announced for fall production, by Huntington Hartford, 2d, who recently bought the Vine St. Theatre, Hollywood, with the idea of converting it “is a legit house . < ; Audrey Christie is s fan rising by for Rosalind Russell, “Wonderful Town” star, who has been . going on despite; laryngitis . .Edward Kook, head of Century Lighting, is vacationing at Martha’s Vineyard . Jed Harris, .“ original director of “Crucible,” dropped in once or twice to see individual scenes during the Broadway run. but never saw a complete performance since before the premiere. Pressagent Arthur Cantor has sold two photo layouts; to the Su n day drama section of. the N Y. Times . . Besides his various other “.; current and future playwright ing . projects, Paul Green has Written . the book for “Hoc Down.” a musi cal to have American folk songs Show is to be produced and di pvmiim “All’s Well” to a much more favorable one. Costumes and decor by ’ Tanya Moisei witsch rated bravos. Perhaps Patterson and his spon r soring committee might have been rected by Charles W, Chrlstenberry more pleased with a different show Jr., With Warren P. Munsell gen-* for opening night. The choice of eral manager and Curtis Blever “Richard” was not thought to be a musical director. . . Among the. West happy one. However, this selection Indies cruise passengers sailing on was made by Guthrie and Guinness the Santa . .Rosa from.. N.Y. -last d after seeing the performance weekend<17> were Julie Haydon 0““ “ouljd understand why. and George Jean Nathan. t Richard’s Wooings have always Playwright Eugene Lerner, who s been considered strange and the spending a year m Europe to work ioVe play of Guinness over a corpse on a $new script, has been Jmdmg ig ;certain to cause the raising of hlS l I?nHert“C.nn Hooten fn^ctor critical eyebrows. But whether one in' the resident company at the agrees or_not^ Qmnness is always Tioii<;iOn -Plavhouse is returning to interesting and exciting. . . .... ■ N Y. for a medical checkup and The characterization of Richard rest, after having a heart attack., by Guinness has already starred up Bob Herrnian succeeds him with controversy* He did not ham a the Houston troupe . /. Leo Brode, up as we have seen it on occasions; Veteran legit sign man who retired he was. sly, slippery and wicked,, yet recently after a severe fitness, has restrained. He walked with a slight recovered and returned to his jimmy Durante shufflle and his regular duties for incoming Broad makeup was a masterpiece. While way shows . . .. Composer Lamar ^me in the audience laughed in Stringfleld, in town from Chai spots. Guinness did not play for lotte.N^C., Tor confabs with Fod c{/^edy He seemed to have the W 5na n ardin/’hi s baekground Ume sort of ruthlesswickedness score, for. “Sodom, Tennessee, “ .will also see about a possible production All’s Well Thill Knits of his folk-musical, “Carolina Char . . aVp|| VWneMay, July 22, Major legit War Continued from page 1 raphy by R_uUianpa »ons, oi n j Canada Foundatioh presentation^ of xomLegend of John Henry .. . . Samuel .^dy Ijy yviiliarg Shakespeare, staged by M. ; Ghartock, doing business as S. Tyrone DUthrie/ ■ Designed Jy Tanya ^MojM.: Chartock, GilbeiV i Sullivan Co., was tagged for a $3, 231 judge Countess of Rausillion. • • • • Eleanor Stuart ment last; week in an action i^t^n ^ brought by“the National City Bank .•■p.ar^ueai-* / * : ••/*/• /*\,:/;/-.;'’DfougiAs Campbell Of New -York.. . Lafcu ...... Michael. Bates Doretti Morrow will play Mar. ID0unkecaJf1,"orenco.:; ; ; ; Gc°Fr!:o,<?B“!:^r Sinah in Edwin Lester’s production pumain . /. ; /. ... » . .. . /Robert Goodier ■of “Kismet;”., new: legit musical Renaido ;. which will debut Aug. 17 at the M?rg«n ... Philharmonic Aud.,v L. A.,; fo.t! a pre-BroadWay tryout as the final offering of the ; coast Civic Light Opera Assns. ; / Louis J. Culp, now . serving his Widow Diana . . . ; Gentleman • • t v William Needles ... Eric House .. r Amelia Hall Beatrice Leiinard . Norman Roland as that of the late John Christie, ...... e the equally, prolific murderer, third year as business manager .ot alt^oUgh for. a different purpose, the Fort Wayne Light Opera F^s" For two acts Guinness paced himself and in the third act pulled Out all the stops for a s°ck finish, and he had if. When the. cast came up for “All’s tival, Inc., which annually produces a summer season of musical comedies, and Operettas at the Franke Park Outdoor Theatre, has been haiiied to fulltime post of. business manaRei of the Fort Well" they were in better form— Wayne Civic Theatre. He will con the strain was Off, and they went tinue as vice-president and a di to toWn. Again Guthrie’s sparkling rector of the' Fort Wayne' -Light production^ and once more the Opera Festival. . “ brilliant acting by Guinness, play . : Jean Fenn, who made her debut jpg the gracious old French king with the' L/ A,. Civic Light Opera jn delightful contrast to Richard, in 1950, has signed with the Met In tpis show Miss Worth really ro poli tan Opera. She is under shone m0st brilliantly. As Helena personal contract to Edwin Lesfer, she was an eyeful, witlv that spark rr.n mnnnmmr riirorlor. of talent that spells boxoffice. As on the opening night, one was impressed: With: the tempo of -the. production. To accomplish such, pacing on such a small space Was a real Guthrie achievement, Donald ...... Hanon, Eleanor Stewart. Douglas the American girl who has had a Campbell and Michael Bales gave big success in England, and a large worthy supporting performances, technical staff, with several as as: did Amelia Hall opening night, sistani producers. Tills last . group This Shakespearean Festival is a spent weeks whipping into shape a welcome addition to the rapidly corps of capable Canadian actors -growing summer dramatic fare, as supporting cast.; Result has al Everybody wishes Stratford Well.' ready made history. and congratulations are in order International Interest on a very auspicious start. Guthrie and Guinness chose. “Richard 111”, and “All's Well That Ends Weir as their two productions, to alternate nightly from July 13 to Aug, 15. Fest attracted international attention. New York Stratford Continued from page 57 • NEW PLAYS (2) WANTED Racognlieii til ny asont wants at least two U niirod urrd and v P R E V 10 U S:C Y, UNREPR ESENTED piny* for inlo' to. H»W: Broodwny Production. Unit, Comedy— Oramai. NO MU • ■ * f . > .. 3ICALS! Immidlate option advance for right »crt|it. SEND.. LETTER FIRST far ' additional. Information. One to two -week rekdlngi. BOX V. 202.' Variety, fM. W. 40th St,, . Now Vork 3K, N. V“ •.■/// lCiHiaril HI • Stratford : Shakespearpan Festival of Canada Foundat ion pnvsonluUou of drama by William Shakespeare. Staged by Tyr o.n e Guthrie. : Designed by Tanya. Moiselwilseh.: At Stratford, .Out.,. July .13,. ’53i ■ RU ha i d George . . — . , . . ; Braikenbury . . . . . Hastings . ... . ; Anne ... . ! Tressel ........... Berkeley . , . . . , , itlvers . . . . . . ; . . Vaughan ........ Grey : porse t • .. . Queen Elizabeth . Buckingham i Derby ... . ' Queen Margaret . Tatesby Edward IV -.../.. Alee Guinness. Lloyd "Buchner Wllllain llutt ONLY 19 MILES FROM TIMES SQUARE LARCHMONT. N. Y; TEL: LA. 2-0602 On ■ Long Island Sound' .v"' -' Bathing Beach : . Outdoor . Sports. ' . J Pianos-V. ‘ Rehearsal 'Rooms. Very Cool BMr .. 73 .Rooms New York. | Editor, Varif.ty: t. ; “■/ , ■ Lei and Hayward is not the only Hew Yorker who . takes a busman’s holiday by examining the straw hat circuit, and so several of us Who also saw “Stock in Trade,” the ( Bermuda revue that aroused bougias'^caiUpbesii his violent disapproval in your is. p r u cpa Scott sue of July 15, are Wondering, just . . . . . Neil Carson wondering. ..... Norman Roland Let’s riot argue about opinions; ..... Riehard^^ston iet>s state facts. “Stock in Trade/’ , .//Y:T“DduRia;nvfifrf: a “eleafly experim^ : ■ : : ’ RSbiTr^clirte Opened after : only 10 days of Ter . “ George Alexander hearsal, and its cast, (as Hayward ‘ TimoLhv^Fmdiev indicates) and its material were not *, ■ Ed war d Hoiinc^ yet all installed Yet he compares it unfavorably With “Lend, an Ear/’ sent to p critics like Brooks Atkin but the ^finished $80,000; Broadway son; Walter ,F! Kerr and •William produotion, not./ the experimental j Hawkins ;to cover the events. “Rich b^6mrung, months previous, in a ; ard 111” opened the fost in cos*, ■■■bttle-the.atre ^ project on the Goast ■:..tumed.;.gidryr;“All:!}';.WeU’,.-'fol!o\ved',/J?^.'sk^' j next night, in modern dress. .‘/Rich oast shows ^th e sligh test talent., i ard,” though spectacular, opened c<?^ s Equity, by the way, ' to mixed reception; an elegant eveb m Bernuida) includes Alice Pearce, Jean. Caples, Betty Oakes, and Dana &: Wood, They helped make the show smooth, highly entertaining summer theatre fare. Roger* E. M. Whitaker (of the New'. Yorker mag staff.) Sportin' L:fe “Porgy and Bess” 19»h Week ZIEGFELD, NEW YORK •ledrifying joyoui and unflagging antrgy . . . dramatic." r — Walt er^ r^Y^ Herald ^Tribw>^ Mgt.: BILL MinLER, 1619 Broadway, N«W York ing houses in Chicago,^ Boston, Philly and other road cities, besides numerous and valuable nonshow business real estate. Although the Shuberts are no longer more than sporadically active in the actual production , of show's under their own banner, they have a substantial stake in production, principally through financial participation in shows put on by other managements. Some of these /ventures are. nominally presented hy Shubert /associates; others are genuinely .independent projects in which the Shuberts. invest, sometimes . by •. guaranteeing union bonds, frequently ort a :dollar^for-dollar basis and occasionally as straight; backers. ; Although details of the Stevens■ Whitehead-Dowling : combination haven’t been revealed, the setup is known to involve several different parts. The' $1 *000,000 capital; in the; form of stock, will come from various sources, With Stevens presumably supplying or raising a major portion. There are to be two related corporations for; producing plays and apparently : a ■third to operate theatres. Playwrights’ Part GoMrary. to' the announcement, there’s apparently some , question w'h ether the Playwrights Co. will be a part of the. new setup, A1-: though Steyens is a member of the Playwrights; there Has been no vote by the latter group on the matter and norie appears likely before, early September, when Maxwell Anderson Will have returned from, the Coast and Robert E. Sherwood is back frPm 7ngland. ' Press release announcing the new group stated . that the ■ Playwrights would “continue as a separate entity, but its producing, activities, and its offices will be combined with the new corporation, in which it will have a financial interest.” New outfit is to. have offices in the ton two floors Of the Gaiety Theatre Bldg., at Broadway and :45th St., N. Y.. owned ; by City Investing Co., of which Dowling is president Whether other members of the Playwrights Co., also including attorney: John D. Wharton, will go. along with the proposed new setup, remains to be seen. Deal reportedly calls for the Playwrights to buy $100,000 worth of stock in the new group. Playwrights production Would, be financed as. limited partnerships, as heretofore, with the Play wrights. having final authority to select scripts, but with the new group committed to supply half the backing, up to $30,000. Stevens, as president of the new group, is to serve on a parttime basis, without salary. Whitehead, as executive vice-president in charge of /production, , is Understood slated to get of the gross of all shows, the group: pre sents, and is to have a production staff of six, including a general •manager, Press release on the story was issued by Bairv Hyams, Whitehead’s p.a. Dowling’s duties are hot specified in the announcement. but he will reportedly have an. advisory status, without salary. ; Although the. new combine lias taken 10-year leases on the Moiosco ( at . $60,000 a year ) . Fulton ( $50,000 ) and Coronet i $50,000 ) The jit res on Broadway, the status of City Playhouses, Inc., a City Investing. subsidiary that had, previously operated thern, is not indicated. -However, City -Playhouses, of which Louis A. Loti to is president, , Continues to operate the 46th Street, N, Y,, and. the National;; Washington, the latter in partnership; with, producers . Richard Aldrich and Richard Myers, Two Producing Setups . . It’s understood that the new set-' iip actually involves two . different producing entities,; One would do scripts approved by . all three mehi> bers. The other would do those picked by Whitehead and ' Steve ns , hut not acceptable to Dowling. However, it’s believed that matters relating to .theatre operation, including bookings of shows into the Morosco, Fulton and Coronet, will be decided by majority vote of all three members. the new outfit (according to the press release, Dowling will apparently not participate). and it would presumably be headed for the Morosco following the current rim Of “My 3 Angels” there: Neither of the other two houses is available for bookings, as • ■Seven Year Itch/’ is firmly established at the Fulton and the London hit, “Little Hut,” is scheduled to open Oct. 5 at the Coronet, Although Dowling has discounted the prosr . pect of any: new theatre construe-’ tion by the group in the imniedi • ate future, he implied that it might' buy other houses, and mentioned again that City Investing /holds ah . undisclosed site of land on . w-est side of mid-Manhattan suitable for such building. Besides its legit /properties, City Investing also owns the Astor, Victoria; and Bijou filmeries and scyera! other properties in the Times Square district, besides noil-show biz holdings elsewhere in New York and in other cities, it is thus already the principal rival to the Shuberts and, with the addition of more theatres, it would be in a position to offer /serious competition perhaps even setting up its own road booking organization to vie /■ with the. Shubert-controlled United Booking Office. Stevens, besides being president of the new outfit and a member of the Playwrights Co. , also operates as an independent producer and investor. Among his multiple realty interests is understood to. be $100,000 stock in City Investing, and he is believed to be the prime mot i| vating force behind the new group, since he has long been an advocate of combined play producing-theatre operating. He has also repeatedly expressed interest in establishing some sort of repertory or permanent stock company outfit inNew York. He is a board member and a substantial angel of the American National Theatre & Academy. Whitehead, co-producer of “Media/’ “Member of the Wedding” and “Time of the Cuckoo,” was managing director of the ANTA Play Series two seasons ago. Dowling, besides his presidency of City Investing, is a frequent investor, in Broadway, productions arid is board chairman of ANTA. Dallas, July 21. Margo Jones, managing director of Theatre '53, will open her new 30-week season Noy. 2. Seven new scripts and two classic revivals will be staged, each with a three-week run. Three weeks of repertory wilt, wind the 1953-54 season. Past sear sons consisted of six new plays, two revivals and six weeks of i nterspersed repertory. With no plays selected for the upcoming eighth season, Miss Jones goes to N. Y. next month for a 60-day playreading session and to engage her company. Upped prices, from $2.50 to $3 top, are skedded for the new season. jj ‘Pygmalion’ 7 G, Matunuck Matunuck, R; I.*; July 22. Carol Channing grossed a neat $7,000 in. “Pygmalion” at the Theatre-by-ther-Sea here last week. Alexis Smith and Victor jpry are ‘current in “Bell, Book, i Candle.” Group will take over actual operation of the three houses in question as soon as “present commitments terminate/’ Thus, “Stars in a Person’s Backyard.” new Jan ADVANCE AGENTS ! COMPANY MANAGERS ! We., (tave : been serving: theatrical shows flfor over 42 years.. Ours is the oldest, most reliable and ax-, perienced 'transfer, company on the West Coast! .9 Railroad privileges for' handling shows and theatrical luggage. ; •. Complete warehouse faeilitiee! ■ • Authoriietl-ih California, [quipped M transfer and haul anywhere in ;.' ■. U. Sif ■' ■/■“ • RATES on request I Atlantic Transfer Comparty GEORGE CQNANT 601 East 5th Lis Angeles 12; Calif. 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