Variety (December 1954)

1954 LEGITIMATE Only Regional Theatre Can Spark Road Revival, Says Marg. Webster Minneapolis, Dec. 21. A The legit road, which has been declining steadily for a quarter- century, will get worse before it sets better. Moreover, a road re- nascence. if and when it comes, will have to have a grassroots base, for touring shows as we know them are doomed. Temporary boxoffice booms and local production up- beats are without permanent sig- nificance. That, in essence, is the opinion of director-producer-actress Mar- garet Webster, here to participate in several college Shakespeare semi- nars and assist in a Hamline U. production of “Twelfth Night.” In newspaper interviews Miss Web- ster, whose bus-truck repertory company folded several years ago after some seasons’ touring success, presented a discouraging picture of road prospects. Places like the Twin Cities, for- merly key stands for touring show's and strongholds of professional stock, are likely to have even leaner legit fare than the present drought diet. Miss Webster pre- dicts. She believes that there’ll be no health in the American theatre until strong regional theatres are developed—good enough for such theatres to pay actors a living and to draw the public. She doubts that the Paul Gregory type of sceneryless touring offerings will be a solution of the present “too high cost” of tQUring Broadway shows. In addition to the high touring costs that are keeping even Broad- way successes off the road. Miss Webster explains that a deterrent to managers is the fact that most actors prefer to stay home in New York and act for tv “rather than to take the rugged traveling jobs.” Actors should take touring offers (Continued on page 58) Even Legit Financing ‘Controversial’; Seidman And Merrick in Debate Like practically everything the- atrical, from the critics to “the Stanislavsky method,” legit financ- ing is explosively controversial. An unsuspecting luncheon meeting at the Harvard Club, N. Y., found that out the noisy way last week. The session last Tuesday (14), one of a regular -series offering talks on matters of contemporary business interest, featured a talk on legit finance and investment, by J. S. Seidman, a public accountant, with several theatrical clients. About 75 luncheon guests were present. Among them was David Merrick, coproducer with Joshua Logan of the sellout Broadway musical, “Fanny.” He was accompanied by two of the show's backers, Byron Goldman and Max Brown, as sort of “character witnesses.” After Seidman’s regular discourse, lasting about 45 minutes, Merrick and his two supporters turned the affair into a debate. The surprised lunch- eon audience had never had it so entertaining. As the accountant for and a backer of various hit and flop Broadway productions of recent seasons, Seidman reportedly was inclined to be somewhat bearish on legit investment generally. While conceding that a few shows make money, he noted that most ven- tures end up in the red, and he cited various examples of misman- agement. After a single question from an innocent bystander, Merrick launched a rebuttal, taking the general position that Seidman’s *tatements had been so distorted as to be 759© untrue. He argued that a standard investment in all Broadway productions, even in- cluding outright floppolas like the recent “Hit the Trail,” would earn about 7 r 'o profit over the average *eason, and brought out that Seid- man himself had made an overall pr ®l t from his legit investments. The producer disputed Seid- s assertion that the customary 50-50 split of profits from shows is vi n fair to the backers, asserting inat there is a varying fee or per- centage for capitalizing Wall St. investments, and citing the risk and continuing function of man- agement in legit productions. ‘Spider’s Web’ Clicks, ‘Joker’ Ditto, London London, Dec. 21. With the successful launching of “Spider’s Web” at the Savoy, there are currently three Agatha Chris- tie hits in the West End. The lat- est entry, also presented under the Peter Saunders’ banner, opened last Tuesday (14) to a rave ovation and mixed press reaction. The production also marks Margaret Lockwood’s return to the legit scene after a long absence. “Spider’s Web’’ has been direct- ed at a brisk pace by Wallace Douglas. It runs smoothly after an extended Provincial tryout tour. There’s no doubt about the b.o. potential of the new Crazy Gang revue, “Jokers Wild,” presented by Jack Hylton at the Victoria Palace last Thurs. <16). It is an unmis- takable smash and will run as long as the Gang can stand the gafT. Stander-Gorney Aim New People A new' edition of the 1940-41 Broadway revue, “Meet the Peo- ple” is slated for production early next year. Tagged, “Meet the People, 1955,” the presentation will be co-produced by actor Lionel Stander and Jay Gorhey, who com- posed the music for the original production and the updated ver- sion. Others repeating original assign- ments will be lyricist Henry Myers, revue editor Edward Eliscu and sketch director Mortimer Off- ner. Production reportedly will be budgeted at around $100,000, and as was the case with the origi- nal, will use “unknown” talent. Performers who appeared In the 1840-41 edition at the Mansfield Theatre, N. Y., after a Coast en- gagement, included Nanette Fabray, Marion Colby, Jack Al- bertson, Jack Gilford, Doodles Weaver and Fay McKenzie. Dallas to Get ‘Itch’ Dallas. Dec. 21. The Interstate Circuit has booked the touring company of “The Seven Year Itch,” with Eddie Bracken, for March 4 6 at the State Fair Auditorium here. Film chain, which sold the 1,800- seat Melba, the only midtown legit house, now converted to Cinerama, will rope off the outer portions of the 4,300-seat Auditorium aud and sell ducats for a closed-in center section. Tft«ofr« Guild C*#r«f«<*r Lawrence Langner detail* how vldaa’s inroad oa logit works two ways, and Aids *The Road ’ * * * one of the many editorial features in the upcomioa Shuberts Ease B way Booking Jam; Evict the Moderate-Gross Shows 49ih Anniversary Number •f j OUT SOON y Force Standby Managers Fee On Road Shows Although the Assn, of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers has been unable to force the Playhouse. Wil- mington, to hire a union house manager, it now requires all tour- ing shpws to pay for a stand-by manager for engagements at the theatre. Thomas J. LaBrum. a pressagent-manager In the Phila- delphia chapter, has been getting such calls. Setup calls for a reported sal- ary of $150 a week for the assign- ment. For a split-week engage- ment, usual for the spot, a show must pay the stand-by manager a w'eek-and-a-half. For a full week’s stand, the requirement is two weeks’ pay. LaBrum, a Philly ad agency exec and local legit p.a. (he’s the rep for the municipally-operated Play- house in the Park there), reported- ly commuted to Wilmington every few days during engagements of shows for which he’s the standby manager. Falk at Nassau Again; Has $5,000 Financing Although contracts with Actors Equity haven’t been negotiated, Lee Falk plans another winter sea- son at the British Colonial Play- house, Nassau, Bahamas. Venture will be capitalized at $5,000, prob- ably getting underway early next year. According to a limited partner- ship agreement filed in New York earlier this month, Larry Aldrich, of Ridgefield, Conn., is the sole in- vestor, with Falk listed as general partner. Pact gives Aldrich 25 r /o of the profits. Falk, who also operates the Bos- ton Summer Theatre, Is reportedly in Nassau. List Theatre Greats As Postage Stamp Subjects Move to promote a special post- age stamp plugging legit is getting up steam. Under the chairmanship of Jacques Minkus, stamp depart- ment head of Gimbel Bros, in N.Y., , a Committee for Postal Commemo- ! ration of the Legitimate Theatre has been formed. Project, initiated by Minkus, is endorsed by the Council of the Living Theatre. Preem step being taken by the committee is the preparation of a list of former theatre greats to be memorialized on the commemora- tive stamps. Drama critics and ed- itors throughout the country are being approached for name sugges- tions. It’s hoped the Post Office Dept. ! in Washington can be persuaded to i*sue a set of three or five stamps similar to the writers, musicians and poets series of the Famous American group. Committee has 21 members, including legit actors, playwrights and producers. Tonight’ Layoff For Song Revise Hollyw’ood. Dec. 21.' “Three for Tonight,” Paul Greg- ory’s intimate revue costarring Marge and Gower Champion, Harry Belafonte and the Walter Schumann chorus, will lay off the first two w'eeks of February for re- vision of the songs. With the ex- pectation that the show' will be a hit on Broadway, the idea is to in- sert original tunes in place of two or perhaps three standards now used. Robert Welles, who wrote the lyrics and continuity for the revue, is due here this week to collaborate with composer Schuman on the ! new music. When the material is ready. Champion, who staged the* show, will do whatever redirection is necessary. After limited re- hearsals. "Tonight” will resume its tryout tour briefly and then be taken to New York. Back for “Amazing Adele” Robert Wells, who went to the Coast over the weekend, is due back in New York next March to resume work with composer Albert Selden on the songs for “The Amazing Adele,” for which Anita Loos is supplying the book, based on a French comedy. Selden and Morton Gottlieb will produce the musical comedy, due on Broadway in the late spring. OUT SOON! The 49th Anniversary Number VARIETY Forms closing shortly Usual Advertising rates prevail Special exploitation advantages Copy and space reservations may be sent to any Variety office NEW YORK 34 t$4 W. 44#h Sf. HOLLYWOOD 2t 4311 Ykco St. CHICAGO 11 412 N. Michigan Ava. LONDON. W. C. 2 • St. Martin’s Placa Trafalgar Sgnara The Shuberts are apparently try- ing to solve the Broadway theatre shortage. They’ve already served eviction notice at least on two hit shows and are reportedly offering several other houses for incoming productions. No independent thea- tres are involved in the show- juggling. Getting the gate are the longrun “Tea and Sympathy.” at the Barry- more, vacating the Barrymore, Feb. 5. and the newer “Reclining Fig- ure," exiting the Lyceum next Sat- urday (25) and moving to the indie- operated Holiday Theatre the fol- lowing Monday (27). Scheduled closing of “Caine Mutiny Court Martial,” Jan. 15 at the Plymouth, is said to have been decided by producer Paul Gregory, who planA to send the play to Chicago. The Shuberts are understood to be offering the Cort, Longacre and Music Box to upcoming produc- tions. The three houses currently have “Rainmaker" (Cort), “Tender Trap” (Longacre) and “Solid Gold Cadillac” (Music Box). Earlier this month the longrun “Anniversary Waltz” had to move from the 1.160- seat Broadhurst to the 766-seat Booth, with the new Sidney Kings- ley play, “Lunatics and Lovers,” replacing at the larger house. Both spots are Shubert orerations. Following “Figure” into the Ly- ceum are two shows. “Anastasia” and “Grand Prize.” Former has a temporary three-week booking be- (Continued on page 58) Brynner to Quit ‘King’ Next Spring for Films; To Resume Directing Yul Brynner, coslar of “The King and I,” reveals that he’s leav- l ing the show next spring, after four years in the role of the Sia- mese monarch. In an interview with Sydney J. Harris, of the Chicago Daily News, the actor said that when he exits “King,” playing the Shubert, Chi- cago, he’ll go to Hollywood to ap- pear in Cecil B. De Mille’s “The Ten Commandments” and then re- peat his current role in the film edition of the Rodgers-Hamme** stein musical. "After that,” the interview con- tinues, “he proposes to take a long vacation and then resume, on an expanded scale, his directorial ca- reor. The potentialities of films and television interest him more than the living stage ’because the stage is basically the actor’s medi- um, while the director comes into his own in movies and television.’ “ ‘Good parts are extremely scarce,’ he shrugs, ‘and good plays even more so. As a director, I can help find my own plays and direct them with imagination and scope. The acting life has its fascination, but it requires a constant discipline that is quickly tiring if the role is not as rewarding as my present one.’ ” Playwrights’ Co. Meets; May Tour ‘Bad Seed’ Playwrights Co., which has an apparent hit in its new production, “The Bad Seed,” will decide today (Wed.) about sending out a touring edition of the Maxwell Anderson dramatization of William March’s novel. Other matters to be considered at the Playwrights meeting are a successor to Joan Fontaine as star of the Broadway company of “Tea and Sympathy” and what to do with the Robert Anderson drama after Feb. 5, when it must vacate the Barrymore Theatre, N.Y. Kim Stanley, who was upped to stardom in the Playwrights pro- duction of "Traveling Lady” last fall, is mentioned as possible sub for Miss Fontaine. Obvious move would be to trans- fer ‘Tea” to another house to con- tinue its Broadway run. However, a suitable theatre may not be avail- able, in which case the show might be sent on a limited tour, perhaps opening in Boston, with Miss Fon- taine remaining with it until her scheduled withdrawal March 1. ai the expiration of her contract. After Boston, the production would tour other key cities not played by the No. Two company. i A