Variety (January 12, 1955)

January 12, 1955 LEGITIMATE 67 ANTA Album Closed-Circuit Feed To Film Houses on Straight Rentals Realtor-producer Roger L. St£-< vens and City Investing Co. toppef Robert W. Dowling have put up $100,000 as a guarantee for the proposed joint ANTA-CARE closed- circuit theatre telecast of the ANTA Album. The Stevens-Dowl- ing coin is being placed in escrow to be used as an emergency fund in case ANTA and CARE cannot meet their final payments for rental of houses with theatre tv installations. Under the arrangement with ex- hibitors, ANTA and CARE are rent- ing the theatres on a four-wall basis. The sponsoring orgs, in ad- dition, will foot both the long line and local loop costs. The theatres have worked out a liberal payment plan with the non-profit groups since the event is in the nature of a charity event. At the signing of a contract with a theatre, ANTA and CARE will pay 10% of the rental price, with 40% due a week before, and the final 50% being paid from receipts after the event. The $100,000 will serve as protec- tion lor exhibitors should the ANTA Album fail to come up to expectations as a b.o. attraction. The rental price for each theatre depends on size and location of the house. The existence of the Stevens- Dowling "emergency” fund was de- nied by Williard Swire, national director of ANTA, but it was con- firmed by another spokesman iden- tified with the closed-circuit proj- ect. The initial 10% and 40% pay- ments are being made by CARE. Originally scheduled for a February date, the closed-circuit- ing ot the Album has now been set for March 2 at 10:30 p.m. est. A lineup of 46 theatres is anticipated. CARE, which is handling the busi- ness end of the deal, has already made line reservations with the American Telephone & Telegraph company. On the basis of the expected hookup, ANTA and CARE are eye- ing a gross of $600,000. with the take after expenses being split down the middle. Local CARE of- fices will supervise the sale of tickets which are priced at $10, $6 and $4. Should there be a box- oflice sale, the men behind the wickets will have to be members of the Treasurers and Ticket Sell- ers Union <IATSE). Deals have also be concluded with all the other theatrical unions. ' ANTA and CARE are hopeful that the ANTA Album will be an annual closed-circuit event. A five-year joint sponsorship ar- rangement has been concluded. The Album will originate from the Adelphi Theatre. N. Y., with a Dumont crew handling the tele- casting. All Tied Up With name legit directors in almost as frantic demand as name playwrights, it has re- mained for realtor-producer Roger L. Stevens to come up with the Ingenious device for keeping a string on a hot stager. Stevens has arranged office space for Elia Kazan in the Gaiety Theatre Building, N. Y. Property is owned by City Investing Co., of which Stevens is a board member and substantial stockholder. Stevens denies gossip in the trade to the effect that Kazan is getting the office space rent- free, but doesn’t reveal how much the rental is. Stevens is a member of the Play- wrights Co., and is partnered with producer Robert White- head and City Investing pres- ident Robert W. Dowling in Producers Theatre. Kazan is lated to stage the new Ten- nessee Williams play, "Cat on a Tin Roof,” which the Play- wrights Co. is in line to pro- duce. BBC Telecast Revives ‘Gillian’ Interest; Pic Deal, B’way Prod. Pend Sock reception accorded a BBC television production of "Waiting for Gillian” has reactivated inter- est in the Ronald Miller play, which had a brief London run last spring. Alexander Korda and M-G-M are dickering for the film rights and there is renewed pros- pect of a Broadway production. The play, adapted from Nigel Belchin’s novel, "A Way Through the Wood,” preemed at the St. James’ Theatre, London, last April. The video presentation, an expan- sion of the legit version, was given a repeat performance over the BBC after the favorable initial air- ing. "Gillian” was done in the West End by Laurence Olivier Produc- tions, Ltd., by arrangement with Broadway producers Albert Selden & Morton Gottlieb. Latter duo still hold the American legit rights and have been negotiating with Joan Fontaine to appear in a con- templated Broadway production next season. Donald Cook Raising Money for ‘Champagne’ Donald Cook, who’ll co-star in "Champagne Complex" with Peggy Ann Gamer, is apparently associ- ated in the production of the Leslie Stevens comedy. Although Gayle Stine has solo producer billing, Cook is personally soliciting back- ing for the presentation, due on Broadway early this year. Three- character one set play is being capitalized at $60,000 and is budget- ed to break even at about $12,000. "Complex” was originally tried out last summer at the Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope. Pa., under the joint sponsorship of Miss Stine and Alex Cohen, with a subsequent Broadway production planned. Move to the Main Stem was put off, with script undergoing a complete rewrite by Stevens. B’way in Rash of Pronto Payoffs; 3 New Shows in Black, 4 More Due Swann Shutters Balto Stock Co. Baltimore, Jan. 11. Don Swann Jr. will fold his win- ter stock operation at the Hilltop- Parkway Theatre next Sunday (16). Producer is calling it quits midway during his second season because of declining grosses. Receipts have fallen below the initial season’s moderate totals and were consistently under the break- even mark. Windup production is j “The Feminine Touch,” a new mu- | sical by G. Wood and Ken Welch, 'currently in its second w'eek. ! Swann leased the former Loew’s i film house from Morris Mechanic, i owner of the Ford’s Theatre here. Property will presumably be placed on sale as it was before Swann leased it. Producer’s strawhat op- eration at Lutherville. Md., the Hill- top Theatre, is slated to reopen May 23. WOOLF BOWS TO EQUITY; ON REGULAR CONTRACT Stanley Woolf has backed down on his threat to go non-Equity.. receive Wanna Start a Riot? When "Wonderful Town” opened in Chicago last spring, Claudia Cassidy not only gave Carol Channing a poi^onal rave review in the Tribune, but also follow^! up with a Sunday column of superlative personal praise. Several days later the star met an old friend, a Tribune executive, and asked his opinion on whether she should write the sheet's critic a note of ac- knowledgment. "I’m terribly grateful and I’d like to express my thanks,” Miss Channing explained; "what’s the precedent?” Knowing Miss Cassidy’s reputation as a tough critic as well as any actor does, the Trib exec laughed, "There is no precedent. It’s never hap- pened before.” ‘Go Home!’ Sez Boston Catholic Editorial On ‘Naughty’ Twofer Shows .'. Boston, Jan. 11. "Go Home!” was the heading over an editorial last week in The Pilot, local Catholic weekly. raj>- ping the current season trend of plugging “so-called naughty” legit shows with ads more suggestive than in actuality. Although the piece mentioned no names, it was apparently inspired chieily by the bally hooing of "Models in Season,” which played a brief engagement at the Majestic Theatre, after the usual lurid ad and poster campaign and distribu- tion of a flood of two-for-one ducats. Lambasting the practice of send- ing twofer coupons and circulars' to local schools, the editorial stated, "What is shocking is to dis- cover that many local highschools this literature with all its Danzinger Bros., Biddle, Sampson & Fields Plan B’way-London Producing An international organization has been formed for the produc- tion of plays on Broadway and in London. Outfit, which will head- quarter in New York, was estab- lished recently by Edward J. and Harry Lee Danzinger, Nicholas Duke Biddle. Frank Sampson and William Fields. The Danzinger brothers and Biddle are partnered ih a film-tv Production firm in London, while Sampson is a onetime legit man- ner, b.o. treasurer and leader of Tammany Hall, and Fields is pressagent for the Playwrights [,!’• Besides being partnered, fields will also handle publicity tor the operation. Harry Danzinger and Biddle have conferred with Roger L. Stevens of the Playwrights regard- ing the London presentation of that tompany’s various productions, of ^huh "Tea and Sympathy” and Rad Seed” are current. Danzing- f. 1, vv ' 10 bad been in New York for Christmas-New Year’s holiday , ™*d ^ack *° London, Jan. 4. " Vork he also huddled with a,( ‘ t onnelly regarding a London ’.induction a new Pl fl y by the ,( t. Sampson follows Danzinger ° London via boat tomorrow 1 tnurs.). CONNIE BENNETT OPENS SEASON AT PALM BEACH Palm Beach. Jan. 11. The Palm Beach (Fla.) Play- house will open Jan. 31 for its fourth season, with Constance Ben- nett and Tod Andrews in "Sabrina Fair” as the initial production. Billie Burke in Irving Phillips’ new comedy, "Mother Was a Bachelor,” will be the second bill. Other * productions scheduled during the 10-week season include Jan Sterling in "Saint Joan,” Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn in “Fourposter” and Brian Don- levy in “A Slight Case of Mur- der.” Paul Crabtree, produeing- director of the Playhouse, hopes to try out at least one other new play during the Palm Beach season. Messmore Kendall, Jeremiah D. Maguire and Mary Howes are the directors of the operation. Staff members for the season include Ralph Lycett. publicity and sub- scription; William Dempsey, busi- ness manager; David Fulford. as- sistant director; sleeve, production Bcrtelsen. scenic raine Hansberry Kroetch, boxoffice The Playhouse Unable to get concessions from the union, the producer is sending out his touring companies under a regular production contract. Equity had withdrawn conces- sions granted the road producer last November after studying op- erational figures submitted by him. At tfiat time Woolf said he would send out non-Equity companies be- cause of the union ruling. Under his present contract, the only concession given the pro- ducer is for stage managers to double in small roles. Previously suggestive references as if young people of highschool age are or should be interested in this sort of trash. We know of several parochial schools whose religious superiors have received such ad- the suggestion the material to Woolf had been a $90 minimum of the regular Stage managers permitted to pay to actors instead $120 road scale, employed at the regular $175 minimum were per- mitted to double as performers, and no understudies were re- quired. Woolf, whose troupes travel un- der the billing of the Civic Drama Guild, currently has two produc- tions playing non-UBO routes. They arc "Fourposter” and "Vaga- bond King.” Anne Martin and Robert Van Hooten are in the for- mer presentation. Besides touring shows, producer also plays sum- mer resorts with a number of units. vertisements with that they pass on their charges. "It is hard to imagine a situa- tion more insulting and in its own way callous. With all the talk about juvenile delinquency, it might be time to read a lesson to these promoters and do all that we can to make their visits in our city a financial flop.” "Models in Season,” after being severely panned by the critics, folded here Jan. 1. abruptly end- ing its scheduled tour. Last fall. "Getting Gertie’s Garter” played the Majestic on twofer and a come- on ad basis, and several other similar shows had local runs in recent seasons. By JESSE GROSS It’s a big season for quick Broad- way payoffs. To date, three shows have moved into the black in rec- ord time, while another lour are also headed for rapid returns. Former category includes "Tender Trap.” "Rainmaker.” and "Boy Friend,” while latter quartet com- prises "Fanny,” “Quadrille," "Bad Seed” and "Mrs. Patterson.” Capitalization on these produc- tions ranges from $75,000 to $275,- 000. Top-budgeted entry is "Fan- ny,” starring Ezio Pinza and Walter Slezak. Produced by David Mer- rick & Joshua Logan, the musical lias been playing to the standee limit since its Nov. 4 opening at the Majestic Theatre and is cur- rently sold out until next June. According to a Nov. 27 account- ing, "Fanny” needed $254,203 to recoup. Operating at a phenomenal weekly profit of nearly $20,000, the Marcel Pagnol-S. N. Behrman- Logan-Harold Rome show' should hit paydirt during its 17th week, ending Feb. 17. Backers have al- ready received a 20% return on their investment. "Quadrille,” as of a Dee. 18 ac- counting, had $20,544 to recoup on a ' 75,000 investment. Up until the week ending Dec. 25. the Noel Coward comedy, starring Alfred 1. u..„, j_.ynn Fontanne, Edna Best and Brian Aherne, had been doing capacity biz for a weekly profit of around $4,500-55,000. If receipts remain healthy, pro- duction may pay off at the end of this week or next, its 11th and 12th, respectively, at the Coronet Theatre. One-third of the John C. Wilson-H. M. Tennent production's $75,000 stake has already been re- turned to the backers. “Seed,” currently in its sixth week at the 46th Street Theatre, may pay off during its 10th week, ending Feb. 12. Playwrights Co. production, starring Nancy Kelly, has already returned 20% to in- • Continued on page 71) is an even 500. A revolving stage was installed last season, and this year a new- ventilating system has been added. Performances are Monday through Saturday eve- nings, wdth Wednesday and Satur- day matinees. A subscription Campaign gets underway Jan. 17 under the direc- tion of Lycett. Socialite George Vigouroux Jr., has been appointed general sub'eription chairman of a 200-member committee. Felds’ 3-Year Renewal For D.C. Amphitheatre Washington, Jan. 11. Feld Bros., who operated the Carter Barron Amphitheatre for a successful 12-week summer season in 1954, have signed a contract with the National Capital Parks to James Gilder- | run the fresh air theatre for three manager; Paul j more years. They reportedly have ialso signed with the theatrical labor unions for the same period ! of time. Opened originally to present a historic pageant, "Faith of Our designer; Lor- and Dorothy treasurers, seating capacity Fathers” in connection with the 150th anniversary of D. C., the am- phitheatre was operated in 1953 by Constance Bennett, who offered a summer of top musical revivals. The Felds got it last year and of- fered a variety of amusements, j ranging from symphony concerts and Gilbert and Sullivan to the Jose Greco dancers, the musical comedy "Golden Apple” and an ice 1 show’. ACTORS STILL ACTORS, EVEN THO AT LIBERTY A precedent-making decision by the N. Y. State Unemployment In- surance Appeal Board permits actors to refuse non-acting jobs without becoming Ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits. Case that prompted the Appeal Board decision pertained to John Martone, a professional actor, who lost his unemployment insurance benefits after refusing a job as a typist, a position he had previously held for 32 weeks. Herman E. Cooper, Actors Equity attorney, in a hewing before the Appeal Board, argued that to disqualify the actor for unemployment benefits would seriously discourage actors from remaining in the theatre and would also penalize performers with other occupational skills and favor those with no such abilities. The Appeal Board decided in favor of the actor, citing that one of the purposes of the Unemploy- ment Insurance Law is to protect acquired skills and preserve occu- pational prestige. The Industrial ! Commissioner has not yet decided i whether to appeal the ruling or accept the decision as the’ detinite interpretation of the Uneinploy- 1 ment Insurance Law of N. Y. Zetterling’s ‘Samarkand’ Contract Claim Going To Equity Arbitration Claiming she was dropped from "Tonight in Samarkand” despite a run-of-the-play contract, Mai Zetterling has taken her case to Actors Equity, and the issue will probably go to arbitration. The Swedish-born London film-legit ac- tress’ contract reportedly called for script approval, and when changes were made without her okay she exited the show. Equity intervened and, after dis- cussions with the actress and pro- ducers Bruce Becker and Robert Ellis Miller, It was agreed that Miss Zetterling should return to the cast, according to a union rep. However, the star wasn’t taken back, but the producers engaged Felicia Montealegre as replace- ment. Under Equity rules a performer with a run-of-the-play contract, when let out of a show, is entitled to financial compensation for the run of the production, until the official end of the season, May 31. Morehouse Shifting Beat to Colorado Spgs. Ward Morehouse, drama column- ist of the North American News- paper Alliance, moves to Colorado Springs end of next week as Sun- day review editor and columnist of the Colorado Springs Free Press. He’ll edit the Sunday amusement and art section and write a three- times-a-week column on the edi- torial page, also continuing his syndicated column for NANA. His wife, Rebecca Franklin, has resigned as contributing editor of Time mag to accompany him. and plans to do freelance writing in Colorado Springs. However, the couple intend to make frequent visits to New York and Morehouse will probably continue his exten- sive travels. Until several months ago. More- house was drama columnist for the N. Y. World-Telegram & Sun, shifting to that sheet when it pur- chased the old N. Y. Sun. for w hich he wrote a Broadway drama col* j limn for many years. „