Variety (October 1955)

Wednesday, October 19, 1955 PjfS&BZTY LEGITIMATE 71 NEW HOUSES LOOM FOR B’WAY ______ + 'Pajama (lame a Smash in London; ‘Hotel’ Has Chance, ‘Truth’ Dubious f---- B’way Angels Case Puzzles Trade; Can’t Dope Few-Investments Charge - + London, Oct. 18. A boxoffice smash beyond rea¬ sonable doubt, “The Pajama Game,” Presented by Williamson Music and Prince Littler at the Coliseum last Thursday (13), opened with a substantial advance and looks set for a highly profitable run. It should compare favorably with its Broadway triumph. This is one of three legits preemed last week here. The opening night audience gave a rousing welcome to “Pajama Game,” particularly to a new tal¬ ent discovery, Elizabeth Seal, who copped top honors in the national press reviews. The cast is entirely British, three principal roles being filled by Max Wall, Joy Nichols and Edmund Hockridge. Robert E. Griffith, who came from New York to reproduce George Abbott’s original Broadway direction, has provided vigorous staging, while Zoya Beporska has also drawn praise for her re-crea¬ tion of the original dances. Almost the entire London press is unanimous in its appraisal of (Continued on page 75) ‘Delilah’ (‘Vamp’) Still Has Script Troubles; Alton Under Surgery New Haven, Oct. 18. “Delilah,” which played a seven- performance tuneup at the Shu- bert last week (it’s been retitled “The Vamp” for its scheduled Broadway run), vacated town in little better shape than when it arrived. To complicate matters further, the washed-out New Haven railroad was unable ^to move the physical production out of town over the weekend, so the slated opening tonight (Tues.) in Wash¬ ington may have to be delayed. The musical has book trouble, which is. not being cured too easily. Matters aren't helped by the fact that stager Robert Alton underwent surgery for a ruptured appendix and is now confined to Grace New Haven Hospital. Meanwhile, various New York experts have been called in to gan¬ der “Delilah,” but as far as known, no one has been engaged to do ac¬ tual rewrites. However, a new lyricist is reportedly due to enter the- situation during the current Washington stand. STEPHEN MITCHELL ON L0ND0N-N.Y. SCHEDULE British producer Stephen Mitchell, who’s associated in the Broadway presentations of “Tiger at the Gates” and “Day by the Sea,” intends to be active in both London and New York hereafter. He will go to England in about a month, but plans to return to the U. S. in January. Mitchell is now on the Coast, briefly. He’ll then spend fort¬ night in New York before flying back to London, where he’s dick¬ ering for a new script, for im¬ mediate West End production. His wife, who accompanied him to the U. S. last summer, precedes him home this week. As the producer of the original London edition of N. C. Hunter’s “Day by the Sea,” Mitchell is part¬ nered with Huntington Hartford in the current Broadway version. He is also associated with Robert L. Joseph and the Playwrights Co. in the presentation of the Christopher Fry-Jean Giraudoux ‘Tiger,” having teamed with Joseph in its prior engagement in the West End. Mitchell, whose production of Terence Rattigan’s “Separate Tables” is one of the top smashes of London currently, figures that in future he will repeat his recent moves of associating with U. S. managements in the Broadway presentations of plays he has done m England, and perhaps in the West End engagements of hit shows from New York. Headline Stuff Talent agent Milton Gold- inan is credited with the obser¬ vation that the Broadway the¬ atre shortage is no longer news. He’s waiting for the head¬ line about someone doing away with a parking lot to make way for a legit house.- _ ‘Reuben’Folding For 250C Loss Boston, Oct. 18. “Reuben Reuben” will fold here next Saturday (22), cutting short its scheduled three-week tryout. The Broadway presentation, slated to open Nov. 8, has* been cancelled. The Marc Blitzstein musical pre¬ miered Oct. 10 at the Shubert here, getting cold reviews and disap¬ pointing business on last week’s initial stanza. Apparently producer Cheryl Crawford first hoped to revise the show, and she announced that it would curtail its Hub tuneup stand and go to New York for intensive doctoring. However, the necessary changes are too great to make that feasible. Also, the production runs the risk of incurring insur¬ mountable losses here. Miss Crawford, who had “Reu¬ ben Reuben” under option for nearly five years, says that it rep¬ resents a $250,000 investment. She asserts that she is prouder of it than of her last previous Broadway show, the financially successful Ed¬ ward Chodorov farce, “Oh Men, Oh Women.” It was explained by an associate of Miss Crawford that her decision to close “Reuben Reuben” rather than go through with the plan to doctor it and open it in New York on schedule followed Blitzstein’s refusal to make the book revisions she demanded. However, that could not be confirmed from the author-composer himself. After announcing the closing, Miss Crawford expressed faith in the musical. “I still believe there’s a fine show here and that we can make it right,” she insisted. “I don’t know how long it will take —a month, two months, three months, a year—but we’re going to do it. “I realize now,” she continued, “that when you've been with a pro¬ duction as long as I have with this one, you can persuade yourself that the audience will see it through your eyes. Opening night here I learned that isn’t always so.” Anyway, Foreign Crix Liked Flopperoo ‘Goats’ “Island of the Goats,” a recent flop on Broadway, had foreign ap¬ peal on both sides of the Atlantic. Having previously clicked in Paris, the show repeated with the foreign press reviewers in N. Y. It drew unanimous pans from the first- string Broadway critics. The Ugo Betti drama, adapted by British playwright Henry Reed, folded Oct. 8 at the Fulton Thea¬ tre, N. Y., after seven perform¬ ances. Following the windup per¬ formance, Saul Colin, a member of the Stage & Screen Foreign Press Club, took over the stage to praise the play, noting that 80% of the foreign publication aisle-sitters had turned in favorable notices. Colin also shook hands with the entire cast, who had been standing on one foot and then the other. Eleanor Pinkham, general man¬ ager for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, reported in- Frisco that general director Edwin Lester was in New York “shopping” for 1956 productions. She denied that a “Damn Yankees” touring produc- 1 tion is already limed up for the ! Coast for next year. I THEATRES SEEN AS HD SISKS By HOBE MORRISON Broadway is in prospect of get¬ ting several new theatres, the first legit construction in 30 years. Plans are not immediate, but may eventuate in three or four years. With the New York theatre shortage now the worst in mem¬ ory, and growing steadily more acute, the financial aspect of legit construction is becoming more feasible. That is particularly true under the revised municipal building code, which now permits multiple-theatre or theatre-office building under one roof, with much latitude for design of the stage area. The . City Investing Co., which has an available site for new the¬ atre building in the midtown New [ York area and has been giving the project longterm consideration for several years, is reportedly active¬ ly interested. Also, Roger L. Ste¬ vens, who combines major realty speculation with legit producing and theatre operation, has revealed that he and undisclosed associates may soon be ready to embark on a theatre construction venture in New York. Although Dowling and Stevens are associated in Produ¬ cers Theatre, their legit building projects are understood to be separate. City Investing’s preliminary plans in that direction were re¬ vealed recently at the company’s annual stockholders meeting. Rob¬ ert W. Dowling president, told shareholders present that the com- (Continued on page 74) End Musk Union Tiff in Philly Philadilphia, Oct. 18. The dispute between the Shu- berts and Local 77, American Fed¬ eration of Musicians, is expected to be settled tomorrow (Wed.). Thus, a two-month freeze on the booking of musicals in Philly will end. Following a meeting in N.Y. yesterday (Mon.) between Romeo Celia, president of Local 77, and J. J. Shubert, head of the Shubert enterprizes, both sides signified that an agreement was imminent. Terms for a new pact were agreed upon and all that remains to make it final is passage tomorrow morn¬ ing by the exec board of Local 77. Barring an unexpected hitch, it should go through. Under the new agreement, the number of pit musicians required for straight plays has been changed from six at all Shubert houses to five each at the Walnut and Locust St. Theatres and seven each at the Forrest and Shubert. The latter two houses play musi¬ cals primarily. The number of pit men required for tuners remains at 20. Brattle to MIT House The Brattle Shakespeare Co. may switch operation next summer from the 300-seat Brattle Theatre, Cambridge, Mass., to the 500-seat Kresge Auditorium of the Mass. Institute of Technology, also in Cambridge. The company originally used the Brattle for four years, after which it was a film holise for a two-and- one-half year period. Legit was re¬ sumed last summer with the return of the Shakespeare unit. GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR PftRlETY 1905-1955 The Least He Could Do While several legit pro¬ ducers and managers were at lunch one day last week, the palaver inevitably got around to the current shortage of Broadway'- theatres, which all present agreed is the worst in many years. It was pointed that, although no one is actual¬ ly building any new theatres, producer - theatre operator Roger L. Stevens recently sought to acquire the Brandt- owned Globe, a film house on Broadway at 46th St., N. Y. “Well, why shouldn’t he?” someone quipped. "After all, he practically created the shortage by producing so many shows.” 40G‘Tea’Divvy; $262,500 Total Another $40,000, representing film income, has been distributed by the Playwrights Co.-Mary K. Frank production of “Tea and Sympathy.” That gives the backers $262,500 profit thus far on their $65,000 investment. The divvy was made following receipt of $81,000 from Metro last month as the second payment on its purchase of the film rights to the Robert Anderson drama. Of that amount, $80,000 was distrib¬ uted, with, the backers getting half on the basis of the standard 50-50 split between the manage¬ ment and investors. As of a Sept. 30 accounting, the total profit on the two-company operation, including picture in¬ come. was $533,007. That included, $525,000 divided equally between the management and backers, leav¬ ing $8,007 for future distribution. Additional income is due from the film deal, plus prospective royalty from the lease of the touring rights to George Brandt. The Broadway edition of “Tea” closed last June 18 after an 89- week run, while the road company ended its tour last*July 23. LOTS OF FELLOWSHIPS AT ELI DRAMA SCHOOL New Haven, Oct. 18. With the opening of the new term, the scholarship situation is bustin’ out all over the Yale Drama School. Latest to inject a finger into the giveaway pie is the Wil¬ liam Morris Agency, with a $1,000 fellowship in playwrighting. First recipient of the Morris award is James J. StefTenson, Jr., Rhodes scholar who was active as director-actor in the Oxford U. Dramatic Society. He will study under Robert Penn Warren, pro¬ fessor of playwrighting and author of the Pulitzer prize-winning novel, “All the Kings Men.” Also under the Warren wing is Frank Duane, first recipient of the $3,500 RCA-NBC Fellowship. Duane, a free-lance writer, work¬ ing under the guidance of the New Dramatists Committee in New' York, hails from Texas. Studying under an $800 RCA-NBC scholar¬ ship will be first recipient Nicholas D. Probst. of Baltimore, who drew the award for a Yale undergrad interested in the drama. Marking a departure from the previous policy, which limited its own scholarships to students who had proved their ability during their first year at Yale, the Drama School has awarded five scholar¬ ships to new stqdents entering this fall. Recipients are Mary Elizabeth Dann, Pacific Palisades, Cal. (act¬ ing); Margaret Jane Andrews, Rockville Centre, N.Y. (acting); Herbert Appelman, Brooklyn, N.Y. (play writing); John C. Powell, New Malden, Surrey, England (direct¬ ing); William B. Warfel. Pasay City, Philippines, (design-lighting). Charges last week by N. Y. State Attorney General Jacob K. Javits that Broadway Angels, a legit in¬ vestment corporation, had swindled approximately 4,000 investors of $400,000 have aroused curiosity in the trade. What’s confusing is that Wallace Gra.vdon Garland, head of Angels, or his representatives, F. Douglas Rideout and Thomas J. Legale, have been listed extensively as in¬ vestors in Broadway productions, usually' putting up the stake for Wallace Graydon Garland Produc¬ tions, c/o Broadway Angels. Inc. Javits alleged, however, that of the firm’s $400,000 slock capital, less than $23,000 had been invested in nine legit productions. He said that was indicated by the Broad¬ way Angels books in possession of the Attorney General’s oll'ice. A rundown of backer lists on a number of Broadway and road pro¬ ductions of the current and recent seasons, shows a near-$l 00,000 in¬ vestment made by Garland, Ride¬ out and Legate in a total of 25 shows, besides those on Javit’s list. Of the 25, six are new-season en¬ tries. They are “The Vamp,” “Desk Set,” “Diary of Anne Frank,” “View From the Bridge,” "Young and Beautiful” and “Heavenly Twins” are current entries. An¬ other three, “Cat on a Hot. Tin Roof,” “Bus Stop” and “Bad Seed” rate as hits, while “Plain and Fancy” is still In an undetermined status. The remaining 15 were all flops, although one is a prospect for ulli- (Continued on page 74) WB Pays Extra $70,000 For ‘Seed’ Tour Delay; Show’s Payoff 144G Warner Bros., which originally purchased the film rights to “Bad Seed” for $300,000, paid the Play¬ wrights Co. an additional $70,000 to hold up the play’s tour. The stu¬ dio requested the delay so it could shoot the film, in which the show’s star, Nancy Kelly, and other mem¬ bers of the original Broadway cast appear. The pic is currently in production on the Coast. The $70,000 represents a hefty profit for the legit production, since it’s not being split on a 60- 40 basis with author Maxwell An¬ derson, adaptor of the play from William March’s novel. However, Anderson has been given a $20,000 slice of that revenue, leaving the production $50,000. With the additional coin, the total profit on “Seed” to date is $200,- 469 on a $78,000 investment. Ad¬ ditional income is due on the pro¬ duction’s 40% share of the original, film sale. That coin is being paid in installments. The Playwrights Co. production, which finished a 42-week Broad¬ way run last Aug. 24, is skedded to begin a hinterland hike next Nov. 24. During its final four weeks at the Coronet Theatre, N. Y., the show made a $5,076 operating prof¬ it. Other income included $1,257 in English royalties, while closing costs ane costume replacement ex¬ pen • ; totaled $2,602. The profit distribution thus far tallies $144,000. On the basis of the regular 50-50 split between the management and backers, ( that gives the latter nearly 100%'profit on their investment. Remaining as¬ sets include a reserve of $23,000 for the upcoming tour, plus a $15,000 sinking fund. PLAN STOCK OPERATION AT HIPPODROME, WASH. Washington, Oct. 18. A new stock operation is slated to how shortly at the Hippo¬ drome Theatre here. The house is being renovated for that purpose by Bernard Lust, local theatre owner, who will rename it The Studio. Plays will be done in arena style and will run for two-three weeks. The spot will be the flag¬ ship of the Stage &. Arena Guild of America.