Variety (May 1956)

^fdiifgdiy, May 30 , 19 S 6 PSSSIETy LEGITIMATE 55 THIS WAS ONE OF B’WAY’S BEST Row Over Identical Repudiations; Equity Election Climax This Week With Actors Equity due to vqte + Friday (1) in its liveliest election 1 jn years, a violent row broke out last week over repudiated endorse¬ ments of the independent ticket and charges that the nominating committee that picked the regular slate had been controlled by a clique. A special meeting of the council, called only the day before on peti¬ tion of members supporting the regular ticket, was held last Friday (25). It was ‘ ! *“ Grips' Verse Mi Notes To Jan (km) Chiton » Record High Season Legit Gross; way, By HOKE MORRISON l)y general ccJVjevjt, this has been the ‘best Broadway sensei), in many years. By the standard of critJ- • cal quality, popular approval" or boxoffite return, the statement applies. ft’s been a season of fine plays, $103,300 Damage Suit Vs. Belafonte-Kenuedy Chicago, May 29. Singer Harry Belafonte and pro¬ ducer Jay Richard Kennedy are de¬ fendants in a $103,300 breach of a stormy session, in j Vi te was 16-15 in favor i nanc *° Valley. which the vote of issuing to the membership a statement by 60 members repu¬ diating their published endorse¬ ment of the indie slate. The statement by the 60 ex¬ plained thft they had not intended to ’‘endorse" the indies, but had merely signed a nominating peti¬ tion for the second slate because they "believe there 'should be a choice of candidates.” In issuing the statement, the council noted that "supporters of the independ¬ ent ticket offered for publication the above names in good faith, under the assumption that all those who signed the independent nomi¬ nating petitions supported the en¬ tire ticket and, by signing, auto¬ matically authorized* the use of their names.” The backstage c;'c*w at th^ M City Center has if- pea *.-4 Clayton. The conespondtr.'.-e entirely in original poetry. The grips send a. v/e« of behind-the-scenes theatre and the. actre: sponds with what’i, new in th* Sue '■ Afes Clayton, who recently . ic>-xl the femme j lead, Anna Leono Center revival television Series I ^ iie Tatio 01 hits an( * fI ° r ' s has ■ un) > Kansas Ci *y, May 7. He asked sional films j been relatively good ; $1W,000 for damage* to his rep j Saturday The stagehands cd.’nH 'Mhs C’i n* ' The box.offke has been ■ as a promoter and $3,300 as the ton is the biggest trash of .-anv-i ^ g . or ? as ’ not . onI y , Qn Broadway ! amount he would have netted, Horn - I it’s been a season of fine plays, «wer jay xuenaru xs.enneuy are ue- SiV-. _ (U . f ! distinguished performances, taste-! fendants in a $103,300 breach of iwnfr iifh*: f«* production*—and , contract suit filed in Superior , ,.’r * j commensurate critical, popular and i Court here last week by John An- ; .r • financial success. There have been tonello, Kansas City theatrical [ meritorious contributions by new- owner and backer. : comers, in authorship, perform- j The action claims the defend- pnnniiL in V*;?,. i awce * sta S in 6 and management, and j ants failed to fulfill a contract to lot “Kir« 4 i ' continuing accomplishment by es-: bring in their "Sing. Man. Sing” red ,tn the* ” i ^hslied names - I revue to the Municipal Auditori- one who’s starred at ‘he City Cm- but also on the road (see separate ; the one-n.ighter. ter But they’re not *eleasH 'anvi s,ory 2n ^ nni ' I of Wvir s «uhJXf' a ‘ V ««* category of number of ptey ! of the verses for publication. $405,500 Gross On St. {iri.g weeks, the situation has been : favorable. There has bewfi a total of approx- ■ hnpte'fy $4 .TJU.OOO invested in ; Broadway pioriuctions during the J season, plus about $1.400,000 [dropped on tryout TUtps. 'That ex- ' cinder City C-:rue>\ Co me die Fran- j 1 raise. D’Oyly Carte and such "spe eiais/'; Thus Package Upbeat On Silo Circuit By JESSE GROSS Business on Broadway and the road rocketed to over $58,000,000 total gross for the 1955-56 legit season. It was a record cumula¬ tive take for the nine semesters that Variety has been tabulating its b.o. reports. The total represents a jump of $4,996,800 over the previous sea¬ son’s $53.209.8tW) high Broadway registered the biggest Increase, soaring $3,265,3.00 to a peak $35,- 353,100. Out of-town receipts climbed $3,731,500 to place third in the Variety seasonal scoreboard with a $22,853,500 tally That brought the combined New York- hinterland 52-week total as of last 26) to $58,206,600.. Broadway was notable in the unusually .large number of shows that drew legitgoer support fer moderate runs. 'That's reflected m the 1.239 playing weeks racked up by 60 new entries and 24 huidowers 1 icrn previous seasons. In Compar¬ ison, the 2954-55 tally on playing weeks was 1,139 for 63 new ofTer- , mgs and 20 hoHdover-s. | The ’55-’56 Broadway gross was I hypoed ty such such hefty straight With a A second statement, issued by .i x 7 , •, the indie supporters, referred to ' , a m In T?,5t’ r ^ SfVe l fX n U$ magazine carried the names of over 240 . J ' members who had nominated the; T , ootcn/tnl -v *ire id » independent ticket. While the mag- ' n * J it ZZ azine was still being delivered in : cins snn th^j iilvlZiZl' the mails, strange as it may seem, :<? 4 °5,500. That van thnt+w*- several members whose names ap- ’ peered decided that they tidily' iw didn’t mean to endorse the noiini-j n,., The stra«hof circuit is evolving ! PiW as "Cat on a Hot Tin around $2.416.-! into a touring route for summer ! 'Middle of'the °NiKht" e anil'’•''No St. LouK Ma;t 2!t. productions. That's rrfl«ud in ihe ; Time lor Sergeants." Ditto for decrease ,m r..p,nb.r ‘ »»'aW notyeW-tassifiabl'e I »»»1>cr of packages j MK-h .nusicals as •;Damn Yankees;,’ 1 b ’n ,0r . the “1? tra V "”, s F 7'^ n - FelL" and -Mr Wond“rtu).” Thl •)ne a'.to tn !,cvf;vai lnstancr-s. ■ Augment nag the already fn ■ prospective profit should go a |,• of New York-assembled i iContinued on page 57) mrg w>5.v toward eliminating the-! . . . . . » uvcivj/i deficit .shows, in some instances ?ncluding | The soasop. has been notable for 1 lNV0 of the same entr.v arc | ; .he number, ot liirn deals, especial- ! ■ ceveral n ^ v tourers. Most of these Z iTaiSShv thJiS „ fh piat the American Theatre drriiwrf ; ^ "neatesWdck^f^he^^veek ” S The j slightly during the 19A5-56 sr-aso-i. j j‘» ' I Business for the respective shoe UV f*i T C - II wv J. 4 V1 . Al4(11 U1 ? ^ 1*.. iw flurry of pre-production ■ are being sent out by- per^nnal .setup*-. Among (be shows thus jn- r rnanager Hillard Elkins, who f \ohvd were "hoomtui of Roses,” ! benched out as a fv*ontrunner in . half fewer playir^ weeks the semes’er Di?d $59 000 total gipfs’. Jt wiis a little nees ai ail. borne of tiienv oven (Continued on page 5<37 Show Tents Grew Up; Lloyds Will Insure ’Em; $30,250 Typical’ Policy however. The vanAws elrvi* imd their re¬ spective g?s3frse>5 -vere a>- follows: “Pajann fatm.-:- $?H)’,300 ; throe weeks. "Can-irnn,, 1 ’ RQ0 tjo weeks. "Plain Fa . y,’’ $-:C.900. two weeks. “Teah<t%st ai i e Aug:;*? Moon,’* $30,000, on-! i <retuin' "Bus Shop/' &..i50U. One week "Bad ‘y'V-ii/ 1 ii2.100, .me week 3.7.500. one week. "W*rode?i Di:..,” $H,400, one week "Ajmh f rwy Waltz,” sH 4,200, “No Time foi < •. *<• -•j., Ram. • lollt dispa f ching oS barn pr<s*-ntr, 1 . Elkins has iincu ap several 'The I.r.rk ” "Great .Sebns- performers for his latest ol- r.ith v jjrior pre-pj eduction ' tcrlnp.*:. Sergeant 5-A* "Hpsh _ Tent theatres have apparently made the big time. Lloyds of Lon¬ don has agreed to underwrite an insurance policy specifically de¬ signed for canvastdp coverage. Lloyds came into the picture af¬ ter several tepee producers com- ; one plained that existing American: "Dor. J in policies provided inadequate cover- w(e k Acc °u n| ants E'iwai’d O. Lutz j .• WjlA y % .^y nr< . and Robert M. C;irr fc execuuv«>- <b-! w «-ek re* tors of the-Musical Arena The-j "i. lla i «b-e Assn., .greed to allow the i ” su '' i,neo , brokeiagej "Tm aid SympaMy," $9,000. one him of Boyar & Ormg to work out ! wee k a policy for submission to Lloyds. | • T h ir ( .V,. ed I.over $8,- ine specUrcations set down by ?he ! non out brokerage outfit were accepted by ■ •Contirjoed on page 57) Cfais Season Up; j He’*; set Mae West for “Count [on l’p- Ring Twice” Chico Maix O n •«TTi Ft Is Cluiotovi • D ii . Senate Approves Shubert Theatre Probe; Comm, to Assign Funds S 1I, : * one <»ver. n $9,000, Boston, May 29. The Massachusetts Senate ap¬ proved last week r» reeo.ution cal-J- hig for a legislative irwesligatioiii of the Shubert Theatrical enter- lor "Fifth Season.’ Red Buttons, j p r i« es i n Boston., and. sent it to tor "Tender Trap" and Robert Q. Ways A: Means Comniiltee to Lewis for "What s the Ru'li," new | detevmine how much should be «l- reyue current at the Pit sburgli : lowed to conduct ♦he probe, la.) PJa.vhou.se. Llkw^ manages j a move to have the scope of tbt) Leo Adams, Mike Stewart - and , jnquiiy widened 10 cover all the ; Charles Strou?,e, the writers ol ; «;hiibei t interests and activities 111 "Rush.” Appearing vvilh. Lewis in Boston is being soueh/ by Sen. : the show will oe Judy Johnson and ! Daniel Rudst<'n, ot' Doi\-hrster, Chicago May 29. ; Don Libe.vlo, who appear with him | ypo^sor of the measure. 1 he It&- r.if just- eorliny toe a; legit s)a- , on his tv program. ; jslator said that Ue probe, which son registered a small gain in loiai j Miss West previously played the j would be authorized under the gr(.>r-s over ihe 1954-55 semester, summer curcuh in 1952 in "Come 1 terms of his re-solution, would go r>;eo ‘hough ?J?ere were 10 weeks V-p,” which Elkins ^gented. The \ into a number of matters not c-t- le.‘- T,t playiig time at the Loop’s .manager is also teaming nilh Oscar j dinarily investigated hy u U. S. six theatres. Oieson to send out two packages Tin 17 productions that berthed of "Bus Slop.” Oieson was cum¬ in Chicarw diaing the closing June 1 to May 31 span accounted for a to* jf 14(( irlayiTig weeks and a gross of $3 Thc'rt were ex- acCy \he s.M?nc number of arrivals in th-?. 1 <|54-54- cw’Je, representing an aggn*?:r-t»- of "'-W weeka for g gro*s of $3,569,495. TA -- coverage aid 2 four iTjoulhs 1 coverage*. The insur¬ ance for various reasons. ivaI tiding windstorm, cyclone and tornado, and the declaration of a state of emergency prohibiting the public from using roads because of de¬ struction caused by certain specific Perils. en Show Tent In Montreal Thm Summer! pariv manager on the Broadway ; production of the William Inge play. A package of • "Desperate Hours.” starring Edith Atwater, Al¬ beit Dekker and Richard Carlisle, it being pu< together by the Stage and Arena Guild of America. Dorothy Chernuck and Omar K. Lev-man, producers of the Corning : IN. Y.) Glass Theairs- arc sending out folksinger Richard Dyer-Ben- nct, The .Eva Jessye Choir and the Johnnie Eaton and his T5 rinctonia«s jv'« combo \a ix package tagged sU'Ut hi*.- Airing its pourse, y hicb hiytoriCHUv as one "Here’s Music Afi invir f‘*iv money-makers; -1 : stuck theatre, the Coconut caJfgory. V V niinr «.l A Playhx.u^, fehniters this week sticr , m ° "* r d was "Pa Vvlty C'-c'lH'ifcT a 26 v->k* a »J»rpios*jUft a guest » , III the Red CU name ndky. ?he 8CtKC^fer will j jam<- G'juj v, *«e ' u )<;o bo t lla^jgfed tkis, summer vaajo. j 709 t{e«’in^ its 22 wee! recorstryc4iff« expansion ov Uh- i(!en£ir>'^ed on pag stage »> at'cammoifete musical c>m - i —- — —— M&AilAaOWtER’ IN LONDON, Congressional wmimiUee. *A C;tx-i- gression^il investigation an Al¬ leged violation of the freedom of the press toy the Shubert interests i« being held in abeyance until J. J. Shubert returns from Europe.) "it is my intention lo go far toe- yornd tin: question of whether J.be Shuberts trespassed upon the free¬ dom of the jpresi and to determine w'hether now laws should be en¬ acted lo correct con-ditiom whi<.*h are not in the public intend,.” Rudsten declared. The bill wa<3 filed by the State : Senator ss the mult of a comro- j versy i^blcK deveiepod when Eitiot > Norton. Boston Post drama cnl.it, I was dropped from the Shubert p-ress ifs.it totiawhi^ a chut Die pan 'T'ood^r Heart.” The aisle- cockt; :»! , y fttm.(e and vestam^nt, T.’it i iUaJ ^cas-iu r $w the ^rig-1 inal of L-ie rontravcrsial “W^uiivg Godot ” wlm-h was v flip duv ii f its two-wwpV run, but I WAS reettSt jVAd TL-aUl^Cf.f t'- LcfCj.v’ a oj^rent ^roadwpy '-ntry. Plr yhouse 'i • ,m-the-blaek TVijh.lato Btr>. :-.ead in "Streetcar NfuV*d Desiw ” for tht ee tvipAcPy weenk Otter clicks were Beatrice Lillie, Linda Darnell in "Tea and Sympathy,” Sillie Burke in "Solid Gob 1 Cadillac,” J.udith Ander.*,on in WITH GERALDINE FA€E <; iUer was fubsequenGy re-ir.frtmed ascw rtsk rby Cet/.,.r nf a i$ v,pries page orjb articles -x*id Lrntoa ii* ',3lto { y*j th/* Pont, Ap,:*] y,8 with a net deficitRnd&wr- said U-. wvi ted Use prohr will be under teimr the close ci^ fne jv«.ienr J^v>;»,tive sessicii. A 600-seat tent theatre is um ^ 0l Montreal this summer, nil be operated by Joy Thomson, owner of the Montreal Playhouse, ^lontreal. James Winsiow, former jjanagmg director of the Myrtle Jeacli (S. C.) Playhouse, will be ‘■ r 5 cl °r, and tlpie staff will also in¬ clude Bruce Raymond as general business manager and J. It. ]Uhr-. ™. ... ..-. , r sters as publicist. ! "R* it rk ChiTion” *nd Viclot: Borge Monster * «* tent wIH operate on a star! wp” <4 is solo show*. <’ c policy, It f ]l bo ponplrn/'i 1 season*- plsn?; c*!l for ^fr^nv .V- epproxim^le 0|w:- f $22<;j)00 for the virtually offset by ; varus i.i;d income l, v mvi'-ole o) b.o. * ’-Vun: rfvmv <* V. f o*n the -pt iatior. ui to, permit fvture expansion to 1,000 ; guest tiars, plus possible tryouts a S ‘ T ^ e S ta 2 e & Arena Guild j of a musical and new plays. George America *vin bt New YotF/ntj I TlngjJ is owner-operator of the mr the operation. * I spoL X^inifc-rt, May 29. AP.tr an u,ykmp tour, i li«f Hain.waU'v’ 1 as r.«vxt Tlie nijjtrt ; at iTheatr?. rcpTj-cim'- "O' /auks' 1 wJci^ ‘has tr.irsftwivvi the The N. Nash Cosnedp 1*. iW- ing pr« senDy* Gy t‘ p C)if> Jack IV mstvi’, so a^^Cirlon with Sam \Y. tnam.vkfr. Wanr.wak* r. r t i^-4irects villi il^c- pfi.iL the title vole ■ grant fnr creative i.nst Us, Gr/ntri- ‘dfiiv Pag*-. >."*• j» ju'A : the opt**..# and balluf \ waiving,of Ms#* 1 s or* nry.>«-nt I f'om th* publi- n U v=i:>rly sememe contribu - ■> fK‘*)tn ot he ? xtwripls i’he non-p*- & S/rJ.UiMl ren Stii*/.* Cv.-pt. )<. (ra* i t*> western t;?<»? c(iny:t ly i bar $40,000 X’vtbtA.’-il to at. An Traufeel Eakiag ‘Pipe’ Jane 16, Sub Not Set requisition in takt <5vcr the tomi* j the approximate $30). City aDo | lead she or*fiinated on Broro-way j re’Ha> due )o Me- - Y < *r. (atic./u ih. 1954-55 SMe JiA’c^ds Canadian [aided m getVi^f z ;-y op^ "i tttress Uahc? lUrtcf. whe withdrew, I the hook. Htien Ifraube], whose contract .“r- ccsra? of "Pipe Dream” v/Inds up tomoirow (Thurs.i, will Vvill:- drav. the Richard Rodgcrs- instali.'.wnf ; Oscar Hammvriitein 2d musical no 'ns taken Jn a* L.e la r<*undatvni later than June 16.' She's agreed of the Kockel’t-U-rr ivy i lo stay on until th^n to give the .marjagemesst time to get a replace¬ ment. Following net exit from tjiov/, the finger will sunQmer at )>^r permanent 'in South.’ guna, Cal^