Variety (Dec 1929)

Wednesday, December 25, 1929 L EGIT I M A T E VARIETY 51 NO "SANTA" FOR LEGITS Mid-West Section May Forget All About Legit Stage for practically deprived of all con- tact or familiarity with sta;ge shows th6 ttilddje. west, always culture^ avid, In the last few years, partially due to . the systematic propaganda conducted by Better Films Councils sponsored by the National Board of Review, has been taking a new at- titude toward Alms, tending to dig- • nify them as an art and legitima- tize the •high brow's'* Interest In the only form of entertainment available In hiost provincial com- munities. Dialog has broken down the last barrleA, -with the culture hounds now able to persuadie themoelves . the tailklng screen ,1s i»n extension of . dramatic art and, hence, worthy of their attention. They have attacked the problem via ' lectures, dlscus- Eions, open forufhs and academic standards In an effort to separate Kfollywood . hokum. from the "nuances and trends of the new art form." . - . The. recent publication by middle western da-illes of a syndiqate series on "Appreciation of the Photoplay" fits In with this new attltudie. Ar- ticles were written in Browning So- * clety refined lingo. Small towii culture Is pouncing . . on talkers with glee, finding gi*eat . deUght In being able \o. jabber more or leas intelligibly In the teclinlcal vocabulary of Hollywood- plus their own illumlnatl twist. COPS SUPERVISE CHI TREASURER'S ELECTION . • . Chicago, ^Dec. 24. Racketeers trying to gain con- trol of. the theatre treasurers were left In the cold. Treasurers' union held their elec- tion under heavy police prptectlbn and the musclers-in never showed. Joe Gaul, secretary- and Gene . Wiide?:, treasurer, •rtrere . only ones not re-relected, with, opposition • centered on Gaul. . .The treasurers discovered that during Ga-ul's tenure Gaul returned their original charter to the Chi- cago -ed^ratlon of Labor and af- filiated the group with the Building Services Employees. Crafts, which Includes such unions as the ushers and ticket takers and apartment janitors. • Jerry Horan and Paul David, head this group of crafts and told the treasurers henceforward Mfessrs. Horan and David would control • their funds. Treasurers replied nothing doing, as $4,000 In funds had been dis- bursed during Gaul's admlnisitra- tioh and that was experience .enough. Oflicers for 1930: John P. Strpth, president; Leslie C. Wilcox, vice- president; A. L. Fllogi'asso, seci'e- tary; A,lbert C. Eckhart, treasurer and Max Hlrsch, business manager. Dues for 1930 were reduced from ,$36 to $24 a year. Hornblow as Partner Arhtur Hornblow, Jr., has been made a partner in Samuel Gold- wyn, inc., member-partner in turn of United Artists. Hornblow has acted for the past three years as production associate of Goldwyn, his partnership coming as a reward. Prior to going into pictures, Hornr- blow was in tiie legit stage produc- ing end with Gilbert Miller. Legit Maneuver ---Shuberts xrat oTer ar fast"0Tii?"WKW^ moving "Bird in Hand'-'' from the Ban-ymore to the Masque Monday night. In making the announce- ment in the papers Shuberts did not mention it was the road company which was coming Into the Masque, while the original New Tork cast was traveling to Chicago. Second company was brought in from the coast and rehearsed a week before opening. Admit Actress to Bar Washington, Dec. 24. Mary Rehan, legit, leading woman, was admitted to the bar last weiek to practice be- fore the U. S.. Court of Cusr toms and Patent Appeals. Miss Rehan is a member of the New .York firm of Barnes, Mc- Kenna and Halstead. As, . a leading woman. Miss Rehan appeared with Faver- shaih In "The Prince and the Pauper." Prior to this en- gagement she - appeared in "Little Women," "The Blue- bird" and with Walter Hamp- den In "The Wayfarer." ETHEL BARRYMORE MAY WALK out ON SHUBERTS There is a report Ethel Barrymore win not be under Shubert direction after New Year*s. This comes Indirectly from differ- ences Miss Barrymore and the Shu- berts are said to have had over the selection of a cast for her proposed appearance In "Scarlet Sister Mary" .(dramatized version)., Recently the work of assigning the cast started. Miss Barrymore was insistent about certain players. Shuberts were as insistent on others. It was expected that the new Barrymore show would get ready before i^ew Year's, but it now looks •completely bfE unless a better un- derstanding' arrives between the star and the Shub6rts; Train Legit Stagers Through Film Shorts Para;mouht's Long Island studio is breaking In legit producers On shorts. , That is,- the film bunch Is pointing the way for those Broad- way lads With whom the studio Is doing business. Larry Schwab and Alex Aarons are currently being put through the mill. As Paramount will make '-"Follow Thru" and "Heads Up," A. J. Bala- ban will give both Schwab and Aai'ons a chance to find out what it's, all about by handling a couple of one-reelers. In the case of Aarons it Is probable that he will Use some of the cast; of ''Heads Up" who lacic .film experience. Idea Is to let' the players get accustomed to the camera in the shorts and to find out about make-up before launching the full length screen version of the musical. Tellegen-Bayne Co-Stars Lou Tellegen has been signed by Hunter Williams to co-star» with Beverly Sayne In "Escapade," which went into rehearsal this week and bows in three weeks hence at Ford's, Baltimore, preparatory to steering into a New York house. S.upport . cast includes yirginla Chew. Robert. Loves, Francis Ben-, delston, W. J. Rathburn and oth- ers/ Tellegen thus will not head the cast of Jack Linder's proposed re- vival of "Cortez," in which he for- merly appeared for brief run at the Biltmore, New York. CAST OF FILM FOLK Hollywood, Dec. 24. Rand Baiiyer will make his debut as -a local producer in presenting "Her Panic," a comedy by Hunter Keasey at the Figueroa Playhouse, January 5. HLane-Ghandler,-wh6-rec6ntly--was with Paramount, will head the cast. Other players will be Betty Boyd, Shirley N. Claire, Kit Guard and Allan Paul. W. B. Buys "Scarlet Pages" Warners has bought "Scarlet Pages," Sam Shipman, John B. Hy- mer play now at the Moroscq,. New Y6rk. Plans for early sprli^g production. Broadway's Leadihgr Shows Only in for Heavy Sugar —Things So Bad Bootleg- gers Selling Booze on In- stallments —- Many Plays Sticking Just for Holiday DEPRESSED FEELING Holiday outlook along Broadway not 6o hot. . Some of the dark spots among the riumerous.untenanted legit the^ atres...havd biBen lighted by means of Revivals and special attractions. There are' stilj nearly flj score of houses without legit plays. Some hits are giving added special mat- inees from Thursday oh» biit not many. The leaders are expected {o clean up. Other shows sticking for holi- day coin are listed .t.o exit immedi- ately thereafter. . The general feeling appears to be that ^'there ain't no Saiita Glaus" this' year. The continued sajgging stock market has jts depressing ef- fect. . Yu|e spirit is lacking and "mierchandise" nien who supply wet goods are reported taking orders on time payments to get rid of their stuff. Part of the holiday card of new shows' has come In without arousing enthusiasm. "Half Gods", at the Plymouth Is distinctly doubtful; "Inspector Kennedy" rated a weak mystery play at the Bijou; "Red Dust" may get by mildly at the Beck; "Meteor" at." the Guild, may make the grade but . Is no smash. Among the others to coQie are three or four. money possibilities. . Non-Musicals; .. Non-musical leaders remain un- changed. "Strictly Dishonorable'; Is perhaps—the-^ost solid S20i000, but "June Moon'; and "Wise Child" again drew somewhat bigger gross- es because of larger capacity, while "Berkeley Square" held to over |1«,000;, revival of . "Sherlock Holmes" completeis the only Ave big money dramatic shows; "Street Scene" and "Jburney'sf Eiid" (both holdovers), top the balance o£ tlie- fleld, with "Young Sinners" getting about as miich; "Gambling" and "Jehrfy" around $10,000; "Broken Dishes" and "Criminal Code," $9,000 br bit more; "Mendel, Inc.," $8,500; "Candle Light," "Bird In-Hand" and "Subway Express," $8,000; "Salt Water," $7,000, with the balance rated around $5,000 anc^ less. Musicals "Sons o* Guns" and "Fifty Mil- lion Frenchmen," both; new musi- cals, are away out In the van;'the latter claims top agency call, but "Guns", is the actual leader, with standee trade most of the pre-holl- day week for a gross of better than $47,000; "Frenchmen" rated over $43,000; "'Bitter Sweet" slipped con- siderably, but iB rated third and should come back; "Sweet Adeline" went off to $32,000 and likewise should jump; "Heads Up" around $30,000, with "Sketch Book" and "Scandals" down well under $30,000; ."Wonderful Night," $22,000; "Little Show," $18,500, but stili quite profit- able. "Wake Up and Dream" is the out- standing production due in next week at the Selwyn. There are. but two other definite premieres, "Dame Your. Honor" at the Cosmopolitan, and "City Haul," Hudson; "Phan- toms," also carded, but not certain at Wallack's. No closing this week. Cut Rates There are several .additional at- tractions on the cut rate list In- cluding those shows which laid off last week:: "Inspector Kennedy" (Bijou), "Jenny" (Booth), "Robin Hood"' (Casino), "Your Uricle Dud- Tey'^^(eoi^r''CahaieVl:IgKP ncErn- pire), "Ladies of the Jury" (Er- langer's), "Salt Water" (Golden), "Mendel, Inc." (Harris), "A Won- derful Night" (Majestic), "The grimlnal Code" (National), "Broken ishes" (Ritz), "Many Waters" (Times Square), "How's Your Health" (Vanderbllt), "Houseparty" (Waldorf), "Bare Facts" (Triangle), burlesque (Columbia). • Agency Buys . In the premium agencies 19 at- in On Both Sides In Maclodn-Equity Injunction Two Ideas Film company negotiating for the score of an ■ opera it will transpose to the spreen almost went nerts trying, to get dOwn to . a financial basis on the transaction. Every time mon6y was men- tioned the opera representative countered with, "But Who are you going to have sing it?" He nominated Scottl kxid Alda among others. Picture concern Is still try- ing to sooth the lad Into some sort of shape so that the finan- cial end can be discussed. SAM HARRIS MAY GO WITH SCHENCK'S 0. A. According to inside reports, negp- tiations hafve been opened under which Sam H; Harris, veteran play producer, may make talkers for United ArtiiBts under airangem^nts similar' to those entered Into re- cently between Joseph M. Sclienck and George M. Cohan, Arthur Ham- merstelh .and others. Harris and Schenck are said to liave discussed a deal. In a prelimi- nary way prior to the latter's depar-' ture for Europe. Details leading to a contract are to be ironed out oh his return. ■ . Choristers in Hdllprdod ; With $50 Wkly. Contracts Hollywood, Dec. 24.. With eight musical prbduditlohs plahned within the next six: months, Fox Is Increasing Its chorus girl brigade from 32 to iOO. • Six-month "don tiracts at $50 week- ly go to the chorines. Maurice Kussel is the latest dairice. director on the Fox lot, and will rnake a quartet, with Earl Lindsay, Danny Dare and Dennis Murray, to drill and train - the hoofing depart-: ment. Edelsten's Good Will Trip . Willie "Edelsten, agent, sailed foir London on the. Olympic last Friday. Edelsten, associated with Lyons & Lyons In New York, Is making tHe trip abroad to be present at the marriage of his daughter, known as Anita Elson on the English stage. Miss Edelsten, or Elson, will wed .Nick Prlncep, London business mani Jan, 7. Edelsten expects to stay over about a month to look over the for- eign show field. . CHI FROWNS ON PLAY Shuberts wui not send "Rope's End" to Chicago- because of the play's theme dealing with the Loeb- Liedpoid murder case in that town. dhl city fathers are said" to have voiced objection to the piece. Hammerstein's "66" Hollywood, Dec. 24. Paul L, Stein engaged by Arthur Hariimerstein to direct his first screen operetta, "Bride 6C." He will produce for United Artists. tractions are on a "buys" basis, a goodly proportion considering the total: "Heads Up" (Alvln), "Scan- dals" (Apollo), "Strictly Dishon- orable" (Avon), "It's .a Wise Child" (Belasco), "June Moon" (Broad- h^t>r''Skelch^lBoolt" ^?Jtr^t;)7 "Top Speed" (46th St.), "Gambling" (Pulton), "Sweet Adeline" (Ham- merstein's), "Michael and Mary" (Hopkins), "Sons o' Guns" (Im- perial), "Berkeley Square" (Ly- ceum), "Fifty Million Frenchmen" (Lyric), "A Wonderful Night" (Ma- jestic), "Journey's End" (Miller's), "Young Sinners" (Morosco), "The Little Show" (Music Box), "Half Gods" (Plymouth)* "Bitter Sweet" (Ziegfeld). Los Angeles, Dec. 24. In the Injunction ' application made by Louis O, Macloon and his wife, Lillian Albertson, In their fight to compel Equity to let them again produce plays, and specifically "New. Moon," on the coast. Judge James In United States DistX'Ict Court will reach a decision Jan. 6. Meanwhile I. B. Kornblum, attor- ney for Equity, has moved to have the in junction petition set aside on the grounds of- no jurisdiction by federal court, over non-Incorpora,ted body. Equity representatives of Central Labor Council constituting a special committee for the purpose Win call upon the Macloons and In- forni them that the use of the legal injunction In labor cases Is con- sidered an unfriendly act to organ- ized crafts. Some of the Los Angeles labor element have Suggested to Charles Miller, local Equity representative, that It mijght be good tactics to sub- mit the Equity-Maclooh quarrel to' arbitration. FOX SUES AL H. WOODS TO RECOVER $125,000 Fox Film Company has filed suit In the New York Supreme Court against Al H, Woods to rescind an agreement by which it paid him $125,000 In 1925. Its principal con- sideration was the right to. purchase the film rights to "The Green Hat," by Michael Arlen, which Woods Is alleged to have represented he con- trolled to the extent. d( 50 %. - In applying^ for an order to ex- annlne Woods before trial, the Fox coioipany wanto to find out what representations he. made as a result of which the Fox company paid $125,000 for a quarter interest in the stage, rights to the-^^^eentr-Hat^- "Pellcan" and "The. School Mis- tress," which Woods' held for this country and Canada, and. also .con- fiernlng his representations as to , the filni rights which .\7ere to be of- fered to Fox. .' The'Pox company wants to ques- tion Woods cohcerrilng the sale of "The Green Hat" film rights to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, in July, 1928, for $50,000, the film having been released by that company lasti December under the name of "A Woman of Affairs."- Fox alleges .Woods did not acquire the' film rights to that play until lon^r after he represented that ho had a 60% interest and that he then got the rights from Curtis BroAvn, as agent for Arlen, the author. The complaint alleges Fox ' was to be notified, under the terms of its payment of $126,000 to Woods, of any offer made fof the film rights to. the play -in question, and was to be privileged to buy the rights for the amount offered. The plaintiff offers to return $30,663 received from Woods as Its quarter interest In the stage production of the three plays mentioned. Opera's Coast loss Los Angeles, Dec. 24. Columbia Grand Opera company dropped $26,000 In three Weeks at the Blltmorei Houses ran heavy to paper, the box ofllce banking only $2,000 one week. Society femmes In L. A. and Hollywood paid heavy on their guar-* antees. Mrs. Barney Tries Again Los Angeles, Dec. 24. Alice Pike Barney, the 70->year-old author-producer,^-whoF-dropped^^$lt>,=Tr 000 in her amateur musical produce, tion at the Figueroa .theatre, will try it. again. This time it's to be a heayy Rus- sian drama authored by herself. However, she will take a' chance with professional, players this time and has engaged Sarah Padden and Wallace Stark to play the leads. Theatre has not been selected as yet.