Variety (May 1930)

Wednesday, May 21, 1930 L E GIT I M A T E VARIETY 49 ENTIRE CAST GAMBUNG Warners Six Broadway Shows for Fall With Own TaTent from Coast Studio Warner Brothers is planning on bringing around a half dozen shows to Broadway next fall. Picture firm plane the legit invasion on a 4-2 ratio, with the major number to be straight dramas or comedies, plus two musicals. One purpose of Louis Shurr's present trip to the Coast is to sell Warners the idea of permitting its contract people to go east for the company's own stage productions whenever the studio schedule per- mits. Shurr is a legit agent. The WB studio probably, has more musical comedy people from the east under contract than any "lot" In Hollywood. Plan would give Warners a two-way route on all Its people with practically all studio contracts now holding a clause for stage services. AS regards the Shurr plan, which concerns the musicals, the idea is for Bobby Connolly, Louis Warner and Shurr to take complete charge of this department. It -would leave the picking of scripts, cast, and writers of the book, lyrics, and melodies to this trio which could be done without going outside the Warner studio. Warners is already counting on sending Larry Ceballos east again this fall with a dancing chorus from the studio for one of its shows. The WB. outfit was Uie first to Inaugurate tlie exporting east of Its contract choristers last year. HAMMERSTEIN WITH ERLANCER Arthur Hammerstein will book through the Erlanger office next season. For 20 years he has been an ally of the Shuberts. It Is stated That he has had no quarrel with the Shuberts, but figures it more ad- vantageous to have the Erlanger connection. Haramerstein's theatre has been dark for some time, with the Shu- bert office not able to supply an attraction. ■■ That the Erlanger office will be more apt to do so is not Indicated at This time. The Hammerstein house rould play Ziegfeld's "Follies." Hammerstein plans two musicals for next season, "Madeline" and the musical version of "The Bird of Paradise." The "Follies" is not due until mid-autumn. Hammerstein is president of the Managei-s' Protective Association, membership principally being of Shubert-allied producers. SHUBERT AHACHMENT WASHES UP HOWARD Chicago, May 20. Joe Howard's producing bubble burst suddenly last week when the Shuberts attached the box office closing night and grabbed receipts for "Time, Place and Girl" revival. Attachment was for rent o£ the Harris. Salaries for the last week not paid to principals. Grabbing the receipts by J. J. (Jai-rlty, local Shubert chief, sockc-d a hole in Howard's further produc- ing planp, killing hi.s attf-mpt to produce a new mu.=:|cal, "My (Jirl," at the Adelphi. Rehearsals were cancck-d at the IfiPt moment. Dillingham's New Shows Charles E. Dillingham contf-m- platcs two new productions for oarly ne.Nt season, besides the Fred Stone •"how on the road. "Kipples" rloped !>aturday .at Boston for the .coason. Marc Lachman Is another Dillini;- ham hit, that s-tlcki wiih the boss ; • t'ardless of .seasons. Give *Ein Time Hollywood, May 20. Natives can't figure these Broadway- girls. They're so demure and modest. "Tou'd never think that girl was a stage comedienne, would you?" said a studio sec. "These girls from the east don't look like actresses at all. They look more like school marms." . Give 'em time and the femme recruits from the New York legit will get on to the ways of Hollywood. Wliat's the fun of being in pictures if people don't stare at you on the street? . . fmmm. of Broadway Play Now in Re- hearsal Without Dollar in Salary Stipulated—Equity Helpless—Easier for Pro- . ducer Than "Common- wealth" Evasion of Equity Equity's Agents New Agreement Expected To Be Ratified by Agents ACTORS DON'T MIND RECEIVER FOR DUFFY HOUSES San Francisco, May 20. Henry Duffy's theatres went into a receivership late last week fol- lowing filing of an involuntary pe- tition in bankruptcy. Liabilities are given as $400,000, while Duffy declares he has assets of ^1,000,000. G. A. Blanchard, theatrical print- er, was named as receiver by Judge Kerrigan, with the consent of all parties to the proceedings. Bond was fixed a,t »20,000. Petition in bankruptcy was signed by Carlton Miles, Duffy's publicity director, who claimed, the corpora- tion owed him $1,400. Two other creditors joined with Miles in what is declared to be a "friendly" suit, arranged at a meeting of all the Duffy creditors, who have made many concessions and are in agree- ment to co-operate In an effort to keep the Duffy theatres open. In pursuance of their plan Duffy's Hollywood Playhouse will be closed for good, while his El Capitan, Hol- lywood, and President, Los Angeles, will continue under direction of the receiver. The Alcazar and President the- atres, San Francisco, will be oper- ated by the receiver in association with Richard Marshall, Duffy's San Francisco general manager. Fate of the Dufwin theatre, Port- land, and Dufwin, Oakland, was in doubt at the filing of the petition. Creditors assert in their moving papers that Duffy made preferen- tial payments to the Century Play Co., of New York, amounting to ^5,700, and also to the Los Angeles "Examiner," which received $3,333 last month. Duffy's listed assets Include the leases on bis theatres in San Fran- cisco, Los Angeles and Portland, scenery and equipment, contracts with actors and rights to plays. Duffy says he has a 55-year ground lease on the Portland house and the tmiUling is paid for in large part. Unknown Cause for Suit; McCarthy vs. Dillirigham A notice of trial ha.s boon filed In the Supreme Court in a suit of^ Joseph .McCarthy agains-t O. B. Dil-' llngham and William A. .Mapuire, in which O'Brien, Malevinsky & Dris- coll appear for the plaintiff and Saul A Baron ropresents Mr. DlDin^'hnm. Xaiurr- of the <'a.'-e is not sliown. A legit play now in rehearsal in New York for a Broadway engage- ment has its entire company of players under percentage of the gross contracts. This method removes the neces- sity of providing the usual'bond to guarantee two weeks' salaries with Equity, since the producer is under no -stated salary obligation to any member of the playing company, all of whom are Equity members. It's another forced evasion of the Equity dictum that legit producers must provide bonds. The other and more often employed system Is known as the commonwealth, where the leading principals partake in the gross or net profit with a spe- cific minimum sum mentioned as salary. Where salary is named in the commonwealth contracts, the Equity actors usually waive the bond guarantee. That likewise re- lieves the producer from fui'nisbing Equity with security to guarantee two weeks' salary. The all-percentage for all-com- (Continued on page 50) CoDege Drama Gasses Book Show as Study Chicago, May 20. One night stand legit productions are finding new hope in the college drama classes. One Shakespearean rep company has a .route of 26 weeks, all in high schools or col- leges. Legit bureau managers are busy at present booking dates with the drania classes, which are eager for. the in-the-flesh shows as lab- oratory and field work for their studies. University of Missouri drama class has had several professional productions this school year, lt'8 final pro show being "Grumpy," wliif-h opens at Columbia, June 20, on the Redpath circuit. After its U. of M. date, "Grumpy" follows with seven other college bookings, before going into Chautauqua. The King's Prima Hollywood, May 20. A wire from a prima donna's husband in the east reached a prominent musical comedy- producer here last week ask- ing the Impresario If he de- sired the wife for a show, - as "nearly everybody In England wants her." The pi'odticer, a past master at telegraphy, shot back: "If everybody in England wants her, let the King have her." LESLIE'S REVUE QUITS-NO COIN Lew Leslie's "The International Revue" ■closed at the Majestic, New York, Saturday, without paying sal- ariee. Cast's ire was roused when Leslie failed to make an appearance. There had been several rubber check's from the week before, that made matters none the less pleasant. Gertrude Lawrence was paid with one of those things for her fina> week. A lawyer has it for c«}Iec- tlon. The show was in financial difficul- ties from the start and the cast was on a cut salary basis for the six weeks, just half the length of the engagement. Leslie's loss Is estimated over $200,000. Not all of that is produc- tion expense, the show playing to a profit but one or two weekiS. Leslie was in trouble out of town before the opening and then laid off a week to Insert Argentinlta Into the cast. She lasted about a week and It cost $10,000 to buy her off. The show is supposed to be pro- tected by Leslie's membership In the Managers' Protective Association, with whom he deposited $10j000 In securities. That sum is said not to be sufficient to pay the salary claim and the M. P. A. will be responsible for the balance. DILLINGHAM, TALK AS ERLANGER'S HEAD EXEC. Shuberts' Black and Tan "Lily White," styled a new south- ern'folk drama, with Helen Menken and carrying a large Negro chorus, mov(-d from the Majestic, Brooklyn, last wtck to Atlantic City. The- .'-how will not be brought Into | Nf'W York until noxt fall, Carl ! Hunt .-taj-'f-d it. AN'liilo the namr; Lawrr-iue .S'lni ht.il J^;iwrenf,e app'.ars as tlio I'ro- •du< f.r, it's really a Shub'.'it .show. Another Duncan Play Hollywood, May 1'". "Iv'h'i M;il<f->J JTf.r Bfd,' a nc-w play liv Kil.f.l Unison, l.fi<-f(l on xho life of I>-,'idora D'lncan, will hr- tvU-d out at tlie Troopf-rs Club May 'S2. 'Diana," aho b.-ipod on /"-adora Dnnfan'x r-arff;r, floppf-d In Nf-w York lat" l.i.st y ur. It wa.s writt'-n liv Irvint' Kfi\<' I);i\iv. Zieggy and A. & A. 'J'JjV- Ziif.'f<ld o.lK.e hn-; jnndc ovfonincs to Arnos 'n' Andy f<>t Zi'-p'jy'H propo.>-fd "rolll*;-," but no arr.'inp'fm'-nt is r'-poit'd an r'vtw- d.'itr- i.<. not «-ft. T)i'- "roliif-.s" will not go on un- 'til (xir^jf-r at the f^arllf '-t. ! Zi'-rf'Id <-rill on the '"'oa.<Jt f on- '"••f-inf-d in tho tfilk'-r vcr.'jon of I' AVlif.i.iif r.'' Thf: radio Cf/r/)ir<: wjll '.£.''• io Hdllywood iTi Ai,f j'-.t to Ftar Charles Pilllngham as a growing power In the Erlanger office is In- dicated by changes affecting the house staff at the New Amsterdam, relighting next month with "Vani- ties." That 1« said to bo exagger- ated, those in the know saying that all matters are decided by a ma- jority vote of the director.*?. Dilling- ham and Zlegfeld are of the board and each have one-third of the house lease with the Erlanger estate. Al- though Zicgfeld Is in Hollywood, the Erlanger office Is said to be In touch witii him dally. Arthur Houghton, long a Dilling- ham executive, will manage the New Amsterdam as reported. The box office .staff Is out entirely, Frankie Frayer and Jimmy IVIurphy being replacfd by Louis Lotlto, Paul IJauer and Lfo McCarthy. Latter thrf-e have bf.f-n" in the box office of the ('.\()\><; JJilllnKham'.'j theatre. Krayrjr waw In the AmHterdam's box office for 19 ycar.«, bocoinhif? trr-as- urf-r whcoi Lf-nnle B'-rgman hfcamc gf'noral manager. No reason was given for the chongr-f-:. A new f^taff will be namf'd for the Globe to work undf-r ]J(-nry Young. For the first time legit agents are under distinct classification as to biz. Equity ha^s set up three dif- ferent types, and in general out- lined their duties and biz methods as concerns the actor. "With the classifications comes a general letdown of Equity's rigidity on the agents. One of the new rules submitted Is that an actor who does not pay commissions to a. licensed agent will be subject to disciplinary action, which may mean suspension. Representatives of Equity and the agents held their most recent meet- ing of license modification Monday night (19) In the office of Attorney Kendler," 1640 Broadway. Besides agents and representatives, those attending including Frank Gillmore. Equity's classifications were to be submitted to the agents as a body last night (20) at Kendler's office, with every possibility that tliey wlir be accepted. It will leave only final ratification of the negotiations to be jiad at Equity's noxt general meet- ing. Arbitration Equity has withdrawn the clause In Its present permit which pro- vides t*hat it may be revoked by the organization at any time with- out a hearing. In lieu thereof, Equity is to grant a permit for ono year with the provision that this permit can only be revoked for suf- ficient cause after due and proper hearing has been given to licensee before a board of arbitration. Equity also lets down on the rule that gave It Jurisdiction over prior contracts between agents and actors.' All prior contracts are to stay put and stick without Equity Interfer- ence. The three types of agents are (a) employment agent; (b) special em- ployment agent; (c) personal rep- resentative. Show Shots Off An Ads In Dailies for Radio; Profit Spurt Clahned Los Angeles, May 20. Dropping all newspaper advertis- ing in favor of radio, the producers of "For Cryln* Out Loud" at the Egan claim they have built up business and cut 60% off the ad budget. Egan has 300 seats and an "Abie's Irish Rose" typo tt patronage. "For Cryln' Out Loud" started to very light business. Radio* advertising here is com- paratively cheap. A IBO-word an- nouncement, broadcast once dally over five local stations, costs $40 per week. TWO LEGIT QUICKIES, IN AND OUT IN 1 WK. Last week there were two pre- mieres on Broadway. Both clo.scd Saturday and both reported owing .salaries. "The Vikings" was the quickie at the New Yorker (formerly Gallo) and the house is yet to get anything to stick. Ibsen drama got about $.'5,000. Cast paid one week, with chilms for the second week under minimum contract provl.slon. "Gold Braid" Is tho other affair. Opened and phut at the Maficiue. Cast waived fia1ar.v guarantee. Miss Cornell on Coast Warfield's Condition Ji.ivid Warli'-lil hah gonf through \;iiying spf lls. in his ri.'i-i fr w wf'-k.--- of llln<-<-." at tlif; I'oH Oi ;,flii;iif- Hos- pi'-'il, Nr w York. Ln.'-t v'-Tiun^- Wf-rr jjf- iy slfiwly ^'aiiilng. I'rr.viou." r' lioU.'- ;if. UinOh v.<re vfry !••'rJoi.i.<.-. A couple '•aid It lflolrf•d,^^^ llu/uj.'}, hcjif.- would \ <, to br, ab.'u.donfd. LoK Angflc.n, Jfay in. . Katlif-rlne <*ornc')l' will play in a <'oa.'=t produ'-tion of "DI."honorfd Liidy" oWT tlj' ftiiiinior. lir-r hu.'-t.ariil, Guthrln Mc- r'lintir, Tinv,' vmi!i Fox, i.s m;il;iin,' .irr.'in/'Mi,( r,t': f,ii b<h;ilf of Gilbf'i t .Mjllfr. U wjl) t,c tiio tiv-i till," Ml.s.'i '"or- ru ll h;i<-. f layt (J v.-c-t of Chi< ago, fill h(iii,"i.' '.'t.'ihll.'-hi-d in the ea.si aa a tiar.