Variety (Jun 1930)

Wednesday, June 4, 1930 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 67 VIENNA BOWS TO TALKERS Erlanger Syndicate, When Set, May Issue Stock, Make Talkers, Have Best Legit Mgrs. Lineup Production movement in the Er- langer office Is gathering force. Its own production department Is some- what Indefinite but the proffered support to other managers is said to be along big- lines. Downtown money Is reported to be available to the Erlanger forces, recently In- corporated for production purposes. Whether stock will be Issued for public distribution later is not cer- tain, In light of the fact that the Erlanger estate is in process of ad- ministration. Plans not only call for expansion of legit production but for talking picture activity as well. In its steady campaign to secure producers, the Erlanger office has attracted Arch Selwyn away from the Shuberts. Selwyn is the sec- ond leading producer to leave the Shuberts recently, Arthur Hammer- stein having made tne switch after being allied to them for 20 years. In the case of Selwyn it Is also' stated no personal differences fig- ured but that It was a matter of business, as with Hammerstein. Selwyn's booking arrangement with the Shuberts expires Oct. 1, with his production schedule not due to start before then. The Selwyn switch Is expected to carry along four other producers to Erlanger. Edgar Later His brother Edgar Selwyn has a booking agrreement with the Shu- berts for another year but there- after Is expected to switch. He Is on the coast at present, with stage activity not definitely set. Crosby Galge who will produce two shows next season is mentioned 'to jump to Erlanger. All three have been associated In the paat and still are partners in the Selwyn, Times Square and Apollo theatres. George White Is thtf fourth pro- . ducer mentioned as going Into the Erlanger office. White has the Apollo under lease from the Sel- wyns. He switched to the Shuberts about two years. ago after a dis- pute with the late A. L. Erlanger, who exacted 125.000 from White for the release of Ed wi'nn. Maybe Hopkins Other leading producer mentioned as an Erlanger recruit is Arthur Hopkins. The latter operates the Plymouth under lease from the Shuberts and any shows presented there would have to be booked through them. Hopkins productions In Erlanger. houses, however, would have a different rating, it is claimed. C. B. Dillingham and Flo Zieg- leld are named as being the most active in carrying on the Erlanger • production program, with one or hiore of the recruited managers probably joining the advisory board. Arch Selwyn's productions next iBeason are to be a Victor Herbert operetta, a new Noel Coward show, a comedy with Coward and Ger- trude Lawrence and a French musi- cal comedy by Guitry, The latter three productions are to be first presented in London by C. B. Coch ran. Careless Society Debs Denver, June 3. William P. Marlatt, who Is here from New York producing the "Junior League Follies," found it embarrassing when one of the society debs left her cerise satin shorts laying around. It's like this: He and members of one of the choruses were at a country club having pictures taken. On leaving he noticed a pair of shorts lying on the table and he picked it up and stuck it in his pocket. That afternoon when going , to the desk of the Brown Pal- ace Hotel for his mall he felt the urge to sneeze. Diving his hand in his pocket out came the shorts and before he no- ticed what he had in his hand used it to stop the sneeze— and with the crowd guffawing lustily. ONLY 48 STOCKS NOW OPERATING "Hi-There" Coming East San Francisco, June 3. Paul • Bissinger has closed "Hi- There," pretentious revue, and shipped the production tp New York where, he states, he will re cast for fall production. Around $80,000 is represented in the revue. It did two weeks of In different business at the Columbia here. Bissinger called off the follow-up Los Angeles booking. '^Variety For Summer JfNE, JDI.T and ACGCST $2 Address "Variety," New York For the first time in years the number of stocks dropped below 60 and stock producers fear this will be the worst summer stock season In stock history. A count-up last week showed 48. This unusually small list at this time presages a lean summer for the play brokers. SKIM BUSTS UP SHOW, BUT NOT CRITICAUY Hollywood, June 3. A skunk who strayed into the high school auditorium at Santa Barbara Saturday night completely ruined Lillian Albertson's produc- tion of "The Student Prince." Troupe was playing a two-night engagement en route to San Fran- cisco. Because of the heat the doors and windows were all open. The high school is located In the woods. A stagehand threw something rft the animal with disastrous effects. The performance thrown into com- plete chaos. Audience decamped demanding and getting refund. Company lost $1,700 through the skunk's anl mosity. "Uly While" Shut "Lily White," mixed cast show, presented by the Shuberts, was taken off after a two weeks' try out. There were five white prln cipals, with the balance colored. Helen Menken, who played the lead, may not return to the cast if the show is revived. Miss Menken is reportedtill and in need of a long rest. Prior to the show's opening one principal walked out, and re- ports on the show were anything but favorable. ' 'Subway Express* in L. A. Los An^C'lfs, Juno 3. Dan Slattpry and Ralph Slmone are now casting for a coast pro- duction of "Subway Expros.H," due at Mason June 30. .Slaltpry is man- ager for Erlanger out hore. "Brothers" closes June 15 at the El Capltan and will be followed the next night by "Nancy's Private Af- fair." Minna Gombel), from the New York and Chicago company, will be starred, with James ."^po'tt."- wood in east. FILM OPERETTA SWEEPS m T "Love Parade" Premiere Overshadows First Nights of Strauss or Lehar Tradi- tion—No Anti-U. S. Reac- tion NOW SOCIAL EVENTS "Vienna, June 3. Differing from contemporaneous Continental reactions to soundfilms in general and American talkers in particular, premieres locally of the pretentious American talkers, espe- cially the operettas, are conquering the patrons . of the^ cradle of Viennese operetta. Ernst Lubitscfi's "Love Parade" not alone enjoyed the most brilliant premiere of any stage or screen operetta within memory, but the advance bookings for the Para- mount operetta are beyond the de- mands prevrously enjoyed by a Kalmann, Strauss or Lehar operetta. Proves anew that silent films are dead in Vienna. "Love Parade" sensation has now created a standard of things in the artistic and social life of Vienna that these screen operettas and the premieres of the more important talkers are now regarded among the most important social events here. Viennese Different Viennese popularity of sound- films, notably American product, differs from the condition currently obtaining in the Balkans where one ambitious cinema circuit operator committed suicide through going overboard on wiring equipment, talker contracts, etc. In the more adjacent Czechoslovakia, a femme picture house manager dittoed, for same reasons. Balkans and certain Teutonic territories have evidenced disin- terest in soundfilms, especially American-British, preferring their own tongue; or, as In the case of the Balkans, the Serbs, Bulgars and Croatians have passed up the sound for the silents. In Belgium and the Netherlands, another report in this issue deals with American (or English-dialog) films being taboo. In both these countries, as well as the Balkans, a strong Teutonic population figures, and general antipathy Is probably for the same linguistic reason. Theatre League Head Secured After Committee Put Ads in Dailies Jed Harris* Blunder With a choice London ward- robe in his trunks, Jed Harris was on the "Europa," return- ing to New York, without a single black sox. He was rescued in time through the loan of black sox, else he couldn't dress for din- ner, even if he had shaved. MONTREALMADE CENSOR-AQOR Montreal, June 3. Censor to pass on all plays, dramas, musicals, and vaude played in French and English theatres here' has been appointed by City Council. He is J. P. Filion, well-known locally as an actor in French plays. Cost of censor will be nil since he will replace the three or four police- men now censoring such shows here. Move popular in some quarters since it will obviate repeated unnecessary raids on burlesque house in past couple of seasons. SHOESTRINGERSSQUEEZE SURVIVAL FROM PASSES If Prodncing This Season Schwab and Mandel Will Be Paramount Fbanced Conforming to their announce- ment last winter, Laurence Schwab and Frank Mandel, one of the most successful managerial firms on Broadway, have no production schedule for next season. Both Schwab and Mandel have been directing talking pictures dur- ing the spring, the latter at Para- mount's Astoria plant and the for- mer at Par's coast studios, where "Follow Thru" was filmed. "Queen High" Is the eastern-made picture. It Is possible that one of two -■itagc productions will yet be dont; by thr;m durin.-j the new season but if so, the shows will likely be financod by I'aramount. They will not .'split as partners though Intend- ing to continue picturo production and their New Tork .offices an; to remain a.s is. , No further pifture ti''-up with I'ar has been actually made beyond the two pictures completed but will probably be consummated during the summer. For the past two years Schwab and Mandel have operated Chanln'.H 46th street under leafp from the Shuberts. The lease expires Aug. 31 and from present indleationa will not be renewed. Five current Broadway legits are escaping depository at Cain's through working a 50 cents per seat charge, on all passes and with this revenue sufficient to appease the theatre landlords weekly, If not enough to go around the cast but latter sticking. Pass nick, originated by the Shu- berts and followed up and improved upon as to amount of nick by the shoestringers, has provided an otherwise impossible longevity for the attractions Involved. Passes aro distributed promiscu- ously, mostly written for two and with a $1 charge when presented at the box office. Some folks walk away but most kick in. Distribution of passes range from street corner passouts, grocery store tie-ups to direct mall with names culled from telephone directories. The idea is an offshoot of the two- for-one racket employed for years to stimulate trade for fiop shows, but cheaper. Attractions resorting to the toss away of these passes with string attached have been grossing be- tween $2,500 to $3,000 weekly, some Just breaking on the rent and others with a little coin left to pass around to the cast. Most of the shows involved arc one setters with- small casts. With no advertising nut and practically no other expense except rent the intake so tas via the pass nick has been sufficient to keep them in. The selection of Harlow Dow Sav- age, iinkno'.vn to Broadway, ns the executive secretary of tlie New York Theatre League, formed to control theatre ticket speculation, is said to have come about m an unusual manner .so .far as show business is concerned. Ten names were proposed for the Job, with five being rejected on the theory that the executive should be one without knowledge of tickets or theatre connections. The committee charged with find- ing the man decided on In.serting an adv. in one or more dnlUes. Soon afterward, Savage was selected. Savage is a civil engrneer and Is said to be known in financial circles. He is calling on the various brokers to, get acquainted, with John Mc- Brlde said to be giving hlni infor- mtition on the ticket matter. Sav- age's salary is $25,000 yearly. The tentative date for the start of the ticket control plan is July 15, "With ticket demand at low ebb for the following two months no great difficulty Is anticipated. By mid-September when the new sea- son should have produced several successes, the situation may change. The a"erage agency does not pay during the summer. As e.'-tiniated before, the League expects to raise $150,000 annually for operation by collecting from the theatres one per cent on the tickets sold by the agencies. This may be spilt evenly between theatre and attraction or according to the scale at which the attraction is booked. The anticipated sum Is believed to be high, as under the rules theatres will not bo permitted to give agencies more than 76% of the lower floor seats. In many cases of hits the entire lower floor and a goodly part of the balcony have been allotted the agencies. SAM HARRIS HAS YEN FOR TALKERS? Hollywood, June 3. S.im 11. llarrlu is a.sklng $80,000 for the picture rights to "June Moon." Several eompanle.'j arc In- terested in property, but not at that figure. Harrl.i, It is iindf-r.stood, would sell cheaper iC Jillowed to partlel- pate in the pleture production. 1I< is reported with a yen for the film end. J. J. Shubert, Jr., Starts J. J. .Shubert, Jr., who gradnaten from coUf-ge the latter part of the month, will follow the footstfiis of his dad and be enseonff-d In the pro- duction department of the Shuberts. The younger .Shubert will not en- gage In hl.s new duties until next .season. FEAR OF 'GIRL' TROUBLE IN CANOEING TOLLIES' N. B. C. Gives Odd Reason for Withdrawing Amos 'n' Andy It has deflnitely been decided by N. b; C. that Amos 'n' Andy will not be placed with Flo Zlegfeld for "FollleB." N. B. C. at first favored the Idea because of the prestige at- tached, but all negotiations are^oiow cold. Inside reports have it that N. B. C. put thumbs fiov/n on the Zleg- feld offer because the Zlegfeld girls always make good newspaper copy and It was feared that in some man- ner or other the name of either one of the blackface duo might be men- tioned in connection with a Zleg- feld girl In a story which might not look so good in print. It was feared that if anything like that did happen. It would hurt the reputations which it took so long for them to build up. Picture Date Toward the end of this weetf, or next week, all details regarding Amos 'n' Andy's picture for Radio Pictures will bo consummated. This will bo done when Joseph Schnltzer of RKO arrives in New York from the coast and Amos 'n' Andy return to New York from Chicago, which Is expected .to be this week. A de/inito date'for their departure to the coa<;t will then be set. After Amos 'n' . Andy complete work on their picture, which wiU be during the late summer or early fall, they will again be booked with I'fir-I'ubllx. Latter organization, wtilfh paid the ether "nam.es" $8,000 we'-kly when they last played Par- Publlx theatres, has an offer placed with Ed. .Sclieulng of the Artists lJureau for $12,p00 weekly for the team.