Variety (Jun 1930)

Wjednesday, June 1930 L E G I T I M A T E VARIETY 127 CONTROL'S TEST Shuberts May Help Producers Finance New Plays Next Season Shaberts will adopt a finandns plan for.promlstner yoiiner producers next season somewhat similar to the plan 'previously announced by Erlanger interests. Brlanger'B have the edge, how- ever, through a heal start and have already lined up Max Gordon, Mor- ris Oreen, of Jonetf and Green, George Lederer and may also get John Murray Anderson upon com- pletion oC his contract with Uni- versal. Stanley Liogan, general stage dl- rectOf for the Shuberts, is reported lining up the. producers' which the Shuberts will finance, with none set as yet but Logan interviewing pos- sibilities daily. With most of the former allies inactive and sans bankrolls, Shu- berts may swing some «f the latter into the proposed financing plans and give them an opportunity for comeback in the producing field ilext 'Season. According to the plan, as now out- lined, the producers will be per- mitted to pick their own scripts and easts, with Shuberts financing production with producers on salary and «, percentage of profits on suc- cessful production, with Liogan in post of general supervisor on pro- ductions. * MANY THEORIES AT STOCK MGRS. GA6FEST stock managers convention held at the Hotel Pennsylvania last week closed with the few attending mem- bers as ^ar away from a solution of w%y8 and msans to combat talker opposition than ever. James Thatcher's declaration that he had suflacient faith in the come- back of stock that he .may operate 30 stock houses under a certalii theatre circuit alignment next sea- son was taken with the proverbial grain of salt by the wise ones. Ijatter pointed out that Thatcher through being Interested with'Thomas Kane in the Century Play Company, with rentals on stock releases the main- stay of the brokerage for years might plunge into such an activity perforcedly to enhance earning power of his products. . Equity President Frank Olll- more's plan of granting Equity as- sistance in lining up financial back- ing for stock hit home With a few, but the showman group couldn't see this angle either. The dissen- ters claimed they had their own coin, didn't need either outside money or its attendant interference any more than they intended toss- ing good money after bad to stay in a racket that has been a contin- ual loser for the past two seasons. Revival Hope . Many of those still hoping for a strong comeback in the stock divis- ion next season have hitched their hopes that their public will demand fiesh rather than photographic tal- ent, but not laying any heavy odds that it win happen but still hopeful. Reduction of operating expenses, stagehands and musicians' salaries and for a lesser number of both, as well as lower royalties for play re- leases was again talked about as In previous sessions with the mob ad- journing for social activities for re- mander of the convention. Aside from the social angle for the visiting stock men the third annual convention of the Theatrical Producing Managers* Association was Just a nice hoUday for all, but far from any solution to resuscitate a demand for stock shows. SAN ANTONIO'S OPERA First Southern City to Tackle Out- door Musicals Dallas, June 21. Following the example of St. Louis. San Antonio lb building a municipal outdoor opera in Breck- enridge Park. Town, noted for his- toric spots and scenery, has heavy summer tourist trade which is be- lieved will put it over. Is first of type In south. Opening with "Yoemen of the Guard" (Gilbert - Sullivan), with semi-pro and native amateurs. To give project class, promoters building arena In middle of sunken garden.' ANN MIIRDOCK LOSES Alf HAYMAN FUND Appellate Division has decided that Ann Murdock, is not entitled to a trust fund of $260,000 left her in the will of Alf Hayman, and has upheld a decision by Surrogate Foley that the fund goes to nephew and nlecmes. The money was part of the 11,603,612 left by AI Hayman partner of Charles Frohman, to his wife, Minnie layman, with the pro- vision that she was to get the en- tire income for life and on her death $260,000 of it was to go to his brother, Alf, with power to dis- pose of it. Mrs. Hayman outlived . her brother-in-law and he never got any of the income, but he made a will leaving the fund to Miss Mur- dock and on her death the Actors' Fund was to get $10,000 and the rest was to go to two Catholic and two Jewish charities. Court decided that because the will of Al Hayman failed to say what was to be done with the money in the event that his brother died before his* wife, the money must go to the near relatives of AI Hay- man. Daniel FVohman Will lAiinch Bristol Stock New Britain, June 21. Walter Hartwlg's company will open the Manhattan Repertory The- atre season in Bristol on July 7 with "Trelawney of the Wells." Eight plays win be given. Among the players who will appear In the pro- ductions, are Margaret Wycherly, Custls Cooksey, Louise Prusslng, William Podmore, A. J. Herbert, Oc- tavla Kenmore, Carl Reid, Daisy Atherton, Fuller Melllsh, May Ediss. Hugh Miller, Adele Ronson, George Hare, Kate Mayhew, J. Halford Forster and Anton Bandsman. It is announced that Daniel Froh- man, who made the original produc- tion of "Trelawney of the Wells" In this country, will supervise the final rehearsals and address the audience on the opening night. Weiting, Syracuse, Turned Into Garage Syracuse, June 21. Faint hopes that the present own- ers of the Welting Opera House, ancient home of the traveling legits, would reconstruct It for theatrical purposes were blasted completely when directors of the Lincoln Na- tional Bank announced they would form a separate corporation to pur- chase the property for conversion Into a seven-story ramp garage. In a statement Issued by the bank the intimation was most apparent that Sjrracuse needs adequate ga- rage facilities more than It does road shows. FOn JULY STtRT Nothing Much During Sum- mer to Handle—Test Will Come with Season's Open- ings and Hit»—Espeoally ^'Smashes" — Outsidcirs Doing League's Policing ENOUGH MANAGERS IN By the middle of last week there were enough managers reputed to have signed up with the New York Theatre League to assure the test of a plan to control ticket agency prices. Wednesday Col. Harlow D. Savage, former head of Interna- tional Combustion Engineering Co., retained as general, manager of the League, was informed. by Arthur Hopkins, the League's head, to pro- ceed with engaging • staff and per-, manent offices, which will be in the Paramount building. July 19 Is the tentative date^ for the League to •tart functioning. Col. Savage, who has specialized In the building up of sales organi- zations of the various corporations he headed, feels confident of bene- fiting the legit theatre. He does not regard ticket agencies as a "racket," but as something compar- able to department stores, offering the tickets of all theatres within the agencies or offices. Under con- trol and elimination of unnecessary costs. Savage predicts an Increase In the number of tickets to be sold by agencies and a better margin of profit- He Is expectant that show runs will be lengthened. Outsiders *- In the management of the League's oMces, Savage's Imme- diate staff will, like himself; be made up of aids outside of show business. There, will, however,--be practical ticket men for the actual handling of tickets. All tickets to be allotted to the agencies must pass through his office. No less than 26% of all lower floors must be retained , by the box office. No "buys" and not more than 76c pre- mium is the League's slogan. The percentages to be allotted to each ticket broker are not yet fixed. That was ta .have been up to. the agency men themselves, but. they, failed to agree, most of the 16 brok- ers recognized by the League are said to have claimed to have sold more tickets than they actually did. The claims were to have been the basis of the allotment percentages. Inflated Figures The brokers. If falling to agree among themselves, must turn over the percentage squabble to the League, which will adjust the allot- ments from time to time anyway. The agencies are said to have sold 3,000,000 tickets last season. Mc- Brlde's claims to have disposed of well over 1,000,000. Others claim to have sold as high as 300,000 -and more each. These figures appear to be inflated. McBride's asked for 83% of the League's total allotment, by far the largest. A suggestion of 26% was left on the table. All the agencies appear to be seeking a bigger al- lotment than they rate. Col. Savage said that the agency percentage matter was being cleared up and that there was not much dIfCerence In the figures then proposed. High prices for tickets to hits have been associated with Broad- way from the early days of the legit theatre. Buys have been an Insidious factor. Federal admission tax law is another. One provision of the law calls for the manager to pay the government one half of all money he receives for a ticket over the box office price. Before the law there was a gratuity to the box of- fice whl'^h was generally split with the manager. After the law be- came operative, the manager did not figure it worth while to collect and split with the tax collector. Since that time theatre admission 3 Shubert Shows Equity-Allowed ToLay(Ur,NoPay,mJuly4tliWk THE FAWCETT FAMILY Geo, Frau and Daughter Enjoyed Themselves in L. A. Hollywood, June 21. George Fawcett will ring the curtain down on his legit activities after a six weeks' tenancy of the Vine Street. He vacates June 28. "Great John Ganton," starring himself, ran four weeks. "Under Virginia, Morn," starring his wife/ Percy Haswell, and written by his daughter, Georgia Fawcett, runs two. Everybody had a lot of fun. A&maii's Kin as Tind"? Bes'.dea Jans and Whalen for "Bird of Paradise." Arthur Ham- merstein will feature bis "discov- ery," Ruth Altman, kin of B. Alt- man, founder or the 6th avenue de- partment store bearing his name. Hammerstein will alter Miss Alt- man's professional name. Lillian Bond also set for saihe musical. Wotta Show? "Artists and Models" being strengthened, revised and re-staged. Shaw and Lee going m to bolster the comedy.' prices have advanced and the ulti- mate price asked for good tickets Jumped as much as the increase and more. Zieggy Off League Flo Zlegfeld, soon to return froip the coast. Issued a long statement declaring himself opposed to the League and its plan, also taking a shot at cut rates, giving it his opln ion that that is more the matter with the legit than high prices. Al hough there Is no managerial affec- tion between him and George White, Zieggy says be is with White and Jed Harris in being oft the League and . Its 76c premium plan. How many other managers have taken a sminar stand was not cer tain late last week. The League stated that both Erlanger and the Shuberts have' signed.. Zlegfeld is on the board of the Erlanger di- rectors, and while the board has voted the ^langer houses in the plan Zlegfeld's own theatre will be on its own. He is interested in the lease of the New Amsterdam along with Charles Dillingham and the Erlanger estate. Earl Carroll also voiced objection to the League last week. That came after he sought a buy for his "Van- ities," which opens the New Ams- terdam next week. Carroll wanted the buy at least up to the time the League starts functioning. The house Is Erlanger-controlled and his objection will hardly count. In addition, the known objectors are White and the Chanlns. -Latter are so classed because the buy for "The Green Pastures" extends until La- bor Day. Same applies to White's "Flying High." The League expects to have some trouble along the lines mentioned by Zlegfeld—the bootlegging of tickets, but is expectant of curbing the violations. The League's aim Is to remove the admission tax entirely. At pres- ent 10% applies on all theatre tickets priced at more than $3. Rev- enue to the government from Broad- way Is comparatively small on such tickets. A downward readjustment Is anticipated with tfie tax off. The League will start In the mid- dle of th^ summer, at. which time few tickets command "a price." When the hits start In the new sea- soon, the new system of price con- trol will get Its first real test. A rule of the League Is that any manager not a member by July Itf will not be permitted In for six months. Three Shubert attractions will lay oft next week (30) which in- cludes July .4 (Friday). Anticipat- ing a heavy exodot over the holi* day the suggestion of closing was made ,to Equity, with permission granted. First time for that sort of lay- oft |rick but somewhat in line with Equity's idea of prolonging engage- ments at the tail end of the season and In summer. Heretofore ^regular lay-off weeks provided for are those immediately pireceding Christmas and Easter. Shuberts guarantee at least two weeks or more from the date of resumption. Shows are "Three Little Girls'* (Shubert), "Toung Sinners" (Mo> rosco) and "Topaze" (Music Box). Since asking for the lay-oft prlvl'> lege it was decided to end the run of "Topaze" this Saturday. Instead of "Young Sinners" ac- tually laying oft. It may be sent to Atlantic City next week, with Brighton Berch week of July 7 and b&ck to the Morosco July 14. Open booking appears to have developed at Atlantic City when the season reaches full stride on or about July 4. "Three LitUe Girls" due to re^ sume July 7. ONLY ONE IN /^UTH" SQUAWKED ON 25<S CUT , * Chicago, June 21i ■ All members of "Solid South,'V at Hcmrls theatre, Chicago, excep^ one^ consented to a 26% salary ciit. Objector was not Richard Ben* nett. Seggy and 1Foffies:7 Zlegfeld may do another "BV>Ul6tf* although where'he'll put It the legl'^ agents don't know. Still he's talk- ing of "looking around" for suit- able peopled Zleggy's. Marilyn Miller-Adtalret^ ^how for tbe Zlegfeld Is set, wltU William Anthony McOuIre having started writing "Tom, Dick and Harry*; Vincent Toumans on thd score. McGulre meantime Is with Joseph M. Qchenck on the coast and the usual McGulre search Is on for him to finish up. Zlegfeld has a 190,000 stop clause with Earl Carroll for the new "Van- ities" at the Nav Amsterdam, which may be an out for Zieggy should need the Amsterdam for the "Fol- lies." Trisco Kate'' for Hae Mae West will make another try at vaude prelim to returning to legit in autumn In "Frisco Kate." Flaming Mae played several weeks for Fox Circuit in an act that was a scorcher. After undergoing censoring Mae lost her act.'.- Miss West may do a new one, song cycle with piiuiist Michigan Stockless Chicago, June 21. For the first time the entire state of Michigan is without any stock company. Only exception is the Henderson Players at Ann Arbor, which are subsidized as a com* munlty little theatre. JUST IN CASE Hollywood, June 21. Figuring that his first name would probably look too lengthy in' lights, Oliver McLennan, from musi- cal comedy, has changed his front handle to Rod. McLennan is out here for a try in pictures.