Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 August 1938 — Page 13

Summer Theater Offers

Refuge for

Training for Amateurs]

Has-Beens,

~ Closely -Related to Contemporary Broadway and Old Stock Companies, It Defies Classification; Cohasset Is Good Example.

By JAMES THRASHER

Times Staff Writer

COHASSET, Mass., Aug. 10.—The summer, or straw-hat ‘theatér, like the real estate broker's choice offering, must be seen to be appreciated. A close relative of contemporary Broadway and the old stock companies; a training ground for ambitious amateurs and a haven for hapless has-beens; a clearing house for ®- -

hits and near hits, and a laboratory for new plays, it defies exact classification. But at Cohasset is found a good and typical example. Let's have a look. Cohasset should not be an unfamiliar name to Indianapolis, par‘ticularly to Civic Theater members.

"For it is here that Frederick Bur-

‘leigh, Richard Hoover and Eunice Dissette spend their summers. Mr. Burleigh is associated with Alexander Dean as director; Mr. Hoover handles publicity, and Miss Dissette is in charge of properties. The South Shore Players, with whom they are associated, hold forth in the ancient town hall of this pre-Revolutionary town. The company is among the best of some 200 which dot the countryside of New England and New York. It has been here five years, managing to break even each year, which ‘is the straw-hat theater equivalent of - prosperity. Almost none of these groups makes money, and some lose between $2000 and $25,000 in a 10-week season. It all depends upon how much a stage“struck ‘angel” is willing to pay for the pleasure of seeing his name on the billboards as producer.

Unusual in Two Ways

The South Shores Players are unusual in two respects: They have no backer and they charge their a prentices virtually no tuition. Mr. .Dean does assess his neophytes a dime a summer, but that’s for ‘Equity’'s sake. If no tuition were paid, the apprentices in walk-on parts would be classed as amateurs playing in the same production with professionals. And the results would ‘be dire. ' Apprentices here come from all parts of the country. Most of them are students in drama schools dur4ng the winter. One is a Chinese here on a Rockefeller scholarship; a second makes his living as a ski jumper and instructor; another, who had wanted to be an dctor since he was 5 years old, is just starting out at 40. It was only upon the death of his parents, who violently opposed the stage, that he could indulge in his long-cherished desire. Here as everywhere, the student players work hard, building and

painting sets, shifting scenes, being:

generally useful. Since they pay no tuition they are promised nothing in the way of parts. They do walkons, occasionally a small speaking part, and usually there is one, private student production a summer. For the most part, their reward comes in knowing something of the theater from the inside, meeting fameus Broadway figures and picking “up a few pointers. And dramania “being what it is, most of them are more than satisfied. ;

Noble Experiments Out 7

The summer theater, even if it be moderately successful, can’t afford to indulge in noble experiments. “That is why, under the present setup, it cannot be looked to as a practical laboratory for young playwrights. The South Shore Players have done one new play this year, but by a recognized playwright. It was “Uncle Harry” by Thomas Job, a school teacher turned writer who did last season’s Ina Claire vehicle, “Barchester Towers.” “Uncle Harry” was a good play, according to all reports, but it made nc money. Mr. Dean and his associates have . learned to anticipate the loss of Inch respective shirts on such venures.

Look over the list of summer play

bills and you will be struck by their similiarity. This season’s favorites are such things as “Yes, My Darling Daughter,” “Stage Door,” “Tonight at. 8:30,” “The Night of January 16” and “Brother Rat.” All were Broadway hits at one time or another, and that’s important. For, despite their sequestered surroundings, the straw-hat theaters draw upon a metropolitan clientele. The successful companies at Cohasset and Dennis in Massachusetts, Ogunquit and Skowhegan in Maine, and Suffern, N. Y., are resort centers or near large cities.

Quality Is Proven

Their audiences buy theatrical goods of proven quality. So the summer theater's similarity to the old stock company ends with its training of young players. It doesn’t bother much about carrying the drama’s ‘banner aloft into the hinterlands. And the natives, for the most ‘part, view the whole goingson with indiffierence. Of course, there are many points where you may find new plays in abundance. Ever since Thespis first invaded the barnyards at Provincetown ant Skowhegan, more than 20 years ago, there have been innumerable companies of actors you never heard of playing, in out-of-

the-way places, a lot of plays that

no one wanted to see. Though royal“ties on all new plays are paid at ‘Cohasset, many hopeful playwrights

gladly forego remuneration, or even |

COOL OZONIZED AIR

LYRIC

2 LAST DAYS

THE JELLO HOUR STAR

PHIL

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and His

Orchestra + Other Acts + ff 4

"THE SCREEN

pay money to see their creations launched upon the boards. And to

the financially harassed producer, |

that means something. , The most important theatrical factors on the New England front, however, are the stars. Hollywood has made its contribution this summer in Sylvia Sidney, Madge Evans,

Fay Wray, Jane Wyatt, Elissa Landi

and others. . d Gable Rumored Coming

In fact, a rumor got around earlier that Clark Gable was to make a, guest appearance with the South Shore Players. It nearly brought Mr. Hoover to an early grave. And his actual problems of crowd-handling during Sinclair Lewis’ acting debut in “It Can't Happen Here” were of an herculean sort. But of this, more later. Blanche Yurka, who learned her trade with the Stuart Walker troupe

in Indianapolis, is the current week’s

star at Cohasset, appearing in “Yes, Mr. Darling Daugiter.” Miss Wray has been here, also Donald Cook, and Miss Wyatt is due for “Stage Door” in a fortnight. It is somewhat puzzling that actresses of wealth and repute should be seen year after year on the overall circuit, dressing in the township trustees’ office, fighting mosquitoes while awaiting their cues, playing for as little as $200 a week. The answer probably is found in the fact that an actress, no matter how famous or wealthy, never is completely happy for very long without greasepaint on her fact and an audience in front of her. That really is what keeps the barnyard playhouses going.

Choral Group Elects Heads

Binninger Is New President

Of Maennerchor.

Newly elected officers of the Indianapolis Maennerchor were announced today as the choral group was. completing plans for its 85th season.

At a meeting of the chorus the following officers and committees were selected: President, Franz Binninger; vice president, Frank Cox; corresponding secretary, Frank Reissner; financial secretary, Edward Mueller; treasurer, Geprge Amt; entertainment committee, Emil Rath, chairman, William Lilly, Henry Kornblum, William Keen, Edward Mueller, Otto Ehrgott; publicity committee, Clarence Elbert, chairman, Ernst Heberlein, William Hubert, John Schlenk; music committee, Clarence Elbert, chairman. Frank Cox, Guy Rhodes, Herbert Rennard, and Red Pintzke. The group is composed of 80 voices and will begin rehearsals the Monday following Labor Day. Public auditions for 10 additional voices will be held on a date to be announced later. The Maennerchor is affiliated now with the Athenaeum, retaining, however, its own identity. The chorus is again attempting to secure Karl Reckzeh of Chicago as conductor, following his success last year. Clarence F. Elbert has heen reappointed associate conductor.

SETTOS BUYS MORE THEATER HOLDINGS

George Settos, owner and operator of the Settos Theaters, including the Ohio here, announced the purchase today of the Schwartz Amusement Co. The purchase includes the Lincoln in Indianapolis, the Grove in

Beech Grove, the Elks in New Al- i’

bany and the Strand and Shelby in Shelbyville, Ky. Mr. Settos now operates the Rialto in Plymouth, the Ritz in Booneville, the Ohio and Rialto in Tell City, the Opera House in Linton and the Ohio in Louisville, Ky., in addition to the Ohio here.

de,

THE

0680 E10 HS {Eo

dR IRIN Travel

DISTRESS 7

! 4m

KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN'S

+ Novel of American Girlhood.

IVOGUE

The irrepressible Charlie McCarthy with the Casanova complex does seem to be making much of an impression on Ann Sheridan. Charlie even has a valet (Ernest Cossart) to help him with his feminine conquests in his new picture “Letter of Introduction” coming to the Circle Friday.

k &

IN NEW YORK —s ceoree ross.

8 ® »

Censor Boards Blamed for Hollywood Mangling

of Broadway Plays

N= YORK, Aug. 10.—Add notes

and Other Scripts.

on a recent excursion to filmland:

Hollywood frequently has been accused of mangling Broadway plays

when transcribing them for the screen. They tell us,

fault lies less with Hollywood tan the world. Movie producers are hog-tied by |. taboos, by police officials, reformers and amateur critics. In converting “Boy Meets Girl” to the screen, the producers were warned by the Hays office that they mustn’t show any suggestion of Susie fainting or collapsing because of imminent maternity—and the best gags and situations in “the script went into limbo.

All humorous references to Congressmen, Supreme Court Justices and other public officials had to be omitted from the shooting script of “First Lady.” Samuel Goldwyn had to submit to official and unofficial pressure and to shelve a story about political refugees which he had planned to film Paramount owns a reportedly magnificent antiwar screen play by SC Liam O'Flaherty which may never. reach the screen until the bars are let down, ahd there are innumerable other instances of suppression of ideas in the motion picture studios.

NE of the most flagrant cases of play-to-screen distortion is “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse.” In the stage version, the doctor whe experimented with crime research purposes and became involved in murder, pleaded insanity so as to evade punishment by the law. The motion picture producers’ code, however, doesn’t permit the showing on the screen of a criminal evading punishment. So, for the screen version, the doctor's entire character had to be changed. He had to be actually proved insane.

Other. taboos this film had to observe: shown wearing gloves because it would teach crooks how to evade discovery of fingerprints. They couldn't be shown overpowering a night watchman, on which an important scene depended. And an acetylene torch was considered contraband while a camera around. 2.8 2 OR are those the only censorial woes. I was shown a letter sent by the president of a woman's organization, which took up another aspect of film going. “Every theater in the United States,” she wrote, “should be di-

the criminals couldn't be |

though, that the

with the censor boards throughout

vided. The women should sit on one side and the men on the other. The darkened interior of movie houses creates a spell for unguided persons.” The lady received a polite reply. Talkie producers don’t take chances snubbing a lady crusader.

eg i eet BLACK CAT CLUB TO | HONOR CORRIGAN

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 10-—-Douglas Corrigan has been elected to membership in The Black Cat Club, fraternal organization of stunt fliers, who worked on “Men With Wings.” Corrigan, upon his return to Los Angeles, will be presented with a scarf and membership card by William A. Wellman. producerdirector of the picture, and fhe pilot members. ‘The club, which | originally was composed of 13 members and which defies all superstition, is composed of men who are willing to take a.chance.

NEW, KIND OF 'WIMPY*

Joan Blondell’s favorite recipe is hamburger with salted almonds ground up in the meat.

TODAY TOMORROW ; GARY COO Shirley

Carol LombaraNOW and Forever Temple Mickey Rooney “Down the Stretch”

TIER ERR) in AFRICA"

Tonight's Presentation at Your

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PREPARING SCRIPT OF 'TRADE WINDS'

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 10 Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell, who were signed to write the screenplay for “Trade Winds,” have checked in at the studio to start work on the Tay Garnejt original. The noted writing team is expected to have the completed script ready for shooting about Aug. 15. Mr. Garnett will produce and direct, with Frederic March and Joan Bennett in the starring roles. The director and editorial super-

sembling thousands of feet of film which: Mr. Garnett took on a 40,000mile round-the-world trip aboard his 104-foot yacht, “Athene,” while he was preparing the original story. Hawaii, Ceylon, China, the Malay States, Indo-China and Japan are some of the countries in the story which starts and ends in San Francisco.

AIR-COOLED GIFT,

Humphrey Bogart has received an air-cooled doghouse from a fan in San Francisco.

EDWARD ARNOLD he'll .make you gasp!

‘Otello’

‘which Alexander Kipnis will enact

visor, Otho Lovering, are now as-

LIONEL i funnier thanin “Mr. Beads “1

Opening of Chicago City Opera Set

Scheduled First On Seven-Week

Series.

Citing box office records which show that more than 15,000 persons from Midwestern cities attended

Chicago opera performances during 1937, and that some of these traveled more than 200 miles to hear grand opera, the Chicago City Opera company today announced plans for the 1938 season. Opening on Oct. 29 with a nonsubscription performance of “Otello,” with Helen Jepson, Giovanni Martinelli, and Lawrence Tibbelt, the season will run for seven weeks. Among the famous singers who will appear in Chicago opera are Grace Moore, Kirsten Flagstad, Lily Pons, Bruna Castagna, Gertrude Wettergren, Joseph Bentonelli, Charles ‘Hackett, John Charles Thomas and Alexander Kipnis.

Six Revivals Included

In addition to the standard repertoire, which includes “Louise,” “Faust,” “Lakme,” “Manon,” “Mignon,” “Samson and Delilah,” “Aida,” “Barber of Seville,” “La Boheme,” “La Traviata” “Otello,” “Rigoletto,” “Tosca,” “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Martha,” “Madame Butterfly,” “Turandot,” “Die Walkure,” “Lohengrin,” “Tristan and Isolde,” and “Hansel and Gretel,” six revivals are listed in the prospectus. The revivals will be “Boris Godunoff,” Moussorgsky’s opera formerly sung by the late Chaliapin, in

the title role; “Romeo and Juliet,”

“Tales of Hoffman,” with Lawrence |

Tibbett; “L’Africana,” which will star Beniamino Gigli, Italy’s foresmost tenor; “The Masked Ball,” and “Die Meistersinger.” Enhancing this year’s season will be the Philadelphia dance group, the Catherine Littlefield ballet. In

Cool ETERS

MADELINE CAREO LL-HENRY FO “BLOCKADE”—Also F. ona WARNER BAXTER, “KIDNAPPED”

Cool ENWNTXY [556

MONTGOMERY VIRGINIA BRUCE

Musical Actress Amazes Director

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 10. — When one has for years been playing around with such things as “High C.” “andante” and “fortissimo” it is not at all surprising that a grand opera star should flinch a bit when confronted with a mass of motion picture dialog. But Hope Hampton, lovely divas, now starring in ‘The Road to Reno,” which co-stars Randolph Scott and features Helen Broderick, Glenda Farrell and Alan Marshal, has found a novel way out. Consequently, when she reported to Director S. Sylvan Simon for work, he noticed that pages of her scenario had been scored and underscored with musical notes and cryptic signs. “That,” said Hope triumphantly, “js the musical interpretation of the way I should play my part. When it says ‘piano,’ it means that I should lower my voice. 'Fortissimo’ means that I should bear down a bit; when

ly, I score the notes under the dialog accordingly, and—" But by this time the director could only wave his hands feebly.

TOSCANINI TO RETURN

Arturo Toscanini, noted Italian maestro, plans to return to Radio

1938-1939 season with the NBC Symphony Orchestra on Oct. 15.

addition to its appearances with the Opera, the group will present a series of seven ballet performances in the opera house under the auspices of the City Opera company. The Littlefield Ballet, with 65 members, was the first American ballet to invade Europe and was organized at the suggestion of Leopold Stokowski. Miss Littlefield is not only premiere danseuse but also

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE | APOLLO

_ “Littls Tough Guy” with Dea End Kids, Jackie Searl Billy Hal : at 11:0. 1:54, 4:45. 7:20. and 10:0 dies in Distress.” with Alison Ski worth. Polly, Moran, .Robert Livingston, at 12:47. 3:38. 6:19, and

CIRCLE

“The T 3," ¥ith Joan Bennett, Randol hse May Ro . at 11:10, OPS Ot a0 and oor™ +Bulldoz I) rammond.” with John Howard, Carroll Naish, Heather . Angel, at 12:45, 3:25. 6:10. and 8:50

Lows

Charles Boyer. sedy Tamiarr. 8 Sista Gurie, at 12:44.

3:45. 6:50, “City ie ith Edith Fel. jus, L Leo Carrillo, Jopmy Bond. at

2:35. 34 40 and 8 LYRIC

“My Bill” with Kay Franc Dick Moore. Bonita Granville. at 11:44, 2:34. 5:24, 8:14. and 10:35. Vaudeville with Phil Harris’ orghestra. Nick Lucas. Ruth Robin. at . 3:55, 6:45. and 9:35.

the tempo should speed up gradual- |

City early in October to open the

is ballet mistress and choreographer.

SWIM—DANCE

WESTLAKE

Chuck Haug Orchestra

MARY BETH--Soloist EVERY NIGHT EXCEPT MONDAY

‘Last 2 Days! CHARLES BOYER HEOY

LAMARR

NEL ED ur CARRILLO

in “CITY STREETS"

pre

TRY A WANT AD IN THE TIMES THEY BRING QUICK RESULTS,

INDIANAPOLIS’ GREATEST AIR SHOW

NEXT SUNDAY—-AUGUST 14 MUNICIPAL AIRPORT