Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-21
New York
Letter

NEW YORK-This Is the season
when Broadway leaps over its
ordinary borders and flows in all
directions, like a Mississippi flood.
While gaudy nlght-club entrances
gather cobwebs, the summer edi-
tons of these spots may be found
glittering along the Long Island
highways.
And the hundred-and-one sum-
mer colonies that lure the heat
weakened city dwellers are offer
ing headline attractions that would
stagger the most hardy bright
lights producers. II is as though
some Titan had dropped a hundred
or more famous mes from some
cloud. and they had rebounded over
the entire countryside.
With Broadway continuing 10
offer unemployment 70 even the
best Of players, II has been q boz
nanza summer for the seaside, hill
SIDE and mountain resorts. Every
place that even limited at having
a metropolitan colony now has a
little theater. and successes of the
theater mix literally with try-outs.
In fact, some Of the large pro-
ducers. uncertain Of plays that lie
on their desks. have used this OPP
%portunity 10 see what they look
like on the stage. Ordinarily, TINS
would be an expensive experiment.
A troupe would have TO be organ
lied. wages posted and a try-out
arranged in some nearby town But
this summer. the cores OF hastily
organized stock groups are glad to
get new material.
Thus. you will find, Cape Cod
has none other than Grace Georr9
appearing at the head Of It's list
and giving THE First Mrs. Fraser.
which ran months and months on
Broadway. Susan GlaspeI, who won
the years Pulitzer play prize. may
be found giving other products 10
A qroup IN Westp0rt. Peggy Wood,
who has been in London so long
that the American theater despair
ed at getting her back, MAY be
found performing in and around
White Plains. Leo BulgakoY, who
has been a leader In the newer ex-
detrimental movements. IS 70 be
located at Shurry. Me. Valley
Stream. Southampton. woodstock
and scores OF other resort spots
offer headliners that Broadway
would be glad 10 star.
But the income from the sum
mer colonies and from Broadway
are quite different. Performers
whose salaries would run into three
figures were they featured IN the
bright lights. are willing TO take
a very nominal wage TO spend p
summer in the country.
And no longer are these sub
urban groups of the 'arty' or little
theater' persuasion. Hits are now
o easily available, with a gen.
erous trimming Of the second
rights" prices.
Speaking Of theatrical matters.
there's a gag on Broadway that
stage conditions we're SO bad that
ticket Scalpers had been observed
giving away passes.
And whatever may be the results
OF the much-discussed repression,
certainly Ii has driven from the
New York streets those perennial
nuisances. the sidewalk ticket
hawker. Also 1t has hit hard the
various agencies that act as ticket
brokers.
With only a dozen shows-per-
haps less by this time-left, there
is little percentage in the turn
over commissions. Usually, with the
boards crowded by varied selec-
tions. business Is likely to De brisk.
Hotel ticket racks, they tell me,
are hardest hit.
And even Joe L~eblang's, which
often resembles a busy railroad
station at train time, is relatively
quiet.