The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-07
In New York
By PAUL. HARRISON

New 'L0Ek.-lU rtAO sffsiSN -9S s1 playgoer, a producer is little more than a name on the theater pro-
 gram. Nobody pays the silgnt
 est attention to an author e1cePs on first nights, when a IeW per sonal friends may set up . cry for his appearance. Directors are stilI further down the popular scale and usually retain all the anonymity of a stagehand or an usher.
 Of course everybody knew about Ziegfeld. David Belasco, too. Earl CarrolPs name means sometnlng
 to the paying customers. But there
 have been only few who so ara
 matized themselves that they oe-
 came legendary figures. For ex-
 ample, the public used to hear Q
 Iot about the fabulous doings of
 MT Al woods, who might leave
 his office at noon for a cup of cof-
 fee, and cable six days later that
 he was in London buying e new
 show
 Gordon Is Shy
 It may be that the name of Max
 Gordon is not wholly unknown to
 
 has appeared fin connection with
 so many productions lately. And
 yet he has as little personal flash
 as anybody on Broadway. He's
 bespectacled, shy and quiet, lives in a modest apartment, smokes
 Scent cigars, usually dimes at Dinty Moore's. His office is rather
 barren, almost shabby, and his
 desk needs vanishing. A few pie lures of old cronies are on the
 walls.
 Instead of strutting around the
 ater Hobbies, where he's be sur. rounded by groups of people want ing something, he goes to movie. vaudeville show or legitimate play almost every evening. Always worries about his health, which seems excellent; in fact. he and Paul Whiteman, are Sroadway's prize hypochondriacs. Gordon dis likes being alone. He has two breakfasts every norning-one with his wife,. another with his mother He's a little ashamed of his huge, luxurious limousine, but keeps it because there's room to dictate to secretary while being driven to and from his office. Broadway knows-or thinks 1t knows-Lee Shubert as small ish. silent, shrewd and hard busi- nessman. It's a fact that he, is pretty hardboiled and seems diff, cult to approach. But there. must be a soft spot somewhere. for men who ought to know say that Shu- bert could paper his office with worthless I. O. us which he has taken from people of the show world n. That office, incidentally is sunny cubicle on the top floor of the Shubert theater building, and is reached by one of the tini- est elevators in New York. Shubert usually wears a white waistcoat. Isn't superstitfous. except that several times he has begun re- hearsals on Thanksgiving and opened them on Christmas eve. At bars he usually eats apples and drinks milk.
 Bans Temperament
 Laurence .Schwab is another who refuses to dramatize himself. He's so normal that he can't stand temperament in other people, even actors. And that's why, after niak- ing a number of fortunes from musical comedies. he has sworn off producing musicals. Too much wrangling with stars and lawyers. He doesn't rave and swear at rehearsals, or threaten to murder
 authors, or throw things at the critics. He drives a modest car, but has indulged in yacht. Serv- ed in the navy during the war. and his office is as cluttered with l marine pictures and ship models as the study of Franklin Roosevelt. Schwab also used to be a Boston drama critic but was fired for poking fun at a wiggle-dancer. He also started newspaper at Miami Beach. Fla, about three years ago, but began working on a play ond forgot all about being a publisher. He has never worn a vest in his life, and refuses to have back pockets in his trousers
 
 Dapper Gaigc
 The office of Crosby Gaige is a ] miniature art museum, full of
 nudes and statuettes. He's prob ably the best. dressed of Gothan's' producers .. Herman Shumlin is. the most untiring worker; keeps regular office hours and reads manuscripts most of the night .. :. All. Woods smokes the worst cigars on Broadway. He also calls
 everybody. high and low, male ana female Sweetheart" -. PJack McGowan, author and co-producer
 of smart new musical hit, wears
 the baggiest clothes and rolls his own cigarets. w .fy