The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-31
In New York
BY PAUL HARRISON.

New York - Broadway, or at least the ten square blocks in the theater district which are gener- ously included in the meaning of Broadway" is as busy as a gold rush camp. And just about as substantial. Everybody's scramb- ling for a stake in some bonanza.
 Producers offices, where the as- saying Is done, are disappointing scores of the venturesome. Lots of managers are venturing into the field with little more than a grub-stake. Prospectors for tal- ent are finding plenty of 1t. and performers ask only a chance to work through rehearsals for noth- ing. in the hope that the shows may strike 1t rich.
 There even seem to be plenty of financiers who are ready to chance large sums of tho greatest gamble in the world. The odds. Judging from past seasons, are about seven to one that the avarage angel will singe his wings, but that doesn't deter anyone who wants Easter &C., tion on his money than Wall Street affords.
 Odds 40 to f1O
 As nearly as can calculate. there have been 110 shows an- nounced for the production between now and December. and thirteen of them will be costly musicals. Of these. relying again on percentages. probably 80 will be Hops. and not more than ten smash hits. And yet there are several which seem to have Q reasonably assured fu- ture. Maxwell Anderson has writ ten another historical drama. "Vai- ley Forge" which already is be. ing mentioned. sight unseen. as a good bet for the Pulitzer Prize.
 And then there are those shows which will bring famous stars to the rialto. Fred Stone will return as the leading man of Sinclair Lewiss "Jayhawker". Laure.te Taylor. long away from the thea- ter since the death of her play wright husband. now has written a play for herself. In Spring Song", Francine Larrimore has found the script she wanted Katharine Hepburn is to appear in Pride and Prejudice" and her un- happy experience of last year probably will serve only to sharpen the curiosity of the customers Libby Holman is expected to take to the stage again. but whether in a play or a musical there's no guessing.
 Stars Imported
 While Hollywood was busy raid ing the talent resources of Man. haitian, theatrical bigwigs were turing foreign stars to New Yorl, - with results which should bring out the police reserves on many an opening night.
 England's Elizabeth Bergncr, Frances Lucienne Boyer, and all i Europe's Yvonne Printemps are to make their American debuts this season. The latter will star in Noel Coward's "Conversation Piece. A famous Gilbert and Sullivan company from London has unioaded its scenery. And Dame Sybil Thorndike (she's a Dame Commander of the British Empire) is coming for her first played with John Drew in 1910 Owen Davis Record
 The summer theaters have tried and rejected scores of new offerings by little-known authors But veteran dramatists providen- ern writing record goes to Owen Davis. who has had more than 60 of his efforts put behind the foot ka nfS 11A -kA A,,ka t~f d intriguing situations and smart lines back in 1898. Four of hls plays were produced in 1919, five in 1922, and four more are to he brought out this year. Sometimes Davis turns out a whole play over weekend. Once he stopped a game of golf, turned over his clubs to a friend, and rushed back to the clubhouse. When the foresome fin- ished the round they found Davis polishing off the first act of a new comedy.
 Another dramatist named Davis (Irving Kaye. and no relative of Owen) holds another kind of writ ing record. For eleven years he has been batting out plays. and selling options on them too; yet they seldom got into production. One of his scripts, called "Life Wants Padding" brought ten $500 options from interested pro- ducers. vet none of them ever staged the play. Now Davis (Irv- ing Kaye) has accumulated so much option money that he's go- ing to put on one of his own works. It's called "Lntermission." and has been kicking around In the files of the showshops for five