The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-08-16
In New York
nv PAUL HARRISON

NSW Va ~ <A66s AS OAs~J
theater marques are lighted these
evenings, but solitary, dismal bulbs
glow promisingiy over dozens of
stage doors and there Is an excit-
ing hustle of traffic in the rialto's
alleys.
In producers Offices, the usually
misleading "No Casting" signs
have been busted off and posted.
ike scarecrows, to discourage
novices. Agents are busy with all
their cunning and connivances,
trying to secure the right people
for the better roles. Potential
stars are assuming attitudes of
shyness and affecting reluctance
to do any work at all.
Everybody is asking: what
kind of season do you think
we're in for?"l And everybody is
answering: Terrific! Colos-
sal! Best one in ten years"
Already 11S plays have been list
ed for production A few veteran
showmen, unheard-of for several
seasons, are back on the scene.
Also, more production finds will
be available. Movie companies
will + finance dozens of Broadway
shows with expectations of film
ing them later. And Wall Street
angels, who until recently have
been cody indifferent to the dra-
mas progress, are showering
down mama in the form Of
checks.
Few Stable Hits
The summer theaters. as usual.
have contributed little of
either substance or encourage
ment to the following Broadway
season. Scouts scurrying around
the cow-barn circuit from Penn
sylvania to Maine, haven't discov-
cred any masterpieces, but there
were a few offerings on which
Broadwaymen will take a chance.
Anyway, the summer period Is
ended; the evicted livestock re-
stored to it's stables; and the play
actors have come back to town.
For the first time in living
memory, the casting situation
hereabout threatens genuins diff
ficulties. And all on account of
Hollywood. Consider, as an ex-
ample, the plight of Mr.. Moss
Hart. who for the past five months
has been collaborating with Mr..
Cole Porter on a musical to be
called Jubilee"
The shows on which these
authors have worked have become
super-hits of the musical stage.
so they were modest enough in
assuming that plenty of enter
tainers would flock to Jubilee"
at the drop OF hint. But 1t didn't
work out quite that way. Mr..
Hart took a look around star-de-
nuded Broadway and flew out to
the coast.
Starring Unwillingness
In Hollywood he quitely went
around visiting such performers
as he and Mr.. Porter considered
would be decorative under their
New York banner. These stars
each Of whom had been making
periodic avowals of loyalty to
the legitimate stage - fidgeted.
squirmed. mlushed. stammered
and halting1y admitted that they
/ 0lut WdhJ " COIHC UaChs
Mr.. Hart lowered his sights a
couple Of notches and began
shooting contracts under the noses
of slightly less distinguished ac-
tors and actresses. No sale. They
didn't feel like deserving their Sc
curity and comfort to take chanc-
es on payless rehearsals, possible
flops, and the demanding routine
of the flesh-and-blood theater 4.
This is not to say that Messrs.
Porter and Hart will be unable
to cast their show satisfactorily,
but 1t gives you an idea of what
these and other producers have
been up against.
Rose Bloomin' Busy
The most extensive casting pro-
gram has been carried on by
the incredible Billy Rose for his
still more incredible 'Jumbo."
The mighty mite has been busy,
yet patient. for many months In
preparation for his circus~musicai.
or musical-circus. or whatever 1t
Is to be.
Babe Ruth propabiy will be one
OF the items in the show. Paul
Whiteman Is another. also Jimmy
Durante and Ella Logan. Ali the
way fran Dublin comes the ceIe-
brated Arthur Sinclair. From
Prague. Tokyo. Copenhagen. East
Africa and way points are arriving
other performers. among them a
horse that works for $500 q week.
Many old-time circus stars have
found sanctuary In Jumbo" -
iron-jaw acts. animal trainers. q
bareback rider Of ~. aged aerial
lists. clipper ola cOntOrtionists.
! fire-eaters, jusslers and clowns.