The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-12-23
Talented Beauties So Scarce Broadways Mike Todd
 Turns to Middle West in Search for Chorus Girls
By LUCIA PERRIco Central Press Correspondent

CHICAGO--A zoot suit-ets idea of ziegfeld, Mike Todd, currently Broadway's most startling show man, hit the heart of the corn belt the other day to toss for a loss a time-honored theatrical theory. To the tall country corn country Rebel Todd turned to harvest tal- ent for new Broadway shows. Just to prove that the best stems are not on the main stem, Mike held additions for two days within the staid confines of Chicagos Black stone theater.
 ] Some eight hundred perspiring hopefuls herded onto the bare stage to display their assets-vocal and physical-while Mike bemoaned to crowd of reporters on hand:
 "All the pretty girls must be hid ing somewhere. can't find 'em on Broadway. Next thing you know I'll be raidin' defense plants" The raid, which he sees strictly as last resort, is for the purpose of two tune-types he will open this fall, up in Central Park" musi- cal by. Sigmund Romberg, and "The Emerald Queen" a hitherto unproduced operetta from the trunk of Victor Herbert, in which the Todd, the self-styled ex-saloon keeper, will star Jeanette MacDon- ald Mike also waS casting for Chicago company for Star and Carter; so like juggler the little man had an extremely busy day.
 The hub-bub began couple of days previous to the sryouts when Windy City papers carried stories of the forthcoming trial runs for Midwest talent. No one had ever heard of a Broadway Mohammed going to Midwest mountain for show people. Here was news.
 Curious as yokel at a peep show, a resounding majority of the press and photographers showed up to get a glimpse at inside an audi tion," to discover what made some talent tick louder than others. Hopefuls in Huddle Arriving at 1:30 p. m reporter saw the Hopefuls huddled-one sus- pected for warmth and mutual en- couragement-in the main section on the first floor surrounded by edges of empty seats.
 The gray stage was uncomfort- ably naked except for a step lad der, two scenery flats pressing their faces to the wall, and a single, un- compromising light suspended from the ceiling like an instrument of the third degree, such as hangs over the head of criminal in cops-and- robbers flicker.
 The hopefuls alternated between stifing silence and nervous giggles. Over-anxious, over-painted, over optimistic, they waited. Some admitted they'd just read about the additions in the paper and thought they might as well try out.
 What could they lose? Wasn't Lana Turner discovered simply sucking on the straw of straw berry soda? Others said their dra- matic coaches had notified them of the additions.
 One hog7 late, Todd arrived strid- ing down the aisle, good looking | little guy in brown tweed with a faint red plaid giving it snap.
 Mike wore a cigar. He always | wears cigar clamped between his teeth. It's as much part of the | Todd costume as Churchill's cele- brated stogie.
 He showed his brown felt hat on the back of his dark head, beamed | as brightly as his red, white and | blue tie at the assembled fourth | estaters, shook hands all around | and called out:
 Dancers line up on the stage"