The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-30
Riches Pour En as Shows Prove Success
By JACK GAVER

-Nl O3a&AA MA EfAI
 tOnited Press Stan Correspondent
 New York, Aug. 30-( (UPl The boys around town are figuring that by this time next year the U. s. treasury is going to have to strike 3 special medal of some kind for Oscar Hammerstein. He's going to be better than gold mine as far as taxes are concerned. Here's the lineup:
 With Richard Rodgers, the com poser, he is co-author of two hit musicals. "Carousel" rings up s45 ,O0O and up every week; now in its eighteenth week "Oklahomal" (co- pacity also) does $31, ,OO0 every week and is now in its 125th week. Hammerstein probably gets about $3,0OO weekly out of these two in royalties.
 Other Tentative Hits
 On the road, making Billy Rose richer, is Carmen Jones'" which played mere IA months in New York and is knocking of $40,OO0 and up out of town. About $500 weekly for Oscar in royalties for creating the all-Negro American azed version of Bizet's opera.
 On Broadway in it's 45th week is sT Remember Mama," a play which Hammerstein and Rodgers pro- duced. It's grossed $2O,0OO and up every week. Hammerstein's share as co-producer Is a secret but the profits are upper bracket material.
 Currently undergoing national remake of the film State Fair" Hammerstein and Rodgers did the score. They didn't do it for noth- ing.
 Come D ember Hammerstein and Jerome Kern will produce in the ziegfeld theater revival of their beloved Show Boat" Oscar will have his cake and eat it here. with profits as producer Chow can 1t fail?) and his royalties as CO., author. Another $1,5OO from the latter alone.
 Now Producing
 And now come Hammerstein and Rodgers again as producers, with the announcement that early in the spring they'll present a new musi- cal comedy starring Ethel Merman as Annie Oakley. Dorothy and Her. bert Fields are writing it and no one can remember that they ever wrote 8 flop. And Merman certainly never associated with hard times. So 1t could fail, but with that line- up no one will bet on it. Who was this guy Midas?
 Ilka Chase Radio Show
 The sleek and saucy Ilka Chase has no illusions about her new radio job or her sex.
 Holding court yesterday under a hat big enough to double for a car- ousel, the actress-author-soc matron was commenting on an air show she'll begin Sept. 8 for 8 con- pany that makes stockings. The firm isn't making nylons but 1t shouldn't be long now.
 And do you know" Miss Chase said, I've had people who haven't gotten in touch with me for months calling me up the last few days and saying, like, whatever are you do- ing these days?' As if they didn't | know. Anyone who has access in any way to source of stockings 1 these days is bound to be popular and the nylon angle just about | doubles the popularity"
 Miss Chase, who has been admir- | angly described by many as acidul- ous of tongue and pen, confided that | she Is writing a new book. Hopes to have 1t done before the years end.
 Its a novel and its about the dress-making business, she said.
 A simple statement, but 1t might well be reason for the big shots in the world of high couture to seek the storm cellar. If anyone knows the lowdown it would be Miss Chase. Perennially one of the country's best-dressed women, she has been In close touch with the business for the past 30 years during which her Edna Woolman Chase, has been editor of Vogue magazine and, as such, recognized style authority and privy to everything in the trade. The queens of the cosmetic and beautifying business still remember Miss Chase's novel of a little over year ago, Tn Bed we cry. The only comfort they got out of that literary york was when the author turned ] t into play, in which she acted, md had the makeup banned right If of her by the critics. Currently Hiss Chase is too busy with radio md her book to consider Broadway. The radio show, incidentally, is } 15-minute spot at 1:15 p. m. Sum- lays over the Mutual network. Ac- or Paul McGrath will operate Vs- I-Vis and there may be an occasion ] guest when Miss Chase can find :; me whom she considers interesting 1. nough and who hasn't been milked : Try on the dozens of guest interview programs now on the air.