Evening star., 1948-05-14
New York Bid
May Be Made
For BeIasco
Theoter and Academy
Group Interested;
Miller Might Direct
By Horriet Griffiths


The American National Theater
and Academy in New York will be
among the bidders for a lease on
the Belasco Theater Building If the
Government decides to rent 1t, it
was learned yesterday
Gilbert Miller, one Of the richest
and most successful producers in
New York and treasurer OF ANITA,
is considered q likely. choice for
director of the theater in the event
of winning bid by the group.
The Public Buildings Administra-
ton is expected to invite bids If 1t
can find space to house the person.
mel and files of the Treasury De-
partment now in the theater build
ing.
The site is slated for an addition
to the Treasury Department. Con-
gress, however, has not yet appro-
priated the money for the building.
Curtis May Bid Too.
Other prospective bidders for a
lease on the Belasco as a theater
include Joseph H. Curtis. son OF
Jack Cohn, president of Columbia
Pictures.
Wallace M. Cohen, attorney for
Mr.. Curtis, said it was estimated re-
furnishing of the building would cost
from $l50,000 to 100000.
Any group which leased the build
ing for a theater presumably would
run the. risk of putting out a great
deal of money to get it in shape and
then having to give up the quarters
in a short time If money for the
Treasury construction were appro-
priated.
Alan Johnstone, general counsel
for the Federal Works Agency, said
If the Government invited bidding,
it would follow policy of open bid
ding, but it would not undertake to
control use of the building.
Among those active in trying to
have the building made available
for a theater again has been Miss
Ida Fox, executive secretary of the
Council for Civil Rights in the
Nations Capital, whose efforts have
been directed at having it operated
on a nondiscriminatory basis.
In letter on the same subject
to w. E. Reynolds. buildings COM
missioner, in February, Representa-
tive Bender, Republican, of Ohio
declared it was a national scandal
that Washington has no legitimate
theater which Negroes may attend.
At that time, Maj. Gen. Philip
B. Fleming, FWA head. told report
ers he was sympathetic with the
Bender idea, but mentioned that
the Government could not select its
bidders for use of Government
owned property. 1t could not be
sure, therefore, that the Bender
objective could be accomplished.
The Washington Art Center As
sociation, Inc, announced yester-
day it would bid on the building
and would insist" as it has already
done to the Public Buildings Com
that civic, non-profit
producing organizations in the fields
of theater, ballet, opera and music
be given an opportunity to pre-
sent their productions in the
Belasco at modest rentals.
Financing Declared Possible.
The announcement said money
could be raised in large and small
amounts from citizens locally and
nationally and from theater peo-
pie concerned with the disappear
ance of the legitimate theater as an
important cultural force in our
time"
The center, 1t was said, shortly
will call a meeting of civic leaders
to present a plan for restoration
and operation of the theater, sold
to the Government in 1910.
The association was organized
more than a year ago to manage a
civic cultural center with the Belasco
in mind. It's announcement yester-
day was signed by j. G. Frain, exec
utive secretary.
Efforts to have the theater re-
leased have been made at various
times during the last two years. Mr..
Johnstone said he was asked about
the possibility of lease about that
long ago, but expressed the view
then that PBA woulds have to hold
the building because of the Treas
ury's need for space.
The National Theater faces an
Equity ban after August l unless it
gives up its policy of nonadmission
to Negroes.