Evening star., 1951-04-29
Dronno News and Reviews
National May urn
To Legit in Autumn
Quiet Chonge-Over in Capitals Oldest
Legitimate Theuter Is in the Air
By Joy Cormody


Don't be surprsed-be delighted nstead-n the National
Theater reopens the late early autumn shelter
for the legitimate drama in the Nations Capitol
The late April bright with this particular promise al
though unconrmed by the parties of the nrst and
Equity Union whose dispute segregation darkened the National
July 81 1913
Time Tokes Sting Out of Controversy
persuasive of third parties in the White
lately reconstructed District in the
Of Commissioner Joseph Donohue and elsewhere the pri
cp factors in the changed attitudes of the controversials So
Also to unspeced degree the success Of the Gayey
And coreatvey the failure of the National centrally located
neghborhood movie house.
behind the reopenng of the theate that shall
brought quietly with the acrd atmosphere that
prevailed during the summer of 1948.
The National will be non-segregated house in conformity
community pattern by Gayety which
resulted unoward incidents and which also has resulted in
small proportion of Negro attendance
Goyety Would Fight for Its Lorge Audience
Any change the Nationals status would have the effect Of
giving the Capital two legitimate theaters an expansion
sonan with Washngtons growth There would certainly be
voluntary surrender the part of Manager Bernie Feber of the
Gayety.
He subscrbes theory that there would
his which 40week this
the most successful legitimate teater operations in the East
think the Gayety right
vital part of the community Frber "We have built
and loyal audience and we will stick with it hoping that will
stick with long have worthy attractions"
AS to the Nationals exclusive control bookings by virtue
Of Hemans administration of the United Booking Office the
aye has ground 1or only slight worries on that score For one
thing the United Booking Office under Department Of Justice
scrutiny in this connection not only the road but also in New
York where it, shubert enterprise equivaenty influential
Booking Discrimination Is Discovered
Also this point there is Hemans that
Washington against
ing Of attractions by United Booking Office
this condition actually prevails there would be competitive
bidding attractions between National Gayey
effect could be quite stimulating
There longer question of Washingons ability
support than theater Instead there entirely
question and possibly namely
enough road attractions to keep than the
IS to 40 weeks regarded profitable
for potential audience, when National
just reaching the status legitimate
in Washington its first full operation years
financially SAFE
Longer Bookings Are Held Feasible
fourweek schedule would not have the
Lns in II Know My Love" and the would
Of The Ladys Not for Burning" with Gegud
Brown The demand for tickets these
lesser degree resulted successive
camor for standing every latter
cdentaly permitted the Gayety
partment regulations.
Reconvering the National legitimate theae would
simple inexpensive project 1t could be virtually
prospect that duly allowed the of
house for motion picture presentation three The basic
design Of the structure nowise beyond addition
of the projection booth and the addition the motion picture
Otherwise changes limited the front
lobby at street level mezzanine lobby carpeng
edecoraton throughout building including powder
and rest
therefore ready any time word comes
quietly everybody hopes.