The Miami News from Miami, Florida • 48

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1940 PAGE FOUR THE MIAMI DAILY NEWS Nervousness Steinbeck No Fireside Writer, 'Give My Regards To Broadway' Was "Working Stiff Himself Never Escapes Movie Camera HOLLYWOOD, CaL, Feb. 24. dislike of Hollywood is second oi Although he has never stepped The to his hatred of New York. money he has collected on royal onto a stage on an opening night Famous Writer Of "Grapes Of Wrath" Dislikes City Life NEW YORK, Feb. 25 Sometimes Part Of Play Never On Stage Is Best By IRA WOLFERT (Released by North American Newspaper Alliance, Inc.) NEW YORK, Feb.

24. The part of the play that never gets on to the stage is sometimes the best. In our previous discourses on the anatomy or failure in the bingo game played on opening night in the theater, we have written about the authors and the management. The woes of the author are summed up in the case of the young man who tried to knock himself unconscious and out of his misery with a bottle of brandy and drank a whole quart without blinking an eye. The fire in him burned the brandy dry as soon as it reached him.

Something like that goes on every without being so nervous that his stomach did a dance and his knees ties and motion-picture rights is deposited in. units of $5,000 in various California banks and his liv ing expenses are perhaps lower than those of any other successful John Steinbeck never socked a shook, veteran actor Charles Co-burn has found work in front of a camera a strangely calming influence. This- opposed to Parisian gendarme, never caught a writer. And this is not because Steinbeck is parsimonious. It is because his pleasures are those of half-ton tuna and never, never got into a night-club brawL As a matter of fact he doesn't even go to night clubs.

But spite of the country in which he was born and raised; he has neither time nor inclination for costly luxuries. most theories of stage people trying film work, is explained by Co-burn as being the result of a knowledge that an actor, doesn't dare be nervous In front of a cam these serious literary lapses, he Steinbeck comes from typical has managed to do pretty well as a writer. "Tortilla Flat" "Of Mice American (which is to say night there is an opening. stock, with German and The woes of the management are and Men" and "The Grapes of Irish predominating. His fathers era.

Wrath" have made him one of the ing of dullness swept through the audience. Everybody was bored ex most eagerly read and most high "On the stage, the audience never ly rated novelists working in family pioneered in the Big cur region of California, where John was born on Feb. 27, 1902. and his paternal grandmother is remem cept theagent and his. wife.

knows a star is nervous and ha gets America today. A few moments before the final Little js known about him and bered by the older residents of over it after the first few speeches," explains the actor who now Is appearing with Spencer Tracey In the district as the "marm" of the little red scboolhouse in the val most of that is conjecture or hearsay. There seems to be only one picture of the author extant and curtain, the agent tottered to the rear of the theater to watch the critics rush He had to be held up by his wife. Nobody can tell what a critic feels by watching him scramble for a typewriter. The "Edison, the Man," at Metro-Gold- ley.

Steinbeck's early education that one, accompanying the re was conventional, although, after wyn-Mayer. The camera, on the other hand, sees every trace of views and advertisements of his nervousness. being graduated from the Salinas high school, he enrolled at Stanford university, where his attendance was Irregular and extended gives an impression of strength that his friends assert is borne out by the man himself. He "You'd think that experience -hhzzyV A i tri-- riThn TT-fr i i i nnfi-tuinf-fntir "i -mi f-'m flritifrimiir-rifiiiitrliniti-ii i-Mtn'i iirii.i. Mm 0111 tiiii "fi iiiiiiiiininiiM would eliminate stage fright, but boys all have mummy faces.

Some say it is because they are mummies, but think this is not true. That look of complete vacancy, separating a critic's hair from his it doesn't. I was so scared before is something more than six feet tall, with the body of an athlete over a period of years. He never received a degree. my entrance as Old Bill in The rather than that of a man of Going to New York as a young Better 'Ole' on Broadway that Td have sold my entire interest in the Adam's apple, is a defense mechanism.

It is to prevent them from being assassinated before they man he found a job as reporter on one of the metropolitan news In the Summer of 1937 Stein play for 15 cents, If the buyer beck went to New York, where he papers, but v8s fired because he would also take the part My throat was greeted with a fanfare re reach their typewriters. All the critics have it only because those with it can survive. tied np before my first speech, but was unable to write his stories without infusing them with the served only for the most spectac somehow I got it out and then I ular of successful authors. It dis philosophy that has since distin was all right. Well, the agent walked out, gusted and angered him.

So he Ta pictures, I've never been ner guished most of his writing. For a while he worked as bricklayer cleared out at the first possible helped by his tiny wife, with his flesh shaking all over. The critics vous during work before cameras, blistered the show. The show But when I go to previews, I die a moment hopping a Norway-bound freighter. Since that he hasn't left his home in Monterey County, CaL, the wild, lovely country that has flopped and the agent is now in thousand deaths and am suffering Kay HIbben and James Crow re-1 vive Frank Bollinger, the great son, the hard-hitting playwright la Charles Faber's original play at the Theater of the Fifteen.

movie profile, who has Just been knocked down by Wlllard Thom during the erection of MadiSfip Square Garden. He had brief employment as a chemist and a painter's apprentice and then he returned to his home in California jail, being among the few who find from jitters long before the picture Is finished." summed up in the- case of one of those connected with the historic "Sailor, Beware!" This man was locked out of his hotel for nonpayment the night the show opened. He waited up all night, having no place else to go, for the reviews. They were all raves, and he took the clippings back to the hotel. "What do the critics know?" the hotel manager replied and our friend had to wait until the box-office opened at 10 o'clock and tickets started to sell to get money for another hotel.

He made nearly (500,000 out of the show. So these are the two types of people who cluster in the back of the theater and stare with uproar In their eyes at the critics rushing for their typewriters. Others would be the agents and the creditors of the actors. Nobody cares about agents. The story about them is that the famous author, seen hobbling on crutches, was asked whether he had broken his leg in a fall and replied no, he had just kicked his agent, but this is one agent that we can spare a tear for, or at least marvel at the huge amount of excitement he endured on an opening night not too long ago.

This story has not been told before. The agent was well-known, but he had been pushed Into the habit of taking money due his foreign authors. They seldom saw what of their stuff was published In America. The money was paid to him, and instead of forwarding it to the scribblers, less 15 per cent, he borrowed the whole sum for his own use. This is more frequent than most people imagine, although perhaps not as usual as authors imagine.

It is said that authors do their prodigious amount of reading for two reasons: 1. To find out how rotten other writers are; 2. To find out what crooks their agents are. Anyway, this practice among agents is very naughty, and in fact Is considered larceny by law. This come to be known as "Steinbeck out they are going there only when they read it in the papers.

country" as surely as Hannibal to write his novels. from Elmer Rice for "Two on an Mo- is "Mark Twain We shall try to end on a cheerful "The Cup of Gold" was his first Yes, He's Frank Craven's Son Burlesque Opera At flamingo Park Here, beside the Salinas river, is Island." John read the part three times. Rice was full of praise note. Actors are a sparing lot. We published book and was followed in a few years by "The Pastures the place where George and Le time, heroes of "Of Mice and but well, frankly, John was found Betty Field, caught by success in a hit show and hit movie, living over a garage in a place A burlesque opera which Diana But He's Making His Own Way little too young for the role.

Too of Heaven" and "To a God Unknown." It was not until pub Men, dreamed of having a couple Rodine and Margo have been re old for Serlin's juvenile, too young lication of "Tortilla Flat" in 1935 without central heating. of acres, a little house, a cow and a pig here that they were to "live for Rice's; he was up against it hearsing with Al Parker, master of ceremonies, win be presented at that he first won general recogni There is an actor now in a After trying out several other tion as a novelist the Flamingo park amphitheater Broadway hit show who has adopt players, though, Rice reconsidered. Frank Craven was to he starred. The family had neglected to mention it Although he didn't know His first chance to speak through today as one of the feature at off the fatta the lan'." Here, just behind Monterey, was "Tortilla Flat" and beyond, through the valley, the Okies of "The Grapes Cravens opening night perform ed a revealing stunt with razor blades. It's his first hit in a long ance again arew xavorabia re Harris, John went to see him.

to the medium of motion pictures was with "The Grapes of Wrath." His second chance, "Of Mice and Men." tractions of the tri-weekly vaudeville show under the auspices of the: Miami Beach Recreation de time and he knows what lies of Wrath" came straggling In their ask if there were a part for him views. Wired father from the coast. "WelL I didn't pick this ahead. His life-ambition is to shave broken-down jallopies. in the play.

partment starting at 8 p. m. The Steinbeck Is no fireside writer. one." each day with a brand-new razor blade. Now, being in a hit show, He sat In Harris outer office for International Trio, one of the most Cravens have been professional popular acts to appear at the park five days, which is about par for he feels he can afford it.

So each entertainers since the 17th cen day he shaves with a fresh blade, this season, will return and present a program of Viennese music. Tie Lftfe- Ifcamba leadetvess of Swiss Street THE POLO CLUB 32S Z3ri Miami Bcack tury, when one of them enjoyed But does he throw away the old the course. When Harris finally did see him, he just looked him up and down and said. "All right, youH play George." No trial, no pleasant and profitable career Also billed are Ray Goody, comedy ones? No siree. He packs them dreaming up the lives and passions of the people he writes about His books sell now and he's well off, but for a long time he had been a "working stiff" himself.

He hopped freights as George and Lennie did and he worked long hours on fruit ranches. He had lived with the Joads. traveling in similar little It Has Been More Of A Handicap Than A Help To Him By IRVING DRUTMAN (Spedal by New York Herald Tribaas ts Miami Dally News) NEW YORK, Feb. 24. What bothers John Craven is that no one gives him much credit for his success.

He has been in the theater only two seasons, his present appearance in the Elmer Rice play, "Two on an Island," being his fourth on Broadway. In all four exhibits he has played the leading juvenile role. An established featured player at 25, he has a record which is not extraordinary, perhaps, but which certainly is as the Tall Man in an English wire act; Patsy Marr, dancer; Bud away carefully for the time when traveling circus. Frank Craven's reading. John Craven was elated.

he will no longer be in a hit show. Sweeney, Impersonator; Phyllis Kepp, dancer. Hem Olson's or father, John T. Craven, was DRINKS FOR ONE Perhaps it meant something, after EVENT 5-7 P. M.

One of the nicest, most heart well-known low comedian In the chestra and Matto and Therese, all, to be the son of a star actor. warming sights Broadway has to then important Boston and Balti Then came tribulations in the ballroom dancers. caravans, drifting across the coun offer is an actor on the second form of father. Jitfret a Caver ar Miiliw Music by Manners "Ekimbt Kings" try looking for work. more stock companies; the role of Wilkins Micawber in "David- Cop- night of a hit show.

The opening Even now he lives -the simple Frank Craven, then in Califor night is too hectic and, besides, no Eddie Albert To Star In 'The Male Animal" life he extols in his novels. His perfield" was his greatest success. nia, had accepted the play without agent was found out by some of one ever feels sure until he has read the notices. But, on the second night the lid is off, and to see reading It on a hunch from Mrs. Craven, who is addicted to John's maternal ancestors were HOLLYWOOD, CaL, Feb.

24. his authors and they started pressing for their dough. At the time Blythes, distantly related to the PALI, ISLAND hunches. When Craven arrived in the boys jitterbug out of the stage "The Mala Animal," Broadway stage hit by Elliott Nugent and Barrymore clan. His mother, Mary he had a show coming in and, if door and stampede to Ralph's and Blythe, was a popular leading New York for rehearsals, his son insisted on going to Harris's office with him.

For three hours Harris It clicked, he'd be able to pay off woman before her marriage SWISS CHALET order a bonded rye with their spaghetti is to know what joy there is in being alive. and stay out of jail. A hit show will net an agent a fortune, some Frank Craven has been revered described the play, then broke the news that he had engaged as a light comedian by two gener ifctiov" rtriva an ri mwrr James Thurber which has just been purchased for the screen by Warner will serve Eddie Albert as a future starring vehicle, the studio announces. Film production on the comedian's most important movie opportunity will and kriass at Palm klaaa. times three or four hundred thou aand dollars.

ations of playgoers. John for the juvenile lead. Father "Of course," say the budding actors who spend their first two seasons being shoved around in theatrical offices, "he's Frank Craven's son." That does count for something. But John Craven says it has been as much a handicap as a help. When he first went to look for a One might have expected that So that's what the layout was, all unbeknownst to the world.

The John would be raised to carry on put his foot down. He wouldn't have his son playing such a big part with no previous experience. an acting tradition. But if that not begin until the Broadway en agent watched the money raised for the show $165,000 and the It was professional suicide. Harris was the family's desire, they never mentioned it The boy manifested STAGE WITHIN STAGE With all of Los Angeles' theaters busy, RKO Radio was forced to build a stage within a stage for its filming of "Curtain CalL" The entire front third, of a theater, complete with stage, proscenium, orchestra pit and seats, was built within Sound Stage No.

10 on the studio lot. gagement of "The Male Animal" completed. 'famous names recruited for it. FEATURING thought the boy would be fine In it, but father stood adamant. John no early Interest in the stage.

Job on the stage, he thought he would call on all the managers he With all that money and all those SHOWS KITZXY S-U ALL STAB CAST OF MYLES BELL. M. KZD THORNTON. Crawly CartaaaM was in tears. For two hours more BBADNA REVERSES CAREER knew.

John Golden is his god' names, it looked as though it could not fail. But, on opening When he was graduated from high school, his ambition was to become a surgeon. Dinner guests at he and Harris argued with Craven, Lovely Olympe Bradna, current father. William A. Brady Is his dad's favorite producer.

A good UTA rOXSETTE. Swla Klsbttmjalc LArBICE DANCERS Pettleaat Parade and nnally won out. night, something happened. A feel ly featured In Pa remount's "The the Cravenr were usually such Rehearsals were a bit harrowing EARL WHITMORE PiuUt "SmaDaat Plana ia ttw Wan4" CAROL DEXTER Jnrstm: WOFrORD HOTEL S4TH. ST.

AND THE OCEAX MIAMI IE. CI old-timers Lew Fields, Joe Night of Nights," is accounted one of the most feminine of all Hollywood's feminine players, but was signed to her current contract Cawthorn and Charles Evans, of for the beginner. Not only was his father watching every move he made, but Harris apparently was two-thirds of the Broadway impresarios are friends of his family. All were glad to see him. The In ana alaar UUiera 2 DANCE ORCHESTRAS Dircetioa Panl ana Frank if Papalar Prlcaa Ka Carer DINNER $1.50 DELUXE Dinner Dance Every Night the famed variety team of Evans and Hoey.

These troupers would tell many anecodotes of their not watching at all. The producer because she stopped the show at terviews usually proceeded like this: "Well, well, Johnnie, you're the French Casino, In New York, would sit in the auditorium drawing caricatures of the cast TEL 5-9864- early days on tour, and Frank Craven, who has been on the wearing a man's sailor suit quite a big boy now." Yes, sir, NNER $2.50 "I think he's a frustrated actor." "And how are your father and stage for 56 years, would listen John Craven said the other day. patiently, waiting his But "ine only time he appeared to they were always careful to get mother?" They're fine, sir." "Does dad still play a good game of "Yes, sir." "And what do you want to do now that you're show any interest in what we were doing was when we came to one of the Milkman's scenes. Then he just up to the year of Craven's debut and never beyond it By GEORGES and JALNA America's Foremost Danes Team SARA ANN McCABE Coloratura Soprano TERRY LA FRANCONI Continental Tenor the end of the evening, Craven would jump on the stage and act it out He loved that role. Poor would be fuming.

grown up?" A gulp by John. "I'm looking for a job in the theater." Dead pause. Then, "Mmm. Well, good luck to you. Drop in to see John was amused at their tan Tom Fadden, who played it, had MICHAEL ZARIN IARRT DEVINE Ant His Orchestra Master of Ceremonies talizing' game, but the stories only three rehearsals.

After the me any time you're around." opening, we never saw Jed back tola Mirkt, Wttsssiay, SJ.Mi Satsrssy, Sl.tt stage again." themselves struck no responsive chord. As soon as he had finished his dinner he would rush to the nearby hospital where he had be So it went John Craven became fairly bitter about being an actor's son. It seemed he would have don The critics all agreed with Har better in the theater had his father I been a plumber or a college profes ris. John Craven's performance drew warm notices. His father even asked him wryly to put in a U.

mJJLZ" sor or a policeman. Then one day good word for him in his next come friendly with several Internes. He went to college intending to study medicine, but his interest soon Resigned, he told his father. This Isn't getting me anywhere. suppose I might as well go on the stage." show.

He took to dropping into friends told him that Jed Harris was casting "Our Town," in which nis son's dressing room for advice. Once John was. applying make-up witn aad an interested spectator. He first played a newspaper re "Tell me, John," he ventured, "is that stuff hard to take off?" "Well," began John, automati Presents WALTER WINCHCLl sot sc cally replying to the novice's favorite question, "first you." iM em The fact is that Frank Craven DITif.EE it 3 porter in the Philadelphia try-out of a play called "Glory for All," which never got to New York, then passed, the rest of the 1937 season as assistant stage manager for the musical. "Babes in Arms" His successful appearance In "Our Town" followed.

Toward the end of the run of that play he married a young actress, Evelyn Barrows. They are both enthusiastic about has never used make-up for any Tk Aquacd 1 Sfcow at the Miami lirtmor i immt ny oi du roies. xne point had come up many times. Mrs. Craven contending that her husband was not as blooming as he once had been 55 DIVIHG SVilMMIHG CHAMPIONS DIRECT FROM WORLD'S FAIR 'AQUACADE (he will have his 60th birthday his present engagement.

this year) and therefore should "Mr. Rice is a fine director," try to combat the unfaltering said Craven. "I believe he's the 'v glare oi the stage lights. The affair had threatened to become most effecient man in the theater mis i today. Why, only 10 days after we family crisis until one night craven did make up.

He appeared JIM KM started, in spite of the fact that it's a very complicated production, we were giving run-throughs and ill an stage heavily powdered with his cheeks highly rouged and his dress rehearsals. mouth fashioned in a cupid's bow. "When we were trying out in Mrs. Craven has never mentioned xtwwFv gorgeous ViMTnfnu GIRLS Hv makeup to him again. Boston, the audience kept shouting, 'Author, author, at the end of the play.

The curtain went up After John's success in "Our Town, he could get along on his own. Good ingenues are a drug on and down, up and down, but Mr. Rice never appeared. We all felt sort of silly, taking calls that were the market, but a talented juven ile, once he has been discovered, is pay dirt Last season he was OF 1940 TCS Smi CF THE CIHTUriY! FLOYD ZIMMERMAN, airtetor of He "Aquacade," Wads the way again with an amazing initavatian in Entertainment! World's Grearest Divers: Pete Desjardins, Sam Howard, Jimmy Partctton, Larry Grit-weld. Jack SuHiYan, CKarffe Dielil, Tommy MKee.

meant for him. Afterward, he came backstaee and we asked sent for to play the neurotic where he had been. he said Brooklyn schoolboy in "The Hap was out there with the rest of I SEE piest Days." John was applauded, but the play wasn't It lasted one them shouting author. Luther Adler, also In "Two on MicuEi mms CIS. Siafiag Stir WALTER 18X6 ftiaciaf wit 10 Ciill PHONE 3-2178 Einnar Raaarrcttei $3 Covert? (TbcM sof hstriog dinner week.

Then early this semester WIERE BROS C4y Daaciaf Start USE 1 1 A I Pirt Saaitfrtil Saaee to tbe elorioat music oi ABE LYMAN'S CALIFORNIANS an island." is craven iaea oi he appeared briefly in a little what an actor should be. number called "Aries Is Rising. "Why. Luther has most of the After the premier one of the re viewers wrote: "Henceforth, Mr. MARVEL At Water tallet in a tooipho- fc reicent Fantasy ef Beary and ikill never before seen rn the Sonthl Craven should let his father pick his parts for him." That burned good lines In this play." he said.

"He could run away with the performance if he chose to. But he's never even tried to steal any one else's scenes. He's really what we ISJSBaWSSjKlrfrta ma duiiUitl iatI-Cm a ir John, since his father had had nothing to do with his first suc UrJj Tfl mm n. cess. call an actor's actor, a wonderful technician with the subtlest sense He was a little disturbed, too, of timing and voice projection.

If because Oscar Serlin had called fir PRICES 55c, $1.10, $1.65 0 (tax Included) 1 Fr Reservations Phont iCCl mm A111 i I 11: I could ever get to be as good as him for Clarence Day, jr in "Life witsj oy rnuifjrj, snTrsn tmor Champion. vsr- MUSIC! COST UH ES v4 Qayjhuj 8 I if CT if eSavii mm With Father." and decided he til it he." You are on your way, John. was too old for the role (John Drew Devereauv, a childhood playmate of finally was chosen.) When "Life With Father" THEY FOUGHT t- ursns in nsiisi rami i im mwrnr snr r--. av i Pbarmmrtr. I Jnmln I Npii i tgr' Director Vincent Sherman end John Garfield could put on opened, John Craven sent him mmm mm i cryptic telegram, "We should pretty good boxing exhibition both were former Golden Gloves know." fighters.

Then came an exciting call.