Daily News from New York, New York • 227

1 Goodbye in the Night" Shiver Drama About Assorted Lunatics Writer Kills Self Amid Belies of Past Broadway where you can slide faster than you climb had given playwright-actor Harrv S. Sheldon the Goodbye in the Night drama by Jerome Mayer. Produced by fceorfce Abbott at the tfiltmore theatre, ew York, March 18, 1940. Added Premiere wen-Known Drusn-orr. Sheldon learned on Sunday that his play, "I Object," had been turned down.

It was the seventh rejection since 1922, when he had his last production, "The Dcormat." Yesterday, surrounded by clippings of his successes, when Henry Miller played the lead in his "Havoc" in 1910 and Paul Gilmore STAGE PLAYS THE Ernest Rowan Peirscy Gould Jan Adair Tr. Josephs Kitchen Maid Jop Owfn Martin James Hell -Natalie Schafer -Mary Mason Jessie Sawjpr Cece Saw By BURNS MANTLE. Well, you can say for George Abbott that he never lets a play down. Everything- he has to give he gives it. Take this "Goodbye in the Night" which he produced at the Bilt- more theatre last night as an example.

It hasn't on the face of thinpss The only V2 Musical Hit in town offers choice orchestra seats for every performance. 1 268 ORCHESTRA ENTIRE MEZZANINE S2.75 BALCONY JI.10. JT.65, S2.20 RODGERS HART GEO. MARION JR. Superior, swifter and swe'fer then any sure-fire show Sodgers and Hart 6ae ever writtem." Walter Wiocfceii IMPERIAL CORTTHEA.

13 8 W. 48th St. Eves. 8:40. CAST: Kurt Maude niaie Boarder Paul Ballantyne lith Van Oleve Ruth McDevitt John Carmody Marilyn Erkine Millard Mitchell -William wetland Pop G-f-rt if Chief alley- Ru fns -Marion Willi they mark the ineptness of its development.

Usual visual horror is piled on horror until the structure topples and the experienced play-going guests out front giggle nervously. Only Spoofing. The next few days you will doubtless be told that Mr. Abbott was only spoofing anyway. That he intended the whole thing to be supremely comic.

And perhaps he did. But if he did he is rapidly losing his skill as the Number 1 producer of farce comedy on Broadway and deserves his Hollywood sentence. The acting is professionally consistent. James Bell is as wierd as a good gray ghost could be, and Jean Adair is perfectly molded into the form of an aging lady who has lived much of her life with the in sane. The others have little more than contributing bits to offer, but these are well timed and kept neatly in character by Paul Ballantyne, Natalie Shafer, Mary Mason, Millard Mitchell, John Carmody and Marilyn Erskine.

Mr. Mayer is in a position to appreciate what has been done for his play. He was himself the producer of Obey's "Noah," Lynn Riggs' "Russet Mantle" and the recent "Young Couple Wanted." Actors1 Labor Rules Worry Equity, Fair The World's Fair management and Actors Equity, which never did see eye to eye last Summer, admitted yesterday that another contretemps is imminent. This one over working conditions at the huge "American Jubilee" spectacle which may evolve as the biggest single entertainment ever produced in America. Equity admitted yesterday that negotiations concerning the seven-day week and the general wage scale for "Jubilee" members are approaching the crucial stage.

The spectacle producers contend that a seven-day working week is essential for the Fair but that Equity's standard minimum of $40 per six-day week for chorus people would be financially backbreaking. Walter Huston Signs Walter Huston signed a contract last night to appear in the leading role in William Saroyan's comedy, "Love's Old Sweet Song," now in rehearsal as a Theatre Guild production, in association with Eddie Dowling. AMUSEMENTS i WONDER i i nnnNiiininiiMi It xZTTuiii fittBa 1 tt a 'T. i I in his "Caia-is he was found Ah'ar. z.

gas in the apartment of a with whom lived 113 St. -Sioule 4.lrl' lludtel free! htanieil rntrtope Kllaar Aniea' to Vnt. Uarrau. 'Z0 K. 4d ra 1 urk.

STAGE PLAYS SEATS AT $3.30 GEORGE ABBOTT a. ISO Matin, Wednauiay 1 Saturday MATINEE, THURSDAY, MARCH 1 I lOTT (, Mats. Tom'w Sat. 2 40 eTt rmr. -i vim tr.

vivh 55c 83c $1.1 0('" St.HK.F BKini I 4 EE MY LAWYER milli Mil TN ftfr Kl TpW Ilr4. Snsr-nt. Mr Kni'r DtlPH t.jfA 81 E.ol "in A- Ct JOHN KI 1 -r GERTRUDE IAWRENCE M'H MlN 4 oii.trfT SKY LARK fc- ih toai a rtiftK 6tf oRtiS'CO lea 4M St CI el TtV's 1 III 4 Opens TUURS MAR. (HI A If i i.l. V'i VITTQRIQ PODPECTA ttrwl Mu ir.i p.m.

TiiEATRE OF THE PIC 1 A Sn Had Sun A Sal Men 11 I. II; '( Wed tt Su Mat. Be. at 2 4.. srd M.l.div Mai M.

Ma' 2i 4. (i: MAJESTIC Thea 44th St 2' 7.e 1 HKA1 BF .4.111 It The fifth cot umx A t-ii lien ijt hm I t.y f.KNE.r HE.VIINf.H IRANI HOI lust KITHKBIMi I ivimr lit 4 LUKE LLRJC nil AI.SIN 6 rnd of Ifw l. HI K-ll in JHE MALE ANIMAL M.I.IOl I t.t.M eta nil f.r N.t tit t. CORT 111 4a. St BR 004 41' Matt.

TOM iI ATHHR.Mir .6 ROt kV 1HKATKK WITH I II 1,1111 If u.h 4.ri"e. AV II. HAXKH TF- MAN WHO 1 CAME TO DINNER tv MOS II Alii i' wild MUM 1 Uimi.l Ml SIT BOX, vtre.t. R'me Kara. :4.

Mala. 1 HI B. A -T lit Seal fr Vt lo Wf-eittt Vr.w S.ile TWll IH.lk- Ti 1 lit A I i I. J.t. UKRVS THE PHILADELPHIA STORY 1 KATHARINE HEPBURN V.N UM I IN JUMI'H OT TI M(IIOliiOV SHIKIr) IIIMIIII SHU6EHT Theattt, Wett 44 SI, Cl'tle I tta.

8 4fl Mat- THURSDAY A JT 4n CtnSED THIS WEEK I OPeVs 0 i A 1 HE TIME OF YOUR LIFE 4 VMrtir (MiHI 1MIN tl 11.11 t1 of 1 '( omtiittr-w urhirr mid rxitrmui in ih PIE WEAK LINK FTTIVi lTI JUMF l)T GOLOEh Thea 4'. St alBaa, E.a Matinee TllM and XT CPA MP ION L0N6U PLAY OF A 4. TIM i TOBACCO ROAD 7-- vFAR A ilh Will. t.HK 1 ''nn FORHISI. 4Y S4.W at Ma'i A Hal 7 SI.

i eV, i "Tan-liaptty and tuneful" 7. 1- Tba New Hit Mn.es, WO FOR THE SHOW trirl EVE 4RDFH RICMARn Hav: seitv button brend fciis filnrni iOHN MURRAY BIMiTH TH ihst. of It 'v He- 50 Mala. TOM W. fH.ll Mil II t.

Vn TWO A F.I a ON AN ISLAND MKK KM Vf iimMv If i tri(A LuhfT DI HfTTy FIELD Jrrm f.FA'iF HUDSON ThJ 44th St r.f 8 Kay fa-1 t5. 3. $3.30 te tl 10 Tw i is" i Aliaaxi SKII UOKTII i i Ml.ivf Tom Ann WHEN WE ARE MARRIED VV hi PriMf-l- A Wif LVCEUM.W it a starred in 1914. ne chance in ten of finding an interested playgoing public, but it is James Bell He it a good, gray ghost. expertly staged, so far as its mechanics go, as it could be if it promised a return of a million dollars profit.

That's Abbott. Come easy with the hits, go easy with the failures. Naturally it is pretty hard to forgive him his trespasses. It seems such a waete to put the profits of "The Boys from Syracuse" and "Too Many Girls" back into such palpable gambles as "The Uncon-ciuered" and "Goodbye in the Kieht." But it is just possible that the pambles have something to do with that mysterious "movie money" we are forever hearing about. Maybe they do not represent Abbott judgment at all.

Gooseflesh Drama "Goodbye in the Night," written by Jerome Mayer, is a gooseflesh drama deliberately concocted for the mystery murder trade. It begins one foggy night inside the walls of an insane-asylum with the escape of Ollie, one of the milder but more determined homicidal maniacs. It continues through the nigbt, with Ollie settling an old grudge rioincr in his brother-in-law. whom he blames for his mental condition and his incarceration. Tourists' Comedy.

A trio of touring motorists, lost fn the storm," seek lodging at Ollie's house and are drawn into all the weird adventures that follow Ollie's escape. Including the lunatic's attempt to incriminate them as fellow murderers. This sort of thing has usually reached its peak of popularity through laughter. Beginning with "The Bat" and continuing down past "The Cat and the Canary," the exciting fun of the thing has always topped the extravagances of the somewhat laboriously builded mystery. There are a few scattered laughs in Mr.

Mayer's piece, but they are not inherent in the story. Rather LEARN TO DANCE rVaeafcf It Amerki't F'mttl Demring Twker CA, FEB GUARANTEES 2 LESSOKI COURSE WALTZ, FOX ROT, PEA LI NOV HOP. TANGO. SHAG CONGA, RHUMBA, TAP. Hwr: li A M.

-10 P.M. aithaut aapnataaaL Sunday, 2-1 P. M. Miss ALMA'S FAMOUS DANCING STUDIOS 169S B' way (cor. 53d) CIr.

7-7569 ALAN D1NEHAET, who hasn't done a local plav since "Alley Cat" in 1934. comes home Saturday night with "Thanks for My Wife" at Maxine Elliott's. Glenda Farrell and Lyle Talbot, also of the films, are co-starred. The comedy closed a six-week Chicago run last Saturday night Static Eliminator Is FCC Witness (Special to The N-us Washington, D. March 18.

Major Edwin H. Armstrong, professor of electrical engineering at Columbia University, inventor of frequency modulation (FM), the so-called static-free method of broadcasting, appeared as a witness today before the Federal Communications Commission. The hearing was called to ascertain if FM stations have reached a phase in their development acceptable for making regular broadcasts for the pi blic. The Commission is to determine whether FM will be given permis sion to enter commercial broadcast service. If granted, FM would have to be allotted sufficient bands for the projected service to be broadcast only in ultra-high frequencies.

Major Armstrong stated the service is ready and asked for assignments in television territory. Press Fotogs" Ball George Jessel, Henny Young-man, Harry Hershfield and Milton Berle will be masters of ceremonies at the annual Press Photographers' Ball at the Astor April 12. AMUSEMENTS ji'o'W pi apt RUMBA RUMBA CONCERT CONGA SNAKE DANCE FREE TANGO LESSONS By PHILLIPS SCHOOL OF OANCE ARMANDO HIS NATIVES EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTION CALYPSONIAN SERENA0ERS yw ri V. i.u a 2 rt 415 It 7:15: la II :45 Midaifit Session Stordajr rt loiambas Circle Kink Bruit,) totk SI CI (SIS mt. not mat.

CONTINUOUS 25 TO CLAUDE HOPKINS HIS BARD It 1EVUE ORLANDO ROBESON MOKE POKE BROWNSR1N CHOIUS Awatewr ctct Wed. Nile Opens THIS SAT. Evg. scats A C()I KTKT RI KH ptwat. CASE OF YOUTH A Comedy oy Tow ni dirfftfd by Arthur tMrfttm Cit I1A KTIII headed by HUAWt.kKS AKt.KTxoS ATION I.

Thea. 41 St.W y. PE. 22 I mail SOW to Hilled and to Escitins and Ahsorbing" Litrkridoe Sun A WALTER HUSTON A PASSENGER TO BALI BARRYMORE 8 4U Tm St 'Funny, jolly and tuneful." i.w ksxiff. O.

De SVLVA BKRT I.AHR KTHKI. MKKMIS nU BARRY WAS A LADY 1 I'tlRTKK MINtis with lii'tty firahlr Itfiint n.ikpr 4K ST. THEA ef CI tOTi Ey 50 Jl.10 40 Mats. Teia'a A Sat. 2 HIM 10 42 75 HKT "m'AtINKK TtlMOKKOW Ht GEimiiK ABliiil'l tir.1-- GOODBYE NIGHT BILTMORE.

W. 47 St. CI- E. Jl "Still more than hilnriom. It I tml too cood to lr t-t it'-." t-l Ol.SF.S 4f VPU7 ELLZ a POPPIN The Lannh Seneaiion of TAie tirnrrtitmn New New Sonc! New Itaixe! WINTER G4ROFN ilth St Eos.

St 10 te. S3 30. exceet Salitrday tH 2 30 Mali. Tan w. Sat.

A. Martti 25. SI 10 iZ 20 Barri" FW7kkXT $ea CASEfS TUN0 AND THE PAYCOCK .1 V.fVw SHANNON' i. Aurnvtns MAN.Fir.I.H 47lh St. i Eastee Etk.

Mt. TOM'W Satl at. Bv all odda the inOMt encHtcntt. play in town." I '-') KHIImK un OS'S A It SERLIS prfKtnl Day'ii I IFE WITH FATHER Mad into a Pint hy HOWARD LINDSAY and RUSSEL CROUSE EMPIRE av A 4D ST PE. 1'i4n En.

8 40. SI.IO S3 30. Wall Tua yt Sat. 2 Opens. Next MON.

Evg. FVGS. 55e S2 75. if. Oaexini SI 16 ta S3 W) MATS.

WED A SAT S5e S2 20 ta lo'l. VINTON FKKFIiT.F.Y prewrits FKRENC MOLNAK'S I I Aiaplf'l tv Benjamin Cllarr Bl Rr.ESS INtiRIO KI-IA MKUKIIITH BKW.M (N KZN 41 til ST. Theatri-. W. of a.

I A. "My fHTorife show." Walfr inrl'U MCLAHF, BOOT HE'S tJHMEOT HIT I ARGTN FOR ERROR 250 Orch. Seats 2.20 Evanin PLYMOUTH. 45tn St l.ll CI fith MONTH! Mt- Tom'vt A S(T. at 2:4 "Still the, mt Kitted bhmt in thin eniintrv." Tnte BARRYMORE MY DEAR CHILDREN BELASCO THEA.

.44 SI. E. at B'wav. BR Kvr. Mt.

TtlM'W and at SKATS NOW THKIIII.H APKII. 'THE Mft.T KBVI IN NTOWN hrr.r-hlrv AVi- rir EW PINS AND NEEDLES Mati.Wd A Sat.ii 2:40 I Ewini 40c 75c 155c WINDSOR St E. B.y BW mj 'e'irwt niehler cheered the revue." Mrrtr REUNION IN NEW YORK r.Teninira at TJie tn ft -IS Mata. 2:40. Wed.

Sc SI 65 Sat. Vh ta S2 7V I.ITTI.B. 4S ST. W. of B'way.

I.Ae. eaaruf for -Kusineaa a booklet hy Elinor A me. Send aelf- rtdreaaed, ilamprl enrelope to en Information Bureau, 220 K. 42d St. York, ii iiniiiiiiirroiii' ir- 1 1 vi i i shows" Tmml "cgBthAV.UN-4-449Ql ft a.