The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 19

The Pantagraph B-7 Bloomlngton-Normal, HI. June 25, 1967 PLAY TV'S EXCITING CASH GAME FOR VIEWERS Vorld Turns' Grandpa No More Broadway, Says Author Once on Broadway Is enough for Jules Feiffer. POST TIME AT THE RACES GET YOUR TICKET EACH TIME Sull On Stage at ivan "Little Murders," the first play written by the well-known and Julius Sanderson in the twice a week show, "The Black- cartoonist, expired after seven performances. The reviews were mostly downbeat "What I discovered," said Feiffer, "is that the great un YOU VISIT YOUR OSCO DRUG, EISNER OR EISNER AGENCY STORE. WATCH WCIA CHANNEL 3 EACH SUNDAY AT 5:30 PJA.

NEW RACES AND NEW TICKETS EACH WEEK. NO PURCHASE REQUIRED. stone Plantation." "It was a song and patter show and I provided the laughter," he said. tapped audiences who tradition ally scorn the opinions of the It' Ortega has done some Broad critics are those people who way work but, "I had little suc seem to pay the most attention cess on Broadway because the when the chips are down." He intends to continue writing plays were flops." he fared better in stock in the Philadelphia and New York areas. But, to get back to radio.

He plays but will offer them for presentation off-Broadway and in England. AP contract to the show must be originated the part of the inspector in the old "Ellery Queen" show and the part of Nero in "Nero Wolf," both products of the 1940s. He also did shows such as "Perry Mason," "Charlie Chan," "Big Sister," By Tony Halloway It may come as a shock to the women, but Grandpa Hughes isn't in Gilman visiting his son, John. Nor is he in Seattle visiting his daughter, Eadie. The truth is, he's in Sullivan and he's not visiting any relatives.

Now that I've made the lives of the women utterly miserable, let me explain the above startling facts to the men and to those women who must be in the minority. Grandpa Hughes is the character played by Santos Ortega in that soapsuds daytime serial "As the World Turns," seen from 12:30 to 1 p.m. during the week. When Ortega had to temporarily leave the live program to appear in a play at The Little Theatre-On the Square in Sullivan some explanation had to be given the viewers why Grandpa Hughes was no longer on tha 6cene. Early In Radio So, it was brought out that used in at least 13 episodes each 13 weeks, or one a week.

They 210 N. CENTER DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON OPEN DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY 8:30 A.M. to 9 P.M. can be called upon to work much more perhaps several days in a "Bulldog Drummond," "Gang-busters," "The Thin Man," "In row with no respite. PRICES EFFECTIVE 27TH, 28TH, 29TH II ner Sanctum" and "Mr.

D.A, 1 The relationships of the people on the show are good, according to the actor. There are naturally He also appears frequently on another live television program, "The Eternal Light." "A fine flareups from time to tune because "the people are ordinary humans," but there is little serious difficulty. Vol ce In Demand show," he commented. Ortega is a "charter member" of "As the World Turns," on TV for 11 years. He credits the success of the show to the scripts, written so that the av Commercials, that bugaboo to erage viewer Identifies herself the viewer, are in great favor or himself with the characters Santos Ortega with Ortega.

He does many of on the screen. them, both on radio and television. His off-camera voice can How seriously do people take be heard on commercials for a soap opera such as "As the be exact, and his career has run the gamut from radio to summer stock. It began when he appeared as a singer in a New play, Too Can't Take It With You." It opened last Tuesday and will run through next Sunday. I had a telephone interview with Ortega Wednesday, Wilkerson Sword razorblades, V7 IT EPA INT clear plastic sylvania 1 gallon NATIONAL DROP CLOTH FLASHBULBS $249 IS 19 lip1 1' I SAVE I USE INSIDE OR OUT 1 9'x12' OSCO OSCO INIRALUECTR.C 1 SWINGER fjW WW DELUXE FILM pfj.

IStfL Week and White if PORTABLE MIXERl -r p- PfSS. LIGHT WEIGHT 1 3 SPEEDS JL py Model m-47 Polaroid Swinger I 1 II LAND CAMERA ITPi World Turns?" "There's a great deal of emotional involvement. To many East Ohio gas, an eastern beer, frozen foods, General Foods York City Hippodrome extrava- he was doing a little visiting in Gilman and Seattle. And, if you think the Gilman referred to is the one near here you could be right The state wasn't namel. It makes me wonder how many people in Gilman have been trying to find out where John Hughes lives.

Anyway, Grandpa, or Ortega, Is in Sullivan and in the popular Santos Orteea is not and viewers, particularly, I suspect, products and Mercury cars, to he was soon ap-David Belasco-pro- SDaniard bv hirth. He was born'pearing in name but a few. "There's good money in doing commercials," he explained. That's why so many of the top stars are doing them. New York of Spanish and aucea piays.

Irish parents. He broke into radio in the Ortega has been an actor for 1930s as a straight man for the the lonely ones, the story is quite real." Fan Mail Heavy As an example, Ortega tells a long time, since the 1920s to comedy team of Frank Crumit of the great volume of fan mail Santos Ortega said that he is "not an ambitious man." He means by that he has no driving urge to become a big star. Why, then, does he stay with a grueling five-day TV serial? "I have tenacity. I have a he, or rather, Grandpa Hughes, receives. "Some write that I remind them of their grandfathers.

Others, that they've adopted me," he said. When Grandpa Hughes recently celebrated his 74th birthday 1966-67 Broadway Gross $52 Million complete philisophical accep tance of the show." Ortega is in his first year In approximately 180,000 birthday cards and gifts were sent in by viewers. "Some even sent books psj sjj plctures fe10 jr summer stock. 'You Can't Take It With You" is the only play et" and "I Do! I Do" plus the of poems they had written." It would be interesting to know Broadway profits of $890,000 on investments of $558,000. how many cards would have Those inclined to regard he's doing, and Sullivan the only place he will be doing it.

"Guy Little Jr. (the producer) enticed me to come here, and I'm already closed "At the Drop of Another Hat." The biggest song-and-dance disaster was "Break been sent in if it had been an Broadway as a shrine dedicated to frivolity and escapist enter nounced that Santos Ortega was having a birthday, because to fast at Tiffany," which shuttered before premiere at a loss not sorry I came. The people here are wonderful, warm and HEAD AND SHOULDERS iMSpP tainment could ponder the hit-flop results: only five of 17 light the viewers he is Grandpa fine thea- Huehes, not Santos Ortega. That! generous. This is a comedies lured sizeable audiences, and only three of 14 in By WILLIAM CLOVER NEW YORK (AP) Broadway made more money, and lost more, than ever before during the 1966-67 theatrical season.

Long-run bonanzas and rising ticket prices mainly accounted for a box-office gross of 552 million, up $2 million from last season's banner take On the downbeat side, about $12 million was invested in 51 commercial productions an dl3 repertory company presentations. The backers, who put up $2 million, can't reasonably hope for more than a tax is how he will long be remem- ter, he remarked, bered. I When Ortega leaves hsre he Doing a live television will head back to New York to the musicals-revenue bracket of $500,000. Among comedies, "Black Comedy," "Don't Drink the Water," "The Star-Spangled Girl" and "You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running" made the grade. So broke into the profit column.

show five days a week is a tough I once again become Grandpa If ORAL ANTISEPTIC WM Si 29 MOUTHWASH Jfkm chore. From p.m. each Hughes. His visit with son John and daughter Eadie will have day, following that day's show, In the more serious field, Edward Albee took the Pulitzer Prize home for "A Delicate Balance," Harold Pinter scooped Critics Circle and Tony awards with heHomecoming." Both ended. the script is read for continuity did "The Killing of Sister f.mr aj j' 1 8 Oz.

Bottle lJp: and timing with some possible cuts made. The next day rehearsals begin early in the George," now closed. A revival of the seriocomic "Marat-De Sade" managed a small profit. In contrast to Broadway, which managed to stage an ar PI b'MeMt II nslB-BllB IkJP I I m. Iffi HI fi morning and continue until shortly before air time.

That shows emerged on the black-Ink side of the ledger. Big disappointments were the efforts of Frank Gilroy, Jules Feiffer and Saul Bellow to write theatrical process is repeated each day Actors and actresses under Four shows which cost already have closed at a winners Such familiar drama 1 RELIEF OF A SV s- SIMPLE I (03) I- l1 Me ULJl I si) JJIVMTOJCO AM profit of six of the 10 tists as Tennessee Williams, ray of 64 shows compared to 55 a year ago, the off-Broadway playhouses received 57 exibits, compared to 45 in 1965-66. More importantly, quality as well as quantity rose, greatly reviving interest among ticket-buyers nonrep items still on exhibit OPENING JULY 7 AND CONTINUING (VERY SAT. SUN. Arthur Miller and William Inge were conspcuous by their ab seem sure to recoup costs.

GRANDPA HUGHES REALLY IS IN SULLIVAN NOT Among chief mourners of the sence. KSCTVATIONJ and offering promise of upcom NfCESSARY Established as certain musi mg talent for Broadway's to cal moneymakers are "Cabar morrow. GILMAN AND SEAHLE heavy duty all purpose i oo ft. thickI See him today at 2:30 (Ri ffh A Q. DADS JRffl GILMAN AND SEATTLE Most Instrument Sales Laid to Musk Students USi.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. Recognition that musical School age youngsters con BOB PRICE IN ANY santos SPA IRONING BOARD ORTEGA msT AllPmOSEM WITH FREE theater year, which technically ends June 30, was David Merrick, who abdicated, at least temporarily, as the most successful producer with only two hits out of six tries. He called It "the worst season In history" In with the best producer record was Alexander H. Cohen, who clicked with three imports and missed with a domestic original. He didn't think conditions were nearly as bad.

Only two of seven other transtlantic transplants flourished modestly, indicating that critical and public apathy wasn't restricted to local endeavors. Offsetting the dismal short range situation, the continuing allure of holdovers from earlier 6how years was impressive. training helps youngsters de-1 velop and expand their creativ-1 ity. Belief that exposure to a' tinued to hop on the bandwagon during 19C6 and helped establish new sales records for brass and woodwind instruments, reports the American Music Conference. vvecInes 13.15 fm ptmm FRIDAYS I SUNDAYS mis ON SATURDAYS GRANDPA HUGHESof TV's Wfti WSK BROOM VS KCVCKjIDIS rMU ANU vUVCK Ath World TurnV Wi i SET NO.

2002 SILICONE 6 STURDY Sales of band and orchestra instruments alone were 630,000 units at $120 million retail A major art-form during the early years can set a "cultural pattern" to be continued throughout life. Clean Coil Springs A tapered bottle brush makes the task of cleaning coil bed springs much easier. mONI S44.9491 OC WIITS Chiapafte KU HIAIID ft Horn (ProfeMiouICMt) 15 per cent gains over 1965s booming 552,000 units at (105 mil lion. According to AMC, 85 per cent of all band and orchestra Instruments are bought for use by students. Among factors contributing to this trend are: Nine husky attractions, in (Advert iw merit) cludine the still-SRO "Mame," "Man of La Mancha" and "Fid dler on the Roof" are steadily Realization of the need to balance the school curriculum, with music Instruction consid- piling up dividends, and four Inn ft nine uhirh rinsed dUTUlS the season were able to report ered ideal In this respect.

Summer Stock Illinois Weleyan Continuing through Saturday: "The Fanlasticks," a musical. McPherson Theatre. For ticket information phone 822-8166. Little Theatre in Sullivan Continuing through July 2: "You Can't Take It with You" with Santos Ortega. Fnr Information call 2048 in Sullivan.

Peoria Corn Stock Theatre Now through June 27. The musical, "Oklahoma." For ticket Information call A7A-21QA in Peoria. Ml sWINSTANT A. AjHv i0fitfl soap CAT'S PRIDE I IP flEp cm ABSORBENT fLSWRSBl 7r ln ia. ioib.bag 3 oz.

size Pioneer Heritage Theater in Monticello Ends today: "Won Bv Waiting." Opening Wednesday for seven per formances "Clouds and Sunshine." For ticket Informa tion call or write Illinois Pioneer Heritage Center In Montlcello. Engle Lane Theatre, Sfreator Opening Wednesday for four performances: Harvey. For ticket information write or call Community Players In Streator. Municipal Opea, St. Louis Opening Monday through July 2: "Do I Hear a Waltz?" with Dorothy Collins and Enzo Stuarti.

For ticket Information contact St. Louis Municipal Opera. tasticks," reopens Monday night and runs through Saturday. Call 822 8 1 66 for reservations 1 ISwJ Jf IU) ABSORBS DEODORIZES bHW El Gallo conducts Matt Luisa, and their two Fathers in a chorus off "Happy Ending," IWU Summer Theatre' production of Tho fan.