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PASSING STAGES by Louis Botto

VAN ROUGE
By now, practically everyone knows that Van Johnson, currently starring in La Cage aux Folles, wears red socks. But how many of you know that Mr. Johnson is the artist who painted Diana Vreeland's celebrated living room red on red on red? (There is a stunning photograph of the room on the jacket of Mrs. Vreeland's memoirs, D.V.) Furthermore, Mr. Johnson studied art during Hollywood's Golden Era with such stars as Claudette Colbert, Henry Fonda and Claire Trevor. His paintings are riotously colorful, and there will be an exhibition of them in the fall at a new gallery appropriately called The New. 

ZIEGFELD'S FOLLY
Perhaps the world's champion telegram sender was the late producer Florenz Ziegfeld. His wires were not noted for their wit, but for their long windedness. Flo once sent his star, Eddie Cantor, a 12-page wire when he was touring in Ziegfeld's production of Kid Boots, detailing how the show could be improved. He informed Cantor that he expected an answer. Since the musical had been a hit in New York, Cantor saw no reason to change the show. He merely wired the producer one word: YES. 

Furious, Ziegfeld sent another wire: WHAT DO YOU MEAN YES? DO YOU MEAN YES YOU WILL TAKE OUT THE SONG OR YES YOU WILL PUT IN THE LINES OR YES YOU WILL FIX THAT SCENE OR YES YOU HAVE TALKED TO THOSE ACTORS?

Cantor's reply: NO.

CRITICAL REPORT
Members of the cast of Pack of Lies recently dined with PLAYBILL representatives and discussed that perennial pestilence: drama critics. Patrick McGoohan suggested that a small community of critics to criticize critics be established. Then, the public would have two views of a show. Rosemary Harris stated that the problem in New York is that there are only three major newspapers. "There are seven newspapers in London, and no one critic is that powerful." George N. Martin added this pungent observation: "How do we actors feel about drama critics? Like a fire hydrant feels about dogs."

DOUBLE FEATURE
One of Broadway's most unusual events occurred on May 22, 1923. The very popular operetta, Blossom Time, was revived simultaneously at two theatres facing each other on West 44th Street - the Shubert and the 44th Street (now The New York Times garage). The Messrs. Shubert sponsored the double treat for a reason: they polled the audiences at both houses and asked for their favorite performers in each production. The actors with the most votes were cast in the London importation of the show. 

ODIOUS COMPARISON
The late George Jean Nathan, a famed critic of wit and acerbity, had this to say about a play called Anybody Home in 1949: "I herewith publicly apologize to the author of any play which in the past I may have described as the worst I ever saw. This one, at least up to this hour in my misspent life, enjoys that honor."

NO VALENTINE
A member of the original cast of Babes In Arms, the hit 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical, once told me that one of its stars, Mitzi Green, hated the song "My Funny Valentine" and would tell the show's conductor not to play it at certain performances, so she wouldn't have to sing it.

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DOW JONES REPORT
Years ago, when Robert Preston and David Wayne were appearing in different shows on Broadway, they would meet in Sardi's after their performance and compare notes on how the audience was that night. To their surprise, when the audience was "up" at one theatre, it was also "up" at the other house. When the audience was "down" at Preston's show, it was also "down" at Wayne's. The actors began making a study of possible causes for this phenomenon. First, they thought it might be the weather, but that proved to be untrue. Next, they blamed it on the headlines that day - also false. They tried blaming it on benefit audiences, but that didn't hold true. Finally, after weeks of analysis, they both reached the same conclusion: whenever the Dow Jones Average was "up," audiences were with it; when it was down, they sat on their hands.

ODE TO INA 
Ina Claire, the incandescent Broadway star who died in February, was acclaimed for her brilliant high comedy style of acting and her with. She was also roundly applauded for having once knocked down the irascible producer/director Jed Harris. One of her most scintillating performances was given in S.N. Behrman's 1936 comedy of manners, End of Summer. The late Van Heflin, who appeared in the play with her, once told me of Ina's talent for ad-libbing. In one scene, the actress was to cross the stage and turn on a lamp. At one performance, the lamp turned on before she reached it. "Ah, magic," she said to the audience.

MINI-QUIZ
Can you name the successful films that inspired the following Broadway musicals: 1) Silk Stockings; 2) Promises, Promises; 3) Here's Love; 4) A Time for Singing; 5) Hazel Flagg.

ANSWERS:
1) Ninotchka; 2) The Apartment; 3) Miracle on 34th Street; 4) How Green Was My Valley; 5) Nothing Sacred.

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