The Gary American

BY ALVIN MOSES
REGRET CLOSING OF "MEMPHIS BOUND"
NEW YORK--(ANP)--The important matter of $25,000 stood in the way of the continuance of "Memphis Bound" as a Broadway stage attraction.

Friday night saw the folding up of the Bill Robinson featured musical housed in the Belasco theatre.

For the next month and a half Memphis Bound will be seen for 36 performances -after which write the word finis.

Seems as if the all-Negro bepcat version of "Pinafore" took in enough money (required a weekly gross of $18,000) while at the Broadway theatre where it opened.

The show's trouble got underway sometime after the opening night at the Belasco.

The irony of it all lies in the fact that Bill (Bojangles) Robinson, internationally famous tap dancer and actor, had been signed to contract until June, 1947.

The company was composed of 74 actors. In addition, there are 36 musicians and 26 stagehands (the Belasco paid for 19 on the payroll).

John Wildberg is reported to have stuck $50,000 in the ill-fated venture with an additional smaller stake covering the Belasco's overhead of which Wildberg is part owner.

Total investment was $145,000, we learned from reliable sources, and not $177,000 as the know-ell brigade had it for weeks before the musical's opening.

SMALL COMFORT FOR "LUCASTA'S" SUCCESS

It is regrettable that two all-Negro companies headed by La Ethel Waters and Bill Robinson have passed out during the same season. I have pointed out time and time again that plays like "Anna Lucasta," "Christophe," and others of their ilk should be the goal for all-Negro companies who hope to enjoy runs for any length on the Broadway circuit. Too little stress was placed upon the tempo of "Blue Holiday" and "Memphis Bound" to suit this critic.

Especially was this true in the Ethel Waters, Josh White opus which folded after only a seven day run.

White theatergoers of today keep comparing Negro musicals with yesterday's "Shuffle Along."

We predict that despite the fact that John Wildberg has turned away the failure of Bill Robinson's show with a shrug of the shoulder while working feverishly on his contemplated staging of "Belle Brody," an all-white show -- producers will think twice before tossing any respectable sums into all-Negro musicals soon.