Word: binged
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...Metropolitan, with its huge (3,617) seating capacity and broad stage, is a natural spot for the Ring. Today, says General Manager Rudolf Bing, it would cost as much in time and money to prepare it as five ordinary Verdi or Puccini operas, but would draw crowds for only about ten performances as compared with 30-odd for the Italian favorites. This year the Met is enjoying full houses (at about $19,000 a night) for its Rigoletto and La Boheme, while, even with Soprano Harshaw, performances of Tann-häuser and Walkure find about 10% of the seats...
This does not stop the eagerness of the Wagner enthusiasts for more productions. "I am likely to get 100 or more earnest letters a year demanding more," says Bing. "But this doesn't seem to be Wagner's era at the box office...
...Although the Figaro performance got good notices, the Met had a pretty rough week. Critic Virgil Thomson of the Herald Tribune took aim at the impressionistic new stage set with which Rudolf Bing & Co. have tried to brighten Don Giovanni, and let go with both barrels: "In this presentation, Don Giovanni lives just across the street from Donna Anna, but she does not recognize him when he tries to rape her ... All this residential proximity turns the story into a news item about how two ladies got rid of a criminal neighbor...
...Bing Crosby Show (CBS-TV). The Crooner's first regular telecast, a long time abrewing, arrived last week with an unmistakable thud. The filmed show was reminiscent of many of the earliest TV efforts: Crosby spent much of his time standing in front of a stage curtain, delivering mild jokes that were greeted with uproarious laughter supplied by a film sound track. Jack Benny appeared as a foil and traded fairly predictable banter with Crosby. Bing sang four songs, danced with a chorus, and was so smothered in facial makeup as to be expressionless. The most exciting thing...
...surprise, most of the favorites were oldtimers, and eight of the top ten spots were held by men. The only newcomer-much-publicized Marilyn Monroe-placed sixth. The big ten: 1) Gary Cooper. 2) Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, 3) John Wayne. 4) Alan Ladd-up from 16th place. 5) Bing Crosby, 6) Marilyn Monroe, 7) James Stewart, 8) Bob Hope. 9) Susan Hayward. 10) Randolph Scott...