Posted 8:09 AM by Gene

In Branson East the money people prepare another ceremonial bonfire with their greenbacks, to send smoke signals to the gods so that KERNGERSHWIN FRANKENSTEIN's latest masterwork will be the Big B's greatest hit. But there seems to be a drawback: KERNGERSHWIN is getting a HUGE percentage of the receipts, as befits a genius. And so...

"Basically, you're investing so that Mel Brooks can make a lot of money."

But isn't that what GENIUS is all about?

PLUS there's this good news:

Initially, there weren't going to be many investors. Brooks and [Robert F. "ELVIS!"] Sillerman, who created the entertainment company SFX, were going to finance the show pretty much on their own.

But in the last few weeks, Sillerman's quietly been trying to unload some of his investment, sources say. He's told people in the theater that he's surprised at how expensive the production has become.

But at least two potential backers who've crunched the numbers have taken a pass, theater sources say.

They probably came across the clause in the papers called "Death or Insanity of Investors" and realized the insanity part kicks in when you invest in "Young Frankenstein."

But think of the ego boost you get when you bankroll the GREATEST AHT FOHM EVAH KNOWN -- on BRANSON EAST -- even in a MENTAL HOSPITAL!