Variety (Dec 1939)

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PuMUhed Wreklv at ISt West 4$th Strtet, Now Tork, N. T„ by Vnrlety. Inc. Annual nubacrlptlon. )10. SInRia roples 2S c-nla I^iilorad aa Second-clasa matter UaCFinber 22, 1905, at tha Post OfCIca at Nevr York, N. Y., under lb* act oC Marcb >, 1!179. PRICE 25^ COrYRIGHT, 193», ItT VAKIETT. INC. ALL RIGHTS KKSERVED Vol. 136 No. 13 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1939 56 PAGES SE SAME STARS TOO OFTEN War Strains Haunt NBC in This Year s Planniiui of Diplomatic Kiddie Show T E Washington, Dec. 9. Problem In protocol confronts WRC-WMALi over arrangements for Its 9th annual International Chil- drens* Christmas broadcast. Custom ot having children of diplomats send Christmas greetings to moppets throughout the world over NBC's shortwavers has caused consternation this year because of the war abroad and the increasing touchiness dis- . played by foreign emissaries in Washington. Situation was bad enough last year, when a junior dip- lomat from the German embassy sat next to a child from the Czechoslo- vakian Legation. The war abroad, however, is really giving the WRC- WMAL department the jitters. So far, no word has been received from the German Embassy, concern- ing the attendance of youngsters ot the embassy staff. Juvenile name- callings, flsticufts or- other compli- cations are not beyond the realm of possibility it a German child should meet face to face with small repre- sentatives of the Polish, Czechoslo- - vakian^ JErench,—British nr Jinni.sh governments. Feelings of Japanese kids also must be considered but observers who may be watching for an indication ot Japan's attitude toward Russia are likely to be disappointed. The Soviet Embassy has not been repre sented at the recent kid parties. More than 30 sons and daughters ot foreign representatives in Wash- ington have been asked to the party and most invitations have been ac cepted. The program, which is be ing sponsored by NBC in cooperation with the Greater National Capital Committee of the Washington Board ot Trade, will be aired this year from the Washington Hotel. Dice Will Tell Miami, Dec. 9. "If money' booking is a new angle for Florida this winter, tha fancy coin for certain talent ap- plying it the gambling lid is oft. It not, and that's the big if, the talent will have to readjust its salaries accordingly. A ReGgious, As Wellas'Escapist' Film Cycle Next Hollywood, Dec. 9. Paramount is burned up, and plenty, at a leak in New York legit circles that resulted in the r evela- Tion'lThad boTTgKr'Famiiy JfbrtTatt",' which was on Broadway last year, as a basis for Cecil B. DeMille's forthcoming 'Queen ot Queens.' Con trary to the usual ballyhoo which accompanies Hollywood acquisition of a stage play. Par was attempting to keep this a secret. Reason is that (Continued on page 12) SINCLAIR LEWIS LOOKS PLENTY STAGE-STRUCK BETlllEtN FILMS Product Stacks Up Well, So Theatra Owners Put the Onus on Distribs for Kill ing Off Names, Series, Etc., by Releasing Same Play- ers' Pictures Without Suf- ficient Spacing CITE EXAMPLES Cops Quell Audience Riot at Private 'Mulatto' Preview; Ban in Force Again Radio's Audience Blame for the fact that business has not improved in the picture the- atres more is being laid by exhibitor observers to the producers for fail- ure to properly space the pictures of various stars or personalities. Seek- ing reasons for the lack of action in grosses, buyers and operators are of the opinion that a part ot the solu- tion might be found if the studios exercised greater caution against burning up their stars. Whil e po int ing o u t that t he Qualit y ot product compares very favorably with other seasons, operators add that there is something decidedly wrong with the way many of these pictures fail to live up to expecta- tions. The feeling is strong that one of the most important reasons af- fecting numerous films is the lack ot spacing of vehicles of various per- sonalities, or the pictures that are turned out in series. What is believed to have partly caused this trouble, aside from the (Continued on page 49) CBS has circularized the ad- vertising trade with O. H. Cald- well's estimate ot 9,000,000 new radio sets sold during 1939. On the basis ot experience that never more than 50% ot any year's total is for replacements, the conclusion is that over 4,000,- 000 new listening posts were added to radio circulation. The staggering total ot 45,000,- 000 home, auto, portable' and community radio sets is now pro- claimed. Cheap Phono-Radio CombinaHons' Boom Stimulates Disks Also The General Electric Co.'s combi- nation table-model phonograph and radio set, price-tagged at $23 cash or $24.45 on time-payments. Is cred- ited with markedly booming the disk business in the east. Similar pop- priced combo radio and talking ma- chines all over the country have mushroomed in sales as result ot the signal success of G.E., working through the Consolidated Edison Co. of N. Y., which did the merchandis- ing, using the regular monthly elec- tric bill for the bookkeeping. Consolidated agreed to guarantee 50,000 sets but sales surpassed that quota in the very first month so a second 50,000 sets were ordered. Con- solidated avers that the merchandis- ing push will end with the 100,000 mark but the disk trade hears 150.000 in all are penciled In for the met- ropolitan New York area. Mean- time Arm added some 2,000 employes to the G. E. plant in Bridgeport, Conn. New Orleans, Dec. 9. Sinclair Lewis, the novelist who has been budding as a playwright for several seasons, and who made his debut on the stage last season, out of town, is said by intimates to have a strong yen to become a regu- lar actor. That he loves to mime was shown when he stepped into his play, 'Angela Is 22,' on tour. Al- though he was soon replaced by Philip Merivale, the experience was exhilarating to the writer and it is linderstood he expects to appear on Broadway. Author is sojourning in New Or- leans, where the activities of a little theatre group has caught his inter- est. He was asked to appear with the community players and he as- sented to go on without pay, as do the othcr.s. Lewis first asked Equity whether it was okay and received an affirmative reply. As he is a new member ot the association, he wanted to make sure-that going lit- tle theatre is not a violation. 3 Bands and Dinner For 60c; Some Customers Just Don't Believe It By BERNIE WOODS New combo ballroom and restau- rant in New York called the Fiesta Danccteria is apparently catching on with the people who regularly at- tend such spots and is drawing an older crowd as well. Spot un- shuttered about two weeks ago, opening its doors about three hours late and 10 minutes after workmen completed sweeping up remnants of construction. On the site of a former Chinese restaurant at 42d St. and BroaiJway spot has a capacity for 3,000-3,500 on two floors. Upper story was added specially, for the dancery. Added roof garden is built with a (Continued on page 55) 'Private Party Gag May Foil Pennsy Curfew Pittsburgh, Dec. 5. With the blackest New Year's Eve since repeal staring them in the face, Pennsy nitery ops are trying to de- vise ways to salvage something out of tha wreckage without running afoul the law. Officials ot the State Liquor Control Board announced they would not swerve from their stand in tabooing the sale ot liquor on Sunday, Dec. 31. Only one loop- hole is left. There is no law against private parties being held, as long as everybody brings his own booze. With this as a ray ot hope, the night spot nabobs are trying to get their best customers to organize pri- vate parlies and hire their clubs for (Continued on page 55) Philadelphia, Dec. 5. 'Mulatto' did not go on as skedded last night (Monday) at the Walnut St. theatre. Nor does it seem as though Philly will ever see it, for Acting Mayor Connell's ban stands. Following a special private show- ing at the theatre Sunday night (3), with around 1,000 invited guests, in- cluding Superintendent of Police Hubbs and Assistant City Solicitor James F. Ryan, representing the Mayor, it was announced that Joseph E. Becker, producer, had bowed to the Mayor's edict and postponed the_ opening until after a second hearing today (5) before Judge Curtis Bok, also in the audience Sunday (3). Late this afternoon (Tues) Judga Bok denied Becker's application for ar. injunction and stymied showing ot the play. When the curtain fell after the in- vitation performance, a spirited de- bate broke out that waxed so furious that .finally Superintendent Hubbs had to bring in a squad of police and order the lights oiit in order to disperse the crowd. Prominent Nogro-lcadcrs-here.-including-sevcral— ministers, were In the audience which filled the lower floor. Mer- cedes Gilbert, leading woman ot 'Mulatto,' made a plea for the play's (Continued on page 55) TOP POP SONG HITS BOTH FROM EUROPE Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. has gone over the 500,000-mark on sheet sales for tsvo successive tunes, setting a 10-ycar record of its kind in music business. The sale on 'South of the Border' Friday (1) exceeded the 500,000 mark, while 'Beer Barrel Polka,' which is in its 10th month ot publication, has already reached 550.000 copies. Both songs are European imports, 'Border' coming from England and 'Beer Barrel' from what had been Czechoslovakia. 7th ANNUAL Radio Showmanship Survey PAGES 19-23 BasebaD Play-By-Piay Word-SIingers Organize In Cincy; Not Unionistic Cincinnati, Dec. 5. Organization of the Major Leagues Baseball Broadcasters' Association was perfected Sunday (3) at a meet- ing in the Netherlands Plaza, where the National Association of Profcs- .sional Baseball Leagues is conven- ing this week. K. M. Landis, base- ball commissioner, telephoned ap- proval of the set-up from his Chi- cago headquarters and was promptly named No. 1 honorary member. Promoter of the new group was A. K. 'Rosey Rowswell, KDKA and WWSW, Pittsburgh, who was elected president. Francis Laux, KMOX, St. Louis, and Harry Hartman, WCPO, Cincy, are vice-presidents. Arch McDonald, WABC, New York, is secretary-treasurer. Executive committee includes Harry Heilman, Michigan network; Bob Elson, WGN, Chicago; Byrum Saam, Atlantic net- work; Jack Graney, WCLE, Cleve- land, and Red Barber, who airs the Brooklyn Dodgers games on WOR. The association, according to Rowswell, is fraternal and not unionistic. Its membership, sans voting power, will be extended to sponsors and agency men with big league broadcasts. There is no in- tention, added Rowswell, of keep- ing former ball players from enter- ing, the ranks of broadcasters. Ha pointed out that Heilman and Graney, of the executive committee, are ex-major leaguers.