Canadian Film Weekly (May 5, 1948)

“= PN t page 4 Canadion FILM WEEKLY — av 8,308 On More About Miami Toronto Was Honored The awarding of an honorary mention to Tent 28, Toronto, for its work in 1947 came as a surprise which won approval on all sides at the Miami convention. The judges gave the Citation to Boston and everyone expected that would end it, for the meeting had voted against a runner-up being named. But, the judges were impressed with the modest and clearcut recital of Toronto’s work by Morris Stein and they were no doubt aided in their analysis by a study of the excellent pamphlet gotten up by Jimmy Nairn, which had been placed on the desks of all in attendance. I had been invited to Miami to join Arthur Ungar of Hollywood Variety, Maurice Kann of the Quigley Publications and Jay Emmanuel of Philadelphia on the board of judges. But, being a member of one of the tents judged, I did not feel that I qualified. This Chick Lewis of the Showman’s Trade Review, convention director, explained to the delegates. Jay Emmanuel told me afterwards that, after studying our pamphlet, Toronto was his choice until Boston reported. Arthur Ungar said that he was so impressed with Toronto’s work that “they couldn’t stop me from giving it honorary mention,” regard less of the Variety ruling. He considered it only fair. It made Morris Stein and Rube Bolstad, our delegates, very happy, for they too felt that Boston, which had completed a clinic for children with cancer, deserved the award. You would have been proud also had you been present to hear the ovation given the Toronto report and listen to the individual commendation, as I did. Bill McCraw, Variety’s executive director, reviewed the efforts of the various tents and also praised that of Toronto. The work of the Dallas tent was ‘a badge of honor for every showman in America” and that of Boston would never be forgotten. Representing: Variety, Bill said, was “like representing Santa Claus — and there is nothing wrong with that.” * * * An Unforgettable Event Although George C. Marshall, the USA secretary of state, could not be on hand to receive the Humanitarian Award, the presence of Harold E. Stassen after the sensational victories in Wisconsin and Nebraska which made him the favorite for the Republican presidential nomination had everyone excited. The 41-year-old Stassen, with his personable and honest style, won the friendship of all at the dinner in the Steak House over which Bob O’Donnell presided. Stassen is no stranger to Toronto, for he told me that he had been at the U of T as a debater and he informed Morris Stein that he had spent his honeymoon in the Queen City. _ He must have felt that the dinner was a preview of the coming Republican convention. The orchestra played the popular songs with which the different states are identified and the delegates from each rose and sang them. “T’ll bet that orchestra doesn’t know the Maple Leaf,” I cracked to Bill O’Donnell, brother of Bob and chief barker of Dallas. First thing I knew Bill had left the dais, where we were seated, and asked the orchestra to play it. He thought they had but if they did I didn’t recognize it, nor did Joe Franklin and his son-in-law, Sam Babb, who were nearby. It was nice of Bill —but those Texas lads are like that. is * Sophie There But George Wasn't Sophie Tucker, her limp helped by a cane, was at the dinner and Bob O’Donnell, an old friend, introduced her as “the last of the red-hot mommas and the first of the red-hot sweethearts.” She didn’t sing but Morton Downey did. His old top-storey tenor isn’t used as often now but he still has a great voice and is a better showman than ever. He sang at several Variety affairs during the week. It was good old Gus Sun who provided the sentiment. Gus, now 80, has been in show business for 68 years and he recited © il WE SOSSWN The Next USA C5 QUARE President? a poem, every verse of which ended “I’d Like to Do It Over Again.” He was the leading booker in the golden days of vaudeville and Morris Stein must have enjoyed his remarks, for he represented Gus in Toronto years ago. George Jessel was to have been present but couldn’t make it so Arthur Ungar accepted a gold card for him signifying life membership in Variety. There were plenty of fellows you know on and off the dais, among them Bob Savini, Bill Gehring, Bill Scully, Dewey Michaels and Ed Zorn of Illinois. They. Ribbed Giceetye The gentleman who may be the next president of the United States took considerable kidding from some of the speakers. The mayor of Atlanta, for instance, and Bill McCraw, former Texas attorney-general, both Democrats from the anti-Republican South. The Mayor of Atlanta introduced himself as being from Georgia, ‘the home of coca-cola, where we have plenty of governors and one good mayor.’ He said, with a humorous challenge, that “I am proud to stand on the same platform as the gentleman who is going to bust the Solid South.” His witty speech brought roars of laughter and he held his ground with one made earlier, a sincere declaration of welcome by the youthful mayor of Miami, an ex-FBI man, who got a great hand. It looked as though Bill McCraw, as droll a man as you ‘ would want to hear, might have a tough time following two such verbal performers. But no. Bill was in top form. Bill discussed the trials of electioneering and office-holding, to the vast delight of all. He quoted a politician who said, “I care not who casts the votes as long as my friends count ’em.” He warned Stassen that anyone “who has ever given you two-bits or a smile will want to be a postmaster or something.” Although non-political and: serious, Stassen’s speech, which called for the strengthening of the United Nations as the road to peace, impressed all. ? ‘I will insist that we shall never permit federal censorship of the screen and the stage in America,” he said. “I am confident that the citizens of America will always help to defend the freedom of the screen and the theatre.” Boston’s Citation Award and Toronto’s honorary mention was announced by Bob O’Donnell, international chief barker, who acted as toastmaster and won the admiration of all for the sincerety and humor he put into that task. * Thanks to Miami The Miami convention was a memorable one, thanks to George Hoover, chief barker, and Mitch Wolfson, assistant, and the boys of tent 33. They pitched in and made the hospitality match the climate and the scenery, natural and otherwise, and it was a gigantic accomplishment. They did everything you can think of and more. One example was the opening of the Biscayne Fronton, where Jai Alai is played and wagered on. The season was over and the plant closed but Barker Dick Berenson kept the players, due in Mexico and Cuba, in Miami just to show the barkers what the world’s fastest game is like. San Francisco and Mexico both bid for the 1949 convention .and, in a graceful speech, Luis Montes of Mexico City yielded to Frisco, asking only support for Mexico the following year. But by this time I have probably exhausted the subject of the convention as far as you are concerned, There is one thing that came up that I ought to tell you about, however. Catherine Variety Sheridan, the abandoned babe whose discovery in a Pittsburgh theatre led to the founding of Variety, was chanced on by an usher on Christmas Eve, not Thanksgiving Day, as most people think,