Variety (April 1932)

54 VARIETY LITERATI Tuesday, April 5, I932 Drslaer Muffled Kothlne can excite Theodore I>relser like a eooi, direct panning of one. of his books. Hencie, the slap eriven Dreiser's • ntiyr 'Tragic Ainerlca' in 'The Catholic "World* by Its editor, the Rev. James M. GlUis, who also syndicates In vari- ous weeklies and dailies, put Dreiser in his w. k. flgrhtins pose, . When the Rev. Gillis piece was called to Drelser^s jvttentlon by a reader, who condemned the attack on the author but failed to sign his name, Dreiser,, througliJils -sec, Evelyn Light, Immediately decided on a refutation campaign of paid newspaper ahd mag .space. That no such adef by Dreiser have appeared In any publication at/ yet Is claimed by Dreiser to be due to. the fact that the copy has been turned dpwii wherever offered, with no explanation by Dreiser as- to why. May be some reason In the fact that what looks like a place- ment of ad copy by. Dreiser Is really . a query of lnforma.tlon and not ani ordier for Insiartloh. Religious angle is believed to )>e thie reason why Dreiser can'-t flght it out with his attacker via space iB the free news colurnns. A Drelserlan blast Is generally good for a couple of sticks, at least. Trado Paper Increase; liicreased activity In the ttfLde paper, field the past.few weeks. A number of pubUcatloila-eithier pro- , posed or about to makel their pearance. Electrical field: .gets a new trade mag in 'The Electrical Messenger,' th« enterprise of G, D. Montgomery, former electrical goo.da manufac- turer. /Montgomery's new publish- ing organization Is called Messen- ger Magazines, Inc., with head- quarters in the Grand Central zone. First Issiie of The Electrical Mes- senger' makes Its appearance this month, Montgomery editing. ' Another new trade paper making Its first appearance this month is 'S'ervlce,' aimed to serve the radio technician. Editor and publisher is John F. Rider with ofiices in New Tork. Other proposed. inags are one to .'i. be called.'The State Garden iMaga- ; zine,' an^l another entitled 'The Lawyers' Magazine.'. '. Former, is planned.by-a group knbwn as Mc- Coy Associates, who havei the as- sets of a now defuiict garden inag as a starter,: and the lawyers' mag iff - .planned by a grdup of legal ': lights Including Elliot F. Qlassberg. ■ an'attorney. thicago's New Weekly Loop is getting a new weekly rag to be known as 'Chicago Saturday Night:' First issue wlU b<» dated AprU 9. -Sheet will attempt to be a seml- sophlstlcated paper of all angles, runiilng from spot news to chatter of .society, cafes, theatres and books. Slated to run between 12 and .20. regular newspaper size pages. Practically'every man 6.n the pa- per is a former member of a Chi- cago daily. Editor will be Forrest Myers, for about 11 years with the 'Dally News': on sports; business manager is J. H. Summers, formerly Mith the 'News' and 'Herald-Ex- aminer'; radio editor, Evans Plum- mer, who held similar post with the 'Examiner*; theatricals • by Bert Coffey, formerly drama ed for 'Her- ald-Examiner*; managing editor, David Rotroft, about 20 j'ears with tlie 'News' on sports and aviation; book editor, David Nowlnson,: book critic and radio ahd magazine free lance. Finance by L^d Lyons, for- mer secretary to the late. Victor Lawson of the "News'. Myers will also handle sports. Understood that Myers and Sum- mers are the men behind the paper. Wiistach and Browne Curtis iBrowne, llteriary agency, this week contracted Macaulay (publisher) and John Wiistach for tlie latter's next two opuses. Fur- man, president of the publishing house, asks for the first tale/ at present entitled 'Twice A Virgin,' within 90 days. . Wiistach is hiding away work- ing In his biingalow on Long Pond, || eight miles back from Rhihebeck, No telephone, RiF.D. ma,il delivery. His 'Under Cover .Man,* which had two editions, was recently sold to , A. L, Burt for a: popular reprint, Kr Because Us largest play is with English authors, Curtis Browne Is considered a British agency. Re- cently, however,' It signed a crow ol! . American authors. Among them: Samuel Crowther;.. Konrad Bercovlci, Peggy Wood, Katherine Mayo, Sam Hellmtin, John Cournos, Matthew Josiephson, George Mll- burni Jfthn. Wiistach, Jane. Littel, and John G ould Fletcher. C. R. ^. Everltt. has been made general • manager. , Authors'. Store Dates Los Angeles, April 4. Los Angeles department stores have gone wholeheart- edly literary, competing for pei-sonal appearances of au- thors in their book depart^ mcnts to autograph copies of their works for customersi N'ina Wilcox Putnam spent several hours meeting; the oiis- tomers and scratching a iieh In . the flyleaf. Homer Croy was doing the same at Robinson's. Not to be outdone. Bullock's was. double-billing Ja.clc Pres- ton, author of 'Screen Star,' and Harry Carr, local, column- ist.' List Annoyance Those concerns sbllcltihg scribblers for all sorts of literary services are believed to get their 'suckeir lists' from members of the reading de- partments of various mag and book publishing houses. This is proved by the fact that Soon after a writer submits a manuscript: most anywhere, he Is immediately be- sieged by numerous literary serylces. Authors so annoyed don't like the Idea, but apparently there Is nothing they can do'bout it. Most sub- mit their identities with all of their contributions, of coui*se, and It's then an easy matter for memliers of the reading departments in tlie publishing houses to copy them and sell them to those' who get up the lists. - Practice can only be stamped out by publishing head orders to their readers that they refrain. But likely most of the mag publishers, paying their readers a low wage, don't care if they get something extra this way. Drama History . In publishing W. G. B. CarBon*s 'The Theatre on the Frontier* the University of Chicago press adds to the literature of the American stage an evidently a'iithentlc. history of the dratna in St. Lbuls from 1815 to 1840.. With the acknowledgment that plays In the Spanish tongue might have b6en presented prior to that time, it cohflnies itself to St. Louis as a frontier town. Later chapters make. allusion to many players of more general; fame, throwing interesting sidelights on the standard stars of that day.-. The author while adhering' to the historic narration has sought, ahd not unsuccessfully, to temper this dry recital with anecdote and'com- ment and has turned out a readable commentary on the stage of that period. It is generously illustrated with reproductions of old playbills and portraits of that day. Soviet Romance Since its publication some 10 years ago Alex Tarasov-Rodlondv's 'Cliocolate,' a story of the. Soviet Chcka, has made considerable of a stir in reading circles. It Is now made available in an English trans- lation by Charles Malmuth, pub- lished by Doubleday-Doran. It Is an interesting and vivid story of the Russian ferment aU most fantastic i{i Its situations, but which are accepted as common- place in Russian circles. Story does not aim to be a novel In the accepted sense. There is ho ro- mance, nor marked adventure. It is simply an episode which throws an Interesting light on what Is go- ing on within the borders of the Soviet state. It probably. wrlU ap- peal strongly to the parlor so- cialists, real reds and the more In- telligent. general reader. • . Pihkers Separate James B. Pinker & Son, the liter- ary agency,: has been divorced f roni the parent branch of the. organiza- tion in' London, and undergoes a change In name to Eric S. Pinker and Adrienne Morrison. Miss Mor rlson, who is Mrs. Pinker, has headed the agency's play department for some time. The Pinker agency was founded by the late James B. Plnker, his two sons later acquiring the business, The two used to aUcrnato between the New York and London Jjranchcs with the decision arrived at recently for a separation, Eric S preferring to remain over here. A business arrangement, for interchange of scripts win continue to prevail/be tween the two firms, but otherwise they will keep separate identities. Serious Anywhere? Outside New York City the dail- ies give the scantest of attention to the Seabury investigation. A New Yorker away from home can forget ■^t completely; Luncheon S«riM First oit a series of so-called com- mercial literary luncheons, as dif- ferentiated from the affairs of sim- ilar type thrown hf publishing houses for publicity purposes,, is that to be iriaugurated by Frances R. Grant at the Roerlch Muselim. Schcdulied for April 15 with Ger- trude Atherton ilie guest of honor. No payment to Miss Athertoh for her presence, She,, as well as the othei's to be 'guestied of honor' be- ing present for the testimonial. Luncheon at |1 a plate , with the guarantees of talks not only by the^ guest of honor and other, literati presents but also book insorlptlns. Cohimercial literary . luncheons are profitable aefa;trs In. most every Instance. Another London Paper Cbarlesonwey Syndicate, Ltd., has been formed in London with the object of floating a new . evening paper. ■.' ,■ Idea, evidently, is to keep out of the Newspaper Proprietors Associ- ation, to which most papers belong, and which prohibits , its members from carrying advertising announc- ing boujght radio programs on forr eign air 'Stations. The N. P. A. consldera radio advertising detri- mental to its own interests and won*t allow customers to advertise It throujgh the : paper medium." New sheet alms at carrying such advertising in addition to all ■■ the usual stuft ' .Hearst Under Orders Despite It .is a fact, W. R.. Hearst Is playing teiinis on his San Simeon ranch in California, it is. just as true his physician orders hiih not to take violent exeircise. But ihay- be Hearst lliie so ihaiiy others doesn*t believe everj'thlniEr heard, even from doctors. . The Hearst ranch is a weekend hotel for invited guests. Frequently there are from 76 to. 100. Every, one receives perfect hotiel service from valets to saddle horses. In a ranch of 60,000 acres, more j>r less, with nothing missing from wild animals, to croquet, there is not a golf course. Hearst charac- teristically explxiins Its absence by remarking: 'I don't play golf,' . ATie-up7 Front page 'exploitation oif Louis Joseph Vance, ths fictloheer, . in connection with tho detective hunt by the Ely Culbertsbn sleutlis for leaks on tho "World. :pridge Olympic tourney, looks very much ias if Vance were planted there for pub- licity purposes; Vance's new ..book, Just out, is called /Detective' and mention of the word was ail over the account of the questioning of Vance in con- nection with tho Culbertson bridge difficulty. If Vance's connection with the case is an accident then it's a natural, for the new book. Turkeys Not Recovered iFrom 'Desert 8un;' Palm Springs, Cal.j Sixty turkeys which were stolen from Shaw'S at Cabazon last Wed- nesday night have not been recov- ered, and have probably, found their Way to market by now. Evidence of the birds was found in. feathers strewn near tho northern foothills of the San Gorgonlo Pass. The loss is quite aggravating to Mr. Shaw as It is no fun to raise turkeys for some other person's profit. Via Tyson's 'The Town's Entertainment,' new mag Lou Werthelm Is publishing, due to roll its first issue off the press within a. fortnight. Publication claims a tie up , for distribution through the Tyson the- atre ticket agencies as well as de- livery to all Incoming mierchandise buyers. It will also function ,as something of a ticket brokerage, securing seats for buyers through Tysons and delivering to pur- chasers at New York hotels. Herb Crooker'a Latest Macaulay company has sent to the, press a new novel by Herbert Crooker,, of , the Warner press de- parment, called 'The Sweet. Clieat.* A different type of tale from Crocker's two previous ones, 'The Hollywood Murder Mystery* and 'The Crime in Washing Mews,' both of which were detective tales. 'Sweet Cheat' Is about a :girl„ a number of newspapermen—and a columnist. . Beahan's Play With 'Night For A Lady,' hia novel, coming out April 14 for Har- rison Smith,/ Charles Bcahan also finishing a new play, 'Cocktail Party.' Best Sellers 8»st Sellers for week ending M^arch 26 as reported by the American News Company, Ino., and branches. . . ■ ...Fiction - ■ , 'Good Earth' (|2.60) .............................By Pearl S Buck •Thirteen Women* (?2.50) . .By Tiffany 'Thavep 'Magnolia Street' ($2.60) ..By Louis aoldlnir .'Mary's Neck': Cf2.60) .................... i. .By Booth Tarkineton 'Challenge of Love' ($2.00) ,..........,..;.., .By Warwlbk DeeDlne 'Second Hand Wife' ($2.00) .. . ......... . ..... .By Kathleen Norria Nonipiction 'Once a Grand puke' ($3,50) . .....; .By Grand. Duke Alexander 'Only Yesterday" ($3.00) .....,........By Frederick Lewis Allen •Story of My Life' ($3.60) ......................By Clarence Darrow 'U. S. In World Affairs' ($3.00) ... ...... 4.... .By Walter Lippman "Epic of America' ($3,76) ..................By John Truslow Adams 'Way of a Lancer' ($3.00) . . . ...............By Richard Boleslavskl (In collaboration with Hol.en . Woodward) Top Price Pulp . Harry Steeger and Harold S. Goldsmith have withdrawn their fiction periodical, 'Gang World,' re- placing it with one of similar typo, 'BluO Steel Magazine.' .Keeps in- tact the large chain Of pulp mags gotten out by Popular Publications,! the Steeger-Goldsmltii concern. . 'Blue Steel' is. paying top prices for pulp-type fiction, and using such names as'Erie Stanley .Gard- ner and Walter Snow. Bickett Just Resting (3ossip that the Clilcago 'Evening American' was to have a. new man- aging ed was straightened oiit by Bill Curley, supervising boss Of the sheet. . James F. Bickett, managing ed, Is taking a vaca,tlon for a feW w^eeks with Roy Daniels subbing. Daniels came over from the Washington 'Herald.' According tO Curley the arrangement Is only temporary. - Surprise Answer;. Swaifer's article on press agents, the fourth of a series of English ex- posures in 'Britannia and Eve' of various phases of theatrical life, was so fierce that to SwafC's suTfT prise, wheii he. opened' the maga-^ zlne, he found the editor had iised With it, on the same page, a reply by a press.agents New Firm Gotham Hovise, new publishing company, bas^ been established with Coley . Taylor, president and editor; R. A. Foster, vice-president and treasurer, Phillipi S. Brltton, vice-president, and Ruth H. Kerr, secretary. Taylor was formerly associate editor and dramatic critic for 'The World Tomorrow/ Real Name's of Authors Henry Wade, author of 'No Friendly Drop," Is Henry L. ;Au- brey-Fletcher. Siiallmar, 'The Yo- mah—-and After,' is F. C. Hendry;. Margaret Peterson, 'Every Cloud/ Is Mrs. A. O. . Fisher. But who is Bridget Dryden, an-^ thor of •Whither I Must'7 'Time's' Filni Man Elliott Gibbons is now in Holly- wood to cover film production for •Time.' He's the first full time- cor- respondent for the Coast, previous picture matters having been han- dled by Lynn Root, wife of Wells Root. . Bill Rice's Tales W. H. (Bill) Rice, veteran circus and carnival man, is doing, a series of yarns for' 'Liberty.' Reported that James Riley Cooper is sitting. Ih With Rice on the effort. Stories will unfold tlie mechanics of the outdoor show game. Revive Reprints Former 'Current Digest,' a re- print magazine, has been revived by Mary Theresa Gronlch, as "Thie New Current Digest/ Uses clips from other mags only and no direct market for scribblers. Miss Gronlch Is also the publisher of 'The Modern Thinker.' . , Real Names of Authors . John Oxenham, author of.'The Hidden Years,' Is William A^ Dun- kerley; Joanna Cannan, 'Ithurlel's Hour,' is Mrs. H. G. Pullein-Thomp- son.- But Who Is David Gibson/ a\Uhor of 'Brief Contacts'? Film Ed's Bopk Andrew Buchanan, editor of Ideal's 'Clncmagazlne' (British) has authored 'The Way of the Cinema,' published in England early In March. It deals controversially with the development of talkers. Beth Brown's Two Beth Brown "has finished two hovels on the Coast. One la to bo j)Ubllshcd shortly. . Song Writer's Serial Serial rights to L. Wolfe Gil- bert's story 'Without Rhyme or Reason' . has been purchased bv •Liberty/ ' Grllbert Is a veteran songwriter. His story is an autobiography of his 20 years on tln-pah-alley.: Pagnol's First Novel Marcel Pagnol, successful play, Wright of 'Marlus/ 'Topaze' arid •Fanny,' has published his first novel tilled •Pirouettes' (Whlrli. gigs), in Paris. It Is less a real novel than a sei rleis of very clever notations. Mrs. Harris'. Story Story of her experiences In the •Titanic' disaster, Iri Which her husband lost her life, has been sold to 'Liberty* by Mrs. Henry B. Har- ris.-. ■■■ : Chatter' Tlio first Jonas Arnold novel will be called 'My Fanny.* Ogden NaSh a pappy. Frank Swinnerton knows plenty about, book publishing and selling. James Hanley. living ' in Wales ever since hO began Writing about his native Ireland. Claimed by the Llverlght ofnce that W. B. "VVoodward coined the word 'debunk/ D-D has a sufilclent number of unpublished Edgar Wallace tales on hand to issue them at regular Intervals through the Crime Club for a year. Edgar Rice Burroughs gets away from Tarzan for the first time in his forthcoming book, 'Jungle Girl.' Nat j. Ferber's silence all this time explained. He's completed a new novel, Edward. Dean - Suillvah*s inevlt« able expose on the kidnap scare, 'The Snatch Racket,* wlU be out as soon as it can come off the press. Pal Szabo not a gag, but the real handle of that Hungarian scribbler being talkod about. . Novelists turning playwrights. Aldous Huxley and J. Keith Winter doing plays. Norman Klein, of the Now York •Evening Post/ will have his first novel .out this week. ; Called 'No^ No, The Woman/ Lincoln Kerstelh takes himself seriously in those photographs. Wolf Adler and W. Reran Wolfe being mistaken for one anothfer. Mary LIndsmann in a new s^anl: 67th street apartment, and with a new typewriter, too. Ann Rowe writing about perfect husbands. New collablng team composed of (George FasB and Samuel. Baron.. Dr. Louis Berg, novelist. Is not Louis Berg, the mag scribbler. Oliver LaFarge going to Mexico. Art Young displacing Michael Gold as the 'New Masses' group leader. Only about 750 manuscripts sub» mitted in the 'Atlantic Monthly'— Little Brown $10,000 prizes novel contest, Suggests other scribblers so weak from starvation, they can't write; Rian James has a penthouse. MOlly Thynne will lecture here. Rockwell Kent back from Ber- muda. P. G. Wodeiiouse will modestly name his new book, 'Louder and Funnier.' Paul Green has written his first hovel. 'Radio Fap/ a weekly idve-ccnt ma& distributed In "Butler grocery stores, folded last week. Had been out for about two months. TUliY STOEX PROBLEM '. ■■ Hollywood, April i. Censor trouble, may eliminate •Laughter In Hell,' Georgia chain prang, story by Jim TuUy, from the Universal production list becai^se of the plethora Of brutality in the story. Patrick Kearney Is working on the. script, and attempting to put it In form that will pass the review boards.