Variety (Nov 1932)

Tuesday, November 1, 1932 LITERATI VARIETY 47 Nice and NauQhty Thome Smith, who created the •one-too-proper Topper, breaks in g^n, througrh DOubleday-Doran, Stb 'Xbe Bishop's Jaegers'; Jae-^ Mrs being a once popular brand of ondergarments. It's Jaegers on the ; Stle page, but Insidia Smith goes for Mie homller and more definitive Sgrawers'—and how. They are the keynote of the story from the pro- log ih which the various male and female garments arei descanted npon, through the opening sequence jn which the hero wears two pairs to the office and is surprised by his pee trying to dispose of the excess fioirTL In the main and concluding potion iii which the characters dis- card these and all other habiliments jlp a rather peculiar nudist colony. Leading characters ar6 a diflldeht 0Cf(ee nierchanit, his highly patri- cian near-flancee, his over-sexed sec, p bishop, a rummager and a sneak Ihlef. They all get together on a ferryboat where they are fogged and ■tart for shore in a small boat, .ar- jrlvlng .at the colony where fatuous liumans vainly seek to hide.sex be-! Iiindnudlty. , ' - With this premise the book might ^Avfl been dangerously sexy or bore- pcn^ely stupid, but. in actuality '^oiitb's brisk and often witty dialog 00 charms the rea4er that the. sug- piestiveness Is accepted Without pro- I^Bt.- Kot for Sunday school libraries, kut.a highly entertaining volume for gn unoccupied hour or two. ' : Libel Interpretation While the New' York Evening Journal, Inc., International Features Betvlce, Inc. and Catherine Bauer, irriter of the alleged libelous • ar- ticles, must defend the $26,000 libel pnlt brought by Sol iSerstein, Inc., whblesale hat manufacturers, the 'Appellate Division has handed down • somewhat different interpretation on the law of libel. The opinion reverses Justice Cohn Jn .the N. T., Supreme Court who Iiad opined that 'the burden I9 upon the defendants.' The higher court differs declaring the burden. Instead, .Is upon the plaintiff (Gersteln) to show that by wide circulation and photography of the article it caused damage to Oerstein's business, But, otherwise, avers the learned jus- tices of the higher tribunal, the Mournal,' et a1, must file answer to the complaint and defend the ac- tion. Motion of the newspaper to iAlsmiss the complaint had been pre- viously denied. Miss Bauer's article of last Oct. t4, was captioned 'Brand New American Hi - jacking of Paris Fashions by Radio.' O. Henry Awards "Winners of the O. Henry Memor-. lal Prize awards this year, are Stephen Vincent Benet, James G. Cozzens and' Edwin Cranberry, in the orde^r named. Prize-money Is, respectively, $600, $260 and $100. . Benet won first . prize for his short story, 'An End to Dreams,' In 'Pictorial Review.' , Cozzens' .."Farewell to Cuba,' in <gcribner's,' 'second, and 'A Trip to Czardis, in the "Forum-Century' resulted In third prize for Cranberry. The O. Henry award Is a new achievement for Benet, who fs a Pulitzer- Prize winner in poetry. Other two are established prose writers. Judges were Harry. Hansen, Fred- erica Field, Joseph J. Reilly and Emma K, Temple, under the chair- manship of Blanche Colton Wll- ilams. Mrs. Williams, who steps out from that post after many years, did not vote in this year's selections. The prize stories, as well as a dozen others which received favor- able mention, will be published in book form by Doubleday,. Doran. to have paid the Strawn Holding Corp. $40,000, to have tendered It certain securities and returned the buildings as a $360,000 settlement, which, it is claimed, was accepted. The Shaffer interests assert neither they nor their bondsmen are now liable. $500,000 Suit on Lease Jol-i C. Shaffer, publisher of the Indianapolis 'Sta:-' ifnd the Muncie, Ind., 'Star,' l£. being sued in Denver _for $600,000 because of his alleged defaulting in meeting terms of a 99-year lease on three bulldlngs.Jn Denver. At the time Shaffer was o\vner of the Denver 'Times' and the 'Rocky Mountain News,' which he has since sold to Scrlpps-How- ard. The Colorado National Bank, as trustee, is suing, and charge Shaffer repudiated the leases and denied further lia.bllity under them 'i'he leaseig were signed In 1023. In a deposition used at the trial Shaf fer charged that his attorney, Henry A. Llndsley, and the manager of his Denver papers, Samuel S. Sherman had been influenced by parties wish- to sej.l him the lease. These two «ay they will intr-oduce letters from Shaffer which will refute the alle- Pations. The Shaffer Interests claim Comic Strip Politics Chicago Tribune* syndicate has had to ship replacements of 'Gasoline Alley' comic strips because of protests from sub- scribing Republican papers which held the cartoons were carrying too much Democratic propaganda. ; A particular peeve was from the partisan Los Angeles 'Times.' One of the alleged pro-Boosevelt strips was car- ried by this paper In a bulldog edition, but when the editors turned to the comic page and saw the cartoon considered contrary to the daily's political policy, the pag;e was replaced. Chicago 'Post' Defunct Without warning^ the Chicago' 'Evienihg iPost' suspended Saturday (29) after 42 years of publication. It was bought out by the Chicago 'Daily .Neyv,s,' also evening, and scrapped, knowlton L. Ames, pub-~ Usher of the 'Post' for the past 18 months, becomes assistant to Frank Knox, publisher of the 'News.' 'Post' has been dying by inches for several years. Its circulation at the last was reported under 20,000 daily, paper owned Its own build- ing. In receivership since 1931, on Wacker Drive. It was strictly ah also-ran in advertising althojigh having a loyal. If small, following among the wealthy Gold Coasters and literati. 'Post' also had a semi- monopoly of music school and cult- ural announcements. Always an administration paper for the C. O. P. in good times, the Post' was rated as worth maintain- ing even at a deficit for the business angles it provided. Mixed Love Cyril Hume, who established him- self with 'Wife of the Centaur,' now comes forward with 'My Sister, My Wife' (Doubleday-Dorain), which is almost irritating because of the power with which the siuthor draws a picture of the . confused motives and thoughts governing the actions of his protagonists, One Is a gifted artist, wrapped uv in his son in, a curiously detached ff shlon, who falls In love with a peculiarly idealistic child, the natu- ral offspring of a dead acti:ess, who has been shielded from the world, by a theatrical manager and a veteran actress who constitute themselves her self-appointed guradians. The artist fights against what his head tolls him Is an Impossible marriage, but be is not . able to fight oft her Innocent blandishments. In a fit of mtntal revulsion he seeks to inter- est her in his son, as of more suit- able age. She yields to the boy, but tells the artist when he jealously re- proaches her that it was he to whom she yielded by proxy. • In a way the story is ghastly, but so well handled that one is forced to read to the end even while he rages against the stupidity of the hero. It's one of the books that will makie talk this winter, for it has fresh- ness of theme and a splendidly bru- tal treatment. _ . Plagiarist Forks Over An amateur writer on the coast has recently been crashing into the pulp, magazines with stories origi- nally penned by recognized authors and published as long ago . as 10 years, A monkey wrench was thrown into his racket, however, by H. Bedford-Jones, one of the authors he plagiarized. Jones found one of his old stories was published word for word in a current magazine with only the names of two characters changed. Biography of the reputed author appearing In the magazine assisted Jones in locating the plagiarist, who not only signed a written confes- sion that he had stolen this story and also one by James Francis Dwyer, but Immediately forked over the amount of the check he had re- ceived for the purloined yarn. First time for Jones that he' has been paid tjvice for the same story. Another New Mag. Distrib - L. H. Silberkleit, who was direc tor of circulation for the now de funct Eastern Distributing Corp., has formed his own mag distrlbut ing organization, the Mutual Maga zine Distributors. Starts with 18 mags, of which eight were formerly handled by Eastern. Collapse of the Eastern Distribut- ing Corp., which had in excess of 40 mags, has resulted in the forma tlon of a number of distribs to fill the void. Mutual Magazine Dis- tributors is. but one of three isuch organizations formed within the last few weeks. Rebel Arts Pub Group of Socialistic scribblers calling themselves the Rebel Arts, are plotting a mag as an organ for their t:.t)ughts. Will call it 'Rebel- art,' a monthly. Nq date set yet for first issue, nor editorial head named. key's Radio Annual First radio annual, intended as a year book of the industry, is that to be gotten out by Pierre Key, publisher' and commentator on things musical. The volume, which will make its initial appearance around the first of the year, will be known as 'Pierre Key's Radio Annual.' Real Names, of Authsrs O. Douglas, author of 'Priorsford,' is Anna Buchan. E. Barrington, who wrote 'Anne Boleyn,' is Mrs Lily Moresby Adams Beck. But who 1.*? Theresa Benson, au- thor of 'The Fourth Lady'7 ' Good News for 1st. Novels A. S. Bai-ne^ Co., the technical book house which decided recently to take on fiction, will Issue Its flc tlon under a separate Identity. The fiction books will bear the impriht of John Lowell Pratt, v.jp. of the Barnes concern, responsible for the innovation. First novel to be issued by Pratt will be 'Grand Slam,' by B. Russell Hertz. The story Is said to be a Actionized account of Ely Culbert son's career. News to the unknown scribbler is that Pratt will read 'first' novels, unlike the attitude of most of the first-line publiahing houses. Best Sellers Best Sellers for the week ehding Oct. 29, as reported by the American News Co., Inc. Fiction' 'Sons' ($2,50) ...By Pearl S, Buck ... By Charles Morgan ... .By Ellen Glasgow .By William Faulkner ;.. By Phyllis Bentley By Warwick Deeping i • «'• •«•••••«♦«»< •••••• t • «.t • • • I 'The Fountain' ($2.50) 'Sheltered Life* ($2.50) 'Light in August' ($2.50) 'Inheritance' ($2.50) 'Smith' ($2.50) .... Non-Fiction . •Van Loon's Geography' ($3.75)......By Hendrik WiUon Van Loon 'Death in the Afternoon'. ($3.50)............ .By Ernest Hemingway 'March of Deihocracy' ($3,60) ...By James Truslow Adams 'Epic of America' ($3,75) By James Truslow Adams 'Princess MaiTieS the iPage* ($2.00).,...^By Edna St. A'incerit Millay 'More Merry Go Round' ($3.00)........................!Anonymous carry Sweetland's own name as publisher, with other Sweetland books to follow. Avehtine Press, formed about a year ago, got oft to a flying stiart with that sex education book, 'The Torch oi Life,' written by a iBritlsh ship surgeon. Book sold more than 250,000 copies and is still in de- mand. Odd Names Vincent Starrett, author of 'The End of Mr. Garment,' the Crime Club's newest. Is long on odd names. His murder victim, who forms the reason for the story,~is Stephen Garment, with Anger for his secretary. The amateur detec- tive Is named Ghost, and among other names are Spessiffer, Ken- bark, Mollock, Drbmgoole and Bird- flight. The yarn Is along the usual lines and, like too miany detective stories, is slow in getting Into action. The book Is one-third done before the interest starts to mount,' duie to the elaborate preliminary groundwork. After that It moves quickly and in- geniously to the climax. College Honors Lippni.:nn Walter Lippmann, New Tbrk 'Herald Tribune,' politic I columnist, whose daily articles appear in about 30b other papers, has been appoint- ed chancellor, for 1932-33, of Union Universi-y In Scheneicttidy, where he began his newspaper career 26 years ago. . Lippmann worked, on a daily there and for a short time, Served as sec- retary to George H. Lunri, now State Public Service Commissioner and then Socialist mayor of Schenec- tady. ' ^' . As Chancellor of Uiiion Univer- eity, Lippmann will deliver the prin- cipal address at the 137th com- mencement next June. He is the youngest man (413) ever appointed to this post and is also the first jour- nalist so honored. Another Radio Mag Rudolph Field, the sometime book publisher. Is turning mag' publisher, in association with Donald Herman. The two will get out a. weekly to be called "Big Time,' covering stage, screen and radio, mostly radio. Both Field and Herman active In radio latterly, Field mostly with his ether 'Chats With Authors,' and Herman as an entertainer, song- writer and program arranger. As a book publisher, Field Issued 'Ex- Racketeer' and The Uncensbred Letters of Charles Chapin,' the first of the books on the famed city editor of the late "World.' Field and, Herman will jointly edit as well as publish 'Big Time,' First issue will make its appear- ance around Dec. 1. The Very Social 'Lady' Although D. H. Lawrence is dead, so-called sequels to his 'Lady Chat- terly's Lover' continue to make their appearance. Latest is 'Lady Chat- terly's Friends,' published by Wil- liam Faro, Inc., which also got out 'Lady Chatterly's Husbands.' Explanation of Samuel Roth, who heads the Faro concern, for the 'Lady Chatterly' sequels is naive. Says he did. It to provide idle scrib- blers with employment. No authors listed for tVe .Sequels. Knopf recently brought out an au-> thorized but expurgated edition of 'Lady Chatterly's Lover.' Pulp's. Inj. Suit ■Temporary injunction restraining Rapid Fire Publications, Inc., from further use of the masthead 'Rapid Fire Action Stories' on one: of Its mags has been granted by N. T. Supreme Court Justice; JicCook In - the suit brought by Fiction House,r Inc., publishers of 'Action Storlfes.'. Latter complained that the Rapid Fire 'Action Stories' version, which made Its debv^t on the stands with the November issue, was an In- fringement on the niag of similar title, now in its 11th year, and asked that the Rapid Fire coterie be stopped from further use of the title pending trial of the damage action. . Justicei McCook, In allowing' the motion, declared that 'Action Stories' was a catch-word title that had acquired certain significance and meaning as the product bf Fic- tion House, Inc. Court further air lowed that readers of this type of literature were Interested in getting 'action stories' and that they would very likely look upon the 'Riapld Fire' title as further description rather thSn as notice of Its publica- tion by others than the Fiction House editors. ' Active in the llapld Fire' group are Leonard C. Vanderhoogt and Trygve Aarstad, whose. initial pub- lication under the title was 'Rapid Fire Wisstern Stories.' Next slated under the trademark Is a detective mag. Humor Exploitation Gag? Harry Lauder's new book of Scotch gags, 'Wee Drapples,' bias given Robert M. McBridc, ' V pub- lisher, the idea for a humor book- of-the-month club. The Lauder work will be the first selection. According to McBrlde, the humor book selections will not be limited to book which he gets out himself but will take In those of other houses as well. Not explained, though, why other publishers should let McBrlde get first money on any humor '.106k that lookt prom- ising enough foi- book-of-the-month selection. Davis Royalties Final accoiintlnig of the trust fund left for life to his widow, Bessie McCoy, who died August, 1931, made in Surrogate's. Court, White Plains, N. T., shows that 16 years after the death of Richard Harding Davis royalties of $3,394.37 were paid ta the estate in the year ending March, 1932. The total esUte Is now $108,441 and goes to a daughter, Hope Hard- ing Davis. ' On the Other Foot When Frank Smith was dramatic and motion picture editor for the defunct' Detroit 'Mirror' (out of business) he was noted for his squawks on press agents' use of superlatives. With the closing of the 'Mirror,' Smith took over the local Publix give-away tabloit, 'Picture Parade.' His first issue has ' a headline, 'Greatest Array of Attractions Ever Seen.' - Sherman Biog Lloyd Lewis' newest book 'Sher- man—The Fighting Prophet,' is the December selection for the Book- of-t^e-Month Club. That auto- matically assures at least 40,000 copies. . . Now, and for the past two years, dramatic critic of the Chicago 'Daily News,' Lewis has had a numr ber of biographies published con- cerning Civil War fi.gures, upon which thenie be has become an au- thority. In gathering material for 'Sherman* he plowed through 200 obscure regimental histories and diaries of common soldiers, never published. Six of the chapters In 'Sherman' ran in the 'American Mercury' to which Lewis is a frequent contrib- utor. Sweetland's Pub. Co. E. Wlckham Sweetland is now in sole control of the Aventine Bress, the book publishing house. Firm name may be di.scardcd and the imprint of Sweetland's name substituted on future books. The Benjamin de Casseres book, '.Spinoza,' to appear next month, will It's Nov/ Froben Press In keieping with the trend of spe- cialized book publishers to go in for a full range of- subjects, the Medical Life Press, which had been limiting itself for years to medical histories, will now issue a general line of booiis, including fiction. In line with the move, the name of the organization will be changed to the Froben Press. , Name of Froben comes from Fro- benius,'.one bf the Latin ancients, who was a publisher, too, and who also got out a couple of medical histories of the time, later switch- ing to other topics. Dr. Victor Rob- inson, who head.s the Medical Life Press, believes the Froben tag ap- propriate. Builder-Uppering Scully Simon & Schuster are putting the last touches on a heavy campaign for Frank Scully's book, 'Fun In Bed,' which will be released in two weeks. Scully, with hospital ex- perience dating back to 1910, and hdvlng credentials from hospices in almost every corner of the U. S. and France, decidied that what the world needed was a book for ho.spital lay- ers-inners. This book is his an.swer. It contains every possible gadget for paf-.sing time, plus a number of contributions/ mostly humorous, on the subject ©£ hof-pitallzation. 'Mirror's' 700,000 Sundays The Sunday 'Mirror' is running far ahead of its dally editions, last two issues running more than 700,- 000 in sales. Tab's dally run is about 625,000. Increase of the Sun-' day edition Is about 135,000 copies more than the early summer runs. Jack Lalt has been In charge of the color magazine, the paper's Sunday feature, for about three months. 'Mirror' Sunday circulation, ho\y- ever. Is about halic that of the op- possltioh tab) the 'News,' which ia running l,40p,000 copies. More Humor As soon as a title is decided upon, a hew humor mag, the undertaking of a new publishing groUp, goes to press with its first Issue. Content of the Initial issue is all set, but selection of a title for .the publica- tion has proved a sticlier and has thus far held it up. Organization getting out the neW mag calls itself the Thorn Publish- ing Co. William Holsicn Is editing. No Stand Sales 'Broadcast Weekly,' radio fan and program schedule publL-ilied in f-an Francisco by A. J. Urbain, takes a radical step Nov. l when newsstand circulation will be discontinued. Publisher has lowered .sub price from $4 to $3 a year and quits stand sales at dime a copy in an effort to dimlnl.sh the weekly loss he ha.s (Cibntlnued on page 55) j