Variety (April 1933)

Tuesday, April 18, 1933 LITERATI VARIETY 47 Hobby Horses E. G. Cousins, who Is better juiown in English cinematography than on this side ot the water, drives his hobbies tandem in 'Film- land in Ferment.' Even Jack Hurl- |)ert, who has written the preface, admits there are 'just one or two Ideas' with which he Is not in sym- pathy. The propositions set forth are too radical to be regarded as logical until demonstrated. The lead horse in Mr. Cousins' tandem of hobbies is what he terms the 'kinist,' who seems to corre- spond rather closely to the person who in Hollywood is called the su- pervisor—and a lot of other names which would not look so well in print. It Is the Cousins' argument that the one known and important I>erson in the creation of pictures should be the man who Is singly charged with production. The idea Is borrowed from Russia, where Eisenstein and others have hogged all, or certainly most of the credit. Mistaking results for causes, Mr. Cousins argues that only his kinist should be known, or credited, and thai one-man rule alone can give adequate screen results. This brings on the wheel horse of the team; the abolition of the star system, or even the actor. Mr. Cou- sins wants the substitution of types. He feels that in time the abolish- ment of the star in favor of the man in the street will bring about economy and yet the same financial return. He Ignores completely the ultimate consumer, who follows the stars and will have nothing to do with the all star casts of competent players even in this day. He also overlooks the fact that the old one- reel pictures did not become really profitable until Vitagraph led the way in naming Its players. Bio- graph, the only company to with- hold the names,, used that as a gag to increase interest In its cast. According to the author, the man In the street will be a better actor under a kinist than the highly trained professionals. It's an in- genious, but not particularly sound argument and the Russian product proves nothing at all. Apart from his hobby horsing Mr. Cousins gives an Interesting survey of the British screen, but he weak- ens his authority by going off at a tangent whenever the kinist crosses the prevailing system. Published In England by Denis Archer with Fredk. "Warne & Co. handling the U. S. distribution. No Reprint Couple of former mag editors are going Into the publishing business on their own. They are Carl F. Happel, who used to edit a number of the Clayton mags, and Roy de S. Horn, who acted in the same ca- pacity for the Doubleday, Doran pulps. Happel and Horn have taken over the old Clayton headquarters Ip lower Manhattan and will issue one or more mags from there. First of the Horn-Happel publica- tions will be a pulp to be known as Two Books Magazine.' Understood that original matter will be used, and no reprints. Horn doesn't care for the reprint thing because he is a scribbler himself. And a prolific one, too. When quitting his editorial post on the Doubleday, Doran mags, Horn hooked up with Macauley, the book publisher. That didn't last long, however, and now it Is back to the mag field for him. Mixed Bills Program of expansion by Edward Lyman Bill, publisher of a string of publications, pointing to the more active participation of Raymond Bill, is the result of plans now being formulated. The Bills have formed the Bill Brothtrs Publishing Com- pany to take in the new activities, as apart from Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., the present organization. The Bills will start ^n their al- tered activities in about two weeks. Cartoonist Resumes Drawing Charles Saxton, former cartoonist on the N. Y. 'World' and the Los Angeles 'Daily News,' will do similar drawings for the Monogram pic- ture, 'Fighting in the Dark.' Saxton, author of the yarn which concerns cartooning, is doing the adaptation. Job calls also for him to play a bit In the picture and turn out skptohos for camora recording. Threatens N. Y. Chicnpo has a now film giveaway, •Movioncws," sponsored by Carroll Shaffer, former publisher of the Chicago "Evening Post.' Shaffer will l."5suc a half million copies weekly, in tie-ups with loc.nl retail organi- zationp. If the idea c-atchci^ on the give- away-will be introduced In other liirpc urban centrrs, including Now York and Philly. Parts of a Poem Ezra Pound's newest effusion Is 'Cantos.' Farrar & Rhinehart pub- lish it and It consists of a goodly portion of that poem Pound's been working on for lo these many years. Bits of it have been printed here and there previously in the avant-garde magazines; this Is the most complete collection yet. Most -readers won't get a. tlung out of the book, whether poetry en- thusiasts or not. Pound defeats himself with his over-scholarlinoss and exhibitionism. For about twenty years he has been in the first rank of American (or English) poets. He still is> But it becomes more and more obvious that his ac- tual accomplishments are not likoly to be of lasting irtiport. Jlostly be- cause he vacillates too much. Pound, despite his position In the field of letters, is a comparatively young man, being only 47. Twenty- five years ago he went to Europe and has never come back. He lives, now, in Rapallo, Italy, and takes things comparatively easy. He's an exceptional student of literature and languages, has made some translations from Japanese and other languages not generally In the ken of students emanating from Nordic shores. Which must not, however, be taken to mean that 'Cantos' is un^ inspired, because certainly some of the passages and some of the verses are beautiful and very much worth while. Not-So Cockeyed Greenwich Village's new glorificr, 'The Villager,' makes It debut next week. A tab will be the most pre- tentious publication the Village ha.'; ever had, complete from news of the community to mag features. 'The Villager' will be a much more sane affair than the succession of cockeyed mags the Village has seen since Floyd Dell and his contempo- raries first attracted attention to the place. Sponsors of 'The Villager' realize that the Village is today mostly a home community rather than the madhouse it used to be. Publisher of 'The Villager' Is Walter G. Bryan, for many years a Hearst executive. Bryan has the support of the Wanamaker and Hearn stores, just outside the Vil- ago confines. Randolph Blinn Is editing the sheet, which is to be Is- sued weekly. Neagoe s Pen Peter Neagoe, whose book of short stories, 'The Storm,' banned in America, is going into Its fourth edition here, has just completed his first novel and is taking it to New York, where he will seek a pub- lisher. The entire manuscript was written In long-hand with a home- made wooden pen—a pine wood stick sharpened to a fine point at one end—as Peter finds these pens of his own manufacture never leak or blot the pages. 'Americans Abroad,' edited by Neagoe, pub- lished by the Servire Press, is sell- ing well at 60 francs per volume, though most books published In France range from 12 to 25 francs at most. One Hit; One Flop Sam Putnam is In New York again. His translation of the new- est Luigl Pirandello novel is selling nicely, and Sam decided to stick around and watch 'the sales slips pile up. Putnam's Paris-printed and edit- ed magazine 'Expatriate' has ceased functioning, at least for the time being. He may start It up again next year, he says, but that depends on a number of things. New Biz Rag Joseph Stagg Lawrence and A. .S Dcmpewolff, who went out of 'Bradstroet's Weekly' upon the re- cent Dun-Bradstreet amalgamation, are getting out a rival business sheet. They call their mag 'The Econostat,' with Lawrence editing. Circulation of New York Dailies circulation reports by all New York dally publications as of April 1, 1933. Comparisons of figures for three previous six months periods are; April 1 Oct. 1 April 1 April 1 1933 1932 1932 1931 Daily Mii-ror 632,000 570,056 578,073 561,906 Dally News 1,413,539 1,400,000 1,390.947 1,287,786 Daily News Record 10,500 11,169 11,794 12,018 M. P. Dally (formerly Exhib- itors Review) 6,700 5,237 5,283 5,853 Film Dally 5,5«0 5,348 5.466 5,468 Journal of Commerce 19,706 19,804 20,081 22,558 Morning Telegraph .... .... 13,631 14,957 American 327,589 451,904 470.460 360,285 Evening Journal 642,143 632,559 677,400 651,213 Evening Post 91,874 91,874 101,583 103,142 Herald Tribune 329,743 347,108 355,894 323,871 World-Telegram 407,666 403,123 414,581 272,956 Times 508,000 494.643 511,791 487,056 Sun 291,5^4 303,143 308.091 305,415 Wall Street Journal 31,000 30,060 34,515 48,418 Women's Wear 30,000 32,074 33,148 32,491 Forward 190,000 181,665 145,785 144,716 Fiction Guild Elects The N. Y. Chapter of the Amer- ican Fiction Guild has elected George A. McDonald president of the local chapter. They'll lunch at a special table at Rossoff's, called the American Fiction Guild Table. The guild has a new idea for raising funds. Authors donate manuscripts to the emergency funds. One was bought at double the usual word rate by Ned Pines of Standard mags. This was because the entire check went to fund. Pines now asks for six more with same character. Not known whether author will oblige, on these terms. Another in Brooklyn Howard Milman, brother of Mort Milman, and who has also dabbled in radio and such, is turning news- paper publisher. Milman pretty nearly set to give Brooklyn a new weekly, 'Brooklyn Express,' slightly larger than tab size. A number of the Broadway boys will help Milman get out the new sheet, including Dan and Charlie Parker and Max Karper. Ed Hart is another. First issue of the 'Express' will make its appearance some time in May. Two Plays Samuel French has just Issued the recent Theatre Guild plays. Maxwell Anderson's 'Both Your Houses' and George O'Neill's 'American Dream.' Since these plays will not be toured by the Guild, it gives the rest of the coun- try's drama lovers a chance to en?- joy the text, and to be questioned if they do not read better than they played. Uniform in format with the lengthy French catalog and nicely, if not ornately, manufactured. Paper Covers Paper-covered books to sell at 75 cents is the Idea of a new midwest publishing house calling itself Fron- tier Publishers, which gets going soon. Will specialize on books on music and kindred arts, with per- haps a couple of volumes of poetry. First book by Frontier will be 'The Art of Writing Songs.' Author is Gene Autry. Maugham's Play Doubleday, Doran published W. Somerset Maugham's 'For Services Rendered' simultaneously with the first night of the play at the Harris theatre. With the uncertainties of the season. It's safer to get off to an even start than to wait to see if the play hits. Worked for Wid Henri Dlamint-Berger, French di- rector now making New York scenes with Blanche Montel, French star, is an old trade paper journalist, starting In cinema Industry as French correspondent of 'Wld's Dally,' New York, in 1920. Best Sellers Best Sellers for the week ending April 15, as reported by the American News Co., Inc. Fiction •Ann Vickcrs' ($2.50) By Sinclair Lewis 'Union Square' ($2.50) .By Albert Halpor 'South Moon Under' ($2.00) >«...K.By M. K. Rawlings •Werewolf of Paris' ($2.00) By Guy Endore 'An American Girl' ($2.50) By Tiffany Thayer ■Walls of Gold' ($2.00) By Kathleen Norris Non-Fiction ■100,000,000 Guinea Pigs' ($2.00) By Arthur Kallet and F. J. Schlink 'LooklTig Forward' ($2.50) ......By Franklin D. Roosevelt British Agent' ($2.75) By Bruce Lockhart 'Marie Antoinette' ($3.50) ..By Stefan Zwelg ■Life Begins at Forty' ($1.50) By Walter B. Pitkin ■Culhertson's Summary' ($1.00) ..By Ely Culbcrtson What, No Beer? The string of newspapers owned by Frank E. Gannett, Canadian- born publisher and an ardent dry will not accept any beer ads, despite the fact that some of them are is sued in cities which are counted overwhelmingly wet and which are the headquarters for large breweries Gannett threw out liquor advertising in his dailies before prohibition was adopted and says that he sees no reason for accepting it now, although many new links have been added to his chain since the Eighteenth Amendment was made part of the Constitution. All the Gannett papers are dry in their editorial policy, some of them turning a complete flip-flop on the prohibition question after Gannett purchased them. Letters from W. C. T. U. ladles and statements by local Anti-Saloon League leaders always are given space In Gannett publica- tions. Willie beer ads are barred, malt and malt syrup products are adver- tised in the Gannett string. British Invasion Although the book-publishing biz over here is said to hold all the traffic will bear, Sheed & Ward, the British book house, has invaded tho American field. Silently and almost secretively, the London publisher has opened an American branch in New York, and will hereafter pub- lish books on both sides of the ocean. Step Is a daring one In view of present-day conditions In the book field. Just how the book biz today has affected internationally-minded publishers Is Illustrated by the fact that a number of American book publishers, with London branches, have either disposed of them within the past year, or arranging to do so. For a British publisher to step over here makes the situation even more unique. However, if any British puUIMier was to undertake such a thing It would bo this self-ssame Sheed & Ward. It's one of the babies of the British publishing industry, the seven yeaa-s of Its existence being in sharp contrast to the great age of the majority of the English book houses. In those seven years, nevertheless, Shoed & Ward has shown an enter- prise which has lifted it to the top of the Bcitish book field. Would be .such an enterprise to get the or- ganization to Invade the American field. For all Its quiet American debut, Sheed & Ward will Issue about 100 titles between now and the fall, every one of them new to this country. Heading the American, braack..of Sheed & Ward is T. F. Burns. As part of the Sheed & Ward activities over here. Burns will get out an American version of the company's quarterly called, 'The Publishing Business.' It's a mag for. the biblio- phile. Mickey in the 'Red Book' With the current (May) issue of the 'Red Book' Hal Home branches out as a comedy writer for maga- zines, the subject being Mickey Mouse on Technocracy. It's a two- page spread of cartoon drawings of the Walt Disney creation of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, with run- ning comment supplied in dialog form by Home. 'Red Book' has purchased three spreads of this kind from Horne as an initial try. More may follow. Others awaiting publication In 'Red Book' are Mickey Mouse on Infla- tion and Mickey Mouse on the Talkies. Horne is versatile in show biz. Besides being head of the United Artists advertising and publicity, he also authors radio scripts for Jack Osterman and certain radio advertising accounts. Now 'Chatterbox' 'Chatterbox,' which makes Its bow this week as the latest 15c contender In the Bub-'New Yorker' field, makes most of its appeal with 16 pages of chatter-comment, with the usual departments - on music, drama, screen, radio and the nite clubs. Peppered with small line cuts but deficient In real humorous art. Not a formidable contender, but will probably appeal to many who like that sort of thing and find the 'New Yorker' too highbrow. Edited by George A. Rosette and to be published weekly. How It's Done Dlfllcult to scoop Gannctt's morn- ing and evening Albany rags on news In Menands, village between Albany and Troy that sees a lot of stories break within its boundaries. John W. Howarth, police justice there, Is employed in the mechajil- cal department of the Albany dailies. He Is sometimes summoned from work In wee hours of the morning to pre.cide at arraignments. Now in Covers 'Tschlffcly's Ride,' publl.shed by Simon and Schu.ster, is a story about a little Scotch schoolmaster who bought a couple of docrcplt old horses and rode them all the way from Bucnop Aires to Washington. It took him two and one-half years for that buppy rUlo. Ills story ran In the 'National <'!»^ographic Maga- zine' before it w.-is bridled by a pair of book rovf-rf-. 'Time's' Theatre List New dfparture on 'Time' in the Inclusion, in the current issue, of a list of 'the best plays In Mnnhaitan." List is divided into 'serious, hiimrir- oue and musical' classes. Swank 'Mayf«rr* First (April) issue of the 'Ameri- can Mayfair' magazine Is out, and a sightly issue it is with an effective alumlniun and blue cover, coated stock, the last word in typography, and an important list of contribs, including Richard Washburne Child, Ben de Casseres and others, all tidily presided over by Nellie Revell, who styles herself Madame Editor. It is aimed at the social registry and seems fairly to hit the mark in its initial issue. 'Variety's' own Jack Pulaski contributes a page on the ring, in which he puts on a clean collar and a top hat to mix with the elite as though to the man- ner born. Mush and Mauling Beulah Marie Dlx and Bertram Millhauser have produced a curious mixture in 'The Life of Jimmy Dolan,' which Macaulay is publish- ing this week. It starts off rather well as a tough story about a tough prize fighter, and about half way through drops into a sort of 'Keeper of the Bees' style, with a slight re- currence to toughness at the close. Both being writers for the films, It's possible they had more of an eye on the screen than the printing press. Might make a screen story, but it Isn't much of a book In spite of a lot of bad language. Promising Looks like Whit Burnett and Mar- tha Foley have got something nice In 'Story.' They just brought the magazine to America, after publish- ing It abroad for some years and their first number Is out. Despite the fifty-cent take, pretty heavy for these days. It got a quick reception and was a 100% sell out within the first two weeks on the stands. Sec- ond Issue Is being readied and will go in with a considerably heavier printing order. Chatter Publication office of 'Master I^ock- smlth,' official organ of the Ameri- can Association of Master Lock- smiths, has been transferred from New York to Hollywood. Ray Mur- ray, formerly connected with amuse- ment publications, will have rharge of the monthly mag. Jackie I''arrcll, well-kn(n\n .sports writer. Is the now secretary of the Jersey City International U'.-igue baseball club. Probably will donbla as buslno.qs manager. Jimmy Aswcll, of (■rontral I'lcss, the only Now York kolyurnl.>.^t, who also writf-s fiction fand soils It) T>lacPd .•slorics thl.s week with both ■Red Book' and 'Life.' Latif-r i-ub now going in for fiction. S. K.'i.Il)C -Kan;—'Vjiriciy' currc- .•ipondcnt in Bermuda, now fx-ofllclo editor of the '.Mid-Ocean I're.'<s,' and also U. P. rorro.spondent thrrc. May also l.-ind thf N. V. 'Times,' which berth i» <>ii> n.