Variety (Dec 1935)

52 VARIETY LITE RATI .TTednesdaj, December 25, 1935 N. Y; bailies in Scoop.Battia Scoop battle Is on among the Xew York (lailics hardei* than It has been In a long time as the result of the N. Y. Times pulling hvo Important bents during the past week. Flr.st was a Washington story to the effect that an important rate cut was practically set throughout the Uiiieeff'Statcs for railroads. Barely, three days later ^same paper fol- lowed with a beat on the Charles Lindberghs, and their son, Jon, leaving the country secretly because of continued'threats. AU K y. morning papers were caught cold with: the Lindbergh yarn, by-lined by Lauren D. Lyman and carrying a copyrlghti Hearst's American, replated, getting oiit an extra on the story. Afternoon papers all carried the yarn with streamers, the N, Y. Post's yarn also carrying a. copy- rlgHt. Understood In newspaper circles that the Post had been under the impression it had a scoop and had prepared to handle thei story that way, but was beaten by the Times. Likely that Llhdbergli released the story to the Times. This paper syndicated Lindbergh's story of his solo flight across the Atlantic and the flyer liked the way the entire deal was handled. Lindbergh carried a high-powered caniera on all his trips-and made photographic studies. Also, he frequently took candid .pictures of his wife and Charles, Jr., his son who was kidnapepd and found slain. The Tim63 Sprinted, these pictures for him, ma;king but one print of each and "r'etuming th^m with the negatives to Lindbergh. It never kept any for,its flies. , As a result, though its photo de- partment had printed several pic- tures, of the child, the Times Itself did not hive a picture of the boy available when the story of the kid- napping b^oke. Like other dailies, it had to be content with th6 single picture of the boy given by Lind- bergh to the police and released by the latter to the press. Lindbergh, who would not trust a private photographer to do hla camera work, paid the Times Its regular rates for such service. Best Sellers est Sellers for the week ending Dec. 21, as reported by th« American News Co., Inc. Fictl 'It Can't Happen Here' (J2.50) .., 'Spring Came on Forever' ($2.00) •Valiant Is the Vi'ovd for Carrie* 'Eiiropa' ($2.75) 'Silas Crockett' ($2,50) .... .. 'Edna HJa Wlfe',.($2;:60) .........., ,, y Sinclair Lewis ,,,i.,..By Bess Streiater Aldrtch 2.O0)........ By Biarry Benefield ........... i. By Robert Briftatilt ...........By Mary Ellen Chase ' Margaret A>'er Barnes ■on ■North to the Orient' ($2.60) 'Woollcoft Reader' ($3.00) 'Ufa With Father'j(|2.00) 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' ($5.00) 'Mrs. Astor's Horse' ($3.00) ..... 'Seven League Boots' ($3.60) By Anne Morrow Lindbergh By Alexander Wodllcott By Clarence pay; By T, J5. Lawrehca ....By Stanley talker Richard Halliburton >•■••• t * * * • • * < i * t • • • • .4' * • .* * * * 3 I • • • • •.9 m • Book Biz Up in '35 With the end of 1935, many book publishers have taken time out to agree that this season has been a Tjanner one for them. With sales figures exceeding 1934 in nearly every case; soine publishers report- ed new all-time records. Simon & Schuster did more busi- ness in November than in ainy other month in its history. Harcourt, Brace doubled its T.934 figures for each month. McGraw-Hill reports Increase of sales on books on scien- tific subjects, indicating evidence of considerable re-emp6iyment. Figures on number of titles pub- lished in 1935, computed by R. R. Bowker CO i confirm spreading out of public reading Interest. In first eleven months of 1935, 7,930 new books, not including pamphlets, were .issued in U. S„ cbmpared _to 7,118 titles in same period of 1934. .. Ptibs Want Code Graphic arts Indiustry (books, ntagazines, etc.) has asked the iiiuslc publishing industry to sup- port it In trying tp get code legisla- tion passed at the coming session of Congress. Statutory action urged provides either for the. creation of a special agency or for so enlarging the. functions of the Federal Trade Commission that it will have au- thority to enforce codes of fair trade practices which any . Industry might adopt. Representatives of the Music Pub- lishers Protective Association will meet spokesmen of the graphic arts group In Washington during the early part of January to try to formulate a legislative program. Pop music publishing industry has currently on file with the FTC a series of trade don'ts that It would like the commission to take under Its ' wing for enforcement. Walks After Radio Block Mollle Merrick, for eight years Hollywood rep for North American Newspaper Alliance, has resigned because organization refused to permit her to go on the air. She retains her copjTlghted column, 'Hollywood in Person,' which will be serviced by another eastern syndi- cate, which has agreed to her doing the ether work. Prior to the NANA she worked on the San Francisco Call-- Bulletin and Examiner. St. Paul's S.A. Mags Undercover Four- and five-column splashes of newspaper publicity, lavishly illustrated with pix of fiashy maga- zine covers,! has cut down St. Paul's pornographic literature supply to the vanishing point, according to Irving. Gdtlieb, city prosecutor, whose oflice was assigned to make It tough on drugstores and news- stands purveying dirty mags. Instigated by the Maria Sanford school, drive was adopted by the St. Paul PTA council to purge the city of sexy magazinies. with the council calling on-the police depart- ment for cooperation in the.cleanup. Clergy also,^chimed in, with appeals from the pulpit for help in stamping out ole debbll smut. More Book Lessons In addition to courses no\v under way covering booit productiohi peri- odical design and production, M^. editing, preparation of copy and proofreading, the Educational Com- mittee of Book and Magazine Guild of America has organized several new groups. New courses to consist of book advertising arid promotion; copy- right and legal procedure for pub- lishers and trade unionism. Bbok production has lieen split into two groups. First group covers advanced book design, the second book'de- signlng .and production. All courses open to Guild- members and non- members. romoting Youth Movement irst issue of Neo-Chrlstian,. new non-sectarian monthly put end of December* Mag to devote Itself to advocating spiritual Independence and plans spiritual youth movement throughout the country through' medium of non-sectarian youth forums. Gregorj' GOrtiUov Is editor. Edi- torial staff consists of Burton Stones Elizabeth Goodwin, Sylvia Goodwin. Jennie Carr aiid Edna Bailey. Edith Montiack is head of art dept. P-D's Canadian Outlet Doubelday Doran announce tlie Establishment of a nkyr publishing house In Canada to be known as Doubleday, Doran & Co, of (Tanada, iitd. Offices to be in Toronto. Theodore F. Pike is to direct Tie^^' organization beginning Jan. 1. He has been in Toronto for past 14 years as manager of Canadian house of Longmans, Green & Co., and cpur tlnues as manager for.latter.» 'Nother Frink Crick Marlon Frink, sister of Carol Frink, drama and motion picture editor of the Chicago Herald-Ex- artiner, ha.s been appointed itiotlon picture critic of the Boston Amer- ican. Miss T'rink._whp will review under hanie of 'Marion French,' has been assisting her sister for the past three years, has contributed to magazines, and dabbled in radio script. Agent's $50 Prize Contest J. G. Edmonds, literary agent in Pittsburgh, will award cash prize of $50 for best original unpublished short story he receives by Feb. 23. Private contest Is Intended primar- ily for new authors. Creditors Move In Creditors of the Hollywood Film- ograph, trade paper, have taken over the sheet. Hiarry Burns re- mains as editor. Reported that Jim Timony has bought interest In Hollywood Low- down, chatter sheet. Peete Crojss and C. H. Slover, gome time in February. James Weldon Johnson's 'God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse,' has gone Into Its seventh printing In seven years. Jon. Cheever, whose short stories have beeii appearing In various mags; to have his first novel pub- lished by Simon & Schuster. : Balhbridge Colby, SecV of State in . resident Wilson's cabinetj has written a book on the American ■Constitution, which John C.^ Wija- ston Co. of Phila, ill publish In Sipir'ing. ■■ - William C. White, author of sev- eral-, books on Russia, wrU}n£,:;,.ae;, ri^s of biogs called 'Makers of the Revolution.' irst tome to be on Lep.i.n;. j^mith & Haas publishing It In spring, William Cunnngham, newly ap pointed director Federal Writers' Project for Oklahoma, has written novel called 'Pretty Boy,' with Pretty Boy Floyd, gangster, as Its central character. The Seizin Press, founded In 1927 by Laura Riding and Robert Grayes at Deya, Majorca, will associate Its imprint with that of Constable & Co., Ltd., and all its publications will be Issued from London. Three siiow biz yarns In the January Pictorial Review: an inter- view by Dana .Burnett of Fred Astaire, a humorous, piece by Eddie Cantor on radio, and a short story by Mary Carr about Broadway. Eustace L. Adanis, Satevepbst writer ami-author of 17 hovels with marine backgrounds, is preparing a screen treatment of 'Twenty Fatii oms Deep' at his home in Tarpon Springs, Fla., for Republic studios Anna Louise Strong, who wrote 'I Change Worlds,' and Tatiana Tchernavlni who recently comnleteid 'We Scviet Women,' to debo,te at Mecca Temple, New York, Jan. 8, on 'DoiBs Soviet Russia Break Up tiie Home.' iBenjamin De Casseres, about, to publish series of booklets contain Ing chapters from his unpublished works, which he claims, no pub llsher will handle. First to be "Ex hll>itlonlsm: A New Theory of Evo iution' and second 'The Individual Versus Moloch.' William H. and Kathryn C.. Cor dell, editors of 'Pulitzer Prize Plays,' starting annual essay an- thologry from American mags to be published by Doubleday, Doran un der title 'American Points of View.' Three prizes for best essays of year to be awarded In connection with the book. Industrialization Textbook Exhi it More than 600 Interesting and original modern textbooks from 18 foreign countries have been received by American Institute of Graphic Arts for its exhibition of 'The Text- book of the Future and Its Fore- runners.' Aim of exhibition is to present most significant achievements of entire world in field of the modern textbook. Projects embodying pub- lishers' and designers' conceptions of future textbooks to/6e an Impor- tant feature. Exhibition to open, at National Arts Club In New Yorit the first week In February. Brag- Ralph Quinn Leaves S-H Ralph H. Qiiinn.resigned aS busi- ness manager of the Cincinnati Post to Join tho Enquirer Iri that city Jan. 1 as general manager, succeeding William F. Wiley, who advances as publisher of the latter sheet. Quinn formerly was with the Enquirer for five years, up to 1919, when he' quit as advertising manager to Join the Scripps-Howard Post In a si liar capacity. Qulhn's position with tho Post goes to' Frederick W. ,Glesel, biz mg'r; of the Akron Times-Press durr Irig .the past several years, Don I>. Patterson, advertising director of the Post, has been promoted to gen. mgr. of the Scrlpps-Howai'd na- rench Prizes In addition to the Prix Goncoui;t \yhlch Josepli-Peyre received for his- book 'Blood and Light,' three other Important French lltorary prizes have been awarded. Countess de Divbnne; who writes under pen name of Claude SUve, received Prix Femlna for her novel 'Benediction.' Isabella Rlvere was runner-up With 'Le Bouquet de Roses.' The Prix Theophraste Renaudot went to Francois de Rou:f for his 'Days Without Clory,' and the Prix Interallie was awarded to M. Debu- Brldel for 'Jeunes Menage.' Two-Way 'Romeo' Edition New form of co-operation be- tween book, publisher and motion picture company has been effected. Random House and Metro-Goldwyn- Maycr to collaborate on special edition of 'Romeo and Juliet' Book will include complete text of actual shooting script used in mak- ing play a talking picture, as well rts original Shakespearean text. Vol- jUme to" be published simultaneously Chatter Sally Rand doing an article on 'suckers.' Knopf to publish Claude don's autobiog. Asia mag appearing In new format with January Issue, Vigo Press issuing first 'Itaiiari- Amerlcan Who's Who.' Louis Golding has started on his cross-country lecture tour. Owen Wlster, G. B. Stern and James Stephens Europe-bound; Macmlllan to publish G. B. Stein's new book, 'Monogram,' In Spring. Sir. and Mrs.. John Masefielii to California from England by way of the Canal. .Richard Halliburton making two and three appearances daily on his lecture tour. erman G. Weinberg doing a novel, 'Romance Seiitlmeiitale,' for Houghton, Mifflin. Howard Chapelle In Searspoi't, Me., digging up more material on early American ships. En llsh rights for 'Story of Huey Long,' by Carleton Beals, acquli'ed by Hutchinson & Co., Ltd. aiay Lamberton Becker of Herald Tribune sailing for London to spend holidays with her daughter. Philip J, Rodgers, ex of Newark Star-Eagle, has become associated with the Wall Street Journal. Harcourt, Brace plan Negley Far- son's "The Way of a Transgressoi-' as one of their non-fiction titles of spring. Simon & Schuster publishing H. L. Shapiro's book on Plfcalrn Island, from ^yhe^e he has just re- turned. Translation i-lghts~to Anne Lind- bergh's 'North to the Orient' have been sold in Sweden, Japan and Holland. Holt to publish '-indent Irish Tales,' edited and'Collected b.v "Pi>m (Continued from page 5) vised to put in applications to the lATSE local 659. ASC Informed men who itiusfget into lATSE that former would pay the first quarterly dues in" union and all second, assistant, and still men would be carried on ASC rolls without dues. Practice of carrying technical crewi between pictures at' major studios may go out the window with any unionization of the lots. Property men, electricians, grips, sound men, cameramen and others, usually have.been paid although In- active. It has been a practice of long standing, directors having their favorites and believing it made for better pictures. Guilds Want In, Too Extension of closed shop provi- sions in studios to all unions signa- tory to the basic studio agreement has provided impetus to plans of Screen Wrlt&rs' and Screen Actors'. Guilds tp demand recognition of their organizations, with cjosed shop for both of the talent groups. According, to present indications, Guilds will, be ready to smack the producers with their demands early next month. As plans were being shaped and alignments with other gi-oups completed. Guilds origlhally figured to move Into thfe studio trenches around March. Closed shop for labor unions sets tlio machinery In motion which the two talent organizations have been waiting for. Previously, unofficial argument of tho producers against recognizing the Guilds' demands which, carried closed shop was that labor organizations had not been accorded that recognition Inside the studio gates, and a prectdent could not be set for the actors and writers. • Principle of arbitration has been successfully applied through the agency of the Academy of Motloii Picturts Arts and Sciences with re- spect-to interpretations oi: the unl- Fiction and Filmi' fi« — "f" By WOLFE KAUFMAN Two Plays George S. Kaufman's playa ha'^0 a habit of reading as well as thtfj play. That Is true again of his nevr< est piece, 'First La^y' (Randpi4 House; $2), tvrltten In cplIaboratIo< with Katharine Dayton. It la ^' clever, timely comedy and makef line armchair theatre. Henry- Astor explains In a fore* word to his printed play, 'Outcast/ .^Rriico ^itmpirJejiJl)^ that ,lt Is^ not .a propaganda. play. The fact that It needs this explanation im« mediately, puts it In a spot. Be* cause If It Is not propaganda. It is nothing. It Is a sort of antl* propaganda" piece really. About how all the world's Ills. (America's rather) need straijghtenlng and cam be straightened on the old lines properly applied* but not through any Imported Isms. Doesn't bother expilainlhg . that the Ills were brought on by the very ruleis which It advocates for the remedy, but then, maybe a play needn't bother explialning anything, if It's a good play. This one doesn't iaeem likely to fit that catagpry and probably won't, be produced. Strictly Stag A ripe, amusing, thoroughly mas- culine book Is 'The Bedroom Com* panlon* (Farrar & Rlnehart; $2.50), in which Johnny Farrar ha^ corralled a gang of poems, cartoons and skits Intended to amuse the males on a lonely evening at home. Book car- ries the subtitle 'A Cure for Man's Neuroses,' a sop to his frustrations, a nightcap of forbidden ballads, Dlscei-ning Pictures, Scurrilous Es- says; in line, a stea:ming bracer for the forgcJtten male,' which tells the story. Pieces are written by Leonard Bacon, Rex Stout, Philip Wylie, Alan Rlnehart, Hervey Allen, Lu« clus Beebe, Marc Connelly, Baron Ireland, Bernard Sobel, Ogden Nash, William Rose Benet, Mark Hellin- ger, Arthur Kober, Milton MacKaye, Carl Carmer, Ed Bell, William Sos- kin and Robert Cant'well, making for sufficient diversion. Omnibus of Crime Joshua. Clunk, perhaps the least prepossessing of popular whodunit dicks, manages hia uneasy way through another'good yarn in 'The Sullen Sky Mystery' (Crime Club; 2), by H. C. Bailey. It's not as good a piece of workmanship as usual, there being some ungathered and unexplained strands at the end, But most of the way through It makes good reading. Not for films. Valentine Williams, an old hand at cop 'n' robber spinning' has himself a good time In 'The Clue ^'f.Jr® -^'^'"^ (Houghton- Mifflin; $2). In no way unorthodox, the tale manages to keep constantly qxclting and moving without taking the risk of offending spinstei- aunts. Could make a good film. Tiliie Losch (Continued from page 3) to the screen, Miss Losxh believes, and the screen presents magnificent opportunities to dancing. There Is a great literature about dancers, as story material; there are all the great women who have danced in history. And then there are the fantastic things that dancing can do only In pictures. Not yet, for the audience must be prepared for It first, but coming: things like umplng, and never coming down; turning, and never stopping, a whole line-up who is the same per- son, perfection possible to only the perfect 'take' of the screen. However, M1.9S Lbsch's i mediate problem was calling Adele Astaire, who had just arrived in town,. 'Hollo, . Lady Cavendish, please. Hello. Dellle? Thla i^ TilUe.' form contracts, governing free lance actors and free lance, writers at the studios. Arbitration oE the ques- tions of Jurisdiction between the lA and the IBEW was agreed upon be- tween representatives of the unions at the New York conference Dec. 8, Each side a.qreed to abide by the decision whlcir -was' to be iiamled down ■ft'ithln 90 days. With the actors and writrr organized In their i*esrective guilds it Is likely each group would move as a unit towiards any program of IndHstrlttllzatlbri .of tlie lndu«Uyi....