Variety (Jul 1936)

4ff VARIETY Another London Publisher Pass BBCs Smug Attitude on Song Plugs M BIIC Music /Vote* Wednesday, Juty 22,1936 London, July, 6. . Editor, Variety: .» Just read your article In July. 4th' issue entitled 'So You think You Got Trouble.' It is perfectly correct what Jimmy Campbell says. With a lew excep- tions, me B.B.C, as a -whole has not the slightest idea what the public wants in regard to popular music, and it has placed it in the hands of mostly sophisticated bandleaders who cater tpx. the West End audi- ences. Also it is a well known fact among those who know the music business that the type of song the masses like lias to go over the air . for a considerable period before it breaks, .or becomes known. Over here, the bandleaders drop a number after three to four , broadcasts—just at the time when the public would like to hear, it again, and is begin- ning to like it I have noticed that in your coun- try songs that are favorites become the best played tunes and remain so for a considerable period, and much longer than in. this country. ' I'have only been to New York once, among the publishers, and bandleaders, and my experience was that there was a very good under- standing, between both. Here, a- bandleader considers 'it the greatest favor in the world if he includes a publisher's number, even; if only once. He absolutely forgets that both are essential to one another and that he has been placed in his unique «nd paramount position by the B.B.C. . Another filing is that it is most unusual for a bandleader to call at the office of a publisher over here. The publisher's contact men. have to hang about for an hour or so at a hotel, waiting to see the man he wants, and then he often is told that he cannot see.him, and has to go on to the next, and so on. * As Mr. Campbell says, Eric Maschwitz is one of the tew who seem to understand, but one or two others are beginning to see daylight, such as Philip Brown, who is in charge of outside broadcasts and Paul Askew who controls studio broadcasts. The "special arrangement* racket is absolutely killing the business and costing the amalgamated publishers about *a00.O» a year. Most of the 'specials' are not nearly so good as the ■'•commercials.' They ate often rushed through overnight and con- sequently scrambled, and just be- cause it is a "special,' the bandleader plays it. I leave, you- to guess the reason why.' ; Consequently, unless the B.BJC keeps a certain, amount .of control over the bandleaders' programs, and at the same time, in exercising the supervision, realizes the type of song the masses want; the musk industry will fail and end up by 1»ing in. the hands of just one or two people, which of course .would be fataL Also, if the B.B.C. wishes to dictate to the Bandleaders about their pro- grams, they should pay the bands more for their broadcasts. MACMKLODIES, LTD. , F. McMillan, . Managing Director. >x<r ANDY SANNELLA and Hit NBC Orchestra - an th« &£, Delaware b*w featuring "HIDDEN VALLEY" ' Vtmn the Universal "Picture *T5io na»tom 'Slder* SAM FOX PIBE.ISHWG COMPANY : i: s r- Avt k 1 'ji RUSS MORGAN nnd his Hotel Blltwora Orchestra New York City features "LOVE WILL TELL" "SING, BABY, SING" "YOU TURNED THE TABLES ON ME" IVen tbe SDUt Centnry-Fox MmIchI Kxtrmvaganza «MNa, BABY,. SING" T MOVIETONE M!JS!C CORPORATION • (\M rr i. ..<■.•' J..S'. -.C • >i~.C £UT'i AVENUE. ~ n r. v v v c ci k SMraer- Clare and Harry Akst penned Ave numbers for next Jane Wither* starrer at 2Mh-Fox. Songs are Uncle Tom'* Cabin Is a Road- house,' " 'Pickaninny m the Cotton)' There's Nothing So Nice As Ances- tors,' '.Raise a Julep' and 'Clirabin' the Golden Stairs.* estants Rest Jaei Stern and Harry Tobias have penned four numbers fpr 'Devil oh Horseback' for' George Hirliman. Titles are *So Divine,' "The love "Fi- esta/ *Oh, Bella MSa,* and 'OiA of the Hills.' Sam Fox will publish. Mills Mnslc, Inc., has sold the British rights of 'Shoe ShineBoy' and- An Old Saddle For Sale' to Law- rence Wright, and the French rights of Tormented' to Francis, Day & Hunter. Jam Garter brings his band Into the St Francis Hotel, San Francisco, for three weeks in September. Meanwhile, Carl Ravazza will barn- storm up and down California. ■ Ray Noble sails for England July 29 for a four-week vacation. He is due back in the Rainbow Room, Radio City, in October. ' Xavler Cagat opens at the Mark; Hopkins, San Francisco, August 17, after « month's engagement at the Trocadero, Hollywood. Roaaell cletfing Iferry-Go- Round Waltt* as feature number for Paramount* 'Champagne Waltz/ u HEYMAN-SCHWAMZ'S POHS ^'Edward Heyman has' been signa faired', by Radio to do the lyrics on the 'next JLily Pons picture, leaving for the coast immediately. Music by Arthur Schwartz, already in Xi.A, Deal for Heyman was set by John J, Wildberg, Herman's attorney,! and Jack Bobbins. Ayaloa Bay* at Fairmontfs Circus Lounge, Frisco, lined up for new Hal Roach film in September. Alfred Newman, United Artists music head, on loanout to score 20th-Fox's 'Ramdna.' Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg assigned .to numbers for 'Golddiggers of 1937' at Warners, Xavler Cugni'a rumba band moves into Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Fran- cisco, Aug. 17. S TEARS FOE SOrTOWRITEES i ' Hollywood, July 21. Emanuel Cohen's Major Pictures have signed Arthur Johnston' and Johnny Burke as a songwriting team. ' ' They're set for five year*. • (Continued from page 47) p defense," postal prosecutor trotted out Edward Murphy, copyright ex- pert from Warner Bros. New York office, to challenge claims of friendly relations between Universal and Warners. Murphy was tossed around, however, by Horace Don- nelly, Jr., defense counsel, who drew- an admission that Harold Bateford 'told me to answer questions and volunteer no information.' Admitting that W3. used Cohen's Canadian Capers' at one time, Murphy claimed to be familiar -with every piece of mnslc ever used by the studio but had a hazy memory when asked for details about songs in various pictures. Donnelly ques- tioned Murphy' intensively about identity of Al Jolson's melody-con- coct er. Donnelly sought to give im- pression that Cohen ghosted for 'Jazz Singer' and has collaborated with Irving Caesar in perfecting tunes popularized by Jolson. Considerable comedy lightened the long sessions, with Donnelly and O'Brien, post .office solicitor, swap- ping bitter comments about each other, and Cohen dodging questions about his song service, with the ex- planation that *I have a lot of melody going through my head and no room for figures.' Out-of-ttme piano, brought into the hearing room for demonstrations by defense 'and Government as to merits 'and de- merits of song service, hits, took an- other beating, -with the P. O solicitor and Cohen singing a blood- curdling duet at one point in the proceedings. ' tJ.'s Installment Flan Fact that customers of Universal were permitted to pay on the in- stallment plan was brought out by defense counsel, who offered proof that a Maryland amateur had paid her $50 in amounts as small as $1, over a 10-month period. To further prove his liberality* to clients, Cohen claimed that he often made refunds to ■'needy' amateurs, if they were not satisfied with the revision, but 'if I thought they were intelli- gent and could afford it, no.' Glimpse into the mental equip- ment and song-writing capabilities of some of Universal's clients was given in the reading of letters and lyrics submitted. One customer, worrying over $50 fee, wrote -Cohen ttiat her family had lost real estate worth $85,000 and that 'it; looks as though our. $400,000 fortune would be swept away.' Typical lyric read at the hearings was*. 1 WANT *TOr» When lonely nights from days reveal That my heart you can only heal, Like fire kinderling in my heart I want you. I want you—only you. tl6n, '■ He said, however, that by an 'available; staff' he meant friends high up in the music-writing field who were always ready - to help out gratis. When O'Brien asked him for names, he again answered 'I can't remember,' . 'You'd remember if Irving Berlin had helped your, the ■ P. O. attorney insisted. 'I don't know/ Cohen said. Government also came down hard on the radio broadcasts Cohen has been giving over KNX and KTMJ, Los Angeles, over which tunes sent in by his clients are aired, AU num- bers submitted to Universal have been broadcast during the past five years, Cohen said,—the purpose be- ing to interest possible buyers as. well as to advertise the service. Out' of 3,700 . songs submitted, only one number has been sold as a result of the broadcasts, the song service chief admitted. 'And you still call it a valuable service to your clients?', O'Brien snapped, 1 do,' Cohen re- plied. lay Mills band at the Colony Surf Club, West Bnd,.N. J„ for the sum- mer. . For 12 years Billy Mayhew has been married to Mrs. Margaret Konig Mayhew, potent Democratic femme politico in Baltimore. Daughter of the late Congressman George Konig, she always proved highly newsworthy, whether she was battling tor a seat in the city council or just stumping for another member of her party. Meanwhile, general public scratched pates and wondered about the «Mrs.' label. .No one outside couple's immediate circle of friends ever knew of her husband's identity. Fact was he split his time pounding piano in various bands around Balto and in running his large farm few miles out- side town. Then he wrote a song called It's a Sin to Tell a Lie.' It achieved hit rating, Mayhew hit the headlines and got a week's book- ing (current) at the Hipp, Balto. And since he hit prominence the missus hasn't made the hews columns once, save for one photo showing him knuckling the keyboard with her as his audience. Yet, last February, Mrs. Mayhew got Gov. Harry Nice and Mayor Howard Jackson of Balto to wire Kate Smith asking her to warble the song for a sendoff plug. This is credited with being the snowball that became the avalanche. And, also, while the Hipp management this week boasts how much Mayhew is meaning at the wicket due to his presence on stage, far from discounted are the three special large-scale parties coming down on as many nights as representatives from as many po- litical organizations. The parties are coming to see Billy Mayhew, as a salute to Mrs. Mayhew. Billy Mayhew's "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie' Is that Baltimore musician's first pop song, and a hit for Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble. Has sold 225,i00> copies so. far. Although a current number, it's two and one-half years old, having been plugged by Mayhew via. American Legion bands in Balto since 1933. One of the D-.D-G roadmen was attracted to it hus and the firm took it over in January. John Scott Trotter, Jr., Charlotte, N. C, arranger and pianist, Is arrang- ing the musical scores for Bing Crosby's newest picture, ."'Pennies From Heaven.' The musi-coroedy is based on an original story by Jo Swerling. Music is by Arthur Johnston, with the lyrics by Johnny Burke. Trotter was at the U. of .North Carolina with Hal Kemp, another' Charlotte musician, and other Carolina boys who formed the Hal Kemp orchestra. He resigned from the Kemp outfit several weeks ago. His present assignment marks his first feature picture arrangement. Month of August will find one of the band leader partners of Words Sc Music, Inc., off the air altogether and the other four without a regular sustaining release. Vacationer-to-be is Fred Waring. Guy Lombardo, Abe Lyman and Jack Denny will all be out playing one-nighters, while Paul Whiteman will reach the loudspeakers through his Sunday commercial (Woodbury soap) over NBC. Vincent Lopez Is still paying off Manager Atkinson, of the Ambassa- dor hotel, N. Y., as a result of the deal year back when the maestro bought off his contract with Gene Getger for $50,000. Sum was advanced by Atkinson, who was then managing director of the St. Regis hotel, W. Y* where Lopez was then employed, When birds cuddle at the end of day And the fairies start their moonlight pi«y, ' Like fire kinderling in my .heart I.want you. I want you—only you. Cbarns With you In my arms among the trees Caressing you by the gentle breeze, The stars looking down on your smile. The themes of your love In my heart beguile, You can hear my heart saying all the time: When Lonely nights'from Days re- veal, etc. Quizzed about the lyric, Cohen said "right there is a very pretty poem, but for a popular song it needs revision. That man has ideas and those ideas should be developed.' Cohen scored again when, in answer to charges that Universal numbers were "very asinine,' nu- merous current song hits' were" in- troduced, and the lyrics read aloud. 'Ise .a-MugghV. '—the 'uh-uh,. wo'of- woof.: song—* *Rhythm Cocktail,' 'Cabbages and onions hurt my sing ing tones, I like bananas because they have jio bones,' and other sillies were introduced to prove popular numbers can be 'completely non- sensical.* Later in the hearings Cohen remarked indignantly 'If you can put over songs like *Uh, uhl seven, eight, Woof-woofl' you can put over anything...my songs are far superior* Universal's come-on pamphlet took a bad beating, when O'Brien cross-examined Cohen on indiscreet promises made in advertising mat' ter. Prosecution hammered away happily at a quote from the booklet which told prospective customers 'We have available a staff of song writers second to none.' Cohen al' ready had testified that be wrote almost all the music for lyrics sen!; in and that his staff was composed of two assistants, and he admitted $hat . Universal was a three-man institu- TKE BEST IN MUSIC RAY BLOCH and His Kreugar Baer Orchestra Over the €B8 N«t«Nk Tt*tmn> | Xfceae Hit* 3nat Released "BYE BYE BABY" "THESE FOOLISH THINGS REM1IB ME OF YOB" "MY FIRST THRILL" "I'M JUST BEGIN- Hlllfi TO CARE" SiTTir in the SARD A-SUH1IN'" "IT AIN'T RIGHT" "THE MARTINS ANB THE COYS" "ROBINS and ROSES" HARRY ItHK O P M- ■ IRVING BERLiM'Nc 7<79 - 7 TH AVC . N-Y-C II ^7 'XAVJER CUCAT and Mia Orchestra tt tht Tnoidir* In HdlywMl will fM« tart fnd A*tabYf nm hit **n«t "I'LL NEVER LET "WE'LL REST AT THE END OF THE TRAIL" "THE BOSTON TEA PARTlf" "I MET MY WATERLOO" (Down by the Beautiful Boa)' LOU BRING and His Orche*tra at the Balnbnvr Grill tn Itndlo City, New York, features ♦he hHfl1 **ME AMD THE MOON" "THE STATE OF MY HEART" "WCKORY^DICKORY* POCK" "SUNSHINE AT MIDNIGHT" SANTLY BROS. JOY, INC. 1619 BBO/SCW/BY- ■ N-Y'C-