Variety (Sep 1937)

60 VARIETY CHATTER Wednesday, September 29, 1937 Broadway Joe Bernhard has grippe. Jim Tully has returned to the Coast. Bill Halligan has sworn off the horses. Rodeo at Madison Square Garden starting Oct. 6. Hannen Swafler got in yesterday from London on a periodic visit. Ben Atwell is press agent iox Jed . Harris' 'A Doll's House,' due soon. Louis Shurr returned to New York " last week after summering on the Coast. Dorothy Willard, kin of Chi- cago McCormicks, reported angeling . 'Many Mansions.' '' • Larry Fox, producer for Uni- versal, in town for vacash and look- ing over the; shows. Frances Feist, who designed the new Cotton Club costiunes, is related : to the late Leo Feist. • '■ Eddie Kane, accompanied by Billy West,^ arrived Sunday (26) by motor • • 'from the Coast for a visit. ' Times Square streets seemed un- duly quiet and almost deserted Fri- - day (24) .after most of Legionnaires had started for home. Mar'cellia Napp, of the Metro cast; ing of&ce, arrived Monday (27) from the Coast to visit her sister^ Natalie Napp, of the MOrris office. Phyllis Perlman'back from 10-day trip ahead of road company of 'Yes, My Darling Daughter.' Forrest Cros- man now ahead of the show. New International Casino's floor - show, tuned up*, and with all the ^ ^Jjil« iiiiirii "mil -set, is slated for a . . second press review tonight. Dick. Stevens of Chicago and Benny Goodman, of Beading, Pa., (not the maestro), dance, promoters, in towKi on a band shopping trip. Thomas Beck, 20th Century-Fox contract player, plahed in from Hol- ' lywood last Thursday (23) for a two • or three weeks visit in New York, Boston and Saltimore. Marc Laichmann, • .XJniversal's stu- dio publicity dhief, is east to greet - 4i)anlelle Darrieux's arrival today (Wednesday). Lachmann escorts U's new import back to the Coast next Monday. Charles B,'. Rogers, U stu- dio head, back to the Coast on Sat- urday. Frank Wilson, of Loew's Ziegfeld stall, conceived the idea of mounting a camera on the car owned by Chelle Janis, the Ziegfeld's man- ageress, and thus see the Legion- naires parading from the ideal van- tage point. The camera, of course, ■WAS a Aimless prop, but it achieved Its purpose.. Warner golf tournament at th6 Old Oaks country clubj Rye, N. Y., Friday (24) was won: for the third time straight by Leonard Palumb'o of the foreign pybllcity department. Palumbo also won the Film Daily tournament in June. He brought in a winning 75 Friday. Booby prize went to Joe Zybelewsky with a 180 Sydney By Eric Gorrick Infantile paralysis still a b.o. blow In Melbourne. , Frank Tait visiting Sydney with his brother, E. J. Snider-Dean readying a new re ■ vue with Gladys Moncriefl. Louis-Braddock fight pic is play- ing the Hoyts' chain. Not much, Norman B, tlydge back from Mel- bourne after a huddle- with bankers, ' Metro's 'Naughty IWarietta' is still playing repeats around here and pulling trade. Fay.Compton will appear here in the near future under Williamson- Tait management. Jimmy Lear, ■ Col's exploitation man, from Sydney lo Melbourne to set the premiere of 'When Yoti're in Love,' Harry MuHer, one-time booker for the old Tivoli chain, is in the pic biz as manager of the Plaza theatre, Bendigo. • Probe into pic taxation still con- tinues here and many big distrib execs have spoken their piece before the Commission. Weintraubs are touring the stix for Snider»Dean. Act will be spotted soon into, a new revue unit for the "■^ame mana^'ement. W-T will roadshow 'Over She Goes' in Melbourne until the Marcus show quits in Sydnev, next month. Georfre Gee is starred, Noel Coward's 'Fallen Angels' in for a run try at the Apollo, Mel- bourne, Fred Hughes nroducing, by arran<Jement^ with Snider-Deari. Cliff Holt is Dutting in some very nice .exploitation work for the Hoyts' 'chain. His dad's in charge of thf» Efftee radio unit in Melbourne. Metro fl,'?ured on taking off 'Good Earth' to make way for 'Maytime,' but as soon a^s notice went up biz took skyward 1-sap and pic remains. Theatre grov/th ih nabes continues fls indies find finances to allow erec- tions. Film Board Trade is nreoar- ing rules to prevent overseating, if :po<!sible. Representation may be made to the government by exhibs asking that action be taken io prevent erec- tions in spots deemed to be already over-seated. Glaciarium management running an ice skating revue as a build for adult trade. Admission is 50c., with general skating allowed after the re- vue concludes. Sir Ben Fuller Is still puzzled about his Bijou theatre- site in Mel- bourne. Doesn't know whether to sell to an indie Concern or rebuild and use fOr legit. Concert' performers here include Edmund Kurtz, Tossy Spivakovsky and Georg Schneevoigt. Shakespeare Binks and Harry Gaze are giving a series of lectures. *Wihg& of the Morning' (G-B) is a smash hit here ajnd Annabella, star, has bounded into immediate popu- larity. Take on second week, went to $11,000 in 900-seater. Remarkable the way newsreel thiatrette biz keeps on 9 high level week after week at 25c. on 80 min- utes' sessions. Tom Coyle is in charge for Greater Union. * Ken Hall is preparing to shoot 'Broken Melody' for Cmesound, with Lloyd Hughes. Eric Thompson will design the sets and cast is being chosen to support Hughes. Football and baseball seasons are rapidly drawing tO a close arid cricket will replace. Wrestling will also quit in a' few more weeks and a try will be made again With box- ing. With Spring just aropnd the cor- ner tent shows are readying for a season in the stix. Wirth's circus is still doing well on the road and will come into Melbourne lor a season later. Two British pix, 'Thunder in City' (UA) and 'Moonlight Sonata' (UA) fell by the wayside, and will be: assisted back into the cans by a pleased management—pleased to see he lids close. Plans are going ahead for whoopee time during Sesqui Anniversary next year in this city. Stanley Crick, Fox head, is in charge of big units of en- tertainment for visitors, by special request of the government. Richard White looks like making out okay- with his stock try in a :ough nabe centre. Got away.with "The Bat' and is now offering 'The Killer' CNightstick'), aftelc which comes 'The Streets of Londori.* Rubinstein' premiered in Canberra for Australian Broadcasting Com- mission and scored a tremendous hit with classy concert crowd. Comedy Harmonists also got away to a good start here for the same management. Cast chosen for 'Balalaika' includes Robert Halliday, Margaret Adams, Marjorie Gordon, Don Nlchol, Thadee Slavinsky, Bert Matthews, Yvonne Banvard. Jan Kowskey and Lesley Crane. "W-T will open the attraction with a top of $2. ; , Snider-Dean sent the Connors- Paul revue unit to play Ts^smania until the infantile outbreak abates. Efftee Broadcasters building up nicely in the commercial field under the direction of Tom Holt. At one time Holt was manager for Ada Reeves; then joined P. W. Thring in pic. production, married Thring's daughter and entered radio. Springtime means conventions. Metro execs, are huddling in the ace city spots throughout the Common- wealth, after which Par will bring reps from everywhere to hear Hary Huntet's chatter on the new lineup. U has just gotten through huddling under Here Mclntyre. London Honolulu By Mabel Thomas Claude Gillingwater resting hei-e. Lew King and his wife down for a short stay. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nathan honeymooning. Sheldon and Daily, old-timers, here for one year. O. I. Johnston of the Walt Disney S'tudios vacationing. J. J. Franklin and family to Cali- fornia for four months. Fred Leahy, Paramount, knows what Aloha really means. Jack and George Temple, brothers of Shirley, around the island. Eddie Darling had 'a grand time,' he says, with the Ed Sawtells. Mr. and Mrs. E. Gardner, Shirley Booth, Waikiking it for one month. Adolph Ramish back and has ac- quired another holding for his chain here. Mrs. Dick Shayer the house guest of Gypsy Helfands at the beach for month, H. L. Miller, talent scout for Col, will teach English while" at the U. of Hawaii. Waikiki Wille; the Winchell of Ha- V ail, home and will resume his* writings. Helen Thurston featured in the F&M Legion Show, sent down from L.A. Adolphe Menjou and wife will be mest artists with the Community Players here, Sol Lesser completed arrange- ments with Don Blanding for 'Stow- aways in Paradise* Giggie Royce nd his Young Hotel band remain on until 1938, rounding out one solid year at the Young. Frances Maddox at the Cafe Ang- lais, opening Sept. 22, for four weeks. 'Anthony and Anna* closes at the Whitehall theatre Oct. 2, after two years' run. Ella Shields off to San Francisco, and goes from there to Australia for Frank Neal. Roy Williarri Neill, currently meg- glng for Irving Asher at Teddington, to seek naturalization^ Emile Boreo doubling from the Paramount theatre with Cafe An- glais, besides televising. F. j. Spickernell, film exhib, is to be Lord Mayor of Portsmouth for the.second,successive year. Bertram Mills- has booked. Bunny Dryden, cable aerialist, for his Olym- pia Circus season, opening Christmas. Charlie Miller, of the MCA Chi- cago office, over on vacation, and taking in, most of the nite :spots and shoWs. African Theatres Corp.'s London office moving from Daly's to Queen's hotel buildings, adjoining Metro's Empire. Connie Russell gave a special au- dition to 'Louis B. Mayer at Clar- Idge's hotel, with Metro's execs re- ported interested. Toscanini will conduct two con- certs this' fall at the Queen's Hall, Oct. 30 and Nov. 3, both of which will'be broadcast. West End News theatre owners ■squawking at Charles Woolf for giv- ing the Louis-Farr fight film exclu- sively to Gaumoht-British. Bert Firman and his band to do fortnightly broadcasts, first in sev- eral years, although he Wcis a regu- lar 'BBC feature in its earlier days. Thornton Freeland ' and wife's (June Clyde) trip to America is ptir'ely a Vacation, as he is due back here in two< months to do another pictiure for Korda. • Eddie Oliver, Ben Bernie's former arranger-piaxiist, here forming his own English band. ^Opens at Carl- ton hotel, Amsterdam, and eventual- ly a West End hotel. Carroll Levis and his Radio Dis- coveries signed for 26 .weeks with Radio Luxembourg for Quaker Oats at $1,050 per broadcast. Lord & Thomais set the deal. Georges Banyai's first play in Lon- don will be 'L'Extravagant Capi- taine Blec,' French farce by Jean Blanchon, which will 1>e adapted and staged by Atiriol Lee. John Argyle Prods, bought a script on the life oi Marie Lloyd, which- will be filmed at Welwyn Studios and distributed by Asso- ciated, British Cinemas' (BIP). 'Alf s Button,' which is the next vehicle for the 'Crazy Gang' film, starts shooting eafly in January at Gainsborough. Renee Houston will play the femme lead. Picture will cost $200,000. Laid up with pleurisy contracted during try-out week at Streatham, Laddie Cliff was out of the West End premiere of 'Crazy Days' at the Shaftesbury. Leo Franklyn, from Australia, substituted. New Prince of Wales theatre, built on the site of the old one, opens with a special performance at 8 o'clock. Subsequently the original non-stop policy will .be reverted to, with four shows a day. Associated British Cinemas (BIP) has decided to do 'Star of the Cir- cus,' local version of 'Jumbo,' with Walter Mycroft, head of the produc- tion department, having already en- gaged Emile Boreo for the Schnozzle Durante part. Dave Bums, after closing with 'They Came by Night,' at the Globe theatre, immediately signed for the new Cicely Courtneidge-Bobby Howes musical, which plays three weeks in Glasgow, then comes to the Hippodrome. Basil Foster will take over the Lord Peter Wimsey role when 'Bus- man's Honeymoon' transfers from the Comedy to the Victoi-ia Palace, Sept. 27. This marks a stage re- turn, as he retired into a business career four years ago. band to Jan Savitt'g Top Hatters. New saxailihonist at WIP, Alfred Hubbs. Stoney McLiiin again doin^ his spiel from WIP's studios, after a month of airing from his bed follow- ing a fall that dislocate^ his hip. Paris Serfee Lifar In from vacation. Singer Louis Delaquerriere dead. Reine PaUlet singing over Radio Cite. Fred Adison's band at the Para- mount. Jini. Witteried postcjrding from London Ramon Navarro catching the A. B. C. show. ' Viol«t Stevenson vacationing in Interlaken. Berlin Opera presentations here winding up. Ralpli T. Walker here studying expo buildings. - Lucienrie ' Delafarge back from a tour of Europe. Grand Palais being readied for the fall auto show. Jean Gabih 'speaking English in his latest film, 'Le Messager.' Marlene Dietrich back in town, breaking onto front pages. Metro throwing a cocktailer for WiUiam Powell at Maxim's; Montmartre Harlem Club ireopen- irig with Freddy Taylor's band. Germans now charging admission to their expo pavillion cinema.- Gipsy Markoff closing at the Casa- nova; off to Hotel Ritz, London. Versailles catohing more visitors in August than all of last year. lienry Bernstein's 'Le Voyage' closing at the Theatre Gymnase. Jules Berry off for the Midi to start work in 'Balthazar,' Pierre Co- lombier's latest. • • Two Cirque d'Hiver elephants stopping a i>erformance with a pri- vate fight—no one injured,, but con- siderable ■ 'damage." • Hollywood Berlin PhOadelpliia By Herb Golden Cliff Harris recuping at home from a tonsil slice job. Milt Weeks seriously ailing at Philly General Hospital. Polly Willis scripting new mike series for possible commercial. John Facenda and new frau back from Virginia Beach honeymoon, Mike Levinson set to open his 'Lash of Pentitentes' in Shamokin, N. W. Ayer's Larry Witte doing a radio gossip column on KYW now. Lew Pizor recovering in Temple University hospital from intestinal ailment that has him down. WFIL's new studios almost ready now, while KYW getting set for cor- nerstone laying of its new building. Ed Roecker doing the chirping on the new disked series being sent out by the Pennsy State publicity bu- reau. Mrs, A. T. Hild back from summer leave and hammering - Lit Brother Chorus into shape for fall appear- ances, Gabriel Gelinas from WIP's house Fritz Wendthaus scrivening a new one. *On the- Avenue' (20th) at the Marmorhaus-. Walter-Crondstay penned the notes for 'Katzensteg/ Werner Kratiss- to open middle of September at- the- State theatre. 'Actress,' "With • Agnes Straub, big legit bit of last-season, reopening. - • 'Black Pearls,' • featiuring Reris, having-its-first -showing in Berlin. • - Brigitte Homey back to Berlin after final shooting of Sudermann's 'Katzensteg.' Deutsche theatre beginning its new season with 'Friederick the First,' by Hans Rehberg. Ellen Frank penciled for the new Terra Film-Kunst pic, under direc- tion of Carl Boese. Paul Wegener to play the Captain in Strindberg's 'Totentanz' ('Death Dance'), at the Kurfurstendamm. Maria Roland, Fatherland's ace yodeler and legit triller, negotiating for a big tour in South America. Second annual collection for the maintenance of a home for old or in- valided artiste is to take place on Sept. 15. Not only , will 8,000 artists sacrifice their eamings for that day, but 700 vaude, circus and cabaret managers as well are to turn in their total receipts. Chicago Eddie Pierce jumped in for week- end. Paul Sanders in town after a Coast expedition. Dr. George Halley to Detroit fOr a couple days. Ed Levin moving his family closer to the Loop. Morris Silver and Sammy Clark to N. Y. and return, George Jessel and Norma Tal- madge in town for a few days. Mort Singer back to Chicago, then away for Minneapolis conference. Sam Schoenstadt and Max Levin arranging the next CAPA shindig. Baseball announcer shortage in Chi as boys all leave for St. Louis airings. Jackie Heller week-ended in hos- pital, taking a check-up after a too- much-work summer. Sammy Tishman back from Kan- sas and Missouri fight picture selling tour, and off to N. Y. Paul Sanders now on sales staff of Esquire Features- and assigned last week to cover Michigan. A. J. Balaban regularly catches the stage shows in town though the Balaban-Myers houses are straight pictures. Randolph St, bookies turning on the lights and air-conditioning again, after two weeks spent ducking in the dark. Ben Coles doing some business for his 'Look' mag, and took A. E. Meyerhoff back to Des Moines for ad conferences. ^e\vyn Douglas had his tonsils out. David L, Loe^v abed with a sever* cold. Otto Kruger in for ether and film deals. Wendy Barrie sprained wrist at tennisk Joe E. Brown winged in from Van- couver. • Hugh Boswell back at Metro from England. Buddy DeSylva erecting a Holmby Hills palazzb. Henry Henigson had a birthday but no party. > Milton Hoffman joined ^he M. C. Levee agency. Leonard Goldstein Is now tagged L. Leonard. Bill Thomas going for a Toluca Lake mansion. ■ Yola d'Avril now a full-fledged U. S. citoyehne. Arthur Wenzel recovering from an appendectomy. • Pat West is a jury foreman in 'True Confessions.' Dave Rubinoff (and fiddle) back from midwest tour. Frank Orsatti and Jean Chatburn trekking N.Ywards. Grant Mitchell, back for Metro's 'The Last Gangster.' Judy Garland looking over plans for a Bevhills manse. Gregory Ratoff visiting Eugenie Leontovich in St. Louis. Charles Skouras back from bag- ging bear in Wyoming. George Burns and Grade Allen back to Broadway, Oct. 5. Mickey Rooney halfbacking for Fairfax High, Hollywood. Zion Myers has started work on his Metro producer ticket. Lionel Short of the London Daily Mail traversing the film lots. Isa Miranda, Par's Italian actress, tore a ligament in her ankle. Harry Sherman bagged nary a grizzly in Wyoming b'ar hunt. Warren William back from prime- val piscatorial perambulations. . Janet Beecher preparing to build a house and root into Westwood. Eric Coster, 20th-Fox publicity man; an infantile paralysis victim. Anne-- Morrison Chapin scrioting. Judy -Garland's next opus for Metro. Reinhold Schimzel, German direc- tor., .reported at Metro on his term iiclcct. - ' Nelson Eddy wrenched a shoulder footballing for dear old 'Rosalie' at Metro. ■ Frank Morgan has sold his Palm Spdngs. antique shop and gone in for pil. ■J'rank Capra peddled his Bel-Air estate "^ite to Dick Powell and Joan BlondelL Bose Stradner, who hails from Vienna, spends her spare time ogling the.PajCiflc. ... „ Regis Toomey, guesting on Tay Gtafriett's yacht, trapping the tooth- s6M6 'tuna.' Universal borrowed Robertson White from Warners to script 'The Black Doll.' Jack Randall traded his six-gun for a rifle and went hunting the elusive deer, Lou Gehrig signed with Sol Lesser for 'Laughing Senor.' Smith Ballew tuned galloper. Vicki Lester goes to Radio for 'Having Wonderful Time' on loan from Mervyn LeRoy. Murray Spivack succeeds Raoul Krauskarr as assistant to Al Colunw bo. Republic musical director. Harri.ett Hilliard and her husband, Ozzie Nelson, back in Hollywood after one-night tour of tho east. Sam Wood handed an admirals cap by the cast of Metro's 'Navy Blue and Gold,' which he is directing. John Boles moved over from Co- lumbia to Paramount, having con- cluded his contractual obligations. 'Bob Benchley getting up courage to start scribbling a 400-page tome for which his -oublishers are howling. Francis X. Bushman back in a feat- ured role in Metro's 'Thorougbbreds Don't Cry,' and also ogling Broad- wav. Millicent Holliday, spotted by Mation Gering at Pasadena Commu- nity Playhouse, steps into Col's 'I M^'-ried ?n Artist.' The John Stones denart Oct. 2 on a two months' tour that will. take them to South America, thence to New York and back home. Minneapolis By Les Rees C, L, Lees new University of Min- nesota director of dramatics. , Fred Waring's 'Pennsylvanians spotted for Orpheum Oct, 8. *Hy' Chapman, Columbia branch manager, suffering from infected eye lid. 'Great Raymond,' magician, open- ing legit season at Lyceum this week. Jo Griffen, Minnesota Terrace tenor, seriously ill in University hospital. Bess Ackerman recovered from illness and back on Columbia secre- tarial job. Mike Fadell, publicity man, get- ting once-over at Mayo clinic. Duck and pheasant hunting sea- 'son starting Oct. 9 Expected to de- populate Film Row. Ernie Hill resigned from Para- mount sales' staff to accept Warner Brothers' ■ assignment. Harold Weiss from Chicago re- (Continued On page 62)