Variety (Sep 1937)

OUTDOORS TTediiesdaT't September 29, 1937 Qeve Expo Shuts Just in Time To Save 'Acquacaders from Freeze Cleveland, Sept. 28. Another two weeks of Lake Erie's rapidly cooling breezes and the Aquacade's swimmers would have to wear Eskimo swimming suits to sur- vive, so Sunday's (26) closing of Great Lakes Ext)osition came off at the right time. Centennial had been extended three weeks, which were worthwhile as far as attendance was concerned, although Billy Rose's mermaids risked pneumonia up to a brief warm spell lart week. Crowd of 81,359 turned out to near taps blown. Official total attendance lor fair's secohd and last year was 3,518,740, large enough to satisfy civic sponsors. Closing ceremony on Radioland's x>utdoor stage was, highlighted by complimentary speeches from Lin- coln G. Dickey, general manager; Dudley S, Blossoin,. genieral. chair- man; T. HoUiday, press; Dr. Ui- cola Cerri, U. S. cpmnjissioner. gen- eral here, and Mayor Burton. . Johnny Weismuller, co-star of Rose's marine spectacle, is staying here for a few days with Lupe Velez ^frying to arrange some vaude dates before returning to Metro's lot. Swimmer and his wife are asking : for $7,500 per week for appearances. Eleanor Holm Jarrett, who bur- lesqued Aquacade's final show by wearing galoshes, flew back to Hol- lywood to play in 'Tarzan's Revenge' opposite Glenn Morris. Backstroke champ was signed by Principal Pro- ductions, with picture to be released . through 20th-I'ox, " Walter Dare Wahl and Johnny Trama jumped from Rose'? cast into new stage revue at Mayfair Casino, downtown theatre-cabaret. Comedy team now featured with-Jack Oster- man. With his Tyrolean cafe on Midway gone dark, Herman Pirchner trans- ported Otto Thurri's orchestra to his Alpine Village in theatrical section. ' Statisticians who checked figures estimate that during 230 days of two seasons the Expo drew 7,500,000 visi- tors, 60% of whom were out-of- towners. While somewhat debatable, they also claim the lakefront show brought $30,000,000 into city, in re- turn for costs of $1,250,000. Guaran- tors, who put up approximately $1,500,000, got around 50% back,, and chalked rest down to civic adver- ' tising. Showmen's Leaflie Gets $3,500 • During last week an Expo benefit for Showmen's League of America drew 3,500 visitors, despite icy winds, netting $3,500 for its hospital and cemetery fund. Tom Mix drove In from nearby circus to do a per- sonal for it. Evelyn Chandler and husband, Bruce Mapes, who topped ice ex- travaganza at Winterland, are sail- ing Oct. 11 for London to opep at Show Box Theatre. Also scheduled to do a skating scene in next As- iaire-Rogers musical, followed by series of film shorts. Duke and Noble are opening Hotel New Yorker's ice rink Oct. 8, while Walter Arian is going back to To- ronto Skating Club as head in- structor. His partner here, Frances Johnson, is joining Maribel Vinson's ice carnival. Newspaper muggs who were fool- ish enough to expect some liquid re- wards for plugging the centennial were left with tongues hanging out. Instead, they were handed small bronze medals 'for distinguished service.' Another laugh came when Gov. Martin L. Davey, supposed to be guest of honor for ,an all-Ohio weekend, showed up four hours late when ceremonies in his honor were nearly over. Although buildings are due to be demolished before April, deal is on to keep some of them for a 'little expo' in 1938. pl&n is to combine Aquacade grandstand and Radio- land's stage for. outdoor operas, symphonies and plays for four months next summer. TOO LITTLE AMUSEMENT Rochester Passes Up F»Ir Which Trusted Too Much to Live Stock Rochester, Sept. 28. In opinion of man in the street, Rochester Exposition hit a hew low in entertainment value this year> and will jiave to demonstrate some real showmanship in future or play to the sparrows. Emphasis this year was placed on county fair angle, but city folks showed little interest in sheep and cattle, while farmers cain see 'em at home. Admish of 35c. considered pretty stiff to look at a few washing machines regularly on display in the stores. Industrial exhibits- were practically nil and nothing offered comparable to horse show which used to draw society and hoi polloi alike. ' De Luxe midway shows drew fire of church groups, which closed sex education and strip tease tents and scored officials for allowing penny tossing game. DALLAS IS DEAD AT END OF FAIR Chatter Dallas, Sept. 28. "■ The Greater Texas and Pan Amer- ican exposition ba^ shrunk to a Texas exposition and, with many activities in prospect of abandon' ment, looms as a local proposition Executives have announced that Cavalcade, free outdoor .spectacle, was costing $700 a day and must be closed for economy reasons. Final shows were scheduled Sunday night (26) but considerable pressure was being brought .by midway ■ sihow men and state patriotic groups to keep it .open. Midway bowmen, headed by Nat and Joe Rogers, signed a declaration 100 per ceht Insisting that the front gates be made free if Cavalcade closes. The spectacle is at end of midway opposite front gate and is the only attraction to lore customers their way. Over the weekend the exposition officials were trying to interest Henry Ford in the idea of sponsoring he show for the rest of the fair. State school officials planned to send groups of students, to fair, as scholastic proposition in closing weeks, a program which stimulated attendance last year. They indicate, however, that they will not be in- terested if Cavalcade is discontinued With .schoolmen on one side and showmen on the other, each pressing for' continuance of the show, the exposition has plenty aching in the head. If midway exhibitors "follow through on their sit-down strike, main thing left will be the Casino revue. Definite shot in the arm for at tendance Saturday (26) was the ap- pearance of Bob Burns and a sup porting cast of hill-billies, trained in from Van Buren, Ark. He did a free show In football stadium Saturday night Which drew 20,000 and re peated his chore Sunday night. He got $10,000 for the two appearances. Attendance at the exposition through Saturday night (26) had crept up to 1,606,666. (Continued from page 80) placing Russell Abbott, resigned as EIKO assistant booker. Peppino and Camille, dancers at Hotel Nicollet Minnesota Terrace, leld over for Casa Loma engage- ment. Dan Field of Pioneer Theatre Corp., Iowa circuit of houses with headquarters here, establishing New York office. „ „ , , . Peck Gomersall, Universal western sales manager, in town to help com- plete negotiations with Publix for product deal. , , •. U;niversity of Minniesota givmg re-^; funds to dissatisfied football season icket purchasers whose locations are behind goal posts. ■ _ , Kenny Sargent and 'Pee Wee' Hunt with Glen Gray and the Casa Loma orchestra at Hotel Nicollet Minnesota Room. ^ . , Louis Rubenstein, Twm Cxty mde- pendent circuit owner, recovering from major operation at Mayo clinic, Rochester, Minn. .. '." . . Warner Brothers* feminine office staff gave farewell party for Evelyn Lee and presented her with gift prior o her departure to be wedded. Jack Friedl, son of PubUx chain general manager and captain of Washburn high football team, starred in first game against South '§Iore than 52,000 attended Minne-. sota's opening football game with North Dakota State, minor opponent, breaking all box-office records for an initial contest All records smashed by advance sale for University of Minnesota football, Notre Dame and North- western, games being seU-outs month before season opened. 'High Tor' to open Universi^ of Minnesota theatre fall and winter season Oct. 19 With 'Is Life Worth Living?', 'Life of Man,' 'No More Frontiers,' 'Kind Lady' and 'Man and Superman* to follow. Unable to make satisfactory trans- portation arrangements, 'Schnickel Fritz' band from Midway Gardens' night club cancelled Rudy Vallee program radio appearance last week, but will go on air with Rudy latet. with the requisite amount of suspen- sive interest for the normal-pay-as- you-ehter" patron. It is almost cer- tain to have a West End showing and worth an American gamble, especially as there is but one' set, hree principals, and a total cast of eight. ' Simple, lovable chemist has a nag- ging wife and loves a buxom up- country, girl, who sympathizes with him. He takes his wife out on the river and 'accidentally' pushes her overboard. Year later he is married to the young girl, whb teUs him that, in due course, she will have a baby. Brother of the late wife is a police inspector who also loves the girl, and tells her he is certain her hus- band pushed his wife overboard td inherit her money and is proposing to do the same thing to her. She grows to believe this and mistakes every kindly intent on the part of ler husband as. part of his scheme to poison her. Finally she asks him pointblank if he murdered his first wife. He confesses; says it was all for her and that he lives only to make her happy. In a very strong scene, and he proves his contention, hie throws himself in front of a rail- way ' traih,' whereupon she looks toward the flies with an ecstatic ex- >ression and exclaims: 'And he-did it all for me.' Pretty good stuff, with a cast that fills the requirements pqt upon them. Jolo. Pittsburgh By Hal Cohen Sheesley's Hole Up Charlotte, N. C, Sept. 28. Completion of arrangements for Sheesley's Shows to establish winter quarters here again was announced by J. M. Sheesley, head of this mid way organization. Approximately 100 of the show's employees will remain in Charlotte during the winter season. L. B. Cool reported seriously ail- ing again in Sharon, Pa. Joe Hillers celebrated their 11th anniversary over the weekend. Art Rooney being paged by majoi: studio for bit in racetrack flicker. Wayne Thomas has abandoned his orch for an m.c. berth at the Show Boat. Press news editor . Harry Augus to teach journalism at Duqiiesne U this year. Jack Hollister will do the publicity this season for Pittsburgh Symphony orchestra. Michael Gusikoff named concert master for Pittsbiirgh Symphony this year. Helen Baker new guitarist with Jean Wald's outfit, succeeding Lu- cQle Hopper. Rufus Blair in from Hollywood for his annual contact mission with the movie press. Jack Hollister named publicity di- rector for Pittsburgh Symphony Orch this season. Reopening of Plaza cafe imder Freda Pope's management awaiting granting of license. Carlton Miles in ahead of 'Tobacco Road' and Elmer Kenyon here blurb ing 'Madame Bovary.' Henry King in town getting color stuff on steel mills for next 20th flicker, 'Giant Swing.' Triangle Players of downtown Y.M.C.A. to open season in Novem ber with 'Silver Cord.' Broken ankle still in cast, so Flor- ence Fisher Parry is, writing her Press columns from bed. Mike CiuUen had to have a sur geon straighten " out that barber inflicted gash in his neck. Pianist Chauncey Gray quitting Dick Stabile for job with Ernie Hoist at Manhattan's El Morocco. Lou Brager. here with news that he's been trahsf^red to real estate dept. in WB home office from Philly. SHY ONE TEUCK Blackwell, Okla., Sept. 28. Truck and trailer belonging to the Western States Shows were partially burned when the truck sideswipec another truck belonging to the car- nival two miles north of Tonkawa, Fire started when the impact of the collision spilled gasoline from tank on back of the truck. Plays Abroad THE DAY IS GONE (Continued on page 62) HERZEN IM SCHNEE ('Hearts in SnoV) Vienna. Sept. 17. Musical comedy In threo acts l>y Balph Benatzky, at Volks Opera, Vienna, Sept. 10, '37; directed by Max Hansen; scenes set by M. HoessUn; orcbestra. Arthur Gutt- mann. Seppl .Max Hansen Stadlhofer . .Fritz Imboft Roal Johanna Wllhelm Mia? £>mlth Hulda. Gerln VAN GOGH London, Sept. 13. Play In seven aoenea by Dan Burke, pro. dUced by Kre* O'Poriovan at Arts Theatre Club. London. Vincent Van Gogh Esmond Knl^t Bev Van Goffh...; Arthur Bawtree Mrs. van Oosrh.w ..Bertha Northnn Terateeer Qeofrey Clarke Theo Van Goeh Wilson Barrett Slen Dorothy Black Scurat Scott Harrold Papa Taoquay FranK Snell Oauffuln Noel Dalnlon Toulouse LAUtrcc David Bain RouIIn ..: Philip Thornley Dr. Cachet Sydney Trevellyn An Interesting, but harrowing play, narrating the life of the fa- mous painter and his contemporaries . like Gau^in, Seurat and Laqtrec. These biographical plays about 'ar- tists whose names are unknown to the great majority of the public,- even when brilliantly written, have little commercial appeal, and this one is far from being a'masterpiece of construction; ' It is too verbose and all the scenes are too' long. - - In his curtain speech, the author claims every line of the name part as Van Gogh's own, culled from let- ters the painter had -written to his brother. As. a biography, they would be interesting reading." Esmond Knight gives a magnifl- cent performance of • the epilentic artist, and there are at least half a dozen other roles excellently twr- formed. Jolo. Infantile Scare (Contmued from page 7) are not being allowed to attend theatres. Slim' attendance and ex- citement due to plague caused au- thorities to close down schools. Ralph B'enatzky's first operetta had the title,.'Love in Snow' (1908). This one is the composer's 87th. In between he wrote world ■ successes, European successes, and quite a few which did not cross the international boimdaries. 'Hearts in Snow' be- longs to the last ^category. Show contains a good story and melody. Story plays in St. Anton on Arlberg, rendezvous of the upper 10,000 in winter-time for skiing. Max Hansen, in the role of Seppl, is en- gaged to Rosl (pretty Johanna Wil- helm), but Miss Smith,, believed to be a duchess (Hulda Gerin), coxaes to St. Anton. Hansen falls for her. Orders full-dress, to be tailored by Imhoff, ex-father-in-law. Rosl in- trigues. Full-dress is cut in terrible fashion. Miss Smith breaks with Seppl. He marries his first love, Rosl. Benatzky's music had several en- cores at the premiere. 'Lilly of Pic- cadilly,'.'Hearts in Snow' (blue), 'In St. Anton am Arlberg' (foxtrot), and 'Hoechste der Gefuehle^^ (tango) are well orchestrated. Excellent dancing by the girls. Maass. St. Louis, Sept. 28. With only three deaths attributed to infantile paralysis and 37 cases. reported to the city health depart- ment since Aug. 1, authorities are not alarmed over the situation and there has been no discussion of clos- ing pix houses. Philadelphia, Sept. 28. Infantile paralysis scare about over in Philly, Health Department an- nounced yesterday. Only seven cases reported last week, and, with coming of cold weather, few more expected. Film biz here wasn't badly hit by epidemic, but exhibs breathing relief. Omaha, Sept. 28. Ban on public gatherings and the- atre attendance of minors due to in* fantile paralysis will lift next Sat- urday. Dr. Kinyoun, health • depart- ment medico, made announcement Monday after checkup. Revealed steady decline in new cases over two weeks. With improve- ment in cases ■ under observation, theatre ban lifts Saturday permitting weekend play by junior at b.o, ■ figured to immediately return re-- ceipts to normsd, and expected have strong hypo'ing. effect at every house, • New Haven By Harold M. Bone Knives on a Carney Lynchburg, Sept. 28. Fight on the midway at the Am- herst 6-County Fair sent Danny Moore, Sheesley carnival employee, and Johnny Martin, Lynchburg man, to hospitals for knife wounds. Fray was a free-for-all,- with county authorities tmable to find out who slashed whom. Harry Shaw's mother seriously ill. Billy Elder to Gettysburg briefly. Stagehands continue at former scale. Irving Hillman now an asst. the- atre mgr. John Hesse joins local epidemic of cold victims. 20th-Fox building new $30,000 ex- change here. lATSE prez Bill Barry busy with labor conventions. Gabriel Levenson against to di- rect Unity Players here. Alex Dean to split time between B'way and Yale drama school. Jelesnik's Continentals handling Taft Grill assignment this year. Shubert has pencilled 'Between the Devil' preem for Oct. 14-16. Chas. Rogers has left Milford to teach scene designing At Amherst. Daggett Lee a.gain handling Wool- sey concert series for Yale Music School GOING GREEK London, Sept. 17. Musical In two acts by Guy Bolton, Fred Thompson, Douglas Furber; dyrlcs and music by r.erner, Goodhart and HoRman; pre.3enled by Firth Shephard; produced by Leslie Henson and Herbert Bryan at the Gaiety, London, Sept. 16, '37, Nikolas Gavin Gordon Pantages Richard Caldlcot r.aander Roy Royaton Pomona. Pollicaplllos Mary Lawson Gwendoline PettUer Potta Rosalind Atkinson Ins Caiew Louise Browne Alexandres Saggapopolous.. .Leslie Henson Palla^- Pollicaplllos Fred Emney ThonlRsso Mogollnl Richard Hearno Host Ian Dudley Hardy A lawyer John K. Coyle Juno Muriel White J^l'P--' ^ Fred Le Peel Flap Robert Hutchinson Flop.. Tommy St. Denis Same theatre, same cast, sanie type of show. There is a serious melodramatic plot, but it is merely a vehicle on which to hang the vari- ous specialty turns by the respective members of the cast, as usual. Toward the finish the two prin- cipal comedians, Leslie Henson and .Fred Emney, are presented with time bombs by the bandits, whom, as their leaders, they have double- crossed, and told to hold the bombs in their hands for two minutes while the others get out. One of them comes back for his coat and they quickly drop the bombs into the pockets thereof. There is a beautifully staged artistic ballet, for no more reason than anything else In the show, and individual mention of the Artists and their methods of entertainment would be merely a reoetition of what has been said of them for years past, Last year's Henson show at the Gaiety was enormously successful. This one is a paraphrase of the same, and there is no conceivable reason why it should not repeat. - Jolo. Exploitation (Continued from page 25) for 'Varsity Show' as a cross-the front banner. Letters worked on a cam shaft and danced around crazily. When the power was off they were out of alignment and several per- sons called up to tell the theatre the letters were apparently falling off, which suggests that it would help to arrange to break the current at in- tervals to obtain this effect more frequently. When a theatre sign can break the local columns, it's a pretty good indication that the sign man is up and coming. Howard Waugh says Derth is that sort. Anotlier from Bam Leon J. Bamberger, RKO sales promotion manager, is out for the direct mail championship and hus- tling hard. His latest is a folder lor •Music for Madame.' Probably not as costly as some of his novelties, but a handsome product with trick fold- . ing and a real photograph mounted to serve its own page and, through a cutouot, also to give a front splash. Enclosed as six scene stills in tint whitfh will help out the lobby dis- plays in most houses. If Bamberger does not get the top award, it is going to be a mighty slick campaign that licks him. Ducats for Lunch Oklahoma City, Standard Theatres, Inc., through Pat McGee, manager, and Paul Or- mond Grubb, manager of Ormond s, night club-restaurant, gave each lady attending the club's luncheons on Monday, Tuesday or Friday, matinee aickets to the Criterion, Midwest or Tower theatres.