Variety (Oct 1938)

SS VARIETY LITERATI Wednesday, October 12, 1938 Ask Book PostAffc Slash Sporadic efforts over a long period to reduce postal rates on books have taken concrete form with the organ- ization of the National Committee to Abolish Postal Discrimination Against Books, Behind the drive is a host of prominent figures in all walks of life, with leaders in the publishing and writing fields pre- dominating, of course. Committee has presented a peti- tion to President Roosevelt to reduce postal rates on books, with the decla- ration that 'it is at the present time more expensive to send an ordinary two-pound book from New York to Phoenix, Ariz., then from New York to Tokio. A two-pound magazine can be mailed from New York to Lcs Angeles for three cents, whereas a book weighing two pounds re- quires 26c.' Claimed that vhe handicap put on books 'affects the book reading pub- lic living outside df big cities, in fact readers living in four-fifths of the state, for the reason that 83.5% of all books published in the United States are published in the east. New York, Philadelphia anJ Boston,' Campaign slogan adopted by the committee is: 'Excessive postage on books is a tax on pub intelligence,' and tinceasing effort will be made to get the President to reduce the rate by executive order. Among those active in4he drive are Luise SiUcox, treasurer of the Authors' League; such leaders in ti e publishing field as George P. Brett, Jr., S. F. Crofts, Nelson Doubleday, August Behrs, Millard H. Jenks, Harry Scherman, Max Schuster and Paul Willert, and scribblers like Helen Christme Ben- nett, Ben Lucien Burman, Carl Car- ir.er. Marc Connelly, Elmer Davis, Fairfax Downey, Helen R. Hull, Henry F. Pringle and Margaret Wid- demer. mans, Green, with the volumes to contain the double imprint of both. Prez of Alliance Book Corp. is Henry G. Koppell. He was co- founder and general manager of A. Seydel & Co., one of the leading publishing houses in Germany. Dr. Fritz Landshoff, head of the Dutch publishing concern, Querido Verlag, is v.p., and Donald Dfyfoos, formerly of Random House, is treas. Among the exiled German-lan- guage authors whom Alliance will publish here are Vicki Baum, Erich Maria Hemarque, Emil Ludwig, Franz Werfel, Thomas Mann, Stefan Zweig and Lion Feuchtwanger, Sllarians' (A.K.s) Clambake Silurians, organization of old-time New York newspapermen, will hold their next get-together dinner Dec. 12 at the Hotiel Lafayette. Intended to again giye the a.k. news chasers an opportunity for a chin-fest and to compare present-day news gathering and gatherers with the old. AtteHdffideTltthefDrthcomlng &xt'- ner expected to be the largest in the history of the Silurians in vieyr of a recent amendment to the constitu- tion, which permits membership to all employed on JN^ew York news- . papers at least 25 years ago. Pre- viously prospective members had been ex-newspapermen of at least 30 years ago. 'Costs nothing to join the Silurians or to retain membership. Only charge is for, the grub, at the get- together dinners. Dinner applica- tions being received by Robert "Wilkes, the sec, at his Flushing, N.Y„ home. Annenberg's Multiple Jams Moe Annenberg, Philly Inquirer publisher, last week figured in al- most as much news as his sheet printed. Started off by getting into a jam on scooping the Pennsy Su- preme Coturt on its own decision and was called before it to explain; then was subpoenaed by a special Legis- lative Committee Investigating the set-up of Nationwide News Service, horse-race results organization, which he owns; and, finally, filed a libel guit for an unspecified sum against the Philly Record, J. David Stern, its publisher; station WFIL; Sam Rosenbavun, its prez; Senator Guffey, and Albert M. Greenfield, Philly realty operator. i Supreme Covirt severely censured Annenberg for the Inq's scoop and declared his publication of its de- cision 10 hours before it was handed down was an indictable offense. It handed over the records to Charles F. Kelly, Philly d.a., for legal action, if any. Decisions which the Inquirer printed voided laws passed by the last Legislature to hold up a grand jury investigation of Governor Earle and 13 associates. Stories were cor- rect down to the last technical de- tail. Called before the Coiu-t, E. Z. Dimitman, city edtior of the paper, said he had virtually dictated the story to a rewriteman on a hunch based on knowledge of the Court's previous action. Chief Justice Kephart frankly said he didn't believe that story, for while. Dimitman might use a form chart for prophesying on the Court's lOajpjr actions_Lit. w^ be virtually^ impossible oh small tec^hn'icaliiresT Details of the libel suit, which grew out of a speech by Senator Guffey, are in the" radio section of this issue. Dial, Golden Eagle Deal Deal has been. concluded between Dial Press and Golden Eagle Press by which Dial takes over distribu- tion of the Golden Eagle limited edi- tions from Covici, Friede. Golden Eagle Press books, which are manu- factured by S. A. Jacobs in Mt. Ver- son, N. Y.,. are among the costliest published in this country, and be- . cause of the labor that goes into their making and their limited field, but four or>five are issued each year, Indication of what the Golden Eagle Press books are like is fur- nished by one of the new ones, 'Sprig and Turfy,' by Kurt • Roesch. A children's book, it sells for $37.50 a copy. There will be but 108. copies, Tour Life Clicks Winding up, its first year of pub licatibn, Your Life, the pocket-size mag published and edited by Wilfred J. Funk and Douglas E, Lurton, claims a couple of records. Chief among these is the claim that the periodical went into the black with the first issue, dated November, 1937. Also a continued increase in circu- lation, even over the summer slump^ with a better than 75% circulation Increase over the initial issue. Despite size and format, Your Life is not a digest mag, but uses original pieces. Funk and Lvirton were edi- tor and managing editor, respec- tively, of the now defunct Literary Digest. Bibbing Foreign Ballet •Blast at Ballet,' book by Lincoln Kirstein that sharply criticizes va- rious foreign dance groups, particu- larly the Monte Carlo Ballet, was released for publication Monday (10). It was privately published, having been turned down- as too 'combustible by three publishing houses. Volimie is sub-titled 'A Cor. rective for American Audiences.' Kirstein, who is foimder and head of the Ballet Caravan and a critic and. writer on the dance', at first ironically dedicated his opus to Sol Hurok, 'without whom this book could not have been written.' He withdrew the dedication before pub. lication, however. He defends Amer ican dancers and lambasts the for eign groups. Exiled Authors Organize German-American Writers' Assn. was formed by some 20 anti-Nazi authors exiled from Germany and Austria at a meeting in New York City. Group will work with Ger- man-American League for Cultvire to keep alive culture of pre-Hitler Reich.t HopsS to enrol],^in the new group all exiled German, Austrian and Czechoslovakian novelists, play- wrights, screen writers, newspaper- men and the like now living in U.S. Exiles' Books Under Way Alliance Book Corp., recently or- ganized to publish in this country works of exiled scribblers, gets going thiii month. About 12 books will be issued 63 a starter, all in German. Enterprise will not be limited to German-language works, however. Books will be issued in the exiles' native languages, and if they write in English, in that language, too. Distribution and sales of the Alli- ance books will be handled by Long- MacAnsland & Bowers Bankrupt Bankruptcy schedule has been filed by MacAvisland & Bowers, Inc. publisher of the National Parent Teachers Magazine, listing liabilities of $209,549 and assets of $12,336, ex elusive of securities pledged as col lateral. Chief creditors listed are Economy Oil Trucking Corp., $104,385; Conde Nast Publications, Inc., $41,575; Per- kins-Goodwin Co., $40,779, and Ellen Messer MacDonald, $22,000. K. C. Joarnal Goes New Deal Kansas City Journal-Post, smaller of town's two -dailies, last week underwent a change of ownership and change of name. Henceforth it's the Kansas City Journal. Edition of Oct 4 announced the sheet's policy as solidly and frankly New Deal and Democratic. New owners are leadirg local Democrats. Change in ownership was marked by complete change in make-up. Gannett's Anti-New Deal Books New publishing group headed by Frank Gannett, the newspaper emir, which recently begcn publication of America's Future, is additionally going in for book publishing. As with its mag, will concentrate on books with an anti-New Deal slant. To better put across its stuff, books will be cheaply priced. Each of the volumes will be in cloth and paper, to sell for $1.50 and $1, respectively. Although second issuo of America's Future is in the making, Gannett group is still undecided whether the mag is to be a monthly or weekly. iSome more meetings scheduled, with final decision on frequency of pub- lication to be decided upon soon. Mag actually has no editor, either. Dr. Edward A, Rumely sort of han^ dling the editorial reins,* with S. S. McClure doing a general assist. Likely that actual editorial staff will be determined when decision on fre- quency of publication is reached, Pitt Grid Coach Scribbling University of Pittsburgh's strict rule, invoked couple of years -ago, against commercial radio broadcasts or newspaper articling by head foot- ball coach, Dr. John B. Sutherland, apparently has been relaxed or eliminated entirely. At any rate, the Panthers' grid mentor has just been signed by Pittsburgh Press for a daily piece on football. Articles started last week and may be syndi- cated to other Scrlpps - Howard papers. Ban originally came over differ- ences between athletic director Don Harrison and Sutherland, but Har- rison has since resigned. WPA's Guide Catalog Federal Writers' Project will Issue this month from Washington catalog describing more than 150 titles in the American Guide Series. Series titles have had wide dis- tribution, incomplete tabulation showing that 3,549,706 copies of pub- lications compiled by the project have been put out. This is apart from material prepared for other projects and departments. Close to 30,000 copies of the state guides have been distributed in New -Englaad-aloae^ : NEW PEBIODXCAIiS The Woman is newest addition to the ever-increasing number of di- gest mags, this one strictly for femmes. Sponsored by the Farrell Publishing Corp.,'headed by Thomas B. farrell. Lorna Farrell is editor, with John Bennett, managing editor, and Helen Stelzenmuller, Geraldine Rhoads and Marye Reynolds assist- ant eds. Group of editorial associ- ates comprises Beverly Craig, Dor- othy MYirphy, Kate Benson, Eleanor Eastmond, Nancy Evans, Deyanne Farrell, Anne Harris, Elizabeth Mills and Alice Townsend. The Woman, to use reprints only. Bull's Eye Sports Stories will be companion mag to recently an- nounced Bull's Eye Detective Stories gotten out by Fiction House. Edited by Malcolm Reiss. Pair may be forerunner of a group of periodicals imder the Bull's Eye label to take in various pulp-mag subjects. Al- though Fiction House has Fight Stories and Ail-American Football Magazine, Bull's Eye Sport Stories will carry tales covering the entire sports field. Nickel Comics first departure in the comics mag field and likely to start something. Comics mags, is- sued by a number of publishing houses, all set at a dime. Since they sell almost wholly to juves, with price therefore an important factor. Nickel Comics is seen as likely to bring the price of many other comics piiblications down to its level. Nickel Comics is a Dell periodical via its One-Shot Publishing Co. Free Lance Photographer, which had appeared for a comparatively short period as a sort of house organ of the Free Lance Photogfaphers Guild, becomes a monthly mag early in November. Will continue to be sponsored by the Guild and edited by Arthur Brackman. Guild is an organization of unattached news photogs. Brackman at one time edited the mag. Trips. Cartoon flumor new publication added to the Standard Magazines chain, coincident with switch of the same publisher's College Humor from monthly publication to bi- monthly. As indicated by title, Cartoon Humor will carry comedy drawings; Edited by Robert A. Pines, who serves in the same ca- pacity for College Humor. Flair is a new monthly picture mag published by Paul A. Newsome and Francis E, Whipple, covering the New England area. Publishing head- quarters are in Weymouth, Mass., Where Newsome edits the Weymouth Gazette and Transcriptr Newsome also editor of Flair. New periodical strictly a pictui^ mag. Views and Reviews, new monthly, skedded for issuance around Novem- ber 1, Mag is proposed as Reader's Digest of Radio, printing pertinent speeches made on stations through- out the country. Publisher is Thom- as Ste.venson, who fprmerly got out Broadcast Reporter. New mag, with headquarters in Washington, is in pocket-size format. Art of Living, new local Philly mag, is patterned after Cue, designed to guide Philly entertainment-seek- ers in where to go and what to do. Publishers are A, C. Hicks and How- ard Law. Distributed free, 2,500 first week and 10,000 after that. Escort has made its appearance in New York under editorship of Rol- and Killingsworth. Pocket size mag of Greenwich Village activity, with snapshots, dining and wining info, local high spots, etc. Range Riders new pulp in the Thrilling Group of Standard Maga- zines. To specialise In Western tales of jivengings. Leo Margulies, Stand- ard editorial head, in charge. LITERA'n OBITS THIS WEEK Rev. Michael J. Dwyer, 77, died last week in Albany. His career was unique among American priests In that he had been a reporter and edi- torial writer on the Boston Herald, editor of Donahue's Catholic Mag- azine, trial lawyer for the Boston firm of Tyler & Young (junior part- ner, Owen D. Young), assistant and then district attorney of Suffolk County (Boston metropolitan area), professor of criminal law at Boston U., a concert singer and lecturer, and secretary of the Boston Munici- pal Music Committee, before he started to study for Holy Orders in 1916 after the death of his wife and two children. A cold contracted while returning from Scotland with his surviving daughter and In- testinal complications caused his death. Dietrlck Lamade, 79, president and publisher of the Williamsport, Pa., Grit, died Oct. 9 of pneumonia after four days' illness. Owner of the paper since 1884, when it was a two- year-old country weekly, Lamade 1juflt-Grit-into~a~Bational~ weekly, with more than 600,000 circvdation and a home-office force of 250. William A. Hoy, 76, who studied law and was admitted to the bar while city editor of the old New York World, died Oct. 6 at his home in New York, following a short ill- ness. Hoy began his career as a re- porter on the Philadelphia Press, CHATTER The Nelson Doubledays have gone abroad. Wells Reardon to Turkey for some book material. Daniel Kane in from New Orleans to meet the new mag editors. Guy Fowler sold his newspaper yarn, 'Copy Boy,' to Munsey. Robert Neal Leath sold a..story, 'Sex Is Only Temporary,' to Liberty. Lucius Beebe's book on railroading comes out this month. Called 'High Iron.' James Parton, associated ed of Time, has joined the Sutton place colony. William Gastney has finally dug his Massachusetts place from out of the recent flood. Arthur Settel, N. Y. Times corre- spondent in Egypt, back to New York on leave. Starting with this week's Issue, Time will appear on Thursdays in- stead of Fridays. Winifred Mulcahey, of the Fawcett women's mags, to the Coast for a gander at the studios. Elliott Beach Macrae, of the Dut- ton puiblishing firm, and Marjorie Knight, the scribbler, wed. Harold Strauss, who was editor for Covici, Friede, has joined the Fed- eral Writers Project in an exec ca- pacity. Hervey Allen In Bermuda and a quarter way through a new novel which he will call 'Richfield Springs.' Reminiscences of Frank Case, host of the Algonquin, New York, will be out Nov. 3, entitled 'Tales of a Way- ward Inn.' Louis Bromfleld returns from abroad the end of the month to join his family at Mansfield, Ohio, his hometown. Elsa (Mrs, Laughton) Lanchester's new tome, 'Charles Laughton and I,' makes its entry Oct, 20 under the Harcourt Brace imprint. Hamlin Garland will return to New York to open the annual meet- ing of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Nov.- 10. Henry L, Stoddard still trying to locate the owners of five boats thrown up on his front lawn in Connecticut by the recent hurricane. 'Sherman Was Bight' glorifiei Sherman Bllllngsley, Stork Club N. Y., proprietor, in an early Cos- mopolitan Issue, authored by Finis Farr, radio scripter. Papers now using syndicated 'Tirile Out' sports cartoon by ' Chester Smith, sports editor, and Jack Berger, cartoonist, of Pittsburgh Press have reached 150. Struthers Burt back in PhlUy from his ranch in Wyoming. Farrar & Rinehart publishing his 'Powder River' next month as the fourth vol- ume in its Rivers of America series. Large number of authors and many interested in the writing craft will go to. Crossways, Mich., Oct. 23 to par- ticipate in the dedication of the Earl Reed Memorial Fireplace in the Bookfellow Library. Jack Robin, former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter and now pri- vate secretary to Mayor Scully there, has just announced his mar- riage of almost year ago. He's a cousin of songwriter Leo Robin. Newest of the university publish- ers is the University of Georgia Press, which gets going shortly. Has arranged for University Books, Inc., as selling agents, which already handles the sales for 22 university publishers. Plays on Broadway (Continued from page 48) THE GOOD had an affair long before with a fel- low Harriet was in love with, and that her union with Malcolm was a marriage of convenience. Her lover had gone to war and was killed. Some other good players figure in the performance, particularly Rob- ert Keith as the father, who was so intense in the second act that he went hoarse. Florence Sundstrom, as the attractive maid, Harry Ban- nister, as the doctor, Douglas Park- hirst, as the boy who copped, Jarvis Rice in the difficult part of the son, and Frederick Kaufman, as a wor- ried tailor, all figure, but their ef- forts will probably be of little avail, ibee. Tbe.-Dgjd.LTjjj^c» ^ Bride Murder melodrama In two acts (one set) preeented by Montgomery Ford, Written by .Toe Bates Smith. Staged by John Hay- den, Settings by Lawrence L, Goldwasser, At Cort, N. T., opening: Oct. 7. '38: $3.30 top. MesUe BIlby Evelyn Byrd Mamaret Submit Qulmby.Joannctte Chliiley Herbert Vanwick Clauson.J. Arthur Young Louisa Polly .....Helen Stilelda Gregory Jared Anthony Ilosa Hermea Bllby .Philip Wood George Renaley Qui Loula Heotor Reporter Robert Llndsey Xodd Frank Harvey Hulbern Clcdge Roberta This one Is well produced, but limited by its theme and macabra nature to a short stay on Broadway. Modest hook-up and cut-rate support wUl make possible whatever engage- ment it enjoys. There is nothing for films, since,it deals with a particu- larly cold-blooded murder plotted by an unpleasant daughter to get rid of an unpleasant father. Play " is reminiscent of 'Double Door,' in that the action takes place in a semi-barricaded New York mansion (1876) and the setting (good) is an integral part of the foreboding which the play is fairly successful in achieving. It looks for a time as. if incestuous angles be- tween father and daughter are about to be introduced, but this is not car- ried out. There is some grounds to suspect that the author may have revised his script. If so, he lost much in motivation that, however grim, would have been more plaus- ible with some more personalized menace. Although plotted carefully from the moment the homicide thought enters the girl's head, the willing- ness of the lover to participate and strike the blow is not developed, His entanglement lacks the passion- ate undertone that would swamp reason. Most of the time this lover is a cool and reasonable chap. Not at all the slave of amative instincts that take murder in stride. Poetic revenge of deep irony Is implicit in the quick-thinking of the girl, who, confronted with the acci- dental death of the wrong man, art- fully shifts the blame on the father, who is hung for a crime he didn't commit. Jeannet^ Chinley, as the daugh- ter, carries a long role well and with a range of emotion that only omits (because the author omitted) the sexual befoggment that might have rendered it all more under- standable. Arbitrary ordering about of characters by the playwright has not gotten under th? surface, and this sort of melodrama has to. 'Pay- ment Deferred' is a case in point, Louis Hector is a plausible old grouch, eccentric and autocratic. Minor character roles are in able custody. Phillitj Wood copped some giggles as a meddlesome neighbor of the disagreeable widower and his malevolent offspring. Land.