Variety (Oct 1938)

Wednesday, October 12, 193» CHATTER 5$ Broadway Marian Spitzer in town. Plenty of coin in circulation among the niteries. John Root doing / sets for 'Run, Sheep, Run.' Mark Hanna granted an Equity franchise as an agent. NVA will hold Clown Night next month at the Sharon hotel. Bill SharpCj press agent for state of North Carolina, in town. Theatre Authority meeting to discuss plans lor collaring benefits. Evelyn >Nesbit has some theatre dates set. Has been playing niteries. Tom Ewell, legit player, back from six months in the Orient and South Seas. Edna Mae Harris, Negro actress, now being managed by Fred Fulton, former fighter. National Showmen's Assn. (out- door) holding annual dinner at Com- modore hotel Nov. 17, isilly Tanner, former'Dutch comic in burlesque, now bartending in an IJighth avenue ginnery George W. Weeks left Monday (10) on a swing through eastern cities on Monogram product deals. Dezso D'Antalffy filling organist 8ost, left vacant b', the death of [elchiorre Mauro-Cottone. Rose Pauly, Metopera soprano, taking out her first citizenship papers. She's Hungarian by birth. Alan Corelli elected national trus- tee of U. S. Army Ambulance Corps, organization of World War drivers. Majority of picture company home offices will be closed a half day today (Columbus Day); 20th-Fox all day. Annabella, French actress, under 20th-Fox contract, is due back from a visit to Paris in a week or 10 days. Norman Lloyd, late of Mercury and Federal theatre productions, now tutoring at the New Theatre School. Happy Masefield, former house band member of WNEW, is oper- ating a cocktail lounge in Jackson Heights. Fay Rothman, secretary to Louis Weinberg, of Columbia Pictures, heads for Havana and Nassau Satur- day (15).. Balcony at Bi-oadhurst's opening of 'Fabulous Invalid' loaded with celebs who couldn't get seats on main level. Henri Therrien to Jacksonville, "iFla., fofTTis Ihiiixl cb'fis€CUtive-seH5Dn - ■ as singer and amusement manager at that resort. Bill Rodgers, Metro general sales manager, due back Monday (17) from trip contacting branches on product deals, etc. Hugh Daniel, former men's fashion ■tylist for RKO on the Coast, is in New York designing for an exhibit at the World's Fair. ^Margaret Perry returned last week from Mexico and left almost at once for a Montana ranch. Expects to be back early in December. Tom Kearns, who exited station WOR publicity, dickering to handle Kurt Robitschek's proposed vauder, Palladium, nee Cine-Roma. Felix Ferry taking over the old House of Lords for a nitery. Ferry also has a Monte (3arlo concesh at the World's Fair next year. Central Park Casino unshuttered last night oh the site of the old Em- bassy Club, bonifaced by Sidney Solomon. Carl Byoir angeling. Martin Berkeley, author of 'Roosty' and 'Seen but Not Heard,' has com- pleted a new one, 'The Prison With- out.' Century Play is handling it. Herman G. Weinberg, formerly at Filmarte theatre, has been named publicity-ad director for World Pic- tures, distribs of foreign languages. Harry Sherman, former Paramoiint theatre.department executive, is put- ting out a theatre game known as Tip-Top-Toe, and WB trying it out. Charles Pettijohn, assistant to Will Hays in New York office of Motion Picture Producers & Distributors Assn., is back in his office after illness. Major Pat Healy, Massachusetts amusements censor, in New York, breaking up return to Boston from Los Angeles American Legion con- vention. Scheduled to shift to the William Morris Coast office Oct. 15, Sammy Weisbord, of agency's radio dept., has had the shift deferred until De- cember. War scare chased Eddie Moran back to America after only nine days' vacash in.Paris. Hal Roach, writer, continuing his loaf around Broadway. Another attempt at a snooty mem- bership nitery being made by the Pall Mall Club, on site of old Mun- son residence, 12 E. 67th. No en- tertainment. Larry Nixon, of WNEW, who financeid his new baby on two edi- tions of 'Vagabond Voyaging,' hails third printing as guaranteeing shoes for the infant.. Anis Fuleihan. who's on the staff of G. Schirmer, music pubs, will have his latest composition preemed by the Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall, D6c. 10-11. ^ Bob Moriarty, attached to the home office publicity-advertising de- partment of Paramount, has switched to the strdio ad staff un- der Cliff Lewis. W. French Glthens, chief executive of Newsreel Theatres, Inc., left on first vacation in three years Satur- day (8). He will spend a week or 10 days in Durham, N, C, Ben Bernie returned to LeRoy san for a few more days' observation, coming out in time for his Sunday broadcast, but returning pronto. Trying to duck a stomach op, and it looks OK to do so. Massimo Frecchia leaves for Ha- vana Saturday (15) to conduct the Philharmonica Orchestra there Oct. 23, Ann Feigenblatt, in the N. Y. 'Pins and Needles,' will be one of subjects in forthcoming book, 'Women of Achievement,' to be published by House of Field, Inc. Among others are Eleanor Roosevelt, Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, Helen Hayes and tirace Moore. London ASCAP Decision (Continued from page 39) hope, someday, to squirm out of ASCAP's rigid restrictions. In the Washington quarrel, the court contended that ASCAP's fail- ure to claim damages in excess of $3,0(H) disqualified the suit. Juris- diction was refused on the, count that ASCAP was bound by its pleadings and the Gene Buck or- ganization requested a writ of cer- tiorari. Ironic note in today's finding of 'probable jurisdiction' in the Wash- ington case was struck by: (1) ASCAP's .later contention that the state law interferes with and in- validates 528 contracts which it held in tta state (with an estimated an- nual draw of $60,000); and (2) fact that current legal opinion is that the Court will take the question posed in the Washington case (whether a plaintant is bound to what he says in respect to damages claimed) as a guide in the disposi- tion of both the Washington and Florida cases. Florida Suit Florida tangle involves an injunc- fiM" BYougKt'"by-Sucfc--Bga1nst--the- late Cary D. Landis, attorney-gen- eral, to prevent enforcement of the state law regulating licensing of copyrighted songs as trespassing on public domain. Landis died shortly after the suit was filed and a tempo- rary restrainer was granted in a memorandum opinion by the Fed- eral District Court. Following Lan- dis's- death, other state officers sought a dismissal of the Buck in- junction, claiming it was directed against the former attorney general as an individual. ASCAP asked for permission to amend the complaint to- include Landis' . ssuccessor, George Couper Gibbs. Both of these positions were de- nied by the Florida court and ad- verse rulings on the first was the present excuse for state officers to carry their case before the Supreme Court. Motion of the appellees to substi- tute was granted and Gibbs, in- dividually and as Attorney General of the State of Florida, was substi- tuted as a party appellant in place of Landis. Theatres—Exchanges (Coninuted from page 21) remain on the job until one is ap- pointed. Frank Hughey elevated to assistant managership of Orpheum in McKees Rocks, another Shea-Hyde property, succeeding Alber*. Streckels. John Bdll has resigned as exploita- tion director of Europa Films here to return to his old p,a. post with Drake and Lyric theatres in Oil City, Pa. Bryan, Tex. Mrs. Morris Schulman, who owns and operates four small houses, in and around Bryan and College Sta- tion, has retained architects to pre- pare specifications for $100,000 house at College Station, across from Texas A. & M. Will be air-conditioned and acoustically treated, seating 500, Mrs. Schiilman heads the Bryan Amus. Co. Pittsburgh. Bob Dunbar, WB-First National salesman in West Virginia territory, 'has been elevated to post of office manager and assistant to Harry Seed, head of Pittsburgh exchange. He suc- ceeds Paul Krumenacker, recently •made chief of sales for same com- pany in Albany. For the time being, Dunbar's W. Va. post will be left open. Bert Coote's estate was $1,250, The Irving Tishmans in Paris. Atexander Korda has returned from America. Jimmy James In hospital with in- ternal trouble, London Casino has downed its ad- mission prices to $2.50. 'Glorious Morning,' at Whitehall theatre, going cheap prices. Wences due here in early Decem- ber for Vaude and nitery dates. Ruth ChattertOn being submitted here for vaudeville and niteries. Bob Dupont showing a bankbook with $100,000 '?.ved up from show biz. Harry Cohen looking for spot in provinces to operate repertory com- pany. Jimmy Nice (Nice, Florio and Lu- bow) to marry Helen Pelton, English non-professional. Laurence Olivier selected by Sam Goldwyn to play Heathcliff in 'Wuthering Heights.'' Phil Reisman to head the Euro- pean sales convention of RKO, which starts Friday (14). Gaumont-British Newsreel will be regular feature in the new Warner theatre, Leicester Square, Emlyn Williams giving a midnight performance of his new play, 'The Corn Is Green,' for actors, George J, Heilbron, head of Inter- national Copyright Bureau, to Ber- lin for the first time in years, CJeorge Rhodes Parry, former Lon- don Palladium manager, now man- aging a J6ck Hylton vaudeville unit. Two switches; Ivor Norvello's 'Comedienne' from Haymarket to Aldwych, 'Lot's Wife' from Aldwych to Savoy. Amidst all the troubles. Earl Bailey flew to Berlin to see the Georgie Hale gals, who open in the Scala, Berlin. Walter 'Dare' Wahl with Tom Ar- nold's ice show, opening at the Pal- ace, Manchester, for two weeks, from Oct. 24, with options. David Tennant, former husband of Hermione Baddeley, to marry Vir- ginia Parsons, daughter of Viola Tree and Alan Parsons, 'Tobias and the Angel' closed at St. Martin's Sept. 24, after three weeks, having transferred from Open Air theatre, Regent's Park, Rottenberg & Golden to run a pantomime in French at thjC ABC, Paris, starting Christmas 'for 10 ■weeksr—with- -Gaudsmith. Bros »!=. ready booked, Dodie Smith's new play, 'Dear Octopus,' took $12,500 the week be- fore the war crisis, beating 'The Barretts of Wimpole Street,' which held house record. The Ivor Novello 'Henry V* ven- ture at Drury Lane closed Oct, 1 after brief run: Novello had been drawing no salary, it's reported, en- deavoring to keep going. 'She, Too, Was Young,' folding at Wyndham's, being rq^laced . by O'Bryen, Linnet & Duniee's produc* tioitf 'Quiet Wedding,' starring Eliza beth Allen and Frank Lawton. Casting has started for the Cicely Courtneidge-Jack Hulbert-Lee Eph- raim musical, which will flnlly go to the Palace after five weeks in the sticks. Lew Stone and band engaged, Oscar Deiitsch's equipment subsid, Sound and Cinema Equipments has been converted into a 'public' com- pany with $625,000 capital. Stock be- ing fixed at $1.25 per; no issue is be- ing made, Edmond Ryan has promoted bank- roll to stage John Hayden's 'Thieves Fall Out,' due for the West End in early November, Cast already lined up are Jack_La Rue, Charlie Chrisp and himself. Forty members of London Films' Technicolor version of "The Four Feathers,' who were to leave for Port Said to shoot .local scenes, have temporarily abandoned their trip. They had already been Inoculated against tropical diseases. After premiere of 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' at the Regal, a pri- vate reception was given at which Ethel Levey, accompanied by the composer, sang 'Alexander' in the manner in which it was done in pre- war days. It went over big. Besides Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and Valerie Hobson, stars of Columbia's British production of 'Q Planes,' there are 21 character parts played by prominent actors. It's claimed to be the strongest cast of supporting players ever assembled in this country. brought him in.c. contract for West Virginia nitery, Adele Curtis warbling at Plaza cate again after throat ailment of several months. Milt Hammond, who wrote Du- quesn^ .U, musical Ja^t season, has joined Mills 9ros.^ '' Labor union troubles made Law- rence Welk's opening at Chatterbox practically a secret, Sara Fmkel Moses, sister of Bill Finkel, indie exhib, di^d unexpect- edly here last week, Dolores Bitner has retired from chorus work to become wife* of Dave Marino, .-a musician. Patsy Levin is Casino's new opera- tor, succeeding Eddie Grant, killed recently in auto accident. George Lefko's seek, Mabel Sessi, will wed Ian Packman, of Mt. Ver- non, N, Y., day before Xmas. Burt Bishop and John Maloney sail Oct. 22 for Paris with prize- winning M-G sales managers. On the Upbeat Holiywood (Continued from page 38) placing Johnny Long, who goes to Hotel Statier in Buffalo Oct. 26. Both placed by MCA. ^ Major Olmes' band booked for fall getaway of Imperial Room at Web- ster Hall Hotel, Pittsburgh, Satur- day (15). Spot will operate, as in past, on Satdees only with Olmes' slated for a streteh of week-ends. Pe^ffy Neenan, 'Miss- Western Pennsylvanian of 1938,*' has" joined Brad Hunt's orch, Pittsburgh, as vo- calist, succeeding Dorothy Lee Jones. Floyd Rays* sepia band opens at the Paramount theatre, tos Angeles, Oct. 20, for one week. Rudy Scoter recording music for Bob Baker western at Universal Henry Patrick, who won a Philly radio chirp contest several years ago and has since sung with various name bands undei the tag of Pat Henry, has organized his own orch. Currently playing the 20th Century Tavern, Philly. —Javier ^ueot, -who-closed at the Arcadia-International, Philly, oni Saturday, opened eight-week sesh at the Statier, Detroit, last night. From there he goes to the Baker Hotel, Dallas, for an indefinite stand until he returns to the Waldorf, New York, arbund beginning of the year, Happy Fclton and brand new band opened at the Arcadia-International, Philly, on Monday, Pacted for a four-week stand as a break-in for theatre dates. Gave up his former band last spring to do m.c.ing exclu- sively. Jan Savitt and crew from KYW, Philly, follow Felton into the Arcadia for four weeks, while radio outlet uses sub band. Will have an NBC wire through KYW three times a week. Pittdbnrgh By Hal Cohen Norman Frescott to m.c. annual Variety Club banquet Oct. 30.% Sons of Charlie Eagle and Clarence Eiseman have enrolled at Pitt. Harry Kalmine celebrating sixth anniversary as WB zone manager. Ex-circus p.a. Leonard Littman back in town. Managing a couple of pugs. Harry Brown's son, Harry. Jr., named head of film house chain in Ohio. Johnny Meklas has checked out of Bob dayman's band and into Tommy Carlyn's, Syd Magidson's 22d birthday Johnny Fielder reopened the Plaza Hotel Roof, San Antonio, Saturday (8). Spot to be lighted four nights weekly. Jerry McRae and her Rangerettes, all-gal combo, bows In at The Gleam, San Antonio nitery, Wednesday (12), Paul Whiteman plays a two-day date at Washington anci Lee U., Lexv ington, Va., Friday and Sat. (14-15). Tenth college date for Whiteman this year. Hui:o Marian! opens the Club £1 Rio, N. Y., sometime this week. Crew spent the summer at West End Ca- sino, West End, N. J. Dick Mansfield sailed on a West Indies cruise ship Sat, (8). Dick Arlen ailing with flu. Errol Flynn out of hospital. Tom Petty east pn vacation. Boyd King, out of the hospital. Liir Damiia flew in from N, Y.. Lou Irwln in from Broadway. Fay Wray back from Broadway. M'onrce Goldstein out of hospital, Rita Stevens home from hospital. Tommy Ryan north on p.a. tour. Franchot Tone had a m.'njr opera- tion. Howard Benedict north on vaca- tion, Claude Binyon back from fishing trip. Roy Rogers back from personal tour. Robert Richman home from Ha- waii, Dsn Mainwaring wrHing another novel. Fred Datig back at his desk after illness, Robert Usher in from Honolulu vacadi. Gary Cooper to Sun Valley for hunting. Harold Adamson checked out of hospital. Norman Alley east Nov. 1 on lec- tui^ tour. Penny Singleton readying for per- sonal tour. William Ryan in hospital with in- fected . Jaw. Johnny Burke back from rest at Arrowhead. WiUi» 1 Saal in from Manhattan for confabs, Nick and George Diamos in from Tucson on biz, ' Mort Greene and Ann Lawrence to wed next month. M. M. Musselman building nevt home in Westwood. Paul Yawitz injured slightly in falling from a horse. Warners entertaining CCC boyi with patriotic shorts. - Carey Wilson lectured on drama at L.- A. Junior High. Earl of Poulett, here from Lon- don, ogling! film plants. Dr. A. H. Giannini building new offices on Sunset stri|>. Bill Gargan opening his winter home at Palm Springs. Charles P. Skouras ended his tour of tl^ mountain states. Robert Riskin organizing softball team for Sam Goldwyn. . Bert Granet and Charlotte Lewis due .ta.marry in December. Sid ^rauman hosted' 50 Hewi cameramen at skating party. Jack Ross resigned as secretary to Carl Laemmle •after 15 years. Walter Bowdin in from' New York tor his first gander at studios. Evelyn Keyes recovering from ap- pendicitis atiack without an. op, Charles Bickford back from his gold mine in northern Califorhia. Errol Flynn, recuperating at Palm Springs, plantiixig a Honolulu vacash before he returns to work. The Harlan Ifeompsons (Marian Spitzer) have purchased the Dick Powell-Joan Blondell home in Bev- erly, Paris By fine* Speck Harry Salzman to London. Three Bonos off for New York en- gagjemejit Mistinguett, in from vacash, pre- paring tour. Reda Caire taking one of top roles in 'Balalaika.' 'Kidnapped' <20th> opening at Cinema Balzac. Annabella selling lottery tickets to aid needy artists. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (20th) catching top houses at lie Paris. Julien Duvivier talking of making 'Pont de Souvenins,' with Raimu a» 'Brave New World,' with Edward 'Stirling's English players, gointf on tour. Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers receptioAed Irving Berlin when he was here. 'Llntransigeant' publishing story of 'Adrienne Lecouweur* at same time film is being presented. Will Osborne 'prematurely' itxited ^ Glen Island Casino, Larchmont, N. \ Y., Oct 9. Had been positively booked until Jan. 1, '39. Moves to Meadowbrook Club, Cedar Grove, N. J., Oct.,14. blen Gray bunch play Paramount theatre, N, Y., Dec. 21 on last book- ing for Rockwell-O'Keefe office. (Corky O'Keefe steps out of ROK this v/eek). Andrews Sisters will show with band. Freddy Fischer's Schnickelfritz band returns to home territory to play St, Paul hotel, Nov, 4 for four weeks. Came out of Minneapolis last year. Ramona will preem the new room of the Van Cleve hotel, Dayton, O., Oct. 12. Hfioeeapots By Lee Hecs Columbia closed circuit deal with Paramount chain, including Twin City first runs. Lester Coleman, Paramount home- office booking auditor, off for Des Moines after brief visit here. Martha Tilton rejoined Benny Goodman here after recovering from illness that confined her to a Omaha hospital. President W. A, Steffes, of North- west Allied, back from Washington, says that 'for strategic reasons' he's abandoning efforts to obtain new ra>> dio station permit. Jimmy Walker, ex-mayot of New York, to be toastmaster at testi- monial dinner which Northwest the- atre owners ajre tendering Eddie Golden, Monogram vice-prez, here this week...