Variety (Oct 1938)

52 VARIPTY LITERATI Wednesday, October 19, 1938 Intl. P.E.N. Concliive in May At a meeting of the members of the board of the American Center of the P.E.N., otherwise the Interna- tional Association of Poets, Play- wrights, Editors, Essayists and Nov- elists, May 8, 9 and 10 was set as the dates for the organization's pro- posed international convention of scribblers at the N. Y. World's Fair. Dates are now subject to ratifica- tion by the fair's management, and as soon as okayed preparations will be begun for the conclave. Among those at the meeting at •which the scribblers' convention dates was set were Henry Seidel Cr.nby, Dorothy Thompson, Mrs. "William Brown Meloney, George Stevens, Maxwell Aley, Nathalie Colby and Bessie Beatty. Expected that representatives from every one of the 62 P.E.N, centers throughout the world will attend the convention, with a number of cen- ters in Europe and South America having already indicated that repre- sentatives will be on hand. While convention program is still to be drawn up, it will include lec- tures, discussion§j, etc. International conventions of thfe P.E.N, not a new thing, since internationalism of the organization is stressed. But this year's conclave at the N. Y. World's Fair will be the most pretentious of any yet held. Prez of the American Center is Miss Thompson, with Henry Goddard Leach vice-prez. fiction. Forman is also editorial di- rector, with Sylvester J. Tobin as as- sociate editor. Purging Love in Japan Fiction in Japan will get a dash of cold water as a means of elevat- ing standard of public morals^ De- cision was reached at a conference of around 30 of the leading mag and book editors and publishers called by the Library Section of the Home Ministry. According to a Japanese informant, 'roguish' novels 'which deal noh- critically with bloody strife involv- ing women's virtues, gambling, etc., will be banned.* Love novels 'which make light of Women's virtues and deal with adul- tery or playful loves will be strictly prohibited/ Ban also to be placed oh novels and stories 'which deal with love af- fairs of those starring in society, or novels devoted to abnormal sexual psychology, or to the current po litical events for the purpose of en- tertainment only.' Use of 'demoralizing words'- such as 'boku' (for the first person); 'kimi' (for the second persdn), .'kareshi' (for sweetheart), etc., 'which are liable to be popular among girl stu denes,'also are but. , New Nipponese regulations are of little, or no concern to American flc .tion writers. - Japanese translate very .little fiction, going in almost exclu lively for-the home-grown product Reading By the Clock Thomas Fleet Publishing Co. has undergone a change in name to Two- Hour Books, as better illustrative of the reading matter put but by. the organization. Publishes paper-bound books selling fpr 25c, and providing two-hours' reading each. Editorial plan for Two-Hour Books Is to build a topical outline for each volume, approved by a panel of rep- resentative readers.' Outline is then filled- in .with material from three Eourdes—digest articles and chapters of books already published, original articles, and s':afl interviews with specialists in the field. Publishing plant and editorial of- fices of Two-Hour Books in Green- wich, Conn. Guild Rushes Pitt Elections Three Newspaper Guild chapters in Pittsburgh holding election of of- ficers early this year due to immi- nence of new contract negotiations. Morning Post-Gazette has just named Bobert Thompson, renoirter, 'presi- dent. He downed Arthur Grant, an- other newshawk, by only eight votes. Others named were: Wilbur Bal- dinger, vice-president; Maurice Sul- livan, secretary; . Mrs. Margaret Don- nelly, treasurer", and Walter Burson, NEW PERIODICALS Intimate Romances is a love-story pulp mag added to the Blue Ribbon Magazines chain. A companion pub- lication to Intimate Confessions, it's edited by Lois Allen. Ten stories in each issue, with the mag selling for 10c. Publication bi-monthly. Comedy, new thing in pulps, goes on the Dell list, coincident with firm's dropping of a pair of vets. Western Romances and All Western Stories. Comedy gives 100 jages of gags, humorous cartoons and the like for 10c. Victor Bloom editing. Cur- rent issues of Western Romances and All Western Stories are last for the two, and Arthur Lawson, who edited both, has already departed the Dell organization. Some possibility of the resumption of the two mags, but only if and when Western tales find more favor than at present. Undercover Detective Stories ne\y addition to the Double-Action Mag- azines group. In line with the ac- tion of the variou. pulp mag pub- lishers to expand on detective-story output in view of the current sharp demand for that type of reading mat- ter. Undercover Detective bovving in with a December issue. Cycling Herald is a "new monthly newspaper for the bike fan prompted by the renewed popularity of cyclmg in this country. Published in Brook- lyn, N. Y., by Julius Perzweig, who also edits, but giving the sport na- tional coverage. May go weekly next spring if interest in cyclmg holds up. Anti-Nazi Forum is latest mag to fight subversive influences in the U. S. To be issued quarterly, at 50c the copy, and through reprints and original articles will endeavor to show up. Fascistic activities. Pub- lisher of the Anti-Nazi Forum is a group headed by Barton Pittman, with Pittman editing first issue. Likely* however, that another wilt be installed as editor of the quarterly. Omnibook, literary monthly mag, will make its debut with a Decem-' ber issue, sponsored by Robert K. Straus. Will .be a digest periodical, contai ing each month five current boolcs in abbreviated forni reputedly after the fashion of The Book Di- gest. Initialer will have abridged editions of Louis Adamic's 'My American,' Douglas Reed's 'Insanity Fair,' Margaretta Byers' ^Designing Women,' Ruth and Helen Hoffman's 'We Married an Englishman,' and Thomas Wolfe's "Look Homeward, Angel,* Straus, New York City Coun- .cilman, is of the- family which owns Macy's. An attorney, he niaintains offices on Lexington avenue, but quarters of Omnibook will be in Rockefeller Center. H^tha^ay's Grudge unique- new- mag but of Hollywood; Many unique things in print emanate. Published and edited by C. A. K. Hathaway, with George C. Turner as associate -editor, monthly, is a slick, class, fun- sized periodical, purpose of which is to permit airings of grudges or peeves. Hathaway is an ethnologist who has spent much time in out-bf' the-way places. Before going to the Coast he was. in a Soviet prison, charged with sabotage and espionage. Upon return advised by George Palmer Putnam, the one-time pub lisher, to do a book on his experi- ences. That gave him a liking for printer's ink, and Grudge followed The Lowdown will mark the re- turn of Charles Angoff as a mag editor. Is to jointly edit' The Low- down with C. H. Smyth, with .the periodical, sponsored by a new pub lishing concern, Fireside Press, to make its initial appearance around Nov, 1, Lowdown will give the in- side on a different subject in each issue, with propaganda to get treatment in the opener. Despite his new editorial duties, Angoff con- tinues at work on a monumental five-volume book. He also did a play recently with Louis Weitzenkorn. Book Mark, monthly book review mag, pocket-sized, makes its initial appearance this week. A giveaway to bookshop patrons. Blackstone Authors' Guild's Annual Confab Authors' Guild of America, sub- sid of the Authors League of Amer- ica, will hold its annual luncheon meeting and election of board of di- rectors Nov. 2 at the Midtown hotel, N. Y. Among the matters to be con- sidered will be the membership campaign, grievances against pub- lishers and the drive against the existing postal laws as relating to mailing of books. Among the possible steps planned against certain publishers is the dropping from the manuscript mar- ket list, which is published annually in the Authors League bulletin, of the names of all publishers who pay for material only upon publication. The membership will be asked to vote on such action. Heretofore, vir- tually all magazines have been in- cluded in the manuscript market list. Only a few of the cheaper pulp mags still pay on publication. Nearly all pay on acceptance. Guild's drive against the prevail- ing postal laws is based on the ground that the present law is dis- criminatory against books, as against magazines and other published mat- ter. Postal rates at present are sev; eral times as high on books as on magazines and periodicals. Those agitating for a change in the law are planning luncheons and radio sroadcasts to publicize their views. First broadcast is scheduled for to- morrow night (Thursday), but time and station had not yet been de- cided late Tuesday afternoon. WPA Editor's Foreign Tieups John M. Taylor, state editor of Federal Writers Project in. Texas, re- signed Oct, 10 when San Antonio newspapers printed Washington dis- patch revealing scrib's connection with eold-shirted outfit in Mexico and the Nationalist party of China as publicity agent, WPA'er is a former London Associated Press man who enlisted with British army in 1914, Bess (Mrs. Sam) Woolford, wife of Antonio Light amusement editor, was upped from assistant, to state editor. Eddie Cope, Variety mugg, joined project, admi istrative staff during shakeup. Leo Fmegold and Harry Kodmsky, publishers the sponsor, Sylvia New- executive committeemen I burger editing, with Howard D Althot^?h P-G contract doesn't ex- goghm as her aide. Associate ed pire untjl March 1, Sun-Tele re-; jtors are Edwin Giventer and Paul newal comes .up m couple of weel« Travers. Many leading book com- and Guild wants to present sohd ^entators and prominent literary front of new officers for meecmgs figures ^ill be regular contribbers, •with all publishers. Paul H. Forman on Qwn Paul H. Forman, whose interest Ma'^azine. In Pyramid Press was recently ac- quired by his associate, Le.wis Rob- ert Burroughs, has formed a new book publishing house of his own. Calls it Saravan House". Gagging the Dictators, subtitlec The Comedy of Terrors, one-shot to appear this month published by Ace Latter is the A. A. Wyn years, was awarded a $5,000 verdict Monday (1) by a jury before N, Y. Federal Judge Murry Hulbert, He had sued Real Detective Publishing Co., Inc.,,owners of the mag, Real Detective Stories, its officers and the Collegiate Reporter Co., Inc., for $200,000 damages for libel. The face-lifter claimed he was held up to ridicule in an article pub- lished in the November, 1933, issue. Sponsoring Mich. WPA Books Noted Michigan literary figures have decided to sponsor publications of the Federal Writers. Project, which maintains force of 111 persons in Michigan. Sponsoring group in- cludes Paul DeKruif, scientist-au- thor; Carl Sandburg, poet; Dr. Ran- dolph G. Adams, director " of Clem- ents Library,. U. of .Miohigin, and foi'mer Gov. Chase S. bsborn. First Michigan undertaking, under the new sponsorship, will be a biography of Gov. Lewis Cass, de- scribed as Michigan's greatest citizen. Planned to "be'first adequate "stofy"of Cass' life, v Bray Pathfinder's Prexy Board of trustees of Fathfinder Publishing Co. has elected James L. Bray president of the company and publisher of Pathfinder, weekly news mag published out of Wash- ington. G. M. Lewander was elect- ed vice-prez. Bray, formerly publisher of the United States News, succeeds Sevel- lon Brown, who served in the dou- ble post for two years. Continuing with the weekly are William H, Har- rison, editor; Alvin C. Stewart, busi- ness manager, and L. Irving Lam- phier, circulation manager. Publishers Hold Incumbents Between golf and tennis tourna- ments, mostly the former. National Publishers Assn. held its 19th an- nual meeting at Skytop Lodge Pa. Re-election of most of the officers gave the assembled mag-publishing execs more time for golf. Officers re-elected are William B. Warner, of McCall Corp., pres.; Wal- ter D, Fuller, Curtis Pub. Co., and Mason Britton, McGraw-Hill Pub. Co., vice-presidents, and Francis L. Wurzburg, Conde Nast Publications, sec. Arthur S. Moore, Hearst Maga- zines, elected treas. publishing organization, operating also Periodical House and Magazine Publishers, and getting out a long list of mags. Gagging the Dictators' is a smart reprint job in mag format Policy will be similar to that of. of the most pointed and amusing 'JPyramid and will Include a general . things .in cartoons, -gags and anec- . line of books, both fiction - «nd non-* I dotes dictatorship. A 25c: buy;- Munsey Merges Two Mags AU-American Fiction Magazine, monthly periodical of the Munsey chain, has been combined with the firm's ace mag, the weelcly Argosy Combined mag will carry both titles, with Argosy stressed. Chandler H, Whipple, Argosy edi tor, continues as is, George Post, who edited AU-American Fiction, will aid Whipple in getting out the combined publication. Rsal Detective's 5G Tap William E. Balsinger, Hollywood plastic surgeon, who has worked over the facial features of film stari and other celebs during the past 10 LITERATI OBITS THIS WEEK Joseph A. Larkln, 58, for 11 years city editor of the New York City News Association, died at his home in Woodhaven, Queens, Oct. 6. Born in Brooklyn and began newspaper- ing 35 years ago on the New York American. He joined City News in 1912 and became city editor in 1927. In 1936 he was operated upon and never regained his health com- pletely, although he remained at his desk until three v^eeks before his death. Surviving are his second wife, two sons by his first marriage, and two sons and a daughter by his second marriage. E. C, Segar, 43, creator of the comic strip, 'Popeye,* died Oct. 13 in Santa Monica, Cal. He had been ill since January, following an opera- tion. Segar's cartoons appeared in 500 publications. He began his news- paper career with the Chicago Herald and joined the Hearst pub- lications in 1919. Surviving are his widow and two children. Charles H. Zuber, 63, veteran Cin- cinnati newspaperman and theatrical press agent, died Oct. 15 at his home in Newport, Ky., to which he was confined by illness for several years past. During that period he directed publicity for the Shubert-leased. Cox theatre, Cincy's lone legit stand, and also contributed a column to the Sunday Enquirer dealing with his- tory of the early theatre in Cincin- nati, Survived by. daughter, son, sister and. two brothers, one of whom, John, is a Cincinnati stage- hand, Joseph C. Craig, 69, retired San Antonio,. Texas, newspaperman, died Oct, 12 in San Antonio hospital. Sur- vived by widow, daughter and two brothers. Rosa Riley, wife of William J. Riley, of Cine Mundial, died in New York Oct. 17.- She was correspon- dent for a number of picture and theatrical papers. ^Hamlet ^ Notice (Continued from page 47) hours' wage for the long version, which is bi-sected with a half hour for dinner. Expected that the mat- -ter will- be adjusted-on that-basisi - Balcony Draw Box office was swamped with ticket buyers who purchased for the balcony and gallery, but there ap- pears some doubt about the lower floor draw, with the early start a possible hazard for the so-called Broadway bunch. Pointed out that some seasons back, 'Strange Inter- lude' started at 5:30 and commanded a long run to virtual capacity. In that instance, however, the Eugene O'Neill classic was something that 'had to be seen then,' whereas the average person figures that 'Hamlet* will always be around. St. James is scaled at $3,30 top and can gross around $20,000 weekly, Robert Morley, another English- man, also grabbed the limelight last week in his Broadway debut as 'Oscar Wilde* at the Fulton, Critics accorded his performance something of a masterpiece and, while all no- tices were highly laudable, 'Hamlet* was regarded as having nosed out •Wilde,* Little doubt, however, but that the Britishers won the best press notices of the season to date. Morley was starred following the opening on the strength of the press acclaim. Agencies are reputed to be getting a steady demand for ''Wilde* tickets. Play was originally sho-wn in London. A third Britisher among last week*s appearances drew press acclaim, be- ing Raymond Massey, who opened in 'Abe Lincoln in Illlinois*. Massey, wha is a Canadian, is known in Lon- don, also on Broadway, but 'Lincoln' is rated his top performance over here. As with 'Hamlet', the critics were not in full accord, one notice in particular being distinctly adverse, Wilfred Lawson, another English- man on last week's premiere card, who appeared in 'I Have Been Here Before', caught the nod of some re- viewers, but was hardly in the run- nmg with his compatriots and the play is regarded as ditsinctly doubt- ful of landing. CHATTER Frances Parkinson Keyes back from Europe. "Wheeler Barnes closed his place i Provincetown. ' Steve Fisher sold 'Girl From No- where' to Liberty. Howard Denbar Lawn getting set already for his winter Florida mi- gration. William Howland Taylor, yacht- ing editor of the N. Y. Herald Tribune, a new father. Lee Samuels, formerly writer for Selznick-International, is back in New York and freelancing. Dinner celebrating the 100th an- niversary of Putnam's will be held Oct. 27 at the St. Regis, New York. Houghton Mifflin publishing the first novel of Mary Manning, the Irish actress. Called 'Mount Venus'. Number of November lecture dates being lined up for Laura Krey. She's the '...And Tell of Time' author, Dorothea Lawrence, radio, and opera warbler, named music, drama and art crick of the Plainfield, N, J., Courier-News, Mabel Search, the new editor of Pictorial Review. Succeeds Herbert R. Mayes, appointed m.e. of Good Housekeeping, Leslie McFarlane, Canadian hu- morist and flctioneer, has just sold a story apiece to Liberty and Coun- try Gentleman. . Jack Curley back covering the races for the N. Y. Journal-Ameri- can, after being laid up for six weeks with an ear infection. National Federation of Press Women has named Agnes Carr, of the Boston Traveler, poet laureate for the coming year. Emil Zubryn, American rep for a number of British mags, on a swing of the country to select editorial aides at various points. Although an American citizen since 1919, Sholem Asch' has^ only now decided to make his home per- manently here. Had been living in France. Leo Townsend passed up his job as western' editor of Modern Screen to become a radio writer. He is work- ing with Hal Block on Texaco Star Theatre. Constable and Co., Ltd., has taken the British publication rights to Robert Nathan's new novel, 'Jour- ney of Tapioia,' which Knopf is pub- lishing here, Hillman-Curl brought out 'A Penny fpr the Poor,' novelization of 'Drei Groschen' ('The Beggars' Opera'), by Bertolt Brecht, German author now residing in Switzerland. T. J. Maloney's 'U. S. Camera— 1939' will be limited to 20,000 copies this year. Volume, which Morrow is publishing ■ Nov. 9, will have an introduction by Frank Crownin- shield^ Raymond Savage", E^nglfslT Titerary agent, arrived in New York this week. He's sole rep of estate of T. E. Lawrence. Comes to America to ar- range a picture deal for Lawrence's works. Benefit Fiasco (Continued from page 49) berg's bands played for perform- ers, all those listed. Apathetic and indifferent reaction of attendees reflected itself at the wickets of concessionaires who were permitted a two-by-four, semi-circled spa-ce. Brought down from the Danbury (Conn.) Fair, the few scattered rides, sideshow men and game men nearly starved. Abseupe of kids at show precluded any chance of speculators getting out with their skins. Only ones who made out were food peddlers. Three were outright buys; rest of concessions were on 50-50 basis, with checkers watching. Only people paid were checkers, program butchers, treasurers, two bands and clowns. Acts all worked cuffo and were paid off in sand- wiches and pop, as compared to the Terrace Club fest prepared .for the top execs. That session was by spe- cial invitation only via engraved cards. Half of the mob there • seemed to ignore the show completely, look- ing very much like they would have been there, show or no show, just to see how Fair was progressing. Autograph hounds littered ' the en- tire place, but they were fooled, too, and were settling for any and all signatures asking indiscrimi- nately and then inquiring later, not wanting the day to be a total loss. There's talk of making it all up to those who were nicked with $10 ducats, the Center theatre being mentioned for another attempt.- '