Variety (Nov 1938)

Si VARIETY UTEBATI Wednesday, November 16, 1938 Kllgrallen's Column Tees Off Dorothy Kilgallen, girl reporter on the N. Y, Journal-American who won an around-the-world race on commercial planes over Leo Kieran of the" Times, is now writing a Broadway column for the afternoon daily. Assignment Is the first for a femme writer, her initial contribu- tion appearing Monday (14) under the title 'The Voice of Broadway.' Latter was the heading of Louis Sobol's column in the Journal before he started writing 'Broadway to Everyway,' Miss Kilgallen has been covering news events without special atten- tion to the woman's angle. Her most recent feature coverage was the Ger- man spy investigation. Journal an- nounced Miss Kilgallen's column with page ads, including an Insertion in the Dally News. Eleanor, a younger sister, is studying for th2 stage. PennsylvanlA Problem Wonder of Philly city rooms is where places are going to be found for the flocic of newsmen^ who went to work in Harrisburg for Pennsy's Little New Deal, when the new Re- publican administration takes over in January. Many newspapermen hold important post3 in the present Democratic setup, most of them han- dling publicity not only for the State, but for th6 Democratic State Com- mittee as well. Several are on the Govfernor's secretariat, while others are in administrative posts. . Those affected will include Nor- ma9 Macauley, formerly o( the Philly Daily News, who's on the Governor's staff; Bob King, of the Philly Bulletin, with same position; Jesse Lavehthol, of the Philly Rec- ord, Department, of Highways', pub- licity mah; John Park Lee, Philly Ledger & Record, Department of Banking;. Albert P.. Cejres, Philly Ledger, Department pf Welfare; Joseph Sexton, Philly Catholic Standard and Times, Insurance De- partmtot;:. Ralph Crpwier, Ledger. Labor and Industry Department; Allen £ckm.an, Ledger, Department of Revenue; John Sullivan, Ledger & Record, chief of the Bureau of Civil Liberties; Tom Shriver, Recdrd, De- partment of Health, and Jim Tighe, Inquirer, Department of Forests bnd Waters. than conventional book length and Macfadden will sell it for $1. When Macfadden Publications ac- quired the film fan mag, Photoplay, it also got as part of the purchase a couple of books by Sylvia of Hollywood, the beautifler. Books were "turned over to the Macfadden Book Co. for marketing. Volume on the Roosevelts, how- ever, is the first to be taken by Mac- fadden as a matter of choice. Will be marketed by Macfadden through the regular trade channels, unlike the works by Bernarr Macfadden, which are sold by mail only. History of N. E. Storm Picture book, 'New England Hurri- cane,' work of the Federal Writers' Project and published by Hale, Cush- man & Flint, of Boston, is one of the fastest and probably most complete dpcumentations of storm damage in America. When the storm broke. Dr. Frank Manuel, regional director of the proj- ect, obtained tele'graphic approval of the undertaking from Washington. Immediately assigned project's writ- ers to get complete material, even including verbatim. conversations. Material was assembled in the Bos- ton office and within five days an edited manuscript was turnied over to the publisher. Rapid publication was furtlier facilitated by use of oflf- set printing process; and 18 days after the storm passed presses began to roll. Large volume has over 300 pictures and they are so put together that they, follow the path of the storm. Te3(:t of more than 40,000 words tells a running story. Sponsor of the voliime, is the Poor Richard Associiates. Made up largely of New England scribblers, including : Sooth Tarkington, Van Wyck Brooks, Gladys Hasty Carroll and Dorothy Canfleld Fisher. Jttark Sullivan's 50th. Anal Mark Sullivan celebrates bjs 50th year as a newspaperman today (16) with a one-day return to the staff of the Daily Local News of West Chester,. Pa., On which he began his career. E. L.; MCKinstry, paper's editor for more than half a century and who gave Sullivan his first, job, will give him an assignment for the day.. Sullivan's anni wlll> be covered by the Philadelphia UP and AP" bu- reaus, with Charles O. Gorham, pub- licity chief for Doubleday, Doran, publisher of Sullivan's books, help- ing to spread, the news.. From a cub W a tiny . country daily, Sullivan has risen to be one of the foremost Washington corre spondents and historians. Still can't divorce himself entirely from the sticks^ however, and the iMark SuUl van of Washington, D. C, is also Mark Sullivan, of Avondale, Pa. Smyth Gets North,. Amer. Review Publishing activities- of J. H. Smyth are expanding rapidly since his acquisition* of the mag, The Liv- ing Age, a few months ago. Besides getting a new periodical. The Low- down, under way, he's just taken over the publishing and editorial duties of North American Review and, early hext year, additionally goes into book publishing under the imprint of Living Age . Books. Unlike the case of The Living Age, I^orth American Review deal is not a purchase by Smyth: It's still the property of the North American Re- view Publishing Corp. Smyth takes over . dual post of publisher and edi- tor; vdth the mag to be quartered with his The Living Age and The Lowdown; By this arrangement, John Pell, editor of the North American Re- view, and practically all of his aides are out. Only one to continue with the publication under Smyth is Joseph Auslander, poetry editor. Charles Angoff, former ed of the Amerimerk, and Quincy Howe, ed for Simon & Schuster, will be con- tributing editors. Plans not completely set as yet for the Living Age Books, but will be non-fiction only, mostly on national and international affairs. NEW PERIODICALS Siartlinr Stories Iat<est addition to the Standard Magazines string of pulps edited by Leo Margulies. To use science wonder stories, includ- ing a novel-length piece in each issue. Publication bi-monthly, as a starter, anyway. New detective mag, of the so- called true-detective type, being plotted by George Johnson. Title not decided upon as yet, and edi- torial appointments still to be made. Newcomer will likely be out shortly after the start of the new year. Pub- lishing headquarters in New York. Your Dreams, published by Hugo Gernsback as a companion mag to his Popular Medicine. A bi-monthly with Gernsback also editing. Cyrus Bern- stein managing editor, and Anne Crossen and C. P. Mason, associate' eds. Science .Facts, new digest mag, added to the chain of periodicals be- ing published by Rodale Publications. Third, digest issued from that house, other two, and of recent origin, be- ing Fact Digest and Everybody's Digest. Editor of Science Facts is J, I. Rodale, with Joseph Rodale and Hayden E. Norwood as associates. Strange Bomanoes to make its de- but with a January issue. Publisher is Strange Romances Publishing Co., actually a new affiliate of the Dell Publishing Co. West Peterson edit- ing. Publication of Strange Romances may b,e ahytjiing from monthly to quarterly, depending on .the new mag's reception. Three Americas, monthly review of events in North, Central and South America, to make its first appearance around Dec. 15. Published by Rudolf Mattesic with Virginia Creed the ed- itor. Originally proposed to call the mag simply. Americas, but title later deemed too close to the long-estab- lished periodical, America. Three Americas is first publishing venture for its sponsor. . The iDhamp, weekly, devoted to art oi fisticuffs. Published by Peter Vac- care^ who's also business manager, wjith Angelp Palange editing. Some- what larger than pocket size and to lell for a nickel in New York and 10c elsewhere. Jai Al»i News, first mag in this country, and in English, devoted to the recently importe4 sport. Pub- lisher is Antonio Rodriguez, who is also editing. Georgia Homestead, new political publication, direct outgrowth of last senatorisil election, in Georgia, will make its first appearance around Thanksgiving Day. Weekly sheet, whose policies will be formulated sdong strictly. New Deal lines, will be directed by leaders in unsuccess- ful campaign of U. S. Attorney Law- rence S. Camp to unseat U. S. Sena- tor Walter's. George, who was on purge list of President Roosevelt. Startling Stories is latest addition to. the chain of pulps published by Standard Magazines, Will carry the 'ThrUling' label of the Standard periodicals as a companion publica- tion to Thrilling Wonder Stories, Subject matter will be science fic- tion. Leo Margulies editing. Booksellers' Dinner Booksellers League of New York will hold the first of its new season dinners tonight (16) at the Aldine Club, with Frank Case, Algonquin host and recently turned book au- thor, Mackinlay Kantor, Daniel Eisenberg and William McFee as guests of honor. League, which seeks to improve the book trade, holds five dinners a year. Prominent scribblers and other notable's are'generally invited to the meeting ground for the trade. Elliott B. MacRae, of Dutton's, is prexy of the league. Omaha Tab Expanding Omaha Post, weekly tab now two months old, will go semi-weekly starting Nov. 22. David Blacker, publisher, hopes to go daily early in 1939. Pro-Roosevelt Post is trying to cut in on local field, held solely by Omaha World-Herald. Macfadden Book Co. Expanding Macfadden Book Co., one of the many publishing enterprises of Ber- narr Macfadden, which has. pub- lished the works of the physical cul- ture exponent exclusively, is taking a flyer with a non-Macfadden book k& a feeler for expansion. If it shows any sales power, likely that the Macfadden Book Co. will go in for general publishing. Book with which Macfadden will experiment is "These Amazing Roosevelts,' written by William L. Stidger. A family sketch, it's less Penn. Pub Goes to Congress John J. McDowell, publisher of Wilkinsburg Gazette in suburban Pittsburgh, won a seat in Congress at last week's general election, beat- ing another newspaper owner, James L. Quinn, who puts out BraddoCk Journal. McDowell, a Republican, calls himself the 'country editor' and this is the .first time, he's ever run for national public office. Walter L. Bouve, Jr., copyreader on Pitts- burgh Post-Gazette, ran a poor third in his race, for a seat in the House, but his Independent candidacy took enough votes away from GOP nomi nee to swing election in that district to Democrat candidate in close fight. Another Western Pennsylvania newspaperman, Hiram Andrews, edl torial writer on Johnstown Demo crat, was elected to Pennsylvania state assembly by an overwhelming majority on Democratic ticket. Sobol, Corum Get New Pacts Coincident with the N. Y. Journal American signing Dorothy Kilgallen to do a Broadway column from the femme slant, Louis Sobol was given a two-year contract by the Hearst paper. This ■ supplements another pact Sobol has with King Features for his Voice of New York stint, now a combination New York letter, in the O. O, Mclntyre tradition, and Sobol's own previous Broadway cov- erage. Some 94 dailies now buy Sobol from King Features. BiU Corum was another to re- ceive a new two-year pact from the Journal. articles and the moral rights of authors present Innumerable prob- lems. Two volumes by Ladas give as complete a picture of these prob- lems in their international rami- fications as possible. First volume analyzes and pre- sents in great detail international regulations and protection of copy- right and related problems on the basis of the International Copyright Convention, Pan-American Copy- right Convention and national laws of the various countries. Second volume gives a thorough exposition of the copyright law in the United States, Law as estab- lished by a large body of court de- cisions is analyzed and discussed critically, with cases cited. Important section deals exhaus- tively with international copyright relations of the United States and describes last stages of the move- ment for so-called accession of the United States to the International Copyright Union. Accession matter has been going on for the past SO years and anlysis of the problems in- volved gives complete picture of the sitation. Author is a recognized, authority on international law and spent five years on his work. Church's Anti-Dirt Drive Again Renewal of activities in the Al- bany Catholic Diocese's crusade against 'filth in print,' especially on newsstands, is signalized this week with meetings in Albany and Troy at which Bishop Edmund F.* Gibbons, a member of the board oiE bishops now engaged in a study of ways and means to make the movement effec- tive on a national scale, is presiding. The new diocesan director, the Rev. Charles Smith, called the meetings, to be followed by similar ones in other cities. The crusade, it Is an- nounced, will now progress to 'posi- tive means of encouraging the pub- lication and reading of the moi:e de- sirable type of literature.' Launched in the Albany Diocese last January, the crusade was cred- ited with some accomplishments in checking newsstand sales of porno- graphic story and picture magazine— more than 125 appeared on the 'banned' list. In Albany Jail sen- tences were meted out to several de- fendants. In recent months, the cru-; sade had not been so widely pub- licized. Michael Estrin Tarns Pub Michael Estrin, advertising exec, is entering the book publishing field as a sideline with the formation of the Progress Book Co. Wants to put out- a varity of non-fiction books of varying sizes and prices. Has two in preparation. Publishing experience of Estrin was gleaned through advertising campaigns for a number of publish- ers. Sees a good field for special- ized books and plans extensive cam- paigns for his. output. Look's Humor Buildup Look the picture mag, will build up its cartoon humor and has sent out a wide call for material. Seeks cartoons and gags for cartoons, also commissioning cartoons to illustrate gags. paying $35 for gag cartoons, $10 for gags ^or cartoons, and $20 for cartoons drawn to illustrate gags. Plan is to use a number of cartoons in each issue. Comprehensive Work on Copyright Of more than ordinary interest to writers, publishers and those en- gaged in practically every depart- ment of show business is Stephen P. Ladas' work 'The International Protection of liiterary and Artistic Property,' which Macmillan is pub- lishing. Only work in the English language which gives authoritative informa- tion on all questions involved in copyright, it's a tremendous affair in two volumes totaling 1,273 pages. Pointed, out by the author that pro- tection of radio broadcasts, films, music, performing rights, printed Goldberg Vs. Mlley Sol Goldberg, nation's No. 1 foot- ball fan and father of Marshall Gold- berg, nation's No. 1 gridder, is plenty burned at Jack Mlley for latter's ar- ticle on 'Galloping Goldbergs' in a recent Collier's. Elder Goldberg charges Miley misquoted him broadly, putting subject of article in a bad light In his home town. Elkins, W. Va., and on the U. of Pittsburgh campus as well. Goldberg prevailed on Chester Smith, sports editor of Pittsburgh Press, to help him out and Smith de- voted an entire column last week stating Goldberg's side of story. Another Hearst Move the Hearst Corp. of Delaware, In publishing business, has filed its statement In Albany, N, Y,, showing a capital stock of $100,000,000 with shares listed as of $100 par. Gives New York address at 959 Eighth avenue. Martin Huberth is listed as vice-president. Setting up of this corporation to carry on the magazine publishing business of the Hearst Interests is one of the several separate.corpora- tions being presently formed in or-» der to set the Hearst estate in order. By doing this Hearst hopes to be able to leave the bulk of his fortune intact in the event of death. PrOv. Dem. Weekly Folds Rhode Island Globe, Democratic weekly organ, with a mail circula- tion of more than 3,000, folded fol- lowing the defeat of the Democratic stage ticket Tuesday (8). About 15 workers were dropped. Sheet started in Providence last June to supply Democratic views, following closing of The Tribune, outgrowth of papers formerly owned by U. S. Sen. Peter G. Gerry and Walter E. O'Hara. Monthly Westerns Indication that the western novel is riding to high favor is furnished by the new project of Doubleday, Doran of issuing a monthly series of books of that type under the label of Double-D Westerns. Undertaking will be similar to the same firm's Crime Club mystery books, instituted 10 years ago. First of the Double-D Westerns will appear early in January, with a new one monthly thereafter. They'll be original stories and sell for $2. LITERATI OBITS OF THE WEEK Frank Frost, 01, editor of the Esk^ ridge, Kas., Independent, died be., hind the wheel of his automobila!' while iiriving on a street in Topeka Armistice night He apparently died of a heart' attack. Frost is survived by his wife, Mrs. Katherine Graham Frost, who aided him in publishing his paper. Mrs. Adolph Gross, 71, mother of Ben Gross, radio editor of the New York Daily News, died in Birming. ham, Ala., Nov. 3. CHATTER Rachel Field to the Coast. , Hendrik Willem Van Loon a grand- pappy again. Bennett (Random House) Cerf back from Spain. Bruno Lessing home for a spell from his vagabondla. Joseph Hillier doing research for a book on°Captain Kidd! -MUtoh Rich getting set on a new pamphlet publishing project, Mel Ruderman doing a novel and will call it 'Hollsrwood Visit,' New Yorker readying a profile of Meyer Davis, orch leader and man- ager. Bruce Crawford new West Virginia state director of the Federal Writer's Project. parolyn Wells has more than 150 books to her credit, 30 in the last 10 years alone. Meyer Berger back on the staff of N. Y. Times after a brief sojourn at the New Yorker. Louis Bromfield back from Europe and will join his family, which pre- ceded him to Ohio. Edna Ferber's autobiog to appear between book covers in February, Entitled 'A Peculiar Treasure.' Macmillan ha brought out "Pro- fessional Writing,' by Walter S. Campbell, otherwise Stanley Vestal. Willett, Clark has brought out 'A Handbook of Drama,' by FranU Hurl- burt O'Hara and Marguerite Harmon Bro. Bill Glasses have just cradled a girl. Father's art promotion director for Hearst's Sun-Telegraph in Pitts- burgh. Havey Boyle, sports editor Pitts* burgh Post-Gazette, has Iseen hospi- talized for observation of intestinal disorders. GOP.victory In Pennsylvania wilt cost Ted Pendergast, former Pitts- burgh political writer, his job as Governor Earle's private secretary. Fawcett reducing the price of Me- Chanix Illustrated from 15c to 10c beginning with the February issue. Will then be the sole 10c mag in the mechanical field. Two of four existing vacancies in membership of American Academy of Arts and Letters filled by election of Willa Gather and Stephen Vincent Benet at annual meeting. Muriel Babcock, editor of Picture Play, has gone to the Coast for a lookover of the studios and confer- ences with Ted Magee, western edi- tor of the Street & Smith mag. Marvin McCord Lowes will come over from London next month on his honeymoon. Was with a number of New York book firms before taking charge of the London bureau of Readers Digest Assn. Building and equipment of Tel- fair, Ga., Free Press went ilp in smoke Friday (11) just as paper was preparing to go to press with weekly edition. Grover C. Wooten, editor and publisher, said his loss included considerable new equip- ment recently installed. Latest additions to the ranks of the New York miniature book publishers are Edmund Grantz , and Joseph Starobln. Calling themselves the New Age Publishers, with Grantz as manager and Starobln as editor. Lat- ter was. previously identified with a mag called Youth Champion. Because of a contemplated exten- sion of its publishing activities, Arco Distributing Co. is undergoing a change in name to Arco Publishing Co, Will be indicative of the fact that the firm will concentrate its ac- tivities on publishing books and pamphlets of a specialized nature. National League of American Pen Women, Connecticut Pioneer Branch, will give a testimonial luncheon to Flora Mai Holly Nov. 18 in Green- wich, Conn. Affair will be a token of appreciation for the series of book luncheons sponsored by Miss Holly, whereby residents of Connecticut have been able to meet numerous literateurs. . Some AP switches send Paul Mickelson, of the New York sports staff, to Kansas City as editor of the news bureau there. He succeeds Charles H. Kline, who comes to the N. Y, cable desk looking toward entry into the foreign service. Edwin H. Gooding, of the Albany bureau, becomes Buffalo correspon- dent, replacing E, D. Fales, trans- ferred to the N. Y. news photo staff.