Variety (Feb 1939)

S2 VARIETY LITERATI Wednesday, February 22, I939 Collier's Project Stymied Unsettled international conditions have brought a halt to so-called Collier's World-Wide Project, hy which it was planned to give Collier mags international publication- Idea not abandoned, but will have to wait for more settled times. Plan, in which Collier's, the week' ly, was to figure as a starter, was to get regional republishers in various capitals of the world, Page proofs of each issue of the mag were to be forwarded by the speediest means to each republisher, who, supplement- ing each issue with local advertis- ing, was to use photo offset process for .republication in his particular country. Figured that Collier's could by this means get simultaneous publication in other countries of the world, or where the republication arrange- ment could be worked out. With English now an international lan- guage, plan's sponsors saw reader Interest international. Lorlmer Back to Mar Graeme Lorimer has become fic- tion ed of Ladies Home Journal, succeeding Katharine Newlin Burt, who quits to devote all her time to scribbling. A former associate ed of the mag, Lorimer also served in the same ca- pacity on the Satevepost, which his noted parent, the late George Hor- ace tiorinver, edited for years. For- mer quit the Journal originally to devote his time to writing. Will of elder Lorimer, filed recent- ly, left aroimd $10,000,000 to ^is family. Specializing in art books on the other side, Bards will follow pretty much the same publishing policy over here. Asks 2SeG Libel from AF John Ward, a Nesv York dancing Instructor, has filed suit against the Associated Press for $250,000, claim- ing he was labeled and damaged in the news association's stories on the suicide of John Warde from the Gotham hotel. New York, early last summer. According to the com- plaint, AP spelled the suicide's name as Ward instead of Warde. Ward's complaint alleges that the AF's releases damaged his reputa- tion nation'ally, causing him to lose many students. Honor Avlhors National Book Awards of the American Booksellers Assn., made last week at Book and Author Luncheon at the Hotel Astor, New York, presided over by Clifton Fadi- man, went to The World Was My Garden,' by David Fairchild,, named The Booksellers' Discovery; 'Bebec- ca,' by. Daphne du Maurier, picked as Booksellers' Favorite Novel; "Lis- tenl the Wind,' by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Booksellers' favorite non- fiction, and 'With Malice Toward Some,' by Margaret Halsey, most original book. Only Miss Halsey accepted her award in person, other authors being out of the city. Miss du Maurier'ac- cepted prize from London, address? ing audience by transatlantic phone. Stackpole Bushes Hitler Book Determination of Stackpole Sons to go ahead with its publication of unexpurgated edition of Hitler's *Mehi Kampf,' despite suit of Hough- ton Mifflhi that it has exclusive rights to the work in the U.S, has decided latter to apply for tem- porary injunction. this week. Stackpole, which claims the work Is public property here because of a number of technicalities, has notified the book trade its edition of 'Mein Kampf will be out Tuesday (28). Houghton Mifflin edition, to be pub- lished in association with Reynal & Hitchcock, won't be ready until March, hence the temporary injunc- tion in an effort to head ott tha Stackpole edition. I Knleht'a Tab Knight's Takeover Growing interest In photography prompting Knight Publishers, subsid of Dial Press, to undertake the Knight Photographic Library. Will be devoted solely to books on pho- .tography,. with. Herbert C McKay, Aaron Sussman and Sidney G. Phil lips as editors. Two books already set for the new series, 'How to Take Pictures at ■Night' and 'Ideas Into Pictures.' Starting All Over Ajaln George and Julius Bard, whose Bard Verlag was a prominent Ger' man publishing house in Berlin in pre-Nazl days, are starting in all over again in the U. S. as specialized English-language book publishers. Have opened offices in N. Y. as Bard Bros, and as a starter are getting out "New York in Etchings,' volume containing reproductions of etchings of the big town by Anton Schultz. Theatre Leafne's Mag Folds Theati-e Workshop Magazine has suspended publication, pending at- tempted financial reorganization. Will be ' determined within next month whether mag gets hoped-for new finances to continue or stays dead. Editorial staff, headed by Mark Marvin, is sticking around, ready to resume when and if the coin comes through. Mag is under the sponsorship of the New Theatre League, stage group. V Esqnlre Settles Libel Suit ■ Action brought by Arthur Leonard Ross, an attorney, against Esquire, Inc., for $100,000 libel was discon- tinued in the N. Y. federal court, and a satisfaction of judgment filed Claimed libel involved an article by Frank Scully, published in the Au- gust, 1936, issue of Esquire. Federal Judge Murray Hulbert granted him a $500 damage award on May 3, 1937, which award was reversed in the Circuit Court of Ap- peals on Jan. 26, 1938, and a new trial ordered. Meantime it was set- Ued. No More Sex Harry Stephen Keeler, the editor, notifying contribbihg scribblers of Story Book Magazine that it wants no more sex stuff, and is returning to its original field as 'A Magazine tor Iconoclasts.' Founded nearly 40 years ago, mag early went in for strong sex fiction plus art, and Inspired a host of copy- ists. That type of mag, however, has been on the wane in the last few years, NEW PEBIODICALS Win, monthly digest-size mag of contests, oiffers $5,000 in cash awards each month in 15 contests ranging from fiction to cartoon gag lines. Henry Clay Gipson, William Hamil- ton Gibson, William Wlster, Wil- liam B. Mosle and Mary Frances Field,, are publishing. Wister is the son of novelist Owen Wister. Host—the Magsxlne of Home En- tertainment finally decided upon as the title of the class mag to be pub- lished by Bert Garmise. Makes its quarterly first appearance March 22 and will sell for 50c. Frank Casters editing. Gatmise recently resigned as circulation manager of Scribner's and as official of Harlan Logan As- sociates to publish on his own. Crime Confessions being readied as companion mag to Crime Detec- tive, published out of the offices of Hillman-Curl, the book house. To cany the first-person accounts of those Involved in crime. Lionel White, ed of Crime Detective, addl- tlonally serving in the same capac- ity tor the new mag. Tolerance is in preparation on the Coast. As title Indicates, mag will fight for tolerance both here and abroad. Publication offices in Hol- lywood. KoUnd KlUlngswortli has halted publlca'tion of his Greenwich Village (N,' Y.) mag. Escort, and in asso- ciation with John Hermansader will bring out a new weekly to be called Ticket, to encompass the Village, Times Square and East 50's. Hamor Digest, sponsored by Bet- ter Publications, affiliate of Thrilling Magazines. Mostly reprints from College Humor, of latter chain, and edited by Robert A. Pines. LITEBA'n OBITS THIS WEEK Dr. Clark F. Ansley, 69, editor-ln- chlef of the Columbia University Press and of 'the Columbia Encyclo- pedia,, died Feb. 14 at his home in Solebury, Pa., after an ilhiess of several months. In 1921 he became editor of The. New State, labor paper, later becoming an editor for Macmillan, Encyclopedia Britannica and G. & C. Merriam Co. Subse- quently established Columbia Uni- versity Press editorial department. Widow, son and daughter survive. John Cntler, 71, retired associate managing editor of the Boston Eve- nhig Transcript, died Feb. 19 at his home in NewtonviUe, Mass.^ Joined the Boston Herald in 1887, working his way up to assistant city editor. Became makeup editor of the Tran- script in 1905, and named associate m.e. of that daUy In 1928. Retired six years ago. Survived by his widow, brother and three sisters, Montagn Wetmore Worthley, 67, formerly automobile editor of the N. Y. Post and previously on the old N. Y, Herald and N. Y. Globe, died Feb. 19 in New York as a result of injuries suffered in an auto acci- dent two weeks ago. CHATTER John.Eiskine to Miami Leisure, the mag, has quit Thomas Mann set for a coast-to- coast lecture tour. Gilbert Dennler back in N. Y. after three years in London, i Regina Cannon looking over Hollywood for Modern Screen. Laura Krey at work on a hew novel at her home in St. Paul Waldo Frank joins Doubleday, Doran list with a new novel In May. : Lyman Beecher Stowe Is the new prez of the Authors Club of New. York. Editorial Service formed by Ed- ward F. McSweeney, Jr., to service publishers, /Oman's Press Club celebrates Its SOth anni with a luncheon Saturday (25) at the Hotel Astor, N. Y. Jim Keeney, Philadelphia Record columnist, has been elected presi- dent of Philly's Pen and Pencil Club. The new novel by W. SJomerset Maugham, 'Christmas Holiday,' goes into Redbook before book publica- tion. Alfred V. Willard ' bound for Chile:, recent earthquake there hav- ing given him an idea for a new novel. Ursula Parrott will wed again, prospective groom, being A. Coster Schermerhorn, socialite literary agent. Bliss Lomax, billed as author of Colt Comrades,' is really Harry Sin- clair Drago. Gordon Cobbledick, of the Cleve- land Plain Dealer sports staff, has a piece on the Yankees in the current Collier's. Munro Leaf, who parented 'Ferdi- nand the' Bull,' a real father this time. Mother is the former Margaret Butler Pope. Derek White has bought In on The Pilot, aviation mag, and plans a number of changes, including alteration in format Louis Zara has signed a contract with Houghton Mifflhi to do a novel about ; the Great Lakes region pioneers. He lives in Chi. Wetzel Publishing Co. bringing out 'Twhikle, Twhikle, Little Stars of Hollywood,' containing biogs and autographs of the screen juves. Roger Fawcett of those mags, who holds the national amateur trap- shooting championship title, on a tournament tour through Florida. Mag, Book and Films, published on the Coast has been acquired by HoUjrwood Spectator, and goes Into the latter as a special department Gertrude Atherton got back to Frisco in time for the celebration of ■Gertrude Atherton Day* at the World's Fair there yesterday (21). Roger Pippett-book crick of the London Daily Herald, gets in on the Queen Mary tomorrow (Thursday) for a gander at the American-book biz. Wessel Smitter sold the English and German rights to his novel, 'F.O.B. Detroit,' to J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., and Deutsche Verlags- Anstalt New Beverly Nichols novel, "Re- vtie,' to be published in the sum- mer. Is about a musical revue from its Inception to its flrst-:iight pres- entation. Etnest O. Hauser off to Manila to execute scribbling assignments for Readers' Digest N. Y. Times, Sur- vey, Graphic, Travel and other publications. Joseph Harrhigton, on the N. Y. Journal American until recently, now selling short stories regularly to the Satevepost Red Book and other leading mags. Arthur D. Howden Smith Is putthig the finishing touches to 'Mr. House of Texas,' the life of CoL House, to be published in June by Funk & Wagnalls. William Harlan Hale, who founded the Yale undergraduate paper. The Harkness. Hoot will have his first novel, 'Hannibal Hooker,' published by Random House. 'Glamour,' Conde Nast's new Hollywood mag, goes to press with more than 60 pages of paid adver- tising oiit of a total of 130 pages in 'its &ist issue, out March 3. Thomas L. Garrett writer and lecturer, filed a bankruptcy petlUon in the N. Y. federal court Feb. 16, listing liabilities of $8,526, assets of $65, in property in trust Leon G. Turrou's book, 'Nazi Spies in America,' has been approved by the British government Expose was ghost-written by David K, Wittels, of the Phllly Record staff. Eyre and Spottlswoode, Ltd., have taken British publication rights to Robert Penn Warren's novel, 'Night Rider,' even before its U. S. publica- tion. Warren did the book on a Houghton Mifflin literary fellpwship. $200,000 Tyro Legit (Continued from page 49) fortune. But more than that since the death of stock, the college and little theatre groups have become al most the sole training ground for actors, directors, technicians, play Wrights, etc. For instance, there are a surprising number of ranking Hollywood actors who started in college dramatic outfits. Tljere also an imposing list of writers who received their. theatrical education in the. late George Pierce Baker's classes at Yale. Bnlld Legit Andlenee Part played by little theatre groups in building audiences for Broadway is being appreciated more and more by professipnal showmen Similar factor is even more In evi dence on the road. With films and radio deemed as growing threats to legit, the work of little theatre groups is regarded as vital toward retaining public interest in the stage. This function of the little theatres in keeping alive public interest in the stage is viewed as having still another, though less tangible effect That Is, it provides a broader base for subject matter for playwrights, Explained that since the professional theatre has shrunk to little more than Broadway,, the tendency of dramatists has been to write plays of purely New York appeal. But with a host of little theatre groups active all over the country and con tributing a sizeable : revenue. in royalties, the playwrights naturally are more inclined to deal with more general subject matter, In a way, then, amateur dramatic groups tend to become the national theatre of the U. S. Certainly they occupy a place of Importance to a vastly greater public than does the Brpadway stage. And they are virtually the only way by which old plays are kept alive. . 2«% Pay Boyalties Although the total number of amateur theatrical imits in the corni' try is estimated at around 200,000, those carrying on a regular schedule over a season is merely a fraction of that figure. Of the established groups there are vartous classiflca> tions, but it Is estimated that only about 20% of tha grand total pay royalties for the plays they use, Others' use revivals of classics, orig- inal plays, royalty-free potboilers or (in isolated instances) give pirate performances. Most important of the established amateurs are the college and little theatre groups, tha so-called high' brow outfits. They number about 2,000, as compared to the maxhnum of 250 or 300 companies In existence in the heyday of stock. They give virtually every typa of play and production (including many experl mental ventures tha^ professional show business would never dare at tempt), offer a surprising number of artistically worthwhile perform- ances, pay a steady return in royal ties, employ a fairly larga number of professional workers and serve as an important training ground for Broadway and Hollywood. Not only are many graduates from this field now prominent in pictures and legit but filni scouts regularly cover the ground for talent. Besides the above classifications, there are highschool groups, church and club organizations and the in- dustrial outfits. It is esttanated that there are about 24,000 hlghschoo) units and 45,000 Protestant church groups, with the total for the entire category placed at aroimd 100,000. However, the chief practical value of these organizations is that they provide a feeding ground for the college and little theatre groups and help maintain public interest in the legitimate theatre. But the quality of their productions is low and the income in royalties is greatly limited. Third classification, of little inter- est to professional show business, or even to the college and little the-- atre groups, but numbering possibly another 100,000, are the groups con- nected with industrial or commercial firms, the secondary or elementary school outfits and a multitude of other miscellaneous classifications. Few of these organizations employ any professional workers, few pay any royalties and probably not many charge admission. But even the low- est-grade amateur outfit is believed to have at least a slight effect on the professional legitimate theatre, since anyone who participates in productions or attcrids performances would presumably be a prospective playgoer for Broadway shows, either in New York or on the road. Extent, and financial magnitude of the amateur field Is indicated by the fact that there are 23 members of tha National Play Publishers' Assn. the trade group of the amateur 'play business. Estimated that there are 500 new plays published yearly 1q. eluding fuU-length plays, one-aclerj and shorts, and cheapies (potboilers Intended for the third-rate market) Samuel'French, for many years the dominant company In the field, no longer has a stranglehold . on' the business, but it still has the largest play list and is the most active. Al- though the flrmi has neveir revealed the volume of its. revenue or any of its business affairs, it employs around 100 people in its New York, Los An- geles and Toronto offices. French formerly bought most playi outright paying dramatists a flat fee, but the entry of the Dramatists Play Service, Inc. (offshoot of the Drama- tists Guild), Into the field several years ago brought about a radical readjustment in the business. Fact that the Dramatists Play Service takes plays on a royalty basis, charg- ing 20% tot operating expense, com- missions, etc., has forced French and the other firms to liberalize terms to meet competition. Authors con- sequently are able to obtain much more liberal income from their ama- teur rights than formerly. Although it has a much smaller list than French, DPS has managed to obtain most of the leading Broadway plays of recent seasons and its royalty col- lections have risen rapidly. Firm collected $44,000 in amateur royalties the first full year and will almost double that for the second year end: ing next Juiie. In general, royalties range from $5 to $50 per perform- ance. ' Example of the amount of income there may be from amateur royal- ties is 'You Can't Take It With You.' Comedy, which was the biggest money-maker George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart have had, grossed well over $1,000,000 in two years on Broadway, piled up around the same amount on the road and. added $200,- 000 from the film rights. Play is figured likely to earn at least $200,- 000 more from . amateur perform- ances. DPS will retain 20% com- mission and the authors will split the remahting 80% with Sam H. Harris, the producer, during the next three years, retaining all there- after. Flops Tarn Profits Many plays that flop on Broad- way prove big grossers in the ama- teur field. As an example, 'Where Do We Go from Here?' folded after a brief run at the Vanderbilt N. Y., early this season, but is expected to - be a fairly good money-maker in college groups because of its fra- ternity house locale and subject mat- ter. Although the play opened on a Wednesday night the DPS received query about the amateur rights by the following Friday. Growing Interest among little the- atre workers has caused the Au- thors League of America (in whose offices the DPS is hoiised) to change its traditional jralicy of working a - five-day week. Although the office is dosed for Authors League and Dramatists Guild business, several, employees come in Saturdays to re- ceive the steady stream of amateur theatre workers seeking Information about plays and production problems. Besides sponsoring a booklet 'Stage Practice,' DPS serves as a clearing house for all manner of production problems and methods. Among the principal college and little theatre groups and their lead- ers are the University of Washing- ton (Glenn Hughes), Hedgerow the- atre (Jasper Deeter), Pasadena play- house (Gilmore Brown), Iowa Uni- versity (E. C. Mabie), Princeton (Hoyt H. Hudson), Olevisland Play- house (Frederick McConnell), North- western University (Garrett H. Leverton), University of Miiinesota (A, Dale ^ley), Syracuse Univer- sity (Sawyer Palfc), Bbstdh Play- house, Vassar Experimental theatre, Yale Workshop (Walter Pritchard Eaton), Cornell,. Seattle Repertory Playhouse, Plttsbwgh Playhouse, Birmingham Little Theatre and DartmoUfh College (where the Dramatists Guild will sponsor a summer drama festival). Coast's New Play Los Angeles, Feb. 21. RusseU Hicks is slated to direct 'Not With Trumpets,' new play by John Entenza, which gets a tryout at the Uplifters here March 5. Play is Intended for a Broadway production next fall.