Variety (Jul 1939)

STAGE PRICB 25^ Costs NBC $1 Per Day Per Set? Current estimates mention that It Is costing NBC $1 a day per television set now In use In the New York area. This figure takes in cost of program vChedules. 'Also expected that this cost will Increase as the number of programis Increase. Number of sets now In use In the N. Y. metropolitan area |s|plac<vl at around 600. N; Y. Fsur's May Beefs 1^ Is ^ Biit Tom^b Have Own Reasons Why They refuse to give • sucker a break.' That, In a nutshell. Is the major answer the out-of-towners have to the complaints of disappointing busi- ness on the midway at the New York World's Fair. Questioned on the expo grounds and at hotels, the visitors reveal one thing—they are not the hicks the concessionaires . would make of them. They resent the Im- plication, too. Whether It's radio, films or rapid transportation that has wised them VP, the folks from back home are much less ready to part with their coin than they used to be. Not that they expect a sucker should he given an even break at a lair—they've been to too many of the county variety for that — but they want at least a minor break. There's the same cry from ell the visitors. They've gone into one con- cession or maybe two.: And they've been disappointed. So they go to their hotels early and rest up to see more of the Industrial exhibits the next day. And the next night they figure they'll take a squint at Broad- (Continued on page 55) New Sports Trend hto Wide-Open Spaces Being Furthered This Sonnner Chicago, July 4. Flock of standard Indoor winter •ports, plus some new ones in which the masses have never before in- dulged on any large scale, are blossoming in the fresh air this sum- mer. Taking place throughout the country, veteran showmen view this trend to the open spaces only as a continuation of the post-war ten- dency by the public to take an ac- tive part in sports, Instead of sitting on the -sidelines as spectators. Most unusual of the cold weather exercisers to come out under the stars and floodlights are bowling and ping-pong. The open-air tenpin al- leys are making their debut in the midwest this year and meeting with such a splurge of coin It is expected they soon will be copied through- oujt the country. Ping-pong is mak- ing its outdoor preem on a com- mercial basis and likewise hitting heavy trade. liOng famUlar to co-eds and kids in summer camps, a new sport mafc ing its bow to the mobs this sum- (Continued on page 12) Home-Town Biffing Lynchburg, Va„ July 4. Two locals who made good In Hollywood are appearing here in fihns this week, but not under their screen. monikers. Lynn Bari is biUed as Peggy Fisher, and John Trent as Laveme Browne. Their former pals know them better that way. Starring Arllnffton Brngh Beatrice, Neb, July 4. This Is Robert Taylor's hometown. When Taylor pics play, he's billed as Arlington Brugh, his rJi. JULY WILL TELL BfAY LEGIT BO. STORY With the passing of the Fourth, what may be the crucial period for Broadway in relation to the World's Fair this summer may be discerned, Attendance trend after this week should decide whether there will be resumed engagements in legit spots. Of four planned relightings. The American Way' Is the only one dated to restart at the Center, July 17. Advertising of . that event will not commence until next week. Business during June was heart- ening after the long slump that started at Easter and then dived during the Fair's first four or five weeks. Despite more favorable weather to the outdoors, grosses con- tinue to be distinctly satisfactory, but managers who suspended their at- tractions want to be shown that the upturn is here for the balance of the summer. There is as yet no change In Indications that the 1939-40 season will get a late start as earlier, pre dieted. Most producers are in New York watching for trends, but more particularly looking for scripts.-Few showmen are definite about the pro- ductions they will do, and only a few definite bookings have been made, Completion of the new agreement whereby Hollywood will again back Broadway shows may result in a September spurt. OF 'HARD TIMES' Federal Co>mmunic«Jkion CommiMion's AnitlytU. of Figures, tor 1938..Empha- sizes That Broadcasting Industry Is America's Greatest 'Success Story' of the Depression break-;down Just as the radio industry is about to begin its 17th annual trade asso- ciation convention (in Atlantic City, July 10-13) figures based on'official audits by the Federal Communica- tions Commission provide a' new close-up picture of the amazing suc- cess'story of broadcasting which is easily the -fiscal marvel tt "hard times'. Bearing lil oiind that in 1929, when Wall' Street did its humpty-dumpty act; radio was not a decade old, that NBC had been started In 1926 and CBS in 1927, that it was all new and Without prece- dent, and that America has had 10 years of tough sledding since, the sheer success of the radio business is amazing. ' In terms of Income and profit as related to plant and. capital invest- ment the figures take on added shim- mer comparable to war-time takings by munitions-makers. And. the out- look for the fall of 1939 is even bet- ter than the figures here reported. A total net profit for the broadcasters of $19,000,000 is the 1038 taUy. The profit figure for the industry as a whole is offset by reports that 240 stations 'lost money.' This loss was about $10,000 each or an aggre- (Contlnued on page 32) 52 Pictdres m Work, 35 Being Readied, H'wood Plenty Busy Hollywood, July 4. With 52 pictures shooting and 35 in preparation to go before the cam- eras, studios are hard put for enough technical help to keep their units rolling. All crafts are report- ing a heavy run on workers. Extras are also dipping into the gravy and the Screen Actors' Guild reports the biggest June In five years. Over $350,000 was passed out for 32,000 jobs last month with no letup in sight Film editors report less than 3% of Its 900 mem- l>ers are imasslgned; utility employ- ees have 700 working double shifts; 2,500 carpenters are on the job and other crafts are similarly deluged with work. lATSE has been forced to put on extra help to handle the calls. Cur- rent production boom is expected to carry through July and. part of Au- gust SAG Curbs Gifts by Extras tolxecs, Directors; I Got a Horse and Saddle Picketing A La Mode Philadelphia, July 4. New uses for radio seem never-ending. Pickets at a manufacturing plant here take turns carrying one of those new portablei to keep themselves amused.. NEWWAR SCARE UPSETS ANGLO FILMMARKET Threatetilng situation In central 'Europe, particularly its effect on dis- tribution In Great Britain If Eng- land goes to war, was dlsctlssed in detail by Hays bfflce directors last Friday (30) when they met In an adjourned session of the regular quarterly meeting. After long dis- tance phone talks with London of- fice, film execs fear that the situa- tion already is regarded as more omnlous than even last September. Will Hays also explained the setup whereby the film - Industry would send out Hollywood gossip on short- wave broadcasts over National and Columbia Broadcasting networks. Harry Buckley, chairman of the organization's television committee (C. C. Moskowitz and Paul Rai- boume, other two members), sup- plied an interim verbal report on progress made in surveying the tele- vision situation, especially as it af- fects the Industry. The progress being made on relief and security for the film business also was reported on. A committee consisting of George J. Schaeter, Barney Balaban and J. H. Hazen, named at the preceding directors' meeting, will continue to survey the situation. Screen Rights for Only 10 Years, New Wrinkle Hollywood, July 4, Rights to 'Captain Caution,' the Kenneth Roberts best-seUer sea story of several years ago, have been ac- quired by Hal Roach on a imique leasing arrangement Deal gives the studio a $5,000' option to take up the rights within six months for an ad- ditional reported $20,000. Novel phase of the contract Is that the rights are for only 10 years, after which they revert to the author. Unless Roach renews his lease, even the prints of the pictures must be destroyed at the end of the 10-year term and Roberts may again dispose of the story in any way he chooses, 'Caution' Is a timeless yarn, dealing with the War of 1812, hence the 10- year clause is important Hollywood, July 4. The Screen Actors Guild plans to place a ban on presentation ot gifts by extras to dhrectors and other film executives. A resolution has been Introduced in the SAG Council pro- viding for an Amendment to the Guild by-laws prohibiting collection of fimds by or from extras on stu- dio sets or location, Council Is ex- pected to approve measure next week and send it to SAG board ot directors'tor okay. Decision to offer resolution to stop old practice ot collecthig funds from extras, in order . to buy gifts tor members of company, was reached after a recent location Incident whea players were called upon to buy a horse and saddle tor the director in charge of the company. While the director had no knowledge the fund was being raised, players complained they felt compelled to contribute. Council spent several hours dis- cussing move at Its last meeting. It was pointed out thai players were recently called upon to kick in with contributions to buy a $125 watch for another player^ who was later suspended on a charge of acting as. a runner. SAG tops take the posi- tion the extra is entitled to every protection, since the earnings of the majority are rather small and much of that must be spent to maintain S wardrobe. Threatened break In negotiations between SAG and Artists Managers (Continued on page 21) B Vay May Again See A 'Scandals/Canities; Tollies'at Same fnne With George White in rehearsal with a new 'Scandals,' Broadway will likely see the reappearance ot another formerly prominent revue. Earl Carroll's 'Vanities' which is due In the fall. Carroll planed In from Hollywood Monday (3) and con- ferred with Lee Shubert on a house. There is a possibility, however, that Carroll's original theatre site will be made available. It Is now known as the Casa Manana, so named by Billy Rose for his cabaret-theatre supper spot It Is now dark, business hav- ing dived when the World's Fair opened, so Rose quit Carroll Is operating a somewhat similar cafe In Hollywood, which opened last Christmas. He proposes combining two editions ot his nitery shows as a new 'Vanities,' stating that productions, costumes and other equipment are adaptable to stage useage. Flo Ziegfeld was the originator ot costly revues, Carroll and White be- ing contenders for years. AU three disappeared because of drooping business and too costly productions. The 'ZlcTfeld Follies' is a listing for next season, under direction of the Shuberts, they having secured tha title rights several years ago.