Variety (Jul 1939)

' Wednesday' July 19, 1939 CHAFER ' VARIETY 45 Broadway Hazel Flynn due back from Holly-' vood Aug. 1. Boy Smart, Kiiicey-Wilby division manager, in town. Al Cliristie In from Coast to see B W. Hammons. John Cecil HoBnn is seriously ill in a Connecticut hospital. Jack liait and Damon Runyon col- labing on film scenario. Elmer Rice slated to return from Europe on clipper plane. Harry W. Conn back to HoUy wood; Goon returns to open office. Carmen Lombardo building a boat- 'house around his speed craft. Jay C. Flippen stepped out of character and got a hair cut Dr. Leo Michel got himself a dose of poison ivy over last weekend. Harry (Columbia prez) Cohn may do a q.L sneak to Europe on vacash. V Billy (MCA) Stein back to the FHsco expo after glomming the N.Y, Falft. Connie Freemaii, Jess* wife, in Queens hospital as result of flii in^ fectiqh. p<^ia Schtefer, of. Paramount's leg^department, left Saturday (15) fo/Havana. Dr. Saul .C. Colin, international play broker, Yankee Clippering to fiance on the Aug. 4 flight. E. Paul FliiUlps has moved his family to Wes'tport for'the summer, commuting up over "weekends. Ruth Golden, daughter of Eddie Golden, Monogram v.p.,- is taking the big leap with Laurence Witten. Gene Autry's horses were shipped to London Friday by- slow freight Their owner saljs next Wednesday. Only the niteries on those com- bination 'tours'look like they're do- ing biz, but it's chiefly cut-rate trade. . . Jack Sonn, London agent who's been- o.o'ing acts here, has completed negotiations and returns to England July 19. ' A. L. Burks, with Metro in' the Charlotte territory, in Mt. Sinai hos- pital; appendicitis and gall bladder operation. - Reported doing .aU right EtheT Merman may go Info the new ' Bert' Wheeler-Bert Lahr- Charlie Butterworth musical for Buddy DeSylva-Cole Porter. . Joe Moskowitz leaves for the Coast the end of the week for conferences with Darryl F..Zanick. Joe Schenck remaining east another week. Eddie. (Murph) McCaffery, Varie TV's circulation dept, saved Joseph Jefferson McCarthy Pierson, one of Wayne's kids, from drowning.' HT (Brooklyn Eagle) Gardner to the Coast on holiday and a possible flhn script sale, 'will sojourn with Art Arthur, ex-Eagle columnist 'Virginia Campbell (Clark) and Richard Clark, legit players, - have bought a place at FairQeld, Conn. Expect to have alterations finished by fall. Walter Wagner, le^t actor and stage manager, and Sydney Dank, fiction writer, have collaborated on a picture story, 'Secret of the Tropics.' Gladys Henso'n, London actress who last appeared on Broadway in 'Set to Music,' is coming to New York In the fall to reside here iier- manentl^. Georgie Price, actor-broker, who Is a resident of Miami Beach, will seek his divorce from Lorain Manners Price, who used to be in his act in the Florida courts. Probably the most diseonsblate group of showmen ever collectively assembled are those midway conces- sionaires. . They've run out of crying towels; noy using sheets for weeps. Ruby Norton, vet vaudeville single, doing a comeback at Bill Hardy'i Gay eOs, following Joe Howard, Ed- die Leonard, John Steel, Yvette Rugel, Bert Swor and Charles King previously. George Pierce, for more than 20 years stage-doorman at the Empire, N. Y., has .the same job at the (Coun- try playhouse, Westport Conn., this summer. It's the first time he'- "played* a strawhat stand. •Evelyn O'Connell, Par hostess for visiUng exhibs and informaUon agtot on the Fair, finds that many 01 em are as much Interested in f. Y. sights as they are in Whalen' expo. Sej-mour.Weiss, indicted in what Westbrook Pegler has dubbed 'the second Louisiana Purchase,' is wJc. among showfolk. Weiss has inter- est in the Behnont-Plaza (N.Y.) and Roosevelt (New Orleans) hotels. Times Sq, coffee-pots report breakfast biz up 200%, but off al- most as much thereafter, meaning "fn the midtown tourists scram right out to the Fair and seemingly ao all their eating in Flushing from luncheon pn. J «n Bemie's boy, Jason, a pro- auction assistant to Gregory Ratofl on the Coast roomed with Donald oaxon, the new tenor now with the maestro's band. Young Bernie spotted his roommate into his fetter's combo. Show bunch mulling the transat- lantic flight as an 'experience* idea, put general opinion is that it's one wing to be in a rush between N.Y. ana L.A., but an ocean 'voyage Is to oe preferred for more leisurely rest and lolling on a ship's deck. Since Fefe's Monte Carlo dented lis £1 Morocco, John Perona plans doing a costly facelift on his fash- ionable bistro, retaining only the dis- tinctive zebra motif, Norman Bel Geddes was consulted. Latter gave him a $100,000 estimate and Perona almost faiqted. Oscar Levant In for a couple' of days last week to see his mother. Mort Englands are back from their honeymoon at Niagara Falls. (Sene Kelly back home for a brief rest following-closing of 'One for the Money' in Chi. Jimmy Balmer's parents cele- brated their S8th wedding anniver- sary last week. Viola Ainmbn is the new- harpist with Lee Shelley's band, his third in less than a week. Dick Barstow in town for a couple of weeks giving hoofing lessons to yoting local hopefuls. Mrs. Ray. Wheeler, wife of State manager, coming around all right after major operation. John Maganotti has reopened 'Show Boat' at new location follow- ing month's shutdown. Playwright Al Golden dramatic counsellor this summer at a boys' camp in the Berkshires. Dancer Betty Nylander and. her father have pulled out for a couple of 'weeks in Atlantic City. Edward Gibbons has gone to Stockbridge, Mass., to summer-stQck at -the Berkshh« Playhouse. Dramatic critic Kap Monahan of Press off for Denver and bedside of seriously ailing mother-in-law. Father Flanagan has promised to come on from Boys Town for annual 'Variety clUb shindig in October. . Howard Dulany left Bill Marshall orch here over weekend to join Joe Reichman at Chi's Palmer House. Eda Toldi wiU be featured in 'Anl mal Kingdom' and 'Candlelight' at Mountain Playhouse, Jennerstown, Pa. Pittsburgh By Hal Cohen Betty Franklss, from "Me and My Girl,' wed her solicitor July 6. Sam Sax and Joe Ross (and Ben- nett) reminiscing at private luncheon. Henry Sherek to Zurich to see >lay .which he. wants to produce in !iOndonj p Sam Levene and Garson Kanin in Paris for coupla days, then London to cover the shows. Myma Loy spent only one day in London, accompanied by husband, Arthur Hornblow, Jr. Black and White: George Black, Jr., married' Joan White, non-profes- slona], in lAndon, July S. Johnny Nit to Australia to play in and also produce dances for Frank Neil's vaudeville units. Jack Payne taking out new vaude- ville unit in August which will be titled Xucky Dip,' a BBC radio title. The Tommy Trinders anxious to become dog racing owners, with Syd Hyams offering to sell them some of his racers. Bill Saal intends staying here six months, with' Sam Smith having fit- ted him an office in British Lion Films building. Herbert Yates, head of Republic Films, expected here Aug. 1, brii SL Louis By Sam X. Hnrst Helen Morgan booked for Brook- lyn club, east side nitery. Cliff WInehill to nvc. Variety club's golf tournament next month. George "No Coat' Fury died at Mt Saint Rose Sanitorium after brief ill'- ness, Davie Komm, owner of the Avenue, East St Louis, a patient at the Jew ish hospital. . Herb Buscbman, formerly with Grand National, has succeeded Leo Sullivan at booking desk for (>>lum bia. MrsTDSh. Ross, widow of Don Ross, mgr. of Loew's Bridgeport Conn., in charge of check room at Loew's local house. ■ ,. .. High winds forced cancellation of one performance of 'The Guardsman at Town Square theatre atop west end office building. , ■, ^. . Harold Bassage, aissistant durector of Berkshire Playhouse, Stockbridge, Mass., inked to direct St Louis School of the Theatre. WiU stert m falL Samuel Mayes, local violinist play- ing with the Philadelphia orchestra for past two seasons, has been upped to associate first desk man of the cello section. ,3 . , Johnny Perkins m.c.'d show in Municipal Auditorium for delegates to annual Elks' convention and then departed for Ft. Worth, Tex., to m.c, Casa Manna club for two weeks. • By Herb GoMen Warner zone meeting set for the Bellevue Aug. 15. Billy Hayes orch airing again on WIP from Cadillac tavern. Norman Ginsberg, publisher, m.c, on WPEN's 'VeryTruly Yours. Grand, South PhlUy, getting first date on finally-approved 'Assassin of Youth'. , Sam Myerow, Pacific manager for Mills Music, at his home here on a furlough. , ,. - J Horlacher picnic wS|S held Sunday at Kuglfif's. Mohican club on the Delawarfr Frank Capano, song publisher, managering Mary Senzeffa, eight year-old Chester moppet Frances Eatman back iii the Jack Lynch line after being out a week following a motor accident Jack Bruckner, RKO ad sales manager, returned Monday (17) from vacation near Utica, N. Y. .Maurice Gable, Boyd manager, re tiirns from vacash next Monday (24), Harry 'Tarrante subbing for him. Nat Levy and Bill McShea, of the RKO h.o, in town last week visiting Frank McNamee, local manager. Murray Arnold, WIP p.a., attended the NAB convention for lunch last Wednesday. Arrived 11 a.m., left ■ mSc Milder, formerly with the old Selznick exchange here, now with Warners in England, returning for short stay. ^ ^ Cal Core, chief inspector for the censor board, has resigned. He was an appointee of the former Demo cratic regime. London - . ng- ing Gene Autry with him. Intends staying six weelcs. Douglas Byng has joined the Bal Tabarin revue at the London Casino as an added attraction. Appearing only at the supper shows. London FaUadium management postponed Jack Durant three weeks out of town so as to keep bim In Jack Hylton's 'Band Waggon.' . Biggest gag of the week is the German government's spread in London dailies announcing: 'Come to Germany, the land of hospitality.' 'Printer's Devil,' a new play by R. F. Delderfield, being presented by Jack de Leon at 'Q' uieatre, star- ring Curigwen Lewis, Walter Hudd. 'nie Jack Hyltons' home robbed. Having got his 'Band Wagon' over at the Palladium, Hylton is figuring on a trip to New York end of this month. Joe Friedman, head of Columbia Films (London), back from Vittel, South of France, where he recupe- rated for four weeks after serious illness. Jack Forester's deal to make pic- ture starring Marlene Dietrich in English and French being held up as result of smash injuring Captain Richard Norton. Michael Balcon producing . at Ealing studios screen version of Rob- ert Morley's play, 'Goodness, How Sad,*' starring Cllve Broolc. Robert Stevenson will direct Lawrence Wright, the music pub- lisher, has rented from the anony- mous purchaser Epstein's statue of Adam. He wiU exhibit it at Black- pool, charging 25c a peep. John Barblrolll . married Evelyn Roth well at a London register-office July 5, Couple met when he -con- ducted the Scottish .National orch, in which the bride was playing. Paul Lucas starting in 'Chinese Bungalow,' being made at Beacons- field studios by British Lion Films, with Robert Douglas and Jane Bax- ter in support George King di- recting. George Barclay's new super' 2,500- seater, in South London, will be ready in SepteAiber. Theatre backed by Stanley Wooton, wealthy tetired horse trainer, and will play pictures and vaudeville. • - Maurice Chevalier finally set for South African season someUme . In December. Will head vaudeville unit with Nita Raye, currently play- ing opposite him at the Casino de Paris, Paris, and six acts, in sup- port Contract calls for eight weeks with options. The on-and-ofl deal between Jo- seph & Oliver and Mark Woolf to lease the Rialto is now. definitely on. Deal held up when J. fit O. found they had to invest $30,000 in repairs by order of London County Council, but despite extra expenditure boys take over in September. may make trip to New Zealand this spring. Bitterly cold weather is not help- ing biz any in New 'Zealand. Few legit shows going there nowadays from Australia owing to the mone- tary situation. Jan Rubinl is being held over by Hoyts for added time at Regent here. Meltiourne follows. Rubinl also do- ing a Sabbath broadcast over-com- mercial chain. Paris Basil Dean in from New - York. John McCormlck, of Leland Hay- ward, in town. Douglas Fairbanks and wife in from London.' Harold Smith, of the Will Hays or- ganization, dashed off to Switzerland on business. Opening of new Boulevard Cinema Le Francais, with 1,500 seats, set for early September. Rip to put on revue, 'L'Europe En Nazi^ CNazified Europe*), at Theatre Michel. September 15. Grace Moore, accompanied by hus- band, Dr. Valentin Parera, in from New York for annual visit "Confessions of a Nazi Spy' opened simultaneous^ (6) at the Max Un- der, the Apollo and Le Cesar. French papers report that Vsevolod Meyerhold, Russian pic director, been arrested by Soviet police. Jean Aragny, dramatic author, many of whose pieces written for the blood-curdling -Grand Guignol the- atre, is dead. His The KiUing Ma- chine' is presently showing there. Edward Stirling and his English Players.returning to Paris this week. Their next offering will be "The King's Arms,' a historical comedy by Sir John Pollock, English playwright, at the Theatre de I'Ocuvre. Berlin state okay necessary for shuttering theatres, even for brief period. ' Torch-lit court of Berlin castle re- sounds with traditional concerts. Japanese Teiko Kiwa doing 'Ma- dame. Butterfly' at Deutsches Opern- haus. Karl May's 'Old Shatterhand' again open-air performed, at Rathen near Dresden. . Edgar Klitsch from Konigsberg pulled directing assignment at Ber- lin State Opera. Two Italian pix, 'Carthago's Fall* and 'Three Women Around Verdi' preemed in one week. 'Fairytale of Justice,* comedy by Ladlslaus Fodor, aptly brought out at Jewish theatre her<. - Leni - Riefehstahl awarded Olym- pic diploma as suggested by American Deputy Avery Brundage. Helen Gulbransen, Norwegian dam- sel. New York born, debuting in Emil Jannings' Tobis pic, 'Robert Koch*. Sydney By Erie Gorrick Bernice Claire to U. S. 'Ice Follies' (M-G)'cold here. Dan Casey (Universal) taking va- cation trip to U. S. Richard Creoles concerting suc- cessfully in Melbourne 'Yes, My Darling Daughter' (WB) has already hit six weeks in Sydney for Hoyts. 'CapUin StarUghf (UA) will be given quick release at all spots. It's ah Aussie yarn. Anna May Wong is drawing nicely for Tivoli in Melbourne. No talk yet of doing a pic during stay. 'Mikado' (GB) is getting a lot of carriage traide at State for Greater Unipn. Pop seats slow in selling. Government New South Wales has turned down three applications from indie producers for financial assist- ance. William Freshman will direct the Will Mahoney comedy, 'Come Up Smiling' for Cinesound. Originally came out as scripter from England, Wirth's Circus making annual tour of the stlx with a heavy lineup of Continental and U. S< acts. Unit Golden Jubilee (Continued |rom page 2) failure of the parties to Teach a mu tually agreeable basis of settlement' These unsettled bills are Phillips & Nizer for legal services, $7,5S0J0; Pace Press, for printing 25,000 press books, $6,923.73; Donahue 8i Coe, on advertising, $335.96; Paramount Pic- tures, on labor, material and other expenses in producing a campaign trailer, $3,930.64; and also Para- mount, sales tax collected on sale of accessories, $678.30. Stetement of receipts and disburse- ments shows that total receipts of the campaign, excluding money real- ized by sale of accessories, was $988,- 143. The producers and distributors donated $500,000, while the affiliated theatres of the majors put up $250,, 000 of the amount. The indie exhibi- tors tossed in. $237,464,- according to the audit Disbursements against this amount not including'what was spent in fur- nishing accessories, totaled $882,403, The largest single item was $479,216, spent in what is listed as newspaper advertisements. Movie Quiz prizes themselves were' $250,000, of which amount six $10 checks are still being held by the Chemical Bank because of inability to locate those to whom they were, drawn Other items included Movie Quiz contest fees and expenses, $25,540 exhibitor contest prizes and ex- penses, $2,143; production of the short, 'The World is Ours,' $26,097 campaign press book, $12,462; sal- aries of New York office, $30,437; N. Y. office, regional and local com- mittee expenses, $34,465; salaries of Hollywood offices and expenses, $7,837; and salaries and expenses of traveling publicity men, $5,021. The net cash receipts from the sale of accessories, mostly Movie Quiz booklets, was $198,425 while the cost of the accessories ran beyond that to $201,447. With addiUon other expenses on accessories, net loss of $13,153 is shown. of the HoOywbod James Gleason laid up with flu. George Raft at Hot Springs, Ark. Roy Rogers back from 60-day p.a. tour. Sam Barbanelle to Chicago on vacash. Ben Stolofl returned from Alaskan vacation. Lucille Ball ready for work after operation. James Roosevelt commuted from Broadway. Jules White returned from Carib- bean cruise. I,awrence Grant to London via Mexico . City. Gene Towne back at his desk sans his appendix. Seton I. MiUer on four-month OrienUI trek. Beryl Mercer in hospital with heart trouble. Paul Cavanaugh recovering from appendectomy. Tex Ritter trekking east on seven- week p.a. tour. William Hei-ndon joined Everett Crosby agency. Dan Clasey in from Australia for studio huddles. Wallace Beery to Wyoming for 10 days of fishing. David Loews motoring east through Canada. Lew Seller back from northwest- em motor vacash. Smiley Bumette on slx->week tour ot'l^tlantic states. - '< ^ Edwin Carewe home from hospital after- heart attack. Martha Raye to Frisco for per- sonal appearances. Nona Quartero granted divorce from Joseph Shea. Lew Kane and Count Bernivid drove'in from the east. Claries Chaplin appointed Joe Collwn casting director. Clark Gable and Carole I<ombard back from motor vacation. Louis B. Mayer tossed, a birthday party for Hunt Stromberg. Harry Arthur, Jr., in from St Louis to visit his brother Milton. Lloyd Wright checked out of the hospital after appendix operation. Benny Rubin cut himself in on Victor Hugo nitery in Beverly Hills. R E. Kingsley gandering studios for the Glasftow (Scotland) Sunday Mail. Martin Jurow heading east on a talent quest for Music Corporation next month. Lee Tncy sailing his yacht in the race to Honolulu, hoping to get back to work Aug. 14. Strondsbnrg, Pa. By J^tan J. Barthelomew Fred Waring weekends at Shaw- nee.- Installation of park-o-meters hita- Sherman theatre. Patsy O'Dalre's the petite m. c. at the Penn-Stroud. Freeland's fightln' Charley Lloyd is a harmonica virtuoso. Dick Conrad's orch (WIP) re- turned to Harold Bossard's Mt Poc- ono griU. BUI Diehl's band set- for first of four summer terrace dances at Glen Brook -(22). Sammy- Kaye and Bob Crosby plan - short vacations at Buckwood Inn and Shawnee coimtry club, respectively. BUI BusweU succeeded Jan Krupa at the Hammond organ in Penn- Stroud friU. Has been featured on WGBI, Scranton. The Carmen, Minisink Hills, pre- sents Marie McKee, Marjorle Sweet Levan and Levan, Johnny Altieri's band and Jane Vee and the Ha- waiians. Westport By Hamphrcy Donlena Vernon Duke at Cobb's Mill. Burk Symon covering the cornbelt. Theresa Helbum fishing in Can- ada. Tonio Selwart here. Ditto Tony Sarg.- Lucy Monroe back from Cincin- nati (jpera. Mr. and Mrs. Harry' Bull with the John Andersons. Mr, and Mrs. Warren Munsell, Jr., in for a few days. E. T. Shurter visiting his daugh- ter, Mrs. Leo Marsh. . Fritz and Carlotta Reiner's house- warming Friday (21). Pearl Lapey (Mrs. Pat Powers) warbling at Longshore club. Jane Cowl opens in 'Easy Virtue* at Playhouse Monday (24). LUy Pons and Andre Kostelanetz back from the White mounteins. Anna Erskine partied the New England Players at her Wilton home. Harry Archer, with 'White Sails' at the top of the list has a new waltz song ready. Edward McHugh, The Gospel Singer,' on his first visit back to Scotland in maiiy years. Eddy Duchin's first visit to Roton Point Sundayl Leo Miller's dances there climbing every week. Dick Skinner and Day Tuttle try- ing to get LUlian 'and Dorothy Gish to do The Two Orphans' at Mount Kisco. Charles Wakefield Cadman her* with completed score of 'Pennsyl- vania Symphony' to be performed by Philadelphia Orchestra next season.