Variety (Sep 1939)

20 VARIETY PICTURES Veilnrfiday, September 27, 1939 Lefty Recalls the World s Fair Of Yesterday--Coney-As It Used to Be "By Joe Laurie, Jr. New York, Sept. 29. Dear Vic: . , ... Well, me ?nd Aggie flnaUy took a trip to Coney Island, which is the •World'.s Fair with a Dirty Face and No Underwear."^ Their Trylon is a big Frozen Custard and their Perispheie is a Carousel. Their free ex- hibits are the ocean and boardwalk, and their Aquacade is much bigger than Billy Rose's—they have a haU-million people going into the water et one lime. ThQir 'Hot Mikado" is a guy in a gorilla skm in a 'pit show end on Surt avenue you can see a General Motors Show—they're driving anylhing from a Jack Benny Maxwell to a 1939 Packard. The Tran.<!porta- lion Show consists of kids in baby buggies, on skates, bicycles, pony rides, £Cooler.s and guys riding their kids 'piggy back." Their fountains. are •double-malted milks,' and their fireworks shoot off when a guy tne.>i to steal another guy's gal. It's the poor man's playground and I think it was Abe Lincoln who said, 'God musta loved poor people because he made so many of 'em.' Well, they're all here at Coney Island having a great time. But for me and Aggie we saw a different Coney Island than what we were Jookin' at. We saw Coney Island when Thompson'& Dundy, two great showmen, opened up Luna Park, with a band playing outside as a come-on. Inside they had parades with elephants, cowboy.^,' Indians, clown.s. Then they had the Dragon's Gorge, just a roller-coaster ride, but put on swell. They had a Trip to the Moon, where you got into a big winged thing that looked like a modern airplane and you felt like you were traveling up to the sky, and when you got out you met a lot of midgets who were dressed like the people In the moon was supposed to be. .dressed. The whole thing was mysterious and spooky and made'your gal hold light to you. Those were the days when dames was afraid of things. Then there was Dreamland with its thousands of lights, nothing to com- pare with the World's Fair's lights, but there were plenty of bhs and ahs when they were turned on. Then there was a great attraction called Fire- ond-Flome!5—you saw the old firc-hoises galloping to the fire, the hook- .end-lndder.<; were put up against a frame building that was on fire, and you'd see thrilling rescues and people jumping out of windows and off the loof into a net, and at the finish, of course, the old maid with long drawers would jump, and what a howl that wa.s, the same as It would be today, ■you know, hokum has never changed its pattern, I wonder why some wi.se guy didn't put on Fire-and-Flames at the World's Fair, it wbulda made plenty of dough. Then there" was the Old Mill, just a boat going Ihiu a lunnel. but what a spot for romance! Three rides in that with youi goil-fiicnd and you came out practically engaged. They didnl' have no Parachute Jump but they had a loop-the-loop, which got more publicity than the Parachute Jump will ever get. People used to faint just watching It, and the cops would stop it and editorials were written lo slop the younger generation from killing themselves. Surf avenue in those days was the Fifth avenue of Coney. A trip to Fellmiins lo get hot dogs and crispettes, and if you had dough you'd go back into their garden, What a .spot! Plenty class! .The waiters had clean coMs, sometimes a caterpillar would fall off a tree into your soup, but that gave it the 'country atmosphere.' Of course, there were the cheaper places where 'basket parties' were welcome, and maybe you don't think the hardbbiled eggs, bologna sandwiches and potato salad Aunt Emma used to make didn't taste good after a swim at Balmers.' Fun on the Bowery The Bowery at Coney was the fun spot of the Island. That's where the sailors and soldiers would head for. and plenty of places with great en- tei-tainment, Lang's, Shamrock, Morgan's, College Inn, Steeplechase Park, Stauch's, Henderson's (which started as a honky-tonk and. ended-aip. «s. playing the best in vaudeville), cafes that ran picture shows, and it was plenty dark so when you gave the waiter a $5 note to pay your 20c check you'd w.iit through five reels waiting for your change and the waiter. After you make a squawk they'd show you every waiter but your own, and finally ended up in the alley without yoiir change, or inside with a' Mickey if you were too tough. They still do those things In New "STork but they polished up the routine.. Then wed walk over to Brighton Beach and at the Music Hall we'd see^ all the Big-Timers and acro.'s the street at the old Riceadona Hotel we'd see the bookmakers from GravcsencT racetrack opening up wine on the big porch. If you wanted an exclusive place to bathe you'd go to the Brighton Baths where they charged a buck. It was very exclusive, they'd only have about 300 there on a Sunday. A buck a bath was too much for those days. You could get to Coney for a nickle on the Smith street cars during the week, and had to pay an extra nickle at Kings High- way on Sunday—and did the suckers yell. It would take a few hours but what the hell, you could hold your girl around the waist and evervbody would .-^inB 'On a Sunday Afternoon' and 'Good Old Summer Time' and Take Me Out to Dreamland.' Not much dough but plenty of fun. Now wt don't have either. Vop, me and Aggie saw Coney the other night. The same old frank- furters, silk candy and frozen cysUrd are still there but thev didn't tasn» the same. The'~5arlters, freaks, rolling ball games, hit-em-hard-and-heavy roller coasters and barrel of fun are alf there but the screams from the dames when their dresses blow up in the fun barrel or when the coaster makes the steep hill don't sound as genuine as they did years ago Coney give.- you plenty for 5 and 10c, more than Woolworth, and people «;till have plenty of fun there but to folks like me and Aggie it's not as great et, It used to be. But Aggie sez neither are folks like us as great as we used lo be. There's somethin- to that too. SEZ ' Your pal, 1 tEFTY Jim KclLv sez, 'Middle age.is that .period in a man's life when he would rather not have a good time than have to get over it.' Fm RELINQUISHES ORPHEUM, ST. LOUIS St. Louis, Sept. 26. Fanchon & Marco last week dropped its option on the Orpheum, a downtown house owned by the Southern Real Estate & Finance Co., controlled by the Cella interests, possession of which was obtained from Warner Bros, when a pence pact was consummated in New York several years ago. The Shubert- Rialto, In midtown, arfbthcr hou.se owned by Southern was also ob- tained in the settlement. The Shubert-Rialto's option was dropped several years ago when the lease . expired and . that on the Orpheum expired Friday (15). The lease on the Orpheum ran for four years at $35,000 per annum. F&M made several attempts to operate the house with second run screen fodder but the traffic competish from Loew's and the Ambasisador, first run deluxers, was too great. About two years ago F5tM announced it was planning to sub-lease the house to Negro operation but the clamor, raised by business men and organi- zations against the move caused the idea lo be abandoned. Averts Strike Continiieit from p.iee 5 ing was held at Ihe office of the Pro- ducers Association. 'To avert any po.ssibility of long- drawn out temporizing over the ju.st and long due demands of our stu- dio, local unions, an ultimatum was served upon the producers that an agreernenl must be reached by Tues- day, Sept. 26, 1939. The alternative is a nation-wide strike by the en- tire International Alliance. The stu- dio locals have been assured the same support from the International Alliance that was accorded them in obtaining the closed shop agreement signed Aug. 12, 1939.' Involve Actors, Musicians A strike order by the Internation- al Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- ployees would directly have involved the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Musicians because of the working alliance among the three groups. A walkout also would quickly have spread to all other AFL crafts in the studios, with members being instructed not to cross any .A.FL.pjcket_line.. Company heads jhet over the weekend and were reported to be in telephonic communication with Jo- seph M. Schenck,. prexy of Produc- ers Association, who was in Mexico City. It was believed Schenck urged Bioff lo delay any drastic action un- til he returned, but the lATSE exec- utive stated he intended to push for immediate action on his demand for a 15% wage tilt for members. The lATSE scored an easy victory in the NLRB election ordered to des- ignate a bargaining represehlative for 12,000 workers. The final returns showed 4,460 votes for the lATSE, with 1,967 voting in favor of the United Studio Technicians Guild. The latter group claimed to be in- dependent, but had received finan- cial aid from Harry Bridges, Coast leader for Congress of Industrial Or- -ganizationF: The USTG filed a protest on grounds that lA leaders had cam- paigned within the forbidden area surrounding Gilmore Stadium, where the election was conducted. Local officials of the NLRB gave lit- tle standing lo the protest, but for- warded details of the. affair, as well '39-40 Sales Spurt .Continued from race ^- by 20lh-Fox, the company will con- tinue to provide for voluntary arbi- Iration of all disputes arising under the contract. This has been in lorce all along with 20th. Universal Also - : Universal is inserting a similar op- tional arbitration clause in its con- tract, calling for settlement of all di.sputes when the exhibitor wants it, but has not yet decided what cancel- lation privilege will be undertaken. William A; Scully, distribution head of. U, slates that the question of an enlarged rejection i» now under study. Scully's first year over U .sales has resulted in an extraordinary ad- vance, with the company 60% inhead of last season at this lime. RKO, Columbia, Republic and Monogram have not reached any de- cision, concerning an increased elim- ination or other trade practice re- forms in line with the code.' This has been due in most cases with lhe.se companies to press of other ir.atler.s, nolobly sales negotiations, absence from New York of execu- tives, etc. Rep's J. R. Grainger is due in New York today (Wed.) Al.so due east shortly is W. Ray Johnston, president of Monogriini, who is expected to lake up the mallei- of an.v revision in sales policy with Eddie Golden and George W. Weeks. rrodurt Deals Republic has clo.scd with Fanchon iV Marco".-; three St. Louis first-runs, AtbassiKlor, Mi.s.souri and St. Loui.s. Rep -MfO i-ignnlured with St. Louis Amu.>;. Co. iF&Ml for its 26 subse- quenUiiin the.ities in the St. Louis area. The Essanness circuit in Chicago, operating a lolnl of 27 theatres in i llial city, has signed up lor Repub- trial peace and harmony, and that I lie tor the ]939-4() .season. James R. there will be no reprl.vHls or dl.s-' Graiiisjer, who has been on a couii- criminalion. I Irywide Hip negotiating deals, acled 'I have loday appointed Y. Fi-ank ■ for Republic, aided by Irving Man- Freeman, Edward J. iWannix and del, Chicago territory franchise Mendel Silberberg. on behalf of the. i holder, and Hai ry Lorch, Chi boom at the boxoffice shortly, on the other hand they don't want It to arrive before they have their '39-40 contracts closed. Any sub- stantial upturn in grosses would in- stantly mean more justification on the part of the distrib to demand higher terms. Also, considerable discussion concerning rental In- creases, where .they might be ob- tained, is causing some concern among accounts that have not yet signed iip fur another year's film supply. ■ The quality of '39-40 pictures .so far and sales concessions oh the pari of several distributors, such as an enlarged cancellation, which is ex- pected lo be followed by all of the Big 10 excepting United Artist.s, arc other factors acting as a spur in the closing ot the deals that have been waiting for snow to (all. i Webber OK's 20(h Cancellations Speaking for 20lh-Fox, and declar- ing that he is very satisfied with th:il company's position on .sales at the moment. Herman Wobber declared that 20th may be counted upon- to give its accounts an enlarged cancel- calicn. It is virtually certain to be the 10, 15 and 20% rejection as pi'o- vide.d for by the now deceased trade practice code. As chairman of the distributors' committee, it was S. R. Kent who advocated this enlarged elimination, Metro and Paramnuiit accounis are gelling this cancellation under their contracts, while Warner Bros, is giving 10% on all rental av- erages over $100, 20% on everything up to that figure. Wobber declared lhal. while it is not known now whether any other features of the code will be. adopted produccr.s, to meet with the l.^TSE comrhittee lo conduct negolialioiis.' With the election out of the way, lATSE representatives are attempt- ing to reach an amicable agree- ment on dispute belwepn the Inter- national and Technicians Local 37. The disposition of $100,000 in funds and question of reinstalemenl of «x- ppllgH mpmhpra arg invrilvpH SPV- eral conferences have been held be- tween A. Brigham Ro.se, counsel lor Local 37, and George Breslin, attor- ney tor the lATSE, with Bioff and other leaders sitting in on some of them. Ralph Morgan, pre.sidenl of Screen Actors Guild, and other officers of the organization are a.«siiied of re- election at the annual election meel- ing Oct. 1. No other candidates were nominated, majority of mem- bership endorsing .selection ol the nominating committee. Morgan ■a)so .was selected to head the SAG delegation to the annual convention of the California Slate Federation of Labor which opened today (Tues.) in Oakland. Olhcr members of the delegation are Ed- ward Arnold, Walter Abel. Noel Madison. Larry Steers. P al Somer- branch manager. Edwin Silverman aiwl .lanies Booth acled for Essan- ne.«s in the negotiations. Loew's metropolitan New York circuit, with exception ot only a few theatre.s, has taken Rep's serial, •Dick Tracy's G Men.' Two of Iho Loew house.s started playing it Sept. 16. while balance under the new ar- ranttemenUs begin it Sep t. 30. set. Columbia closed with Griffith Amus. Co. of Oklahoma City for the entire 1939-40 output, including fea- tures, weslern.s, ,vhorLs and serials. Contract handled by Rube Jackter, assistant s;iles ni.-inager, and R. E. Griffith; Carl Slialil, central division manager, and B. C. Marcus, Kansas City branch manager, sitting in. (Columbia closed with Womelco circuit (Wolf.son-Meycr Enterprises) for entire 1939-40 product. Sidney Meyer represented Wometco. Monogram set new product deals with Morse circuit, Boston: Stein cir- cuit of St. Louis; Louis Long circuit of Los Angeles, and Waters Theatres Co. of Atlanla. George W. Weeks, general sales mgr. of Monogram, announces the company has clo.sed product deals wit h the Mor.se cir cuit of Boston;^ Stein chain in the St. Louis terri- tory; Louis Long's circuit of Los Act On Agents Deal Licensing agreement between the j Angeles, and the Waters Theatres actors and the Artists' Managers Allaiita Rochester Nabes Bring Back Games, Occasional Vaude. to Hypo the B.O. sky from Interfering with the play- ing of 'Hollywood' in local theatres was filed here by the Holly- wood Amusement Co., Inc., ot Chicago, Complaint as.serts that the rjame was formerly played in about 25 houses here but because police c o<! eonfiscated equipment in some the- Rochester nabes bringing back ''Tu TIJ^" B e uuLh . Charles Swidler, counsel for the Guild will be submitted to the SAG membership for approval at Oct. 1 meeting. Mass meeting of agents al.so will be called to okay program In Buylne OK in NW Minneapolis, Sepl. 26.. the face of a suppo.sed indi- as official Ubulation of votas, to the ! which has already been endorsed by i vidual buyers' strike by independents Rochester, N. Y,, games and giveaways full force after . „„ j ,™.. Voorst summer in years, blamed on' '^?"'P?,'?^' affiued. 'This game is one daylight saving. Practically all °' s"*'"- "ot chance It calls for Labor Board in Washington. It was indicated even by USTG lops HhaI the protest was fijed largely for its nuisance value in an effort to force reinstatement ot men who had been expelled by the lATSE becau.se of their affiliation with the USTG. ClOEcd-Sfaop Move Washington was not expected to take any official cognizance of pro- te.st and i.ssue certification designat- ing the lATSE as the exclusive bar- gaining representative for the work- ers. In the meantime the lATSE rhovcd lo reins'iate the clo.sed-shop the leaders of both groups, Independent A.ssocialion of Mo- tion Picture Producers is preparing to ask the S.^G for'wage conces- sions in an effort to Increase small production and . put more actors lo work. A similar request wa.s sub- milted to the Society of Molion Pic- lure Film Editors, but action was deferred until Ihc SAG acts on the reqiiesL Kenneth Thomson, executive sec- retary of the SAG, leaves Ocl. 5 for j In this territory in protest against ■ film prices and percentn.ge deals, lo- cal exchanges continue lo claim that their .sales are running ahead of the corresponding period a year ago. Scllinf; of Twin Cily independent accounl.s just has started and Metro, for example, a.s.serls, 'We're selling "em as la.st as wc can lake care ot them.' I Columbia. Universal and RKO i claim big gains in deal.s completed 1 in out-of-town situalions over the house.s stayed open but usually'.not enough customers to make a quorum ■o games were necessarily dropped. Larger Schine houses mapping fling at local vaude acts one night in week as added hypo. This usually «ke until unions put on the squeeze. City's downtown houses with num- ber of standout attractions had rela- tively good summer and gettins earlier fall pickup than nabes. the use of discretion, and to win, a person must be mentally alert. 'The game violates no state law or ordinance.' agreement this week. This auto- I leave for his work in supervising; ' malically would have prohibited the ■ jurisdictional tilt with the lATSE. a 10-day vacation in Hawaii. The | safe period la.st year. Other ex- SAG board of director.*; recommended 1 <:*i«>"2«s '''■'''° "'"^'■"^ they're 'ahead. B6b Ablcson, Par.imount northern Minnesota and western Wisconsin cily Milwaukee, Sept. 26. A .suit .seeking an injunction to rc- 5.iraiA Police Chief Joseph Kluche- Indlana. CanvenUan Indianapolis, Sept. 26. A.s.sociated Theatre Owners of In- diana, Allied States A.s.sociation af- filiate, will hold its 13th atiniiSl cdn- i venMon at the Antlers hotel here Oct. 23-24. Marc J. Wolf is chairman of the convention committee. employment of any workers- who did not have paid-up membership cards in the lATSE. Before checking out for Mexico City, Schenck issued the following statement with reference to the lA victory: 'By the majority vote of the work- ers, the I.\TSE has been le.gally designated as the negotiating agency to conclude a new working agree- ment with the film producers. 'It is my hope that all concerned will conduct them.selves solely with a view toward bringing about indus- : his dl.'-tricl. organization of the American Guild ; for example, as.serts he al- of Variety Arti.sts and for aidinc'l''e'>''i' •i''"' '-•vR''y important plans for reor,';anization of the A.s.-'o-lfn''t..fn<l. ;ncarl.v all po.s.sibilitieE in ciated Actors & Artistes of America. He will be accompanied by Mrs. Thom.soh. Officials of Ihe Academy of Mo- lion Picture Arts ft Sciences plan to move, up da'.e of annual aw.^-d.s banquet to Feb. 4. General idea is to keep pushing the date forward to as near the first of the year a.s po.s- sible. The b?niiuct wa.s held on Feb. 24 this ycLr, having been moved up from March 10. Cole's Deal ■ San Antonio. Sept. 26. Marl Cole recently made a new buying finfl b.ioking deal with Jeffer- son Amu.sc. Co. of Dallas covering Cole houses in no.^cnbcrg, Yoakum and Richmond. Remaining houses at Hallcll.svillc, Ea'ilc Lake. Needville and Wallace will be handled out of Cole's olfice at Rosenberg.