Variety (Oct 1939)

44 CHATTER Wednesdaj, Oi:tober 4, 1939 Broadway Aileeiv Prlngle In town. . Bill Halligan to the Coast. .Toe Moskowitz to the Coast any ilay. The Henry Kolkers in for a New york 0.0. Harry Sherman In an auto accident In Minnesota. Calvin Franklin of Columbia Con- certs to the Coast.' Lou Irwin another agent to move over to Madison avenue. . Charles Gray down from New Hampshire for the Series. Bill ilcBride coasted past 60th birthday and still going strong. Bernard Simon p.a. for The Out- ward Room', title to be changed. Bessie Mack marks her 20th year with Major Bowes today (Wednes- day). Jan Domela. Par studio artist, back to Coast with wife after vacation In Maine. , , Jim Brehnon, lATSE v.p., In the Post-Graduate hosp. -.Reported do- ing all right. . . , ^ Eddy Duchin en route back from ■ quick trip to the Coast to visit his baby son. ' Maria Gambarelli up to Toronto to give a solo toe recital with sym- phony orchestra. Cornelia Otis Skinner starts fall tour tonight, first date at Lehigh U., Bethlehem, Pa, T. X. Jones, back to Par after a relapse following a tough case of pneumonia, is in Detroit Barclay McCarthy ahead of 'Springtime for Henry.' Clarence Jacobson company manager. I Al Rosen expected back at helm of Loew's State in two weeks or so. Now home following operation. Eddie Scanlon is house manager of the Ambassador. Joe Flynn is agent for 'The Strawhat Revue' there. - ,, , , Billy Mishkin gave up his travel bureau—tourism being what it isn't, these days—to Join WMCA as time talesman. George McCall and agent Bern Bernard back to the Coast after hud- dling with several radio sponsors and agencies. , ^„ Don Roberts In charge of publicity for Selznick - International, with headquarters on the Coast, under Russell BirdweU. - ■ The late Jack Osterman being 'pro- filed' by Sidney CarroU in Esquire, part of a new series, the first of which is next month, on Oscar Le- vant. - Charles Burton, head of the Para- mount maintenance department, flew from Detroit to Greenville, S. C, where a sister Is seriously ill. Rube Bernstein resigned as a man- ager at the Aquacade, and is back with 'Moulin Rouge,' A. B. Marcus girl show touring out of Chicago. Harvey Day, Jr., has-resigned as a Warner film salesman to return to the advertising field. He was. sell- ing out of the Cincinnati exchange. W. P. Lipscomb, just arrived from London, back to the Coast and a Paramount writing assignment. His wife came on from the Coast to meet the boat Jimmy Lydon, Juve star of West- Inghouse's five-reel Technicolor com- mercial, 'Middletons at the Fair,' sent to the Coast by Arthur Willi, RKO talent booner. Walter Winchell will review no legit shows this season for the Mir- ror, figuring he has more important things to do than first nighting. Bobert Coleman will catch 'em aU. Don Albert and Sidney Piermont named musical director and stage manager, respectively, for 'Night of Stars,' annual benefit for Jewish refugees in Palestine, set for the Garden Nov. 15. Decision to raze the Casa Manana Into a two-story taxpayer spells finale to the talk of Earl Carroll re' turning to his original house. Noth- ing to report ClilTord C. Fischer will return to this house. Flock of pic talent and story Routs to New Haven Thursday (28) for opening of "Too Many Girls,' George Abbott musical. Warners particularly well-represented. WB understood to have a piece of it Friends and former associates of the late Carl Laemmle will hold services In his memory at the West End Synagogue, 160 W. 82d street Friday (6) evening, at 8.15. Similar service will be held the same eve- ning in Chicago. Song nluggers became strawhat theatre devotees last week, all . on account of Rudy Vallee's 'Man in Possession* at the Paner Mill Play house, Milbum, N. J. The music men motored over to absorb some dra- matic lore with tin pan alley flavor. Lee Stewart, former casUng direc- tor for the Warner Brooklyn studio, ooeqing an agency here. Hi will also represent his sister, Rosalie "Stewart's HolIywood~fiSi6ncy as well as Bill Woolfenden, another Coast agent' ~ Equity council yesterday (Tues- day) voted to give a testimonial din- ner Oct. 15.at the Woodstock hotel for James"-O'Neill and Hairy J. Lane, who resigned as Equity reps Sept. 1, after 20 and 17 years' serv- ice respectively. Sinclair Lewis' latest .'Bethel Meridav,' practically completed, is a tale of the theatre, particularly strawhats. said to be based in part on hli exoerlences while traveling with and appearing in 'Angela Is 22,' which he authored. Marc Lachmann back on Broad- way, to handle the new B. G. de Sylva musical, 'Dubarry Was a Lady.' Kay Sutton, RKO player, arrived in New York yesterday (Tuesday) to take role in 'Dubarry,' which pro- ducer Buddy de Sylva will put into rehearsal Oct 9. Joe Laurie, Jr„ won the number at the Phone Bldg. last week at the Fair and 'instead of calling California called up Jack Norworth at the Lambs which saved the company quite a lot of money and saved me the trouble of explaining to some guy in Hollywood who I am.' More than 1,000,000 visitors signed the register at Loew Metro's World's Fair information booth during the three months since its opening on June 28. Statistical survey reveals that, in the U. S., Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio supplied the most visitors to the Booth. England, France and Italy in that order among foreigns. London Chicago Leo (Chico) Marx in town on per- sonal biz. Lou Lipstone back to the Coast after visit home. Billy Murray, of the Morris office, in for some ether confabs. Arlene Coliston to hospital due to streptococci throat infection. -Bill Morrow in with Jack Benny for the Legion .convention show. The Jack Bennys readying to adopt another child, this time a boy. Ashton Stevens' column back in Herald and American after summer absence. Rube Bernstein back with the Marcus-Barger 'Night at the Moulin Rouge' show. . Frank Schreiber, WGN press chief, eastward to handle duties on World's Series broadcasts. Max Halperin has left the agency business to devote his time to the Theatre Authority. Jack Davies, N. Y. agent In on way to Davenport to catch the 'Moulin Rouge' unit Sidney Schallman, former Chi agent and now a coaster, home for the Legion roundup. Niteries grossed top coin during the. Legion convention, but the the- atres were somewhat nicked. Testimonial spread at the Medinah Club this week for Ted Weber, who leaves Chi to join CBS in the east Mrs. Ernie- Young, of the Young fair booking office, has gone to Ari- zona to recoup from a pulmonary in- fection. Looks like Arthur Loftis (The Singing Kid) will have his broken flipper in the sling for another six months. Benny Goodman orchestra flew in for a party date, with the Don Orlando orchestra holding the fort until the plane arrived, ' Westport, Conn. By Humphrey DoDleu Andre Kostelanetz to the Coast The Fredric Marches back to town. Frazier 'Spike' Hunt here for the fall. Norma Taylor engaged to Jack Coates. Zorina here. Ditto Rouben Ma- moulian. Ann Greenway visiting Mrs. Mark Luescher. The Franklin P. Adamses feting Grace Moore. The Ludwig Bemelmans are back. Also Helen Keller. . Ruth Woodbury Sedgwick has rented a house here; Kathleen Comegys touring with 'On Borrowed Time.' Muriel Dickson singing at the Worcester Festival-this week. John Orr Young's daughter, Helen, wed Saturday (30) to Andrew Jack- son. Eddie Nugent commuting to 'See My Lawyer, on Broadway, in which he's featured. Ballet Russe, Josef Hofmann and Dorothy Maynor, Negro soprano, al ready announced for Norwalk's Community Concert course. Leslie Henson on the way from Africa. Syd Walker's contract with Jack Buchanan has expired. Abe Goide has bought new pic- ture hbuse in the provinces. Cafe de Paris comes under the heading of Offlcial Air Raid shelter. Elizabeth Allan and Mrs. Clive Brook running a canteen for soldiers. H: M. Tennent returning to the Drury Lane theatre as general man- ager. Jeffrey Bernerd and Howard Walsh have bought a farm in Chelt- enham. Hotels and niteries are confining themselves mostly to supper and dancing. Gaumont-British and Hyams Bros, have cut out all stage shows in their deluxers Reopening of Prince of Wales' the- atre's continuous revue policy has everybody on percentage, Ivor Novello has written a new light play, 'Second Helping.' He'll star with Dorothy Dickson and Isa- bel Jeans. Jack Doyle is now a roadhouse owner, having bought a spot at Am- ersham, 'Bucks, which is considered a safety zone. Jack Taylor's Blackpool show, at the Opera House, intended to fold Sept. 23, has been reprieved, and will stay open indefinitely. Col. Harry Day, whose death oc- curred in Canada Sept. 16, was for years a vaudeville agent in London, one of the first to tour revues. Despite Odeon's deal with Para- mount being momentarily cold, there's talk it'll go through later, but that conditions of' the sale will undergo drastic changes. Lew Jackson doing a National Revue film, with cast headed by Tommy Trinder. Jackson also main- tains he will do one film per month, including one starring Syd Walker. Val Guest and Marriott Edgar collaborating on the script of Char- lie's Aunt,' which Gaumont-British is Aiming with Arthur Askey as star. Calling it 'Charlie, Big Hearted Aunt.*^ George Black's London Hippo- drome show, 'Black and Blue', to tour the sticks, with Vic Oliver and Max Wall to remain in cast There is talk of Phyllis Bobbins replacing Frances Day. Reports are that houses with ca- pacity of under 1.000 are likely to get the government's sanction to stay open later than present six o'clock limit. This will give newsreel the- atres the edge over deluxers, Odeon expected to lead an exhib- itor move to cut programs to one feature and shorts for duration of the war; since theatre hours are cur- tailed, effect would be to reduce rentals and get more shows In each day. British listeners will have to get along with a single radio orogram daily for a long time yet; BBC can- not see the way clear to throw fur- ther transmitters into action on the home front nor to find material to fill 'em. General Theatres Corn., which op- erates mostly music halls, made $1,- 500.000 in the last financial year, but passed up a div, as board consid- ered conservation of resources was e.<>sential following government clamp-down on shows when war broke out. Minneapolis By Lea Rces A. Selby. Carr won Paramount branch golf tournament with an 88, Harold B. Johnson, Universal branch manager, laid up with flu. Jay Haas, Paramount New York home office ad sales supervisor, a visitor. Jerome Odium, author of 'Each Dawn I Die,' home from Hollywood for brief visit. Bill Elson, of Seventh Street theatre, toastmaster it-.operators' union's 25th anniversary celebration Earl Pomeroy, for a long time Tribune drama critic, now covering films and. handling Sunday amuse- ment section, Moe Levy, 20th-Fox district mana- ger, here for short visit before start, ing country-wide jaunt as S. R. Kent drive leader. Olympe Bradna, Susan Hay ward, Patricia Morrison and J. Carrol Naish among film people here for city's century, celebration. • < • Qeveland By Glenn C. Pollen J. J. Shubert here for huddle with Bill Blair on winter plays. Pete Zick helping Dave Bemis pro* duce vaude units at Palace. Drive-In-Theater staying open an extra month despite heavy rains. Bill de L'Horbe. former Trianon p.a., donning imiform in French army. Syd Dannenberg recovering from breakdown; expected back at War- ner desk within month. Gladys Unger and Marcella Burke rewriting parts of their Tonight We Dance' during local legit run. Newspaper gang bowled over when Ann Corio tossed backstage tea' party—and actually served tea. Gerald C. Forstner back at Han- na's boxofHce after summer demon- strating baseball pitching-speed in- vention. nuisance Injunction and continues to operate pending appeal. First major production on.sked for Yale drama school is 'Once Upon a Time,' by Lawrence Dugan. War may keep Allardyce -Nlcoll. from returning to Yale 4;rama de- partment post from London. Dorothy Kilgallen, N. Y. Journal- American Broadway columnist, in for a look at fiance Bichard KoUmar in new George Abbott musical Saranac Lake By Happy Benway -Leonard Grotte to hospital to be de-tonsiled, with a bed routine to follow. Winter Is here. Four inches of snow fell last week. Ben Schafler claims it's Hitler's doings. Frank Murray, of the oldtime team of Murray and Ingram, who was up here a few years ago. Is now driving a truck. Jimniy (Ex-NVA-ite) Marshall and family packed up after a sum- mer at their camp on Rainbow Lake. Beturn to Long Island. Tommy Vicks, who spent time up here and made the grade with an absolute okay, is back in Boston af- ter a summer's m.c.ing In Bochester, N. H. The A, J. Balabans, who sum- mered at Camp Intermission, to New York for a look-see, then back to Lake Placid where they will winter in their new home. The Nat (William Morris office) Lefkowitzes knocked off a restful va- cash on Lake Colby. Family put on a mess of poundage eating Aunt Ella Berlinghoff's cooking. First Xmas card received from Harry Leyton, of Hamilton, Scotland. It's the same card we shot to him last year, with our names crossed off and his name added. Thanks to Mayor Tom Ward. Bev. Father Blais. Sol Drutz, Dan Foster and John Wiley for their interest taken In the William Morris Me- morial Park that will soon become a reality. Buth Morris (White) bdck to her desk in N. Y. after a very unsuccess- ful fishing season, while Bill White is chesty over his success as the Camp Intermission farmer, which in- cludes the raising of turkeys and chickens. Write to those who are 111. III. Boom to Resorts .Continued from pace 1.: tistlcs show that from 1929 to 1938 an average of 194,182 Americans visited European countries annually. Canadian tourist officials believe bulk of that biz will now come to Canada. American tourist biz brings about $200,()00,000 annually to Canada cur- rently, according to estimates, with this figure in line for hoist due to international situation. . To counteract erroneous reports anent currency regulations. Immi- gration Director Blair at Ottawa has issued statement to effect that Amer-. leans may enter Canada freely with- out passports or birth certiflcates. Americans merely declare amount of .currency they are bringing In and only provision Is the7 cannot take more money out of Canada than they bring in. Meanwhile exchange curbs affect- ing Canadians have been lightened to permit travel to America. In- stead of $100 limit previously an- nounced, instructions have been Is- sued by Control Board to banks per- mitting Canadians to take up to $1,- 003 in any one month for pleasure or business trips to U. S. New Haven By Hiarold M. Bone Edie Byan's orch into Taft Grill, The Bijou packing 'em with week- ly jitterbug Contest. Sunday name band-vaude policy at the Arena a click, Jimmie Whelan back at old post in Shubert boxoffice. Possibility of stage shows return- ing to Paramount before long. •The Lincoln has reopened with revival and foreign film policy. Hefty representation of Broadway at Shubert preem of Too Many Girls.' Jack and Murlal Bedmond di- vorced here (29). She's former showgirl. ^ Milford Drive-In theatre stymied Spotlight Radicals -Continued from pace I_ person will be called, and no sum- monses have been issued. Not un- likely, though, that papers will be served before long. Calling of Hollywood people would have dual purpose. Charges have been made that numerous film colonyites, with liberal views, are fellow travelers of Communists and secret believers in . alien creeds. These are most likely to be put on the stand. At the same time, the committee may call Individuals ac- tive in antt-Fascist campaigns to throw light on the way the German and Italian agitators function. Secwcy policy Is in effect in order to spare prospective witnesses and tipsters any Intimidation or rough treatment so advance announce- ment of Hollywood explorations is not anticipated. Most probable that the committee will bring film wit- nesses here, although a junket to the Coast Is still possible, particu- larly if the House keeps marking time -while the Senate disposes of neutrality legislation. Hollywood Gordon Gordon back from Europe. Maharajah of Mankia ogling stu- dios. Dave Bubinoff off on personal tour. Ann Bonnell back from European trip. Bess Berman recovering from op- eration. Wally Alderton recovered from pneumonia, Ben Freedman back from Japan and Bussia. Geza Herczeg to hospital with heart attack. Weaver Bros, and Elviry on Texas personal tour. Bafael Hakim in from Egypt to gander studios. ^ Max Golden joined Sol Wurtzel'a production staff. , Evelyn Keyes wound up her con- tract with Warners. Roy Rogers climbed oft his horse for a motor vacation. Don Roberts is new publicity head at Selznick-International. Murray Silverstone here for United Artists conferences. Rodion Rathbone to Toronto to enlist in the Canadian army. Russell Birdwell publicity coun- sellor at Selznick-International. J. J. Milstein in from Broadway for huddles with Edward Small. Eleanor Powell laid up with flu while picture shoots around her. Alice Thompson commuting be- tween New York and Hollywood. Marlene Dietrich registered for her first vote as an American citizen. Vincent Conniss left Hal Roach casting to join Allied Arts agency. Kate Cameron (N. Y. Daily News) in from Manhattan to interview stars. Court whittled W. C. Fields' dis- puted doctor bill from $12,000 to $2,000. George Raft had stitches taken in a cut over his right eye, result of a screen fight with William Holden. Pittsburgh By Hal Cohen Sid Pearlman has switched from Dick Barrie's sax section to Lang Thompson's. The Maurice Spitalnys' lass, Jean, and Morton Fidler have called off their engagement. Pat Donnelly, Miss America of 1939, held over for another week at Old Shay Gardens. Mary ChfTey, localite, has landed small role in Time of Your Life* with Eddie' Dowling. Harry Harris has shelved 40 pounds in the last two months via the no-sweets route. Clayton Hamilton coming here to address Drama League's annual In- stitute on Saturday (7). Only six men of the Stanley's old house crew left under setup of new conductor. Max Adkins. Prof. Reginald Hall Johnson of Pitt back from Hollywood visit with his nephew, Nat Pendleton. Rita Rhey going to Club Monaco, Cleveland, for couple of weeks be- fore joining Paul Whiteman. Carnegie Tech's Thelma Schne* has been signed for new Sidney Kingsley play, 'Outward Room.' Eddie Hungerman, assistant man- ager at the Warner, coming along after an operation for appendicitis. Oscar Levant coming to town Nov. 24 as guest pianist with Pittsburgh Symph. He'll play the Gershwin concerto. Sally Cairns, junior in Duquesna U. drama school, winner of Jesse L. Lasky's 'Gateway to Hollywood' au- ditions here. International Brotherhood of Ma- gicians has changed name of its lo- cal chapter to Tampa Ring in honor of the late Tampa. Philadelphia Nat Levy, RKO district manager, visiting Vine streeters. Joe Morrow, M-G salesman, on the mend following appendicitis slicing. Pete Ehlers, Record staffer, joined the ranks of the benedicts over the weekend. The (jharlie Vernons (he's mana- ger of the Karlton) are expecting a bundle soon. Variety Club Is readying its an- nual golf tournament with more than 00 prizes on tap. Maurice Stamford, manager of the Rockland theatre, is ailing. Ditto the Rocklands, Sllvert Setron. Mrs. Frank Silverman, secretary of Motion Pictures Operators union, celebrates a wedding anniversary today (Wednesday). Wally Vernon, Joey Faye and Ed- die White had an old neighborhood reunion at Palumbo's last friday. They're aU West Philly boysi Margareta Bachman, operator of the Covered Wagon, on Saturday (30) celebrated her 22d birthday and the first anniversary as a nitery proprietress. Ikvf London, WPEN announcer, and his bride, the former Edith Corday, professional model, have re- turned from a two weeks' honey- moon at the World's Fair and Cape May.