Variety (Dec 1939)

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VARIETY 55 Broadway ment, has postponed production of any new shows until spring, when he expects to proceed with 'Love's Old Sweet Song,' new Saroyan play. Meanwhile the.author has completed still another new one for him. hew Cantor on from the Coast. Old Parody club becomes a sea foodery. Rosemary Lane flew back to Coast Saturday (2). , Bob Weitman nursing a bad cold • and sinus attack. | . . Harry . Blair has set up his own ; fold back roof for starlight dancing publicity agency, 'the warm months. 3 Bands, 60c. Conttniied from page !_ The Sol Lessers back to the Coast icmorrow (Thursday). Tommy Nip back In New York. Had a dance school in Evansyille, Jnd., for a spell. Warner Club is having a Christ- mas parly at the Warner Flatbusl) studio, Brooklyn. ■ Mike Connolly, of the Screen Ac- tors Guild eastern office, back from B month's stay in Miami. O H. Briggs, president of Pathe Films, to the Coast to finish negotia- tions fox new. lab facilities. Charlje King (Bill's Gay 'SOs) be- moaning" loss of two valuable scrap- bookis, good only to himself. Glover and LaMae, dancers, shift Into the Beverly-Wilshire's Floren- tine room, Beverly Hills, Dec. 7. Harry Hartwell, tenor, reverting to his family name, Baron Harold von Oppenheiiiti, for concertizing. Helen Gahagan (Mrs. Melvyn Douglas) is looking for a legit play, and has two in mind but nothing is set. David Gould, Metro's manager in Puerto Rico, recuperating from ab- dominal operation at French hospi- tal. Jack Ellis, who got hitched a couple of weeks ago, is stalling the honeymoon until later when he goes »oiith. Julian Rifkin, g.m. of the Rifkin circuit in Massachusetts, walks to altar with Lee Adaskin, non-pro, next spring. Monte Proser back to the Coast preparatory to opening his Beach- comber spot in tl>e Winter Garden here on Dec. 23, Rus.<;ell Birdwell planed out of New York for the Coast Monday (4) after confabs on 'Gone With the Wind' bally plans. . James J. Van Dyk, actor and inde- pendant contractor, in voluntary Project is the idea of Richard M. Decker, now operating,. who has been angling for a similar site for the past four years. . Op claims he already has offers from several mid- western keys to start like ballrooms with a.s.sured financial backing. With a high rental, cost of operation, including food, chefs, counterman, etc., talent and other expenses, such a spot is more of a hit or miss proposition than most. Under the combo-eatery method it has to draw heavily in pidcr to. get olf the nut. Door tap is 60c weekday evenings and TSc Saturday, Sunday and holidays.' .Ther'e's a Saturday matinee b1.«o. Tap entitles ticket buyers to hop from 5.30 p. m. to 2 a. ni. at evening sessions and. in addition gives 'em 60c worth of food. Sandwiches run from 2Sc. to 50c. Milk, coffee, tea priced at a dime. Beer" lonly alcholic sold) is 15c a gla.<:s. 25c a bottle, and 7Sc a pitcher. There's a smorgasbord table that entitles a patron to heap as much as he can on a plate in one circuit which, with bread and butter, u.ses up his 60c ticket. If over the allowance patron pays the difference on the way out. Also there's a soda fountain. Three bands alternate on the bandstands. One upstairs and an- other on the lower level and a third Cuban outfit .shifts between Currently the upstairs room is closed for repairs to the dance-floor .<!0 the three outfits go on down- stairs in halt hour relays. Teddy Powell, Joe Marsala and Antonio DeVera batids opened. Marsala and De Vera stay until middle of s , . 1 » »c inn J 1-- January. Bunny Berigan replaced hmM?*'«fnM' * • Powell for two days Nov. 30-Dec, '' w Rav'joC.ton. who flew to L Beri«an being replaced with W. Ray Johnston,, who flew to Phoenix, Ariz., last night (5), will probably spend the Christmas holi- days on the Coast. Toots Shor's new restaurant build- ing, occupying two former brown- stone houses on W, 51st, should be completed after Jan. 1. Jean Muir, on two-week leave of absence from the AGVA office, to guest-star with Guy Palmerton's flock at Salem, Mass., this week. Metro home office messengers and clerks have formed a basketball squad, hopeful of scheduling games with other film company qumtets. William C. Whites (Ruth Morri.s) Fcrammed up to Camp Intermission at Saranac Lake, where the mi.ssus will convalesce from a recent bit of surgery. with Dick Messner who was followed by the current George Hall.- Ben Bernie comes in Thursday (6), then Jack Jenney followed by Van Alex- ander Method of eating is self service, from which is 'derived the Dance teria title. Patrons pick up a tray and utensils and carry it back to a table in any part of the house, Tables surround the dance floor downstairs only, the hopping space being smaller than usual for ball- rooms. Upstairs is slightly larger, Management reports difficulty in making.patrons believe that they're entitled to food as well as dancing for the same price and have been told that dancing to three bands is worth the price of admis.'sion alone handed back food Joseph Linz has left RKO to join his father's paper, Despatch-Journal, Dallas, in which Karl Hoblitzelle and I while bemg Bob O'Donnell, Interstate opctators,' checks. have an interest { Claim an attendance of 28,000 in Following injuries which he suf- ■ fi''sl six days, tered in an auto collision in Minne- sota about.a month ago, Charles Bur- ton, chief of Paramount's mainte-' nance department, is back. i Clifford C. Fischer, whose 'Foliesl London Herbert de Leon wed Natacha Sokolova after getting divorce from Erika Wilka. Romney Brent playing one of leads in George Formby's latest film, 'Let George Do It.' The Hugh Williamses (he's_ stage and—film-actor),-divorced. were married in 1925, was originally imported by Sir Ben Fuller for a U. S. revue try through ! Alec Hanlon. Quite a few of the boys connected | with the pic biz are taking a spell at, . military service. Difference in paylJ^fy- is being made up by the various', '■"p"^ • ■ hunt. HoHywood managements. Films Commission being asked by leading exhibs to stop free pic shows Couple 'stores this Yuletide. Previously, I the stores made a biz bid by playing Gary Cooper laid up with leg in- Lee back from N. Y. story Arthur Graham, assistant managei: of Beaconsfield Film studios, died un- expectedly after heart attack. Peggy O'Neil making comeback in new play, 'Meet the Wife.' Malcolm Keen and Lorraine Clews are her support. Ivy St. Helier substituting for Hermione Baddeley (convalescing from an operation) in Farjeon's 'Little Revue' at the Little. 'Alias the Bulldog,' is latest in the Drununond series, which A.ssocialed British is doing, with Jack Buchanan in title role and Greta Gynt in femitie lead. 'Billie' Houston, formerly of the Houston Sisters team, married to Paul Eve, an Australian journalist, in London. He was Associated Press rep here. Alexander Onslow, who made a hit in New York in the male lead' of 'Billeted,' sentenced to six months hard labor for stealing old silver valued at $75. Carroll Gibbons back from Amer- ica, but not returning to the Savoy hotel, whose management decided to operate with one band, using Geraldo. Gibbons goes on vaudeville tour. Gaumont-British deluxe cinemas,, which abandoned vaudeville since the war, are back again, but policy will be less expensive acts. Ann Davis, of the Arthur Jarratt office, is the booker. I G. B. Samuelson, one of the pioneers of British pictures, now Arith Beaconsfield Film studio.s. . In the old days he was in partnership with Sam Smith, who is head of the studios and British Lion Films. short free sessions with 16 mm. pix. Williamson-Tait granted a pic license for Royal, Sydney, by the Films Commission. Unit, however, will stick'to legit, with, license kept on ice just in case a change is neces- sary. Cleveland By Glenn C. Piillcn Ballet Russe playing annual visit to civic aiuditorium. Stock 'Our Town' still doing big at Play House on fifth stanza, Frank Sennes turning over book- ing to Marty Caine, temporarily, while on honeymoon trip. Frederic McConnell acting as prexy for fall get-together of Chic's university and little theatres. Sammy Walsh back, m.c.ing for Ohio Villa, which hasn't been able to get liquor license back yet. Nat Lefton, Variety Club's hew chief barker, and other officers being inducted at big shindig this week. Abcm Finkel back from Caribbean cruise. llona Massey east on three-week holiday. Henry Schuster recovering from operation. William Jacobs on two-week siesta in Mexico. Jan Garber celebrated 20th year as band leader. Ray Sebastian in serious condition after surgery. W. J. Roth In from Manila for Erpi huddles. Elmer Lupton recuperating after appendectomy. Charles Frendling recovering from pneumonia. Earl Johnson in from Manhattan i to gander studios. Dorothy Lamour to hospital for ! throat treatments. I Edward Shellhorn recuperating from eye operation. I Jean .Parker filed suit for divorc« I from George MacDonald. - I Skinnay Ennis laid up with cracked ; ribs'after fall from a horse. Arthur Rankin giving up acting I (or writing on advice of his doctor. ; Loui.c B. Mayer entertained Mili- : tary Affairs Committee from Wash- . ington. Gene Fowler and Leo McCarey j recovering from their rhotor crash ! injuries. Bobby Webb resigned as casting Minneapolis By Les Rces Lucille McCullum, of 20th-Fo)(, re- cuperating from appendectomy. Gladys Swarthout .<:oloist with' Minneapolis Symph for two concerts last week. Joe Fieldman. National Screen salesman, assisted by J. McFarland and Dave Bader of same office, put on show for Glen Lake Sanatorium tubercular children. Larry Kline, RKO office manager, named North Dakota .<:alesman, .<!uc- ceesing Bill Crystal, who's left. A. J. Stern withdrawn from sales staff to become office manager again. Maude Raymond in from New York to replace. Wilma Francis as Marcia Giles with "On Borrowed Time' at Alvin here, latter having been taken ill in Omaha and re- turning to Gotham. Clyde Franklin, member of 'On Borrowed Time' cast, was advised of father's death while playing Alvin engagement here, but had to go on for two Thank.'giving (30) perform- ances, being unable to leave com- pany because ol lack of under- study. ^Private Party' _Continae<I from page .1 the night. The clubs would be per- mitted to charge corkage and service fee^ for ice, ginger ale and soda. director for Samuel Goldwyn after eight years. William Guthrie resigned as pres- ident of Motion Picture Location Managers' Assn. Ruth Collier filed papers to change the name of Collier, Weber & Todd agency to Ruth Collier Co. One Fhilly Idea. Philadelphia, Dec. S. Frankie Palumbo, operator of a club in South Philly, is toying with the idea of hiring busses to trans- port customers to either the Renault Club, Atlantic City, or his club in Wildwood, N, J., both of which he operated during the summer and which are now shuttered. Roaclhouses in South Jersey ex- pect the biggest biz in their history from thirsty Philly celebrants.. The Main Line social set is expected en masse by Gotham spots to welcome 1940. Blue Detroii Detroit, Dec. 5. Nilery proprietors throughout Michigan are having a tough time keeping up that hearty greeting for the customers. - They just took a tough sock from the State Liquor Control Commission. Nitery, hotel and restaurant owners are wearing long faces because New Year's Eve falls on Sunday this year. They won't be serving anything stronger than beer and light wine until after the bells ring out. "We can't repeal the calendar,' Or- 'Mulatto' .Continued from page 1- Bergeres' reopens the Broadway as I a legit spot, may take a lease on the | moral values and the Rev. William Steveniion, Negro pastor of local Methcidist Church, ro.=e' to denounce it. , Other unidentified volunteer critics spoke for and against the play in the impromptu debate which con- tinued for hours on the sidewalk out- .-.ide. I.a.st week. Judge Bok. acting on a ban issued by the late Mayor S. Davis Wilson imposed a year or more ago, restrained Acting Mayor Con- nell from interfering with the pro- duction,'but made it clear then that this action was taken on the Wilson ban and that Mayor Connell had the right to inllicl a second ban of his own. Reports made by those repre- senting him after-.seeing the 'pre- view' were of so lurid a nature that Connell became quite emphatic in his announced intention of not re- treating an inch from his former position. This is the first time that Actjng Mayor Connell has taken any action on a theatrical presentation and it has been generally a.-^sumed that he was much more liberal in his views than the late Mayor Wilson, who interfered with the local perfor- mances of a number of plays. An odd sidelight to the situash was house in association with the Shu berK Latter meantime have' it. Abe Lastfogel, g. m. of William Morris agency, playing the legit the- atre circuit catching up with shows, many of 'em studded with his com- pany's clients. J. C. Stein (MCA) another dittoing. Mort Nathanson upped from asso- ciate to top p.a. of 'Life With Fa- ther.' following resignation of Gerald Goode, who was forced to step out by TMAT ruling that the couldn't also handle the touring Monte Carlo ballet. Now that John Steinberg and Abe Lyman are set to manage the Troca- dero, Hollywood, the deal whereby the former might have acquired the International Casino, on Broadway, which was offered him, is off. Zeke Colvan, g.m. of the Muny Op in St. Louis, has written a practical handbook on the business of acting which McGraw-Hill (Whittlesey House) is bringing out soon under title of 'Face the Footlights.' When Frank (Algonquin) Case opened his hotel lounge for a sup- per club; with Greta Keller, last Wednesday, the bullish turnout caught all unawares, with service almost paralyzed by the strong biz. Paramount tossed feed at Lu- chow's for the critics last night 'Tues,), with Johnny Green's orch Allan Jones and Mary Martin, wh(i I ^l^^ l^)! Theatre Managers, open today at N. Y. Par, on hand Agents and Treasurers union to Tom together with Walter Connolly, also : La Brum and Mort Schwartz to re now in the east. . - ^ -t- Nearly 1,000 department heads and empFoyees of Loew's home office and Metro exchange will be guests at the company's Xmas luncheon at the Hotel Astor Dec. 22. On Thanks- 'uving night, Loew's N. Y. theatre 'epartment had its party. Eddie Dowling, with a stomach ail- ' sign as press ajients for (he show be- cause Becker .did not hire a union manager for the theatre. This is the secon(i lime Schwartz has been sty- mied while, ballyhooing 'Mulatto.' He was the press agent for Mark Linder when the latler tried to put it on at the Locust In 1937. Australia By Eric Gorrlck War not worrying boxoffices. U. S. band leader. Bob Lyon, scor- ing at Trocadero, Sydney. Hoyts planning additional nabe theatres in Sydney and Melbourne. Melbourne amusement biz tops, with crowds in for the race carni- val. Biz continues brightly in New Zealand with British and U. S. stage fare. | Flag-waving ideas creeping into stage presentations throughout Aus- ! trail a. Switzerland Ice Show will road- i show in New Zealand fur William Pittsborgh By Hal Cohen One of the Kap Monahans' two youngsters down with the chicken pox.' . Georgia Sothern cancelled out of Casino this week on account of ill- ne.<!s. Harold Lund off for a two-week '; southern trip with his boss, Harry Ross. Oscar Levant gave Pittsburgh symph two biggest houses of the season. Art Morrone coming along all right at Meircy hospital following an operation. Muriel Caldwell now doing the warbling with Sid Dickler on his one-nighters. Saul Steinfeld, of RKO office, and Betty Goldstein have announced their engagement. Harry Klein in town, beating drunts for Brock Pemberton's 'Kiss the Boys Goodbye.' Tom Hune, of Ruth Chatter'ton cast, is Tom Koehler of Carnegie Tech dranna school. Polly Rowles slated for lead in. Playhouse's next show, Noel Coward's 'Private Lives.' Ida Henn back to work at Repub- lic exchange after being laid up 10 mon(hs from auto accident Margie Noble, of Clair Ray Girl.s, spending third week in Shadyside rin A. DeMass, chairman of the,,- ., commish, told the boys, 'and a law' James Stewarts parents came m from Indiana, Pa., over weekend to see their pride and joy in 'Destry i:i a law and we have to enforce it Michigan law rules out- the heavy liquor on the Sabbath and what's | Rides Again' at the Alvhi. more. State's Governor, Luren D. Dickinson, is a prohil)itionist, so (here won't be any fooling. It is going to be legal to sell the hard stuff from midnight to 2 a.m..' closing time. DeMass said he couldn't see any reason why public couldn't pack celebration into those two hours. St Louis By Sam X. Hurst Ric'^-^ard Arvid^on, manager of the MatKi.n. Mattoon, III., a benedict Li Sullivan, former Columbia booker, now with National Theatre Supply Co. Lester Levy, booker for Mono- gram, called to Kansas City by death of his father. Tim P. O'Gorman, property man Shopping Around in N. Y. Plotting the New Year's, reserva- . tions, price .scales and business ex- 1 soh-Tait i-pectations is now occupying (he at- i at the Garrick theatre, back after Bob L.von, U. S. danceband leader i lenlion of the niteries the country I la.voff due to illness at the Trcjcaderd, Sydney, due to ( over. All agree.that'general condi- tions'.will be the determining factor, these shifting so fast, in face of antics abroad, that there's no telling. The expected l>oom in the market cer stage I State,' stay here a year. Jimmy Collins producing presentations successfully at Sydney, for Greater Union. 'Four Feather.s" (UA; clicked in Sydney for Hoyts. . 'Hotel for Women' (20th) also doing very well. Metro starting heav.v. exploitation for 'Wizard of Oz' on Yulelide debu(. Hal CZarleton and Mike Lu.<!tig in charge. . . William Marien, former publicity manager in Sydney for Williamson- Tait bowed out to joint the Sunday Telegraph. and- there Joel Dowdy now manager of the Criterion, Poplar Bluffs, Mo,, a unit of the I. W. Rodgers circuit Grover LaRose, booker, conval- escing in St Mary's hospital from injuries .suffered in recent auto ac- 1 cident. I The Ballet Russe has been Inked a 1 for seventh annual engagement with I St. Louis Symph. Jan. 5-7. Gladys as I Mills Bros, set for a Sydnev .^ea.son morning, for Tivoli theatres. Recently com-1 Encouraging for N. Y. are the pleted a hit run in Melbourne for (he . number of inquiries anent reserva- same management. | tions, indicating, however, that Olga Coelho, Spanish sinrier. after j they're shopping around, as book- a short run for the Australian Broadcasting " Commi.':.';ion giving a ; iieries of solo concerts in Sydney, Norman B. Rydge. Charles Munro and Dan Michaelove still in deep huddles . concerning propo.scd deal between Hoyts and (jrcatcr Union. Ian Kei(h is doing good trade for ' Dave Martin at the Minerva. Sydney, in 'Dinner al Eight' Will do other : U. S. legit .shows, for .lamc manager. I Salici-'s Puppets begin a .veason in | Melbourne for Tlvoll (hcalics. Acti tainly hasn't happened has been quite a lull in cafe biz since early November, normally peak month. i - , , , ^ The Dec. 31 calendaring this year Swai'lhoul makes local bow . e..-j-„ _:«v,» io„ , ..■•nK so ojst with Symph Dec. 8-9. on a Sunday n.ght is less of a piob- < Lohbeck, 22, pianist awaiting lem for New York than last year . g^^, „j j^e EurtJpean conflict to start when it fell on Saturday and or-] hi« concert (our in France. Was in dained a 2 a.m. curfew for Sunday j Paris when hostilities broke out, so ■ he hurried to his home here, i Sid X. Hartman presented with j traveling bag, etc., uy employes of ' Hotel Cha.se at farewell breakfa.st - party to.<:sed upon his resignation as i head man of Chase Club, nitery." Fir.'-'t local showing of 'No More I Peace' will be by the Mummers of '■ St. Louis, Dec. 8-10. . Leads as- I yifined (o Carlo Koenig, Gene Mar- ■ Uhall, Blandford Jennings and Lu- ! cille William.son. I Ai.vets of George Kilgen Son?, ' Inc., clde.<!t organ concern in U.- S., brought $21,707 at auction. Eugene R. Kilgen, grandson of founder, has organized a new company to carry on. ings are still slow. Oiiio's Headache Columbus, Doc. S. Ohio blue laws are also a hurdle here for the niteries New Year's Eve, due to the awkward calendar date. The private party stunt has been talked about as a possible mcan.< to circumvent the Sabbath hurdle.