Variety (Dec 1939)

CHATTER VARIETY 5S Broadway Ben Piazza in town. Bamon (and ReniUi) laid up with doublc-pncumonia. Frank Gillmore'now living in sub- urban Long Island. John McCarron resting «l home after serious operation. Lucy Finkel, .sisler-in-Iaw of Paul Muni, to be a radio talent agent. Add rcpalriates: Sammy Ledner, stage mai^ager of 'DuBarry Was a Lady.' T. X. Jone.s, theatre accounting ex- ecutivis for Paramount, back from Chicago. Arthur Willi,. RKO talent-trailer, to Boston la-st week in the everlast-- Ing search. . „ Charlie Burton, Par maintenance- construction exec, going into Ohio on company biz. Harry Browning of Mullin & Pinanski chain in Soslon in New York a few day.s. Si Seadler kiddingly a.sked for milk at ii cocktail party and was shocked to get just that. Bob Weitman has installed a loud- speaker in his oltice so he can listen to the stage shows from there. In recognition of his six years' service over foreign salcsi RKO gave Phil Rcisman a v.p. title last week. All the boys got a terridc kick out of Boris Morros on the Hobby Lobby program when those Rasputin beads came up again. Music Hall threw cocktail party Monday. (II) for Ilona Massey, star of 'Balalaika,' which opens there to- morrow (Thurs.). Larry Cowen of the .Si Fabian chain in. Albany in for a quickie to see his folk; at Woodmere, L.' I., his father having been ill lately. Hazel O'Connor, Universal re- ceptionist, got a handbag as a pres- ent from director Henry Koster when he pulled out after his recent stay east. Board of directors of Society of Motion Picture Engineers has ^elect- ed Atlantic City for org's .■;cmi-an- nual convention in Chalfbnte-Had- don Hall, April 22-26. [ Walter Abel, who's been in New York for several months trying to find a legit script, will return to the Coast in time for the holidays and probably do at least one pictitre- Ihere. 'Scandals' company made a back- stage round-robin cash contribution and .sent it over, via Ella Logan, to the Actors' Kitchen, and Lounge of Union Methodist Church, with their Xmas greetings. The Xmas luncheon planned for employes of Loew-Metro . home offices and exchange Dec..22 at the Astor hotel has been postponed be- cause many had made other plans for that afternoon. Walter Winchell was noticeably absent Monday illt night at the opening of second edition of 'Hellza- poppin' at the Winter Garden. He was largely credited for plugging the show into a hit. Averape nitery scale for New' Year's is $7.50 a head including supper, favors, etc., liquor extra. Top is the snooty Monte Carlo's $40 a couple; other class joints content with $25 and $3U a couple. RKO theatre managers bectsteaked at the A.ttor Monday night Ul), their wives being guested by the circuit to any legit show they chose. Later all joined for an after-theatre party *t the Diamond Horseshoe. Danny Winkler visited New York last week on a delayed honeymoon ' with his bride, Jean Rogers, of 20th- Fox.-- On the way back they stopped off at Cleveland to pick up a car which he presented to her. ,Barney Balaban, Stanton L. GrifTis. Neil F. Agnew, Jessica Dragonette and Lanny Ross,' singing voices of 'Gulliver's Travels,' who will do spe- cial broadca.st from Miami, will at- tend the prccm at the Sheridan, Miami Beach, Dec. 16. tions likewise operate in the ace New Zealand centres. Sir Ben Fuller dickering with Comedy Harmonists for season in New Zealand. Musical combo, has been highly successful or the Aus- tralian Broadcasting Commission and will domicile here. London Paris By Joe Ravotlo Gilbert Miller to and back from London. Actor Charles Vanel married, with Jean Miirat a witne.ss. Racing season begins Dec. 31, with trotting races at Vincenne.s. ■ Paderewski may soon be made an honorary citizen of France. Sacha Guitry admits that despite the war he's still ogling Hollywood. Director Jacques Constant and actress Mary Glory posted marriage banns. . 'Wuthering Heights' in its ninth straight month in Champs Elysees de luxers. Marcel I/Herbier directing 'La Comedie du Bonheur' ("The Comedy of Happiness'). "Victor Boucher back on his feet after suffering from sudden, illness on-Madeleine stage. Oscar Strau.ss revealed that-his 'Three Waltzes' may be given . in London. He recently became a French citizen. Cinemonde, pic weekly, still cam- paigning for purging of all foreign elements, especially refugees, from French cinema. Jacques Bousquet, 56, dramatist who collaborated with Rip in writing many successful local revues and comedies, died after long illness. 'L'Homme Qui Cherche La Verite' ("The Man Who Seeks the Truth') to be started Dec. 20 with Maimu and Jacqueline Delubac heading cast. Henry Lepage has completed four scenarios: "Abri, 29 Places' t'Shelter, 29 Places'), 'Quelque Part sur Le Front,' 'Auto-Shop' and 'Radio- France.' 'Bifur Trois.' by Maurice Cam with Annie Vernay, Conchita Montenegro and Aimos, in cast, which was inter- rupted by the war, will resume shortly. Cleveland By Glenn C. Pullen Paul Burton breaking in new orch at Cabin Club. Michael Michale.sko's Yiddi.sh stock company touring Ohio hamlets and doubling in Manhattan weekends. Dorothy Stone - Charles Collin dance team opens tonight (Wednes- day) at Statler Terrace Room for the holidays. Bedford Glens, a roller rink 38 years ago, being turned into one again by Evan Day, with dances two days per week. Dorothy Paxton .too bu.sy acting at Play House to see performance of her own new play, "Belter Fo' to Sing,' being presented locally by the Gilpin Negro troupe. Equity-4A 's .Continued from paec l- Australia By Erie Gorrick Jack Lester producing revues in Perth for indie unit. Williamson-Tait will revive 'Ar- cadians' in Melbourne. Hoyts reconstructing Princess, Tas- mania, at cost of $60,000: Pic industry running miniature World's Fair in Sydney this month. William.son-Tail flnislied good run with Switzerland Ice Show in Sydney. Mills Bros, in for five weeks at the nvoli, Sydney, following good run In Melbourne for Frank Neil. Exhibs and district groups uniting 5 provide suitable fare for soldiers. Bill Harrop and Bernie Freeman be- hind move. Stanley Crick, former 20th-Fox .boss in New South Wales, but now out of amusement biz, is a nominee ior_the job of Sydney's Lord Mayor. ■ ■ Smiling,' Cinesound's opus with Will Mahoncy, proems in iasmania shortly. Mahoney will do ...PTu- Tivoli theatres in Syd- ney this Yuletide. MiSr^-^^y!? Aunt' is a current logit P„^^ M^'^w Zealand. Sir Ben hn." "POt this one in Mel- bourne at Yuletide, with Charles ■Gorman in title role. Ir^!! "^o.ll'ni'es to be bright in Aus- amJ T.^'i*" * S''od lineup of British U. S. product. Similar condi- man of the investigating body he will be (tailed on. to give a detailed explanation of- its purpose and the nature of the information sought, as well as the use that is to be made of its findings. Understood the Four A's heads have no particular objec- tion to turning over any pertinent records or information to any authorized representative's of a mem- ber union, but it's figured the Equity representatives should have no rea- sonable grounds for withholding the complete aims of the move. Although the Equity action became known only a few days ago, it has already caused considerable specula- tion in Four A's circles. Certain of- ficials have pointed out that although all Four A's branches are nominally favorable to the 'one big union' idea, Equity leaders have actually, been opposing any active application of the principle. It's figured possible that certain Equity members may hope to unearth grounds on which to base ah attack against the 'one big union' plan at Equity's quarterly membership mcelihg Dec. 22. Another possibility is that the in- vestigation may be intended to un- cover information with which to up- .set the recent boost in the per cap- ita tax which the member unions pay the Four A's. Equity and the Screen Actors' Guild okayed the raise and have been paying the in- creased tax, but the American Fed- eration of Radio Artists voted down the higher ns.se.'.cmenl and the American Guild of "Variety Artists has not acted on it.. Seen possible that Equity is dissatisfied with the fact that all the member unions aren't equally paying the lax and desires to revoke its agrecinent. Bui in the welter of speculation already raised, several other and more ex- treme po.ssibililies are involved. Gabriel Pa.scal to Devonshire for vacation. Stars under contract to entertain troops receive $25 per week. Will Fyffe arranging to go to France to entertain the soldiers de- spite film offers. \ It had to come. The first jitterbug I contest was held in London Nov. 20 I at Paramount's dancehall. Terence Ratligan, author of 'French Without Tears,' is a decoder of mes- sages at the Foreign Office. The pre-release of 'Juarez' (WB) at \yarner's in Leicester Square is doing nearly capacity business. Leria Goriella granted an inter- •locutory divorce decree from her hu.sband, Nat Gonella, the band leader. Harry Tate, in Scotland during the air riaids, is suffering from heart trouble, but may be up and around shortly. Stanley. Lupino opens his new show out of' town on Christmas and, it it is good enough, will bring it to the West En.d. Bobby Medlock (Medlock and Marlow) operated on for appendix removal, necessitating team being idle for three months. Tranlt" EavmderTTtoi-y-editor" and director with Gain.sborough' Films in the last three years, has had his contract renewed lor two years..- Palmer, Ncwbould & Co. take over <>ntire Gaumont-British pub- licity and advertising which they handled for years, with two years! break. Ganjou Bro.r. and Juanita, now in Stockholm, trying to locate their relatives in Pqland, who have not been heard of since the Hitler in- vasion. John'Gielgud's production of The Importance of Being Earnest' re- turning to the Globe theatre Dec. 26 for six weeks with the same cast as last season. Sandra Storm, film actre.ss, married to Jack Dun'fee, former racing motorist and now of the theatrical producing firm of O'Bryen, Linnit. & Dunfee. On reaching home following cele- bration of his first night of. a new play, Gordon Harker found his house ransackedjD^I _h.is wife's fur c oats missing in addition to his valuable camera. Diana Ward's flat broken into, with thieves who are believed to be part of. active Mayfair gang, getting away with mink coat valued at $2,000. Police discovered coat after two days' .search. Warner Bros. (London) awaiting instructions from head office to start making pictures again. Meanwhile, company is negotiating settlement with Max Miller, who has contract with them for one more picture After a couple of years absence. Cliff Whitley is returning to show biz. Has revue, written by Douglas Furber, 'Somewhere in London,' coming into the Lyric theatre Dec. 26. Cast will be headed by Will Hay. Sandy Powell's provincial show, 'Can You Hear Mc Mother,' closed at Coliseum. Until the Christmas pantomime opens there, legit suc- cesses are being revived twice- nightly, starting with 'Goodness, How Sad' and 'Banana Ridge.' Earl St. John, in charge of Para- mount theatres here, has gone over to Odeon to manage the half dozen Paramount houses which the Odeon circuit took over. Tony Reddin, pub- licity manager for Paramoupt, will manage the Plaza and Carlton. graphical picture, now being shot. Semmclwei.<.s \ias a Hungarian doctor. Theodore . Uray act.? the title part. Shortly to be relea.^ed: 'Deadly Spring,' screen adaptation of Lajos Zilahy's novel, produced by himself, and ■'Groceries and Delicatessen,' : picture version of Kalman Csalho's ■ stage play. Hollywood St. Louis ^ By Sam X. Hurst ' Leo Morrison stopped off over weekend on way to Coast. W. H. Stein in for visit at local MCA office after long absence. John Irving pulling fini.shing touches on new play, 'The Simple Melody.' Al Zimmey back after eight months of vaude Down Under with the kola bear and kangaroo. Johnny Burke was big scorer at Showmen's League Banquet with his standard comedy .soldier monolog. Charlie Washburn taking over press job on 'My Dear Children' when show si'rams Chi in January. Tito Guizar east on concert tour. Eric von Stroheim in from Europe. Victor Sutker broke an arm in a fall. i Henry Fonda to Mexico Cil.v. on Ivacash. I Mitzi Haynes suing Dave Gould for : divorce. I Eddie Collins recovering from ap- ; pcndectomy. . George Brown • joined Warners i publicity'staff. Dick .Turgens' orch held over al i , 1^1^^" baking his ncu. ilis Ch,se Club, west end nilery. I ^'^D^c^X^Lam'-our recuperating from Helen Robm.son succeeded' Sid X. | (hroat infection Hartman as manager of Chase Club, i Howard Wilson joined Paramount nitery. - . , a sound mixer. L. fiarl Stephenson is prez of the] Astrid Allwyn granted divorce recently organized Missouri Theatre I from Robert Kent. Corp. of St. Joseph, Mo. i Joe E. Brown recovering from cuts Barney Rosenthal, co-manager of i susjajned in a motor crash. Republic Pictures, back from a biz L Home m from Manhattan for trip throughout this territory. I huddles with Walt Disney. Newly elected execs of St. Loui ! Warners changed Andrew Mc- Vnrietv (?l.ih win h» in.riiuVr°"=l? "^me to David Bruce. y^^.Vf'y^Pi.'^L rj'.Vi'!.,..'u"i™.J.' Gloria Dickson and Richard Ar len dinner, meeting in the club's quarters Friday (15). en^a-eSe°^rher'e^a''s\''''4k''a\"T^^^ t° ^ilkins. U"' mili.;rr'balf \.eiM'afler'"oS?"''"'' Casa Loma ballroom. |\ersai lot after foiu- booked for eastern personal tour. David Biaron checked out of Joe years as story Gladys Swarthout, guest soloist With St; Louis- symph last week, was guest speaker at luncheon to.ssed by orch's Board of Control. Hugh M. F. Lewis, native, is a member of Princeton U.'s Triangle Club, whose 'My Moment Now' plays single erigagement in Municipal Auditorium Dec. 27. Names For Fair .Continued from page 1_ important fair dates from the strict- ly outdoors talent agencies, and the future looks for a speeding up of that trend which will result in the use of name orchestras, headline radio and vaudeville names as busi- ness getters for the fairs. Like Name Bands editor. Merle Armitage filed bankruptcy petl.tio'n; has $41,148 in debts- and $5,550 assets. Arturo Toscanini guest of Jean- elte MacDohald and Nelson Eddy on the Metro lot. Oren Roberts in town to buy new equipment for Pampa Films of Buenos Aires. Joseph M. Schenck opened anti- infantile paralysis campaign in southern California. Harry Highsmith took charije of new studio musical service branch of Everett Crosby agency. Don Ameche has recovered from stomach ailment and reports for work at 20th-Fox Friday (15). Liveright to publish shortly the autobiog of Edward Arnold under the title, 'Lorenzo Goes to Holly- wood.' Joan Fontaine drew a three-monlh leave from Seiznick-International for a Bermuda vacation with hus- Especially are the fair secretaries band Brian Aherne. Frank Capra and Dr. Lee DeFor- est initiated into Tau Beta Pi, hon- orary engjnggrjng society, ^t Call- interested in name bands which have already showed considerably ability to-snare-mobs-4n-such- tests- .as _D£=_ troit, Ft. Worth, San Francisco, Du- ; fornia Institute of Technology. luth and New "ifork. Fairs also fa- i \ — ■ — vor straight radio attractions such as | n*ii I I Edgar Bergen, Burns and Allen, j 1 ittSDUrffll By Ha! Cohen Rubinbff, Morton Downey, et al. . There is no question that the var- iety entertainers are .set to give the acrobats a run for it on the fair- grounds, and the fair sees Ihem.selves have been highly pleased with the click of variety attractions as at- tcndance-snatchers in the few spots these attractions have played. Car- nival owners themselves have urged that the fairs make greater use of radio and variety names, but the Carney owners are also a little leery of' the proposal to. use name bands for dancing purposes after 10 p.m. Usual agreement, between fairs and carnies is that the grandstand shows will be over and shut by 10 p.m. so that the midway will h<ive a crack at the customers. The concession- aires are ready to put up a fight against the dansipation to midnight and beyond, playing to as many as 5,000 people who immediately after scram away, giving the midway a complete go-by. In addition to the agen.cies them- .selves which had layouts at the Sherman Hotel when the outdoors convention was held, two band lead- ers, Paul Whileman and Ted Lewis, had their own special offices operat- ing at the convention. Lewis also ^^j^, Florence Deutlebaum made a .special appearance at the i ^^,„e married here Sunday (10). Showmen's League annual banquet. | Charlie Gaynor gets in from New I York next week to place his original : revue in rehearsal at the Playhouse. 1 Clair Meeder reelected president ■ ot Musicians Union, Local 60, beating ■ Jimmy Comoroda by more than 300 : votes. ! Norman Porter, local lad, has a ' role in Harry Bannister's production of 'She Gave Him All She Had' on Singer Freda Borg and Wilbur Domb to marry Jan. 21. Tony Conforti's party ot six bagged two bucks on their deer hunt last week.' . Marianne Rohrkaste out of Plaza cafe show for an operation on one ot her toes. Ernest Leiberman, WB theatre manager, and Rita Williams will wed day before Xmas. George Curry, formerly with Stan- ley house orch, now playing viola for Pittsburgh Symph. Annual banquet of Al Abrams* Dapper Dan Club scheduled for Wil- liam Pcnn hotel Jan. 21. Margie Noble out of Shadyside hosp after month's siege, and home to Florida to convalesce. The Dick Rauhs (she was Helen Wayne, Playhouse actress) expect their child in the spring. . Singer Brian McDonald match- maker for boxing shows at Johnny Harris' Duquesne Garden. Eda Toldi has resigned as co-direc- tor of tiny Laboratory theatre to devote her time to writing. Par exchange manager Dave Kim- melman feeling all right- again and expected back on job any day. All-American Marshall Goldberg. Lunts Tell 'Em .Continued from r'S* >- Budapest By E. r. Jacob! 'Jamaica Inn' banned by censtjr. 'Macbeth' revived at National tlic- alre. 'Repulo dandar' i'Flying Squad'), patriotic Air Force propaganda film, ready for release. 'Bachelor's Rooms for Lco.se' cur- rently being made at. Hunnia Studios. Bela Balogh directing. New theatre, Dun.iparti Szinhaz, featuring onc-aolcrs and ciibarcl tuni.s. opened by Lajos Kopcczy- Boncz. Pcsti N;iplo, Hungary's oldest daily, and Az Esl. former popular afternoon paper, have ceased publi- cation. Road companies sponsored .by Actors' Chamber, taking the place of indcpenrlent eoinpaniCK in provin- cial town.s, have done poorly .so far. 'Semmtlwei.'-s,' flr.-l Magyar bio- Minneapolis By Les Rces grapes of wrath on (lie gilded lag- I gards of Hollywood. Remarks from stage were brief. Broadway, and in good taste, but what brought : - the house down was their gesturing. • At entrance of each late comer. Rich- j ard Whorf, as Christopher Sly, in a box from which he heckles Lunl' and Fontanne with a raucous 'hoi, I hoi' would point them out: Either ! Arthur Lee, Gaumon't-Britij:)) sales Lunt or Mi.ss Fontanne, or both,: manager, a visitor, would stop in the middle of a'speech ' -.^uclt fidwell "WB auditor, ill in and bow gracefully, Lunt sweeping 1'^^uXryT^^hospiUl. n^r.^ hic v,-,t Ralph LaBcau, Paramount di.strict Ihc^noor wi h his plumed hat. To ] .stopped over, each he would say welcome, look at: Henry M. Herbel,. Warner Brothers' an imaginary, wrist watch and then district manager, in town, to the iithers on the stage. 'Let's on i Sim Heller. Grand Rapids, Minn., with il.' Al times he would tap his : exhibitor, laid up with flu. foot until the party was scaled. John J. Fricdl, MlnnesoUi Amus. .. ——i . »T.,^y Yoik Miss Fontanne also gave Ihc Me ' Jp"'^^^^ manager, in Nev .arrivals a sweeping bow but left the " i,vYng Gillman back from New remarks to Lunt. Pauletle Goddard , York with more pictures for his and John McClain made a lale en-; Esquire theatre. ' I Iranee on the second act curtain but I Clyde Mc(ioy and Bob Chester's . didn't get a tumble. Looked inlcn- bands among 15 that played at ■lional but mebbe they were over-, ^Qniia^ musicians' ball here ■ looked by Sly. who did all the.spot- ^"^'^ ^° Orpheum stage show week of Dec. 23, with Orrin Tucker, originally ting. Houite took il all in good -spirit but .scheduled for that date.'set back to its what Hollywood long needed. February.