Variety (Jan 1940)

RADIO SCREEN Vol. 137. No. 4 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1940 164 PAGES 1939 HOLLYWOO D TOPPERS ^ . \ -f -f 3 Months After War Sees British 6.0. Chaos Veering to Confidence By Samuel Eckman, Jr. (Managliir Plreclor Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer, Ltd.) London, Dec. 20. From chaos to—what? Alter these first lluoo months of war, I think I may say without unreasonable optimism—to confidence. Confidence in the future. And confidence that Great Britain in wartime is not too bad a place to be in, even for those of us who have the responsibility of doing our part in keeping the enter- tainment industry alive, both for the sake of the vast number of people to whom it means their liveli- hood, and because it is probably the most vital factor in keeping up the morale and cheerfulness of the or- dinary citizen, whether In uniform or mufti. The first week or so of the war was pietly grim. Every cinema and theatre shut by Government order. Practically every film company transferred to some- where in the country—also, in cllect, by onicial command. For the au- thorities had made it very clear that they would not have films stored in London, and that they wanted as many firms as possible to move their employees to the 'reception', or safer areas. It I may venture a mild criticism, the theatre-closing order was made no easier by the language in which It was couched. On the fateful Sunday morning when war was declared, wc all heard on the radio that every place of amusement was to be shut until fur- ■ ther notice. In certain areas, the an- nouncement continued, the matter might be reconsidered later on. Of course, the authorities were ex- pecting, or at least fearing, imme- diate mass air raids on London and. other cities. Nevertheless, some as- surance might perha|)s have been given that the amusement houses would be reopened at the earliest possible moment—as in fact they were. It would have softened the blow, not ■ only for the 500,000 or more people in Britain who depend on cinemas and theatres for their bread and butter, but also for the countless number who regard them as their principal source of mental nourishment, relaxation and amuse- ment. Although this is a purely personal Opinion, I do not believe that, even if severe raids had come—even it they como now, as they may—Eng- land could carry ' on without enter- tainment. Wo all have learned a good deal of what happened during 'he last war. Aircraft then were less powerful and speedy than they are today; but anti-aircraft defenses were infinitely less elTectivc. During War I there were scores of ait raids on London; yet the theatres and cinemas remained open through- out its four years and more, giving comfort, recreation and a sane out- look on life to the people of London, and to British, Dominion and Amer- ican soldiers and. sailors here on 'cave, or on their way to the front, (Continued on page CG) New Model As the result of her recordings o( "Oh, Johnny. Oh' (Columbia) and 'Billy' (Vocation), Bonnie Baker has become one of the most imitated singers in the busi- ness. Prior to Miss Baker's rise to attention the. girl vocalists with dance units were given to borrowing the style of Mildred Bailey or.Maxine Sullivan. Now they're trying to capture Miss Baker's sub-ingenue nasal as part of their own vocal man- nerism. T- INB.Q. STANDOFF Former's Film Gross Oyer $10,000..000. But Rooiiey Heads'EmAll in New Prod- uct Released in 12 Months — Fleming, C a p r a and Curtiz Leading Money Directors WLW Shows Hillbillies in Denims; Their Personal Wardrobe Too Flashy Top Money Directors FEW NEW FACES TRAVELING BIG SPEC THROUGH SOUTHWEST One of the largest traveling spec shows ever seen in this country will tour through New Mexico, Arizona and Texas from the end of May until the end oC October in celebra- tion of the 400th anniversary of the coming of the Spanish explorer, Coronado. Special steel scaffolding is being fabricated to make it pos- sible to erect in 24 to 30 hours sets comparable in si/.e to those used in California Cavalcade at the San Francisco Fair la.-it season. Productions will be presented in football stadiums at night with cast of about 1.000 players recruited in the neighborhood and a small nucleus of pros and stuntmen. With large Spanish populations in the touring territory, some of the pro- ductions will be presented in that tongue. Cavalcade opens at Albuquerque May 29. THIS EXPLAINS SOME BAD LEGIT ROAD BIZ By Arthur Ungar Hollywood, Jan. 1. The cinematic man-of-the-year is James Stewart. In 1939, five of his pictures grossed more than $10,000,- 000, a bit of a record for a male lead. The films were 'Made for Each Other,' 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washing- ton,' 'Destry Rides Again," 'It's a Wonderful World' and 'You Can't Take It With You' which latter, while a late 1938 release, did most of its earnings in 1939. Holding strictly within the limita- tion of films released during the 12- month period, however, Mickey Rooney tops the male star brigade at the boxofltice. With the war threat and general (Continued on page 28) Victor Fleming Frank. Capra Michael Curtiz tVllllam S. Van Dyk« George B. SelU THEATRE BLDG. BOOMIN LATIN AMERICA Buffalo, Jan. 1. There's growing resentment hero about the linal shows of visiting legit. They are coiisiste:illy interrupted by loud back.-itage noi.-ies due to re- moval and loading of sets and props used in preceding acts. ^ On certain occasions, al.so. shouts and protanitv of sta.giMumds and ; truckers have been loud enough to 'drown out the stage dialog. And to 'make matters worse, these audience 'annoyances happen at la.-t perform- ances (especially Saturday nights), which usually see the largest at- tendance, with loss of good will mul- tiplied accordingly. Miller, Chester Both Record for Victor With Ditto Styles; Squawks Though many of the new bands and quite a few of the old ones have shown a tendency to use Glenn Mil- ler's sweet style, obtained by using a lead clarinet, the first indication of any objection by Miller is his re- ported pressuring of Victor to re- quest Bob Chester to change his style. Both bands are on the same Bluebird (RCA Victor) label. The request was made to Chester's man- agers, Arthur .Michaud and Jim Peppe, who answered with a turn- down, accompanied by a request for Chester's release from his contract. That was in turn deiiied. Chester's new band,'which follow.s the current Glen Gray orchestra into the Paramount theatre, N. Y., was originally signed to Victor for a 10- sidc test stretch. It was subsequently signatured for a year, on which 12 more sides have been turned out, on the assurance there would be no coii- fliction with Miller. Situation re- mains as is for the time being. Expansion of the theatre construc- tion programs in Central American countries and the West Indies fore- cast a material hike in sales by American equipment manufactuies in the immediate future. That is the word brought back to New York by H. B. AUinsmith, general manager for Western Electric Co. of Cuba, who has been on a month's tour of the company's Caribbean territory. While the European conflict has delayed expansion plans in British dependencies, the increase in Amer- ican garrisons has tended to improve business in Panama and Puerto Rico; also Latin American republics, es- pecially in Central America, which are going forward with building on a scale unprecedented in recent years. Largest theatre in Latin Americas is projected at Bogota while houses of 2.000 and 3,000 seats respectively are going up at Caracas and Baran- quilla. Allinsmilh's recent trip included stops in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trini- dad. Colombia, Venezuela, Jamaica and Panama. Cincinnati, Jan. 1. Most hillbilly entertainers who get into the bucks via radio adopt a yen for flashy street clothes, loud jewelry, classy autos and other big-time splurge. This, if known to their fans, causes a popularity letdown. To build up, rather than tear down, fan illusions the WLW Boone County Jamboree folks hold a public recep- tion after Saturday' night stage-air shows in Emery auditorium. Patrons are invited to meet and mingle with the entertainers while the latter have on their stage ginghams and denims. Several hundred attendees take advantage of the open-house offer after each performance. They get backstage glimpses and are per- mitted to obtain autographs. Too, they clear out before the entertain- ers wash up and change to fancy attire. Hank Richards, who writes and su- pervises production on the troupe's stage-air shows, adopted the audi- ence-mingling idea this season. He also has discouraged extemporaneous clowning and attempts at attention- hogging during performances. At a meeting of the troupe last week, Richards said: 'The day when radio entertainers were a novelty in the theatre has passed. No longer do audiences look upon you as a member of the family and exeu.se bum showmanship and rotten stage presence. 'When you play a theatre now, from 35% to 50% of the audience is there to see you perform. Bear in mind that from 50% to 65% ot the audience is made up of regular patrons, 'Too many radio acts have let down the people who paid cash to see them perform.' COAST AIRPORT LOSES BOUT WITH PIX COS. Deadline Jan. 1 This edition wont to press Jan. 1. Early deadline, because of the holiday's mechanical problems and the size of this issue makes it necessary to omit certain standard deirartnienls this week. LASKER GIVES CHICAGO \ U. $3,500,000 ESTATE Chicago, Jan. 1. Albert D. La.sker, of Lord & Thomas, has given his $3,500,000 country estate in Lake Forest here to the U. of Chicago. Property in- cludes one of the most famous golf courses in the country. C;ift will be made official on Jan. 11, with the university to hold the property for at least two years. It in that time the university hasn't found an educational use for it, the school may then dispose ot the prop- erty any way it chooses. Lasker, who is a member of the university's board of trustees, had previously given the school $1,000,- 000 to establish the La.sker Founda- tion for Medical Research. This gift was made- in 1928 in conjunction with his first wife, the late Mrs. Flora Lasker. Hollywood, Jan. 1. Pictures won a decision over avia- tion when the flying school at Tarzana, in San Fernando Valley, was ordered closed by the city council. Flim companies with ranches in the neighborhood, chiefly RKO, complained that the droning of airplane motors interfered with picture making. Training school, conducted by Major C. C. Moseley and backed b.y the War Department, put up a stiff light but the film outfits won by a vote of 10 to 3. Leftist Mexico Bans Pix From the Soviet Mexico City, Jan. 1. Presumably because of the Fin- land affair, which leftist Mexico has ofTicially disapproved, the federal government has forbidden exhibi- tions ot Soviet pix at its Teatro Hidalgo here. , The government had made quite a show of Ru.ssian films. r