Variety (Jan 1940)

8 PICTURES Thirty-fourlh VARIETY Anniiermry Wednesday, January 3, 1940 Concerts' Big Boom, Via Radio And Films; 3 Name Exceptions Much credit has been dircclcd al radio buildup in present-day con- cerlizing, yet three top draws in American music, exclusive of vocal- ists, have never been heard on the air to any great extent. Rachmanin^ off, Fritz Kreisler and Josef Hofmann have always turned down term- contract radio offers despite fees that have doubled their recital prices. Hofmann has only done two shots on the air. The others, none. Motion pictures are a much irtore important factor in concort buiUl- ins and count for Nelson Eddy'.-; po- sition as the No. 1 concert attrac- tion for the fourth successive year, and also for the appearance this sea- son of a new recital click in Jcanotte MacDonald. Film soprano made hor first concert lour last winter to im- portant grosses and has been widely booked a.aain this year. The Metro star is regarded more or lo.'s as a popular draw and whether she will establish herself as a serious con- cert artist is still to be determined. Allan Jones is another v.-hose film rep has enhanced his platform drav;. He goes out on a 12-week concert tour this month. Gladys Sv;arthout. while originally a concert figure, only gained top prominence in that field following her appearance in pix. Kenny Baker is another film and radio luminary v;ho misht go • concert. ' Concert busines.^ is havin.!» its bist. .leason in years with good boxoflicc ' returns in larger centers particu- larly. Canadian business has held up and t"iere have been Ic.s.s than a ' half dozen cancellations of major ■ attractions in the Dominion. With the rapid expansion of out- '. door concert activities in America in recent years, a bumper summer business is anticipated. S;iccp.-s of i municipal or quasi-municipal con- I certs in New York, Chicago. Mil- • waukee. Hollywood, . Clevclfind. : Philadelphia, Washington, etc., will ■ find msny other cities in the sum- . mer schedules this year. In former years, topflight artists' headed for European festival dates in the spring but with mast continental seasons off this year, musicians will remain in this country. Their pres- ence here will probably be respon- sible for additional spring and sum- mer bookings. Lily Pons, little, but a good trouper, remains the ace woman boxofflce star, second only to Nelson Eddy, with a phenomenal outdoor tour last summer accompanied by her con- ductor-husband, Andre Kostelanetz, assuring her lead. An audience of 300,000 in Chicago gave the soprano a publicity momentum which is carrying her through her biggest sea- son in this country. Marian Anderson is third in the list of vocalists and certainly the best draw in some cities. Negro contralto has given three sold-out Carnegie Hall recitals this season, which is particularly heavy sugar for a single attraction. A new colored personality of great Importance is Dorothy Maynor, 26 year old soprano, who made an ac- claimed debut in Town Hall hV. Y.) in November after singing for Serge Koussevitzky at the Berkshire Festi- val last summer. Miss Maynor is al- ready heavily booked for next sea- son. Tibbett and Grace Moore Lawrence Tibbett maintains his place among the leaders with all the bookings he can take and Grace Moore, after several spectacular years as a cinematic soprano, holds her own in the field with her recent operatic successes, notably In 'Loui.se.' Kirsten Flagstad, although she de- votes more time to opera, is a big draw in certain centers, and Richard Crooks, John Charles Thomas and Lotte Lehmann, three of the most artistic of present day singers, com- plete the lineup of principal vocal- ists. The passing years have made Sergei Rachmaninoff one of the most glamorous figures on the concert platform. His-gaunt, brooding figure on a darkened stage is extremely effective and, added to his reputa- tion as a composer, helps keep his price up. Both R&chmaninoff and Fritz Kreisler are two of a famous trio of artists marketed for years by C. J. Foley. The other was Geraldine Farrar. Foley still, manages his two instrumentalists but books through NBC. Josef Hofmann is one of the great draws of the concert business. The legend which makes him an old man only adds to his popularity. Actually How They Rate Top Vocalists Nelson Eddy. Lily Pons. Marian Anderson. Jeanette MacDonald. Lawrence Tibbett. Grace Moore. Kir.sten Flagstad. Richard Crooks. John Charles Thoinap. Lotte Lehmann. Top Instrumentalists Rachmaninoff. Kreisler. Hofmann. Menuhin. HeifeU. Vladimir Horowitz. Jose Iturbi. Walter Gieseking. Albert Spalding. Myra Hess. GREETINGS MOLLY PICON Koiiilh ronsooulive season with MiixwoU House l-offee — Sundays, i;:00-i;;.30 P.^l.. KST—WMOA; . Hofmann is in his early 60? and one of the most scrupulous artists and liveliest troupers. The Pr<rtigy Grows Older Yehuili Menuhin, a phenomcniin as a child prodigy, continues as a box- office winner and counts on scllling into the respectable, moncymaking Rroove that accommodates Heil'ctz, his predecessor in the baby parade, Ueturiiing this year aftei- an ab- .sence of several seasons, Viadimir Horowitz f.iced a sold-out tour. Son-in-law of Toscanini, Horowitz has always had a big American public. Hard work and a flair lor the spectacular have helped Jose Iturbi to keep his. place in the upper brackets. Walter Gieseking hoped to overcome transportation c'.ifl'icul- ties to come here to make his an- niial, highly auspicious tour in Jan- uary. Lone American-born artist among ' the first 10 musicians is Albert 'Spald- ' ing, violinist. Shrewd handling in . addition to his own, important . talents have kept Spalding in front. ; Strangely enough Spalding has won his greatest acclaim outside his own country. Myra Hess, the British pianist, is not coming to America this sea.son. She has remained behind to organize free music programs for hec- go\ern- meni. But her place as the mo.'^t suc- cessful woman, instrumentalist cince Maud Powell is assured. A woman pianist or violinist continues to be a drug on the American music mar- ket. Only Guiomar' Novaes. Bra- zilian pianist, approaches Miss Hess. However, Ignace Jan Paderewski undoubtedly would lead all concert performers as a draw were he able to appear more consistently. In his late 70s, he's no more than a freak personality, since his playing has seen its best days. He toured for a time last season in the U. S. but had to call it short due to illness. Law Badio Ratiops Concert headliners have only had a fair year on the radio, the Ford Hour being the most important out- let. Richard Crooks has been the only star with a series iFirestone). Reason for decrease in use of top vocalists has been the low survey ratings compared to the asking price of talent. There are already signs that artists are cotning to a realiza- tion of these facts and already sev- eral name vocalists have been quoted in the market for $1,000 to $2,000 less than the price of three years ago. I Several institutional hoius are now I in preparation which will u.sc .sym- • phony orchestras and biglimc .solo- ! isfs, and there are report.s that Eddy. Tibbett and Miss Moore will not be long idle. A more knowing use of vocal pci'- sonalities in motion pictures is also forecast from Hollywood with Miss Moore and Tibbett both mentioned for important productions. Metro is still interested in a film production of The Guardsman' to be tailored to suit their special talents and 20th- Fox is considering Irving Berlin's 'Say It With Music' for Miss Moore. In addition to Dorothy Maynor, year's new b.o. personalities to <late are Zion Francescatti, a French- Italian violinist, who made a suc- cessful debut with the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, and Helen Traubel, American cJra- matic soprano, who won tardy recog- nition in a Town Hall recital and two appearances with the New York PhilhqrmonicI Mme. Traubel, a St. Louisan, was around the Metropoli- tan Opera for two years with little Goldwyn Strips Payrall During Std^o Siesta Hollywood, Jan. 1. Only a few e.\ecs will remain on Samuel Goldwyns payroll when he shutter.s his plant for a siesta, begin- ning about Jan. 20, by which time his lone production, "I'he Westerner,' will have ceased firing. Seven contract players have been farmed out to other studios. Gary Cooper goes to Paramount for •Triumph Over.. Pain.' Jon Hall, Walter Brennan, Andrea Leeds, Dana i Andrews and Virginia Gilmore go to 20th-Fox where Zorina is already at work. The eighth, contractee, David Niven, is on leave of absence in i England. 1 Of the three Goldwyn directors, ; Sam Wood is assigned to Sol Lesser's •Our Town,' William Wyler is han- ! dling 'The Westerner,' and Archie ! Mayo is on vacation in the east. Schwartz's Warning Fighting-mad warning that any other company which attempts to touch Sam Goldwyn's next picture, 'The Westerner', will find itself in 'a peck of trouble', was issued by Charles C. Schwartz, United Artists counsel, on Friday (29). Schwartz's belligerent statement followed re- ports that Goldwyn, who recently 'terminated' his distribution contract with UA, was in confabs with Para- mount and RKO in attempts to get them to handle the fcnrthcoming film. 'We have already said that we will fight Goldwyn on every legal ground in his attempt to wriggle out of his contract with us,' Schwartz declared, 'and that in- cludes any company that is down- right stupid enough to deal with him while he is under our contract. United Artists will distribute The Westerner* and any other picture made by Goldwyn until his contract expires on Sept. 2, 1945, unless we decide otherwise.' 'Westerner' is the last picture: due by Goldwyn on the current season's commitment to United Artists. He recently delivered 'Raffles' as his 'final' pictiu'e for their release. It known that he is having difficulty in obtaining a distribution agreement on 'We.slerner' as every other com- pany is fearful of becoming in- volved in a costly and dangerous lawsuit—.such as Schwartz threatens —should any pact be made. Tugend Shifts To U Hollywood, Jan. 1. Harry Tugend checked out of 20th- Fox after four years of scripting and moves to Universal this week, o Writer came here from New York with Fred Allen and stayed. or no opportunity. She now returns there in" principal Wagnerian roles. The Italian government caused both the Met and the San Francisco Opera many headaches by refusing to permit nine Italian opera singers to sail to this country for scheduled engagements. Among those unable to fill dates here were Mafalda Favcro, Mdria Caniglia and Eba Stignani, sopranos; AUesandro Zili- ani, tenor and Guiscppe De Luca and Salvatore Baccaloni, baritones. THE 1939 B. O. By Roy Chartier The pul.'ie of the picture bu.^ino.ss, the boxoffice, has many finncr.v on it with the constancy of u doctor ministering to a doubtful paiienl, but aii through 1939 no one has been able to clearly diagno.se the condition or report on the prospects. Whether the outlook for the inimcdiule future is bright, dubious or static remains as much a mystery as 1S40 marks another year, as it did 12 months ago. Midway into another season of lilm programs, it would apppar (hat while the b.o. is not soomingly facing a setback, it al.so is mil showing signs of sudden rejuvenation. The war, and any boom rc.--ultiiij; from that industrially in this, country, might mean greatly rcm-v.-cd vitality in theatre receipts. It also may mean nothing and, so far, it hasn't, txccpt in a very i.solalcd way through stepped up grosses in crrtaiii cdinmunitics where production has sptirted, notably .steel centers. Repeal of the arms embargo was widely acclaimed in the picture in. du.stry, principally among exhibitors, in. the belief that lliis would ulli- matcly lead to a boom in this covmlry which, in turn, would be rollccted at the theatres the same as in the last war. 'It peace docs not break out,' as one theatre operator recently stated, then this may come, but ii m.iy not arrive "to any appreciable degree for sometime. Expcrionco of the World War was that film boxoffices did not get any action until about six months after it had bepun, but once the level of grasses Mi;>rc<l. • they stayed at a high plane until the armistice was signed, as well as for a time afterward. This was also true of the depression, the theatres getting hurt the last and recovering behind mo.H other industries wh.ii a short-lived prosperity came. Thus, even thou.sih a business revival occurs as result of war and the theatres do not get their .share of the .spoils until prosperity has been spread around t>I.>.-cwlier«>, there may be some consoluliuit in the fact .that exnericncr has .seemingly tau.nht (hat boxoffices are the U^i to have it taken away from them. History May Not Repeat Operators of tlie older sfln-ol. however, point to the pii-sibility that history may not repeat itsolf and that what happened duriiv; liio war 20-25 years ago is not certain to ri-cu;-. Since then public tastes have eliimged and a great deal of new competition has developed, not lh,> le.-.^■t of these being radio which provides both entertainment and informalion inews) at a ridiculously low price evrn when compared with a lOr. picture show. When the War was festering and when it first broke out on Germany's invasion of Poland, an incalculable number of persons stayed at home glued to the radios to keep in touch with world events who lui.uht other- wise have gone to the pictures. Were there no such thin^ rs radio, a certain nimiber might have gone for a walk, to play pinochle at .--onieonc's house or to the nearest barroom, but tliat a goodly pcrcoMta;;c of the listeners would have been theatre potentials cannot be (',cn"."d. Moreover, not only has radio become a great oppositional f;:rtor to films but so have other fields of activity which have excited the public taste in a tremendous way during the past 20 years. In that lime,.g.)lf has grown from an old man's game into a national pastime of great proportions. Then again, there s bridge, a game that commands the at; .>iuion of old and young, far and wide, on a tremendous scale. You caiVl play bridge and go to matinees, if it's the women who spend afternoons that way, or visit the nearest theatre at night if a game is bciiig indulged in the evening. Othrr Pastimes, Sports, Autos, Etr. Other sports or pastimes have .similarly made inroads on leisure time which films in years past found it e.nsier to hoa. Baseball, one of the be.-it- rooted of American ."port-.-, as well as fights, have incre.ised their public, but they compare odiously to the killin.g for patronage made by .■.ome other fields such as football and lior.se racing. Professional football is now getting 'ein in a big way on Sundays and holidays when the theatres look for the bulk of their business. A showman, citing the opposition that now exi.sts, pointed (o the fact that in bygone years the theatres could come out just on their Saturdays and Sundays alone, but that weekends have now provided too many other things for people to do. In the past, llii.s showman added, it was a habit to go to theatres on weekends, but now too great a portion of the public has turned to other things and it isn't easy to wean them back. The automobile, equipped with radio, has also made a difference in the la.st decade, with good highways everywhere adding to the appeal of the open road. This, of course, has redounded somewhat to the benefit of the film theatre since people come from greater distances to see a show. But parking problems in some centers has not acted as particular encourage- ment to the autoist. Cars have work<!d -to a disadvantage for some theatres, notably the small hous-e or 'shooting gallery' in hamlets or lesser communities, with towns- folk hopping in their car to go to another town which gels film earlier or where the theatres are more comfortable. Because of this narrowing of distances through modern transportation, the. smaller operator has also felt justification for another .<:quawk. In many case.s, just because cars ma1<e it simpler for people in his town to get to some neighboring city, he suffers on clearance. The protection is lengthened but the theatre having priority on run believes it is also justified in demanding this from the distributor.s. Bearing the.se present-day conditions in mind, if a war boom should come it is re.nsonable to expect, however, that the theatre would get the same proportion of each dollar spent as now, with sports and other opposition enjoying the same probable ratio. At all times, on the other hand, much depends on the product that Is being spread on the film counters. Men of the thealro who seem lo be unable to put their finger on v.'hat is exactly holding gro.<!scs from being larger than they are, believe that perhaps the public is getting tired of the same formulas in picture p'oduction. There is no way to be anything but speculative concerning this, however. Film Quality lias Been Above '3S Since the present 1939-40 season began with releases last August, the quality of the product has been better than for the same period the year prior,, yet busine.ss has not jumped in recognition of the improvement shown. On the other hand, the mediocre pictures of 1938 did belter than the mediocre pictures have this .sar.Jon, leading to the assertion that if the theatres this late summer .md fall had been getting the lop pictures of 1038 they would probably be doing 20'.i less. Superiority of the J939 releases over those of the prior year has made it possible for grosses to hold their own or show a slight improvement i" profits but that, on the other hand, is saying little since 1938 was a bad year. Grosses .scraped bottom the first seven months of that year, with the result that since much higher ground was not reached during 1939, the comparison is odiou.s, if anything. In 1938 the fall and early winter busine.ss enjoyed a good upturn, probably showing better results in view of the quality of the product than the pictures have this past fall and so far into this winter. The best year since depression was 1937 but at it."^ tail-end and into '38, recession brought the levels away down. This past year's spring and summer was better than in '38, with a lot of rain aiding. This helped somewhat to keep grosses from being worse than 1938 but that again is not saying a whole lot. On the entire year just past, the grosses run from even with the 12 months of '38 to around S""!, with some sections better than a year ago arid some poorier. Geographical Comparisons The south and .southwest have been in good shape during the entire year. The midwest has al.so been steady and the Chicago territory has. held up well but the east is off at least 20% and^the northwest has been away down. In New England business started out- good in "39 but suf- fered from a bad summer and is a bit unsteady now. The Detroit and Michigan territory compares favorably with a year back but in Pcnn.-yl- vania it is claimed grosses are off .slightly. The Rocky Motintain region and the far west is a little bitter than in '1938, and Canada, while off most of '39, is beginning lo come back strong.