Variety (Jan 1940)

80 Thirty-fourth—VARIETY—Annlvenary BRIAN DESMOND HURST Director of:— '^PRISON WITHOUT BARS" ''THE LION HAS WINGS" (cc<ii-..d) and ON THE NIGHT OF THE FIRE" Sends Greetings to All His Friends In the Motion Picture Industry Amusements Big In Japan Despite Government Curbs By James B. Harris Tokyo, Dec. 15. Approximately three years have passed since Japan entered Into war- fare with China, during which time the Home Ministry and the police have clamped severe restrictions and control on all of Japan's amusement enterprises, ranging from the ten sen (2i^c) taxi dancehalls to big- scale theatrical activities. However, even in face of these stringent meas- ures to preserve the morality of the people (sic), show business in Japan, both stage and screen, has enjoyed a boom the likes of which has never been seen even In time of normal conditions. This phenomenon can readily be explained by the great demand for workers in the munitions industries, thus providing both work and money for the masses, who hitherto were deprived of the luxury of going to theatres and Alms. Previous to the war, the Japanese showed a marked tendency to study the quality of the program previous to entering any theatre. But today people flow to show-houses virtually in hordes, regardless of whether the film is. Lillian Gish's 'Way Down East' or Clark Gable's latest. In order to thwart this tendency of the people to enjoy themselves in times of national emergency, the police have tried placing various ob- stacles in their path, such as levying taxes on all admission prices, stricter censorship of foreign films, banning of short skirts and permanent waves for show-girls, cutting out of all love-scenes, prohibiting electrical signs, thumbs down on cooling sys- tems in summer and steam-heat in winter. However, all this has failed to decrease attendance at the thea- tres. As a next step, the new motion picture law restricting film viewing by children was put into eflect Oct. 1. So far this law has been accepted ,by the people as appropriate and in keeping with the times, but adult at- tendance is still going strong. Newsrecls Prosper Another enterprise that's prosper ing is the small newsreel theatres giv- ing one hour programs with admis mission fixed. at 10, IS and 20 sen (5c). While their prosperity began to show a sharp decline commencing from about April of this year, they are coming up again with the show- ing of European scene.s. On the other hand, the Slno-Jap- anese incident has dealt a death blow to all chances of promoters who were previously engaged in im- porting foreign talent to Japan, for foreign stage shows are now strictly undesirable by the officials. Last such show here was the Marcus troupe. There's now greater stress on the development of Japanese tal ent, thus resulting in sending the Takarazuka revue girls to Italy and America, etc. Radio and Records It would be hardly necessary to comment on how the Sino-Japanese incident has affected radio in Japan, for radio is Government-controlled in this country. Unlike in America, radio programs in . Japan are not conducted by means of advertising. Funds are supplied by the people, each family possessing a radio-set paying 50 sen (12c) monthly. Pre vious to the hostilities, the charge was one yen (23c), but this price was lowered first to 80 sen (I9c) and then to the present sum. The lowering of radio fees is ex- plained by the tremendous increase of radio-owners, principally farmers, who hitherto had relied on the news- papers for information on current topics, but suddenly discovered that radio was cheaper. The two prin- cipal stations of Japan at JOAK, in Tokyo, and JOBK, in Osaka, both presenting the same programs daily. Jazz music Is seldom broadcast, although opera and classical music concert programs are - sometimes given; Speeches, classical Japanese music and news are the three chief subjects in Jap vadio presentation. This year, the Japan Radio Broad- casting Corp. moved into its new quarters and great Improvements were made in Its Overseas Section. However, although Japan sends out short-wave programs to foreign countries, short-wave sets in Japan are strictly prohibited, under pen alty of heavy fines and oftentimes imprisonment. The explanation given for this measure is that al though Japan has no desire to keep out good music and lectures from America and Europe, it can't admit them without exposing the Japan ese people to malicious Chinese and Communistic propaganda. Big Record Tears This year and the year before have been prosperous ones for Japanese recording concerns, the principal ones being Japan Victor Corp., Co lumbia, Teichiku and Polydor. They cashed in on the nature of the times and made p);actically nothing but patroitic tunes, such as the 'Pacific March,' the 'Patriotic March,' etc., which all received Government sup- port and sold like hotcakes. It is only recently that a few songs with- out patriotic lyrics have appeared on the market. Foreign, gramophone record sales here are not \vorth mentioning. A tax of 10% has also been levied on all records. U. S. Radio Commission Sails for Chile Confab R. Henry Norweb, U. S. minister to the Dominican Republic, headed the U. S. delegation to the Inter- America Radio Communications Con- ference. The conference will be held In Santiago, Chile, the end of Jan- uary. Norweb said the conference would try to bring Pan-American radio practices in line with policies de- cided at the World Radio Confer- ence In Cairo In 1938. Spread of Pan-American cultural relations would also be stressed, he said. Last Inter-American confab was held in Havana in 1937. Other U. S. delegates to the Santi- ago session are Rear Admiral Stan- ford O. Hooper, representing the Navy; Gerald C, Gross, head of the international section of the Federal Communications Commission; E, K, Jett, chief engineer of the FCC; Jo- seph Keating, secretary and technical advisor to the conference; Lloyd Simpson, of the Civil Aeronautics Authority; Capt. Wesley T. Guest, representing the U. S. Army, and A. L. Budlong, assistant secretary of the Amateur Radio Relay League. Aussie Chatter Sydney, Dec. 10. Hollywood Dick, film chatterer, exits fro^n the air lanes next month after a run for Kelloggs. Phil Mygatt is handling the Lu:f shows on Sabbath play dates via the J. Walter Thompson agency. Mills Brothers will do an extended dir session for the Australian Broad' casting Commission under an ar rangement with Tiyoli Theatres. Frank Marden, 2 UW, Sydney, has been reappointed prez of Federated Smaller License Fees Demanded in Aussie After A Banner Year Sydney, Dec. 2.1. Following receipt ot $2,634,944 In license fees by the Australian Broad- casting Commission on the year's op- eration, Aussie radio owners plan to make k new drive In 1940 to get the license charge whittled down from the current $4 dunning. Total of radio licenses amounted to 1.131,- 800, an Increase of 73,949. Fans claim that they get their be.<;t ether fart from the commercial units which get no cut in the license take. Australian Broadcasting Commish also stated it had received $245,588 from 196 public concerts and interest on Investments. ABC employed 13,- 220 artists. Program analysis show* 79,408 musical hours, 16,650 hours of talk, 4,122 hours of devotional air- ings, and 9,623 hours of sports. Commercial Stations of Australia. Miirden Is also In charge of the cen- sorship board. Jan RubinI returns to U. S. this month after an air term for a lead- ing oil unit by arrangement with Hoyts Theatres. Sir Ernest FIsIc, chairman Amal- gamated "Wireless, has been ap- pointed by the Federal Government to '^n Important technical posJti9B_ for the ..duration of -the war.' " 11. S. DX stations are only sending very weak signals acro.ss the P.ncific nowadays. British and German units maintain strength okay. Government will probably extend commercial licenses to three years following pressure from the major commercial units throughout Aus- tralia. Currently, the term is only for one year. OLIVELLI'S-Now Bigger and Better Greetings to Our Friends All Over the World