Variety (Dec 1940)

SCREEN MUSIC Published Weekly at ll>4 Weat 46th Street, New Tork, N. 7., by Variety, Inc. Annual aubacrlptlon, |10. Slnrla copies 2B cehta. Unlered aa Seuoiid-ctaaa matter December It, 1>0S, at the Post OfTlce at New York, N. T.. under tba aot of Uarch t, COPTBIGHT, 1040. BT VABIETT, INC. ALL BIGIIT9 BBSERVSn VOL. 141 NO. 1 NEW YORK. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11. 1940 PRICE 25 CENTS CBS FORMING MEXICAN WEB Gert Lawrence Expects to Do a Play For C. B. Cochran in London Next June •London, Nov. 20. Editor, Variety: My flrst intimation that my letter to you about George Black's premiere had been published was a charming 10-page letter with photos from dear Gertrude Lawrence. Eng- land's most glamorous legitimate star. If there were more like her, what a job a producer's life would be. She has 'pull' too that girl; she's fixed the fmishing date of the War because she says she is coming home In June and is going to play for me. As a matter of fact, I believe she is right. I have a hunch that London theatres will be booming next June and I am working on three produc- tions for the spring with as much enthusiasm and optimism as I've ever had when preparing for a new autumn season. They are an ope- retta, a modern comedy, and a grand icvival of a classic. Remarkable thing—I've got a good musical show boofc. Aussi (that's French) I have writ- ten one myself—based on the life of Marie Lloyd. The interesting thing about writ- (Continucd on page 23) Shipstads, Johnson Key Ice Shows' Big Profits; Split $500,000 in 1939 Profit possibilities of ice rink re- ' vucs is indicated by the 'Ice Fol- lies,' which concludes a nine-day date at Madison Square Garden. New York tonight (ID. Reported that Edwin H. and Roy Shipstad and Oscar F. Johnson, who operate and appear in the show, split up $500,000 last season. It was expected that the Garden opposition would materially affect 'It Happens on Ice' (Center), Radio City. Latter's takings were ofT slightly last week, but this may be accounted for by the seasonal dip after Thank.s- giving. Reported that 'Follies' drew 15% less during its first six days at the Garden, but longer date is a cinch to show a goodly profit and has been accorded liberal attention in the sports sections of the N. Y. dailies. Outfit is .something of a family n/Tair, Roy Shipstad being married to Bess Erhardt, while Evelyn Chandler is wed to Bruce Mapcs. who skates with her. Girls are the femme stars of 'Follies'. Ramirez's 'Cloob' Date When Carlos Ramirez, Argen- tine tenor, was booked into La Martinique, N. Y., he apologized to owner Dario that a prior one- night booking would interrupt his stay at the nitery. 'It's a cloob date,' as you Americans call it. 'Cloob' date is the Philadelphia Opera company, with which Ramirez will sing the lead to- morrow night (Thursday) in 'Lucia di Lammermoor.' THAT FU. BOOM LOOKS McCOY THIS YEAR Miami. Dec. 10. Barring a national cri.sis, the State of Florida and the Miami area par- ticularly, will this year hit a sea- sonal jackpot eclipsing even the most optimistic advance ballyhoo. While every December south Florida sud- denly discovers it's about to expe- rience 'the biggest season in history.' this year it looks like the Mc- (Continued on page 25) PLUG BMI TUNES FOR FIX TO GET ON AIR Hollywood, Dec. 10. Network execs and Harry Engel, Coast rep of Broadcast Music, Inc., are making the studio rounds to sell the front offices on the advantages of incorporating at least one BMI tune in their filmusicals. First to fall in line is RKO, wiiich will use BMI's 'Hang Out the Moon' as the title so'ng of a picture. It is patent to the studios that at least one BMI ditty on the networks at least assures them a direct plug by mentioning title of the picture from which the song is taken. OFfEBS PICT fOilSEPT.,mi Herbert V. Akerberg Now In Mexico Doing Prelim- inary Organizational Work —Would Provide 50 Hours of Programs Weekly—If Commercial, It Collects 50% GUATEMALA, TOO? Mexico City, Dec. 10. The Columbia Broadcasting Sys- tem of the United States has offered various Mexican radio stations a five-year contract starting Sept. 1, 1941, and a number are reported to have already signed up. Herbert V. Akerberg. CBS stations relations vice president, is in this country at present, coming in from Guatemala and Nicaragua, where he also nego- tiated with radio stations on behalf of the American network. He has been accompanied in his calls upon broadcasters here by a Mexican who (Continued on page 37) Metro's Offset to Marks' to BMI Typed Hollywood, Dec. 10. For years Tommy Jackson played flatfoot rolei on the Broadway stage and In pictures. Now he Is a real copper, in- vestigating crime for Los An- geles' new district attorney. BEARD NAZIS Dance Band Composed Of Compoi^ers; Switch On Songwriters' Acts A brand new idea in bands, with every instrumentalist a hit song- writer, is in rehear.sal in New York and starts touring Friday (13) under ' the tag of Hits, Inc. First date is at the Astor, Reading, Pa., for two days, with succeeding cnijagcments still in the tentative stage under Johnny O'Connor's management. Virtually all are ASCAP writer-members. Al Lewis and Larry Stock, who collaborated on 'Blueberry Hill.' and Al Hoffman, who wrote 'Fit As a Fiddle' antl 'I Saw Stars.' among others, are credited with the idea of the band and are carrying through. All three are in the orchestra, Lewis , strictly singing, while Hoffman will play a sax and Stock will be at a piano. Other composer-musicians are (Continued on page 23) Charlie Chaplin is going to Brazil and other pro-Nazi countries ' in South America where he leels his 'The Dictator' is getting unneces- sary political pressuring from Fas- cistic groups. The idea is 'to beard the lion in Kis den,' so to speak, says the comedian, who has been having jolly moments around Manhattaii for the past few weeks and is slated for a Palm Beach stopover later this month, prior to the South American trek. 'I think I can do more here in America for England,' is Chaplin's answer also to reports he might go (Continued on page 54) JOAN CRAWFORD MAY DO BROADWAY PLAY Loew's, Irtc.-Metro's decision to re-- new their; Bobbins, Feist and Mil- ler Mlisle catalogs with the Amer- ican Society of Composers, Authoi^ and publishers may. prove the s'alva'» tioh of ASeAP. This, despite th€( serious 'setbacic to the Society through Edwarcl B. Marks Music Gorp.'s $1,250,000 flve-year deal just consummated with Broadcast Music, Inc., as was exchisiyely keyhoted in last week's VABiiETV. (Details of the Marks-broadcasters deal iti the Music section). : it*s no Tin Pan Alley secret that disaffection by ; the Loew-Metro group of music flrins could well prove the undoing of the 26-year- old Arheri(ian Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and it's for that reason that , the decision to re- new with ASCAP' takes on extra values.. : Special consideration is reported to have been given' IiOew-Metro;by the Society to keep the RobbinSt Feist' and Miller, catalogs. in line, "This is said to hinge on Loe|W's vast chain of theatres and its affiliated ciner thatic production Interests. Details of this are beclouded, but it's con- (Continued oh page 42) Joan Crawford Is a possibility for Broadway this season. Understood she has expressed liking 'Theatre,' by Somerset Maugham, which Giiy Bolton is dramatizing. John Golden has the stage rights, and while Miss Crawford is committed for a Metro picture soon, stage production might be held back if the Coast star is available somie time during the win- ter. • Laurel and Hardy are mentioned for the 'Follies,' which J. J. Shubert plans to present. Chaney Emulates Dad With Gruesome Makeup Hollywood, Dec. 10. Lon Chancy. Jr.. follows his fath- er's footsteps for the first time in his screen career, wearing gruesome makeup in 'Mysterious Dr. R.' at Universal. Young Chaney plays the victim of a mad physician. Covering ASCAP vs. Radio Hottest controversy—and hence the hottest story— in show business just now is the fight between ASCAP and the broadcasters. VARifrry, continuing its full coverage of this vital, complicated, many- sided i.ssue, this week covers, among other aspects, ihe following: — An 'Ij' Audit — Original ti-ifh Variety — which pstimntes what proposes ASCAP terms irould horc meant, income-wise, if applied to 1939 and 1940 (page 31). —The sate of E. B. Markf; Catalog to BMI (page 41). — May force court test to determint lawful copy- right ownership (page 29). — The expected boom in phonograph records if ASCAP music is lotthdrau'n from radio {page 3). — The part NBC's Music Division plavs in the legal defense and organizational morale side of ASCAP flight (page 30). —Metro's music firms agree to renew with ASiZAP (page 1). — Chester La Roche of Young Rubicam com- ments on ASCAP (page 29). Adv. Brochure Plan To Raise Funds For Fihmg Vbnerican Wky' Financing of tlie.,^fllm. version of 'The Anfierican Way"—If present cfi^ forts are successful—will be the most unusual of any, picture In the his- tory qi the industry. . Large national corporatibhs are being' offered ad- I yertis.ing .in a patriotic bboklet woveii jaround the pictuire, the coin they pay I for the ads being credited as their . • financial investment In the 111m. ,:• Harf-y M, Goetz, who. with Max' : Gordon owns screen, rights aiid has a release .through KKO, is raising the money. .' He's had ; considerable success in ; obtaining- subscriptions from some of the nation's largest firms, but still, tweeds more io under^ write the cost. He figures that in- cluding productipn.adyertisinig. pub-. Hcity and cost of getting out, the ad books, he'll need about $1(800,000, i Concert N^es* BtiU IV^rket oh tht Itadid: Radio salaries of conceri names' have- taken a tilt the paiist few weeks because of: the circurristatice that there are four weekly commercial programs, bidding, for their services. ; "three of . these prograrhs hapjpeh to. fall the same day (Sunday) and. on the same network (CBS). It's the / first season since 1637 that this com- petitive situation has, prevailed. Sunday shows which use guest concert names are Coca-Cola, Lib- bey-0wens-Ford and Ford Motor Co, Pourth commercial is Westinghouse on NBC-red Thursday liighta