Variety (Feb 1941)

Literati Time's Air Expresa Edition '. .. Time Magazine has mapped an in- ternational Air Express Edition, to be distributed through PanTAmeri- caii Airways,' with -the . first, issue to '-. emerge May 5. Published in English ■ with/the? editorial content to be al-. most identical: with; the . weekly magazine's regular publication, the Afr Express Edition will-sell adver- tising separately and will: permit subscribers to save three week's be- tweenthe publication of the mag to: the time they receive it. -. Where. ,New Yorkers/ would get Time on, Friday,' those \'" Latin-America, '. Where,/the venture, is. . being tried initialiy.r. would: normally'.;receive;, their copies, by /the' following?-Mo-i^- day at'the latest. It's the only. pub- ..'li'catiph using .such a distribution : meihod. v /:/"'.:/.. The Initial territory .to be- served, jn . the ' Latih-Americari-. territorial 'setup; will be Cuba;- Mexico; Puerto .'■ ; Hicp, Virgin .Islands'..and the Canal 'Zone. 'A special lightweight stock will be used. The cost of distribut- ing Time air express will be more ihah the entire-cost of the printing. 20.000 to bfe initially distributed. .Air-express..to Alaska is: planned to follow the Latin-Amerjcan>setun. ;■./'■. Pan-Am. Club's Affair; : / . Pan-American Pr^ss'Ci'ubi recently organized to promote 'closer under'--' ■ standing between newspapermen of North and. South America, held its •inaugural .ball/at the Bitz-Carlton, . N. Y., Monday (24). Members^Of the club include newspapermen,'editors, writers', radio .commentators; and publishers. of the.;- ty/b * ^continents. !Maria : M. Garretti who reps a rium- ; : her of S. A. mags in the' U. .S:,\ is ' prez. . •; ■;• ■ ■' • When it gets further established, • club hopes to do its own publishing of works-of its members to promote fyesterh." hemisphere culture. It also aims to establish reading rooms and ■libraries. and to provide for scholar- shipi exchange/students''£eiween.>tae- continents. .-■ Fred Allen "Titles' Book The difficulty that Doubleday- Dorah had in finding a title for H. Allen . Smith's partially autobio- graphical humorous tome, , due for May' release;.-.has'-: been alleviated. Fred Allen, the comedian; iri his pre- face to the book, provided the solu- tion. . . /•' .-"':■■■ .'. '. ■ • : Allen , stated that •..; ...if: Smith were an Indian ; he " would ?be low man on any totem pole.' - • Sp ; . the. title is.'Low l^Iah on the Totem Pole.' :,.-• : . '.. Sime Biog Postponed • Publication date .'. ; of ' 'Lord : ,. Broadway';. tWilfred vFunk';' . $3); the Dayton Stoddard .novelized: biography on Sime Silverman, has been "deferred to a date yet to be set. . . . ''■■'.;■'."■■].;■' •/:• . It was..; slated for publication 'yesterday (25).' . Justin Herman's; Story. ; .Yarn by Justin Herman,, writer in Paramount's shorts department- is to be ; . included : '. in the annual O'Brien collection b.fr ihe/ year's best short, j. stones,. 1940 edition pf whieh*isbe-, I ing readied 'for /pnhlicatiW /Piece, ..which . appeared" Originally ■ in Corp- : nb£ deals with .the film biz and is \;-' -Herman also " had Va p iece 'included ..in • a; :.World' . anthology 6f humor, which was. published last year.' ; Changes in Annenberff MagB Resignation last week/of Curtis Mitchell as editor of Movie-Radio Guide. was one in a series of changes and promotions in the, Annenberg screen and radio publications, Carl A. Schroeder, formerly editor of Screen Guide, was named supervis- ing editor of both Screen Guide and Movie-Radio '; Guide, while . Marty- Lewis's title • was switched from as- sociate . editor to exec: . editor of Moyie-RadiO Guide. : Other changes: Gordon Swarthout was hanied managing editor of M.-R . Guide; Wade H. Nichols as editor of Screen Guide, and Tom Greenhow as western editor of Screen Guide. LITERATI OBITS ' : v^ • .Wade Mouhtfortt, f?, long-a.•news- paper reporter and editor, whose last post was that of managing editor of -the.-Cincinnati Times; \ died Feb. .18 in Sarasota, Fla. He. retired iri 1935 due to a fractured' vertebra,.: ... Bruce McRae, 43, forrrier ' staffman with the bjd New. York Telegram and 1 for 10. years associated with King Features Syndicate; died Feb, 18 in Daytoha, Fla. A heart condi- tion caused his retirement from King Features several years ago. : •; Mrs. Margaret Ellen-Henry Ruffiri, author of several books and prolific writer of magazine short stories, articles and. verse, died in a' Mobile (Ala ) hospital Feb 19. Among her works were . 'The North Star,-' ro- mance of Christianizing: of Norway, for . which tale she was personally praised by King Haakon. ■ . David Karsner, 51, vet newspaper- man, author, biographer and scenarist whose-book, 'Silver. Dollar,' was made into an Edward G; Robinson film at Warners in 1932, died in a New York hospital Feb. 20. A copyreader on the New York Post at the time of his death, he was stricken with a heart attack in the Post .office, frdih which, he was removed to the. hospital. William M. Pepper, Sr., 66, presi dent of the Pepper Printing Co., pub- lishers of the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun; died Feb. 23 Jn Gainesville after a four-month illness. Status of Mapelson Discs ' •'• •'■' New York. Editor, .Variety.: . *-*--'. ' 'In your, issue of . Jan/22, 1941, bri good conditibh", never having been played very'much; . . : ■ . Although we would, like to be able to. give the titles of the selections on ; Continued' from page 1-j coin Vis a futile, request and sure, .io: be. a flppperoo stunt. .;. This-., has .been tried .many, .many tirnes but each lime the'result has been .dismal.. This^fact .has brought the sponsors of several'direct- sales', .items."''and.- the..sales managers, of many 'slatioiis up affitinst. a^'prpblem. . They have many items which, have •their fair and •ju.st.pi jce' they say at page 48. : you published' aiv article | the'• cylinders, this -» : '''-hot- r nds7ihT*- headed 'New York Public. Library .in at the prcsenUirire SuffS if S^ay R ^ M ^^ or » ■ : D ^ S there £ah excellent fiamSi^S . of.l89^Part.of,the infoirm thls . sh .f * :ar jcle \ya^,iiraccurate. ; and |}whiciv Vwe hope to release in ?he ; to present them to you-at this time , of an.: aria. "from'• Massenet's.- W^irf-' so that you.can^give youi'. readers the ttiuth, of this matter.;;;---■:,'■. ■ One specific statement needs' deny* 'mgr^the assertioh/ that,' nothing -has- been -done, about . rd-recordi.u^ . the. cylinders ... m.ehtionedv ; : There: has; been a delay, due; tp th'e' fnet 'that, no satisfactory . arrangements..'caulch b.e made to date, for from Massenet's LeV Cid;' ; ■-.."".' Peter Hugh Flced. . : Jud^e Goldstein -Writes' '' ,!■-.'•: ■ ■ ' . 'New 'Ybrfc Editor, Vahieiy: ■ •- " '. • Some lime ^o-: VA'pjErYi.'ca^e^.'.a-. front>page article Tegifrding Sidney Bcrhslc'in' of London. : , I- \ras. so im- 'lhe : . rcpfd^ucUdri.. 'ip'wsjwd.. wltfr .-the; Article that 'I. sent 1 But.it: is-understood, that-.Uio .rc.coi-ds a- copy'-of it.to"my friend,!- Sir Louis ■ ...... , 'Will' : be; •rdcasi»(l- unTt1*r. .the:label' ;of-.:'Sterii.nar;-Vs6!(k/nB'-Jiim" '• to-'islipSv- 'it>*bN: 35c. Which' nieans that they cannot be: (..The Friends, of ■ Rocpfded •Xl'ukic ( : a Sirlnc'y Berhsl^ih:' J U'iihJ< vou and.^1 justifiably' sold over the air at a one- I society- sponsored ., by '.flip jocb^d :-*ow-r«^ei^v.otrid : eoih. pri'ce. ; ' At- 25c, the advertiser '.«».Sazin# — t The American' -Music■ •learnihg that Louis : \vr6tp itiq: ' . would be ' losing mopcy, and the ;L°ver),:aiid that tlicy-wi.il sell at tlie^j::. 'All. that Variety 'had- to. say- ■ pxiblic would be justified in .thihking> ■ ' PP.^ibl.e^ncither. 'thc .....about.'Sidney Bcrnstein : wiis ab-' . '. that 50c was too tough. . . ' . •" ■ : . Lib ^^C ^ fiends being .iiv. ^Similar -insfantes .are known. in teres ^ d ^^ak|n^ a ,proni ; ,vlt can items in other prices, prices, which i .now be stated that cannot be met with a single coin And for this reason many, sales rhan a 'solution, has been found for thc.re^rccoi'dinjj.-and that the public will not. have to. wait .-- ■ -->. . --, . i, mUch longer -for the finished prod- ^ All the. artists mentiJnid in; PEN's American Unit With a large miniber of its memr qers how refuse'es in this country, European PEN is. establishing an American unit. It will be known as ! European PEN in America. . PEN is ah internatiohai organiza- ■ tipn of writers founded by John Galsworthy. Name is taken from initial letters of the words poets (or playwrights), essayists (or editors) and novelists. Strict qualifications as to quantity arid quality of published works control membership. • " Ju les Rqmains, now in America, is International presideftt International exec council is being formed by a member in America for each couri- try. H; G; Wells is honorary prez. .; - /Heavenly': Suit .. Warner Brosi Pictures, Inc., last week: filed suit in Philadeljihia Com-- mon Pleas- Court agiainst the McRae'- : Smith Publishing Co, seeking ah ih- Junction to restrain the firm from, publishing Percival . Christopher Wren's latest nover Two Feet JFrdm Heaven.' ■ ,- :-Morris Wolft. Warners counsel, told . the court .that the book's title would • pe confused wiih 'One - Foot in Heaven,' by Hartzell Spen'ce, re- cently purchased, by Warners for . a picture. - ., ' -'••:-' CHATTER New Europe, Inc., chartered to conduct a magazine business In New York.' .Random House to publish Ward Morehouse's new play, 'U, S; 90/ Howard Ka'hn in Hollywood; to cover Academy Awards, dinner for St. Paul Pioneer Press. Virginia Van. Upp having a collec- tion of her shpijt stories published in book form by Grosset & Dunlap. H. G. Rhawn, who since 192* was editor of the Clarksburg (W. Va.) Exponent,' has purchased controlling interest in.' The Clarksburg News, Inc.; a weekly. Grandma's Story Book Enterprise, Inc., chartered to. conduct a business in children's story books, , etc., in New York. ':' Capital stock' is. $50,u00,. $100 par value. / Fred . W. Burgner, of the Trenton Times, is the new president of. the New Jersey Legislative Correspond-, ents' ;Club, succeeding Leo J. Hersh- dorfer, of the Hudson Dispatchi N. ; Y. -?ress . PhbtbgrapherB Assn: annual; display and,show moves into Radio City. this year; at the N. Y. Museum of Science '& Industry, RCA building, March ; 29. • Runs until April 20. ft.K,|ix ^jCbritlnued from- page-1; feaspnability pf asking the. United States i Governments to coin'. sbine discs of: denominations, between the present standard cpinsj: They feel- it would open upi ■avenues of- direct sales on. many items now 'closed. to radio mail-order plugging ' due to these • two-coin; bugaboo. 4 YAWEtV' (Jan. -22) are not. lo. be. rep resented .ih 'the collection. 'Only those recbrds Which' reproduce satisfacr torily will b^ published. Naturally these cannot come up to the standard of electric recordings, but they will at least give some idea pf the voices of the artists. The originals are in sContinued from page 3; at- of'' apprpximateiy $1,000,000, tributed nipstly to the drawing pow- er of six yesteryear : stars, Eddie '.L«dAaTd;..Bianc^ei:jiing,-':G.^>Qra7, : Pat Rooney,. Julian Eitinge and Har- Llterary .Guild's Dual Choice ' . w A mystery yarn and.its-sequel;' by we .same author but issued by dhV ^y,..-... —>... tt v- ierent publishers, have been selected - land Dixon.- /Turn of: the Century,' the Literary Guild's dual selec- ■ preceding. 'Nights of Gladness,' -*x- .•;{f. n -™^ M »y*-'--'tt*-we'ilrst time that ! deeded $1,000,000. it the b.d. In .1.7 ine Guild has ever chosen a mystery } months at the Horseshoe, alsc- <«ifh story and the - first time .it's selected a cast cf pldtime stars, Fritzi i twp books jointly. . ',•'' - ^ — • - .Books, by Manning .Coles, are "rink to. Yesterday,' published by Knopf on Feb. 10, and Toast to To- morrow'to be published next fhonth by Doubleday. also with, Scheff. Joe E; Howard, Emma- Francis and Willie Solar. :•■ •Silver Screen' will be staged by John Murray Anderson, sets and costumes' .hy. Raoul.Pene duBois, with | the new arrangement does away with advance, notice: of Oscar recip- ients. Those .accol'aded won't know Of their selection until actually called .to speakers'/ table' to receive statuettes. ^As each. division is. called. | dances directed' by Matjorie" Fielding. 1 up, va.ri6tis''emcees. will be handed nomination ballots are an indication, he doesn't even have a close rival Ginger Rogers looks like a winner for the. most outstanding perform- ance: by ah actress. Martha Scott, Bette Davis and Joan Fbntaine will be', right up in the running, but may split the vote to such an extent that Miss: Rogers will move In for her work in 'Kitty Fpyle.' :■ Katharine Hepburn will receive • acclaim fbr her work in 'Th6 Philadelphia Story' but she is not popular with the ex- tras and will receive few of the 7,000 votes that may be cast by at- mosphere players/ '.'-.; Extras In Oakie's Corner The award for the best perform- ance by a supporting : actor: appar- ently lies among Jack Oakie, for his impersonation of Mussolini in The Great Dictator,' Albert Bassermah, for.his performance, in 'Foreign Gbr- respondent,' and James Stephenson in "The Letter:' Oakie is well liked by extra and stock players,: whereas the local . refugee prejudices may work against* Basserman being there at the finish. Judith Anderson, who was the houskeeper in Selznick's 'Rebecca,' and Ruth Hussey, who played a re- porter in 'Philadelphia Story/, look like the best . bets to capture the award, for a supporting actress. Miss Anderson, received , a big vote in the nominations, and if her popularity holds for two more, days; should walk away with an Oscar. The... directorial award is certain to be a two-way . race between; Air fred Hitchcock and John Ford. Ford was nominated:for his /direction of 'Grapes, of. Wrath' but he , will "re- ceive, just /s ^rnany votes for his 'Long Voyage Home.'. Hitchcock has been acclaimed' by critics through- put the country for his direction of 'Rebecca' and is generally liked in the industry.; . This, should be a close one, with Hitchcock - winning - by :a nose.' ■ '.. ■ c. 'V . I ; .,: . : Three writing a wards, will be made. this year, with Que'ntin Reynolds, liere. bh a lecture tour, handing out the Oscars as an added attraction, My Favorite Wife;' by Leo McCarey ahd Bella and , Samuel Spewack, looks: a-certain wiriner as the best, original story, but 'Edis6n The Man,' by Dore Schary and Hugo/BUtler, will be a ..close runnerUp. ; J. '. . ' .. ; .';.: Wander's Thalber? Award? . , Walter/Wahger is' said to have'the best chance to carry off; the Irving Thalberg Award.. Two of his pic- tures-have nominations -' ■ . 10 .classes/.' ' •■- a sealed envelope containing the name; of the top yOtergetter, with presentation to follow. ..-;..' In previous years, newsservices of the downtown Los Angeles sheets were handed complete lists of win- ners long before the dishes were cleared away. Many ignored the re- lease-time, arid, some sheets were oh the street with a full, lineup of. Award winners before proceedings were half over. An auditing firm is maintainirig strictest secrecy on. the ballot-counting this year. . " Nichols-Stewart Stand-off Dudley Nichols arid. Donald Ogderi Stewart will fight it out for the award given' for. the best screenplay regardless of source. Nichols did 'Long Voyage Home*, while Stewart was nominated for his 'work on 'Philadelphia Story.' Nichols is con- sidered, a slight favorite. Preston Sturges is considered as good as al- ready, in for his original screenplay, 'Great McGinty.* Gregg Tdland . stands, a, good chance to carry off the.hbnprs in the black and white Camera classifica- tion for his lensing on 'Long Voy- age Home.' 'Spring Parade' and 'Re- becca,' however, are dark horses arid may finish fast. In the color pho- tography class, the race is between 'North West Mounted" Police;' Thief of .Bagdad' and 'Down Argentine way.' Chances are more extras saw 'North West Mounted Police,' Which may give it an edge in the final bal- loting. The flint editing- award apparently, lies between 'Long Voyage', and 'Rebecca.' For the best song award it looks like 'When You Wish Upon a Star', or 'Only forever,' 'Puss Gets , the Boot' will receive the' nod : in. the 'cartoon'-.'-division-,;'. 'Quicker 'ri. Wink' in the one-reel shorts, and. Teddy the. .Rough Rider' among the two-rjeeiers. 'London Can Take It'- may: push Pete Smith to win with his-'Quicker 'n.:W|nk/.--.,'•--.■' ..The: annual awards dinner. Is al- ready a. sellout with late-comers howling : because they .can't get seats. Bob Hppe will' act as emcee. ; President; Rbosevelt-will open the affair with a radio address, to the in- dustry from the, White House:; : Re- plies will . be. ;made by Walter' Wanger, Academy presideht, ; arid other-picture' leaders. - . .; soluloly correct. .-.-He-js : i(h old •friend of rnine .and'.- one" of ! the very best;" and. :w'h'cn you come ''.' over, here I should like ybu: to. • meet him. I took the liberty of .'■sending hi'riylan .ex tract-.''of; your .: - letter arid enclose, herewith his , reply;* . ■ ; .- . ::..;';;; . '-•..- The enclosure was the following:.. 'Dear Sir Louis: ; . .Thank you.; for your letter'. ' , with enclosure. It .-was iv.ery. kind of,you to : Write-, arid 'send hie. a . copy of the ..letter' which you . . had from Judge Goldstein. It was also; very : kind bf him tb: have'troubled to write.: Please V : convey, my thanks; you 'I; know;- will pardon my blushes. : * \ '.YoUrs sincerely, - : .. "Sidney L". Bernstein.'* . ' Sir Louis-also wrote me: ■ T am so pleased to hear , that many of the Grand- Street Boys V : remeriiber mte. It. would be like , -. heaven for me if I could just : . casually drop into the c^b and Shake hands With ,them all; but that is a pleasure, which mtist be deferred until after the: war.' . All. of us here could indeed use 1 fe./ Sir Louis Sterlings arid a few Sidney L.; Bernsteiris. ./■". . ■ . : Jonah'J. Goldstein. [Story refers to a Quehtln Reynolds letter frbm London, laud- .' irtg the generosity; and wartime saerU fices of the Bernstein family, toho operate d large; ifieatre circuit in Englandi-rrEd.T' ■ ■■ Maurice McKenzie Philosophizes . Crown Point, Ind. [Editor, Variety: Sure I miss the friendships of Mairi street; that would be true no matter where I could go. As for the turmoil, excitement, pleasures which are largely synthetic, those things are hot for me to" belittle, yet growing flowers on. these sometimes bitter' Indiana acres is interesting, inspir- ing.' ■:•'"'.'.' ' '* Observation, comparison, bf coun- try and city human strata, after an absence of 22 years, bring definite .' impression .that we are all pretty much alike;, everywhere, in this ' community I have been in homes where the family relationships are beautiful,' the . minds active, a much musical talent, honest expression,:.- travel-experience.. And the smallish . town of Lebanon, near Indianapolis, bred and harbors orie Al Wynkoop,. r •as acidulous and ehtertairiing a toastmaster as Bud Kelland...But you afii't set for reading a treatise, nor am I for writin'.it; Maurice McKenzie. •.(McKenzie . was Will Hays' aide . for many years—-Ed.) .; •. : - .' Agrees With Weitntan. - /.New York ... Editor,. Variety:' . ;• '•;.' , . I have read the article in Vabjety of Feb. 12 concetning Mr. W.eitrhan's : set of rules for performers >t the Paramount Theatre. ' '. : . i would like :.tp. ;say that I. agree •most, heartily -with his suggestions and feel that adhererice tb.his' set of rules would triake performihjg more . pleasant and effective tb both the ar- tlst anii audiericei . / • I > have. clipped'. the column and =. placed it conspicuously in my dress- ing room at the . Rainbow Room; ..•- Suing Buff; for 6G •:':; / Buffaib, Feb. 25/ " Cbllapse. of ; temppr.'ary; wooden seats at Memorial. AuditpTium dur- i'-.;. I think^ it is: important enough to ling' the, Sonja Mcnie ice shovv in De- ■ the industry .for Variety to.reprint it . Release-jumpers: are . put • pf luck [ cember has resulted . in claims jor-j in ; biggcf type so' that .all artists cfn this year oh Academy .winners,'^as $6,000 being filed.-.against'-'.the; city, v j clip arid paste ' it oh -a qhrcibbard ;' TV/o spectators are pecking dam ages, claiming that-the scats were -bo e/tcctive a,s; a '..-reminder.: and., "esr not fastened' to the.'-'floor:..and' col-Specially u::C,ful when, -■ while■ touring lapsed while lhe claimants, pursuant.: the countrv. you can -subtly bring to' dircjctibns.'of -hali..attendants,.were ..it ; to. the 'attention of /particularly standing in order- tb .permit (jihersbbhoxibus^bfTcnder,'! yw:x ViY]. ■ to reach .their seats/ •/'•! ; • : '.' '• R/>iVi Clark.