Variety (Mar 1941)

Wedaesdayf March 26» 1941 53 ^continued from page 1; Worry, U. S. piroduct Iwjt art : prohibited by the exchanges, tatter. In, turn ipire hpg- tied by local e^hibs nieaj:. the cairtps' wbo are.demanaing a inlhimum of 60^ ; to. 90 diys - clearance, and ;" . '$orne ciipcs 120: days; -■ ■ :: jyars- Franklin D. Roosevelt hifaped .l):)rli)et f.uel pn toe flaniieSs, ot dissat- .jsfnctioA with a statement . at her • jiidks conference; last week, . She' inv forhied reporters shie was going to do some investigating of ■ sociojpgical. specls in the. Army canfips and of ilie motion picture situation in par- ticular; She said the -film Pilei'ings wei'e bad, , ■. :.Poor attendance, plus the sqiiawks, of the reTraits, plus Mrs, RQosevejt's statdmerit,. has disturbed. War De- parirnpht cffficiais, and a thorough gO[ndering?c^f the-situation is expectecl. ■ within a;;v,'eek or. twoi It.'will be.'at. a'' cohfijrence .;ih Washihgtoh it.h •reps of. ail the major companies and pbF>!ibiyiol the principal.circuits, •■ . Army theatres have always been, far behind commercial houses in showing films but it-didn't matter a.s lon^' as Hhe number, of .new .rQi;. . cruils, was .smalli After a boy has been in thie Arrtiy for. two. .6r : three . mbnths^long enbugh. hot to ■ have seen .the camp theatre's. offering: ^be- fore he entered the service^^V^ryr : thi'ngis okay... Trouble^ caused by the. flood , of newcomers w)io ,have- : seen eyerythihg the Army M6tibn Pictiire Service, can give thetfi, .They make the. oldsters who: never before ijoti'ced.toe .age of . films catc^ theyVe bfijlowing. now/too,.. Exhibs in the neighborhood of. the camps feel ;'the'y have .a legitimate, reason for demanding' clearance. They point out that the post thea- tres charge only 2Dc adrnish, or .14c when tickets are bought in blocks of io (they are trarisferrable and the Army will tajte the; $1,40 but of the soidier's pay at the end of the month if he; doesn't have cash oii hand). However somiie' cbriceritrrted talk /by circuit theatre execs of late may.see a .blanket cut-rate scaling for the U. si shavetail or gob and his gal when away from; camp or traiiiing ship; ■ Army's reply,is twofold. First,' it eays; recruits. make only $21 a month, can't- afrbrd any higher/admish' arid . deserve the best. Also, the theatres aie closely restriced .to.enlisted inen, ; officers arid their immediate families, .and are in no way open to the pub- lic-: ' ■ ' ■■■ /Secondly, .Army picture officials jDoipit out, private: tlieatriss near, camps are experiencing tremendou.s / increases in patronage regardless of. whether sptdiers attend. Camps have iiiiought much business and many new re.sidents to. the cortimunities arid, exhibs are greedy In wanting all the soldier trade; tob>,. .,; Canips; which are bodked by the -Government's, bwri Armjr Motion. Picture S^irvice, get choice films of all companie."? when- clearance.- has expired, AMPS, headqiaartered in . New York V. and with branches throughout the country, has. an ar- rangement to view ail major product and select what it wants; It plays everything on flat rental; ranging ■ from $10 to^$25,.^ ^ :..- V Five changes bf picture a' wee.k .are made at the camps; "Tbp.pi'x afe played Sunday and Monday,, next best ph Wednesday , arid Thursday, third best -on Tuesday, fourth best . .FriJj^ while :Saturday- ii-: - eeryed fot dbuble features:of western and. family type. Shbws.run.a iriini*. mumof 105 ihiinutes, Including; shb Cut-Rate Ife Favorei . As:- result ..of; pressurCi. paitriotisrii .and other eleriients, cut-irates. to pic- :.tute hbuses-fpr men ih becprije- a . iiVe topic of discussion among .both independents and sOnie' major chain reprbsentatives In New r/Yorki. At informal gatherings Ihde- pendehtis broachfed matter of estab- lishing-, sfieoiai; rateis for ■ bbys? in. khakiv'some saying 'they often admit , soldiers oh. the cuflf when asiced; . .Problem for- cHain/iHeatre - man-' agets is riot as simple. ; If and when /Idea pf lowet Uniform rate goes be- . yond ■ talk >tage^ New: l^ork picture hpUse- mahagers would be' able, to make price, cbncessipns only on basii ■determined (or.-the chain as a -Whole. Understood,' also, that some bhaih- -reps; .feel; that., cuflo picture house- admittance should -be .hattdied^: b^ ypecial ^jniiitary organization ' \vhich .\vowld.. without too mubh ted , tape,' okay thp.se men whoisHould be given prefeventi.*ii treatmeht due to de-' pendents, etci; ' -. .■ Several; I'indepehdents who :.feel •very strongly. about making entbr-. tainmbnt easy to- get for'the soldiers af b keenly Interested In;; getting chains to bpopefate ih: granting low-, priced tickets;/ • . ! .. - /:• '■ : Pbssibility .is that ihalter may, be discussbd /by. execs of-. the major chains,: perliaps via- the-Hays bjfic'e,: in the near future. Shernrood Cl^irify^ : : After an interchtarige of qortniunii^: .cations between .Bert. Jjytell,. the Equitjr. .head,' arid - ilbbert .E. .'.Sher- \Vbpd, who. is..- pn the bbmmittee lor eritbrtainment in. the briny's training tamps, a clearer' idea Pf iplans for istage shows has developbd,.v.Authpri-; atively stated that .no reguiar: pres-; entatlbns, - either: of :, plays...pr. -yaude-' y'Slle, are :to ', be schediiled- until tihb fall,Uri'derstpod that ;ar'ihy "chiefs; airti tb'cbiicentratb pn-maheuversj di-., ■yetsioh- for the :iri.en. prpbkb.ly iieiri': irmitbd.'^to; outdoor sports, althbu'gh pictures will;be shown in the nu- merous camp theatres,.. . Sherwood .e>tplairied that he corn.^ niittee bf whicii he: is merely an. ad-' visory bbdy :and: has. no.; authority .to; dbntract for shows. Upon Jiis return frbm Washirtgton: abbut' a week ago; he. stated,' however; that; the army ■heads had /been/convinced that stage shows should'b? a part of camp ac- tivity.. briginaiiy. they tielieved that pictures would suffice; . Promiherit. member ;0t the" Playwrights ; suc- reeded : in ' getliiig them.. :.tb. change their views; '-.' - ■ • / . - -'^ i It was -'also developed that funds would he. -marked to build: prac- tical theatres iand stages , arid: that- a ouihber of so-called • theatres, now within the camps would be remod- eled and the proper stage equipment irts;talled; Stated, too, that; when" a permanent committee on /camp en- tertainment is named, jjrofessibhals will be Irivifed to. participate. That is conceded' to be .important froiri the ShoW. angle. Some -well knbwhs bri Broadway have been puzzled that Washington has not already acted^ in that.directibh.- - Sked 6rlve fpr Funds : :Lytell, who is 'devoting consider- able iime to the; eamp situation, has adyised Sherwood bf various pror posals for camp shows. Reported that a drive will -start duiring spring itpr funds to be' devoted to equipment for various service diversion, and. that professionals; whether from the stage, radio or films, will be asked to make . personal apE>eara:nces or appear. In benefit pertbrmandes. That name individuals wiU he sought is indicated now, but It has been pointed out that unless the coriunittee in charge is not reprieisentatiye of shpw business it riiay be diiflicult to secure the desired enfertaihers. • Such ■ activities will prelude the .shows expected to be routed iiext season; . Tours of six; wbeks duration are figured on as a starter, one set comedies and dramas, alsb vaudeville units beinig- counted upon. For the : V.nude shows ari experienced booker will frame the bills. JBroadway man- agers and directors will be asked by Equity to ready the stage plays, ad- mission to be 50c topj with inost of! the" tickets at: 25c. ■Plans to have defense plant owners flhance the shows have been (some- what revised, biit that proposal iriay be tried,: It Is believed that conipanieis with riatibnaliy advertised products would be willing lb finance their operation as/paft of: pubUcity cam- ■paigns; aithbugh tfiey'would tipt piar- ticipate ;in any possibfc. profits. . If the shoWs broke eyen or earned any •mbneyi there would be rio cost to the ■spohsorv', ■-■. it is the definite. Intehtion^of ..the actor-artist groups .to ban gratis ap- pearances In the. cariips.' Name play-: ers. wjir be asked to play, fot . con-, siderably /under : their-; regular ; sal^ aries, as « patriotic-^uty, and the apr pearanco of the.' higher bracketed people >yill riiake the prese.ntatipris j : aitih to Broadway ihpwings',/; Interr | mediiaite salaried players will get -the Equity' minimurii of $50 weekly, ; /Pointed out' that, prbfesslohals are the first to/be. called Upon to donate their services in liriies of needj but there/is/rio ieason for gratis. aptiearT ;^rice? in light pf ;the vast defense experiditures: ;The'^tage .was deleted from - the relief appropriation ; pro-: gram lait year and-that' Is aripther. reason, why plaiy.ers feel, thby should; be''■ compensated :fpr playing ;in the /{jrpppsed ca'mp' showS.^ / .. . pixies CbnipUcatiDns .. .'Spartanburg, S.^C;,iviarch 25.:.;- ;Sunday theatrp.. war - is ragirig again-^aricl ' lhi§ time . the / army, touched b.ff the sparlt, with the stale.; i legislators fiunishirig matches! ■• I t Bill, introduced tp legalize Si»bbaih I ;Col^ge^lew8.Service /Waco. Texgs, March 25, . . Airiateur. radio bpei'atbrs arid y :C0llege, n e'w s:jj iai.p e r s ' have . . launched a movement to supply / cbllegiate ne\ys fp mprriirig news-'; papers. J.;.B.'Landress and Kim ..:. Sinith, Baylor University stij.. dents arid:amateur radio bpera-; . tors, pHginated .the" pl^h, .. . .. - ..■Under the ^proiibsed .plan, - a ' spiecifi^d timie each hight, ania-: //teur pperatbrs at vaVipus - col- -, . /leges woiild get bri the .wireless -/ , network arid dispatch collegiate; . - riews including sports. ; ■ / / shows/at Ch'arleistb^- with hiavy. base, Columbia,.: with Fort /;Jackspn, and .Beaufort;;; also . with./ navy base, squeezed JthEoush: house- by ,two-bal-; lot margiiri. /Measure bkays Suhd.ay. show's- in .. .. :nfle.s 'wJ>ere/ bases are Ipcated/i; . Move; was ' theiV jrnad'e to haye .Spartanburg .and nearby cities and tbwris. incl.udecl. sb: that sgldiers at;Camii' Croft;- local; l'8,b6p-man can- tonment^^ could af.lerid -shows in tbwn,' "Cblbriel .'Lpuis /A. kuhz'ig, commandant, came put for idea via press statement.; Chdrches went into battle; with result the plan looks like a: dead duck so/far. as this/ city ;iS concerned.; /Hearing, is, ^et. fpr Fri- day .(28) at stale capital, -: . Meariwhile,. CrbiEt's three - theatres, seating only 3,000; bpe'ri . early, in April/ One of. theatres/ is set. aiside for Negrb ioldiers only,: due tb pixie Jirii. Crbw. law. :Supporter5- of Sun- day shows' move haye pointed. .oiit ;that since houses seat/ only 3,000, 15,000 soldiers: can't get seats, ; Canip' area exhibitors here arid in other sectors-are gleeful over huge hew biz boost trainees- will bring, but have /two headaches—they're having trouble in getting labor and materials for hew houses iand exr pansibris, and ;ailso ;fearcamps. will get earlier bookings ,bri big films. Report that civvies could see Sun- day shows! at camps was squelched with official statement they can at- terid: only as • guests. That's one jieadache less fbr exhibitors; Army of Hostesses . / / A. feminine 'board of strategy' is re- cruiting. 1,000 girls for hostesses to bolster wayering social frbot' at Camp. Lee, Richmond, Va. Gals have dubbed theiriselvbs 'Cirls Defense Club.' . ..- / / - Another example of how Dixie does' it—200 girls Tiaye: vpiunt'eered as: -hostesses at Coliimbus, Ga. They were accepted. Fort Jacksbn, Columbia, S. C, however, is having gal trouble Ihbig doses; 'Primrose path gals' rushed area, so , Governor Maybarik and towri officials slapped on a ban, which is being/cairrled out all over state. Even outside sherifts were called in for huddle on the fast-girl problem. Literati Pa.Ql. Block's iBeneficieiice . ;tiesture .niade.by Payt.Block/pubr | lisher - of riiprriing: Pittsburgh. Pb.st- Gazette, last; week . is' beiriji; widely commented, ./ upbn ..'in ' ■.riewspape.r circles,.:- When:-sheet suspended' cir.T. culiatibri Ibr fbur days recently he- cause of .strike among outside .'cir- culation men,, /notices / posted when plarit .shut, down.: stated -that/all .pay- rblls/had been suspended, for dura- tion/ first check ernpibybs. received folloyving \yalkbut had the deduction for ...lost salary, but ;ievv days later Block/decided to/pay up in full arid distributed! extra; checks among all but thpse men -who had struck arid member."? of rriiechariical-depairtrfient who .failed to show/ up. for wbrk. ; / ■ .Couple ::bf yeai's/ago, both -Press arid , / SUri r Telegraph, : Pittsbiirgh• afternoon papers; also suspended: jptiblicafipri for several /days/on ^'c- count \bf : strike ■/ biz depar,tment and later; bther :emplPyes sued, .fpr lost wages. High, bbiirt, however, ruled that managements didn't have :to pay. up; At Christmas time, P-G vvas aisp/ only Pittshurgh sheet .to distribute/cMh sbpnuses, ;amorig the •staffs, > '' / /. - Spokane^s Special Stu<de And Soldiers Cut-Rates . Spokane, March 25, In hdpes of stimulating business, the Slate, Fox and Orpheurii recently inaugurated a student ticket system; Under the setup by Al Baker, city manager bf the Evergreen theatres, students Of the city schools as well.as the two local colleges: beriefit by this reduction, and a special rate has also been worked put for soldiers in uni- form.' ■ / --/ ' ■ .; They^riiay attend any regular, night performarice for 30c, incliiding tax, Regular scale 39t45c. ; Atipther Army Theatre :, Brqwhvirbbd,/Texas, March ?5; ■p,. D. BroWh/plans; for new 400- seater^ the Ritz,; seventli! hoiise here as direct, result, of the riatiorial de- fense program,. Camp Bowie is lo- cated nearby. Brbwri,. in iffiliatiph With; the Iriterstate Circuit, Pperates the Queen and .Gcrii here.. Isabel Jeyireil's Novei ;.' Isabel ' .Jewell, : Metrb ' contract player 'curreritly oh a persbnal/ap- pbarance; tour;; is winding Up . work on a,nibyel::to be/published by House pf Field, N,Y,, Jn: the fall> An actress and a musician^are princijfTal char- acters: in .the vpiume, tiabbed 'li.et's Face It,' Miss Jewell has ftthored a humber of shprt stories arid some radio. scripts , in' the past.' Shee^h Compleiincr Book ■ Vincent Sheeah is in Atlantic City, where he's completing his latest bobk, .'Bird of the; Wilderriess.V Ori April 15; he will sail for England for the iduratiori. .. Sheean signed with Safevepbst to write an article a week, subject and length unrestricted. College Show ; CoiiUhupd .Ironi pa^e 42; spry,' lecturer: on. the subject bf the 'boy-and-gin relationship,' : . George Blackman, 'as; a con .-man,- carries the bobk .bn his shoulders: hobly and emerges th^ mvisical's aoe asioTi-; Robert - Bacon,;. Williarii Hpl- birooke and Robert ;>CoIeman also: come through okay; Gardiner Pierr son,, as the leadinK;mari,; j,<5 adequate in his singirifii but/awkward in act- ing.: ./His .best bit is a Hhree-deckcr iriipersonatiori bf Ghevalier,. Dietrich and: f;; D, R. William Ghariibers: rates a nod for hi.s edorts. iri a- bl^'ck--'. faced;-soft-shoe; '■. . ■.-: :i Ted Fetter has' delivered a/ comr : riiendable dircclbrfal/ job/ A.s usual, '- Lerby :Ander.son provide."! a stanch ■ musical ba'ck.stop': tp :th.e entire-j^ro-; | ceeding.v as masical direetor- (of a ) Ruby Nev/nian :un)J.)"arid arranger., The sketchy, set.s are uifipretentibu.sly satisfactory; • ■ .,-:Fox. LITERATI OBlTS Bailey Millard, 60, ; author and newspaperman, who as a Sah Fran- cisco editor was credited with/first publishing Edwin Markham's 'The; Man, With the Hoe,' diejd of a cere- bral hemorrhage. March 20 In Los Angeles.. ; Ohe-tiine editor of the Cosmopolitan arid -Munsey's Maga- zine, he had been a staff meriiber pf the Los Angeles Times since 1924; Harry P. Burt, tS8,... for 24 years head of A; L. Burt .Co-^ reprint pub- lishing house, died March 18 at his honib Jn Brooklyn. Fbur years. ago ,Burt retired when the firm was sold to Blue Ribbon books. Claude ftpnard; Rureroril, 49, ad- ministrat.br of the BueriOs Ajres Herald, largest English-language newspaper in South America, died in B; a., March 9 of a heart attack While watching a boxing match. Frank' W. Carson, '60, :former as- sistant managing editor of the N. Y. Daily News arid long a dynamic fig- ure in Chicago newspaper circles, died March 19.af hishoriie near Tuc- son, Ariz., after a long illness. Prior • to joining tiie/News/in 1928,. he had worked on the Chrpiiicle, Tribune,- Herald arid Examiner, all. iri Chicago. He . alsp served ■ briefly as managirig editor; pf the Detroit Mirror during, the two years of Its existence. , : . / •: Charles If.; Gowles,; 64, once; a. :\widely .kriown newspaperniari; .idied ,at: his hbme in Detroit, March. 21.: follpv/ing a four-year illne.S."^. He be- gan he.wspbper-• ^ork 'iri.. Saginaw, Mich., where, his father owried the Co;urierrHerald,. later. ' working; on Bay ,City;- Herald, also/ owned by elder Cbwles.:: ; He wbrked pn; newsr papers in Delrpit and/ subsequently owned the Sun Ih Toteau, Okla; ' Sidney Bert Cooksley,: 38, screen and ;hi;agajiirie writer, died March 18, in HoiiyWobd. ; At .bne: tiriie'he, was a reporter oh the New York "rirnes and-'contiribnted verses, tb^*^^^ Salur-.; day Evening Post./"' ■ ;/ -'■/' . John Rfophy, .55,-' reporter fbr the New /York. .Times' for 38 years and .> brother/of N. .Y;/Chief Fire Marshal. Thomas :.T. Brbphy./^died bf a heart ailm'ent March;22:at his home jn Bnioklyn,'N.;"5f. -V;; , '/■ MortonxB. Birge; .6.7.' .reti/ed edi- torial :Writet;:.for the 'iBostbn Daily Rccoird, died March/23/at.hi.s. home in South -Harwich; Mas.«;: . .F^ rewrite' man- for the N;V;-;Suri; and. the IBostbn American, .he :had worked on sev.eral plh^r New Erigjantl ncvy.s- ■piipers,/ ' Z-. .-,' , .. .Constance M,:: Roufke. ,^5, aulhb'r; critic and .mfii'aziri.e cfiWtrib'utor, idi.f>(l. March. 23 In Grarid 'Rapids.'Mich.; frpm' injuries resultirig;: from' a ' lall hear her ; home last- week; .. • ;' : ■ ; . Jamc.s L. Mepksj/64, publisher of Florence (Ala.') Times arid .the-Tri- Cilte.s /(.Sheftield. Ala,) Daily/ ;die'cl March 21 -at Florence after "an ill- ness of se.veral'-months. Would hiivr: ..beeri -ti5-MarGh,27,-; Survivprs iriclude: ..'a brother," Publisher Herbert Mecks pf HKe Bremen ,/Ca.) Gateway, / - Williaiiv Thantas ,Crews^ 82/ dean bf. .South: Carolina -newspaperirieii;'and; -relived publisher of .La'.ureri.s/'lS:- C.) Iler.aid, died'M.nrbh l?' in Gree^^ S; fev'after a . brief illhesis; -^dgari- more than 60 years/ago: as reporter for- his / fathei-, Cplonei ThbmiVs B;: Crew,s,:Cbrifederale>rmy-officer, .and. edited /aird; published. sbyCral sheet' for- seniQr.{<rew^/ . .:/ v ..:- CHATTlEB - ;Jerbrrie - Odium -placed - his; lipvel, 'Lady SOurdpLigh,';' with MacMillari' for publication. ; Harry . Carey arranging material for his autobiography-, coveririg 3.3 years .on the screen.' •.. ' / ;Harbid Sinclair arid. Donri Mullally :spld. ; theii: tale of . bccupied France' 'Glbry/ErVd,' tb Collibifs;/ " ;Ir\>irig Sto'he, author iof - the-, best- selling t^iisf for Life,' has jiusf'com- pleted a book about Clarence Dar- ro'W; .. : ' I .. • ;:-'■" /: '-'; ^ ; .Gerald Sykes of PM; N. Y. daily, has finished hovel about New Yiirk of 1910 callecl 'the Battle bf Ne\v .:Yprk.:: , ■:-:-■.''} Gonsiielb Heriher's . • H ai v ai n a Nahaha,' b^edeker; to Cuba, comes; out. iri ; Septeinber under Random House imprint. Will Oursier, son of Fultph, Lib- erty rhag editpr, has written a; mys- terir novel to be published by Simon and .Schuster in' May: It's ' called 'Trial of Vincent Doon.' Margaret Case Harriman,. New Yorker, writer and daughter of Ftank Case, has completed a book of es- says 'of high arsenic content' on New Ybrk wits. It's labeled 'Tboth and Claw.*^ W. R. Harris, riianaging editor of Norfolk (Va.) -VirginianrPost, nomr inated .to congress frori second Va. district. Opporient is another news- paperman, Norman R.; Hamilton, pubjisher of Portsmouth CVa;) Star^ Electibn April ,8. William 'Block, assistant general rnanager of the Toledo (Ohio) Blade and younger son of Paul»Block, piib- . lisher, has: gone to Fort Hayes, Co- lumbus,.O., for military training. He was treasurer of the Toledo- Sym-^ phony Orchestra. /Margaret Webster writirig a. book on Shakespeare arid how to speak .and. act him, which Whittlesey HOu.se will publish* in the. fall, Mi,ss Web- ster directed the recent Shake-spear- ean productions of Maurice Evans, Helen Hayes and others.. Cantor-Shore Continued from page 26 ^^, Shore had been given her option notice by his secretary March 11/(b day within the deadline), filed his complaint against M'ss Shore^s walk^ out with AFRA last. Friday (22), As provided for In the' AFIIA contract fbrm each of the. disputants selects one member of the arbitration; board while the third miember ; Is named; from, a list -furnished by the ArijbH- can Arbitration Society.' : . Cantor declared Saturday that it should be apparent from certain-': eyents.,.that/ he ihtiended to continue.. Miss . Shbre on - his payrPll,. He; poirited ,out that.'he had booked her; for 'in: appearance/with .him in' Harti. ford,' April 12 tb 14, inclusive; atid that in his hegptiations fbr a picture a,ssrgrttrient this summer he had in;-; eluded, her .as;par.t:.:of the. d.eal. - '. /Caritbr. stated that .it ;>-seemed . to him that, tile girl ;was being:: badly adyised 'and - that /the.: whole thing; simmered down tb. .the fact;/that Whereas he ha.d-:heeri paying her $200, a prograni th? Chas? & Sanborn. asV sighmint. would./bring her $750: broadcast,' He also;exj)a.tiated on thb^, ingratitude theme and added'.that .he would hold.her to he.r contract: Wihich doesn't ..expire :.until; June,; 1942/ Ga.htor said..that he .doubted /much .' whether,. Ybiihg; &: Rubicam' : had- sp.oken . tb /her about .stepping iritp a;;summer. ;shpW; .arid he denied that; there had been.any difTerfoa-.s 6ver. the publicity she got. : :., / Mi!:.<:. Shore-has been. f'),r.iii^ ,lvyb Lornmi.-siohs-iNBC arid GAC) out p/ hcr/$200; '..