Variety (May 1941)

Wednesday, May 7, 1941 CHATTER 77 Broadway Jim Proctor again agentlng 'Out of the Frying Pan.' Boris KarlofTs have taken a coun- try house in Darien, Conn. Alien Schnebbe's mother danger- ously ill. Sam Lyons (and Lyons) back to Hollywood after quickie trip east on biz. Gert and Mary Jane Lenihan in from Woonsocket, R. I., to visit the ■Bish.' Gordon Douglas Hollywood-bound to • direct 'Niagara Falls' for Hal Boach. Charlie Harris back at Imperial as company manager of 'Louisiana Purchase.* . . Don Richards, recently in the 'Streets of Paris' unit, now singing at Leon & Eddie's. Bernard Hart, stage manager of •Lady in the Dark' lAlvin), to va- cation on the Coast. Mrs. Charlie Einfeld trained in Monday (5) to join her husband, who preceded her east, Frank Salerno, whose operatic troupe lasted one performance at the Majestic, is in the bail bond business. McClelland Barclay goes to Hawaii soon to draw scenes from the Navy maneuvers, to be used on defense posters. . Wilma Freeman, promotion man- ager of the advertising department at Warners, planed back from Dallas Monday (5). Martha Raye will not tour with Al Jolsoh's revived 'Hold On to Your Hats.' Cynda Glenn is a possible re- placement. A weekend foursome playing 27 holes was Fred Mohrhardt, John McDermott, Clark Brown and Jim . McGovern, all of Par. Monte Proser has so many of the ex-Stork Club personnel at his Copa- cabana now that it looks like a branch of Chez Billingsley. 'It's Not the Same,' tune by Joan Sinclaire, of Universal's story de- partment, and Robert Noack, being published by Doraine Music. The Daily News Post of the American Legion holds its annual affair at the Taft Saturday night (10) with Ed Sullivan as m.c. Hastings Studios, animated car- toonery, has stepped out of its field to make a live action briefle for the jukeboxers, starring Rufe Davis. Agent Hal MatSon on the Coast for two weeks investigating wisdom of acquiring a permanent Hollywood affiliate for his New York office. Jack Robbins to Atlantic City for the music dealers' convention. Charles C. Moskowitz,..Loew's v.p., to A.C. next weekend on brief va- cash. Red Nichols batted for Frankie Hyers as a gob in 'Panama Hattie' Saturday when latter was ill. He replaces Rags Ragland in show in a few weeks. Will (Babe) Philbrick. under- studying Vic Moore In 'Louisiana Purchase,' is celebrating 37th anni- versary with Jessie Bowman (Car- doni Sisters). Maxie Rosenbloom, currently at the Bowery, Detroit nitery, leaves for Hollywood after a week to begin work lor Columbia in 'Harvard, Here I Come.' T.'E. Shea, Erpi v.p., in charge of engineerin;;, on a leave of absence to actively participate in vital studies being made by the National Defense Research Committee. Congestion on Sixth avenue around Radio City greatly reduced by rule effective last week that employment agencies list jobs inside their offices and not on boards on the street. Sandra Rambeau, just back from France, is probably the last of the Americans to evacuate that country. Showgirl has plenty of inside stuff; alfo brought over a flock of personal messages. Harry J. Takiff, assistant to Jack Cohn, Columbia v.p., made known his engagement last week to Vivi- enne Crafts, of Portsmouth, Eng- land, who' has been in this country for several years. Leo Lindy says he's seen every- thin? now: a kid sourned Eddie Cantor, Fred Allen and others' auto- graphs in his eatery and insisted only on Lindy's. He was eight-year- old nephew of Minerva Pious, who does 'Charlie (Charles Cantor) and Min Potter' on the air. Bob and Bobbie, standard juggling act, now sees one a captain at the Hotel Astor and the other a brewer with Ruppert's. Bill Fadiman's wife in from Tucson to spend the summer in the east with him. Consuelo Rodriguez, Mexico's only girl pic sound engineer, recovering from injuries suffered in a car smash. Alfonso Sanchez Tello, pioneer pic producer who quit the biz here because of labor troubles, has opened a nitery in Monterey, eastern Texas border industrial center. Sally O'Neil due here about the end of May to visit her brother, Ed- mund B. Noonan, operator of the new Cine Olimpia, frontline cinema, and only American exhibitor here. Ponseco, the heavyweight comic, is smash with his twice weekly pro- grams of screwy questions and an- swers at local radio station XEQ: Listeners-in who can match wits with the comedian get cash prizes. Esperanza Iris, veteran stage- screen comedienne, spikes rumors to the effect that she is going to sell to the government her theatre here, which for six years has been a cine- ma, to serve as an addition to the congressional building which it ad- joins. La Iris lives atop the theatre. Mexico City By Douglas L. Grahame Miguel Arenas, the pic actor, to Venezuela to work in films. Pedro Galindo, the songwriter, '*adying to become a pic producer. , Charles Pickering, announcer for local radio station XEQ (50,000 Watts) became a benedict. Society of Friends of the Theatre has been organized here. A. Gon- zalez Pena is prez and Jose Elizondo and Francisco v. ps. Encarnacion Lopez (Argentlnita), the Spanish dancer, and her company «,smash in recitals at the Palace of Fine Arts (National Theatre). Alicia Phillips, film player, and Pittsburgh By Hal Cohen Sid Dickler losing one of his ace bandsmen, Jerry Eisner, to the army. Albert Cappe, Penn theatre's chief of service, has enlisted in the army. Joe and Betty Lee, dancers, to Mt. Royal in Toronto from Yacht Club here. Dave Whalen here looking after Gene Autry's publicity and general biz interests. Mother of Earl Roeser, former Harris and WB manager, died sud- denly last week. Owen Cleary back on job at Ful- ton after eight weeks at Shea house in Youngstown, O." Jackie Heller's nicest birthday gift Thursday (1) was a new nephew, son of the Bill Hellers. Johnny Borelli subbing for ailing Henry Miller at piano with Piccolo Pete's Club Petite band. W^lost manager of its Hollywood theatre here, Louis Shellute, to Uncle Sam few days ago. Mrs. LeRoy (Ruth) Hippler, Nixon theatre boxoffice secretary, will be a mother late next month. Gabe Rubin went into Presby- terian Hospital for a week of check- ui>s and pronounced okay. Variety Club will soon lose one of its faithfuls when Fabian Wright leaves town for government service. Madelyn Ward, singer in Play- house revue, getting a divorce from Jimmy Thompson, Chi radio sales- man. Rombout van Riemsdyk, Dante's general manager, in town ahead of magician's return engagement to Nixon. Biff Liff, of Tech drama school, will be assistant technical director at Bucks County Playhouse. this summer. Three special Pullman cars will take local Variety Club delegation to Atlantic City convention next Wednesday (14). Douglas Runyon, with Everett Hoagland band, called to California by mother's Illness and Ray Stevens has replaced him. Boyd Crawford. Tech drama school grad and now on radio serial. 'Amanda of Honeymoon Hill,' home for weekend to see folks. Mike Spector, Carol Bruce's man- ager, here for day on way to the Coast by auto. Singer's mother and kid sister accompanied him. Jane Keith, former Playhouse sub- scription secretary, here for week with her husband. Warren Munsell, Jr., company-managing "Hope for a Harvest.' Minneapolis By Lcs Rees Father of Abe Kaplan, independ- ent circuit owner, ."seriously ill. W. A. Steffes off to his northern Minnesota estate for the summer. Metro bowling team got into ABC tournament money with 2.605 total. Alvin (Hirsch-Katz .stock bur- le.sque) closed for summer Sunday (4). Charlie Noodleman an addition to the RKO sales staff and covering North Dakota. Claude Dickinson, long a Universal booker, now serving in same capacity with M-G-M. RKO has booked 'Fantasia' into Duluth and La Crosse, Wis., for road- show engagements. Al Charon, manager ot the Metro, indie nabe house, for past four years, has taken over lease. Norman Sper in town to catch University of Minnesota spring foot- ball practice for Blm short. 'Time of Your Life/ playing Lyceum this week, had local drama critics go to Chicago to 'preview' show. . Clyde Culler, manager of Ihe Aster, St. Paul, rolled 602 in the ABC tournament and was in the . money. „, ^ I The Gillmans closing their Floyd B. Olson theatre, formerly the ' Gayety, local burlesque house for quarter of century. Twin City Variety club's having annual grand ball and dinner dance this week to raise money for its prin- cipal charity project, the Milk Fund. Buenos Aires By Ray Josephs Colon Ballet returned after Chilean trip. Aida Olivier joined Pepe Arias in Casino revue. , French actress Madeline Lambert drawing well with poetry recitals in French. Santa Cecilia Philharmonic, direct- ed by Kurt Phalen, signed by Radio El Mundo. Claudio Arrau. Chilean pianist re- cently in Ihe States, doing a series at the Colon. Mar del Plata Casino ran extra week because of terrific biz despite bad weather. Maestro Artuoro Luzzatti conduct- ed series of concerts at the Sodre in Montevideo, featuring own works. Fritz Busch, conducting Mozart series at the Colon, got praise from critics although orchestra drew bad notices. • Maria Antinen and Marcelino Ornat featured in Spanish revue, 'Las Tocas' ('The Headdress'), at the Maravillas. Camila Quiroga rehearsing 'La Dama de la Camellias,' Spanish ver- sion of 'Camille,' translated by Joa- quin de Vedia. Luis Mottura readying new com- edy by Maria Luz Regas, 'Llegare a Tus Brazos' CI Will End in Your Arms') for Mecha Ortiz. Musical and revue company di- rected by Cesar Borel opens tour at Colisco Podesta in La Plata. Will end in Asuncion, Paraguay. Documentary and old artistic films shown by Cine Art Association at Cine Baby and attracting much in- terest from socialite film-goers. Pampa Films' director Mario Soffici back to work at Martinez studios on 'Yo Quiero Morir Contigo' CI Want to Die with You'), after short illness. Antonio Moplet signed by Sono Film to direct 'El Hermano Jose' CBrother Joe'), comedy based on character created on radio by Pepe Arias. Yiddish company of Paul Bern- stein and Lilian Lux rehearsing new musical, 'El Zapatero Alegre' ('The Happy Shoemaker'), which features a Hollywood skit. Ferruccio Calusio picked to direct May 25 opera at the. Colon. Night marks most important national holi- day, and opera then is considered top event of the season. Yiddish • actress, Nelli Kesman, arrived from U. S. for season at the Mitre. Jacob Ben-Ami opened sea- son at the Excelsior in 'El Descono- cido' ('The Stranger') with company supported by Berta Gersten. U. S. Director Richard Harlan selected 'Cuando Canta el Corazon' ('When the Heart Sings') as his new pic starring Hugo del Carril. EFA pic will feature Aida Luz, Jose Olarra, Oscar Valicelli and Felisa Mary. Movie crowd out in force at open- ing of Embassy, top socialite nitery here, run as benefit for the Comision Pro Ayuda con Productos Argentinos Victimas de la Guerra (Commission to Help War Victims with War Products). Committee to prepare for the sec- ond River Plate Theatre Congress has been named, including Edmundo Bianchi, Bli;con Ramirez, H. Nazzari and S. Messuti, for Uruguay: and Hector G. Quiroga, C«rlos H. Faig. Victor Eiras, Samuel Eichbaum and Robert F. Giusti for Argentina. St. Louis By Sam X, Hurst Republic's local exchange just finished being dolled up. St. Louis Variety Club will be rep- resented by more than 14 members at the national conclave at Atlantic Cily. Leonard Griienberg recently trans- ferred by RKO to Salt Lake City, where he is manager. Eula Morgan, a grad of-the Town Square theatre and Light Opera Guild, in Hollywood flickers. George Hoffman, formerly with Variety Pictures, now assistant booker at Columbia's local exchange. Eddie and Dave Arthur and Les Kaufman of Fanchon & Marco's local organization have joined the St. Louis Home Guards. Robert Thomsen, business manager of lATSE, Local 143, has been ap- pointed 'to the Missouri Appeals Board for the .Notional Defense. Fire of undetermined origin de- stroyed outdoor roller skating rink in West St. Louis a day after it had been completed. Loss estimated at $2,000. Harry Cool, former KMOX warbler, made several per.sonals on home station while in town as fea- tured singer with Dick Jurgens' band at.Chase Club. Dick Barrie, localite and former trumpeter and warbler with Kay Kyscr's band, opened season in Forest Park Highlands ballroom (4) wltfi his own band. An overflow house greeted the Philadelphia symph orch's concert, last of current .sca.<!on events bank- rolled by Civic Music League. Eugene Ormandy waved the baton. William L. Shirer, formerly chief correspondent in Berlin for CBS, drew 2,100 payees to opera house in Municipal Auditorium in lecture. Was spon.sored by Entertainment, Inc., headed by Paul Beisman. Tony Beninanti, formerly manager o( the Frisina Amus. Co.'s Capilol in Taylorville, 111., succeeds Charles Beninati as manager of the Roxy. Shelbyville. III. Charle.'s has taken over the Grand, Carlyle, III. Leo F. Abram.<!. architect, has been retained by Harry C. Arthur, Jr.. chief barker of the St. Louis Tent ot the Variety Club, to prepare plans, etc., for the $200,000 Midwest Polio Assn. home which the Tcnl has promised to raise funds for in the next five years. The wedding of Bud Kaimann. as- sociated 'with Clarence Kaimann in the operation of a chain of nabe.s in North St. Louis, to Ruth Corrigan of the Jifational Theatre Supply Co. has been advanced because Kaimann is in Class lA of the national defense training and may be called any lime. Hollywood London Maurice Ostrer, head of Gains- borough Films Production, tested Eileen Redstone for part in 'Hi Gang,' which starts production in June. Girl was spotted by a Variety mug^^ entertaining at an air-raid shelter and tipped off to Ostrer. Title switch on new John Corfleld feature for Vic Oliver and Sarah Churchill (Mrs. Oliver) is 'Call Me Lucky,' replacing 'Ring O' Roses,' tag of the Monica Ewer novel at time of purchase. Tony Nelson Keys has been signed as unit manager. Ade- laide Hall, dusky songstress, is being mulled for role. 'Boom Town* (M-G) goes into Metro's Empire May 9 for four weeks. -Expected to hold up much longer, but general release dale is middle of June. Film has been booked for entire Associated British Cineiinas Corp.'s circuit on . a road show basis, which means it will play each house at least two weeks, with some as long as four and even eight. British National taking a six-weeks layoff after 'Penn of Pennsylvania.' Feature is about finished. BN has been in production without a break since war began, and will utilize hiatus by resting staff and lining up new features. "The Common Touch' goes into work May 21 under John Baxter's guidance. Film expects to use a number of radio and vaude acts. Panama Ray Milland and Lee.Tracy pas- sengered on the S. S. President Mon- roe, stoppitig over a day. Colon's Broadway, new cabaret, going in heavily for Latin shows. Biz not so forte, with opposition get- ting most of the soldiers' coin. The Panamanian government took in $190,000 on liquor taxes for the month of February. There are 792 saloons operating in the republic. Stan Willis, .former Broadway agent, arranging U. S. entry papers and initial New York bookings for Rayita Del Sol, Latin-type hoofer. Cuban talent agents reaping a har- vest, with influx of Cubanas a.ssum- ing tremendous proportions. Nearly every native-type cabaret employs at least 10 to 20 gals. Club Florida, after being 'off lim- its' for a year with the military, hav- ing a tough grind trying to catch on. Mammoth spot, swell location, but shows are strictly from Dixie. Colon's SUvefSpray^ad house- cleaning re<?fently, shipping^ Ameri- can entenainers back to Ne«<York. Some pt the gals had been ohvthe isthmui eight months, which \is stretching an eight-week contract. Melvyn Douglas ; Continued from pace 3; uprocr against his Communistic ac- tivities and associations,' Ford told the house. 'After knowing his po- litical background, one would expect nothing else /rom such a man as this Melvyn Douglas, or, as he was otherwise known, Melvyn He.ssel- berg. I hope that everyone who ever sees him on the screen will always remember that he is a great de- fender of Harry Bridges.',. Dougizs, who had aspirations to a congressional seat him.self la.st year, was defended by another of the Los Angeles county delegation. Repre- sentative Jerry Voorhls, a Democrat, expressing regret if Douglas did sign a petition in Brld'g£s' behalf, said the actor is 'one of the most basically patriotic people end one of the hardest workers for America's basic institutions and the pre.serva- tion of democracy that there is in this country today.' Reason Doug- las turned down the honorary Na- tional Guard commission offered by Gov. Culbert L. Olson, according to Voorhls, wcs 'he had the good sense t) know that he was not qualified for it.' Kitty Kelly in from New York for picture work. Charles Lang trained in from New York on vac.ntion. Alexander Dubin, songwriter, sued for $8,00a back alimony. Leif Eiickson signed up with the Navy as a photographer. John Balaban went back to Chi- cago after a "month's vaculi: n. Charles Jones, cartoon director at Paramount, laid up with piciiri.'jy. Jerry Sackhcim , screen writer, caught poison oak instead of tiOiit. > Don Barry making a peisonal lour of northern California, with horses. Earl Carroll won a lc..al decision and lost one, at a net proli: of ¥42.10, Jed Harris relumed from a gander al his old hangabauls in Now York. Phyllis Brooks back in Hollywood after working in legit on Broadway. Adeline de Walt Reynolds, 80, is playing in "The Yearling' at Metro, Abbott and Coslello got special cilations from Hollywood Post No, 43. KT Stevens, the initials (without punctuation) standing for nothing al all. Jack Kelly out of the Paramount publicity department and on his o'wn. -Donna Adams, Metro conlr;-tee, changed her film name to Jjnna Reed. Tom Walker checked in as treas- urer for the Edward Smell picture .outfit. - ■ Jean Roge s, film "".c. iss. was granted a divorce from Danny Winkiir. D£vid Butler, held up by film com- mitments missed his first Kentucky Derby in years. Victor McLaglen opens a six-week .stage tour of the east at the Strand, New York, May 9. Maria Ouspenskaya joined the Paul Kohner agency as instructor of new acting ttilent. Joe E. Brown returns to musical comedy in the Coast performance of 'Rio Rita' May 19. Andrews Sisters in a motor wreck which ruined their chr.riot but left their voices intact. Bill Jordan moving back from Miami Beach to reopen his Bar of Music in Hollywood. Maureen O'Sullivan returned from a six-week vacation lo start work in another Tarzan oicture. J. P. Friedhoff is new comptroller of Monogram Pictures, succeeding Joseph Lamm who resigned. Pat West elected commander of Post 3208, Veterans of Foreign Wars, on his 22d wedding anniversary. Y. Frank Freeman tossed a lunch- eon for Dr. Alexander Loudon, Min- ister from the Netherlands to U. S., also General AviU Camacho, brother of Mexico's prez. Leland Hayward and his dad, CoL William 'Wild Bill' Hayward, look- ing over the flying school at Phoenix, Ariz. Ronald Reagan overcome by fumes in cockpit of a plane on 'Flight Pa- trol' set and took two days to re- cover. James A. FitzPatrick to Yosemite Par;; to .show the g-vemment em- ployees- his picture about that lo- cality. Harry Stern back from New York where he conferred with Harry Brandt on future releases for Film Alliance. Frank Whitbeck trekked to Florida for tropical scenes to be used in his industry production, 'The Romance of Celluloid.' Ray Jones of Universal won three awards in the still phologruphy show of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Irving Berlin back in town after working on his next flimusical in a de.serl hideout. He leaves for New York next week. Darryl F. Zanuck, Sol M. Wurtzel and Col. Jason Joy were speakers at the Annual Safety Committee ban- quet at 20th-Fox. \George Murphy to Philadelphia, to decK«»te2.a training house for the University of Pennsylvania, where his father, Mike Murphy, was a fa- mous track coach. Shirley Burden has been appointed Kenneth Macgowan's Coast represen- tative iri motion picture division of Government's committee for Latin- American fricnd.ship. Havana Mutual Broadcasting Sy.stem re- ' ported to be opening news sumhiary in English out of Havana similar to Columbia's but daily. David Lichine's presentation of Afro-Cuban ballet at Tropicana nitery met with unexpected success at the b.o. and artistically. 'Gone with the Wind' (M-G) re- ' opens May 13 at the Fau.sto theatre, scene of its original triumph last year. Now at popXilar rates. Expected boxoffice from the re- public's first bulinghls probably will be meagre as law prohibits either killing or wounding 'el tore' Ballet Russe of Col. de Basil has filled contract with Pro-Arte (gov- : ernment ministry of Education) and -awaits news from Sol Hurok vs. de : Basil fight in New York before leav- ' ing either north or south.