Variety (May 1941)

52 Wednesday, Mmj 21, 1941 Literati Peplcr Vs. Wlnchell. Feud between Westbrook Pegler (Scripps-Howard) and Walter Win- chell was fiercely fanned last week when, in Thursday's (15) column, Pegler blasted the tab columnist- commentator to a degree seldom known in journalism. It was anony- mous, no names mentioned, but no mistaking whom Pegler meant. It's reported that Pegler's anger was roused over reports that Win- chell resented the Pulitzer award to Pegler, the latter hearing about comments supposed to have ema- nated from the Hearst writer. Winchell came back with the claim of his 'girl Friday' that 'nearly 90 American newspapers have gone to their graves in the last three years. Your column did not appear in any of them, but most of them published Pegler.' A subse- quent barb, in the Sunday syndica- tion, by Winchell showed himself No. 1 in a columnar survey, and Pegler next to the cellar. British Togae Vrges Sharing A situation created by the war, and which is Indicative of problems that have beset nearly all publica- tions in England, is best exemplified by a statement published in the London and provincial press recent- ly by British Vogue, the edition there of the American fashion maga- zine. The statement: The proprietors of Vogue ex- . press their regret'to would-be purchasers of their magazine who cannot get a copy. . . . The circulation of Vogue is already substantially above the pre-war figure, and official Paper Con- trol restrictions make it impos- sible to print the considerable further quantity which is in de- mand. If' you have been able to obtain a copy, please share It ^ith any friend who has not . been so fortunate.' Cinoy News Guild Bow A three-hour letdown May 13 by Newspaper Guilders on the Cincin- nati Post, Scripps-Howard sheet, paved the way for the return of WilUam Dowdell as city editor, from -which he was let out the night be- fore. Action of the Guilders did not cause a missout on any edition. Workers resumed when the man- agement posted a notice that Dow- dell could have his Job back when- ever he wanted" it. According to Inside sources, Dow- dell received the exit cue after he refused to transfer to a rewrite chore which involved a $2,000 yearly severance fee. LIpplneott-Stokcs Herger Union of two major book publish- ing houses was brought about last week when J. B. Llppincott Co. ac- quired the controlling interest In Frederick A. Stokes Co. New of- ficers' of Stokes firm are: Joseph W. Lippincott, president; George Ste- vens, vice-president; Horace W. Stokes, treasurer; T. F. Mahony, secretary, and Lynn Carrick, assist- ant secretary. Members of the board of directors: Joseph W. Lippincott, H. K. Bauern- feind, Helen Dean Fish, Horace W. Stokes, T. F. Mahony, and Percy Loring. The Lippincott firm, whose home office is in Philly, was found- ed in 1792; Stokes organized in 1881. of publicity In the recently «ttab- llshed New York Stot« Division of Commerce at $6,290'• year. Larry Sisk, Tex^ newspaperihan, has become. director of a regional public relations office established at Dallas by the Office of Emergency Management, the U. S. over-all de- fense agency. He was managing editor of the Fort Worth Press, Scripps-Howard, in 1935 and 1936. S.S. Zamzdm zContlnued from page 3; Coney Isle Excerpt In Harper's Portion of Oliver Pilat's and Jo Hanson's 'Sodom by the See: An Affectionate History of Coney Island' has been sold to Harper's Bazaar for July appearance. Mag piece is called 'How Coney Island Got That Way.' Book will be published by Double- day-Doran, also in July. Frank Snillvan on PM Frank Sullivan has been inked by PM to do a column three times a week. First one appeared Monday (19). Humorist was long familiar when on the staff of the N. Y. World, de- funct. He is one of the 21 cngels of 'Arsenic and Old Lace.' UTEBATI OBITS Balph Bomano, 34, photographer fi>r the Pittsburgh Press, died last week following an operation for double mastoid. Before: going with Press, Romano managed World Wide news photo bureau in Pitts- burgh. J. W. T. Mason, 62, United Press war expert and former foreign cor- respondent, died of a heart attack last week in New York-. Shortly after writing his column on Monday (12), he returned to his hotel where he was stricken. ! several times and being rated as an i expert automobile mechanic. Be- ' fore sailing from Jersey City late in March, Faversham said he Intended sending back articles far VARiffrT. during his service in Africa. Also reported on board-the ship was Ray Colcord, Jr., 24, an actor in minor parts on Broadway. He is from Tulsa, Okla., the son of an oil man. He was also a member of the ambulance corps. With the same group were Michael Kirchway Clark, 21, of New York, son of Freda Kirchway, editor of The Nation; and John W. Ryan, 21, of Newton, Mass., son of George B. Ryan, editor of the Boston Herald. Clark is on leave of absence from Harvard,.and Ryan on similar leave from the University of North Carolina. According to dispatches from Ber- lin yesterday (Tuesday) those on the Zamzam'were said to have been "re- moved from the ship by the Nazi raider and to have l»feen taken to some occupied territory, where they are now being held. There appears to be some question of whether the Germans will continue to hold them, since they are neutrals and were traveling on a technically neutral ship. Dionne Quints jCoAOnned from paga I; CHATTEB Ed HiU," N. Y. World-Telegram bight city editor, recovering from a siege of illness. Russell Maloney, of the New Yorker, Convalescing from an' ap- pendectomy at Harkness Pavilion. John Spencer, city editor, Norfolk (Va.) Pilot, upped to maneging edi- tor. Replaces W. R. Harris, elected to Congress. Joseph Driscoll, chief of New York Herald-Tribune's Washington staff, upped to 'national correspondent^ He'll cover Important news stories wherever they' break. Bert A. An- drews, of city staff, replaces Dris- coll In Washington. ' Allan Reagan, onetime New York City newspaperman and later, sports editor of Hearst's Albany Times- Union, has been appointed director Ontario Government's Travel Bu- reau) realize the enormity of the five youngsters' offence; then the letters began to come in from all parts of Canada and the United States. Despite, this, however, more than 4,000 requests had come In vyithin the following 48-hours for the souvenir invitation of the quints to visit them i;^ Ontario, this was part of the announcer's commercial spiel. The incident may bring to a head the question of the children's educa- tion. Meanwhile, Lowell Thomas will Journey lip to'the North Bay nursery on the evening of May 28 to Interview the five little girls on their seventh birthday; they are also on the Ned Sparks series again on June 1. What language the tots will speak In, or what the outcome will be. Is just another quiz question In which the majority of. Canadians are not particularly Interested. Is %ur Name Here? IT MAY V£RY WELL BE. For on this list you will find the great and the near great, the riff and the raff, the pot and the ^urri of humaAit/. There ii the voluptuous strip queen, bare'foot up to her chin; there is the unsung Samaritan who fed chili con came to a phonograph; the actr^ who wanted to be ^measured"; the prize-fighter who wrote love stories; the hams and stars of stage, screen and radia And they're all in H. ALLEN SMITH'S HILARIOUS NEW BOOK /Who Is this jetsam journalist, H. Allen Smith? Fred Allen sayet "Mr. Smith is the screwball's Bo»« ^^•""N^ WU." Fred Allen u right To Mr. Smith the world is a seething psychopathic ward, his fellow man just » pore-spallered husk that Is concealing a story. Mr. Smith' knows the people you know—and he writes about them in the funniest, most hilsir- ious book to come off a press since Gutenberg invented movable type. It is a fun-poking, belly* laugh book which does to celebrities and screw- balls what A Smattering of Ignorance did to — musicians. It is a book you will enjoy. You may even be in it- - iMkAltohrYoOTMollMr-taOtandnioNMn'MaUMNami Gloria Swanson Sinclair I>ewis Douslaa Fairbanks, Jr, WIUlBm Siroyan Jimmy Wallccr Bon Hecht Alexander Woollcott Henry L, Uencken J. Hontsomerr Flags Brenda Fnizlcr Marlene Dietrich' Kay Fean Mariraret Lockwood Oizle Nelaon Richard B. Harrison Doris Davenport Vivien Lelab Laurence Olivier Bernard Sobel Marc Connelly Stanley Walker, Ludiu Beebe SSlly Rand Max HInk Marole Hart Faith Baoon Earl Carroll Gypsy Rose Lea Lois Da Fee Oraon Welle* Art Donegan Jackie Oatebr Gloria Jean Georgle Hale Maxls RosenUoom Joe Frisco Jack Dempsey James Cagney Joseph HItchcU Max Baer .. Ann Sberidui Bob Bums Jim Horan I. J. Fox Fred Waring Paul Douglas Gary Copper Greta Garbo Gene .Fowler Porothy Laraour Alfred Hitchcock' Joan Bennett OUvU de Havllbnd Richard Arlen Victor Moore Ma]^ Robson Franchot Tone George Raft Gene AusUn Andrews Sisters Anita Louise Hkrpo Marx BIng Crosby The Kapps Jimmy ihiranta ' Jack Benny Eddie Cantor Brock Pemberion Joe K Brown Ben Bemie Bob Ripley Hal Kemp John Scott Trottw' Skinnay Ennit Frank Buck Marguerite Clarh, Mae West Lup« Velez • Ruby Keeler I Tallulah Banl!hea4! The Shuberta Ja«k Oakle Stuart ErWIn I June Lang Cesar Romero Ben Crlsler A. C. Blumenthal Joan Blondell Kedy LaHarr ' Rosemary Lane Carole LombanI Clark Gable Ben Serkowtch Wallace Beery Polly Adier Walter WlnchcO John Barrymor* Elaine Barrie Madge HscDonald Alfred G. Vanderbllt HIcker Rooney ?anl Muni ortland HoSa Kenny Baker Boris Morros Tsltzel B. DeHlUe Texas Gnlnaa Bitty Rosa Low Man ON a Totem Pou by H, Allen Smith INTRODUCTION BY FRED AUEN At all booksttlen • $2.00 . DOUBLEDAY, DORAN AMe for Ptess Agents By EBNESI LEHUAff 'AU right so your picture wasn't In the Iat« editionsl...But you were In the pink...When you're In the pink, you're right before the eyes of the Lindy's crowd...You want better than thai?' ''Ves, Larry, I know you wanna be In Winchell, but lenune tell you some< tiling—this Griffln has a great following.. .On Sunday, they got more time to digest whbt they read, too.' 'You're in Kllgallen today...Yeah...The column is called 'You Ccn't Frint That'.. .There's a paragraph in it about an up-and-coming bandleader named Johnny X.. .That's you, Freddie.' 'It'll definitely be in tomorrow. ..He swears it's in the overset' 'Baby, I had Life all set to give you the cover...Then Hitler double- crossed us and took Greece.' 'Now whadda ya wanna be in a 3c paper like the Telegram for?. Telegraph Is 25c!' • •The 'How do you like that guy?. .>He takes It and credits it to Oscar Levant at the Stork.Club...You cannot believe & word them guys write...! give you my word, Harry, as soon as Weinberg told me the gag, I sat down and wrote It out giving you the punchola:* 'Look, just because there is nothing In the papers for two weeks is no reason you should be feeling I am not in there punching for you all the way.. .Every day I am In there putting In the good word for you with th« boys who count...It takes time...All of e sudden. Bingo—you will b^ ki ocked over with pllppings!.. .Look, your business is emceelng.. .My busi- ness Is publicity...You know your business...! don't...I know my busi- ness... You don't.. .Believe me, you are getting a terrific job... And any time you doubt, me, come over and we will paw over the scrapbook.' 'All right so you weren't really with the dame at the Co'pacabana. ..So you weren't given a screen test by Metro. ..So you didn't call Mickey Rooney a Metro-gnome.. .So you didn't get mobbed by dames outside tha Paramount. ..You wanted to get your name In the columns, didn't you?... Next time you want the truth printed about yourself, don't hire a press agent.. .Hire a atool pigeoni' 'Sure he's getting more space than you.. .Whaddaya want, quantity or quality?...Every word I'm getting you is gonna mean doUars In the bank someday.' 'Remember It Isn't only what I get In for you—it's also what I keep out . ..With a reputation as valuable as yours. It is Important that you hav« not just a press agent... You need a suppress agent, too.. .That's me.' 'Of course. ..They're stupid. ..Didya ever know a'clty desk «iat knew • good story when It saw one?' > 'So he didn't use your nameI...6o what7...The hep guys know he meant you.' ' 'He says Just as soon as the war quiets down, hell rim It on paga tfarea.' •I hadda give It a phoney twist.. .Tell your wife the part about tfaa other dame was dreamed up by me Just to give it some punch.' 'Joe, I tail you he'll never mention your spot...He walked In once end the waiter forgot to plok up the check.' 'Baby, It's • olnoh for Farrell's page if only you'll posa in a sweater... You know r wouldn't pull the wool over your eyes for nothing.' "Belleva me. Max, a 'Bound in the Night' Is better than an «d on tht front page of the Times.' 'If I get you too mu<h publicity, people are gonna suspect you have a press agent...Now you're a smart guy, Tony...You don't want people to think that' "You should.be happy KilgalUn didn't give you a Gold Star.. .You want the wise guys around town to start calling you a Gold Star mother?' . 'Be reasonablel...OrchIda-don't grow on treesP 'You don't know how happy I .was to see that you .weren't mentioned la that column.. .Lord, what comi' 'Where was I all day?.. .1 was down at the papersi' 'Of course I haven't forgotten about you...Why last night I was with Walter at the Stork and he said he.thinks you're priceless...And then I, went over to 31 and spoke to Louis about you, and I met Dorothy at Fefe's and got In th« old propaganda...Saw Leonard at Sardl's...Thinks you're great. ..Danto'n stopped by my table at the Copacabana to ask about you, and Ed sends Us regards via the Havana-Madrid ringside...What's tiiat? ...Nick Kenny?:..YOU WANNA BE IN NICK KENNY?... Look, Danny, my name is Horowitz. ..Not Houdlnl!' 4 1 ' r Priorities j^^oiOlnned from paga 'H^g^ the Library of Congress,, It will consist of transerlptlons of historical material built around Important documents, writings, and so forth. In the Library files. Joseph Lisa, for- merly a staff wrltar with CBS in New York, Is adapting some of the mater laL Full-hour program la scheduled for NBC blue May 30, the first anni- ,versary of the launching of the de- fense program with the creation of the National Dafensa Advisory Com- mission (sine* superseded by the' Office of Emergency Management). No names or speakers are slated for the show, but It will be a drama- tized report of what hsis been ac- corhpllshed during the last year, with latest facts and figures on de- fense resources and new. objectives for the defense .drive. As part of tha'show, thera will b« six remota' broadoasts. They will include pickups from a Pittsburgh steel plant, a Cleveland machine tool factory, a Denver vocational school, a Los Angeles aircraft plant, a Chester (Pa.) shipyard and a Sagi- naw (Mloh.) machlna gun factory. Stanza will bs htard 9:80 to 10:30 pjn. from New 'York. PORTERFIELD PROPOSES MORE BARTER HOUSES Robert Porterfleld, whose opera- tion of the Barter theatre, Abing- don, 'Va., has attracted considerable attention. Is planning the establish- ment of similar ventures throughout the coimtry. He proposes that each stcte endow a theatre, with farm products or manufactured articles ac- cepted In lieu of an admission price. Porterfield has outlined his plans by means of the lecture platform. His annual luncheons held in New York have been instrumental in building up Porterfleld's activities. From modestly attended functions the gatherings have steadily grown. Last week the luncheon, given In the Waldorf-Astoria's largest ballroom, drew capacity. Tickets wera $2.50 each, which did not cover tha ex- pense^ Ethel Barrymora was the guest of honor, being rewarded for her performance In The Com Is Green' (National, N. Y.). While Porterfleld's luncheon went Into the red several hundred dol- lars, he was compensated In the pub- Uclly given the novel Barter theatre. It also helped his standing as a lec- ttirer, which appears to be his prin- cipal source of Income. ' ).;■ •-a i 'l: '■: ■, - •! •: ,1.- / > '■