Variety (Sep 1941)

Wednesday, September 24, 1941 CHATTER' 5S Broadway Gloria- Swanson l«ft for the Coast Saturday (20). Bette Davjs vacationing on her New Hampshire farm. Gene Autry again to be featured in rodeo at Madison Square Garden starting Oct. 8. Jules I/evey has had his nose bobbed. He arrived in town during the past week. ' The joints were jumpin' over the weekend; the niteries haven't seen EO much turnaway biz in years. Sherr), wife of Dick Berger, ex- pected out of hospital soon after prolonged treatment of nervous ail- ment E. K. 'Ted' O'Shea checked back into the Metro h.o. Monday (22) after a midwcstern tour of exchange points. Fred Hillebrand has written words and music to 'Sunday Morning Quar- terback,' pop number soon being published. The Gertrude Hoffman appearing as 'old lady character' in film role is not the well known dancer of that name. Stage designer Oliver L. Smith, who has been painting In Mexico all summer, returns to New York to- morrow (Thursday). Bob Frey and Benny Kayden, for- merly with Leblang's, have opened their own ticket agency next to Loew's State entrance. picture ■ Pioneers are having a dinner conference Oct 29 to work out details on initiation of new mem- bers, among other things. Publisher's wife, Mrs, l/l. Lincoln Schuster, is doing the landscaping for competitive publisher Bennett Cerf s new East 61st street house. Joseph V. Connolly, head man at King Features, guest of honor at Banshees' monthly luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria today (Wednesday). Bill Watters, New York aiid Coast p.a. and songwriter, has been called up by the navy and is assigned to public relations duty in Los An- geles. AMPAs resume luncheon sessions at the Hotel Edison for the new sea- son tomorrow (Thurs.) with Bob Weitman as g. of h. and Ed Sulli- van m.c. Managers of the Raybond circuit tossed a surprise luncheon during the past week for William Quinn, newly appointed supervisor. Gave him a desk set Nitery - vaude entertainer Ruth Sato (she's half-Irish, half-Jap), has a couple publishers interested in her autobiog. She used to work for the Boston Record. Probably a record turnout for one of those picture brawls were the 700 Bt the Stork last Wednesday for •Navy Blues' (WB), a little Einfeld- Billjngsley tieup. In the basement playroom of the house he's building on Long Island, Harry Link is-going to paper the walls with mutuel tickets that were on the wrong horses. Broadwayite Edgar Selwyn, now a Metro producer, admits that the N. Y. tempo is 'too hectic' for him and he was glad to return to Holly- wood. He left over the weekend. Maurice ^olotow's piece in Sateve- post on 'Broadway Rose' uses several of Milton Berle's cracks from his Vabiety column, 'to point up the character, although the publication source is anonymous. Bob Longnecker, who came east last spring to set up a radio depart- ment in N. Y., for the Myron Selz- nlck agency, returned to the Coast Saturday (20) tor resume top post in Selznick radio department there. Local office carries on under Miriam Howell. la Allegheny and New Ideal theatres undergoing extensive alterations. Bob Hope was guest star at a bene- fit for St. Vincent's hospital last week. .The Motion Picture As.sociates held their first meeting of the season last week. Joseph C. Hichreiter, formerly of Lord & Thomas( now with Ivey & Ellington ad agency). The annual Variety Club golf tour- nament was held Friday (19) at the Philmont Country Club. Arthur Simon, WPEN general manager, heading for Chi.'s National Association of Broadcasters conven- tion. George a Harvey, ex-FBI chief here, now handling an air show on WIP tabbed 'Your Friend the Police- man.' Bessie Howard, KYW gabber, re- turned to the air yesterday (23), af- ter summer tour through Cfanada and Mexico. „George Bernard Shaw's 'Back to Methuselah' gets another shot at the Hedgerow theatre, Moylan, Pa., on Friday (26). It was reported here this week that Eugene Mori, Jr., Vineland, N. J., exhib, was among a group of busi- nessmen backing a race frack near Burlington, N. J, Betty Hurd. ex-Philly Record staff- er and now WCAU film spieler, han- dled the Bob Hope premiere from the Stanley lobby. Murray Arnold, WIP's program di- rector, has sold a book of poems to Dorrance' tk Co., publishers, titled •Gone With the Sinned.' David E. Milgram, head of the Af- filiated Circuit, has arranged for Eleanor Roosevelt to be principal .speaker at dinner closing the North- ern Liberties Hospital drive. Nominations of new oiTicers for the Showmen's Club: Star, Edgar Moss; stand-in, Myer Adelman; Yes- Man, Charles Stoefel; financial sec- retary, D. M. Kirby; banker, Sam Rosen; script man, Joe E. Sapsis, and counsellor, David Yafle. Australia By Eric Gorrlck Bob Geraghty running vaude-revue in Brisbane. Will Mahoney may do another tour for Tivoli circuit. Wallace Parnell, director of Tivoli loop, improving after recent illness. Peter Dawson, Aussie singer, has composed a war song titled 'V for Victory.' UA, since prints from England were lost through enemy action, has been forced to delay nabe dates on The Thief of Bagdad.' Tom E^lick has quit as director of Luna Pork, Brisbane. Amusement park has taken it on the nose finan- cially, but an effort will be made for more finances to permit of fresh try this summer. Alec Coppel, in charge of White- hall Productions, Sydney,. may, try twice-nightly legU in Melbourne. Policy. Introduced by Coppel, is do- ing allright in Sydney with 'Mr. Smart Guy' at 6 p.m., and Two Mrs. Carrols' at 8:30 p.m. House Reviews — Continued from page 47 s APOLLO, N. Y. tive with this type of audience and their song and dance bits go over, but on the whole the act needs brightening. Its delivery, however, is okay. Myra Johnson, blues singer, falters also. Her vocals of 'Let Me Off Up- town, 'I Don't Want to Set World Afire,' 'I Ain't Got Nobody' are of- fered unappealingly. Response was lukewarm. Sinclair and' LeRoy are another comedy-song-dance-act that displays tendencies to ape Stump and Stumpy's style. Two have been caught here before and there's not much change in their stuff. They sing, dance well, especially the taps of the slim partner, and do imita- tions. One mimics Bunny Berigan's trumpeting of 'I Can't Get Started' and other trumpet leaders. Stutter- ing rendition of 'Ol' Man River (Paul Robeson) is fiinny. Waller's band, made up of three trumpets, two trombones, four sax, four rhythm, with Waller on piano, gets little chance to do anything. Ex- cept for a trumpet break on 'Ain't Misbehavin' and long guitar solo on another tune, the band has little to do. When It does come through behind the solos, however, it sounds okay. Wood. HIPP, baLto Baltimore, Sept. 20. Leto Parker, Tip, Tap & Toe, Rose mary La Ploiiche ('Miss America'), Johnny Burke. Phyl'is Colt, Christi- ants (6), Felice lulo House Orcli; 'Our Wife' (Col). Lew Parker holds this layout to- gether. In on the second of a four- week stay, comic retains a freshness of material and appeal in spite of previous visits. Stays on just long enough and sends in each contribu- ting act strongly and effectively. Given topflight writing, Parker should be able to go places. He has style, knows how to plant a gag and can handle a vocal in satisfactory style. Following some swift gagging and a patriotic parody on 'Having Any Fun,' he starts doings quickly with a punchy setto of hoofery by Tip, Tap and Toe. Dusky trio, using a small round platform, sell brisk and tricky challenges. Deuce is allotted to vocal interlude by Phyllis Colt, who manages to make her presence here count enough to earn a legit encore and begoff. Does vocals of 'In the Army Now' with patter and interpolation of 'AH Out of Step but Jim," 'Be- euine' and 'Tonight's My Night with Baby,* dressed with Cantor-like specs, hat and gloves, but without any of the familiar manneri.sms. En- core is a smart lyric, 'Hillbilly Bride,' nicely rendered in a costume of burlap. Rosemary La Planche, newly crowned 'Miss America,' works with Parker, who crossfires and covers for her during a costume'change. Girl has a pleasing, wholesome man- ner, reads lines well enough and would get more out of her hoofery with less attention to actual taps and a faster and wider use of body and arms in simulated abandon. Makes an ideal spot here for Johnny Burke and his revivified army mono- log, a solid laugh from start to finish. The Christianis, sextet of tumblers and teeterboard workers, q-lose rous- ingly. Biz all right Bum. London Lucien Sammet has leased the Montparnasse. Tom Arnold shedding weight under direction of physician. Abe Bentlet under observation at Epsom hospital for ulcers. Fred Conquest, pantominie animal impersonator, left $80,000. Max Thorpe's wife back from America after year's absence. Donald Wolflt on his last Shakes- pearean tour t>efore joining the navy. Morgan and Hedley splitting after five years, with Freddy Morgan sin- gling. 'Fun and G.nmes' at Prince's is the 59th London shoW written by Doug- las Furber. For first time since it was opened some 10 years ago Dorchester hotel has a waiting list. Henry Sherck has shed 35 pounds since he has become a lieutenant in the Intelligence corps. Julian Frank talking of reviving 'Romance' if he can get Mary Ellis' to play the Doris Keane role. The 21st anniversary of the Variety Artists Benevolent Fund celebrated by midnight supper, cabaret and dance. Metro and RKO are bidding for 'Quiet Weekend,' sequel to 'Quiet Wedding,' currently at Wyndham's theatre. Paramount's 'Hatter's Castle,' now in production, was budgeted to cost $240,000 and is already costing over $300,000. Tom Arnold has leased the Wim- bledon theatre and will stage vaude- ville there, plus annual Christmas pantomime. Gerald Freeman joined the Royal Air Force as ferry pilot. Received his flying certificate while in New York recently. ■ Mrs. Martin Marks, who writes under name of Una Lascot, on crutches as result of a London raid last September. Rumor persists that Stanley Wa- thon, agent who has been interned since the war, was killed in air raid over Liverpool jail. Sir Seymour Hicks doesn't like Cairo, according to letter he has written to friends in London. Would rather be in Rochdale. Embassy Club running a seven- piece sax band, with management honest in its claim that idea was copped from Shep Fields. Lindsay CoUeano, son of Rubye and Bono Colleano, now in Woll- heim's 'Folies Superbe,' is joining Jack Hylton's 'Piccadixie.* Eric Boon, British lightweight champ, in hospital with minor in- juries following collision between his motorcycle and a cow. 'Squaring the Circle,' Russian farce originally produced at the Mercury theatre some years ago, was revived at the Vaudeville, Aug. 27, and well received. Charles M. Woolf reading an orig- inal script by Brian Desmond-Hurst and Francis Crowdy titled 'Pilgrim's Sons,' which, if accepted, will be filmed, with Hurst directing. Squadron Leader Hector Bolitho, who is Royal biographer and in charge o^ the Air Force Bulletirj, has written original film script for Wil- liam Sistrom, which will be filmed for RKO. Paul Soskin's film, based on life of Fleet street newshoiinds, for which he tried to get David Niven to play lead, finally going into production, with Rex Harrison and Deborah Kerr co-starring. 'Under Your Hat,' the Lee Ephraim-Jack Hulbert-Cicely Court- neidge success at the Palace last year, goes to the sticks as twice nightly, with George Gee, Phyllis Monkman and Hanna Watt in leads. Gaston Palmer signed contract with Edward Cruickshanks to play the part of Friday in 'Robinson Crusoe,' the next pantomime at the Royal theatre, Glasgow. It means he will black up for first time in his stage career. First Russian ballad since Russia entered the war has been completed by Hugh ('There'll Always Be an England') Charles and Sonny ('So Deep Is the Night') Miller. It's titled 'Russian Rose.' Gracie Fields has taken it to America. adopting a baby. They have no chil- dren of their own. Dorothy Golden, wife of play- wright Al Golden, all right again after a close call. Barry G.albraith, local guitarist, has joined Teddy Powell band at Rustic Cabin, N. Y. Arthur Low and Dave Shanahan back in boxoffice of Nixon theatre for new legit season. Ad exec Earl Bothwell and his bride, Virginia Dahlman, have taken a home in Mt. Lebanon. Mary Clancy named regional di- rector for Pennsylvania of National Catholic Theatre Conference. Esther Heller went to New York to visit brother Jackie and spent va- cation in bed with ptomaine. Variety Club will hold annual election of officers Monday (29), in- stalling them at annual banquet Nov. 2. Madeleine Skelly Foust doing lead in tryout of Tom Knight's 'Pardon My German Accent' at Plymouth, Mass. Mickey LeVan and Lettie Bolle.s, burlesk vets, celebrated 35th wed- ding anniversary at Casino last week. Fred Burleigh back from Maine vacation, to launch series of new season auditions at Pittsburgh Play- house. Earl (Pappy) Hoeser. former thea- tre manager, coming around at Al- legheny General hosp after an op- eration. HoDywood Army Shows jContlnned from pace 1 Pittsburgh By Hal Cohen WB's Tony Stern down 2.'i*pounds following appendix operation. John Bouglas elected president of Wilkinsburg Playshop for this sea- son. UA exchange manager Nat Beier has moved his family here from N. Y. Dance Players at EI Chico will lose Frank Navarre to the army next week. Par's Rufus Blair due in from the Coast for his. annual call at the drama desks. 'Y' Playhou.se will launch its sea- son next month with Saroyan's 'Time of Your Life.' Geraldine Wolff returned to her duties at the Par exchange as Mrs, Ray Pritchett. Mother of Al Weiblinger, Variety Club pianist and songwriter, passed away last week. Frank Andrinis are thinking about Corelli, executive secretary of TA, declared: 'Did Everything Possible' 'We have shown the army the value of entertainment in creating and holding morale, we have done everything possible to cooperate in providing shows for the boys and we have repeatedly offered our good offices to aid in planning a pro- gram, but the "War Dept. and its advisors have never seen fit to call upon the actor unions even for con- sultation. 'Under these circumstances we feel that the time has passed when actors should make all sorts of sac- rifices—which they have always >done gladly and without asking questions—in going to camps to pro- vide free entertainment and In keeping fellow-actors out of poten- tial jobs. 'The sooner the Government is brought face to face with the prob- lem, we feel, the better it will be for all concerned.' There would be no objection, CorelU said, to one or two name players working for free in dressing up a show made up-of less impor- tant paid acts. Squawk arises from half dozen or a dozen fairly big performers booked in one show and all working for nothing. Situation at. Fort Monmouth, N. 3., where such shows have been provided every Monday night is believed to l-.ave brought the situation to a crux. Unfair Aspecli Corelli pointed out that one rea- son ihi l>eneflt system should be abolished by the army is that It is unfair. While camps near New York, like Monmouth, are getting frequent shows, many others are getting nothing, he declared. Coast action against free camp performances was taken more than a month ago. Hollywoodites were particularly riled because of the $500,000 allotted by the USO to the Citizens Committee for camp enter- tainment, it was charged, 'not a red penny' was spent in the west Part of the money has gone for six travel- ing units now touring posts. 'Until the Government takes some affirmative action whereby money will be allotted for camp shows,' a spokesman for the Coast Committee for Camp Entertainment declared, 'there will be no further shows pro- duced in Hollywood.' Action in New York to make the ban nationally effective is expected in less than two weeks at a conclave of the TA, the Associated Actors'and Artistes of America, reps of all the Guilds (except Clatholic Actors Guild, which goes not belong to TA) and all the theatre charities. The Bud Abbotts observed their 23rd weddmg anniversary. Damon Runyon postpones his Hoi- lywood arrival until Oct. 1. June Havoc back from Broadway for her second RKO picture. Joan Blondell ordered to spend^ another week in the hospital. Mort Singer heading east for a swing ground his theatre circuit. Ralph Dietrich to the hospital for removal of a small bone in his foot.' Marlcne Dietrich back to work with her fractured gam in a plaster cast. Diana Jeanne, moppet at Warners, will be known from now on as Patty Hale. Charley Murray's will left the bulk of his estate, valued at $25,000, to his widow. Merle Oberon returned from an eight-week tour of army camps in the east. Ann Sothern shoving off on a two- month vacation in New Orleans and New York. Fritz Lang back to his directorial job at 20th-Fox after four weeks in the hospital. Leo Spitz, film attorney, bought Alan Hale's hacienda in Fer- nando Valley. •Virginia Sale shoved of? for a tour of nine Army camps with her 'one-woman' show. Olga Celeste, who trains lions on the 'White Savage' set at Universal, clawed by a flu germ. Harry Rosenthal opened his music shoD with a gang of film, stage and radio stars participating. Braven Dyer, long associated with Coast football, pickins weekly grid winners for Daily Variety. Masquers dinner for Sergeant Al> vin York called oft because of Mrs. York's illness in Tennessee. Mary Pickford up and around after a week in bed with a 'nervous heart,' caused by overwork. Fred Astaire returned from New York to start dance, routines for 'Holiday Inn' at Paramount. Dona Dax, screen actress, filed suit for $15,000 against Jimmy Fawcett film stunt man, charging he beat her up. Jan Kiepura, opera singer, and his wife, Marta Eggert, film actress have applied for American citizen- ship. Bob O'Donnell, chief of the Inter- state (^rcuit, Texas, flew back to Fort Worth after a week'in Holly- wood. Orson Welles back from a trip to Mexico, where he arranged for se- quences in a future picture, 'It's All True.' A. and S. Lyons, Inc., opening new offices in Beverly Hills, celebrate their 25th anniversary in the agency business. Jack Buetel, Howard Hughes' 'Billy the Kid,' revealed he has been married for three years to Cereatha Browning, a Texas gal. . Joe Penner's widow, Eleanor, went into partnership with Eddie Milne, former vaude booker, to produce units for film house presentation. Maurice Lu sailed back to China to make documentary pictures after absorbing a course in photography under tutelage of James Wong Howe. Leo Carrillo appointed by Mayor Bowron to serve on committee for Improvement of Trade Relations Be- tween Los Angeles and t>atin Amer- ica. Maureen O'Hara back from Reno, recovering from appendectomy and annulment of her marriage to George Brown, an assistant film director in England. Minneapolis By Le« Rees Negro Entertainment Camp Huachuca, Ariz., Sept. ii. This encampment of 6,000 Negro soldiers, so remote that few of the relular army camp shows ever get here, has just been provided with a director to make It possible for the boys to make their own enter- tainment. Director is James W. Butcher, formerly of Howard Uni- versity (Negro), who will stage va- rious types of home-grown shows. Butcher has been sent here by the Citizens Committee for the army and navy, which is paying his sal- ary out of funds provided by the USO. Stan Norris' orchestra into Hotel Lowry "Terrace Cafe. Melvin Turner, Metro booker honeymooning in far west Twin City Variety club to have first fall dinner meeting Oct. 6. , Max Factor, Field circuit booker, in from Des Moines for few days. Irene Mount of National Screen office staff to be early-October bride. Charlie Milkes out of the army and resurning his theatre program busi- ness. ' Will Jason, director of Pete Smith shorts, in from Hollywood for a week. Bob Branton, Warner booker, be- came father of a five-pound girl. First child for the Brantons. Independently operated Gayety, former burley, goes vaudeville plus double features Thursdays to Sun- days. Film Bowling league, 27-week sea- • .con opened with only 10 teams in- stead of last year's 14, the draft hav- ing bowled over the rest Jo Ann Leslie's new Times film critic, succeeding the veteran Merle Potter, who resigned to become Ben- nie Berger theatre circuit general manager. 'Meet the People,' scheduled to open the Lyceum season here Oct 19-20, cancelled, setting back open- ing to November when Katharine Cornell comes in.