Variety (Oct 1941)

Wednesday, October 29, 1941 CHATTER 53 Broadway ''jjilcheli Lelsen vacationing In New ^Fr«iJrlc March arrived In the east oyer the weekend. A I* Berman wrenched his. back iryliig to play hsndbaU. Irvln Pincus and Terry Lewis are Mjlaboratlng on a new play. Billy Livingston Is designing cos-' tySes for new Sonja Henle ice show. Friars Club conducts its 33d an- nual Frolic at the Imperial theatre Sov. 23. Cue on defense-coin Influx Is the iertiflc weekend biz into N.Y. jUteries, etc. Alan Dwan checked In from the Coast over the weekend for a three- iieek vacash. Julfa Gwln, for years In pictures, , u now doing publicity for the Sachs furniture outfit (Mrs. George Dunn, wife of the manager of the RKO 81st St., is very active in Republican politics., Elliott McManus, in charge of ac- cessories at the 20tta-Fox exchange, is giving up bachelorhood shortly, ' John Cecil Holm and Arthur Schwartz coUablng on an original picture yarn. It will be a musical. Lobby of 4eth Street' ('Panama Battle') dolled up with comfortable chairs and settees for Intermission comfort. George Smith, new western divi- sion manager for Paramount, Is a brother of Andy Smith, sales man- ■ger of RKO. J Willis Goldbeck, writer on "Kil- dare' and 'Hardy' series ait Metro, back to the Coast, last week after New York vacash; ClUtord Smith, New Jersey oper- ator, is living at a midtown N. Y. hotel:- Says business in his 12 houses . Is up from last year. Wendell L. Willkle will be the npeaker this evening - (Wed.) at a .dinner of the Picture Pioneers at Toots Shor's restaurant. jSongwriter Johnny Mercer is re- ported being - groomed for a Para- mount produftion soot under ex- (Onesmith Buddy DeSylva. ' ' William Morgan, manager for ' tOth-Fox.in Trinidad, left for home ..Saturday (25J after a month's con- fabbing with home Office execs. Joan Chapman, torch singer, and Tyler Sangston, advertising man 'are to wed soon. Sangston recently iOld his yacht to the government. ".Girls living at the Rehearsal Club ' Issued another illustrated booklet ■exploiting themselves- for legit, radio and'Aim jobs. Jean Dale agam editor. - Alfred Drake, who's just been handed'juve singing lead in Georgie -Hale's - 'Lady Comes Across,' is brother of Arthur Kent, Met bari- .tone. I Fredric March in town for 'One Foot In Heaven' preem at the Music Hall and to start rehearsals of new Hieatre Guild opus, 'Hope for a Har- vest' . - Arthur Menken, globe-trotting war cameraman for Paramount newsreel, arrived in N. Y. from Australia fol- lowing an eight-month tour in the Far East. BIng Crosby, at Empire racetrack, Mplained his philosophy on betting, "Never bet any more than you can .'aflord.' Then Bing put $50 bets on every race. Joe Cooper, mldwestern operator ' «ha lives on a farm upstate, checked m at the Par h.o. during the past week to go over matters relating to His theatres. Laird Cregar, 20th-Fox contract player, who -came into N. Y. for a vacation between pictures, has re- . turned to HoUywood on loan to RKO for Joan of Paris.' «.Julius Monk, who uSed to be with erbert Jacoby at Brevoort now at WW Cafe Montparnasse, nee Whirl- "ig Top, with another ex-Jacobite, Alleen Cook, heading show. ■• John Hav Whitney to the Coast oyer the weekend in connection with Hollywood' activities of his group working on Pan-Americanism in the Bltn business: back in 10 days. Bretalgne Windust, who directed page version of 'Arsenic and Old wee, in Hollywood for two months as guest of Frank Capra, who's meg- glnj Warners' celluloid edition. ^Tom Blackmore, associated with Max Fme in producing house fronts, ■iliS .™e*''cal Center following a cab wuision, but reported there were no iractures or concussion, as feared. Gus Eyssel personally escorted the Wike and Duchess' of Windsor {"rough Radio City, the Music Hall, .««JC studios, etc. They sat through »e stageshow at the Hall,, but .•Wpped the film. T Furman, formerly with Par •nd Loew's theatre department but 01 late years in the public relations • Business for himself on the Coast, is oue east in a week to . discuss two WHcrent posts offered him. silmon & Schuster claims Gypsy «ose Lee's 'G-Strlng Murcrers' Mys- wy is selling 'at the rate of 500 a S?7',. printings (four so far) totaling 20,000 copies . . . there's no «UJng how It will all end up.' Janssen, Jr., son of the composer, is drum major of the Co- lumbia U. band and manifests his jnowmanshlp heritage by his per- wnai performance between halves «i» stepmother Is Ann Harding. ;.,rL*™' Pidgeon, here for the f™?°»,of 'How Green Was My Val- «y. stays on for another week be- ^ wre returning to the Coast Milton Berle flew in and out for the same purposeT also to see the new Jessel musical. Robert Wolff, RKO exchange man- ager;'George Skouras, Al HoveU, Century Circuit; Freddie Schwartz, Leslie Schwartz, Huck HoveU and Charles McCabe, publisher of N. Y. Mirror, back from a grouse-hunting expedition In the Adirondacks. Irving Berlin wired the new George Jessel (Lois Andrews) heiress that he's writine the first song for her, and Eddie Cantor wired the pappy, 'That's how I started my Cantor Home for Girls.' Jessel flew to the Coast over the weekend before returning to open 'High Kickers' on Broadway. Paris USO's $800,000 SSsCoPUnned from page was assured, Delmar has about five unita completely worked out on pa- per and can send them into rehear- sal as soon as transfer of the USO coin is officially completed this week. He has skeletons of four other shows worked out Straight Lcgllcrs In addition to revues, Dowling is understood to contemplate six straight comedy legiters and four musicals. Some of the legiters will be specially built; while others will be lifted right from Broadway or the road. It is said that Brock Pem- berton has offered 'Cuckoos oh the Hearth,' currently at the Morosco, N.Y., as a camp unit. Setup of 24 shows Is figured to provide a gander at one of them for every boy every three weeks or so in 72 camp theatres and 13 naval posts. About 10 shows will be sent out on a circuit of 33 of the largest (more than .1,000-seat) houses, and the other 14 shows will cover 42 houses with smaller theaters. It is hoped to make interchange of the units between the two circuits pos- sible by picking up certain portable equipment for the more poorly setup camps. In addition, some smaller units are figured on to play canton- ments with auditoriums and stages inadequate for a full -scale presenta- tion. t3,W Weekly Bnd(et Dowling is setting a budget of around t3,000-per-week per unit. This is more than three times as much as the CC spends on the mobile shows it has had out during the summer. Part of the difference is that the War Department and the CC want the units to be as 'independent' of the Army as possible, and thus cost of the new shows will include all transportation and living expenses of the troupes. Wherever possible they will be bedded and boarded outside the camps. Dowling hopes to keep the oper- ators as nearly as possible similar to regular commercial entertainment For that reason there will be all union performers and stagehands and even a union press agent out in advance, according to the present scheme. Equity, American Guild of Variety Artists, lATSE, Theatrical Managers Association aM other show business unions will meet later this week or early next week to decide on scales. They made tentative offers at a meeting with Army, USO and CC officials several weeks ago, but now will be called upon to place their figures in black and white. All have agreed to accept less than regular scales. Many performers will get far above the minlrniums, although generally below what they would ordinarily command. CC has taken a suite of offices on the same floor as Dowling's at 246 W. 44th street, N.Y. Arnold Outlines Plans Hollywood, Oct 28. New program of entertainment at all Army and Navy bases, consist- ing of 24 traveling road units aug- mented by stars and featured play- ers, was outlined by Edward Arn- old at *the annual meeting of the Screen Actors Guild. Schedule will be made up of dramatic, comedy and revue units, each complete in itself. Supplement- ing the shows will be topline talent drawn from New York and Holly wood, each governed by a selective committee representing the talent unions, agents and employers. Com- mittees will keep records of available stars and featured players and send them out to join the trav- eling troupes whenever they are free from contracted engagements. When the program gets into effect the stars and featured players will' not be required to answer any other calls for entertainment Meanwhile Theatre Authority Is clearing free show's in the Army camps. . Odeon theatre unshuttered. Jean Mathot to direct singer Tino Rossi in 'Fievres.' D'Annunzio's 'Dead City' drawing large crowds in Cannes legit. Gast<fn Baty and company off to Lyons to give classic 'Phedrc.' Jean de Marguenat started 'Les Jours Heureaux,' with P. R, Wilm. Henri Mayer, 80, former stage actor and Boulevardier, died m Paris. France's best tennis player, Yvon Petra, released from German prison camp. Comic Fernandel's next pic is 'Acrobate,' done in non-occupied France. Famed Chat Nbir cabaret in Mont- martre to be setting of pic by Jean BreviUe. Serge de Pollgny wants to do the life of Jeanne d Arc and is working on scenario. Novel 'Grand Meaulnes,' which has been translated into English, may be brought to screen. After German engagement, Harry Bauer's first French pic will be with singer Andre Bauge. Marie Dubas, recently wed in Lis- bon, returned to Paris music hall stage in 'Chonchette.' 'Premier Bal,' megged by Christian Jacque,. scenario and dialog by Charles Spaak, completed. Studio 28, which used to special- ize in modernistic and freak films before the war, has been unshuttered in Paris.- Newspapers protest French radio stations' custom of cutting off in middle of musical number 'just to announce news.' Mogador, Paris, reopened with 'Merry Widow' and Pigalle with operetta 'La Rene s'Amuse' ('Queen Amuses Herself). Jean Gourguet began 'Le Mous- saiUon' with Yvette Lebon. Latter will next appear in pic with Sacha and Genevieve (jultry. Boeuf Sur Le Toit nightelub left Pierre ler de Serbie locale and now Installed in former Mon Paris, hot- spot on rue de Collsee. Films produced before 1937 and excepted from destruction order are 'Le Porte du Large,' 'Veille d'Armes' and Trois de Saint Cyr.' Raoul Ploquin, director of French cinema in occupied zone, announced that French studios will produce 70 pixs in the next few months. Aviation pioneer Henri Farman will collaborate as technical advisor in filming of 'Le Mariage de Chif- fon,' megged by Claude Autan Lara. Cinema Day held' at Marseilles' Fair, with speeches by Marcel Pag- nol, Pierre Blanchar, director Abel Ganoe and Raoul Ploudin, cinema chief. Henri Decojn, Danielle Darrieux' ex, slated to do 'Les Inonnus dans la Maison,' adapted from Georges Simenon's novel, with Raimu in No- vember. Andre Bauge has written operetta with Jose Germain entitled 'La Plus Jolie' ('The Prettiest'), in wh.-ch he will share singing lead wilt) 'wife, Suzanne. Marcel Pagnol began 'Priere Aux Etoiles' with Josett Day, Pierre Blanchar. 'Briseur de Chames,' with Blanchette Brunoy and Pierre Fres- nay, on lot After filling role of historic Madame Capet in play of same name at Theatre Montparnasse, Marcelle Maurette going to evoke Mary Stuart in play of same name at same- theatre. Pierre brasseur and Pierre Feuil- liere have written comical screen adaptation of 'Robinson Crusoe.' They want comics- Raimu and Fer- nandel as Crusoe and Friday, re- spectively. Marcel I'Herbier began Armand Salacrou's 'Histoirc de RIre,' which was Paris' biggest sta|e - success in .1939-40. Features Michel Simon, Micheline Presle, Fernand Gravet and Gilbert GilL Most sought after French actresses now are Marie Dea, who got her start with Maurice Chevalier in ■Peeges,' Louise Carletti, who comes from a family of circus acrobats, and Micheline Presle; 'French Deanna Durbin.' Maurice Chevalier's first Paris ap- pearance was a radio concert in which he sang four new numbers: 'Toi, Toi, Toi,' dedicated to memory of his mother; 'Epoir' ('Hope'), 'Les Jambes de Louis XV' ('Louis XV's Legs') and 'Choupeta.' ' Music hall and operetta shows-^ variety excepted—now obliged to give one day of rest per week to actors and technicians. Salaries can- not be altered. Each time three shows given same day, actors must be given afternoon off following week. . Yank comedies appealing to French pict directors, with Maurice Cam- mage announcing he's going to pro- duce 'Une Vie de Chien' ("Dog's Life'), 'based on Chaplin picts,' and Albert Valentine announcmg 'Drole de Tournee' ('Funny Tourney') 'along the lines of a Marx Brothers pict.' Latter will have comic trio Nello, Natal and Renatis. To go on lot shortly: 'La Foire Aux Femmes,' megged by Jean Dre- ville; 'Opera,' 'Musette,' megged by Rene Fevre; musical comedy 'Mima- lelna.' with Yvonne ..Printemos and Pierre Frelhay, directed by Jean de Limur; 'Frenesie,' play, by Feyret Chapuis, directed by Pierre Ducis; 'Le Zone,' with Arletty and Fernan- del, directed by ex-actor Pierre Brasseur. Kansas Chy By John Qnlnn , Eddie Daniels in at the Hotel Phil- lips to work out on novachord, with Virgil Bingham, assisting. Joe Redmond, Inquire theatre manager, back on the job after a fortnight rassling with flu and laryn- gitis. 'Time of Your Life' is in a two- week run at the Resident theatre as first effort of new director, Charles Alan. Marie Austin heading the floor show, with Burton Dahl as m.c, at the (Srcen Hills club, newly opened north of town. Lester Harding. Tower theatre m.c, trained for Hollywood, where he'll hook up his baritone to some recording and radio chores. Lawrence Lehman, manager of the Orpheuin theatre, looking himself again after taking the rest cure fol- lowing his recent heart ailment Herman Wobber, 20th-Fox sales manager, and W. J. Kupper, his as- sistant in at the local exchange for a pep meeting with employees. Jim Long, Fox-Midwest city chief, locks his desk after managers' convention next week long enough to vacation in New York and the east. Mike Cullen, Loew's divisional manager, in town, combining biz with pleasure to visit with Horace Heidt and glimpse John Harris' ice show. Pete'Dailey in from Hollywood to confer with Benny Marcus of.. Co- lumbia exchange on ad and oublicity campaigns for forthcoming Columbia pictures. Harry Kuh, advance man for 'Ice- Capades' unit, spending several days in local hospital taking arthritis treatmenta before heading to Buffalo for the Ice show. Sam Bennett,. KMBC sales di- rector, to Omaha to rap the gavel over a regional meeting of the sales managers' division of the National Association of Broadcasters. Barbara Montez Dusenberry, Ex- celsior Springs, Mo., the winnah as Queen of the American Royal Shows in a judging of 95 beauties from five states of territory surrounding K. C. Arden Booth, musical director of station WREN, Lawrence, Kans., in- vitational conductor of the 1,000- voice mass chorus at the American Royal livestock show last Thursday (23). Par's Story Buys I ^^—2Continued Irom pa(« monopolized. Prime one was the're- organization of the company, bring- ing in Barney Balaban and trans- ferring Y. Frank Freeman to the production end.' They wffe anxious to build up the product and thus were open to important story buys. Cbanre In Manpower A corollary reason for the big purchases was changes in the story department that occurred soon after the reorganization. These saw Dick Halliday, eastern editor, who had al- ways favored such buys, shifted to a similar job at the Coast, bringing him within easy earshot of execs and producers who had to be sold on coin-spending. At the same time, Richard Mealand, long active in the publishing field and also an advocate of major buying, came in as eastern story editor. Bill Dozier, of similar mind as Halliday and Mealand, hps since succeeded Halliday as Coast editor. Those changes gave Par plenty in- sight into the book market and when musical producer de Sylva became studio head last year, John Byram. Par's New York play department chief, found a more than sympathetic ear for his imprecations to buy im portant Broadway legiters. That all quickly added up to Par's investing some $710,000 in ' four, properties: 'Lady in the Dark,' $285,000; 'Louisiana Purchase,' $150, 000; 'For Whom, the Bell .TolL<!,' Ernest Hemingway novel, $150,000, and 'Frenchman's Creek,' Daphne duMaurier novel, $125,000. In addition there were such buys as the n'ew Somerset Maugham book, $65,000; 'Botany Bay' by Nordhoff- Hall, $650,000; 'Out of the Frying Pan,' last season legiter. $40,000; 'Sunrise in My Pocket,' novel by Constance Rourke, $35,000 (also in- cludes rights to Edwin Justus May- er's dramatization of the book); 'Mr. and Mrs. Cugat,' novel by Isabel Scott Rorick, $25,000; 'Caplain from Connecticut' by C. S. Forester, $45,- 000; The Remarkable Andrew' by l3alton Trumbo, $30,000. These were the most important buys. Hollywood William Goetz to Sun Valley on vacation. Leo Spitz bought Alan Hale'a ranch house. Shirlee Darling, all-girl orchestra leader, seriously ill. Walt. Disney back from two-month tour of South America. Marlene Dietrich trained out for a 10-day vacation on Broadway. John Garfield given studio permis- sion for a tour of South America. George Schaefer returning to New York after a month in Mexico and California. Gene Tierney laid up with nervous exhaustion while shooting of 'Son of Fury' waits. Johnny Miles returned to his pub- licity chores after three weeks in the hospital. Norman Moray, sales manager of shorts for Warners, left for a tour of the midwest. John Barrymore recovering from a complication of laryngitis and stomach disorder. Ruby Keeler,' divorced wife of Al Jolson, to marry John Homer Lowe, Pasadena broker. Mickey Bennett, former mop'pet star and later assistant director, re- ported for Army duty. William Keighley and Genevieve Tobin (Mrs. Keighley) to Mexico City for a month's siesta. Irving Fromer, head of Mitehell Hamilburg's New York office, in Hollywood for the winter. Col. W. Mason Wright In from Washington for an official gander at pictures dealing with the Army. Henry Kostir checked in at Uni- versal to await his next director chore after a vacation in New York. Mitchell Lelsen to New York for the Broadway opening of his dancing groteges, Mary Parker and Billy aniel. James Doane, unce talent agency partner of Ken Dolan, shifted to pro football as part owner and prexy - of the Los Angeles Bulldogs. Bretaigne Windust in town to ad- vise Frank Capra on the filming of Arsenic and Old Lace,' which he directed on the Broadway stage. St Louis' By Sun X. Horat Joe Sudy'band opened three-week stand at Chase Club last week. The Mohocled Ambassadors cur- rently at Club Continental, Hotel Jefferson. Miss Frances C. Matred. sister of Tony Matreci, manager of the Up- town theatre, died last week. Orphans i^ the local area were cuffo guesta at the matinee concert of the U. S. Marine Band at the Arena last week. William Wymetal, chief director of the Chicago Civic Opera, has been inked as stage director for the fifth St. Louis Grand Opera Assih season. Bill to impose a 1% tax on gross admission receipta of theatres in St Louis was killed In the Legislation Committee of the Board of Alder- men. Members of the St Louis chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians will give a cuffo show Friday (31) in the opera house of the Municipal Auditorium. Bean William Stead of local Wash- Tngton^University appointed arbi- trator in the beef brought before the local American Arbitration Assn. by the Star theatre, Lebanon, Mo., against the five large picture dis- trlbs. Leon Jarodsky, Paris, III., exhlb, convalescing In St John's hospital here after a major operation. (Christ Efthin, owner of the Star theatre here, in critical condition at Dea- coness hosp after gall stone removal. Another ho.spitalized Is Mrs. Joe <3oldfarb, wife of the Alton, III., ex- hlb. Mexico City By Denflas L. Grahaine Alexander Brallowsky playing a six-concert scries at the Palace of Fine Arta (National theatre). Jorge Alberto Negrete, baritone, added to the 'Merry Hour,' semi- weekly program of local radio sta- tion XEW. Orson Welles welcomed on his ar- rival here for an Indefinite stay by Dolores del Rio. Both mum about wedding plans. Pedro Vargas. Mexican singer, back from a tour of South America and Cxxpa, is featured at El Patio, No. 1 nitery here. Fu Manchu, English magician who works in Spanish, a standard act in Latin America, .doing well at the Teatro Follies Bergere. here. De Basil's Ballet Russe, featuring Irina BaronOva, Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, opened lO-'day engage- ment at the Palace of Fine Arts. Public thanks for his work In Mexico was rendered L>orenzo Car- noti, Argentine radio announcer, at the Cine Maximo on the eve of his departure for home. Hitler-banned 'The Blight of Youth,' by *yernando Brucken, be- ing presented here at the Teatro Fabregas by the civic government- subsidized company heeded by. Maria Teresa Montoya. -