Variety (Mar 1942)

Wednesdajf March 4, 1942 lasGELLAinr HOLLYWOOD'S JIVE HYPO CENSORSHIP THREAT Is it possible that Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia and his political appointee, License Commissioner Paul Moss, ere giving 'freedom' a slight twist and including arbitrary censorship as part of the diet of a people at war? This question is im- portant to all of the show business, for New York burlesque is only a stepping stone. Commissioner Moss has always looked hungrily upon legit as a fertile field for his censorial bent, so. the legitimate theatre may well be next on the schedule of the bluenose timetable. Or perhaps it will be pictures,, or perhaps pictures and legit both at the same time? Closing three burlesque theatres without a police complaint and a court hearing, thus impairing valuable real estate proper- ties and causing unemployment for a couple of hundred persons, are only the first manifestations of a more serious menace. The greater danger lies in the obviously growing strength of some narrow-minded, church and laymen alike, who have evidently found the combination to the City Hall's back door. Undoubtedly the bluenoses have wrapped themselves in the cloak of false patriotism and thus gained the Mayor's and Moss" attentive ears. How else could the officials have ignored the Mayor's own burlesque censorship committee, which recom- mended continuance of licenses for the Eltinge, Republic and .Gaiety? Burlesque isn't lily-white, true, but it had its place and clientele which found it necessary to their, own peculiar psychoses. While some may argue that the elimination of burlesque is no stark menace to civilian life, none can dispute the danger Ipf arbitrary censojship, especially in the control of the narrow- minded. All one need do is to remember Prohibition. The dry era was also an offshoot of what certain culturally destructive elements considered moral for men in uniform. Theatre Wing s Canteen B way s 1st Winter Hit; Show Biz Hosts Mob of U.S., Alfied Servicemen The American Theatre Wing Stage Door Canteen, which preemed Mon day evening (2), is one winter open- ing that is a hit. That's the word along Broadway and among the many peo pie of the theatre who participated in accomplishing the novel recreation centre for men in the armed services. It is spotted under the 44th Street theatre, N. Y., in what was the pro hibltion era's Little Club. Canteen has the atmosphere ot a cabaret, but is informal and cordial. Men in uniform said they never saw anything like it, some of them arriving before the announced five p.m. opening. By nine o'clock over 800 boys had visited the canteen and many made a repeat ap- pearance before the midnight clos' Ing." The count was lost after 500 sandwiches had been served, some of (Continued on page 55) Colored Band s Late Rehearsals JamLibbyHohnan Boston, March 3. A dispute with the management of the Hotel Somerset, in whose Balln- ese Room she was the headliner, al- most caused Llbby Holman to quit the spot last week before the end of her engagement. There are a couple of versions of (Continued on page 52) U Signs Joe E. Lewis Hollywood, March 3. Joe E. Lewis, currently at the Copacabana, New York, has been signed to a term contract by Univer- sal. Understood he's to maWe two pictures a year. Lewis is scheduled to leave New York for the Coflst in April BOl Wilder as Par Director Hollywood, March 3. Billy Wilder makes his debut as a director at Paramount in. the Ginger Rogers-Ray Milland co- starrer, "The Major and the Minor,' starting late in March. Formerly teamed with Charles Brackett as a writer, Wilder col- laborated on the screenplay of 'Hold Back the Dawn,' 'Ball of Fire' and 'Ninotchka.' Dinah Shore May Introduce ToDche for Bristol-Myers; Cantor Sobstitnte Uncertain Dinah Shore may be given her own variety program by Bristol- Myers when she winds up the season with the Eddie Cantor show. Prod- uct' would be Touche, a new cos- metic, and the series would start this summer, though probably not as a replacement for the Cantor pro- gram. Final decision, to be made by' the client and the Yoiing & Rubicam agency in the next couple of weeks, will depend on several uncertain factors, such as Mirs (Continued on page 54) MAESTROS IN PIX Film Industry Finding a Res- ervoir of New Faces and Nationally Exploited Tal- ent in the Recording Field —Name Bandmen, on Wax, Potent Film Draws MUSIC AT THE B. O. Film industry is finding a reser- voir of new faces and nationally ex- ploited talent in the recording Held. In the past six months picture mak- ers have devoted ever-increasing at- tention to' orchestra leaders and sing- ers who helped make 1941 the re- cording industry's heaviest sales year In history. They hqve found a wealth of already established names capable of drawing b.o. ad- missions without a long buildup. One of the latest to be signed by studios is Harry James and his band, which begins work April 3 on an untitled Universal feature with the Andrews Sisters. James was as- sertedly unknown to producers and others who were concerned with contracting him for picture work, but he was signed when his status as a best-selling recording band was outlined. Sammy Kaye is another, set with 20th-Fox for the Sonjc Henie film, 'Iceland.' Kaye begins work April 13, spending six weeks at the studio. Xavier Cugat is also heading coast- ward to work with Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth for Cdlumbia. The use of name bands and other recording personalities in films isn't new. It's been going on sporadically for several years. Kay Kyser, Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, et al., made films prior to the recent rush for top ranking record names. But the surge of the recording field has been so great that the film people have awakened to the fact that it is a fount of already tailqred b.o. talent. Most bands seek a film contract as eagerly as some studios are now (Continued on page 55) Big Push For Gabin Hollywood, March 3. Archie Mayo, originally assigned to direct 'The Pied Piper' at 20th- Fox, has been shifted to pilot the Jean Gabin picture, 'The Night the World Shook." Directorial switch was made be- cause the Gabin film has been moved up from August to April start on the production schedule as result of the response to the French star's first American picture, 'Moontide.' Fear Closing of Burley Theatres Is Opening Gun in Wider Censoring or N. Y. Legit Shows, Nite aubs S-S-S-8-S-S Hollywood, March 3. In Its 'Remember Pearl Har- bor,' Republic Is allotting two minutes instead of one to a news- reel clip showing Kurusu, the special Japanese envoy, who was shaking hands in Washington while the Jap planes were shak- ing loose a flock of boml>s in Hawaii. Idea is that the customers will hiss for at least a- minute when they see Kurusu. 'FIBBER McGEE' HITS 42.8 IN C.A.B. 'Fibber McGee and Molly' pro- gram (NBC), according to the latest Co-Operative Analysis bf Broadcast- ing report, has set a new high for it- self, namely, 42.8. Latter represents the highest rating yet received by a week-night program. Needham, Louis & Brorby, agency on the John- son Floorwax account, announced Monday (2) that the comedy team has been renewed for next season. Latest C. A. B. gives second place to Edgar Bergen (39.4) and rates Jack Benny third (38.9). Both of these shows have In the past had ratings as high as 44%. Bergen's show got there as a full hour unit. The Benny program has always operated on the basis of.a half-hour. Marvin Schenck Quite Dl in New York Home Marvin Schenck, eastern talent representative for Metro, is quite ill in his New York home. He developed a heavy grippe, and Sunday (1) suffered a relapse, with nurses and a doctor now in almost constant attendance. His work as chairman of the entertainment com- mittee for the big Navy Relief Show al Madison Square Garden, N. Y.. March 10, is now being handled by Sidney Piermont, booking head for Loew's. Eddie Cantor Visions Danger of Too Many Benefits, Urges Cash Donations REVERTING TO TYPE Winchell Bao' to Old Vaade Days, Trouping for Navy Relief 'I'm back in show business,' says Walter Wincheli, in connection with a proposed saries of Navy Relief benefit shows he has in mind after the gala Madison Sq. Garden fete next ■'uesday (3). April 22 will see Winchell with an eight-act bill traveling to the Eastman, Rochester, N. Y.,. >yhich was the first to offer its facilities. A big benefit In Chicago is next planned. Some newspaper,'possibly (Continued on page • Eddie Cantor echoes the bellet of showmen and stars that the multi- plicity of benefits, despite the fact that they're all worthwhile efforts, especially with the ever mounting wartime demands, will soon begin to pall. Recent weeks have seen many such shows. The sundry theatrical organizations have their own show; then there are the orphanages and the like; and of course the peak ben- efit will be the Navy Relief gala at Madison Square Garden, N. Y., next Tuesday (10). But since the same unselfish, tire- less talent turns out for this or that show, Cantor is of the opinion (1) many a star would rather dig into his own pocket and give some sort of a cash contribution, in order not to be burdened anew; and (2) he feels that many a patron of these un^ denlably worthy causes would like- wise prefer to Just pay for the ducats and not bother showing up. In fact, judging by some polyglot au- diences at~rccent Sunday night ben- efits, that's just what is happening, said the star—the payees are just turning the tickets over to poor rel- atives, etc. . - - Putting the theory into practice (Continued on page 15) The Gal Grows Older Hollywood, March 3. Edward Small is having a tough time keeping up with Shirley Tem- ple's growth. When 'Little Annie Rooney' was bought, first word had to be dropped because she was no longer little. Now since she's 'Junior Miss' on the radio, Small's film title has been changed again' to 'Miss Annie Roone^.' Actors, managers, writers and nitiry operators last week expressed' fears that shuttering of burlesque theatres in the Times Square sector. New York, due to refusal of License Commissioner Paul Moss to grant license renewals to the Gaiety, Re- public and Eltinge theatres, was the opening gun in a campaign to im- pose censorship on legit and hltery shows as well as burlesque. According to Morris L. Ernst, at- torney representing the burlesque theatres. Commissioner Moss had de- clared in course of arguments over license renewals that he (Moss)- wanted the 'right to read scripts In advance of production.' Since bur- lesque performers do their stuff o9 the cuff. Moss was ostensibly re- fer'. Ing to shows other than bur- lesque. Ernst's Warning Ernst warned yesterday (Tuesday) In a statement to 'Variety' that 'the legitimate theatre and the night clubs had better watch out. There Is a strong possibility that the same forces, which are fighting against Sunday baseball and for Prohibition may become powerful enough shortly to Impose an early curfew on night clubs.' Ernst stated that if there was in- decency, irregularity or obscenity in ((Continued on page 45) Andrews Sisters Hit Their Top Vande Pay, $7,750, for Chi Week Andrews Sisters last week came up with their biggest vaude salary. Played the Balaban & l^atz Chicago, on a deal calling for a guarantee of $4,000 and a split over $40,000, com- ing up with a gross of $47,500, or $7,750 for their bit. Deal set through their personalNmanager, Lou Ijevy. Girls are currently holding in the house for a second week. TrnOo Mar!' llefclntered FOUNDED ny KI.MK HILVlinf;AN rubllKlK-d IVcrkly by VAHIKTV, Inr. SitI Hllvcnnoti. iTcnlilcnl 1G4 Weal 4lllh Street. .Noiv York. N. Y SUD.SCnll'TION Annual tlO Foreign Ill Sln^lo CopteH 25 ContB Vol. 14D No. 13 INDEX Advance Production Chart.. 18 Bills 48 Chatter 53 Concert-Opera 37 Exploitation 16 Film Booking Chart.. 18 Film Reviews. 8 House Reviews 46 Inside—Legit 50 Inside—Music 41 Inside—OrchestrdS 39 Inside—Pictures 20 Inside—Radio 31 International 15 Legitimate 49 Literati 52 Music 41 New Acts 47 Night Club Reviews 47 Obituary 54 Orchestras 38 Pictures '4 Radio .■ .'.'." 25 Radio Reviews 36 Unit Re.views 46 Vaudeville 44 UAILT vAKierv {Published In Hollywood by Dally Variety, Ltd.) 110 a yoar—112 forolun