Variety (Apr 1942)

SCREEN RADIO MUSIC STAGE FttbllilMd Wctklv at lU Wcat 4«th Strast, New Tork. N. T., br Variety, ~ ■ ~ .. - -- y,, jfj,^ oaic* at Naw York, Bntared aa 8ocond-6Iau mattar Daoambar 11, Zna INC. Annual aubacrlptton,' |19. Blnda ooplaa tS cant*. ~ ' N. T., unttar tha act ot Marok, t, W», AIX BIOBTB JtKBKBTA* " ''' yOL. 146 ;No. 8 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29,4942 PRICE 25 GENTS Kate Smith in Quick Sales tarn Among Phonograph Best Sellers Kate Snlith aold close io 600,000 Columbia records In the first three months of 1S42. This sensational gales' pacVwai achieved as a result «f a decision of her manager, Ted Collins, only lest lall to re-enter the phonograph' field from which Miss S6»ith had been absent for years, Concentrating on radio. CoUIns secured tjp tunes to cut for Columbia's 50c label and the re- mit ha* been a succession of hit discs. With 'White Clifls of Dover,' •Meiahcholy Baby,' 'Blues in Night,' \Bhe'll Always Rememlber,' etc.. Miss Smith, was smacko. Another recording artist, Benny Goodman, never sold records like he has rediently, even in the hey-day of fais popularity. Since dropping from Columbia's SOe sides to the Okeh 35- «enters, he has had several strong flits like 'Jersey Bounce,' 'My Little Cousin,' 'Somebody lUse Is Taking My Place,' The irenewed interest In (Continued on pae. 62) B way Showmen l^ipect to Benefit stringent gas rationing reports, which wer'^ somewhat modified later last'Week, threw a scare Into sum- mer legit ifisnagert but it wasn't bad news to .Broadway. Showmen ■who recently predicted a good sum- mer for theatres In the metropolis are now doubly optimistic. They flgure. that the decrease lii motoring will attract visitor* t« town, while tesldanti will' be able to use cars for only short distances. New York's other diversions bar- ring war disturbances should bene- (Contlnued on page S4) History to Suffer Again If Milstein Creates Role , , Of Paganini in Films Concert violinist Nathan MUsteln is discussing a fihn deal with his film producer cousin, Lewis Mile- stone, to do 'The Life of Paganini,' •itOry of the great vlolinigt. The script Is all prepared and terms are BimUar to those which Jascha Hel- fetz received from Samuel Gold- ■wyn, ^ percentage, plus a guaran- tee. ^MUsteln Is 37 and good looking. The fabulous Paganini was thin, ugly, and, legendarUy 'related to the devlL' Probabilities are that Paga- nini will be nado Into a romantic character. Better With Spurs Off Fort Devens, Mass., April 28. Following complaints of barked shins and slashed ankles. Chap- lain Edward J. Kroenecke post- ed this order last week: 'Gentlemen of 'the cavalry will (i-.please remove their spurs while dancing.' SPECIAL BAND RATE FOR WAR FAREWELLS Pittsburgh, April 28. Local 60 of musicians union at gen- eral meeting last week set a scale of prices for volunteer parades and public sMid-offs for draftees. For these functions, it'll be $5 for an hour sind a half or less, with the leader getting the regular fixed salary and paying the 2% charge to the local. For any other, patriotic affairs, other than parades or dances held in honor of or a9>a farewell to draftees and volimteers, price is $5 for an hour or less, with the regular leader price and overtime. Engagements in these classifications can be held at any time of the day or night at this price. Stars Develop Sadden Camera Shyness; Stay Out of Critics' Range Hollywood, April 28. FUm players who once leaped at afi bppOflunlty to -pose for syndicate and magazine .layouts are imitating the violet In these wartime days and making It tough for interviewers and their attendant photographers. Male stars of miliary age are turning down requests for o£E-screen pho- tography, even when posed as (Continued on page 22) Hedy's Hobby Washington, April 28. Hedy Lamarr, in addition to her other attributes, has been revealed to the War Department here as quite an Inventor of mechanical gadgets. Film star has evolved a secret device which she offered the Army. Brasshats were much impressed with it, but turned It down because another nventor in another part of the country had a short time previ- ously turned out something similar, but a little further advanced. PATRIOTISM* President's $25,000 Wartime Income Ceiling Makes Film Production Largely Dependenic Upon General Good Will of SUrs and . All-A r b u n d-^ C^peration Among Execs —r- If Stars ' Cut Down on Pix They Risk 'Public Forgetf ulness' —No Ceilings on Rentals or Admissions MORALE FACTOR Quick on the heels of the Admin- istration's mov,e to establish a $25,000 Income ceiling, in order to curb possible Inflation, show business has risen to the occasion in Its aU-out expression of accord with President Roosevelt.. Hollywood, notably, has stressed that 'dollar patriotism' is no byword among its stars and execu- tives. Land of fancy incomes, the (Continued on page 55) Joe Kennedy May Align With the War Effort In a Picture Capacity Washington, April 28. Insiders in Washington feel that Joseph P. Kennedy, former Ambas- sador to the Court of St, James, will soon be connected with the war.ef- fort, but not as overlord of U. S. shipping. Moi^e likely in associa- tion with the motion picture activi- ties of the .Government. Kennedy himself has denied the shipping post report. Kennedy's friends, blaine Harry (Continued on page 15) Coast Resorts FaD on Dark Days Via Dim-Out/But OK for Si»oners . Knipa's Confession Milwaukee, April 28, Gene Krupa, who -ought to know, says: 'V$ gutbucket fMnbtdhn ii all.' Which, trailstat«id, nkeans th'at' the kida ar«r going more for schmalz—soft music, soft lights, romance; ttiey'x* n*, lodger, wacky about swings ' '. TOSCANINIIS EXPECTED BACK AT NBC MARILYN mLERBIOG AS WARNERS MUSICAL Hollywood, April 28. Life of Marilyn Miller, stage and screen star who died in 1036, is be- ing prepared for filming at Warners as a starrer for Joan Leslie, who demonstrated her singing and danc- ing ability in 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' recently sneak previewed. Audience response to 'Yankee' persuaded Warners to try another picture about an outstanding figure in show business. Miss Miller's suc- cess was achieved chiefly on the stage In the Follies, "Peter Pan,' 'Rosalie,' 'Sunny' and other Broad- way hits. In addition she appeared in several fllmiislcals for First Na- tional. Arturo Toscanini wlli probably re- turn next season as xionductor of the NBC Sjrmphony orchestra,, 'iMCae^tro is carrying on ne'gotlatlpoa with NBC and his demands are reported met financially, '.Toscanini wlU not oonduot the or- chestra unless his position -fa un- quallfled.. Deal nearly snagged when NBC wanted to divide control be- tween the Italian and Leopold Sto- kowski with Toscanini vetoing the plan. ■ Conductor will tetorn to the N. Y. Philharmonic In the 1042-43 season (C^htlnued' pn ,p»g« SS) A.E.F. in North Ireland Lodges Sqoawlr About OMie Amerkiat Films Ixindoh, April 28. The U.S. Army Command>bas com- plained directly to dlstrlb offices in New York about the'bid AiinerlcBn pictures made available for American troops In North Ireland; Army heads threatened to bring over their o'wn equipment and up-to-the7|filnute films unless the situation improved. New York dlstributioi\>e:kecs then promised to supply late films, with the result that their.:BritIsh branches are In a jam. There Is an agreement between Kinematograph Renters So- (Continued on page 40) , McCoy Theme Song? Camp Chaffee, Arkl, April 28. Survey was made here recently to determine the boys' fave time, so that Glenn Miller could dedicate It to them on his 'Camel Caravan' show. Winner was the very much you- aln't-klddln' 'Someon* Else Is Tak- ing My Place.' By JO ftANSON . Veteran operators of games, rides and bathing establishments in C^ney Island, greatest Hitler-hating colony on earth and America's cradle of Inexpensive Mmlval, are long-faced but determined to- cooperate In en- fprce;m^iit of new and drastic rules handed down by the Army ind OCD ]ieads regarding Illumination at the Island. It >7lll be pif radise,' however, to scores of romancers On the board- W^lk because of the dimout. Boil- ing chaJr((,\fo*,.ar»t tlme ln history of xesort, may 4o booHilntr biz aind will be at premliuh. Soiiie Are even dubbing the plat* 'Pittsburgh-by- the-Sea' b«^\ise of Smoky outlook. Resort industj!7-*4i^.;been fold off ^■ in 'blunt terms it must'dim.,out in order to cut doWn mpiinting ahlpping casualties from eniimy subs. Meeting of all concessionaires was called by Coney Island (Siamber OrCommerc* at Feltman's eatery on dbrf avenue in mid-af temoon last'week and given (Continued' on. page 95.^ ill Fihi Stars ToSdiBmb in i2» Cities - Hollywood; April 28. Uncle Sam took priority on ths ofl-screen faleint* . of film' players througli an sgrsehl^i with lha Hollywood Victory Cominittie. Re- sult Is a clearins hoiisc; by which motion, picture stars will be assigned to entertainment JpBH In Army, Navy, Marine and ottitr Oovernraent Service slatlowr, " Under the,new priority arrange- ment, repfjrted by Kenneth Thom- son, Charles K. Feldman and Howard Stricliaing after huddles with of- , ^ (Continued on page 64) Anti-Booze Spotl^ht On Jn?esBecanseOf MisbelianorisBiatPix San Francisco, April 28. Clubwomen here ati sufficiently upset by unruly conduct of boys and girls, at weekend picture shows to demand stricter enforcement of laws prohibiting sole of liquor to minors. The demand was made upon Police Chief Charles W. Dullea and Board of Equalization by women of the San Francisco City and County Federation of Womefl's Clubs. The only phase of deportment ol mhiors they mentioned In their squawk was their conduct at the film houses.