Variety (July 1942)

52 Wednesday, Jnlj 29, 1942 Literati William GrlStn Indicted The indictment last week of Wil- liam Griffin, publisher bf the N. Y. Enquirer, for sedition /came as no surprise to newspaper circles. Some months ago he was under subpoena to appear before a Federal Grand Jury to testify in the matter of the Government against George Sylves- ter Vlereck, since convicted and sentenced for failure to register as an agent of the German Govern- ment. Viereck, Incidentally, was also indicted with Griffin on the sedition charges. Prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Enquirer was staunchly isolationistic. The Gov- ernment now charges that Griffin's paper, for which he wrote all of its Isolationist editorials, has also tried, since Pear: Harbor, to undermine the morale of this country's armed forces. Gerald Griffin, a brother and once night club columnist for the En- quirer, last year became embroiled In charges that he was anti-Semitic. Gerald Griffin was then executive secretary of the American Guild of Variety Artists. He was discharged from that post two months ago, after long controversy about his alleged remarks at a party attending the opening in N. Y. of new music pub- lishing offices by Tommy Dorsey. Griffin, who was a stage singer for years, supposedly insulted Harry Goodman, brother of bandleader Benny Goodman. It has long been supposed that the Enquirer was. rather sympathetic to the Christian Front. Another of .William Griffin's close connections is reputed to be William ■ Randolph Hearst. PM last week pointed up how Hearst's N. Y. Journal-Ameri- can 'burled' the story ,of Griffin's in- dictment on an inside page under a small head, out of proportion to the Importance ,ot the story, which named 26 other alleged , sedltionists besides Griffin and Viereck. The N. Y. Daily News had the scqoo on the Griffin indictment by 24 hours. The Enquirer this past Sunday (26) splashed its pag^ one with a triple- barreled defense of publisher Grif- fin. One story entailed a statement by Griffin denouncing Assistant U.S. Attorney General William Power Maloney for 'hounding him.' He em- phatically 'denied the charges that he attempted to imdermine the morale - of the U.S. armed forces. The second item in the defense of the publisher was an editorial which accused the Indictment- of Griffin as being a weapon pointed at the freedom of the press of this country. Editorial stat- ed 'that officialdom is seeking a precedent which, once established, would crucify the press of America upon ,the cross of Ritlerian des potism.' Third 'defense* was a story signed by Benjamin E. Greenspan, a former N. Y. magistrate, who still prefixes his name with 'Judge.'. Greenspan started his article with an autobiog- raphy of his Jewish organization con. nections. He commended Griffin for "his outstanding Individual service in the cause of human liberty, civil and rtellgious,' Greenspan also .stated that Griffin's Enquirer had been banned from Germany in October, 1940, and that Griffin had labored with Greenspan and other Jewish leaders to ameliorate, the dire con ditlons for Jews in Germany. The ex-magistrate also came upTvith the statement that the Indictment of Griffin is 'a concerted plot by the anti-Semites of our city to defame him.' Greenspan, incidentally, also came to the defense of Gerald Griffin when AGVA held a hearing on the charges •that its executive secretary had made antl-semltlc utterances at the Dorsey party. The publisher was too weak, slgn- ng a wavering cross to the bottom of the codicil. A factor in the last- minute change in the will was the reorganization of Annenberg's per- sonal holding company, the Cecilia Corp., necessitated by the scrapping of the Cecilia subsidiaries IB months ago. A new holding cor- poration was formed at that time. Triangle Publications, Inc. Walter Annenberg will have vot- ing control of the stock of Triangle. Though Triangle comprises the bulk of the Annenberg estate (it contains the Annenberg newspapers, maga- zines and racing sheets), the residue is said to be a substantial item. The residue goes to the son—two-thirds outright, one-third in trust for Mrs. Annenberg for life. The will specifies that the trusts are 'spendthrift trusts,' not liable for seizure by creditors of the bene- ficiaries. There Is no reference In the will of the $5,000,000 still owed the Gov- ernment in taxes as a result of the settlement in 1940, which resulted in Annenberg's prison sentence, which he finished shortly before his death. called upon members of tba society, their families and friends, to refrain from purchasing or reading the Post; urged advertisers 'to consider* whether their ads should not be dis* continued in the Post Evie Robert's New Column Evie Robert, called 'the New Deal's glamour - girl,' may return to the Fourth Estate soon- as a columnist. She ha| discussed the matter with Eleanor'Patterson and the eventual decision rests upon politics. For Mrs. Robert is a confirmed New Dealer as the wife of 'Chip' Robert, long connected with *he Democratic National Committee. The Times-Herald publisher, Elea- nor Patterson, hates the New Deal with no secrecy, but a compromise may be worked out if Mrs. Robert's chitchat will eschew politics. CIssle's Blast at WInchell Although Walter Winchell's attor- neys think he has a case for criminal libel against the Washington (D. C.) Times-Herald, as result of a blast in a recent Sunday edition in a se- ries titled 'Having a Wonderful Time,' the columnist hasn't made up his mind about any litigation. He is already defendant in a $100,000 libel suit by Mrs. Eleanor (Cissie) Patterson, publisher of the T-H. The anti-Winchell blast, called In newspaper circles 'one of the most vicious ever,' is a rehash of much of the same stuff that Emile Gauvreau, his ex-N. Y. Graphic and Mirror edi- tor, has published; also the St. Clair McKelway series in The New York- er. Understood that George Abell, who does politics for the T-H, and Frank Waldrop, m.e. of the Patter- son D. C. daily, along with George Dixon, of the N. Y. News, did the composite job on the Winchell story. Among other things, it is stated the columnist is not allowed to wear his Naval uniform as a laeut. Com- mander, or use his title, which, how- ever, is understood not to be so. Be- cause of his official U. S. N. duties, Winchell cannot, at least for the duration, officially rebuttal to such newspaper attacks. / The 'Having a Wonderful Time' series in the D. C. daily is aimed at personal enemies of Mrs. Patterson. CoincidentaUy, all were strongly anti-Axis prior to Dec, 7, while the T-H was just as staunchly isolation- istic. Winchell, incidentally. Is receiving $5,000 from Liberty mag for the four- part current series titled 'Americans We Can Do Without.* He's turning the coin over to war charities. A similar fee for his trailer for 'Tales of Manhattan,' 20th Century-Fox pro duction, the columnist turned over to Greek War Relief. $250,000 Snit Against PM An article by Kenneth G. Craw- ford in a March issue of PM, New York tab, brought a $250,000 libel suit against Marshall Field, publisher, and Crawford by John J. O'Connor, attorney who is representing himself in the action. Suit was filed in N. Y. Federal court Thursday (23). O'Connor's complaint alleges that Crawford's article, from PM's Wash- ington Bureau, contended the attor- ney,, in representing George Hill, urged him to perjure himself before the Washington Grand Jury about his relations with George Sylvester Viereck, admitted Nazi propagandist, O'Connor claims the article was in- tended to 'bring him into disastrous scandal, ridicule and professional dis- repute.' v. S. Labor Steps In, Fred Croxton, U. S. Dept of Labor conciliator, took a hand, last week, in the Newspaper Guild's tiff with Hearst's N. Y. Journal-American over recent staff slashings. Manage- ment had utilized ODT request to cut deliveries to justify firings. So far, it is understood, Croxton has nm into a stream of executives who are either on vacation or out- of-toWn on business. Matthews' Plans Herbert L. Matthews goes to India for N. Y. Times. He covered Loy- alist side of Spanish revolt for the Times, was shifted to Italy and re- cently repatriated. Hopes to flhish his book, 'Rise and Fall of. Fascism,' in time for the peace conference. Annenberg's Last-Hin. Trill Chance The late M. L. .\nnenberg changed his will on the eve of his death leav- ing his huge estate to be divided between his widow and eight chUd- ren, a probate of his will filed here last week showed. A 1940 will of the multimillionaire publishelr of the Philadelphia Inquirer, magazines end racing information services, left two-thirds of the estate to his soh, Walter H., and the bulk of the re- mainder to his wife. But on July 7 last, when he was on his deathbed in the Mayo clinic, Rochester, Minn., he summoned his lawyers and dreited a codicU shifts tag the distribution of the estate. Under the codicil, his wife, Mrs. Sadie Annenberg, receives an in- come up to $200,000 a year, with the rest divided between Walter and seven daughters, all married. The codicU was signed for Annen- berg" ;by>his lawyer; I Joseph First. Peeler Moves in D. C. United Features took Westbrook Pegler's column out of the Wash- ington Post, after eight years, and paper is irked at the syndicate for transferring the writer to rival Scripps-Howard Daily News. f*ost took its peeve to the readers with an explanation titled: 'Not Fair Enough.' Statement, in part, read; "The Post maintains that when United Features Syndicate sells features to Scripps-Howard competitors it gives a definitely implied assurance of readiness to follow established and customary standards of newspaper practice in renewing contracts. But, as shown in this case, the ScrippS' Howard newspaper chain feels free to order its subsidiary to terminate such agreements if a feature proves valuable and desirable for its own newspaper.' K. of C. Boycotts N. T. Post The Knights of Columbus has In voked a boycott of the New York Post because of that paper's stories abput Senator David I. Walsh. Yarns dealt with a Nazi-sponsored 'house of degradation' in Brooklyn and 'Mister X' who was a frequent visl tor. Post had an exclusive on the story and milked it di7 before re- vealing that Senator Walsh was legedly the 'Mister X.* K. of C, via its Supreme Board of Directors, passed a resolution which - asked postal authorities to 'refuse further facilities' to the Pofet; Not Colored, $50,000 Snit Spartanburg (S. C.) Herald-Jour- nal sued for $50,000 by five employ- ees of local industrial plant who al- lege afternoon edition story carried headline describing them as Negroes. Complaint stated all are white men. Macmllian's Treasury* Macmillan preparing a "Treasury of the Familiar,' with Ralph Woods doing the editing. Tome will cover everything from 'Casey Jones* to 'Message to Garcia,' biggest headache being cleai'ance on music. Street's Boy Scout Tarn James Street cleaning up his War- ner Bros, assignment of a yarn on the Boy Scouts of America. Did the chore at his home In Jack- son Heights, N. Y., so as not to lose eastern mag and book contacts. paper. Klp-Saw, dl«d July >S In Rosalie. Neb. Carl Blomc7«r. 45, publisher and advertising manager, died July 17 ta University Hospital, Ann Arbor, foU lowing a short iUness. A former In- diana newspaper publisher, he was advertising manager for the Mt. Clemens (Mich.) Monitor-Leader for 13 years. ' Lorenso H..Abbey, 84, former pub-' llsher of several weekly papers In New. Jersey, died July 17 In St Petersburg, Fla. Delia T. Lntes, 78, author, dfed July 19, at Cooperstown, N. Y. Frank VVfaite, 63, veteran news- paperman, died in Oakland, Cal'., Wednesday (22). A publicity man In Oakland at time of his death. White had worked on many news- papers across country arid In Shanghai. Lesiie Shannon Comiafk, 55, col- umnist foik the Detroit Times, Det, died July 28 in that city. • CHATTEB , Virginia Swan's The Dollar Gold Piece,' currently in Woman's Home Companion, will be published by Farrar & Rinehart in Sept, Peter de Polnay, Hungarian author, doing 'Death and Tomorrow,* story of his experiences as a refugee In France and Nazi gaols for Doubleday Doran. Jack Gould, N. Y. Times staffer who originally covered legit and then moved ontp the city side, is In the radio dept., while John .Hutchens, Times radio ed. Is on vacation. WIU probably stick to radio, Ralph Ingersoll, editor of PM, who's been tangling with his selec- tive service board over a fast shuffle on his status, settled the squabble by enlisting In the Army. He passed his final physical exam last week and was inducted over the weekend. Woman's Life Publications, Inc., chartered to conduct a prtating- publishing business In N. Y., with a capital stock of $20,000, $100 par value. Directors are: Kenneth G. Rankin, Great Neck; Edward W. Stitt, Jr., New Rochelle; Charles F. Krause, Jr., Weehawken, N. J, ssContlnned from pace *isss ships out thousands of gamenU monthly to service men and to their families through the Army and Navy Relief. Seymour Gross, playwright, who basboys down at the canteen, lays tliat Stuff Smith to going around town aaying he*ll eome down to the Canteen to do the Bralims Concerto —now that Tehndl Mennhin has added 1 Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen' to his repertory. Yehadl Mennhin played for B5 min- utes down at the canteen on Sat- urday night. After ha was through he tpid Broek Pemberton the andi- enee had been the most apprecia- tive he'd played to ■Ineo ht'd to-nred South America. A really, grand compliment te the men of our armed forces. Col. Bomulo*s Book Doubleday Doran will publish 'Battle of the PhiUppines,' by Col. Carlos Romulo, who was on General MacArthur's staff through the entire campaign. Author was one of the last to get out and is currently sec- retary of the Philippine Information Bureau. Clinched by Matson & Dug gan. LITEBATI OBITS John J. Kelly, 48, former public^ ity and newspaperman, died July 20 In Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Before his retirement, Kelly headed his own publicity firm, ta N. Y., John Kelly & Associates. ' George B. Craven, 58, editor of the Thomasville (N. C.) Tribune and a veteran North Carolina newsman, died June 25. Jacob BIrkmayer, 84, editor of the Troy Freie Presse, German lan- guage newspaper, for more than 50 years, died at his home in Troy, N. Y., July 20. . Clarence: Talbot Southwick, . 70, former newspaper and advertising man, died July 24 in New York. He once served as a reporter on the Kansas City Star and, since 1904 in N. Y., had been associated as an executive with such - advertising firms as Street & Finney, Erickson Co., and tbe' Frank Presby Agency. - James W. -Brink, 62, founder and 'tnibllsh^r of Nebraska weekly news- •jf'i'«"l -J I • M.i in A . , >. , ,1 Canteen-Capers Jinunte Davis, who wttite the song 'Why Is a Good Man So Hard to Find?' one night recently was on the 'garbage detail.* He was ob- served by Tom Rutherford, at one point, to be grinning, swaying and strutting while he scraped dishes in a corner of' the kltohen. The rea- son? His tune was being played, the dance floor was iwcked and Killer Joe and Shirley Booth were dancing 'like from Mars,* and Jimmle, himself elbow deep In dishes, was 'In'the groove.* The shoeshine hoys who work the beat outside the canteen are real Honie Front Heroes^t least, to one observer. Merest why: recently one of them, was observed shining a soldier's shoes while nearbv a civilian waited for the same service. The shoe boy finished the job on the soldier's foot coverings, but refused to take payment. 'How do you manage that' said the waiting civilian. "You'll find out,' said the tyke. The civilian did find out When he aske^ the boy; 'How much?' A firm answer, through tight lips, was '15c.' Two hefty Polish soldiers, 'Who had fought side by side with the British in Libya, wandered In on Saturday-night. Actor Edward Ra' qnello served as Interpreter for his co-nationals.. One of the Polish sol- diers, a native of Warsaw—yclept 'Francisco,' according to Junior host- ess Fifl Garbat, had Baqnello tranS' late this pretty sentiment. <What are words. There Is an International Ian. guagie—danofaig.' And se Fifl and Francisco did the folka—the only dance he knew. F. D. Ho. 1 Film Fan Continued from page I5 times a year, but In these crowded days his screen appearances are less frequent 'When you see 'the Presl< dent on the screen It is as natural as the lens can catch him, for he never tised any of the conyentlonal make- up which actors find a first aid to attractive screen shadows. So, if the President appears careworn and tired in some shots. It's because he looks Just that way. Unlike professional actors, the President isn't critical of himself on the screen, frequently greeting his own appearance with laughter and pertinent remarks. 'I looked like 'Scrooge' in that one,* he said once, and on ahother occasion when a slight flaw in the spund track brought his voice forth/for a few words with undue husklness, he called out Jovially to a group of guests, '.It's the Garbo in me.' S.O.S. for Product There is no set formula or sched- ule for White House screenings. It the Chief Executive feels ta the mood for a picture, Steve Early, the Chief Usher or some other attache will call up Carter 'Barron of liOew'a or the exchanges and find out what prints are available. Usually they call back their choicest product for the selection. But sometimes the President makes his own choice. As an example, during one of the critical early momenta of the war, he wanted a laugh, so he rejected suggestions and called for 'Joe Turp Calls on the President,* feature with a 'B* rating and not even given a Washington first run. Such features as "Mrs. Miniver' and 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' are among recent screenings with Prima Minister Whiston CniurchlU, a White House visitor among those who en- joyed these specials. Pictures bre shown,in the long drawing room on the second floor of the White House. The projection machine also fol- lows the President. A few years ago when the Chief Executive made his South American cruise, the battle- ship on which he sailed had 26 fea- ture pictures and every one was shown before the vessel touched American shores. At Hyde Park the presidential films are shown on the broad lawn overlooking the Hudson, with the 'distant West Shore high- lands as a background, which means that the show there is always with the provision, 'Weather permitting.' Former Habits When the world was calmer It was the Roosevelt custom when he ar- rived home from a trip to order all of the newsreels he had missed to be screened at one session. On one occasion he found all electric cur- rent in the White House off to per- mit installation of new kitchen equipment 'Run In a wire,' he ordered. 'We must have our movies even though the kltehefi stove isn't working.* In these troubled days both the War and Navy departments have vital action pictures, often shot at an area of combat, such at the foot- age caught at Midway by Com- mander John Ford. Army and Navy officers arrange for the Commander- in-Chief to see them. While the heavy responsibilities of helping di- rect a global war occupy most of his waking hours. President Roosevelt can still be counted the nation's No. 1 picture fan. He doesn't see as many as when the world was at peace but, if and when he has a few momenta of leisure, he follows the avenue of escape favored by the average American—the screen. Soph's Spice -Continued from page become that the Buffalo Committee of the' Navy ReUef Immediately Is- sued a statement: The Conunittee regrets that one featured player not under the control of the managing producer exceeded the bounds of propriety. It trusta that this so un- fortunate moment will be forgotten in view of the many hours of whole- some and inspiring entertainment* Radio station WBNY, under con- trol of Roy Albertson, in Its regu'*'' news broadcast, took Sophie for a ride via one of the worst verbal castigations heard over the air local- ly"in a long time, with accusations of bad judgment and the purveying of smut predominating. Later in the week Mayor Kelly, referring to the incident, issued another public state- ment in which he said that he would seek legislation to prevent the use of the Stadium loudspeakers for the .dissemination of salacious, suggestiYe and pbscene'songs and-'si>^^h^^"' •>,,', .' \ 1 A / (V,,.-, I r I . ' '"'i i*' J