Variety (Sep 1942)

Wednesday, September 23, 1942 55 Show Biz Bond Drive Continued from pate 4 maximum sales, are being consid- ered One proposal from A. Teitel, manager of the World Playhouse. Chicago, la that all theatres in the U S. set aside one day this month when entire house recelpU will be converted Into wan bonds for the theatres. Another plan Is to stage 'bond- selling raids' with name stars in im- portant communities. Cbl I.C8S Than M% Inc. Chicago, Sept 22. Bond Bales throughout the state would have to be stepped up consid- erably In the last two weeks of Sep- tember if the fUm-lndustry quota is to be achieved, It was revealed at a luncheon of the drive's Illinois exe- cutive committee at the Blackstone hotel last week. [Botul committees throughout the roiiiiirv are also emphasizing the need /or greater sale* step-up •/ tlirir quotas are to be reached]. The quota for Illinois Is $11,000,000, of which about $4,600,000 has already been collected. All returns have not yet been recorded, particularly those "from the 'Wake Island,' showings. Latter should up the figure substanti- ally. Speakers at the meeting-luncheon Tvere John Balaban, Illinois chair- man for the Drive; Henry Schoen- stadt. Chicago chairman; and Jack Kirsch. representing the Allied Thea- tres of Chicago. ■Mrs. Hadley' Garners $1,101,500 Washington. Sept. 22. Washington's first $1,000,000 pre- miere became a reality today with bond sales for Victory, the world preem of 'The War Against Mrs. Hadley' fM-G), topping the million mark In less than a week of sales effort. The bond sale Monday (21) totaled $1,101,500, with virtually all o( the 3.400 seats at the Cnpitol, where the preem is to be held to- morrow (Wednesday) night, sold out. It is emphasized that this opening has not only tapped a new source of revenue for bond sales but has fiven the capital almost one-fourth of its September quota. Edward Arnold, who arrived over the weekend, sold bonds to Admiral Herbert Pott, of the British Navy, and British Field Marshal Sir John Dill, among others, at the British K'Tibassy lawn fete last Saturday afternoon (19). At a luncheon Monday (21), Arnold was made an honorary member of the D. C. po- lice force by Commissioner J. Rus- .•:ell Young Fay Balnter, co-.star with Arnold In 'Mrs.Hadley.' arrives from the Coast today (Tuesday). The Iwo players were to be Rue.<!ts at a luncheon today of the Women's National Press Club, and appear at the prrom Wednesday night. Dump Adolf, Benito, Hiroblto Fort Worth, Sept. 22. Buyers of war bonds and stamps paid $10,000 to get HiUer, Mussolini and Hirohito dumped into the Trinity River here. It's too bad that the trio was stufled dummies instead of the real things. In order to boost war stamp and bond sales, local theatremen look « ricksha from the public library, placed the mummies in the seat, meas- ured off 10,000 feet from the river lo the business district and announced that the two-wheeled vehicle would be moved forward at the rate of one foot for every dollar spent for bonds or stamps. The ricksha moved lively until it reached the river. There District Attorney Marvin Brown, Jr., auc- tioned off the right to boot the like- ness of the three rulers into the ■■'ver. Bids were lively. day Jeanette MacDonald came to town for her War Relief concert at Syria Mosque the following night and Janr<es Cagney was here overnight on his bond-selling tour, which didn't include Pittsburgh, but they both gr.iciously stepped aside and let Miss Dunne do the honors following what was probably biggest press buildup fo' a personality and a cause in the town's history. RKO Staffers' Hypo Group of the RKO employees has approached the management for permission to act as a committee to improve the company's standing in the record of War Bond purchases Employees figured that If representa- tives in each department solicit fel- low workers the staff resjKinse would be better than from the barrage of publicity and high-pressure sales letters which have been flooding the malls. Move has already resulted in in- creased number signing up on pay- roll deduction plan or increasing amount of weekly deductions. Bonds' Curb Service Omaha, Sept. 22. Omaha theatre (Trlstates) so deep in bond drive that big illuminated sign out front announces, 'Honk horn for bonds and stamps. We give curb service.' It's working too. RINGLING CIRCUS B.O. N.G. IN FIRST CHI WEEK Chicago. Sept. 22. Bottom fell out of Ihe Ringling- Barnum & Bailey Circus in its llrsl week in Chicago, and the circus has its flni;ers crossed, hoping it will be able to recoup In this, its final, w-eeh Business started bad and stayed that way, with only the weekenU showing any sign of energy. Busi- ness was off fully 25% from last year. Circus execs blamed bad biz on fact tliey followed the Army War Show on (he Lake Front. War Show played Soldiers' Field to over $800,- 000 in Its 10-day stand, with complete sellouts night after night in a bowl seatmg 120.000 people. U. S. Gov't Buys Coast Playground for $97,000 San Francisco. Sept. 22. Neptune Beach, fun center in Ala- meda, was purchased by the War Shipping Administration for $07,000, to become the site of a $1,000,000 United States Maritime Commission training school. The playland has been operated since 1870. GRIDCAST Male Stripper Pays Off, Too Detroit, Sept. 22. A macstro's impromptu strip-tease tucked an additional $1,425 in bond sales on the local theatre men's Sep- tember drive. September Morn act was born when Jack Hurford, man- ager of the downtown Fox, dropped in at the London Chop House, and orchestra leadet;jSam Dibert wanted to know how *tSre local drive was getting on. ■Fair.' said Hurford. ■Let's do something,' Dibert said. What was done was that Dibert went into his strip act on the podlumr and Hurford acted as auctioneer. Biggest bond sale was for the pants, which went for $500. Dibert went all the way to his socks and shorts. Gratis B. 0. Admish, Bnff. Asks Pix Rentals Waiver Buffalo, Sept. 22. Impre.<:sion that distributors were to waive film rentals today (Tues.) •in connection with free theatre ad- missions via purchase of War Bonds, ha.', independent operators here con- tending they will fight any attempt "o>i part of dlstribs to collect rentals via legal action. Local indies launched move 'for free rentals from dlstribs of all pic- lures being shown today ih connec- tion with the War Bond drive. Group o? 39 indies are allowing free admis- sion-s with purchases of $1 or more in war savings stamps or bonds, de- spite refusal of dlstribs to waive rentals. Dlstribs waived rentals in connec- tion with some 300 preems staged thioughout the country but no undertaking on gratis rentals for today was made, as far as can be ascertained. Donne 'Done' It Pittsburgh, Sept. 22. Irene Dunne's one-day visit to Pittsburgh last Wednesday (16) re- sulted In actual sale of more than $3,000,000 In War Bonds to virtually a-'.'ure Allegheny County of going over the top In its September quota. Even million was raised at a luncheon in Miss Dunne's honor, for which price of admission was the purchase of a $5,000 bond, and the remainder came from the all-star Shew, headed by Miss Dunne, at (■•ardens, local sports arena, at night and also featuring Jackie Cooper and i^erlrude Nlesen. Tickets to this were giyen to buyers of $25-$1.000 War Bonds. Miss Dunne's fiying 10-day tour in collection with picture industry's =>eptember drive ended here, and left immediately after her Gar- "ens appearance for the Coast. Same Despite Taxes and Bond Drive, Mpls. Biz Good Minneapolis, Sept. 22. An anticipated boxoffice slump around Sept. 15, Income tax period, did not materialize here, and the in- dustry atjain was pleasantly sur- prised. Business at loop and neigh- borhood houses continued as brisk as usual. Effects of the boosted Income tax levies have been greatly feared by industry leaders here, but at no time have they been in evidence. More- over, the high pressuring of the public to buy war bonds and stamps, thus syphoning off income that otherwise might be spent on luxuries and entertainment, Hasn't been an adverse influence, either, it's de- clared. In fact, paradoxical as it may appear, a survey undertaken by some local exhibitors indicates that the bond and stamp purchasers are the best theatre patrons. Canton Loew's Mgr. In Army Canton, Sept. 22. Les Miller, a.ssistant manager of Loew's here, will shortly enter the Army. Jim Bisett, former student ! assistant at Loew's State, Cleveland, will succeed him. What Pix Mean ^ Continued from page 4 be helped and all I pray Is that they are OK. You know outside of the time I was under contract at the studios In Hollywood with my music, and Bill was in 'Lady Be Good,' we have been together 27 years and that's a long partnership. Well, no use wor- rying . . . well l>e back together again with the old piano and banjo and still know how to steal a bow or two because when all else fails I can bring on the son now, and he Is a honey. Estelle left the stage 12 years ago and we are happier now after 31 years rehearsal than ever before. That's a tun well to be proud of. Was so pleased to learn 1 had been elected a member of ASCAP after all these years trying . . . have written some new tunes which I am sending in soon. Hope they click the way 'Kisses and Dream House' did and I will be all set after this show is over. Have been away from~home nine years now and it's time for the sheriff to die so I can come back. Have just finished a military revue that I am mighty proud of and only wish I could produce it at home. Well I hope the boys over here like It, that's all that counts and my job is to keep them happy and so far have been doing great. I love the work and I get around a lot. Films for Morale I am also the Overseas Motion Picture Officer and what a Godsend those 16 mm. features are to the boys . . . you can tell the Motion Picture Industry as a whole that Heaven will reward them for mak- ing the plans whereby motion pic- tures can be presented to our boys so far from home > . . they love every foot of film and jam the places where they are shown. And what good they do from a morale stand- point! We have a marvelous organization and it is functioning 100%. Col. A. L. P. Johnson is Chief Spe- cial Service. Major C. M. Spilman. executive officer. Lt. Norman Duncan (crack ath- lete from California), is Athletic Di- rector. Lt. Frank Krebs, my able assistant (from Warner Bros. Studios, Bur- bank, Calif.). Then we have Special Service of- ficers in all the different areas and licison with the American Red Cross and Australian Comforts Fund. Mo- bile Motion Picture Units—recrea- tion centers — libraries — athletic events—inter-competition — movies; jn fact everything we can to make th ngs right for the swellest gang that ever left home to do a job. It is all interesting and as long as we obtain the right results we are proud of the work we are doing. You can tell the music publishers they can send me all the professional copies and orchestrations they can— I have lots of crack orchestras among the boys and we need all the help we can get. Lyim F. Cotcan, Major Specialist, 0-888017 A. P. O. 501 CO Postmaster. San Francisco, Calif. By Nat Kahn COLLEGE GAMES FRIDAY, SEPT. 25 GAMES WINNERS ODDS Temple-Georgetown Temple 12-S Temple has too much power, a-lille Georgetown seems on the downgrade. UCLA-TCU TCU 2-1 TCU is one o/ Che south'vesl's best. SATURDAY, SEPT, 26 Cornell-Lafayette Cornell 3-1 The Big Red tuill be challeiiging Petin /or tlie Ivy League title. Holy Cross-Dartmootb Holy Cross 3-1 A Crusader brentlter on a :ough schedule. Nsvy-Wm. & Mary W. & M 8-t Navy has been weakened, while IV. t M. is on the way u)>. Purdae-Fordhan Fordbara 12-} The Rams' back/ield is one o/ the notion's best. Wisconsln-Notre Dame "Ootre Dame 3-1 "he Irish huue a guy by (he miiiic o) Evans. 'S all, brother. Iowa-Nebraska Ncbra-ka 2-1 Nebraska should be challen(7ing Missouri for the Big Six title. Minnesota-ritlsburgh Minnesota 3-1 Is there any question? Kansas-Marquette ''.Tquetle 9-5 Marquette packs too many reserves. Oklahoma A. &. M.-Oklahoma Okia 2-1 This may be an upset, but ive'll stni; with the favorite. Georgia Teclt.-Aubam Auburn B-( This is as aood a Dlnce as anv lor. a reversal of form. LSD-Texas A. & H Texas A. A M 12-S The Texans ore right up there with JVflnnesota. North Carolina-Wake Forest Wake Forest «-l The Tarheels are particuUirl;/ weak this season. South Carolina-Tennessee Tennessee 3-1 Bobbv Ci/ert of Tennessee should keep the Vols near the top. Texas-Kaasss State Texas' 12-5 Texas 5tiU retains considerable o) last year's power. Idaba-Oregon-Slate Oregon SUtc 3-1 State one of the teams to watch on the Pacific Coast. USC-ToIane LSC l-l They're tabbing USC for the Rose Bowl. Stanford-Washington State Stanford Even Stanford looks much improved over last year. SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 CalifornU-St. Mary's Cal 8-5 The Bears may be green, but they've got enough for this one. NAT'L PRO LEAGUE SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 Packers-Bears Bears A hair-raiser, with the Bears in a close one. Slcelers-Cardinals Cardinals The Cords should edge it out. Lions-Bams Rams The Clevekinders may go places. Glants-Rcdskins Redskins The Redskins are rated near the top in the East. Dodgers-Eagles Dodgers Watch those Dodgers this year! t-1 <-S a-s ••5 12-S Inside Stuff—R^dio Continued from page 28 , Now a veteran of several years of radio work with WJSV In Washington, he's one of the Devil Dogs' 'fighting correspondents.* After a three-year hitch in the Marines, Hurlburt hooked up with the local CBS outlet as a news bsoadcaster and later took commend of the web's press relations staff. He joined up again this spring and within a few days was out of the country and off for Australia. First nevfs bis wife had of his whereabouts was via his dispatch from Guadalcanal. On a recent This Nation at War* broadcast on the Blue network for the National Assn. of Manufacturers, scriptcr George Corey Interviewed Lieu- tenant Commander Lewis Parks, recent winner of a Navy Cross for his exploits as submarine skipper in the southwest Pacific. After the program the officer was curious about Corey's work and the latter explained how he travels around the country doing broadcasts from war plants. Parks was visibly impressed, remarking, 'Man, you sure have a thrilling job.' General Foods lias become a subscriber to the A. C. Nielsen Co.'s audio- meter, a home set checking service. The meter, which Is attached to radio receivers, Yeports on the family's listening habits and favorite pro- grams. Nielsen has been experimenting with the device for years. It has about 200 meters installed at present, figures on having 600 in operation shortly and 1,000 meters distributed by the end of 1942. Nielsen's main business is to report the relative movement of national brands from druggists' and grocers' shelves. Joe Laurie, Jr.. Harry Hershflcld and Senator Ford are working out a 'Can You Top This?' jokebook to serve both as a future prize giveaway and to be sold for 25c. in line with their new program, when it shifts to Colgate-Palmolive-Peet sponsorship. Incidentally, Laurie is busting out as an author with his 'Thumbnose Sketches,' first published in the Lambs club's own nrtagazine. and which will be published In book form, proceeds for benefit of the club's fund. Bill Bcrns, who runs a Broadway and Hollywood gossip program on WNEW, is syndicating a weekly column titled "The Broadway Beam' to 1.600 servicemen overseas each week. He offers to send the mimeo- ' graphed gossip sheet to anyone overseas providing the listener sends in j an addressed and stamped envelope. Started as a gag, caught on, and : now goes all over the globe with thank you letters coming in from the servicemen. Ted Steele has a nice Sunday midday style with his Novachord songs, calling the electric organ 'Nellie.' and employing it as on audible vis-a-vl.<!, via the medi\jm of sound effects. It's an elective means of punctuating his organologs.