Variety (Nov 1942)

Wednesday* November 18, 1942 CHATTER 53 Max Segal back with 'Counsellor *'j!lles Levey has rented an office In 0,2 BKO building. Mark Bellinger trying to reduce to enter the Army. Harrv Essex company manag«r ol JJEout Love,' St. James. r D Prutzman. Universals chief couiisil'. bedded by severe attack of P^S?L pebiwick, Journal-American film critic, in Doctors' hospital with •?ob?nf°W.'ight. Jr admitted to CcOwnbus. Ga.; hospital, seriously ill *Percy*ETk°e'les passing up Florida tttX time in many years and sticking In N. y. 'or winter. Georgie Hale to sUge new Ver- ttUles niteiy revue. „ ^ „ . , Mrs Gus 1 Grace LeBoy) Kahn In town with her daughter for a visit. First time ctist in years T K Chang, Chinas consul in L. A in town and hosted by major company foreign managers. MScoIm Kingsberg hosted surprise birthday party for Ed Alperson at Toots Shor s last Friday (13). Laudy Lawrence, Fox foreign sales chief, returned from England, where he spent two months, Sam Wren, stage and film actor, left for Coast after month of reading icrlpts and seeing local shows, Leo Frcedman in Detroit to agent ■Life of the Party," musical which has been running at the Wilson. Nate Blumbergs hosted friends last night (Tucs.l at 21, prior to return- ing to the Coast later in the week. Broadway bunch Is gagging about the newshawk who joined the Julian Eltlnge Post of the American Legion. Next show at Genius. Inc., start- ing Dec. 2, will be 'Dracula.' Cur- rent offering is 'Conrad, You Dast- ard.' Bill Norton slated for connpany manager of 'Something for the Boys.' Morrb Jacobs handling the Music Box. Sylvia Fine iMrs. Danny Kuye) itill convalescing, but OK and out of the ho.tpital. taking It easy at home. Al Cohen, company manager of lljr Sister Eileen (Beck), recently wed Pearl Cohen, a namesake, but no kin. Elsa Maxwell ho.sted a special din- ner Sunday night for the Sam Gold- wyns, prior to their return to Hol- lywood. Latin Quarter readying Xmas diow. Mme. Kamorova and M. Kafflorof will produce for Lou Walters. Songwrilcre Guild. John Redmond prez, stagint! flr.tt public dance at Palm Garden Tliank.^igiving Eve; $1.10 top. Gypsy Rose Lee has a new addi- tion to the slanguage. Anything that's 'camp' is unno.vingly chi-chi or overdone. Stuart Ross, nitery pianist, faking the piann-playing for Katharine Hepburn in 'Without Love," at the St, James. Quentin Reynolds is staying on in- det in the U. S. for Collier's now that 'I've missed the biggest story, the second front.' Ed Seay. asst. to managing direc- tor John Roy of the Rainbow Room, nas resigned to become a Lieutenant (8^) in the Navy. Counterfeit money used by our •nemles as an economic weapon of war will be exhibited in Radio City •tarting next week. Marty Lewis, radio contact at the Par studio, left for the Coasi Friday (13), wl'ih stopoffs planned in Chi- cago and Si. Loui.s. Old Club Lido becomes the Royal Casino next week under Ken Later'.s operation. He s N. Y agent. Peggy Fears will headline. Safe-crackers snared $2,000 from HOrley's Bar. hangout for radio peo- ple, early one morning last week, after spot had clo.sed. Actor Eddie Dowline"s son. John Graham Dowlinc;. 29, Chi Sun war correspondent, iii the spotlight for « ms Guadalcanal reportage. Vinton Freedley most active on the staging end of the "Cheer China" jeUef show at Music Hall, Radio Clnr, Friday (20) midnight. Charle.<! O'Reilly, formerly head of N. Y. Theatre Owners Chamber ?J Commerce, elected chairman of We N. Y. County Grand Jury. Al Jolson states that Jimmie Fid- |er» radio and columnar 'exclusives' tnat he's going to marry showgirl ounny Wnleis is news to him. Unusual kidding ads for the Copa- Mbana created by nitery s publicist «ck Diamond and Jack Sleiner of "lackstone advertising agency. Fields' Metro film looks Sill ,?*;''P' t'oviblc. She takes her Mall radio show to the Coast regardles.^ a week from Monday. «ussel| Patterson will pick the Si,!f J<"" the new Riobamba, East nLH;?'"''!* n'tery. Linton Weil. prop. th« 1 J' E"" do the dances. It^s lS.i,.j° ^''''•''*' Pavilion, now gone **ii?do'-an in motif. tjnil'f .*i-*ll 'Cheer China' show for China Jiellef Friday midnight ^«J) at R. c. Music Hall. st«fied by t«on Leonidoff. virtually a se.lout. RohKul*" ^^i"'"^ *est with Gale whnm fi. '"-^en Bernie warbler, eslrn I.!*" agent-brother of the ma- Ch,?!^ ^X"^ « 20th-Fox film deal. i-narlle Cohen has resumed as tradepaper contact at Metro, follow- ing Induction Into Navy of Leony' Welsberg, who was handling that work. Jinx Falkenburg had a by-line yarn In Life last week detailing her experiences on recent tour of Pan- ama Canal bases for USO-Camn Shows. ^ Capt. John Shubert, who started in the Specialists Corps, Is now aide to Col. Marvin Young, chief of mo- rale, in Washington. Adelaide Moffet, George Lloyd Jayne Manners from By Jupiter,' and Yvonne Bouvier reopen Mon Paree, east side niterv, tomorrow (Thursday). Ken McCaleb, Sunday Mirror i-oto editor, who fell out of his apartment window several months ago, suffer- ing serious injuries, is in a wheel- chair at home. The J. C. Steins (Doris) celebrated their 14th anniversary in N. Y. Due to return this weekend to Bevhills, although the MCA prcz intended re- maining ca.<;t longer. Hildegarde and Anna Sosenko faiewellcd the Harry Sosniks with a swank cock'.ailery at the Hotel Plaza Sunday, prior to the maestro's Coast departure with Grade Fields' radio show. Monroe Creenthal. cx-UA press and ad chief, returned from his wPB chores in D. C. over the weekend, found a new receptionist, and had to have himself announced in order to get in. Film actress Jinx Falkenburg .-in- nounced her engagement to Reagan •Tex' McCrary. He's the Daily Mir- ror and newsreel editorialist, pres- ently in Officers Training School. Miami. Merle Oberon's last U. S. picture, before joining her husband. Sir Alexander Korda, in London, will be 'Heart of the City' for Lo.iter Cowan (Columbia) from the iMiss) Leslie Storm play. Eddie Davis says he's not scripting for Al Jolson's radio .^how. but has two stage musicals 'with Guy Bol- ton) on tap, one for George Hale and another 'Ankles Aweigh' for Peggy Fears. USO-Camp Shows retained Dorothy Kay to do a special na- tloifal publicity campaicii on the opening of the new Camp Shows season. She's the wife of Ted Friend Mirror's nitery editor. William Morris, Jr., back in New York after 11-month stay on the Coast. He will work out of the N.Y. office for the next few months. Abe Lastfogel. g.m. of the agency, cur. rently in London with a USO troupe Wanda Marvin, sec to Willie Fein- berg, exec of Local 802. AFM in N. Y., resigned to plane to Mexico City and a script gal's job on a Her- bert Kline Aim. Her husband. Mark Marvin, is associate producer on the picture. In preparation for the new bond- selling campaign starting on Dec. 7. the Capitol has built a new. glass- enclosed, heated and lighted booth for the members of the AWVS. who will sell the bonds in front of the theatre. Kenneth Thomson. Screen Actors Guild executive secretary, leaves tomorrow (Thursday) for the Coast, but Guild prez James Cagney may remain east a couple of weeks longer, possiblv visiting his Martha'T; Vine- yard place. Now that the coi)s are wearing thase white Sam Browne brlts at night, to prevent getting hit in the dimoutr the cabbies wish the pedes- trians would ditto. Nine hit-and-run accidents over la.st weekend directly ascribed to this. An Imposing list of honor guests will occupy the d.nis when the Pic- ture Pioneers dinner is held tomor- row (Thursday) night al "the Star- light Roof of the Waldiirf-Astoria. Brigadier General Frederick H. 0.<;- borne. Chief. Special Section. War Dept., will l>e the guest of honor and will stress the need for nmr.nle work in (he Armed Forces. Sheila Barrett packing 'em at Helen Hamilton's Troika. Toiyr Pastor booked for a New Year's Eve dance at Uline's Arena. Spencer Tracy, in Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, for a physical check-up. saw "This Is the Army.' Harry MacArthur, once a 'Variety' mugg here, into the U, S. school learning to navigate bombers. Tom Kane in ahead of Tlie Merry Widow,' which played the National theatre same week 34 years ago. Elynore Lapidus of Warner execu- tive offices became engaged one day last week. Next day the draft got her nance. Ex-professor Elmor Kenyon of Carnegie Tech here to (io the tub- thumping for Katharine Cornell's 'Three Sisters.' Tallulah Bankhead, with 'Skin of Our Teeth." was widely feted by Senators and Congressmen during engagement here. Washington film houses are on I he verge of switching to girl ushers. Large display ads in the dailie."; are failing to produce the required quota. Sam Sachs goes into the contact department of Warner Bros. Re- places Jack Nicholson, Into the Army and Officer candidate school at Fort Bpnning. Ship..'ti(d and Johnson's 'Ice Fol- lies" seventh birthday party lasted until 6 a.m. at the WiUard. Show did spectacular $133,000 on 16 per- formances. Boenos Aires By Ray Josephs Hill were married recently in Ore- gon. Florence Fisher Parry - ailing and her daily column has t>een missing from the Press for couple of weeks now. Phyllis Ferguson and Richard F. Thompson have le:ids in 'George Washington Slept Here' at Play- house. Marcia Rice leaving Bob Astor's band, and William Pcnn hotel maes- tro is looking (or a local singing gal to All in. Herb Kubly. iirt editor n'nd flll-in film critic for Sun-Tele, has taken a feature writer's berth with N Y. Her- ald Tribune. Bob McKenna. former in.e. of WWSWs 1500 Club, has joined WCAE announcing staff, replacing Ray Spencer. Betty Dayton, former PRC em- ployee and now in local burley line, is the dautihter of Viiicc Sortioo. Stanley theatre musician. Baya Rosenker. daughter of Mich- ael Rosenker. Pitt:>burgh Symph con- cei'tmaster. is bride of Nathan Wcis- man. former local p.a. now in N. Y. Jeamie Boaz (Mrs. Howdy Baum), who had to quit singing with hus- band's band some months ago due to illness, all right again and will be back on the job any week now. Robert Dench, 'Icecapades' star, and his wife. Ro.salie Stewart, have written a book Of skating^ instruc- tions, with illustration.s. and it's ill- ready been accepted a publisher. Merry-Go-Round manager Milt Baseman, turned down by his draft board several times on account of his eyes, paged for another physical. His brother, Jerry, who used to co-nian- age spot for him. has been sent back from Pearl Harbor to officers' .school at Ft. Monroe. Va. Chicago Williuin Morris. Jr.. between iraiiis at the local Morris oflice. Chick Castle, veteiaii mu>ic m»ii. now local manager of Melody Lane Publications, Inc. Harry Warner and Charles Einfeld ijassed a few hours here on way to coast after conferences in New Y;>rk. Al Butler, circus p.a.. and Mort Stein, will handle front and back of 'Looping the Loop." USO camp show. James Cagney, president, and Ken Thomson, secretary of SAG. through on way to attend Four .A's meeting in New York. Ro.se Franken. aiillioi- of 'Claudia, enroute to Kansas Cil.v to check per- formances of company which op-'iis at the Sehvvn theatre here Nov. 29. Margaret Whileman. wife of ihc orchestra leader, and daughter. Margo. here enroute lioiti Stocki'm. N. J., to coast to join Paul in Holl.v- wood. , Hugh Herbert. Ilmia Ma.s.^ey ;ind Fred Aslnire wore visitors licie on WBV back to Hollywood from tour of 09 towns In Iowa, which were made in 10 days, during which thev -old $16,000,000 worth of Defense Bonds. James E. Co-^lon. Warner theatres head, bemoaning the los-^ of several guns, pairs of rubber boou and other hunting apparel stolen from his .into while on a trip to Wiscon.vin. Artirle- sro irreplaceable due to war siln- atlon. Monroe Iscn, head of Universal, to the States on biz. Luis Arata Hnished season at Tea- tro Smart. Did nine plays. Composer Jean Gilbert Inked on exclusive pact with Luminto for '43. San Miguel signed Libertad La- marque on exclusive three-year pact. Start .shooting of 'La Cabalgata del Tango' ('Cavalcade of the Tango") at Baires. Adolfo F. Orma named honorary president and Jose Arce president of Asociacion Philharmonica Argentina. Sociedad de Criticos, Cronistas y Ensayistas de Cine organized as pro- democratic theatre scribblers' move- ment. Eduardo Cuitino and Enrique Chaico added to cast of Carlos Bor- cosque's 'Un Nuevo Annanecer' CA New Dawn') at Sono Film, EFA started "Amor Ultimo Modelo" ("Love. Latest M(jder). starring Al- berto Vila and Ana Maria Lynch, with Roberto Rattl megging. Lucas Demare's "La Guerra Gau- cha' ('The Gaucho War') now in lab after six months work on this epic of Argentina's war of independence. Revue company at Teatro Maipo opened new comedy by Antonio Botta and Marcos Bronenberg, star- ring Susv del Carril and coimlc Pablo Palltos. EFA will open '43 production with 'Juan Ciiello,' adapted by Uli.scs Petit de Murat, megged by Bnyon Herrcra and starring Hugo del Curril and Alicia Barrie. Director Manuel Romero has fin- ished preliminaries on his flrst crime pict at Lumiton 'Historia de un Crimen" ('History of a Crime"). Such themes rare in local films. Pampa Film acquired rights to 'No la Quiero. Ni Miimporta' t'l Don't Love Her. So What') by Camilo Darthes and Carlos S. Damel. Ar- turo Garcia Buhr will star. Chilean composer Enrique S'^io back to Chile after several week.< in this city. Has been invited by Tea- tro Colon to direct a symphonic con- cert featuring his composition.-. Paul Perry, former cameraman in Hollywood, back home after live years in Argentine studios. Installed his Perry Color, first time u.sed in South Amerira, in local lab here. Pedro Lopez T.Migar and possibly Amelia Bence under consideration I for Sono's first in '43, to be handled I by Luis Cesar Amadori. Megger ha.-- I been uetling increasing per^oiuil I buildup from .studio. San Francisco By Sherman Miller 'Student Prince." starring Everett Marshall, will check into Curran theatre Nov. 29. Dick Crosby switched from house manager at Embassy theatre to burner at a shipyard. Saunders King orch has started broadcasting Ave nights weekly from Backstage nitery over KYA. Dick Aurandt, former organist ond music director at KSFO. departed from Frisco to establLsh his domicile in Los Angeles. Lyle Daniels, leader of swing quar- tet at Tommy's Joynt. completed welder's course and headed for Los Angeles war work. The Flamingo, new nitery at Fi.<h- crmen's Wharf, opened doors Thurs- day (12) night, with George Beatty, Mary Gilbert and White and Man- ning on bill. Sid Grauman back In his home town looking over Alcazar theatre, where he plans to stage vaude shows. He named E. O. Bonde.son, vet show- man, as Alcazar manager. Memphis No Christmas Parade this year. The war. R. L. McCoy of Atlanta pau.sed for local visit. Ensign Richard Lightman home on leave from the Navy. Little theatre skedded 'Old Ac- quaintance' for December show. Concessions at Memphis Zoo re- port clearing $13,000 for latest fiscal year. "Watch on Rhine' in tonixht 'IB) for three performances at Elli.s Audi- torium. II. V. Kaltenborii and Channing Pollock in for lecture.s. Separately, of course. Ed Doherty back on Film Row to book pictures for Naval Training School tt\m house.-.-, now opening at Millington Station. Ernie Heckscher orch in first Memphis engagement at Hotel Pea- body. Eddy Young, another ftr.-^t- timer. replacing Joe Sanders in the Biilinc-e Room at the Claridge. Hollywood New Haven R.v Harold M. Bone Hoot Gibson to San Francisco to stage a rodeo. Norman Taurog recovering fiom gall stone operation. Roy Butler, screen actor, in the hospital for surgery. Raymond Masscy to Toronto on a Canadian war loan tour. Milton Berle east to rehearso for his forthcoming Broadway show. Ivy Wilson returned to the M. C. Levee office after a long illncs.s. Neil Agnew arrived froin New York for Paramount sales cunlab.s. Jane Withers returned to Rcpubiic after a two-month War Bond loui'. Cecil B. DcMille dcfcndnnl in' $123,500 suit over a real estate (l-.-al. John Joseph returned to Univer- sal after three weeks in Ncv York. Mort Singer in from Chicaisn !or huddles with RKO and Paraniuiiitt execs. Del Lord back nt his shoris pro- ducing chores after a sicKc of pneu- monia. Roy Rogers galloping back to town after a tour of ode appearances in the east. Herbert Yates due in town this week to remain until the Clui.-niias holidays. Jean Arthur's illness .stopped shooting on 'Merry-Go-Round' at Columbia. Otto Preminger signed for .-i na- tion-wide lecture tour on >\\\v,k :ind Aim drama. Smiley Bumette .extending hia stage tour to upstate New '^'urk and New England. Joau Blondcll back from a tour of 60 Army camps ranging a.s far as Newfoundland. Kenneth MacKenna back - from New York where he hunted story material for Metro. (Carles Laughton and his wife, Elsa Lanchester, applied for Ameri- can citizenship papers. Charles P. Skouras to Denver for conferences with managers uf the Inter-Mountain Circuit. Col. Jason Joy back al his 20lh- Fox desk after two weeks of ofVijial business in Washington. Pandro Berman returned fnxn a Broadway vacation mingled with Metro home office huddles. Armando Rojas shoved off for Santiago de Chile after rounding up studio equipment for Chilelllms. Mary Astor Aled suit for divorce against Manuel del Campo. now .serving in the Canadian Air Force. Lawrence Welngarten, Metro executive producer, shoved off for New York for a gander at legit plays. J. Z. Huang of the Chinese Em- bassy in town to confer with pro- ducers on filming topics relating to China. Bob Hussey resigned as associate of the Frank W. Vincent agency as a result of unsettled conditions due to war. Jerry P.riddy, utility inAelder on the Yanks la.st summer, checked in as a technical worker at the Para- mount studio. Glenn Ti-yon, producer-director at Universal, passed his physical and awaits a call from Volunteer Offi- cers Training Corps. Ward Wood was released from his player contract with Warners and shifted to Walter Wanger at Uni- versal for one picture. Mabel Walker WiUebrandt. prom- inent in prohibition days, engaged as counsel for Screen Directors Guild to handle income tax problems. Frances Farmer was fined $250. placed on two years probation ^nd lo.st her operator's licease indefinite- ly after conviction on a drunk driv- ing charge. SL Louis By Sam X. Hurst Pittsbnrgh By Hal Cohen M.ke Shapiro and George Jaffe ofT Io Hoi Springs for a three-week roi. Ed Stuve. dean of Par .salcsm'.-n. into a local hospKal for an operati-m. Stanlry will get Its flr.sl Major Bowes (inil in a couple of .vcars w oek of Dec. 4. Varii-ly C'lrb tossed a te-t.in'mial dinner for ;l< retiring chief barker. Joe Millei Belle Sinilev. WCAE song-trf--. aiul Wes Srhellhaiis. of Aitny .\u Coi ps. Io be married. I Jack C'ar.on wound no brief lour at Slanley ThurstUiy night 'I2i I and headed l;ack for C^iast. Tom Connors and A. W. Smith. Jr . 201h p\'<'cs. were here the other d.iy for a liinrheon wilh Tri-Slalc exhibs. Carrie .S.mlillo. of Casino elioni-. became a l>ride last Monday iii':ht and «as li.-.i-k in Ihe show on Tues- day. LI George W. Olle. former Ihealre manager in this district, end Nancy J. J. Shdhert in town for a gander al Merry Widow.' Burgling of strongbox at Lawrence theatre netted $10. Tiny Day back on organ duly at Hotel Garde Fiesta Room. .'Vrena gels 'Ice Capudes" for 11 days starting Thanksgiving night. Bud Finch orch furnishing dansa- |)alion al Taft Colonnade Salnrdays. Shorlace of legit bookings has .Sliiiberi doing double fc.iture pix this week. F.thel Jaffe. Vale dramat .secretary for past risht vears. pulling up slakes. Lou Sdiaefers boy. Bub. back in U.S A. fi irii .Australia lor nffieer ti iijniij;^ .So?nersel Mainjham delivered Ihc Bergen lecture at Yale's Slei lmg aii- (litoritim. Vincent Palmitri. foi-mer WF.LI -laffcr. now a.sst. mgr. at Roger .Sher- man pic house. Baston Symphony making flr.-:i of I wo .seasonal appearances al Witi- -i-y Hall tonight <18i. Frank McMullan is acting chair- man of Yale drama department while Allardyce Nieoll is .servinK in Briti.sh Emba.s.sy. Clyde Br<iwn. manager of Uio Fox Iheatre. is the father of a iiine-pixind baby girl. It is No. 1. Paul Bcisman, manager of llie .\inerican theatre. i)lane<l I" New York on Municipal Theatre biz. Helen Jcpson was the first Kuest artLsl to appear with the .St. Louis symph orch this .season. .She ap- peared in two concerts last week. Freflerick Jagcl, tenor of the Met- loijolitan Onera in N. Y.. made a p.a. al Howard Hall here last week and repeated at the Principia coll^-ge campus at Elsah, III. LiiChateuu. swank dining place .n St. Louis county, shuttered due to the war. Owner filed a volunlaiy petition in bankruptcy. Liabilities arc listed at $44,905 and a.-i-els at $35,218. Enns Slaughter, outfielder for Ihe world chamt> Cardinals, has filed -uit for divorce from his wife. Mis. Hiiglo Slaughter. He charccs she re- fu.sed to live in St. Louis, preferring Roxboro. N. C. The lea.sehold estate compri.-int; the land improved witli the Uptown ihe- alre. a 9,'iO-seatcr indie nabe in 'he west end, ha.s l>een .sold by the Gen- eral American Life Insurance Co. to Ihc Dehnar Realty Co. (or $100.(M)0. The theatre is owned by the B-.'st Amus. Co. "London Front" being readied .'or prescntiilion at the Little Theilre starting Nov. 25. Top roles will be handled by Betty McCrcw Fowston, 'Eileen Murphy. Leonard Vi.s'ser. Ger- ard Larson. Kathleen Scott. Susan Thompson Peschke. Dorothy Clark, .lean Brlstow, Jay Holmes and Frank Peschkc.