Variety (Nov 1942)

Wednesday, November 25. 1942 P^mff CHATTER 5S Orson Welles sold his N. Y, furnl- iiire at auction. I^ucer Dick Krakeur Into the •rmy this week. ■\L,nard SUlman states the budget f„J*Tew Shoes' is $26,000. Pve (Mrs. Irving) Brecher out of the hospital following surgery. Sara Plnanski, of M. & P. chain. In N Y. during the past week. John Moroney, legal counsel for jhe Interstate circuit. In town. Niles Trammell out of hospital, back at his office in Radio City. Par theatre has hired two private, detectives to watch uruuly kids. Barney Balaban, Par prez. re turned from the Coast. Ken Dyke. O.W.I. Director of Campaigns, reported going into U.S. ^NVA American Legion Post 600 to hold show and dance at Edison hotel Friday <2T). Zeb Epstin is now handlmg oper •tion of the Hollywood in addition to the Strand. Bob Goldstein, 20lh-Fox Ulent gcout, now a coxswain in the Nnvy, itationed in Brooklyn. Gertrude Lawrence has cranberry bog down Cape Cod way, and con- tributing it to Army. S A Lynch, Paramount partner in the Miami sector, returns to Miami the end of this week. Abe Lastfogel, USO-Camp Shows, Inc., prexy, expected back from Lon- don this or next week. A. L. Herman recovered from pneumonia, out of hospital and may return to office late this week. Leonard L. Levinson, now of OWI In and out of LeRoy Sanitarium fol lowing minor op for gallstones. Ed Herlihy now permanent an- nouncer for Universal newsreel. He . fupplants the late Graham McNamee. Howard Newman of Shubert press department is volunteer city patrol- man at night, sporting flossy uniform. Stork Club News now publishes a house organ a la El Morocco. Dolly de Milheau, Billingsley's p.a., gets it out. Ed Fitzgerald, in charge of real estate for the Wilby-Kincey circuit, returned to Atlanta yesterday (Tues- day). Zero Mostel, back from his Holly- wood chores in "Du Barry Was a Lady,' reopened at Uptown Cafe So- ciety, Monday (23). Gabrielle. French-English chan- teuse, has closed at 'La Vie Parisienne' after 19 weeks and opens Dec. 15 at the Club Casanova, Miami Beach. Al Jolson bought the football used in the Giants-Packer.'? game Sunday for a $70,000 war bond. Auction held between halves of Polo Grounds setto. Arthur Hammer.stein's usual Palm Beach benefit ufT this winter because of conditions. This is the gala which he and the late Sam H. Harri.'; staged annually. Frederick Ullman, Jr.. president of RKO-Pathe. shoved off for the Coast Monday (23) to join RKO prexy N. Peter Ruthvun and Charles Koer- • ner In studio production conferences. Scheduled to be away about 10 days. Milton Borle's Broadway musical for the ShuberU (Harry Kaufman) has now wound up a revue, 'Zieg- feld Follies,' instead of a bouk show. Meantime 20th-Fox has optioned the comedian to return after the Broad- way run. Edna Best's 20-year-old %on John one of twins and both with RCAF, in for a few days with his mother, who lust opened in a new Broadway play, "Yankee Point." Miss Best is now Mrs. Nat Wolff, wife of the reputy direc- tor of OWI radio divi.'lon. Herbert Jacoby. ex-Le Ruban Bleu conferencier. wa<: all sot to go into the Sherry-Nctherland until that ho- tel brought in Maurice Chovel's Red Coach Tavern policy, so the cafe regisseur has his eye on atiother spot. He nixed the Tricolor ss too small a boite. Janet Blair, who recently clicked » the film 'My Sister Eileen', starring Roz Russell, will marry Private Louis r (Lou) Bush, as soon as he gets a lurlough. The couple met three years •go when Miss Blair sniig with the ute Hal Kemp band in which Bush Was pianist and arranger. of Villa Madrid show for a week on account of his bad back. Variety Club presented Joe Hiller retlrmg chief barker, with wrist watch at dinner in his honor. Carmen LaPorts mulling an offer from Charlie Bamet to take over Diosa Costello's spot in his band unit Buck Jones good-willing around this territory and Monogram tossed a press luncheon for him Monday (23) Ray Spencer, who left WCAE an- nouncing staff several weeks ago, has landed with WGAR in Cleve- land. Maurice Spitalny a grandpop. His daughter. Jean (Mrs. Simon Acker- man), had a boy in Indianapolis last week. Lndy in Dark' broke even with Uncle Sam last week. Four men were called up but two were re- jected. John Montague in town ahead of ■Arsenic and Old Lace,' and Sol Jacobson In drum-beating 'Spring Again.' Jack Gwynne, local boy who made good in magic world, at Stanley this week with Benny Meroff's new 'Funzafire.' Thomas Job. of Tecli drama fac- ulty, to N. Y. this weekend to ad- dress annual meeting of National llieatre Conference. Elizabeth Rockwell named to Play- house board. She succeeds A. V. Wasson, commissioned a cuptain in army's chemical warfare. Jim Rice filling in for his old boss, Piccolo Pete, at piano until Pete finds a permanent replacement for Bill Magee, who has gone into the service. Playhouse has dropped 'Holiday' as its next show because right leading man couldn't be found, and 'Ten- Minute Alibi' will be sub.stituted on schedule. Gordon Harker recovering from eye operation. Bill Linnet (and Dunfee) recuper- ating from flu. Bob Arden out of hospital after nine weeks with throat infection. Brian Desmond Hurst dickering with 20th-Fox for producer-director ticket. Moya Macqueen Pope forced to give up her work for ENSA due to addition in the family. Arthur Dent on provincial itiner- ary covering trade showings for Pride of the Yankees' (RKO). Having left munitions work, where he had been employed for over ;wo years, Paul Murray returned to show biz, having joined forces with Alfred Zeitlln. Cicely Courtneidge, who appeared in her father's production of The Arcadians' 37 years ago, is negotiat- ing for a revival of the famous musical. Brighton again tops list of pan',o- mimcs of all seaside resorts Ihis Christmas v.ith four. These will be at the Hippodrome, Grand, Imperial, and Royal. Reunited team of George Moon and Burton Brown join 'More New Faces.' the new Eric Maschwitz I'evue now touring thk sticks, as stars. Show is sponsored by Jack Hylton and will be on the road for six weeks, coming to the West End as Christmas attraction. Payroll Traffic S Continued from pagr 36 ^ shifts from KYA announcing staff to KQW, as announcer. Janet Matter is a new KGO re- ceptionist. Dudley Manlove, formerly with an ad agency, has joined KQW an- nouncing staff, and Dave Vaile CBS-'kQW announcer, has been transferred by CBS to Hollywood Flint. Mich.—Ted Taylor, an nouncer at WFDF, Flint, has enlisted as a cadet in the Army Air Force He was formerly an announcer a WTOL, Toledo. Daylon. O.—John R. Murphy, for- merly of WHBC. Canton. O.. has be come an announcer at WHIO. Day- ton, .succeeding Louis G. Emm, now an Air Force Mechanic. Toledo.—Bill Howard, formerly with WRRN. Warren. O., lias become an announcer and continuity writer at WSPD. Lynchburg. Va.—Eric Lund, mem ber of WLVA staff since 1937 and for the last two year.s station's pro gram director, has been drafted for limited Army service. He will be succeeded by Claude Taylor of an nouncing and continuily staff. By Hal Cahen Nixon gets a Gilbert and Sullivan troupe Xmas night and through New Year's week. Noi-ma Shea set for a role in Star Bound,' the musical biography of Gus Edwards. Jerry' Wald band saw its tenor sax •ce. Bob Dukoff. off for the army here last week. Russel Zebra. Republic booker, acting In Torchbearers' with 'Y' Triangle Players. Lester Cutlei- heads back for Coast to start another picture for PRC in couple of weeks. Boogie-Woogie pianisl- Charlotte Morris has been held over indefl- nitcly at Music Bar. Bill Schroeder. WCAE .lale.'s man- •8cr. has passed his flight test for a Pi'ivate pilot's license. John Walshes back from Newport. H. I., where Fulton theatre manager's mother has been ailing. . carl an± Josephine Leach were out Toledo. O.—James h. Cochran formerly production manager WSPD, Toledo, is now an aviation cadet in the U. S. Army Air Force London peated last Saturday (21; and sold out the 2,214 scats. Jimmy Cagney wasted no lime on" his Washington visit. He arrived at 2 p.m., sat in with U.S. Treasury officials from 3 to 5. diiu-d unci took Ihe 8 o'clock train to New York. The Statler hotel will be ready to open its doors by January, but it still hasn't picked the band. Ru- mored the Army and Navy will have three floors of the hotel, leaving five for public ilatronage. Jack Warner conferred with War Department officials on wmld pre- mieres of 'Air Force.' This was made at the rcque.>;t of the depart- ment. Five world premieres planned simultaneously, one in Hawaii and one in Washington included. Buck Jones was gue.M at Varieiy Club luncheon Tuesday (17). with Harry Browne of Monogram picking up the check. Star also nppearcd at Walter Reed hospital and at Stage Door Canteen, besides a personal at the Earle. Labor's Radio Continued from pace Worcester.—Jimmie Little, former news editor of WTAG. has been transferred from Army to Navy and has been sworn in as a lieutenant. Tommy Russell is latest member of WTAG announcing stall to be in- ducted. Pooghkecpsic, N. T.—lolin Scan- Ion, formerly on the receptionist staff at NBC in New York aiiri later an announcer at WKIP. Pough- keepsie. is now a wordman at WTRY. Troy. Lawrence, Kaa.—James Officer ii the latest addition to (he announc- ing .staff of WREN, Blue network outlet. Spartanbnrg. S. C—Clyde Clem, formerly with WORD, to enler flight training for ferry command. SchenecUdy. N. T. —Gwendolyn Hathaway, under the nom de radio of Agnes Lane, is doing a half-hour weekday morning broadcast on jdyles, recipes and household hints, under cooperative spon.soring over WSNY. radio drive on the fact that regis- tration of voters was running un- usually slow in New York State. Mayor LaGuardia and the ALP can- didate for Governor. Dean Alfange, were used to urge listeners to regis- ter, regardless of party. LaGuardia, in particular, made numerous ap- pearances on WEAF, New York, fol- lowing the 6:25 p.m. news spot. Lis- teners were asked not only to regis- ter, but to call Ave acquaintances and urge them to do likewise. Al fange aud other AFL heads made similar spiels over WOR, WEVD and other local New York stations, in all cases spotting the talks immediately before or after news programs. In all cases, the theme of the plugs was the slogan. 'Democracy is worth vot ing for.' ALP'i Plans When the actual vote-geiting cam paign got under way. the ALP planned its radio activities along three general lines. First, it bought advantageous time for its import ant speeches, which were made from the studio, with or without in- x'iled audiences. This was to avoid competing with the popular network commercial programs, which air at approximately the same hour as political riallies. Thus, the ALP ral- lies were not carried by radio, when they would oppose the big commercial shows. Instead, the same speeches were broadcast by Al fange and the other ALP leaders at times more favorable to radio lis tencrs. Time for these talks was bought immediately preceding pro grams like the Toscanini symphony Willkic's address about his world trip, the regular 11 p.m. news periods, etc. Second, certain programs were bought on \ocil stations, such as WJZ and WMCA, New York, and WGY, Schenectady, on a regular weekly schedule. In that way. lis- teners learned to tune in at certain speclflc times for the ALP broad- casts, just as for commercial series. Most of these regular ALP programs were talks by the candidate, fre quently with guest names from vari. ous public fields. Oratory N. C Third, new forms of pre.sentation were used to gel away from the tra ditional candidate orations. Drama ! tizations were avoided, chiefly bC' Mexico City By Douglas L. Grahame Elias Brecskin orchestra featured twice weekly over XEW. Magda Haller. stage and pic ac tress, on tour of Latin theatres in the southwestern U. S. Jorge Mendoza Carrasco (Lu- miere). pic crick for Excelsior, to Hollywood for material. Mariana, daughter of Roberto Soto, veteran comic, married Mario Luis Margain, a civil engineer. Anita Blanch, stage actress, signed by Gabriel Soria for his iscxt. Hombre y Mujer' ('Man and Woman'). Virginia Fabregas, Mexico's Sarah Bernhardt, now 74. ended her dates in Panama and is playing with her dramatic troupe in Colombia. Mexican Society for the Aid of the Russian People garnered $50,000 (Mex) ($10,150 U.S.) with a benefit pic show at the Cine Margerit. Joaquin Gonzales Tejeda. impre- sario of the Follies Bergeres. revue house here, to Chicago to book a company of Negro performers for Xmas season. Eric Kleiber recitaling with Mexi- can Symphonic orchestra at Palace of Fine Arts (National Theatre) Nov. 24, Dec. 1,8, 15 and 22. He was booked bv Conciertos Daniel. Eddie and Dorothy. American roller skaters who've been head- liners for nearly a year In local 'iie- atres and niteries. are featured with the Beas circus, current here.. Gloria Lynch, Chilean actress, .signed to exclusive player pact by Promesa Films. Senorita Lynch ii to make her pic debut in one of the flve fllms Promesa is to produce next year. Dr. Alfon.so Ortiz Tirado, who is paradoxically a tenor and bone .sur- geon; Irina Gonzales, soprano, and Paul Lavista. band leader, are fea- tured on the weekly half-hour show of Coca-Cola on XEW. 'Cantinfla.s' (Mario Moreno), now in Havana for dates, presented a check for $360 (U. S.) to Scnara Elias Godinez BatisU. First Lady of Cuba, for the fund she is raising to found a hospital for incurables. Four feature pix being readied for 1943 by Filmex. announced manaser Gregory Wallerstein. Pix include a new version of "The Merry Widow' and "The Sin of Madelon Claudel. a French story, done in .Spani-h cau.'e the idea was to impress the Production of these two is J'chedulcd I j^j^,,^,. political arguments to start in early January. ^ ,.._ •« . Mexican O.scars have bnen ni- ■ were the truth, not Action. In gen- crea.sed in number to seven for 1942 | eral, it u as found that question and with the donation of a trophy by | answer periods, dealing with the Carlos Carriedo Galvan, manager of i j^e campaign, were most HoOywood Tex Ritter recovering fioin toii- ilectomy, Jules Stein returned from a bu.-i- ncss trip east. William S. Hart recovering from an eye operation. S. Sylvan Simon to the hospital for checkup and rest. Jack Mulcahy joined Columbia'! tudio publicity staff. William S. Hart underwent a sue- cessful eye operation. William Collier passed up a pictiii* job on account of illness. Peter Rathvon in town for disi-us- ions on RKO product for 1943-44. Fred Finklehoffe back '^rom Now York to resume screen writing at Metro. Charles P. Skoui-as returned from .in Infection tour of the Intennoun- 'cain circuit. (!eorge Bonwick, Pathe veepee. in town for studio huddles at Pi'0(luc';r<t Releasing Corp. Desi Amaz returned to flim work after touring Army camps in the Caribbean area. Jane Withers relurnrd to work at Republic after six weeks of country- wide bond selling. Paul Kohner. talent agent, to Mex- ico to survey production possibilities south of the border. Catherine Craig is returning to >ictures while her husband, Robert Preston, is In the Army. Richard Rosson back at Universal after four months of Atlantic shoot- ing for 'Corvettes in Action.' Charles Lacey, former golf pro at Hillcrest. checked in at Columbia studio as personnel manager. (Seraldlne Fitzgerald drew War- ners' permission to remain in New York for a John Golden play. Eddie O'Shea arrived from Broad- way to start his fllm career in Hunt Strombcrg's 'G-Strlng Murders.' Joan Blondell, just back from Ne>v- foundland army camps, shoved off on a USO tour of the southern slates. Herbert J. Yates and James R. Grainger here from New York to huddle over Republic sales problems. Joseph E. Davies. former Ambassa- dor to Russia, phecked in at Warners to offer advice on 'Mission to Mos- cow.' Tony Owen checked out of Charles K. Feldman agency to handle radio contacts for Hollywood Victory Com- mittee. Mrs. Thomas G. Winter retired after 13 years as director of Depart- ment of Studio and Public Service of the Hays office. Lona Andre, former screen actress, has disclosed that she married Rich- and E. Patton, Jr., recently. Both en- gaged in defense work on the Coast. Edna Mae Oliver's will left her wardrobe to Motion Picture Relief Fund and a bequest to Actors Fund of America in addition to providing trust funds for relatives and friends. are flve gold -■- . . federal government and a special trophy given by Mayor Javier Rojo Gomez for the producer who..^c pic does the best at the boxoffice here. Washington Moose Jaw. Sask.-^New announcer at CHAB. Moo.se Jaw, is Bob Giles. Flint. Mich.—Bob Mabry. formerly chief announcer at WCAR. Pontiac. has joined the announcing .<taff of WFDF, Flint. Cincinnati.-Jackie Gibson, bari- tone of the WCKY, Cincinnati, has returned to his home in Boston to join the Army. Jack Nicholson, of Warner Bro.s. contact department, made officer s candidate school the hard way. Carter Barron, of Loew'.s. cock- tailed George Murphy at Variety Club to have him meet the press. Teddy Lohmeyer of Avalon iheaire doesn't mind tire rationing or Kas shortages. He does it with a hoise and biiRSy. W^5^:^'^i{'vl:^aJ?Se^^i^^^';^-ould get them. Ads were used will make Arthur Maxwell, the ; local papers in all cases to call ad particularly stressed op various broadcasts the night before election. In most cases, the same tactics were employed for foreign language broadcasts as for those in English. Innovation tried and found effec- tive by the ALP was to have what it called a 'radio chairman' for its broadcasts. Instead of having the station's announcer or one of the party bigwigs introduce the main .speaker, the announcer merely put the broadcast on the air, whereupon the 'radio chairman.' an experienced microphone performer, made the in- troduction. More important, he summarized the vital points of the peech at the close, so late tuners in Philadelpliia By SI SbalU Roy Davis, formerly of the "Three Guesse.s.' is (loing a single stint as an m.c. at Palumbo's. Marian Anderson returns to her native city Dec. 3- for a concert at tha Academy of Music. Katharine Cornell's 'Three Sisters' penciled in for a week's stay at the Forrest, starting Dec. 14. A new nitery to be known as the Cove Is expected to open shortly in the Locust street nitery sector. George P. Aarons, secretary of United Molton Picture Theatre Own- ers, seriously ill at the Presbyterian hospital. Pvt. First Class Maximillian Miller, former publicist for the William Goldman theatres, in town on a 10- day furlough. Robert Reiss, feature writer on Plillly Record .st^ifT. has resigned to join the Office of Economic Warfare in Washington. Sid Gathrid. Daily Nevt^ column i."!. and Charles Fisher, who conducts ■ colinnn in the Record, pinch-hit for the aUing Powers Gouraud on the WCAU 'Nlgjit Owl' program l»»t week. Prince Danilu. a Warner offer. Abbott & Costello are the l-ilh .street ch.impions of 1942. Each one of their pictures has hit the jack- pot for Hardie Meakin of Keith's. Earle theatre's first complete .show at midnight attracted 1,700 paymg customers Saturday (14). It was re- vance attention to the broadcasts. Entire ALP radio drive was handled by Mrs. Mary Novik. of the Furman, Felner agency. She's the wife of Morris Novik. director of WNYC. municipally-owned station in New York. By Les Beca W. A. Steffes down from his north- ern Minnesota estate. Bennlc Berger, indie circuit owner, host at Variety club parly. Bill Shartin, Warner Brothers' dis- trict manager, in from Chicago. Harry Dickcrman. indie circuit owner, goes into army next month. Moe Levy. 20th-Fox district man- ager, off to Los Angeles to attend sales meeting. Sol Yeager, former Universal office manager here, now attending officers' training school. Bill Soper. Paramoiml Iwjoker. passing the cigars—an 8'/j-pound boy. first child for the Sopers. William Ronning, Paramount thea- tre circuit assistant booker, named chairman of committee arranging northwest premiere here of Th» Avengers.' British fllm dedicated to Norwegian resistance to - aggrcision. and scheduled for Century theatre T\mf a