Variety (Dec 1942)

Wednesday, December 2, 1942 CHATTEB 53 Lyle Andrews still seriously 111 at Lynbrook, L. I., home. John Golden installed at Lambs as new Shepherd Sunday (29). Ann Rutherford, 20th-Fox player, in from Coast for radio personals. Jessica Dragonette recouping after an appendicitis operation here. Paul Gerard Smith, in from Coast, may be represented on Broadway this season. Frances Hidden, of Richard Pit- man agency, operated on at" Roose- velt hospital. Jewish Theatrical Guild hosted service men at Lambs club on Thanksgiving day. Rodgers and Hart dropped work on 'Muehacha,' Mexican musical they were working on. Ellen Drew, whose husband, Capt. Cy Bartlett, is overseas, is trying to arrange a trip to England. Eddie Hahn, formerly with Phil Furst's ticket agency, winding up in the Army at Atlantic City. Mary Martin due east Friday (4) but will make no radio appearances, as had been previously planned. Playwright-scenarist Jerry Horwin now in the dispatching department of Douglas Aircraft on the Coast. Joan Barclay, RKO western player, arrived in N. Y. over the weekend for a visit. It's her first visit to the east. Leonard L. Levinson of the OWI has written a new play about over- crowded D. C. titled' 'Sherman Was Right.' Richard Marshall, who atientcd in San Francisco and Detroit, back with Arthur J. Beckhardt's Philadelphia stock. New Latin Quarter revue unfolds Dec. 14, with Mme. Kamorova and M. KamoroS again in charge of pro- duction. Ellas Sugarman, U°ade paper edi- tor, passed his Army piiypical on Saturday (28) and will be inducted on Dec. 4. Nick Marks, former actor who was In charge of Equity's addressograph department, suflai°ed nervous col- lapse at home. Betty Raskin, legit agent, to the Coast to settle some film contracts. Mrs. Murray Phillip's handles the of- fice during her absence. Ned Armstrong sitting in as p.a. for 'Stars on Ice' (Center) while Bill Doll is out of town ,-\head of 'Something for the Boys.' Paul Dudley, producer of C^>ca- Cola's 'Spotlight Bands' show, and' recently married to Joy Hodges, muslcomedy singer, in 1-A. Jack Arkin, Ben Marden's partner in the Riviera, etc., now at Princeton preparing for an officer's commis- sion in the Ordnance Dept. Ward Morehouse, Broadv/oy col- umnist for N. Y. Sun, busy writing a book and a play. Former is about the theatre, play is about the war. Jinuny Antinori, who left 'Variety' recently to enlist in the Navy, is in training at Bainbridge, Md. Also writing for training station's .sheet. Gallon bottle on bar of Bergen's Theatre Tavern contained $118 for the Theatre Wing, mostly in small coin donations when emptied Ihis week. , Walter Jacobs, former owner of the now Ai-my-flUed Lord Tarleton, takes over the Sheldon and the Sheldon-Windsor in Hollywood Beath Dec. 7. Mrs. William Fox, wife of the f .n'- mer film magnate, received S?d,000 from an auction sale of her art ob- jects. At her request she v/ns raid In War Stamps and Bonds. Only slight damage, according to Bob Weitman, managing director of the Paramount, N. Y., was caused last Wednesday (25) by a flre.s^(|ted when a lad in the audience dropped a cigaret under his seat. Though an alarm was turned in, the show was not interrupted and no refunds made. kota Indle exhibitors' organizations, meet here this month to discuss trade problem^. Because Warner Bros, failed to exercise option after three month's test June March, stripper, Is back froln Hollywood and in burlesk again, appearing as Hlrsch-Katz Al- vin theatre guest star for two weeks. SL Louis By Sara X. Hurst Charlie Goldman, owner of the Lyric and Senate here, will take the baths at Hot Springs, Ark. Mike Nash, owner-operator of the Ritz, California, Mo., and his son, Harry, are on vacation in Florida. The Burns Twins and Evelyn, dan- sapation trio, currently headlining floor show at the Club Continental, Hotel Jefferson. Clyde Metcalf and associates, own- ers of the Jersey. Jerseyville. Ill- have purchased the Lux. 500-seater in E^wardsville, 111. Fanchon & Marco and the St. Louis Amusement Co. tossed cuffo shows last week for 18 and 19 year olds and their parents. It was a stunt to bally enlistments. Rudolph Ganz. former conductor of the St. Louis symph orch, returned as a guest artist last week and drew a capacity crowd to the opera house of the Municipal Auditorium. B. Temborius, owner of the Grand, Breese, 111., escaped Injury when his auto ran into a ditch between Reese and Lebanon, 111. Mrs. Temborius suffered minor cuts and bruises. Fred Wehrenberg, prez of MPTOA of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois and prez of the Greater In- dependent 'Theatre Circuit of St. Louis, is in St. Anthony's hospitM, where he underwent an op. London Exchanges ContJnaed from page 13 siege of the flu...John Walsh. Ful- ton manager, back from Newport, R. I., where he went to see his ailing mother.. .George Jaffe. who owns and operates local burlesquery, the Casino, to Hot Springs for a few weeks...Ira C^>hn's 20th-Fox office awarded silver plaque for placing first in eastern division sales cham- pionship. Presentation made by Andy Smith. Jr.. at a luncheon which was also attended by Tom Connors and Edgar Moss...Jim Levine. Par exploitation man in this district, now occupying former accessory quarters on first floor of building. . ^ By Leu-Bees Lorraine Lynch back with Para- mount. Herman Prager added to RKO booking staff. William S. Miner, former St. Cloud, Minn., exhibitor, joining Universal •ales staff. Elmer Sedin. RKO auditor, father of 7Vi-pound cirl. Twin City Variety club to elect officers Monday (7). Stan Kenton into Prom Ballroom for one-nighter this week. Kay Green, magician and band leader, having final fling In N. Y. be- fore entering army. Bob Owens orch into Happy Hour nltery with return engagement of Fletcher Hender.son impending. Merle Potter, Berger circuit gen- eral manager, put on Thanksgiving show for Stillwater prison inmates. W. A. StelTes and Bennle Berger. indie circuit owners, on jaunt to Washington and N. Y. Former goes south soon for winter. Cavalry 1st Lieut. Oliver La Mere, ex-Metro booker here, stopped over enroute to Ft. Meade, Md.. for addi- tional training. Gunning for cap- taincy. Centra) States Conference, com- prising representatives of Minne- sota, Iowa and North and South Da- Upstatc Tbealre Men Albany. N. Y.. Dec. 1. Kingsley (King) Ryan, who runs the Ausable theatre In Ausable Forks, and the State, Keesville, is now an apprentice seaman at New- port, R. I. A projectionist Is helping to supervise one of the houses Sind a woman ticket seller the other, it is said here. Ryan is a brother of Wil- liam Anthony (Tony) Ryan. ex- Universal and Fox salesman. Another area exhibitor, William Barney, of the Grand theatre in Watervliet. has been commissioned a lieutenant, junior grade, in the Coast Guard Reserve. He owns a yacht now in Government patrol service on the Hudson River. Although Barney is provided with uniforms, it is understood he is not paid for the present part-time job. However, he I will be if an^ when sent to the ' Atlantic Coast. A third area exhibitor. Philip Baroudi, of North Creek, has been advanced to corporal. He was with a unit at Fort E(lward.>! on Cape Cod when last heard from. Film Row has produced two men *'ho have become officers and a third who is on the way to a com- mission. The bar-wearers are Richard P. Rosser. Jr.. former manager of National Theatre Supply, and Scott Lester, ex-advertising sale.s manager of the 20th-Fox exchange. The candi- date is William Estcs. also a National Theatre Supply employee. Wendell Frederick, who wa."! a.ssist- ant booker at Warners, is now at sea —he served a previous hitch. Adam Mllnarik. erstwhile Columbia shipper, is with the Navy in Alaska. More Femnie Staffera Omaha, Dec. 1. Omaha's film row. which always Roasted two women bookers, now has another. Regina Moleseed. of 20th-Fox who has been appointed to replace Pat Halloran who goes to the Army. Other casualtic!: at 20tli are Jerry Weisfeld. booker who wa.s replaced by Irvine Mills, Marjorie Wilkinson replacing Juliana Hittner. Lena Kuyk, contract clerk, has been re- placed by Mildred Williams. At Metro, there is now a woman office manager. Hazel Anderson, who was for a long time chief booker. She replaces office manager Howard Clark who goes into the Navy. Fred Fejfar replaces Miss Anderson and cashier Evelyn Cannon has been named second booker. Helen Baum. assistant cashier, replaces Miss Can- non as cashier. Jerry Marcus also of the M-G exchange, has gone to the Army. Omaha has another woman booker. Alice Neal, of Warner Bros. Ballet Jooss being rehearsed for reopening early next year. Paul Soskin film activities being held up due to his indisposition. Teddy Brown has started a four- week tour of American troop camps. The Harry Nesbitts, at this writ- ing, expecting addition to family. They now have one boy. Chris Gill suddenly rushed to Bolton and Southport to replace Tessie O'Shea, who was stricken ill. For first time in many years, Vic- toria Palace is to have a pantomime this Christmas. Bert Montague is producing. Charles L. Tucker Enterprises have acquired provincial rights to 'No Orchids for Miss Blandish' from George Black. After four weeks in the stick.s, Eric Maschwitz and Jack Hylton's 'More New Faces' is bcinj; with- drawn to be recast for West End. Teddy Morgan to head his own vaudeville unit, in association with agent Len Mitelle and Charles Fox. It's to be titled 'You Sed a Mirthful.' Bunny Warren, general manager at Adelphi theatre for Tommy Bios- tock, runs the Spotlight club as side- line. It's for actors to rest in be- tween shows. Frank McMillan, formerly general manager for Campbell, Connelly, who has been ailing for the last six months, is now general manager for Noel Gay Music Co. Duke of York's theatre, one of the few staying shut in West End since last blitz, being dickered for by Liibien Samett, with Jack Hylton and Tom Arnold also bid- ding. Jack Waller's 'Musical Cavalcade,' comprising all the hit numbers from "No, No. Nanette,' 'Mercenary Mary' and "Princess Charming,' Anally be- ing revived as Christmas attraction for Glasgow. Somerset Maugham's 23-year-old comedy. 'Home and Beauty.' was re- vived at the Playhouse with an ad- mirable cast, without whom the piece would have been so hopelessly outmoded it wouldn't hold together. Jack Hylton has finally set pan- tomime of 'Jack and Jill,' which played 15 weeks at Palace theatre last year, to go to His Majesty's as Chrl.stmas attraction. Cast will be headed by Arthur A.skey. Flor- ence Desmond and Eddy Gray, same as la.st year. Group of London busines.s men started negotiating with Russian Government to bring Lepeashen- kaya, premiere Russian ballerina, to head revue in West End, with $25,- 000 bankroll lined up. Russian (Gov- ernment turned down project. Re- vue was to have been titled 'Allies in Wonderland.' Some time ago a paragraph ap- peared in 'Variety' staling Firth Shephard had been charged by the Board of Trade with having used more material than permitted under the rationing law in the dressing of his show. 'Fine and Darid>.' at the Saville. The action was against an entirely different iniinagemen:. Shephard never having infringed Government rulings. Pittsburgh By Hal Cohen Dancer Jean Blanche in town with her mother. Vinoe Corelli has replaced Wilky Benner as pianist with Etzi Covato band i-.t Villa Madrid. Vincent Joyce has left KQV to join announcing staff at WWSW. It's n boy for the Frank A. Yu.'ids. He's with the local AP office. Maria Scottlie is the new night receptionist at station KDKA. Nut House in Millvale will move to a downtown location in few week.-:. Stanley lias booked Gcortco Whitc'.s tab 'Scandals' .for week of Dec. 11. Clair Mecder unopposed this year for prez of Local (iO. mu.sicians union. Sam Nixon's wife back to N. V. to be with her mother, who's seri- ously ill. Former Pu.st-Gazette reporter Joiiii Robin appointed to a SC.OOO per year city post. Maurice Spitalny In Indianapolis for a few days to gel a pock at liis new grand.son. Max Tarshi.s has returned to ihe .show at Club 51 after getting iii.-i tonsils clipped. Esther Heller's (lunre. Allen Ru- dick, appointed to officer's school at Camp Lee. Va. Tech drama school's next produc- tion. '9 Pine Street.' will be directed by Thomas Job. Ejirl Leech, of E;irl and Jo.-cephinc Leech, dunce team, takc.^ his first physical this week. "True and Trudy Wilkin.^. The Golden B.iir.' back at Nixon C'ai'e for annual engagement. Norman Porter touring ;irmy camps in USO production of Yon Can't Take It With You.' Mary Krieg leaving Baron Elliott's band to join her husband. En.sign William Cain, in Miami. Steve Minton released from naval officer's training after three weoks because of his hay fever. Marjorie Hyam.s, vibraphonist with 4 Styli.sts at Roosevelt hotel, bride of John Tatum. leader of unit. Sol Jacobson In town .-ihcad of 'Spring Again.' which will play Nixon as subscription offering. Private Gabe Rubin, owner and operator of Art Cinema, home from Atlantic City on his first furlough. B. Iden Payne, former member of Carnegie Tech drama school faculty, returning to the staff next semester. Frank Strang hurries from Play- house after every performance to his midnight-to-8 shift in a defense plant. Jeanie Owens (Mr.s. Harry Fields), formerly of dance team of Liberto and Owens, into 'Something for the Boys.' Ailing Eddie O'Kccfe. company mgr. of 'Claudia.' had to return to New York last week and Buford Ar- mitage doubled from his stage mgr's berth. Honolulu Washington Earle theatre will lo.se its manager, Fred Thomas, to either the Army or Navy. Eddie Keller, the National the- atre's treasurer, in Mt. Alto hospital for physical checkup. Jimmy Lake's Gay Nineties Club on Ninth street, just opened, is get- ting a big play from socialite^s. Blackout ball for Stage Door Can- teen at the Mayflower will get a $5 top. This will include a dinner. Sixteen Earle Roxyettes were offi- cially named 'Sweethearts of the Sig- nal Corps,' after their last visit to Boiling Field. Sam Sachs, who took Jack Nichol- son's place when latter went to war, is tagged himself. Notified to go to Fort Meyer for physical. District Commissioner John Rus- sell Young called a meeting of the- atre execs to discuss plans for 1943 Birthday Ball celebration. Theodore Lohmeyer, who collected 5.200 pounds of scrap at the Avalon theatre, won Salvage Committee S25 bond, presented by Carter Barron. Bob Harper, assistant to Carlton Duffus, U. S. Treasury War Savings Staff, resigned to go with Motion Picture Advertising Service as Wash- ington rep. Al Jolson here Friday (27) for huddles with Gen. Frederic H. Os- born and Lt. Col. Marvin Young. Plans more touring of Army camps and may go overseas again. More than 50 turned out for Buck Jones' Variety Club luncheon. Hotel Willard couldn't supply waiters, so Harry Brown of Monogram rounded up a corps of volunteers, who served the drinks and buffet luncheon. Mexico City By Donglas L. Grabame Film actor John Wayne visiting. Joaquin Pardave. veteran .stage and pic comic, signed by Gonznio Elvira for his Cimesa Film-s. Xavrer Cugat orch invited by government's tourist department to visit Mexico in the near future. Ortega Sisters (2), pop radio singers specializing in Mexican folk songs, off to the Argentine for air dates. Hernandez Bros. '3), Colombian guitarists and singers, who have been in Mexico nearly two years, on a farewell tour prior tu le.iving for their homeland. J. Navarre Hidalgo, tenor, back from the U. S.. featured on .semi- weekly programs at local radio .station XEOY. He sings with equal facility in Spani.sh. English and French. Charle.s Pliilipp. French pic pro- ducer, now refuging In Mexico, has joined Cimesa Films as a.s.sociate producer. With Gonzalo Elvira he's readying a version of 'Ojo.s Ncgros' ■ Black Eyes'), ba.^ed upon the pop Mexican song of that name. Ramon Novario .signed for an un- specified number of pix by Films Mundiales. He is to start first chore early in January. Novairo has jii.st completed hLs first Mcxi- . can pic. the male lead in 'Rcina I de Reinas' I'Queen of Queens'), j story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mexico's patron saint. Lewis' 30th Anni ^— Continued from pace Z I around. But good war (unes or bad ones, you can't stop the American ; enthusiasm for singing them. There's I just as much spirit today as there j was back in 1918. I've never been . so besieged by pi ospectivc .•■ong- ; writers as now. and everyone of I ihcm has written a waj- song. I Bui you should see .-oine of those lyrics. It was a sombre and quiet celebra- tion broken only by occasional dips- into the medicine bottle-. 'Tho.se trains! You don't mind the draft board taking musicians in .some out of Ihe way place where you can't get » replacement. That's not so bad. I can always go back to the original four pieces I started with 30 years ago.' It's still 10 gallons of gas a month, and try and get more. Gpv't gone tough on orders con> cerning carrying gas masks. Johnny Noble celebrating his 25lh year as song writer and band leader. E. K. Fernandez, circus man, fiy- Ing to coast for shows for the USO. Every day is Xmas for all picture houses no matter how ancient the film. World-famous magician. Max Ma- lini. died Oct. 23, son Ozzie with USED. Bob MacGuignn, new head man in publicity for Consolidated Anni.se- ment Co. John Halliday producing, directing and acting in his productions fur service men. Robing McQuestion, concert violin- ist, has home guard revue touring outside islands. Honolulu Community Players still carrying on with the shows going to other islands. Joe Custer, UP writer, underwent third eye operation for injury re- ceived in Solomon battle. Grim evidences of the Solomons' struggle daily before us, our lads game beyond understanding. Freddie Bartholomew, IB, enlisted in Army Air Force. He expects to enter active service in January. Jack Sherrill, former Hollywood agent, sport director at Waikakalaua. Took him a week to learn to pro- nounce the word. One solid year of strict blackout orders with no relief in sight. Liv- ing constantly on the edge of ex- pectancy for months. Military Gov't places liquors at bottom on priority list, with cafes badly hurt for weeks as no booze here for past 11 weeks. Gov't lifted ban Nov. 10 on talent and entertainment coming here from mainland. This has been sore sub- ject with service lads for months. Robert Triimbull, staff correspond- ent N. Y. Times, and son of the late OIlie Mack, author of 'The Raft,' still p.m. editor of Honolulu Adver- tiser. Women street sweepers wearing beautiful flower leis as they toil, and everyone greeting them with aloha, replacing men pressed into other lines. Every female from 17 to 70 regis- tered Nov. 16 for Gov't labor short- age. All school children over 10 years, work two days per week picking pineapples or various other tasks. Six months' duration of this expected. Unless Uncle Sam takes over the eateries, or establishes all-night eat- ing spots for defense and Gov't workers, they just won't be able to eat. Scarcity of fresh meats and vegetables, coupled with early clos- ing, 6 p.m. and blackout regulations make it impossible for restaurants to operate. Steaks, if you can find, from $1.50 to $3. Leo Spitz laid up with bronchial pneumonia. Lynn Barl divorced her agenl-hus- bKnd, Walter Kane. Charles P. Skouras re-elected chief barker of the Variety Club. Mort Singer hopped off for an in- spection tour of his midwest theatres. S. Sylvan Simon returned to work at Metro after five days in the hos- pital. Carl Le.serman, general sales man- ager for United Artists, in town for 10 days. Solly Schwartz, theatre supervisor for RKO, In town for product con- ferences. Marlene Dietrich's daughter. Maria Manton, made her radio debut as a dramatic actress. Irving Ashcr arrived from London for Metro huddli s on future product in Great Britain. Corrine Churchill filed suit to .set' aside the will of her father, Frank Churchill, composer. Pat Casey, labor contact for the Producers, returned from confer- ences In Washington and New York. Frank 'Rick' RIcketson, Jr.. chief of Fox-Intcrmountain Theatres, back to Denver after huddles with Charles P. Skouras. Chicago WBBM welcomed news analy^t Alviii J. Steinkopf to .staff with stu- dio cocktail party for press. Dave Arlen has succeeded Mel Gold as publicity director for the Filmack Trailer Co. Gold is locating in Cali- fornia. Freedom Fairs will hold an exhibit at the Hotel Sherman Grand ball- room Dec. 12-18 for benefit of United Nations v/ar relief. ■ J. J. Murdoch and Pal Casey wer« Loop visitors.. Reminiscences of old circus days were revived with Tom Gorman, RKO district manager. Sylvia Astrahan, former newspa- perwoman and press agent, becam* the first Ixiop femme theatre execu- tive with lier appointment as assist- iinl manager of the Studio theatre. Theatres here sold more than $11.- 000.000 in war savings stamps and bonds since May 31 at 300 lobby booths, according to Mrs. Edward R. FIfleld. chalrmnn of theatre cnmmlt- tccin Chicago and Cook county.