Variety (Dec 1942)

Wednesday, Dccwnber 1942 55 Letters Back Home Continued from p«g* * training camp just opened at Day- tona Beach. Anyway It did a helluva lot for my morale. Jock Harvey. P.S.—Has the salary treeze caused the following to be chanted by the Hollywood agents? Praise the Lord, how do I get com- niission.' Anoltaer Ez-P. A. Beports Fort Bragg, N. C, Nov. 27. Editor, 'Variety': For the past week Tve been try- ing to figure out Just what there is for an ex-press agent who has fpent some 18 months in the Army to write about That is, some- thing that will be of some inter- est to readers and -will not bring <lown the frowns of the War Dept. Believe me it's a problem. Don't forget that the majority of my writ- ing in the past 18 months has been confined to writing letters home for some of that n^sterious quality once known as moolah. So, if what fol- lows is to wind up In your waste- basket, please blame it on the fact that the Army is much more inter csted in the way I handle the Ca pone type of 'typewriter,' than it is in my results on a Remington or Hoyal. My last trip to New York on fur lough last summer was discouraging «s Musso is to Adolf. How would you feel if you hit New York and found that you'd been away so long that'the only chorine you knew was Chic Gagnon—who was working in 'This Is the Army.' As for the dim out. It reminded me of all the Jokes Berle and Youngman used to tell ubout Philadelphia. I see by the columns where Dave Wolper now has about 40—count 'em—40 gals working at the Hur ricane. Where'd he get 'em? Did he raid a welding school or an air plane factory? And I notice that my old stamp ing grounds, the Kit Kat, Is now the Cafe Life...What is that? A nisht club or a habit? You'll be relieved to know that at least one of Broadway's grandest old traditions hasn't been afTected by the war. Just got a letter from Pa tricia Price, ■ dancer at the Chez Paree in Chicago, in which she asks me if 1 know an Irv Gasman, w id is niso stationed here at Fort Bragg. She adds that he is the boy friend of another of the chorines at the Chez Paree. and mentions that his outfit is—you guessed it—the post band! Most of the letters I get from old pals a.';k the same question. How did the other boys at camp react to the swell news of the success- ful invasion of Africa? That's a hard one to answer. How would Billy Rose feel if he devoted all of his time and effort to putting on a show—in which he only had a .small .<:hare—and was called to the Coast the nisht before the show opened and clicked big? Naturally, he would feel swell about the success, but he certainly would feel badly about not beiPH in on the scene of the triumph himself. Another big question from the civilians these days Is what to send to & guy in the service for Christ- mas. Well, you've got a wide lati- tude of choice there. Smokes, food n good bottle of scotch If you can .send it to him by Railway Express care of some town near his post (not /or men overseas by t^ie wav), but don't try sending it to camp as that's against army regulations, and a million other things. But from my fide of the fence the nicest gift I can think of Is this: Buy a box of stationery; write a letter on every pase and then send It along. The happiest soldiers are the ones who get plenty of mail and papers to read; it's a sure cure for loneliness. But, getting back to that scotch, in my case, Fayettevllle, N. C. Is mighty nilose to Fort Bragg and the Railway Express office there is plenty bi?. However, on the whole. Army life i.<'n't S3 bad. We can ride around in G.I. vehicles (on business) with- out ruining one eye keeping it on the gas gauge; and If a tire starts wearing thin from constant wte. it doesn't call for any gray h^irs. They still put sugar On the tables down here at camp and nobody .counts the number of cups of cofte" we drink in the morning. ..and last Tuesday we had chicken. Just met a G.I. who looked happy n.s all hell. He was reading about the wage earners ceiling and smil- ing so hard his gums looked like a pnrlay of Joe E. Brown and Jolson in blackface. I asked him what 'ip was so pleased about and he re- ■ ccl, 'If I were still a civilirn this $25,000 wage ceiling would worry the hell out of me... I used to be a $100,000 a year partner in a ho- siery firm... but as a $78 bucka a month sergeant, it doesn't bother me at aU.' • Guess that's about all for now... Tell the readers to go back to Berle and Laurie, they can turn out Inter- esting stuff. Cpl. Curt Weinberj;. Cole Bros. Dig In For Winter at Lodsville Louisville, Dec. 1. Cole Bros. Circus has again taken up winter quarters at the State Fair Grounds after a cross-country trek which included 158 cities. Circus arrived in town last week with 30 double-length railroad cars and stored the equipment in barns and buildings. Zack Terrell, prez, said a number of new animals, elephants, etc., were acquired toward the close or the season, and brought on to LiOUisville from Pensacola, Fla., where the show closedvTerrell plans to go out again in the spring, if transportation difficulties do not pre- vent the tour. Reading Amus. Park Brings $22,500 at Sale Lebanon, Pa., Dec. 1. The amusement park owned by Ferdinand Gremminger, of Reading, known as Mt Gretna and located nine miles south of this city, in the South Mountains, was .sold at sher- iff's sale here to the Lebanon County Trust Co., representing a $30,000 mortgage holder, for $22,500. Grem- minger did not attend snle. Plans for 1943 for the re-sort,- 135 acres in extent and including a large lake, with bathhouses, canoe rental and other building.s, are un- certain, because of the war. Mort- gage interest, $1,155. and execution costs, $2,200, are charged against the property, as well as the mort- gage principal. Lileraii St. Louis Rodeo Nets $60,000; Sunbrock Out St. Louis, Dec. 1. The Rodeo and Thrill Show, by the St. Louis Firemen's Pension Fund, netted the fund approximately $60,000 and it marked the passing of Larry Sunbrock as a promoter In this town. Tom Packs, head man in the wrestling and boxing promotional field here, was th.: producer in con- junction with Fire Chief Joseph Morgan. This was the show in which Sun- b'ock, formerly a familiar figure In such promotions here, failed to take a hand. He and Packs worked to- gether In New York, Philadelphia and other eastern cities last summer but since parted. Sunbrock attempted to join In the promotional end of the St. Louis show and. failing, tried to get a Job as m.c. Packs turned ("own the re- quests. F. C. C. Probe Continued from pace 32 ; of WMAK was assigned to WBEN, which began operations in 1930. WKEN was discontinued shortly thereafter. A* 12-point docket has been made public and the FCC will ask BBC officers to supply answers to these points, among others: The determination of BBC's qunlifloations to operate stations WKBW ?nd WGR. Full information about the re- lations of the licensee with the Churchill Tabernacle (operated in Buffalo by the Rev. Clinton H. Churchill, one of the orig- inal operators of WKBW In the early days of radio before the corporation's formation). Information about the exist- ence, nature, extent and effect of agreements or understandings by which the BBC controls the two stations. Examination of agreements between the BBC and the Taber- nacle, especially what rights the Tabernacle reserve.s or attempts to reserve in control of the sta- tions. Information about sums of money paid by the licensee to the Churchill Tabernacle. The manner in which payments were accounted for in reports to the FCC. WKBW is the, Columbia outlet In Buffalo, while WGR carries Mutual programs. However. WGR is forced to carry most of the Columbia's choice commercial programs on Sun- day throufih an iron-bound, lonp- term contract made by the Rev. Churchill in the corporation's early day.s. The Tabernacle, evangelistic enterprise calling itself 'Buffalo's largest spiritual workshop,' monopo- lizes WKBW s Sunday schedule with a morning .service from 10:45 to noon and an organ recital from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.. and evening service from 7 to 10 p.m. and a 'Back Home Hour' from 11 to 12 midnight. BBC tried to break this Sunday stranglehold through court action .several years- ago, but was iinsiiccc.'-.sful. NEW SLATE SWEEPS SHOWMEN'S LEAGUE Chicago, Dec. 1, Election of the Showmen's League of America yesterday iMon.) re suited in an independent ticket being swept into office by a wide majority for all offices, except the treasurer. Jack Nelson elected pres ident, Fred H. Kressman, first vice president, Harold Paddock second vice-president, S. T. Jesscp, third vice-president, William Car.sky only regular ticket winner, nosed out Lee Sloan for treasurer by 40 votes. Joe Streibich, secretary for many years, was unopposed. Censorship .Aftermath Suspended senlcncc of two years has been impo.seo on Texas-born Edward Gay Rohrbou^h. ssn of a West Virginia Congressmun and staff member of the Toronto Daily Star, whose Time mag story, dc.-iling with disorders at the Nazi prison camp at Bowmanville, Ontario, resulted In charges of violation of ihe Dcfen.se of Canada regulations. His .story had to do with the resistance set up by Luftwaffe and submarine crew mem- bers who resented being handcuffed In reprisal for the manacling of Canadian prisoners at Dieppe. In the 15-minute hearing, the re- porter pleaded guilty and said that most of his facts had been secured second-hand. His counsel contended that the Nazi prison camp .story had appeared in 'Time' rs a rewrite and that, in mailin'^ the yarn. Rohr bough had no wish or intention to slip somethinrr over on Canadian news censorship. Rohrbouch's account broutrht about diplomatic complications, the fear buins cxorcsscd that i's pub- lication woulfl result In crealcr in- dignities and cruelties being impo.scd by Germ.nny on Al'ied prisoners. Canadian war publicity mtcndcd tor the U. S. All stories having an Ainericun or international angle nui>t in (iiturc be brought to the attention or Ihe board ahead of tijne so thai the external division of WIB. operating tmder Campbell Smart, can prepare for the best possible reception of the .stories throiitih itS'Ncw York and Washing- ton offices. Argentine News S Cootlnued Ironi page 29 that rules in themselves are mean ingless unless backed by a desire to really root out Axis use of communi- cations and that anyway any rules governing communications compan- ies mean little so long as Berlin and Rome Embassies are permitted to continue their private transmitters. Summary of regulations follows: . 1. Functions and duties of local censorship are defined. 2. Rules for establishment of the responsibility of communications companies are set up. 3. All telecommunications which tend to affect the security of Ameri- can countries directly or indirectly are prohibited. 4. All messages in code or cypher are prohibited. 5. Languages are limited to Span- ish, Portuguese, French, English, Ger- man and Italian. 6. Permanent service is estab- lished for the suppression of clan- destine radio stations. 7. Strict control of private cables based on the establishment of a register and licensing. In first case, register shall comprise all banks, mercantile companies, associations with legal status, accredited commer- cial firms, etc., which after inscrip- tion in the register and having proved their legal status and activi- ties, will be permitted to .send cables dealing exclusively with banking and matters pertaining to compan- ies' business. In the second case, licensing system for individuals will be set up. They must justify the rea- son for their messages and duly establish their identity and respon- sibility. - Enforcement will be in the hands of the Director General de Correos y Telegrafos tPostofTice) headed by Dr. Horacio Rivarola. The prohibition of code merely means stopping of code messages that are obviously such. It's feared in .some quarlcrs that news correspondents alrciidy limited in what they can .send out may have to ^)altle thiough each cable, not merely tho.se which 'affect the se- curity of American countries' but any that contain rcfcicnccs to local government. Issuance of deci-ee came a day after officials discovered the exist- ence of a clandestine radio station operated by the Cia. Plantense de Electricidad Sicmcns-S.hurkert, Na7.i electrical outfit which is on the offi- cial black list, Found that this trans- mitter, installed in the suburban dis- trict of San Fernando, was used to transmit information of value to the Axis. Among those held is Otoman MuUer. a- high official of Sicmens- Schuckert. Companies still accepting cables to Axis countries include Transradiu and Italcable and telephone service is .still available via. J. T. T. and. Tr: nyr-. r'it). Darrell Martin Sentenced Darrell V. Martin, former radio editor of the Pittsburgh P.ist-Gazette. was sentenced Monday (30) to 8 to 23 months in the workhouse by Judge John P. E;;an after the jurist had refused Martin's appeal for a new trial. He was convicted of taking $2,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Roy Claypool. of Kiltinning, P?.. to be used for a local radio weekly which Martin planned to publish. Ex-columnist pleaded guilty last September to fraudulent conversion and was given until Monday to make restitution to Claypools. Although he failed to repay them, Mrs. Clay- pool asked court if there was any other way to puni<-h Martin besides imprisonment. Judge Egan said no. Martin had obtained money from Claypools in October, 1941. De- fendant used money for his own use after depositing it under an account in his own name, it was testified. About two months ago, Martin brought out first and only issue of his weekly, a small affair devoted chiefly to logs of four local stations. He ignored the<programs of WWSW. That station is owned by Post- Gazette, which fired Martin as its radio editor more than three years ago. Wclfc Kaufman Inducted "Volfe Kaufman, film critic and head of the dramatic department of the Chicago Sun. h.ns been ordered tor induction Dec. 8. So far no re- placement has been announced, al- though W. A. S. Douglas, the pa- per's traveling editor, may fill in Cor the time being. Douglas recently took over the department when Kaufman vaca- tioned on the Coast. CHATTER Biicnjs Ai.es press phologs have formed the first !ens-.snappers or- ganization in South .America and aie anxious to get in touch with U. S. organizations working along the .-ame line. Group known as Asoc'acion de Rcporteros Graflcos, has headquarters at Paseo Colon 388. Title of Charles B. Driscoll's new book is 'Kansas Irish,' not, as was .stated last week. 'Shanty Irish.' Latter is the lag of bO oldie by Jim Tully. - Ask Press Freedom Argentine Asociacion de Period- istas (newsmen's group) has for- warded to Minister of Interior Misuel Culiaciali a petition request- ing lifting of rcstricUons which gov- ern dailies and m.ngazines there. Under state of sie.qc imposed last De- cember by then Acting President Ramon S. Castillo, freedom o£ speech was suspended for the duration and newspapers forbidden to editorallze on foreign affairs, supposedly be- cause such comment might affect country's neutrality. As It's worked out, however, the restrictions have served to hinder more and more pro-democratic sheets, while at the same'time permitting such Axis rags as 'Pampero' to carry on * pretty much as they pleased. Restrictions have become stronger and stronger in recent months with Government actually suspending for various periods dailies which dared to criticize Axis activities. War's Drain on McmpbLi Daily Probably hardest hit by the war ; drain on manpower of any news- I pr.per in Dixie is the editorial staff ! of Memphis' Commercial Appeal. 102-year-old sire of southern Jour- nalism. Virtually every department on the editorial room floor has been stripped of key men, most of them leaving fairly recently. Among first to go was Capt. John Hutchison, who had a detail of news- paper correspondents under his wing for the Army when the Yanks land- ed in Africa on Nov. 7. He volun- teered long before the war's jul- brcak. Late.st are Dave McConncll, political columnist, and Claud Cur- lin, city reporter, both of whom en- tered the Merchant Marine. All told, the editorial department counts 27 key men gone into service, a remarkably large number for a paper in a town the size of Memphis. LITEKATI OBITS Elmore C. Lefflngweil, 64. press agent and former newspaper man, died Nov. 29 in New York. Henry J. Schnell, 67, editor and publisher of The Oil, Paint & Drug Reporter and The National Painter magazine, died Nov. 29 in Orange, N. J. John R. Covert, 64. Washington columnist for The Philadelphia Eve- ning Bulletin, died Nov. 28 in Wayne, Pa. He joined the paper in 1900, after serving as city editor for The Philadelphia Call. Walter Carver, 75, former owner of the Richmond (Ind.) Telegram, died there Nov. 24. Jolin Dee Sewell, 29, member Of the staff of the Washington Times- Herald for two weeks, died Nov. 25 in Washington. larry Whittlncton, 33. newspaper cartoonist and creator of 'Mazie the Model,' died Nov. 26 in New York, after being struck by an auto. Andrew M. (Andy) Lawrence, over 70. died in San Francisco Sat- urday (28). Veterac editor was identified with the Hearst newspaper enterprises for many years, chiefly in Chicago. He was credited with establishing the American and Herald-Examlner there. Harry F. Mallelt, 57. died Nov. 14 in° Berkeley, Calif. From 1010 to 1920 he was legislative reporter end feature writer with the Edmonton, Alberta. Journal and special corres- pondent for the London Times. When he left Edmonton, he Joined Ihe Oakland, Calif., Tribune. Closer Canadian Into Ties Clo.scr relationship has been brought about between the Wartime Information Board and the depart- mental publicity branches of the navy," army, air force and munitions and .supply I :n. matters rohilina tn War Curbs tackled By Outdoor Showmen Chicago, Dec. 1. Hundreds of outdoor showmen from all parts of the country are here attending one or another of the several outdoor organizations in convention at the Sherman Hotel. The path of the outdoor showman is roucher than ever due to re- st ictions caused "^y the war and this .■ car the meeting.'! hav- assumed a more serious tone. Problems of t' n.sportatlon, shortage of mate- rials and lack of manpower arc sub- je.ts undct discussion. Attendance i t the mejtings is thi. biggest in years. Among the organizations In ses- sion are the American Carnivals A-ssn., Inc.; American Recreational Equipment Assn.; International Assn. of Fairs and Expositions: Na- tional Assn. of Amusement Parks, r.:ols and Beaches and the Show- nen's League of America. Procecd- int.; win be climaxed tomorrow night (2) with the annual installa- t'on dinner and ahow of the Show- men's League «f America In Ihe Bal Tabarin of the Hotel Sherman. Bacus, Ft. Worth, tnto Training Fort Worth, Dec. 1. Roy Jacus, commercial manager of WBAP-KGKO and formerly re- porter for the Fort Worth Press, has become enrolled at the Naval Train- ing School, Tucson, Ariz: He h»<