Variety (Dec 1942)

RADIO MUSIC STAGE U. S. EASES THREAT TO PK U. S. Soldiers Disapprove of Hilarity At Home While They re at the Front ■fr- A poll taken in New York among (oldiers from the various war fronts signiflcantly reflects their attitude about the boys engaged in the far- - flung battlefields as against the war- boom spending sprees back home. Survey, made by the Hotel Gov- ernor Clinton, N. Y., management to decide whether it should drop its New Year's eve revelry plans, re- veals a definite undercurrent of dis- approval by the U. S. combatants to hilarity current in niterles and other spots. Singled out for criti- cism, in particular, were the defense workers. Soldiers polled, according to Rob- ert J. Glenn, the Clinton's hotel gen- eral manager, expressed the hope there would be 'a sane observance this New Year's commensurate with good taste.' Hotel, accordingly, has abandoned plans for its Coral Room floor show and will usher in '43 on a strictly 'business as usual' basis, despite fact that it packed 'em in to the tune of 1,800 last New Year's at $7.50 per head. Really Excited A New York vaudeville booker had been very worried by the threat of induction by the Army. When it was announced that no men over 38 would hence- forth be drafted, which lets him out, the show buyer got so excit- ed he started paying acts $29 more. War Correspondents' Kudos for Col. Zannck's Heroism in No. Africa HiU WiU Replace Mo'With Parade Of Old Pop Songs The program with which George Washington Hill, American Tobacco Co. prez, proposes to replace 1n- fQrjnBliQa,...Ple8ae' _oj»..Jfll«C Friday nights, involves another Hit Parade Wea, but the repertoire m the newer Instance will be songs dating back 20 years or go. It will be a half- hour stanza, using a large dance unit, solo vocalists and a mixed chorus. Hill has not as yet mdicated, through his agency, Lord & Thomas, what his disposition will be toward 'Information' when the renewal op- tion on the quiz comes up in a couple weeks. TRAGEDY PERKS HOTELS N. Y. Patrons Steer Away From NIterlei Since Hnb Fire The hotels are cashing In on the Boston Cocoanut Grove fire, at the expense of the niteries, at least so far as New York Is concerned. In Gotham, the supper clubs have been hit hard by the Hub tragedy. The hostelries, however, with their roomier dinlng-and-dancing restau- rants, plus the steel construction and •"Tianifold fire exits, etc., have perked m&>rkedly. Col. Darryl Zanuck, known by many of his former associates in the film business to have landed in Africa with the big American di- vision there, is disclosed by reports reaching New York from news- paper correspondents to be pho- tographing 'the biggest production of his life.' And that's no small potatoes for a guy who's credited with some 70 films, among them some of the biggest grossers of their day. Zanuck, film advisor to the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, is re- vealed to be in charge of a crew of 90 lensers. They're picturing every aspect of the invasion of the Americans of North and West Africa and the current struggle for Tunisia. This is the first battle in which the AEF has met the cream of the Nazis' blitz force. Despite his rank. Zanuck is dis- closed to be getting his pictures the hard way. According to the correspondents, he's right In the thick of the firing almost all the time. OauU, MacGowan, of the New York Sun, quotes Sgt. Robert Ed- wards, of Achland, O., as saying: 'Col. Zanuck constantly amazes us. He insists on going to the front (Continued on page 16) SUN VALLEY FORCED TO FOLD BY HELP SHORTAGE DflllFT-IIGE II Industry Heads-.jSe« Major Relief Via War Manpower Commission - .^and End to Labor Chang-'ieovers— Halts Talent and Techni- cian Enlistments BUT NO CURE-ALL Uncle Sam's new draft age regula- tions and the emergence of the War Manpower Commission as a dominant factor in handling the nation's man- power pool last week impressed Hollywood and New York film indus- try toppers as a major relief. Picture producers previously were burdened by approaching insur- mountable talent and manpower obstacles. The threatened disintegra- tion of the intricate, highly special- ized production branch of the busi- ness now appears likely to be averted. Realignment of Selective Service operations under the War Manpower Commission, chairmanned by Paul V. McNutt, by presidential decree over the weekend is viewed in show business as likely (1) to halt the exodus of topflight performers, di- rectors, writers from the studios via enlistment, and (2) allow for some deliberation on the comparative val- ues of studio personnel (including vital technicians) before irreplace- able manpower is moved about. Coming earlier in the year, this Government action terminating vol- untary enlistments and fixing the draft age below 38 might have con- served for the industry some of its biggest boxoffice names (Clark Ga- bte>--as well as personnel not so well known to the public, but none the less invaluable behind the scenes in productioiL Coming at this time, when the call on studio manpower for assignments in various Government film-produc- ing units has reached huge propor- tions, the order has been received with high favor because it is consid- ered likely to provide a measure of (Continued on page 16) ASCAFs $4M Melon for M Kepotes Fast Post-Radi0 Recovery King Publicity Thanks to the publicity gained during the 'Wine, Women and Song' trial, Margie Hart, over whom the major fuss started, has got herself a manager and is asking $3,500 a week for theatre and cafe dates. Her top price in the past was $1,500. Being handled by Charles Yates of Frederick Bros. Legit 'Eileen' Seen Passing Pic Version On Length of Rnn Max Gordon believes his 'My Sis- ter Eileen' will continue its stay on Broadway long after the'highly re- garded film version, which played j three weeks at the Music Hall, Radio I City, will have completed release. Business for the play has dropped ! again, but with the actors taking a I salary cut, 'Eileen' can go along in- {definitely. Pay deal calls for the cast to re- ceive a pro rata share, according to receipts, with full pay if the gross exceeds $6,500. There is a sliding scale starting at $4,500 which Is con- siderably under the lowest takings to date. The usual Equity minimum o( $50 weekly applies at the $4,500 figure. 'Eileen' now in its 103d week, will be berthed in its fourth Broadway house, slated for the Broadway from the Rifz on Sunday (13), former house b^ing available by the abrupt withdrawal of the New Opera outfit. Gordon sought a large-capacity thea- tre and thought of going to the Adel- phi. Latter was taken over, renamed the Radiant theatre and operated .spasmodically for awhile by 'Master Metaphysicians,' a cult whose leader is in jail because of fraud. Washington, Dec. 8. Sun Valley, Idaho winter sports resort, will close its doors to the pub- lic Dec. 20 for the duration. Persons holding reservations for the Christ- mas holidays were being notified to- day. Manpower shortage, food and fuel rationing and transportation dif- ficulties were the reasons given by general manager W. P. Rogers for the closing. He explained that he had conferred here Monday with rubber czar Wil- ; liam L. Jeffers, president of the i Union Pacific Railroad, which oper- ates the resort, about the closing. ' COMEBACKS BECKON TO A. K. MAESTROS ACrS LOVE OF A DOG CANCELS 8-MO. TOUR Major band booking agencic; re- port increasing calls each week from 'retired'' bandleaders who now wish to return to action. Stories telling of the number of inductions and en- listments by current leaders have apparently convinced the a.k.s that the time is ripe for a comeback. Some are going ahead with plans to reorganize. Others get discouraged when told of the difficulty of secur- ing mu.sicians. A full-breed spitz dog that had been their pet for five years has re- sulted in Rollo & Verna Pickerl, ! novelty hoofing turn, passing up an ] eight-month tour with USO-Camp Shows. Transportation made taking I the dog with them prohibitive. Dance duo handed in it£ notice and checked out of the 'Going To Town' unit on Dec. 5 after two weeks. Bob Ripa, juggler, replaced the husband- wife team. I "Going To Town' is one of Camp Shows' smaller units and does much • of its traveling by bus. Restrictions. I by bus companies against animals 1 brought about their nix of the tour. ASCAP win come through 1942 with a financial stoiy that will im- press not only th6 members but out- siders as extraordinary when ana- lyzed through the dubious licensing outlook that faced the organizatibn when it emerged, badly defeated, in late 1941 from its 10-months battle with the radio interests. The Society is slated to distribute $4,4iM),000 in royalties by the end of this year, a sum which Is but 11% under ASCAP's peak diwy year, namely, 1940, when the split among writers' and publishers amounted to not quite $5,000,000. What makes the recovery especially significant is the fact that radio during 1942 has been paying a commercial fee that Is from 2V4% to 3%% under that which prevailed for 1940. The margin of sustaining pay- ments from radio will figure around $500,000 less than It was for. 1940. Despite the sharp reduction in its contractual rates wlUi radio, ASCAP might have been able to meet that 1940 distribution level if It hadn't during the past 11 months made certain heavy operating expendi- tures, such as replacing' its system of lawyer district representation with its own operated offices. The budget now being set up for 1943 in- (Continued on page 53) Reported D.C May Declare Pix. Bi^ Issentud' Hollywood, Dec; 8. " 'Discussiond were heWhere-ovw. She weekend between William Hophina. regional director of the War" MiSm- power Commission, and Screen Guild union heads pointing to a 48- hour week predicated on the picture business being declared essential to the war effort. It is understood here that such classification will soon be C9ming through. Union heads were told that the general Government directive requires a 4a-hour week for essential ■ industries, with overtime to apply I after 40 hours. Studio unions are now working on 36-hour week basis, but there is some talk of working out a weekly guarantee for a certain number of men in each craft which would as- sure Ihcm liberal earnings. The plan would work thusly: Pro- ducers would figure out the number of painters necessary over a certain period. If the figure Is 800, there would be a 48-hour weekly guar- antee for that number of men. It .w.opld ll^en devolve upon the union to pick the men who would receive that guarantee.