Variety (Dec 1942)

Wednesday, Dec«iiibet 16, 1^42 47 Literati N. T. Dallies' BIf Strike Loss The newspaper deliverers' strike, which tied up distribution of all New York daUies excepting PM, the Brooklyn Eagle and Women's Wear Daily, necessitates a 100% rebate on all advertising. During the first day of the strike only token editions were run ofl^-but every edition was set and ready to go, including com- plete plating, regardless of the knowledge that only a miracle could turn the presses in time for Sunday night distribution. Dept stores, etc., don't even get billed in such emer- gencies. The two N. Y. tabs. News and Mirror, by agreement, didn't circu- late outside of their own buildings, and in short order their limited runs were exhausted. The Mirror only ran off 1,000 papers. Because of that the end of Tommy Manville's sixth marital misadven- ture was a secret to all but a hand- ful. Newspaper & Mail Deliverers Union called the strike against the . member papers of the N. Y. City Publishers Association Sunday (13) after protracted discussions con- cerning a renewal of a contract, which expired last June, had found- ered. The newspapers affected are the News, Mirror, Times, Herald- Tribune, Post, Sun, Journal-Ameri- can and World-Telegram. Union originally asked for a 15% wage tilt, one week's vacation with pay, wage Increases to be retroac- tive to July 1, and freezing of all jobs for the duration with no dis- missals because of gas, tire or other ' rationing. Following a deadlock about four months ago, the courts appointed an arbiter, over the union's objections, who awarded what amounted to 7% tilt In wages, vacations and retroactive pay, but gave the publisher* a free hand in revamping their organizational set- up because of rationing problems. The union disaffirmed this deci- sion. A 60-day cooling oSj>erlod, as provided In the union rontract, followed and, after the Federal Con- ciliation Service was unable to break the deadlock, the union called the strike. PM, which got a terrific circula- tion break via the strike, came up with a dally digest of pop comic strips appearing in newspapers not circulating. The digest covers Terry and the Pirates (News), Dick Tracy (News), Joe Palooka (Mirror), Mickey Finn (Mirror), and Super- man (Post). All the dailies were running off regular editions, in limited amounts, of course, with full news and busi- ness staffs on the job. Not only a question of holding news service franchises, but also a means of be- iiifi prepared for a sudden settle- ment. Bronx Home.News also enjoyed a marked spurt because of the strike. Dailies affected by the strike are trying to prombte radio time. The Times and Dally News have the radio edge on their competitors, via longstanding tieups with WMCA and WNEW, respecUvely. World- Telegram moved in at WQXR on Monday with the purchase of flve- minute newscasts every hour and a 15-minute slot at 3:15 pjn. to read the Raymond Clapper and Mrs. Roosevelt columns. The other dailies are reported. amenable to radio tie- ups, but unable to make deals since the choice local outlets are tied up. WINS, meanwhile, has been airing headline summaries, crediting the papers from which they originate, and using all dailies except the Times and Daily News, which are restricted to their affiliated stations by the deals with those outlets. Bie^est beneficiary of the strike has been PM, which jumped from 150,000 to better than 600.000 circula- tion on newsstands. The Daily Work- er, (Tommunlst Party dally, moved onto newsstands all over the city Tuesday and jumped Its circulation threefold to better |han 100,000 copies. The Worker Is handling its oWn distribution via a deal with the striking union—heretofore Metro- politan News had distributed the sheet The Bronx Home News and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle are sticking to their own bailiwicks. Former con- centrates on home deliveries and, with only a 3% newsstand circula- tion, has not upped its sales. The Eagle is sticking to its regular edi- tion schedule' and is interested only In covering regular readers. Has made no attempt to push the sheet outside Brooklyn and consequently has upped its circulation compara- tively little.' Supposed to have gone from 95,000 to about 110,000 per day. Technical Books' Big Sale Book-hungry war workers and en- gineers have put technical books in the best-selling brackets throughout the country, but particularly In sec- tors where large defense plants are located. Book store operators smart enough to cater to the overall crowd and develop or enlarge technical sec- tions are cleaning up, as are handful of technical publishers and writers. Femme influence is also apparent in sales, due to the influx of women In- to defensi work. According to all trade indications, this will be the best year for books in general in years, but the technical oiclure is particularly rosy. Indica- tive of the importance of the how- to-do-it book is the fact that the Chicago Sun, N. Y. Times and N. Y. Herald-Tribune are starting special departments devoted to reviews of technical -books. Sun Is also calling its Jan. 3 book section Technical Books Issue.' Waldemar Kaempffert, science editor of the Times will re- view technical books regularly on on that paper, while James Stokley, of General Electric's research labor- atory, will review for the Herald- Tribune. Military books, which can be con- sidered as part of the technical group, are also big sellers to en- listed men and officers. Such titles as "The Officer's Guide' and 'Practice for the Army Tests, 1942' are rep- resentative of the military titles which move. PiAlishers active in the technical field include: McGraw-Hill, Wiley, Military Service Publishing Co., Cornell, Bruce, Audel, Ronald, Van Nostrand, Reinhold, American Tech- nical Society, Prentice-Hall, etc. Bnssky t« 'Cablese' New book to be published by Knopf next month will have a double translating job behind it when it appears. The book is The Siege of Sevastopol,' by Boris Voitekhov, a Russky newspaperman who was in the city when it was besieged by the Nazis. Voitekhov gave the book to RaU>h Parker, N. Y. "nmes correspondent in Moscow, to translate from Russ- ian into English. Parker, however, translated it into 'cablese' instead, to save wire tolls in getting the book to New York. Knopf couldn't read cablese, so the book was handed back to the Times cable desk for re- translation into English. This is the first time since the war broke out, incidentally, that the cables were used to transmit a book from Europe to America. Wolfe Kanfnun In Civvies Wolfe Kaufman, film critic and head of the Chicago Sun dramatic department, has not been inducted by the U. S. Army after all. Kaufman failed to pass the phys- ical exam. Liberty's New Makenp This week's issue of Liberty (16) under its new editor, Jerome Ellison, makes its bow in new makeup. Boosted from 58 pages to 74, biggest change is introduction of a book con- densation, original with Reader's Digest. First week's tab book is 'The Commandos' by Elliot Arnold. Ellison introduced the condensed book idea in the Digest when he was an associated ed. there. Sidney L. Hydeman is new art director, for- merly with Red Book, Harper's Ba- zaar and Cosmopolitan. N. T. Times' Femme Emphasis Assistant managing editor Bruce Rae of the N. Y. Times (when pub- lisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger was in London. Rae ran the paper en- tirely) has been sparkplugging that daily's buildup of its women's page. Kathleen McLaughlin is woman's editor. The N. Y. Times Hall (ex- Little theatre om West 44th street) is thus tied in promotlonally with this new Idea. Women programs are being held at the hall as part of the latter scheme. Ishbel Ross, crack N. Y. Herald- Tribune reporter, now retired, al- though still doing some book writ- ing, apart from her domestic duties, is Mrs. Rje. Mieb. Baying Combines Detroit, Dec. 15. Following considerable negotia- tions, managers of two Michigan buying combines have been ap- pointed with offices set up here. Lou Greenlcy, for the past 10 years a United Artists salesman here, became manager and buyer for the new Michigan Independent Exhibi- tors Association. His appointment is PM Caught Napping Marshall Field's PM muffed its biggest opportunity to date. With other dailies hogtied by the newspaper truckdrivers' strike, and PM's newsstand circulation jumping over the half-million mark, the daily has been distin- guished by its particularly dull editorial content. First day of the strike (Mon- day ) the sheet devoted five pages to a survey of Christmas shop- ping. Yesterday (Tues.) the sheet's lead yarn was a two- page analysis on the high cost of living. the formal entry of the new organi zation, which was formed among out-State exhibitors but now is in eluding metropolitan independents, into the buying field. Second is the report that James F. Sharkey, former RKO manager and recently manager of the Parkside here, takes over the post of C^rl W, Buermele a:s manager of the Co- operative Theatres of Michigan. Buermele resigned from the Co-ops two months ago to establish a new buying organization, General The- atre Service. Larry Le Seuer's Book Larry Le Seuer, CBS correspond- ent, just back from a year in Russia has signed with Alfred A. Knopf, for a book on the Stalingrad front. Volume, as yet untitled, will be com- pleted around April 1. Author now working on his obseirvations which will cover many phases of life in Russia from first counterattacks around Moscow in the autumn of 1941 to the defense of Stalingrad. Le Seuer entered, the Soviet via convoy and criss-crossed the country many times. El Pampero In Becelversblp Argentine court has just appointed a receiver to watch business oper- ations of leading Nazi newspaper in South America, £1 Pampero, as re- sult of a lawsuit brought by print- ing" house of Editorial Argentina S.RX. for unpaid biU of $13,300. Suit, heard before Judge Cermesonl, was filed by Dr. Jose Maria Rosa, head of Editorial Argentina, who claimed that he bad not been paid for print- ing and paper and that efforts to collect dtiring past six months bad been unsuccessful. Also charged that the Nazi weekly, Crisol, owed $3,820. Judge designated Adolfo Rawsi to go into the matter and, if unable to effect immediate collec- tion, authorized him to retain 10% of the gross take until debt plus interest and costs had been satis- fled. Action is considered unusual in that Argentine Congressional Com- mittee disclosed some time ago that the daily, which has a claimed cir- culation of 100,000, was mainly paid for by the well-heeled German Em- bassy. Sheet has long followed the practice of giving copies away prac- tically for nothing to newsboys who, because they keep most of the take, have ballyed its sales above that of regular-priced dailies. Gypola In Amerk Gypsy Rose Lee may do a monthly piece for American Mercury on a roving commentator assignment. Editor Eugene Lyons has invited her to start pronto. LITEBATI OBITS John O. Simmons^ 50, former head of the department of journalism at Syracuse U., and widely known among N. Y. newspapermen, died in Fort Bayard, New Mexico, last week, while en route to Arizona for his health. Before taking Ills post at the university he held editorial jobs with several dailies. Vincent Nevln, editor of The Virginia City News, died Dec. 6 In Virginia City, Va. Samsel E. ShanahJn, 69, editor of The Easton Star-Democrat, died Dec. 7 in Easton, Pa. He was editor and publisher of the paper ever since its inception in 1896. Arthor Dennis La Bines, 58, a member of the editorial staff of The. New York Times for the last eight years, and a newspaper editor In various parts of the country during the'last 35, died in Rockville Cen- tre. L. I., Dec. 11. Charles H. Spencer, 72, editor and publisher of the Newark (O.) Advo- cate, was killed Dec. B in a traffic accident For the last four years the paper has been operated by his sons, Frank W. and John, under their fathers' supervision. W. A. S. Douglas, formerly travel- ing editor for the Chicago Sun, has been taken off Ihc road by the latter to do a daily column called 'On the Sun Beam.' Denise Lrhlond-Zola, 58. daughter of Emlle Zola, died In Paris of a heart attack Dec. 14. Under the pen name of Denise Aubert, she wrote children's books and also authored a biography of her father. She was married to Maurice I>blond, author CHATTEB Leon Schlesinger's cartoon char- acter. Bugs Bunny, will be syndi- cated as a Sunday comic strip by NEA starting Jan. 10. 'Vultures of Hollywood' is a forth- coming 'expose' piece on the Holly- wood fan mag writers, with suitable excerpts, slated for American Mer- cury in an early issue. C. R. (Tip) Roseberry, amusement critic and columnist of Gannett's /.Ibany Knickerbocker News since 1936, sworn in as a lieutenant, senior grade, in the Naval Reserve. Charlotte (N. C.) newspapers have 78 men in the armed forces, 36 from The News and 42 former Observer staffers. The Spartanburg (S. C.) Herald-Journal has supplied 20 men. all enlisted. Jack Lait, N. Y. Daily Mirror editor, has left for Hollywood to spend the holidays and cover the Rose Bowl game for King Features. It's an annua] trip for Lait about this time. Due back in early January. Ed Sullivan took a justifiable crack, in his. .syndicated N. Y. News- Chi Trib col., as follows: 'Add Bad Tastes: Phil Cook's snide reference to Tony Martin's expulsion, one ra- dio performer chuckling at a radio star's grief.' Meyer Dayjs Disagrees CNiteries Boom I ConUnned from e 1 ^sssS though many homes-have already re- opened in Palm, Beach ahead of schedule this year. Hence, PB may enjoy- a surprise boom. New Orleans figures to do . well. St Louis is ex- cellent; Philly slow. Frisco and L. A. okay, although SF is inhibited by constant curfew orders due to its geographic location. However, one thing does seem ctf- tain; more than ever the hotels will get the business, at the expense of the cafes. Whether due to the Cocoa- nut Grove, Boston, catastrophe, or what, the hLtels are pacing much better than the clubs. Chi Bcservatlons Lag Chicago, iTec. IS. So far bookings for New Year's Eve reservations at hotels and night clubs here are behind what they were last year at this time. Chez Paree, which usually has an 80% placement of reservations at ttfis time, has 40%, while hotels, which are about 50% booked up by the second week in December have half of that It is general opinion, however, that this New Year's eve business wUl be the biggest here in years unless some bad news from the war fronts is received 'by that time. New York. EdtCor, 'Variety': On Page 1 of your cunenl i:>sue there is a story 'U. S. Soldiers Dis- approve of Hilarity at Home While They're at the Front,' the basis for this story being the reason given by a large New York hotel for dropping their plans for their New Year's Eve celebration. I do not mind telling you that this is a very disturbing viewpoint not only to the writer but the entire musical profession because New Year's Eve has always been the most important night in the entire year to musicians everywhere. . I take issue with this stand and place myself 100% on the other side of the fence. My observations, and they cover many parts of the coun- try, do not lead to ai^y such conclu- sions. I have seen no evidence what- soever that our soldiers do or would disapprove of New Year's Eve cele- brations. From what information I can gather and from personal in- quiries, it strikes me very conclu- sively that they would like to see their folks at home have as much fun as they can, consistent with the war effort, as long as conditions and the general situation allow them to. Our soldiers at the front and in other war sectors even write much more cheerful letters than conditions warrant to their relatives and friends at home to keep their morale bolstered up. Why in heavens name would they want New Year's Eve and other like celebrations discon- tinued? I have three sons in the service— two in the Air Corps and one in the Navy—whom I have Interrogated on the above and to say that they were astonished at the viewpoint of the management of this hotel is to put it mildly ta say the least. If there is any real concrete evi- dence supporting this point of view I would like very much to see same. Until I do I say it's the bunk, and that there are other reasons—not disclosed—for' the hotel's action. Meyer Davis. Detroit Eases Up On 'Eve' Curfew Detroit, Dec. 15. Protest that the shuttering of the night clubs and cafes here on New Year's Eve will 'involve the spend- ing of several million dollars by pa- trons and cut off employees and en- tertainers from $500,000 worth of earnings,' won a liberalization of the IJquor Control Commission's cur- few on the spots. Instead of the 10 p.m. shut-down ordered, the com- mission gave the go-sign to a 4 a.m. celebration—less than in rece'nt years but gladly accepted. Representatives of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees union, AGVA. numerous locals, the Metropolitan Cabaret Owners Association and others joined in the mass protest to the commission as it was considering a further restriction to make the New Year's Eve close 8 p.m. Nazis Tip Off Continued from pace 3 ; Friace Terrif San Francisco, Dec. 19. Advance nitery reservations and inquiries for New Year's eve indi- cate that this city's gaiety will be (.t a higher pitch than it was last year. However, a big 'if enters into the picture, and that's whether the au- thorities will relax the recently es- tablished midnight curfew on liquor sales and the new 1 a.m. closing hour edict for night spots. Most of those making Inquiries want to know whether they can usher in '43 into the wee hours of the morning. Last New Year's eve this war zone was under a pall because uf blackouts and the feeling that the Japs were planning to strike at Frisco at any minute. the ever-growing Influence of U- S.- made films there. Axis pictures, as was detailed In last week's 'Variety' have been practically eliminated from the western hemisphere and the Hitler radio was no doubt at- tempting to puff them against the day when Latin houses may once again play them. Accompanying-the buildup of their own films, the 'Hell' boys had some snide cracks about U. S. pictures. Germany, they declared, will 'leave to the Jews of Hollywood the task of creating commercial propaganda and of inventing >film heroes.' Addressed to Latin America, that was an en- couraging crack to U. S. film-makers, who are cooperating with the Coor- dinator of Inter-American Affairs in speeding their best product south. It .showed that the Axis is getting irked, so the films must be having good effect In Latin America. $22.50 Cottvert Contlnaed fiem page show and entertainment Is slanted for- quality but not quantity, George Ck>gl Is Blumentbal'a chief aide. Opener celeb guests Included Walt Disney, briefly sojourning here; Dolores del Rio and Rivera.' Strict formal dress for everybody. Some grumbled at that, but all fell In line. Inauguration show, which Is to be continued, included Everett Hoag- land's band from the States; Ernesto Riestra's orchestra, featured on the' local XEW and In Coca-Cola's shows at that station; Agustin Lara, ace Mexican romantic song writer, who plays his' own accompaniments on the piano and sings, and his band, plus Tona la Negra, dusky veteran songstress of Cuban and tropical ditties. Ft. Worth Expo Off . Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 15. ' Because of war conditions the 1943 Sot]tbwestem Exposition and Fat Stock Show will not be held next March, as was scheduled. It will be the first time in 47 years that the exposition, which included a rodeo and nitery' show, -will not be held.