Variety (Dec 1942)

PICTUBES Wednesday, December 23, 1942 Growing Juvenile Delinquency Plus Public Fear of Late^Hours on Dinuned Streets May Seriously Dent Pix B O. Widespread juvenile delinquency and criminal activities by these as well as elders are creating alarm In theatre operating circles lest con- siderable suffering will come to box- ofiices in dimout areas such as New York City where the regulations have been tightened. Result, in the opinion of managers, Is that people who are beginning to hear of attacks or robberies will stay off the .darkened sireels in increas- ing numbers. Poin;cd out that it takes time to scare folks but that ultimately fear catches up with them, especially the women. Among other things, so many peo- ple have been struck by cars on dimmed-out streets that this, in it- self, is making them cautious about being out at night. At the same time, the tendency mcreases to keep the kids at home where they will be safe. Claimed now that many women are afraid to go downtown to theatres or to their nearest neigh- borhood house because of how dark many streets have become. The dimout at first was not so bail In New York and other cities, but now it has noticeably reduced crowds on the street after sunset and par- ticularly nearer midnight when most nabes finish their shows. Plenty of men as well as women have been slugged and robbed of late, with complaints crying for more police protection. Extra police as a result have been put on in some areas In New York. Harlem Hard Hit According to operators, Harlem theatres are hard hit by the dimout due to the wave of crime which has developed in that section of the town. Both RKO and Loew's, as well as various independents, operate In that region. One of the Broadway managers points out that the dimout is less Inclined to affect the downtown zone since there are always crowds on the street. • The manager of a large N. Y. house says that when he drives home late at night now, going through streets that look like no-man's land, he keeps both car doors locked from the inside since a favorite stunt ot holdups seems to be to jump into a car when it is stopped somewhere by a traffic light. In one case recently a woman was grabbed by two men end her fur coat taken off her back. Difficulty in controlling the juve delinquents has reached the point where the Paramount, N. Y., now has two Pinkerton men on active duty in the theatre. MIKE CARR'S TECHNIQUE SecBUB Sore Cure far Theatre Roughnecks Rochester, N.Y., Dec. 22. One theatre manager here. Mike Carr, World, has a system for main- taining order that works in this particular spot, admittedly a dif- ficult neighborhood. He warns a disturber just once. If the patron cuts loose again, out he goes with the added admonition that he's per- manently barred from that theatre. And they find it's no idle threat for Carr always takes tickets him- self and he has a photdgraphic memory. Surprising angle is that rough- necks will beg to be allowed to come back, making all kinds of promises. The ban seems to hurt their pride. But, unless he is sure of a change of heart, Carr is adamant One youth so barred re- turned after four years, most of which he had been out of town, but Carr remembered him and the ban still stood. Noisy youths are becoming serious problems in theatres here. Managers all over the city, but particularly in some of the neigh- borhoods, report youngsters making good money in the war plants put a few beers under their belts and im- mediately make nuisances of them- selves in theatres by 'smart' com- ments, loud talk and annoying other patrons. Many of them refuse to leave until a policeman is called. Cops, on their part, are not anxious to "make ar- rests. It is said, as it means con- siderable trouble appearing against the culprits, though managers say a few jail terms might help the situa- tion. Ushers and managers use a lot of bluff in trying to cope with the disturbers, but even that doesn't work too well, one manager getting a black eye from a patron he was trying to shush. PRC DROPS PATHE, RESUMES OWN TAG Hollywood. Dec. 22, Producers Releasing Corp., which suddenly called itself PRC-Pathe, is dropping the new title just as sud denly after legal advice about cor- prioile titles. PRC is conf.olled by Pathe Lab oratory but. does not hook in with Pathe Films, which is turning out ncwsrcels and .shorts for RKO re lease. Until the cnlan.slement is straightened out. PRC-Pathe will re vert to its original title. Producers Releasing Corp. Rep. Signs Exhib To Slant Pix B.O.-ward Hollywood, Dec. 22. M. J. Scigel. chief of Republic stu dio, signed Howard Shcehan to his executive staff r.s consultant in the selection of .4ory material from a boxoffice angle. For years Shechan has been a the 8tre operator, recently running the Vogue on Hollywood blvd. Weavers Keep Weaving Hollywood. Dec. 22. Republic is holding the Weaver Bros, ii Elviry for another picture , following completion of their cur rent starrer. 'Mountain Rhythm.' New dim to be produced by Arm and Schrcfcr. is the last under cur rent deal. Irv Brecher'fl Very Funny Satire 'It Can Happen Here' an .tdtlnl Fenturc In *Show Business At War* theme of the 37th Anniversary Number of Drop Jr. Admish As a Curb To Juve Vandalism Pi'oducers and Actors Still Knocking niemselves Out on That 2SG Headache Hollywood, Dec. 22. Fox-West Coast is dropping its junior admission scale because of vandalism. Circtiit originated the idea of a cut to 25c for matinees and 35c nights to attract young trade. Idea was to encourage matinee business. Other circuits and indies followed. Result was biz it attracted proved costly because of vandalism and property destructions. Hollywood, Dec. 22. How to work out the $67;200 yearly gross and $25,000 yearly net in the film business resolved itself into a two-way clinch between Screen Actors Guild and producers, with the U. S, Treasury Department keeping its hands ofT. Representatives of the picture business have been contacting Uncle Sam's financial agents in Washing- ton recently with the idea of break- ing down the ceiling to pro rata sal- ary of $1,300 a week which would ap- proximate the ceiling. Answer to the industry was in effect: Settle your own financial problems, we have plenty of our own. Apparently cognizant of. actions of producers. Screen Actors.Guild of- ficials drafted new rules to protect interests of players in contract situa- tion. Legal staff of Guild drafted three rulings designed to further protect the interests of freelance actors on the question of maximum salaries. One is to protect rights of actors under existing contracts with World-Wide Camp Showing for Par's AU-Star mythm' Hollywood. Dec. 22. Uncle Sam and Paramount are working together on the most unique premiere ever given a Holly- wood picture. 'Star Spangled Rhythm,' which will exhibit all the stars on the Paramount rosier in one film, has been accepted by the Department of War as a Christmas present from the film industry to the armed forces overseas. Prints of the picture were turned over to Brig. Gen. Frederick H Osborn, director of the Special Service Division of the Army, for presentation in Washington, London, Iceland, Alaska, Hawaii, Chungking Africa, India. Australia and other far-flung camps, before the open ing at the New York Paramount theatre Dec. 30. World-wide di.stribution of the picture was arranged by Francis S. Harmon, executive vice-president of the War Activities Committee of the film industry; Joseph Friedman, chairman of the London branch of the committee, and Capt. Hampton W. Howard, in charge of the Over- seas Motion Picture Service of the Army. Bronston's Jack London Story and B.R. All Set Samuel J. Bronston completed financing arrangements last week, with aid of United Artists, for the "Life of Jack London' which Hi« plans to start .<:hooting in March Guaranty Trust is bankrolling. Picture is to be based on two books written by Charmaine Lon. don, the author's .>^econd wife. Bronston plans modernizing the London biog by superimposing cur- rent war developments to Pearl Harbor. Willlde Testimonial By Pic Execs Raises 24G For Army Camps Fond Top execs of all major companies attended a testimonial liuicheon to Wendell L. Willkie, 20th-Fox board chairman, at the Astor, N. Y., Wednesday (16). Purpose was to raise funds to carry on work of National Conference of Christians and Jews in army camps here and abroad. A total of $24,000 was subscribed. J. Robert Rubin, Metro, presided and presented Willkie with a silver platter in recognition of his efforts on behalf of world unity. Willkie told of important role to be played by cultural arts during and after war. Among heavier contribs were Rubin, L. B. Mayer, WUl Hays, Nick Schenck, Joe Schenck, Jules Brula- tour, Ir\'ing Berlin, David O. Selz- nick, Barney Balaban and Spyros Skouras. OK MAIL ORDER PAYOFF AS MEANS TO SAVE GAS Hollywood, Dec. 22. Latest offshoot of gas rationing is a request by agents that studios be permitted to mail them checks cov- ering salaries of their clients. Screen Actors' Guild has approved the idea, with this statement: 'It has .■sometimes been a practice in the past for actors to authorize studios to release checks to agents with the understanding agents would deduct their 10% fees and deposit checks for the actors. Because of gas ra tioning agents want to amend this arrangement so that instead of pick ing up clients' checks studios mail it to them.' Studio Contracts Hollywood, Dec. 22 Ruth Hussey drew new contract at Metro. Phil Silvers' actor option picked up by 20th-Fox. Islin Auster inked producer pact at 20th-Fox. Wally Brown drew a new player contract at RKO. Harold Miles inked pact as art di- rector for Hugh Herman cartoons. William Morgan's director option picked up by Republic. Lewis Wilson, stage actor, signed by Columbia. Jack English drew an option lift as serial director at Republic. Celia Travers, strawhat player, signed by Metro, George Bassman renewed as com- ptjser, scorer and conductor at Metro. Jess Barker, legit player, signed by Columbia. salary options, and 'to protect the rights oi actors on new option con- tracts that may be negotiated in fu- ture.' SAG has already forced pro- ducers to eliminate emergency clause which they tried to insert in all contracts to hold an actor to his starting salary If wage celling pre- vented company from paying option raises called for in the contracts. Any attempt by producers to pro rata the $67,200 ceiling on a weekly basis is bound to result in a fight with SAG. Guild contract provides no-strike agreement but it is based on idea that both sides carry out their obligations. When the em- ployer breaks his contract, an em- ployee no longer Is bound by its terms. In case ot necessity, actors would simply stay away from the studios until their contracts were met, without need of any official strike. Meanwhile, the treasury has re- fused to adjudicate or to offer of- ficial opinion on validity of con- tracts which might be involved in salary celling. Coolacres, Calif., Dec. 22. Dear Joe: With all this rationing my mind wanders back to the summer of 1925. when things weren't so hot for the actors. They played the game of gyping the Automat.* Those days the Automat had large glasses with pieces of lemon In 'em; they were supposed to be taken to the 'pay faucet* and filled with iced tea. Actors would squeeze the lemon, add sugar and fill the glass with Ice water. They called the lemonade The Tin Roof... It was on the house. It was just a couple of years before that (1923) that Bert Savoy went 'Upstairs'.. .He was struck by lightning at Long Beach. When Jimmy Russell (Russell Bros.) died, Johnny Russell took Bert Savoy and taught him the tricks of the craft. Russell then retired and Savoy joined Jay Brennan. They did an act on the lines of the Russell Bros., but put a great deal more class in it. Brennan was one of the best 'straights' in show business and Savoy had a terrific sense of humor. Johnny Russell died in 1925 at 69. His .<:on James, who was an unilerlaker in Elmhurst, wrote that Irish classic, 'Where the River Shannon Flows.' Many a night, me and Aggie and McAvoy Sc Brooks spent in the back room of his 'stiff parlor' and harmonized the old favorites. Since then we've played to colder audiences' than in Jimmy Russell's back room. Here's an interesting item in my notebook. Way back in 1875 Challenge Cups were called 'Challenge Vases.' Beer was spelled b-i-e-r and the Olympic theatre had one of the first of the city's cooling systems— mammoth fans were used. In 1925, Olsen and Johnson used to broadcast 'wisecracks' from their dressing room to the lobby in all the theatres of the Interstate Circuit Wouldn't be a bad idea for them to do the same thing now, if they can get the gags and time off from counting coin and friends. 192S Forecast for 19437 That was a great year, 1925, for firsts. There was a picture called 'Black Cyclone' playing at the Capitol on Broadway that was jamming (hem in. It was one of the greatest illusions in pictures. Magnified from toy copies of wild horses made in Germany, horses made love, ran and fought. Rex, the star horse, was also made from a toy. Horses were rescued from quicksands in a 20-foot pond on Hal Roach's lot Of course the picture people use the idea now with aeroplanes, submarines, boats, etc. Maybe with the ceiling on salaries, Ihcy will go back making pictures with toys. In 1925, vaudeville acts started making their routes via trailers and cars. That same year acts let out war whoops like Indians when bowing. It was supposed to work up enthusiasm of the audience, like fo'otball yells at a game. It didn't help. In a short time acts went back to no yells—and no audiences. In, 1927 actors played vaudeville with their eyes on radio and their hearts in Hollywood. The dance trend in that year was slow rhythmns, smooth and lazy, giving melody fox-trots full play. Elinor Glynn was doing a really swell act at Loew's State, N. Y., and did plenty of box- office. P. T. Barnum's estate was settled. He died in 1891 and Mrs. Bar- num died in 1927. The estate was over $1,250,000, which proved there must have been more than one sucker born a minute. Famed 'Ugliest Womaa* Do you rememl>er way back in 1910, when Nellie Revell, then working for Willie Hammerstein, made Polaire famous as the uglie.st woman in the world...with the smallest waist? She told Hammerstein she'd have Lillian Russell and Polaire photographed together as 'the handsomest .-nd the ugliest,* but Morris Gest got the story into the papers first. Nellie pimched Gest and then quit her job with Hammerstein. Nellie can still punch swell on the radio. In 1756, to-avoid the penalties of the Act of Parliament against un- licensed comedians (they were licensed those days), show owners adver- tised like this: "The Cephalic Snuff Warehouse, Cibber & Co., snuff mer- chants, sell at their warehouse, at Richmond Hill, most excellent Cephalic Snuff, which taken in moderate quantities (in the evening particularly) will not fail to raise the spirits, clear the brain, throw off ill humors, dissipate the spleen, enliven the imagination, exhilirate the mind, give joy to the heart, and greatly mvigorate and improve the understanding. Mr. Cibber has also opened at the aforesaid warehouse (later called thea- tre) on the Hill, an histrionic academy for the instruction of young per- sons of genius In the art of acting; and purposes for the better improve- ment of such pupils, and frequently with his assistance, to give public rehearsals, without hire, gain or reward.' So you see, kids, they beat the strawhat School of Acting by just 186 years. Here's one George M. Cohan told me long ago. A fellow called to see him claiming he was Mclntyre's nephew (Mclntyre and Heath). Cohan went out to see him, talked to him for a while and sensed it was a phoney trying to make a 'touch.* After gabbing awhile, Cohan, ready to go back to his dressing room, said, 'Mclntyre was certainly a swell fellow!' 'The phoney, expecting a handout sed, 'Is that all you have to say?' 'Well,' sed George,' 'Heath was a vice guy, too!* Best to the gang, sez Your pal, ; Lefty.