Variety (Jan 1943)

ncTums Wednesday, January 20, 19 IS Singing Army In Making ronllnuril rroni past 1 NWDISTRIBS RESENT STROM'S BUYING POOL tliut t>iip siiiiK." cannot be reiiimcntecl: that ihi- •Tippi'i'iiry," "Ovor Thuiv/ •|,(m«. l.onK Troir and •Madi'lmr hit/ jii-t liappcn spontaneoii>:ly. mi their iiwM. inspired from within iho fiildici's' laiilts. It wa> a review of these World War I siiiiu's. with their now, dati-d IftiiMiis and tenipos. which inspiiod Major Howard Bronson. head of the Ahisic Roriiiiii. Spocial Service Di- visiim. (iiidor General Frederick Jf. O.Oxirn. Ill .-team up Col. Ted Blank, head of the Athletic te Recreation Division, to do sonnelhinK about more .spirited l!»43 war songs. Both have been uivini: lhi.i! lot.M ot thouKht and the.v a.-.-itfiied Capt. Harry Salter, roriiirr Columbia BroadcastiiiK S.vs- tein maestro, to re|)ort hi.s Tin Pan Alley liiKliiius back to Wn.<hinRton. Into Rattle With a Sonir There are a nuniber of salient lii'.:lili!:hi- ii> i>rove that music i.- a ver\- deilnitc military weapon. The iHMve .Iimi'.-ilav Kuerrillas battle llicir Nar.i oppies.wr.s with a war chanl. Kvery RiKsinn platoon (a platoon Is till) men or less) has'a aiiiKinas- ter. and ulien the captain gives the I'oiiipaiiy marching orders his sec- iiiid conimund is tor the slngmaster tit cue the men. with the omnipo- tent accordion or harmonica, to jwiiiK them into a spirited martial eadence. tAtnc. Sun Yat Sen. widow of the erent Chinese statesman, cites 'Chce- l^ii' and other Chinese marchins ^nus. which incidentally are more ill (he .western world idiom than Oriental in theme, as having heart enod the battle-worn an'd torn Chi- ne.se .soldierii. 'Cheelai* is a particii larly notable Chinese war cry. Curlninly mo.st ironic of all Is that Sliaoii'ii - Bernstein's 'Beer Barrel I'olka' culminated In the bloodl^ blit/.kriei! on OaIo when, on that faleriil April 9. 1940. a mere L.'MIO Nazi troops were able to lull 230.000 native Osli>ans into capitulation with an audacious community sing. A.<s the Na7.i singing stormtroups marched off the quays. Into the near by s(|uares. strolling accordion play- ers played inces.santly 'Roll Out the Barrel.' always with a bewildered but not too resentful Norwegian audience ot boys and girls watch- In; this tree picnic, not knowing that meantime their Parliament buildini!s. their radio stations and other vital communications were co Incidentally beirig seized by the Na/.is. Leland Howe's dispatch to the Chicago Daily News mentioned that not until two days later did the main body of 20,000 men Anally catch up with the advance Nazi troops, but by then It was too late for ■ the Oslnans to resist. They then rent i'/ecl that their singtesLs, to the paS' "sive ^Jn*! acc'ordlonLsts' accompani iiicnl. was literally • lullaby of sl:iviTy. Kcpinis back to tfie Army hav iMiiicliided that the boys at son Smith PaciOc outposts have but one comnmii bond. I.e. music. They ran'l even play cards or shoot craps tinder the blackouts, but a rousing Yankee tune Is a great stimului But. they write back, 'we can't get ourselves hepped up with 'Old Black .Toe' and that type of song In those old-fashioned army song book: Give us something newer and snap nier." Tims ha.s -come about the Idea buying from the music publishers, a: Ic apiece, the newest profes- tiional copies: or 12c for orchestra- tin::.: Uhey cost Oc at the source) ai-d from this build up a stirring .\i my Hit Parade ot 1943. The cost \):«is may mean no royalties to the xinu-mith.^: It means little or no pr<iiU to the publishers, but It mcaii« ■J lot to our American army, and that's the main. thing with every i:'ieml>cr Of the MusIc Publishers Protective Association: ■Texas' Caplwed IreUad What stirs their Imagination, and recmphasizes the appeal- of that universal language—musicals an episode such as occurred when our tinops first landed in Irelattd. The Yanks soon learnM that, with U.S. soldier.s on Irish soil, some natives were inhibited by a desire to re- main 'neirtral' at all costs. The boys found many a door dosed to them: no Invitations to .the local diince.s. and, while there was no open hostility, the localites were not overly friendly. But It all changed, as If by magic, w lien a hillbilly band from one troop seiiued Into 'Deep In the Heart of 'rex is': the local villagers soon got ; : • clap-clap-clap Idea dt the fong, li in short order a new com- ■■'i,.iity ot spirit bad been born. Mini'.eaiioli^. Jan. 19. LiiiMl liraiicli niaiia;;irs are ex- |ire--:iiK iniirh hi).-<tilil.\ tnvvurd what tluv recard as a l)iiyiir,j aiui tjmik- iim combine nf out-<if-|iiwi> iiule- ; pi-iiiU-iit uKliibilor.'< »liieii L- in the Perliap- iimsl ninuslii;! is tin- .-.i^ii. ■•I a Ki'oiil* <'l^ captured Japs ulm were at lir.-l piiz/.led li.v tlu-ir Vaiik captiir.-' cuii>tant .liuud humur anil siiigiiiK. .V. they were ''einK^t.an>- „,w,ri/e.l l.y Fred House Reviews CMtinurd frem pace Zt CAPITOL, WASH. ported to a pri.-iiii camp, in with the vpii it of the cominiiniiy .viiiK> and leariie<l the .\meriean siiiii!.<. Il paiiicketl I!. S. ollicial.- niiil civiliaus ::;ike to watch the Jap |iri»)ner.- march down the itaiiK- I plank siiuniK 'Clnd Ble.'^.- .\merii-a.'; wliich they had nu-t-lianieali.x miiiitlied. SelrrdDit t'emmlilrr Tlie selection of six ."iOiiu.- per, month will be entrii.sted to a pro-1 posed committee comprising the top m.ie.stros and music authorities. Already it's been csublishcd that lere i.< plenty of .<ocko song mate'- .il on the piibli.shcrs' shelves—one. iiistaticc. by Meredith Willsnn. Three Blind Mice,' which ribs Hil- Hirohilo and Mu.-v^olini—but the average publisher has long .since ttummed it up. 'What's the lue print- ing uii this stuff; they won't buy it.' It's been established thftt one uiil every 100 ^oldiers can play »'ome nuisical iiutrument, whether it's on .<weet potato.' harmonica, ac- cordion, etc. Whetlier good or bad. also beside the point; but one out of every- 100 can make music out of something, and the proper songs became a potent army prop- aganda tore*. The need, furthermore, for a sing- ing aririy is born of an admitted lack of authorized band mu.>-ic. Thai's explained tl) by a larger army; i2) priority problem. With dearth of instruments: and (3> by a desire to conserve space, while transporting abroad. This affords lillle room Utv extraneous band instruments and the like. But there's room a1way.« fur a .song.sheet. - The mu.<iv publishers see that this Is one vital and vivid way they can contribute to the ultimate victory. SlriMii who re.-igiied a.-- Nortliw&-t aliicil executive .-iwreiai-.x lii iiiuler- t..ki' il-.o :L■'^ignmellt. 'I'liere also is a sii>!)ici<i!i anion;: 1 tl'v ilisiribulorj: lliai N'iirlliwo>t .Miied has a ftnger in it .iiid i> at- lciii|iliiig to conceal it Auto Ban Threat 1 — Continued from pace S as the most likely one to carry any new tax load. Legislative division ot the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors As.sn.. headed by Jack Bryson, Is watching developments In all ot the states now in legislative session for any discriminatory proposals. In the past, these have cropped up as state admission taxes, chain legislation, levies against outdoor and marquee advertising and outright taxes on theatres or distributors. Bryson, who is a vci ot many California state leuislature l>attles. is .<tpending about two days weekly in N. Y. and the remainder ot his time in Washing ton. Femme Manager Takes Over; Others Add Cals Piltsbur'.-.li. Jan. 1(1. New teiume manager for Warners here is Mrs. Ruth Hog;;e. in chiirgc the Rilz, New Kensington, with departure ot Jack B:irlhotic fur the army. For .several years. Mrs. Kogge has been Chief cashitr at WB'.- Lib- erty in same town. William Probst, U bnoUkeeiier. h:is been promoted to the honking de- partment, and Margie Vater, clerk, lias a.s.sumcd Probst's former duties. Probst succeeds Nathan Rosen, booker, now in the army. Mr. and Mrs. William Sheppord, parents of John and .Aiidlcy .Shcp- pard, outers of the Opi'rn House, fniithton. Pa., celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Cl.ristmas Day. The elder Shep- pard had the theatre,befnre his sons. Vince Josack, fonner lllm sales- man and theatre supply man here. iKHV managing Aztec theatre, San Diego,' for Fox-West Coast. M.-«rion Wlllet, .'ormcr secretary to Paul Relth, RKO office hianager, recently promoted to the booking desk, has beeii replaced as Reith's secretary by Ann Roscne. Two Coraopolis theatres operated by F. E. McGUIick have signed with CIO for projectionists. All other houses in city employ APL opera- tors. _ FemiM Ushers St. Louis, Jan. 19. The first femme ushers in local llicker houses have made their ap- pearances In* Fanchon ti Marco's Ambasstador, downtown deluxer, and it Is expected the idea will be spread to the rest of F&M's big houses and the iiabes of the St. Loula Amusement Co. Several weeks ago F&M ran ads in local rags for the femme ushers and 800 responded and the first pair, after a training period, made their p.a. at the Ambassador attired in smart looking iinUorms, F&M execs are looking to the day when all ot their male ushci-.s will be in the armed forces ot the cnun try and expect to have enough femmes to tak$ their places. Cehoe*, N. T., Goes Femme Cohucs. N. Y.. Jan. 19. Cohoes has the Hrsl female as- si.'-tsnt theatre miiMa^ier in the Capitol district. Anita L. Charetlc has been named by Gcui'kc Seed, I the greatest shiinnty slwker seen here since ' GilUu Gray. Crowd couldn't gel enough of tliem. Orchestra numbers feature tunes j which the band originally Intro- duced, including group from 'You Were Never Lovelier." Vocals have those Latin-Amoricun lyrics and thimgh lliev're hard to understand the lilt . of the music carries them through Cor Liiia Romay and De La Cruz. Johnny Burke's doughboy inono- log .seems out of pl.ice In this clas-ny musical routine. lie's dirtied it up a bi:t. but opening audience at Ihe^ Cnpitol went fur it .as if it were brand new. Sam Jack Kaufman's, pit crew gets a vacation this week. On the whole it's u snappy 55 min- utes .tnd H 'Ko<id prelude to Cugat's pending appearance as tlie flrjU name band for the new hotel Siatler. Arkf. SHEA'S, BUFFALO Buffalo, Jan. 13. Fraiil:ie Afusters Orcli. Plii/llis Mylexi Billu Lowe, Vfoodu Kettaler, Borrflii Mhivrilch's Harmonira Ras- cals, Si/bil Boiran, Johnntl Barnt$; 'Life Bi'i/iiis n( StW (M-G>. Sock entertainment on Utis 17th anniversary bundle for the BulV. Likewise, it's the first stage show here in months, and Master.--' in- augural apiMSorancc at this show- case, which pub; him in there pressing from the opening 'Hip Hooray' to the 'Lady Be Good' finale. Even if the bond weren't top drawer, which it Is, the oiTering couldn't misx, with its talent-studded surrouiuling production. Masters' crew 'sounds thoroughly literate on the melodic side, an Impression borne out by its clean-cut <nppcar- ance and delivery. No question but what the entire outfit is musically on the benm.- Phyllis Myles and Billy Lowe are In charge of vocals, the former find- ing favor with 'Gobs of Love' and 'Dearly Beloved,' and the latter de livcring "Tired So I Can Sleep.' both highllgntcd by unique orchestration Terpstcr Johnnie Barnes has been seen here fre<iuentl,v, but never to better advantage. Due for the army next week, he drew a resounding reception with numerous encores, finally begging oft after his Bill Robinson retake. Sybil Bowan's robust comedy panickeld the cus- tomers. Borrah Mlnevltch's Rascals, minus their boss, engage in their perennial demonstrations. For the enrly-bird defense workers of the tecoff show they developed into ii miniature earthquake. Bliz hurt biz at takeoff. Biirron. here in the w.k. doldrums. Clion- tele of this indie house is made up. 00'; of the jump n' jive juvcs. and if they can't Jiinip they won't lav it on the line. At that, however, bill adds up to better than average fare. Jairett's 12-piecc combo breaks down to four saxes, three rhythm and five bross. Band isn't particu- larly ziitgy in any department, but 13 nicely welded togcllier. Bund has at least one good production number (Irving Berlin's "This is the Army' score), iind the vocal coterie made up ot J{irrrtt. Tom Morgaii and - Mary Jane Howard, is stiong Canary packs o good vocal punch and Jarrett is missing a good' trick in limiting her to only one number Orch opens with 'FLsh Fry," seguei into Tea toi; Two.' and then 'Every- thing Fvc Got.' which Jarrett war- bles to nice audience reaction. Billy Bluir, bass slapper. on next with his scat singing versions of 'Ding Dong Daddy' and 'Breathlc.os.' Blair is an ace comic and mob couldn't get enough of him. First ot the regular acts brings on Paul Rcmos and his two Lilliputians, II turn tliat went over witli a bang. Beu Wain on next with her sock song setting that runs the gamut from ballads to jump stuff. Dave Apollon closes, banjoist featuring his three Filipino boy.t as a rhythm combo and as stooges. Apollon. whams acroiw h'ls standard plimking iiid gags. Joiui. ORPHEUM, L. A. Los Angeles. Jnii. 1.1. Les Hiie and Orchestra (IGi irfrh Pant While. Jimmy Anderson. The HotieniOLs Ot. Etiiel Wafers: 'The Hidden. Hand' (WB>. In Indiana, Frinslaacc Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 19. A bill which would provide a lax , . of 3'i on all amusements and ath-; resident manager tor Fabuuj Corp.. letic contests as a means of financing . "S assistant manager of New Cohoes. free textbooks for elementary I She Is cashier there now and has Of .schools is one ot several affecting the interests of showmen introduced at the Indiana State Assembly., now in session here. Rep. Robert A. Hoover of Goshen, who proposed the bill, said It would place a flat tax on all amusements over 10c. the tax to be levied against the operators, not against the public directly. It may be run through the legislature as a separate bill or tacked on one of the free textbook bills already in committee. been connected with Fabian for past six years, M. C. Slices Continued- from page I his. case—hi.'! Jaws were wired and not tor sound—but it was enough tor Recorder's Judge W. McKay Skill- man to find Zel^nak guilty ot assault. However, he suspended sentence wh^ln Gronor advised him that he intended to sue for damages by go- ing into the civil courts. Case presented plenty ot amuse- ment, with Werner forced to ttrans- late out of the theatrical lingo into the legal, including the beef of Zele- nak that Groner 'had given the green light to a woman with a dark act to lake her flea ranches out for an air- ing before she went on which kept his spooks beat out until her turn.' The court finallyogot the pilch that OlUwa Mgr. Llliex Girls Ottawa. Jan. 19. After seven years of boys as ushers, Ray Tubman, mur. of the Capitol theatre tFainoiis-Players- Canadlan), has taken on girls tor afternoons and early evenings due to .shortage ot boys who cither have joined forces or government war departments. Besides. Ray likes femme ushers, who,' he .-ays. 'do what you tell them and do it right.' Warners' Reissues Dearth of produvl tor many ex hibitor accounts, which prompted Warner Bros, to reissue 'Varsity Show' last month, may bring addi tiimal reissue subjects. Too early to tell whether it will .shape up as a reissue in the U. S.. Bettc Davis' 'In This Our Life' al- ready has been spotted in Montreal. Film may get rei.<!siie dates in this country but not definitely - decided. Orphcum's all-Negro bill this week mixes Les Hites boogie woo- gie with Eihol Waters' vocalizing to pleasing results at matinee caught. Miss Walers carried off three en- cores after .setting .solid with 'Taking a Chance on Love.* her opener, and 'Cabin in the "Sky,' from the plav and Metro picture. First time back she revived her original ver.-ion of The St. Louis Blues' to good ellcvt and then canaried a incdtcy com po.sed of 'Heat Wave,' 'Dinah.'' 'Mem- ories of You" and 'Am I Blue." Lat- ter with -Stormy Weather' drew the biggest reception. Singer also threw ill couple of musical monologs. one about how to keep a man satisfied, that got chuckles. Hitc's musical crew sounded good on its opening number, 'Hip. Hip. Hooray.' giving tune plenty of bounce, but didn't work too hard with remaining portion of their spot although featuring 'Blue Skle.s. Star Dust' and 'Swanee River.' Four trumpcUs. three trombones and five saxes blast the way tor piano, bass fiddle, guitar .md drum.s, giving the crew plenty of rhythm for swinging, but they must have been saving their 'give' for a later .show. Paul White took care ot his spot ting with eccentric dancing and singing, rating good laughs. Jimmy Anderson's two songs failed to click. The Hottentots, dancing trio, worked themselves brcathle.ss clowning for customers to okay results. Trio has a lively lap act. aided by off-.Mdc antics, that pleases. Strong house al early matinee. ADAMS, NEWARK PRC GETS MUSICAL, TOO Hollywood, Jan. 10. Producers Relea!<ing Corp. Is swinging Into the current musical a dog aei was being taken for a I cycle with a series or tunefllms, walk before its turn and the musi-! starting with Talent Pool.' cians' had to improvise until .she '■ Picture rolls Jan. 29 with Jack went on late on Groner's Instruc-j Schwarz producing from a story by I ringer and fact that marquee is tions. 1 Stanley Rau and David Silverstein. I minus a single solid draw has biz APOLLO, N. Y. Eiirt Hines. Orch «18). Julie Gardner, Long & Short. Madeline Creert. Sarah Vaughn. Patterson k Jackson, Billy Eckstein; 'Counier- Etpioiiage' ICOM. Too much sing and not enough zing sums up current bill. Four vocalists would be too much any- where, especially in this Harlem house, with the Earl lllnes orch missing the hot beat that is its forte. The band was up to par in size, five sax, four trumpet, three trom- bone, two piano, drum, bass, ac- cordion and guitar, .vet managed to get on the beam only when Hines took over on the ivories. Most ot the time it ployed for vocalists and the two vaude actji. but even when do- ing 'Hit That Jive' and "Salt Peanuts' the usual spark was absent. Julia Gardner plays a hot ac- cordion while piping 'Hip Hip Hooray* , and 'I Like to Rifl.^ With the band for background she could shed the accordion. Madeline Green, long and lean torcher, does 'Nobody Cares' and 'Can't Get Out of This Mood.' Sarah Vaughn, one- lime amateur winner at this house, now pianist with Hines, does well with 'Moonlight Becomes You,' There Are Such Things' and 'Body and Soul.' Has personality and good delivery. Fiiiul singer. Bill Eck- stein, local fave. does 'Craziest Dreams.' 'Velvet Moon.' 'I Like to Rifr and 'Stormy Monday Blues' to .solid applause. Duplication of tunes among the vocalists in .show caught was remedied at subsequent shows. Straight vaude turns are Long S Short and Patterson & Jackson. Former, only white act on the bill, does a comedy aero turn that clicks big. Al.so solid were P & J, two hefty gents in garisli mh<1 .suits who clown and hoof. Biz great. Fran. Newark, Jan. 14. i4r» Jarrett Orch (12) tpifli To... Morgan. Bill)/ BInir and Mary Jane Honard; Paul Reiiios, Bea Wniii Dnre ApoIlo«r~ 'Old Homestead < Rep). Format is far from being a bell 9 HURT WHEN ROGERS, DET^ ROOF COLLAPSES Detroit, Jon. 10. ' Nine persons were injured here last week when they were trapped in the balcony of the Rogers the- atre when Ihe roof collapsed on them under- t'lie weight of a heavy snowr-fall. Gunfire in the preview of 'Elephant Boy' drowned out the noise of the falliiTg root, averting a panic, and SOO patrons remained In their seats downstairs, unaware of what had happened, until they were ordered to leave 20 'minutes later by fire officials. Frank Fisher, manager ot the house, told police that *ie had tried to persuade patrons not to sit in the balcony earlier in the evening, since the root was leaking and thai shortly before the root fell he was upstairs again trying to get about SO young folks to move out. None of the nine was .seriously injured, al- though pinned in the balcony (or a considerable length ot time. When the dowiisiaris patrons wcro ordcrcd out they stormed the ca-h- ier',s cage tor refunds, and p<ilice we're invo'tigalin:; contrary accoiii'ts to those ot Fisher that some of th».-e in the balcony, disturbed by ' the nriscs prelhninary to the collapse o- the coiliii'.;. had been refused n- funds and returned to il»e house.