Variety (Apr 1943)

Wcdaesdaj, AprO 14, 1943 OUTDOORS 55 Radio Unknowns' Biig Coin I ^^^S^SSSSSSB Continued from p»i« 1 ^ss^^B^^^s^^^bI iiig actors. Some'of the 'personal- ity' announcers, Including names like Harry Von Zell, BUI Goodwin, David Ross, Ken Carpenter and Bien C:i'auer, consistently averaKe well nbove the $50.000-a-year figure. Another group, Including mer like Bill Adams, Jim Amechc, Clayton Collycr, John Conte and Carl East- iiinn, are both aptors (or singers) fliKt announcers sometimes on the yanic show. Martin Block, who be- side!! doing his record-Jockey .series nil WNEW, New York, also d les out- side commercial announcing, also tops the $50,dll0 level; And such men as Ralph Edwards, Bob Hawk iind Parks Johnson have graduated from auhouncers to stars via quiz programs and are also big earners. In SM,OM » Year CUn Figured among the top income ac- tors, making in the neighborhood of $.S0.000, are Arthur Allen, John Brown, Charlie Cantor, Le.o Damon, Peter Donald, Parker Fennelly, David Gothard, House Jameson, Bill John.stone, Walter Kinsella, Alan Rocd and Karl Swenson. The only nclrcsses figured In this group are (icrlrude Berg (whose Income is also na owner, writer and director of ))or 'Goldbergs* serial), Arlenc Fr^n- ri.<:. Betty Gnrde, Anne Seymour and Lucille Wall. Among the actors in the secon- dary income group ($25,000 to $40,- 000);. arc Jackson ,Beck, Cliff Car- priiter. Matt Crowley, Joe Curtin. Ted de Corsia, Roger de Koven, Ken- neth Dclmar, Ed Jerome, Raymond Edward Johnson, Jay Jo.<ityn, Ed Katimcr, Frank Lovcjoy, Myron McCormick, Craig McDonnell. Don McLaughlin', James Meighan, James Monks, Arnold Moss, Santos Ortega, Frank Rcadick, Stefan Schnabel, F.vcrett Sloane. Chet Stratton. James Van Dyk, Luis Van Rooten, Dwight Weist, Carlton Young and X^-iwson Zerbo. Actreivses rated In this secondary income group include Charme Allen, Marjorlc Anderson, Joan Blaine, Janice Gilbert, Mitzi Gould, Sam- mie Hill, Irene HubbarJ, Adelaide Klein. Florence Malone, Claudia Morgan, Ethel Owen, Minerva Pious, Katharine Raht, Alice Reinhcart. Elizabeth Reller, Julie Stevens and Vicki Vola. The only juvenile ad- mittedly in this income group con- lislently is Jackie Kelk. All statements about actnr incomes arc admittedly based on estimates. However, inquiries among income tax cojisultants and attorneys whose work covers this fleld confirm the above general figures. The income estimates are believed to be .sub- .^lantially true, therefore, de.'ipitc the tendency of the top-earning actors and announcers to minimize their earnings. Mostly la N. Y. With the exception of a few an- nouncers, those listed in the groups Include only New York actors. There are ilgured to be ■ somewhat Ie,<wer mimber in Chicago and Hollywood. The Chicago radio fleld Is mo.stly confined to serials, but a few eve- ning dramatic shows originate there. Fewer jobs for non-name dramatic players, usually In support of film names, are available on the Coast. There are apparently two prin> cipal reasons why men are able to make more money, in radio acting than women. Oiie is that they have' more chance in the evening field, where the dramatic programs tend more toward action melodi°ama than the homey emotional dramas usual on daytime serials. Most action stories contain largely male roles, whereas the serials stress femme roles for the housewife audi- ence. Also, cuniefdy . shows, with stooge parts, etc., are generally heard at night, as are the docu- mentary profirams, which likewise have predominantly male casts. Th6 other reason men can make more than women is. that in the day- time neld, which Is the most profit- able for the femmes. the leading ac- tresses are usually tied to exclusive contracts for specific serials. These exclusive deals, which pay mucb the biggest money for women, neverthe- less limit the amount of work they can do. But the top male leAds, few of whom have exclusive contracts because they haven't the title parts and don't carry the basic story line, can and frequently do appear on sev- eral different serials concurrently. Leilt BolM ifor Prestige Stage appearances, though they u:<ually involve loss of Income for top-income radio actors, are figured as good prestige builders. Thus, the current.. appearances of Raymond Edward Johnson, House Jameson and Ed Jerome in 'The Patriots,' at the National, N. Y.. undoubtedly prevent them from doing consider- able radio work, but probably will pay olT eventually in professional standing and prestige. Further- more, such stage appearances fre- quently pay good salaries them- selves. They seriously hurt an ac- tor's radio income only when they involve long road tours. Otherwise, their chief drawback is their Jm- permanence, compared with the steady earnings possible from radio. One other factor has risen in the last year or so to curtail radio earn- ings ' of actors. That is, ' work on Government program^. For instance. Bill Johnstone is understood to have sacrificed considerable Income to play the lead, at nominal money, on the recorded 'Uncle Sam' series for the OfTice of War Information. Similarly, nearly all other plays in- variably accept moderate coin (or work for- nothing) for appearances on Govorninont, Red Cross and simi- lar programs. The enormous Income available for radio actors can possibly be ap- preciated best by cnmpafing It with the money to be made from legit, or even picture.<. Although earnings of $50,000 a year or more are made by a few stage players, they are limited to a .•;mall handful of the top stars, and then are limited to the seasons in which they have hit shows. Similarly, while $50.000-or- more yearly incomes are to be made In Hollywood, they are also confined to a comparitively few players; all of whom are names. The outstanding thing about the big incomes In .radio is that they can be made by 'unknowns.' The radio names frequently make much more than $50,000. Inside Stuff—Legit Coaiittued from pa|c St eorps, but waa given a brushofT because he is approaching his 45th birth- nay. Fields recently went to Toronto to publicize The Army Show' and also to try for the officers' school of the Canadian Armv. He was given a partial okay but wlU not accept if it would be a desk Job. he says, the p a. a;ming for a combat post. Fnial production of the scasoii at the Carnegie Teca drama school, Pittsbiirgh, will be Anna.Cora Mowatl's old period piece. 'Fa.shion,' and «s being directed by Mafy Morris, vet character actress Who Joined the Ti'ch faculty as a drama instructor couple of years ago. More than 20 ,vears ago, when 'Fashion' had one of its first American revivals at the old rrovincetown Playhoiise in New York, Ingenue lead of Gertrude in that production was played by Miss Morris. Mack HiUiard, who has been back with 'Angel Street.' Golden, N. Y., Was batting foi; George Zorn, who was away to clear up an asthmatic condition and is again managing tlie show. However, Hiltiard remains With the Shepard Traube office in a general capacity, as Traube is due to go Into uniform shortly. Eddie Danziger, back on leave in New York, was the flist casualty In combat among the New York ticket agency people. He was an aerial ljunner with a squadron iif the Dutch Harbor district, Alaska, that raided J«p installations in the Aleutians. He was shot in the knee. Danziger was a runner for the Supreme agency, conducted by Willie Deiitsch. Mike Todd says that the distinction between miccc.-..< and otherwi.sc lies In his mail, which is about the same in voliiinr. 'i xcepiing that when .voiirc a click the cheques come to you, rather than briny bill-dunncd for moiiry, , 'There must be plenty of loo.-^r donuh arDiind. a.» ihi* bulk of my mail includes offers from people to in\c'.si with tiic I tell them repeatedly that money Is what a producer nowadays needs the Wn't of.' .«ay« Todd. Wallace Circus Debuts, No Travel Headaches Charlotte, N. C. April 13. Wall&ce Bros.'. circus, largest motorized show on earth outside the battle areas, opens a new season at York, S, C. tomorrow (14), and despite handicaps the show will go on. bigger than ever before. For the OO-odd trucks, trailers and wagons there Is plenty of gasoline for the season—some 67,000 gallons —and in the sheds there are hundreds or registered tires. Government de- cided the live circuses able to make their tours this .i^eason should be al- lowed to go the limit, and Wallace Bros, will do its share. m, AGVA New York huddle of Robert Ring- ling ar^d John F. Reddy, Jr., general counsel for the RingUng circus, with American Guild of Variety Artists execs in AGVA's efforts to effect a union recognition pact covering the circus's performers, has been put off until latter part of this week. Meanwhile, Matt Shelvey, AGVA's national administrator, expressed confidence that the scheduled parley would wind up satisfactorily. The circus and AGVA had no contract ,last season, A'greemenf was skedded for last week but postponed at request of Ringling, latter pointing out that the inanifold duties attendant upon get- ting ' the ..circus rollinc prevented him from attending. Circus, opened Friday night (9) at Madison Square Garden, N. Y, . Union recognition is AGVA's chief goal, equestriennes and chorus girls having already been granted pay In- creases. War Labor Board okayed $5 boost for each group. Equestri- ennes will receive $40 a week and the ^oruB girls $35. In addition they'll get $10 a week for food and lodging while the show is indoors. Meanwhile, it's undecided yet whether discussions will involve miiiimums for principals. Circus Notes Ringling frho\y will travel in two trains of 35 cars each, making it a TO-car outfit as against 90 last sea- son. Clai.med that most of the cars dropped were flats, plus a couple of coaches. Ritt|iii$ Circus Revives Parade, Show Comb of BVay and^ Top Fire in Cleveland last summer wiped out all but one o( the zebras. Around 15 camels were lost and four elephantb. Some animals were se- cured from the Coast, including two camels, both of which gave birth to young. Estelle Butler, enueslrienne, was kicked in the let two days licfore opening: ibe Garden :ind .suffered a splintered shin. Shc'.s around on crutches. Roland Butler is again general, press representative and got a lot of attention in the dailies prior to opening. Frank Bradcn is head story man, v.ith Allen J. Lester as associate. Bernie Head is contract- ing press agent: Tommy Flanagan is special photographer with the show this season: F. Beverly Kelley and Francis L. .Morris.sey are in charge of radio; Al Butler is back with the show and Arthur L. Ilbpper gen- eral agent for outdoor 'advertining. Frederick A. Boudinot is in charge of number one ad car. with Clyde Carlton handling the ntiinbcr two car. Special booklet of pictus-cs and statistics for the liress and radio was again Issued for profes,sional distribution. It has closeup photos of Mrs. Charles Kingling, Mrs. Aubrey. Ringling and Robert (Bob) RIng'ling, the new bosses. latter be- ing executive head. One of the yarns mentions that the 'boys' with cameras didn't go to Florida during the winter because the ball teams were not there, so the Ringling lot did not see the former gatherings of sports writers. The red. white and blue sawdust is out this sea.'On. but there is plenty of patriotic .stuff in the .show. Ella Bradna has been- with the Ringli.K.'s for 43 yein-s, but this is the lli'.^t time .she'j- riding in parade. Her hiu-banil. Fred, •ji.v'- ht is goinfi to retire af'.e: that before. .tii'-'iii—but..^aid By JACK P11.ASKI 'Hiilcl your hol'.<es, the i-lcplianis are coniinu' a^ain resounds on the Ri-iuiing lot, the parade hiivinu been brouKht back as a in-ocession preluding the performance around the track at Ma(i:.<:on Square Gardrn. where the circus opened a .I'-day date Friday i9i. the lon;'est metro- politan enKagcinent. For ihfi flr.st lime in memory the opening night was sold out. It was a demoustration of patriotism, for only persons who purchased war bonds could obtain tickets. At- tendance is probably u lipulT on what may be the biggc.st sea.'-un jet fur the Big Top iind aiidienre re- £Ction indicated the calibre of the show, which started at .sliKhtly after 8:30 and rang down at 12:15. Very few people left the Garden. Robert Ringling is now head man of the outfit, he being billed a- pro- ducer, along with his mother. .Mrs. Charles Ringling and Mrs. .\ubri-y Ringling, widow of the late Richard Ringling. George W. Smith, an all- around outdoor showman, is back with the- organization as general manager. ' One of the first orders from Rob- ert Ringling was to call back some of the old reliables who had drifted away. Then he cut down the num- ber ' of ' announcements, saying ' It wasn't necessary to have all the standout acts built up with flossy verbal introductlbns, but to let the audience judge the merit of the per- formers. Little Difference This year's show is not vastly dif- ferent than last sea.son. It is newly costumed, dressing being as elabo rate as before. There again is a profusion of solo and center ring turns. In general the performance again Is a combination of Broadway and circus, John Murray Anderson taking' bows all through the prO' gram for the ensembles. He has done' a skillful Job with a flock of girls, many of whom are lookers. ' There are a few new acts, or fresh In this show. Getting new talent has been a managerial headache since the war started. Some displays once standard, such as multiple acro- batics, are out due to the draft Trained seals are also missing, but the Ringling show has always had the edge on all other circu.scs in .stellar performers and that still goes. Outfit has two crack girl aerial- i.sts, both blonde, this year. New Is Lalage. over here for .several .sca- .son.s. She is the nearest to the late Lillian Leitzel yet seen. Lalage is petite and her exhibition on the high rioKS i.s eye-opening. O^b' an ex- ceptionally sturdy femme could ac- complish that routine. To finale the turn, Lalage throws her body through 80 or more one-arm giant swings—as many or more than was Leltzel's custom. The other girl, working high up, is Elly Ardelty, trapeze specialist who is In the show for the third season. Also attrac- tive, her top feat, a headstand on the wide swinging trap, catches all eyes. KImrIi Again the Thrllleri Near the end is the Kimris duo, working under the girders on their revolving plane apparatus. It Is the thrill act of the j.how and some of the onlookers avert their gaze when they hang downward With a one- foot perch. KImrls will remain with the show through the Garden date and probably in Boston, too. but like last year they, leave when the circus goes under' canvas. A howl came during the opening' night performance of Mas.similliano Truzzl. siippn.sedly tempermenlal Jug- gler.. When he to.s.ses his big rubber balls to the audlen(;e. a stooge itca- nut boy-Is upset. Buy did his. stuff so witll that the house roared and. the gag win probably never get over any better. They put back the clown fire' department bit which had been dropped as too corny. Around the show they claim that, it was revived In resptmse to numer- ous letters from Iclds. A Vnotor- cyclc and tiny fire truck, which didn't work any too well, were the only mechanized apparatus in the show. It .seems strange that the Vfiyf- lendcL-; .siionld be'on so ea.ly in.nn- her three) and without any r.uiriii-e or .iiiii'iuiKXmcnt. That biali .viiT tuin '.\t\> once the nin:!iing '•e::-a- tion. bjt now i« jn-t n:iOlhe.' -olo act. Wiiileiidns ;ii-e ii<:ng l-.vo .■Ir.'inii*. i:n<'tCiid of the fo. in< r . iirjle r<'|)C. .Af:'.-!- the pariide. tcrn.i-ijilid by Ihf calliope v.-hirh di<l'-,'l ■••irk. two aerial turns went on while th^ razurbisek.s were reiidyiiig ii run- way and e:ni>lyiii^ wajtons to get ! .Alfred Court's th: ee wild animal acts ■ ready. That was n;.e .-ign thaf the .show's labo:- \> still j-.een and that there are manpower triiubles. nl.so .-hown when the nets were being ieadied for the flying uet.s. Early aerialists are \*lcl<'ria and Toricnee and The Wolthing.'. both doing very • well. Back in the show is ll<e Loyal- Repensky family, one of the best bareback acts yet developed. They replace the Cristiani.s. 'who arc on leave to ap|)ear in a musical comedy called 'Mi.ss Underground.', not yet ill rehearsal.. Tlie Repensky girls arc niee-api)earing and adroit and the act is excellenlly dressed. Turn's crack rirler is Just inn. whose back .somniersault from one hor.se to an- other through a hoop isn't equalled these days. The menage equestrian s4-emed overlong and repetitious, but there are some corking riders. Dr. Her- mann Ostermaier. a veteran, .puts his snow white 'Doheos' thrqpgh tlie paces, the equine being a graceful horse-dancer. Tex Elmlund is an- other trainer who stands out in the display. Ella Branda is still attl'act- ing attention in one ring. The liberty horse ttirns are out and so are .the i>ony zebras, but we<-en't missecL On the tight wire are the Naittos, Eurasian girls who are in a class by themseives in this type of exhibition. Alia, the star, does a forward somer- sault, the only athlete who can per- form that feat with the exception of Con CoUeano, who is trouping with the Jessel-Haley show. The Naitto girl does her stuff without stalling,. Going on solo for a change is Harry Rlttley, the veteran who tumbles from the high tables. In the center ring alone are the Shy. rettos, a bike turn that also scored last year. S Bolier-SkAtlat Tyrn* The Reynolds-Oonegan outfit has three, roller skating turns far down on the program. All are fast and tills display, new to-the show, is taking the spot that formerly was held by acrobatic turns such as the Yacopis and Picchianls. Old boy Earl Reynolds was hustling around seeing that things were Just right for his trio Of skating acts. Curious that this big-time roller turn should land in such an important spot in the Ringling show. Court's three animal acts got started After some delay. It is the punch display of the early evening and furnishes a real big top atmos- phere. In the center arena Court has a couple of so-called great dane dogs In with the big cats and bears. Iifay Kovar, handling the first arena, has a pet leopard whom she hugs.. The Flying Concellos have the center again for the flyers display, which was topped by the Comets on opening night Art Concello's take- off boai'd for his top trick snapped and he cut the feat. Antoinette is out of the turn with torn shoulder muscles, her place being taken by Ernestine Clark, daughter of Lizzie, of the former Clarkunlans. Elephant turns were spotted here and there. Some were in the spec; which is number six on the program instead of the opening, because of the parade. Pagean; is called 'Let Freedom Ring' and is a salute to the Allied Nation.s. It is the most elab- orate of the show's costuming and Anderson's staging. Second Ander- son ensemble is an aeriol ballet pre- luding the ' performance of Lalage. girls going up on single wcbbing.s. 'Changing the Guard' is perhaps the stager's most effective number. Girls are smart In nifty uniforms and go through their marchin ( evolutions while the major elephant turns oc- cupy the rings. The last qf the staged ensembles is the show's flnale and called 'Drums- of Victory.' girls handling the drum sticks. "The voice of the President is heard speaking a few lines of Lincoln's Gettysburg ad- dress, a prop Statute of Liberty is di.sclo.sed and the band goes into the national anthem. i>l!l,'Valdo Is director of personnel,. Bill Li\ingston designed the' cos- liime.s. and Mcile.,.E\uns is back leading the bund, a^'or differences v.ith last year's mai ement. Tlie clowns arc I'larl of i. r' -is. but are limited In e(|iilpmei. .mmctt I Keily iicedx little and . , ciisily the mo.st ' anuising of > hea\y greasepaint contingent.