Variety (Jun 1943)

W<><lnr84l«7, June 30. 1948 27 HoDyWood Holdiiis Up Fix Releases io Wldch WbHes, Negroes Nix HoHywood, June 29. Many pictures with colored per- formers are being withdrawn from current release due to the race riots in various parte of the country. Ttiose films In which Negroes are ihown mixing with whites are being pulled in especially in Southern territories. Scenes showing whites and blacks on the dance floor Iq •Stage Door Canteen' are to be de- leted throughout the South and. other spots where feeling is running high. Likely also that Ethel Waters* footage in that picture may be se- verely trimmed for Dixie screenings. N* Clash Wilis SeoslUvIUct The Detroit race riots caused 20th- Fox (o Kivc itself a retake on releas- ii)K plans for 'Stormy Weather' (Bill Rtibinson-Ethcl Waters-Lena Home- Cab Calloway, et al.\ but public rc- latiui\f investigation by Hal Home and his staff among Negro publish- ers decided the flirn company against any such sensitivities. First of all, the Negro publishers emphasized that in their race, as among other minorities, there will always be some left-wingers, Some rightists, and the usual sound minds, and it's only when the class-conscious white man's periodicals pick up one tan- gent of the so-called Negro problem, and put undue emphasis on it, does it assume exaggerated proportions. Furthermore, Home checked with 'the Criterion, Broadway, showcase, where Metro's 'Cabin in the Sky' is enjoying-, extraordinary business, now In lU fifth week. This is a thea- tre where 'A' films have been known to drop radically, but businesi has held to an even keel. Sharply attuned to the new-found prosperity among Negroes, owing to their employment In war plants, major film companies recently began to advertidc; extensively in Negro publications. Metro started using Negro newspapers last becember; 20th-Fox set a budget about two months ago. Universal Is reported about ready to enter this field of ex- ploitation and other majors are also reported interested. Metro is using approximately 35 Negro newspapers, mostly weeklies. 20th-Fox advertising appears in 32 Negro publications every week end tnd in 24 additional papers once a month.- E«aity Cradeasas Bleta Tlie recent race riots, in Detroit, and racial discrimination in general, were condemned in- a resolution adopted yesterday (Tuesday) by the Equity council. The contribution of Negroes to the theatrical and enter- tainment fields, as well as to Anierl- ran life as a whole, was cited in the resolution. Noting that Equity has never per- mitted racial barriers among its ni(>mbers. the council urged that all nthpr unions adopt similar policies barring racial discrimination. It al.so asked an investigation of the Detroit riou. A delegation of Equity members had brought the matter to ihe councils' attention. Levey's 5 for UA Jules Levey has set a deal to re- lease five pictures through United Artists. Pact calls for delivery of at least one picture annually, the first being 'The Hairy Ape.' Eugene O'Neill Plav. which goes into production this fall. Negro In Pix CoDtlnned from page I ond broadening the tri the race. In th« main. White is satislled w ith the advaoL'nnent made by the studios with the problems presented, and c'.ted several of the films that have api>eared since his m teting with members of the Industry. He pointed out the role played by Ben Carter in 20th-Fox's *Crash Dive' as typical of what the films could do to present tl-e Negro in correct light. Carter, who plays a messman In the Navy (a fault that is the Navy's, not Holly, wood^ peiforms a heroic deed along with Tyrone Power and Dana Edwards, and according to White, wins the sympathetic understanding di» any member of society in such ir. stance*. Other films indicated ur. advancing the relationship between Negroes and whites, according 1o the secretary, where the parts pla\-ed by Doo'.ev Wilson in V.'arncrs' '(Sasablanca." and Eddie Anderson CRochester'.i in 2Uih-Fox's The Meanest Man in the World.' 'It. both films the relation- ship is more 'hat of friends, between whom there is mutual respect and af 'ection rather than one of master aid servant.' Two other pictures, yet to be released, arc. according to re- ports, both beneficial to the question at point. They are Columbia's 'Some- where in Sahara,' in which Hex In- gram plays a leading role, and Ken- neth Spencer's portrayal In 'BaUan Patrol.' Other PIx He quotes some of the lines from 'Somewhere in Sahara,' as a fine in- dication of the way the film can re- duce the problem through iu medium. At one point Humphrey Bogart shoots down a Messerschmitt and orders Ingram to seisrch the German pilot; 'No Negro is good enough to touch an Aryan,' the Nazi protests. 'Sejrch him,' Bogart re- peats. 'Your forefather^ were Pha- roahs when his still were wearing bearskins and roaming th« jungles.' Also a white Texan in the film com- ments that 'we have a great deal to learu from each other,' to Ingram, as the two become friends. Points like these. White elucidated, are of great benefit to the industry and all con- cerned. Commenting on Metro's *Tenne8see Johnson.' on which an extra $290,000 was spent to make it less objection- able, and on the new plcturization ideas on the part of the Walt Disney .«tudios, White felt a great deal had been accomplished by the studios, and that a great deal more was forthcoming. As an addendum, he added that 'one of the most Impor- t-nt elements in progress of Negro actors themselves is in playing roles with sincerity and dignity instead of mugging and playing the clown be- fore the camera.' 'Abie* In Detroit Conllnucd from page I S5 $1.65 top at that. Rest of the week the comedy was unable to play be- cause of the martial law, closing all theatres, nightclubs, the Tigers' ball park and a local turf meeting, the edict being eased toward the close of the week. Considering all the circumstances, including shuttered houses, cancel- lations of reservations and 7 o'clock openmgs to get under the 10 p.m. curfew declared by the military *hen they did resume, the town's other legiter also did surprisingly well. The Cass, in the eighth and final week of 'Junior Miss.' was shuttered for two nights and reopened with the ] p.m. curtain to meet the regula- «ons In.the five performances, the »?'J1S?' registered approximately w.wo. extremely good considering jne loathness of Detrolters to be on ll>e streets after dark. House goes flaik until July 19. when SvKia Svd- "fy and Luther Adior arc set in to.-1 a sliort run in -j;,„e Eyre.' i Hi<-iuro grosses lijivp al.so started ; "I riM'. ;,ioMu with all oilier slmw : biz lovally. J Loois Jordan Band's Dance Date Intenmpted By Detroit Race-Rioting Bandleader Louis Jordan found himself right in the middle of the serious race-rioting that took place in Detroit last week. Jordan's band, while playing a one-night engage- ment at the Forrest Club, in Detroit's Nogro section, was giving out around 12:30 a.m. Monday (2lf when out- sider burst into the hall and startled 700 dancers via p.a. sy.slem with facts thnt riotliiK had begun. Place was cleared as if by magic. According to Jordan, winding up tonight (Wed.) at Loew's State, N.Y.. the surrounding-at*««4)i-'>»9<HTW-iM scene of a three-hour riot. Not until 3:30 a.m. did the riot squad arrive and permit Jordan's quintet to get back to the hotel. Meanwhile. Jor- dan's ofay road manager, Sid Ed- mundson. remained in the bowling alley next door. An hour later Ed- mundson walked two and a halt miles through the district to get to the Book Cadillac hotel without in- cident. Very next night Jordan's band played at Myer's Lake in Canton. Ohio, to about 1,300 Negro dancers and 260,white spectators. The eve- ning went off without a hitcli. SHE'S NOT SCAIBT Hollyw-ood. June 29. Marjorie Reynolds draws star billing in 'Ministry of Fear,' to l>e produced under supervision of Seton I. Miller at Paramount. Actress recently played our of the two femmr roii-s with Doroiiiy La- moiii- (ippoyitc Bin? Cro<l).v in 'Dixie.' In 'Ki';i'." s'le co--il.-irs v.illi n.-iy Milliii.d. P,000 THEATKE FIRE, WPB OK'S REBUILDING San Francisco, June 20. $30,000 flrc of undetermined ori- gin bR^ed through the State, in Eureka, 0|>erated by tlie Redwood Theatres. Inc. Tlie 1.250 sealer was in operation at the time, but the customers filed out quietly and no- body w-as injured. Bebulld Based House .Abilene, Tex., June 29. The Star, destroyed by fire several months ago, is being rebuilt by building's owner under limited pri- orities granted by the War Produc- t.on Board. House will l>e operated by Johnny Blocker, owner of the Texas, here. Star was forVicrly operated by Billy Morrow, now in tlie armed forces. Oust East Sl L Exhib From DL Legishtore St. Louis. June 29. Louis Mcnges, owner of the Es- quire and Roxy, flicker houses in East St. Louis, acrossi the Missis- sippi- from here, last week was ousted as State Representative by the Illinois Legislature which found that gross frauds had been perpe- trated in his recent election. Menges a Democrat, has been representing- the East St. Louis district in the Legislature for a number of years. The Senate voted 28 to 21 for Menges' ouster and yoled also to seat his opponent City Attorney John T. Thomas (Rep> Belleville. Although the action was the first of its kind In Illinois since 1035 it was foreshadowed when a subcommittee recommended that t^ll of the 946 votes cast in Brooklyn. III., a Negro settlement, be thrown out because there were so badly charged with fraud that It woidd be impossible to separate the good votes from the bad.' " ~- In the alection last fall official returns showed Menges had been elected by 238 votes but the latter immediately raised the fraud issue and report of the subcommittee, ap proved by the Senate, urged that Thomas be declared tl:e winner by 258 votes. $140,426 to PoUa Fund From N. Y. Theatres War AotiiuliesCommlttce reps last Wednesday'lOM .piesentcd a check for $140,426 to Mayor LuCuar- dia for the Greater New York Chap- ter of the Natjonal Foundation , of Infantile Paralysis. Check represented .50'; ofjhe the- .atre collections in (ho N.Y. ex'<!hange area, an equi-il ammnit having pre- viously been turned over toward the fund of $1,000,000 which Nicholas M. Srhenck prcsenle't to President Roosevelt last month. .hadeStaff-Pichires For the .second time within a week, titles on Metro pictures have been switched. Current switcheruo was done solely by Loew's St.-iic. on Broadway, which used an alternate title on 'Pilot No. 5,' by al.Mi calling it 'The Flying Gangster.' Tag appurenlly was used to get away from th« war ides, and also to clarify that the film was not one nt a series such as the 'Hardy Family.' Metro olTicially changed the title of -Hitler's Hangman' to 'Hitler'* Madman' last week. Switch seemingly was made to get away from (h« 'hangmiin' appellation and also to prevent confusion with United .Artists' 'Hangmen Also Die,' previously released. Warners has prevailed upon Kate Smith tn allow use of her name in the main title of and paper on Irving Berlin's "This Is the Army.' Singer, who does 'Gud Bless America' in the film, nt first declined billing uu tha ground production-4ielonged to army lads and'iio one else. When it .wu« pointed out George Muiphy. Juan Leslie. Alan Hale, Francos Langfurd and others get credit for their work in the film version, Mts Siniili and Ted Cullhi.s. her manager, capitulated. Berlin, with Hal Wallls. producer, and Michael Curl):, dirciior. have arrived in N. Y. with the completed film. Although it's far from rare, cussing and swearing at (he exhibitors is a thing of the past, in the opinion of Lillian Bergson, booker for Piiramoiiiit at its exchange ip N. Y. "The modem intelligent booker does noi luivo ii> resort to such tactics.' she avers, adding 'all one needs is good eveiy-day common s^nse in dealing with exhibitors to gain satisfactory re-iolts.* Under Jack Perley at the Par N. Y. branch are two women bookin;; sii. per\isor.s. Miss Bergson b«ing one. while Kitty Flynn Is another. Boiii have assistants. This yei^r's annual Paramount Week, which launches the no»' selling season for 1043-44 and has been designated by Neil F. Agncw. v.p. over sales, a.S' Sept. 9-12, marks the silver jubilee of this practice in the com- pany. For the 25th observance of Paramount Wew, when tin.- entire company's distribution department pushes for Inaugural season's selling results, will coincide with the release of 'So Proudly We Hail,' IcadulT '43- 44 fibn. Editorial shots at' the accuracy, or lack of same. In various incidents in the filming of 'Mission to Moscow' at Warners, are causing other stu- dios .to take a second look at the scripts of forthcoming pictures dealinif with the Russian scene, "The Russian People,' 'Soldiers Never Die' ,-ind 'Convoy to Murmansk,' at 20th-Fox. and 'Revenge' at RKO are getting a microscopic goipg-over, lest a few inaccuracies drgjSr more blasts from political-minded editors. John G. Bradley, division chief of the National Archives at Washington, has written Jack L. Warner, executive producer of Warner Bros.. :iskiM|{ for pruifk on four pictures that are eligible for acceptance duo to tlii>ir historical value. Tbey are 'Mission to Moscow,' 'A Dispatch from Reii-' ter's,' 'Underground' and -Confessions of a Nazi Spy.* Several Wurner shorts are already'in the National Archives collection. Biggest initial printing order in the history of Technicolor laliorutoriei is 5,175,000 im't of film, demanded by the Warners production, 'This Is tlie Army,' for August release. Picture runs around 14 reels and neerls alMut 450 prints for early distribution. New York Theatres Studio Laborer Shortage 'Hollywood. June 29. Workers are so scarce in the film industries that several unions are ad- vertising for pro.s-pective employees and sending out runners to round up stragglers. Studio Utility Employes Local 724 maintains an agent at the Los An- geles ofliue of the U. S. Employment Service to corral able bodied men willing to work at laborers' jobs in the studios at SI an hour. Hersholt Again Hollywood, June 29. Jean Hersholt is assured another term as president of the Motion Pic- tuic Relief Fund when the Fund meets next Tuesday (6) for it.s an- nual session at which Hersholt will make his report. Other nomiiinlions also approved by the board of trustees include Ralph Morgan. Liicile Glcason. Wal- ter Wanger, Irving I'ichel as veepees: George Bagnall, treasurer, and Wilma Boslior a.< executive sec- retary. 1(Hh WEEK The Thrilling Story of Former U. 8. Ambassador JOSEPH E. DAVIES . "MISSION TO MOSCOW" HOLLYWOOD THE.VrRE Continueua • B'way A 51st 8L EnaiEiiMi OOMTH IT riaos AUIN JflNklNS COU NlfEl SONOS aim wnt n m. ■taHlai — A Hit;" — MmIM. N«wI. sriiiMt Mil? CUtR eVRVRiSEtfE nor. iAMH«Ti IWSICMI.W.4SM. MMt. JB*t. 4 Mm. Bcalaaliia rn<UN. 4uh t George Raft - Sydney Graanstrast In Witrrifr'H Mm "BACKGROUND TO DANGER" HAI McIiStYRE and Orcli. KXTI: . ATTRACTIiiS ' M. 3 STOOGES - OEOEGE TOBIAS .Mm: Hw laaaslaiitHr- • :t hlix- S T E A H D—B'way & 47th St. Air C'<HHllll<mnl fiVi'' MUSIC HALL THE YOUNGEST PROFESSION March of Tima "Invasion" Spactacular Stag^ Pfoductiens •lOMI MONIMMWr* ••Ml ICW^ 1 SOSiST. Variety Jaaiboree. Omaha. July I? Theatrical Jumliorcc and picnic has been set by the Varieiy Club of Nebra.ska and l')w,i inr July 12 in' Omaha. Procncils v.il\ bf u.^c'l f"r' charities at the llntlii- B. Moinoi-j home fur orphiin diiklrcn. I '■ F.. I. Rii!>iii (it Piii amiiiiiii is gf:n-1 I oral chairman while .loe Kiiisky of j I Ti i-S!atos Thcairo-; ("(irp. « ill liaii- I die talent fur tl:c jamboree. | On Sawa '"^TW.K IMMIR ( WTKKN" r I'll IM Slim In rrrwiii pan H|-IT.\I.N¥ All <ilrl Orehnrtra p Stoics V I I liur>.. Jti ■ k 'I i III SiTI II IMK HI ■ ■ « UVKl I I Siiil'r)n IIIN<i <-K<>!>HV * MVIt'll'. INIHOrin ^ Tin. Il«brr. ' I. WIOI 11 MiIi-Im'II %.<r<i- A PariMouNl Pl.lurr And Hl« Orclinlrj 4lHll PARAMOUNT 'I'lnii'^ 'I'liura.. Jtaii I I . nil s.-ri'ii jMildred Baile> I IHK HI M.W ,.v I .. »• S,i.ir)r,K I Viin AlrMiiMl.-. PA B WAY & -I 7 th SI. Murlt Tiiimirruiv f'hurli'S Mnil'*"'-!-' l.tKillTOV • O-IMIIt "THIS LAND or MINE" •Inr K "( II VTTKHIlOX" Hniwn 9 July I'nmiira