Variety (Jun 1944)

Wednesday, June 14, 1944 CHATTER 47 Damon Runyon out of hospital. Charley Burke in and near Toron- to.-' •"• -I 'r■ '/. -K Warners bought "Two Mrs. Car- rolls." Casey Robinson in from Holly- wood. Horace MacMahon with USO play- ing southern camps. Allen Meltzer has added Phil Miles to his new radio flackery, Willie Green, agent, back from Hollywood, has reopened office. Mack Millar back to the Coast after one of his longest sojourns east. Dorothy Keller, of "Follow the Girls," being buzzed by three film companies. Actor Harry Ellerbe back in N. Y. from the Coast where he was tested by Warners. . ~: Walter Winchell's column sub- headed "Coast to Coast" while he is in Hollywood. : . "Never a Dull Moment," by "Socker" Coe. Hays office v.p., is in its third edition. Carl Erbe and Sonny Barkas open their Fawn Country Club, Lake Placid, this week', ' . . Wayne Piersdn.had nasal operation at Veterans hospital, Bronx, and re- ported doing okay. ' Lee Mortimer, ' N. Y. Mirror film critic-saloon editor, off to Coast for vacation and business. Eddie Cantors' 30th anniversary celebrated Friday (9) by 18 inti- mates at the Waldorf. , . , "Hail Columbia," starring Willie Howard, will- be Lou Walters' musi- cal slated for autumn; >■'•"''■ 1 -~ Ned Alvord around with a blue cutaway suit made in Japan by a Chinese tailor years ago. • ' ., John Murray Anderson in New York hospital reported better, after two transfusions last week. ,, George Deber now booking the Hospital circuit as well as Victory circuit for USO-Camp Shows. Lamar Trotti, author of "Wilson," to Washington for three weeks in connection with the 20th film. Lou Mindling, .ex-CBS' and MCA, now a senior Lt., USN, in. charge of WAVE training- at Hunter Col- lege. ' v.,,- Lorella Val Mery no longer a cliff dweller,~having moved to an apart- ment house where the elevator works. •' '■•'.- Max. Goberman replaced Erich Wolfgang Korngold as conductor of "Heleti Goes to Troy" (Alvin) or- chestra. Stage Door Canteen, which is be- ing entirely renovated, with im- provements made, will reopen on June 20. :■ . -: ; ./. , '.' (Herbert) Faye and (Ruth) Mason back in N. Y. after five months en- tertaining soldiers in Africa and Near East. Throat op on Joe E. Lewis will silence the comedian another 3-4 weeks; they took 12 pollups off his vocal chords. Louis Schwartz, who* has been .financing ma.iy' Broadway shows, leaves lor Hollywood in search of scripts and talent. Steve Cochran is manager of horse and buggy, opera "Broken Hearts of Broadway,". N. Y. Music Hall, east 67th street. Talk again that the Rainbow Room may reopen for dinner and supper; just a cocktailery now, and a private luncheon club middays. Abe Lastfogel and USO-Camp Shows gel nice kudos in Bob Hope's forthcoming book, "I .Never Left Home" (Simon & Schuster). Noel Meadow, who recently bowed out as operator of the Stanley thea- tre, is now handling "What; Price Italy?" film, previewed last week. Mike Nidorf, General Amus. Corp, vice-president, expected out of French hospital, N. Y.. today (Wed.) or tomorrow after minor operation. Columbia v.p. Sid Buchman hud- dled Sam Behrman on "Jacobow- sky," which he will produce, and back to the Coast over the weekend. Richard de Rochemont. producer of March of Time shorts released by 20th-Fox, has arrived safely in North Africa as a U. S. war correspondent. Billy Gould, veteran vauder, though improving after recent oper- ation at Roosevelt hospital, will have are heading a location crew taking film background currently in N. Y. and nearby areas for "The Clock." Irving Kaye Davis has gone into hiding since his wife's first play, "Pick-Up Girl" (Windsor), clicked. Elsa Shelley did in first shot what he couldn't do in more than a dozen trys. He's elated rather than burned. Ben H. Grimm, RKO manager, has received word that his son T/S Ben E.' Grimm, 19, radio gunner, on a Liberator gunner operating in the British theatre of war, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. , • Elena Miramova and Ludmilla Toretzka will play their original Broadway roles in "Dark Eyes" when the comedy is done by the Bucks County Playhouse, in Phila- delphia, week of June 26 for the strawhat's second bill of the season. Elinor Lenz, freelance radio scripter who writes for "Appoint- ment With Life," "Aunt Jenny's True Life Stories," "Grand Central Sta- tion," among others, and Priscilla Kent, scripter for "The Parker Fam- ily," have collabed on a play, "Strange Bedfellows," satire on women in politics. Chicago Exchanges Continued from page 14 and Joy, Chester, ill., to emerge from retirement. Beare sold these houses two years ago, but when Bob Franz, manager, was inducted into service, Beare . was persuaded to return for the duration. , 'Cecil House, formerly With St. Louis Paramount exchange, appoint- ed manager 20ih-Fox exchange, Dallas. . ; ':' ,- '■ ■/' ""•' - :•:.'. ■ Herman Upped Lou Berman, Detroit office mana- ger Universal, upped to film sales- man working out of that office; suc- ceeds Harry Gilbert, resigned. Virginia Cruzon to Lieut. Rex W, Whaley, Los Angeles, May 29. Bride is in Florentine Gardens revue, Georgia Carroll to Kay Kyser, Las Vegas, Nev.. June. 8. Bride is ***< ^^*SS^i^^^fa'-i^Sy* r - al decks' , a screen Player; groom, the band Arthur Lesser this summer will Warners Has 29 Femme Bookers Warner Bros, now has 29 women bookers in'its exchanges throughout U. S. N. Y. branch has three book- ers in skirts,, compared with none before the war, while in' Pittsburgh all four booking posts are handled by women, ;•'-.; • ' .;■;.; ■ ■'._' ' '■ .';• ' New St. Louis Amus. House ..;*.: St. Louis, June 13. Announced here that deluxe nabe film house will be built in residential district. The house, tagged The Hampton, will be Constructed by Sam Komm,, indie operator, and to be operated by the St. Louis Amuse- ment Co!, headed by Harry C. Ar- thur, Jr., general manager of Fan- chon & Marco Enterprises. ' ' Arthur says plans for additional houses in city will be announced later.' . ,■•'.■■''.■•. ■-'.' "■'.:.•.; Mrs. Bess Schulter, owner of sev- eral indie nabes here, "recently in- corporated Ivanhoe Theatre Corp., with first deal the take-over of Ivan- hoe, 700-seater, formerly operated by Sam Komm, another indie. Ivanhoe is in same sector as Columbia and Roxy, also owned by Mrs. Schulter. Obtained on 20-year lease., New Toledo Open-Airer ; " "» Toledo. O., June 13. New open-air theatre is planned for'West-End section here by Her- bert Ochs and his associates. Work starts soon. Besides being a drive-in theatre, it will serve as a winter sports palace. <" •' Closed for Duration ■ ■'; ■ Burton, O., June 13. Colonial closed'. for duration, an- nounced Irving' Field, manager. He lives in Cleveland and found' trans- portation difficult. He has sold the equipment. His operator, Morris Arnold, left last week for service in the Navy. .'•-■•''•'._' MARRIAGES Art Kassel moves into the Aragon replacing Eddie Stone. Allan Kaine moves into the Tav- ern Room of the Bismarck hotel June 16. . ... The Catholic Actors Guild threw their annual benefit and dance at the Sherman last week. Harriette Smith, Chicago's only woman song-plugger, formerly with Southern Music, now manager of Chelsea Music Corporation. Lt. Frank "Mickey" Furey who worked at the Palace theatre prior to his entering the army, has been awarded the Purple Heart." : Gary Cooper, Veronica Lake and Glenn Miller with a 48-piece orches- tra, air in town last week for a bond rally at the Chicago Stadium. .". Lawrence Welk moves into the Trianon July 1, replacing Don Reid and orchestra. It will be the 13th return engagement of Lawrence Welk. :■':,'. '.,/•■; Bill Frawley, actor and part owner of the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific League, is iri .town conferring with White Sox brass hats about a pitcher. Irving. Mandel, Monogram Pictures franchise holder here and Ben Eisen- berg local sales manager, have left to attend the Monogram sales meet- ing in Hollywood, Margaret Hayes in the "School for Brides" show is returning to New York. She will be replaced by Yolande Donlan last seen here in "Good Night Ladies"', :, '• . ',': Ida Joy Balaban concert pianist, daughter of A. J. Balaban, is await- ing USO overseas assignment. Cherry Balaban, another daughter, is already overseas playing camp tours. American Federation of Musicians convention bought out "Oklahoma" last Thursday night. Following night they took over the Club De- Lisa, Convention had 1,200 delegates here, V , '''..-,■ ' :' wedding anniversary; Si Steinhausers ditto and Sam Nixons their 25th. Current show, at William Penn'.s Tervace Room has Amy Arnell, Ray Parker & Porthole and Galente & Leonarda. Obituaries 55 Continued from page 46 grams based on odd facts illustrated in his newspaper feature. . . : . : -;;'".'-: FRANCIS J. CARROLL Fancis J, Carroll, 65, retired film producer and director, died June 5 in Hollywood. In early days of the: industry, he was president of the Stellar Photo- play CO;, and filmed the first Frontier Day celebration irt Cheyenne, Wyo. Among the stars who played in his productions were Mae Marsh, Clara Bow and Julia Arthur. . . Minneapolis • By Les Rees Reel Fellows club staged show for Variety club.: Hotel Radisson Flame Room hold- ing over Georgie Pri<je. •• Fred Maher, ventriloquist, into Happy Hour nitery with-Don Toby orchestra. Charlie Wiener, UA salesman, again claims Film Row's fishing championship. Andy's nightclub has added Fred Roner, "picketpocket," and Enid Phillips, dancer. Dorothy Lewis ice show jet for all-summer run at Hotel Nicollet Minnesota Terrace. Bertnie Berger, indie circuit owner, investing heavily in loop business property, just has bought Loop the- atre. ,'-.'..:"•."■■-". '■ ;'. " '. ; ;' / Robert Wilson due here June 19 to conduct USO talent auditions for which Norman Pyle, M-G-M ex- ploiteer, has been appointed local representative. Republic's "Lady and Monster" gets day and date first-runs in Para- mount circuit's Gopher, here, and .Strand, St. Paul, July 21. • Mexico City Nat Pendleton planed in from Hol- lywood. ■::..'.' Ricardo Esparza, stage and radio singer, back from U. S. toiir. Manuel de Sevilla and Alfonso Spino producing a ■ scmi-weckly newsrccl. George Biddle, painter, brother of U. S. Attorney-General, hung up his easel here. , ; : '>>'.'.' ' ■ Pedro Vallejo, rep of Venezuelan and Colombian exhibitors, here booking Mexican, pix. Carmen Montejo .did so well as star in Clasa Films' "Cats' Road" that she's inked for another picture. Maestro Miguel Angel Pazos, radio station XEOY's orch leader, back from radio and theatre dates in Havana. Othon M. Velez. long manager of XEW. now general manager of the station's affiliates and Cine Alameda, first-run cinema. triple, on WNEW, running his La Vie Parisienne bistro in N. Y., and man- aging the West End Casino, Long Branch, N. J. : . Leon J. Bamberger, RKO . sales promotion manager, a grandpop, a son being boVn to his daughter Helene, wife of Lt. Sheldon Kaplan of Camp Clark, Mo. . When her dad, Joel Pike, owner of Ruby Foo's, died suddenly last week, songstress Bernice Parks had to cut short her. Mounds Club, Cleveland^ engagement. Jessie Uoyce Landis, anxious to try her hand at directing, has been given opportunity by George Abbott via directing newcomers to cast of "Kiss and Tell," Biltmore. . V Win. H. Lawrence, exec of Wilby- Kincey circuit in the south, was in Boston last week to attend the. fu- neral of his father, who died before Lawrence could reach bedside. Joan Roberts, who left "Oklahoma" May 31 for a film contract, hasn't gone to the Coast as planned, pre- ferring to wait in N. Y. until David O. Selznick sets a shooting date. Director- Jack Conway; of Metro, and his. cameraman. A! Shcnbcrg, Frances Anne Watkins to Carlos ' Alexander, New York, June 8. Both are opera singers. • ;'.'•• Shirley Fclner to First Lt. Marvin Rothenberg, N. Y., June. 11. . Groom was formerly with the Warner h:o. Martha Merrill to Maiwie Man- heini, Los Angeles. June 9. Groom is script chief of the Frank Sinatra (Vimms) program. Bride, was his secretary. , . Vera Judels 10 Paul Yawilz, Los Angeles, June 9. Groom is a screen writer,; / : ; - Jane Reynolds Fennelly. to John H, Detmold, Peekskill, N, Y., June 11. Bride is daughter of Parker Fen- nelly, author-playwright whose "Ful- ton of Oak Falls" served as starring vehicle for George M. Cohan under aegis of Sam H; Harris. : : Erna Rubenstein ta^George Bruce, Los Angeles, June 11. Bride is con- cert violinist; groom, 'film scenarist. lima Altman to Sg't. Robert Clem- ens, Temple.- Texas; June 11, Groom was film publicity man before en- tering armed forces,".' By Hal Cohen Mrs. Maurice Spitalny. laid up for several days with a sprained ankle. Ted McLain, Playhouse stage manr ager, has given his tenth pint to the Blood Bank. - * Geprgie Somers Eckhardt, ex-song plugger and vauder, now running Sunset Tavern. . <</:'■:. '. Pvt. Peter Accardi, here with sol- dier bond show, used to be Bobby Pinkus on the stage. ' . Mrs. Fred Wallace, wife of Ful- ton's assistant manager, in the hos- pital for observation. Elmer Kenyon .will spend next season on the road drum-beating Helen Hayes in "Harriet."' Ann Barrett, local singer, in town for couple of days with USO show playing Deshon Hospital. • ■ ; ■ WB sales biggie Jules Lapidus has enrolled his 17-year-old son, Larry, in journalism at Penn State. Town will get a; new oasis on Sixth .street in. a few weeks when Hollywood Show Bar opens. Mike Shapiros ccjebratod27th FREDERICK C. GRISWOLD . Frederick e. Griswold, 67, inventor of Griswold film slicer and theatre owner in Port Jefferson, N. Y., died at Belle Terre, L. Li June 8. He in- vented the slicer 20 years ago and he was sole manufacturer. Survived by widow, a daughter and a son. '■''>.' -.'..-'-''-'..'-■:••.' . JOHN B. SHILLINGFORD John B. (Jay) Shillingford, 50, silent motion picture and magazine writer, died in Hollywood June 2. Known in Hollywood, New York and London for his articles, Shillingford went into publishing business in later years, establishing a chain of film and sport magazines. , - Survived by daughter. JACK GRIMES Jack Grimes, 51, nationally known circus publicity man, died June 7 on a train bound for Detroit. He was en route to Flint, Michigan, for Cole Bros, circus. Having no relatives in this coun- try;, his burial was arranged by the Showmen's "League of America, Chi- cago.; : ■>'' ; ..-.';•';■ ' : -,'. EDWARD FURMAN Edward Fiirman, 40, radio time salesman, died June 3 in Chicago from heart attack. He had been one of WBBM's top salesmen for a year and a half, and previously was with station WMFF, Plattsburg, N. Y. Survived by widow and two daughters. V ■._ Hollywood HARRY V. BURKLEY >.';.-,; Harry V. Burkley, 46. general man- ager Of Paul Spor Theatrical Co., Toledo, for past five years, died June 2 in that city. He played in summer stock companies in middlewest. His daughter, Dorothy McGuire, star of stage and film play, "Claudia"; two brothers and sister survive. •• • Mrs. John Kieran, 51, wife of newspaper columnist and expert on "IiifQi-mation Please." died June 13 in N. Y. Survived by daughter, and two sons, both in service, besides husband. Father of Wayne King, band lead- er, died in Kansas City June 8. Son how is major and deputy director of Army Public Relations, Sixth Serv- ice Amusement Co. ''"'•.-"'.'";•;. Mother of Harold C. Costello, head of Iroquois Management Corp., op- erating Oriental theatre, Chicago, died there June 8. A daughter, brother and sister, also survive. W. J. H. Farrell, secretary of South African Board of Film Cen- sors, died March 3 in Cape Town, South Africa, ... ; ■ 1 *-o '.- -''": ■-;:'.,.• '.-'.■■' Fredric A; Rush, 31, film theatre press agent, died June 2 in Holly- BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Frank Scully, daugh- ter, Hollywood, June 7. Father is "Variety" columnist and author. ; Mr., and Mrs. Eric Ergenbright, son, Burbank, Cal., June 6. Father is a screen writer. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Henry Levin, daugh- ter, Hollywood, June 6. Father is a director at Columbia. ' Mr; and Mrs- John Butler*, sort, Los Angeles, June 10. Father is a screen writer at Republic. Pfc. and Mrs. Jerry Wallace, son, Louisville, Ky. Father was with Slim Bryant's Georgia Wildcats on KDKA, Pittsburgh, before going into service. Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Dove, daugh- ter, Philadelphia, May 30. Father Ls vaude actor touring with USO-Camp shows unit. Mr. and Mrs, Vic Seydel, son, New York June 9. Father is producer for the Blue network. Don Amcche lijid up with sunburn, Judy Garland divorced Dave Rose. Lou Lutsy to Mexico. City on va- cash. Little Connie Haines had her ton- sils removed. .'. , Alan Ladd won $100. on the Inva- sion Day pool, Rosalind Russell chalked up an- .oth'er birthday, . ■■: -" Jimmy McHiigh. Jr., goes into, the Army this week. Leon Schelisingers celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. . '•-.--; Henry O'Neills celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary. \■'.'-. Red Skelton inducted "into the Army at Fort MacArthur. Joan Blondell filed suit for di- -vorce against Dick Powell. .-"■'■' Elsie Hall, film actress, divorced Huntz Hall, Dead End Kid. Gene Tierney laid lip with flu while "Laura" company shot around her. Dr. Alfonso Gaona, Mexican bull- fight impresario, gandering the film lots. - > William Fadiman returned to town after three weeks of New York busi- ness. .-■ •,: '..'■:' ; Dr. Lee De Forest, radio inventor, shoved off for Mexico City on busi- ness. -.'.;.- Hugh Harinan celebrated his 15th anniversary as a film cartqpn pro- ducer. '■ Rajaram Bhole. Bombay legislator, ogling the studios, with. Mervyn I.eroy. Georgia Carroll temporarily out of "Battleship Blues" with throat in- fection. Tito Guizar arrived from Mexico City to start work in Republic's "Brazil." ;\ v - -y '•" Jimmy Stewart reported upped from major to Lieutenant Colonel in England. .■ ■ y Charles Bennett to England to work for the British Ministry of War Information. Mickey Rooney reports today (Wed.) for Army induction at Fort MacArthur. , • ; -■. . -" Ritben H. Wolff, theatre operator, had his name legally streamlined to Rube Wolf. - Arthur Miller, 20th-Fox camera- man, recovering from an emergency, appendectomy. . ., "i _ > Constance Mooi-e released from a" Santa Monica hospital after removal of her appendix. . Rebel. Randall, screen actress, di- vorced Peter Potter, radio announc- er, now in the Army. • Bing Crosby is buying back some of his old song, records, destroyed when his house burned. Mimi Chandler, actress daughter of Senator Chandler of Kentucky, to wed Major John Cabell. Lewis Milestone recuperating, at home after three weeks in the hos- pital for appendectomy. James B. Cassidy to Mexico to scout locations for his forthcoming production, "Green Mansions:" Major Frank W: Lloyd awarded the Legion of Merit' for combat pho- tography in the South Pacific. Leatrice Gilbert, daughter of John Gilbert and Leatrice Joy, to marry Pvt. George Arthur Hoover July 10. Nat W. Finston to Washington for another meeting of the State De- partment's Music Advisory Commit- tee. ;.--,'-': Leo Carrillo, defending a $3,750 publicity suit, denied he ever in- tended to run for governor of Cali- fornia. ' • ■.'.;.' Ary Lima, Brazilian manager for Warners, in town for studio huddles on post-war ogperatioh in South America. '".•• ■• .'•■".' John C. Flinn returned "to tovyn after three months in the east on business for the Office of. War In- formation. Walter Winchell drew on award from the American Newspaper Guild on his 20th anniversary as a news- paperman. ' - . '. ".- Cecil B, DeMille and Y. Frank Freeman handed over $7,000 to the Naval Aid Auxiliary as proceeds of the preem of "Dr. Wassell." - : Bob Hope show in Pasadena sold $1,075,000 war bonds in one minute; Cast included Frances Langford, Jerry Colonna and Tony Romano. Jack Carson joins Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jack-Benny and Jimmy Du- rante as part-time emcee of the Los Angcle. ' Police Show, June 15-26. Washington Willard Roof Players were hosts to editors on Sunday at hotel Wil- lard,.- '..' '.-•'.'■': '-• ::"'■' Lord Halifax; after he was made Earl," spent the evening watching "Ten Little Indians." , 7 .^ Gene. Ford,' Loew's 'production manager, on vacation at the Bev- erly-Wilshire in Hollywood. USO will audition local entertain- ers for camp units on June 21. First 15 applications received produced 12 baritones. ... Tamara Toumanova and producer Casey Robinson feted by RKO at hotel Statler. Met critics and plugged "Days of Glory." June Havoc of "Mexican Hayride" came down from New York to en- tertain on Monument Grounds for opening of Fifth war loan.- ■ Pete Smith of M-G-M was awarded the National Safety Council plaque for his short, "The Seventh Column." Presentation was at. the hotel Statler.