Variety (Jul 1944)

JUL* » l?rr» S STAGE Published Weekly-at JlU West 4Gth Street, New York, ID, N. T., by Variety. Inc.- Annual subscription, (10. Single roiilcfl, 25 cents. Entered as second-class mailer December 22, 1905, at the Post OfCice ax New York, N. Y„ under the act of March 3, 1879. COPYRIGHT, 19*4, BX VARIETY, INC. ATX BIGHTS RESERVED. VOL. 155 No. 7 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1944 PRICE 25 CENTS CONVERTING NAZIS VTA PIX Hotels Squawk on La Guardia Plea For Vacationists to Drop N. Y. Visits New York hotelmeri have pro-f tested the appeal made by Mayor La Guardia to other municipalities that •war* asked to advise the citizenry to "slay away from New York" this summer because train space was needed for war casualties and troop movements, but no official comment has been voiced by showmen. They said that similar warnings had not prevented; people from traveling Over the Fourth of July, and that vacationists will probably not' be deterred from making trips to an appreciable extent. La Guardia bawled out Martin Sweeney, head of the hotclmen's association, for com- plaining and stated his instructions to urge people not to travel came from Washington. There has been a boost in local hotel occupancy ' during the past three weeks and a corresponding in- crease in theatre attendance. Check on hotel reservations indicates that there were few cancellations as the result of the no-travel, "campaign." Among the incomers are a consider- able percentage of buyers, and their stay in the metropolis is more ex- tended than usual because of the necessity to shop from one wholesale house to another because of short- ages in many types of merchandise. Specialty-shop owners are compelled to come to New Yotk because trav- eling salesmen have become virtu- ally extinct. LAUDER NIXES KORDA'S FILM BIOGRAPHY BID London, July 25. Sir Alexander Korda has offered to buy Sir Harry Lauder's two books, "Minstrel in France" and "RoamhV in the Gloamiu'," for pix use. Minstrel has turned down the offer, as well as offers from two other producers to film his biography, un- til after the war, claiming this is no time for private gain, Lauder recently received "the Freedom of Hamilton," an award from his home town, for his army aainp tours. Glenn Miller Eyes Concert-Style Orch Capl. Glenn Miller's post-war band (there's talk he'll be out of the Army before the grand finale in the Pa- cific) won't be completely in a pop- ular vein. ,a style he used prewar. It's said it will be more of a con- cert-style combo, art idea he had even before going info uniform. Miller is currently overseas in England with Army Air Force orch. Paley Again Stirs Talk of CBS Exit Return from Europe Saturday (22) of William S. Paley, CBS president, who's been on leave, re- vived rumors circulated a few months ago that the chain's top exec would not return to his post in N. Y. after the war. Since last November Paley has been in Europe with the OWI as chief of radio in the Psy- chological Warfare Division, and has been attached to Gen. Eisenhower's command. Paley*s suggestion, when - efforts were made to interview him on CBS postwar plans or the peacetime fu- ture of broadcasting, that such mat- ters should be referred to Paul W. Kesten, v.p., strengthened the belief held in some quarters that he might be going to sever connections with (Continued on page 39) Cass Daley Suspends Par Film Pact for Java Show Hollywood, July 25. . Cass Daley, in order to accept 39- week radio deal whereby she goes on the Maxwell House coffee airer with Frank Morgan this fall, has negotiated a 52-week suspension of contract with Paramount studios. Maxwell house will pay Miss Daley $2,000 a week, play or pay, for the entire 39 weeks. William Morris office handled legal ends with the studio. At the jjhd of the suspension period, Miss Pale/'picks up where she left off at Paramount for the same salary she would have received during the cur- rent year. Under terms of the deal, Paramount may recall the s^ar for (Continued on page 39) COMO-GLEASON BUILDUP A LA CROSBY AND HOPE Perry Como, singer, and Jackie Gleason, comedian, are headed for a buildup as a song and comedy team in both films and on the air (a la Bing Crosby and Bob Hope). Discussions are rapidly nearing the inking stage for a half-hour variety show - over CBS. They are both parted for films by 20th-Fox. Gleason is currently featured in the Broadway .musical. "Follow the Girls," and following the closing of that show will head for the Coast to start his initial film assignment. Como is currently heading the in-j person stage show at the Paramount, New York. 20th execs have given CBS the go- ahead signal or. building a show around the pair with a definite Crosby-Hope slant. Doug Coulter, network v.p. in charge of programs, met with Doug Storer, of General Amusement Corp., who handles both Gleason and Como. late last week, with web reportedly set to. start ball rolling air-wise in short.order. U.S. TO E J(]P[|Sky-Higli Station Price Tags Draw Ire Of FCCs Durr; Sees Post-War Chaos Would Make Films in Ger- many to Teach Demo- cratic Precepts After the Victory Is Won EXPATRIATE AID American film producers and di- rectors may step into Germany after the war to undertake the assignment of aiding in the task of re-education of a nation impregnated with Nazi doctrines. Seymour Nebcnzal, producer of "Summer Storm" for United Artists release, Brooklyn-born director who made pictures in Germany until 1,933 (going to France in 1939), slated last week that American industry will likely be a.ble to get into German production on a raincheck. At the same time, American producers (Continued on page 10), Abbott-Costello Tour Cancelled; Reported Asking 4G Nitely Plus % Hollywood, July 25. Contemplated tour ot eastern one- nighters by Bud Abbott and Lou Cos- tello was cancelled last week after plans had gone almost to the point of closing deals. Reason for dropping the idea is not clear. They were to be out a week or two, playing arenas with a band and supporting acts. Understood they were asking $4,000 nightly guarantees against percent- ages. 'Variety' Gets Hot The following paragraph was included in a story by Richard (Dick) Watts, Jr., from Chung- king to the N. Y. Herald Tribune of July 23. Watts is that papers •wandering dramatic critic who is ', well known and who wanders not in pursuit of ice cream sodas: "When the Chungking heat grasps you in its damp,.feverish; spirit-destroying clutch all am- bition and energy seem wrung from you, and you can hardly remember when you were com- fortable. Therefore, an exiled professional playgoer is likely to decide that it is just as well "that there is no local theatre or night- clubbing during the summer months here, and concentrate on his memories, listen to phono- graph records, talk wistfully'.-to equally nostalgic playgoers or. read'every line in the occasional copy of "Variety" which mirac- ulously finds its way to an as- tonished Chungking." Film Dividends Very Much Up Over Last Yr. Washington, July 25. Dividends to motion picture com- pany stockholders during June, 1944, amounted to $3,060,000, as compared to $2,587,000 for the same month in 1943, it was revealed here today. Dividends for the first six months of this year totaled $9,338,000, as compared to a sum of $5,856,000 dur- ing the same period last year. Pix Freelancing Smacked by U. S. Hollywood, July 25. Treasury Dept. threatens to put a. crimp Into film studio deals with freelance actors, directors and writers calling for $1,000 oer week or more. Threat is contained in a | Usher proposed modification of a ruling handed down last year giving pro- ducers free rein in signing freelance talent. Notice of the proposed modifica- tion was sent to major studios by A. D. Burford, deputy commissioner Of the Internal Revenue Department, asking that objections, if any, be sub- mitted in writing. Referring to freelance deals as "specific assign- ments,''' the modifications provide that: "No employee be hired under the (Continued on page 10) OBOLER ACCEPTS BID TO PRODUCE FOR BBC Arch Oboler Monday (24) accepted an offer from Roy Lockwood, British Broadcasting Corp. production man- ager, to produce a series of "any sort of programs he desires to do iti terms of the war and the peace to come" for 'airirjg in England. Bid comes directly as result-of author's recent full-page "Variety" ad taking U. S.: networks to task for placing forte-messaged stanzas in poor time;.slots; and further stating that he would do a series "for noth- ing,".if time in which shows would be aired is "worthwhile." Oboler will confer with Lockwood shortly on format for stanzas also is continuing confabs with Blue web officials in N. Y., looking to- ward a 13-we.ek series of similar programs starting this fall, U.. S. Treasury Dept. recently ac- cepted the same Oboler offer and as result he turned out four programs with William N. Kobson, for the Fifth War Loan drive. Washington, July 25. Federal Communications Commis- sion today, in letters to Sen. Burton K. Wheeler and Rep. Clarence Lea, asked Congress whether the FCC has "either the duty or power to disapprove of a transfer of a station fron? one owner to another, merely because the price is. inordinately high—even though it/may well be deduced that a substantial amount is based on the frequency of the out- let." Letters were written by FCC Chairman James L. Fly to the Con- gressmen, who are chairmen of the .Interstate Commerce Committee in both Houses, after Commissioner Clifford J. Durr charged that price tags in recent station transfers were out of line, and there was unhealthy inflation in the value of radio sta- tions. . Durr's observations followed FCCs okay of the following transfers: WQXR and WQXQ from John V. L. Hogan and Elliott Sanger to the New York Times for approximately $1,000,000. WINX, Washington, from the Hel- ler family to Eugene Meyer, pub- of the Washington Post, for $500,000 cash. KECA. Los Angeles, from Earle C. Anthony, Inc., to the Blue network for $800,000. KTAR and KEIM, Arizona, from (Continued on page 39) ED WYNN BACK ON AIR AFTER 7 YEARS Ed-Wynn returns to radio spon- sored by Borden's on a Blue network Friday night, show starting Sept. 8. Wynn, absent from the airlanes for seven years, will take over the 7-7:30 spot being vacated by "Blondie," which moves over to CBS, Sunday nights at 8-8:30, commencing Sept. 10. Talent will also include Mark Warnow's orch, Evelyn Knight, singer, and Jerry Wayne, formerly heard on "All Time Hit Parade." Stooges also have been lined up for Wynn, talent costing estimated $8,000. Seek to Extend WMC • Ease-Up on Show Biz War Manpower Commission's New York area modification of job-freeze ruling, wherein performers and others of the entertainment industry are. given exemption from recent ruling anent persons between ages of 18 and 45 having lo get referral from. U. S. Employment agencies when changing jobs, has been hailed as » He*), signal victory for show biz in gen- eral and nitery and vaude perform- ers.in particular. Latter would have been especially handicapped had ruling not been modified because of the great number of people involved. Regional board's modification ex- empting persons in all branches of show business was handed down last, (Continued on page 2)