Variety (Oct 1944)

Wednesday, October 18, 1944 CHATTER 47 Lou Clayton visiting from Holly- wood. Agent Al Grossman back to the Coast. ■;, Peppy de Albrew now hosting the Hotel Madison cafe. V '/;//-./ Treasurers Club readying their 56th annual benefit Nov. 25. • Bloomer Girl" cast started re- cording its Decca album Sunday. Harry Akst accompanying Al Jol- son east on their third hospital tour. Paul Porter set as stage-manager for Dave Wolper's "Glad to See You." ■ . Nitery-chahtoosey Jean Leslie to the Coast Nov. 1 on Paramount com- mitment. Manny Mannheim to script the Andrew's Sisters' new Nash-Kelvinat tor anshowi Sophie Tiicker's autobiqg. "Same of These Days," now slated for Match publication. Theodore Weingand (Teddy Dale), composer-conductor, recovered from an eye ailment. Joe Howard and Carl Erbe's share in the Zanzibar operation is on a 67- 33'i basis, respectively. ;'/.'. Harold Mirisch, head of the film buying for RKO, off to Miami Beach to visit with wife and children. '::' Widow of Corse Payton, known professionally as Henrietta Browne, bedded with slight attack of flu. Robert Paige will be hosted at a cocktail party by Universal tomor- row (Thurs.) atJIampshire House. Ted Saucier, press rep oTThe Wal- dorf-Astoria, now in Hollywood to collaborate On Metro's "Weekend at the Waldorf." I Henry Willson, executive assistant I to, Dan O'Sheav Vanguard Films iSelznick) prexy, in from the Const for a Broadway b.o; .. Two hundred lifly Savoy-Plaza hotel employees staged five-hour work stoppage Thursday 112) to de- fiiafttl .wage increase, v". - ' William Morris agency treasurer Nat Lefkowitz back from the Coast: .Bill Murray due in later, stopping off in N. O. and Chi en route. Actress Louise Campbell rushed to Chicago '.o be with, her mother, whose .recent illness ..was. compli- cated by injuries sustained in fall. Damon Runyon. checks in and out of Memorial hospital; where he is .under treatment, going out for din- ner and. to special pix previews which are set up for him. Ben Maiden, who cleared S100.000 on the Billy Rose-Ziegfeld theatre partnership, is said to have turned over an equally snappy $150,000 on a 6th avenue realty parcel. Dick de: Rochemont. March of Time's producer, arrived in London over the weekend as war "corre- spondent for MOT. D. Y. Bradshaw will carry on in his absence. Major Freddie Brisson. ex-Hollyr wood agent and husband of Rosalind Russell, back to the Coast after army business on Air Corps morale shows with N. Y. and D. C. officials. ' W: C. Gehring, 20th-Fox western sales manager, left the Barnes hos- pital, St. Louis, arriving in N. Y. over the past weekend, for a rest at home for a week before returning to his desk Howard C. Petersen, executive as- sistant to the Under-Secretary of War, will be among speakers at the dinner being given Arthur Mayer by the film industry at the Waldorf- Astoria tonight CWed). In a .more adult way the same swoon technique was curiously mani- fested at Toots Shor's restaurant Fri- day night when Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra both came in for sup- per before The Groaner lammed wet. ' Testimonial dinner, attended by 150 Canadian film people, was given last week in Toronto to Wolfe Co- hen, former g.m. for WB there, on his promotion to foreign distribution post at the h.o. He was gifted with ' a wrist watch. '; /-:.'•/ ' A Broadwayite /surveying. the Frank Sinatra-induced Paramount- theatre morning waiting line, stretch- ing all the way to 8th aye., , up to 44th st.. then east again to the St. James where "Oklahoma" is housed, remarked: "There's a hew,angle for trying to get to the 'Oklahoma' box- office—backing up to it!" Germany and now in hospital in England. Three Imaginators and the Staple- torn into Hotel Nicollect Minnesota Terrace with the Selma Marlowe Dancers and Perry Martin orchestra. U.S.-Brit.-Russe — Continued from page London this type of film will be allowed in German theatres. , There is a strong possibility that the Allied powers will want to make a clean sweep of all German film produced in the past 10 years so as to bury all traces of Nazi influence. Inclination among some of the Al- lied nations is to impound all Ger- man-language films, not only po- litical preachments, and circulate only product from the Allied coun- tries with German subtitles or dub- bing. It may be necessary, however, if the screen is to be used effectively in the plan to reeducate the Ger- mans, "to present German-language films in order to draw attendance, In any event, the German screen will be dominated by American, British and Russian product, likely on a basis related to respective out- put. '/>..'/ ' "' '•.-'' "; Plays Out of Town Continued [rtwn page 46 George Lash wood, vaude comedian left an estate of J£600,000. Bert Feldman completely re- covered from recent illness. Betty Driver out of "Serenade for Fun" revue, due to.nervous break- down.; /..V Pat Kirkwood, musicomedy sou- bret, signed by M-G-M on a long term contract. / ''':: '•*., /" Maurice Wilson and Arthur Moss film. "The Voice Within" tempo- rarily shelved. . *. ; /:';'• Terence Ratligan's new play, "Less Than Kind." may shortly be produced in London by the Lnnts. ; ■; .' John Snagge, BBC war news broadcaster,, was off the air for a. fortnight because of an accident..v* John i Corfield, formerly with British National Pictures, pacted John Maloney enlisted 100 blood do- nors on Film Row last week. Harmonica Rascals and Callahan I Sisters open with Bob Rhodes' band I at Vogue Terrace tomorrow iThui's. ). Little Jackie Heller back to N. Y. after rushing home at word that his brother, Sgt. Lew Heller, had been killed in action. . ■Estelle Sloan and Marian Bur- roughs joined Mary Martha Briney, Wynters & Angeline and Russ Smith in Terrace Room show. ' ■}':■ '/'..-•«'. Obituaries Continued from page 46 been serving as Sixth War Loan trade press contact, died yesterday 117) at the Hospital for Joint Dis- eases, X. Y., after an operation! Fol- . lowing services at the Riverside Me- dea^ to produce three pix for Arthur j, moria , chape 'i this. afternoon ( Wed- nesday), interment will take place at entertainment on both stage and screen. This prediction is contingent upon bolstering the early part of the. play. '.'; Getting off to a first act that does Ijtile more than identify a flock of characters, opus builds through an enlivening second frame to an enter- taining third stanza that climaxes with a novel wedding scene. Play can stand plenty of added material, as it now involves only a scant 100 minutes of actual playing time.; Readers familiar with the Red- book- tliliner-tion of "Violet" will probably find satisfactory the transi- tion to a stage character Numerous meddling moppets — wise-beyond- their-years version — have found their way. to footlights in recent sea- sons, some to stick, others being too much for an audience to lake/ In- tentionally or otherwise, author of this . one provides a compensating outlet by supplying interesting char- acters other than the 13-year-old who knows all the answers. Plot has Pete Granden (Harvey Stephens);, father of five kids by two wives mow divorced), setting the stage to propose to Lily . Foster (Helen Claire), his first, love, whom he should have married in the first place. The scene is Pete's farm re- treat in'Vermont, where he uies'to crash the michaelangelo markets while supporting himself and his tribe of dependents by operating a laundry.'. His offspring arrive un- expectedly, and complications, engi- neered by Violet (Pat Hitchcock), bring on the two ex-wives and the second husband of one of them. Un- raveling of the resultant mixup makes for laughs and human interest appeal, with a pleasing final curtain thrown in. •// Stephens does,well. as. the harassed father. Miss Claire finds plenty of- meat in the Lily Foster role and masticates it efficiently. Pat Hitch- cock, teen-age daughter of Alfred •Hitchcock, the film director, comes through with a good performance of the precocious Violet:. Fay Baker and Joan Vitez.*as the ex« wives, pro- • ide allure and vitality, respectively. I John Cherry, Len Hollister, Doro Merandc. as members of the "Imaginary Travel Club," are amusing; Paula, Trucman registers as Pete's sjaphappy sister; Leslie Litom'y. Mason Adams, Russell Gaige offer capable support. Howard Bay's setting of a re- modeled farmhouse living room is a fine piece of work, and a snowfall effect . sets ah authentic Vermont New Year's atmosphere. Bone. Rank Arthur Rank takes over the Regal, Marble Arch, early next year when policy of house Will be changed to grind policy for second run pix. /.', George Wilmer. song plugger, stooging for Tommy Triiider in George Black's Palladium shaw "Happy and Glorious," as sideline. Alfred Esdaile may reclaim the London Casino which has been leased by Queensberry Club manage- ment, and reopen it with revue in December. After practically completing deal to buy out Tom Arnold's interest in "By Jupiter," Jack Hylton .changed his mind. Show destined for Adelphi; theatre has been . temporarily shelved. ..Tcssie O'Shca resuming with her vaudeville unit. "This Is the Way." after 10 weeks' layoff due to larynr git is. Show booked till Xmas when she will star in pantomime tor Tom Arnold at the Royal. Birmingham." • Lifinit & Dunfee's Edgar. Wallace's repertory of three plays opens..'at Wimbledon latter, part of this month, with two.' weeks at Oxford and Blackpool to follow, and likely to go to Wyridham's theatre, replacing "The Banbury Nose" as Christmas attraction. ■ . Beth David' Cemetery, Brooklyn Besides her husband, she is/sur- vived by a son. Morey, and daughter, Susan,. . .'■ •/!'..■ ' .. ■* ' a , "— [Local of the 1ATSE killed in action Aug PVT. JOHN W. KRIVO Pvt. John W. Krivo, 35, who prior to going into service, was business agent for the Theatre Employees Detroit, was 30 in France, according to word received by his family.. ./'/:' Krivo was employed in the De- troit theatres for 17 years before becoming an organizer and 1 later business agent for the local. He. leaves his widow and a daughter. acter e in Chicago Empire room flack,, up again after recent ill- Al Fuller, and around j- ric-sl. • Joe. Yule. Mickey Rooney's father, i has left the show at Colosimo's and | is headed for Hollywood. ? * Don Ross, former Hearst photog . here, signed- by WB as contract player, renamed Don McGuire. Balaban and Katz employees club reelected Jerome Winsberg, mana- ger of Senate Theatre, as prexy. "Kiss and Tell" understudy, Car- melita Pope, will have a leading role ; in USO's production of "K&T" for, j overseas. ;■• /: '•'. '.,■■•• "', ■ • I Vets at Gardiner. General Hos- | oita) visited by Carole Landis. John Payne. Darrvl Zanuck and Roddy McDowell. Edgar Bergen, between trains, un- packed Effie Kliner and Charlie Mc- | Carthy for a look-see by service men | in the LaSalle station, Ralph Berger, Latin Quarter boss, to sponsor- "Merry Widow - ' at Civic theatre ,if - December production of "Porgy and Bess" gets over. Following talk by 20th - Century- Fox prexy Spyros P, Skouras last week. Chi Greek organizations col- lected S45.000 for Greek War Re- lief. EDWARD II. I'lllI,I,IPS . Edward H. Phillips. 76, ,-cha: actor, died Oct. 7' at his hon Hollywood alter a long illness. • Once a member of Buffalo Bill's Wild West troupe. Phillips entered pictures in 1!)19 and played at-vari- ous times with Tom - '.Mix, '.-Will Rogers and Buck Jones. His last ap- pearence was in "Blood and. Sand" with Tyrone Power. DE WITT C. WEBBER De Witt C. Webber, - 79, theatre owner, died in Denver Oct. 15. Webber, a lawyer, rancher and legislator, entered the theatre busi- ness in 1906 by building the Majes- tic in Colorado Springs. Also oper- ated Iris in Denver from 1908 to 1917. Then built the Webber in Denver, which he owned until re- tiring in 1935. • - ■-— - GILBERT MIXRO . ■ ■ / ... • ' ■ •'. Gilbert Muhrb. for 15 years . a member of the WBT engineering staff, died Oct, -11 in Charlotte. N. C. Born in Scotland, Mtinro came to the U. S. in 1923, and lor several years was a radio operator with the U. S. Shipping Board. He had been connected with WBT ever since the pioneer days of Southern radio. -.. GASPARD J. ROBILI ARD Gaspard J. Robillard, 59. vaude and j legit actor', died Oct: 14 at Glens i Falls, N. V. For seven years he f-rav- Henry King laid up with flu. Barbara Ray divorced Rbscoe Ates. Leon Bromkess, PRC chief, laid up with flu. ■'.'.;'■ George Raft fined $25 for speeding in Beverly Hills. . Bill Elliott, western star, recover- ing from appendectomy. . Richard Bennett seriously ill after a series of heart attacks. King Sisters east on a six-week tour, opening in Chicago. Leo Forbsteins celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. • Robert M. Gillham in town for studio huddles at Paramount. ' : Lionel Stander drew three da,y* for speeding- in a 25-mile zone. '•/' Lauritz Melchior to Calgary for the Canadian Victory Loan drive. Judith Woodbury, Karl Carroll trouper, divorced John G. Denisbm Irene Dunne heading east to con - fer about a cosmetic establishment. ■ Preben Storm, Danish actor, out of the hospital after a knee opera- tion. Eva Gabor recuperating in Palm Springs after two weeks in the hos- pital. .- '.-."-.:;. • Alexander Knox to Toronto for the Seventh Canadian Victory Loan rally. \ J./" .--' Cary Grant and Barbara Hutton to San Francisco on a second honey- moon.^- -... : / ..: ■,-" ' -" Groucho Main shoving off on an- other tour of Army and Navy hos- pitals. '' '••'.-, . Wanda Mansfield, screen actress, divorced Walter Donaldson, song writer. -' Trudy Marshall, 20th-Fox con- tractee, to marry Phil Baffin, meat packer. -,.'•'.//.. ■ ■' Eddie Foy leaving on a 10-week stage tour, ranging as far. cast as New York. Lassie is listed on the Metro star roster between Hedy Lamarr and Myrha Loy. Maxwell Stiles moved fi nm Lock- heed to Harry Brand's publicity utaff at 20th-Fox. Rosalind Russell checked out of the hospital after three weeks, to re- cuperate at home. ; . Y Al Jolson started a six-week Pur- ple Heart tour acress the country, opening in Palm Springs. Jimmy Durante and Garry Moore to San Diego for three days of en- tertaining in service hospitals. . Lester Cowan back from Washing- ton after conferring with Army offi- cials about his picture. "G. I. Joe." . Johnny Mack Brown, Gale Storm and Lee "Lasses" Whit:! booked for a Sixth War Loan tour of New Mex- ico. '.''•-:• /',-/.'•.'.... / ' ■:.•::■".-'. George Sanders, actor, and Robert Bassler, producer, in a one-punch scuffle on the "Hangover Square" I-set at 20th-Fox, | Mrs. Louise Tobin James, first wife 'of Harry James, ork leader, drew $13,994 for the support of herself and two children in an out-of-court set- tlement. .""'*'■ '/.; Oklahoma!" cast here will do a : e . led witn ,he Andrew .Downing Complete show.-at the Chi Service-j Show, doing a trick . bicycle act. men's Center Oct. 29. First time an and .later had been . With. May Hilj- entir.e production has been put on j mai\stock company at the canteen Minneapolis '■/-.'..By Les Rees Andy's nitery has Bobby "Uke" Henshaw as headliner. , "Red Mill" St. Paul Civic Opei a company's season's first offering. "Waltz King" and Tito Giiizar re- vue penciled into' Lyceum week of Oct, 23. "Gypsy Baron" into St. Paul Audi- torium, Oct. 20-21, but. passing up Minneapolis. . ; . Hotel Radisson Flame Room hold- ing over Walter Liberace and Gene Eyman orchestra. Harry Hirsch to Chicago in quest of name attractions for Alvin theatre. ^"Wilson" finally spotted in Twin Cities as roadshow attraction at Cen- tury here and St. Paul Riviera Oct. 27. . Greater Minneapolis Attractions bringing in Rudolph Friml to conduct 55-piece orchestra at Auditorium Nov. 2. . : ■•: . i Clyde Cutter; local film man. ifi- fanlryman, Wouiidcd in a':t ; <.m i'-'i Variety Bills Continued from page 43 , Reunion of Capt. Burgess Mere- dith and spouse Paillette Goddard at /the. Ambassador ended with star training back to' Hollywood and Meredith back to his Indianapolis station. John Balaban's 50th. birthday and third anniversary for amusement and recreation committee celebrated j jointly with members of latter pre- | scnting the Balaban & Katz topper I with a gold cigarette lighter. Another stab at making Chi'the j main stem of U: S. for convention- goers and show-biz seen as reason i for formation of Chicago Conveh- j tion Bureau, Inc., with Mayor Ed i Kelly honorary chairman. Group i takes over functions of convention dept. of Assn. of Commerce. Ton lii)(i«|UPtl«L .- '< "-ii H7.«JIICl i U.villl Si Slit-n-v Rritton hVo'te'ltei-s S Spi-a^u" rjancera Art AV«.ner Oi'fe ■ ,M.m<e r»rl» Ud.ipKi-ro On lf»l).h llnttem Brt .Viln Uofii <Md .n».iintiin)n» ' fjiilm Sis .rkil. Hhi'L ' . (H*;;l., \VVyiov.l I-' ■v.rf„ Billife Shii l^y fist roil Ore sadi«_ Hank* Joe l.nl'dl le Ore - Roger* Conner n.-n-rv l,e'feftiiri- tlr.t ('t:/fk'8 Mjt-\Tiilians I-'.i-ji ti U V icf'or ir.ir ■son >l*l Grsen- i*.i-e*tuiv*u ■. . K»<!«imUci<!< Kuril' l<«>liblpi-B Si« s. li.i l * ore KuillllHlltHII Vlllfige l-'l«i,l<:lH-fl WelSS \>v« ,N>va. l ,f :'U'. v IVnnan Vi'-lUitiii! , <itorgn Sai ana Balalaika ua Storli (Ink Mora.le» Ovv, ■ . . Ernie itellz Or*-' 'fray. I'nKtnr't t Itlown • ... Happy- Lf ivis .lean PaOft»*-k Jf.au Roi-lK-IU . Tlielma XcvirlB. .... Zip ICowo :- . .,' j Joe De Cai-ln Ore - Vrrmlllm' Andy Ru«wlt Oiyight I i'k* Hen© \Too<J«i: Oailtu KHs\i-orllv '*.-K . Ii-h Peler Blrcli '."..' Rob Davis;' i Jlctly. Lustre .M borgtre Oic .: /an/1Inir 1 •. . Klltt ;:Kftltgwi(M'- I nil Spots: , ;.- / Ucrr.v Tli'os Doi-otlly fidllefraM 'rliree t*nt»c. Xu' ^ ■ tops & Wild a ••?« f.C-E Haws P"UK-ne Alaroucin '(.'Jiui#li» lfopitfilH Of .lo.se ('iirl.'-tlo IS'I Pittsburgh By. Hal Cohen John Montague in town beating [the drums lor ."Life With Father,": • - Joe Tucker celebrating ninth year lof vport&tastirig. on WWSW. this week/ -/ v- '" : :. '-,,.'.': Captain Mike Ciillcn m charge of first: Uvo USO units to hit Southern France. '-, -'." >'.-:■ Janey Knight. Marty Schramm's cx-singer. left tov. ii with the Art Earrar band. Don Metz back from N. Y. after lining Hp some winter at tract io'its for h;s Club Ciisino. • St re McMahpn.. ex--Tech drama | st.urientv signed for dancing chore iti "Styen Lively'Arts.''-' .\v % Sid' Cha'ttijli, Bob Carter. Sylvia &. Christian and Winnie May in. new ..how at Xixdn Cafe. ':•' / Billy Yates' foureome goes into Coiiline.nta) Bar next week, rcpl.ac- ine Dfili Ti-emarkie unit. Wivts-ol j'vloe Silvt i-. Art Levy and CARI. LEHMAN Carl Lehman, 34. of the dance team of Carl and Lenena. died Oct. 8 at Chicago.' He is survived; by-his widow, Lenena. Couple's last engagement was at the Washington - Youree Hotel, Shicveport, La , « year ago. Erne*! Prang Stamm. 59, organist Mexico City By David L. Grahame Sol Wiirtiel, Fox director, and Mrs. Wurtzel vacationing.. Chucho Martinez back from stage and n'tery work in N. V. Elly Levy, Col Latin American de- partment chief, here on biz. Herbert. Kohn, •'jt'cifV.V:sec-Arkan- sas theatre circuit head, visiting.. Jack Wagner, scriptc-r, stopped over en route to Peru lor local color. . .Alfred Zinneman, M-G-M megger, vaciitioniiii' and 'a''ie'!'?"? 'oral color. Antonio Palacio leased Teatro Fab- regasg or season of Spanish operct- Brailowsky giving a six-recital Chopin series at the Palace of Fin* Arte. :v. . ; ; : •;. Jorge Negrete, radio-pic singei- and actor, started tour of Central Amer- ica in Havana. Manuel Brana, rep of Havana sta- tion RHC and its Cuban Blue web, here on business. Nayra Roland featured on Coca- Cola's weekly special, ■•Continental who appeared at the Century of Serenade" en XEW Progress Exposition in Chicago m 1933 and also as guest artist at many recitals, died last week in St. Louis. Mrs. Helen Gillispie Wilson, 43, died of a heart attack at her home in Des Moines. Oct. 10. She was manager of the Helen Gillispie or- chestra.' . Henry B. .MSastti, former properly man lor William A. Brady theatrical productions, died Oct. 15 in Jersey city. ;. : '■••'->!:■•" Jack MeKenna, 79, veteran stage- Manuel Comcrma Bariera of His- pania Artis Films back from a busi- ness trip to Havana. ;".' Amusement biz off 10'n because of sharp gas rationing necessary be- cause of shortage due to floods dam- aging oleoduct>\ /■;''. '-'■;.;.'. Enrique Solis, whose ousting as sec. gen. studio worke s union was highlight of the recent pic produc- tion strike, now ruminr a tile works. Laurel & Hardy, Dolores del Rio and Arturo de Cordoba attended fiesta at Monterey, Itxas b -rdcr in- dustrial center, commemorating 40th j anni, of Rodriguez circuit. '":..'■■ Frank Pounce, L. A. theatre im- presario, now of the pic division of the Coordinator's Office, back to hand and owner of stock .companies j Hollywood after a biz visit here touring the middlewest, died m ] ditto Karl Tunberg, Par director, Omaha, Oct. 18. :/--.,. •; / . | ■./■Luis. Gonzalez Lamadrid, an.r i .. i nouncer for XEB, beaten up by un Henry Clay Carlson, 72. father of Richard/' Carlson, screen actor, died Oct. 7 in Hollywood. identified hoodlums as he was leav- ing the station. Reported assailants took umbrage to certain remarks made in his broadcasts. . Three hundred and one persons of- the 380 candidates, were granted li- censes as radio announcers after ex- aminations by the Ministry of Co'm- i munieations and Public Works dur- . _ _:„... . „,w„ D-„;i . ing the year ended Sept. 30. Dur- Fred ». Tjrrell. biother of, Pml - j« ^ fe. permits ^ glant ed Gloria Stralton, 21, chorus girl, was killed Oct. 12 in. a motor colli- sion in Hollywood. Tyrrell, Chicago booker, died in New Orleans, Oct, 11 to . 81 radio iiewst'i'sters. critics ahd copv"f>ntptnrs. k-cturt v;