Variety (Dec 1944)

lafCBLLANY Wednesday, December 20, 1944 Show Biz Reps Help FM Launch March of Dimes Driye in Wash. Washington, Dec. 19. + Show business met the President this (Tuesday) afternoon at a White House tea, preparatory to launching tha 1945 March of Dimes campaign, and show biz unanimously agreed it had met its greatest headliner. State •xhibitor leaders from all 48 states, Including Robert J. PeraUovich, Jr., of Alaska, and Marvin Eder, of the Canal Zone, representing over 75% of America's theatre seats—along with company presidents of major film producers, and Richard Walsh, president of lATSE, representing laboi—converged here Monday (18) and today preparatory to tlie White House function. The President was in fine feltle ■s he met showmen who. following WasblDgton, Deo. 19. In laiidtng the work of the MOlipn picture Industry In the In- fantile paralysis campaien, FDR today Informally wisecracked that he sUrUd Warm Springs by personally raUIng $ 1 0 0 , eo 0 throufh $1 contributions, and It cost him »104,00tt to collect It. In answer, Nick Schenok »s- lured the President that within the past four, years the March of Dimes .has encountered'no such cost or cxpendltnres, and would endeavor to keep all costs down. the tea, were further feted at the i>an-American Convention Hall. Nicholas M. Schenck, shepherded by Loew-Metro's local factotum. Carter Barron, visited the White House this morning. Schenck, proxy of 1945 March of Dimes annual fund raising campaign (Jan. 25-31),. has an impressive executive committee, Including Barney Balaban, Joe Bernhard, Harry Brandt, Oscar Doob, Gus EysseU, SI Fabian, Harry Kaimine, Malcolm Kingsburg, Charles Moskowltz, Herman Robbins, Bpyros Sko'uras, Joe Vogel and Bichard Walsh. Ernest EmerUng heads public re- lations; Tom Connors, exchange committee; Leonard Goldenson heads bomeofflce committee of producers; •nd Walter Vincent is treasurer. Abel Green, editor of "Variety." represented the amusement trade press. Earlier today,'a business session •t the Statler hotel, which is the leneral headquarters, was followed by a luncheon, which dramatized Uie work that the Infantile Paralysis Tund is doing. At the White House, Schenck pre- •ented t))e President with a leather- bound resolution paying tribute to the President's insiriring leadership In' the' polio crusade and pledging the industry's continued support •^intil final victory is won." President Roosevelt expressed gratification that the films' drive bas brought millions of Americans Into tHTe campaign with small dona- tions. He said he realized how much work and detail are involved. At the luncheon today, Harry Brandt declared early indications ''yomt to at least 1.000 additional theatres taking part In 4he 1945 March pf Dimes drive, with at least 1,000,000 more seats than in the 1944 campaign. He added that as a re •ult the industry expects to raise more than $5,000,000 during the '45 drive. Basil O'Connor, preddent of the ■ Kational Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, spoke in glowing terms of the part the film mdustry has played in the flght on the disease. • Benny Spearheads Drive Holljrwood, Dec. 19 Jack Benny will spearhead the 1045 infantile paralysis drive with an appearance at Rockefeller Plaza Radio City, N.Y., Monday noon, Jan. 15. Comedian leaves here Jan. B, and' will also make three appear- ances in east as cohcert violinist in •ehalf of March of Dimes. Tokyo Rose,' 'Annie' Now Tops With GIs in Pacific Somewhere in the So. Pacific. Editor, "Variety" Must give you the word on our best radio entertainment in the Paci- fic. No, it's not Hope or Crosby, or even Bert Lee fmy sportscastlng colleague at WHN, N.Y.I The best .shows out here are: 1. Tokyo Rose; Orphan Annie. Both these emanate from Radio Tokyo and they're dynamite. They both play American discs. Mostly jive and they give out with lots of fancy chatter to the "American Boys." It's all commercial. TeU us how silly we are for being out here, while some 4F is taking out our gals or wives. Rose particularly has a great sense «f humor. Ribs hell out of us and is a smart babe. Sounds like she worked in the checkroom of the Storks or spent "Two Weeks With Lee Mortiiner." Capf. Dick Fisliell, (ei-WHN, W. Y. C.) SAG Nixes Single Union for Thesps 13l8t WEEK! KEN MURRAY'S "BLACKOUTS OF 1944" El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. "ITo-s. Ifa tnie what they say about Ken Mun-ny—he's toD.s!" ROBERT YOUNG ■♦♦♦♦»« M «>»»* M »>»»t»»»»»>»»«>»«»tl M I M «« n «>»^ \ SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK »♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦ By Frank Scully Hollywood, Dec. 19. Proposed "one big union," which would have enabled actors to play in the various fields of pictures, stage and radio with one membership card, has been turned down by the Screen Actors Guild. Jack Dales, SAG exec- utive secretary, explained the posi- tion of the screen thesps as follows: ''The proposed merger plan calls for one governing body, determin- ing policy for all aillliates. That body would be headquartered In New York. The Guild does not be lieve that the economic welfare of motion picture actors can best be safeguarded by an organization whose headquarters are located that far from production activity. The Guild, therefore, cannot pai-ticipate in an all-out merger with the other Four-A unions at the present time." Single union Idea would have meant the merger of SAG, American Federation of Radio Artists, Actors Equity Assn., and other Four. A's affiliates. Studios Fear New Draft Shakeup Hollywood, Dec. 19. Film producers, already troubled by labor shortages, have found a new cause for worry in the Govern- ment's, "work or fight" dictum, covering able-bodied men from 26 to 37. Several surveys have been started by major studios to deter- mine how seriously they would be effected by a shift of workers from picture lots to war plants. Selective Service has Qrdt:red a recbeck of all deferments to meet draft calls that may run as high as 80,000 a month during the next year. Studio chiefs are worried that many technicians in the 'deterred class may switch to. war work to guar- antee their deferments. Meanwhile studio representatives In Washing- ton are contacting Selective Service ofBcials to learn how essential film workers are. Chapel Hill, Cal., Dec. 18. This being the holy season of the year to more than 100,000,000 Anicr- icans, perhaps these people would like to know what Hollywood has in store for them. Of this vast number 25,000,000 have just gone through the annual pledge of the Catholic' Legion of Decency. Since 1934 the church bodies have been playing the role of n .strong secondary film defense. All efforts to get them to "join" or "coUabonUe"' with the studios, or the Hays office, have been avoided as if it wore a Hollywood attempt to box their ends and sweep to a touchdown. Thus, despite the studio censors and the Breen seal, a certain perccninge of pictures get condemned and a higher percentage get a "C" ratinj; (objec- tionable in part). That the best picture in the world would not meet with some objection Is not to be denied. Even "Going My Way" has not got by un.s'c.nlhod. The picture. Including the high studio overhead, was brought in under $900,000, and it can come back'and play first runs year after ye;ir, like, legit's "Abie's Irish' Rose." At this writing the picture looks like Holly- wood's first hardy perennial. Leo McCarey, director of "Way,"' is now working on a feature revolving around the. lives of nuns. It's to be called "The Bells of St. Mary's." Incidentally, McCarey's aunt was a nun. John Considine, Jr., who pro- duced the two Boys' Town pictures for Metro, is now in NebrB.ska with Father Flanagan at present working on the third "Seven Letters to Boys' Town." But more likely to be released before cither "The Bells of St. Mary's" or "Seven Letters to Boys Town" will be Cronin's "The Keys of the King- dom" at 20th and Dougla.s's "The Robe" at RKO. These are big pictures on big budgets. This doesn't necessarily mean big grosses, but being in the presently popular religious cycle production will not hurt them either. "Song of Bernadcttc" was .such a big grosser it was expected that a .religious cycle would follow pronto. Though several like '"The Church of the Good Thief," "The Miracle," "The Life of Mother Cabrlni" and "The Queen of Queens" are in the hopper, in nddilion to those previously men- tioned, "The Keys of the Kingdom" is the only one actually completed and ready for January release. There are sidelines, too, like Father Murphy's "The Scarlet Lily," purchased by Sclznick, which probably will develop into a big picture. But "The Robe," which goes back to the familiar terrain of "The King of Kings" and "Ben Hur," has been budgeted for $3,000,000 and will prob- ably top all others in cost. Being a best-seller for more than a year, it has a tremendous backlog of audience interest. It probably will receive some clerical upbraldings. more perhaps than "Going My 'Way," but If it can match the grosses of "Way," RKO will be a happy lot. Sinatra Slated for W Holl^ood, Dec. 19. Next starrer for RAnk Sinatra at lUCO will be a screwball musical, "Bar of Music," slated to nil about Feb. 15. Film is based on a mag yam' by Eric ]Katch.; .. Sinatia plays a 'nli^tdub owner, ttfjith a corpse flfurlng prominently ii the atciry. .;'•-'.• '• i Strm hterfahh Amity AtNCaN.Y:LiiiKh In impressive turnout attended the Amusement Division luncheon of the National Conference of Christians and Jews last Friday (15) at the Hotel Astor roof, N. Y., again chair maned by Loew's veepee J.. Robert Rubin. Active In the work since 1928, "when Charles Evans Hughes first organized the NCCJ.' Dr. Ever ett R. Clinchy, one of the speakers detailed the function of interfalth amity among Protestants, Catholics and Jews. Dr. Daniel A. Poling, whose chap Iain-son died a' hero's death, and who himself has been on almost every warfront, best keynoted the need for this important work when he' learned, first, hand, how much easier apparently it was' for Cath- olics, Protestants and Jews to die together than, sometimes, live tO' gether. The function of tl^e NCCJ is to promulgate the amity among all faiths so that never again could any Ifitler or other demagogue in- ment prejudices as in World War n Basil O'Connor 'was hailed as four-star civilian general" when making the opening address, foUoW' ing Rubin's address of welcome, which was preceded by the Invoca- tion read by Commander Joshua Goldberg, USNR, . and Lucy Monroe singing' the National Anthem: Major General Frederlcit E. UM, head , of the Fourth Army Command, .Georgia; came up from Atlanta to talk, along with Dr. Clinchy and Dr: Poling. The luncheon was signalized by no solicitation ot. funds, per Rubin's idea of merely polntlnjt up thp Ainc tion of the TSiCCi, but it iiuplrQd a flood of ^ voluntary. contributions Ijloyer ihV weekenjjj.vi '\ , Growing Hit Plays Whets Interest In Pulitzer Selection Although the season is compara- tively young, show people are look- ing forward to the • time when the Pulitzer prize is awarded, their in- terest being whetted at this time be- cause of the number of new hit plays that have already arrived on Broad- way. Although the N. Y. Drama Critics Circle, which picks its own 'best" play of the season, has no rule that would disqualify a play drama- tized from a novel,-whether the Pu- litzer rules had such a stipulation wasn't clear to many in show biz. Inquiry and precedent indicate that the Pulitzer jury is not restricted on that point, either. "The Old Maid," a Ijook adaptation produced in 1935 by the late Harry Moses, won the Pulitzer prize, Among book-derived plays rated good chances for prize awards for 1944-45 are "The Late George Apley," current at the Lyceum, and "A Bell for Adano," Cort. It was a fine old Christmas custom in the days of yore, when the stock companies flourished, for the actors to foregather at dinner In the private dining room of the hotel between matinee and night. Under the kindly spell of the occasion petty differences were forgotten and all were animated with the sole desire to enter Into the Christmas spirit at Its fullest. The young people, who* were looking toward the future, listened with rapt attention to the veterans who were dwelling In the past The ingenue gushed less than usual, and the character woman managed to submerge her congenital grouch. T.he old man relaxed his frown which was born of a bad study. The leading man and leading lady set the table In a roar »a they recalled the time they blew their lines at the climax of an opening performance. It is common in the theatre to find laughter today In what seemed to be catastrophic just a little while ago. ^ In the seat of honor was the lovely grandmother of the second woman. She was the only outside guest. It was pleasing to note her look of amused bewilderment as she sat among a group of actors for the first time and observed their human aspects. There they were, enjoying the same happy Christmas in a hotel room while millions of others were enjoying it in their homes throughout the land. The dear old lady was the center of the affectionate respect due an ambassador from her world to those who dwelt within the confines of two-a-day stock. The food was of the best, or seemed to be. A little wine (not much) helped the viands on their way. The hotel proprietor contributed the wine and joined the players in a toast to the health of all. No formal speeches dampened the occasfon and the party wound up with the entire company singing "Come All Ye Faithful." Then the actors returned to the theatre for their night performance, each having added to his store of sweet recollection, each aglow ■with the feel- ing of participation in this heart-warming camaradari'e on Christmas night when most actors are fat from home. Mekldor's M-G One-Shot ' Hollywood, Dec. 19. lAuritz Melcbior, B-29 tenor, will make a 6,000-nule round trip to drop one vocal bomb on musical installa' tions in Culver City, Jan. 7. Taking off from New York, Mel- chior will record one song, "Ijonely Night," for Metro's "ThrlU of R6 mance," and hustle back to resume work at the Metropolitan Opera. Fred Allen 39th Annimr$ary luue 'The Elephant Who DidnY* AaedMr tH Hit Veiy H«MraM mM Wim * mm OT^VW^Bfl WW .MIVW Wtmt ACMOT Vp. **The Great SpiUli^ . Christmas in the Good OM Days By CHARLES O'BRIEN KENNEDY Court Studies AFRA Crackdown on DeMilie Hollywpod, Dec. 10. C. B. DeMilie court action against American Federation of Aadlo Art- ists to forestall his expulsion from the actors union for refusal to pay a special assessment remains in status quo to allow Superior Judge Emmet H. Wilson more time for study of the matter. Following a hearing last Friday (15), the court took under submission DeMille's plea for a pre- liminary injunction and . AFRA's demurrer .to the action. Temporary restraining order granted DeMllle remains in force and h'e will con- tinue to discharge his duties as em- cee-narrator of Lux Radio Theatre. New angle was injected into the case when Neil McCarthy, counsel for DeMllle, contended that $1 afl sessm'ent to defeat -<Propotitlon 12 was levied at a meeting attended by only 260 of AFRA's 2,3.QO members, which, lacking 4t quoruni, rendered the assessment illegal, Plea for Hot>. Talent From Dec. 23^ to Jan. 12 the United Theatrical War. Activities Commit im will have Itfl beavlest demonda for boqiHal entertainment of the voiinded. A p]ea ba» gone out to performen untMoked during. 1h«^ periad< ttf „q<unmunleat« . vUk jtni .sauttr 'tA 'DOLL'S HOUSE'ACTRESS BEATEN BY HUSBAND Hollyyrood, Dec. 19. James B, Cassldy's production ot 'Doll's House" turned into a mad- house last night, following the per- formance at the Biltmore theatre here, when punches were thrown, with Keven McClure, second femme lead, being beaten by her estranged husband. Jack Carr, 41-year-oId husband of 20-year-old Miss McClure, met her outside the stagedoor with Lyle Tal- bot, and socked her, chasing her into the Biltmore hotel, where she hid" in the ladies' room. Cassidy, who was Inside the theatre with Francis Led- erer, rushed out and floored Carr. Although all witnesses to the bat- tle declare Carr brandished a gun, the weapon was nowhere to be found when the poUce picked him up hiding In a nearby garage. Carr was quoted as saying, "When I saw my wife •with Talbot, I blew my top." . He Is booked on charges of sus- plclptt Qt as«ault with a . deadly w^pon.' Carr dalma he went to the theatre to collect money 'due him from Caaaldy tor having edited the script to cut production costs. Miss McClure «ald she and Carr woe married eight months ago, ana. aepanUi Wei months later, and dwt he bad threatened her life aev- lonl tfanee, de»'ttie ltvc» of Talbot 'end lieaercr. ' *