Variety (Dec 1944)

Wednesday, Pecember 20, 1944 48 € H AT t E R Broadway Office of the late Sam H, Harris at the Music Box being redecorated. George Choos off on another tal- ent-scouting trip for USO-Camp Shows, Dr Nat Lief, dentist and first nighter, In West Side hospIUl, Heart ti^ouble, the "kid" who lost money which Niclt' Holde returned to him, a mere 72 years of age, Irving Cooper back with "A Bell For Adano," at the Cort, Dick Maney agenting. • Frank C. Payne ill for two years, much improved and living at Long Beach, California, Nat Dorfman readying second edi- tion of his quarterly Stage Pictorial, due around Jan, 10, At $12 lop, last Friday's non-title welterweight Aght at the Garden got ai'ound $100,000 gross. ' Ken Kling recovered from an ill- ness, sent out clever "straight, place and show" Christmas cards, George Deber back from four- weok survey trip to southwest and coast for USO-Camp Shows. William Fields of the Playwrights Co. has resigned as personal man- ager for Cornelia Otis Skinner. . Maestro (now' Major) Meredith Willson back to the Coast on a Quickie N, Y. visit with his wife, Peggy. Lt. Leonard Schlesinger, Jorrher Warner circuit executive at the hohieodice, up from Washington for a brief visit. Otto Premlnger, 20th-Fox pro- ducer-director. In town from.Coast for huddles with h,o. topper's and Darryl F. Zanuck. Williani Norton now manager of Mike Todd's new "Central Park." Ralph Kravette. being back with "Mexican Hoy r ide."- Jerl Sullavan, singer now appear- ing in person at the Paramount, N. Y„ leaves for the Coast in January for a Warner Bros, screen test, Jake'Wilk,'WB eastern production «xec, slated for a Hollywood o.b. the flrst week In January, Hasn't been west in a coupla years. Monte Carlo's Casino room, debut- ing with a formal policy, forced to |o back to mufti for the duration. Too much customer resistance. Lauren Bacall,. who made her film debut .in Warner's "To Have and Have' Not," coming east in January after completion of "The Big Sleep,^' Danny Ahearn, who wrote "How to Commit Murder and Get Away With It," wed to Reggie SchUling, who operates the Swanee night club, on Monday (18). Officially announced that Lt, Col. Lynn Farnol returns as director of publicity for Goldwyh in.Hollywood, effective Jan. 1. He was with Gold- wyn for eight years. Extra performance of. "Anna Lucasta," Mansfield, Sunday (17) activated the purchase of $4,470,700 In War Bonds. Advance estimate was double that figure. Dave Charnay has a new title on the DaUy News, that of Roving Re- Jibrter, with the privilege of pick- ng his own assignments. He's long familiar on the Broadway beat. Russell Swan returns to the Pierre's Cotillion Room in February at a tilt from $750 to $900 and may «e able to remain 10 weeks then. Meanwhile, he's extended another two weeks there on current date. Dolores (Nlkki) Norgard, who died under somewhat "mysterious" circumstances but whose death was jeported later to have been of natural causes due to indigestion," was a model and protegee of Al Jolson. Gypsy Rose Lee's premature baby ■weighs 5 lbs.-8 oz., and she says {he has yet to fondle it; "they've got the baby under cellophane" to quote Viffj Expecia to be out by Xmas. Wide^ reports flrst published re- ported it as a daughter but, of course, since corrected that it's a boy. for the Motion Picture Relief Fund's annual Christmas party. Jack Lait arrived from New York for his annual winter visit. - Howard Dietz in town for confabs on Metro advertising and publicity. Oscar Dandier, manager of Aguila Films of Mexico, in Hollywood to study Technicolor filming. . Florence Bates made her 14th donation to-the blood bank, Orson Welles making a series of poetic recordings for Decca, Hugh Owen in town lor sales huddles with David O. Selznick. Major Jack Holt returned to civil life after two years in the Army. Wallace ' Beery checked in at Metro after gandering New York. Jimmy Durante pulled In. from New York to resume picture work. Gene Kelly transferred to U. S. Naval Training Center, San. Diego. Sunset Carson, new Republic west- ern star, broke an arm in a screen fight. R. . M. Rowland elected president of the Los Angeles Society of Magi- cians. Budd Rogers is new eastern rep- resentative for Walter Lantz car- toons, Margaret McDonnell, Selznick story editor, returned to work after major surgery. Lon Chaney working on his up- state cattle ranch while vacationing from Universal Danny' Kaye and Sylvia Fine re- turned from vacationing In New York and Florida. Louis B. Mayer, now strong enough to. take long daily -walks, may return to work this week. Jinx Falkenburg back In Holly- wood after touring China, India and Burma with the Pat O'BrieiT troupe. Faye Emerson Interrupted her honeymoon by returning to Warners for a week's work in "Hotel Berlin." Sydney Greenstreet, screen heavy, to wear Santa Claus whiskets for the Christmas celebration at Hollywood Canteen. Janice Carter moved into Colum- bia's "Fighting Guardsman, ' replac- ing Leslie'Brooks, out with throat infection. Akini Tamiroff drew eight weeks' salary from Edward Small for his commitment In "Cagliostro," which was shelved. Gary Cooper making a flre-pre- ventlbn trailer for 'the British gov^ ernment, showing dangers of care- less cigaret smoking. Wesley Ruggles postponed hU start for England until mid-January, meanwhile hunting story properties for British production. - Neil Ackland, Australian film exec, in Hollywood to confer with Ameri- can government officials on wartime activities down under. Douglas Shearer in Hollywood for hospital treatment after touring the South Pacific as a civilian attached to the Army Air Force. Hollywood Ben Piazza laid up with throat in lection. . Aiden Roark hospiUlized with pneumonia. Rudy Valletf and Betty Jane Greer parted again, Barrett Kiesling recovering from appendectomy. ■ Lyhne Roberts, Republic actress, to Mexico City. Samuel Bronston hospitalized with ■tomach trouble. " Jack McClendon's new film name Is Robert Grady. I Gil Lamb cracked a couple of teeth •n a motor crash. .i.^.'?™*? Swaartz joined Paramount studio's legal staff. 41, » Brown to San Franclsio •he Red Cross drive. ''""ams, Republic pro- aucer, bedded by flu. •«,iii?^°*'>*'<* returned from tWd Broadway vacash, _ nua Xcon nnaiunnnla. -r^^,^ .-re- early morning commercial on WJAS. Al Singer, former WB manager, received Purple Heart for wounds received at Aachen. Okay again now. Reuben Raninovitch in beating drums for "Errand for Beriiice" and Rod Waggoner In ahead, of "Bon- anza." Nick Long, Jr., and the Drakes have joined Mary Martha Briney and Bob Rhodes' band at Terrace Room. Niaiiu Al Jolson expected here soon, Jane Froman here recuperating from laryngitis, Lucille Vincent is the vocalist m.c. at the Pago Pago room of the VanderbUt Al Singer, former pugilist, bought an interest in the Mermaid Lounge of the Alamac hotel. Jimmy Palmer and Glen. Gray's Casa Loma orch skedded for early dates at the Frolics Club. The Latin Quarter, officially open- ing Dec. 21, win give a preview Dec, 20 to 900 woimded servicemen. Edward Manetti, former maitre d' of the swank Brook Clubi now pre- siding over the Roney Plaza's Im- perial Room. . Danny Kaye back to New- York after a short vacation. While here he entertained hospitalized service^' men and did a pitch at War Bond Rally at the Lincoln theatre. Lou Holtz taking a short vacation at the Roney Plaza hotel, will re- main here and officiate at the open- ing of Lou Walters' Colonial Inn; Miltoh Berle headlines show which opens Dec. 22. WashingtoD Cliicaso -Art Kassel, celegrating 2Sth year in band biz, opens at tn« Bumarck Dec. 12. Charlie Williams replaced Sid Harris as company manager oil "Kiss and Tell." ' "Around Chicago," hew m,^ to soon debut with James Jenkins as publisher. 'Variety Club's annual Xmas party is skedded for Friday (22) al the Blackstona hotel. Pete Pangos, Alliance Theatre Cir- cuit's chief booker, in Jackson Park hosp. with rheumatic fever. "Oklahoma I" will give special per formance . at servicemen's center in the Auditorium Christmas afternoon. A special performance of "Star and Garter" was given tor the dis- abled vets at Edward Hlnea hosp, lest Thursday. Florcfnce Blum, former booker of Reinhelmer Circuit,' iplned Allied Buying and Booking Circuit as aS' siatant to Edward J. Mager. Chi Film Row will close for the two three-day holiday weekends at Xmas arid New Year's with, only skeleton staffs working to handle emergencies. Jack Kirsch, Allied Theatres head, and Morris Ruben of Great States theatres, co-chairmen of nUnois' Marcji of Dimes, were Whit* House guests yesterday (19). Pittsbarsh By Hal Coheii Jimmy Balmer nv»ed ohairmari of Variety Club's house committee for 1946. Oliver .Klchel, Jeannette exhib, celebrating 35th anniversary in movie biz. Paul Duke heading new show al Nixon Cafe with Martingales and Gloria 'Lee dancers. Ladd Lyon, 8 Welles, Nikolai's dancing trio and Maurice Spitalny band at Vogue Ter'race. Playhouse stress Harriet Gold' stein -will marry John D. Cohen, re- cent army discharge^ on Jan. 2. ; Lt, Charles Gaynot, who wrote several Playhouse revues, has'befen troniferred fcom London to Paris.- Bill Fields checked in to handle publicity for "The Cherry Orchard." Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pep club will hold ^Christmas party on De- cember 23. The Brick Bar is Washington's latest all-hlght rendezvous. Opens at 2:30 a.m. ' Mike Weiner, violinist at Ply- mouth, will reopen the Club Jalna on Vermont avenue. Earl Hines during his appearance at the Howard theatre, will give a concert at Walter Reed hospital. Washington Newspaper Guild party at National Press Cliib had Connie Russell and Joe Howard as entertainers. Treasure Island has been sold to a Chinese group headed by Sam and Jimmy Wong, connected 'with the China Clipper. By Les Bees Most film exchanges held Christ- mas parties.' Roy Mansfield ' bought St. Croix theatre at Prescott, Wis. Antal Dorati here as Minneapolis Symphony orchestra guest conduc- tor. 'Wife of Fred Ableson, Universal city salesman. In hospital for opera- tion. Paul Rosini, magician, held over at Andy's nitery with Delane Sisters, Dungan Trio, Joe Griffin and Stella's band. . - Lieut. Ralph Green, who married Grace McDonald in Hollywood, operated a theatre circuit out of Min- neapolis before his entry into the Marixies. Showmen tossed farewell party for Harry Dickerman, departing to make his home in Los Angeles after dis- posing of his theatre circuit to Don- ald Guttman. LUFE VELEZ Lupie Welez, 36, colorful flirt act- ress, suicided Dec, 14, at her home in Beverly Hills, Cal,, from an over- dose' of sleeping tablets. She left notes indicating a frustrated ro- mance had precipitated the act, ' Native of San Luis Potosl, Mexico, Lupe Velez de Villalobos first ap- peared on the stage in ^Rataplan," a musical comedy, in Mexico. City. Her first appearance in Hollywood was on the stage in "Music Box Revue," produced by Fanchon & Marco. After playing in several Hal Roach comedies, she attracted wide attehtion in the role of the ^ild mbunUin girl in the Douglas Fair- banks picture, "The Gaucho," pro- duced in 1927, From that time she played top roles in all the major studios of Hollywood, Windings up with the "Mexican Spitfire" series at RKO. V Publicized through m a n'y off- screen romances, Miss Velez was ■married once, to-Johnny Weissmul- ler, whom she divorced after a stormy-marital career. Her estate is estiihated at be- tween $100,000 and $200,000. Surviv- ing are her mother, two sisters and a brother. Under the actress' will, 6ne-third of her estate goes to Mrs. Beulah Kinder, her sec, also named execu' trix. Remainder is divided into two trust funds, one for her mother, Mrs, Josephina Velez and one for her father; MARRIAGES Kay Morley to Richard Crane, Santa Monica, Nov. 14. Bride and groom are. screen players. Capt. and Mrs. Morton J. O'Brien, son, Ha-wthonie, Nevada, Dec. 6. Father is the son of M, D. O'Brien of Loew's Theatres Projection De- partment Virginia Ware to William BIo- echer, Yuma, Ariz., Dec.-10. Bride is the widow of Darryl Ware, pro- ducer-writer; groom is a screen publicist. Veronica Lake to. Andre De Toth, Hollywood, Dec. 16. Bride is the screen star; groom a director. Yvonne Day to Harry Ri'chman, .Miami, Dec. 13, Bride is dancer; groom the singing star, Gertrude (Trudy) Marshall to Philip Jordan RafCn, Los Angeles, Dec, 17. Bride is film actress. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Dana Andrews, son, Santa Monica, Cal., Dec 15. Father is screen actor. Mr. and Mrs, Orson .Welles, daughter, Santa Monica, Dec. 17, Father is actor-producer; mother is Rita Hayworth, screen actress. Mr. and Mrs. Dave GIffprd, son, Pittsburgh, Dec. 16. Father is orch leader. Capt. and fSrs. William Baldwin, daughter, in Hollywood, - Dec. .13. Mgth^r is Kim Hunter, - section -act- ress; falhep is overseas ^wifh,, Vxp Mariiwa.' . WILLIAM E; BATNOa . William E. Raynor, 6i; theatre and film exchange mainager, died Dec. 13 at Jamaica, L. I. He had been a pioneer in film exhibition and, ex- ploitation field but recently managed theatres for the Century Circuit In Brooklyn and Long Island. In 1910 Rayhbr handled the show- ing of "Quo Vadis," a silent film which ran six months at the Astor, N. Y. He later joined Pathe and had been an executive with that company until eventually absorbed by RKO. Under new regime he had been short subject sales manager for a time but later resigned to manage theatres. Widow and two sons survive him. of "Eve of St. Mark." Survived by widow,' his mother, a sister and > brother. JAMES B. H. WAGNER James R, H. Wagner, 73,- origina- tor of the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena, died Dec. 11 at a hos> pital in Sonoma, Cal. Since 1901, when he sponsored the first gridiron, battle at the Tournament of Roses, Wagner had. held a seat of honor every year on the 50-yard line. ■ At one tlhie he Wus president of the Los Angeles Real Estate Board. He was a brother of the late Rob Wag- ner, founder of Script magazine. Joseph F. De. Cenee, 19, formerly . with Univ^rsal's still department, was killed in action Nov. 14 during the Battle of Leyte, according to word received by his father, Domr inic De Cenco, who works in the same department Lleat Ralph Baxter, 30, former theatre manager in San Gabriel, Cal., died Nov. 21 in action on the Franco-German border, according to word received by his widow in Al- hambra, Cal. STUABT FATON Stuart Paton, 99, pioneieir film di- rector and actor, died at the Motion Picture Country House near Holly- wood Dec. 16. Paton began theatrical career with six years on London Stage, entering £lm work in 1912 aa scenario editor, and later a director at Universal. He worked in many early action films including—"20,OiDO Leagues Under The Sea," "The Heart Punch," starring Jess Willard,- and many early Harry C^rey.westerns; He leaves a son, Edward James Paton, Universal Music editor, and a daughter, Lillian Paton Cavalieri, employed In Universal's film library. David- H. Howard, 84, vetei;an stage and screen actor, died Deo> 9 at the Motion Picture Country Home - near Hollywood. Born in New York,' he had lived in. California 24 years. Snapper .Oarrison,. 75, circu* clown and bicycle performer^ died in Denver Dec; 12, In early career he had been with Buffalo Bili show and circuses. •: WlUlam H. Grimes. 90, Metro still photographer for 20 years, died Dec. 19 after a heart attack at the Hollywood Park race track. Harry Zech,' 60, motion picture cameraman, died Dec. 11 in Holly- wood, following an operation, Isaac OoUsBtlth, 72,' owner of the. ' atricol agency, and former orchestra leader, died Dec. 19 in Chicago. Mather, 61, of maestro Frankl* Carle, died Dec. 11 in Providence; R. I.- — ■ . Taxes Centlniwd (rem pace 1 HABT TIHBBBO Mary Timberg, 86, mother of Her- man and Sammy Tlmberg and the former Hattie Darling, died In New York Dec. IB. Mrs. Timberg managed her sons' career when they first started in show business and also aided in launching Georgle Price and George Jessel in the Gus Edwards revue "School Days." In addition to her sons, she ii survived by her grandsons; JeSse Kaye, Loew stageshow booker, Tim Herbert, comic; Irwin Kneltel, of the Max Fleischer studios and . Irwin Timberg. JESS lee; BBOOKS Jess Lee Brooks, 50,. Negro stage and screen player, died Dec. 13 in Hollywood when stricken ^ith a heart attack -while driving to Para' mount studio where he had a char acter role In "The tMt Weekend." Among his stage performances over a period of . 30 - ^ears .were "Black Empire," "Run ti'l Chillun' and "Swing Mikado." His recent screen appenrances were in "Sul- Uvan's Travels" ahd "Wilson." lACK DE SHA'T Jack De Shay, 25, legit actor whose last Broadway appearance was in 'Oiecislofll'' died in New York lost week of rheuniatic fever. He bad been hospitalized since lOBt Septem- ber, De Shay, whose family name was McCuaker and who us^ his middle name for the stage, also had appeared In 'XMbello" abi the tmd ^fompuT cost her ihbney to play over here: For the U. S. Treasury, 30% la held out by Bob MiUord, the com-, pany manager (it's' higher than the . regulation 20% withholding tax be- cause Miss LiUie' is an alien); 10% '. is deducted for. the state «f New York. On top of that, as a citizen of Britain, she must pay a tax that. i goes as hlgii as 75%, I Miss Liliie's attorney, Howard Reinheimer, is in a daze trying to solve''the problem.- Including Miss - Liliie's straight 10%-of-the-gross deal, Billy Rose's "7 Lively' Arts" stage, musical per-_ haps has the top royalty overhead in' history. No less than 23% ofi the top goes to sundry artisans, including 5% to Cole Porter for his songs,'and 2-2%% of the gross each to'Moss Hart, Ben Hecht and Hassard Short. In addition, dance stager Jack Dono* hue gets a flat weekly fee; IgorStrt* vinsky, who contributed a-'special ' ballet score for Anton Dolin end. Alicia Markovs, gets a $500 wdeUjf royalty, ietc. r "Arts" can gross $47,000 v/teTsJj, and needs 40G to break, which meaibi^ it will require a year of -solid ca-- pacity to get the $350,000 pr^^uction cost back. Since Rose. meanUme: makes a profit Jr'om' the show, as- owner of the Zlegfeld theatre, aqd It also will be' instrumental in reestab* ' lishing the house as legiter once again, he doesn't- consider it. too tough. In 'View - of . the operational overhead, therefore, .Miss LUUe'a guarantee^ $2,600 a week^ against 10%, means little. Show has a $900,<( 000 advance sale. ; Otheir ^*Aris" salaries are $2,900 Etraiight for B^rt Labr; $2,000 fbr* benny Goodtnan; 41,500 . for \b(t Dolln-Markova b^et teaai. ■ ' Tiffvbetween Mlse Lillie aadi-RMd is: ^{taM^ ttistor^'''Itr fiteia^^ Porter'Erbalktnrvt tim'Britlah conim dienne'S qbmedyr "ooacvt-.iiqnAm.. Inteii^AtBtkHl, WUcb. ts costf^ the songamith's non-Interpolatloff contract,' Doe RockweU'fr if(l«<f • woman- has • been ellmlitated, other cutp have been iiiad«» ' flDUe. • . < - . .^.y.;