Variety (Jun 1945)

SHOWMEN'S 7th Wodiicsdav, June 6, .1915 Around 10,000 Theatres, Highest Yet, Look to Set Free Movie Day Record $4,755,000 BONDS FOR 'MILLER DAY' ATN.Y.PAR The film industry is expected to* ring, up the largest single day's I sale of bonds since the inception of war loans today i(5) when approxi- mately 10,000 theatres throughout.! the nation participate in -Free ^Scaling the house at $25 bonds for , _ „ . . . . I upper-balconv seals, to $5,000 for the Movie Day. , best se a (s for t<)t; „ gross sales of $4,- .'National chairman lor the Indus-j ooq.ooo, the Paramount theatre: try during the 7th War Loan, Sam jJ. Y., last night 'Tuesday) realized I Pinanski, revealed this week that I $4 -$5 Q00 through extra sales on its at least 2.500 more houses will par-I .. R .j aj()r Glenn 'Miller Dav". benefit lieipate in this event during the | performance.' a special event off -the ! current drive than in any .prior ; cttrrcnt Seventh' War Loan'drive set j up by Bob Weilman; managing d.i- ' vector Of the Par. i Al Jolson purchased - The Hard Way Chicago, June 5, A Green Bay, Wis., office gal had a date with a movie star in Chi last wecl<, and kept It, but under anything but glamorous conditions. She won the trip to the big citv as. result of winning a Seventh War Loan bond selling contest sponsored by the" Or- pTieum theatre, Green Bay, re- ward being a luncheon with.. Sonny Tufts in the Pump Room of the Ambassador - East hotel. She could gel only a day off from work and had to make the 400-mile round trip between her town and Chi in one day^-and- in a day coach at that: No Preference Shown Navy in Choice Of Camp Shows, US0 Officials Say US0 TAKES RESPITE ON V-E LEGIT SKED $100,000 eats, largest campaign. Forerunner of the day 1 , was an advance barrage of adver- | tising and publicity that blanketed ; the country Monday (4) and yes- | terday. Newspapers, radio and lobby '< displays were used, plus important i plugs on network broadcasts during | both days. However. Pinanski wired state' chairman to warn their workers' of i ■complacency on the part of the pub- | lie that arrives with warm weather j and' summer vacations. He likened \ tiphrrtaicyH^r^^ttm'd-eneniy / "If I is an enemy' that we must lick by : 99'i perspiration arid inspira-j tion. Let's finish the fight the last.j four weeks of the drive." he said. j In several States "Free Movie! Day" is a double-barreled event, attention being focused on the oc- casion by special celebrations. In Wisconsin, for instance, "Ernie Pyle Day" has been proclaimed by spe- cial act of the legislature, while the District of Columbia, too, will honor "the 'best friend' the GI ever Had." In Southern California it is being called "On to Tokyo Day" in 050 Southern Cal. houses, and is ex- pected to result in the sale of $1.- 000,000 in "E" bonds. In some areas the number of par- Downey ticipating theatres is double or triple i JelTy Lestel ' those of the Sixth. In metropolitan for d Dann y O Neill, Dean Murphy. N. Y.. more than 600 houses of the 1 The Modernaires, Corp. Harvey territory's 700 theatres will par _ Stone. Maxine Johnson and Boys. I Martin Block. Marion Hutton. Don Baker. Johnny Johnston, Ed Sulli- w.orth of bonds for two buyer for show. "Miller Day." in tribute lo the popular band leader who was lost on a plane flight overseas, was cele- brated in other key cities with spe- cial shows such as given'at the Par and in some cases with local radio amateur talent, etc." Some bouses held special shows in advan ce. i-pl the Jiirie B anniversary 'of D-Bay. . The : Par played only .one show yesterday iTuesday', closing down at 3 p.m. in preparation for the evening's benefit, which 'went, on at 8:36.4fld ran about four hours. Milton Berle m.c.d. while the list of talent' included the orchestras of j Charlie Spivak. Count Basie.-Louis Prima, Benny Goodman and' Fred Waring, plus such bandleaders, sans their orchestras, as Shep Fields. Sammy Kaye. Gene Krupa. Guy Lombardo. Cab Calloway, Paul Whiteman.. Jerry Wald. and Xavier Cugat. Others on the'talent sked were Eddie Cantor. Allan Jones. Kate Smith. Bill Robinson. Morton Gil Lamb, Perry Como. Tex Beueke Jo Sftaf- Array Whoops It Dp on Chi Loop Chicago. June 5. The U. S. Army is making its most' P*™* Us, firs musical ambitious, local War Bond pitch to ^esttc hospital j-.rcu.t, titled ( Par dale right in the middle of Randolph uon , ™ e street.' whooping it up a la -Singling--j Bras—Barniiin--'-&-. Bail ey 1 , ..CDmp.lete with Big Top 4-':. Recently activated interest of the | Navy in entertainment has been re- sponsible for an increased flow of pro talent (from USO-Camp Shows) to naval bases.. .Activity has also given rise to a little confusion re* With the addition last week- or i K»NN"fe destination ol entertainment three more shows to its special legit' umts - Wllh rumors of the Navy get- program, for a total of 18. USO- j Preference, now over the Army Camp Shows is temporarily stopping any further V-E legit assignments other than its regular requisitions in order to clear "its decks. The three shows are "Othello," "Holiday" and a third company of "Three Is A Family." "Othello" will be headed by Paul Robeson and Jose Ferrer, and Holiday" by Bette Davis, The 15 previous plays are now in re- hearsal or tryout stages, and being given final o. o. by Army'and Camp Shows, officials in New York;.' ' - The musicals department is pre- for the do- GI construction gang went to work on the tent two weeks ago. roping off the choicest show biz section of the Loop i Randolph, from State to Dearborn 1, to cue some extra fur- ! rows in the brows, of theatre and llitcry operators, already care-lined plenty by curfew and brownout blues" Latter did a little squawking with Harry Krivil slagin md Sandy Grant doing the dance numbers.. Also lined up for the dept. Ts . a 'Tyieri'y ~'WT3ow""■' production" which the New Opera Co, will.' do for them, with Felix Brentarto stag- ing. Mike Todd 5 Continued from page 1 lor entertaining occupation army it first! claiming stoppage of traffic | Gls on the basis of surveys in Italy par- ticipate, a new record comparing with the 274 which took part in "Free Movie Day" in the Sixth. Cil Show Hypes Seattle Seattle, June 5. "Kapers in Khaki." the Fort Lewis GI show at the Orpheum, where ad- mish was only to buyers of bonds, grossed sales of $6,527,300 in bonds, reports Herb Sobottka, city mgr. of Hamrick-Evergreen. Palomar i Sterling) is giving over tonight i5) at this house to bond admish. Next wrll follow bond nights at the Jensen-von Herberg van. Diana Lynn, and trio of Tip. Tap and Toe. . Jack Mclnerney. pub-ad director for the N. Y. Par. got many publicity breaks for the benefit. How on the Rialto caused by the rope-off would result in another dip in grosses: however, there doesn't seem to have been any real cause Tor moaning to date, as the Gl s are drawing big audiences who overflow into amusement places. Circus canopy covers the street Tor a half-block, housing "On to Tokyo," Army-State Street Council sponsored exhibit including a mighty 10-ton M-.i pontoon bridge, the kind intrepid , Yanks put up over the Rhine and Elbe. Thirty-five enlisted men and one officer, all returned I overseas, vets who've built similar bridges in France, England and uermany Todd left today (May 251 for a quick visit lo Paris, and then on. possibly, to Moscow, but he said he expected to be back in England about the middle of June, and lake off for home or the South Pacific from here. He was so serious about his assignment that he ducked the local press, and it was only by chance some of them ran into him. Todd said the nature .of his'mission in the matter of shows, and setting | up . its own transit, system. This, ! however, is in error. ; ■ ':•'• j Heretofore, the Army had assumed j responsibility for overseas shipments | of units. lOnce a USO unit is ; turned, over for overseas duty, its i destination and handling is in the .services' hands, not USO's). The i Army would route shows into both ; Army.and Navy installations, distrib- uting time at each base as it saw [.best. With the Navy recently setting i up its own personnel to handle shows, it, has now undertaken to as- sume. responsibility for part, of the 'work of sending units overseas, i Units may now be shipped across on Navy supply ships instead of Army- ' transports, -t Wtrs*:'"6]>enirig 'wider ; channels of transport and making more transportation available. In other words, both Navy and Army, instead of the Army alone, are work- ing to route entertainment around, i with units still- serving both. But destination and routes still have to ■ be worked out in each area lo decide ' how much talent each base gels. No preference for either branch of serv- ice is being shown. . ,'• •;' There have been some complaints about talent signing up for one thea- tre of war ias Europe! and objecting ' when routed elsewhere, the Pacific, •'Tor instance. Rumors have said that ! some actors could sign for certain : areas, while others-could not. USO- Camp Shows officials deny this, stat- ing that as a general rule acts can specify where they cannot be sent for physical reasons, but cannot H'wood Again Will Prod. Can.Y9thWar Loan Film combat'.' areTonkru'cting ! lloldin «' big spectacles In Hitler's i Nuremburg Stadium was one phase of it. Baseball and football games, girlie shows, pageants, and .even circuses in this monster home of hate, will t.'On- lantly before occupation troops in that area, Todd feels. WashingtonrJune 5. ; " c "" a ," ""''"y"; « ; Todd has beell busy Hnintf up a Hollvwood, which has made either | barracks display. Daily features m- hj , circuU t0 ,.. l(e m O0 _ Show opened last Friday (1» and j closes Monday iil). Also included in the shows, which are on hourly from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.. , , are food demonstrations. . clothing ! h< ' 1 " , koc ",., Uie Am .?.' ca:1 exhibits of American and captured ; German and Jap. uniforms, and a : a trailer or short for each of Can- will that —the be asked to make another tor country's coming 9th war loan Victory Loan drive. Ben Henshaw. of the Ca nadian War Finance Committee, is due here July 9 to meet with Tom Bailly, Hollywood WAC coordinator, who is now in Washington cuss subject matter and production Liberty, and the Hamrick-Evergreen ^ da ' s , e 'f h ] wai ; bond^ drives . Fifth Avenue and Paramount. A first-timer is the bond matinee at the Metropolitan next Friday -..wilh-Hclcn.-Hayes- in ---Harriet" the- lure. Ted Gamble, national director, former showman of the Pacific • Continued on page 22) JIMMY CANNON HAS 'BLUE DANUBE BLUES' Germany Editor. "Variety": I submit further proof that- all songwriters are liars once they sit down to hack out a lyric about riv- ers. I don't know what it's like in other places, but the Danube around here certainly is not a sweet stream moving, dreamily to the sea'. Outside 1 elude colored smoke operations (guaranteed not to smoke payees out of the Oriental theatre and the | Chemical I tie it impossible for him to specify,f-speeify where they will go. An act what his recommendations would be ; with allergy to tropic climates can in advance of submission to the j beg off. As a rule, says Camp Shows, War Dept., but . he admitted that | i' 1 '^ Ko where they're told. There ve • been one or two cases when acts ; balked, whereupon they were re- leased. There is one instance of a unit that was rerouted lo Europe j aftei' being set for the Pacific, "be- cause the femme headliner objected. ' USO-Camp Shows made an excep- tion here, because of their desperate need of talent, and not wishing, to lose or penalize balance of unit be- ; cause of the femme. I cupied territory with the aid of a little gadget that helps him bring recalcitrant German theatre owners into line. It's a card listing him as Service and commumca- BrJ g adiel . Gclle ral .assimilated), I and . wJUh__the laiialLcal .Gcrman._sub- servience Latin Quarter) by the tions with a score of U. S. cities and depots' by The-Signal " Corps, and , ^.^.j^^.,, t<) authoHty it cm|s bond buyers are rewarded with j a ,., Llment . , The ass imilated rank- rides in scout cars, ducks, weasels • jt . s one ( , r „ lase rnlernaVibiial eoh- They will dis- i ""d armored cars, which have start- velltiol! things ^. is intended to in- ina points at both ends of the ex- I form the cncmy of the k il)d of civilian (o the questions. No idea yet of what the'l hibtt. ' ...• ■ ... . '..- - .» . picture will deal with, but the most | Theme of the show, pounfled home | successful to date has been "All Star i by Loop department store p.a. sys- treatmcnt they must give prisoners of war attached ., Hollywood. June 5. Silver Star for gallantry in action n repulsing a Jap attack was awarded to Lt. Col, Laurence W. Beilensoh, chief counsel for Screen Actors Guild. '.' ,-. Citation reads: "For gallantry in Of my door in Regen.sberg it is a i action, disregarding his own safety Bond Rally," used for the Canadian 8th and now for our own 7th. Lt. Col. Beilenson Cited rushing, roaring, foaming river dash- ing over the broken bridges. But 1 can understand it's haste. I am in a hurry to get out of Germany, too. IW/Kil 'about' lite Svianee, Jame; JBfl.l ' . ' ' I see "Varietys" whereverT go ;•'.-•. and., that, means' France. Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Czechoslova- kia, Austria . . . wherever the Amer- ican soldier goes. Oddly enough, most of the "Variety" readers aren't pros and nio.-t of them aren't New Yorkers. One guy Tasked said: "I like it." I just thought you'd like to know. Naturally,, the paths of the armies are not littered with "-Vari- etys."-But it would please-you, I think, to know in "how many places it turns up.. Jimmy Cannon. while under.- heavy enemy . .fire. 1 Though outnumbered, repulsed three successive Japanese attacks^-cour- age above and beyond the call of duty displayed by Lt. Col. Bielcnson reflects credit upon himself and the forces of-the United Slates.". ■■• '. ' - Keeping Up With the Flicks Pvt. Sol Jacobson is in Bremen, editing—a—NipiSr Army newssheet. Cpl. Ted Goldsmith has been as- signed to Fort Slocum, New Ro- cbelle. N^ Y. ' Sgt. Abner Klipstein is at Wright Field, Dayton, O. Sgt; Joel Levy, Jr., Killed Joel. Levy, chief -motion picture booker for Loew's out-of-town the- atres, has been advised by the War Dept. that his son, T/S. Joel Levy. Jr., 22. U. S. Signal Corps, .formerly of Loew's publicity, has been killed in actiofi . In '. the Philippines.. Sgt. Levy, an expert photographer, was with a sound-camera unit., in the forces that retook Manila, and' per- formed distinguished service ; with Pacific invasion forces. Sgt, Levy leaves a widow and one child. army. Thus war correspondents are treated as captains but most top- ranking showfolk arc listed as gen- ] eral staff.) A lot of what he has^ seen and- hcard has impressed the producer with the idea that the war may .have ended tor General Eisenhower's lads, but it's just begun for show business. "We've got to bring the home- front to what used to be the war-, front," Todd said, "We've got to help convince those kids they haven't been forgotten, and we've got to keep our way of life constantly be- fore-.-them, realizing some of them may be cut off from, it lor years n f : ' . jand subjected to other influences. •. KM IJrnCC inairmanl NOh-fraternization is tough enough Bums Mantle, dean of New York with, lots of good sports and enter- dranja;critics; is emerging from re-, tainment programs. Without .ihem. tircnent to chairman a benefit show. I think it would be impossible, by the Central Chapter of the | "I don't like to harp on one theme | Queens County Red Cross, Sunday but-this is where show business must | <24) at the Forest Hills Stadium, really begin to fight. We've got to tern that blasts day and night for the. length of the Loop stretch of State street, is statement of Maj. Gen. Graves B. Erskine, command- ing general, 3rd Marine Division of Iwo Jima fame: "We can't finish the lough war in the Picific with the support of a quarter, or a half, or three-quarters of a nation. Everyone must pitch ih. Success of the 7th " War , Loan . de- pends upon . extra War Bond .pur- chases by every American." Jim Thorpe, at 57, Joins Merchant Marine . : Los-Angeles, June 5, Jim Thorpe, at one time one of the country's greatest athletes, and ■ long in Westerns, has joined, the | Merchant Marine and is shipping out [for India. Thorpe is 57, and had I been turned, down by the Army, Navy. Marines and USO-Camp I shows before trying . the Merchant Marine. RKO and 20th-Fox for months have been mulling the idea of doing his life story, while Metro claims it has a version of its own for a film based on the athlete's life. | Co-chairman will be Alan Corclli. Theatre Authority exec sec, Show will climax three days of exhibition tennis matches at the stadium. . A committee of newspapermen in charge of the event will . be . aug- mented by Jim Sauter. United Theat- rical War Activities Committee chairman, and Toots Shor. restau- rateur. .,-,' •> .. 'Oklahoma!' in China - "OklalToma!''- -has got as fai~a^ China, GI members of the 14th Air Force staging a production of the Broadway musical with ,Pfc, Don Pointer, ex-Coast actor, directing, iVlemph's Man Wins Air Medal Memphis, June 5. Lt. Louis C. Ingram, son of Metro *ps*«'h- inanageiuJiere, -awarded Air Medal fpr "meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight on reconnaissance missions over Japa- nese mainland and nearby Japanese- 'iloJd islands." He'< ba.sed "on Guam. et better and bigger entertainment out to Germany, Italy and ; else- where, and we've , got to get it to them fast and consistently. While the war was on our soldiers had plenty to think about beskles what kind of a show they were going lo to: get, but now entertainment bulks larger and larger in their lives every day. Our business just Iws to re- spond." ' : '.-"•'.;" Todd refused flatly to comment on persistent, reports here that a good many important theatrical figures consider tWP end of the European war terminated any duty they, may have felt to soldiers in . this hemi- sphere. "That's not for me lo say," he said. L. A. to N. Y. Glen Allvine. Walter Bunker. Dane; Clark. Cecil Coan. SherriH Corwin. ~—'. Jerry Dale. Miss Dorothy. William J. Fadiman. Betty G ruble. Bruce Ilumberstone. Harry James. William Keighley. ■ : - Sol Lesser. Oscar A. Morgan. Bob Parrjs.' .'; Heinz- Roemhel.d. George Schneider. N. Y. to L. A. Dr. Lyman Bryson. Ann Corio. Jean Dalrymple. Danief F. Greenhouse. Sam Hearn. Mr. and Mrs. W. Ray Johnston. Col. Nathan Levinsori. Herb Little. Joe Pincus. LeRoy Prinz. Sain Shayon. Dave Victor. Harry M. Warner. '•' Bob Williams. , • .