Variety (Apr 1946)

MISCELLANY Wedneeday, April 3, 1946 Bacall Joins Bogart on Warners* Suspension List for Nixing Film Hollywood, April 2. Lauren .Bacall was dcfinllely pUvcd on suspension Monday (1) |>y Wariicrs for refuslnf ^ role in "SUIlion Roadl" SImnltaneously 4he studio announced that Initial Kcenes were filmed Tuesday (?) M'ith Zachary Scott and RonHliI Reagan. Sneaking a Preem irildegnrde is trying a novelty tomorrow iThursJ uight when she returns to. the Hotel Plaza's Persian Room, N. Y. Novelty ia "lip oiJening'' fnnfare. Jast gum- shoeing back to town. Claims she's had so many ••openings" at the Persian Room it'll be a novelty just to sneak back. Huniphrey Bognrt is on suspension but not his wife, Lauren ("Baby") Bacall, according to statement made by aclor, in discussing - difficulties with Warners over his nixing the "StHllion Road" assignment. "My suspension shouldn't be newsworthy any more," Bogart said. "I guess I ha\'e put in as much time on War- ners' suspension list aa.on their pay- roll. But if they suspend 'Baby' it would make me burn, and you nay quote mo. "I told Jack Warner in New York, ever the phone, that, my wife and myself did not consider the screen- play indicative of a good vehicle for 'fx. Jack said, 'You can trust mc.' bit I pointed out to him the fact that after '6aby' had made:a hit inf'^Sl'i street and 3rd avenue, repro- To Have and Have Not' they cast '''"ced in the Ray Milland Oscar- her. over her objections, in -Con-i fo'Paddy, in fact, lldential Agent,' That fflm didn t do J's all sure pictures are here « thing tor her career. ''° he wasn't surprised when ' ■"Weekend " failed to arouse a spark lost Weekend' No B.O. Trailer to Paddy Clark's Bar on 55th and 3d Aye. Filmizalions of '•The -'Diamond Horseshoe"' and "'Stork' GUib" may have done wonders for the grosses at those joinl;:. But as far as "'The Lost Weekend"' is concerned, it hasn't meant a thing to Paddy .Clark's bar. At least so scz Paddy, who's been operating the bistro at "Money doesn't mean a thing iiow- of interest in his bailiwick or pro- adays, but^ it , takes excellence ot j^,^^ ^ew customers. product to. keep a player alive. Take Joan Crawford for an example, she refused roles for nearly, two years Film, as a matter of fact, did turn up. one new client for the bar. That was Milland, who stopped around before accepting 'Mildred Pierae.'. j^cw York last week to "As to -Stallion Road,' the whole | have a looksee at the original re- thing was script trouble. I have . pioduced hy Paramount from a set only 02 pages of the screenplay and ^frankly I don't think the rest of the ^'Shooting scri{>t has been completed. If Warners doesn't care about cast- ing lis in any type of films, we _d.Oi.. and will continue to object against such practices." When asked how long his con- tract at Warner Bros, had to go, actor replied: "About two and half years more—and -1 guess one could say I'd then have enough points to get out." Zachary Scott- and Eleanor Parker were set by Warner Bros, over the weekend in .the roles in "Stallion Road." ■ RR WITH PIX, LENDING LIBRARY, RADIO, ETC. Cleveland, April 2.. Plans for two "revolutionary" railroad trains, which will carry their own motion picture theatres, lending libraries; news tickers and telephones were revealed last week by Carl E. Newton, president of Ihf Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. The list of innovations includes in- -dividual radios built Into each seat, special facilities for caring- for children, flowers to create a more home-like atmosphere, art exhibits, motor-operated doors that would, open at a touch, an air-puriflcation system that would allOw smoking throughout the train, lounge facili- ties, in every coach, and. super-sani- tary toilet facilities. The r/iil head concluded, "We have worked out a system that will defin- itely eliminate all . waitinjg. for meals." The system, he said was a company secret for the time, being. The first two such trains will operr ate between Washington and Cin- cinnati, one running each way daily. of stills. Despite advance intelli- gence from the Par press depart- ment, Paddy "'just didn't happen to be around"' when Milland dropped in. Even .the 3rd avenue neighbors took the visit as an entirely expected procedure by a gviy who drank as ' inuch as Milland. And as far as the Other barflies '^ent, they just took a look, did a double-lake, in disbelief —and quick as a flash ordered an- other drink. Much to the disgust of Par flacks, iiot even one autograph was requested. Academy awards 4nd other pub- licity which have gone to "Week- end" are a bit of a surprise to Paddy, but not ciiough to upset his calm- er even send him to the Rivoli to see the picture. After all, he"s seen other Don Birnams in 38 years on 3rd avenue, he explains. Anyway, all these modern gadgets —like films—annoy him. His bar, replete with its photos of mustach- ioed gentry and deep mahogany ornamentation, hash"t been changed an iota since it opened in 1893— and as far as Paddy's concerned, it"s not going to be. Paramount and O.scars not withstaliding, Bradna, Hurt, to Miss 1st WB^URT BERNHARDT DICKERING NEW DEAL Hollywood, April 2 Negotiations have been started by Warners for re-inking of Curtis Bernhardt to a director ticket. Bern- hardt, whose pact expires at year's end, is understood asking <or a hefty increase in coin and permission to do one outside film annually. . Two films are left on the megger's slate. "The Secret" and "Ethan Froine."' Sinatra Merry-Go-Ronnd Frank Sinatra will be on a bene fit" merry-go-round later this rnor.th which will take him from Holly- wood to New York to Phoenix and back to Ihe Coast withiti four days. . He leaves Hollywood on the Wih Circus Bow in 43 Years to work at the American Cancer Fred Bradna, Ringling circus equestrian director, Is slowly re- cuperating from a fracttired pelvis at his home in Sarasota, FU., and for the first time in 43 years he will not be on hand when the Big Top opens at Madison Square Garden, N. Y., tomorrow night .(4). Bradna was injured during a near blowdown on the lot at Dallas Jast fall. • . SOPH'S'ABIE'CH0EE Hollywood, April 2. • Sophie Tucker will do the "Ma Cohen" role in Bing Crosby's pro- duction of "Abie's Irish Rose," Screenplay is now in prepara- tion, with other castings including , Michael Chekhov and George E. IjStonc. Eddie Sutherland will direct. Society: benefit at Carnegie Hall. N.Y., the 19th; next night he's due at another benefit at Phoenix for a local organization, and on the. 21si he'll be homo. During the Carnegie alTair, Sin ^atra will do a 30-minute broadcast on ah as-yct unsclectcd net (lUS 11:45 p.in.) with other guests. When he goes off,"Bob Hope will come on from the. Coast (11:45^12:15) from a similar benefit in Hollywood. Sinatra is now in N.Y. for two weeks, Lena Home in 'Woman* Hollywood, April 2. Lena Home will play In the film vcr.'jion of "St. Louis Woman" for Metro despite hier previous" with- drawal -from the stage prodtictlon. It opened Saturday. (?0) to mixed notices. I9Mi WEEXr KEN MURRAY'S -BLACKOUTS OF 194«" El Capitan Theatre, Hotfywoorf,. Cal. 'K.\treni<'ly fnsc :inO tunny entpv- t.nlnmont.'" . MARK HELLINGER. Berle s $2,500 As CBS Sustainer The Milton Berle-CBS" :comcdy show deal is on again. .\ new con- tract has been drawn up. and the coinisdian's dowji on the CBS books for $2,500 a week for a half-hour weekly show. That's probably top coin for a personality for a weekly sustainer program. However, it looks like the net- work* may w-rap up a sponsor eveti before the show goes on the air. Blow agency, on behalf of Schick Razor, which is now controlled by Eversharp, is currently negotiating to bankroll the Berle show. CBS was air set to unwrap the Berle program several' weeks ago when the comedian chimed in with a nix, refusing to go oh without a sponsor. Hence the new contract. LOU COSTELLO TO STUMP FOR HOFFMAN IN N. J. Hollywood April 2. Lou Costello, following washup of 'Ghast Steps Out" at Universal, goes east May 10 to open soapbox cam- paign for Harold Hoffman, onetime governor of New Jersey who is seek- ing reelection. An old friend of Hoffman, Castello will stump the state for guberi>a- torial candidate during three-week period, making appearances which are now being plotted by Hoffman campaign strategists. Going east with Costello are Bud Abbott and Eddie Sherman, their manager, plus entire cast, of weekly radio sh<>w, which will emanate from N.Y. on May 19- 23-30. Garfield to Aid Schmid . Philadelphia, April 2. Pennsylvania Democratic organ- ization is mulling plans to bring John Garfield here in November to campaign for the election of Sgt. Al Schmid, blind hero of Guadalcanal, who is running for Secretary of In- ternal Affairs. Garfield, who played the part of Schmid in "Pride of the Marines," became very , friendly with the ex- Leatherneck hero during the filming ot the picture here, and is said to be amenable to helping in the cam- paign. Schmid, a former iron- worker before he entered the serv- ice, is being backed by union groups here. Original plan was for Schmid to run for State Senator from his disr trict, but so great was his popular-' ity throughout the State, that Demo- cratic bigwigs figured he could cash in on a Statewide basis and he was slated for the Internal Affairs post. The Philadelphia orgaiiization had tried to lease or buy "Pride"' to show during the. campaign but was turned down by Warner Bros, which said it could not .sell the film to a private organization for free showing —as was planned by the group.. The Democrats hope that enough inter- est will be evinced by the campaign to have Warners revive the film for regular commercial showing. ' The Berle-mg Point By Milton B«rle Byram Going Abroad John Byrom, head of Faramount's play department, plans a trip 'to England .and Sweden in May. He'll look over pdssibillties for pictures among foreign legiters. ,Mrs. (Marian) ' Byram, Broadway legit p.a., will accompany' him if visas can be arranged. ' SPRING Be there .a iiinn with soiil so dead, Who net7er ill the sprins hath said, . - HI BABEl Boy, have I got a case of spring fever. ..last night I dreapt about the kind of girls that go out with Van Johnson. , .Ah, love is in the air—and I don't even have a pilot's license. ..You can tell it's spring... In the park there were lipstick marks all over the Keep Oil the Grass signs.. .Every* body scenp to- be in a proposing mood. I saw a iellow come out of a jewelry shop and he was walking on one knee,. .Yesterday I thoiight 1 saw the first robin—It . was only a ssparrow with high blood ' pressure.. . It's spring and the birds want to come back north to their old nests...it's going to be a'little tough—people are living in them. . .These first days ot spring are a little confusiiig...one.day you' have to wear a winter coat, next day aspring coat. ..I went to my closet this.morning, a iribth threw a camphor bail at me and said, "Why don't you make up your niind'.'" Tlia Great Wit Way Just found out where Tommy Manvillc gets-his inarriage licensos,., they're printed on the back, of his alimony checks. Saw the Rodgers-Hammerstcin-Berlin-Fieids-Merman musical, ".\nnie Get Your Gun." Too bad about this combo—they're in a "successful rut." A Broadway movie house which shows only psychological murder mys- teries now has a sign that. says, "Please Check Your Brain With the Manager." Hal Block observes lhat Winston Churchill is a great man. He's always got England in his heart, America on his mind and Havana on his lips.. The United Nations restaurant at Hunter College serves the various na- tionalities, l .for dinner, the Russians get caviar, the Cliinese get cho\y mein, and-the French get a dozen postcards. Mickey Alport knows an agent who walks in his sleep so much his wife puts cab fare in'his pajama pockets. Ran into Ray Milland the other afternoon... 1 tipped my hat; he tipped his ice-pack. Martin Ragaway has a new job .. he's writing adlibs for the NBC ele- vator operators. Jack Benny i.s getting very alxscnt-minded. He went to a pictme the other night and put his toupee under his seat. ' Tkere's No Troth To the Bamer That Jimmy Durante lis having his nose shortened because he wants to look like Danny Thomas.. :That the Gaiety delicatessen is so crowded these days they're making sandwiches on one piece of rye bread.. :That Abbott & Costello are going off the air because their material is too sophisticated ...That real estate prices in Rockaway are so high, it you get a grain of sand in your eye you can sell ah option on it for $75!; .That Nick Kenny will sing in the Metropolitan Auditions.(You know how to make Nick Kenny mad at you—don't tell him your birthday.) Coast-to-CMstlaK Understand a cerlain inusic publisher had' so many dog tunes last year ASCAP iis awarding him: a gold, muzzle. Cy Howard knows a Broadway actor who divorced his wife and married her sister, . .he couldn't stand breaking in a new mother-in-law. Dario and Jimmy Vernon have been m biisiness so long they're begin- ning to trust each other. The weather was so warm last week I saw a lady at Lindy's who was wearing her mink coat at half-ma.st. Have just discovered why Bob Hope gets those laughs from hi.s radio audience—he-gives away a door prize to the person who laughs the loud'- est (my mother is flying to the Coast). Paramount wants Menasha Skulnick for their new Aim, ''The Borscht Weekend." I used to- worry about money but now I have my brother to relieve me. Ralph Bergcr, who is boss of Chicago's Latin Quarter, is in town. Knew him when he couldn't speak Latin and didn't have a quarter. ' Jimmy Edmondson ("Professor Backwards") thinks that organ grinders are making a lot of money;. .He saw one yesterday and the monkey didn't have a tin cup—he was carrying a cash register. Cab Calloway has a wonderfiil idea for a new band.. .twelve band- leaders stand up and conduct a one-man orchestra. Hangnsll DeiicrlpUens Lew Parker: "Are-You Wit-Hit!".. Barbara Stanwyck: Taylor-m.idc... Bing Crosby's scalp: Lost Hairizon... Ann Corio's. figure: Corio's Curios:.. J. Edgar Hoover: Snooperman.. .NBC: WEAF, the people. Truly a Crumb-Bunt Broadway bunch has b'ecn rid- ing Toots Shor for his anonymity so far as one of Phil Baker's |64- question guests was concerned. "The quizee knew all about fam- ous restaurants in foreign cities, and for the topper—usually the cinchiest—when Baker men- tioned "Toots Shor" as an iden- tifying clue for the "famous eating places," the radio gucstcr said he "'never heard of him." Some suspect lie"s a spy for Billingslcy. ApoDon Sluggmg Halts Chi's Share^b Plan Chicago, April 2. Aftermath . of the slugging and robbery of Dave Apollon by a cab~ driver and two thugs two weeks ago is the ukase against share-the'rides in Chi' announced la-st week by Geprge K. O. Brown, Loof) Yellow Cab supervisor. Hereafter; Brbwn said, any of his cabbies caught forcing passengers to let strangers ride ■ along will be fired.' It's expected that other cab companies will follow Yellow's lead in the matter. Hanunerstein's Film Biog Stalled Til Aussie Trip Hollywoodi April 2. Oscar Hammerstein II is postpon- ing the film biog of his gi'andfather, Hammerstein I, for 20th-Fox until after he and his wife fly to Australia for a visit to her relatives. . Trip will be made after Rodgers St Hammerstein's latest play, "Annie Get Yotjr Gun," debuts on Broarfway the last of ApflL DX. DRINK HABITS DUE FOR A SHAKEUP ■ Washington, April 2. Campaign is starting here to do away with the d!C. ordinance wliich prohibits "stahd-up drinking" at bars and requires that all alcoholic beverages be served to tables. Niteries and cocktail lounges in the district hayc only service bars, with all drinking being done .sitting down. Rufus Lusk, real estate analyst who claims to have been in the fore- front of the move which originally stopped "stand-up drinking,' now ."•ays it was a. great nii.'itake. He claims he believed it would aid so- briety, but that the reverse has been tlie tact. Washington has the high- est per capita consumption of liquor in the hationi Local bartenders arc a1.s6 bcnting the drums for a return to " the good old days."' WHAT! ,N0 PITCHMEN ? Cleveland. April 2. The Music Educators' national convention, meeting in Ofivcland, has charged that unless radio sing- ers discontinue , the "pernicious habit" of sliding almost to their tones but never quite getting there, America is likely to develop a gcn'^ eration of children who wiill never know what is a true pitch. The charge.,was made, by John C;. Kend-il, conference pre.sident antl- di- rector of music education for I>ch- ver. '"Through the cooperation 61 the participating school teacher.s voice teachers and the school music e'duca- tors,'we should leave no stone un- turned to bring pressure upon the networks to aid us in this cru-wdc, dcclarei] KepdaL '