Variety (May 1946)

MISCKIJLA.W Some Stranding But Pic Skeds Kept Hollywood. May 28. Railway strikes, "local, inlcrurban siul national, had sonic effect on the Hollywood studios, but not enough lo hall "work on any pictures in pro- duct ion. A few trips to : "and from locations were held up, a few shoot- ing schedules were, temporarily deranged, and a row execs, travel- ling hither and yon. were stranded lor a lime.' but generally " business, went on as usual. RKO's •Kiilic F o r Congress" > troupe was marooned for h time al ! relalunia but finished its location I shooting in time to .return to the | >ludio for interior filming. Republic j h;ul Iwo companies on. location, . "That Rrennan Girl" in San Fran-I Cisco and "Heldora'do" in Las. Vegas, j Kiid both were' delayed in their re- | mm 10 Hollywood, although »o j shooting time was lost in location. Six Goldwyn Girls Were stranded in Pocaiello. Idaho, on route to Chi- cago, but were travelling in a special, lounge car with all the comforts of k hotel. The Los Angeles trolley strike had little or no effect on the studios, but the interui'ban strike was a problem for a lime. Stoppage of work on the Pacific Electric, which services many .■I the lots on the outskirts of town, put n temporary crimp in. studio i.nployee transportation but the pro- ducers solved the puzzle by sending out studio buses to pick up film workers. . Theatres Hurt Theatres, both film and legit, felt the walkout more seriously than-the studios. Big picture house's.-'.down- town reported appreciable drops in grosses, although the . neighborhood houses showed little fluctuation. In legit, "the Los Angeles. Civic Light Opera registered the heaviest loss, approximately $10,000. through the street tar strike. Ken Murray's "Blackouts of 1946" reported a drop of about 1200 per performance over lhc weekend. At the Biltmore, (Continued on page 58) Sports Shorts Another soccer note: gum magnate Phil Wrigley and CBS central division veepec Le.s At- lass are both heavy shareholders in the Chicago Maroons team which will , make Wrigley Field its home .territory. Team is managed ■ by Fred ' Weisy.man, whom Chi Radio Row remembers as mailre of the Wrigley Bldg. ■restaurant. Other Chi team, the '-.Vikings, partly owned by: Co- miskey iChj White Sox) family. There will be four rows of working press chairs directly al ringside for the- Louis-Conn light in ihe Yankee Stadium. June 19. but it's denied there'll, be air equal number of ' patrons seats" in front of row A; That sort of arrangement- provoked, plenty ot squawks heretofore from those who thought, their tickets were well down front, only to find their seats were a considerable distance from the ring. Pro- moter Mike Jacobs then, prom- ised.' to discontinue the patrons' tickets. Mel Allen and Riiss Hodges over WINS (for the Yanks) and Jack Brickhouse and Steve Eilis over WMCA 'for the*Giants) handicap themselves by talking lob much. One of Red Barber's main points is that he knows when lo shut-up. Catch? Natch! Wednesday, May 29, 194$ 206tli WEEK ! KEN MURRAY'S "BLACKOUTS OF 19W El C.apitan Theatre, Hollywood, CaL "h's llie Im\s|. -show evii-y yiar. Murray is great:". FRED .Mac MURRAY, By Milton Berle JOAN CAULFIELD'S PAR BUILDUP VIA 'RUTH' Hollywood. May 28. A big buildup for Joan Caiilfield is in the Paramount hopper, and will roll after "Susie Slagle's and "Blue Skies." her first two pictures. Her next eftort.will. be leading role in "Dear Ruth," opposite Wil.iam Hol- den. Previous reports had Paramount casting the show with names, since it represents.a $450,000 purchase in- vestment, but company execs say they feel the vehicle is slronu enough to lake moderate names Mid build them. Strike End Won't Benny's USO Trip, indie English Yande Needs American Acts, Stresses Comedian Bud Flanagan English vaude needs a transfusion of American acts it-it's. 16 retain its j popularity. Just as American acts! [saved the British music halls in 1928, j the'styles' and speed introduced by ; the Yanks are needed just as -miich ; today, according to Bud Flanagan, English ''.musical comedy producer ' and comic rFlahagan' ti' Allen i, | who planed back yesterday iTucs- iday) after a short visit to this coun- | ■ try. . I Flanagan declared that the English public- is too accustomed lo the sajuc ; faces that have been playing vaude during the war years, and need. the-, "exhilarating influence" of the Yank | acts, otherwise the vaude public .will : get its entertainment in other Melds, ■i But. in spite of the dire, need for importations, during Flanagan's visit to this country he didn't sign a single !act. He declared that the present Washington. May 28. 1 tax situation is at fault, since talent Indications of an early break in ' (ears double taxation from England the coal strike brought a strong note : and this country will leave very lit- of optimism for show business , t | e to show for their .work. Pres- throughout the country. Neverthe-! ell t| v under consideration is a treaty less. Government officials warned I between this country and England that'coal is still so .*ort that even lo eliminate the-double tax clause if the miners return to work within for performers and athletes, but no a couple of days, many of the re-! ac ti on has been taken as yet. striclions would continue in force; Flanagan came to this country to throughout the summer. -sign -talent, sec some shows and take ; This meant that dimouls might oac k his son, who has been slaying continue in some cities, for weeks,, with-Olsen a,ld Johnson since being if not for months. It also meant ■ invalidated out of the Royal Navy, that air-conditioning systems in '■ He is readying lo produce "The many theatres might not be allowed Night and the Laughter" for preseii- to operate during the hot w eather. : uiion at the end of September. Settlement of the railroad strike : — '. : Saturday i25) broke one serious | '&£V£:T Tag Blooms and ending the danger that f ! Qn 20th, M-G aMld Par Rx In the Theatres Tomorrow is Decoration Day and.a lot of nite clubs could stand some decorations. . .There's one nilery on 52il street that has such a. low ccilinc the OPA has to come in once a week to lift it.. .The room is .10 small |J the mice come in on their knees.. .Heard a three-piece orchestra-^but hen- they're learning another piece. ' The Great Wit Way • Roy Rogers has.played in so many westerns that he's signing all hi> r c . public contracts with a .branding iron. ■ * A legit show with a "message': closed out of town last week when certain critic said. "They could have sent the same message'on a Western Union blank for 24c." . Danny Rogers has worked but a way lo clean up at the racetrack He bets hior-c money on the winners than he docs; on the losers. Sally Rand-is writing a' book based on -her career, title. "Life With Feather." Unions are getting more powerful every day. . .one night at the Carnival I said, "I feel tit as a fiddle." The : nc\t. afternoon Petrillo sent n K '-jin •• application blank. ■ " No wonder Ted Lewis sings "Look For the Silver Lining". . .he's got all the gold cornered. There's No Truth To the Rumor That Dinah Shore is Tools-Shoe's mother. , that the "Green Years" j s the story of Mitzi's life. . .that Irving Berlin went into "'Bourne' Yesterday" ...that Ethel Barrymore will be the new "Miss Duffy".. .that Whitney and.■'■ Johnson, (he railroad union heads, arc going into'the music business -and reviving "I've Been Working On. lhc Railroad".. .-That Phil Baker sends his accordion to the tailor's to have the pleats pressed! What •Variety Would Have Said About The Great Flood--:MOAH'S ARK SRO .'.King .John Beheaded—JOHN GONE. .Nero Fiddles Wliilc Rome Burns—NERO ZERO HERO. Caesar Leaves Egypt—CALPURNIA. HERE I COME ...Catherine the Great Mar- ries—GREAT KATE MATES Observation .Dept. Solly Violilisky says lie's going back lo: California for five years so that New York can discover him again. Know a Broadway agent who's having his office redecorated.. .he's hav- ing his hat blocked. - Suggested advertising: Use Adler's Ben/.adrine and you can be higher .than she. Would you say that Senator Bilbo is the "Merchant of Vonom'".' Grdssingcr.'s has announced a new innovation for this coming .season., they'll have Boyscht capsules. . .to be taken after each potato. Regarding a certain Hollywood actor. Judy Holliday quipped. "He's such a bad performer, they even have to. dub in his acting." Hrrled Kgrs Radio writers are running so short on crime, material that Mr. D. A. and Ellery Queen are working on the same case. Gypsy Rose Lee was told to notify the Internal Revenue Department of any change of undress. Michael Abbott tells the one about the drunk, who saw the "Lost Week- end" then took a pledge. . never see a : movie again. Eavesdropped at "21" . ."She gets less publicity than the second night of a honeymoon." . - New restaurant opened last week with an unusual lighting system... indirect matches. Definition: Talent Seoul: Man who would, help an.old lady across the street, .if.she had picture possibilities. Lew Parker knows a duinb chorus girl from his show, "Are You With It." who went to her dentist the other day to have two wisdom leelh put'in, "My brother (the one who has a far-away look tin my bankroll 1 has a new hobby—he collects old antiques... I know, he gave me some of their phone numbers. FOR SALE: 500 railroad strike jokes. 1 Continued on page 20) Coast Deauville Gub Bought hy Filmstars Unit Depend on WB Pic LOUIS JORDAN AND MGRjl^-WuSr? Jack Benny's USO-Camp Shows trip to Europe lor lhc Far East) this summer, and also his independ- ent production plans, must wait on the progress of "Life With Father," at Warner Bros. Michael Curtiz. di- recting "Father," is slated to do. "The Life of Jack Benny" next, and if the studio calls on the comedian pronto that will determine his summer plans. Benny plans his own indie production unit possibly for United Artists release, when he's through at WB. Comedian heads back to the Coast this week. Santa Monica, Cat, May 28. Group of Aim names will take over the Deauville Club here and tin li it into the California Cabana Club, an exclusive beach resort. I Billy Rose claims he's the only j ,f .„,,_.__■. .... , . ,. . „ . , I Understood-the property was bought ' living person whose name will have 1 K ^ . three films. Pix ' rom - lne Los Angeles Athletic Club for $275,000. Listed in the purchasing group are Joan Crawford, George Brent, Rob-, ert Walker. Frank Bor/.age, Red Skelton, John Wayne, Fred Mac- UI1II UlVriV PICT Itirl 9 '' BlUy Roses Diamond Horse- WIULL HIIAlJ) tASl rlt !shoe " ,20tll) - " Bi "y Roses Jumbo" . , ' . I iM-G) and "The tife of Billy Rose" Louis Jordan and personal man- ; (Par) . Half-pint showman has full ager Berle Adams are reported : expccU ti ons that there will be a mulling plans to produce a mixed- fourtn ((10 since at the end of IS cast picture with Negroes playing Vy^,-^ rights on the Par biog return i Mnvraj', Leslie Fen ton, Ann Dvorak on an equal level with whiles. Dc-; to him and he hopes to sell them »'•<• John Seaton tails, including story, have not been ■< over nKain w;tn evenU dl| ,. jng that decided upon as yet. but it is prob- 1 pe iio<l added, able that if plans go through pro- | _ . "... .. duclion wiii be made through Astor' ,. r Rose ,s anticipating making his pj c (, u ,. e ' s Carmen Jones' another "Blossom Jordan, together with his Tym- • Tim f''' It's slated to Uke to the pany Five, has made two pictures. 10ad k a ^n m August and tour the both of them via Aslor. "Caldonia." • soulh - B ? usw« three private Pull- , b - , have taken n'ice mans and a private diner for Ihe ' ."-JT. : . ,1 P' ace Errol Flynn and Marine Reported in Cafe Brawl Errol . San Francisco. May 28. Flynh was. implicated in two-reeler, served to introduce j that song and has played nationally, i Negro cast to live -in. Rose hopes r£ hul ^ lay Berlin. Again Sidetracks ! while"' : Bewai:e'"' r'hm-len S 'th' ,,J »M- 1P. ro r ide comforts that are usually Own 'Music Box Revue 1 Irving Berlin arrived in New York Monday <27> after giving, up his "Music Box Revue" idea otcause of masting trouble. Berlin originally wanted Fred Astaire and Gerfiiide Lawrence, but neither is ;.vailable and other picture talent expressed unwillingness to leave the Coast. . Berlin figures'• that with "Annie Gel Your Gun" a smash hit and his » ' Negro- feature, has not been released c ' en,cd ".colored company below the MS VC ( Mason-Di.\on line. Troupe is tenla- ' ' ' lively scheduled for Europe the-fol- lowing- year; Cantor Cancels Biog A dc; I.' Ifm;;ii was to write the biogiaphy j : of Eddie Cantor has been cancelled j | by the comedian alter long nego-; j tiatiohs between the two. The Wil-. u ..- , . . , ,. i Ham Morris Agency, which recently music publishing ftrm keeping him ; lo(lk , )v( . r CalU *,, it' br lievcl lo have ' ^ U .h' L'Z\ °"" S " 0W : sq».-lrhbcl ll,e: ,leal, but not until ' imt.l the right setup,oc cu-s. . , L( hl , 1iin was a „. Padv 0M : WS)y -' (o TTITRRT CIT17C MAHJtrW I Hollywood to. consult for srw-ral 11VRBI OUtS HAMAGES I weeks with Cantor after wi a;rff- Los Angeles, May 28. j.ment had been reached betwe'-n llie '■ Suit for $100,000 was filed here by •'principal's.. They reached a .rcltle,- • Jose Iturbi againit James A. David- : mint. ; son. his former manager, charging I The Morris office's beli<f that lhc- breach of contract. [life of Canior is an iirimineni lilm- 1 Pianist declared Davidson prom-' sale possibility is said to be (K-dinil | Ls«d to book him for concerts on a the ti rmination of. the boolr biog. ; basis of 70 r « of thfi- gross, but did I L: hnrau's.deal called for <•»!■-th.'rrl ; cot go through with it. . , of lhc ifilih rights. . t ■ '■-li By Former Bix Mgr. Los Angeles; May 28. John C. Gross, former business manager for Jerry . CoUiniia, -'filed' suit for 412,000 against his old boss, cliirging breath of contract. Plaintiff declares he was discharged last April 2, although the contract calls for two-more years.. 124) in Finocchio's. San Francisco hangout for occasional visiting Hollywobdites. Flynn is re- ported.to have clashed with a.Marine who had requested his autograph which, according to local reporters, was insultingly refused. Filmite then prevailed upon Finocchio to prefer police charges against the 'leatherneck. Hottest current nitery 'rumor has newshawks chasing down flash, photo lajfen by gal night spot photog, pur- ported to show Flyniv.in the act of attacking prostrate Marine w-ilh a chair. MUSICAL 'CHILDREN' FOR CARL BRISSON? Hollywood. May 28. Jerry Horwin, with the. Nat C, Goldslone agency, is considering a musical version of "My Dear Chil- dren." which he coauthored. slanted Tor Carl Brisson It was John Bai ry- moie'.s last starrer. Goldstone and Horwin. meanwhile, have dropped plans to open Ihe Los Angeles Repertory theatre due to difference, of opinion over produc- tion methods with lessees of (he Mayan theatre, the intended house. Schizophrenic Fans Current crop of psychological pictures has led a Hollywood v/;ig to cuack; "People who go lo the movies now jiwt . sit and wotch Hie Freuds go by," GI Comic to RKO Jack Parr, comic, who has done guests on "Hall of Fame" and "We, jfhe People" since his Army release .10 weeks ago, has just signatured a 140-week pact with RKO. Leaves for ■ the Coast June 15. I Dicker also on for Parr as possible fill-in for comic spot on Camel's Pix Pledge Million For Jewish Welfare Hollywood. May 28. ..Film Industry ^'pledged ilsflf to raise $1,000,000, or onc-lifth of the entire.quota, for the "Fight for Sur- vival." This, announcement was made by Joseph M. Schenck. presi- dent of the United Jewish Welfare Fund of Los Angeles. Motion pic- lure division is headed by Waller Wangcr. Drive was inauguraleil yesterday iMon.) at a dinner at the Ambassa- dor hotel, where Louis B, Mayer and Harry M. Warner functioned as co- chairman. Principal speakers were Herbert Bayard Swope, former New York World editor, and Nelson Rockefeller, former Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. POLIO SONG' FOR KIDS San Antonio, May Among the weapons cnmbaling the infantile paralysis epidemic n» w plaguing San Antonio is a folk. t"» e called "The Polio Song-' aired *>y station WOAI, Petuied by Red River Dave. l.vn<* warn the kids to keep eh 1 " 1 : . avoid possible sources of injection. Thousands of mothers: have « rilU" summer replacement for Abbott and ! for copies and are teaching it lu .Cbstcllo. , ., their, children. • "