Variety (Jun 1946)

Metro's 30th Anni Party for Durante Starts as a Gag and Winds Up an Event Whb't That Guy? Metro s Curly Harris had Is- ued instructions they^shall-not- pass without proper invitation card for the Schnozzola party, so one guy, sans ticket, was held up five minutes at the door until properly Identified. . He was only Mayor William O'Dwyer ol N.Y. City. Sime's RevieWv (March K, 1921) By ABEL GREEN What started as .a synthetic liosr talgic stunt by Metro's Joe Paster- nak and Howard Dietz, et al., in order to give the concurrent Capitol ^N.Y.) film, "Two Sisters from Boston," a little extra irr(^pctus, turned out to be one of those mem- orable Broadway nights which could play a week-stand. Dubbed a party in honor of Jimmy Durante's "30th anniversary in show business," the prcfsagented Metro stunt was eclipsed by an honest sentimentality which no studio could underwrite nor any p.a.s. promulgate to the de-; gree it was achieved. The idea of doing honor ti the Schnozzola was such a .natural that it was soon apparent to the Metro homeofflce publicists their problem would be one of selection rather than promotion. The demand.s for ducats for the "Club Durant," on the site of the Prohibition landmark, the Silver Slipper, at Broadway and 4Bth, were hotter than, a 1946 drive- yourself. ' For the occasion even the City Fathers dispensed with protocol for one of its favorite sons and issued a one-night liquor license to the "Club Dura, f :." Today it's actu-1 ihis piece of property." ally the Golden Slipper, one of those Brandt interesU, headed by Harry dime-a-dance creep joints where, as ^^^^ vvilliam, have no immediate Schnozzola cracked, he came down | ^^^^^^ .^^^ 42d-43d properties, but that afternoon "to case .the jernt, iiader things ease up and building hold a record playing, and, before I j entertained, they will decide knew it, one of the hostesses grabbed ^^,hat to do in developing the large me and right away I was Uking six parcel Harry Brandt stated' that, fast lessons." meantime, the five film houses will As Carol Bruce aptly put it, vvhen continue in operation, A skyscraper called on to do something, by c6-em- .with possibly a couple theatres or cce Danny Healy, "This is Jimmy's |, igrge hotel are mentioned as pos- night," which is why the host of: sibilities. . ' other top names refrained. Clay»on. ] ^^.^^^j^^g on 42d .street. Brandts'Skyscraper' Or Hotel Planned For 42d43dSt,N.Y.,Plot Now owning five theatre proper- lies which extend from 42d .street through to 43d in New York, all that the Brandt circuit needs to com- plete what Harry Brandt, president, declares will be the largest plot in the Times Square area will b« the purchase of a onc-story cafeteria structure which. takes up around 30 feet oh 4'2d street.. Located in be- tween the Apollo and-Selwyn thea- tres, Brandt admitted that "we may have to pay through the nose tot Jackson & Durante, reunited for the occasion, reprised almost everything j they ever did with the exception of Mile. Fifi's "The ■ Americans" and "Wood," latter because ot the lack of props. Lou Clayton doing his schottische —including the prop'salt—and Eddie Jackson with his sockeroo strut and general vocal assist to the Great Proboscis gave the young-oldsters a nostalgic bang. This was the rein- carnation of the glamoroiis Prohibi- tion era in all degrees. Sime's re- view—reprinted herewith—when he first caught the boys at Loew's Slate March 16, 1927, still holds true. They did everything in the book. Still Tcrrlflo •Vet showmen. like Irving Berlin, E. Ray Goetz, Billy Rose, Earl Car- roll, Milton Berle, Xavier Cugat. Monte Proser, Eddie Davis, Sherman Billingsley, Danny Healy, Joe Lau- rie, Jr., Harry Hersbfleld, and the seasoned Broadwayfarers like Louis Sobol, Dorothy Kilgallen and Danton Walker, among others, later ap- praised the boys, as regards 1946 standards. The conclusion was they're as socko toddy. Stripped of all Volsteadian sentimentality, it can honestly be said that Du- rante & Co. have a spark which is truly unique. The best answer is Schnoz's continued riding the c^est. N. Y. Post's Earl Wilson, who wa.^n't around Broadway 20-25 years ago, best sums up the newcomers' reac- tions to the Great Schnozzola when he said: "It's all I've been hearing." Good Ad Libs The spontaneity of the Durante- isms made for as much of the fun as their now seasoned routines:. As the snapshots flstshed Durante ex- claimed, "I'm . being more ' photo- graphed here than in my picture." In tribute to Lou Clayton, now his manager, he exclaimed, "But tell me, folks, how much is 300%!" Seeing the mob he cracked, "Chee, :I wish it was a pay in' crowd tonight." Rem- iniscing about "Red Hot and Blue," in which show he was with Bob Hope and Ethel Merman, he mused, "I wonder what became of them while I've gone on to greater heights." Leon Enken, headwaiter for Clay- ton, Jackson £c Durante at the old Parody and Dover Clubs, asked for the privilege of headwaiting again for this occasion, as did Bob Collins, now at Gallagher's.''■ incidentally; Leon (& Eddie's) worked harder that night than at his own joint. His partner, Eddie Davis, also walked out on their 52d st. bistro to emcee the first show. Danny Healy took over for the second frolic—more of CJ&D—and, incidentally, Healy evi- denced himself not only as the pe- rennial'juvenile but one of the bet- ter emcees, bringing Helen Cohan, Lila Rhodes (Mrs. Charlie King) all adjoining each other except for the restaurant standing between two ot them, are the Victory. Times. Square, Apollo, Lyric and Selwyn.' Some of these theatre properties ex- tend through the block to 43d on which there Is a frontage of 22'ir feet, while on 42d street itself the ■realty extends 316 feet. All of the houses play grind double features, mostly old pictures. A deal acquiring the "fee" to the Victory theatre property brought about complete ownership of the large parcel by the Brandts. Singer's Soundies Suit Settled; Sum Secretive Ross Leonard, singer, discontinued his suit against Soundies Distributing Corp. in New York federal court Singer charged Soundies with distributing without consent a coin machine film called "Something to Write Home About," containing a transcription of his voice. He set tied for an undisclosed sum. Leonard, whose real name Is Pat Rossi, had sued for punitive dam- ages of $25,000, plus an injunC' tion and an accounting of profits. a^d people like that to the limelight in contrast to the current crop of show biz names. The Whole Book Durante started off with the first song he ever sang in the original Club Durant (no final 'e' in those days; saved electricity that way) on 58th off Broadway, over a garage. It was "So I Ups to Him" and, from then on, the resulting hand-tOj hand acclaim truly substantiated that "this evening is the highlight of my whole career." Thereafter he did the gamut from "Jimmy. the Well Dre.<ised Man" to "Umbriago." Mayor William O'Dwyer was among the attendees, unobti'usively in a corner, but, incidentally, in cu- rious location juxtaposition to some other notorious "characters." Hiz- zoner expedited the special one- night liquor license for the occasion. Also, for the occasion, Variptt published » special giveaway, "Jim- my Durante's 30th Anniversary Edi- tion." Joe Laurie, Jr.'s story on "How Schhoz Blew Into Town!" led the paper, and special articles on The Great Profile were reprinted in this souvenir replica of V/niETY. The name , byliners included Damon Runyon, Walter Winchsll, Bosley Crowther, Earl Wilson, Dorothy Kilgallen, Sidney Skolsky, Mark Helllnger, Ed Syllivan, Louis Sobol. Sime's. review (March 16, 1927), also reprised in , the special sheet, is herewith. LOU CLAYTON, EDDIE JACKSON and JIMMT DURANTE (10) "Juit for » Laufh" (Comedy and Songs) 34 Mini.; One and Full Stare Locw'i StaU (V.r.) Here's a tough break, because it is necessary to. say that these boys went over to a hit Monday night at the State, their initial vaude appear- ance as a trio. It's tough because ihis was the chance awaited to send over a re- ceipt in-full for the many checks at their varl6\is sawdust joints. These, Lou Clayton, Eddie Jackson and Jimmy Durante, are cafe entertain- ers, by training, instinct, nature, good nature, ability, disposition, love (of coin) and anything else you may went to add. New to vaude and how to frame a stage turn, with the cabaret or night- club floor so familiar, the boys did exceptionally wiell in routining by the Monday night performance. They clipped down to 34 minutes from 44 at the matinee. Each of the bovs go quite some on the solo efforts.' Those started with Eddie Jackson in his two in- dividual tries, then Lou Clayton, who bowled them with his fancy step dancing, and finally. Jimmy with his negligee tux, or whatever it looks like. Not overlooking Harry Donnelly's Parody Club orchestra: doing and sounding much better on the stage of the large State than it does in the one-flight-dbwn Parody room. And it may be further particularized that the Donnelly orchestra can stand, up with any in New York or on the road now. of . its comparative -Size (10 men), for tnusic or versa- tility. It was somewhat surprising to one who knows the band so well to hear how much better it did sound at the State than on the floor. With, this trio of entertainers it's just a matter of routine for the stage. They have enough- to select a corking act before the week is over, .and hold that in reserve until they accept another stage engage ment. Previously their only joint stage appearances have t>een for benefits, including their Winter Gar- den Sunday night engagements. Lou and Eddie are all set as they are. It's Jimmy who must set him- self, as he carries the burden ot the comedy and nearly all ol the en- sembles. For instance, the orches- tra directing -bit; that panicked the halcony-and seemingly downstairs as well. But it wasn't so good and it wasn't Jimmy Durante. Jimmy can draw his comedy just as broad, and much finer. And "Yucatan" will never be a sharpshooting stage riot. Opening in "one" with Donnelly alone at the piano, the three boys gagged along with Jimmy in a Stet- son, probably borrowed, and singing "I'm Going to Tell a Story," full of gags, helped by his two companions. When going into the full stage, a handsome' set with the orchestra grouped in the center, it told that unless the "one" opening is neces- sary, the act should sUrt in the full set, the nightclub scene, and remain there. "She's Just a Cow" and "Old Broadway" were brand new to the house from their laughter and ap plause. So was "Yucatan" and "The Noose" (news), also all ot The Nose (schnozzle) stuff. Lou worked the nose thing to the limit. For the finale it was "Jimmy, the Well Dressed Man." Durante's own song, and a catch-phrase around town now, picked up from one of the Durante dumps that started on West 58th street, moved by request to 51st street, and again playing for more people and money at the Parody, where they are one of the sights of the town. That goes both ways. For an encore Eddie did his "Hot- test Boy," bringing up another fact, that the longer anyone watches this trio, the more they like them. There is no act in the business that grows on an audience like these three boys, through their work and personali- ties. Each is individual and neither clashes. WednonJay, June 18, 1946 Inside Stuff-Pictures Occasion ot Warners' 20th anniversary celebration of talking pix reculls the hostile attitude towards films oh the part of vaude bookers in the early days ot sound. Introduction ot souncf was Iboked upon as a deadly chal- lenge to the variety stage, which already had lost lots of ground to the silent films, and talent was turning more and more to sound shorts as a way of keeping in the public eye. Trying to dam this drift to films was Edward F. Albee, whose Keilh- Albee circuit controlled the major part of the country'! yauders. Albee threatened to rblacklist all performers .who appeared in sound pix and, in 1927, K-A inserted a clause in all contracts forbidding actors to appear on Vitaphone. As is known, the vaude artists- ignored Albee's threat and went over to the new^ medium. Among those who fared better on the screen (and radio, which benefited tremendously becaiise ot the new flock of audible stars who were created) were Jack'Benny, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby-, Fibber McGee i Molly, Bob Burns, Edgar Bergen, Biirns ahtt Allen, and many pthers. While studio space on the Coast remains tight for any r^iajor production, the increasing niiiiiber of producers of commerciallyrspohsored pipturrs seeking Holly wood studios are finding it fairly easy to rent space for a short period of time, according to Gordon Knox, prexy of the Princeton Film Center. Knox returned from the Coast last week, where he lined up space at (he new Morey & Sutherland studio.s tor a two-reeler for an as yet uniden'lifird sponsor. Knox plans to start'rolling the film sometime in July on a lO-dH.tr shooting schedule, utilizing Hollywood talent. Under lATSE rules, Knox will use studio technicians for the picture but will take along his own staff of writers and directors. Insiders got a snicker out of Bo.slcy Crowther's review in the N: Y. Time.s Saturday (8) of "Without Re.servations" (RKO). Crowther and ihe Screen Writers' Guild have been in combat tor several months over a SWG charge that he didn't give proper credit to writers on a^ picture. Times critic, in his"Reseryations" revie\y, said:". . . there are several tirf- some episodes and foolish attempts at sight gags to remind one that writer and director were laboring heavily to put over a stunt. . . . Jesse Lasky, who produced, and Mervyn LeRoy, who directed, should have manifested a Utile more taste--or should we charge the omission against the 'wTiler of the screen play, Andrew Solt?" Ingrld Bergman prolonged her New York stay'recently, but. to no avail, a\yatting a first-hand look at a new Swedish film which Warner Bros, was bringing-Over with Viveca Lindefors starred. WB has .the Swedish girl under contract—she's.already on the Coast—but was importing Miss Linde- fors' last Swedish-made film (or academic reasons and.possibly also remake, as happened with David' O. Selznick's"Inlermez'zb" (Bergman); Incidentally, Katherlne Brown, former RKO story editor in New York and now running the N. Y. office ot Leland Hnyward (MCA), set the WB- Lindefors deal. Carey. Wilson, Metro producer, who has perhaps Hollywood'."; most free- wheeling, tongue, is not averse to telling stories on hinnself about his verbosity. Irving Thalberg once told him, he sez, that it's a good thing he didn't write the Lord's Prayer. "It might have been pretty good," Thalberg said, "but it would have taken 20,000. words." . Mayer's Policy CoBtlnucd from pafe.S; Anyhowr, the State Is only next door. It will be a pleasure to hop m at a supper show some day this week to see them flop. They all nop at supper shows. Furthermore, this .settles the mooted point whether these unques- tioned and unique entertainers will do for the stage. They will for any stage. . sime. mUE SKIES'CHI PREEM AS A SALUTE TO B&K Paramount will world-premiere Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" in Chi- cago in September as a salute to Balaban & Katz, pioneers in de luxe motion picture theatre operation. B St K rarely indulges in world preems. , There will be ^ a national "Blue Skies" Week during which Berlin will make personals, radio gucst- shols. acquiring it; Same goes for best- selling books. Final determination to halt par- ticipation in production of legiters and purchase of screen rights prior to a show's appearance on Broadway came with a going-over by Mayer ot current season's figures. Aside from "Show Boat," screen rights which M-G alr^dy owned, no move lias, been made toward filming any of the other six plays in which the company participated—and it ap- pears possible that they. never will be picturized. Even "On the Town," which was a solid hit, has attracted no interest from Metro's producers. And screen rights are costing the studio around $210,000. It put up about $250,000 for the rights and is getting back approximately $40,000 as its share of receipts. "Show Boat." ^1 Al. "Show Boat" hasn't I'eturned any- thing to Metro yet, although it is running at a profit and is expected to get the company back by the end of the year the $172,000 it contrib- uted toward the $300,000 production cost. If It continues running in the black after Jan. 1, Metro, ot course, will be on velvet. "Day Before Spring," which was a flop, represented total expendi- ture of better than $225,000, with $100,000 base Aim rights cost, $60,000 in weekly payments while it was running and $75,000 for participation in the. legit production. -"Streets Were Guarded" was practically to- tally financed by Metro—it put up $60,000—although it made no ' deal (or pic rights. All the coin was \0!^. "Soldier's Wife," which ran fof better than 20 weeks,: was a bit bet- ter. M-G got back halt of its share ($25,000) of the production cost. Screen rights cost it $75,000, in ad- dition: to the usual Dramatists' Guild contract arrangements of 15% of the wefkly receipts. On "Rich Full Life," Metro put up $25,000 in pro- duction costs' and got back $18,000. It paid about $80,000 in addition'for pic rights. "Rouhd Trip" had $20,000 of Miet- ro's coin in its total 50G production cost. It got :none of it back and had no picture rights. On the other hand, Metro has gar- nered quite a list of profitable prop- of Mary Dugan," "Rio Rita." "Pan- ama Hattle," "White Cargo," "Girl Crazy," "Tonight at 8:30," "Grand Hotel," "Dinner at Eight'' aiid Idiot's Delight." Settlement has been, \vorked out by.Metro with Howard Hoyt, who headed the play department,, and Harriet Kaplan, his assistant. They felt that the severance, pay they were given when the department was disbanded was insufficient in view of the exec positions, they held. Following negotiations last week with Metro prez Nicholas M. Schenck, Hoyt and Miss Kaplan got additional sums which they now consider "satisfactory." Both are taking vacations at the moment and expect to announce' future plans shortly. MPRF GREENLIGHTED FOR $231,000 HOSPITAL American Council on Education and the Film Council of America have completed plans for (he nar tional audio-visual conference to dis- cuss motion picture work of the United Nations Education^.!, Scien- tific fc Cultural Organization, slated for Friday (14) and Saturday (15) in Washington. Leading American educators and film and recording apecialists will huddle with U. S. State Dept. reps and delegates from major civic or- ganizations in formulating recom- mendations to be presented to the UNESCO preparatory commi.ssion, . scheduled to meet in London in July. Dr. George F. Zook, ACE prexy, will preside at the two-day session. Participants in the conference, in addition to Government agencies concerned with UNESCO, such as the Office of Education and Dept. ol Agriculture, will represent most edu- cation, professional and civic organi- zations dealing in production, distri- bution or use of motion pictures and other visual materials. These in- clude the. National Education A.s-sn, National University Extension Assn, National Assn:, National Assn. of Broadcasters, National Assn. of Vis- ual Education Dealers, Allied Non- Theatrical Films Assn., Educational Fijm Library Assn., American Library Assn. and the Assn. of E<lu- cational Film Producers. Also slated to attend are reps ot the General Federation of Woipen's Clubs, International Film Foiiiida- erties from Broadway in past' years.-Hion;' Independent Citizens Commit Some of them are: "The Women,' "Babes in Arms," "Balalaika," "Shop Around the Corner," "New Moon,'' "Wizard of Oz," "Strike Up the att ol the Arts, Sciences and Profes- sions, American Assn. ot University Women, American Unitarian Assn., and the Carnegie Endowment for Band," "Philadelphia Story," "Trial . International Peace.