Variety (Jul 1946)

MISCELLANY Wednesday, July 17, 1916 Plenty of German Films and Coin Dumped in Lap of New Austrian Gov't Return of the ■Austrian film indus-* try to the government of that coun- try as trustee, ordered last week by President Truman, will free some 40 German' language dims to compete with American and other allied pix for Austrian theatre playlng-time. Allied produced films have had it all their own. way up to the present under a rule of the Information Service Branch, Films ' Section, which banned booking of German films in a theatre if others were available. Order of President Truman which cut through red tape hampering the transfer was made under the Pots- dam Agreement and ■ the Austrian government was advised of the de- cision in a letter from General Mark Clark to Chancellor Leopold Figl. Austrian film industry assets to be dropped in 'the lap of the govern- ment consist of some. 12,000,000 schillings ($1,200,000) collected from previous distribution of the German films; the German pictures, them-; selves; some 50 tons of modern studio equipment', and the Sievering studio, only one of .the four Austrian lots in the American-controlled division of Vienna. All 40 German pictures were pro- duced under the Nazi regime but later okayed by the occupation forces. The Sievering studio, re- equipped by the American army, was made available to Austrian pro- ducers in March, 1946. The Wien- film, head production office of the Nazis iii Austria, also in the Ameri- can sector, will go to the Austrian government. The monies which will be turned over and an estimated future annual income of 500,000 schillings from the distribution of the German pix will probably be used by the Austrian government to help revive its film industry. Question remains whether the Austrians will impose a restrictive quota on American films or' order compulsory playing-time for native product. Prior negotiations with the Austrians for trie transfer of the industry to them, handled by Eugen Sharin as State Dept. films officer attached to the Army, led to a ver- bally accepted pact which would have barred those practices. Under- standing, may go by the boards should the turnover be made im- mediately and unconditionally. All four studios were initially run by the American Army because of its control over the Wienfilm. On June 15, the Russians took over the Rdsenheugel suffdio, the biggest, in Vienna, for their own purposes. Meanwhile, under agreement be- tween the four occupying forces, films of all Allied nations circulate freely in the four zones. Orson Welles To Play First Cafe, N. Y. Copa Orson Welles bows in Sept. 1 us a nitery performer, opening at the Copacabana, N. Y., for 30 days at $3,500 . a week, with, his magic act and topical chatter. Deal was con- summated by Monte Proser, Copa's boniface, with no agency involved. If Welles continues to confound the critics by keeping his current legiter, "Around the World," open he'll double into the nitery. He'll rewrite the first act to eliminate himself, so that he can wont the Copa. While this is Welles" first pro cafe engagement, it won't be the first time he's done such, a turn. He recently guested at Leon & Eddie's, N. Y. Jaffe's Real Estate Deal Hollywood, July 16. Sam Jaffe is one percenter who knows all about real estate. Some time ago Jaffe sold the building he now partially occupies for $30,000. That was when he thought he'd never need .more space and wanted out from usual head- aches of landlording. Recently he was obliged to lease entire site to accommodate expansion—and now he's paying $15,000 annually for the lease. Fawcett Publications, Lou Levy and Henry Rogers, latter a flack, have been given notices to move from the 8553 Sunset"-Boulevard site. Jaffe will consolidate all of his activities, including the radio de- partment, now at 8303 Sunset, under the one roof—or is It ceiling? Sportt Shorts Stock of the Madison Square Garden Corp., quoted around 62, has been split three - for - one. After the first of the year struc- tural changes will be made to the front of the building, work to start when most of the pres- ent leases expire Jan. 1. . Eighth avenue part of the building was owned by the Phipps estate and when the Garde", opened, its main entrance was a rental. Recalled that a ticket speculator rented space on the 50th street side and was opposition to.the Garden's own boxoftice but that . lease was absorbed, and the store closed. Garden has acquired the entire property and recon- struction on the 49th and 50th streets sides may eliminate the present main entrance. One lease held by the tavern opera- tors, however, extends for an- other seven years and a deal is on whereby part of the bar space wil be turned over lo the Garden. ' The Tony Zale - Rocky G raz >- ano fight for the middleweight title "■ is dated for next week Thursday (25) at the Yankee Stadium, $30 top, and, while it . promises to be a slugging match, there appears to be little inter- est in the event, absence of bal- lyhoo anywhere near that for the Louis-Conn scrap, being a factor. Preferred tickets'are be- ing offered to members of the Yankee Stadium club, unique feature of the ball park. Club has also circularized members who are offered tickets for the Yankee pro football season, also to be. held at the Stadium. Yank's pigskin outfit will oppose the N. Y. Giants at the Polo grounds and with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, there will be three pro teams in the metropolis. Whitey Shafcr, Par studio art director, rushed back to the Coast ahead of sked because of the Constellation trouble. A former Coast semi-pro player, never before cast, he was set for the Yankee game Saturday (13), his No. 1 Gotham choice, but had . to- duck that in favor of the Century. - Recurrent rumor Hank Green- berg would buy the Giants ball club. He's married to Carol Gimbel, and pa-in-law Bernard Gimbel, w.k. sportsman, presum- ably would, back the Tigers' star in the deal. Whom is Bob Goldstein, east- ern rep for International Pic- tures, representing in the recent takeover of the Cleveland In- dians by a new syndicate includ- ing.Bob Hope? Guy Lombardo testing his jet-, propulsion speedboat. Also knee- deep in Long Island Airlines, commuters' service he's operat- ing from northshore points to Manhattan. Empire racetrack for sale, with Disabled War Vets inter- ested on a 25%-of-the-net shar- ing arrangement. 213th WEEK! KEN MURRAY'S "BLACKOUTS OF 1946" El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cat "You'll And few conifdy reviews anytime that can rival Ken Murray's Blackouts." LINDA DARNELL. CAA's Grounding 0( Constellations Snarls NY-LA, Overseas Traffic Action of the Civil Aeronautics Authority in grounding all Constella tions for a 30-day period of invest! gation into the causes for the recent crashes of the sky. juggernauts has thrown a temporary irionkeywrench into the traveling plans of Aim and 1 other show biz execs. - Air service between N. V: and Ihe' Coast, as well as overseas clippering, has been, se- riously curtailed. CAA action has forced most of the airlines to throw their Strato- iiners into the breach to replace the grounded Constellations. Move ne- cessitates the rebooking of most flights, with most lines guaranteeing service only from N.'Y. to Kansas City and Chicago. From Chicago to the Coast it's a hazard. Pan-American and TWA, two chief overseas lines, have also found (Continued on page 36) . The Berle-ing Point -By Milton Berle BETTY GARRETT OF'MR.' SIGNS M-G CONTRACT After much dickering over screen tests, Betty Garrett, star of "Call Me Mister," has finally been signed by Metro sans a test. Marvin Schenck. Metro veepec and eastern talent chief, has been in- terested in Miss Garrett for some time, but insisted on a screen test before signing. Miss Garrett, for some reason, refused to take the test After the singer scored in "Mister," Schenck inked her regardless. Her husband, Larry Parks, is under Co- lumbia contract. Veiled Prophet Annual To Resume in St. Loo St. Louis, July 16. . The Veiled Prophet parade, pat- terned after New Orleans' Mardi , Gras and' sponsored by civic big- gies, will be resumed next October after a lapse of five years due to. the war. The parade of 20 elec- trically lighted floats through the downtown district will be held on Oct. 8 and will be followed by the usual ball the following night. i The Veiled Prophet idea was launched in 1878, and except for the five-year lapse and during 1917 and 1 1918, the parade and ball has been held every year. Boyington Career For Sperling-Bosch Fifan Hollywood, July 16. Career of Col. Greg (Pappy) Boy- ington, U. S. Army flying, ace of World War II will be filmed by Uni- ted States Pictures. Milton Sperling and Niven Busch, who closed a deal with the colonel for his life story, will write and pro- duce it. ICC'S 'DECISION' MEETING Ben Grauer and Dr. Frank King' don will be among the principals in a 60-minute "Decision Meeting" scheduled to be held next' Tuesday July 23, at 11:30 p.m., by th«> Inde- pendent Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences and Professions. Meeting will be held at the Mans- field theatre, N. Y., to mobilize peo- ple from all phases of show business in the fight against inflation. • ■ " Everyone in show business has a favorite hangout where he can lot his hair down. Guy Kibbee has to stay home Sid Gary .says it voir sit'j Q Reuben's long enough, sooner or later you're bound to see your .waiter A favorite lunchtime hangout of the theatre crowd is the Theatrical ' Pharmacy. Chico Marx reports that Doc is offering a very good-luncheon special there this week: a hard salami sandwich and your Crossin^er/a check cashed for 50c. Of course, most of the celebs prefer Tools Shor's for luncheon, although the prices are a little higher. But it's in" places'like these that the comics love lo discuss theii" routines, In fact, ever since one theatrical restaurant added a sidewalk "cafe, three traffic cops have become M.C.'s. The Great Wit Way '"Tidbits" opened .and closed faster than Sir Harry Lauder's pocUvibook. Joe E. Lewis knows an act that s cancelled so often.,. .they have their contracts printed on timetables. Eavesdropped at Lihdy's: . "He should iborrt/. He's nmonp friends" "Yeah; too find they're not his." M;C. referring lo the proprietor of a failing night club: "Gel this.guy. He walks around as if he did'i't own the place!" Review of ft strip net: "Sliou's Inclc of vxatefial." Liked Phil Baker's crack on his show the other eve. He said, "It may be hot for July, but in Washington, it's very warm for May." There's No Truth To the Rumor That Mike Todd will* be Billy. Rose's first guest columnist. . .That a major studio put out an "A" picture which introduced absolutely ou-one .. .That when Senator Claghorn eats in Lindy's, he orders nothing but southern fried herring .. That in her next picture Dorothy McGuirc will be normal.. .That Errol Flynn will do the screen version of "Maid, in the Ozarks." Hangnail Descriptions Xavier Cugat: Forever Sarhba.. .Cluny Brown: Plumber One Girl .. Jackie Gleason: Girth of a Nation.. .The Morris Plan. Till the End of Time.. W. C. Fields: Swig and Sway. Observation Dept. Got the surprise of my life. Met a comedian who isn't, writing a book. Whispered at the Copa Bar: Drunk: rShav, how shlroiip is lite Army's DDT?" - Bartender: "You oughta know. We ran out of vow Scotch an hour hoo!" Len Stern says he saw an English-made movie but could't understand It ; no subtitles. When George Burns said to Gracie Allen, "A penny for your thoughts." Solly Violinsky quipped, "Now I know inflation has set in." When a certain funny may was on the floor too long, then asked what time it was, Julie Oshins qui pped, "About 45 minutes'past your last joke!" Understand that 15 extra lifeguards were put on at Long Beach . . .to revive underwater fountain pen demonstrators. Berle'd EggB My birthday was last week. My wife threw a party .. .lucky I didn't land on my head. Played on a golf course the other day that was so small you could only yell "THREE!" 1st ohost turiter: "What that you're chewing?" 2nd ghost writer: "Spirit gum." Peter Lind Hayes knows a showgirl who's so self-confident she makes out her diary a week in advance. First chorine: "I'm (he prettiest pirl in mu house." Second chorine: "Still living atone?" The Three Suns know a musician who loves himself so much...he geti jealous when he takes a girl out. While watching the picture "Smoky" at the Roxy, a gambler got up from his seat, walked to the usher and said, "I wanna make a bet. Where's the $2 window?" My .brother (the one who -paints signs on top of the Winter Garden) knows a fellow who rubs Carbona on his radio dial...to remove spot commercials. . HORRIBLE THOUGHT: A REVIVAL OF "SPRING IN BRAZIL." Foreign Observers Saw More BUrini Tests Than U.S. Film Audiences to Date Moss Hart Drama Set New Moss Hurl play, as yet un- titled, will go into rehearsal Sept. 28, for Oct. 24 opening in New Haven as a result of the Hart broth- ers' just-completed casting junket to the Coast. " . .'...' Legiter is Hiart's first venture. in the realm of serious drama. Show will be produced by Bernie Hart and Joseph Hyman. Comes the Revolution 1 ! The Bucks Country literati set was plenty stirred over the weekend by Brooks Atkinson's series on Russia, and the YJcw York Times came in for con- siderable lambasting as "reaction- ary," etc. The' moneyed com- mies in the Poconos. who were strong for Atkinson when he re-, turned from the Orient with a laudatory series on the Chinese Communists—in fact the former Times dramatic critic was quite the darling 6f The Daily-Worker —now is being tsk'd! tsk'd! Life is reprinting some of the Atkinson stuff this week. Tightest censorship since Pearl Harbor, engineered by a 21-man service board in Washington, has stymied newsreel company efforts to snare the more dramatic shots of fleet damage in the wake of the Bikini atom fission. With a record 1,500,000 feet of film exposed to the historic blast and its results by the reels and all branches of the armed services, newsreel officials have that let-down feeling over the scope ot the 35,000 feet of clips doled out to them. Continued attempts by the reels to obtain further shots, wound up last week with the release ot 250 additional feet of film and a no- tice that no further, sequences would be available. While tougher censorship restric- tions than during the war are cred- ited to. security measures, gripe of reel execs is that foreign observers invited to view the blast were per- mitted to see. more than the Ameri- can public. "Knowing "'hat we shot and what we got, we're disappointed on the deal," one exec put it. Since all general views of the target fleet, both before and after the bomb ex- ploded, were nixed by the censor- ship, board,, reels complained that they were unable to get across the feeling that a flotilla was the subject of attack. Strict Censorship Censorship was so strict that prac- tically no material taken by the Air Corps was turned over to the reels. Most of the footage was waylaid in Washington, where final" check Was made by the board of 21. The specially constituted body, repping for all branches of the services, is so set up that each member has the right of absolute veto over any foot- age released to the public. Shots approved on the scene by Vice-Admiral W. H. P. Blandy were turned down by the board. In? eluded among these were clips of. scientific equipment which had been Installed to record the varioui phenomena • developed by the atom bomb explosion. FT wood Canteen Sues To Nix Name for Nitery Hollywood, July 16, _ Bette Davis, prexy of Hollywood Canteen, filed a request ir Superior Court to restrain a commercial night- club from using that name. Nitery, currently occupying the old build- ing, bears the name "Hollywood Canteen," accompanied by the wow "Former" in small letters. Complaint'declares that the use of that name would damage tha prestige of the wartime service can- teen. One Man OPA Hollywood, July 18. Ray Johnson, newscaster on K x k A ' is also casting stones following «»''. appointment as a morel OPA. _ Immediately upon dropping of lie OPA, Johnson started calling copper on local merchants, hotels, who lipped prices excessively. 5 - afa "'"* listeners were asked to notify him of retailers and others who look ad- vantage. On receipt of the into John- son aired the names, addresses *n° former and present prices of w fenders.