Variety (Sep 1946)

WednrtdHy, September . 4, 1946 Newcomers Have Time Getting Started In Soviet Theatre, CBS-ite Reveals Newcompis have a tough time get-> tiiig a Xoolhold in the theatre, even in RiKSsia, according to Farnsworth Fowle; oldtimers get all the best parts. "With gals of 50 cornering tlie market in ingenue leads," says the CBS correspondent, who just Teturned from .14 monthis in the Soviet Union, "everyone has the feeling you have to be middle-aged to get. a good part." .The theatre in Russia gets down to the ■ gras;s-rGot.s more than in America, .>!ays Fowle, who had been abroad since 1932. In addition to tne dozen-odd iegiters in Moscow, ever.v town of 100,000 has its reper- tory theatre, with a new play being done simultaneously throughout the land. The theatre is more important as a career in Russia than here, ac- cording to Fowle; a Russian artist has more prastige, more honors and distinctions, than in the U. S. Each theatre has its own school or studio for training young talent. On the other hand, the vets get prfeference. ■ Once you're established you have clear sailing. This favor- itism-is inherwt in the repertory technique and^^hajces for a higher quality of teamwork, Fowle ^ays, but ■ it doesn't jsive youngsters a break. Fowle mentioned a pertorm- ance ot Maugham's 'Tme Circle," with its conflict between beautiful young daughter and her mother. "It was so cast," he said, "that the charming young thing looked older than her mother. The dialog was absolutely incongruous." AH Moscow theatres are run on a repertory basis, with plays switched nightly, eightor 10 of them rotating, so that no t^y has a.run, so-called. l%e Moscow Art Theatre, the capi- (Continued on page 10) MPA Halts Free Platter Palaver of Film Stars, Claiming Illegal Usage Hollywood, Sept. 3. Flood of requests for film, folk to appear on platter interviews, re- sulted in a crackdown on such ap- pearances by the Motion Picture Assn. of America. Flattered palaver is out, according to ,the Eric'John- .'!ton office, because requests have reached the saturation point and because of ihe inability to control or even partially regulate uses to Which'they might "be put by ir- re.^pQnsible parties. There'll be a. few excoption.s. It [ was iuinouiiced, but only where there's an absolute guarantee of in- tended- usage, which will be checked before approval; Live shows won't be affected. One of the : biggest flies' in the disk ointment, it was pointed out, was the use by local sponsors of open-end transcriptions which had stars appearing to endorse products. Some platter-makers and circula- tors had guaranteed protective handling but it. became apparent an abuse was :gFOwing from later re-usages of the disk, and the ban resulted. Hardest hit by the ukase are the many syndicated Hollywood air columns featuring interviews. Yets Score Bldg. For Amus. 6at 'Lack Of Material' for Homes Atlantic City, Sept. 3. Three homes have been completed here in eight months—one of them a model residence, not to be used for occupancy—while commercial construction, .much of it for the re^t sort's amusement business, has to- taled $218,175. And veterans are plenty mad about the situation. The American Veterans Commit- tee executive council has opened an investigation asking why all the thousands of dollars' worth of ma- terial for nightclub rebuilding has been available while temporary vet housing projects have -been halted because of "lack of vital material." The council plans to take the matter before city commission on Thursday (5). They have completed an ex- tensive survey. Most prominently mentioned are: All-glass block room of the Shel- burne hotel, the Coach and Four lounge of the Monticello hotel, the new indoor and outdoor clubs of the Brighton hotel, the Copacabana, Which was completely rebuilt, the Hialeah, the £1 Capitan, the Dutch Kitchen, completely rebuilt; the Hotel Chelsea grill, completely re- built; new nite .spots on the pike, the Atlantic City Racing Assn.'s huge $3,500,000 plant at McKee City, and numerous bars. The committee of veterans will also communicate with representa- tives of the Civilian Production Ad- ministration to determine whether "the letter and intent of the CPP directives are being carried out here." ■- At the building inspector's office it was learned that home construc- tion totaled $19,200 for the eight- month period. HECHT PALESTINE PLAY SLATED FOR LONDON "A Flag is Born," opening at the Alvin, N. Y., tomorrow (Thursday) under the sponsorship of the Ameri- can League for a Free Palestine, will head for Liondon following its four-week Broadway run. Author Ben Hecht and the League have re- portedly received several offers from London producers to stage the show there in an effort to dramatize the Palestine question for the Brit- ish people. Present plans call for the complete Broadway, cast, including Paul Muni, to, appear in the London production. Murphy Cites HVood's Aid to Yeteran Morale I- Hollywood, Sept. 3. 1 Motion picture, players have put on 101 free shows and made 833 in- cuvidual appearances in postwar en- tertainment of wotmded servicemen during the last SIX-months. Announcement . was made by George Murphy, president of the Hollywood Coordinating: Committee, organized to succeed the Hollywood Victory Committee March 1, WB WOULD TIE UP BOGART FOR 10 YRS. Hollywood, Sept. 3. Humphrey Bogart's contract with Warners has 18 more months to run, but actor and studio' are huddling over a new 10-year pact. Under- stood Bogart wants to. make only two pictures a year, one for the studio and one for himself on a I profit-sharing ba.si.s; a flat $200,000 per film for the studio, and rights of approval on director and script. Reason lor the move is that the studio has bought a number of ex- pensive , .story properties with Bo- gart in i^jnd' They include "Winter Kill." 'Treasure of the Sierra Mpdre," "Mr. Broadway," "Dark ~ e" 'and others. GOP Convention Keeps Spa Niteries Still Open The N. Y. State Republican con- vention, which started in Saratoga Springs yesterday (Tuesday), is causing extension of the nitery sea- son there. Ordinarily the major cafes close at the end of the racing sea- son (Saturday), but this year most niteries are staying open not only to get the convention eoin, but will operate on a week to week basis as long as it's profitable to continue. Cafes attempting the post-season run have pruned their budgets and are operating with medium priced talent. Chirper's Tonsil Suit Chicago, Sept. 3. Claiming her vocal cords were injured by smoke in the disastrous LaSalle hotel Are June 5 which re- sulted in the death of 81 jpersons, Mrs. Helen Franklin, a singer known as Tanya Tamara, filed a suit in Su- perior- court here last week asking lor $20,000 damages from the hotel corporation. ■Filing at the same time, her hus- band, James, a songwriter, asked for $.'5,000 for smoke injuries and loss of personal properly. BEOADHUBST'S BIOG Vet lesit showman George Broad- hurst, for whom the Broadway tlieatre was named, has written his memprs, "Curtains Up", for Mac- millan publication. 'Hollywood interest' in the book bespeaks another screen biographi- cal. • ■ ■ 220TH WEEK! KEN MURRAY'S "BLACKOUTS OF 1946" El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cat. "Definitely a show that must bo rated witli the topnotchfrs of all time. " VAN HEFUN. Saloon Investment Added To Racehorse, Pic Deals Of PT Boat Wildcatters By HERB GOLDEN While Quentin Heynolds last week was inking a deal to write a screen- play about them, the 28 PT boat of- ficers who organized Wildcat Enter- prises, Inc., in the Pacific during the war, were busily signing papers for their second inveEtment--^a saloon on 3d avenue in the 40s, N. Y, As with the racehorse they bought as their initial venture, the boys feel the bar will be in keeping with their avowed purpose of making "only such investments as would give pause to a reasonably prudent man." "Lost Weekend'' bistro they bought doesn't quite fit in at the moment, however, with the , Wildcatters' policy. It's a sure moneymaker. So they're planning to fix that when they take possession in November. They're going to put the joint strictly on the honor system. No coin win be accepted by the bar- tenders and out goes the cash regis- ter. Instead, a barrel will be placed ■in the center of the flpor and. cus- omers will be asked to toss in, be- fore they leavcy whatever they be- lieve they owe. Deal with Reynold.s to write a screenplay around the Wildcatters was engineered by Henry Klinger; of the 20th Century-Fox story de- partment in New Yorlc Klinger, along with other story eds, heard of the group's activities and its pur- chase of the racehorse. He became interested m the possibility of the idea for pictures. But inasmuch as it was only an idea and that wasn't enough to sell the. studio, he con- vinced the Wildcatters they ought to make a profit-sharing arrange- ment with a top writer to fashion a full yarn around them. Heynolds was quickly interested in the .scheme and is now at work on the project. Klinger, for his initiation of the deal, has won 20th-Fox tlr.st gander at Reynolds' completed story. If 20th doesn't choose to buy, it will go on the open market, with Columbia and RKO already having expressed in- terest.- , . . Prudence of the racehorse deal is .still a matter of indecision among its owners. Nag, a trotter Which the ex-PTers have labeled Expendable, recently wound up the season at the Rocsevelt Raceway, Long Island, by winning just enough pots to break even on the cost of his keep. He ran 12 times,, of which he flni.shed in the money five times and won twice. Purses just paid for feed, stabling, drivers, etc., with income on the original $3,200 investment in him still to be realized. H«'s now run- ning at May wood Park, Chicago. "Operation Wildcat" was con- ceived three years ago when the Naval officers were outward bound on the carrier White Plaias. There was no place to spend their pay and there were no amusements, aside from what they'd do when they got; back. So each man allocated $10 a month out of liis pay to provide the working capital lor the corporation. It amounted to $7,200 when the war ended. They cJiOse an their slogan "Caveat Emptor" —"let the buyor beware." And they determined their investments ma?t be such as "would lend amusement to the membership and make good dinner convcr.sation." The Berle-ing Pomt -By Milton Berle- Soon most ot th« regular radio shows will be back on the air ev.-n Herbert Marshall', winter replacement. Bob Hope. The approaol of thP fall season means that my brother will be out of work again i^l had « fine job starring m summer replacements for itation breaks. Looks * i'"? toward giving aw.y ,hows. At the rate they'rt going a contestant is going to wake up some morning ownina a netw^.l No doubt most of the formats of the big show.TlllreVar SI'same Fred his ir.'/ ""5 ^"'y' ^'^^^^ McGee will stiU overi^ad his closet...and Jack Benny's pocketbook will continue tn <:„h=*)^i,r r the squeaking door on the Inner SanctZ. It a?w Cks as ft we^^^ be hearing the same voices all over the dial, l^t fact Ar hm Codf^ just discovered he'll be free everj; Tuesday and l^ursday iJSm 3 to 3 ^o a.m, so he', going to be a disk ockey. However, toere wm be somp changes. For instances, B. S. PuUy will play Jack Strong the AH- American, and Joe Frisco is going on the program, ''ThePj^use That w^fbt;ep^L\^f;i:'aur °""pr^'lra^-sii^:;. ^ The Great Wit Way My butcher was rushed to the hospital tins morning. Went , nuts irnm bumping his head under the counter. With so many veoolPmX Z Vl under the table, Tony Craig knows a guy that's'dean'^'nTuVse 1 ng 'iZt' fufj??'' " ^'""^ « ^0^^1.1 your .so^'many'sto'^k ga^"'* ' routine... he's got Understand M-G-M is in a dilemma. It has new child actor and can't decide whether to star him with Laasie or . Wallace Beery The best motto; "Wine, women and s-long" , There'. No Troth to the Rumor pJs iS«r«™wh„'^»IJ/Tii'; ""thout a pocket com- pass...That Til the End of Time" is San Quentin's theme bouk That Gregory Ratoff is helping Carmen Mirands lole her accent """8'"^''"* Hanjrnail Description. Broadway: Bitter-street. .A Central Park .taxi; A horse and snusav I!n''*„*^n1t*'°i''= Fan-teasur....Cowboy drinking »n«: »mpty mHu" Senator Bilbo: Bund-Aid...Bacall's favorite musl": Boiey-woogie A * ..u i.r . ... Observation Department wa1^t»re.»eir^ ^IXZZt^^r' ''''' ••si!:ry»e'thrp';uroiV'S'.'''''''' ^"''^''^ wi^h^lL'* amele^orXn^ ""^'"^ '"'^ " ^'"^ If Mike Jacobs makes any more matches like the Louis-Mauriello on.- there's bound to be another Boxer rebellion. Mauiieao one, W. C. Fields' son U now singing. "Beat me. Daddy, straight to the bar" .•• Berled Egg. th-„"„l»^nl* ' :^}^ d'""'^ «>n Southern Comfort he's em exposure " ^"^^ « room with n. V- tiaUy.^tt rin£s'"*" """"^ «"d*rwater fountain pen: "Confiden- Lip-quipped at Lindy'.: acrolL^hT frce""**^ ft"Pr«.ion on any guy she goes out with: five fingers deS ^^-^" a-^- - often ...s ^f!J?Ti!fl"n*''* matiager who's too cheap to install a cooling system Mv hrn*h every summer he hires whirling dervishes flx«l fo^wl he inst"';^iT^\''''*' ~-ups at electrocutions) says he's nxeci lor lire, he ]ust got the benzedruie concession at "Dream GIU " Remember, You Asked for It! By Billy Roee (From time to time Variety u'ill repnnt cerfaiti of Billy Rose's Pitching Horscehoes" columns, cur. rently appearing in a number of newspapers.) I saw a murder committed last night. There were 500 witnesses— and they all had a wonderful time. The scene of the crime was a New York night club. The assassin was a comedian named Henny Youngman. The victim was a nngtide customer With a highball in his hand and eleven under his belt Here's an eve- witness account: Henry was fracturing 'em with the line about his hotel, "where the ceil- ings are so low even the tiiice are numpbacked." Suddenly he was ill- terrupted by a gentleman at the ring- side, who shouted, "Ya fodders' mus- tache!" Youngman cocked his head as if he were fixing the heckler in his gun- sights. You could hear the rumble of artillery being brought up to the front lines as he continued, "My room was so small that every Ume I went in, my Adam's apple had to stay outside," The voice of inexperience down front broke in again. "Crawl back jato the.woodwork," it hollered. The comedian smiled—the smile of Dracula who has just come upon an unexpected white neck; Gently he said, "You're interrupting my act. Do I come down where you Work and steal your shovel?^' The crowd gigglca. The comedian moved in for the kill. ''You're so full of alcohol, if any- body gave you a hotfoot you'd burn lor three days. I've seen better pans under refrigerators. Why don't„you go outside and brush up on your Ignorance'? I don't know what I'd do Without you, but I'd rather," The heckler stood up in confusion A spotlight played on his bald head You ve got a beautiful head of skin," continued the comic "The next time you order a toupee get one with brains." Twitching and bleeding, the corpse reeled out into the night. The check- room still has his hat. As he stag- gored past the headwaiter, a parting salvo exploded around his ears, "Is that your real face or did you block a kick?" The comic turned back to the audi- ence, "A funny thing happened on my way to the club this evening. ,." The moral of the story is, save the wisecracks for your wife—she has to laugh. When Milton Berle, Joe E. Lewis, Jimmy Durante, Jackie Glca- scn, Danny Thomas and the other quip salesmen are at work, open your mouth to laugh or to order a driiik. But not to heckle! You can only end up wishing your parents hfid iieVer met. You may bo a perfect scream at the dinner table, the office fumiy- boy around the w.-\ter cooler. But don't go dueling with the profe.ssional whose mind is a joke index. It's like shooting it out with Billy the Kid. And don't think you can get away with it because you're a woman. The only difference is he'll hit you with the ripe tomatoes filed under the W's. The comedian you pick on may never have seen you before, but you can be sure he's got a bullet with your name on it. If you're fat, "You look like a model for slip covers," If you're skinny, "With a red tie you'd look like a thermometer." If you're a pretty girl, "Did you get that coat to keep you warm or keep you quiet?" If you're not so pretty, "Your mother should have thrown you away and kept the stork," If you look like everybody, "Why don't you rent out your head to block hats? ^ou now have 32 teeth-^would you like to try for none?" And so oft until rigor mortis sets in, Sound a little cruel? .Well, from the funnyman's print of view it's justifiable humorcirle. His living de- pends on how well he holds his audience. He knows if he lets .some yahoo turn his act into a^ free-for- all, he'll end his show business ca- reer making change in a penny ar- cade. So don't complain when he sprays you with verbal DDT. If you throw a punch at the champ and he belts your brains out—remember, you asked for it ' '