Variety (Aug 1948)

(The following article by Drew Pearson, internationally* Known columnist* appeared in the Asbury Park (N. J.), Press and hundreds of other papers in this country and abroad during the past few days.) WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND j By DREW PEARSON '« {Ed. Note: Drew Pearson today awards the brass ring, good for one free ride on the Washington Merry-Go-Round, to Charles P. Skouras, head of the National Theatres.) WASHINGTON.—When Charley Skouras came to the United States as a Greek immigrant boy forty years ago, no one ever figured that someday he would become head of the largest movie-theatre chain in the world. Nor did anyone ever dream that last week ha-would help the President of the United States dedicate a special "Youth Month Stamp"—a stamp commemorating the month of September and the drive which the theatres .of America and most of the communities of America will make toward wiping out juvenile delinquency. Charles Skouras is heading that "Youth Month" drive. Sometimes I think many of the Americans who have become United States citizens by adoption, who know first hand what it is to live in the old world, are inore appreciative of the United States than those born here who take this country lor granted. Certainly this is Charley Skouras' viewpoint toward the United States. When he first landed in New York Skouras got a job in a Greek restaurant paying him 50 cent's a day, plus meals and the privilege of sleeping on bags of .coffee in the rear at night. Later he moved to St. Louis, where he worked as a bus boy. His two brothers, Spyros and George, were also in St. Louis hotels, worked hard, saved their money. The bartender who employed Spyros made him recite The Star-Spangled Banner, from beginning to end, every morning before he began work, which is probably more than most native r born Americans can do at any time. Spyros can still recite it, all the verses, and later gave the bartender an interest in the Shaw theatre in St. Louis. World's Top Movie Magnates The Skouras brothers got into the theatre business when a friend offered to sell them a decrepit St. Louis nickelodeon. They had saved $3,500 and gambled It all on the then relatively new movie business. Fifteen years later, the Skouras brothers had acquired 36 theatres in Missouri, later sold out to Warner Brothers, became bankrupt in the 1929 depression, subsequently signed up to manage 550 theatres in the West. Today Spyros dominates 20th Century-Fox, George operates a chain of theatres in the East, while Charley, the oldest brother, is president of National Theatres and Fox West Coast Theatres,, operating 1,500 movie houses. * I first got to know Charley Skouras when the Friendship " Train was being organized. His theatre managers had been asked to tell the public about the idea behind the Friendship Train, and to that end Skouras called them to Los Angeles for a conference. "But, boss," they protested, "we're just opening with 'Forever Amber.' How can we publicize that and the Friendship Train too?" "Which is more important—" grunted Skouras. "'Forever Amber' or your country? 'Forever Amber' can come later." "Youth Month" in September Today Skouras is heading the national committee for Youth Month, backed by the Theatre Owners of America whose 10,000 movie houses will do their best to create more interest in youth activities, beginning in September. "One trouble with most of us,", says Skouras, "is that we talk too much about juvenile delinquency and not enough about juvenile achievements. "When I go to the county fairs and see the prize cattle, chickens, hogs and all the things that the farm kids raise all by themselves, it gives me a big thrill. That's achievement. Those kids won't go wrong, because they've got pride In their work. And some of them are more self-reliant at 12 than adults three times their age." "But kids in crowded cities have a tough time," pleads Skouras. "So we've got to provide incentives, give them a chance to want to achieve, to improve themselves. "Most American boys are hero-worshippers. They don't want to be sideline sitters. Give them healthy outlets for their pent-up energy and they'll land on their feet. "Sure, some kids go wrong, maybe 2 percent. But when it comes to delinquency, it's the parents and our own communities which are the chief delinquents." More Playgrounds The aim of Youth Month is to promote more playgrounds, swimming pools, fymnasiums, and off-the-street boys clubs. In New York, for Instance, there is no' ome or institution where a boy picked-up by the police can be taken for the night except to a municipal lodging-house or to a jail. In the more crowded slums, it is Charley Skouras' ambition to have a play- ground for.every three or four blocks. "The average age of criminals in our penitentiaries is under 25," he points out "And most of them are in there chiefly as a result of the cities' squalor." During Youth Month, the Theatre Owners of America will show various short eubjects on youth and juvenile delinquency, as well as special films and literature on community youth organization. "Doing something for our youth is a lot more than a one-month job," explains Skouras. "This is only a start. But if we can make Youth Month in September really mean something, I hope the carry-thru will continue the rest of the year Giving youth a real stake in our democracy is the best way to make democracy