Variety (Jan 1949)

MISCEIXANY WcJ»eaday, Jnnnsay 26, DeaA (A 'One Big Umon Plan Keys Tangle in Tele; AFRA Preps Takeover With the proposed consolidation of actor unions' now virtually 4ead issue, speculation in execu^ tive circles has turned to the ques- tion of performer jurisdiction in the television field. Key to the situation may be the moves of the American Federation of Radio Art- ists, which holds the strategic po- sition in video through its con- tracts with the radio networks, ad agencies and sponsors. .Three obvious possibilities ap- pear to face AFRA. One- would-be to step into the tele situation and attempt to assume jurisdiction. This would presumably set off; a jurisdictional battle with th^ par- . ent union, the Associated Actors & Artistes of Amerieft, And with the other affiliates. However, AFRA has a "mandate" from its national convention to make some such moye, and is in a strong prac- tical position to'do so. ■ A second alternative would be to approach Screen Actors Guild with the idea of a joint takeover of the TV jurisdiction. Under such a setup, AFRA :would represent live tele and SAO would cover video pix. That, in general, would follow the lines of the arrange? ment recently proposed as part of the AA's consolidation plan; It would also . undoubtedly . cause a jurisdictional fight, but might put AFRA. and SAG in a stronger: po- sition than- AFRA could assume alone. Jack Dales and' Kenneth Thompson, of SAG, came east last week for 4A's confabs. Third possibility might be for AFRA to try to work out with Om Wotd, Yet Rome, Jan. 25. Joe-miller appears in the new Italian Ca§a Nova Dic- tionaryv printed recently in Torino. It's on page 1,077, and the one word "jo-^miller' is listed as "una .Vecchio scherzo," aa old joke. Hope Seen Doing SOOG in 1-NHers Miami Beach, Jan. 25, In a tgwn which at this time of year is filled with topliners in some 20 class niteries, plussed by: at least 40 more in the outlying Dade county area, Bob Hope rang up the biggest gross for a one-night stand in the area history, at the Orange Bowl. He even topped the boxing bouts staged in recent years in the arena, and, in some cases, the foot- ball games there. Gross ran to $34,600, from close to 18,000 people. Aided by a' solid promotional' campaign, the lagging sales came up to a pitch on the last two days for the record gross. Total here brought Hope's one-night-stand route to close to $375,000 for 19 cities with 16 to go, with an ex- pected gross of well over $500^000 Equity, SAG and presumably the I for the full Junket. American Guild of Variety Artists a Cooperative video setup, some- what along the lines of that under the proposed merger. However, since AGVA is fighting the unifi- cation plan so hardy there might be difficulty working-out a prac- tical tele setup with the vaude- nitery- union.: •. . Webster's Menkes' Wrench Most serious wrench in the merger machinery thus far was tossed last week by Margaret Web- ster, who submitted a long and de- tailed adverse report on .-the' idea to the Equity council. Although the exact contents of her statement Group Hope is "presenting 'com- prises his radio setup; Les Brown orch, Hy Auerbach, who works with him in bits and impreshes; Doris Day» vocalist; Billy Farrell and his barltonings; Irene Ryan, a balancing team, and orch. '' 346th Week! 3,539 Parformanee* All-time long run record In the legitimate theatre. KEN MURRAY'S "BLACKOUTS OF 1949" El Capitan Theatpc, Hollywood, Cal. And now in world-wid» release "BaL AND COO" ' .■"'. -Ken .Murray'*,...' Academy Award Film .'v GarboBacktoPix, As 'The Duchess : HoUSfWOod, Jan. 25. Greta* GarbO:' is>returntng "to the screen in an American version of a French picture^ '-The Duchess," to be produced . independently by Walter Wanger and: Eugene Frenke. Rights to the French film were re- cently purchased for $10,000. Story of George Sand, originally slated as a: Garbo starrer: by the Wanger-Frenke" outfit, has been shelved. Heard Years Ago In the Lobby Of a Hotel on a One-Night Stand » ) By JOE LAURIE, JR. "How far are we from New York, clerk?" "Number 30 wants more towels." "What's the name of this town?" "How late can we get breakfast?" ''Do we get a lunch after the show?" ; "The show-feller in 19 wants a needle and thread." , \ "1 certainly insist on having as good if not a better room than hers" ''Can I get some wash done today? What do they charge for » shirt?" * "Do you think I can have the use of the sewing machine for an hour?" "I'd like to know what you .mean. I've stopped at the best hotels in the country and they never objected to my receiving callers in rhy room. Why the idea!" ^ "We need a few props. The manager was supposed to get them but didn't. Can you let me have a table cloth and a half a dozen napkins, six plates and some knives and forks. And oh yes, a quart of cold tea and a loaf of bread and a. pie.' Have yOu any old fashioned de^ canters. Oh yes,. and we need a couple of clean sheets and a pillow. I'll see that everything is returned and everything is well taken care of. If the property man don't return 'em tonight after the show you ' can send over for them tomorrow. Give you a couple of passes, sure." ."My dear sir, you surely ;can see .you won't gain anything holding us here.: I tell you honestly our share was only $9 and that won't put us in the next standi . We can arrange with the railroad to take care of Us and our 'tuKinks to the next stand. : We are sure to do big there and I'll send you the money-or you can send: a man along to get it; I never beat a man out of a dollar: in my life: and I'll give you my personal word that you'll" get every cent. Come now, live and let live. You know you may be in hard times yourself sometime. I'll :$end every tFOupe to stop with you. Is it a go? Yes? AH rigbt'.old man, I'll never forget you." Inaugural Week Falls Far Behind Estimates for D.C. Amusement Spots Inauguration Chatter -By Florence S. Lowe- Tele Threat Cotittnucd from pxse □ business,:'ihisuring ' their: own ttires via personil^. are Bob *teope, Burt Lancaster, Jane fo'well, Jerty Colonna, Jack Carson, Janis Paige, were not disclosed, it is reported I Robert Alda, Tony Martin, Mickey to have made a strong impression I Rooney, Peter Lorre. Jackie Coop- on the .council. Subsequently, it's I er, Gloria Jean, Lionel Slander and reported, George Heller, execii-1 Mischa Auer, Takes range from tive-secretary of AFRA, tried to i $750 to $1^750 for smaller names, persuade Miss Webster to modify I through $3,500 for next higher her stand on the merger, but failed | bracket, $7,000 to $10,000 for names to sway the actress-director. lin Carson orbit, to high as $52,000 One thing appears certain. That ifor unit consisting of Benny, Roch- }s that pending some agreement I ester, Phil Harris and rest of kmong the various unions in-1 Benny's radio crew. Air comic got (Continued on page 15) French Riviera Casinos Run a Bad Luck Streak LOEWS TO APPEAL VERDICT TO COLE Hollywoodi Jan. 25. Loew's will appeal in United States district court this week the; decision which ordered Lester: Cole reinstated to a writing con- tract Filing win automatically continue stay of execution of judg- ment in which writer was awarded some $75,000 back pay after being fired as an: outgrowth of Congres- sional citing for contempt. Follow- ing action, due to be filed by at- torney Irving Walker Thursday (27) or Friday, counsel will have 90 days to file briefs. Hearing probably won't be before late spring. Inamuch as appeal to Supreme Court is permissible after circuit court hearing, final determination of Cole suit may not come until early in 1950. Pending outcome of circuit court heai-ing, Loew's prob- ably will file stay Of bond irt amount of $175,000, covering full sum Cole can realize if Jje wins that much out; of a $113,000 week's gross in Chi." , Execs report that studios and agencieis are eager to cooperate, with pic schedules being rear-^ I ranged for several stars. In cases of I Cantor and other i-adio personall- Paris Jan 2'i t'^s. vaude deals will go through if French Riviera casinos have just networks and sponsors can get to- i ^^^'J^-y ^"'^j' c^iperienced a run of vei-v bad lather on tape-recordmg deals like r""""- hick. During the first half of Janu- '^ ""^^^ ^- ary. all Riviera casinos have been ^ , 772 Z" in the red, whether at roulette or AjOrdOn-Warren Re-team at baccara. At trente-et-quarante,' Hollywood, Jan. 25. gamblers have had runs of 17 and ' Metro is reuniting songwriting even 19 wmnmg strokes in a run. team of Mack Gordon and Harry Payoff came when three English- Warren, for "Summer Stock," ^.^^^'^ Wmecourt, Hymann : forthcoming Joe Pasternak produc- and White, all three living in, tion. Cannes, broke the bank twice in ' Gordon is being borrowed from a week. They took $120,000 from . 20th on a one-picture deal. M^mwn!? ^* ^^'"^ *P"t 'l^^ years ago after, ciosea m •small Wonder" i. ous travelogs with a ijame playet. \H#man, Ewell;; assistant direct tor Eddie Fay,, and five other players and technicians, will be gone about a month. First stop 'is i Venezuela, and tJien C«)lx)mbia, ' They fly one way and take a boat ' the.'Other* ■ .■: The inaugural festivities found Hollywood and Broadway playing supporting roles to star Harry S. Truman. Despite the presence of top show biz names at practically every inaugural function, it was the Prexy himself who was show- stopper at every performance. Second. only to her famous father was Margaret Truman whose graci- ous and smiling presence all over the place, rather than in the con fines of the Presidential box, should give her coming fall tour a terrific push. At that, show biz can take a bow for'the creditable, dignified part it played in the event; President Truman went behind stage during the gala intermission to thank the entertainers. The first family, incidentally, stayed throughout the entire Z¥i hour show, despite a i general pre-curtain exodus from] the brass section. | Show, stoppers of the star-\ studded bill were Lionel Hampton, I Jane Powell and Lian 'n' Abner. (Continued on page 15) Tom Ewell Going Latin For Paramount Shorts Justin Herman, producer of Par- amount's Pacemaker series of shorts, heads to the Caribbean with a crew Friday (28) to make a pair of the one-reelers. Tom Ewell, Broadway legit star, who recently closed in ''Small Wonder," is Subscription Order Form Enclosed-find check for $.-.-.--.-,: - — Please Send VARIETY for One Year To .. Street City. . (PitaiM Print Naine) Zone. State. Regular Subscription Rotes for One Year—$10.00 Canada and Foreign—$1 Additional USrIETY Inc. 154 Wast 46fh Strtat N«w York 19. N. Y. Adler, Draper File lOOG Libel Suit for Red Tag Greenwich, Conn., Jan. 25. Larry Adler and Paul Draper have filed a $100,000 libel suit against Mrs. John T. McCullough, wife of a Time mag ed. The har- monica-tap team charged she "ma- liciously" accused them of "Com- munist leaningSi" in an attempt to prevent them from appearing in the Greenwich, Conn., High School Friday (21). Last month Mrs. McCullough sent: back her ticket for the per- formance, protesting that the men had been "openly denolinced in the press as being pro-Communist.** Art Masters Draw Big In L. A. But forB.O. Los. Angeles, Jan. 25. The art masters are drawing more customers Jn Los Angeles these days than a lot of film heroes and heroines equipped with sound, makeup and press agentry. At the County Art Museum in Exposition park, in two weeks, 92,378 art fans paid 30c apiece to see the works of Rembrandt, Holbein, Manet and the other" masters. Exhibit, known as "Masterpieces From the Berlin Museum," is paus- ing here on a national tour under auspices of the U. S. government. Noel Coward's Plans I Noel Coward arrived in: New 1 York Monday (24) on the Queen ]-Mary enroute to Jamaica, B. W. I., I where he will "write a book." He 1 described the project as a continu- ation of one of his other works. Coward, who expects to remain in Gotham about a week, said that he had no film plans at all for the present. In the event he does do a picture it likely will be handled through the company of Filippo del Giudice, British independent. PRIAKS HONOR (?) TODD Mike Todd was given a roasting Friday at Toots Shor's when he was luncheoned by the Friars. Abbot Milton Berle was the roastmaster. Occasion was to mark Todd'is show business' comeback via "As the Girls Go," current Winter Garden, N. Y., bit Washington, Jan. 25, Washington's Inaugural Week was not the bonanza it had been figured to be. Best info here is that the take.was a fraction of the' $30,000,000 estimated . by some columnists. The D. C. theatres generally found: It a routine stanza. The nabes did. their normal trade but the downtown houses ran far be- hind what they had expected. Washingtonians were scared out of the center of town by early re- ports of expected overwhelming crowds—•which did not materialize. The out-of-town visitors had other things on their minds than going to the pictures. .Niteries and restaurants also failed to find the pot of gold at the end of the Truman rainbow, with some of the spots actually running sub-normal and the eateries comr- plaining they had prepared lar more food than was called for. The hotels generally did well. They.all operated under hypoed room tabs—in some instances at least double the normal tickets. Their only vacancies were last- minute cancellations, and these were few and far between. Railroad and bus figures also showed a subSvuntial customer in- crease during the four days of celebration. Airline companies gave a con- fused picture. Some said the in- augural had jumped their business substantially.: Others noted little change from the normal. D. C, department stores found tilings about the same. In view of the fact that the In- augural Gala, the Inaugural Ball and the seats for, the Inaugural Parade grossed a total of about $300,000, and that these were the Big Three events of the celebra- tion, it is hard to figure where anything remotely like $30,000,000 was spent in Washington by visitors. Situation on spending actually parallelled very closely what look place in Philly last June and July during the Republican and Demo- cratic National conventions. There, too, the hotels got all the business, and the theatres, niteries _and, -restaurants"foimd"the take 'far; ber hind their optimistic estimates; 2 More Bills Hitting 20^ Tax Introed in D.C. Washington, Jan. 25. Two more bills attacking the 20% admissions tax were offered; in the House of Representatives yesterday (24). Rep. Abraham J, Multer iD.. N. Y,) introduced a measure to eliminate the entire levy. ReP- Henry O. Talle (R., la.) put in on* to drop the bite to the pievvar 10% level. Nearly a dozen such bills have been introduced so fat in the new Confess. ' ' ' '