Variety (July 1949)

films RADIO VIDEO MUSIC STARE VOL. 175 No. 7 Published Weskijr at 154 West 461h Slreett New York H, N. T., by Variety, Inc. Annual subscription, |I0. Rinils rnplss. !5 cents. Entsied as sscuad class uistler December 22, 1905, st the l*4*at Offtcs at New York. N. Y., under the set of klsrch J, !«•». COPYRIGHT, 1»*», MY VARIK I Y, INC, Al.l, KUiHTS RK8KKVKU. NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1949 PRICE 25 CENTS RADIO’S ANYTHING GOES ERA BasebaD Needs Radio-Tele Income Britam s 3-Month Ban on Yank Amus. But Boxing and Football May Tabu TV I (j|| ||[[ j||g[|[|S Imports Because of the $ Dearth Organized baseball, which once 4^* regarded radio and television as ppp Wpp RnhitldOtl potential villains because of their ■ Wee rveese, IvODinsoil threat to gate receipts, now finds ^ Cut Col. Children’s Album the two media necessary to its fi: _ latkie nancial welfare. Without the fees Keese and Jackie f. on. radio-TV rights. It has been R>>l>‘"son, shortstop and second f«r«" the playfrs’ welfare fund would be seriously impaired Columbia despite conflicting reports that In New York last week bolh would Tie barred fro n the big i ^ • Slugger at the Bat," Hem leagues after the cur xnt season s , windup. Commissioner A • : Narrative is from an original (Happy) Chandler is novv repoit jjy Lyon and Peter edly prepared to negotiate for with musical background by 4^Ia ♦•Ar» onouH sac . _ ^ ^ radio and tele as far ahead as 1956. Rights to other sports events, however, are not so handsomely situated now. Indicative of the growing mistrust among football magnates, the N. Y. Herald Tribune has definitely ruled out both from covering its annual Fresh Air Fund game, scheduled for Sept. 1 at the Polo Grounds, N. Y. In addition, boxers and their managers are insisting now that TV be allowed only outside a 200-mile radius from the city in which the big championship fights are staged. (Continued on page 117) Morris Surdin. Theatre TV Gets Permanent Test At Brooklyn Fox championship fights are staged. Fabian’s Brooklyn Fox theatre (Continued on page 117) made commercial theatre televi I slon an accomplished fact today n • 1 sL D (Wed.* with the purchase of the uWlSS W3Vy to lD6 K6SCU6 first RC'A-produced instantaneous _ ^11* 1 r» projection cquipmenl. Costing Ul Frozen H wood Frnnes $25,000, the equipment wm be in VI 1 lU^CU 11 WUUU 1 laill/O 4.100-seat house That Swiss oil tanker which has within the next six months, already done such service for While both Paramount and 20th American film companies in getting ' Fox have u.scd theatre TV in their some of their frozen coin out of iheatres from time to time on an France is getting them an addi experimental basis. Si H. Fabian, tional and unexpected $75,000. That iiead of the circuit bearing his means that this very real vessel of name, will be Hie first indie exhibithe much joked about and sup tor to move into the new exhibition posedly non-existent Swiss navy medium on a permanent basis. In will have made U. S. distribs about doing so. he predicted his Brook$32.5,000 richer, I lyn house would be "the proving Coin is being obtained through ground for theatre television, not a complicated deal by which the only for our own tiieatre circuit, French government has given per but for all theatres in the U. S.” nilssion to the American companies i Fabian's main problem now wdll to use frozen funds for payment to be the obtaining of programming, a Marseille dockyard for repairs .According to Nathan L. Halpern, on the Swiss ship. The Swiss, inj TV consultant to the circuit, proturn. pay the Yanks in dollars in* gramming plans are now being New York. worked out. with initial emphasis It is a favorable setup all around, to be placed on sports, new.s and since the Swiss are able to buy the public event.s. He said the circuit francs from the Americans at a would attempt to line up such considerable discount from the of events as the World Scries, some ficial rate; the U. S. firms get their , of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ home money out and the French ship1 games, football. Important boxing builders get work. (Continued on page 119) By GEORGE ROSEN I The lid is olT in radio and practically everything and anything goes. The exacting standards by which broadcasters were guided 10 years ago have practically disappeared. Finding a taboo in radio today is as difiicult as wrapping up a sponsor for a $20,000 a week program. Both belong to an almost forgotten era. Revelation last week that Schenley was moving into network radio, thus penetrating radio’s cr.stwhile strongest and longest taboo, climaxes a year of unprecedented policy revamping witliin the industry, designed to case tlic bars and thus invite fresh coin into radio and keep the present clients happy. A few years back any station would have shuddered at the thought of a laxative coinincrcial getting a meal time airing. There’s no such squeamishness today among broadcasters. Having spent years trying to eliminate commercial religious programming, radio has begun to invite it back, with .ABC network even giving it Sunday afternoon showcasing. Deodorants, medical books, mail(Continuod on page 117i Monte Carlo Finally Incepts ‘Les Craps’ But It Ain’t Like Las Vegas By MARGARET GARDNER Monte Carlo. July 26. Amid the grinding of television and newsreel cameras, the flash of photo bulbs, the inces.sant babble of reporters, radio announcers, participants. and plain curiosity .seekers. the Societe des Bains de Mer, more popularly known as the Casino of Monte Carlo, officially opened "craps” in its Salon Prive last Wednesday (20*. at 10:30 a.m. I This event, which had been postponed for several weeks, was accompanied by all the razzle-dazzle and folderol that the Monte Carlo publicity department, one of the few smootlily functioning press bureaus in Europe, could summon. I On hand to lend a touch a glamor I (Continued on page 119) ‘Palace Policy’ of Vaude Being: Tried By 2 Cafes Philadelpliia. July 26. The "Palace Policy’’ of vaude is »being tried in cafes. So far. two major nitcries are on the "slraiglit act" formal in lieu of production ^ policies. The Latin Casino here and Leon & Eddie’s. N. Y.. are^ currently emulating the format being made famous by tlie New York theatre. 1 In both instances, new policy I is dictated by relrenchment. Bolh spots are attempting to eapitali/.e on the "comebaek” of vaude. I See Legit Biz Up I Rest of Summer I ! ! On B way, Road ! Although legit business on both Broadway and the road this summer hhs thus farbeen below last .season’s levels', indications are that conditions will be relatively better ] for the rest of the summer. As a I consequence, the overall picture may average out more or loss even with last year. So far this summer there have been fewer shows running than last I and consequently, total receipts I have been less. At Hie moment, there are 13 entries on Broadway, compared with 17 at the corresponding point last year. There were* 13 productions at the low point last summer. Whereas it appeared several weeks ago that the current list might shrink to 11 entries, it now looks as if the present eiop might remain intact for ttie balance of the summer. Only one. perhaps, or two of the shows now operating may I not last through Labor Day. Moreover "Anne of the Thousand Days ’ and "Madwoman of Chaillot.” now , laying off. will resume .Aug. 22. I Even if the number of shows falls below 13 this summer, the (Continued on page 119) l,ondon, July 26. .A three-month ban on the importation of American talent, shows and stories has been put into effect, in line with -Sir Stafford Cripps’ stoppage of dollar purchases. New edict. elToetive immediately, liils vaudeville, legit and screen artists as well as performers in other fulds. Ban. treasury stated, will not affect existing contracts hut precludes new pacts and applies eciually to the import of American ♦ihows and stories. New restriction hits the negotiations on a number of plays and will make it difficult to cast shows already acquired with American talent. ’ (’ontinuation of the ban depends etilirely upon Britain’s dollar weserves at the end of the threemonth moratorium. If dollar reserves continue to deteriorate it’s expected that the stoppage will he extended. Korlunately for the vaudeville industry, ban comes at a tiiiu* wlien all Hie important variety shows have been negotiated and a ?M»mbei of American artists liovc been iContinued on page 109) Nanette Fabray In Collapse at Dallas Dallas, July 26. Nanette Fabray, star of the Slate Fair Casino’s production of “Bloomer Girl." wa.s unable to complelc the final performance of Hie musical last Sunday evening, due to a nervous collapse. As a child Mi.ss Fabray was allacked ty locusts and as a result sutlers an intense fear of in.sects. Kvery piecaution, including a DDT spray on her costume.s, wa.s cmployed by the Casino management, and Miss Fabray was able to play six performances. At the final performance of the week, however, an insect became lodged in her costume during the first scene of the s(‘( ond act. as she began singing the "Sunday in Cicero Falls” number. Miss Fabray shrieked, turned her back on the audience and broke into hysterics. She was assisted olf the stage". A doctor called in to attend the actre.ss said she wouhl not be able to continue I the performance. 4th ANNUAL RADIO-TELEVISION REVIEW and PREVIEW (1949-50 SEASON) COMBINED WITH 16TH ANNUAL SHOWMANAGEMENT AWARDS StarlH on Pa^e 31