Variety (April 1950)

At»rH I9f .1?50 KAtBItAiltp M IT, 8. Lt«4t In Germany American author* take toj^ place* in the latest German best- seller iabulation*, a Frankfurt booksellers’ survey reveals,:. Largest sales listed are for Mar- garet Mitchell'* “Gone With The Wind,” which Is tied up with pic’s current release In Germany, Sec- ond best is Ernest Hemingway's ^‘For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Other top sellers include: A. J. Gronin’s ‘'The Citadel” and “The Green Ye^rs,” Louis Bromfieid's "The Rains Game,” Franz Werfers “The Song: of Bernadette” and Zsoit Harsanyi's “Hungarian Rhap^ ^sody,”- -r' . CharmV FaceW^ (Charm magazine ^ill undergo a ; complete policy re-orientation beginning with its August issue, according to its new editor, Helen Valentine. Jhstead of its present slant toward the business ^irl, the Street & Smith monthly will be aimed at “the woman who works,” including Tharried women with jobs --an older, more mature audience. Editorial shift "wiU also mean broadening Charm from a fashion ‘ mag to a service publication cov-'| ering iilms, records, books, places to go, housekeeping and cosmetics, as W'ell as clothes. Reason for the switch is the growing number of woiheh with jobs . (16;500,000); and Clmrin wUl attempt to boost circulation from its present ,6d0>000 to 1,000,000. Mag has been staffed with a hew group of editors, including man- aging editor . Andree Vilas, art di- fector Gipe PIneles, fashion editor Eleanore Hillebrand Bruce and hodsekeeping editor * Charlotte Adams. Michencr Saga Starts First Pacific article by James A. Michener, author of “Tales ,of the South'Pacific ,” appears In the May Holiday, out today (Wed ). Author retraced his wartime steps in the past year*‘;flying 40,000 miles by ✓air on an eight-month' tour, rcr visiting the islands he covered dur- ing the recent war. First piece is a. fictional one, debunking the South Sea island idyll. This, precedes a series of eight articles on visits to actual islands, the first being on Fiji, running in the June issue. Michener is back in the tT, S. how, and lecturing. only thing he doesn’t tell you is how to. get the dough to travel. It is one of those books when you, finish reading it, you start planning a trip around the world. It makes yOu feel that yoii can walk into any country and act like a native or a. seasoned traveler. Then when you look at your bank balance, you do as the Scotchman did, he stayed home and let his mind wander, A handy book for traveling showfoiks. If I W9s going to travel abroad, I would .stick this book in my grip right next to my language dictionary and travelers checks. / Joe Lduric^'Jr.; Adlier-braper Clinical Report" , E. J. Kahn, Jr., has an exhaus- tive report on the Larry Adler^ Paul Draper libel suit against Mrs. John T. McCullough, of Green- wich, Conn., in the April 15 issue of the I^evv Yorkpr. In a docu- mented defehse: of the performers, Kahn says that “except, in the Hearst ; papers, the McCullough- .Adler-braper: dispute has been handled in the news Columns in fairly moderate ^nd dispassionate fashion, but it has beeii dwelt up- on with 'unprecedented eagerness and voluminousness” by four col- umn ists-^Westbrook Pegler, Igor Cassini, George 3okolsky and Bill Cuhniiighamv He lists a humbei^ of Instances in which the colum- were in error. Piece also includes ah account of the part the colunmists played in the protests against Draper’s appearahce on GBS-TV!$ “Toast of the Town,” Kilian Libel Suit Nixed A jury verdict was returned fn Commoh: Pleas Court. Philadel- phia, against Col. James A. Kilian, who sought $500,000 in a libel suit against Doubleday Publishing Co., as the distributor of “The Purple Testament,” a book describing conditions at the Lichfield prison canip in England, during the war. Kilian: was cOurtmartialed in August, 1946, and fined $500 on charges growing out of brutality to Ahaerican prisoners at the Lich- field camp. . In his suit, he eon- teiided the conditions described in the book took,place after his tour of duty there (ferch 1, ’44 to Jan. 18, '45), and that hone of the events described occurred While he was camp commander. A similar suit against Stackpole Sons, Inc,, of Harrisburg, Pa., pub- lishers of the book, was denied by a jury in C. S. Distnct Court, in January, 1949. 5tli Annual Poe Awards Mysteiy writers of America to- morrow (Thurs.) AVill distribute its fifth anhiial Edgar Allan Poe Awards for outstanding achieve- ments ih the crime entertainment fields at a dinner to be held at the Henry Hudson hotel, N. Y. Winners, who will be named by a poll of MWA members, wiU re- ceive busts of Poe; Some 28 nominations have been made for. the awards. Accolades wiUTie handed out in six different categories. These include mystery novels, mystery short stories, fact- crime writing, criticism in the mys- tery field, mystery motion picture and radio mystery prhgrana. CHATTER Fortnight mag moved from its old Quarters in downtown Los An- geles to hew offices in HoUywood. Cameron Shipp completed his biography' of Lionel Barrymore and is doing a yarn oh Frank Lloyd Wright. Chi Trib-N. Y. News* eocktailery for the publishers during their N. Y. convention next Wednesday (26) at the Ritz. Mary Martin’s article, “My First Year in ‘South Pacific,printed in the N. Y. Times April 2, Will be reprinted by Readers Digest. Louis Untermeyer and Ralph E. Shikes Collabbing on an anthblogy of the “Best Humor Of 1949-50,” to be published by Holt this fall, ' May issue of Coronet magazine but Friday 121), will >carry an ar- ticle titied,^“The Strange Career of Madeleine Carroll,by Garbl Hughes.'' Archibald G;. Ogden resigned from 20th-Fbx‘s homeoffice story department to become editor-in- chief of the- trade department of Appleton-Century-Crofts. . Maurice Zblotow’s hep .piece on The Lambs in current SatCvcr post titled ’ “All-Star Hangout.” Variety’s Joe Lauiie, Jr., gets gen- erous quotage in the piece, Dorothy Blanchard, Lirisey Dur- and and Jim Reid appointed as a committee in Hollywood to pro- mote better relations between the major film studios and the fan mags. ‘■Make Haste to Live,” mystery novel written by Mildred, and Gor- don Gordon, is the April selection of the Crime Club and the June choice of the Unicorn Book Club. Doubleday is publishing. Cecelia Ager, ex-VARiETV mug- gess. now on the first lap of her ad lib roving reporter assignment through Europe. house-gue.sting with the Nunhally Johnsons in London, her first stopoff. Francis MaCMarius,'general fea- tures head of Radia Eircann, has autfioTed“The Fire in the Dust,” a. hovel just published in Ireland by the Talbot Press and in Eng- land by JonathanL; Cape, It’s his sic critic, were among the 62 Guild members ax^d. Threatened walkr out by several employees fi^ed \vhen the Vast majority refused to take any action and the Chi local wouldn’t go along with any meas- uret contiiued from past 44♦ 4 M ♦ 4 ♦ » ♦ » »> »4 ♦ 4 »♦ 4 ♦ 4 4 »» » 4 »♦ » »4 » * » * A # * Oite 8 i|$Q 9 Clil Jones version of “Gocktails . For Two.”' Gali Gall’s ihagic act is surefire! He pulls chicks out of his and twb subjects’ coat$# burns dollar bills and recovers them inside of an orange, and does a shell-game with corks, eggs, and chicks. His use of two members of the Audience gets good reaction, , Edith Fellows and Tommy Dix are closer; Dix coines on for his trademarl^ . “Buckle Down Win- socki.” Miss Fellows joins him for “Big Movie Show in the Sky,” which needs some polishing. Pair do fine version of “Dearie” that includes some strong bits 6n Harry Lauder andt Eva Tanguay; Close with solid medley froth “South: Pacific” for neat returns. : libuis, Basil Orch Jiack* nicely. CHUn,:. . ^ Olyinpla, Miami : ; Miami, April 16. j Frank Faylen ," Bonnie Baker, | Bave Barry, Nathan Bros., : The I GrdwforiiSf Les Rhode House Orch ;' '^Dear JWifeT (Par). ! Spotty layout here currehtly is bolstered for overall aud Satisfacr tion by Bonnie Baker and Dave Barry!.^ -i Topliner Frank Faylen gets over \ with the usual HollyWoodiaii canto; via some fairish material and an amiable approach.. Miss Baker wisely departs from the expected and slyly satirizes her former clicks, such ^as “Oh, John- ny” and'adds to build up with in- tro of a young drummer, who beats skins in expert fashion to back- ground a couple of newer numbers^ Offs to solid mitting. Barry walks off with top ap-1 plause in a much improved act 1 since last here. Material iS: sharply j angled for maximum laughs. Im- pressions are sock as ever, and top- ,[per, of course, is his“Mr; Ripple” character from radio.' Clicks all the way.. ■ ' Tap routines of the Crawfords is standard;; for neat response. The Nathans do acros to own musical accomps (violin and mandolin) for gasps and giggles. Les Rhodes house orch does okay on the back- i groundings. Dick Joseplf*: OK Travelog Book “Your Trip Abroad” by Richard Joseph (Dounleday; $2.95) is Writ- ten by the. travel editor of Es^ quire, who is also president of the Travel Writers Association. A working newspaperman, who • vis- ited 35 countries after the war, he must certainly know what he .is writing about, ;He tells you how to travel by boat, rail and plane, lays out routes, hotels, restau- rants; tells you what ;to pack and' how, what to wear. What tips- to give, what to eat and What to duck. He even tell* yoii how to cut red tape, Slid best of all he even fig- ures ;yourbudget-“and how far Sou can go and do oh it. The Limited Editions Cliib will mark its 21st aniii May 11 by ; eslablish- ing annual awards in the “fine books” field. Prize statuettes .will be tagged ‘Aldus,” after ■'Aldus Manutius; the 16th century Vene- tian printer. Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer's “Chicago epnfidehtiarv has climhed to third position oh the N., Y. Times* non-fiction best-seller list. Book would show up better, but list doesn’t take into consideration the heavy coneentratibii of sales in Chi and the midwest. May issue of Holiday is a lmo.st ah all-'Wiiliam Morris agency edi- tion. The lO^isery's Helen Strauss spotted pieces by ex-Yank editor Joe McCarthy on basebalL Helen Eustis (Smith College); Elizabeth Janeway On herb cooking and Michener’s yarn. In the recent drop of the after- noon editions of the Chicago Suh- Times, Ray Hunt, veteran bistro reporter, and Felix Borowski, mu- RKO-Ot*plioiiiii, Mpls. Minneapolis, April 15. Four Evans, Hank Sierhon untH Archie, Albihs (2),- Bob Dupont, Keaton & Arm field, Ben ; Yost! White Guards (5), Artie Daiin, i Gautier'S Steeplechase, Nick Fran- i cis & RKO Orch (III; ‘'Blue Grass, of Keiitiicky'* (Mono). With it formidable lineup of recr ognized acts that rate high in their particular lines, this RKO unit * show hits the spot. Undoubtedly ' one of the better units, it’s well cal-! culated to hold those vaudeville i fans which already have been cor- ' railed during the present campaign and to gain new converts. Nick Franci.s, on the pit podium, keeps show moving in the custom-: ary speedy fashion. Following 'lively overture, the Four Evans, mother, dad, sister and brother, give boff demonstrations of various solo and ensemble hoofing. Hank Siemon, one of the better ventros. cops laughs with his sly Up manipulations, patter and utili- zation of two stooges from audience as dummies for amusing demon- strations. There are even more laughs on tap during the dance travesties of the Albins who, in ad- dition to their burlesqiie procliviv ties, toss in some thrilling whii’ls ' and .spins for good measure. While not discarding his apple trick and the best of his other rou- iines, Bob Dupont, slick juggler, also introduces some new feats th&t a if Old further demonstration of his • exceptional skill. In ah: ouLof-the: ordinary act that clicks neatly, the femme of Keaton & Armfield grad- ually. transforms herself from a grotesquely dame into a glamor girl, Gomicalities and song going; along' with the makeup wizardry. Ben Yosts White Guards, male singing group, contHb rousing solo an(i ensemble vocalizing on mu.si-. comedy medlies arid snatche.s! of } grand opera for eustoiher enjoy-: inent. Risibilities get a good work-) but as Artie Danp, one of the bet- ■ ter of the new young comedians* j makes his proboscis pay off for I laughs. Gautier’s “Steeplecha.se” ! retains its place among the top ani- mal acts with the ponies and pooches put through tricks that stir merriment. A well^fiUed lower floor at show eaiight, Reei• • By.',Frank' Scully Hollywood, April 16. Though I am no longer riinnihg for the Ueutenant gbyerhorship of California, I am not running for second base either. I might have had a chance against the gubernatorial goobers^ but with Jackie I^bihson on second base, particulaTly now that he is equipped jwith added dialog by Lawrence Taylor and Arthur Manii and the polished direction of Ai Green, I’m afraid I wouldn't have a chance eVen if I beat the throw. In Holly wood I watched some pf the shooting bn this hot biograph-^ icai ite.m; It was a terrific conflict between biz and art. Branch Rickey, the real Branch Rickey, was in ■Florida at the time. Robinsoh. and Mann were in Hellywopd. Rickey wanted the producers to cut to the chase and let him have Ms star ball player.- The producers kept prora- iSTKg hina from day to day that they’d be through shooting any,day how. Minor Watson was playing the serben versioh of Rickey. He was told not to listen tor the re^l Rickey’s dialog as it^came M over the phone becaiuse it wbuld only confuse him. ^ . . Mort Brislun and Bob Smith were hopping all .over the stage trying to hurry things along, but the picture biz is funny thatway. You can hurry just, so fast. Beyond that, snafu. 'Reading From Left tp Righi' ;: Whh crew was straightenmg .but one of these fpuled“Up situa- tions, I got to talking with Jackie, But before I coiild get very far. Hank Fine ;thbught it would be nice to take a photograph of Robinspii aiid Scully and send it to Marty Dickstein of the. Brooklyn Eagle, on account Jackie Robinson works for Bropklyn and my mother was born there. Besides. ! have A kid who go.es to UCLA* and Jackie RPbinsoii was a star in football and .baseball at that sbuthefn branch bf the U. of California long before Branch Rickey knew that Jackie’s middle name Was Roosevelt and that a Roosevelt was fiinhing for governor of Cali- fornia. You see how all this ties Up? They tpok the picture and I-lopked at Jackie and he looked at me bn accxount it’s Strictly Three Eye League to Ipok at the camera.. But T could see he ys^as not very good at hamming it up, and he could see 1 was worse. Even so, Mafty Dicksteih should have used the pictuiA because Jackie batted .342 last season and fielded *981, and X . have a bQok> coming out this summer and need the publicity, too. Besides, Eagle^Lion is releasing the picture and that’s at least half a plug for the'Brooklyn, EaglAi; ' .. DidiiT .Dickstein Catch Pictures, Too? Of course, a lot of things Jackie did wouldnT particularly interest such a provincial bunch as the Brooklyn Eagle’s readers hut Marty Dickstein shpuldn’t forget that I went fo Bryant high school; which he once attended also, ahd that Bryant foiled up the highest score in intefschpiastic basketball this year, something like ilO points against some clunks whose name eludes me, and I was captain of a Bryant basketball team in my time^ All this ought to have some bearing, ph the publishing of that;picture; I realize no Dodger fan cotild possibly be interested in the fact that it was Tony Lazzeri yvho got Jackie a job in a ball park selling hotdogs and chasing flies (iii the outfield, nPt off the hotdogs). Neither would they care to know that Jackie’s-brother was the : Jesse Owens of his time and While a student at Oregon (Which is nbt exactly in Flatbush) set a world’s record of 20.7 in the 220. Met^His Wife'at'XiCLA'-^ If Jackie had wopei^ a Brooklyn doll,I guess the story Avbuld have picked up local interest, but the truth is he met the gal he married while at U CL A. She was an honor student, specializing in nursing, and her name was Rachel tsum. Jackie was averaging 12 yards each time he carried the ball in tho.se days. He starred in basketball, baseball, tennis and track as well. He bnCe jumped 25 feet, six inches, which would he good even for a guy from Erasmus Hall. Iri the army he worked up from ai private to a lieutenant, AVhich was not unusual. Lots of guys from Brooklyn did that! Of course, if lie had been far-seeing he would have married Rachel Isuin in Brooklyn ihrtead of L.A., but how did he know that Branch Rickey was going to give Jim Crow a one-way pass out of the Brooklyn banpark? He was playing with Satchel P?|ige and Josh Gibson On the Kansas City Monarchs when it happened and making $100 a week as the firrt string shortstop. Glyde Sukeforth (that’s the guy played by Billy Wayne in the picture) saw him play a night game in Chicago arid brought him to Branch Rickey. Rickey has since learned that iri a lot * of places Brobklyri is not Amm’ica, but by the time Jackie, Jr.* and his little sister have reached the votirig age perhaps the difference bp- tween black and white will all have beert considered more old hat than black arid white in television once color comes in. By .1950 Jackie Robinson, Sr., had parlayed that G to! nearer lOQG. :Branch Rickey was paying him $35,000 a year and between the Jock’s piece, in his own picture and the various byproducts Of fanie, : if he doesn’t gross. 3100,000 a year he simply isn't taxed right. Is There a McCarthy In the Stands? Some subversive character has been sending me the real story be- hind the Rickey-Robinson deal, the autheritic dialog included. But I prefer what Lawrence Taylor and Arthur Mann have put together. Besides, in the chaos Which passes for order around my typewriter i; have lQ.st the subversive documents. Maybe Madman McCarthy, the AVisconsin rep wrecker, has them. Maybe he has scene 149 of the shooting script which bears the ominous word, “Omitted.” According to the script, the first wprds between Rickey and Robinson were: “You got a girl, Jackie?” Jackie taken by surprise said he didn’t know. Rickey asked him what did he mean, he didii’t know? ‘‘Well . . . uh . . . traveling all the time,” cojifessed Jackie, “and not writing as often as I should, I think 1 still have a girt.’’ Oh, so you don’t believe that vvas the first thing they: talked about? Well, does this sound more p^usible? Rickey: You know, a boXscofe is feally democTatic, Jackie. It doesn^t say how big you are* of how your father voted in the last election, or what church; you attended. It just tells what kind of a ball playef you were •that. day." ' I;--' Jackie: Isn’t that what courils?. Rickey: It’s ail that ought to count. Maybe sohie day it’s all that will coiirit. That’s why I brought you'here, Jackie. To see if we can make a start in that direction, It will take a lot of courage. !;^ This SotMds Like the. M^ I liker too, A piece of! dialog that goes something like this; Ricke.v: You thiiik you’ve got the guts to pla^ the game? No m,atter what happens? They’ll shout insults at you . . . they’ll cpriie into you spikes first , !. . they’ll throw at ypUr head. Jackie; 'rhey've been throwing at head for a long time, Mr. Rickey, Rickey; Suppose I'm a player. In the heat of an important game, suppose I collide With you at second base. When I get up I say, ”Ypu dirty black so-and-so,” What woiild you do? Jackie; Mr. Rickey^ do you want a ball player who A afraid to fight back? '■ Rickey: I Vv'ant a ball playef with guts enough not to fight hack. You’ve got to do this job with base hits, stolen bases and fielding grtund balls, Jackie, nothing else. Now I’m playing against yoii in the World iSeries and! I’m hot-headed. I want to win that, game. So I go into spikes first arid you jab the baU in my tibB. The umpire sa.vs* 'Out: ” 1 flare. All I see is your face. That black face. Right on top of. me. So 1 haul off and t punch you right in the cheek. What do you do?” Jackie: Mr/Rickes^ I've lot two cheeks* Rickey: Good. It may rot hav* been the way it happened but il'i a good deal nrjore plausible than the dialog of “Jolson Sing* Again.” ■»»44 4» 44