Variety (August 1950)

NBC’s ‘I Got a Million of ’Em’ ($’s), So Jimmy Ups to Them for the Gimme BETTER T Music Biz Spurred by Sharp Rise, Big Fad-Winter Season Expected Las Vegas, Aug. 8. Jimmy Durante signed an exclu- sive radio-television contract with NBC last Wednesday midnight that will (a) net him a guaranteed mini- mum of $800,000 for the next four years; (b) move him back to N.'Y.; (c) practically take him out of pic- tures and bring him back to the Broadway nitery belt. It was all done with the stroke of a pen, wit- nessed and negotiated by Pat Weaver for NBC; Abe Lastfogel and George Gruskin for William Morris, and Lou Clayton for The Schnoz. Under his commitment for the next four years, Durante will do nine video shows and 10 radio guest shots each year for the next two, and for the last two may de- vote his full time to TV and do as many as 20 shows a year. Deal was consummated with the utmost secrecy, and to cover their tracks the visiting negotiators were said to have used John Smith and Bill Jones on the Desert Inn register. Durante is the star attrac- tion at the hotel's nitery, turning them away nightly and cutting in on the take at the gaming tables. It was in his suite that the nego- tiators converged for the signing ceremony and the champagne sup- per that followed. Not one to sign only One deal when there are other clients to be (Continued on page 55) Japs Important' to U.S. In Korean War; ‘Go Easy’ Asked on Atrocity Films Washington, Aug. 8. U.S. State Dept, is worried that the public will get the wrong steer from the flood of oldie war pix which the companies are bringing out to meet the revived interest of the customers in military affairs. Government officials from the dept, are requesting distribs to hold off on releases of films cover- ing the war against Japan where these pix play up the atrocity angles or stress the unworthiness of the Nips in other ways. On a voluntary basis, the film companies are screening all war features in Washington before tab- bing them for release. Several of the companies have already abided by requests of the State Dept, to withhold films although it is stressed that the Government ac- tion is not a mandate under cen- sorship powers. Understood the Government does Jot object to films centering on tlie war and even the Pacific end °f it. Where the pic concentrates on American action with little re- ference to Japanese activities, no objection is being raised. However, because the Japs are now con- sidered an important cog in the Korean war, State Dept, does not jvant to stir up old feelings of hatred for that country. i i —= . 1-Pic ‘Sensation’ Seeks To Peddle Film Biog The tribulations of an actor who is rocketed to stardom in one film >J: but cannot find work thereafter,? are currently making the rounds of major U. S. companies in the form of a screen script. Story is real’ in that it refers to Lamberto Mag- giorani, the Italian factory hand who became a 30-day wonder for his performance in the Italian- lingo film, “The Bicycle Thief*” Maggiorarie’s saga is being ped- dled around by Francital Films, which is looking for a major U. S. distrib to back production. Understood that Maggiorani has an interest in the script and would play the leading role. He has never been to America. Present intent is for the Yank company to produce in Rome. N.Y. Circuits Eye Berle, Others For Direct Theatre TV Metropolitan New York theatre circuits are currently dickering for permission to project the Milton Berle program and other top-rated television shows directly into their theatres via large-screen video. Ap- parently recalling the old “if you can’t lick ’em, join ’em” adage, the chains believe that making the TV programs available in theatres as an adjunct to their regular film programs will get the customers away from -their home sets and line them up at the boxoffice. An unidentified top circuit in the metropolitan area this week re- quested its TV representative to scout the possibility of getting Berle’s “Texaco Star Theatre” and other programs for use in theatres at the same time they are trans- (Continued' on page 63) JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES NO HELP TO B’WAY BIZ Some 80,000 members of Jehovah's Witnesses from 67 coun- tries crowded into New York last week for one of the biggest con- ventions the city has ever seen-— but were no help to film and legit houses. Witnesses avoided places of amusement as being “worldly.” They have no direct prohibition on theatre attendance, but it is frowned on in the sect, As a re- sult, many of the conventioneers either spent their time at their Yankee stadium meetings or on downtown streets selling copies of their publications. War fever which hit the U.S. with the invasion of South Korea June 25 is being reflected in box- office grosses. Biz took an upswing at that point, which is giving the industry a summer far better than was foreshadowed by the gloomy spring. How much of the hypo is at- tributable directly to the war psy- chology and how much to other causes is anyone’s guess. Actually, a large measure of it is being credited by seasoned showmen to somewhat stronger dog-days prod- uct than last year, better theatre- going weather this summer than last and a general improvement in the country’s economic condition. Whatever the cause, the upsurge began to be felt about July 1, a check of major distribs and circuit operators disclosed'this week. Despite the improvement, grosses are still off about 5% from last year. The only reason that looks good to theatremen is that biz was so brutal during the spring, it was anticipated that the b.o. would continue to ride a down-wave. In- stead, it leveled off and then started to climb, so that the offish tone is considerably less than that of the preceding three months. Distribs are tending to credit the war scare for at least part of the upturn since the improvement is particularly noticeable in the west. That’s in line with experience in World War II, when giant air- craft factories and other war in- dustries hypoed Coast biz. These plants again are starting up. Conversely, the west suffered (Continued oa pasts 35) Set Theatre TV Chicago, Aug. 8. Theatre TV came up with its first major victory in struggle with regular video for topflight sport- ing events when United Para- mount Theatres grabbed off rights to televise Big Ten football games I this fall. Deal between Par and 1 Big Ten, will permit theatre tele- vising of conference games in Detroit and Chicago theatres. Big Ten, made up of 10 major midwestern colleges, earlier this year banned live telecasts on com- mercial stations. Nine-game schedule based on Northwestern U. and Illinois U. home games will be televised in three Balaban & Katz houses— State Lake, Uptown and Tivoli, with combined seating capacity of 10,383./ U. of Michigan games will be shown in 4,029-seat Michigan, Detroit flagship of United Detroit Theatres. B&K station WBKB will do closed-circuit feed for Chi theatres, (Continued on page 61) Bolger Doesn’t Wanna Dance for NBC Yet If there’s a Ray Bolger in NBC’s future, it’s not on the immediate horizon. Bolger, star. of the “Where's Charley?” musical legit- er, notified the web "last week, following reports that he was au- ditioning a morning cross-the- board show, that such a .plan wouldn’t be feasible at this time and that he’d prefer to “sit it out.” NBC had hoped to slot Bolger in a variety stanza to offset the heavy Arthur Godfrey competition on CBS. U.S. Aid to Spain Seen Upping Biz For Yank films Washington, Aug. 8. Prospect of U. S. economic aid to Spain, plus greatly expanded Yank tourist biz this season, is seen greatly upping chances of American distribs for improving their take. Effort will be made by the Motion Picture Assn, of Ameri- ca to push through a new pact with the Spanish government this fall. John G. McCarthy, Motion Pic- ture Assn, of America international division chief, proposed in Madrid recently that the entire present system of issuing import permits be revised. A number of more liberal members of the Spanish government favor the plan, and if the $100,000,000 U. S. loan, okayed by the Senate last week, gets final approval, it’s felt certain there will be a change. Under the present setup, gov- ernment issues permits to Spanish (Continued on page 56) Getting off to. a fast summer start on the basis of a spending spree apparently created by the international situation, the pop music business is anticipating a boom period this fall and winter. Trade upbeat, which started just after the July 4 weekend, is already lifting both disk and sheet music sales to unusually high levels for this time Of year and is creating a deep undercurrent Of confidence among industry execs. Music publishers and jobbers are frankly baffled to explain the current sharp, rise in sheet sales after a long period of stagnation. In some key cities around the country, sales have shot up nearly 300% in the last three weeks while all points are reporting steadily im- proving business. The revival is generally ascribed to the Korean war, the mobiliza- tion of both men and industry, and the outlook for steady employment and relatively high wages. Trade leaders declare the 1940-41 situa- tion is being repeated with a wave of sentiment leading the public back to the basic entertainment form—music. Rise of copy sales is being felt across the board, affecting big and (Continued on page 48) Olivia Asks Steepest Terms in History To Play Broadway ‘Juliet’ Hollywood, Aug. 8. Asking terms for Olivia DeHav- illand’s proposed appearance on Broadway this fall in “Romeo and Juliet” are reportedly the steepest on record. Film actress’ represen- tatives are understood demanding 15% of the gross, plus 50% of the profits, with a $3,000 guarantee. Miss De Havilland wouldn't bring in any of the financing for the produc- (ContinUed on page 53) Wobld fyamoHd, STARLIGHT ROOF ® Waldorf Astoria Hotel ® NEW YORK NOW PRESENTING The Hour of Charm All Girl Orchestra and Choir Featuring EVELYN and Her Magic Violin Undor the Direction of PHIL SPITALNY