Variety (January 1954)

Wednesday, January 6, 1954 Forty -eighth Anniversary PICTURES The Woman In the Typewriter Bv CLAUDE BINYON on^ the edge of the Mojave desert,” ^ said Deckett. I used to fly it every Hollywood. of Page 1.00, which was glued to night when nobody could see me." t n«,.r lived in a cabin in 101. ‘‘Where is it now?*' . TIUS«.firitains beyond my ranch. Reading can excite you at one ‘Gone. The Knights of Columbus to* !!rn{ought Tn the Spanish extreme and piit you to_sleep at stole it; If you want, you can use He ; .-!n ^u/ar but he would not the other, but this left me right in ^t in the movie— about how they. Ament an ya , ^ age< the middle with a headache. tbe invention from me.” Th e most Dazedly I crawled into bed. . Tm afraid this isn’t a story for striking thing The next morning Deckett wa« Pictures/’ I said as gently as pos, about him was waiting for me outside the hoUse. That World War between! that he al “1 j ust wanted to tell you the cabi ibe Knights of Columbus and the ways wore net is coming along fine,” he said. Masons . . .” new Levis, to And ; before I_ could thank him he “Try io tell me that’s far-".. ‘ the extent that asked me if I had read his manu fetched!” snapped Deckett. ‘‘It’s -they never scnpt. I countered by asking him going on right now. under your h a d b e e n why. he had wanted me to read it. nose, and you don’t know it, One 'washed. When I flow About It? I of these days it’s going to pop out j his old new ~ ' — in the open, and all hell’s going: to • Levis would 1 figured you might want to break loose. We’ll be lucky if a ! wear out he make a movie out of it,” he said, hundred, people are left alive on > Claude Binyon WOuid replace “How many pages did you read?” earth.” I ■ . f -JK -and for a “From page 2 to page 101,” I 7— ..—-I: thcnv with newLev , . answered. ‘‘Between the glue;” | Just a Lucky Guess j few days the 4ow His~ • Deckett was satisfied. “You’re Deckett obviously was a nvan would )Q0^reSppuptt ' telling the truth,” he conceded, who believed in what he said. I name was B«D Dec_ . “You’re just getting to thefgpod decided not -to argue with him. Deckett was ah hi' etmaker part, but can’t you sec already you’ “fell, me,” I said finally, “were pector; author, and^c^ n . . ^ could make a movie out of it?” you ever a truckdriver?” j , but mostly he Aid noth) mg. 1 mieu -j don't knew,” I hedged. “That “A long time ago,” said Deckett. J him to make a capm t._ dirigible that runs on two 12-volt “Were you ever married?” j iioned, mostly he. aia n b. .batteries-^it’s pretty • -far-fetched.” “Never” said Deckett decisively, ■ By CLAUDE BINYON $ age. tbe, middle with a headache, stolethe invention from me.” Moppets, once top money mak stores. most Dazedly I crawled into bed. “I’m afraid this isn’t a story for ers, top fan mail magnets and tops Jane Withers, with seven years [ thing The next morning Deckett was ^ g,?,ntly,as P°3Vin boxoflice polls, aren’t hitting Ihe of stardom, 29 financially success^ -w Sirf* ‘coiumiX jackpot >daj • “ 1 p wand Scv1e‘al annUi»1 ?a,i"8? wore net is coming along fine,” he said. Masons • . ■■■ v. w c MU 1 am0ng t,ie top bo names, grossed And A Little Child Shall Lead Them To The B.0.--Where Are They Now? By KAY CAMPBELL .. . Hollywood— j a million do Moppets, once top money mak stores. in_tlie_5 and 10c Claude isfnybri and'lvhat’s W ! a sma11 forlunc: and salaries of $?.Come of the 000*$2,500 per week were doled out • heydey . mop [ to several of the other babes in pels? Is a new" moVieland during plush years of crop of kid ; ’37-’40. overdue? P * rS j Another Decade, Another Crop"! Recent sto During the next decade, a new rics in Vari roster of child talent drew fan mail ... ety, “C h i 1 d , and money. These included ElizaStar D o d g e beth Taylor, Margaret O’Brien, Kav Camnbeii G o e s O n”; i Claude Jarman Jr., Peggy Ann Gar“C r i m i n a l i ner, Joan Evans, Natalie Wood, Contempt Hits Head of Guild For ( Sharon MofTelt, and Gigi Perreap. Screen-Dazzled Kids,” referred to But during recent years, though the rackets exploiting fond parents i plenty of talented youngsters have who are still bustin’ out all over. 1 made their appearances, some of Another news story dealt with the . them over and over again, none •..-i'* • • . “ «irf ; for : .ml , T V b ’j x TT ' ■ oecn ■ layior, iwargarei tnien. »iui ian icuers ior me soaa sei. give me a. p s > asked what far-fetched, I said, truckdriver. •• ..... , Jane Powell and Skippy Homcier What’s happened9 That’s the $64 reading his novel. .1 asicea wnai “Why do you say that? asked Deckett looked at me m surprise. U,PI;P amnno thr. ,wPn.! k.. novel, and he went to his ancient Deckett. “I made a working model “When did I tell you about, that?” MacDonald * question _\vhich 1 is puzzling prod uc •' [pickup truck and caime back with' of it that could lift a man as high “Do you remember his name?” ‘ J * : er^’ casl,rl§ directors— and inopr a manuscript that looked like it a§. be wanted to go, and it ran on. “Remember?” siiid Deckett . “To For downright, dependable, two-. pe• had been excavated from a pile, two flashlight batteries.” rhy, dying day I’ll never forget lhat'j fisted, boxoffice appeal, kids used to Sherry Jackson is a veteran of nf his old, old Levis. It was the 1 stared at him. “You actually blackhearted Kelly!” | rate top billing, Although studio , some 30 pix; Tommy Rettig is no ^ first nianuscnpT~‘r“Kad'“^VbT— en^ , . : w •“ : ' rar'ln'lb'e^oviceHlr•frb^btrf^iTe•-came^^s-de= countered. that actually smelled 4 » ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦>♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦♦»♦♦♦ 44++++* ! bone and. production generally has spite his years, and George Wins piiysically A r'fl • I .♦ • been curtailed, the dearth of Midas lo'v» pint-sized basso, has stolen /rU! :: A I rip With Lantor l from « . By BENNY Rl BIN I -.“1* lis'hci and the pages came back 'thei/love W affecUun11 on , ponant ru'e$ha puWiflic^he^fued pages *100 "a^d Eddie Cantor and I were on the smoker, .you wouldn't under “thm i J??0"1 i‘ ‘a w6nd"lai’d’‘,> ?0I ^together and again .'the manu Chief en route to New York, to stand 1^ hapov goWcn moment w°hen « Jane ,stun<ler|: Beverly Sue script came hack with .its glue in play the Palace Theatre. , { Cantor: I guess I m a pretty, tag. m PPj p„0(her.. ^^s^e Jven tact. Finally he made the supreme Eddie scheduled our days on [the i.T_ doPe. r • gan under some rock just as a pros ^ ^ By BENNY RUBIN script came back with its glue in piay .me ra^ — P do oe F ' might find “another” Jackie Coo•; Sns and Peter MUes have ki vCn tact. Finally he made the supreme Eddie scheduled our days on the. j . d°P^ F . . gan under some rock just as a pros good berforman^ test by gluing the cover to page train— to. breakfast early, talk lay Me-* We®,n.t^ snannfM voir fih **clor dreams of discovering an i|0Jrs Slti^ pb tbSr hin^m ' oiie. That’s the way it. came back out of our show, three games of „l!.conV other Comstock Lode. ft Pad rVuriti>?a h d from the publisher, so Deckett de casino Uwo out of three . for a ^ gers and rehearsing a song # . . •• ; . ^ead of vritmg fan maiL : stead of writing fan maiL :: K.r TnVin clppn im sui <• .me F«auc yi. jui wun Aauonai veivei, rreaaie leadm^ The Final War, by -John .si P . . you. Put on the light. (I did. child talent was one of Holly Bartholomew with “David Copper Deckett. 1 had to > start on Page This was fine for Cantor, but ner and he laughed some more », [ wood’s minor miracles. The line field. ’’.and Margaret O’Brien with 2 because of the glue, and w'hen I vous ■ -me, had no salves and 8 Let me explain. You see, Ida up included Shirley Temple. Jane “Journey for Margaret,” are gone finished Page 100 and found^ it o clock to bed meant I had pneu used to snore, so when we j Withers, Deanna Durbin. Freddie but not forgotten, still glued to Page 101 I put the monia and bpth legs_ .broken. -How went to bed I d snap my fin Bartholomew, Judy Garland, the the hundreds of movip mnrw thing down and decided to rest ever, you know Eddie. We did it gers to keep her awake ’til I Mauch twins, Jackie Cooper, Bo, ' pe^ „rhe ' h€nnteJed^ ^ the niy head for the remainder of the. all to the letter and finally when feU asleep. riita Granville; Baby LeRoy. Vir division of the HbllvwS ni§bt. ; , • ■ ; both .plates were in the.glasses,,gnd Me; 0h no! ginia Weldler. Sybil Jason. Bobby In bnh a Imalf Cleancut Truckdriver I hrmin ^the dower,, with me -on the cantor: Forgive me for .blowing Breen apd ' . Spaiiky • . MacFarl-apd. • • reached 'the* homp^tretn^MJnv' — — r—— — — — , o ,^7 couch, the lights went out. my top. You have another Their combined incomes, derived of theni ran at th'e start and »h°yt a clean instead of benefiting from Can cigaret arid : we'll . play one not only from the silver screen ^ but half -wav marks but when! child cut truckdriver. who was in love tor’s talk, by trying to gather game of casino; loser to pay from fadiov recordings, endorse charms and duddv Dlavful with a _ beautiful waitress who health fronv sleep. all I could think for a sturgeon sandwich at ments and personal appearances, ness disappeared withal ‘’-vear old worked in a roadside diner. She of was that redhead in the club Car. Lindy’s. j totaled about $2,000,000. And prior ^flitvT^kThe siuff hat make! was a gay one, given to consider, r can*t get dressed in the dark andr _1_ ^ | to World War II. inflation and SeSion^ ersC butinour ^m^ffsured^that 1 stir I’ll wake him. My eyes Mel Bailerino Returns | higher taxation, this was nice crisp hit pay dirt ' R .on.. ' nni* hurt from trying to shut, out the Metro casting', director Mel ’Bal• sreen -hay. . ! chtriPv 'arsd n»nn9 mtor: rorgive me tor voiowing nreen apa ppant^y iiiacranana, reached the home stretch. Manv my top. You have another Their combined incomes, derived of them ran u-ell at th'e start and . cigaret and well play one not only from the silver screen but half-wav marks, but when! childgame of casino; loser to pay ; from radiov recordings, endorse hood charms and puppv plavfulfor a sturgeon sandwich at ments and personal appearances, ■ ness disappeared w?th i^-vpar-oid Lindy-s. jto.aled^bou4?2,0h0.0p_0,A!S prior ■ — : — ' . . — — “ mflation and professionals to c ross th et ap e and Mel Bailerino Returns | higher taxation, this was nice crisp hit pav dirt H Metro casting director Mel Bal sreeh hay Shirley and Deanna and others ly combed his hair before enter ^ake him too. This is murder! ing 0f several pictures in work by nually, including SoO.OOO from ; vear-old daughter. Freddie is a ing, he discovered she was gone. This would . . . Wait a minute; the company in Egypt, Italy and = Quaker Oats for telling the youngi TV director Bobbv Breen is stag The owner simply shrugged when what’s that noise? ... He s napping England. sters of America that she ate puffed ing a “comeback," Johnnv Downs, questioned “They come and go” his fingers, Ah. ha. he must be re William F. Rodgers, Loew’s vee wheat and another $75,000 from former “Our Gang.” has returned lie said “They’re all alike If you hearsing to himself. See if I can pee and sales consultant, left for a the sale of dolls. And don’t for to Hollvwood following success in ask me, she climbed into the cab ^atcli the song from the tempo^of Miami vacation over the weekend. ' get that she’s the bab.v who found a Broadway musical; Jackie Cooper with some youPg truckdriverand his snapping . . . Susie ?... No, , was a recent Broadway hit. Dickie took off foT nowhere ” too slow. A’potgt°es Ar«r Cheaper, • " J U5“ “““ • Pl. , , , , . , Tomatoes Are ’ . . . No, they liadn t , ' yet I'v* got it! [_ ' riri0,i * f , , gie ! Good, nowr I can smoke. 1 * Z d«l?^f?5gcLab0Ui'.tl,e gir?’.but lighted a cigaret and he jumped <Lu,U dn ' Then his suip,lcirS up like a shot. And so help me, slowly became aroused, and he be diaioff m.^ijgating— and Re ran into can(or: Thanks for waking me up. ine biggest secret m the world. . • .■ , , 4 ^ lie discovered that the Knights of Ale; I thought 5rpu weie Columbus had begun an unde Cantor: My .doctor told me to ah dared World War against the w-nkp ud ■ Masons! Anchored In Space ways be sure and wake up with a startle, this is good for my nerves. Me: But you were — . 'V "v*. ^ ■. \ V-J \“ S,' /\' ^ ' fiom a drunken Knights of Colum Mo. .Now. wait a minute, Edd e, fus truckdriver, and when the big you were rehearsing, weren t brass discovered' this they kid you? tripped her and. were holding her Cantor: (still softly) I always reprisoncr on a dirigible that was . hearse under the covers with anchored high in space. The the lights out after taking a Knights of Columbus had a huge sleeping pill. prisoner on a dirigible that was . hearse under the covers with anchored high in space. The the lights out after taking a Knights of Columbus had a huge sleeping pill. | m of these dirigibles anchored Me: Look, Eddie— °!e '!'°iJd,-„??d Cantor: (Koice rising slightly), loused 250 aimed Knights. Rnnl this is a very selfish Wamine l0r T?,e DT.. Silng’ yeu'Vi V " i liese dirigibles Were buoyed by .Tp. Fddtp__ ? a,;is that was lighter than noth Me* Eddi® . . . . prtncij and each was powered by two Cantor: Beside not having considi-’VoiL batteries. Thnt‘c wimt it eration for me; are you_ sueh J-.-yolt batteries. That’s what it ii^'lcr\our bero learned ail this i.,L. u.u. ,<Jo bo^ to remain free, so . e was captured and whisked away l1! f ho -If i. m . . _ . ■ a dope fiend (now he’s yelling) that you’ve got to have a cigaret in the (screaming) middle of the night? was a recent Broadway hit. Dickie Moore, who made his first screen appearance clad in three-cornered pants and a winning smile as the infant Barrymore in “Beloved Rogue," recently completed his 25th year in films. And Peggy Ryan, who debuted at four, is still going strong. Judy Garland and Liz Taylor get top billing in any epic, while Ben Alexander's work in “Dragnet” is not to be overlooked. June Lockhart is doing okay, too. And Sybil Jason has returned from her native Australia to Broadw:ay. Wesley Barry, George Brakest one and Roddy McDowell have turned to the production end of pix. n the dirigible prison of -his ‘Me: (dramatic pause) Eddie; Lis'■Ji rcss love. And that was the end ' fen; Not being a cigaret i Not being JOHNNIE RAY On ‘Ten Commandments’ Hollywood. Arnold Fribcrg. a painted of Biblical subjects, has been signed by Cecil B. DeMille for a series of realistic pictures based oh the Scriptures. These will be used as foundation for the production de-. sign of “The Ten Commandments.” paintings will depict 12 importknt events including the Exodus and the Deliverance of the Ten Commandments.