Variety (May 1954)

8 MISCELLANY Grants, FCC toWekome’ ToR-TV? Federal Communications Com- 4 mission is willing and ready to proceed with hearings on toll-tv as soon as application for a com* mercial pay-as-yoiwtee license is filed by Skiatron Electronics & TV Corp., Skiatron stockholders were told last week at their an- nual meet In N. Y. Skiatron is readying such an ap- plication to the Commission for the Subscriber-Vision system of fee-tv which it has licensed to a group headed by Matthew Fox. Kurt Wldder, Skiatron treasurer and general counsel as well as one of the company’s eight directors, said the FCC had been sounded out by three different persons prior, to the Fox licensing deal and that each survey had established that, once faced with the issue of toll- tv, the FCC would act on it. Stockholders were told that the FCC hadn’t acted on the Zenith Radio Corp. application for Phone- vision since Zenith hadn’t been technically ready. They were told further that the urgency of the UHF situation would definitely aid the tollcasters in their bid for a green light since 'it is embarrass- ing to the FCC when UHF broad- casters turn-in their licenses” on the grounds that they can’t com- pete with VHF channels. Meet reelected the entire Skia- . tron board headed by prexy Arthur Levey, who answered a series of questions from-the floor. Among other things he termed "complete nonsense” the assertion made by Millard C. Faught, economic con- sultant to Zenith, that the Skia- tron code could easily be decoded. He pointed out that the code had' a half million variations and could literally be changed from minute- (o-minute if necessary. James M. Landis, Skiatron gen- eral counsel, didn’t attend the (Continued on page 35) Art Students League Annual Masque Caper Unmasks Everything The Art Students League prob- ably throws the. most lavish and most abandoned bal masque in the country.' Their affair Friday (30) at the Plaza Hotel, N. Y., again proved that the ASL Dream Ball, for the benefit of the League’s scholarship fund, is big business. With an attendance estimated at around 2,000, scaled from $5 for members of the League, $10 for general admission, $20 each at the tables, and $25 in the boxes, gross hit $10,500 and that means a lot of prospective Rembrandts are go- ing to be kept in the pigments and canvasses they’d like to be accus- tomed to. This bal masque is an annual event dedicated to the mass de- fiance of convention by those free souls forced by custom and eco- nomics to live in a conventional world. It’s one of the few occa- sions in New York where they can defy convention—get applauded for it, and perhaps get a prize' in the process. This Dream Ball reached the apex in the turnout of near nudes and Krafft-Ebingltes. The exhi- bitionism reached its height in several costumes. As the motif was Greek the nudity and cos- tumes fell Into several interesting (Continued on page 61) Danny Kaye’s Socko Click in South Africa Johannesberg, May 4. That South Africa may soon be in the middle of a Danny Kaye-itis epidemic is quite possible, MItting was extra-heavy for the American performer in his opening at the Schlesinger circuit’s Colosseum. He’s slated for two-a-night for the next 16 days, and is expected to gross better than $280,000. Kaye, on the boardb for an hour and 25 minutes, did essentially the same turn he used in the New York Palace, opening with "Gypsy” am* ending with the familiar "Candy Kisses.” It’s safe to say that he was warmly received throughout. Session kicked off with the Dun- hills’ terping. Thrush Ann Crowley and ventriloquist Senor Wenceg, a frequent appeare.r on Ed Sullivan’s American "Toast of the Town,” rounded out the evening. The first show went on at a little past 6 p.m., followed three hours later by-the second session. Owners of the 2,100 seat-film house have in- dicated that gross for the 32 Kaye performances will clear £ 100,000 if receipts continue at their pres- ent rate. Pews go for £2.2.0 ($5,907) tops. Kaye’s popularity In South Af- rica is attested to by a report that special police and "security” guards have been hired by the [ Schlesinger outfit to fend off Jo- hannesburg street crowds. Police- men surround the comedian’s suite at'the local Lord Carlton Hotel as well. Czar’s ‘Daughter,’ In Germany, a Threat To Tatiana’ Play on B’way Literary and legit agent Miriam Howell is currently in Paris in an attempt to straighten out prospec- tive Broadway production plans for "Tatiana,” an adaptation of a Parisian drama dealing with a sup- posedly surviving daughter of Czar Nicholas II. Production, announced for the fall by Elaine Perry, are being delayed by the threat of a woman now living In Germany, who claims to be the czar’s daugh- ter in question. Play, by Marcelle Maurette, was a success lh Paris and Guy Bol- ton's English translation, titled "Anastasia,” recently closed in London. Because of possible con- fusion with New York waterfront characters named Anastasia, the piece has been renamed "Tatiana” for Broadway. Although Miss Perry hopes to go ahead with the show next fall, she is leary of the possibility of litigation, as were various other New York producers who consid- ered the property. It’s recalled that Metro was socked for huge damages some years ago in con- nection with the film, "Rasputin,” when a former Russian prince liv- ing in New York won a libel suit. The woman in Germany would stand to Inherit, if she could legally establish that she. is a surviving daughter of the czar, some $80,- 000,000 of Romanoff funds in the Bank of Ergland. Subscription Order Worm Enclosed find check for $ Please send VARIETY for ?wo Ye“* (Plea** Print Nam*) Street City Zone.... State Regular Subscription Rates One Year—$10.00 Two Years—$18.00 Canada and Foreign—$1 Additional per Year P'RfilETY Inc. 154 West 46th Street New York 36. N. Y. HORACE HEIDT Currently On Tour Under Personal Management WALTER PLANT . The Human Side Of OF Kaintuck’s Run for the Roses By NFJ> ARMSTRONG Louisville, May 4. The aftermath qf the Kentucky Derby always seems to leave the nation’s sporting fraternity a little dazed and undone. Something big happened; but what was it? In one sense, the Derby is the end of turfdom’s calendar year. There is no greater; more continu- ous and richly embellished celebra- tion anywhere in the .country. This year was the 80th annual. It isn’t a horserace. It’s a human event. A number of very fine horses do run here at the Derby each year, j but this is more or less a spectacu- I lar and brief sideshow. The big race runs slightly over two min- utes but the big party starts a week before and lasts two days after the race. : The main thing about the Ken-, tucky Derby is being here. One re- vered devote^ of this racing event attended the Derby 14 straight years without ever getting to see the big race itself. Too much else was happening of interest. Kentucky is proud of the Derby and the traditions associated with this unique congregation of men, women and thoroughbreds. Celeb- rities from everywhere are in vast attendance, but not in particularly (Continued on page 15) FRIARS’ FUNFEST FOR RED BUTTONS The Friars’ celebrity luncheons are functions that achieve the height of good-natured ribaldry. It’s the kind of affair in which stag humor is at its broadest and inside showbiz jibes reach a peak. Last week’s (Thurs.) tribute to Red Buttons at the Park-Sheraton Hotel, N. Y., was probably one of the best of the series given by this showbiz organization. The rostrum was a who’s who of the comics cur- rently in town, with one notable exception, Jackie Gleason, whose offices and residence is in one of the larger suites in that inn, failed to come downstairs to pay tribute to a fellow CBS-TV comic on the ros- trum. This absence wasn’t noted officially, but most of the those in the overflow audience didn’t over- look that point. The Friars shindigs are becom- ing as noted as the Saints & Sinners affairs and there’s generally a bet- ter showbiz representation. But- (Continued on page 31) ‘Life of Jean Harlow 9 Hollywood, May 4. Sam Bischoff has closed a deal to film the "Life of Jean Harlow.” He will commence screenplay prepara- tions immediately. Deal is with the late star’s mother and Arthur Landau, Miss Harlow’s representa- tive during her entire film career, Laudau, whom Miss Harlow af- fectionately called "Pops,” will be an integral character in the story. It was under his guidance she rose from obscuritv to fame before her death on June 7, 1937. No casting yet although Marilyn Monroe is the obvious leading earn didate. Wednesday, May 5 , I954 Show Biz Personages At ‘New’ Gretna Green Washington, May 4 . A budding Gretna Green in the capital area has attracted a suc- cession of show biz marriages with* in past fortnight. Teed off by nup- tials of,tv?film star Martha Raye to Ed Begley, two weeks ago, the orange blossom parade in Arling- ton, Va M , directly across the river from Washington, continued this week with three more weddings of show biz figures. Former film mbppet Jackie Coo- per, age 31, was married to 26- year-old Barbara Rae Kraus, mem- ber of the production department of a New York ad agency. Couple returned immediately to New York to make curtain time of "King of Hearts,” groom’s, current chore. On the very same day, Thursday (29), band leader and talent scout Horace Heidt, just winding up a week's nitery stint at Statler Ho- tel, took the vows with Mrs. Lor- raine E. Burton, 39-year-old salad dressing manufacturer from . the west 0 coast. Stepping up to the altar immediately after his boss was Dick James Kerr, impression- ist with the Heidt troupe, who was married to Burdeen E. Fitzgerald of Encino, Cal. In contrast to the courtroom ceremonies of the pre- ceding two show biz couples, latter two ceremonies were held in church. Although some fast flackery had jam packed the Arlington court- room for the Martha Raye-Ed Beg- ley nuptials, the other weddings were held in comparative quiet and'sans fanfare. Cooper expressed surprise that there was aiiy audi- ence at all to the ceremony, stating he had flown here from New York to keep things "quiet and simple.” Pulitzer Kudo Third Of Season for Teahouse’; Lindbergh Yarn Cited John Patrick.is the top award- winning playwright of the 1953-54 season. His adaptation of Vern Sneider’s novel, "Teahouse of the August Moon,” has already re- ceived three of the major drama awards. Prior to landing the Pu- litzer Prize for drama Monday (3), play had already copped the Antoi- nette Perry and New York Drama Critics^ Circle awards. "Teahouse” also received the Theatre Club and the Aegis Theatre Club awards. Pulitzer drama prize, $500 in cash, covers plays produced during the year ending March 31, and is for "the original American play which shall represent in marked fashion the educational value and power of the stage, preferably deal- ing with American life.” Charles A. Lindbergh’s autobiography, “The Spirit of St. Louis,” which Leland Hayward will produce for Warner Bros., won the $500 prize for an American autobiography "teaching patriotic and unselfish services to the people. Book was published by Charles Scribner’s Sons. There was no award this year for fiction, while the $500 prize for a United States history was awarded to Bruce Catton’s "A Stillness at Appomattox,” pub- lished by Doubleday & Co. DRIVEJNNEAR JAIL; FREE PIX FOR INMATES •St. Louis, May 4. Warden Clarence Weismantel and some Of the prisoners in. the local City Workhouse will be cuffo guests at the new ozoner being con- structed a block away from the in- stitution and being readied for a May 12 teeoff. A picture window in the Warden’s residence faces the ozoner and Weismantel is convert- ing it into a den with a clear view of the films. As a friendly gesture Mayor A. Roy Parker, Brentwood, St. Louis County, one of the owners of the ozoner, has run a line and a speak- er into the Warden’s residence. Prisoners in the south end of a cell block wijl have a good view of the screen about 1,000 feet away. However, they must eavesdrop without sound. The ozoner is the only one within the local city limits. —O 4y i r »» i I Frill Joe Laurie Jr., who died at 5 <ui early Thursday morning (29) i n hi. 62d year at St. . Clare's Hospital New York, where he had been bedded for six weeks following •, heart attack, willed his eyes to the eye bank. But his heart belongs to show biz. It was true in life and undoubtedly will obtain for manv a year to come; • Of all the historians of the the atre, none loved show biz with the ardor and affection as did "little Joe”—"the oldest Junior this side of John D.”—whose passion for things theatrical was the epitome of "there’s no business like show business.” It was a manifestation long before 1 Irving Berlin gave the industry which he, too, loves it* fitting "theme song.” It was this ardor for the theatre which, his ihtfmate and lifetime friend and medicoj) ff)r»/Rlchard E Gordon, felt, cut from under him any will to live. As Joe was pros- trate on his bed of pain he realized that, as the multiple maladies hit his speech organs, this was finis to his professional career. For with- out the power to project that warm gift of gab—^that stream of endless humor—Joe felt that this would forever still any vocal communica- tion with his fellow-man. And Joe, unable to tell the latest story, was not even'an echo, of his garrulous, fraternal self. Dr. Gordon and the St. Clare’s hospital attendants who had long since adopted Joe as their No. 1 favorite patient, soon realized that he was fighting the expert medical aid being prof erred, and not making any effort to fight for his life. It started with a coronary, but it developed that Joe had everything wrong. Complications of kidney, liver, gallstones, esophagus and stomach followed the basic heart attack. He fluctuated from over- 200 high blood pressure to a low of 120, and never rallied as he couldn’t digest any food. In the final three days all this was fur- ther complicated by pneumonia. It was not cancer—just a deteriora- tion of the inner organs from a life- time of irregular sleeping and eat- ing habits which saw him working (Continued on page ,16) Newsreels, Facing Video ^ Competition, Curtail McCarthy Vs. Armj Newsreels have begun to cut ‘down on their coverage of the Army-McCarthy hearings in Wash- ington. Reels feel that they’re wasting a lot of footage by lensing the entire proceedings and that public interest in the hearings no longer justifies this expense. Up till now, each of the r*els have been covering the talky ses- sions with their own. cameras, a method wich one editor explained was cheaper than using a pool arrangement. This is due to the fact that, with a pool camera op- erating, each outfit must pay for a positive print which comes a lot higher than a negative. Newsreels, which haven’t put out any specials on the Army-Mc- Carthy row, are under a distinct handicap time-wise in view of the continuous tv coverage. By the time their iqaterial reaches the theatres, the arguments^ before the committee ard already old hat. Most reels will continue their coverage but with a view to high- lights only. McCarthy plansbill ON EQUAL TIME REPLY Washington, May 4. Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) plans to introduce a bill at tins session of Congress which would guarantee equal time on radio or tv to anyone who is attacked on free time. The Senator said his oni would apply only where the attack is made, on free time. - Under FCC policies, equal time is, in effect,'required for presenta- tion of both sides of a controversial issue regardless 'of whether the initial broadcast is on paid or free time. The Commission does noi compel a station or network w grant equal time, but may hold UP renewal of license on complaint 0 unbalanced presentation.