Variety (October 1954)

MISCEIXANY P'S^iety Wednesday, October 13, 1954 The most recent attempt to chal- lenge' the authority of Writers Guild of America appears to have fizzled completely in New York. An American Newspaper Guild call to “all writers in the broadcasting industry” drew 35 scribblers to a leeting in ,N.Y. Monday-dl), and at least 12 of them were sent as counter-missionaries by WGA. ANG reportedly Will take no ac- tion unless it gets at least 150 in- terested parties. As a matter of fact, there was little hope held out by members of the hard-core WGA opposition. The CBS continuity shop in N Y,, for example, will probably now accept membership in WGA. That shop, left up in the air by dissolu- tion of Television writers of Amer- ica; will hold meetings next Wed- nesday (20) for a reappraisal of the union situation. The Newspaper Guild declared in a letter to all broadcast writers last week that “it is impossible for any single uriaffiliated union to win an effective contract in television and radio.” an obvious reference to (Continued On page 71) First Oscar Straus Biography Due March 5 London, Oct. 12. The first biography of Oscar Strauss is due to be published here next March 6, the 85th birthday of the late composer. It will be called “Prince of Vienna.” This authorized biog is 'authored by Bernard Grun, a lifelong friend and pupil of the composer. He spent many months.with the mae- stro and later with, his widow, scru- tinizing documents. The author was. for yearsmusical adviser to Jack Hylton and con- ducted wartime revivals of “The Merry Widow” and “The Lilac Domino” for him. He.recently com- pleted,, in collaboration with Eric Maschwitz, a new adaptation of “Flederrriaus,” under the title of “Pink Champagne.” The score has been published by Francis, Day & H^ter. STATEMENT REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF AUGUST 24th, 1912; AS AMENDED BY THE ACTS OF MARCH: 3, 1933, AND JULY 2, 1946. ' (Title. 39, United States Code, Section 233,) showing the ownership, management and circu- lation Of Variety; published Week- ly at New York,, N. Y., for Octo- ber 1, 1954, , 1. The names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing edi- tor, and business manager, are: Pub- lisher-Variety, Inc., 154 W. 46th Street, New York 36, N. Y. Editor—Abel Green, 154'. West 46th street, New York 36, N. Y. Managing Editor—Robert J. Landry 154 West 46th Street, New- York 36, . N. Y. Business Manager—Harold . Erichs, 154 West 46th sitreet, New York 36, N. Y, 2. The owner is: Variety, Inc., 154 West 46th St., New York. 36, N. Y.; Syd Silverman, 154 West-46th St-., New York 36, N, Y.; Estate of Si me Silverman, 154 West 46th St., New York 36* N. Y.; Harold - Erichs,. 154 West 46th 'St, New York 36, N; Y.; Abel Green, 154 West 46th St.. New York 36, N. Y. 3. The kndwn bondholders, mort- gagees and other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent, or more of total amount of bonds, mort- gages; Or other securities are: None. 4. ; Paragraphs 2 arid 3 include, in cases where the stockholder or se- curity holder appears upon the books •of tfie ^company as trustee or in any other .fiduciary, relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee, is acting;,also the state-, mcnts . in. the two. paragraphs show the affiant's, full knowledge and be-' lief as to the circumstances and. con- ditions under which stockholders and., security holders who do not appear, upon the books of the com- pany as. trustees, hold stock arid secnrili.es in a capacity other, than that of a bona fide owner. , 5. The .average number of copies of each issue of this .publication sold or distributed through the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers the 12 months preceding the date , shown above is . . ,, (This information is, required froi ’ daily, weekly, semi-weekly and tri- weekly newspapers only.) Harold Erichs, Business Manager. ..Sworn to and. subscribed before this 27th day o* September, 19f)i. Sidney Bernstein ■Notary Public 31-0272825 Mly commission expires March 30. 1955.) • < U.S. Stars at Command London, Oct. 12; , Bob Hope, Frankie Lai , Guy Mitchell,. Harry. Green,, and the Schalier Bros; head the American Contingent for the Royal Command variety show at the Palladium •NoV; 1. British stars include Noel Cow- ard; Gladys: Cooper,; Norman Wis- dom, Crazy Gang, Googie Withers and Jack Hylton. Resume in Italy; Lopert Sued by Isa Miranda Rome, Oct. 12. Season for legal, battles appears to have started once, again in the field of local show, biz. after a brief summer respite. Italian courts cur- rently are spotlighting two suits involving entertainers, one of them concerning a U.S. company. First of these, was filed last week (Wed.): by Isa Miranda, against Lopert Films, producers ipf “Sum- mertime,” pic in which Miss Mi- randa is appearing. According to reports, actress claims she's been damaged “both artistically and. contractually,” elaborating that her contract was revoked three days before its termination date while she still had three more days shoot- ing: scheduled. Thesper further stated that her role had been cut to one of minor importance, and that it was furthermore of Suffi- cient immorality to damage her personality and reputation; Vene- tian court, called on to judge the case, has called in Ottavio Croze, director of local film fete, as tech- nical consultant. ; “Summertime” is a Katherine Hepburn, starfer, directed by David Lean for Ilya Lopert, and entirely shot in Venice. Also featured with (Continued on page 71) MELODRAMA IN LONDON London, Oct. 5. When “The Spider’s Web” moves >| into the West End after its current provincial tryout tour, Agatha Christie will have three crime meL levs running in town. The others are “The Mousetrap,” now ap- proaching its 750th performance at the Ambassador’s and- “Witness for the Prosecution,” which cele- brates its first anni the end. of this month. The Agatha. Gbristie trio is pre- sented by Peter Saunders, who is financing.' “Web” entirely out of his profits without participation by outside backers. The new play stars Margaret Lockwood with ! Felix Aylmer. An earlier Christie success, “The Hollow,” has been revived for a road tour, with Jeanne de Casalis in her original West; End role. Bing Crosby on Film For ‘Toast* to Irv Berlin Major studios’ romance with Ed Sullivan; is continuing, now by way of a tieup with Paramount; Sulli- van and a Pa? camera crew spent two days at Bing: Crosby’s Monte- rey, Cal., home last week filming a 12-minute Short for exposure on Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town” CBS-rTV program next Sunday (17). Briefie pic focuses on Croshy as he sings three tunes from “White Christmas” and engages in conver- sation with Sullivan. Set to appear “live” on the show is Irving. Berlin, who provided; the full score lor “Christmas.” Abbey Marks 50th Anni Dublin, Oct, 5. Abbey will celebrate . 50th anni of its opening here Dec. 27th by restating the two plays presented opening night, “On Baile’s Strand” by W. B. Yeats and “Spreading the News” by . Lady Gregory. Ria Mooney is expected to stage both pieces. Anniversary performances will be staged in. Queen’s Theatre where company has. been playing since the Abbey building was burned down. The presentations .will cause temporary suspension of frlsh-language 'pantomime which Abbeyite$ are staging,' ‘ ' HORACE HEIDT . Box ,472 Van Nuys, California The Metropolitan Opera closed-, circuit telecast for Theatre Net- work Television on Nov. 8 has a flexible scheme whereby the shar- ing terms rise or fail in propor- tion. to the Volume of tickets -sold by local tie-up. Metropolitan Opera Guild ‘ doing actual legwork through associated groups, in key centers. Where a sponsoring group sells out the house, the terms are 60- 40. However; if the local theatre has to do its own ticket selling, the deal Calls for a 50-50 split of the wicket take. The down-the- middle cut has not found favor with all film theatre managements. The Walter Reade circuit has nixed the opera: for its Asbury Park house on the basis of the terms. But Nate Halpern .still, "hopes to close a deal with Reade before Nov, 8. The Indian Theatre in Indianapolis, with the support of the local music club, lias already sold out the 3,100 seater, With about $6,000 in the till. Admission prices vary in different situations* (Continued on page 71) Widow Sues For Unused Kern Tunes in ’34 Musical; 'Los Angeles, -Oct, 12. Suit for the retiirn of five mu- sical numbers composed by the late Jerome Kern was filed in Su- perior Court by his widow, Mrs. Eva Kern Byron, and his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Kern Cummings, with Loew’s, Inc., named as de- fendant. Numbers, in manuscript form, were delivered to Metro in 1934 for use in "Champagne and Orchids,” a film project that was discontin- ued. Complaint cohtends the com- poser was entitled to the return of the five numbers. Defendants agreed to give the plaintiffs access to the music blit maintain that rights to the numbers belong to Loew's. SEXY TAGS FOR U.S. FIX ’Wicked Woman- Plays 3 Chile Houses Retitled ’Perverted* Santiago, Oct. 5. Sexy Spanish, titles on American pix hit a new high here with cur- rent simultaneous playing of “Wicked Woman” (Col) at the Santa Lucia, Oriente and Valdivia theatres. Film was tabbed “La Petr vertida” (“Perverted”) to-catch the eye. Other tags recently were given even bigger changes. “Young Bess” (M-G) was released as “La Reiria. Virgen” (“Virgin Queen”). “Knock on Wood” (Par) was .titled “Agar- rame Si Peudes” (“Catch Me If You Can”). “Hell and High Water” (20th) went out here a$ “Proa a! Infierno” (“Headed For Hell”). "Glenn Miller Story” (U), wound up. “Nlusica. y Lagrimas” (“Music and Tears”) while “The Band- [ wagon” (M) became “Brindis al ! AftYo^\“To5&’t6 LavfcPj. Cleveland Amory to Metro Cleveland Amory heads for the Coast late next week to write a screen treatment of his book, “Jazz Festival,” at Metro, George Wells* is to produce. See Oldtime Circus With Double Pachyderm Dose Omaha, Oct, 12: Although Ringling BrbS;-Barnum & Bailey has been in streamlined theatricalized format for nearly a generation, bossman John Ringling North was reported here as con- sidering the ^revival' of a couple of items which" preceded his entry upon the tanbark as the poobah* of the "Big Show. North was not on the scene when the show played heie (he usually hotfoots it to Europe: when the eastern engage- ments are concluded), but from sources close to him a number Of shifts arid additions to be applied next season were freely aired. According to them, the major change would centre around an en- larged menagferie, with a hike of the elephant herd froi 28 to— count 'em-r-50, plus the addition of an extravagantly architectured pachyderm that could be billed as the “modern*Jumbo.”' Digging well back into the past, these insiders also declared that North may try to bring back the Ubangis, those saucer-lipped guys & gals from Africa who were spotted in the menagerie tent and proved huge lures. However, this news—if that’s what it becomes-—will hardly meet with joyful response from Ringling . personnel, since the troupe with the elongated lips did not exactly practice the best sani- tary habits. Another report says North will up the size of the showtrain con- siderably, despite mounting costs that have left only two rail cir- cuses on the road today. North is said to believe the flash of a larger train would help the b.o. Arid, of course, there undoubtedly will be the usual new acts brought over from Europe after’North’s scouting expeditions. Meanwhile, the show is .finding biz so good through the midwest that an additional week has been tacked on to the route, with the closing now set for Nov. 28 in Miami. The only other time: the Big One has been out so long was in 1942, when it closed Nov. 30. A late October closing is; customary. * ‘ ' I * ■■■■ , ■ ■■ ■ Free Filins for Kiddies In Poland During Church Manchester, N.H. Oct. 12. In Poland, the Communist trick to wean children away from church is to offer them free films at the same hour masses are being held. This was the report brought here by Jan Hadjukiewicz* a Polish Iron Curtain refugee, who was em- ployed by the foreign, trade office at Lodz, and. later, although not a member of the Communist party, was sent to Korea as an interpreter with the United Nations truce com- mission. He speaks five, languages. By ART SETTEL Is “Voice of America” fighting hack against the relentless, globe- encircling, Moscow-operated, hate- America campaign, which has the earmarks’of a vast crusade? What is the basic policy of the U. S. Information Agency in re-, plying to the round-the-clock at- tacks upon us by the Cominforni, and, is this policy a success? There is and always has been . healthy and voluminous evidenc of “effectiveness” availabre to der fenders of the broadcasting service of . USIA—known, as the “Voice,” and just, as: much ammunition to thbse who have wanted to use th organization as a target. The Russians spepd tens of mil- lions to jam the frequencies over which the U. S. broadcasters try to penetrate the Iron Curtain, and. were it not^for the ingenuity of our native engineers who .are forever thinking up new and. better, gim- micks to beat this jamming, the Voice would be out of business. Best example* of this ingenuity is. the. U. S. Coast Guard Cutter “Courier,” which., was described when launched a year ago as “th first of a potential fleet of sea- going radio broadcasting stations of the Voice of America.” The one-time Navy cargo vessel, 5,800 tons in Weight and 338 feet from stem to stern, carried one 150,000-watt medium wave trans- mitter, three times as powerful as the then largest broadcasting sta- tion in the nation. It also sported two 35,000-watt shortwave trans- mitters, communication equipment, Diesel engines capable Of generat- ing 1,500,000 watts of electrical power for the radio gear; perma- nent shortwave antenna, a 65 by 35 captive barrage balloon with a capacity of 150,000 cubic feet of helium, and used to float .900 feet i the air supporting medium- wave antenna. Floating Propaganda This little-publicized floating ra- dio station has been doing a little- heralded job pf broadcasting froi (Continued on page 62) Wm. Morris Endowment Gifted to Columbia U. Hollywood, Oct. 12. William Morris Agency, which has an exclusive contract with Colum- bia U. to create and produce radio and tv shows and. feature films, has .contributed an endowment fund to the University. Income frdm $25,000 fund re- ceived from the Morris agency in connection with the Pulitzer Prize will be used for the support of the Graduate School of Journalism. Laine Back to U S. in Nov. Edinburgh, Oct. 5. Frankie Laine, topping here in vaude, returns to the U. S. on the lie de France from Southampton Nov. 2. He will be joined by his wife, Nan Gray, during his vaude week at Birmingham Oct. 18. Laine likely will reach the Coast around NoV. 13, Starts pronto shoot- ing more vidpi . Plans for 1955 include more lensing for tv, a trip to Las Vegas and a possible stint in N. Y. *14. Subscription Order Form Enclosed find check for $ Please send VARIETY.for y*“. 19.13 To Street (Pleas* Print Name) City Zone. 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