Variety (December 1954)

BBC’s Apology British Broadcasting Corp. broad- cast an apology twice to the Scot- ch Daily Record, Glasgow for re- nvii'ks made during an edition of Sc radio serial. "Mrs. Dale's Diary.” The journal was referred to in uncomplimentary terms. Statement from the BBC said: ••■’ lie BBC regrets that in an edi- tion ot Mrs. Dale’s Diary’ certain references were made to a newspa- per described as the Daily Record. The BBC would like to make it dear that such broadcast refer- ences were never intended to refer to the wellknown morning news- paper of that name published and minted in Glasgow with a circula- tion throughout Scotland and else- where.” _____ Real-Life (?) Novel Rights to “The Man Who Would Be God,” new novel by Dr. Haakon Chevalier, bone of contention in the J. Robert Oppenheimer-A- bomb case, have been bought by Editions de Seuil for France. Paul List for West Germany, and op- tioned by Victor Goliancz fori Great Britain. The completely bilingual former 1 University of California literature professor wrote his roman a clef (novel in which the characters are easily recognized as characters in real life* originally in French and then did his own translation into English. List has recently published Che- valier’s first novel ‘‘For Us The Living,” originally brought out by Knopf in the U. S. and by Seeker j and Warburg in London. Chevalier is best known for his English translations of Malraux, Aragon. Salvator Dali, Maurois, Vercors and Kessel. Paris’ Literary Prizes The three big Parisian literary prize plums of the year were given out last week, with the recipients getting cash prizes and the pub- lishers getting hiked sales with the possibilities of pic rights. These prizes, the Goncourt, Femina and Priz Renaudot,* are what publish- ers work towards all year, hoping these bonanzas will fall into their laps. Every outfit needs one big one to pull him through the many mediocre volumes which have been the lot of late. Goncourt, the most important prize both prestigewise and com- mercially, went to Simone De Beauvoir for her kingsize novel “Les Mandarins’’; the Femina to Gabriel Veraldi for his ‘‘La Ma- chine Humaine,” and the Renaudot to Jean Reverzy for his *'La Pas- sage.” At the same time writer Jean Giono was elected to the Gon- court Academy to replace the re- cently-deceased Colette. Dior .Bra’s ‘Best* Billing For the 12th successive year, Mademoiselle mag has just named the ‘‘Ten Young Women of the Year.” Recipients of the mag’s 1954 Merit Awards for “signal ac- complishment in their fields” in- clude: actress Eva Marie Saint for her performance in the film, “On the Waterfront”; comedienne Carol Haney for her performance in “The Pajama Game” legiter; dancer Diana Adams for her work in the pic, “Knock on Wood,” and with the New York City Ballet, and concert singer Mattiwilda Dobbs. A special award is being made this year to the Dior Bra, which is cited / as “the most revolutionary fashion change since Christian Dior’s New Look in 1947.” New Spectator Editor Tan Gilmour, who is principal shareholder of the Spectator, Lon- don weekly review, was named editor of the journal last week. He is a 28-year-old lawyer and this is Ins first experience in journalism. Ian Hamilton, who has held the job of assistant editor for the past two years, has been appointed as- sociate editor. Acting Business Legit-radio-tv actor Merrill E. Joels has authored a tome, “Acting Is \ ° U r Business,” on means of getting into tele and radio as a performer. Guide-book, intended for pros as well as newcomers, will be pub- lished next March by Hastings House, N. Y. f in hard-cover bind- British Stage Annual „ f Theatre World Annual No. 5” (Macmillan; $3.75) is written and compiled by Frances Stephens, editor of the British stage maga- zine Theatre World. The book, roughly comparable to Daniel Blum s yearly “Theatre World” in this country, covers productions in London’s West End from June 1, 1953, to May 31, 1954. Casts are listed, but production credits are not as complete as in the U. S. vol- ume. Tome is liberally illustrated, and the pictures, generally, have greater clarity than the cuts in Blum’s work, which is printed by offset process. Donald Wolfit, apparently appre- ciated far more at home than abroad, is reported in a busy sea- son; Richard Burton enjoyed an outstanding personal success with The Old Vic; opera and ballet flourished. Dame Edith Evans rates the cover portrait for her work in Christopher Fry’s ‘‘The Dark Is Light Enough,” a perform- ance of “wonderful charm and spirituality.” Down. Martha Deane’s Cook Book “Martha Deane’s Cooking for Compliments,” just published by Barrows, is by the WOR commen- tator, Marian Young Taylor (“Mar- tha Deane”), and includes recipes by show biz personalities like Sophie Tucker, John Gambling, Gayelord Hauser (“Greta Garbo’s favorite luncheon dish”), Jeanette MacDonald, Mariko Niki, et al. The ~ chatterer’s prolific spot radio commercials all over the metropolitan N.Y. area, in addition to plugging on her own show, has resulted in beaucoup reorders. Jessel Delivers His Book While George Jessel is in New York doing a special promotional pitch for his alma mammy studio, 20th, on its “No Business Like Show Business,” he’s delivered the final revisions of his memoirs and speeches to Henry Holt & Co. It’s titled “This Way, Miss,” addressed to Jerilyn Jessel, his 12-year-old daughter, and intended to update her on the world’s churning hap- penings during her formative years. William Saroyan did the fore- word. Publication in the spring. Jessel addressed a Holt sales meet- ing as part of the preliminary ballyhoo. J. Bryan 3d A Busy Kid Former Satevepost associate editor Joe Bryan 3d, currently freelancing and residing in Rome, is preparing a biography of P. T. Barnum for Random House pub- lication. He’s living in Henry Ringling North’s apartment in Rome, and with the circus season over, North will join him there shortly and will help on the re- search. Second book venture in Bryan’s immediate plans is a series of children’s stories for an Italian publisher, tentatively titled “Uncle Romulus.” Work on the Barnum biog will start as soon as Bryan wraps up a series on the Duke of Edinburgh for Holiday. Same mag has a couple of other pieces in type by Bryan, and Satevepost has scheduled his piece on a jet flight across the Atlantic for January publication. Order Belfrage Deported Onetime Hollywood writer and presently National Guardian editor Cecil H. Belfrage has been ordered deported by U. S. Immigration Service inquiry officer on the grounds of “Communist Party membership.” Belfrage, a British subject, said he’d appeal the order. Inquiry officer, according to the Dept, of Justice, said that a hear- ing had determined that Belfrage had been a Party member at the time of and since his latest re- entry into the country. Belfrage entered the U. S. in 1937, and re- entered in 1945. Former ‘Variety’ Scribe Cited Newsman Sgt. George F. Gaal, former United Press and Variety correspondent in Hungary and Germany, was presented a*Certifi- cate of Achievement on his dis- charge this week by Col. A. T. McAnsh, Commander of the Psy- chological Welfare Center, Fort Bragg, N. C. Gaal was cited for his work in the Public Information Office of the Center, home of Army propa- ganda training. For the past year he sparked the news output of the Center. A native of Hungary, the 26- year-old reporter came to this country in 1952. Brit. Show Biz Scene “In Show Business Tonight” (Hutchinson, London; $1.75), is the third of a series authored by Peter Duncan, producer of the BBC’s only simulcast, “In Town Tonight." It’s an account of the show biz scene, mainly as seen through his work with the BBC. Briskly written, the book adroit- ly steers from the controversial and contains a wealth of impres- sions gained in Britain and the U. S. over a span of 21 years. Myro. Thomson Eyes Brit. Com'l TV Roy Thomson, Canadian news- paper owner and boss of Scotsman Publications, Edinburgh, is trying lo enter the commercial tv field in Britain. Wants to tie in the Labor Party in Scotland. He already has commercial tv interests in Canada. CHATTER Ayrshire Post, Scotland, cele- brating 75th birthday. Dexter Masters has completed his novel, “The Accident” which will be published by Knopf this spring. Pinky Lee’s “Otto the Bashful Pup,” book of verses for children, will be published in February by Dial Press. Current (Dec. 18) issue of the Saturday Evening Post has an article by Lionel Hampton titled “Me and Benny Goodman.” Screen writer Hugh Gray’s first novel, “The Wondrous Road,” deal- ing with ancient Rome, will be published by Harcourt Brace. Chic, a new “purse-size” maga- zine for women, being brought out by Berkley Publishing Corp. Monthly will be edited by Margo Korda. Archie McCulloch new chief show-scribe of Glasgow Evening Citizen, with assistance from Rob- ert Hewitt (theatre) and John McShane (radio). Pocket Magazines (Tempo, Quick, Bold and Point) will begin taking advertising after the first of the year. Allen Camelli named ad manager for the mag group. Managing editors of tw r o of Ne- braska’s leading, papers last week were named presidents of their cities’ Chambers of Commerce. Honored were Bill Lee, Ord Quiz, and Floyd Wismer, Scottsbluff Star Herald. Beaverbrook Newspapers plan- ning to launch a new evening newspaper in Manchester, Eng. City already has two evening sheets, the indie Evening News and the Kemsley - owned Evening Chronicle. Literary-play agent John Tiffany Elliott is playing his annual cir- cuit of lecture dates, talking on books and plays. His first date was last Saturday (11) and he’ll be in and out of New York for appear- ances through January. Profile of Alec Frutin, Russian- born Scot impresario, and owner of the Metropole Theatre, Glasgow (where Sir Harry Lauder made his professional bow), was penned by Jack House in the Glasgow Eve- ning News “They Struck It Rich” series. Colorado U.’s campus humor mag, the Flatiron, last week was suspended despite the fact it had been described as a "howling suc- cess and making money fast.” A school spokesman said its success was attributed to “top much em- phasis on sex and alco'hol.” Authors, scribes and colleagues tossed a testimonial dinner to James Seager, editor-in-chief of the Edinburgh Evening News, for 50 years’ service with the journal. Speakers included Sir Robert Bruce-Lockhart and Roy Thomson, owner of Scotsman Publications. Jim Bishop, editor of Catholic Digest, has just started a CD Book Club (30,000 members so far) with the first three publications com- prising Giovanni Guareschi’s “Don Camillo,” Lillian Roth’s "I’ll Cry Tomorrow” and “The Deliverance of Sister Cecilia,” as told to Wil- liam Brinkley. George Biderman, who has been doing public relations for the Pre- mium Advertisers Assn, of Amer- ica, N. Y., has been named its exec- utive secretary as of Jan. 1 but will also continue his own PR busi- ness. He has recently been han- dling promotion for the Drew Pear- son newsletter. Robert M. Jones has resigned as managing editor of Better Homes & Gardens, effective Jan. 1. He will become editor of Family Circle, a magazine with 4.300,000 circulation distributed through grocery chains. He had been with Lhe Meredith Publishing Co. (BH&G) for nine years. Hugh E. Curtis is editor. Dean Jennings, Frisco freelance scribe and former columnist for the Chronicle, scored an unusual double with his current piece in the Saturday Evening Post on Frankie Laine. This is the second full-length feature on Laine that Jennings has sold. The first one was to Collier’s a couple of years ago. - ... - ' , SCULLY’S SCRAPBOOK By Frank Scully Palm Springs. The sons of Sir A. Conan Doyle, who were built like tackles, called on Frank Harris, who was shorter than Readers Digest filler. Harris looked up to them. “Seems to me your father was bigger than you,” he said. Yes, they admitted with a condescending air, he was bigger. “And still is!” said Harris. Like Joe Cook, I couldn’t help thinking of them while reading Arthur Marx’s “Life With Groucho,” a Saturday Evening Post serial now manufactured in more permanent binding by Simon & Schuster for $3.50, index included. • It’s pepped up with footnotes by Groucho, a device favored by Essandess ever since they came upon it in an H. G. Wells version of history. I don’t recall thaf- the Doyle boys ever thrived on their pop’s bad grammar. In fact, I don’t remember anything they ever wrote. In this respect the Marxian sprout is a great improvement. But the fact remains that if Groucho had never quit school while still at P S, 86 and climbed to his present eminence, Arthur would have had a tougher time carving out a literary career either in tennis or biography. It is, of course, true that you must either look up or look down on your subject. Rarely can you loqk him right in the eye. Chesterton did when writing, of Shaw. But even here there were moments of hero-worship. I suspect the school of biographers who treated their subjects as microbe-hunters treat bacilli began with Strachey, but actually the method goes back to Michelangelo, who was working on a bust of Lorenzo de Medici A critic remarked that the statue didn’t look like Lorenzo to him. “I’ve known him for years and I wouldn’t recognize him from that bust,” he insisted. Michelangelo finally quit working and 9aid, “who will care whether it’s like him or not a thousand years from now?” History’s Longest Running Gag I suspect that Groucho never got over the amazement that anyone who went to USC could actually write at all, for his son went there at a time when there seemed to be two courses—football and track, with possibly an extra half credit for tennis. He obviously is proud of his son’s skill with words, even if maay of them seem to make him look a dope in his own household. , . That he was forever worried that he would end his days as a bit- player and for that reason saved his money, turned off house lights, which were not being used and were therefore enriching nobody but stockholders in a public utility, seems to me the best part of Grouch’s greatness. Arthur kids a lot about his old man’s penchant for annuities and comments wryly that now that he doesn’t need them they are fast maturing. But it may well be that the knowledge he has this sort of security behind him, accounts for his brashness before a mike and a tv p/inipra Didn’t Hope Start This Trend? Fact and fiction are expertly woven into this rag rug of belles lettres. Just about every gag that missed out when Clarence Day wrote “Life With Father” has been included in “JJfe With Groucho.” However, you can’t be too sure of this. Next spring Simon & Schuster bring out George Burns’ life and love, and until that one has been reviewed, the souped-up home life of stars of show biz cannot be considered a closed subject. In some ways, I feel like a covered wagon pioneer-watching the DeSotos and Plymouths speed by as these show biz books gather momentum and hit bestseller lists. Twenty years ago I used to bom- bard these once boy-publishers with show biz ideas, only to be quietly told that these characters are great to watch but in the publishing world they are strictly for the remainders. I had to retreat to high Olympus to get a show biz subject they believed might sell. That was G. Barnum Shaw. But since that time they’ve got so low they’re dredging the Salt Sea for likely subjects. Grouch belongs somewhere among the foothills of literature. He has written two books himself. His son says he wrote them himself and I believe he did. He’s a great reader, or was, and that’s the first step to becoming a writer, as author Arthur, the wounded tennis player, well knows. No longer a kid (he is now 33 and the father of two), he is well aware by now that Art is long and time is fleeting. He knows what to put in and what to leave out. At least he knows what to leave out when it comes to pitching for the bestseller market. The ribaldry of Grouch is not there at all. Neither are his thoughts on politics and religion—two mighty enduring subjects of this world and the next. This in a way should have me breathing a prayer of thanks, for it leaves the road open for Scully’s “Cross My Heart,” an autobiog- raphy with spiritual overtones which should be on the stands next fall in time for people who get terribly pious around Christmas time. Entertainment Is a Serious Biz The best part of “Life With Groucho” for my devoted public I believe will be found in the last third of the book. The gag file Is heaved overboard and the author gets down to trade-talk, showing how “You Bet Your Life” was conceived and how it is put together, run long, cut and edited. Like invitation tennis, the players are seeded and when even then they are off their game. Grouch is allowed a certain amount of second- guessing before the general public sees or hears what a studio audienct does. It is the right way to do such a show. People, being performers, junior grade, can’t be trusted completely. So questions are prepared to trap them into certain answers, whicA open the door wide for Groucho’s memory file of surefire ad libs. When one goes blue, it must take a terrific effort of will for Grouch not to top him. Just why people will not mind such humor in one gathering place and scream like Pharisees if it breaks out in another gathering place is strictly for Sumner’s “Folkways.” That’s the way people are and Grouch has learned to accept them at their own terms. He was even beaten down by public opinion to drop Cads and Fords for DeSotos and Plymouths as a means of transportation, though he claims that even in this he got an insider’s price. How To Save $7,000 I had rather hoped that a good provider like Grouch would have kept clear of the 1929 madness, but he seems to have been just a big chump at trying to get something for nothing in Wall St. as everybody else. Everybody else, that is, but me. He held out, too, against swimming pools until his grandchildren began visiting neigh- bors who had them and passed him up. • These are weaknesses, however, shared by so many that it would be churlish to hold him up to ridicule for participating in them. Nevertheless, I wish he had pointed out to his progeny that standing under a garden hose does everything a swimming pool does and in addition cuts down the hazards of death by drowning. A constant reader of Variety and The New Yorker, according to his son, Grouch nnce had this to say at a Coconut Grove banquet: “This is the first dinner I have attended in years that didn’t cele- brate Cantor’s birthday. Cantor’s birthdays are like the yearly anni- versary numbers of Variety. They happen about every six weeks. This, of course, isn’t so. It only seems so, and more to the editors than to the subscribers.