Variety (May 1930)

Wednesday, May 14, 1930 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 71 oiush and framed bis tintypes in modem rather than old fashioned. In the new book they are repro- duced and even more readable in a group, as may be evidenced by the names under the Skolaky discus- sion. For himself as the theme lyric of his first book, Sid selected that immortal remark by William Aiithonyii McGuire: "Broadway's a great street when you cire going up. When you're go- ing down—take Sixth Avenue." "Times Square Tintypes" has 50 tintypes, sketches, chapters or sub- jects. Each of the latter is in a niche by itself. Among them are Flo Ziegfeld, Dave Belasco, George Gershwin, . Roxy, Tex Guinan, George White, Sam Shlpman, Bill Brady, Earl Carroll, Fannie Brice, Jim Tully, Geo'. Cohan, Irving Ber- lin, Owen Davis, Helen Westley, El- mer L. Rice, Eddie Cantor, John Golden, Paul Whiteman, Bill Fields. Helen Morgan, Eugene O'Neill, Bill Shakespeare (Broadway by near- adoption), Carl Laemmle, Beatrice Lillle, Leslie Howard, George Kelly, Arthur Hopkins, Molly Picon, Ring Lardner, Al Jolson, Mae West, Sam H. Harris, [ Kelcey Allen, Joe Cook, Dorothy Gish, Dick Bennett, Al Woods (the original), Lynn Fon- tanne, J. P. McEvoy, Patrick Cain, Marx Brothers, Gertrude Lawrence, Jed Harris, Eva LeGalUenne, Rudy Vallee. Needed 291 pages to tell all. You can open ,the book at any page to read forward or backward and be still held, for Sid did his stuff here pungently. still lives on Grand street, on the East Side, despite his nice royalties and the lecture money he Is earn- ing now. Although only 28, Ahearn served four prison terms before going straight and turning author. His arrests totaled 22, and twice he faced murder charges. Ahearn tells all aoout It on the lecture platform, and it's no idle boast, either. And when he con- cludes with the statement that crime doesn't pay he means it; that's why he is now a writing man. London's Circulations Fastest newspaper campaigning In England has been scored by the "Daily Herald." Seven weeks ago It was taken over by Odham's, which has since gone to the public for additional stock subscriptions. Original circulation was a bit under 70,000 daily. Figure is now over 1,000,000 and lo6kd like soaring higher. Present world record claimed by London "Dally Mail," which sells 1,900,000 daily. "Herald" has for some years been the only Socialist daily in the coun- try, but despite the fact the elec- torate put Labor Into power at the last election only the capitalist presses could make the grade with the seven figure sales. Odham's, on taking over, grabbed the best leg men they ^could get out of Fleet Street, spelit dough like water on street advertising and even took space in rival papers. The sales drive, which has Includ- ed everything ever thought out by a circulation- department. Is still continuing and the figures are smashing up weekly, the paper be- ing generally voted the brightest of the London dailies with the possible exception of the "Express." "Her- ald" has, a tremendous chance just at present to beat both the "Mail" and the "Express," as these papers, usually slamming each other hard in the mutual drive to the 2,000,000 figure, have more or less combined in boosting Beaverbrook's Empire Free Trade campaign, which, after starting off big, looks like losing some speed on the corners. Goodby Attic On the strength of his story, "The Belle of Calomega," in a recent "Collier's," Jim Aswell got a con- tract from "College Humor" for ten stories during the next 18 months, for which he gets a grand per story. Aswell has left King Features, and goes to Europe shortly. Coleman's 2-Year Contract Bob Coleman will remain with the New York "Daily Mirror" for an- other couple of years at least. Bob Is dramatic editor of the tab and carries a by-line.. He also- looks after the ad end on a commission basis. Real Monickers Real names of authoris: Douglas Valentine is Valentine Williams, Dorothy Graham Is Mrs. James W. Bennett, Cleric is Abra- ham Burstein, William Shepard Is William Shepard Walsh, Cheiro is Louis Hamon, and Allen Grant is Arthur Douglas Howden Smith. Honor "Well" Author Eichelberger Gold Medal for 1930 for "outstanding achievement in the field of human endeavor" goes to Radclyffe Hall for her book, "Well of Loneliness." It's a slap at the puritans who tried to have it banned in this country without success. Violence Mags When Harold Hersey returns to New York around the end of the month he will get out at least five new mags, and possibly more, Titles for the new ones will be "Courtroom Stories," "Mobs," "Mur der Stories," "Gangland Stories' and "Astonishing Stories." "Gang land Stories" is not to be confused with "Gangster Stories," already published by Hersey. Her "30-Year War" Margaret Anderson, who founded and edited "The Little Review," has written her autobiography, calling It "My Thirty Years' War." In it she tells some nice and some not so nice things about writers, and also has some things to say about John S. Sumner, the vice-crusader, and Otto Kahn. . Hearst and. Radio W. R. Hearst is fairly authorita- tively reported angling for a piece of the Columbia Broadcasting Sys- tem. The publisher is interested in radio as another prospective side line and, from accounts, has been informed there is a spot with Co- lumbia to step into by the buy route. If not a direct buy, another deal may be for the broadcast of news over Columbia's system similar to the manner in which the Hearst people are sending daily news bul- letins to some stations in Califor- nia. On the Coast the news hook- up Is known as "Hearst Radio Ser- vice." Although Columbia Is the second largest radio system in the coun- try, the first NBC, is pretty far ahead of CBS from all angles. Film Rights Specialist Geoi'ge T. Bye, the literary agent, has opened a new office where -he will concentrate on the sales of film and radio rights to published stories, only. Bye has made a deal with a number of publishing houses by which he has the exclusive rights to their works for this purpose. Rogers' New Book Putnam's is still waiting for that book which Will Rogers was sup- posed to have turned over a couple of months ago. In reply to repeated telegrams from New York, Rogers says he will complete It when . Laemmle's Life That biography of Carl Laemmle is being shaped up, with all the necessary data on the life and ac- tivities of the showman already , on hand. Intimate Subject Dora Macy, who authored "Ex- Mistress" anonymously, will have a new book out, this one to carry her name. Title is "Night Nurse," and It purports to tell how men treat the girls who nurse them when tliey are ill. By- Product Stunt employed by Will.ird E. Hawkins to pusli the sales of hia book, "The Cowled :Mnnacf'," is to autogr.iph each copy it pnrohasr-d from him dircr-t. And lie al.'--o geif-' tlio publisher's discount. Eugene O'Neill, now living in France, has taken a cottage In "Brit- tany, near the seas, for a part of the summer. Two Pulitzer prize winners, Sid- ney Howard and Louis Bromfield, will write the story for the film which Evelyn Laye will make next fall for Samuel Gold^vyn. Norman Krasna, former dramatic editor of the New York "Graphic," is now in Burbank, Calif., function- ing as radio contact and special feature writer for First National studios. Ought to Know Dnnny Ahf-ani. t'lX' liter., ry lion oC the moment by viriuf of iiis book, "How to Conim-it a .Murder, " Hugo Gern.sback, staging a come- back .sinec the bankruptcy of his Kroup of publieatlons, has another new mafj, this one called "Every- day Mo'lianicH." Hollywood's Reading (Consensus of current de- mand at Satyr Book Shop, Hollywood Book Store, Esme Warde's Shop, Pat Hunt's Shop). Fiction 1. "Cimarron," Edna Fcrber. 2. "Party Dress," Joseph Her- gesheimer. 3. "Rogue Herries," Hugh Wal- pole. 4. "Vile Bodies," Evelyn Waugh. 5. "Woman of Androa," Thorn- ton Wilder. 6. "Laughing Boy," Oliver La- Farge. Non-Fiction 1. "Byron," Andre Maurois. 2. "Green Pastures," Marc Con- ley. 3. "Strange Death of Pre.sldent Harding," Gaston B. Means. 4. "Grandeur and Misery of "Victory," Georges Clemen- ceau. 5. Jews Without Money," Michael Gold. 6. "Goodby to All 'That," Rob- ert Graves. ^'The Seven Suspects" still heads Pat Hunt's fiction list, authors Florence Ryerson and Colin Clements having strong local appeal. The ex-books are dying off, although "Ex-Mis- tress" Is still one of Esme Warde's best, and "Ex-VIrgIn" appears in the conservative Hollywood Book Shop's list. Coming up next month Is "Ex- It." Satyr's pair of sixes Included "Scarface" In fiction and "Mata Harl" In non-fiction. native iknd. —yet. No English translation Nicholas L. Brown Is back book publishing, with "Tbng War." writ- ten by Eng Ylng Gong. After a quarter of a centnry as editor of "The Iron Age," Alvin I. Findley steps out. William W. Macon, of the staff, succeeds. "Home Digest," on© of the wom- en's mags, Is sending a representa- tive to Hollywood for a series of household stories to carry the by- lines of various feminine film celebs. Biiif-'rai'liy, In Oerman, of Max Si liTiielinir, the (■;f-rnian hope for tli'- wfirld'.s heavywiKht ''h.-jmplonsliir), | ern, Martha Lowman, Tom Helher in having a good .'■ale in the hoxvi -^' ini.-ifri arif) other.s, Futare Plays (Continued from page 67) Into rehearsal as first for new pro- ducing firm of Murphy and Kellcher. It bows In June 2 at Atlantic City and follows into the Hudson, New York, two weeks later. Cast Includes Dorothy Madero, Jack Eugene, William Sullivan, James O'Connor, George McDonald, Bernadine Ryan, Daisy Hetherlng- ton, Frank Keller, Ruth Mayberry, Alice Snyder, Grace Scott, Louise Shea, Tom Healy, Florence Kane, Dolores Link, Evelyn Shaw, Elaine SJlberbauer, Nan Crowley and others. "Subterfuge," comedy drama by Sam Orange, goes into rehearsal next week with author figuring as producer. Piece is due for spotting at Bayes Roof, New York, James M. Graf is casting new musical by Fred Herenden, Carlo and Sanders. Piece is untitled and goes into re- hearsal In two weeks. Edward A. Blatt and M. J. Nicholas have formed a legit pro- ducing combine for two forthcoming productions. The first will be a revue, "The New Yorker" now casting and due latter part of July. The other Is "What a Man," comedy by .Sidney Kingsley, which will go into re- hearsal simultaneously with the musical but with latter only sched- uled for a two weeks" summer try- out and shelving until autumn. "The Gimme Girl," musical is be- ing readied as next for the Cherry Lane, Greenwich Village, with Grace Vail, publicist figuring as producer. "The Devil's Moon," by William l'\ Manley is set as next for Urock I'embcrton and will be given a late summer tryout preliminary to be spotted at a New York house. "The Wharf Rat," melodrama by Irving JAiwia, goes into rehearsal next week with KoIKt and Ross as producers. Ca.st Includes I'atriek '■;alvln, Hugh Ca.sey, Florenee Worth, Loul.se Murray, Gertrude i'Dfii-r, Michael I>ane, Harry South London as It Looks By Hannen SwafFer London, May 1. Today i.-j Privato. View Day at the Roynl Academy^ which means that all sorts of semi-celebrities have been along to stare—not at the pictures but at themselves. One dowager of the stage has been known to wear three froeks in one day at tliis show! Oh, they do like to get their names in the papers. Augustus John Exposes Tallulah You would be surprised if you saw Augustus John's picture of Tallulah Bankhead, which should prove one of the sensations of the art year. Tallulah dressed up in a pale pink frock and went along, and John, whom I. regard as the master art cynic of oiir time, has painted her with dead eyes and dead hair, but with painted lips. She looks like a corpse, which the undertalter has dolled up a bit. Another John portrait is of Gerald du Maurier.' He has sat Gerald down in a lounge suit, so that he looks lijce Phil Scott in between the rounds, and the nervous look in Gerald's eye really makes him appear as though Phil Scott were expecting the knock-out. Immediately he stood up. • Another John portrait—that of Earl Spencer— exposes the guards, militarism, aristocracy, everything. That would not interest you so much, though, as the Tallulah picture. Dame Laura Knight has done some wonderful pictures of circuses again. There is a fine portrait of Oyril Scott, the composer, but there is not much more of a theatrical nature. More Squeals for Charity Dame Madge Kendal has been pleading again for the Actors' Benev- olent Fund, starting oft with a hundred dollars herself. She remains the most wonderful stage dowager of our time. Although 82, she still looks about 60, wearing a Victorian bonnet, and still re- maining a splendid orator whose every spoken word Is a triumph of diction. I have been asked to help the charity. I shall not do so. Stage' charities in England are woefully disorganized., If only the actors would demand 10% of the other charities they appear for, something might be done. Then no one would have to squeal. A few years ago, as I have told you, 1 think, the Prince of Wales was going to a supper arranged for one of these charities but when, at the last moment, he could not go and Fred Terry was left to take the chair, several leading stars stopped away altogether, left their seats empty! I have always regarded this as a crowning act of snobbery. A decent profession would have rushed to support Fred Terry, who Is a most popular actor manager. Paul Robeson Storm Threatens Dame Madge Kendal, by the way, acted Desdemona to the Othello of Ira Aldrldge, a Negro, sixty-five years ago, when she was seventeen! It did not seem to cause much excitement. I am reminded of this because, now that Paul Robeson Is to play- Othello to Peggy Ashcroffs white Desdemona In a few weeks, I ai^ already receiving letters of protest. I heard on the wireless, the other day, a wonderful speech by H. W. Pee't, who has Just returned from America, after studying the Negro problem. Because of It, the "New Amsterdam News" will be pleased to learn, I was urged to continue my work of conciliation. The colored choir from Hampton College arrives In a day or two. They are to sing for Ramsay MacDonald at a private party, and they have been asked to sing two hymns In Westminster Abbey. So I do not see why Paul Robeson, who is a mo.st distinguished African, cannot play Othello if he likes. I am Threatened With Murder I expect I shall get shot over that, but then, as, a few hours after I had criticized the wild eulogies of Greta Garbo's voice, announced as "The Voice for Which the Whole World Is Waiting," the other day, a man called Stringer wrote me from Manor Park saying that If I dared to criticize his Idol again he would murder me—outside my window as I write this, I see a poster "Threat to Murder Swalter"—I am used to It, I hope It Is meant seriously, as London Is getting rather Jeajous of Chicago these days. Now, this morjiing, George Atkinson, the Swaffer of the films, has on Page 1 of the "Dally Express" an article called "Greta Garbo Myth Exploded by a Talkie!" He cannot have heard of the murder threat made against me. Garbo has no sex appeal, says Atkinson, hers Is a voice without & soul, she underacts of overacts In nearly every scene. She looks as though she learned her part from a course of correspondence tuition. Murder gang—Atkinson Is yours, not Swaffer. Oh, what faked-up bunk film publicity Is! Knoblock, His Own Producer Eddie Knoblock produced his own play, "The Mulberry Eush," at the Criterion, the other night, but It did not promise success.. A man called Evelyn Roberts played a Charles Hawtrey part with Charles's voice but without his powers of acting, arid three woman—Frances Carson, Mercia Swinburne and Dorothy Tetley—were all so-so. Knoblock usually stands at the back of the circle during his first nights and looks rather profound. In the stalls was Arnold Bennett, part author with Knoblock of "Mile- stones," which had just run eleven weeks in the same theatre. "The Mulberry Bush" lasted for two hours. I should think It will do that for about three weeks. Sherriff Does Not Like "Hamlet" Something ought to be done about R. C. Sherriff. In last Sunday'."? "Observer," there was a whole column Interview with* the author of "Journey's End." In it Sherriff criticized "Hamlet," which he had never seen before, and talked a lot of bunk. How it got Into a serious paper like the "Observer," Heaven only knows. "I had to learn Shakespeare when I was at school," Sherriff told me, "so I started to hate it." How a man who has an Interest In the bccau-se he once had to learn some of his Hhuh, ± uo not Know. * I am afraid London is getting a little bit sick of Sherriff. He has f talked so much tripe on several occasions. The fact that he wrote "Journey's End" does not make him an authority on the greatest play that was ever written. I have just heard from Singapore, by the way, that Noel Coward played the part of Capt. Stanhope in "Journey's End" for three nights^ there. Ho was going around the world and Just dropped In, learning f the part. |i I am .sure it was very niee of him. he theatre hates Shakespeare | lines, I do not know. } The Return of Evelyn v Kvf-Iyn I.;iyf! is bafk. .She ealled me uj) Ju.st after she anlvc-d but, ^ unfoi-tun;iti:ly, I was out. .Since then, all the papers have )ji.pn full of § hf-r. Stiii say.'i f-.be liUf-s your salad.**, but she doe:; not lik'- yo'ir steam ■ lieat. I am kI.kI vou have not spoilf-d Kvf-)yn. TI''' apii'aran-.-e a*; th<- fir.«ti' nlKbt of "ll'-ad-; T.'p'' was tlie li"st. part of tlf ; bow. ".She looks fine," .1 said to .^Ir.^■. I/ayc '•.-•■lif al-.v.'iv'.: ]ool:«- fi;,f-," v::i^ tl.<- rc|)ly. "Tin )i'-V niOt):'"r."